The Healing of Robert Kinston
Part 6
The plane was full of holiday travelers; Robbie had secured a seat in the back next to the aisle. He opened a book and prepared himself for the trip. Lisa had been by early to check on Milford and to make sure Robbie got off on time. A puddle jumper from Lady’s Island to Hilton Head, another small plane to Atlanta, and at last he was on a jet to Ft. Myers. Robbie hadn’t stayed long at Jon’s drop in, Jill wasn’t there and aside from Bill Sellers he hadn’t known any of the people dropping in at the time. Just as well, today was taken up with travel and better done without a hangover.
The airport in Ft. Myers was crowded and it was some time before he saw his father. He stopped just to look at him a moment before going over to him. He seemed smaller to Robbie’s eye, a little more stooped, still with the tan and shock of white hair. Robbie walked up to his side as he was checking his watch.
“Hi Dad,” he said.
Jack Kinston turned and looked at him, his light blue eyes narrowing for a moment, “Robbie, I swear I wouldn’t have known you for my own son. What’s happened to you; develop an aversion to barber shops?”
“Robbie smiled and embraced him, “You okay, Dad? It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too, Robbie…but you sure look different. Quit shaving too I see.”
“I’m in disguise…are you ready to go?”
“Don’t we have to get your luggage?” Jack asked.
“Nope this is all I got.” Robbie pulled the carry on over to his side.
On the way home Jack talked a little about the golf club and his activities, but it was the change in his son that bothered him. Not just his appearance, but his whole being. Robbie had never been quiet and as still as he was in the passenger seat. He talked a little about his move to Beaufort but not much else. Once they reached the gated community on Sanibel Island, where Jack lived alone in a condo Robbie had bought him after his mother died, Jack decided it was time to get some answers.
“I guess you’re ready for a drink,” Jack was over to the drinks cupboard to pour.
“Sounds good, Dad. Whatever you’re having is okay.”
He handed Robbie a drink and picked up a handful of his hair and let it drop, “You want to tell me about that and the beard, and whatever else has happened to you?”
Robbie really didn’,t but having avoided his Dad along with everyone else after Josie died he felt he had to give some kind of explanation.
“I went through a rough time after Josie’s death Dad; just shut myself away from everything and everybody.”
“Well I know you shut yourself away from me; I tried to call and wrote several times. I gave up and figured you’d surface eventually.”
Robbie looked up at his Dad, “I got your letters Dad, I couldn’t answer them…I was incapable of doing anything for a long time. Everything went to shit along with me. As far as the hair and beard, I found it was a good cover, I wasn’t recognized when I went out…when I finally went out.”
“You’ve lost weight too. How about your writing?”
Robbie shook his head no. “I haven’t written anything…I went back and read what I was working on…before Josie…and I wondered who had written it. I don’t think I’ll ever be that man again.”
Jack sat back in his favorite chair and lit his pipe; it gave him a minute to think. “Well what are you living on then, if you still haven’t sold that house in North Carolina and have bought another in South Carolina.”
Robbie eyed his Dad, “I had some money, and royalties keep coming in. There was also some…insurance and…inheritance from Josie,” he said softly.
“I’m awfully sorry, Robbie for what you’ve had to endure at such a young age. When you mama died it was hard for me, but she’d been ill for a long time…we knew it was coming. I know it was different for you. You’ll find that man again son, it may take some time.”
“I don’t think so Dad…I don’t think I want to. I’m doing okay now, actually doing some research and making notes; there may be a book come out of it…I’m just not that far along yet.”
“Well excuse me for saying so Robbie, but you’ve changed. I’ve never known you to sit in one spot for very long, always in constant motion and telling stories.”
Robbie looked up and smiled, “I ran out of words and you used to get on to me about sitting still for one minute…how many times have I heard that in my life?”
Jack chuckled, “You mean you’ve become the son I always wanted? Well maybe some of it comes with age Robbie.”
“So tell me about you?” Robbie sat back and crossed his legs.
“Oh I stay busy, golf when I want it, I participate in the social scene here, and it’s a right lively little community.”
“I’m glad to hear it, Dad.”
“I’m seeing someone, Robbie; her name is Mary Rhodes she’s a widow and lives out here.”
Robbie grinned, “You dog.”
“Well…why not…how about you, or is it too soon to think of such a thing?”
