Jaq With a Q

  “Okay.”

  “Oh, check out that webpage there. They specialize in boat docks. Henderson and sons’. Look at some of their work. I thought maybe we would have a fire-pit built down there too.”

  “I thought you were going to put a fire-pit in my garden, I mean your garden.”

  I smiled at her, meeting her eyes with mine. “It’s your garden.”

  “Did I do that?”

  My fingers touched the swell right below my eye and I hid a flinch. “It’s fine. It doesn’t even hurt.”

  Her eyes dropped, a sad expression taking over her pretty face. “I’m sorry.”

  Not even thinking about it, I lifted her chin with a finger, and stepped back, both hands going into the air.

  Her eyes slammed shut, her head ducked between her shoulders, and arms covered her head.

  “I’m sorry. I’m not going to hurt you, Jaq. I would never hurt you,” I said for at least the hundredth time, trying like hell to get that through her mind. Not that it mattered. I’d tell her another million if I that’s what it took.

  I managed to talk Jaq out of the house, to her little garden in the making, and a walk around the lake. Every step she took was a step toward success. She even walked right beside me, just a few feet to the right. Close enough to touch her if I wanted to. My feet walked the length of the new dock I had in mind, jumping to a spot on the corner where I thought the fire-pit should go.

  “I was thinking we should get a paddle boat, too. Silas and I spent hours in this lake.”

  “Are there snakes?”

  I shrugged, trying to make it no big deal. “I’m sure there are some around here somewhere. They won’t bother you if you don’t bother them. Hey, look over there.”

  Jaq’s eyes turned past me to the stray cat, her face lighting up like child on Christmas morning. She smiled, gasping with delight and kneeling to the ground. “Come here, sweet baby. Come on.”

  I stood very still, watching her every move. It wasn’t the cat that captivated me; it was her. Jaq held out her hand, promising with her scent not to hurt her. The purred when Jaq held her close, snuggling into her neck like they were old friends. I watched, mesmerized, but unsure at what. Her or instant bond she seemed to have with this cat.

  “You’re so pretty. Oh, I know, I love you, too,” Jaq cooed, connecting with the feline, giving her a silent vow to take care of her with the showering love.

  Shifting my eyes to the tires on the gravel, instant panic set in. “Jaq, hold my hand.”

  Her attention turned from the affectionate cat to my stressed expression, my hand, and then the cop car. “I’m going to run.”

  “No, you’re not. Just keep holding the cat and hold my hand.” I didn’t give her a choice.

  My hand swallowed hers, and she stepped behind me. The decision to stay put and let him come to us was made through a whirlwind of what could happen.

  “Afternoon, son.”

  I felt Jaq stiffen behind me, squeezing my arm as the cat hopped out of her arms. “What do you want now?”

  “What’cha got here, Oliver Benson? Folks around here are telling me you brought a wild girl here. That true? You okay, girl?”

  Again, Jaq tensed behind me, no words spoken. “She’s fine. What do you want?”

  The sheriff spit a toothpick from between his teeth to the ground and nodded toward Jaq. “I’m following up on a report. I need to ask your wife here a few questions, make sure she’s here on her own free will.”

  “She is, and unless I’m in trouble for something, I’d like for you to leave me alone. You’ve been giving me shit ever since I got here. There’s no crime here. Why don’t you go harass some drug dealers, or rapists?”

  “Hey, what’s your name?”

  If I didn’t know better, I would say I had help with the lie. I wasn’t even thinking it; it just came out. “She doesn’t talk and she can’t hear you. She’s deaf.”

  I never realized someone could be on a power trip for so long. This guy had been on it for years.

  He stepped toward her, and again, I felt her tense. “Is that so? Can you hear me, girl?”

  “Her name is, Jaq, and I already told you. She can’t hear. Leave us alone, we’re not hurting anyone.”

  “Jack?”

  Not seeing the need, I didn’t correct him with the Q. “At least you can hear.”

  “She can’t talk, but she can scream?”

