Something’s Cooking at Dove Acres
A Young Adult Novel
by Will Zeilinger
Copyright 2011
Smashwords Edition
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ISBN 978-1-4661-3188-0
To my wife and love of my life,
Janet
for all her help and inspiration
And to all the young people in my
life for
reminding me that being young is only temporary
Chapter One
I wanted to kill Luke Garrett more than I hated washing dishes, but my mother told me I'd be on my own someday. What I didn't know was it would be the summer I graduated from high school. Yuck, I really needed a dishwasher, a cute one with blue eyes... or maybe a regular one that fits under the counter.
Did I hear the doorbell? Whenever I turn on the water I think I hear the phone or doorbell. I shut off the water and listened… it actually was the doorbell.
I leaned out the window and looked toward the front door. “Hey, Jojo!” I yelled. She backed up, squinted at me and pulled off her floppy hat. She was dressed in cargo shorts, and hiking boots.
“Madeline Van der Wald! It IS you. I heard a rumor that you were on the island.”
I wiped my hands and ran to the door. Killing Luke Garrett would have to wait until after I talked to my best friend. I threw open the door and gave her a giant hug.
“What on earth are you doing here, Jojo?" Even though I hadn’t seen her in two years, I missed her.
“Me? I'm working over at Smuggler's Cove. They finally promoted me from Aide to Camp Counselor. But why are you living out here on the island alone?”
"I'm stuck here for at least six months, maybe more."
JoJo smiled and shrieked, “six months? That is so cool! We'll be out here together this summer. Wait… are you, like a house sitter?”
"Well, no. Actually, I own it."
“What? So you're like rich now? How did that happen? Everyone knows Dove Acres is the biggest private estate on Catalina Island!”
“Actually, WE own it. My mother's Aunt Helen left it to her, but since she and Dad died in that car accident, it went to me - well, us actually.”
“You mean I was in the will too?”
“No, but since they took you in, I think it's only fair.”
"Wow." Jojo responded, "I-I don't know what to say."
I held her hand, "Do you have to go or can you hang for a while?"
“Sure, I don't have to go back to camp until the new crop of kids arrives in a couple days. That's why I stopped to check out the rumor that you were up here. By the way - what are all the holes I saw driving in? They look new? Are you planting trees already?”
“No. I don't know where those came from. I've only been here two days. I'll ask my aunt's lawyer when I see him tomorrow.
I took her hand and led her to the kitchen.
"Maddie, how come I never even heard of this Aunt Helen? Was she like really old?"
"Well yeah, but that's not why she died. She was watching a demo of some humongus, do-everything, propane barbeque grill at the convention center when the thing blew up. Barbequed weiners went flying everywhere and a piece of the metal bun warmer hit her in the head, killing her instantly. At least that's the story her lawyer told me.
I pulled a couple stools out from the breakfast bar, "Want some lemonade?"
She smiled and nodded.
"Just out of curiosity," I asked, "have you ever heard of a guy out here named Luke Garrett?"
She practically choked on an ice cube when she heard his name.
“Luke Garrett? His father, Mr. Charles Garrett II owns the moving company, the trash company, and has something to do with Island Conservation. Yeah, I'm familiar with the name. Why?”
I've known Jojo long enough to tell when she was lying - pretending she didn't know him. So I played along.
"He works for his father's companies.” She swirled the lemonade in her glass. “Why, have you met him?"
"Not exactly, he tried to kill me two days ago."
Jojo put her glass down and fiddled with the tiny gold key on the chain around her neck. "What? Who? Luke? What are you talking about?"
"I just stepped off the boat and he tried to run over me with a big green garbage truck. That is... if this is the same guy." Jojo listened intently as I continued, "He's about six feet tall, really cut, about twenty, twenty-two… maybe older…”
“Steel gray eyes, a tight, skinny butt and totally hot." She finished my sentence for me. When she discovered what she’d said, her eyes widened and she gulped down some more lemonade.
"That sounds like the same guy."
She cleared her throat, "It could be him. Yeah it sounds like Luke." With a little cough she asked, "Tell me what happened."
Something was going on. I wasn't sure. Maybe she went out with him or else she's stalking him. With his looks, I was surprised he wasn’t being followed around by every female on the island.
"Okay, so I was at the boat dock trying to load my bags into my little rented golf cart when he comes speeding down the road towards me in that giant truck. I had to literally jump out of the way and landed on my tush in the gutter. Then, check this out, he stopped and yelled at ME like it was my fault that he didn't know how to drive! There was a big rip in my new silk skirt and I had blood on my hand from where I scraped my thigh on the curb, see?" I pulled up one side of my shorts and showed her my road rash.
"So he yells, 'What are you doing in the middle of the road anyway? You better stay on the sidewalk unless you wanna get squashed. This isn't Disneyland.' I mean, shit Jojo - Who the Hell did he think he was? So he put his hand out like he wanted to help me up, but I just waved him off. This guy was lucky I didn't kick him."
Jojo took another gulp, "Then what?"
"He just shrugged and said, 'Suit yourself.' I saw his shirt and it said, Catalina Disposal on one pocket and Luke Garrett on the other."
"Well," Jojo responded, “that wasn't a very nice welcome to Avalon."
“Can you believe this guy? When he walked away, I stuck my tongue out at him, I mean what's with, 'This isn't Disneyland'? What a jerk.”
“Listen," Jojo asked as she held her empty glass out to me, "don't you have anything stronger than lemonade? Maybe a beer, at least?”
I shook my head.
"Sorry, I haven't found anything in the house yet. I get the feeling my aunt didn't drink much."
"So you've been here a whole two days? Who brought you up here?"