Robbie was quiet for a moment, “I think I’ve met someone it just hasn’t gone very far yet.”
“No rush, no rush at all…your glass wants refilling.”
Robbie woke to the sound of the sprinkler system on the golf course behind the condo. He got up and went into the bathroom and then into the kitchen, Jack had already been up and the coffee was still hot.
“Morning Robbie, nice to see you still get up at a fairly decent time of day,” Jack had just come from his shower wearing a robe with a towel around his neck.
“Lifelong habit,” Robbie said as he poured out his coffee.
“You know I’ve been thinking about what you told me last night, and I’m sorry I never came back up to New Bern to see about you when you didn’t answer my letters or phone calls. I could have brought you down here, it would have been better for you I’m thinking.”
“Dad, I’m a man. I had to find my own way out of the darkness. It’s girls that go running home to mama, I never heard of a guy running home to daddy.”
“It wouldn’t have been like that you know. It’s past now, nothing I can do about it.” Jack poured another cup of coffee and walked over to the round table in his dining nook.
“Don’t worry about it…it is past. I had a little help from a neighbor.” Robbie wanted to get off the subject, “at least I have a tree, where’s the stockings hung on the mantle?”
“I got a wreath on the door…no need for anything inside. You put up a Christmas tree?” he asked amazed.
“It’s not really a Christmas tree…a Norfolk Pine…looks kinda Christmassy though with a red bow on the pot. A neighbor gave it to me.”
“Ah, its women that worry about stuff like that, Mary’s got her place all decked out…of course she has a couple of grandchildren to appreciate it. I miss it you know, the woman’s touch.”
Robbie put his hand on his dad’s shoulder, “I know what you mean.”
“Well I thought we might take the boat over to Captiva Island today, and tonight we are invited to Mary’s for dinner, I’d like you to meet her.”
“So what are you trying to tell me…wedding bells in the offing?”
“Oh no…hell no I ain’t getting married again. I just like the company,” he smiled.
Robbie pulled out a wrinkled blue shirt and smoothed it out with his hands and picked up a jacket and walked into the living room, Jack was finishing his drink, “Robbie I got an iron…do something about that shirt.”
Robbie looked down and started unbuttoning it casting a glance at his Dad who wore a white shirt and a navy jacket.
Mary Rhodes turned out to be a pleasant surprise, petite with her gray hair pulled back in a short ponytail, she greeted Jack with a kiss, and also Robbie.
“Well now, aren’t you a pair of good looking men; do come in and make yourself at home. Jack, will you open the wine please.”
Her condo, though laid out like his dad’s was totally different…the woman’s touch. Robbie smiled. Every surface had some kind of seasonal trinket on it.
Dinner was good, and Robbie liked watching his Dad flirt and banter with Mary. On the way home he realized that was something missing with him, the light banter between a man and a woman, he had nobody to talk to, nobody that cared about him.
“What did you think about Mary?” Jack asked.
“I thought she was great Dad, you did good there.”
“Yeah I do believe I did.” He said hands in pockets.
Christmas dinner was eaten at a restaurant and they came back to the condo, “What time’s your flight in the morning?” Jack wanted to know.
“Eight fifteen, will it be a problem getting me to the airport?”
“No sir, no problem at all…I’m just glad you came down Robbie, I really am.”
“So am I Dad, I’d like you to come up and see me, just let me know when you’re ready I’ll take care of the ticket.”
“That’s all well and good Robbie and I will come to see you, but you need to start working again son, you got a talent, don’t let it get away from you.”
“I won’t…it’s just hard. I think the next thing I write will be a different kind of story. I may lose a following, and if I do maybe there will be somebody that wants to read what I write.”
“Doesn’t hurt to try something different, but I wouldn’t abandon your genre it’s made you famous.”
Robbie looked at his father, “you’re probably right…we’ll have to see what comes out.”
It was dark when he arrived back on Lady’s Island and found his vehicle at the small airport. It had been a good trip and he felt good about his Dad. Turning out of the airport he purposely drove past Jill’s house, it was dark and her car was gone. He remembered she hadn’t said when she was coming back.
Sitting at the stop sign at the end of her street he said aloud, “I will try and make it happen Jill, I need it and so do you.”
Two streets over Sister Ann rocked on her front porch and smiled.