Chapter 4
The ride home seemed endless. His thoughts elsewhere, Crane struggled to focus on the road ahead. When driving at night, he usually enjoyed whatever sky show was on display through the windshield. Whether Orion's triplet star belt his guide to nearby constellations in the inky sky of a new moon or a full moon's brilliance, he would took it all in. Even in one not easily excitable, it further calmed and grounded him. But nothing was on offer this overcast night. Thus, the jeep's headlights careened off a cloudy sky, mirroring the hundred-mile-a-minute thoughts hurtling and lurching through the traffic jam of neurons in his head.
Of course, in that regard the caffeine was a double-edged sword. Sure, it kept him wired enough to stay awake and then some, his fatigue and the natural resistance of a regular coffee drinker not dulling its full effects as they normally would. Indeed, they were heightened to the point of nervousness, and the evening's events just added to it all. And so, his innate sense of responsibility to the jeep and its inhabitants not falling prey to his unease, he pulled to the side of the road and stopped.
He cogitated on the day, now yesterday given the wee hours of the morning. He enjoyed the time with his closest brother and friend and the two sisters they had recently taken up with, all now slumbering in the vehicle. The drive to Davis, the concert, the meal afterwards. And then, the improbable meeting up with Brian, and Alyssa's reaction to seeing him. It was all so surreal. And how did he feel? Angry? Possibly. Confused? Definitely. Numb? That was a good way to put it, but not quite. Blindsided? Yes, that was it. Blindsided.
But, lest he get ahead of himself, in all fairness Alyssa had been too upset to explain. He hoped she would open up in her own time, or maybe he would need to broach the subject. In either case, they would both need to be calm and clear-headed.
As much as Alyssa's reaction mystified him, though, even more so to Crane was what Brian was doing in Davis on the same night and in the same watering hole a hundred miles from home as him and Daniel – that was the $64,000 question. (Or had that figure tripled with inflation over the years? He smirked at money talk invading his jumbled thoughts at a time like this.) Shocked at seeing his older brother there, and the revelation that followed, well, that took the proverbial cake, and then some.
The scene played in his mind in an endless loop. The recognition and surreal hellos. The jovial greeting from Brian. The tensed, tentative reply from Alyssa. In the shock of the moment, the loud backdrop of noise had ground suddenly to a halt to where he could hear a pin drop.
Brian had said a few things more but Crane had not heard. Indeed, the rest was a blur. Alyssa's hand in his, he guided her outside, the need for air great for both. She attempted to say something to him, almost placating what did not have to be placated. But yet, as calm as he seemed on the outside, he tripped through a mine field on the inside. Chivalrous to a fault, he had led them to the jeep and started driving, wanting to put distance behind him. Daniel and Charly's attempts at small talk and humor fell flat, and they too soon quieted. And now, a scant hour later, feeling much longer than that, here they were, in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night, halfway, but a world away, from home.
He glanced sideways as Daniel stirred in the passenger seat.
Middle brother yawned and looked around. Stretching, he asked, "Why'd we stop?"
Crane shrugged. "Just needed to, I guess."
Daniel tried to focus. "You want me to drive?"
"Uh uh. Go back to sleep."
"You okay?"
Crane thought a second. "Yeah."
"You sure?"
Lest the conversation go any further, Crane turned the key in the ignition. "Uh huh."
"'Kay." Daniel was back in dreamland as soon as he hit the headrest.
The breather seemed to help. Less flustered now, Crane turned back onto the road. As he drove, the ambient illumination created by headlights on clouds now calmed him, beckoning the way ahead. The occasional oncoming car's lights highlighted his view of the back seat, and in the rearview mirror he could see the women asleep. The sisters were a contrast – Charly quiet and unmoving, and Alyssa restless. He wondered if that was her normal sleep pattern, or if … no, he had better not go there.
