The Eclipse of Moonbeam Dawson (19 page)

Mrs. Shafley leafed through North Vancouver Air's schedule and rate book. “And will you be needing any transportation, car rental, or limousine pickup?”

A limo? Do I look like I'm going to a prom in my jeans without a date?

“No. Just the plane ticket.”

“The fare is two hundred seventy dollars for the round trip. That's Canadian.”

“I didn't think it would be American,” Reid muttered.

“Well, many of our guests don't seem to be able to understand that the world doesn't run on their dollars,” Mrs. Shafley said, haughtily.

“Is there anything cheaper?”

“If you book forty-eight hours in advance, the fare is two hundred forty-five.” She glanced down at the fare schedule. “And if you book fourteen days in advance, the fare is one hundred and ninety-nine. But since you are in such a hurry to go tomorrow, young man, you don't qualify for any of these discounts.” She slammed the fare book shut and gave him a superior smile.

Well, you don't qualify for anything but being a jerk, you puffed-up cow.

“Would you like to purchase a ticket?” she asked sweetly.

Reid looked out at the trees through the bay windows at the end of the lobby. He had never spent his life thinking about money or wishing he were rich. But at that moment, there was nothing he would have liked more than to have had a huge wad of one-hundred-dollar bills stuffed in his pocket, which he would casually pull out. Slowly he would peel off one bill, then another right under her needle nose, right in her face. Take that, you fat goose. And that. And that. He'd buy every seat on the friggin' plane. She would faint. Then she'd get fired for lying down on the job.

Reid looked back at Mrs. Shafley. “I have to think about it. Maybe I'll come back later.”

He walked through the lobby and saw that Mrs. Gotrocks was still in the shop. Maybe she'd buy some of his mum's stuff, every last jacket and shawl Mum had woven would be snapped up and then when he asked her for the loan, she wouldn't even blink.
Of course, I can loan you this money, honey. Take even more because after all you'll need to eat something when you're in Vancouver and you'll need a little for bus fare. Just pay me back when you can, I know you're good for it. No problem. Have fun!

Two hundred seventy dollars. That was a lot of money. He had no idea just an hour's plane ride would cost that much. What a shock. Reid started calculating his wages. A week's pay came to three hundred seventy-two dollars. And he'd probably need at least ten or fifteen more to spend when he was there. Four and a half days of work in a steaming kitchen peeling potatoes and washing dishes to spend a few hours with Michelle.

Michelle. He said her name to himself. Michelle. He had never met anyone like Michelle Lamont. Someone that beautiful. Someone who lived in Vancouver and rode around in yachts and planes. Someone who had kissed him. Someone who had wanted to come to his room. Reid sighed, remembering kissing her in Harvey's skiff. Too bad she had to leave that night. What would have happened if she had stayed? Reid sighed again. He had to find out how she felt now. Even if it did take four and a half days of scrubbing pans and peeling potatoes, it would be worth it to see her. He had to. That was all there was to it.

It was a little after 11:00 when Harvey and Abby arrived at the lodge. Reid had been waiting at the slip where Harvey moored his boat, and he grabbed the line from the bow as Harvey eased the old boat in next to the pier.

“Hi, Harvey. Hi, Mum. Anne's got good news.”

“Really?” Abby threw him the line from the stern. “You've talked to her?”

“A little while ago. I don't know how much is sold, but she was real happy about it.”

“Gee, everything's turning up roses.” She jumped on the dock and hugged him. “Have you missed me?”

“Sure. Want me to carry your stuff up to the shop?” Reid looked at the boxes piled neatly in the cabin.

Harvey joined them on the dock. “I think she wants to wait until she sees how much more Anne might want.”

So now you're the big expert on Mum.

Reid glared at Harvey, but in a second he felt a little sheepish. Harvey had been nice to him. It was just hard to get used to having the guy in the picture.

“Mum, there's something I have to talk to you about.”

