The Trouble Way (13 page)

Ann hiked her collar up around her ears and grabbed Jake
’s hand and they made a quick dash between the rows of cars on the ferry. It was pulling away from the dock, leaving Seattle, as they made their way to the stairs leading to the observation deck, one above the parking level. The wind chilled them both. They pushed the heavy door and were greeted by warm air as they entered into the cavernous, enclosed, observation deck.

The ferry
’s destination was Bremerton, about a thirty-minute ride across Puget Sound from Seattle. The auto deck was filled to capacity, over a hundred cars. The weather was gorgeous, a guarantee that the ferries would be filled to capacity with tourists flocked to catch a few rays while the limited opportunity presented itself. It was a rare day in Seattle where the sky was cloudless and visibility unlimited and the crowds were not about to miss out on that. Plus, it was Saturday when tourists were out en-mass.

“
Let’s go outside,” Jake said soon after they warmed their selves next to one of the ferry’s heater grates. He led Ann out one of the side doors on the starboard side to the walkway that coursed around the observation deck.

Jake asked one of the other tourists wandering on the deck to take their picture and he and Ann stood with the city of Seattle with its Space Needle and the monstrous, snow-capped Mt. Rainier in the background while the tourist snapped their picture and then another one, just in case.

“Looks like we lucked out, it’s not overcast or raining,” Ann said. “It’s not often the sun is shining in Seattle.”

The wind always blew on the Sound and Ann snuggled up to Jake as they rested their elbows on the railing watching the seagulls glide in the updraft alongside the ferry. The wake of the ferry
’s big props churned up the dark water of the sound into waves of white gleaming froth. Jake turned toward her, raised her chin, and surprised her with a soft sweet kiss.

“
My my, Mr. Jake, are you supposed to be so fresh with one of your employees,” she said in make-believe shock.

“
I’m sorry, Miss Sandal, I’ll try to control myself in the future. It won’t happen again,” he said, “I promise.”

“
Don’t you dare make any promises you can’t keep,” she said and reached up with both hands, cupping his face, and pulled him down so she could prove him wrong that instant.

“
Well, aren’t you just a sweetheart,” he said when they parted and once again drew her to him and held her lips to his once again.

“
You send shivers down my spine, Mr. Jake.”

“
That was my plan, sweetheart,” he said. “You fell for it. Now you’ll have no choice but to let me keep you warm.” He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.

Ann noticed an elderly couple standing near the railing looking at them and smiling.
“We have an audience,” she whispered and tried to make herself tiny as she snuggled yet closer. She was a little embarrassed at his instigating such a public display of affection, but not enough to stop. It felt way too good. In any event, she took him by the hand and guided him further down the deck, hoping to find a place a bit more private. But, there were too many tourists enjoying the rare sunny Saturday in Seattle.

“
Let’s go inside. It’s getting a bit chilly out here,” Jake said and he took Ann’s hand and they walked hand-in-hand around the observation deck to the entrance on the opposite side of the ferry.

They ordered a couple of large coffees at the galley counter and took a seat in a booth along the side by the large picture windows. They sat quietly watching the yachts sail by and homes of the super-rich of Seattle who owned the mansions perched on the sides of the numerous wooded islands in Puget Sound.

“Can I ask you something, Mr. Jake?” Ann asked, breaking the silence.

“
What’s it about; something about work or the other kind?”

“
Well, it is a little about work but also a bit of the other kind,” she said. “What is it with you and Ms. Becky? She seems to be a little over protective of you at work. Every time a girl comes up to you, if she is anywhere near, she seems to run interference and blocks her off.”

“
I think she is just a lonely woman whose husband is not very nice. She’s alright. Sometimes she can be a bit overbearing.”

“
Can I ask you something?” Jake said. “It’s also a bit on the personal side, absolutely nothing professional about it. What is it with you and Linda? You two seem to be really chummy, always huddling together and touching each other at work.”

“
She’s my friend and sometimes she’s my better friend. We just really get along. Does that bother you? Is it that obvious?”

“
Are you ---” The Captain blasted the ferry’s powerful air horn causing Ann to lurch toward Jake and attach herself to his arm. The horn was on top of the wheelhouse which was just above them on the next deck. The blast was to alert the passengers the ferry was nearing the dock and for drivers to get into their cars.

“
We’d better get a move on,” Jake said and latched onto Ann’s hand and led her to the door from the observation deck where they found the crowded stairs descending to the parking deck. They snaked their way through the other passengers, also looking for their cars, and finally threaded along the long columns of cars to Jake’s VW.

He started the engine to get the heater going and they watched as the Captain maneuvered the ferry between the dolphins, the clusters of piling, to the dock. When the ferry was secured to the dock with immense ropes, a bell sounded, and two ramps lowered, one for the walk-on passengers and the other for vehicles. The deck hands removed the chocks from the wheels of the cars at the front and directed the drivers. They waited their turn as a hundred or so cars took turns moving by columns ahead of them. They were one of the last to debark.

“Damn,” Ann said slapping Jake’s leg and pointing to the line of walk-on passengers on the catwalk. “Don’t look now, but there’s my roomie, Candy. Shit, this is not good.”

Jake looked off to the side just in time to catch Candy
’s wave to Ann, a shit-eating grin on her face. She was jerking frantically on the arm of a tall cowboy who turned to look just as Jake’s car disappeared behind the bulwarks of the dock.

