details of a building or landmark or lessons on astronomy as they gazed at the summer night sky. Ellen, who was younger by two years and not in the least interested in astronomy or anything remotely related to school, had invariably ended up getting into some kind of trouble.
When ALS had confined Rebecca’s mother to a wheelchair and a rest home, their family outings had become trips to the cafeteria there or “picnics” in Gabrielle’s room. The tradition had passed away with Gabrielle Bradshaw, not to be resurrected until years later.
All these memories stirred restlessly inside Rebecca as the three of them drove into the parking lot at Captain Jack’s Great Fun Place. In the backseat Justin jabbered incessantly about the intricacies of playing catch with a real fielder’s glove and a real ball player. Hugh kept trying to turn the conversation toward the progress he and Jace had made on his latest electronic device. Rebecca managed to nod and make monosyllabic comments at appropriate intervals. She parked her Honda next to a strangely familiar-looking black DeSoto that was at least as old as she was.
Located in an old brick warehouse, Captain Jack’s was a place that boasted something for everybody. The decor was a blend of eclectic and eccentric, with everything from mounted moose heads to Studebaker hubcaps lining the walls. The restaurant section overlooked the St. Joseph River. But Captain Jack’s was much more than a restaurant. There was an immense game room crammed with coin-operated rides and video games for children of all ages. Just off the game room was a dance floor where a huge, old-fashioned jukebox ablaze with neon lights stood on a raised dais.
The hostess, who was in buccaneer dress, gave Justin his complimentary King of the Pirates crown and led them toward a booth. As was usually the case on Saturday night, the place was crowded with families. The noise of people talking and eating along with the mechanical chatter of the games and the music from the jukebox combined to make a festive atmosphere. Rebecca ordered herself to shake off her melancholy mood and join in the fun.
They were more than halfway across the wood-planked floor of the dining room when she saw him—or rather, them. Jace and Muriel occupied a spacious corner booth. Rebecca’s heart picked up an irregular rhythm as the unlikely couple motioned for her family to join them.
“Look, Mom, it’s Uncle Jace and the cat lady!” Justin said excitedly, tugging on her hand.
“Sweetheart, please don’t call Mrs. Marquardt ‘the cat lady,’” Rebecca said wearily. She suddenly felt exhausted from trying to escape Jace. It was clear he meant to remain a part of her life for the duration of his stay in Mishawaka. The smart thing would have been to resign herself to that fact.
“Gee, I thought that was Muriel’s old car in the parking lot,” Hugh said, the surprise in his voice about as genuine as wax fruit.
Rebecca was ready to make a biting comment about his having told Jace where they were going to be for the evening, but she stopped herself. Her father had a rather unusual sparkle in his eyes as he headed for the booth. Either she was hallucinating, or that was a blush blooming on his cheeks as he said hello to Muriel Marquardt.
Her father and Muriel Marquardt?
“I’m losing my mind,” she said conclusively.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, sweetheart,” Jace said, taking her hand and leading her to the booth. “All you need is a good pizza.”
She scowled at him. “This is not a date. If you call this a date, I’ll slug you.”
Jace shook his head, his blond hair tumbling into his eyes. “When did you develop this latent streak of violence?”
“When you came back to town.”
He took the audacious liberty of brushing a kiss over the tender spot just in front of her right ear as he handed her into the booth. “But, sweetheart, I’m a lover, not a fighter, remember?”
Did she remember? The urge to
When ALS had confined Rebecca’s mother to a wheelchair and a rest home, their family outings had become trips to the cafeteria there or “picnics” in Gabrielle’s room. The tradition had passed away with Gabrielle Bradshaw, not to be resurrected until years later.
All these memories stirred restlessly inside Rebecca as the three of them drove into the parking lot at Captain Jack’s Great Fun Place. In the backseat Justin jabbered incessantly about the intricacies of playing catch with a real fielder’s glove and a real ball player. Hugh kept trying to turn the conversation toward the progress he and Jace had made on his latest electronic device. Rebecca managed to nod and make monosyllabic comments at appropriate intervals. She parked her Honda next to a strangely familiar-looking black DeSoto that was at least as old as she was.
Located in an old brick warehouse, Captain Jack’s was a place that boasted something for everybody. The decor was a blend of eclectic and eccentric, with everything from mounted moose heads to Studebaker hubcaps lining the walls. The restaurant section overlooked the St. Joseph River. But Captain Jack’s was much more than a restaurant. There was an immense game room crammed with coin-operated rides and video games for children of all ages. Just off the game room was a dance floor where a huge, old-fashioned jukebox ablaze with neon lights stood on a raised dais.
The hostess, who was in buccaneer dress, gave Justin his complimentary King of the Pirates crown and led them toward a booth. As was usually the case on Saturday night, the place was crowded with families. The noise of people talking and eating along with the mechanical chatter of the games and the music from the jukebox combined to make a festive atmosphere. Rebecca ordered herself to shake off her melancholy mood and join in the fun.
They were more than halfway across the wood-planked floor of the dining room when she saw him—or rather, them. Jace and Muriel occupied a spacious corner booth. Rebecca’s heart picked up an irregular rhythm as the unlikely couple motioned for her family to join them.
“Look, Mom, it’s Uncle Jace and the cat lady!” Justin said excitedly, tugging on her hand.
“Sweetheart, please don’t call Mrs. Marquardt ‘the cat lady,’” Rebecca said wearily. She suddenly felt exhausted from trying to escape Jace. It was clear he meant to remain a part of her life for the duration of his stay in Mishawaka. The smart thing would have been to resign herself to that fact.
“Gee, I thought that was Muriel’s old car in the parking lot,” Hugh said, the surprise in his voice about as genuine as wax fruit.
Rebecca was ready to make a biting comment about his having told Jace where they were going to be for the evening, but she stopped herself. Her father had a rather unusual sparkle in his eyes as he headed for the booth. Either she was hallucinating, or that was a blush blooming on his cheeks as he said hello to Muriel Marquardt.
Her father and Muriel Marquardt?
“I’m losing my mind,” she said conclusively.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, sweetheart,” Jace said, taking her hand and leading her to the booth. “All you need is a good pizza.”
She scowled at him. “This is not a date. If you call this a date, I’ll slug you.”
Jace shook his head, his blond hair tumbling into his eyes. “When did you develop this latent streak of violence?”
“When you came back to town.”
He took the audacious liberty of brushing a kiss over the tender spot just in front of her right ear as he handed her into the booth. “But, sweetheart, I’m a lover, not a fighter, remember?”
Did she remember? The urge to
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