“Okay, we can talk on the way to the shop.” Abby linked her arm through Harvey's.

“Well, I'd rather talk alone.”

Harvey looked at her. “That's fine, I can just wait on the boat.”

“Harvey, you don't have to.” She held his arm.

Yes he does. Get on the boat, dude.

Harvey climbed over the rail and waved them on. “Go ahead.” Then he disappeared into the cabin.

“Moonbeam, you—”

“I'm not—” He interrupted, then stopped himself.

“You're not what?”

“Nothing.”

“Look, I just want you to recognize that Harvey is important to me and that—”

“Duh.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“Duh. Like you think I'm stupid. That I haven't noticed.”

Abby walked up the steps. Reid didn't say anything as he followed her. He'd gotten off on the wrong foot, getting bent out of shape about Harvey. It just bugged him sometimes the way the guy had moved in on her. He wasn't a bad guy. Probably a pretty decent guy. What set him off was how she expected him to not even blink. Just welcome the guy with open arms like they'd known him for a hundred years. Saying that stuff about recognizing that Harvey was important to her! Like he was always supposed to recognize what was important to
her.
Like living on Palmer's Land, for instance. What about what was important to
him
for a change? Did she ever think about what
he
needed? Reid decided he better stop thinking this way. He'd have to chill out if he hoped to get anywhere with her about the loan.

At the top of the stairs Abby pointed to the bench on the bluff. “I suppose we can talk over there.”

“I'd rather go to my apartment. It's more private.”

“Okay. If you say so.” Abby followed him down the path. “It's still hard for me to believe that you live somewhere by yourself.”

“I wouldn't be, if you wanted a job here.”

Chill. Be nice. Don't blow it.
Maybe actually needing something from her was what was getting him so uptight, Reid thought as they walked toward the employee apartments. It had been a long time since he had asked her for anything. He couldn't remember how long. She was always the one asking him for help.

They didn't say another word until they reached the apartment. Reid opened the door and she went in after him. For a minute Abby just stood in the middle of the living room, like she didn't know how to act.

“Have a seat, Mum.”

“Oh. Okay.” She sat in the chair across from the couch. “So, do you like it here?”

“It's great.”

“Have you been keeping up with your school work?”

“Pretty well.”

“That's good.” Abby looked at the pile of books on the table. “So what did you want to talk about?”

“I need to borrow some money.”

“What about the money you make here?” Abby scowled, looking confused.

“I don't get paid until next week, after I've been here two weeks.”

“Well, how much do you want to borrow?”

“Two hundred seventy dollars, and I'll pay you back next week as soon as I get paid.”

“Moonbeam!”

“Aggh.”
I hate that stupid name!

“What in the world do you need that kind of money for?”

“Why does it matter, since I'm going to pay it back?” He stood up and went to the kitchen and got himself a Coke. “Want something?”

“No thanks,” she snapped. “It matters because I'm still your mother. How do I know it's not for drugs or something!”

“Gimme a break.”

“I'm serious. I'm not participating in something I don't even know about.”

“Okay, okay.” Reid tried not to sound as exasperated as he felt. “It's for a plane fare.”

“Where? Don't you have to work?”

“I'm going to Vancouver and back on Thursday. It's my day off.”

“It's to see that girl, isn't it?”

“So what.” Reid drank his Coke, swallowing it in large gulps. “How do you know about her anyway? Did Harvey say something?”

“No, he didn't. I saw Gretchen Coe in town and she mentioned it.”

“What a bunch of busybodies around this place. I can't believe it.” He took another swig of the Coke.

“There usually aren't many secrets in a place this small.”

“Where have I heard that before?” he mumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing. So can I borrow the money or not?”

“I think you're making a big mistake. And I'm not just saying this because of what her father does for a living.”

“Good. Because it's not her fault.”

