A Life for a Life by Lynda McDaniel (best selling autobiographies .txt) đ
- Author: Lynda McDaniel
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As though he could read Abitâs lips, Alex added, âI thought I might drive down again. At least Abit would be glad to see me.â
I didnât know how I felt about another visit from Alex, but the look on Abitâs face encouraged a welcome-mat response. âSure, come on down. But youâve got to give Abit a ride this timeâmaybe a long drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway to that restaurant I like.â I gave Abit a thumbs-up and said goodbye to Alex. We went back to work.
When Alex drove up, I walked over to say hi. I was getting to like the guy. We had a good talk about his Merc and other car things before he headed in to see Della. I had some stocking to do, so I followed.
I interrupted their big hug, but they didnât seem to mind. They even invited me to tag along on that dinner heâd promised Dellaâup on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Assuming Daddy agreed. Turned out he did, though he didnât seem crazy about the idea. But who cared, as long as he didnât say no. He gave me a twenty dollar bill and told me to bring him the change. I offered to use my own money, but he said to keep that safe.
We all piled in the Merc and drove up to a fancy place called the Inn at Jonas Mountain. Della sat in the back the whole way so I could really see where we was goinâ. I donât know when anybodyâs thought about me like that.
They talked back and forth from front to back, and they seemed to be getting along real good. They even included me and asked me what I thought. We talked about Gregg and Lucy, mostly bringing Alex up to date. But then we made a pact that when we got to the restaurant, we wouldnât talk about murder! I donât know why they werenât still marriedâbut I told myself to let sleepinâ dogs lie. I sure didnât want her leaving us to go live with him.
I ordered a hamburger because Mama never made anything like that, and it was the cheapest thing on the menu. Della said sheâd get her usualârainbow trout. It looked good, especially after they took the head off. Alex ordered a steak. I sorta wished Iâd got that, but I was happy with mine. They asked me if it were okay for them to order wine, and I laughed. I could tell they was thinking Mama might even have spies up here. But they was just making sure she didnât get the wrong idea, which was nice. We finished off our dinners by splitting pieces of German chocolate cake and straw- berry cheesecake. I couldnât believe they didnât mind eating after me.
And I couldnât believe I nodded off on the way back! Itâd gotten dark by then, and all that good food made me sleepy. They woke me a few minutes before we were home, so I wouldnât be too groggy to get up all them steps. I couldnât remember when Iâd had so much fun. And Alex picked up the tab. Daddy kinda grabbed the twenty dollar bill I handed back to him. But he wasnât being mean; he was relieved.
âI can see why you find this place so beguiling,â Alex said, catching his breath. Weâd gone on another hike around Laurel Falls, this time taking a trail that gave us an even better view of the falls. We were both a little out of breath by the time we reached the lookout. Too much store time for me. For Alex, who worked out most days, climbing steep trails used different muscles than his urban hikes on a NordicTrack.
âI love the way nature makes me feel,â I said. âEspecially this spring. The rains have brought out so many flowers and smells.â
Alex just nodded; I could tell he didnât want to disturb the peacefulness with chatter. We stood for a while, drinking in the beauty, until a loose dog, two noisy teenagers, and a couple of alleged parents took over the lookout. Jake didnât bother the poufy dog and followed us as we hiked farther into the woods.
We walked together in silence, enjoying the birds and the rhythmic sound of our boots on the pine needles. Out of the blue, he said, âI do miss you.â
I waited a beat before saying, âBy now, I even miss you.â
âOuch.â
âAnd I worry about you,â I said. âHow have things been, you know, since the debacle?â
âNot bad, really. I honestly didnât mean to plagiarize, and I have a new system in place that helps keep that from happening. Anything I type or handwrite from sources gets highlighted in yellow. That way I canât accidentally lift anything, thinking itâs my own. Iâve still got plenty of naysayers, but Iâm building a freelance business, and they trust me.â He paused. âAny chance youâre trusting me again, too?â
âYep, just like they doâwith research and writing.â
Alex planned to stay around a few more days, though I wasnât sure whyâhe couldnât do any research here, for me or his clients. But he hadnât taken time off in a while, at least not good time off. Heâd had plenty of downtime after he was fired, but that was different from a relaxing stay in the mountains.
