The Topsail Accord (8 page)
“
Certainly Dr. Patrick,” Joe says.
Certainly Dr. Patrick,” Joe says.
“
You know I’m a doctor?” Cara asks.
You know I’m a doctor?” Cara asks.
“
Yes.”
Yes.”
“
How could you possibly know that?” Cara asks.
How could you possibly know that?” Cara asks.
“
I googled ‘Shannon geologist Ohio shale oil’ so I could read up on Shannon.”
I googled ‘Shannon geologist Ohio shale oil’ so I could read up on Shannon.”
“
That’s kind of sneaky, checking up on her like that,” Cara says.
That’s kind of sneaky, checking up on her like that,” Cara says.
“
Sneaky? Rhymes with cheeky. But Shannon said I could. Even gave me the Google keywords. Told me she wanted me to know what I was getting into. Anyway, one of the articles mentioned her sister the famous cancer researcher and I followed the link and read up on you. You two are quite the pair.”
Sneaky? Rhymes with cheeky. But Shannon said I could. Even gave me the Google keywords. Told me she wanted me to know what I was getting into. Anyway, one of the articles mentioned her sister the famous cancer researcher and I followed the link and read up on you. You two are quite the pair.”
“
That’s not fair,” Cara says.
That’s not fair,” Cara says.
“
You could have Googled me,” Joe says.
You could have Googled me,” Joe says.
“
What would we have found?” Cara asks.
What would we have found?” Cara asks.
“
Wouldn’t want to spoil the discovery or lose my sense of mystery...”
Wouldn’t want to spoil the discovery or lose my sense of mystery...”
“
So what exactly are we doing?” Shannon asks.
So what exactly are we doing?” Shannon asks.
“
Some amateur archeology,” Joe says.
Some amateur archeology,” Joe says.
“
You’re joking,” Cara says.
You’re joking,” Cara says.
“
Not really. But yeah kinda sorta. This morning we are going to pick up trash,” Joe says.
Not really. But yeah kinda sorta. This morning we are going to pick up trash,” Joe says.
“
Really?”
Really?”
“
Really. Everyone out there owns one of these little businesses along here so we adopted this mile of highway and we pick up the trash every Friday. We go down to the little cemetery on one side and then we turn around and come back. The guy who runs the bait shop has a prosthetic leg so he drives my truck behind us with the four way flashers on. We can put bags in the back as they fill up.”
Really. Everyone out there owns one of these little businesses along here so we adopted this mile of highway and we pick up the trash every Friday. We go down to the little cemetery on one side and then we turn around and come back. The guy who runs the bait shop has a prosthetic leg so he drives my truck behind us with the four way flashers on. We can put bags in the back as they fill up.”
“
Is there a
reeee-son
why the business owners chose Friday?” Cara asks.
Is there a
reeee-son
why the business owners chose Friday?” Cara asks.
“
Good question. Very insightful Dr. Patrick. I can see that probing scientist mind of yours in action, always looking for a reason. So yes there is a particular reason. The incoming renters arrive on Saturday and Sunday, and we like to have the last mile before the bridge looking pristine. And, the outgoing renters leave on Saturday and Sunday so we also like them to see how clean things are here. We like making a good first and last impression.”
Good question. Very insightful Dr. Patrick. I can see that probing scientist mind of yours in action, always looking for a reason. So yes there is a particular reason. The incoming renters arrive on Saturday and Sunday, and we like to have the last mile before the bridge looking pristine. And, the outgoing renters leave on Saturday and Sunday so we also like them to see how clean things are here. We like making a good first and last impression.”
“
And being out there on Saturday morning wouldn’t work because there would be too much traffic and people would see the trash actually being picked, right?” Cara asks.
And being out there on Saturday morning wouldn’t work because there would be too much traffic and people would see the trash actually being picked, right?” Cara asks.
“
Insightful again. Yes. So I see that I’m not going to be able to get anything past either Shannon or her sister Cara,” Joe says.
Insightful again. Yes. So I see that I’m not going to be able to get anything past either Shannon or her sister Cara,” Joe says.
“
Were you planning on trying to get something past us?” Cara asks.
Were you planning on trying to get something past us?” Cara asks.
“
Cara!” Shannon says. “That’s enough you two. Please take your coffees and head to your respective corners...”
Cara!” Shannon says. “That’s enough you two. Please take your coffees and head to your respective corners...”
“
Thanks for the coffee. It really is quite good,” Cara says.
Thanks for the coffee. It really is quite good,” Cara says.
“
You are welcome. And now, without further ado, it is time to go pick some trash. I have trash bags and gloves and pickers in my truck, unless you brought your own.”
