THE HEALING of ROBERT KINSTON
(Continuation of Saving of Robert Kinston)
Part 1
It had been a long drive down the interstate, boring and monotonous; he stopped a couple of times for himself and for Milford, his feline companion. Milford had long since given up protesting the drive and settled down in his carrier to sleep. Robbie was tired but an inner excitement propelled him on the closer he got to his destination.
Unfamiliar with this area the GPS guided him through the darkened town and over the bridge to the island where his new home awaited him. All had been accomplished over the phone and the Internet. The dirt road was hard to find in the darkness and he passed it twice before the red reflective circle caught his eye. He was here…wherever here was, he’d made it.
He passed the two ancient live oak trees covered in Spanish moss and parked. The dark bulk of the house loomed before him and the security light guided him to a flight of steps bringing him to a long screened porch that ran the length of the house. The key was under an empty plant pot and he let himself in. Reaching for a switch the room flooded with light and a ceiling fan came to life above him. It was partially furnished, someone’s idea of a beach house, wicker and chintz sofas flanked a stone fireplace.
Suddenly Robbie was overcome and he sat down on one of the sofas, buried his face in his hands and cried. Maybe he was just tired or perhaps it was the finality of his former life that hit him. Running his hands over his face and through his hair, he remembered Milford and went back outside retrieving the cat carrier and Milford’s bag of belongings. Milford, grateful for the freedom, cautiously came out of his carrier and sniffed the floor, walking low to the floor he set out to explore. Robbie filled his bowls and a litter box.
“What do you think Milford? This is it buddy.” He followed Milford down the hallway to the bedrooms, there were two, one with a bed, and when he caught site of the bed he fell on it and into a dreamless sleep.
He woke early in the morning and came out of the bedroom feeling a little disoriented and rumpled. Milford was on the screened porch looking out toward the ocean. Robbie sat down in one of the rockers and stared out to the water, gray green and white capped it was a soothing site. Knowing he had to get himself together he went out and unloaded his car, took a shower and dressed. A trip to the mainland and the real estate office to formally sign some papers he decided to get that over with first.
“Did you find everything to be what you expected, Mr. Kinston?” asked the over made up red suited real estate saleswoman.
“Yes, its fine,” he answered from behind his sunglasses. He hadn’t actually looked it over but what he had seen pleased him.
“I think you’ll find people will leave you pretty much alone around here, there are several famous persons who live in our community,” she smiled.
“Good…well are we finished?” he asked.
“Yes, I think so…enjoy your new home,” she said.
Robbie left the office and walked down the main street stopping for breakfast. He would have to shop for food and a few basic necessities. He had noticed a coffee pot he could use until his things arrived from storage. Picking up a few free local maps and the Island’s newspaper he returned to his vehicle and went home.
Once back at the house he did go over it top to bottom. The house had been remodeled in the early 90’s updating the kitchen and bathrooms. He found a shower and toilet on the ground level, a storage room and another room that could be…something. Upstairs there were two bedrooms two bathrooms, a large great room with high ceilings and dining area, the kitchen was located at the back of the great room, divided by a large island. Hardwood floors and tile. A quite haven, it suited him.
Milford had settled in finding a cushioned chair on the screened porch in a ray of sunshine he was fast asleep.
One week later a truck arrived with Robbie’s furniture and belongings. It took him a couple of days to get it organized, but now with the familiar things he knew around him he began to relax. One bedroom he made into an office hooking up his computer and lining up his reference books on a shelf. Standing in the doorway he stared at the computer, would it come back to him…would it ever. The book he had been writing when his wife was killed in an automobile accident remained saved in the box. He wasn’t the same man who started the book…he couldn’t write.
He could send an email to Melody, “I have arrived safe if not sound. The house is good I can look out at the ocean. I am on Harbor Island, SC.”
Tess, he didn’t want to talk to Tess…he sent her a postcard. “Hi Tess, I’m here, I’m okay hope you are too.” He mailed it from Beaufort. She would write him and he didn’t mind corresponding with her, he didn’t want to talk.
Later in the day he had a response from Melody, “I was beginning to think you’d lost my email address. I’m glad you’re safe, be sound Robbie. I love you. Melody”
‘Be sound’…how did you go about that he wondered? What made you sound how did you get there? He’d lost his footing in the world and was trying to find it again. Donning a light jacket he went out for a walk, the tide was out and a narrow strip of sand took him along the water’s edge for a while until he came to a washed out area, saw palmetto’s tilting toward the water, erosion had taken a chunk of sand. He sat on one of the trunks already down and looked back toward the land. A dog was barking somewhere back in the undergrowth.
