THE HEALING OF ROBERT KINSTON
PART 3
Robbie pulled into the parking area off Bay Street and walked around to the sidewalk, he thought he’d seen a familiar face. Walking quickly down the block he saw her again coming out of a gallery and going to the trunk of her car.
Jill Picked up a box and set it down on the curb and closed her trunk. Robbie caught up with her, “Good morning,” he said, “need some help?”
Jill brushed the hair out of her face, “Do I always look like I need help?”
“I just thought maybe I’d carry the box for you.”
“Okay, follow me,” Jill led him into the small gallery. It was crowded with displays along the wall and down the center of the store; handmade jewelry and crafts.
“Hello Jill,” greeted the girl behind the counter.
“Hi Wynn, I’m changing out the back wall, maybe this will sell.”
Robbie carried the box to the back and set it on a stool. “Is this your work?”
“Yes, I’m a potter.”
“It’s very nice,” he picked up a plate and ran his hand over it feeling the cool smooth matte surface of blues and greens with a hint of sand color along one side with impressions of shells here and there.
Jill took the plate from him, “Guess people don’t want beach in the winter.”
“I wouldn’t think it was seasonal.” He said.
“You’d be surprised what people think.”
“No doubt I would…but then I’m not people.”
Jill was busy unpacking the new dinner service and some odd shaped pieces in red and green. “What are you then, a new species?”
“I think I might be.” He stepped back out of her way. “What will you do with these?” he asked picking up another bowl.
“Pack them away and bring them out again in summer.”
“I came in for breakfast, would you like to join me?” he asked handing her the bowl.
“No thanks, I’ve already eaten.”
“But you could keep me company, have a cup of coffee.”
“I appreciate the invitation, Robbie but I have things to do today, sorry.”
“Okay, maybe some other time then.”
“Look…I’m not trying to be rude…but I don’t think so…please just don’t”
“Sure, I’ll leave you alone then.” He stood there watching her for a minute and turned and left.
Jill leaned against the wall wrapping her trembling hands around her body.
Robbie walked down the street and crossed to the breakfast nook, something about that woman made him want to put his arms around her, protect her. He remembered Jon’s comment about a ‘bad connection,’ and wondered exactly what he meant.
After his meal he walked back to the gallery, her car was gone and he went inside and looked around, Jill had another display similar to the “beach” ware, the plates were done in greens with fern leaf imprints. He asked about buying a set of the dinnerware.
“We have a setting for four available with the serving pieces you see there would you like to purchase it?” asked Wynn coming from behind the counter.
“Yes, I would and I would appreciate it if you don’t tell her who bought it.”
“Okay…are you a friend of hers?”
Robbie smiled, “Not yet.”
Robbie unwrapped the set of dinnerware and set them out on his dining room table. He loved the colors and the feel of the plates and the fact that Jill had created them.
“No more eating out of a pot, Milford, we’re going to clean up our act here.”
Milford jumped up in a chair to see what was going on with the paper on the table.
“Here, you have the box,” Robbie set the box on the floor and Milford jumped inside sniffed around and curled up.
Included in the wrappings was a card, Jill’s card giving the name of her pottery and an email address. He smiled slightly and took it to his office, placing it by his computer. He couldn’t explain his attraction to her, they had hardly spoken, but it was a living beating thing within him.
Robbie finished up his dinner, and after taking care of the check he wandered out to the waterfront and found a swing seat. The wind was up this evening, blowing his hair about. He noticed the woman leaning against the concrete railing next to the water, her long hair blowing behind her. Soon she turned and walked toward him.
“Hi, mind if I sit with you? I’m Marion I met you at Jon’s on Thanksgiving.”
“I remember you, sure have a seat.” Robbie brushed his hair back with his hand.
“Have you settled in?”
“Yeah, pretty much,” he studied her face in the light from the overhead lights.
She looked back toward the water, “I saw you with Jill…poor wounded bird…but then we’re all wounded aren’t we?”
Robbie was quiet for a moment, “Are we?”
She laughed, “Of course, we may not all wear it like a cloak. Have you seen Jon lately?”
“Um no, not since Thanksgiving. Why do you call Jill a wounded bird?”
“So…you are interested…she was greatly abused you know, ended up in the hospital. Men can be such animals. I’m surprised Jon didn’t tell you about her…he knows everything about everybody…except me…he doesn’t know all about me…no not all.” She smiled and pulled her jacket closer around her neck. “You’re a strange one, Robbie…I wonder why you’re here.” She looked into his face and tilted her head.
“I have to be somewhere…I like it here.” He said smiled and looked toward the water.
“Yes…but here of all places why didn’t you move back to your home in Florida?”
“How do you know where I come from?”
“Easy…I looked you up…nobody is anonymous anymore.”
“I’ve lived in Florida, I haven’t lived here…I wanted someplace different.”
“Different…it’s all the same no matter where you go. I’ve been here for fifteen years…out on Fripp Island, and really it could be anywhere, it could be Hilton Head. I used to write you know…I did…but not anymore, I have a little shop out on Fripp and sometimes I write for Jon…just a little neighborhood thing, he hasn’t asked for a column in some time…I think he’s mad at me. Somehow I am going to have to fix that.” She lit a cigarette and offered one to Robbie who declined.
“You’ve known Jon for some time?” Robbie asked.
“Yes…we were lovers once…in another life…another place. I followed him here you see…maybe you don’t see…it doesn’t matter. I will have him again.” She said it with conviction, dashed out her cigarette and stood up, “I’ll see you around Robbie.”
“I’m sure you will, Marion.” Robbie watched her walk away.
He sat for a while longer digesting what Marion had said…she was a strange one too. Jon had not been exactly straight forward about Marion…they did have a history. His mind turned to Jill. Jill had been abused that accounted for the wall around her that he felt. Standing and walking slowly down the waterfront park to the parking area, he thought about her and how he could get over that wall.
Jill washed the clay from her hands and tidied the table in her work shop. She turned off the light and locked the door walking the short distance to her little house. She stopped, seeing a lighted cigarette on her front porch. The old panic set in and she could hardly breathe by the time she reached the side of the house, she knew it wasn’t him…still.
“Jill that you? I saw your lights on and walked over…didn’t want to bother you while you were working.”
“Jon, you gave me a fright.”
“I’m sorry honey, I didn’t think…you’re all right now, you know that don’t you?”
Jill walked over and sat beside him on the steps, “I know Jon, I still get panic attacks…but I’m getting better, what brings you over?”
Jon’s newspaper office was across the street on the corner. “Boredom I guess, I thought about going into Beaufort and then thought I wouldn’t. Have you eaten?”
Jill smiled, “You’re always up for food aren’t you Jon?”
“Hey…I’m a growing boy…have you?”
“No…not since breakfast. I could fix something.”
“I could take you out…nothing fancy…even a burger.”
“Let me get out of these overalls…I’ll be right back.”
Jon waited on the steps for Jill to change.
Jill was back In less than ten minutes. “I’m ready…have you decided where we’re going?”
“Let’s go down to Nancy’s I don’t feel like crowds tonight.”
“Sounds good…thanks Jon for coming by.” Jill smiled up at him on the way to his car. Jon her knight in shining armor, her savior, the man who saved her life.