Laughter in the Wind (5 page)

Even more beautiful than I remembered.
Olivia’s soft gray sweater clung softly to her breasts and her jeans fit her hips and thighs almost intimately. Rebecca realized she had been silent too long and struggled to remember what Olivia had said.
Oh, yeah. The traffic.

Rebecca didn’t want to admit she had been daydreaming on the way to the library. She had looked down twice and found herself going fifteen miles under the speed limit. Her mother would never believe it, she had thought at the time. Then she had missed the street to the library so she took the next street, which seemed to have a stop sign on every block. Unable to come up with a better excuse, Rebecca just smiled sheepishly and said questioningly, “Sorry?” Then, trying to quickly change the subject, she added, “So have you found anything interesting yet?”

Olivia chuckled. At her quick change of topic, Rebecca guessed. “I have found a few things that interest me.” She smiled and Rebecca was sure she saw her wink before she turned to resume her search through the shelves. Olivia added over her shoulder to a confused Rebecca, “Let’s get to work.”

The next three hours passed quickly with Rebecca and Olivia searching the shelves for books and taking notes. The final half hour they were interrupted several times by rumbles beneath the table coming from the general direction of Olivia’s stomach. Rebecca had been waiting for her to say something about stopping for lunch but after one especially loud growl she decided to speak up. “I’m ready for a break and it sounds like you are too.”

Olivia pinked a little. “I was hoping you hadn’t noticed. I’m ready for pizza if you are. I was just waiting for you to say when.”

They agreed to take Olivia’s car across town for lunch, leaving Rebecca’s old Buick parked in the back. Olivia exclaimed several times her disbelief about the horrible traffic as she drove through virtually empty streets with Rebecca laughing easily at her own lame excuse.

At the pizzeria, they both ordered the buffet and cherry Cokes. Before they could leave the table to get their food, a woman in her mid-twenties approached and slid into the booth beside Rebecca, pushing her over next to the wall.

“Hi, kid. What are you doing here?”

Rebecca was surprised to see her sister, Kate. “Been studying at the library and decided to take a break for some lunch. Where’s Jimmy?”

“Oh, he’s up in line waiting to pay. I’ve got to go to work in about half an hour. By the way, I’m Bec’s sister, Kate. My husband Jimmy’s over there.” She added the last as she stuck her hand out over the table toward Olivia.

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. Olivia, this is Kate. Kate, this is a friend of mine from St. Louis, Olivia Harmon.” Rebecca was a little embarrassed by her own lack of manners but Olivia didn’t seem to be bothered by her accidental omission. In fact, she appeared a little relieved, which Rebecca noticed but didn’t quite understand.

* * *

Olivia shook Kate’s hand briefly then sat back and studied the differences between the two sisters. Kate’s hair was dyed blonde and cut short in a recent, popular style and she wore tastefully applied makeup. She was dressed in scrubs so Olivia assumed her job was in the medical field. Rebecca on the other hand had tousled hair from the breeze that had been blowing all morning and Olivia was sure the color was natural, brown with streaks of blonde from being in the sun. She wore no makeup and her face was tanned unevenly as if she had spent a lot of time outside with a ball cap shading part of her face and her forehead. She also looked comfortable in loose fitting jeans and a flannel shirt and Olivia had trouble picturing her in something more feminine. Their handshakes were even different, she realized. Rebecca’s hand had been rough and calloused and her handshake firm but slightly hesitant, as if she wasn’t sure how much of her strength she should display in a handshake. Kate’s, in contrast, was firm and sure but her hand was much smoother and softer.

“Well, I guess I better run,” Kate said. “Jimmy just finished paying.”

Rebecca’s tall, thin brother-in-law, with spiked blond hair, was heading for the door while scanning the room for his wife. Rebecca waved to him when his gaze passed over her, then playfully shoved Kate out of the booth. “See ya later, sis.”

She and Olivia headed for the buffet, grabbed plates and filled them quickly. After stuffing themselves on pizza and breadsticks, they refilled their sodas then again returned to their booth.

“Is it just you and your sister or do you have more in your family?” Olivia asked after devouring her first piece of pizza.