“It’s just been me doing the whole thing." I picked up a big envelope off the counter. "See this? It came by courier before I came over here with all the keys and stuff in it. It must weigh two pounds." I shook it to jingle the keys when an index card fell out with "Safe Key in box" typed on it.
Jojo picked it up, "What's this? Safe key? There's a safe?"
“Don't know, I saw that card yesterday." I turned the envelope out onto the table. "Where's the key? There's no box either.”
We ran up the stairs to my room and zipped opened my wheeled carry-on. "If it's in a box, it must have fallen out of the envelope on the trip, but I don't remember seeing it anywhere."
Together we checked the bedroom. Jojo looked under the bed while I checked my carry-on again.
"If there’s a safe, maybe it's hidden behind a painting or mirror like in a movie." So we walked through the house checking behind every painting, photograph and mirror on the walls, joking that maybe the safe was stuffed with jewelry and cash. I was starting to get pangs of guilt for feeling so greedy.
“Nothing,” Jojo said when she flopped on the living room sofa. “Maybe it's in a closet. How many rooms are there?”
“Let me think... Seven bedrooms, a parlor, den, library, dining room, kitchen and three bathrooms, plus a laundry room and the garage.”
Jojo looked up at me, “It could be anywhere. Maybe it's not even here.”
“Come on." I took her hand, "Get up, let me show you something."
Jojo followed me upstairs to a bedroom where I had been sifting through some boxes full of photographs and junk.
"I started going through all this stuff last night and threw out a whole pile already. Now, what am I supposed to do with the rest of this? There's just so much."
Jojo crossed her arms and stood back. “Okay, I have an idea." She lined up the boxes along the edge of the bed and turned each one on end. From her pocket she pulled a thick marker pen.
"Do you always carry one of those around?"
She shrugged, “I use it for making little signs at camp.” Jojo pulled off the cap. “Now we're gonna label each of these boxes.” She picked one up, "Like this one, for instance." Very neatly she printed “Photos” on the side. “We'll label the next one important looking papers, then jewelry, knick-knacks, coins, and so on. Oh, and one for odd bits.”
I flipped through a stack of photos my Aunt Helen had taken at our home in Santa Ana. One was shot at Christmas some years ago. My aunt was posing by the fireplace in a long black velvet skirt and burgundy sweater pinned with a large brooch. I think I remember that dress.
"Aren't you scared being up here alone - in the middle of nowhere?" Jojo asked. "I'm not trying to scare you, I was just asking."
I set the photos on my lap and stared at her. "Why did you say that? I didn't even think about being scared until now. Last night I heard weird noises, but I figured it was the wind or this old house or maybe some kind of critters outside, y'know, like possums or raccoons."
Jojo gave me a hug, "I'm sorry, that was mean."
I turned the photograph over and read; I'm wearing great grandmama's platinum/diamond brooch from Tiffany's New York. Van der Wald’s House – Xmas 1990, written in pencil on the back.
“Diamonds and platinum? Tiffany's?" I shouted, "Oh shit!"
"Was that a good or bad oh shit?"
Jojo grabbed the photo and rubbed her finger over the brooch. "Platinum? I've never touched anything made of Platinum."
I paced back and forth with my hand on my forehead, "It looked too big and clunky to be real... Y'know? Like fake costume Jewelry."
"Where is it?"
"Shit Jojo, I tossed it in a trash bag and took it to the garage with all the other trash bags full of junk."
"So," Jojo replied, "I guess it's bad.” She examined the photograph carefully and announced. "Okay, new rule. You are not allowed to toss anything else until we check out all the stuff in the garage."
“What other valuable stuff did you toss out? I remember back in High School everyone thought you were the übershopper.” Jojo said, “You knew what everything was worth.”
I wiped my eyes and took her downstairs through the kitchen to the garage.
“Maybe all the stories are true after all and there is a fortune hidden up here.”
I glanced back at her, "What stories?"
“Oh, just kids at the camp gossiping about buried Indian treasure, Mafia money or pirate gold. It depends on who's telling the story... Wait. You mean you've never heard any of this stuff?”
"Come on Jojo, I'm just looking for a pin I might have thrown out, not a sunken Spanish galleon. Those are just kids making up stories about things that are none of their business just to impress the other kids."
Jojo shrugged, “Hey I'm just telling you what I've heard.”
I flipped on the lights and hit the garage opener button. “Oh shit, shit, shit! The garbage bags I put out last night are gone. The trash must have been picked up this morning."
"Maddie, didn't you hear the trash truck? It's so quiet up here.”
“I was wiped out. Okay I was little scared about being up here alone. I had some warm milk and toast to help me relax. I must have slept right through it.”
Just then we saw a Catalina Disposal Truck lumbering up the drive. JoJo waved it over toward the garage. It swung around in a cloud of dust and backed up to the door.
It was Luke Garrett. The same jerk that almost ran over me.
“Hey Jojo!” Luke yelled over the noise of the diesel truck and hopped down off the seat. Bright red lipstick was smeared on his mouth and across one cheek. I guessed he was with someone who didn't want him to leave.
Drop-jawed, Jojo stared at him but I pretended to ignore it.
He reached into the cab and shut off the engine so he wouldn't have to shout over it while I pointed to my checkbook and yelled, “DO I PAY YOU NOW OR WILL YOU BILL ME?” He looked over his shoulder at me and shook his head until the engine noise stopped which I took to mean pay him later, so I stuffed the checkbook back in my pocket.
Luke pulled off his gloves, “Just wanted to pick up the next load of trash on my way back to the plant.” He squinted into the empty garage, “You mean you don't have more trash? Didn't you say in your voice message that you needed two pickups today or are you still mad about your skirt? I'll have my father pay to have it repaired.”