With Crane's mind now quiet and the rest of the trip uneventful, the guys dropped the women at their vehicle in Columbia. Given the hour, they offered to follow the sisters to make sure they made it home safely, but told they would be fine, both pairs went their separate ways with little further conversation except they would be in touch.
~~00oo00~~
Sunday at the noon hour found Crane and Daniel at the dining room table. Waking about nine, they found the house quiet and the truck gone. Figuring everyone to be at church, they methodically busied themselves with chores before preparing an improvised breakfast.
Daniel buttered a piece of toast. "Any plans for today?"
After a moment Crane looked up. "Huh?"
"Do you have any plans for today?"
Crane hesitated, then replied, "No. Why?"
"Thought we could head out and play this afternoon." Daniel grinned. "Never know who might show up."
Crane regarded his plate before responding in a quiet voice. "You go. I'm gonna try and get some work done."
"Man, it's Sunday! You can pay the bills tomorrow."
Crane looked pensive. "No, you go. I have a lot to catch up on."
"You okay?"
"Just tired, I guess. It was a late night."
"And I had the same night you did." Daniel urged, "Come on, man, I don't want to go alone."
"Then take Guthrie."
~~oo00oo~~
The truck pulled up just as brothers three and four finished cleaning up the breakfast dishes piled in the sink. All but Brian trooped in, the three youngest McFaddens in a rush for the stairs.
Hannah called after them, "Don't knock each other out on the way upstairs, please."
Ford responded, "We won't."
"What's got them all excited?" Daniel asked.
Adam sighed. "Girls."
Middle brother chuckled. "So what else is new."
"Nothing, I suppose." Adam added, "But nobody's doing anything until chores are done."
Daniel regarded Adam. "They're done."
"What do you mean? We were running late this morning and nothing much got done."
Daniel shrugged. "We did everything."
Hannah interjected, "That was nice of you. I'm sure the boys will appreciate it."
"They better."
Eldest brother warned, "Daniel, if you're expecting something from them …"
"I'm not, Adam. Just figured we'd do them a favor."
"Okay."
Only half listening to his brothers' conversation, Crane jumped at Hannah's hand on his shoulder, accidentally knocking over his coffee cup. "Sorry." Without another word, he got up and grabbed a rag to clean it up, drawing all eyes to him.
Hannah said, "Sorry, Crane. I didn't mean to startle you."
"It's okay."
She continued, "I was just wondering how the concert was."
Crane replied flatly, "It was good."
Adam raised a brow. "Doesn't sound too good."
Daniel interjected, "No, it really was good. We even ran into Brian when we out to eat after."
Hannah and Adam shared a look at the same time Crane and Daniel did.
"What was he doing there?" Hannah asked.
Crane remarked, "That's what I was wondering." He paused. "Where is he now?"
"He left with Bill late yesterday to help him with a delivery. Said they'd be back Monday afternoon."
"Where were they going?"
Adam shrugged. "Over near Sacramento somewhere. Why?"
"No reason." Crane thought a second before heading out the back door. "Excuse me."
It was Adam's turn to be taken aback. He regarded Daniel. "What was that all about?"
"We ran into Brian last night."
"And?"
"That's it. Just ran into him. We were just surprised to see him there." Daniel changed the subject. "Do you mind if Guthrie comes with me to play this afternoon? If no one needs the jeep?"
"As long as his homework's done. And you can take the jeep." Eldest brother eyed Daniel suspiciously. "Is Crane going?"
"No. He wants to get some stuff done." Daniel deflected by heading for the stairs. "I'll get Guth. We'll be back in time for supper."
Hannah said, "I'll hold you to that. You're both on dish duty tonight."
"Promise!" Daniel called back.
Hannah smiled. "Promises, promises!" She walked the few steps to Adam and extended her arms around his neck. "Why the stone face?"
Adam put his arms around her waist. "Crane's all concerned about Brian, and Daniel wants Guthrie to go with him? Something's going on, and I'm aiming to find out what."
