Forecast (16 page)

“Mom, Gran, this is Drew.”

“Morning ladies.” Drew sounded like a bingo co-coordinator at a nursing home.

Gwendolyn and Lilia both looked up and feigned surprise at having a visitor.

Gwendolyn stood and, channeling Queen Muck on Meet The Peasant’s Day, swept across the room and gave Drew a warm hug. “Drew the weatherman. How lovely to meet you,” She gushed, and then acting surprised, “You’re much shorter than you look on TV.”

“Nice shoes, though.” Lilia didn’t miss a trick.

Gwendolyn squeezed Drew’s hand. “We’ve missed you on the news.”

“Rowie’s done a great job filling in for me.”

“Has she?” Gwendolyn seemed pleased to hear it. “I didn’t really get to watch her. I’ve been so busy holding the business together. She ignored Rowie’s death-stare and beamed at Drew.

Drew looked around the room. “What an amazing house.” He noticed the portraits on the wall, replete with Post-it notes.

“A few of our ancestors,” Gwendolyn explained. “That’s Granny Elke, she said, pointing to the portrait closest to Drew. “She was stoned to death in 1603.”

Drew took a step towards it and studied the beautiful woman dressed in Tudor-type garb. “The painting must be very old.”

“Oh no, Elke sat for it last year.” Gwendolyn tried not to smile. She wanted to test the boy’s mettle.

Drew looked confused, and a bit unnerved, but regrouped quickly and turned his attention to some of the other paintings. “They’re gorgeous women.”

“They’ll be pleased you said so.”

He noticed a row of four urns on the mantelpiece and, before Rowie could stop him, walked over to them. “Interesting urns.”

“We should leave,” said Rowie.

Lilia giggled softly. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”

“That’s our mantel of marital mortality,” Gwendolyn explained. She walked over to the mantel and tapped the first urn.

“This is my first husband, Ed. We weren’t married long when he died. Tragic.” She moved to the third urn. ‘Number three is Tedious Tom. Fortunately Tom choked on a fish bone before he bored me to death. He’s so much more interesting now.” Gwendolyn paused and then tenderly ran her fingers over the second urn. Her whole demeanor softened. “And this my One True Love. I still can’t believe he’s dead.”

“You must miss him,” said Drew, gently.

Gwendolyn shrugged and smiled bravely. “He drops by when he can.”

“On that note,” Rowie interrupted, “let’s go.”

Drew ignored Rowie and pointed to the final urn. “And this?”

“That’s mine,” said Lilia.

“Poor boy was killed in Vietnam.”

Drew frowned. “That’s dreadful.” He turned to Rowie, his eyes searching and compassionate. “Can you remember him?”

“No, he was killed before I was born.”

“War is so senseless,” said Drew. “You must feel ripped off losing your father like that.”

Rowie visibly cringed, while Gwendolyn and Lilia burst out laughing.

“That’s not Rowie’s father,” said Lilia. “He’s not up there yet, but he was the great love of my life.”

Drew looked relieved … and slightly confused.

“We should go,” Rowie whispered

Drew nodded, but wasn’t finished with the history lesson yet. “Where’s your father now?”

Rowie felt flushed. She shuffled uncomfortably. “I don’t know. I’ve never met him.”

This piqued Drew’s interest more. He turned back to Lilia. “How long were you together?”

Gwendolyn grinned at Rowie. She liked the boy. “Inquisitive young man, isn’t he?”

Lilia was delighted to share all the details. “We had one night. Time’s not important.”

“You think? I’d love the last two minutes back,” snapped Rowie.

“Where did you meet?”

“Mom,” Rowie interrupted. “I don’t think Drew needs to hear …”

But Lilia was on a roll. “We met under the light of a full moon, by the fires of Beltane. I didn’t see his face. We wore masks. But he had blue eyes and a tattoo of a mermaid on his shoulder.”

“Who was he?” asked Drew, riveted.

Lilia simply shrugged. “He didn’t say.” She turned and smiled at her daughter, ignoring Rowie’s glare. “He just gave me the greatest gift.”

Drew looked like a child being introduced to tales about Narnia. “What an amazing story.”

“Really heartwarming,” said Rowie, feeling defeated. “Not much help to me at school when I was asked to tell the class about my father.”

Lilia surveyed the mantel. “We must start making room for Rowie’s urns.”

Drew gave Rowie a wink. “That mantel is enough to make me think twice about dating you.”

“Any man scared of that mantel isn’t strong enough for Rowie anyway,” announced Gwendolyn.