JoJo stepped close to him and flicked his collar with her finger, “You better look in the mirror - Now.” She whispered.
Luke leaned back to look in one of his big, square fender mirrors and blushed, "Dammit Raylene,” and tried to rub it off with the back of his hand. "Sorry about that." He shrugged, "Long story... complicated."
"Listen Luke," I crossed my arms, "Something very important was accidentally thrown in the trash that you already picked up this morning.” He waited silently while looking right at me.
"... and well," i continued, "i need to get it back."
"oh, sure," he pulled the truck door open, "come by the plant later this afternoon and you can go through the bags.” jojo looked at him, then me, "we gotta go. see ya later." she poked me in the back with her knuckle and pushed me into the garage.
as the door came down, luke shouted under the door, "and maddie, y'better wear something you can get dirty!" the door clunked shut, leaving luke standing alone in the dusty driveway wiping the rest of the lipstick off his face.
She pushed me through the door to the kitchen, "Ow, why'd you do that?" where she peeked through the curtains and watched him drive away. “What's with the attitude Maddie?" She asked, "They are the ONLY trash company on the island and we need him.”
I jerked the curtains shut, “Did you see the way he showed up here?”
“Why should you care about that Maddie? You just got here and don't even know him."
"Is he married?" I felt really stupid asking that.
“No, I'm pretty sure he's not married. But I'm not so sure about the girlfriend thing, except for Raylene at Pinkie's Market."
"Tell me about this Raylene who is she?"
"She's just this very young, very cute blonde that works at the market in the summer and... she has a major crush on Luke. But then a lot of the women on the island think he's hot.”
"Well," I shrugged, "Showing up like he just rolled out of her bed wasn't very professional. I don't know why it bothered me so much."
Jojo gathered up her backpack and hat. I went to the door with her and gave her another hug. She plopped her hat on her head and said, “Think about it Maddie… you'll figure it out.”
Chapter Two
My aunt's lawyer was supposed to be here at eleven-thirty and it was almost one. I was thinking that he could have at least called when I saw a four-seater golf cart came putting up the road. Out stepped a man wearing a suit and carrying a big square briefcase. Nobody I’ve met on the island dressed like that.
“Well hello Maddie Vander-Girl,” He smiled a big, tooth-whitened, fake-looking grin. “Tom Silverman." He put is hand out. "Remember me?”
I did have a fuzzy memory of someone calling me that when I was a kid, but it couldn't have been him. Maybe it was his father.
We shook hands and I showed him to the dining room.
He opened the briefcase and dropped a stack of file folders on the table. "How's everything going? You all settled into this magnificent place?"
"I'm okay."
“Well," he flipped open the case, "I'll try to keep this simple and not use to much financial mumbo-jumbo."
"Whatever. I mean, that's fine I guess."
He patted the palm of his hand on the stack of papers and looked me in the eye, “I have good and bad news, you can decide which you want to hear first.”
“I really don’t care. I had to go through something like this when my parents were killed. Let's start with good news."
“Okay, fine - ahem, then we'll get right to the terms of the inheritance… Well, here, you read it.” He pushed the folder towards me.
I opened it expecting to read pages and pages of “legalese” stuff that I wouldn’t understand, but instead I read:
1. Stay on the island for six consecutive months.
2. Maintain the property (Dove Acres) as always.
3. Present the check (enclosed) to Javier
I stopped reading, “This is it? Just this list." I looked for more pages. "That should be easy, and then Dove Acres is mine, free and clear?
Tom sat back and nodded. "That's all you have to do."
“Who is this Javier?” I asked.
“He cares for the horses and was one of Helen’s long time friends. He lives here on the island.”
“We have horses?”
He looked at me for a minute, “You mean you haven’t seen the stables? Have you seen the whole estate?”
“Not really. This morning is my third day and I've been busy getting settled, cleaning the dust off stuff. I knew I heard horses.”
“When we finish signing a few things we can go for a ride and see the property.”
I really felt stupid, but I continued reading the list aloud,
"4. Maintain livestock,"
"5. If I am unable or unwilling to abide by the terms of this agreement then Lloyd Brewster will assume the inheritance and all things pertaining thereto."
I closed the folder. “Who is Lloyd Brewster?”
“He is your third cousin, once removed, currently residing in Purgatory Springs, Missouri.”
"Oh. Well, this is all pretty clear. I don’t see a problem with anything here.”
“Okay then," He rubbed his hands together and flipped open another file folder. "now for the bad news. Your aunt wasn’t a person who understood money. When your Uncle George died, your aunt didn't even know how to balance her bank statement. I tried several times to explain it to her and so did their accountant, but she never got it." He flipped through several more files and papers, "So it appears you are presently secure, financially that is... but only on paper. Your inheritance, unfortunately, is a disaster. There were back taxes, property taxes and several other debts she had accrued...,"
He lost me after property taxes.
“As a result," Tom continued, "when things started to look bad, she refused to acknowledge it. She wanted to maintain her extravagant lifestyle which consisted of travel and throwing elaborate parties. Last year her accountant threw up his hands and quit. It’s a shame too, he was a good guy.”
"So those parties cost a bundle, right? I’ve seen the photos."
“Let me show you something Maddie. I want you to see the rest of the estate before I go any further.”
We drove along the bumpy road in his rented cart until a large barn appeared just past a grove of fruit trees. Another golf cart was parked next to it.
“Hola Javier!” an older Hispanic man appeared in the doorway of the stable and approached us.
“Señor Tom! Buenas tardes. How are you?”
"Bien, y tu?”
