An Unexpected Blessing
Or, The Day the Town Stood Still
Jake Green was mysteriously absent from town during those first few weeks after we were liberated from Beck and his ASA troops. For a guy so involved in every little conversation, crisis, and domestic squabble in town, it was a little weird that he would let himself miss out on all the fun. Jimmy was pretty worried, asking me every day if we should gather up the rangers and go searching for him, but I didn't sweat about it. Jake would come back when he was good and ready, I assured my best friend. Jimmy still looked nervous whenever he brought up Jake, but he always listened to me when I told him Jake was probably somewhere nearby, waiting 'til his cuts and bruises healed. He wouldn't want to let anyone in town see him before that. Jake's a good guy, but he's always been a little into his looks.
What I told Jimmy was true. What I didn't tell Jimmy was that I had an inkling as to where our sheriff had scampered off to. He was still at the hunting cabin, just outside of town. Recuperating. I know because Hawkins was out there too, standing guard the whole time. I saw his wife coming back and forth from that direction out of town, and it would be just like Hawkins to set up a twenty-four-hour guard on a fugitive who was no longer wanted. Hawkins is a good cop, we were lucky to have him, but he goes overboard sometimes. All that time in St. Louis I think. I once saw him shoot at a squirrel that surprised him in his backyard.
So I have no doubt that's where they both were, out at the Greens' hunting cabin, biding their time. That's why, when Jake came back into town after three weeks, he was in for a bigger shock than the rest of us, who'd had a week already to adjust to the big news the mayor sprung on us. It shocked everyone of course, but it was especially hard on Jake, since it hit so close to home for him.
It was two weeks after the liberation that Gray Anderson and Gail Green stood outside town hall and announced to the crowd gathered on the lawn that they intended to be married. The gasps heard across Main Street were louder than when Gracie Leigh's murder was first discovered, when New Bern's war crimes were first denounced, and when Beck declared the town to be in open insurrection combined. There had been rumours, of course, in the preceding two weeks. Jimmy Taylor had observed Gray whistling as he walked the halls at work, April Green remarked to herself one evening that her mother-in-law had a new bounce in her step, and numerous reports of the pair appearing together in public, holding hands in some accounts, began to surface, coming from a range of reliable witnesses. From Sean Henthorn to Harry Carmichael, Trish Merrick to Kenchy Dhuwalia, everyone knew something was going on. Still, this knowledge did not prepare the town for the news Gray Anderson divulged that day in front of town hall.
I was there the day Jake stumbled back into town, a little dazed and confused but with a face no longer marked by questionable interrogation methods. Jimmy was the one who broke the news to him. I think it's safe to say Jake Green never heard anything so shocking in his whole life. He turned white and stammered, "Gray? Anderson? Marrying Gail Green? As in, my mother? Gail - Green - my mother?"
"Yeah," said Jimmy with an affable smile. "We all thought it was kind of weird at first too, but they say they're happy. I've never seen Gray so excited, about every little thing that goes on. Love just changes everything, doesn't it?"
"Love?" Jake croaked. "That's what you think - what about Mom? What does she say about all this? She can't have decided to -"
"Your mom's the one who invited the whole town to come to the wedding."
At these words, Jake ran a hand over his face, nearly shaking with an effort to contain his chagrin.
Jimmy noticed this, and attempted a consolatory tone. "And she's really excited about it, I hear. She's got your sister-in-law planning a menu, and the Richmonds helping with transportation, and Eric's on security detail -"
"Eric?" gasped Jake with a fresh look of horror. "He's going along with this?"
Jimmy cleared his throat, looking down and smudging the dirt on the ground with his foot as he talked. "Well, he isn't really in a position to judge, after the way your mom was so accepting and supportive of his choices. And I guess he felt he owed Gray, considering how the mayor helped him out when he wanted to get married..."
"That wasn't the same thing!" growled Jake. "That was - we're supposed to look out for Mom. No matter how helpful Gray's been in securing Eric's happy home life. I can't believe he let this happen! I'm gone for two weeks, and he lets something like this slip by!"
"Jake, calm down..." Jimmy tried to say, even though it would obviously be of no use. Jake was seething, and his look of wild disconcertment was transforming to a more dangerous look of determination.
