Shoe Strings

and swelling in Atlanta’s signature summer
humidity.   Because none of her shoes
would fit and she didn’t have the money for new ones, she attached an
adjustable watchstrap to her dollar store flip-flops and managed to ease both
her comfort and her bank account as word of the pregnancy shoes spread.  
    Cal carried the suitcases back through a small hallway as
Lita looked around.   The one floor
cabin contained a den with mismatched furniture, a small table for eating, and
a good-sized kitchen.   It wasn’t a
five star resort with a spa, but it would certainly do.   She could all but hear the well-worn
couch calling out to her weary bones.  
    “This is it,” he said a moment later.   “As you can see, you’ve got a full
kitchen with all the silverware and dishes you’ll need.”   He opened a few drawers and cabinets.   “There are plenty of pots and pans under
the counter.   Down the hall is the
bedroom and bath.   Bedroom’s got a
queen bed and closet and the bathroom’s just across the hall.   Plenty of linens and towels.   I’ll collect them every couple days and
do a wash.”
    “Oh, that’s not necessary.   If you’ll direct me to the laundry, I’ll
do them myself.”
    “Nonsense.   You’re a guest and it’s all a part of the service.   Besides, I’ve got a girl who does basic
housekeeping.   What’s today?   Wednesday?   She’ll be around Saturday to freshen up,
then back again Wednesday.   If those
days don’t work for you, just let me know.”
    “Wednesday and Saturday work just fine.”   She eased the bag from her shoulder and
placed it on the scarred counter.   “Is there a grocery store nearby where I can pick up a few things?”
    “Sure is.   You
passed it on the turnoff coming up here.   They’ll have everything you need, including movies to rent.   The den has a DVD player, but not the
bedroom.   Both TVs have cable.   Remotes are on the coffee table and back
on the nightstand.   Got the basic
package plus HBO.”   He winked at
Lita.   “I like their series shows.”
    Lita smiled, as she had no idea what series were on HBO, but
couldn’t help but be charmed by the engaging Cal Bloodworth.   “Sounds perfect.   I’ll just wheel this back to the bedroom
and head to the grocery.”
    “I’m headed into town too.   My house is just over the ridge
there.”   He pointed out the kitchen
window to the roof about fifty yards away.   “You just holler if you need anything.”
    “Oh, Cal,” Lita said as he turned to leave.   “Do you have a key?”
    Cal laughed and leaned against the doorjamb.   “I haven’t locked this place since I
built it.   No crime around here, but
if you’re set in your city ways, there’s a key in the bowl on the table by the
front door.”
    As the door shut behind him, Lita turned to look at the key
in the bowl, then at the door.   There was no deadbolt, only a turn lock on the door handle.   With security measures like that, she
may as well leave the door unlocked.
    ***
    Jesse Bloodworth peeled off his wetsuit and shook his icy
limbs in the cool March air.   He
didn’t have a temperature gauge, but he’d guess the river wasn’t much above
forty degrees.   Hopping into the
cold river was, during this time of year, like taking a cold shower.   It worked about as well as a gallon of
hot coffee for getting the day going.  
    He’d spent the morning scrubbing clean the rafts that would
soon carry hundreds of families, church groups, day campers, and adventure
seekers down the class two and three rapids of the Powollachee river.   And as much as he hated cleaning, be it
his room as a teenager or his house now, he was pretty damn pleased with the
job he’d done so far.  
    He’d gotten a good jump on the day and now he was
starving.   He checked his
watch.   Noon—he should have
known.   His stomach worked better
than any timepiece.   He heaved the
wetsuit over the banister of the registration cabin and stretched his back.   He could head into town and weasel a
pizza and beer out of Kerri Ann, but he was a whole lot closer to Cal’s and he
hadn’t seen his dad in over a week.   He could kill two birds with one stone and be able to swing by the high
school and get Ty to help him this afternoon.  
    He whistled as he hopped into the ancient Super Scout II
he’d had since high school and headed toward his hometown.   God, it felt good to be home.   It was a thought that entered his mind
almost