“Kate is the oldest, then my sister June then me. I’m the baby.” Rebecca’s tone indicated her dislike for always being the youngest of the group.

“Just think,” Olivia pointed out. “Being the youngest will be a good thing when you’re older. They’ll both be over the hill before you are.” She smiled teasingly.

“I guess that’s true but I hope it’ll be awhile before I’m considered over the hill. Let me get through my first semester of college, at least.” Rebecca smiled back at Olivia and Olivia noticed how much her mood had brightened.

“So how is your research going?” Rebecca asked.

“I’ve followed several leads but so far it’s all been dead ends.” Olivia played with the straw in her glass.

“Maybe I can help. I’ve lived here forever, you know. I would probably recognize a lot of names in the area. I could even take you driving around the area if you need a tour guide,” Rebecca offered.

Olivia admitted, “I’m not sure where I would begin. I’m not even sure I’m looking for the correct names.”

At Rebecca’s puzzled expression, she explained. “You see, there’s something about my family that’s a secret, even from me. It’s got something to do with my great-grandmother. A few months ago I overheard my mother talking about it on the phone to her brother, my uncle Steve. She and my dad stayed in North Carolina when he retired from the military, but she flies to St. Louis two or three times a year to see us. She’d come to visit for a couple of weeks and she thought I was in my bedroom but I was lying down on the sofa and she couldn’t see me from where she sat. She was saying that ‘it was way overdue’ and ‘should have been taken care of years ago.’ Several times she said Gran’s name—that’s what we called my great-grandma. Then she said it would have to be taken care of by them without my grandmother finding out, which would take some planning. She added that it was a shame they didn’t go more often, she was family after all. I sneezed and she started asking questions about his work, my cousins, you know, normal stuff. When I asked her about it later, all she would say was it had to do with settling Gran’s estate and she didn’t want to talk about it because Grandmama, my grandmother, didn’t like people dredging up the past.”

Rebecca had been listening intently and was intrigued by Olivia’s mystery. “What’s the link to here?”

Olivia looked a little unsure as she continued, “Well, I’m probably grasping at straws but my mother won’t tell me who she was talking about. There is, or was, more family around somewhere. I remember one of my great-aunts mentioning a link to this county once when I was much younger. I obviously can’t ask Grandmama and she was the only child. My Gran had brothers and sisters. Remember we called them The Greats? But they’re all gone now. Gran was ninety-nine when she died ten years ago. I never knew my great-grandfather. Grandmama told me he died very young and she had no memories of him. Even my grandfather died when I was little, so there’s no one left to ask.”

Olivia took a sip of her cherry Coke and continued her tale. “Last time I was at Grandmama’s house I looked through all the photo albums to see if there was someone I didn’t recognize. I noticed there were no pictures of my great-grandfather. When I asked, Grandmama said there had been one but it must have been misplaced. I did find a photo of Gran when she was probably between twenty and twenty five years old standing beside another young woman of about the same age and a young man maybe a few years younger than them. I asked Grandmama if he was my great-grandfather and she laughed this really bitter-sounding laugh then said that picture showed the reason I never knew my great-grandfather. That’s all she would say.”

“Wow! I see what you mean about secrets.” Rebecca was leaning forward over the table, caught up in the story Olivia was telling. “But, I still don’t see what it has to do with here.”

“I’m getting to that,” Olivia continued. “After Grandmama had walked away, I looked at the back of the picture. It said, ‘Jane, MJ and Ralph, Springtown, MO, April, 1929.’ And that is what brought me here.”

“Springtown!” Rebecca exclaimed, sitting up straight in her booth. “That’s my hometown.” She waited for Olivia to grasp the importance of this but Olivia just looked at her blankly.

“Living in a small town is a lot different than living in a city,” Rebecca explained. “Someone in a small town knows something about everyone and everything that has ever happened in that small town. We just have to figure out who that someone is. Can you get a copy of that picture?” Rebecca asked.

Olivia was startled at Rebecca’s question. “Well, yes, I guess. But, I don’t see how that can help. I don’t think you’re old enough to recognize them,” she added, teasingly.

“No, but I know a few people who might be.” Rebecca smiled at Olivia encouragingly.