“
Candy saw us, but I don’t think Jesse did,” Ann said. I’m sure the guy is Jesse, the jerk who keeps returning stuff to the store.”

“
Can you trust her not to say anything?” Jake was scanning the passengers as they appeared again from behind the super-structure. “I don’t see them.”

“
I trusted her when she first moved in, but I don’t think I trust her anymore. I think she sort of tricked me into letting her move in. I fell for her “poor me, I got evicted,” or her “My Mommy is mean to me,” story. I let her move in for a few weeks and it turned into months. Now, I seem to be missing stuff. I’m not sure if I lost it or if she’s getting into my shit. Just small stuff, cosmetics, and things like that. I’m getting to the point where I don’t believe anything she says.”

“
Well, not much we can do about her seeing us. Maybe you can convince her to keep quiet about seeing us together.”

“
I can ask. We’re not on the best of terms. Plus, she’s in pretty tight with Ms. Becky; she may tell her anyway. If I know Miss Candy-ass, she’ll use this little bit of information of seeing us together against me in some way.”

“
From what I’ve heard of Ms. Becky, I don’t think she would be likely to draw attention to anybody who’s fraternizing,” Jake said. “I hear she’s been known to wander out of the ol’ stable a bit herself, if you know what I mean.”

“
Her husband’s an asshole. I don’t blame her one single bit. She deserves anything she can get.”

“
What about this Jesse character? What’s he been returning?”

“
I don’t know anything for absolutely sure. I just have a sneaking suspicion he’s a big fat fraud. I know he lies. I almost went out with him once.”

“
I’m glad you didn’t,” Jake said and rested his hand on her knee.

“
I see he discovered Candy. They’re probably meant for each other. I just wish they weren’t on the same ferry as us. Knowing Candy, this will not end good.”

“
I know, the trouble way,” Jake said as he drove out of the ferry complex and into the business district of Bremerton.

“
What’s the trouble way?”

“
It’s when things don’t end well,” Jake said. “I’m pretty familiar with things not ending well. But, Honey, we can always hope.” He gave Ann’s knee a little pat and looked over at her and smiled. “Let’s not worry about little Miss Candy Cane for now and see what the sights are around here.”

When they headed for home, they decided to avoid a chance encounter with Candy and the Cowboy and chose to drive down south to Tacoma and hit I-5 to go back to Seattle. The sun had long set by the time they got anywhere near Seattle. When they passed the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport exit Jake looked over and saw that Ann was dozing.

“Would you like to stop at my place for a bit? It’s still quite a ways into Seattle. We could have something to eat before I run you on home.”

“
That sounds nice. I am getting hungry,” Ann said.

So, they took the I-405 exit and headed to Renton where they stopped at a pizza place and got a pepperoni pizza to go before arriving at Jake
’s place.

“
Sorry, my place isn’t the grandest. But, it was the first place I came to when I got to town and I was beat from the trip. So, I took it.”

Ann looked around at the studio
’s one large room with a nook for a kitchen and a small dining table in the corner. “You keep it very neat, Mr. Jake. No need to apologize.”

“
The price was right too. I was running on empty in my bank account at the time. I could probably afford something a little bigger, but I’m not one much for change. So, I stay here. It suits me fine.”

“
We’re all running on empty at one time or another,” Ann said.

It wasn
’t long before they had settled around the dinette table and started in on the pizza.

“
How about some tunes?” Jake asked. “I’ve got a bunch of country if you’re interested.”

“
Sure, anything is fine.”

Jake put on a Willie Nelson record and they sat eating and listening to the music.

Jake put the dishes in sink. “I’ll get them later. Care to dance?”

“
Sure, but there’s not much room,” Ann said.

“
There’s a small lounge with a two-man band over by the office. This place used to be a motel until they turned it into apartments.” Jake said. “It’s on the other side of this section of apartments … easy walking distance.”

“
Okay, that sounds good; a chance to work off a little of this pizza. Are you sure they allow dancing in there?”

“
Sure, there’s a band in there on weekends. I go in there once in a while after I get off work.”

“
Isn’t that convenient,” Ann smiled at him, “a lounge within walking distance of your apartment.”

He held her hand and coaxed her to rise and he led her from his apartment and they walked arm-in-arm down the sidewalk and around the end of the complex to the lounge. They could hear music as they neared.

“We’re in luck, a country band,” Jake said.

When they entered Jake
’s apartment, Ann collapsed backward onto the bed. “I’m bushed. This has been one long day.”

Jake sat down beside her and she grabbed him and pulled him toward her and they kissed.

“Thank you for the nice day, Mr. Jake. I especially liked the ferry ride. It was wonderful. It was so beautiful out today.”

“
You’re welcome. I especially liked dancing with you,” he said and leaned over her and kissed her again.

“
You know, Ann, you could stay here tonight. You aren’t working tomorrow, are you?”

“
I don’t know if I should,” she said as she pulled his head toward her again.

“
Well, you don’t have to make up your mind right away,” he said and rose and found a nice blues record for the player.

It was after nine am when Ann woke. The sun shining through the cracks in the curtains had hit her eyes.

“I think I’ll spend the night with you, Mr. Jake,” Ann whispered into his ear, waking him. “And, I think I would like to have another horizontal dance with you as well, if you would be so kind, please.”

“
I’m glad that you decided to spend the night. Let’s see if we can try something a little different for this morning. Maybe something in a waltz. Care to join me in the Tennessee Waltz, Ms. Sandal?”

“
I’d love to dance with you, Mr. Jake.”