Siren Rock (7 page)

“Daddy, can we ride Robust tomorrow?”

“Sure we can do that if you want.”

“But not like Mom did.”

Case crinkled his forehead. “Oh?”

“She rode too fast, bumpy. Made me sick, him too.”

Case clamped his eyes shut, and then he started to remove his boots.

He climbed into bed and turned out the light. He lay on his back as he placed a hand on his head and stared into darkness.

Chapter 9

Having tended to the animals on this early morning, Case now stood at his back door. Coffee in hand, he listened to the faint whisper of the wind as it blew softly. He continued to listen to the muffled sympathy of the awakening day. Each species had its own song to sing, like any other composer. A nearby bird called to its mate. The sound of a steady tapping led him to follow the sound to the right, to see the woodpecker in search of his morning meal. Barely seen in the short distance, amidst the fog, Robust grazed this early morning. The lack of clarity, the lack of a sharp view, echoed what ran through Case’s thoughts.

She took him out there .He could have been seriously hurt, or worse, he could have been killed. And all just to get back to me.

He blinked to fight back tears that had soon formed in his eyes. Breaking through the line of fog, Bandit came leaping forward. A smile curled on Case’s mouth as he was reminded of good things to come.

“Hi, Daddy.”

Case swung around. “Hey, buddy. Want some breakfast? Scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes. We have it all.”

Timmy slid into a chair and propped his elbow on the table, resting his head in his hand. “Cereal”

“Cereal? Okay.” Case reached in the cabinet and pulled out a bowl with farm animals on it. “Here’s your bowl”

He poured the cereal and tried to hide the slight tremble in his hand. He glanced at Timmy while he poured the milk into the bowl. He set the bowl down and sat across from him with his coffee.

Timmy ate large spoonfuls and ate them quickly. “Guess I was hungry.”

“Want some more?”

“Okay.” Timmy sat, dangling his legs back and forth.

Case got up and refilled his bowl. “Toast?”

Timmy raised his eyebrows and gave a thumbs-up while he ate his cereal.

“Still want to ride Robust today?”

Timmy answered enthusiastically. “Yeah!”

“Okay.”

“Daddy, he won’t go too fast, will he?”

“No, we’ll ride him like you and I always do.”

Case placed the toast and a jar of jam on the table.

“Thought you might like some blackberry jam.”

Timmy crinkled his nose.

Case tousled Timmy’s hair. “Just kidding. It’s grape.”

Case picked up a slice and began to spread the jam and then prepare another. He then kicked his feet up on the adjacent chair and reached for a piece of toast. Timmy picked up a slice as well. Case reached his piece across the table, in a “let’s toast to that” fashion.

“Cheers.”

Timmy reached his across and tapped his father’s piece.

“Cheers.”

They shared a smile.

* * * *

After getting ready for the day, Case and Timmy went outside. Timmy ran over to the goats. He petted Rae then ran over to Doe to offer pets. “I love them. They’re cute.”

Case said, “They are. You wanna stay with them while I prepare Robust?”

“Okay!”

When he was ready, Case called out to Timmy, who came skipping over to him.

“Robust looks good, Daddy.”

“Yeah, he does. Here’s your helmet. Say, the last time you rode, did you have your helmet?”

“You mean with mom?”

Case nodded slightly

“No, she said I didn’t need it.”

“Always with your helmet. I’m going to lift you up, and then you need to hold on.”

Case placed Timmy on the horse, and then he mounted.

“Remember, Daddy, not fast.”

“No, not fast, just nice and easy.”

He wrapped an arm around Timmy’s waist.

“I’m proud of you son.”

The land had it all. A large open meadow dipped into a valley, and on the outskirts, large trees mimicked all but the finest forests. The fog having lifted, there was infinite beauty in every direction. They walked quietly, surveying the land, as Bandit kept pace beside them. After forty minutes, they made their way back to the house.

Case asked, “How was that?”

“Good.”

Case reined in to stop Robust and gave him a pat. “Good boy.” He then dismounted and lifted Timmy to the ground.

Case put his hand on Timmy’s shoulder. “You’ll live here with me from now on. You and me.”

“Okay. I’d like that, Daddy.”

Case smacked his lips together to make a popping sound. “Me too.” And then he extended his arm out as he made a broad sweep of the animals. “They’ll all love it too!”

Timmy giggled.

“How would you like to learn the guitar like me?”

“Can I?”

“Sure. Right now, though, what do you say we take a ride in to town, visit Larina and Mr. Bixby? I need to talk to them about something.”

“Can Bandit come?”

“Yeah, he can come. We need to run into town first; I have something to pick up for Larina. Say, when’s the last time you walked on the beach?”

Timmy raised a brow. “Walked? I don’t know. With you?”

“Ha, okay. What do you say we do that today?”

Timmy asked, “Will we swim?”

“It may be too cold for that, but we can feed the seagulls, search for shells.”

“I don’t wanna swim.”

“Okay. No swimming.”

“Mr. Bix…by told me he had a shell, and he can make it sing.”

“Wow. That’s pretty cool, huh?”

“Maybe he’ll teach me?”

“Maybe. And maybe we’ll find a shell like it.”

* * * *

As they drove along, Case was singing softly along to the radio while Timmy was coloring in his book.

“Like this?” Timmy said as he held up a page of his book.

Case glimpsed in the rearview mirror. “Sure do.”

When Case reached the beach road, Timmy gazed out the window. “They live on the beach?”

“They do.”

“It’s pretty. Daddy, over there’s the ocean!”

Case lowered his head down to peek out Timmy’s side “Sure is, look at that.”

They pulled up to the gate, and Case buzzed the call button. Larina soon answered and opened the gate.

Timmy said, “Cool.”