"Well, I'm not going to let it slip by! There's still time to fix this, and he is going to help, if he values his reputation in this town at all!"
"Actually, I'm not sure Eric's really worried about that anymore -" Jimmy began, but Jake was already storming away.
Evidently, Jake did not succeed in convincing his brother to help stop their mother's wedding, nor did he manage to make his mother see reason or follow through with the threats he made to his stepfather-to-be. The day of the wedding, Jake Green stood lurking in the back of the church, leaning against a wall, his arms folded across his chest and his expression sullen.
Other than the dark shadow in the back of the church, it was a magical wedding. The bride walked down the aisle with her younger son's arm in hers. The groom stood at the front of the church, distinguished in his best suit, but it was really his beaming face that stood out, as he lit up at the sight of his intended.
The church was packed with townspeople, sitting close together, but all were hushed as the couple exchanged vows they'd penned themselves, some people tearing up at the message about finding comfort in difficult times and seeing the silver lining in a dense, dark fog. Gray spoke about his hope for the future with his new wife and her family. Gail spoke about the love for their town that had brought them together to begin with. The church broke out in applause when Reverend Young pronounced them husband and wife and Gray dipped Gail for a kiss. Only those in the back of the church heard the loud sound of disgust coming from the corner.
As the happy couple processed out of the church, the jubilant guests quickly pressed behind them, and Jake was completely swallowed up in the swell of the crowd. As the gathering spilled out onto the street outside, Jake found himself riding a wave of people. He scowled and crossed his arms as he was jostled on either side.
The crowd clapped as the door opened and the wedding party - the bride's son, daughters-in-law, and grandchild, and the groom's deputy and head engineer, filed out into the streaming sunlight. As the beaming couple stepped over the threshold, streams of white cascaded down on either side of them, forming an archway and twisting in the summer breeze. The audience who had gathered exclaimed and clapped harder. Gray Anderson's eyes had gone wide, and in the second it took him to realize that it was toilet paper descending from the roof, he became infuriated.
"Oh, they've just taken it too far!" he growled, looking around wildly for the culprits. "On our wedding day! Our wedding day!"
Smiling, Gail patted his arm. The crowd seemed oblivious to what was happening around and above them, but Gray continued to seethe. "I can't believe it. Today of all days! I thought my security detail was supposed to keep them away."
The bride's smile turned apologetic. "Well, I invited them."
"You invited them?" he sputtered, flabbergasted, as cheerful well-wishers pushed in on either side of them, reaching to shake their hands.
Gail shrugged. "I used to babysit Dale, and Skylar is your best friend's daughter."
"But..." Gray trailed off helplessly. "The Devil's Duo. At our wedding. I should have known something like this would happen..."
Gail pressed a quick kiss to her new husband's cheek. "Look around. No one else is upset. They think it's part of the wedding." She gave a soft chuckle.
Indeed, the friends and townspeople were still exclaiming over the outdoor decorations, and Gray's new family was pressing in around him. Eric shook his hand heartily, April and Mary hugged their mother-in-law, and Gray couldn't help but smile as he took his new step-grandchild from Trish. The baby was watching the streaming toilet paper with big eyes, and Gray chuckled at her expression. He really didn't have any reason to complain on this day, even if the Devil's Duo had indeed decided to leave their mark on the blessed event and most important day of his life. He waved at the crowd of revelers, handed the baby to April, and wrapped his arm around Gail as they walked, in the midst of their family, towards the car that would take the newlyweds away. There was only one member of the Green family who did not join in this joyful procession, as he was standing across the yard, leaning against the church wall, his hands in his pockets and a grimace on his face.
Jake continued to scowl as his mother and her husband, and his brother and his wives, talked and laughed their way to the car. His stony expression only broke into a chuckle when Gray Anderson let out a yelp, discovering that in addition to paper flowers and a 'Just Married' sign, his car was now adorned with the letters DD, spelled out in shaving cream across the rear window.
Jake did not seem to warm up to the idea of his new family, or new family member rather, in the weeks that followed the wedding. He was often observed around town, distractedly going about his duties as sheriff, often skulking around the streets at all hours, his hands in his pockets, muttering to himself.
The few times he came into the office, he couldn't seem to pay attention to the reports Jimmy made or the paperwork I pointed out to him. We could never quite catch what he was mumbling about, but Jimmy thought maybe he'd heard the words 'father' and 'betrayal'.