  “What do you expect? You let some stranger walk to your wife’s bedroom door at seven o’clock in the morning. You’d probably shoot the bastard.”

  “I don’t have a wife.”

  “Imagine that. We done here? She’s fine, I’m fine, we’re just enjoying, my lake, nothing going on here.”

  “How’d you get the black eye?”

  “Shovel accident. Goodbye, Sheriff.”

  The dickhead cop dropped his Elvis knockoffs a little, two fingers pointing from his eyes to mine. “I’m watching you, boy.”

  “Like I said, I’m not your boy. Good day,” I said with a nod.

  Waiting for him to walk away, I turned to Jaq, still holding her hand. “You’re okay, he’s gone.”

  The breath she held was released, her body relaxed, but her hand stayed in mine. She didn’t pull away. She smiled.

  I smiled back, and pulled her along. “Come on, I want to show you a rope swing Silas and I used to swing off. You see that big oak way over there? The one beside that patch of blue spruce.

  “I did good, Ollie.”

  I glanced back with a smile and the needed assurance. “You did amazing.”

  “It was you. I was barely even afraid.”

  “Does that mean you trust me now?”

  “Huh? What’d you say?” she teased, feigning her deaf diagnosis, her eyes closing while she looked around.

  I laughed, telling her to watch her step with my eyes. “Why are you closing your eyes? You’re not blind, just deaf.”

  Jaq stepped over the fallen branch, a lighter tone in her voice. “Oh yeah, and mute. I’m probably going to use that the next time you make me do something I don’t want to do, you know.”

  “I don’t doubt it for a second.”

  “He’s pretty stupid. You even asked him what he would do to if some stranger beat on his wife’s door.”

  I turned to Jaq, trying to hide a puzzled frown. “What do you mean?”

  The look she gave me was meant to make me feel like an idiot. She pointed to one ear, reminding me of her handicap. “I’m deaf, remember?”

  “Oh yeah,” I laughed.

  Jaq and I walked around the entire diameter of the lake, exploring things I hadn’t seen in years. Like the big rocks that that I promised we would climb some time, but not yet. I had something in mind, and I needed to go into town, the further from Sheriff P. Jonas, town.

  I asked Jaq to come with me, promising to hold her hand the entire time, but I didn’t beg. She did though. She begged me not to leave her there alone, afraid of the sheriff coming back, but I had to. We needed things, and the roof really couldn’t wait any longer. It needed repaired. Now.

  Jaq was locked in her bathroom before I ever got out the door. I felt bad, wishing she would come with me, but I knew she wouldn’t. This was something she was either going to have to get used to, or come with me. I couldn’t just lock myself away with her. We had to eat, and the place needed work if we planned to stay there.

  Silas crossed my mind, thinking about it. I’d told him I would call him back three times already that day.

  “Wow, you do remember you have a brother. How’s it going?”

  “It’s going great. How are you?”

  “Same, busy. How’s Jaq?”

  “She’s doing well. Very well. I had another visitor from the sheriff again this afternoon. Dickwad.”

  “What now? What is this guy’s problem?”

  “Right?” I explained the entire scene, minus Jaq’s hand in mine, and omitting the strange way that made me feel. Silas woul
dn’t understand. He didn’t do feelings. He did sex.

  “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you. Do you think you’re going to be staying there? Like to live?”

  “I don’t know, Silas. I keep thinking about work, and what I’m going to do.”

  “You want to go back to work?”

  “Fuck no, I mean, I don’t want to, but I guess I should. You know?”

  “No, not really. You don’t have to work. The house is paid for; you get enough from our trust fund to live off of. It’s not like you spend money on lavish vacations or material things.”

  “True, but I’ve always worked, you know? Anyway, why do you ask?”

  “Ask what?”

  “If I’m staying here.”

  “Oh, yeah, I’ve got a friend looking for a condo around your area. I told him I would ask you about selling it. You interested?”

