The Healing of Robert Kinston
Robbie, out for his morning run, ended up at the wash and sat on the tree trunk, he saw dog prints in the sand and wondered if Lisa might be home this morning. He did want to thank her for the tree and maybe take her to lunch or dinner or something. He stood at the end of the narrow path that led up, presumably, to her house. The dog was barking and he started up the path hoping to find her.
Lisa came out to call in her dog and stopped, seeing someone coming through the undergrowth of saw palmettos. As he drew nearer she called out to him.
“Hey Robbie, I wondered when you’d find your way to my door.” She had her dog by the collar and led him to his kennel.
“Good morning,” he said coming up in the back yard of her blue house. He stopped while she took care of the dog; “I wanted to thank you for the tree, that was really sweet of you.”
“Did you like it?” she asked smiling.
“Yeah and you were right, I wouldn’t have had one.”
“Come in for awhile, I don’t have to be at work until ten. I don’t have coffee, will iced tea do?”
“Um sure…that will be fine.” He followed her into to her tiny kitchen. “This is a rather odd looking house you’ve got here,” he said
“Oh it’s an old shotgun house, not many of them around here anymore…there’s some over in Beaufort.”
“Shotgun house, I’ve never been in one before.” He accepted the glass of tea.
“Well come on through, you see one room opens into the next, excuse my mess,” she said, kicking shoes under the bed. You know how they got the name…you can fire a shotgun through the front door and the shot will come out the back.”
“I see,” he said, “just three rooms?”
“That’s it…all I need; have a seat Robbie.”
“I haven’t seen you around,” he said pushing a load of clothes to the other side of the sofa.
“I wasn’t expecting company…I would have straightened up a bit…not many people stop by here. I’ve been busy working; I notice you’re getting out a bit.”
“A bit…I booked a flight to Florida this morning.”
“Oh whereabouts?”
“Ft. Myers, my father lives on Sanibel Island…I’ll go see him for Christmas.”
“That’s good you’ve got family…guess I’ll go to Port Royal and see mine.”
“I uh wanted to see if you might want to go to lunch or something.” He said and took a drink of the tea.
“Or something,” she grinned. “I’ll get a break around two today if that’s not too late for you.”
“That’s good for me I’ll come by for you,” he stood up.
“Hey now don’t rush off…have you got somewhere to be this morning?”
Robbie twisted the glass in his hand, “No…what have you got in mind?”
“I kinda enjoyed Thanksgiving…I’m a little more sober this morning.” She stood up and took the glass from his hand and placed his hands on her waist.
Robbie contemplated the ceiling for a moment, “You’re not suggesting…in broad daylight…”
Lisa laughed, “You have to pass right by the bed on the way out the back door…what’s this broad daylight stuff, you don’t do it in the daytime.”
Robbie smiled, “I appreciate the invitation Lisa, Thanksgiving was fun but I think I’ll pass this morning,” he kissed her on the forehead; “I’ll pick you up at two.”
Lisa pouted, “What a waste of a morning, now I have to finish my laundry.”
“Another time,” he said and walked back through her house. He turned and smiled shaking his head as he went out the back door.
Robbie was a little early for lunch and walked around the greenhouse while she took care of the register. He found a table full of Poinsettias and picked one out.
“Did the tree inspire you Robbie?” asked Lisa as she rang up his purchase.
“It’s for a friend, sort of a thank you.”
“I see…a friend…I can leave now where do you want to go for lunch?”
“The Bank is good, or maybe you know something better?” he asked.
“Robbie I’m not dressed for The Bank…do you like Chinese? I know a place.”
Robbie smiled, “I like Chinese, you can navigate.”
The familiar smells as they entered the small restaurant brought back memories of lunch and a movie in Wilmington, he hadn’t heard from Melody in awhile.
“Robbie I need to apologize to you,” Lisa said as they sat down.
“For what, Lisa?” he wrinkled his brow.
“For this morning…I’m not usually so brazen.”
“Oh…I said another time…I meant that.” He smiled. “I had a lot on my mind this morning.”
“You’re really nice…not like the guys I date…maybe because you’re older.” She picked up her chopsticks and went to work on her food.
Robbie half smiled, older, “is that supposed to make me feel good?”
“I don’t mean you’re old,” she grinned, “just old-er.”
“Have you got anybody special now that you’re seeing?”
“Maybe…how do you know for sure about a relationship?”