“Can we leave now?” Rowie begged, half expecting him to refuse.

“Sorry, Rowie … now I’ve met your family, I need to run a mile.”

Instead he smiled, bade a charming goodbye to Gwendolyn and Lilia, and followed Rowie out the door.

Rowie breathed a sigh of relief once they’d escaped. “I’m so sorry. They’re completely insane.”

“I loved them,” he enthused. “Weird, but wonderful. I’m from a long line of accountants. Our family dinners should be bottled and used as a cure for insomnia.”

Rowie laughed gratefully. “Sounds perfectly lovely.”

Drew stopped at a Prius and opened the door for Rowie.

“This is yours?” she asked, impressed. “You drive a hybrid?”

“Do I look more like a Hummer kind of guy?”

Rowie laughed. “Less and less as I get to know you.”

“I think we have enough oil guzzlers around without me adding to it. Hop in.” Drew walked around to the driver’s side and got in. “Are you free all day?”

“Yes. Why?”

“It’s a surprise … and a bit of a drive.”

“We’re going to a place near Tarry Town,” Drew explained, as they hit the West Side Highway north, towards Westchester.

Rowie nodded, not caring if they were going to the moon. She was just happy to be with him.

“So, tell me more about your family,” said Drew. “Any sisters?”

Rowie cracked up. “Oh yes, I’m one of triplets, and we love pleasing men.”

Drew thumped the steering wheel in amusement. “Excellent!”

“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m an only child.”

Drew was yet to find anything disappointing about Rowie Shakespeare. He glanced at her as she slipped her right shoe off and curled it under her left leg. The simple gesture was highly erotic and Drew had to concentrate to stay on the road.

“I’m also an only child,” Drew revealed. “But I have lots of cousins.”

“I’ve got one. Calypso. Actually, she’s a second cousin, but we’re close. She lives in London so I don’t get to see her very often.”

“Is she like you?” Drew asked.

“You mean …
touched?
” Rowie offered.

“Yeah, another little witch?” Drew teased.

“Yep. Red hair, weird visions … she’s a Shakespeare. She’s very wild and free.” Rowie’s face softened. “I adore her.”

Drew’s voice dropped slightly. “Listen, Rowie … I’m sorry if I brought up a painful subject back at The Grove. About your father and all.”

“It’s not painful,” Rowie said honestly. “I never knew him, and there have only been a couple of times in my life when I’ve ever missed him. I just hate it when Mom starts going on about the night I was conceived. It’s embarrassing.”

“I was conceived in the back of the car after a bottle of cheap wine. I think your conception was more romantic.”

“At least there were no naked Pagans dancing around your parents,” Rowie grumbled.

“Nope,” Drew chuckled. “You beat me there.” He pulled off the main road and into a country lane. “We’re here.” A minute later he turned into a small airfield and parked the car.

“Still wondering?” asked Drew.

“I take it we’re not going to the movies.”

“Come on, I’ll show you.”

They both got out of the car and headed towards the hangar. Inside, Rowie noticed a large man, dressed in overalls, working on one of the planes. He gave a wave and walked over to them.

“Drew! It’s been a while.” He grabbed Drew’s hand and shook it vigorously.

“I broke my leg so had to lay low,” Drew explained.

The guy nodded. “Yeah, I saw that on the news. You’re a regular stuntman.”

Drew laughed. “Joe, this is Rowie.”

Joe gave a gap-toothed grin. “Nice to meet you, Rowie. Thinking of taking a spin?”

“Am I going up in a plane?” Rowie was starting to feel nervous.

“I’m trying to surprise her,” Drew said to Joe. “Are you free for a tow?”

Joe was delighted to be in on the secret. “Sure am. What do you want?”

“The usual. Three thousand feet.”

“I’ll get the Pawnee ready.” Joe walked off, wiping his hands on an oily rag.

“What was that in English?” asked Rowie.

Drew gave Rowie a mysterious smile. “Patience, grasshopper, patience.”

Thirty minutes later, Rowie and Drew were standing on the tarmac, next to a glider. Drew was excited, but Rowie didn’t share his enthusiasm. She stared at it with the same wary expression one would a rabies shot.

“What is it?” she asked.

“A glider.”

“How does it work?”

“Joe’s plane tows us up to three thousand feet. I pull a release knob and then we’re on our own. You game?”

Rowie sounded slightly panicked. “It hasn’t got an engine?”

“Nope, no engine.”

Rowie wasn’t sure. “You know how to fly this … dirigible … thingy?”

“I have a license.”

