Chapter Five
His Taj Mahal, My Haven
Billy was sitting in the small livingroom, watching television and seemed surprised as we burst into the house and filled it with laughter. Then he looked at us both and a smile spread across his face.
"Bella. Come on in here. How are you doing? Jake get Bella something to drink, and me to while you're at it. Please?"
"Sure, sure. Jake's at your service," he replied, sarcastically.
Billy and I just snickered and watched as he stormed out of the living room. Billy motioned for me to sit down, so I crossed the room and sat down near him on their small sofa.
"How's Charlie doing Bella? We really enjoyed coming over the other day. Even if I did lose a bank roll to him," he said, laughing.
"He's fine. Thanks."
"So, is Jake getting the old truck tunned up for you?"
"Um, yeah. I have to bring some things back down with me tomorrow from the auto part's store, so he can finish it up. I really appreciate him keeping an eye on it for me."
"Oh, he's happy to do it."
"Do what Dad?"
"We were just talking about the truck," Billy said, taking the glass of tea from Jake.
I too thanked Jake as he handed me a glass and sat down at the other end of the small sofa. Then, for the next forty-five minutes, we talked about the truck and the things Jake was going to do to it tomorrow, the weather, various happenings on the reservation, and school. Which brought me back to needing to get home, because I had to do my homework.
Jake walked with me back to the truck, lowered the hood, and opened the door for me. I slid in under the steering wheel and reached for the ignition. Jake was leaning against the cab with one hand, while the other was holding the armrest on the door.
"Bella, don't forget to get the things I need for tomorrow."
I pulled the folded note out of my pocket, waved it in front of him, and replied, "I don't think I will. I've got the note right here," trying my best to mimic his voice.
"Hey, I don't sound like that. I think you loose a year for that behavior, very immature," he said, laughing.
"So, now I'm what seventeen? I didn't think I was playing the age game, only you. After all, you're the one who needs to grow up," I came back, waving the note in his face again.
He caught my hand in his and held it while pulling it down on my lap. He was smiling and I could tell he was trying hard to think of something equally brilliant to reply with.
"Okay. You've got me. I'll leave your age alone, this time, but only because I feel like being nice. Next time you might not be so lucky."
My smile broadened knowing I had won this round and probably would win many more in the near future. That sounded strange, the near future. Does that mean I'd be spending a lot of my time in La Push? I pushed the thought aside to revisit later, when I got home.
"I know. You have to go home because you're just dying to hit the books. Actually, I have some too, so we both better go. See you tomorrow?"
"Yep. I'll be down as soon as I leave the store."
He seemed hesitant to let my hand go, but slowly released it, and I pushed the note into my jacket pocket before starting the engine. He backed out of the doorway, closed the door, and gave me a slight wave, as I backed out of the garage. I again watched him in the rearview mirror until he was out of sight.
As I drove home, the radio was playing softly in the background, but I just couldn't turn it off. It was actually comforting having the soft melody that was playing float around the cab. It was almost like having an old friend there with me.
Charlie wasn't home yet, when I arrived, so I started dinner and pulled out my homework. I finished my homework and the spaghetti I was fixing for dinner just about the time Charlie came home.
"Hey. How was your day? Did you go down and see Jake today, to let him work on your truck?"
"Yeah, but I have to go back tomorrow. He needed some oil and a few other things from the auto part's store, so I'm stopping by there on my way. Is that okay?"
"Sure. You know I don't mind. You can stay as long as you like. It's good for you to get out for a change. Oh, and by the way, tell Billy I want a rematch this weekend. There's a game on Saturday night and the bet is $10.00 this time."
I laughed, "I'll be sure and tell him, but he may not go for upping the anti, he said something about losing a bank roll, or something like that, about last time."
"Just tell him. Why don't you ask Billy and Jake to come over for dinner on Saturday? I'll pull some of the fish out of the freezer and I'll show you how Billy and I like our fish fried."
"Okay. That sounds good. I better call Jake tonight, so they don't make any plans, or anything."
Charlie eyed me curiously, then smiled in agreement, as I sat his plate of hot spaghetti in front of him.
As soon as I had cleared away the mess from dinner I picked up the phone and called Jake.
"Hello. Jake? Yeah it's me. I'm sorry to bother you.....oh, okay. Well, dad was wondering if you and Billy might come over for dinner and a game Saturday night? He said he feels like a rematch, or something."