The next morning, just as the percolator made its last gurgle, I heard a horn honk out front. I thought it was some impatient customer or someone who couldnât walk and needed help. I looked out the kitchen windows in time to see Abit climbing into Alexâs car, looking like kid on a field trip. I thought Alex was still in the bathroom, but he must have gotten up and out early.
Alex saw me standing in the window and walked over to the bottom of the stairs. I opened the door and stepped on to the landing. âWeâre off on a men-only drive!â he said. âAbit wants to see Mystery Hillâhe says balls roll uphill there, and now I want to see it, too. We should be back by lunch. Iâll bring a surprise.â
Just before one oâclock, I heard Alexâs car rattling its way home. I couldnât imagine they hadnât eaten yetâdinner was usually served next door no later than noon, so Mildred would be furious that Abit was late.
âI thought youâdâve eaten already,â I said, as they came through the front door. Alex, true to his word, carried several bags and Abit had a couple, as well.
âAh, you of little faith. We come bearing fine foods from Blowing Rockâs best home-cooking diner.â
âWe ate some in the car,â Abit added, âbut thereâs plenty left. Alex thinks we should all have a picnic. Including Daddy and Mama!â Abit was smiling like a bandit whoâd gotten away with the big haul, but I was pretty sure Mildred would be ready to spitâher dinner all for naught.
Turned out, Alex had called her from the road, so she wouldnât have to cook, for once. Abit went up to get his parents, and they came down the steps together, Vester looking like he was dragging Mildred to the picnic, and Mildred like she was dragging Vester. But we had a surprisingly good time together, sitting around the picnic table next to the store. We all tucked into fried catfish, coleslaw, green beans, hush puppies, and an assortment of home-baked pies. Jake was busy hoovering scraps and bits that werenât always accidentally dropped.
I had to hand it to Alex. The ultimate Yankee stranger had started to make inroads with those two, something I hadnât been able to do in over a year. I knew some of that involved the store purchase and Abitâs devotion, but still, Alex was doing me a favorâlife would be a little more civil at Coburnâs Country Store.
The next morning, Alex mentioned something about Abit asking a favor of him, and he wanted to oblige. Theyâd be gone most of the morningâthough this time he promised to be home in time for Abitâs dinner. They also planned to go out again afterwards.
âReally? Where are you going this time?â I asked. I couldnât imagine what they were up to.
âThis afternoon, Abit wants to show me the route of the Rolling Store. By the way, he gave me a tour inside that bus yesterday afternoon, and I was duly impressed. He and Duane are loading up tomorrow and heading out. I suppose I should do the same.â
I tried not to look disappointed. I just nodded and went back to making our breakfast. Alex showered and dressed, eating quickly before leaving for his road trip with Abit.
When I heard them pull up, just before noon, I stopped sweeping the floor and went to the window. I saw Alex get out of the car, but I didnât see Abit. Alex had picked up someone else and brought him to the store. I could say goodbye to good times if Mildred caught wind of this.
The door flew open and I heard, âHi Della. Waddaya think?â Abit twirled like a runway model in his new clothes. No overalls and flannel shirtâkhakis and an oxford-cloth sports shirt, instead. âAlex helped me pick these outâI used my own money. Come on, waddaya think?â
My throat felt tight, and I didnât trust my voice. He looked so grown up, ready for high school or even a job.
âYou donât like âem?â Abit said, his face falling.
Alex put a hand on Abitâs shoulder. âShe loves them, Abit. Give her a moment to take you in.â
I bent over to finish my sweeping, and while nudging the last bits into the dustpan, I managed, âAbit, you look wonderful.â By the time I stood up, I could add, âI didnât recognize you at first. I thought Alex had brought someone else home and your mother would skin us all alive, his leaving you in town.â
âGlad I donât look the same. This is the new me,â he said, twirling one more time.
Mystery Hill was a blast. I felt right at home thereâthe gravity being out of whack, and all. That was what a typical day used to feel like for me. Then we came home and had our family picnic, and Mama and Daddy actually seemed to have fun.
The next day, Alex took me shopping, and he helped me pick out shirts that didnât look too âpreppy,â as he called it. Said that wouldnât fly in Timbuktoo. Not sure what he was talking about, but I think he meant I wanted to look just local enough to not stand out. He and Della said they thought I looked pretty cool, and you know, I did too.
I wished I couldâve hung out and talked with them, but I was almost late for dinner. Mama told me to be
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