You are welcome. And now, without further ado, it is time to go pick some trash. I have trash bags and gloves and pickers in my truck, unless you brought your own.”
“
There’s more trash than I thought there would be,” Shannon says to Joe. “Are the renters really this careless or thoughtless?”
There’s more trash than I thought there would be,” Shannon says to Joe. “Are the renters really this careless or thoughtless?”
“
Sadly, I think most of this trash is from locals. The renters go onto the island and stay there for the week, maybe go down to Wilmington for something, or come in once or twice to buy souvenirs. And most of the renters are fairly well off and seem to have good manners. So, very sadly, most of this trash is from locals. They dump it and think they can get away with it by blaming it on the renters.”
Sadly, I think most of this trash is from locals. The renters go onto the island and stay there for the week, maybe go down to Wilmington for something, or come in once or twice to buy souvenirs. And most of the renters are fairly well off and seem to have good manners. So, very sadly, most of this trash is from locals. They dump it and think they can get away with it by blaming it on the renters.”
“
So I guess you are a little bit of a local cultural anthropologist then?” Shannon asks.
So I guess you are a little bit of a local cultural anthropologist then?” Shannon asks.
“
I wonder how many third dates have included commentary on being a ‘local cultural anthropologist’ while picking trash?” Joe asks.
I wonder how many third dates have included commentary on being a ‘local cultural anthropologist’ while picking trash?” Joe asks.
Joe and Shannon share a laugh.
“
Joe tells me you’re a doctor?” Joe’s sister says.
Joe tells me you’re a doctor?” Joe’s sister says.
“
Yes. I do cancer research in Cleveland.”
Yes. I do cancer research in Cleveland.”
“
That must be difficult, to watch people die like that,” Joe’s sister says.
That must be difficult, to watch people die like that,” Joe’s sister says.
“
Yes it is. But we do manage to save some.”
Yes it is. But we do manage to save some.”
“
My niece died of cancer,” Karen says abruptly.
My niece died of cancer,” Karen says abruptly.
“
I’m sorry,” Cara says. “Your niece?”
I’m sorry,” Cara says. “Your niece?”
“
Joe’s daughter. She’s buried up at the little cemetery where we turn around at the end of our mile.”
Joe’s daughter. She’s buried up at the little cemetery where we turn around at the end of our mile.”
“
That must’ve been hard.”
That must’ve been hard.”
“
It was hard on all of us. On his wife too.”
It was hard on all of us. On his wife too.”
“
His wife?”
His wife?”
“
Colleen was her name. She took it extremely hard. A lot of people blamed her, because she wouldn’t let her daughter get the latest treatment. She was a very fundamental Christian.”
Colleen was her name. She took it extremely hard. A lot of people blamed her, because she wouldn’t let her daughter get the latest treatment. She was a very fundamental Christian.”
“
Does Christianity include denying medicine to a sick child?” Cara asks.
Does Christianity include denying medicine to a sick child?” Cara asks.
“
Not my kind of Christianity,” Joe’s sister says.
Not my kind of Christianity,” Joe’s sister says.
“
Nor mine,” Cara answers.
Nor mine,” Cara answers.
“
She ended up killing herself. His wife. A year to the day after their daughter died. She’s buried in that little cemetery too. Her church wouldn’t bury her in their churchyard. Said suicide was a sin.”
She ended up killing herself. His wife. A year to the day after their daughter died. She’s buried in that little cemetery too. Her church wouldn’t bury her in their churchyard. Said suicide was a sin.”
“
When did all this happen?” Cara asks.
When did all this happen?” Cara asks.
“
Twenty years ago. By the way, my name is Karen,” Joe’s sister says. “If I’m going to be filling you in on Joe’s back story, perhaps we ought to call each other by our first names.”
Twenty years ago. By the way, my name is Karen,” Joe’s sister says. “If I’m going to be filling you in on Joe’s back story, perhaps we ought to call each other by our first names.”
“
Cara, nice to meet you. That is by far the most information I’ve ever received from someone whose name I did not know.”
Cara, nice to meet you. That is by far the most information I’ve ever received from someone whose name I did not know.”
“
I thought you needed to know, and I think Shannon needs to know.”
I thought you needed to know, and I think Shannon needs to know.”
“
Is that really up to us?” Cara asks.
Is that really up to us?” Cara asks.
“
Don’t tell me that you’re upset that I told you.”
Don’t tell me that you’re upset that I told you.”
“
I’m not. While in some circles that kind of data dump might be deemed inappropriate, in this compressed world of weekly rentals or monthly visits, I suppose there are different rules.”