* * *

After making plans to meet again the following weekend, Olivia took Rebecca back to her car. Rebecca was reluctant to part company but knew Olivia still had a drive ahead of her and she still had shopping to do for her mother. Olivia also looked a little sad as she pulled up in the library’s back parking lot beside Rebecca’s old Buick.

Rebecca thought she must be disappointed about her research that day. “Don’t worry,” she said softly, reaching out and giving Olivia’s hand a gentle squeeze. “We’ll get this all figured out.”

“Oh,” said Olivia. “I’m not worried. I was just thinking about how much I enjoyed today and how I hate to go back to St. Louis. Thanks for the pizza, by the way.”

“Any time,” said Rebecca and she was surprised to realize how much she meant it. She had found such easy companionship with Olivia and was glad she was returning in one week. “Can you stay the weekend next time? Mom and Dad won’t mind if you stay. Mom would probably welcome the chance to make me clean the guest bedroom.” She groaned in mock despair, thinking of the things she would have to put away so the room could be used.

“Sure, I would love to stay,” Olivia said softly with that funny smile Rebecca had seen a few times when she had caught Olivia looking at her, in the library, in the restaurant and in the car. “Too bad you don’t have a place of your own yet.”

Then Olivia quickly leaned over, gave Rebecca a quick hug, a kiss on the cheek then pushed away as she said, “Go now and I’ll see you next weekend. Text me and we’ll get the details set up.”

Rebecca was too surprised by the show of affection to do more than respond with a quick good-bye as she slid out of the car, closed the door and watched Olivia pull away.

Her mind raced as she completed her mother’s shopping. Olivia had gotten closer to her in just two days, not even full days at that, than most of her friends had done in weeks or months of knowing her. She guessed that was her own fault; she wasn’t exactly overflowing with emotion most of the time. There was something different about Olivia though. There was no comparison between the night with her friends at the pizza place and today with Olivia. She had really enjoyed herself today instead of sitting on the outside looking in, wondering what was wrong. Typically when she was surrounded by her peers, she felt like she was in a foreign land. Somehow with Olivia it was like they spoke the same language. They were also both intrigued by a mystery. Rebecca had to admit that, in her mind, the pile of dirt at Peacock Cemetery had taken a backseat to Olivia’s family secrets. She already knew two people she would take Olivia to visit and maybe they would lead her to others.

As she pulled into her driveway her phone alert sounded. Olivia had texted. “Made it home. Had a great day. Can’t wait to c u again.”

She texted Olivia back quickly, “Me 2,” then hoisted the fifty-pound bag of dog food onto her shoulder, picked up the plastic shopping bag and her notebook in her other hand and headed into the house to tell her mother how her day had gone.

Chapter Five

It was Wednesday afternoon, sitting at the desk in the Resource Room at the school, when Rebecca put it all together. She was a smart girl, all of her teachers had been saying that for years. However, when it came to people, she sometimes missed the obvious.
Can’t wait to see you again.
The text from Olivia hadn’t said “looking forward to next weekend” or even “hope to find a lot of clues next week.” It sounded so much more personal than that. When she had texted her back about the pizza, she had used the word “date.” There had been a few things about Olivia that had puzzled her, like the wink she was sure she had seen in the library. And then there was that funny smile Rebecca kept seeing on her face when Olivia was watching her and she seemed to catch her watching her a lot.
Could Olivia be…? No…why would she be interested in me?
Besides, that would mean Olivia was gay, or maybe lesbian would be the right word, or maybe even bisexual.

Some of Rebecca’s friends at school had talked about relatives that were gay and a boy in the class ahead of her had come out his senior year. And, of course, she watched
Ellen
and even
Rosie
every now and then, but somehow they didn’t seem real to her. In the real world, in
her
small world, girl met guy, they fell in love, married, had a baby and life happened. Some people changed the sequence of events, some placed a college education into the equation somewhere, a few remained bachelors or, ugh, she hated the term, old maids. While she felt like a person ought to be able to live how they felt was right for themselves without other people trying to make those decisions for them, she really hadn’t given much thought to those who lived their lives outside that basic outline.