The Topsail Accord (19 page)
“
Because I loved him, and he loved me, and then it didn’t work out. It couldn’t work out for us.”
Because I loved him, and he loved me, and then it didn’t work out. It couldn’t work out for us.”
“
So? That doesn’t answer my question. Why are you helping him with Shannon?”
So? That doesn’t answer my question. Why are you helping him with Shannon?”
“
Because I know what it’s like to have his love, and I know what’s like to not have his love. I know that he’s been lonely for too damn long, and that Shannon might be the one person that can make him smile again. I hadn’t seen him smile until he told me about her. Hadn’t seen him smile in nearly twenty years. You see a lot of suffering in your work. I see a tiny little bit of it through volunteer work and charity like this. But you see it every day. You see all those fathers and brothers and people left behind who have to watch the agony and pretend and be strong for their sick loved one. Well Joe has been sick for twenty years. He doesn’t even know it. And Shannon is good for him. He’s hurt and thinks that she thinks poorly of him. I don’t think he wants another chance. But I do know that it’s important to him that Shannon knows the truth and not think poorly of him.”
Because I know what it’s like to have his love, and I know what’s like to not have his love. I know that he’s been lonely for too damn long, and that Shannon might be the one person that can make him smile again. I hadn’t seen him smile until he told me about her. Hadn’t seen him smile in nearly twenty years. You see a lot of suffering in your work. I see a tiny little bit of it through volunteer work and charity like this. But you see it every day. You see all those fathers and brothers and people left behind who have to watch the agony and pretend and be strong for their sick loved one. Well Joe has been sick for twenty years. He doesn’t even know it. And Shannon is good for him. He’s hurt and thinks that she thinks poorly of him. I don’t think he wants another chance. But I do know that it’s important to him that Shannon knows the truth and not think poorly of him.”
“
I see,” Cara says.
I see,” Cara says.
“
So let me repeat it, let me tell you twice, since you had to ask twice. I’m here helping him because I love him and I believe in love and I know what him not believing in love can do to him. For a few days there he believed in love again. He just has to believe in love,” Danny said.
So let me repeat it, let me tell you twice, since you had to ask twice. I’m here helping him because I love him and I believe in love and I know what him not believing in love can do to him. For a few days there he believed in love again. He just has to believe in love,” Danny said.
Shannon
“
It’s all legit. Everything.”
It’s all legit. Everything.”
“
Everything?” Shannon asks. She looks out across Lake Erie, towards infinity, or at least towards Canada.
Everything?” Shannon asks. She looks out across Lake Erie, towards infinity, or at least towards Canada.
“
Yes,” Cara answers.
Yes,” Cara answers.
They turn the corner from the grassy fields at Wendy Park to the thin causeway that leads hundreds of yards out into the Cleveland Harbor towards the abandoned Coast Guard Station. They walk in silence as they come closer and closer to its small lighthouse, and to the separate larger lighthouse that guards the entrance to the Cuyahoga River.
“
I’m thinking about buying this,” Shannon says.
I’m thinking about buying this,” Shannon says.
“
What are you thinking about buying?” Cara asks.
What are you thinking about buying?” Cara asks.
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This old abandoned Coast Guard Station,” Shannon answers.
This old abandoned Coast Guard Station,” Shannon answers.
“
How do you go about buying an abandoned Coast Guard Station that sits at the end of a crumbling causeway that connects it to a garbage dump?” Cara asks.
How do you go about buying an abandoned Coast Guard Station that sits at the end of a crumbling causeway that connects it to a garbage dump?” Cara asks.
“
You give your congressman a hundred grand for his campaign, then you submit a bid to whichever government agency he tells you to, then you agree to spend at least a million dollars to restore it, and then you give another hundred grand to some lawyers who distribute it to people unknown and another 100k to the mayor and some councilmen and then some more to the EPA so they won’t declare the “dump” as you call it a Super-fund site and then several other wads of cash to several union bosses so they’ll send you workers to clean it all up. That’s how you do it,” Shannon says.
You give your congressman a hundred grand for his campaign, then you submit a bid to whichever government agency he tells you to, then you agree to spend at least a million dollars to restore it, and then you give another hundred grand to some lawyers who distribute it to people unknown and another 100k to the mayor and some councilmen and then some more to the EPA so they won’t declare the “dump” as you call it a Super-fund site and then several other wads of cash to several union bosses so they’ll send you workers to clean it all up. That’s how you do it,” Shannon says.
“
Sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into it,” Cara says.
Sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into it,” Cara says.
“
Actually, I’ve already bought it. The renovations start in about a month.”
Actually, I’ve already bought it. The renovations start in about a month.”
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You’re going to live out here? By yourself? What about the people from the park?”
You’re going to live out here? By yourself? What about the people from the park?”