Tom turned to me. "Maddie, this is Javier Martin del Pacifico. He’s the caretaker for the horses and landscaper. Javier is a man of many talents and has become like part of your Aunt's family."
Tom handed me the envelope with Javier's name written on it.
"Maddie, you are supposed to present this to Javier."
I took the envelope and cautiously approached the man in the cowboy hat with the weathered face.
“This is for you.”
Javier seemed nervous, he bowed slightly to me and carefully held it in his hands.
“I am Helen's grand niece." I looked back at Tom for assurance. He nodded to me.
"Don’t be shy." I said , "You can open it.”
He carefully tore the end off the envelope and pulled out a check. Tears welled in his eyes. He took his hat off and kissed my hand, “Gracias” he said over and over again
“So very nice to meet you. I miss your Tia Helen very much.”
“Thank you Javier, it is also a pleasure to meet you.”
Javier motioned us into the stable building.
“Señorita Maddie, I like you to meet Lucy and Ricky."
"Your aunt Helen was so proud of her horses.” Tom added, “As you can figure out from their names, she was really into the I Love Lucy TV show, and those two older horses are Ethel and Fred.” The two gray horses were in the back munching on hay, but Lucy stuck her head over the stall toward me while Ricky nuzzled Tom.
Javier smiled at me, “You ride Señorita?”
I nodded and stroked Lucy on the head.
Tom pulled his smartphone out and checked the time. “We're not going to be able to ride right now, but let's take a quick drive around the rest of the estate before I catch the boat back to the mainland."
As we made a big circle of the property I spotted a few sheep, and fruit trees covered with oranges, lemons, apples and avocados. He took me down near some cliffs that dropped off into the ocean. On the way back to the house we hit several big pot holes. Tom stopped and got out to see if the cart was damaged.
"Funny, I don't remember those holes when I was up here last month. Those are dangerous. Someone could get hurt"
Back at the house, he put his hand on my shoulder, “Again, my condolences for your Aunt Helen, my father worked with her before I came into the firm but I miss her very much.” After a moment of silence he picked up his briefcase. "I’ll be back next week with some tax paperwork."
I let out a big sigh that unfortunately he noticed.
"Sorry but it's necessary. We'll go for a horseback ride then.”
An hour or so later the doorbell rang or at least I thought I heard it. Strange, I hadn't heard anyone drive up the road. Carefully, I opened the door. "Javier!"
He stepped into the foyer and slipped off his shoes. "Oh, you don't have to take off your shoes."
"I must, Señorita, they have much dirt."
“What can I do for you?"
"I did not know Señora Helen die until I see last week in newspaper. I am very sad." He pulled out the envelope I had given him from my Aunt and handed me the letter with the check stapled to it. "I don't understand so good. You read for me please?"
I read it aloud.
"From the law offices of... blah, blah blah, hmmmm. In the event of my death... blah, blah... as part of the disposition of my estate... Oh, here - This certified cashier's check in the amount of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars has been willed to my loyal employee and trusted friend Javier Martin del Pacifico for his many years of service, help and companionship. I am only sorry it could not be more, but I know of no price to put on friendship.
Note: Javier, Please take this money as a token of my thanks and go home to your family in Mexico where you are loved and surely missed. Signed, Your friend, Mrs. Helen Devine"
I folded the letter back up and placed it in his hands. Tears were rolling down his weathered cheeks and bouncing off the folds of his skin.
"So... Javier, Now you can go home a rich man."
"I no go home to Guadalajara."
"Why not? You can live very well on this for the rest of your life."
"No, I bring my wife and niños here to United States. Is better to be not so rich here than rich in Mexico.”
He took my hand and kissed it. "Muchisimas Gracias, Señorita."
I escorted him to the front door. "Don't thank me. Thank Señora Helen in your prayers."
“Señora Helen, she is an angel, sí?"
Tears I’d been holding in leaked out all over my face. I didn't know coming to Catalina was going to make me feel so guilty for not knowing more about my aunt.
“Sí, Javier, an angel.”
He stopped just outside he door, “Is okay if I still take care of los caballos - ah, horses? They are my other children.”
"Whatever you like, Javier." I said, waving to him as he walked down the gravel drive.
As soon as he was gone, I went to Catalina Disposal. The gravel parking lot was empty, Luke was watching for me from the window. “Good you made it. You may want to go inside and put on these coveralls before you climb around in the trash.”
I held the thing up - it was orange like the ones I see prisoners wearing on the TV news cleaning up the freeways.
“Hold out your arms." I did and he gave me a hard hat, hair net, disposable dust mask, and safety goggles.” After I put them on I saw myself in the mirror on the back of the door.
“You have got to be kidding - this is a joke, right?”
“What’s wrong? You don’t want to get some nasty bug.”
“Can I go look for the thing I lost now?”
“Not quite yet...” - he dropped a pair of knee high rubber boots on the floor in front of me and handed me a pair of huge yellow neoprene gloves that came to my elbows.
"Holy shit! Is this all really necessary?" I turned back around and saw a brilliant flash of light in my eyes. "Hey!? Did you just take my picture? I'll kill you Luke Garrett." Just then an older man with graying temples came out of a back office.
"What's all the noise Luke? I'm trying to make some phone calls and... What in God's name do we have here?" With a twinkle in his eye, he extended his hand, "Son, aren't you going to introduce us?"
"Oh sorry Dad, this is Maddie Van der Wald, Helen Devine's Grand Niece. She's living up at Dove Acres. Maddie, my father, Charles Garrett."
From inside my get up all he probably heard me say was, "plmmph mummph yu.” I pulled my mask down, "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Garrett." I think that's what finally came out.
He chuckled, "I'm glad to meet some of Helen's family." and returned to his office shaking his head.