The big black Lab hopped onto the sand and came right up to Robbie who didn’t move. “Hey boy,” he said eyeing the dog…unsure. The Lab sniffed around him and took off running down the sand and back. He was a big happy dog. Whose name must be Raven, he was being called. Raven ignored the voice and brought Robbie a piece of driftwood, he took it and threw it down the narrow strip of wet sand, the dog bounded after it.
“Ra-ven,” she called tramping through the underbrush out to the strip of sand about twenty feet from where Robbie sat. “Raven…come,” she called again. Raven was on a mission he picked up the piece of driftwood and ran past her delivering it to Robbie.
She was petite, dressed in jeans, tee shirt and a flannel shirt tied at her waist. Her hair was long and pulled back in a clip…copper penny red. “Oh…hi, you scared me, I’ve never seen anybody out here before, how did you get here?”
“I walked along the sand, nice dog.” He said
“He’s a big baby, stubborn…Raven come here boy. Grabbing him by the collar she started back along a narrow path, “You said you walked…from where?”
“The point, I live there.”
“Oh…you bought the Williamson’s place then. I live back in there, a tiny cottage. I’m Lisa, Lisa Holland.”
“Robbie…my name is Robbie.”
“Well, nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, you too.” He watched her struggle with the dog until he was on his way down the path and got up walking back along the sand to his house. He had a neighbor. He wasn’t sure he wanted a neighbor…at least not yet.
Later he ventured out to the next island in the string of islands joined by bridges and found a grocery store. Milford needed cat food and he wandered up and down the aisles with a buggy looking at all the products displayed on the shelves. Did people really buy this stuff? He bought a basket of fruit, coffee, milk, sugar and a box of cereal. He really couldn’t think of anything he wanted to eat.
Each day he went a little farther, getting acquainted with the islands and the mainland. The satellite TV people had come and gone he could now watch TV if he wanted. The empty plant pot bothered him and he took the pot to a nursery he’d spotted in Beaufort.
“Hey can I help you?”
Robbie turned, hearing the voice but seeing no one. “I think I need a plant.”
“What kind of plant?”, still he could see no one.
“I don’t know…I have an empty pot.”
He heard a low giggle and set his pot on the edge of the long wooden table.
From behind a stand of potted trees and palms Lisa Holland stuck out her head. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Is it?” he still hadn’t seen her.
Lisa turned off the hose she was using and wiped her hands on her denim overalls. “Yeah, Robbie isn’t it?”
“Yes, sorry I didn’t see you.” He could see her now, her long red curly hair pulled up on the top of her head, wide spaced blue eyes with dark lashes and brows.
“Say you’ve got a pot that needs a plant?”
“Yeah, this one.” He indicated the pot
“Anything in particular you want?”
“Honestly I don’t know one from another…it was just empty on the porch…I thought…”
“I’ll find you something for the porch,” Lisa took his pot and headed inside. Robbie followed and waited while she potted up something green.
“This is a jade plant, Robbie, when it gets dry water it. That’s all you have to do. So how are you liking the point?”
“I like it fine, that’s an awfully big plant.”
“It fits the pot; it’s a slow grower so you’re set for awhile.” She rang up the plant and he paid for it.
Robbie noticed her hands, small neat short dirty fingernails and rings on each finger.
“Where did you move from?” she asked leaning against the counter.
“Um…New Bern.”
“Welcome to SC she said and smiled, her eyes crinkled at the corners and she had a wide full mouth he noticed.
“Thanks, Lisa, thanks.” He picked up his plant and left.
Lisa moved back to the greenhouse and watched him placing his plant on the floorboard. Nice looking man, awfully quiet…shy maybe, she liked his hair being used to dating Marines from Parris Island, yeah he should be interesting.
Part 2:
Robbie stopped by a book store on main street, having had lunch a few doors down. He liked the one street town; people seemed friendly and ready to help. Browsing he pulled a few books out running through them quickly to see if it might be something….