I’m not. While in some circles that kind of data dump might be deemed inappropriate, in this compressed world of weekly rentals or monthly visits, I suppose there are different rules.”
“
Yes there are,” Karen says.
Yes there are,” Karen says.
Karen nods at Shannon and Joe walking a dozen yards ahead.
“
So what do you think of this? Is it going to be a problem?” Karen asks.
So what do you think of this? Is it going to be a problem?” Karen asks.
“
I don’t think so. She’s going back to Ohio in a few days. They’re both adults. But it is interesting to see her finally talking to someone again.”
I don’t think so. She’s going back to Ohio in a few days. They’re both adults. But it is interesting to see her finally talking to someone again.”
“
Oh?”
Oh?”
“
Yes. Since you’ve been so forthcoming, I suppose I can reciprocate, make this easy for you. This is the first time for her since her divorce. She’s gone on a few dates with people she met on eHarmony or match.com, but just lunch dates, or jogging dates. Nothing serious, no second dates, and certainly no third dates.”
Yes. Since you’ve been so forthcoming, I suppose I can reciprocate, make this easy for you. This is the first time for her since her divorce. She’s gone on a few dates with people she met on eHarmony or match.com, but just lunch dates, or jogging dates. Nothing serious, no second dates, and certainly no third dates.”
“
Joe either.”
Joe either.”
“
In twenty years? I imagine he’s had a
few
dates in that time. He is an attractive single man in a target rich environment.”
In twenty years? I imagine he’s had a
few
dates in that time. He is an attractive single man in a target rich environment.”
“
Yes, a few, but like you just described, no third dates. He runs, runs his coffee business, picks up trash, does some volunteer work, and that’s about it. Not a lot of dates.”
Yes, a few, but like you just described, no third dates. He runs, runs his coffee business, picks up trash, does some volunteer work, and that’s about it. Not a lot of dates.”
“
He is attractive,” Cara says.
He is attractive,” Cara says.
“
Yes. And Shannon is lovely. So lovely that a man was in the coffee shop asking about her the other day,” Joe’s sister says.
Yes. And Shannon is lovely. So lovely that a man was in the coffee shop asking about her the other day,” Joe’s sister says.
“
A man?”
A man?”
“
Yes. From Ohio like you. He didn’t offer that up but I saw his license plates when he went out to the parking lot.”
Yes. From Ohio like you. He didn’t offer that up but I saw his license plates when he went out to the parking lot.”
“
What did he want to know about my sister? Cara asks.
What did he want to know about my sister? Cara asks.
“
Just whether I knew the beautiful woman who walked on the beach near the One Tree Hill house. Said he’d seen her there while he was walking up to the pier from his rental.”
Just whether I knew the beautiful woman who walked on the beach near the One Tree Hill house. Said he’d seen her there while he was walking up to the pier from his rental.”
“
And did you know at that point?” Cara asks.
And did you know at that point?” Cara asks.
“
Actually I did know. But something about him wasn’t right so I told him I didn’t know who he meant.”
Actually I did know. But something about him wasn’t right so I told him I didn’t know who he meant.”
“
You did the right thing,” Cara says.
You did the right thing,” Cara says.
“
Oh?” Joe’s sister asks.
Oh?” Joe’s sister asks.
“
Yes. Her ex. He has peaks and valleys. And in the valleys he obsesses about her.”
Yes. Her ex. He has peaks and valleys. And in the valleys he obsesses about her.”
“
Does she know?”
Does she know?”
“
Not as much as I know,” Cara says.
Not as much as I know,” Cara says.
“
Is he dangerous?”
Is he dangerous?”
“
No. I don’t think so. I just think he’s lonely.”
No. I don’t think so. I just think he’s lonely.”
“
He didn’t remarry?”
He didn’t remarry?”
“
Twice already, and twice divorced. He got the kids he wanted but I don’t think he got the life he wanted.”
Twice already, and twice divorced. He got the kids he wanted but I don’t think he got the life he wanted.”
“
They never do, do they?”
They never do, do they?”
“
Mine’s full, I’m going to get a replacement,” Shannon says.
Mine’s full, I’m going to get a replacement,” Shannon says.
“
K. That’ll give me a chance to talk to Mike. I haven’t seen him in a while.”
K. That’ll give me a chance to talk to Mike. I haven’t seen him in a while.”
“
Mike. Gotcha,” she says. She walks, stops, let Karen and Cara pass her, and waits for the support truck.
Mike. Gotcha,” she says. She walks, stops, let Karen and Cara pass her, and waits for the support truck.
“
Full already?” the driver asks.
Full already?” the driver asks.