"Luke, I am never going to forgive you for this... ever!”
He walked me over to the dumpsters. “Just climb up that ladder on the end and hop in.”
“Can’t we open the big doors on the back instead of climbing in?”
“If I open up the back it will spill out and get mixed up with the others.”
I pulled myself up the metal rungs on the side and peered down into the cavernous container when it dawned on me the only view Luke had was my butt.
“You could at least show me the best way to get in here... Luke!”
"Oh, okay. Hang on."
Once I got his attention away from my rear, he climbed up the other side and swung his legs around.
"Just swing your legs around and drop down onto a bag.”
I did, landing on my back on top of a bunch of bags with pokey things in them. I was not happy. All the bags looked the same, so I tore one open. Papers, rags, old clothes dead flowers and old newspapers... no success. I tore open the next one, nothing.
“I could help you if I knew what you were looking for,”
“All right. I’m looking for a silvery pin almost four inches across that looks like two overlapping leaves with...er...rhinestones or crystals all over it…”
Luke tore into one and found a shoebox full of a bunch of junky looking pins and other jewelry. He held up a big pin between this thumb and forefinger.
“Um...does this look like it?”
Quickly I grabbed it from his hand. With it tightly in my giant, yellow gloved hand I pulled my mask back down and planted a big kiss right on his lips.
“Well - um, thanks for your help.”
“Okay,” was all he said.
That’s when I discovered there was no way to get out. I jumped up and down until Luke lifted me up high enough to grab the top edge. He put his palm squarely on my butt and pushed me to the top like he was making a basketball shot. I was so humiliated.
“May I please have that shoe box?”
He handed it up to me. With it tucked under my arm I climbed down the ladder and ran to my car, still wearing all that stuff, and got out of there as quickly as I could. But now I'll have to come back to return the dumb outfit. Maybe I’ll just mail it.
Chapter Three
It was early and still dark when a noise woke me up. I tried to go back to sleep but there it was again. I pulled the blanket over my head. The house was old and I was sure it was just that. "Creak, rattle, Ohhhhhooo." Wait - even old houses don't go "Ooohhhoo!" It had to be ghost noises. I laid very still when I heard the doorknob jiggling. I wasn't going to lay here and be murdered like some bad slasher movie. I slipped quietly out of bed, grabbed my hairbrush and tiptoed to the door. If I was going to die - I was not going down without a fight. One deep breath and I jerked the door open. Jojo and I both screamed, and jumped back.
"Do you know what time it is?"
Jojo checked her indestructible, camp counselor watch, "Almost six-thirty a.m., and girl, you need to start locking things up around here. A city kid like you should know that."
I smacked her on the butt with my brush, "You scared the crap out of me!"
She held her hands up and said, "Whoooooo wants coffee?"
“Ha ha - real cute. Don’t ever scare me like that again or, or..”
“Or what? You think you can kick my ass?”
I ignored her remark, threw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and managed to follow her to her golf cart. Jojo was saying something, but my brain wasn't awake yet. We stopped in front of the Market in town to pick up a few things.
JoJo pushed me up to the counter. “Pinkie, this is Maddie Van der Wald. We're cleaning up her Aunt Helen's place."
The round, pink-faced lady's face lit up. She stopped, wiped her hands on a small white towel tucked in her apron and leaned against the register. “Well for goodness sake! You must be Madeline!” She looked me up and down while she tucked her silvery hair back into shape before coming around the counter to hug me. Who is Pinkie and how did she know my name? She must be an old friend of Aunt Helen.
“Uh, Pinkie...” I asked, looking at her name badge for reference, "Did you know my Great Aunt Helen?
“... Did I know your aunt? Hell, I’m Pinkie Wamsutta. You girls got a minute? - Raylene!” she shouted toward the back of the market. “I need you up front, pronto!”
The sound of cans tumbling to the floor and a distant “Just a second!” preceded Raylene as she bounced up the far left-hand aisle and appeared at Pinkie’s side. She was a extremely hot blonde wearing sprayed-on red skinny jeans and a too-tight short-sleeved blue gingham blouse knotted under her perky but very grown-up boobs. She had to be younger than me, sixteen or a really good-looking eighteen. I couldn't help but glare at her and Jojo saw it. She let me know I was out of line by stepping on my foot. "Ow!"
“You okay Madeline?” Pinkie asked.
“Fine. I just bumped my knee on something.”
Pinkie untied her apron, lifted it over her head and hung it on a wooden peg near the front door. Pointing her thumb toward the entrance, “Leave your stuff here” Raylene will watch it.”
Miss perky boobs showed her dislike for babysitting our stuff by rolling her eyes and popping her gum.
"Follow me, CuppaJoe is just a short walk from here. It's new and the owner is a coffee wizard."
Pinkie took my arm, “It’s just so good to finally meet you. Your Great Aunt Helen talked about you so much that I feel I already know you." I looked back and saw the blond watching us from the doorway with her hands on her hips.
"You know Helen came here as a young bride way before you were even born.”
The Small tables at CuppaJoe lined the brick walls but they were taken.
Pinkie called back over her shoulder, “How about you girls? Would you like something?”
Jojo volunteered, "I’ll have what you’re having and a poppy seed lemon muffin, if they got any.”
When the clerk pulled one out of the case Jojo practically drooled. “Maddie, you wanna split it?” Her eyes never left the muffin. I think she was feeling guilty.
“My treat,” Pinkie insisted.
“Oh.” Jojo replied, “Well then, what are you having Maddie?”
"Just herb tea and a biscotti, thanks."
We snagged a table by the window.