“
I’ll have a good lock, and a fence with a gate in it. I’m going to keep the walkway open so people can come out here and fish whenever they want.”
I’ll have a good lock, and a fence with a gate in it. I’m going to keep the walkway open so people can come out here and fish whenever they want.”
“
Are you going to be armed when you come and go from your very very extremely isolated practically remote new home?”
Are you going to be armed when you come and go from your very very extremely isolated practically remote new home?”
“
I’ll have my dog, and my phone. It’s been enough so far.”
I’ll have my dog, and my phone. It’s been enough so far.”
“
It’s been enough because you aren’t living in an abandoned Coast Guard station that is at least two miles from the nearest human,” Cara says.
It’s been enough because you aren’t living in an abandoned Coast Guard station that is at least two miles from the nearest human,” Cara says.
“
No. But I live alone out in the country at least a mile from the nearest human,” Shannon answered. “I’ve been okay so far.”
No. But I live alone out in the country at least a mile from the nearest human,” Shannon answered. “I’ve been okay so far.”
“
You have a point,” Cara says.
You have a point,” Cara says.
They approach her new home.
“
How long will it take to finish the renovations?”
How long will it take to finish the renovations?”
“
I could move in right now if I wanted, if I had a generator and a tent. But it’ll take about two years altogether.”
I could move in right now if I wanted, if I had a generator and a tent. But it’ll take about two years altogether.”
“
Can you afford this?” Cara asks.
Can you afford this?” Cara asks.
“
Yes. The wells are still producing more gas and more oil and thus more money than I know what to do with. I’ve funded the lab, funded your research, bought the beach house and cottage, made college trusts for all the kids. I can afford it, and then some.”
Yes. The wells are still producing more gas and more oil and thus more money than I know what to do with. I’ve funded the lab, funded your research, bought the beach house and cottage, made college trusts for all the kids. I can afford it, and then some.”
“
Who would believe a geologist would be one of the richest women in Ohio?” Cara asks.
Who would believe a geologist would be one of the richest women in Ohio?” Cara asks.
“
In the country I think. I got lucky is all. Who knew there would be a natural gas deposit in the shale under dad’s farm. And oil too. You know, you could drill a well on the land he gave you too. You could tap into the same deposit,” Shannon says.
In the country I think. I got lucky is all. Who knew there would be a natural gas deposit in the shale under dad’s farm. And oil too. You know, you could drill a well on the land he gave you too. You could tap into the same deposit,” Shannon says.
“
One millionaire in the family is enough don’t you think?” Cara asks.
One millionaire in the family is enough don’t you think?” Cara asks.
“
If you say so,” Shannon says.
If you say so,” Shannon says.
“
At least we know Joe’s not after your money,” Cara says.
At least we know Joe’s not after your money,” Cara says.
“
We do?”
We do?”
“
Yes. He’s worth north of a hundred million. Even though he gives half his corporate profits to the foundation each year.”
Yes. He’s worth north of a hundred million. Even though he gives half his corporate profits to the foundation each year.”
“
Half?”
Half?”
“
Half.”
Half.”
“
Did I do him wrong?” Shannon asks.
Did I do him wrong?” Shannon asks.
“
I don’t know honey. But maybe he didn’t do you as wrong as you thought. Everything Danny told me checked out. I followed up with the family of that little girl, and with the doctors at UNCW, and on everything. He was telling the truth.”
I don’t know honey. But maybe he didn’t do you as wrong as you thought. Everything Danny told me checked out. I followed up with the family of that little girl, and with the doctors at UNCW, and on everything. He was telling the truth.”
“
That’s only half the problem,” Shannon says.
That’s only half the problem,” Shannon says.
“
What’s the other half?”
What’s the other half?”
“
That he didn’t tell me in the first place. That he either didn’t just invite me or tell me where he was going and what he was doing up front. I would have been perfectly fine if he had told me he was chairing a board meeting for Caitlin’s Foundation and that he was going to visit the sick children. I even would have been perfectly fine if he had told me that his high school sweetheart, who happens to be a beautiful celebrity, was going to be his date for the night.”
That he didn’t tell me in the first place. That he either didn’t just invite me or tell me where he was going and what he was doing up front. I would have been perfectly fine if he had told me he was chairing a board meeting for Caitlin’s Foundation and that he was going to visit the sick children. I even would have been perfectly fine if he had told me that his high school sweetheart, who happens to be a beautiful celebrity, was going to be his date for the night.”
“
Really?” Cara asks.
Really?” Cara asks.
“
Really. He wouldn’t have had to go through sending an envoy and making a donation just to clear up the misunderstanding if he had been more direct in the beginning.”
Really. He wouldn’t have had to go through sending an envoy and making a donation just to clear up the misunderstanding if he had been more direct in the beginning.”
“
Would you give him another chance?” Cara asks.
Would you give him another chance?” Cara asks.