Rowie snorted … and was then mortified that she had. “My mother has a driver’s license but you couldn’t pay me to get in a car with her.”

Drew took Rowie’s hand in his. “Do you trust me?”

Rowie considered him for a long moment. She could feel the warmth of his hand seeping through the rest of her body, calming her. Did she trust him?

“Yes. I do.”

Drew checked the glider and then walked over to Joe’s plane. The two men spoke for a moment, and then Joe disappeared inside the plane and Drew returned to Rowie. He helped her into the glider and buckled her harness, and then seated himself in the front.

Rowie watched as he flipped a series of switches. She shoved her hands under her legs to stop them shaking.
What was she doing?
And then she heard a little voice inside her answer: living! For years she’d been dreaming of love and adventure, of breaking free. And here it was, with Drew. She was standing on the threshold; all she had to do was leap.

“You ready?” Drew yelled.

It was now or never. Rowie leapt. “You bet! Bring it on.”

Joe’s plane started to move. The glider lurched forward and followed the Pawnee up the runway. Rowie felt the force pushing her back into the seat. Faster, faster, even faster, until the nose tipped up and the ground sank below them and they took off.

Drew punched a fist in the air. “Yeah baby!”

Rowie forgot all her fears and allowed herself to fly. “Holy woo-hoooooooo!”

Before long the tow plane gave a wave of its wings.

“That’s it,” Drew yelled. “We’re on our own.”

He pulled the release knob and Joe’s plane disappeared from view. They were alone, soaring through the sky. The wind outside was noisy, but without the sound of an engine there was the illusion of silence.

Rowie looked up at the endless blue, and then peered at the world below. She felt safe, untouchable, alone with Drew in their small flying capsule.

“What do you think of the sky from this angle, Rowie?”

Rowie pressed her fingers and nose against the window. She was in awe. “Oh Drew, it’s just magical.”

It was all over way too soon. Drew brought them into land, smoothly, expertly, and once the glider was at a standstill, he lifted Rowie onto the tarmac. She threw her arms around him and held him tight, the adrenaline still pumping through her veins.

“That was incredible, Drew. Thank you.”

Drew squeezed his eyes shut and returned the embrace. “Anytime.”

Strangely enough, he really meant it.

Rowie and Drew left the airport and headed down the road to a large field. Drew parked and got a picnic basket and blanket out of the trunk.

“I thought you might need a drink after that,” he teased. “And you’ll be pleased to see I’ve provided only vegetarian fare.”

Rowie grinned and threw herself down on the rug. “I thank you on behalf of the animal world.”

“Is that why you’re vegetarian? Because you love animals?”

“That’s part of it,” said Rowie. “But also the environment.”

“I know what you mean,” said Drew. “It has an impact. As a meteorologist, it’s blatantly obvious how much damage we’ve done to the planet. Over sixty percent of natural disasters can be attributed to global warming now.”

Rowie lathered some hummus over a chunk of bread. “And it will only get worse, unless we do something.”

“Immediately,” Drew agreed. “Or we won’t have much of a planet to leave our children.” He looked momentarily mortified. “I mean ‘our children’ in the generic sense. I’m not hinting at you to bear my offspring … I mean who knows … anything really … I should shut up now, shouldn’t I?”

Rowie gave him a mysterious smile. “It’s okay Drew. I know what you mean.”

After lunch, and some much safer topics of conversation, they lay side-by-side on a picnic blanket and stared at the clouds.

“I think we flew through that one,” said Rowie. “It looks like a moose.”

“Looks like a stratocumulus to me.”

Rowie gave him a friendly slap. “How imaginative of you.”

“Just stating a fact.”

“You’re very big on facts. Don’t you ever go with your intuition? Your feelings?”

Drew grinned. “Only if it can be backed up with facts.”

“Do you believe in destiny?”

“Nope. I believe you make your own luck. Forge your own path.”

Rowie pushed for more information. “What about love? Haven’t you ever been in love?”

“Yes. Once. I was married. She fell pregnant … to my best buddy, as it turns out.”

“That must have been very difficult for you,” said Rowie quietly.

“I was completely governed by my feelings, so it was weird territory for me. I didn’t deal with it very well. It rocked me … I just didn’t see it coming.” Drew chuckled. “I’m not psychic like you.” He sat up. “I don’t deny that you seem to have a … gift. I mean … I’m not sure I believe in psychic phenomena, but you’re doing a good job of converting me.” He paused for a moment and ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s just it makes me nervous. It’s not something I can explain. Science is a sure thing.”