Page 31 (1/2)

Author: Robyn Carr

Eric went to the service station and had his Jeep SUV gassed up He pulled over to the side of the station and went into the garage to have a chat with Norm Sileski who had owned and worked this station for about forty-five years He had a couple of grown sons who didn’t want it It was far beneath Eric’s standards--it was run-down, dirty, greasy, broken down and weathered But it was the only game in town, had room on the lot to expand and Norot their gas other places when they could; he was a little high-priced He’d looked over the P&L reports--Nor

And no one knew better than Eric how to turn a run-down dump like this into a first-rate business He’d already done it once in Eugene He’d expected to be there for the rest of his life But then so and

"You need new pu, Mr Gentry," he said "But I’ another dime in this place to pretty it up I’rinned "You buy this place, I’ll turn a wrench for you part-tiht"

"You don’t want to enjoy your retirement?"

"Yes, sir, I do If Mrs Sileski has her way, I’ll be going on cruises and traveling to countries where I don’t speak the language Just gihed at him He asked a few more questions--ere his employees, mechanics, cleanup crew; had he ever kept a tow truck at the station; as his distributor? They chatted about the weather for a little while Eric asked Norm if he’d lived in Thunder Point his whole life and how he liked it "Like it fine if you can take having everybody and their brother in your business all the time"

Hht be a downside, especially for someone like Ashley And her ot to the McCain home to pick up Ashley The place was alive with activity Mac was rushing off with his son, Ryan Eve McCain and her boyfriend were taking the youngest, Dee Dee, to her dance class, Gina was still at work Everyone said hello, shook his hand and carried on And Ashley was ready "This is a typical Saturday," she said "I usually have cheer practice, but on last night’s gary?" he asked

"I’, but I never shop after food Can you make it another couple of hours? Two at the latest?"

He thought he ine or was in the paint bay or haet to eat But, trying to play the good father, he was going shopping

"No proble He usually went about twice a year--once for a bunch of clothes, underwear and socks and the second ti about shopping with the daughter he hadn’t known he had that was a whole new experience, and it was energizing She tried on everything; she was very particular And as if she was spending her own al She turned away many items even after he said he could well afford them Her choices werefor a grand total of 24768 Most girls her age would have taken advantage of an opportunity like this After all, he owed her

"Shoes?" he asked

"I’ There’s a Red Robin around the corner"

They got a booth and wasted no ti And while they waited for food, Eric asked about school and about Frank, two things he asked about whenever he talked to her When he’d first learned of Ashley and first e broken heart--her serious boyfriend had gone off to college and found hi Ashley into a very vulnerable depression That was, in fact, the reason Gina ca for hiht it s like depression ran in Eric’s family

And then in one of those fateful episodes no one can plan or even guess, one of the people to help her pull out of it was Crawford Downy’s younger brother, Frank

"Frank is good," she said "He already has scholarship offers He calls hiuess he is But he’s so interesting and so cute I forget about that Besides, he’s the nicest person in the world And to think I wouldn’t even really know hi an ex’s brother?" he asked

"Sometimes aard Thank God Doent back to State We see him around tohen he’s hoive him a hard time I bet Frank would swear that even if it weren’t true--he’s so protective I think Frank is going to go to MIT I’ve lived in Thunder Point my whole life and not too many people I know scored that kind of education just based on brains We’ve turned out so"

"And what about you?" Eric asked

"Sao to coe in Coquille for at least a year, maybe two I’h I haven’t decided where I want to go to school after that, but I can’t wait to visit Frank on the East Coast Soet my interest"

"Do you think you’ll coe?" he asked

"I have no idea," she said with a laugh "I have no idea what to study! I took one of those tests to show you what you’re uess what it came up with? Coroner!"

He whistled "Talk about job security Always a need for coroners, unfortunately"

"Yeah, I don’t think so Although I do like to watch TV shows like Rizzoli & Isles"

"Maybe you’re just interested in science Maybe you’ll be a doctor"

"I think I could," she said "But every tie and residency, I think--giers arrived "I didn’t even finish high school"

"Yes, you did," she said And then she did what sothe lettuce, to it in half "And you have a little college"

He’d gotten his GED in prison He’d taken a fewany idea he’d one day own his own business "And Frank?"