Goerke's Corner Pt. 02

"Come on, Mom is waiting. She made pancakes. She makes pancakes every Saturday morning."

Hilda and I greeted one another with a hug. She pointed to a chair, I sat and she put pancakes on the table. As we finished the girls wanted to go outside and practice. Hilda and I sat talking. I thought it odd that Grace had been almost standoffish, until Hilda explained.

"She started her first period two days ago and she thinks everybody can tell. You and I know that's in her head, she'll get past it. In the meantime I love and encourage her. Oh, and she somehow sees herself as a "woman" now that she's menstruating. I told her there's a world of difference from being able to conceive and actually doing so. I got an eye roll, typical I suppose. I remember being so much older at 16 than I am now at 42."

I laughed, "Ah, a reference to the old Byrd's song. I use the same analogy on myself. Okay. So what's this solution you were talking about?"

As we were clearing the table she told me to go to the French doors and look at the yard. It was huge and perfectly kept.

"Okay." I said. "It's big and it's beautiful, more so with those two girls kicking the ball around. What about it?"

"Between the front yard and the back there's just under an acre and a half. Theodore was a man's man, if I'm allowed to use that metaphor. He loved taking care of little things in the house, but the yard was his baby. It looks as good now as it did when he was alive, but that's because I hire someone to take care of it for me. I'm too darned busy to be running that mower every week in the summer. Grace knows how to drive it and does a good job but she's almost as busy as I am."

I shrugged, "Okay. What does that have to do with my situation at the orchard. Our orchard by the way."

"In the third bay of the garage sits a 60" zero turn mower that hasn't been run in over a year. The lawn guy has his own equipment. If I sell it I won't get near what it's worth, so, you should take it for the orchard."

I was smiles from ear to ear. "Really? That's fantastic. I'm trying to keep expenditures down and wasn't looking at spending thousands for something to maintain the orchard. But, I'm like you. I'm busy all the time. I'd need to hire somebody to take care of that and there aren't any teens in Goerke's Corner anymore."

Handing me a cookie and glass of milk she patted my hand. "I have the answer to that as well. Summer soccer will be over in two weeks. My weekends are my own, I see no reason why the girls and I can't venture west every other week. We could hire Grace to take care of the orchard and Elizabeth can help inside so she doesn't feel cheated. If they can earn a few bucks on their own they'll be thrilled."

Hilda had it all figured out. No wonder we were so good together without being "involved" as they call it these days. Then she presented the coup de gras.

"It's already on a trailer so you can pull it home today. I was going to make you attend the girls' matches with me, but you have too much to get done so I'll give you a pass. By the way. Did Greta get ahold of you?"

"Yes. Yes she did. She sent a picture of herself and her daughters. Cute kids."

Smirking she asked, "Uh huh. And what about Greta? Do you think she's more than the little girl you remembered?"

I must have turned red with embarrassment because she laughed, "Robert Tillman. I've never seen you flushed before. Wow, she must have made quite an impact."

I figured honesty was the best policy and blurted out, "She's a babe. She's nothing like I remember. If she's as nice as she is pretty I could see myself with her. And those two little girls, they'd have me wrapped round their fingers in no time."

Half an hour later I parted with a hug not only from Hilda but both girls. Maybe Grace was feeling a little more at ease around me even if she was entering puberty. I determined that I would be someone she could trust. I remembered Dad telling my sister how pretty she was and fawning over her. A male affirming the girl growing into a woman. Yes, I would be that guy to compliment not only her, but her sister. Someone without an agenda, someone they could trust. I recall Mom telling Dad when she didn't know I was within hearing distance.

"If she doesn't feel loved at home she'll go find some boy who she thinks loves her. It's okay to hug your daughter and tell her how pretty she is."

Yeah, I'd be that guy. The drive home was exciting. I kept looking through the rearview mirror at that wonderful machine on the trailer. I knew what I would be doing in the afternoon. I planned to clear away enough junk in the shed to house and lock it up. Out of the weather, out of sight, out of mind for any would be vandals or thieves.

I stopped to fill the gas tank on the mower and a five-gallon container at the same C-store I had stopped at for the girl to help me with the GPS on my phone. When I walked in she was still at the counter. With a grin she asked, "Did you find the place?"