I was listening to Jake on the other end, he said yes almost before I had finished my sentence, but now was asking his dad. I was waiting for him to finish, when Charlie appeared in the kitchen doorway, motioning something to me.
"Hold on Jake."
I pulled the receiver down, covered it with the palm of my hand and asked my dad what he was trying to say.
"Tell Billy to bring some of Harry Clearwater's homemade fish fry with him and for them to come early, so we can fry the fish."
I nodded my head yes and returned to my conversation with Jake.
"Sorry Jake. My dad wants to know if you can have Billy get some of Harry Clearwaters' homemade fish fry, or something? He wants to show me how he and Billy like their fish fried. Okay, that sounds great. No I finished it right before dinner. How about yours? It worked fine. No, I didn't turn it off. It was sort of nice. I mean listening to it coming home. I don't know what it made me think of.....exactly. What do you mean? Okay. Well, I guess I need to go too. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight."
I hung up the phone, turned off the light in the kitchen, and told my dad I was going up to take a shower and get ready for bed. He asked if I told Jake to bring the fish fry and I assured him that I had, kissed him goodnight, and made my way up the stairs.
I lay on my bed, after my shower, and thumbed through my new book, as I thought about the afternoon with Jake. I wondered what he had been thinking when that song came on the radio and why he had that smile on his face? I wondered what he meant while we were on the phone about what the radio made me think of?
As long as I was thinking of Jake, or with him, I didn't feel so broken. It was as if he was good for me, almost like he was helping me pull myself back together, even if he didn't know it.
I closed the book, climbed into bed, and pulled the warm comforter up over me, then I thought about whether I would be spending more time in La Push. I knew that I would like to, but Jake may have my truck's tune up complete by tomorrow. What would I do then? He would probably find it strange for me to just hang around him for no reason. Maybe something would come up. So, I closed my eyes, and drifted to sleep with Jake's bright smile filling my mind.
The next day was busy at school. I had two exams and every class was alive with new information. At lunch, Angela came to sit beside me and we talked. She asked me what I had been up to since Friday and wanted to know if I would go to Port Angeles with her again in a few weeks. I told her I would let her know, then we proceeded to talk about our school work for the rest of the lunch period.
By the time I heard the last bell of the day, I was practically running to the parking lot and jumping into my truck. I sped away and went right to the part's store. I handed the man behind the counter Jake's note, he read it, then smiled at me, before going to get the things on the list.
He left the list laying on the counter and I happened to pick it up and read it. I hadn't read it yesterday. Jake had listed the items he needed, then at the bottom, he had added the words, "not yet, but maybe soon." I knew he said he had known the man for a while, as he always comes here to get parts for his car, but I wondered what this little cryptic inscription meant, and why the man had smiled at me? But before I could study on the matter any further, the man was back and ringing up my purchase.
I paid him and left, eager to get these items to Jake, so he could work on my truck. At least that's what I kept telling myself, as I sped down the highway toward La Push, listening to my radio and smiling all the way.
Jake was waiting for me in the garage, when I arrived. He quickly came over and opened my door, giving me the smile that I was becoming accustomed to, and I felt the warmth of that smile began to spread through me.
He was standing in the door of the truck, so I handed him the bag from the part's store, he moved and I slid out of the cab.
"Hey. How was your day?" He asked, as he went to put the bag on his work bench.
"Good. How about yours?"
"S'okay. At least I don't have homework tonight, " he said, pretending to wipe his brow.
"Well, then we both got lucky, neither do I," I laughed, as I came to stand near him.
He clasped his hands together and rubbed then, as he said, "where do we begin today? Let's see, we need to let the truck cool, so while we're waiting on that, would you like to walk down to the beach with me?"
"Sure. It's actually not raining for a change. It'll be nice to soak up some rays," I chuckled lightly.
Without another word, he quickly went over, unlatched the hood of the truck and raised it, so the heat could escape. Then he was back by my side, grabbed my hand, and we were out the door of the garage and walking toward the beach, hand in hand.
"I've not seen much of the reservation. Only the houses right around yours. Is it very big?"
"No, it's one of the smaller rez's around these parts. I guess because it is so close to the ocean."
"I haven't seen your friends around. Did you run them off for good?"