Pinkie took a sip of her drink, “As I was about to say, some of the old timers insisted your aunt and uncle weren’t really Islanders let alone Californians, just because they inherited a bunch of land from your uncle’s father on the backside of the island. Some people started rumors about buried treasure or that your uncle wanted to drill for oil. Somebody accused them of growing pot. The Sheriff even went up to check it out a couple of times, but it was all sour grapes, you know – jealousy.”
Pinkie took a long sip on her straw and sighed,
"Your great uncle George bought a couple of saddle horses and some sheep. He thought the sheep could keep all the grass mowed, so he hired a young Mexican... Javier. Your aunt didn’t like to drive that road from the house down to Avalon, so when George was out of town, Javier would drive her down to pick up the mail or go grocery shopping.”
Pinkie sighed, stood up and looked out the door toward the market, “I better get back to the store pretty soon. Raylene's been acting very odd lately. I think she’s got a boyfriend.”
She sucked the rest of the coffee up through her straw, “So, if anyone gives you trouble, just let me know. Any of Helen’s kin are my kin too, and be sure to take some empty cardboard boxes with you.
__________________________
Back at Dove Acres, we were putting the boxes in the garage where Jojo saw something covered by an old throw rug. We pulled it off and found a wooden crate full old snorkeling stuff.
“Hey," Jojo said, "I got a couple free hours, let’s go snorkeling.” She picked up the crate and headed for her cart.
“Wait, Jojo I’ve never been snorkeling.”
“Can you swim?”
“Yea, but...”
“If you swim you can snorkel. Period.”
We drove down to the cliffs and walked down the narrow gravel path to the beach. At the bottom she sat down pulled two masks, swim flippers and snorkel tubes out of the crate that looked like no one had worn them for years. “Rubber's still good." JoJo declared.
“Shouldn't we disinfect them?”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?" She pushed a mask and snorkel at me, "Put this one on.” She pulled her shirt over her head and wriggled out of her shorts.
"What are you doing JoJo?" She took off her bra and slid her out of her underwear.
"I'm going snorkeling and I don't plan to get my clothes all wet. Besides, there's nobody around. Come on."
I looked all around for spectators before stripping down to my underwear.
"Come on!" Jojo yelled. "Don't be such a prude! Take it all off!"
“No way.” I'm no prude! But I've never gone swimming in the ocean naked. I took one more look around before wedging my feet into the flippers and tripped along behind her into the crashing waves. She stuck the snorkel tube in her mouth and pulled the mask over her eyes. I figured if she can do it, so could I, and followed her lead.
Once I put my face underwater, I was seduced by the ocean. A whole new world appeared. The sun was warm and I forgot about the gross smell of old rubber and plastic. As I watched the kelp dance a waltz with the current. JoJo swam to me and pointed to a line of squarish boulders on the bottom. We followed them to the shore where JoJo pulled her mask up on her head and yelled over the crashing waves. "These aren’t natural. Let's follow them and see where they go.” The stones led us into a small cave. “The tide must be out," Jojo explained, "or this would all be under water.”
I looked around the inside of the cave, “I’m sure lots of people have explored this place.” The boulders stopped at a pile of small rocks at the back.
“Like I said,” Jojo repeated, “this would all be under water if the tide was in.”
A small wave washed over the small rocks making them clank and bang into each other.
“The tide probably piled those rocks on top of each other over the years.” Wow, did I say that? I must've retained something from my earth science class in high school.
Jojo sprawled on the bed of smooth rocks. "This is the life, hiding in a cave and nobody can find us.” I joined her and mentioned the book I was writing.
“Write? You never even liked to read.”
“Ha ha – very funny. I’m writing a book, my great American novel. It takes place during the Revolutionary War. I can imagine my characters or even pirates hiding in a cave just like this.”
“You never told me about any book, when did this start?”
“Well, I’m a quarter of the way done writing it. But I still have to do more research. Since I'll be stuck at Dove Acres for six months, I could finish my research online.”
“Why the Revolutionary War? Why not Sci-Fi? You know, Martians or vampires and God knows anything you want?”
“After Mom and Dad died I was going through their stuff and learned Mom was a member of the Mayflower Society. I looked it up and found out she's related to a couple that came over on the Mayflower. I feel I need to honor her before I forget her.”
Jojo was quiet.
“You want to help with the research? Jojo, she was your mother too you know.”
“Not really...” I sensed she wanted to say more but something was stopping her. I stood up, "We should head back now."
“Let's stay longer," she protested, "it’s too nice to leave,” but she still followed me up the sandy trail to where we left the cart.
“Yoo-Hoo, Young ladies!” a voice called from somewhere in the distance. I searched for the source and spied a jet black bun of hair over the tall grass attached to a most unusual woman. She was waving her straw hat at us. Without any towels, Jojo's idea that we wouldn't get our clothes wet was a waste. We were soaked through and our hair was wet and matted.
“Hello there.” The woman was dressed in a combination of gypsy fortuneteller, hippie and resort chic with giant hoop earrings dangling from her ears. As she walked her brightly colored necklace and bead bracelets clacked and rattled.
I must’ve looked like I’d just seen an alien as she got closer.
“Sorry if we're trespassing," Jojo said. “We were following a trail from the shore and ended up here.”
“Never mind that." She squinted at my face. "I think I know you."
“I'm Madeline Van der Wald.”
“For goodness sake! Maddie, you were just a little squirt the last time I saw you. And look how you've grown.” She turned to Jojo and said, "and you must be Josephine. You’ve become quite a lovely young woman."
"Thanks, it’s Jojo."