  I took a deep breath and embraced the change. Silas was right. I wasn’t rich by all means, I had student loans out the ass, but that was about it. My condo was paid off in two years because I didn’t spend money. I worked and came home. Besides, Jaq was better than a job, and way more gratifying. Helping her made a difference. Looking at numbers all day, did not. “Yes, definitely. You have a key. Can you show it to him?”

  “I was hoping you would say that. I think I’ll crash there for a few days, go see some shows and relax.”

  Funny how different we were. Silas longed for the fast moving excitement, and I was completely content right there with Jaq, in the middle of nowhere, except for the stupid sheriff, that is. “Go for it. Stay as long as you want.”

  “Sweet, and then I’m coming there.”

  “No, not yet. I’ll tell you when. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine here. Jaq’s more than fine here. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Okay, I’m taking your word on it.”

  “Yeah, so can you get me some LSD? I’ve been doing some research, and I’d like to try a couple things.”

  The silence told me I should have waited on that one. “You’re fine. She’s fine. Yeah, right. You want to use her like a human guinea pig.”

  That brought out the old ego, and pissed me right off. “Forget it. I’ll find it myself.”

  “Like you know where to find LSD. I’ll take care of it. That’s all you need. Sheriff fuck-face would throw your ass behind bars without thinking twice. How much do you need?”

  “I don’t know. Enough to do some experimenting.”

  “Jesus, Oliver. I’m going to stop talking to you. First you get me involved in a kidnapping—.”

  “It wasn’t a kidnapping; it was an intervention.”

  “And what is this?”

  “You’re going to need me for something someday, and you know I’ll be there.”

  “You’re asking me to get LSD. Drugs. Do you not see how fucked up this is?”

  “It’s not like that, Silas.”

  “Yeah, you keep saying that. You’re not dad. This isn’t your chance to leave your mark, and this is a human life we’re talking about. I’m worried about you, man. You’ve gone off the deep end.”

  “Forget it. I’ll get it myself.”

  “I’ll get it. Jesus Christ. I’ll message you the details. I’m not visiting your stubborn ass in the pen either.”

  “Thanks. It’s fine. I swear. I need pure liquid.”

  “Why LSD? You know there’s newer stuff, right?”

  “Yes, Silas. I’m a chemist.”

  My brother never was one to hide sarcasm. “Of course you are. I’ll keep you updated on the condo.”

  I called Jaq, walking across the parking lot of the grocery store, a hop in my step and smile on my face.

  “Where are you? Are you almost back?”

  “Let’s make homemade pizza tonight. We’ll watch a movie. Do you want to watch a movie with me?”

  “Like, not on the phone.”

  I chuckled, smiling at a little girl as I entered the store. “Not on the phone. On the couch. Well, you can sit in the chair. I’m cool with that, but in the same room.”

  “Are you buying wine again?”

  “I’ll buy you wine. Anything else?”

  “Um, cat food?”

  “On my list. Next.”

  “No, hurry, Ollie.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit.”

  I hurried through the store, and then to the office of the construction company, much more professional than the last one. The lady was understanding and promised to have the contractor call before he showed up. I got a much better vibe from there, and saw no reason to stop at the next one. She assured me they could take care of all my needs right there, set up an appointment for me to meet the contractor, and offered me a puppy.

  “You wouldn’t happen to need a puppy, would you? I’ve got two left. A boy and girl.”

  I walked around the desk to the two puppies curled up asleep in an empty air condition box. Little blonde balls of wrinkles. More wrinkles than I had ever seen. Jaq would love one of them. “What are they?”

  “Chinese Shar-pei.”

  “They’re cute. How much?”

  “Eight hundred for the female with papers seven hundred without. Four hundred for the male with papers, three without.”

  I refrained from defending the male puppy being sold for half the price as the female, seriously contemplating taking one home to Jaq. Maybe this would be good for her, make her feel needed, and loved. The cat back home and the kittens she was about to have never crossed my mind. Not once.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I was so excited, I left the groceries in the car, calling her on the phone.

  “Are you back?”

  “Yes, come out. I have something for you.”

  “That took forever. Did you get the cat some food?”