They drove up the drive and parked in the front. Larina was waiting on the drive.

“Hi,” Case said as he got out of the car and then kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks for having us. Sorry about the last minute.”

He let Bandit out and then walked to the other side to help Timmy out of his seat.

Larina smiled. “Hi, Timmy.”

“Hi. This is pretty.”

“Thank you, I’m glad you came. And it’s good timing. We just picked up a couple of pizzas. Do you like pizza Timmy?”

Timmy beamed. “It’s my favorite. That and roasted marshmallows with Daddy.”

“Oh great, I think we have both.”

Larina winked at Case as she placed her hand on Timmy’s shoulder to lead him in. Grant, who had been reading in the den, came out with his book in his hand to greet them. “Timmy, Case, good to have you.”

“Hi Mr. Bix..by.” Timmy said.

“Timmy, how would you like to call me Papi?”

“Okay. It’s a little easier to say.” Timmy said.

Case and Larina exchanged smiles.

As Timmy entered, he stepped to his left. “Wow!”

Grant said, “You like it? It’s my favorite place in the house. Would you like to see it?”

“Yeah.”

Grant motioned for Timmy to enter and then turned to Case. “What do you say you call me Grant? We are beyond sir.”

Case said, “I will, thanks.”

“We’ll be in the kitchen,” Larina called out.

* * * *

Timmy stood cautiously in the room as he glanced all around until he noticed the large telescope. He went running over to it.

“Wow! Can I see?”

“Of course, here.” Grant moved a step stool over and lifted him up. “Just look right through there.” Grant helped position Timmy and showed him how to maneuver the instrument.

“If you are here this evening, we can find the stars. What do say?”

Timmy grinned. “Yes please. This is sort of like a dream I had. But I don’t remember it very well.”

Grant reached for his pipe. “Dreams can be wonderful things. Take us places we can only imagine. What do you remember about it?”

“Well, it was pretty. Sunny. There were waves and birds. I saw a woman. She was laughing and having fun. I wanted to meet her. The animals liked her. It’s like she talked to them. I saw her with a dolphin. She was a dolphin girl. What do you call them?”

Grant placed his pipe between his teeth. “A mermaid.”

“Yeah, that’s what she was, what you said, a mermaid!”

“Were you afraid at all?”

“No. I didn’t want to wake up, so I kept rubbing my eyes. I wanted to stay there. She looked so happy, I was happy. I felt loved just being there.”

Larina peeked inside the room. “Okay, everyone, pizza is served.”

Grant lifted Timmy down and said, “That’s a great dream, Timmy. You know, I’ve had similar dreams about the ocean and being a part of it.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Then Timmy placed his hand in Grant’s, and they walked out to the veranda.

* * * *

Larina laid the pizza on the coffee table and passed everyone a plate and a napkin. “I can’t believe they’ve called for rain. It’s such a clear day. Drinks are coming.”

Case took off his blazer and said, “Timmy, I can take your jacket here if you want.” Timmy took off his jacket, and Case laid both over the back of the loveseat.

“Here’s pepperoni. Want that, Timmy?” Case asked

Timmy nodded.

Case spoke to Grant. “After lunch, I wonder if you would be available to talk. I have something I really have to tell you both.”

“Of course, Larina mentioned you had something important to share. I hope its good news.”

Case curled his shoulders forward and took a bite of his sausage and onion slice.

“After lunch then,” Grant said.

Larina returned, carrying a tray. Case got up. “I should’ve helped you with that.”

Larina playfully tapped his hand as she placed the tray down. “You’re fine. Here are drinks, everyone.”

“This is really good.” Timmy bopped up and down in his chair.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Grant said, “Timmy, after lunch, I’ll bet Sunmoon and Bandit would like to play some ball.”

“I can play with them.” Timmy giggled as he wiped his mouth with his napkin.

Case raised his eyebrows as he nodded.

As they each continued to eat, they shared some stories until Timmy said. “I’m full. Can I play now?”

Case took his plate from him. “Sure.”

Timmy got up and called to the dogs to follow him.

Larina moved a chair closer to Grant and Case.

Case took a deep breath and drummed on his knees.

He said, “Not sure why this is so hard to say.”

Timmy turned around. “I probably shouldn’t play because I’m sad. My mom died yesterday. In a accident… like Sudsy. But I want to play anyway.”

“What?” Larina lunged slightly forward.

Case pursed his lips. “Annette is dead. Boating accident, last evening. She drowned.”

Larina’s eyes got misty “Oh no.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “I can’t believe it. Case, I’m so sorry. Poor Timmy.”

Grant lit his pipe. “We will do anything we can to help the both of you. I hope you know that.”

“I do thanks.”

Larina placed her hand on Case’s knee. “Yes, anything.”

Grant blew smoke from his pipe before he spoke. “Do they have any idea what happened?”

Case glanced over to see that Timmy was still playing with the dogs. Case reached behind him and pulled a piece of paper from the inside pocket of his blazer.

“The officer gave me a report; I brought it, and I’ll read it to you. It’s really all I know in the matter.”

He took a deep breath and then sat very still as he read.

“The witnesses became concerned when the boat quit the motor and drifted toward a rock. The fear was the boat would disturb what was perched on the rock. The object of their attention was positioned at a slant; the witnesses stated all that was visible from their vantage point was a fin or tail. The belief of this department is the witnesses could have seen a manatee. The victim was seen with an apparatus that resembled a camera. The witnesses stated said victim hung over the side of the boat and then abruptly, as if yanked, fell into the water out of sight. When the boat returned to view, it appeared to be empty. The witnesses put in a call to the emergency hotline. The underwater search and rescue team responded. The dive team recovered the boat; there were no contents on board. After an extensive three-hour search, the body of the victim was recovered. There was no manatee sighting at that time.”