"For goodness sake, you probably don't even remember me. I'm Tanta Dimple. That's what you two used to call me. My real name is Dimple Outhouse, it’s pronounced Aukhouse, but it’s spelled like the privy." She brushed the dust and burrs off her skirt, "Your Aunt Helen talked about you all the time, and showed me every photo of you she received over the years. I feel as though I know you as well as my own daughter. Do you two have time to come up to the house for tea?”
I hesitated, feeling my wet pockets, "I'd rather go home and put on some dry clothes first."
"Well..." Dimple continued, "I’ll just go start the water boiling. You change first if you want and come over, no need to knock and don’t worry about your wet clothes, everything is wet around here anyway. See you in a jif.” She scurried back up toward her house, black hair bun bouncing until she was out of sight.
Just then, I heard someone calling “Maddie! Maddie! I was worried for you!"
It was Javier.
“I think maybe you fall off a cliff or something. Where have you been?”
Jojo seemed relieved someone was concerned about us. “It’s spooky up here isn't it Maddie? I mean you’ve got all these people popping up out of nowhere."
"Señor Tom call me on phone in the stable, he need to meet you tomorrow. It is okay Señorita?"
I nodded.
“Don’t stay out too late, Señorita, it very dangerous here after dark.”
In unison, “WHY?” we asked.
“You maybe fall from rocks and down on the waters. Be careful, okay? Muy cuidado!”
"Well what do you say Jojo? I have time for tea if it's okay with you.”
"Sure, she sounds like a real kick!"
__________________________
I threw our wet clothes in the dryer and gave Jojo some of my clothes to wear before we walked up the hill through the trees to the Outhouse mansion, a sprawling two-story structure with white wicker chairs on the broad porch.
“I never knew these places were up here!” JoJo admitted with amazement.
I called "Hellooo - it's us!"
“Make yourselves at home girls,” Dimple chimed from somewhere upstairs, “I’ll be right there.”
She swept into the room carrying a steaming teapot in one hand, and in the other, a fancy silver tray. In one fluid motion she swooped toward the table depositing the teapot and the tray, which held three teacups, silver spoons, along with a plate of tea biscuits and little cucumber sandwiches.
“Tea and biscuits anyone?” Dimple poured hot tea into each cup, "Make sure you have some of the English tea biscuits." She handed me a linen napkin, a couple of the biscuits and a triangular cucumber sandwich with the crusts cut off.
“Enjoy, I’ll just be a second.” and disappeared through a doorway. She soon returned with an armload of photo albums.
“I've got to show you something..." Dimple rifled through the albums as if they were the telephone book, "It’s in one of these.” She stopped abruptly at one of the deckle edged, black and white photos held in place by tiny little black paper corner holders.
“Look.” she sat back, and put her finger on the edge of the photo, as if she expected some sort of instant reaction from us.
I squinted at the image, “What am I looking at?”
JoJo gasped and covered her mouth as her eyes grew as big as saucers. “It’s you Maddie! Look! It’s you in that photograph!”
“Where?" I leaned in close. "I wasn’t even born yet. How could I be in a picture that old!”
“That’s the old S.S. Catalina, the great white steamer! Now look there in the front row.” Dimple said. “It’s your aunt Helen the day she arrived on Catalina Island. That’s why I recognized you right off.”
I didn't see the resemblance.
Dimple continued, “Honestly, at first I thought I saw a ghost. Your aunt was about twenty-three in this photo and you look just like her at that age.” She showed us many more old photos of my aunt and her together.
“That is amazing! I appreciate that you shared all this with us, but we need to get back. Jojo is heading out to day camp tomorrow morning.”
Dimple handed me an engraved calling card, “Here’s my number, call me anytime and we’ll get together for lunch or dinner sometime soon.”
“Thanks Dimple.” She gave us each a hug that reminded me of my mother. "I was afraid I'd be marooned alone out here!”
“Well Madeline, now we can be alone together.”
Jojo and I walked back to the house. While we dodged more freshly dug holes on the way back home, she turned to me, "I was just wondering about this cousin who'd get this place if you didn't... Is he cute? Is he rich? or just dopey?"
"I don't know. Never met him. The lawyer said he lives in Missouri and I think he's several years older than me."
“Don’t you think maybe inheriting all this instead of him is a blessing?"
I tried to hold back my emotions when she asked me that.
"A blessing? I don't know, I wish Mom and Dad were here to help me with all the business stuff.”
“I'm sure they're proud of you for being brave and coming out here in the first place. You've stepped up and taken responsibility for yourself. That takes courage, girl.”
“Thanks, but it just seems like everyone I care for has died – except you.”
Chapter Four
Early the next morning I took a couple of the boxes Jojo labeled "photos" downstairs to the living room. I thought I could handle being here alone, but it's easy to get lonely.
In one of the boxes I found small photo albums and pictures of me as a child with people I didn’t recognize. Beside each unknown face, I put a yellow sticky note. Maybe Pinkie or Dimple knows who they are.
There were a lot of faded black and white photos that must have been really old, like from the 1940s. Some vintage color photos from the 50s or 60s and a round plastic carousel of retro 1970’s slides. Most were pictures of parties that were held right in this room. The fashions changed with each year. I looked up at the ten foot tall mirror with its gold borders that was in almost every shot. The newest photo had a little date stamp in the corner from last year and everyone was dressed in weird clothes. I didn't get it until I read the back, "New Years - Come as you were party.” I put the box on the table and took some more old clothes and stuff to the garage. After a while the trash bags and boxes began to pile up. Once again I felt the familiar ground shaking rumble of Luke's dumpster truck.
“I’m going to have to get a gate with an intercom or something," I mumbled to the door before I opened it. "People just show up without warning.”
Luke was standing on the front step, all washed up clean, looking at the garden with his Giants cap in his hand.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. “Did I forget to sign my check?”