  “Yes, come out here. Hurry. You’re going to love it.”

  I unlocked the front door, tripping over an excited puppy, and waited for her door to open, a smile already on my face.

  It was priceless. Her mouthed dropped, her eyes moved from me to my feet, and then she knelt to the floor, two puppies devoured her with wagging tails and kisses. “Oh my, goodness. Where did you get them?”

  “No, not them. You can only keep one of them. The contractor is going to take the other one back tomorrow after we meet for the estimate. I figured I’d let you pick for yourself. See which one you bonded with most.”

  She couldn’t have hidden the joy on her face had her life depended on it. “They’re so stinking cute. How will I choose? Is this real?”

  I laughed and walked out to get the groceries, a smile stuck on my lips. It wasn’t the entire backseat of bags that made me second guess myself. It was the damn cat food. Great, a cat, a litter of kittens, and a puppy. Just what I needed.

  Honestly, I would have bought her a unicorn if it brought her that much joy. Jaq even sat played in the yard with them while I cooked. She didn’t go far, sticking close by the door where I could see her, but she did it. All by herself. That’s what mattered.

  “What should we name the cat?” she called through the screen, the puppies jumping all over her.

  I cut up fresh mushrooms, watching her surf the internet on her phone. “You name it. It’s your cat, and you should do it from your heart, not from the internet.”

  She gave me a look, “I am. What about Quinn. Hellen Quinn. Do you know who that is?”

  I gave her the look that time. “Um, Hellen Quinn, the Australian particle physicist?”

  “Yes, do you like her?”

  “I mean, sure, yes, but you don’t have to name her something for me. Name her something cute. Something you want.”

  Jaq laughed when one puppy jumped over the other, falling flat on her face. “I like Quinn. It fits her. She looks smart like you. Now for the puppies.”

  “Puppy, I corrected. Puppy.”

  “Who’s your favorite scientist? A guy?”

  “Galileo, but he doesn’t look like a Galileo
. Name him what you want. He’s yours.”

  “I like it. We can call him Leo for short. Galileo and Cleopatra. Leo and Cleo.”

  “We’re not keeping them both,” I said again, the knife barley missing my thumb when I looked up, giving her a stern look that she ignored.

  She did look back at me when Quinn mewed from the flower garden that didn’t look like a flower bed at all. It looked like an S hook path, looping into a U. That’s all the further I had made it on my red-brick-road discovery.

  “You can go. I’m right here. Nobody’s here by you and me.”

  Taking a couple steps, she walked to the cat, Quinn, two wrinkly puppies right on her heels. “It’s okay, they won’t hurt you. They’re babies, like you’re going to have. Come here, pretty girl.”

  I thought for sure the puppies would scare her away, but they didn’t. She waited, standing cautiously and very still, waiting for Jaq to pick her up. Decorating the pizza with pepperoni and mushrooms, I smiled warmly. The way she was with those animals was therapy in its own. I’d feed a couple dogs, a cat, and few kittens for this. Any day. At that moment, I realized what my subconscious had just said. My hope for her to fall in love with the cheaper, male puppy depleted with the fact. I would be writing a check for both puppies. Cleo and Leo would become a part of our everyday life, as would Quinn, and her babies.

  Jaq opened up a little more when we ate pizza on the porch. It wasn’t hard to keep my eyes on the lake at all. The evening was breathtaking, purple and red swirls hovered in front of the sun, two puppies slept under our feet, and Jaq told me things. Things I had been waiting to hear ever since she had dialed the wrong number. I didn’t start the conversation, she did. I just used it as kindling to start the fire.

  “How long have you been coming here? I wish I had a place like this to come to.”

  “As long as I can remember, and you do. You’re here.”

  “No, I mean like you. Like when I was a kid. I like hearing you talk about you and your brother here.”

  “Where did you grow up?”

  “In the Bronx with my mom until I was six. Did you see that fish jump?”

  “Yes. Did you live in a house?”

  “A row house. Well in an apartment on the second floor.”