I got to observe Jake and his dark mood first hand when we went on a patrol together one day. It was a beautiful summer day, without a cloud in the sky, but anyone who saw Jake's grim expression would guess he lived in a world dominated by gray clouds. Jimmy was always going on about being sensitive to people's feelings, so I tried to get him to talk about whatever was making him so gloomy.
As we stepped into Gracie's Market, I asked, "Is it bothering you, to have to share you mother with yet another family member?"
Jake just grunted as we stepped through the crowd, in time to see Dale and Skylar laughing from behind the counter as Fred Ogden jumped from one foot to another, singing "I'm a little teapot, short and stout..."
Jake did not even seem particularly interested as I lectured the Devil's Duo about the kinds of fees they could exact for their goods and services. He merely handed the red faced Fred the pound of oats he had been trying to earn, and let out a world weary sigh.
Crossing Twelfth Street, I suggested, "It always takes some adjustment time when something changes. And we've had a lot of changes over the past year, haven't we? Maybe you should go easier on yourself."
Jake walked with his hands in his pockets, looking down at his feet as he kicked at the dirt. Consequently, I was the only one who noticed the two figures, their arms full of what seemed like machine parts, flit around the side of the pharmacy and into the alley as we approached. They were fast, but I caught a flash of dark hair, and after four years as the equipment manager for the Jericho Marauders' football team, I'd know those shoulders anywhere.
"Stanley and Mimi!" I said. "Again!" I'd been trying to warn my boss for weeks that there was something suspicious about our long time friend and the strange woman he was living with, the way I'd see them turn up in odd places in town, and the way they'd dash away as fast as they could. I knew there was a sinister secret, a deeper story going on, but Jake only glanced up from the ground with an air of indifference.
"They were just here! They're up to something, I swear!"
Jake merely mumbled something that sounded like, "He's up to something," and continued to kick at the dirt.
Investigating reports of an incident at the school, which turned out to be kids playing with the sprinkler system, I said, "Maybe you should talk to Eric. Work your way through it together. You've known each other your whole lives. He's your brother! You can talk to him."
Jake shook his head gloomily. "He doesn't have anything but nice things to say about it," he muttered.
"Well, you don't know that for sure," I countered. "Why don't you talk to him? You're going over tonight, right? For that barbecue your mother invited you to?"
Jake scowled, though it had been common knowledge in the office, ever since Gail had stopped by to casually invite him to join the whole family for a barbecue out at the ranch. Jimmy and I suspected she'd invited him in front of us so there were witnesses who could urge him to go. Now, he gave a non-committal shrug.
"Well, it's not like you have to - oh, hi Heather," I said, as I nearly bumped into Heather on her way into the office we were leaving. "How's it going?"
"Oh, I'm - good. I am good," she stammered, though she didn't really look too 'good' as she struggled with a pile of papers. Her face was flushed and she was glancing back and forth between myself and Jake.
Jake remained silent, as though lost in thought, while I offered, "Do you need any help with those?"
Heather's face took on a wistful look for a moment, but she rearranged it quickly. "I don't need anyone's help." I was a little taken aback by her emphatic tone, but she quickly softened her face. "Thanks anyway."
"Don't mention it," I said as she continued with her pile of paper. I looked back at Jake. Jake was staring at a row of lockers. I tried to cover my shock at his sedateness. I'd never known Jake Green to be able to resist jumping to someone's aid and playing the hero, at least the Jake Green of the past year and a half. Now, he only glanced forlornly at the damsel-not-in-distress' retreating figure.
"So, that barbecue," I said awkwardly, swinging my hands together. It was an awkward moment.
Jake obviously didn't want to go, but I convinced him to get in the cruiser without much protest. As I drove, I pointed to things outside the windows. The group of children playing in the street. The fields of ripening wheat, swaying in the breeze. The newly repaved roads. Jake barely acknowledged any of it as we drove out to the Greens' ranch, or the commune as it was more often referred to in town.
Most people who went out to the commune in those days remarked that it had hanging over it a happy, infectious spirit that left them feeling lighthearted after their visit. As we got out of the car and went around to the backyard, where Gail and Gray were setting up a table for an outdoor feast, I couldn't help but feel it, but I also noticed that Jake seemed immune. He ignored his new stepfather's greetings, nodded a curt hello to his mother, and skulked around the chair where Trish sat, rocking the baby, to sink into his own folding chair.
