Howdy Readers! Here’s the next installment of The Davies.

Will showed up at Parker House out of the blue the next afternoon. Kennedy was out in the back yard laying on a deck chair with her face to the sun. She loved to sit there in the afternoons after work although she was too fair skinned to take it for very long. In the sun she felt like one of Kate’s plants, soaking in the rays. It was pure goodness. She only noticed Will when his shadow passed over her face. “You’re blocking my sun, jerk.”

He sat on the chair next to her. “So…”

Waiting out his long pause, she wondered if it was due to what she suspected.

“Owen huh?”

Yup. That was it. “Owen what?”

            “My friend Owen.”

“Will, this conversation is likely to be long and drawn out if you can’t complete a sentence.”

            “Owen is my brother in everything but blood. Saying that, he is still not someone I’d want my sister to date.”

“Not a problem. I’m not dating him.” Kennedy closed her eyes and pointed her face at the sun again.

She heard the chair next to her creak as Owen leaned close. “You’re not now, but I’ve never known him to walk away from something he wants. Eventually he’ll probably charm you into changing your mind.”

Kennedy appreciated his concern, and she couldn’t ignore the small thrill at being described as something Owen wanted, but she didn’t like to be objectified as a thing or told that she was somehow weak. Suggesting that Owen could change her mind just by turning on the charm was patronizing. “You’re sweet Will, but if I change my mind that will be my business, not yours.”

Will nodded and said nothing for a few minutes.

            “Anyway, I came over for two reasons. The first is to apologize for abandoning you the other night at the party, which I knew you didn’t want to be at, and leaving you at the mercy of Renee.”

“You’re forgiven.” She said quickly. “But what’s the deal with those people anyway? Why would you hang out with them?”

“You totally got the wrong impression honey, really. Renee’s a– Renee is unpleasant to be sure, but that was Craig’s house and he is salt of the earth no matter what his dad is worth. Most of the folks there were friends of his sister’s and she’s a bit off. Seriously, the rest of his family is completely normal. His sister runs in a crowd of competitive, driven people determined to outdo each other. I should have realized they’d be there and that they would look at you like fresh meat.”

“Nice analogy, Will.”

“Well, it’s the truth and I apologize. Now that’s done with, do you want to know the second reason I came over?”

“Maybe.”

“To offer to teach you to drive.”

Kennedy looked sharply at him. “Seriously?”

He nodded and she sat up. “Yes, absolutely, can we start right now?”

Will laughed. “Yes, we can. I’ve got my Rover out front. I should warn you though that it’s a manual. You don’t have your permit yet do you?”

“Yes, I do, I got it earlier this week. It was me and a room full of sixteen-year-olds. Just a wee bit embarrassing. I’ve had zero practice though so that’s your warning.”

            “I aint scared.”

They headed out front to Will’s car. It was a four by four that looked vaguely military and in rough shape. “It’s a Land Rover, and an old one. I got it because getting out to my house is a pain. I needed something with some clearance and this guy up the street was selling it cheap. I’ve become rather fond of the old girl, but you may have some trouble shifting. You have to put your back into it.”

Will drove her out to the parking lot of St. John’s since it was the most deserted and largest around. He explained shifting and using the clutch for what seemed like an hour until Kennedy finally rolled her eyes at him.

“Fine. You wanna drive?” He opened the door and hopped out. “Get in, Let’s see if you actually listened.”  

She drove round and round in circles, learning what it felt like to move it from first to second. The trick was to listen to what your foot, your ears, and your hand were telling you, making them talk to each other until you knew the exact moment to shift.

“Okay. You passed first and second. Let’s see about third. You ready for the open road?”

            “Absolutely old man. Let’s go.” The open road was a whole other set of problems, keeping the thing in a straight line among them, but there was no way she was going to blow this. She desperately wanted to drive. Will was patient and never said a word even when they had to sit through two cycles of the streetlight at the corner of Main and State since she stalled out about seven times. She finally looked down and realized she had it in second instead of first. Other than that, rather embarrassing moment, she had done relatively well.

When they finally made it back to Parker House, she shut off the engine and Will was laughing.

“You were smiling that entire time. Here you were grinding gears and nearly running off the road a hundred times but smiling the whole time. I’m guessing you enjoyed that.”

“It’s freedom.” She answered. “Driving means freedom out here. At home I could get anywhere by jumping on the train or catching a bus. Out here you can end up trapped because there’s no way to get anywhere. There’s not even a bus stop in this town. There are only so many places I can bike to, and I try not to bug the Aunties too much. They don’t mind carting me around, but sometimes I want to get out of the house for a bit.”

            He frowned slightly. “I wish I had known, I would have started teaching you earlier.”

Kennedy shrugged. “No worries. I’m just glad you did. Do you want to come in? I think Kate made cookies.”

Will followed her in and they grabbed drinks and headed back out to the deck. Kate was in the garden now picking beans off the two teepees of vines she had grown at the end of the raised beds.

“How was the lesson?” She asked without looking up from her work. She had on another bright and cheerful dress with a floppy hat that had a wide enough brim to cover not only her face, but her shoulders as well.

            “Fantastic, she’s a natural.” Will said.

Kennedy turned to him in surprise.

“Really, you are. It usually takes a while just to get the hang of shifting, but you did great.”

She was surprised by the surge of pride that filled her. Despite feeling a bit stupid at times, she’d really enjoyed driving.

“You’re staying for dinner?” Kate asked Will in a tone that suggested she was expecting a yes. She sounded a little muffed since her face still stuck into the twisted vines while she picked the pods and dropped them into a basket at her feet.