“Look
ing for anything particular or just looking?” asked the middle-aged woman behind the counter. “Really just looking. Maybe you can help? I’d like to find something on Beaufort?” He was interested in the history of the town.“Right over here. This is all local, some local authors, too.” She looked at him in the face and smiled slightly. Robert Kinston.
“Thanks.” He picked up a couple of books and brought them to her.
“You’ve just moved here, haven’t you?”
Robbie gave her a strange look. “Why do you ask?”
“It wasn’t really a question, Mr. Kinston. I recognized you even with the beard. I’ve been a fan of your books for years. Word gets around in a place like this.” She rang up his purchases.
“Hey, Lila, got some more gossip for ya.” A man came in through the door carrying a stack of local newspapers.
“Jon, delivering now, too?”
“Somebody’s gotta do it.” He turned his wide smile to Robbie
“Hey, I’m Jon Cromer, editor of the Palmetto Page.”
“Robbie Kinston, good to meet you.”
“Ah, well, I wouldn’t have recognized you. Welcome to our fair community.” Jon set his stack of papers on the counter.
Lila bagged up Robbie’s two books and handed them across the counter. “There you go. You know if you want to know what’s happening talk to this unlikely-looking fella. He knows everybody and everything that goes on around here.”
“Wouldn’t be worth a damn if I didn’t. Nobody’d read anything. Robbie, if you got a minute, I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”
Robbie hesitated, looking longingly at the door. “Well…okay, a cup of coffee.”
“Right down this little alleyway, nice little hole in the wall coffee shop.” Jon led the way, his long ponytail blowing slightly in the breeze. He wore khaki shorts, a long- sleeved white shirt and boat shoes.
After they placed their order and brought their cups to a small table, Jon continued, “Now I’ll tell you I’d like to print something about you moving in down here, but that’s up to you. I ain’t gonna invade your privacy.”
“I appreciate that. Maybe later. I just got here this week.”
“Yeah, I heard you bought the Williamson place. Sorry, but you know this place…we’re strung out like a string of pearls here on the islands but we’re all family, so to speak. In other words, there ain’t many secrets around here.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Robbie sipped his coffee.
“Aw, now it ain’t all bad, no sir. It’s good to have friends. Can I ask you what brought you here?”
“The internet…that’s where I found the house.”
“Is that right? Well, you were looking in this area then?” Jon couldn’t help interviewing. He’d keep it on the shelf until the guy wanted company.
Robbie was beginning to wish he hadn’t accepted the cup. “I guess I was.”
Jon sensed something not quite right with Robbie. “Well, don’t mind me. I ain’t tryin’ to pry, really I ain’t. Force of habit, I guess…asking questions.”
“Where do you live in the string?” Robbie turned it around.
“I got a place out on Lady’s Island. Listen, I know you’re new here, probably don’t know anybody, but if you’d like to have a beer sometime…you know I can introduce you to the right people…and there is right people around here.” He fished in his pockets and found a card. “This is me. Just give me a call.”
Robbie accepted the card and looked up at the man, hair graying slightly at the temples, more in his short-trimmed beard. “Thanks, I may do that some time.”
“I hope you mean that, Robbie, I truly do.” Jon fished out a cigarette, stuck it in his mouth and then took it out and looked at it. “Can’t smoke in here. What’s a cup of joe without a cig’s what I want to know.”
“I gave them up. Just quit about six months ago.” Robbie looked down at the swirled pattern on the table top. He’d given up everything six months ago.
“I’ve tried. Well, I did try until my wife left me a year ago and I said what the hell, smoke the damn things. Who the hell cares anyway?”
Robbie smiled and looked up. “Right. Who the hell cares?”
“Filled up every damn ashtray in the house, I did, and left them there for days just cause I could. Silly ain’t it?”
“I've got a plant in the car. Probably should get it back to the house, out of
the heat.”
“Yeah, this weather is crazy, like summertime without the humidity. Won’t last, though. Nah, we get a little hint of cold weather here. Thanks for coming for a cup, Robbie. Awfully good to meet you.”
“Thanks for asking,” he smiled shyly. “I’ve enjoyed talking with you.”
They both got up, tossed the paper cups in the trash and went outside.
“Where’d you park?”
“On Bay Street.” Robbie felt in his pocket for his keys and stuck his books under his arm.
“Lord, don’t overstay your parking space. I’m off now to donate to the police department. See ya around, Robbie.” He waved and walked off down the street.