I put a Dr Pepper and a Heath bar on the counter, smiled and responded. "I did. Thanks to you. I'd have never found it on my own."

By the time I was unloaded and had the mower going it was already 11:45. I spent the next three hours slowly mowing the mess that had overtaken the orchard. Though the machine had plenty of power to go fast the grass and weeds were tall enough I didn't want to push things until I knew what it could do. With the grass being cut it would go much quicker the next time. I thought that I might get a call from Greta Saturday night. Didn't happen. It came Sunday morning just after seven, which I thought was unusual until I considered she was six hours ahead of me.

"Hi Greta." I answered.

"Hi Rob. It's good to hear your voice. How did mowing the orchard go? That's a lot of ground to cover."

"How did you know I mowed the orchard?" I asked somewhat perplexed.

"Oh I know everything you do Rob. I have a crystal ball you know. It's called Hilda. We talk every day or so. I'm glad Theo's mower worked out. He bought the biggest and best available when he got that machine. The guy smiled for hours after he got it home. Where are you at with the tanks and the building?"

I found myself appreciative of the fact that not only did she know what I was doing, she was interested in what I was planning to do.

"The tanks were delivered Friday, they're coming tomorrow to start installing them. He told me they would be in and piped to the areas where the new pumps will be by the end of Friday. The pump guy said he'll deliver and install them the following week. I've already set up an account with the gas supplier so as soon as the tanks are inspected I can have fuel delivered."

I heard her sigh before she spoke, "Holy shmoly Rob. You aren't wasting any time, are you?"

"No ma'am. There's no time to waste if this is going to be open about apple harvest season. I've decided to do something they didn't do before. I saw it once at an orchard in Wisconsin and I think it will work here. They had a section of the orchard designated as 'pick your own' and would open it on Saturdays. It was cool. They had a hay wagon with bales on it behind a tractor that took them into the orchard. It would return an hour later to pick them and their apples up."

"How do they pay then Rob? And what if somebody gets hurt?"

"Glad you asked. They pay by the pound or by the bushel depending on how much they picked. They also have to sign a waiver releasing the orchard from any liability. I think it's a great idea. You got any thoughts?" I asked.

"It sounds feasible. I imagine there are people who would see it as a family adventure. What about school class trips or church groups? Yep, I think you've hit on a great idea. We'll be back by then. I'd like to help."

That caught me off guard. "I thought you weren't coming back until just before school? Harvest will be in full swing by then."

She coughed and cleared her throat, "Yeah. About that, there's been a change of plans. We're coming back in mid-August. I'm going to be up front here so don't go raining on my parade. Number one, I want to get the girls enrolled in a different school. Number two, I'm goin' out on a limb here. Is to meet you. As an adult. If I'm going to have more kids, I don't have time to jerk around and play games. If you and I click, then I want to make it happen. Are we on the same page?"

I wasn't sure if I should be scared or feel complimented. "Um, yeah. I think so. I've been a bachelor all my life, so you'll need to teach me about family life. But yeah, if we click, I'm willing to give it a try."

I could hear her laughing. "Sure. I'll teach you some things. And if we click, I'll bet we'll learn some things together. One question. Do you leave the toilet seat up?"

If she had only known my mom better. "No way. My mother made damned sure of that. Even in the military I made sure that I put the seat down."

She chuckled, "See, we're ahead of the game already. One less thing I'll need to school you on. I should go. The girls are sleeping over at a friend's, I need to get them organized. I'll call again in a few days."

I found myself enjoying our conversations. She didn't sound flighty or controlling. She definitely knew what she wanted regarding a family. I had to ask myself if I was really up to being a dad to not only her two girls, but anymore children we might have together. I pondered that question all through my morning run and breakfast reaching the conclusion that, yes, I could be that kind of dad. I would love those girls as though they were my own. I would also adopt them if it were possible. If they were going to be my girls, then I wanted them to share the same last name with any children Greta and I bore.

I was at the station working when I heard a car stop. The door opened as I looked up and who should be standing in the doorway but Hilda. Smiling and a hand wave.