            “Of course, Kate.” He paused. “I’m guessing we’re having beans?”

Kennedy’s lessons stopped abruptly the following weekend.  Will and Kennedy walked home together after church talking about nothing, enjoying each other’s company more than anything else. They took the path rather than the sidewalk and walked up the lawn and through the backdoor into the kitchen. Sitting at the table was a petite blonde with a cup in her hands and a backpack at her feet.

Will stopped dead in his tracks, his face frozen in shock. It took only a moment to figure out who the woman must be. The three of them looked at each other through the expanse of the kitchen. No one spoke; no one even seemed to breathe. The woman recovered first and gave Kennedy a shaky smile. “You must be Kennedy. I’m sorry I just dropped in, I meant to call last week, but…”

Will took a deep breath beside her. “Ella…”

Ella didn’t acknowledge Will, didn’t even look at him. No one said a word and the moment stretched into one of the most uncomfortable silences ever. Alarm bells rang. This was the ex-girlfriend, the one who had broken his heart. And she was acting like he didn’t exist. Kennedy watched as the color drained from Will’s face. He turned to her, his expression full of confusion and pain. “I’ll call you.” Then he was gone, the screen door slamming behind him.

For a fleeting moment Ella’s face showed that same mix of confusion and pain, but she shut it all down, like pulling a curtain closed. “I’m sorry. That was so awkward. I didn’t think he’d be here. I forgot what day it is. When I decided to come, it was kind of chaos at home and I hopped the first bus here.” She spread her hands helplessly and sat back down at the table.

She stared into the mug in front of her, her hair falling forward over her face as she bent down. Kennedy wondered if she was crying. Ella was nothing like she imagined. She was very pretty, with delicate features and golden-blond hair cut in a modern, asymmetrical bob. Kennedy tried to think of something to say and failed.

Beth came into the kitchen and looked from Ella to Kennedy with a strained expression. “Kennedy, did you meet your cousin? Of course, well if you two have had a chance to say hello, I’ll take Eleanor with me now to get settled into her old room.  I just finished airing it out. Kate will be here in a moment, and I think we’re planning on doing something light for dinner.” Beth disappeared as quickly as she had appeared.

Ella got her backpack hauled up on her shoulder and left as well. Kennedy was shell shocked and tried not to form any opinions of her cousin too quickly. She wanted to avoid judging her by what she already knew and what had just happened. It seemed cruel on Ella’s part to show up with no warning, knowing full well that Will might be here considering how their relationship ended. But she only knew one side of the story. Ella had her own side and Kennedy wanted to know what it was.

*************************

Owen had spent the late afternoon out in the ocean and was heading back to change and grab some dinner when he saw someone sitting on the stairs of his house. As he got closer, he realized it was Will, looking a mess.

“What’s up?”

Will got off the stairs and picked up the duffel bag next to him. “Can I crash here for a few days… maybe weeks?”

“Of course, but what’s up?”

            “She came home.”

“Ella?”

Will nodded. “I walked Kennedy home from church and Ella was sitting in the kitchen like she never left.”

Owen was shocked. “Did she say anything to you?”

            “Not a damn word.” His lips pressed together, and he looked away.

“C’mon up.” He climbed the stairs and opened the door. Will followed.

“You can take your stuff to the back bedroom. No one’s been in there since I opened the house for the season so you’ll want to let it air out a bit.

            “Thanks.” Will walked down the hall and Owen heard him opening the windows. He came out a few minutes later and sat at the long table in front of the sliding glass doors.

Owen’s thoughts were racing for a solution to his friend’s obvious misery.  “I’m going to get dinner. I’ve got nothing here to eat. Why don’t you come out with me?”

            “I can’t eat Owen.” Will shook his head. “I had to get out of the house. Seeing her… I thought I had this sorted out. Seeing her made it clear that I’ve got nothing sorted out. If I stay at my house, I’m going to walk up that hill some night and make a fool of myself by begging her to take me back. I can’t do that because I know she’ll end it again I am not going through this twice.”

 Owen knew it would have been torture for him to be so close to her and so far all at once. He didn’t mind letting Will stay, but he felt like it was still only a matter of time before either Will went to Ella or Ella went to Will. Their breakup had been dramatic for sure, but it wasn’t done. It was too open of a wound to heal.  

“I wish I could say something here that would make a difference.”

Will didn’t answer.

“The water is awesome tonight. Do you want to take a swim? I’m going out to get dinner either way.”

Will looked up. “I think I’ll go for a swim, that’s a good idea.” He got up and down the hall. He had left his phone on the table, open. It gave Owen an idea. He picked it up and scrolled through Will’s contacts. He got Kennedy’s number and put it into his own phone. He headed out onto the deck and texted

Will’s here with me (Owen). What happened?

She might not answer him, but then again, she might.

Will emerged from the bedroom, dressed to swim.

“I’ll walk out with you.” The two of them left the house and Will climbed over the dunes and to the water. By the time Will was wading into the ocean and diving under his first wave Owen felt Kennedy’s reply hit his phone.

Ella showed up, no warning. Beth says she fought with her father then hopped a bus here from NY. She says she’s here for the rest of the summer.

I wish she’d warned you. Will is a mess. He’s going to stay with me for a while.

Good. I’m glad he has you.

Owen’s heart warmed at that. Just the idea that she thought something about him was worthwhile. He stowed his phone again. The more his heart turned to Kennedy the greater the sympathy he felt for Will and why he persisted in loving Ella. Love was a complex thing, a feeling that he had little experience with and one he began to fear was taking him over.

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