“No, I had to do something and I was in the area.” He produced a bouquet of wildflowers from behind his back. He must have picked them along the road on the way here.
“I’d like to start over since our first meeting wasn’t exactly friendly.”
“...or our second for that matter.” I reminded him.
He smiled and put out his hand. “Hello, I’m Luke Garrett.”
“I’m pleased to meet you Mr. Garrett. His hands were rough and callused. "Thanks for the flowers, they’re pretty.”
“How'd you like to have lunch today?"
“What? You mean like a date? This is kind of soon - I mean we just met a minute ago."
"It's not a date. I'm just trying to be neighborly and welcome you to the island."
"Whatever... I can't today, I have a meeting with my aunt's lawyer."
"Well what about tomorrow?"
"I don't know yet. I'll check my calendar and call you." That was a lie, but I didn't want to seem needy.
“Fine." He opened the door of his truck, "So, what are you gonna do out here all by yourself?”
"I'm writing a novel, and without a lot of distractions, I might get it finished."
“I've never met an author before, I’m impressed.”
“Well don’t be, I'm not an author yet and I have lots of research to do.”
“So lunch tomorrow?"
I shrugged and nodded. "I’ll think about it."
"I’ll call tomorrow.” He started his truck and rumbled down the road.
Since I've told practically everyone that I was working on my novel, I better set up my laptop in the kitchen and unpack my notes. I’ve been here less than a week but it feels like a year.
When I opened my binder a note fell out: "Did Americans have chocolate in the eighteenth century?" I did an online search and found links about the history of cocoa. I read the ones that looked interesting... until I heard a car.
“Tom!” I almost forgot he was coming. I looked at myself in the mirror as I headed for the door. Well, shorts and t-shirt better be okay. Through the window I saw him getting out of a jeep, so unlike the first time he came here. No suit. Instead he had on khaki cargo shorts and a long sleeved tee.
“Hey,” he said as he walked right to the kitchen and peeked at my laptop screen open on the counter.
“I was researching chocolate in the colonies during the eighteenth century. Any idea if it was around?”
He shrugged, “Why is that important?”
“Research for my novel." I politely closed the lid of my laptop before he read too much.
“Are you ready to go for that ride?”
"Now?” I glanced back at my computer, “Sure, I guess."
We hopped into the jeep and drove to the stables where Javier had Lucy and Ricky already saddled.
Tom pulled a couple of carrots out of his pocket for the horses, handed one to me for Lucy while he offered the other one to Ricky. The horses munched down the carrots and nudged us for more, “Sorry, Lucy,” I stroked her head, “That’s all I have.” She jerked her head up and turned to get a drink from the big watering trough.
After trotting around the stable area we headed to the cliffs, Tom pointed down at the water's edge, “At one time that beach belonged to your family but it’s public now. The property line is at the high tide mark.”
We watched the ocean crash along the shore below as a breeze came up blowing my hair.
Tom pointed off in the distance, “Your aunt was considering putting a cell phone repeater tower up right by the stable. She could have made a steady two or three grand a month. But then she passed.” He paused. “I liked your aunt very much. She was a family friend for decades. My father was their lawyer, now I am. Unfortunately, times change and so do circumstances.
We rode off to the east through the flat land and over a small knoll. With clear blue skies and a warm breeze from the south, it couldn’t have been a nicer afternoon. We crested the hill where I spotted a small gazebo under a tree. Tom rode ahead of me. A folding table was set up along with a cooler chest.
I reined Lucy back, “Luncheon is served.” Tom reached up to help me dismount and had me sit where I could see the ocean while he brought out sandwiches, fruit and juice from the cooler.
"Wow. This is a surprise.”
“I wanted to welcome you to Dove Acres..." He placed two glasses on the table and filled each one with apple cider, "in the proper Helen DeVine style.”
We toasted.
"Your uncle was crazy about Helen his whole life. My father told me George hated to travel alone and fretted about Helen until he got home again.”
I could imagine my aunt and uncle sitting here enjoying the life they'd made together.
“While you've been up here, have you thought about income for yourself?”
“I came here to write my book in peace but in the short time I've been here, I haven't had much chance. I was thinking about the possibility of converting this place to a Bed and Breakfast Inn and maybe offer horseback riding and at the bottom of the cliffs... I could rent boats. It seems a shame no one knows about this place. It's just beautiful.”
“It is lovely.” Tom responded. “There’s nothing between here and Hawaii. Maddie those ideas of yours will take capital you don’t have yet. The cell tower I mentioned is a short term solution that will start making money for you within a few months. The Bed and Breakfast idea, while a great use of the land will take years to prepare. As things are now, I can't see how you will last more than a month or so before the wolves will be hounding you for back taxes, property tax and the like.”
He made sense about the tower and maybe it will be a good idea to get money rolling in while I finish my book.
“I typed up a list of companies for your aunt that you should consider. It's in the car. I’ll leave it for you before I go.”
Dealing with a bunch of boring business stuff was not my idea of a way to spend my summer. I just wanted to have a chance to write.
"I still have my parent’s life insurance. Maybe I can use that, finish my novel and keep Dove Acres going until then, maybe sell the property. Then I can get back to my life on the mainland.”
“You really don't want to use all that insurance and inheritance money at this stage of... you’re not even twenty one yet. You have college and your whole life ahead of you.”
“You sound just like my father, ‘Maddie, you have to go to college.’ But where better to be inspired than here at Dove Acres?”
Tom didn't bring up any business for the rest of lunch, but he left me the list of companies and some tax forms to read and sign. I wasn’t thrilled about reading any of it and stuffed them in my purse.