I followed him, exchanging more pleasant greetings with Gray, Gail, and unfortunately, Trish, who it seemed was smiling and staring at me just a little too much for a married woman. I didn't blame the poor kid, though. I knew she must get a little homesick for the big city, where she came from. She must have still been getting used to ranch life with its 'early to bed, early to rise' ethos, not to mention the sounds and oh-so fragrant smells. I politely nodded and smiled back, before quickly turning to the mayor and his wife.
"So, enjoying married life?" I asked.
Gail and Gray turned to smile at each other. I could hear Jake shifting in his chair beside me, no doubt crossing his arms and looking away in disgust.
"It's been lovely. Lemonade?" asked Gail, sitting down and reaching for the glass pitcher.
I nodded graciously, and Gray silently offered his assistance. She passed the pitcher to him, and he poured a glass for me, and then one for her.
"I just never thought I could be so happy," he sighed, as he poured himself a glass. "And so lucky. To find love," he grinned at Gail, and then reached for the baby, pulling her onto his lap. "To be a part of this wonderful town. This wonderful family."
He smiled at Jake then, and we all turned to watch as Jake looked determinedly over at the house. I didn't expect him to say anything, so I was surprised when he said, "Where's Eric?"
"Oh, he's getting the food with the girls. They should all be down here in a moment," said Gail, sipping her lemonade.
As if on cue, we could hear laughter come from the side of the house, and I turned to see Eric, April and Mary making their way over to the table, April and Mary carrying bowls of salad and laughing about something, Eric balancing a huge tray of barbecued meat as he walked behind them. Everyone but Jake smiled as the trio approached.
Naturally, I got up to offer my assistance. "Bill, good to see you. Will you be joining us?" April asked, flashing her eyes at me and smiling invitingly.
"You're welcome to. We've got plenty to go around," added Mary, briefly touching my arm.
"Well, it all smells great," I said affably, to a round of giggles from them. Since Eric was standing behind them and screwing his face up with effort to balance his tray, I thought it best to step around them and help him.
It was only a few more steps to the table, and we set the plate down in the middle, to excited exclamations from everyone (except Jake). I took my seat again, and soon everyone was sitting in the chairs around the table, pouring glasses of lemonade and getting ready to eat.
"So how are things in town, Bill?" asked Eric, pulling his chair closer to the table.
I glanced at Jake. He was my boss after all. He was studying his plate very intently. "They're good. Everyone's enjoying their ASA free existence. How are things going for you guys?"
Eric shrugged with a small smile. "Can't complain." His wives broke out in chuckles again.
"No, we really can't. We've had wonderful weather," said April. She smiled at Mary.
"Business is great," added Mary, returning the smile before turning to her step-father-in-law. "And Ruby is getting so big so fast. Have you ever seen such a beautiful baby?"
Baby Ruby took this opportunity to let out a giggle and the entire table (except Jake) laughed themselves. Her proud step-grandfather bounced her on his knee and she giggled again.
April reached across Eric to pat Mary's arm. "Yours is going to be just as beautiful. And oh! Tell them, about what happened today!"
Mary grinned. "We felt the first kick!"
Around the table, everyone exclaimed, offered excited predictions on everything about the next baby Green, from whether it would be a girl or boy to whether it would have Eric's eyes or Mary's hair. Eric chuckled at his stepfather's predictions that Ruby and the baby would be troublemaking deputy mayor's children, just like their father and uncle before them. They both looked at Jake, who flashed them a murderous look before putting his lemonade glass to his mouth.
Eric turned back to Gray, reminding him that if the baby was indeed a girl, he'd be expected to attend some tea parties at the commune pretty soon. I laughed along with everyone else, though declined an offer to feel the baby's kicking, and sipped my lemonade, thinking that my plan to get Jake to work through his issues with Eric wasn't going swimmingly. Eric was adjusting pretty well to his mother's new marriage, and to the new father figure in his life. He was really being downright helpful, helping arrange the wedding and inviting Gray into his family's life. Of course, it wasn't very surprising Eric was being supportive of this marriage. There was a time Gray helped him out a lot...
To be continued