“
I don’t know. I’m thinking about it. The thing is, I don’t know whether he wants another chance. He sent Danny and his message and his money, but I haven’t heard anything else from him.”
I don’t know. I’m thinking about it. The thing is, I don’t know whether he wants another chance. He sent Danny and his message and his money, but I haven’t heard anything else from him.”
“
I don’t actually think he sent Danny.”
I don’t actually think he sent Danny.”
“
What?”
What?”
“
I think she came on her own, and because of the family of the girl.”
I think she came on her own, and because of the family of the girl.”
“
No way.”
No way.”
“
Didn’t you tell him not to get in touch with you?”
Didn’t you tell him not to get in touch with you?”
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Yes.”
Yes.”
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So isn’t he doing exactly what you asked?”
So isn’t he doing exactly what you asked?”
“
Yes.”
Yes.”
“
Then isn’t the ball kind of in your court?” Cara asks.
Then isn’t the ball kind of in your court?” Cara asks.
“
Yes. I suppose it is.”
Yes. I suppose it is.”
“
You amaze me little sister. You can move mountains to arrange buying a Coast Guard station but you can’t even consider letting the man apologize about a molehill.”
You amaze me little sister. You can move mountains to arrange buying a Coast Guard station but you can’t even consider letting the man apologize about a molehill.”
“
Maybe I’ll drop in to the coffee shop in January. It’s not that far off,” Shannon says.
Maybe I’ll drop in to the coffee shop in January. It’s not that far off,” Shannon says.
“
It’s three months away. That’s a long time to make someone wait for an apology. Or for an opening. There might be someone else by then.”
It’s three months away. That’s a long time to make someone wait for an apology. Or for an opening. There might be someone else by then.”
“
I don’t think so. I don’t mean this arrogantly or anything, but I think it’s me or no-one. I think I’m his last or only hope.”
I don’t think so. I don’t mean this arrogantly or anything, but I think it’s me or no-one. I think I’m his last or only hope.”
“
Not even Danny?” Cara asks.
Not even Danny?” Cara asks.
“
I don’t think so.”
I don’t think so.”
“
Well then maybe you should stop at his coffee shop. For coffee, and a talk.”
Well then maybe you should stop at his coffee shop. For coffee, and a talk.”
“
I don’t owe him anything,” Shannon says.
I don’t owe him anything,” Shannon says.
“
I didn’t say you did. And you’re right. You don’t owe anyone anything. We went through the whole ‘you owe me’ thing with your ex. You owe me a child, you owe me a wifely duty, you owe me happiness. We went through all that. He was wrong, and I know what it did to you. And you’re right to never want to go through that again. And you’re right that you don’t owe him anything. Since you don’t owe him anything it would be a gift, just a nice little gift for you to drop in and see him. For coffee. That’s how it started the first time right? With coffee?”
I didn’t say you did. And you’re right. You don’t owe anyone anything. We went through the whole ‘you owe me’ thing with your ex. You owe me a child, you owe me a wifely duty, you owe me happiness. We went through all that. He was wrong, and I know what it did to you. And you’re right to never want to go through that again. And you’re right that you don’t owe him anything. Since you don’t owe him anything it would be a gift, just a nice little gift for you to drop in and see him. For coffee. That’s how it started the first time right? With coffee?”
“
Yes. He bumped into me in the fog and spilled my coffee. Then he poured out the rest.”
Yes. He bumped into me in the fog and spilled my coffee. Then he poured out the rest.”
“
So maybe you should go into his coffee shop and pour some coffee on the floor and ask him to bring you more. Who knows, a hundred years from now that might be like shaking hands. You walk up to someone and pour out their coffee.”
So maybe you should go into his coffee shop and pour some coffee on the floor and ask him to bring you more. Who knows, a hundred years from now that might be like shaking hands. You walk up to someone and pour out their coffee.”
“
Doubt it,” Shannon says. They both chuckle.
Doubt it,” Shannon says. They both chuckle.
“
Have you noticed that we always walk near lighthouses?” Cara asks.
Have you noticed that we always walk near lighthouses?” Cara asks.
They look out from Shannon’s new home to the round white lighthouse a few hundred yards away at the mouth of the river.
“
Yes. I like lighthouses.”
Yes. I like lighthouses.”
“
They guide people through the fog,” Cara says.
They guide people through the fog,” Cara says.
Shannon
The late August morning is cool and still, the heat will come later, and with it the humidity. Cara and Shannon are walking around their father’s farm before all the nieces and nephews wake up. As always, they both have their coffee.
The beans are waist high, the corn is over head. It will be hot, but not as hot as the hottest days of July, so it is bearable. After walking all the way to the back fence line they turn to walk along the back, where two of the natural gas heads and one of the oil pumps are located.
“
Imagine how his life, how all our lives would have been different if he had found this when we were younger,” Shannon says.