"Hi Robbie. Hard at it already? Don't you know you're supposed to rest on Sunday?"

"Hi Hilda. Yeah I've heard that before and sometimes I do rest, but not today or any day soon. There's so much to get done in so little time. Yeah I'm tired, there'll be time to rest after this place is open and the apples are harvested. Why are you here, and where are the girls?"

Walking toward me she was smiling. Standing a foot in front of me she said, "Or you could hire people to do some of this work. Why do you think you have to do it by yourself? Where are the girls? They're with grandma for a 'girl's day out'. Theo's mom loves those girls, she spoils them rotten and I let her. His dad is dead, my girls are all she has left to spend money on."

"Does his mom live in Two Rivers as well?" I asked.

Hilda scoffed, "Nice try at obfuscating. Won't work though. Back to why you don't hire to have some of this stuff done?"

"I'm trying to watch every penny I spend. If I push hard enough I can probably be ready by harvest time."

Hilda pointed to a chair and barked, "Sit." She grabbed a chair and continued, "Isn't that part of the reason we're in this together? What good will it do if you bust your ass for months on end only to end up in the hospital, or worse, dead? I know you're this big tough Marine, but you can't do it all. If we need more money I have more to chip in."

I felt foolish in a way and had ruffled feathers in another way. I was determined to do this on my own, maybe that determination was misplaced, maybe Hilda was right. Hold on, Hilda is almost always right.

"I see your point. You're right, you're always right."

She quickly stopped me, "Not true, I'm not always right but you have more to think about than you. There's the business partner, that's me. Then there's the other part, Greta. She told me she called you this morning and that you had a great conversation. She also told me she's coming home a month earlier than planned. Do you realize how huge that is Rob?"

"Why is that huge? I don't understand."

"Because Greta never does anything on a whim. Well, other than marry the worthless toad she ended up with. She plans everything, and I mean everything. What she's going to wear, what the week's meals will be, when she'll do laundry or clean, I mean everything."

Ah, the first wrench in the gears, "She sounds OCD to me. This may not work. I have an agenda each day but I don't plan everything down to when I'm gonna take a crap. I'm having second thoughts."

"Stop it Rob. She isn't OCD, she's very well organized. She'll adapt to you and what you do, then she'll put it into her mental schedule. She can be spontaneous, she just couldn't do that with her Ex. He was scatter brained. I'm going to let the cat out of the bag and if you let it slip I'll castrate you. She's even planning what she's going to be wearing when you pick them up at the airport."

"Wait? What? I'm picking them up? Why aren't you?"

"Because she wants you to. She told me she'll know if you two are going to work the moment she meets you. If I were you Robbie boy I'd start brushing up on my romancing skills. She's one of those who needs to be needed, she responds favorably too honest affection and attention. Not in a whiny demanding waying way, she just needs to know she's important."

I smiled, "I can do that. She told me this morning she thinks we can teach each other some things. I'm hoping she means in the bedroom as well as other places."

Hilda smiled, "She won't disappoint. We sometimes share things and from what I can tell she'll be as much as you want to handle. One thing though. Her first husband was quick on the draw and usually left her frustrated. Does that oo'rah spirit of the Marine Corp carry over into the bedroom?"

I couldn't resist as I loudly proclaimed, "Ooo'rah. Bet your ass it does toots."

Punching me in the arm she laughed, "Toots huh? What's on the agenda. I don't have to leave until around three. What can we get done in that time?"

The place was a mess, wood chips and debris everywhere. With an inspection coming I wanted things to look decent. We spent the rest of her time cleaning, sweeping, running the shop-vac, basically getting rid of the clutter. By the time she left she had convinced me that saving every penny wasn't worth it if I wore myself out. Monday morning I would be calling some of those contractors Steve had told me about.

With six weeks left until Greta arrived I needed to get my ass in gear. I contacted the plumber, carpenters and electrician Steve had recommended. The spark would come after the inspection to change the older breaker panel for a newer larger one. He would also run new conduit to where the pumps would be set. The plumbers were going to show up on Wednesday to get things started. The carpenters penciled me in for the next week to start rebuilding the overhang. I lucked out and found a mason who would pour the slabs for the pumps as soon as the tank installers finished on Friday. That way when the pumps were delivered, they could be set right away.

