The Healing of Robert Kinston
Part 9
Hours passed and the storm came again pushing the ocean up on the point and taking away the sand; lightning lit up the sky over Robbie’s house and took away the power. The two lovers in the bedroom hardly noticed so deep into conversation and each other. Jill told him about her life, her marriages and the final blow that brought her down. He listened and questioned her and in turn he told her of his life and his brief marriage and the tragedy that followed.
The house was now dark except for the flashes of lightning and the fireplace, Milford following his inner clock came into the bedroom and jumped up on the bed meowing loudly. It was dinner time for him, even if his human servants were not hungry he was.
“I have to feed him, he won’t go away,” Robbie said smiling.
“Do you have any candles Robbie, the power’s gone off?” Jill asked sitting up on the bed and reaching for her clothes.
“Only one, it’s in the bottom of the china cabinet I’ll fish it out.” He pulled on his jeans and went into the kitchen and filled Milford’s bowl. The large white candle was something left over from New Bern and he wondered that he’d kept it at all. It was complete with its hurricane holder and he sat it on the kitchen island. Perhaps for this moment he thought as he lit the candle.
“What time is it?” she asked coming to sit on the stool.
“Robbie checked his watch, “nearly seven are you hungry?”
“I’m starved,” she said amazed at herself, she was never really hungry.
He came around the island and put his arms around her waist, “we could go into Beaufort, and they probably have power.”
“I need to shower…there won’t be any hot water.”
“We might get a quickie there should be enough hot water for that, you’ll share it won’t you?”
“With you…yes.” She smiled and leaned her back against his chest.
The heavy storms that had come in from the ocean had blown themselves across the mainland now leaving dripping trees and puddles, the stars were out over the Beaufort River as Robbie and Jill walked along the waterfront park holding hands. Their stomachs filled and their bodies sated for the time being they were at ease with each other stopping now and again to kiss.
Robbie felt the emptiness inside filling up with Jill; he hadn’t realized how hollow he was until today. She was what he needed.
“I’m glad I took the second choice when I moved,” Robbie said
“What was your first choice?” she asked stopping and taking both his hands
“Savannah, but I couldn’t buy the house I wanted, there was a contract on it already.”
“You were fated to move here, I believe in fate Robbie…I do.”
“You think that’s what brought us together and not mutual need.”
“Yes the need was born of fate.”
“Whatever it was,” he said looking up at the stars and back into her eyes, “I’m happy to be here with you.”
“I believe I love you Robbie Kinston,” she smiled
“That’s a start Jill,” he smiled down at her and hugged her close.
The power came back on sometime in the night, lights coming on in parts of the house, Robbie woke and got up quietly leaving Jill asleep and turned them off. He walked out on his porch and looked at the ocean, a dark living thing teasing the coastline after the storm. He thought it might be interesting to go along the beach in the morning and see what might have washed up on the sand.
The one thing he found that intrigued him on their morning walk along the beach was a blue and white teacup. They both examined it, the handle was broken and the inside crazing indicated an age. He carried it in his coat pocket until they reached the porch and he placed it on the table and sat down deep in thought.
Jill went inside to start the coffee pot and find something for breakfast. She told him she would be mother this morning. She watched him sitting still on the old sofa on the porch and wondered where his mind was. Waiting for the coffee to brew she looked around the room, smiling when she saw her dinnerware in his china cabinet. She’d made up her mind last night…she would stay with him, it was right…it was fate and she loved him.
Robbie was working on a story the teacup had jarred something in his mind to the point he was seeing his characters. He got up taking the cup and went into his office and fired up his computer. Jill brought him a cup of coffee.
“Is this you working?” she asked kissing him on the cheek.
“Jill, it is I believe I need to get this down while it’s fresh in my mind.”
“Should I hold breakfast?”
“Could you…for a little while?” he asked looking up at her.
“Of course, I’ll leave you then to write.” He’d told her of his inability to write after Josie died, this was something special she thought. He was back.
Later in the morning after breakfast they went back to Jill’s house to pack up what things she wanted to bring and to get her car. Jon saw them down there and walked down to say hello.
“Good morning Jon,” Robbie said placing a bin in the back of his Explorer.
“Well, well, well Robbie…moving her in with you?”
“I am,” he closed the hatch and turned around.
“I’m glad for you and Jill, Lord knows she needed somebody like you. Can I give you a hand?”
Robbie turned to the porch, “there’s her car to pack, “ turning back, “you’re alright with this?”
“Oh hell yes, she don’t do well alone and I think neither do you.” He met Robbie’s eye for a moment and walked to the porch picking up a plastic bin. “Hell of a blow last night did you lose power?”