"No. They have just had other things to do the past couple of days. I'm sure you'll be seeing them soon enough," Jake replied, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"You know. I never got a chance to thank Sam and the other two guys that were with him, you know, that night. I was hoping I might have a chance to see him while I was down here."
Jake's grip tightened around my hand when I mentioned Sam and the others. The happy look he had previously on his face was replaced with one of worry or dread. He stared ahead for the longest, as we continued toward the beach.
"Huh. Sam. Funny you should mention him. I've actually been thinking about him today too, but not in the same way as you."
"What does that mean? Is he in trouble or something?" I asked, genuinely concerned.
"No, it's more like he's causing trouble, or at least that's the way I see it."
"Jake, tell me what's wrong."
"Well, it all started about the time he came looking for you that night. He had started budding up with the elders and they were always wanting to talk with him. Then, he started calling meetings. I mean, that's supposed to be the job of Old Quil, my friend Quil's grandfather. But the strangest part is, they let him. It's like he's running this rez and everyone's looking up to him like he is one of the ancients come back to life or something."
Jake seemed distant, like he was struggling with what he'd just told me, but not sure why. We had walked all the way to the beach by the time he finished talking. We had stopped and he was just staring out at the waves. I could feel that this was a big deal for him, a very big deal, but I wasn't sure what to do.
Then he continued in a low voice, "you should see the way he watches me. It makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. He's always lurking around in the shadows like he's waiting for something big to happen. I don't even like going to the general store anymore, thinking I might run into him."
I guess without even thinking, I found myself moving closer to him, until my arms were wrapped around his waist and I was hugging him. I didn't want him to worry and I wanted to comfort him.
I whispered, "it'll be okay Jake. It'll all work out."
He moved his arms up and wrapped them around my shoulders pulling me closer to his chest, where I rested my cheek, then stroked my hair and I felt his mouth pressing gently to the top of my head, as he replied, "thanks Bella. Thanks."
We stayed wrapped up like that for a long time, then I started pulling away. I smiled up at him, when I could see his face, but I could still tell he was worried about what was happening with his people.
He looked out at the ocean again, "do you remember this spot?"
I looked out across the waves, their white tops pounding into the sand on the shore and I remembered that this was the spot where Jake and I had walked together almost a year ago.
"Hey, there is the driftwood tree we sat on when we talked that day. I can't believe it's still here."
"I still come down here a lot. It's a good place to come and think," he said quietly.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the big tree. Its white branches, bleached from the salt water and waves, looked almost ghostly yet angelic at the same time. As we approached, I ran my hand along the smooth limbs, they were almost soft from the abrasive effects of the sea constantly scrubbing them every night when the tide came in.
"This is our spot. I like it here," I said, while climbing up onto one of the lower lying branches.
I stood up as tall as I could and shouted, "I hereby declare this Jake and Bella's private sanctuary by the sea!"
Jake was laughing as I climbed back down. At least he was laughing now, instead of being worried, I thought. Maybe that's what he needed, was to just laugh and forget about things for the afternoon. So the next thing I found myself doing was running up the beach screaming, "bet you can't catch me!"
I could feel my hair flying in the wind as I ran, first on the damp sand by the water's edger, then into the dry white sand further inland. I thought I was way ahead of him, until he scooped me up from behind, picked me up off the ground, and then before I knew it, we were toppling over onto the warm sand, both laughing so hard we couldn't see.
When we finally stopped laughing, I was laying on my back and Jake was propped up beside me on an elbow. As I looked up at him, I wished that his hair had been hanging free, and thought how nice it would have been to see it moving gently around his face.
"It feels nice to laugh for a change doesn't it Bella?" He said, smiling down at me and pulling a strand of my own hair away from my lips.
"Yeah it does. I'd almost forgotten what it was like."
"Are you felling better? Or does it still hurt?" Jake asked, so seriously that it took me by surprise.
I felt an old familiar pain pulse in my chest as he pulled at my memories, but I didn't want to cry today. Today was a day of laughter for both of us.
"Hey. We're not talking about that today. Today I'm trying to make you happy. I don't want to see you sad," I said, poking him in the ribs.
He too started laughing and fell back in the sand. I propped up this time on one elbow, and continued to poke him in the ribs, until he finally grabbed my hand, and pulled me down close to him.
