Gina Ranalli - House of Fallen Trees

“Well,” she said, “I never felt his physical pain, but other than that, I guess it’s a pretty good comparison to make.”

“Did it go both ways? Could he sense when you were upset?”

“Not as much. At least he didn’t share it if he could. I always assumed that was because I was older and was expected by my parents to be his protector.”

“Interesting,” Saul replied.

The three of them fell into a silence then, each thinking his or her own thoughts about Sean and the boy or man he had been. Several minutes passed and then Saul got to his feet. “I think I need a refill,” he said. “This time maybe with a little more whiskey than tea. Can I get more for either of you guys?”

Karen and Rory both handed over their mugs and agreed to another round. It wasn’t until he had gone back inside that Karen saw Rory staring off into the woods, his eyes glistening. She sat forward in her chair and touched his knee.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

He shook his head sadly. “I just can’t believe he didn’t tell me some of this stuff.”

“Maybe…” she began, uncertain of what she was going to say until the words were tumbling out of her mouth. “Maybe he didn’t want to think about those days any more than I did. I wouldn’t take it personally. He just had a rough time back then.”

“I’m not talking about mean parents or school bullies. I’m talking about you. Being his protector.” Rory sniffed loudly but refused to let any tears fall. “I thought that was my role. I mean…I thought I was the only one who he’d ever…” He trailed off, his eyes hardening.

“Who he’d ever needed?” she guessed.

He nodded. “You have no idea how hard we looked for him when he first disappeared. How hard I looked. Search parties. Private investigators. Posters, T-shirts, bumper stickers. The whole nine yards. And when everyone said it was hopeless…when everyone else had given up, I still soldiered on alone. I looked everywhere I could think of. I even contacted his old boyfriends that I knew about. Hell, I’m still looking for him. In every stranger’s face I see, on the goddamn television…I just don’t know what else to do.”

Rory finally broke down then, leaning over and sobbing into his hands.

Karen got up and sat in the chair Saul had previously occupied, stroking Rory’s back silently. She knew there were no words she could say to calm him and didn’t even attempt it.

Eventually Saul returned with their mugs and when he saw what was happening, he too said nothing. Just handed Karen her drink while setting Rory’s on the porch floor beside his chair and waited for the flood of tears to abate.

The wait seemed long, but neither Saul nor Karen complained. Instead, they watched the sky darken around them while the air grew chillier and the sound of a man weeping slowly subsided.

The morning dawned gray and wet, as mornings in the Northwest often do. The smell of coffee tickled Karen’s nose as she opened her eyes, momentarily confused by the sight of the faded floral wallpaper all around her. Then she remembered: she was in Washington, in some guy named Saul’s tiny spare bedroom. The room could barely contain the twin bed and a scarred wooden dresser against one wall.

She sat up, inhaled the luscious coffee scent, and looked out the one window at the overcast day. She could see pines, of course, and not much else. Just a corner of the house next door.

At first she was amazed by the total and complete silence of her surroundings, but as she pricked her ears she was able to hear murmurings coming from beyond the bedroom door. The guys were obviously up and trying to keep their voices low so as not to disturb their guest.

After a long, leisurely stretch, she tossed the covers aside and hopped out of bed, anxious to begin the day and see the B&B at last. She wished the spare bedroom came with its own private bath, but in a house so small, she wasn’t particularly surprised that it didn’t.

No matter. She wasn’t the kind of woman who slept in slinky nightgowns anyway. She wore a pair of old blue boxers and a Boston Red Sox T-shirt.

She dug around in her bag for her toothbrush and exited the room, which was just off the kitchen.

Rory and Saul were seated at a round kitchen table, each drinking coffee from non-matching ceramic mugs. Boys after my own heart, she thought, giving them a sleepy smile. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” Rory said, raising his cup to her. “Coffee’s on if you drink it.”

“I have tea too, if you’d prefer that,” Saul said.

“Oh, I’m a coffee gal,” she said. “I couldn’t function without it.”

The men exchanged a smile and she looked at them wonderingly. “Just like Sean,” Rory explained. “He drank coffee almost non-stop. Even if it was eleven o’clock at night, he had to have his java.”

“Huh,” she said, trying to remember if this little detail about her brother was one she’d already known or if it was news to her.

“Hope you don’t mind organic toothpaste,” Saul interrupted her thought, gesturing at the pink toothbrush she held.

She smiled again. “That’s fine. I’m ashamed I forgot to brush last night. I can’t remember the last time that happened.”

“You were pretty wiped,” Rory said, getting up to refill his mug. “Do you take cream and sugar in your coffee?”

“ Soy creamer and raw sugar,” Saul said, as if this were extremely important information.

“Perfect,” she said. “I guess I’ll take a shower first, though, if that’s okay.”

“Of course.” Saul rose from his chair. “I’ll just get you some fresh towels.”

She thanked him yet again before returning to her room for her bag and fresh clothes.

After a quick shower, she was even more anxious to get going but managed to sit still with the men and enjoy the coffee waiting for her when she emerged from the bathroom, hair damp and smelling of fresh peaches. By the time everyone was ready to hit the road it was just after nine AM. She was convinced this was a new record for her, as she usually didn’t get out of bed before eleven.

Once more piled into the Jeep, they began their trek to Fallen Trees in good spirits, talking animatedly about each of their various occupations. She was surprised when Rory told her that in addition to his summer school duties he also owned the one and only bar in Fallen Trees, The Lantern.

“It was called The Juniper Lantern when I bought the place ten years ago, but I shortened it, ‘cause I thought the name might sound more faggy with a fag running it.” Both he and Saul laughed heartily at this. “Anyway, now with the B&B in the works, the townsfolk are joking that pretty soon I’ll own half of Fallen Trees.”

“The bar does pretty good then?” Karen asked.

“Yeah,” he replied. “I don’t think we have a single non-drinker in the whole place. Pretty much everyone comes into The Lantern at least once a day, even if it’s just to talk to someone else.”

“If they leave their house at all,” Saul added, “They’re in the Lantern.”

Karen turned in her seat to look at him. “You’re there a lot too, huh?”

“The Lantern? Sometimes.”

She grinned at him. “I meant Fallen Trees.”

“Ohhhh,” he laughed again. If there was one thing she was learning about Saul, it was that he was the quickest person to laugh or smile she’d ever known in her entire life. “Well, I’m there when Rory wants me there. I’m a contractor by trade, so I’ve been helping him out with the B&B.”

“Ah,” she said. “So, just how rugged is this place? I know you said there’s no phone service…”