“Yeah came back on in the middle the night, how about you?”
“Don’t know when it came back on, I hear the south side of the island got it pretty bad.”
“Really, that’s where Sister Ann lives.”
Jon stopped a minute, “I wonder if her daughter has been out there this morning, she ain’t got a phone.”
“Maybe we should ride out there and check on her,” Robbie said
“Alright we’ll do that, Jill…” he called out, “Me and Robbie’s gonna ride out and see about Sister Ann will you be okay here?”
“Jill came to the door, “ I’ll be fine…give her my love.”
There were two cars in the front yard of Sister Ann’s house and Jon recognized one as belonging to one of her daughters. “This don’t look good,” he said as he parked.
They got out and went up to the door and knocked. It was opened by Sister Ann’s son-in-law who shook his head when he saw Jon.
“What’s happened Freddie?” Jon asked.
“She gone Jon, her old heart give out last night in the storm, Mandy found her this mornin’ in the bed. They already come and got her…taken her down to the funeral home.”
Robbie dropped his head and Jon stepped back, “I’m awfully sorry to hear that Freddie, I won’t bother Mandy but tell her we stopped by, this is Robbie Kinston. Where did they take her?”
“Down to Kress’s I reckon they’ll put out the arrangements.”
“Thank you Freddie,” Jon turned to the car and touched Robbie’s arm.”Let’s go Robbie.” He said.
Robbie was quiet on the ride back to Jill’s.
Jon parked in front of his office and walked back down with Robbie to tell Jill what had happened.
“Oh no that dear old soul,” Jill said her hand going to her mouth. Robbie came and put his arm around her while she wept.
Jon cleared his throat, “I’ll go write up an obit for her, she was a special lady who will be greatly missed here on the islands.
Robbie raised his head, “Jon…thank you for introducing me to her.”
“Sure thing Robbie, I’ll see ya’ll later”. He stopped remembering something and walked back, “I almost forgot, it’s New Years Eve tomorrow night…this probably ain’t the time to talk party but it’s the last one I’ll have in the house, I’m gonna sell it.”
Jill turned around, “where will you go Jon?”
“Eh…me and Margret we’re gonna buy that condo she’s been wantin’,” he grinned and walked on.
“What?” Asked Robbie.
“Jon, he’s finally made up his mind. He and Margret,” she smiled.
“Ah…I see said the blind man,” Robbie watched Jon walk up the street and then picked up a bin and hauled it to her car.
“You know,” he said turning to her and taking the bag from her hand a stowing it in the back of her car, “your little house here would make a nice shop right next to the studio, you could use the front room to display all your work. There used to be a little house in New Bern, a painter lived there and she had her front rooms as a shop. Just something to think about,” he shrugged.
Jill’s opened mouth turned into a smile, “you amaze me Robbie…already planning for the future aren’t you?”
Robbie caught her around the waist, “Well you never know Jill what is going to happen in life, may as well make the best of it while you have it. But look,” he said waving his arm out, “all this space for parking…you may need it after your show. When is your show?”
“First weekend in March, will you come with me?”
“I wouldn’t miss it Jill. I don’t ever want to miss a moment with you.” He said looking into her eyes.
“Nor I you Robbie I love you.”
“I know…and I can’t tell you how good that makes me feel, how full I am.” He bent and kissed her soundly on the lips. “Now let’s get this show on the road.”
When he pulled up in his drive Lisa Holland was sitting on his steps, “Hey Robbie, just wanted to see if you made it though the storm okay.”
“Made it just fine Lisa, do you know Jill Turner? Jill this is Lisa Holland, my neighbor she’s the one responsible for the plants.
“Lisa very nice to meet you, where do you live?”
“Next drive up the road,” she said taking Jill in.
“Any damage at your place Lisa?” asked Robbie.
“Just a few limbs down, nothing major.” She eyed Robbie and put her hands in her pockets, “I never thanked you for the mobile that was nice of you. I hung it in the kitchen.”
“I appreciate your looking after Milford for me.” He lifted his chin slightly and she winked at him.
“I should be getting back, only got a half day today. Jill I guess I’ll see you around, don’t be alarmed if you see a big black Lab, he’s mine and he’s tame.”
“Thanks Lisa it was nice meeting you, come see me sometime.”
“Uh sure, I will, I will indeed.” She walked off and waved.
Jill cocked her head sideways, “yours?”
“She’s a friend that’s all,” he said smiling.
“Umm hmm,” she grinned and opened her trunk, “I’ll make sure she becomes my friend too.”
Quite possibly The End.