Chapter 17

When they said there was a tourist season here, Charlie observed, they really meant it. The last week of May had passed idyllically. Sam and Jenna were both starting work, but the three of them managed odd road trips almost every day. Charlie couldn't even remember all the names. Natural Bridge. Prospect. Diamond Lake. The postcards he sent home were all addressed to Alan and Don, but Charlie made sure to make any phone calls to Alan early in the day, when there was less risk of having to make a decision. Sam took Charlie out driving several times, and he progressed to the point that he was allowed to drive on some of their trips. Two days before Memorial Day, he was gone almost all day with Bill, the RV driver. When they got back, Sam had to park for him again. Charlie grabbed a couple of bags and walked back to the tent site with him. The park was already filling up, and by noon on the Friday before Memorial Day was over three-quarters full.

"This is a different feeling," Charlie mused. The three of them sat near the lake shore, sharing a picnic table. It was the last evening Jenna would be off work early enough to join them.

"Gets even busier," she said. "By the time the season is over, we'll be pining for those solitary nights on the river."

Charlie stood and walked toward the shore, hands in his pockets. He stood there for a while, but he was looking down at his feet, not at the view in front of him. He went back to the table. Sam was watching him.

"I'm not sure how to do this," Charlie started, still standing. Abruptly, he sat down.

"You leaving?" Sam asked quietly, but Charlie surprised him.

"No. I mean, yes, eventually, probably soon, but that's not it."

"What is it?" Jenna's voice was gentle.

He looked at them sincerely. "I've had a great time, these last few weeks. And before, at the river, from the first night that you started my fire so I wouldn't freeze to death — I think you guys are great. You know that?"

Jenna smiled. "Actually, yes, we do."

Now Charlie looked confused. She explained. "Last week. You had a fever one night with that cold, when it was still raining and you were in our tent?" She winked at Sam. "You talk in your sleep. At least when you have a fever."

Charlie felt himself blush.

"Giggle, some, too," Sam put in. "Don't want to know what that's about."

Charlie felt the blush go deeper. He tried to redirect the conversation. "I don't want to do anything that might offend you," he said, and everybody stopped smiling. "Really."

Sam turned his back to the lake, toward Charlie on the other side of the table. "What is it?"

Charlie held out his hand, and Sam automatically cupped his under it. Charlie dropped a set of keys into Sam's hand. Sam just looked at them for a second. "These aren't for the car," he finally said.

"The RV," Charlie said softly. "Bill's RV. When we went into town the other day, we stopped at the bank. I got him a cashier's check."

Jenna stared. "You bought the RV? You just learned to drive a car!"

Charlie reached into his pack, withdrew some paper. "This is the title. I want to sign it over to you, now."

Neither Sam nor Jenna spoke, so he hurried on. "You'll need it, if you stay here during the winter season. Rain, snow, sleet, hail…this place has all that stuff mailmen hate. And if you don't want it, later, for some reason, you can always sell it."

Sam tried to hand the keys back, but Charlie dropped his hands to his side. "Please," he said, "I think I got a good deal, it's not as much as you think. Bill said he only brought it up here one last time hoping someone would make an offer."

"This is too much," Jenna said. "We can't…"

"A barter, then? A trade?"

"We don't have anything but the car," Sam started, but Charlie was rummaging in his bag again.

"I want to remember you guys, I need to remember everything about this trip, but especially you. I don't have one of those cell phone camera things with me, but, here…" he placed a sketch pad and a set of charcoal pencils on the table. "If I could have a Jenna Carver original, something with all of us in it…" He saw Sam smile, saw Jenna touch the box of pencils.

"We have disposable cameras in the store," she said.

"You gave me back my dream, Jenna. Can't I do the same for you?"

She was crying now, reached across the table to touch Sam's arm. "You can do this," he said, reaching back to smooth her hair. "You can." Then he looked at Charlie. "Exactly how much money does a college professor pull down these days?"

Charlie grinned. "Really, it wasn't that much. Even the teller at the bank thought Bill was crazy." He reached into the bag, again. "Almost forgot. I prepaid a year of insurance, but this guy is waiting for your ID before he issues it. You can call him, fax a copy of your license and the title, once I've signed it…"

"Wait," Sam said, but Charlie was ahead of him.

He pushed the paperwork over to Sam. "Just drive him home to Medford, after the long weekend. Then it's yours." He pushed a hand through his hair, added, "there is one more thing."

Jenna was still crying, but she managed a tiny, "What?"

"I promised Bill I would go to the coast with him in mid-June. Some senior citizen bus trip he and his wife signed up for a long time ago. She can't take it now, and he doesn't want to take it alone. Says he wants to see the ocean one last time, then both he and his wife will move to a daughter's home in the Midwest."

Jenna brushed a forearm over her eyes, looked at Sam. "Where on the coast? Did he mention Highway 101?"

Charlie shrugged. "I don't think so. But it sounds like a creek. Water."

"Brookings?" asked Sam.

Charlie smiled. "Yes, that's it. Why?"

"You're taking a bus over Highway 101 to Brookings?"

Charlie's smile faltered a little at the tone in Jenna's voice. "Not a good idea?"

She leaned over, kissed him on the cheek. "I'm sure you'll love it."