Filed to story: Love on the Sidelines (Natalie & Karl)
Grandma Hoskins was the Judge’s mother-in-law, and from all accounts she’d been a real tyrant. She was the bane of his existence before she died, ruling her husband and daughter with an iron fist. I’d heard the Judge say many times that it was nothing short of a miracle that he’d gotten my grandmother away from her long enough to elope.
We dropped the subject of Aunt Darla when an aide came in with his supper tray. I helped him get fixed in the bed, and took the covers off his food. I also noted that he ate without complaining about the lack of salt. The stroke must have really scared him.
“Have the doctors told you when you can come home yet?”
“Friday, maybe, if things keep looking good. Are you keeping an eye on my garden?”
“Yes, sir. Checked it last night after I got back from Mama’s. Everything looks fine.” He eyed me for a second, the overhead light glinting off the lens of his glasses. “You and your mama talking to each other again?”
I nodded. “She understands now why I’m divorcing Hugh.”
“It’s about time. I was getting tired of seeing the two of you moping around.
Besides, I never figured out why you married Hugh in the first place. You deserved someone better.”
“Like who?” I held up a hand. “No, on second thought, don’t answer that. I’m not sure I want to know.”
But of course, I knew exactly who he was talking about. And as though the conversation had conjured him out of thin air, Karl came though the door, followed by Bowie. I could tell the Judge was delighted with his visitors.
Not long after the men arrived, Mama and Daddy showed up, and Mama had to hug Karl and fuss over him until it got downright embarrassing. When he finally escaped, he leaned against the wall next to my chair.
“She makes me feel like I’m still ten years old.” He smiled down at me.
“That’s Mama for you.” From across the room, she was beaming at us happily. I nearly groaned. In spite of our talk last night, or maybe because of it, I could almost see the image of wedding bells forming above her head.
Trying to ignore her, I glanced back at Karl. “How’s the house coming along?” I knew they had all the walls studded up this morning when I left for work, and I’d seen the delivery invoice for the roof trusses.
“Faster than I expected. We got all the trusses on today, and they’ll start on the decking tomorrow if it doesn’t rain. I could use some advice on a few things though, if you’ve got the time this evening.”
A tingle ran over me. I was positively dying to take a closer look at the place.
“Sure,” I said nonchalantly. “I’m not doing anything after I leave here.”
“Great.” He appeared as cool as I was trying to be. “Bowie still has some errands to run and I left my truck out at the house. How about if I catch ride home with you?”
“Okay. Now?”
“If you’re ready.”
Our exodus was interrupted briefly when Aunt Darla returned. I introduced her to Bowie and told her he wanted to swap recipes with her. Then I had the pleasure of watching her blush like a teenager and stammer out “Well, land’s sakes” as she stared at Bowie, her hands busily smoothing imaginary wrinkles from her dress and tucking stray locks of hair back in place.
It was the first time in memory I’d ever seen Aunt Darla flustered, but from the way Bowie was looking at her, I didn’t think it would be the last. By the time Karl and I left, they were huddled up in a corner talking each other’s ears off.
“Where’s Daniel tonight?” I asked as we walked out to the Chevy.
“Visiting one of his newfound buddies. I think they’re both addicted to the same video game.”
“I’m glad he’s found some friends.”
“Thanks to you.”
“No.” I smiled. “Thanks to Daniel. He’s so outgoing and enthusiastic no one can resist him.”
When we reached the car, Karl held out his hand. “Mind if I drive? It’s been a long time since I’ve been behind the wheel of the Chevy.” I dropped the keys onto his palm. “Be my guest.” He opened the passenger door for me, then went around to the driver’s side, pausing long enough to scoot the seat back to make room for his longer legs. “I’m glad you kept it. The only places you see cars this old and still in running order are in antique shows.”
We stayed silent until he pulled out onto the highway, and I finally made up my mind to begin my quest for answers by easing into the subject through the back door.
“Bowie and Aunt Darla seemed to be hitting it off.” He smiled. “There aren’t many people Bowie can’t get along with.”
“You said you met him while you were both in the army?”
“Kind of.” He glanced at me. “Bowie had retired, but he hung around the base a lot.
I met him at the base hospital when he was having some minor tests done.” Well, so much for being subtle. His answer immediately raised ten more questions, none of which I wanted to veer off into. Things like, why was he at the hospital? And why had Bowie gone to work for him when Karl couldn’t possibly have been making enough money to pay him?
I cleared my throat and got back on track. “Did you like the army?”
“Yes and no. One good thing about boot camp is that you don’t have time to think about your problems. It’s all you can do to crawl into bed every night and pass out. The army also made it possible for me to go through some schools that I couldn’t have managed without them. That’s how I got the job with the oil company in Saudi. But on the other hand, I don’t do well taking orders. That’s why I got out when my time was up.”