“
Yes. There’s a lot of trash.”
Yes. There’s a lot of trash.”
“
If you step on the beer cans first to crush ‘em you can get more in the bag,” the driver says.
If you step on the beer cans first to crush ‘em you can get more in the bag,” the driver says.
“
But I might not be able to carry much more than this,” she says. “It’s heavy!”
But I might not be able to carry much more than this,” she says. “It’s heavy!”
“
Yeah you are kinda little,” he says.
Yeah you are kinda little,” he says.
Shannon vows to crush a few more cans in her next bag.
Shannon catches up to Cara and Karen.
“
So what are you two talking about?” Shannon asks.
So what are you two talking about?” Shannon asks.
“
The weather, the stock market, you know, regular Friday morning trash picking talk.”
The weather, the stock market, you know, regular Friday morning trash picking talk.”
“
Uh huh,” Shannon says.
Uh huh,” Shannon says.
“
What do you think we’re talking about?” Cara says.
What do you think we’re talking about?” Cara says.
“
You better not be talking about me and Joe,” she says.
You better not be talking about me and Joe,” she says.
“
What else would we be talking about?” Karen says.
What else would we be talking about?” Karen says.
“
Fine,” Shannon says. She speeds up and leaves them behind, working her way forward to catch back up with the other half of the topic of the conversation. As she approaches Joe she overhears Mike asking a question.
Fine,” Shannon says. She speeds up and leaves them behind, working her way forward to catch back up with the other half of the topic of the conversation. As she approaches Joe she overhears Mike asking a question.
“
So what day of the week is she? She looks like a Friday to me.”
So what day of the week is she? She looks like a Friday to me.”
Mike and Joe start to laugh.
“
A Friday?” she asks.
A Friday?” she asks.
Mike snaps his head around, and Joe’s laugh dies in his throat.
“
A Friday to Friday renter,” Mike says. “Which day of the week you arrive and depart.”
A Friday to Friday renter,” Mike says. “Which day of the week you arrive and depart.”
Joe’s face turns from pink to light red to flaming red as she watches. It is not a pretty transformation.
“
Oh look! My bag’s full,” Mike says. He stops walking, steps a little further off the edge of the road, and makes a show of waiting for the support truck.
Oh look! My bag’s full,” Mike says. He stops walking, steps a little further off the edge of the road, and makes a show of waiting for the support truck.
“
A Friday?” Shannon asks.
A Friday?” Shannon asks.
“
He’s a jerk,” Joe says.
He’s a jerk,” Joe says.
“
But he’s your friend?”
But he’s your friend?”
“
So I’m guilty by association?”
So I’m guilty by association?”
“
Are you?”
Are you?”
“
He was asking me which day of the week you were going to sleep with me,” Joe confesses.
He was asking me which day of the week you were going to sleep with me,” Joe confesses.
“
Is that a big sport around here? Figuring out which day of the week you can plug the renter?” she asks.
Is that a big sport around here? Figuring out which day of the week you can plug the renter?” she asks.
“
For him it is.”
For him it is.”
“
And for you?”
And for you?”
“
No.”
No.”
She looks directly in his eyes, searching him, waiting for him to flinch, or make some other show that he is lying.
He holds her gaze. Doesn’t flinch. Knows that this is a crossroads at a very early point in their relationship.
“
Why not?” she asks. “You’re a good looking man. You’re not married. There’s a lot of lonely women, divorcees, people who want to get away for a while. So why not?” she asks.
Why not?” she asks. “You’re a good looking man. You’re not married. There’s a lot of lonely women, divorcees, people who want to get away for a while. So why not?” she asks.
“
It’s not me. Not who I am. Since my wife died there’s only been a couple of women, and I’ll admit that both of them were renters.”
It’s not me. Not who I am. Since my wife died there’s only been a couple of women, and I’ll admit that both of them were renters.”
“
Since your wife died?” Shannon asks. “I’m sorry. But is that something you tell someone on their third date? That your wife died.”
Since your wife died?” Shannon asks. “I’m sorry. But is that something you tell someone on their third date? That your wife died.”
Joe jerks his thumb over his shoulder at where Karen and Cara are still talking.
“
It was twenty years ago. And if I know my sister, she’s telling your sister everything she knows about me, about my wife, about our daughter, about everything. I don’t know why she does it. In some way she thinks she’s protecting me. I can’t stop her, so I’ve stopped trying.”
It was twenty years ago. And if I know my sister, she’s telling your sister everything she knows about me, about my wife, about our daughter, about everything. I don’t know why she does it. In some way she thinks she’s protecting me. I can’t stop her, so I’ve stopped trying.”
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