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MOUNT VERNON AIRPORT:
On the flight back from the Mystic, Alex decides his problem with his father is no excuse for not stopping at the ranch to see his nephew and niece. He could have died in that submarine, and if there is such a thing as heaven his spirit would never rest in peace if his stubbornness keeps him from seeing them when he has the chance. He won’t tell them the magnitude of what’s happening, since there’s nothing they can do about it. He just hopes Robert hasn’t turned them against him. Especially Derek.
Forty minutes later, he drives over the crest, down into the valley, and turns right off the highway and over a bridge to the ranch. He drives past a row of large fir trees on his left, and on his right, six Appaloosa horses are grazing in the pasture surrounded by white wooden fences. The asphalt road changes to gravel, and he sees the four-bedroom rambler-style house where he grew up. He follows the circular driveway past the tan-colored corral and barn to the back of the house and stops in front of the back porch. He recognizes Kristy sitting in the porch swing and opens the door.
Kristy doesn’t recognize the vehicle, but knows the man who climbs out and smiles. “Uncle Alex!” She jumps out of the chair, runs across the porch, then leaps over the two steps to the ground. “You’re here! I knew you would come.” She reaches up and Alex bends down, then they hug each other warmly.
Kristy releases him and grabs his hand as he straightens up. “Did you feel the earthquakes in Montana?”
“No, but I’m doing some work here in Washington, so I thought I’d stop by.” He turns as a motorcycle approaches.
“Derek’s home, Uncle Alex. I told him you would come out and see us, but he didn’t believe me.”
Derek is surprised to see his uncle as he parks in front of the porch. He wonders what to say as he shuts off the engine and climbs off the motorcycle. He hangs his helmet on the handlebars and walks over to him. “Hi, Alex. I’m glad you’re here.”
Alex isn’t sure what to expect and reaches out to shake his hand. “It’s good to see you too, Derek.” When Derek accepts, he knows things might still be okay between them.
“I told you he would come.” Kristy blurts. “The earthquakes must be bad if you came all the way out here to see us.”
Derek notices the change in his uncle’s expression. “This is bad, isn’t it?”
“I have some people working on it, and we’re fine for now.”
Kristy squeezes his hand. “Grandpa is in the house watching television, Uncle Alex. He’ll be surprised you’re here. I’ll get him.”
She runs off before he can stop her. Here we go.
Kristy runs into the kitchen, forgetting about the screen door until it slams shut behind her. “Sorry, grandpa,” she says as she runs into the living room. “Uncle Alex is here!”
Robert turned the volume on the television down when he heard a car stop outside and listened to the conversation between Alex and the kids. It’s been two months since the funeral, and he wonders how he’ll feel if he sees him.
“What’s wrong, grandpa? Don’t you want to see Uncle Alex?”
Robert pushes himself out of the recliner and follows Kristy through the kitchen and out onto the porch. He and Alex stare at each other for a long moment. “What do you want?” he finally asks.
Alex doesn’t expect a warm welcome, but hello would have been nice. “I only came because of the kids. I’m on my way to see a friend monitoring the seismic activity.”
A knot forms in Robert’s stomach looking at Alex. The resemblance to his older brother is too much, so he turns away and walks back into the house.
Derek can tell there will never be peace between Alex and Robert, but things have changed since the accident, and they should at least try to get along. He notices Alex is still staring at the screen door. “Is there anything we should do, Alex?”
Alex looks over at Derek, who is the same height as he is. “Not really. I’ll call if I think it’s necessary.”
Kristy can tell her uncle is more worried than he’s telling them. “Does that mean you’re not staying here with us, Uncle Alex? What if we need your help?”
Alex glances at the screen door, then back at Kristy. “I’m sorry, Kristy, but I can’t stay here. Mr. Patterson offered to let me stay at his cabin for the night. He lives up past the State Park.”
“I’m going with you.” Derek tells him.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Patterson only has one spare room, and it’s a school night. Just stay here.”
“I’ll go on my motorcycle and I can sleep on the couch.” He sees the hesitation in his uncle’s eyes. “This is important to me, Alex. I really want to go with you.”
“Look, I don’t want to impose on Mr. Patterson. It’s better if you just stay here.”
Derek glares at his uncle. Why does he treat me like a child? I thought he was my friend. Maybe there’s a reason grandpa hates him. “Fine!” he snarls as he storms up the front porch and enters the house, slamming the screen door shut behind him.
Alex stares after Derek and feels bad he upset him. He looks down at Kristy. “I’d better go.”
Kristy grabs his hand. “Just stay a little while longer. You just got here.”
“I can’t. I’m not going back to Montana right away, so I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.” Kristy holds out her arms, and he bends down to give her a hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He stands, climbs into his car, and drives away.
Kristy is disappointed Uncle Alex isn’t staying at the house, and stares at his car until it disappears down the road. Why is grandpa still so mad at him? I never stay mad that long. Even Derek is only mad for a little while. I don’t want to be a grown up.
She turns and starts walking to the barn to see the new ponies. She always feels better when she pets their noses.
Back in the house, Robert stands at the sink and turns on the water. He knows Alex is not telling him everything, and just the fact that he came all the way from Montana means he’s worried about the earthquakes. Not much anyone can do about it, anyway. He leans over the sink and peels potatoes.
Derek enters the kitchen and sees Robert standing at the kitchen sink with the water running. He thinks about telling him he’s going to follow Alex, but doesn’t want to get in an argument with him, and walks through, easing the screen door closed behind him.
Robert hears the motorcycle engine over the sound of the water and listens to the noise fading away down the driveway.
“Damn, fool kid.” he grumbles. “Where is he off to now?”