My hair was flying around both our faces, so he reached up and pushed it behind my ears. Looking down at him, I remembered the words to the song that was on yesterday, someday lady you'll accompany me, where the rivers meet the sounding sea, flying high above me wild and free....
At that moment, I did feel free. Free of the pain and sadness that had plagued me for so long, but would this feeling last? Could I overcome the pain once and for all? I felt like the answer might be yes, with Jake there to help me through it.
When I realized we were both smiling at each other and how close we actually were, I sat up, pulling away. I looked out at the ocean and watched the waves ebb toward the horizon. It was beautiful here and so peaceful. No wonder Jake was almost always smiles. He lived near one of the most contented places on earth, the sea.
I was lost in the moment, breathing in the briny air and listening to the sounds all around us, when I noticed Jake was staring at me, not at the ocean. I felt my cheeks began to glow, as the blood rose up and filled them.
"What?" I asked, innocently.
"Nothing. I was just thinking."
"Well, now you have me curious. What exactly were you thinking?"
He stood up and held out his hand to help me up.
"I was just thinking we better get back. I'm sure the truck is cool enough to take the plug out of the oil pan, so I can start the oil to draining."
I had a feeling that the oil wasn't what he had on his mind, but I didn't push the subject, so I let him help me up. He didn't let go of my hand as we walked back to the garage and I didn't mind. I was beginning to enjoy his hand in mine, maybe more than I should.
When we got back, Jake pulled out two red ramps, cranked the truck and pulled it up onto the ramps, giving him better access to the underside of the truck.
He quickly gathered an old yellow tub, a red rag, a wrench, and a light that he hooked under the truck, before laying down and sliding underneath the metal frame. I watched his legs for a few moments, then became curious as to what he was doing under there, so I lay down and shimmed under the truck with him.
"Hey. You'll get dirty under here."
I was just about to reach up and touch a bolt on the undercarriage, when Jake grabbed my hand and pulled it toward him.
"You also have to be careful, or you'll get burned," he scolded. Then he rested our hands on his chest.
We lay there, underneath the truck and talked while the oil drained into the yellow pan. Jake told me about a project he had to complete this weekend for school and about being asked to work on his neighbor's car next week. I didn't have much to tell, so I just listened, content with his company and the soothing sound of his voice.
When the oil had completely drained, he replaced the plug in the oil pan, we got up, and he proceeded to change the oil filter and added the new quarts of oil. He had just finished, when he looked up at me and said, "I forgot to have you pick up the spark plugs and wires. I guess that means you will have to come back tomorrow, so I can install them." He just grinned at me, and I knew this time that he had forgotten them on purpose.
"So, I guess I need to go back to the auto parts store tomorrow and pick them up?" I asked with a silly grin on my face.
"Please? Then when you come down tomorrow, I can finish the tune up and the old truck will be running as good as new," he said with a quick wink, as he walked over to the workbench and made another list with the parts I would need to get.
"Thanks Jake. It means a lot that you're helping me. I'm mean fix up the truck and all."
"Bella, I'm glad to help and besides, we've gotten to spend time together," he said, as he handed the list to me, "and I wouldn't trade that for anything."
I shoved the note into my pocket and sighed, "I guess I better be getting home. I have just enough time to make dinner before Charlie gets home."
"Hate to see you go, but I know how it is," Jake replied, looking somewhat sullen.
"Yeah. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Sure, sure, you know where to find me. Right here in the Taj Mahal," he said looking around the small garage.
I smiled, but something about that statement made me sad. I started slowly toward my truck and Jake followed. He lowered the hood, letting it slam with a loud bang, then was at my door holding it open for me.
"Thanks again Jake," I said, as I climbed into the driver's seat.
He leaned into the door, with both arms pressed above his head on the frame of the door, while he ducked to peer at me inside. His eyes had a sparkle to them and he gave me that little smile that made things seem all better. I wrapped one hand around the steering wheel and reached to start my truck with the other. I felt his warm hand on mine, as he wrapped both around the steering wheel and held them there for a few seconds.
"You be safe going home. Okay?"
I smiled up at him, then looked at our hands, as he reluctantly slid his away and started backing up away from the door, then closed it and patted the side of the truck as he mouthed the word goodbye. I waved and did the same, then backed out of the small garage, and headed for home.