On the following Saturday Hilda arrived with the girls. Grace wasted no time getting started on mowing the orchard, Elizabeth joined Hilda and me in the shed separating what was going to be kept and what was going in the dumpster. I grilled hot dogs and brats for lunch with ice cream for dessert.

We were sitting a few minutes after lunch when Hilda asked, "Rob, the girls want to know if they can call you Uncle Rob instead of Mr. Rob?"

I grinned, "I'd love it. Thanks for asking."

By the time we quit for the day Grace had the orchard mowed. Elizabeth, Hilda , and I had the shed organized with plenty of room left over to house the mower. I also found out Elizabeth does not like to be called Liz. One more thing to remember.

I was busy enough that the Fourth of July came and went without fanfare. I remembered the parades we had as kids in Goerke's Corner. The scout troop and junior high band from Clairemont always led the parade followed by simple floats and tractors and teams of horses pulling wagons and veterans marching. It went on and on for as much as 45 minutes some years. Now a days, nothing.

I spent the day working in the woodshop making nightstands for the girls. Greta had mentioned on one of our calls that was something she would need to purchase when they got back. In the shop I'd found enough Black Ash that been run through the wood planer. It was already smooth on both sides so I could tend to building the nightstands instead of having to plane and size it. I chose the Ash because it's nearly as hard as Oak, but in my opinion it has a prettier grain.

Over the next few weeks things progressed rapidly. With the tanks and piping installed the slabs were poured right away. I arranged for the electrician to be on site when the pumps were to be set so they could be wired right away. With inspections out of the way I was cleared to have fuel delivered. Of the 83 people who still called Goerke's Corner home those still of working age had jobs elsewhere. Most of them stopped at one time or another during the renovation. The one question always asked was, "Will you have gas soon and will you reopen the store?" They were tired of having to buy gas and simple essentials like milk or toilet paper out of town.

Between Grace keeping the weeds knocked down and me having time to spray the orchard looked great. We had purchased new self contained, reach-in, glass door refrigerated cases, along with all new shelving for what little floorspace we had in the store portion of the building. On weekends when they would come Hilda and Elizabeth would be stocking dry goods and paper products in the store. When I opened a case of feminine napkins and tampons I gave Hilda a questioning look.

Her answer was, "Yes, they're needed. Leave them, we'll take care of it. Go find something to do outside."

That worked perfect for me. I didn't want to be cooped up in there anyway. The new overhang was finished and needed painting, yeah, that was right up my alley. The conversations with Greta were getting more personal, it was as though we were testing the waters before taking the plunge. To our surprise we discovered we were far more compatible than either of us thought in the beginning. During one of our conversation's it seemed like she was not all there so I asked.

"Hey. You seem to be drifting in and out. What's up?"

She giggled. "Sorry. I'm thumbing through a catalog I got in the mail and was momentarily distracted."

"Oh yeah. What's so important that you're distracted?"

I could tell she was searching for words, "It's a Victoria Secret catalog. I was looking at new underwear and bras."

She had my full attention, "Is that the one with all the sexy things? You know, lace and stockings and garter belts and see through stuff?"

She burst out laughing, "Yes. That's the one. Why, are you interested?"

I was quick to answer that one, "You bet I am. If you buy some of that underwear and feel like you want to model it. I'm your guy."

Her response was in a sexy sultry sort of voice, "Mmm, I might like this. I like to 'dress up', as they say, for someone who appreciates the effort."

I didn't have to think about what to say, it came forth immediately, "Like I said, I'm your guy."

That took place on the third of August. I had less than two weeks to compose myself and travel to meet what I hoped would be my new family. I knew there would be more than one conversation with Hilda before that time. I didn't want to screw up what could very well be the rest of my life.

It also meant that with fuel in the tanks I needed to have the pump guys return to program and set them up for use with a credit card after closing hours. Since I didn't think Andy was willing to learn or take on the responsibility of running the store while I was gone opening it would have to wait. At first I wanted to panic until I thought about the fact that the townspeople had been without anything for years, two more weeks wasn't going to hurt. Gas would be available and to me that was the most important part for locals.