Imagine how his life, how all our lives would have been different if he had found this when we were younger,” Shannon says.
“
I think he knew, and that he didn’t want it,” Cara says. “For him, or for us. I remember asking him why he never bought lottery tickets. And he said that kind of money was ‘life-wrecking’ money.”
I think he knew, and that he didn’t want it,” Cara says. “For him, or for us. I remember asking him why he never bought lottery tickets. And he said that kind of money was ‘life-wrecking’ money.”
“
Why do you think he knew?”
Why do you think he knew?”
“
I just think he knew. I remember him telling me about the coal mines in southern Ohio, and about the first oil wells over in Titusville. It’s just a hundred miles from here. And him telling me that we had the same geology here, just maybe a little deeper because it hadn’t been pushed up like the hills had been over there. Said the same ocean had been right here for the same amount of time and then the same glaciers and then the same warm ocean again. So I think he knew. At least on a theoretical level.”
I just think he knew. I remember him telling me about the coal mines in southern Ohio, and about the first oil wells over in Titusville. It’s just a hundred miles from here. And him telling me that we had the same geology here, just maybe a little deeper because it hadn’t been pushed up like the hills had been over there. Said the same ocean had been right here for the same amount of time and then the same glaciers and then the same warm ocean again. So I think he knew. At least on a theoretical level.”
“
He was happy for me when I found it,” Shannon said.
He was happy for me when I found it,” Shannon said.
“
We all were. I suppose he thought you would be able to handle it. That he raised us right or something.”
We all were. I suppose he thought you would be able to handle it. That he raised us right or something.”
The sisters walk beneath the green and dusty boughs that are laden with their late summer leaves. Early morning grasshoppers are too wet and too stunned by the cool to fly away as they approach.
“
John could catch those grasshoppers and catch some bass for dinner,” Cara says.
John could catch those grasshoppers and catch some bass for dinner,” Cara says.
“
Yes. Let’s tell him when we get back. Maybe he can show the younger kids how to do it,” Shannon answers.
Yes. Let’s tell him when we get back. Maybe he can show the younger kids how to do it,” Shannon answers.
“
He used to love to fish with his grandpa,” Cara says.
He used to love to fish with his grandpa,” Cara says.
“
And with Rick,” Shannon says. She rarely uses her ex’s name. “Rick showed John how to hook the grasshopper and then how to flick it out into the pond. They would sit down there and fish and talk about football. I think he liked John more than he liked me,” Shannon says.
And with Rick,” Shannon says. She rarely uses her ex’s name. “Rick showed John how to hook the grasshopper and then how to flick it out into the pond. They would sit down there and fish and talk about football. I think he liked John more than he liked me,” Shannon says.
“
John is pretty easy to like.”
John is pretty easy to like.”
Shannon shoves her sister lightly.
“
It was hard on John,” Cara says. “My husband is a guy, but he’s not a tough-guy like Rick.”
It was hard on John,” Cara says. “My husband is a guy, but he’s not a tough-guy like Rick.”
“
Yeah being a lawyer isn’t quite the same thing as being a federal agent, at least not in the eyes of a kid.”
Yeah being a lawyer isn’t quite the same thing as being a federal agent, at least not in the eyes of a kid.”
“
Federal Agent. That’s right. That’s how he used to describe himself. Even though he was a regulator for the EPA. So I guess technically he was a Federal Agent.”
Federal Agent. That’s right. That’s how he used to describe himself. Even though he was a regulator for the EPA. So I guess technically he was a Federal Agent.”
“
John liked to think Rick was a secret agent. So we never let him think otherwise. Eventually we would have told him, or he would have grown out of it.”
John liked to think Rick was a secret agent. So we never let him think otherwise. Eventually we would have told him, or he would have grown out of it.”
“
They sure liked football,” Cara says.
They sure liked football,” Cara says.
“
I think that’s why John stuck with it all these years. I’m not sure he really likes it all that much himself. But he knows Rick loved it, especially college football. He’d get all twitchy this time of year, late in August, when high school practices and college practices were going and the NFL pre-season was underway and the Buckeyes had a chance to be national champions. I can still see the two of them sitting in the kitchen playing Nintendo or Xbox or whatever it was, playing football. Rick used to let him win when he was little, but then as he got older John used to let Rick win. It was quite a role reversal.”
I think that’s why John stuck with it all these years. I’m not sure he really likes it all that much himself. But he knows Rick loved it, especially college football. He’d get all twitchy this time of year, late in August, when high school practices and college practices were going and the NFL pre-season was underway and the Buckeyes had a chance to be national champions. I can still see the two of them sitting in the kitchen playing Nintendo or Xbox or whatever it was, playing football. Rick used to let him win when he was little, but then as he got older John used to let Rick win. It was quite a role reversal.”
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