Robbie liked him, he decided after pulling out and going around the block to get back on the highway that took him across the bridge. It might be fun to go for a beer with him. Fun…that was something he hadn’t thought about. Maybe he’d forgotten about fun, how to have it.
Milford met him at the screened door. His crunchy bowl was empty and he let Robbie know about it. Robbie set the plant on the round table to take care of Milford. He had mail today and took the rubber-banded roll inside, a letter from Tess, junk mail and a letter from his agent.
He opened Tess’s letter first.
Dear Robbie,
Thank you for the brief card. Is that where you live? I never thought you’d go south. You might be interested to know there has been some traffic next door in the empty house on the corner. You remember it, don’t you?
Sorry, I miss you, Robbie. Knowing the house is empty makes me terribly sad. However, I hope you are settling in your new surroundings. I would like you to write some details. I’m glad you’re there safe and I hope you find some happiness. You deserve it. I’m still on at the Palace for the rest of the month, wearing the lace cap. Don’t forget me, Robbie.
Love, Tessie
Robbie folded the letter and put it back in the envelope. He would write her when he had something to say.
The letter from his agent was friendly enough but it was a poke in the ribs and he felt it. Laying his head back on the sofa, he looked up, watching the ceiling fan for a minute and closed his eyes. Where were the words, where were the ideas, where had it all gone? He got up and took his books to the porch, lying on the wicker sofa to read.
I was two days later when Jon turned up in Robbie’s drive one morning.
“Hey, Robbie, thought you might want to ride out with me this morning since you’re interested in the local scene. I’m on my way to visit Sister Ann.”
“Okay, sounds interesting.” Robbie grabbed his windbreaker and joined Jon in his jeep.
“Now I’ll tell you Sister is old as the hills and blind. The rest you can discover on your own.” He looked sideways at Robbie and smiled.
The old lady was on her front porch wrapped in layers of crocheted shawls. “That you, Jon? You got somebody wit you?”
“Morning, Sister Ann. Yes, ma’am, somebody for you to meet. This is Robbie Kinston.”
“Well, come here and let me see you. I hafta touch you now.” She reached out her claw-like hands and Robbie went down on his haunches beside her wheelchair.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” he said.
“Oh…oh you gonna be alright. You had a hurt, a big hurt but you healin’ now…yes, you healin’.”
Jon stood back leaning against the porch railing, chewing on a toothpick. He narrowed his eyes looking at Robbie Kinston.
“Got anything for me today, Sister?” asked Jon.
“Well…you stay close to dis man,and don’t eat no shrimps. No, don’t eat ‘em. Thanks givin’ is comin’, I know. We all thank de Lord for what we got, not what we goin’ get. Come ‘ere, Jon, let me see you.”
Robbie stood and walked over to the railing while Jon sat down on the porch beside her, letting her place her hands on his forehead and heart.
“Heh, heh, Jon, you don’ like de woman but she like you. Look out de 22nd. Aw, you awrite,” She said withdrawing her hands back to her lap. “Robbie, you come back see me. I know something…I know.”
“I believe you do, Sister Ann. I'll come back. Thank you.” Robbie walked off the porch to the car, followed by Jon.
“Well, what you think about that?” asked Jon, pulling out of her yard and turning up the dirt road.
“I don’t really know, Jon. She has powers?”
“I reckon she does. Read you, didn’t she?”
“Yeah.” He looked out the window.
“I go see her about once a week. She’s got a column in the paper, you know. I’ve known her all my life. She’s always told fortunes, if that’s what you wanna call it. More like she can see inside…scary sometimes what she comes up with.”
“I’m not sure I’d want anybody looking inside of me,” Robbie said thoughtfully.
“She already has. Wanna stop for lunch?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll take you to Steamers. Can’t beat that.”
After lunch Jon took Robbie home and went inside with him. “You got this place looking good, Robbie.”
“I haven’t done much, just put my furniture in here.”
“I can’t see it myself, but the Williamson’s, an elderly couple, up and sold this place and moved to Florida.”
“Did they live here all the time or was it a vacation spot?” asked Robbie, bringing a couple of beers out to the porch.
“Oh, it was a vacation spot. Used to come out with their grandkids every spring. Sometimes in the winter you’d see their van down here.” Jon was wanting to ask Robbie about the big hurt. “Robbie, if its none of my business…oh, hell, forget it.”
“What?” he asked, looking up.