“I’m probably not the one to ask that question of Lisa.” Robbie finished up his plate and pushed it back.
“Thanks for lunch Robbie,” she said and kissed him quickly on the lips before sliding out of his Explorer.
“Lisa, wait a minute, I wonder if you’d do me a favor…I’m leaving on Monday and will be back on Thursday do you think you might look in on Milford for me?”
“Oh sure Robbie…it will be no problem.” She smiled and waved.
Robbie liked Lisa; however, he thought it might not be such a good idea to be bedding her on a regular basis since she lived so close to him. He traveled over the bridge and headed for Lady’s Island to deliver the Poinsettia.
“Robbie,” Jill said surprised to see him when she opened her door.
Robbie noticed how her face lit up upon opening the door then took on a more guarded look. “Jill, hi I brought you a plant for the bowl you gave me, it’s not equal but I couldn’t think of anything else.”
Jill took the plant, “Thank you, but you didn’t have to do this.” She struggled for a minute, “would you like to come in for a minute.”
“I don’t want to bother you, Jill.”
“You’re not a bother. Come in, I just came in and made a pot of coffee.” Her voice sounded a little stronger. “Sit down, I’ll just be a minute.” She disappeared back in the house.
Robbie chose a chair by the little fireplace and sat down. The room was painted bright yellow and adorned with her pottery pieces. He looked around noticing the whole room was bright and cheerful with color.
Jill returned with a tray two coffee mugs and a tall ceramic coffee pot. “Cream and sugar?” she asked being a kind hostess.
“Thanks,” he said accepting a mug. “I like you room here, very bright…a happy room.”
“It wasn’t always like this; I redid it this past summer.”
“Does it make you happy to be in here? Mine is sort of like this except the walls are white.”
“I like bright colors…happy…I don’t know I think that was my intention.” She looked around at her walls and back at him meeting his gaze.
This was the most he’d ever heard her talk and wanted it to go on but something told him to keep it short. “Will you be around for Christmas?” he asked.
“I’m going to my sister’s she lives in Charleston, how about you?” Her hair formed a curtain when she bent to set her cup down.
“I’m going to Florida to see my Dad; I’ll be back the day after Christmas. Jill…” she looked up, her eyes at once wary, and he backed off of what he was about to say, “thanks for the coffee…I should be going and let you get back to your pots.” He smiled. He’d wanted to ask her to dinner.
“Of course, you probably have lots to do…since you’re going out of town.” She rose with him and walked him to the door, standing close enough he could smell her scent, light and clean.
“I’m not that busy,” he said meeting her eyes again. “Thanks for the coffee; if I don’t see you before, have a good Christmas.” She was so close…he bent and kissed her lightly on the cheek and turned, walking out the door.
“Robbie,” she called after him and he stopped on the bottom step, “you have a good Christmas too.” He smiled at her and walked to his car. His hands were shaking as he tried the key in the ignition.
He had himself mostly under control when he pulled in at the corner.
Jon was behind his computer with half glasses perched on the end of his nose, “Robbie what brings out our way?”
“I wanted to see if you really work or if it was all a rumor.”
“I wouldn’t have to work half as much if some people would help me out a little with a column once in a while.” He removed the glasses and sat back in his chair.
“I’ll do that maybe after the holidays. I wanted to wish you a merry Christmas; I’ll be going to Florida on Monday.”
“Oh well then, you’ll have Sunday afternoon won’t you?” he grinned, “I’m having a little drop in, you know drop in eat a bite have a drink and drop out…think you can manage that?”
“I probably can. I saw Jill just now…took her a plant.”
Jon smiled, “Good for you…how is she? I haven’t seen her since the oyster roast.”
“She seems fine, we talked for a bit.”
“That’s good to hear Robbie; I think you might be good for her. Well I hate to rush you off, but I got a deadline of sorts to meet…Sunday around four.”
“Got it…I’ll see you Jon.” Robbie left glancing across the street again at Jill’s little white house. She hadn’t backed away today even when he’d kissed her. He made up his mind when he got back from Florida he was going to ask her out after all she could only refuse him again…but he didn’t think she would this time.
Jill watched him leave from behind her living room curtains. She still felt the shakiness inside from the brief kiss, but it was a different kind of shaky… a good kind. She didn’t know him very well but liked the quietness about him and the gentleness. Jon had told her a little about him losing his wife and he still wore the sadness about him. She smiled, picked up the tray and returned it to the kitchen.