“Believe me, I know girls like that. I grew up with them. They're materialistic and superficial and you're going to get hurt. She can dabble in your world, but you don't belong in hers. You can't believe how snotty she was in Anne's shop. Gretchen told me that's who it was that day.” Abby stuck her nose in the air, impersonating a snob. “My mother
only
buys Missoni.”

“You can't judge someone from one little thing like that.”

“I can't stand her type and I know it well. You just met her. You don't really know anything about her.”

Reid smashed the empty Coke can. “You're one to talk! You get involved with this Harvey guy and you hardly know him! You just jumped right into it!”

Abby stared at him. Then she stood up and went for the door. “Fine. If you think the decisions I make at age thirty-five are the equivalent of what you do at fifteen, then there's nothing else to say.” Then she walked out.

“Fifteen and a half!” he shouted at the door as it closed behind her.

Oh great. Now she's mad, too. What a mess. Reid picked up the Coke can and threw it in the trash. Why did it matter to her who he liked? It was his life. She could do what she wanted with her life and he was going to do what he wanted with his. He didn't care what any of them thought. There was no way he would give up trying to see Michelle.

He knew he could always wait until he got his paycheck and then just buy a ticket for his day off next week. But the more he thought about that, the more next Thursday seemed really far away. Like a year. Hey. Maybe all he had to do was ask Jim Goltz for an advance on his pay. Why not? After all, he was supposed to get his check on Monday anyway. And it wasn't like he was asking for money he hadn't earned. He could even ask for a check to cover the days he had worked so far and then just get the rest of what was coming to him on payday. It was worth a try.

He didn't see his mother again. He didn't want to try and find her. He had too much pride. He thought about hanging around the lobby or down at the marina to maybe just bump into her. But he was too proud for even a lame attempt like that. And he knew she had been too mad to try and find him because she left early that afternoon without saying good-bye. But after the dinner shift, when he came back to his apartment, he found a note on his door.

Dear Moonbeam,

Too much has changed too fast. Let's be like the United Nations and at least keep talking. I'll be back next Wednesday.

 

Love,

Mum

 

P.S. Anne asked me how you got your nickname. I just said that I didn't know because I didn't know what she was talking about. Do you?

Reid put the note on the table with his books. He'd probably have to tell about his name. He knew she'd be really upset, but he should probably take the hit and get it over with. Then maybe in a few weeks this would all have blown over and he and Mum would actually be able to talk to each other without fighting for a change. He hoped so; he didn't like it when they weren't getting along. He glanced at the note again, and then went to take a shower. He thought it would be best not to be all pitted out and stinking like a gymnasium when he went to ask the boss for an advance.

*   *   *

Jim was in the office when he got there. Reid was glad he didn't have to go looking for him all over the lodge, he might have lost his nerve.

“Got a minute?” Reid stuck his head in the doorway.

“Sure. Just going over the books.” Jim swung his chair around away from the computer and motioned to the chair across from the desk. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks.” Reid looked around the office. Had it really only just been a few weeks since he and his mother were here, when he applied for the job? She was right. A lot had changed, and it had been fast.

“Wait just a second while I finish this.” Jim turned back to the computer, entered something, and then swiveled around to face Reid. “Now, what can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if I could have an advance on my paycheck. Or at least the part I've earned so far?”

Jim leaned back in his chair. “It's our usual policy not to do that. It just messes up the books, and believe me, they're hard enough as it is. But payday's Monday. Is there some kind of emergency?”

“No. I just wanted to go to Vancouver for my day off tomorrow and need plane fare.”

“You don't have to buy a ticket.” Jim smiled.

“Huh?”

“The lodge reserves seats all season on Wickaninnish Air Charters. It's a service we provide for guests. If all the seats aren't taken we let the employees fill them.”

“You're kidding?” Reid couldn't believe the good news.

“We don't make a big thing of it, since the guests have priority. But all you do is go down to the marina at eleven
A.M.
when the first flight leaves. If there's an empty seat, you can get on.”