The next morning Annie walked with Sam to his car, her arm around his waist. “Sure you don’t want to look at the house again?”

“No. I need to go home, get some perspective on this.” He got in and rolled down his window. Annie folded her arms and leaned through the open window.

“I wish you’d stay.” For the first time since he’d met her, Sam saw loneliness in her eyes.

“Annie, I’m seventy years old. I’ve waited a long time to chase a dream. I can wait a little longer.”

She looked at him a moment then kissed his cheek.

He forced a smile. “Thanks. I’ll be back.”

Sam parked in his driveway and noticed the garage door was open. He was sure he’d closed it the day he left. A break-in? He turned off the engine and could hear his lawn mower going in the back yard. Around the corner of the house came Russ behind the mower. He saw his dad and turned off the engine.

“It was getting ragged so I thought I’d mow it.”

“You feel up to it?” Sam asked.

“I’d better. I’m going back to work on Monday. Anyway, I was getting bored with TV.”

“Well, I appreciate your mowing. It was the first thing I was going to do.”

“Did you have fun?” Russ asked with genuine interest.

“Yeah. Even went swimming.”

His son arched his eyebrows. “She’s good for you, Dad. That’s more than I can get you to do.”

“Well, the river’s a lot warmer than the ocean.”

Russ laughed at his father’s excuse, then said, “I’ve been noticing some things that need taking care of.” He pointed toward the roof. “Those shingles are starting to curl. How long’s it been since you reshingled?”

“Let’s see. You’d just graduated from college.”

“That’s thirteen years ago. You need a new roof.”

Sam looked up at the roof, then walked around the house to check that side. Returning to the driveway, he said, “I guess you’re right.”

“And another thing. This driveway’s badly cracked, and it’s sunk about four inches over here.” He kicked at it and dislodged a hunk of blacktop. “This winter you’ll have a hard time running your snowblower over this.”

“It wasn’t all that easy last winter.” Sam looked down at the loose blacktop. “It’s funny. You live with something day in and day out and you don’t notice it wearing out.”

“How about having a beer with me after I finish the lawn?”

“Sure.”

Russ restarted the mower and went around the corner of the house into the back yard. Is this my son? Sam asked himself. Maybe Dr. Bresser is doing some good.

Ten minutes later they were sitting on the deck. Russ dried the sweat from his face and took the beer his dad offered.

“You look good,” Sam said.

Russ shrugged. “I’m all right. Still mad as hell at Teresa for not working this out with me.” He looked at his father and seeing a worried frown, added, “Don’t worry, I’m not going over there.” Sam relaxed a little. “It’s not having Jimmy that really pisses me off. That, and all the alimony and child support she wants.” He took a swig of beer. “I’m glad to be done with her.”

“Did you call the lawyer?”

“Yeah. He wasn’t very encouraging. Said I’m probably earning enough to pay what she’s asking. We go to court in eight weeks for the separation agreement.”

“That could be messy,” Sam warned. “If you blow up, they’ll use it to keep you from seeing Jimmy.”

“That’s what Bresser said.”

Sam was pleased to hear they’d talked about it. “I wish your mom and I had gotten you into counseling twenty years ago.”

Russ thought for a moment, then said, “So do I.”

“We did the best we could. Do you remember how your mom used to sit with you when you got so wound up?”

“She called it ‘time out’.”

Sam went on. “She’d stay with you in your bedroom until you calmed down.”

“I thought I was being punished and she was there to make sure I didn’t leave the room.”

“Sometimes she had to hold you down on the bed until you relaxed.”

“Really?” Russ thought for a moment. “Don’t remember that part. How old was I then?”

“About Jimmy’s age,” Sam said.

“Well, thank God Jimmy didn’t get that part of me.”

They watched Sam’s cat, Key West, stalk a sparrow pecking at seeds that had fallen from the bird feeder. The cat moved like flowing mercury closer and closer to the bird. When he was still eight feet away the sparrow saw him and flew up onto a branch. Key West watched for a couple of seconds, then began licking his chest as if sparrows held no interest for him.

Sam spoke. “You know Cynthia wants me to sell the house.”

“Yeah, that’s what she said.” Sam was always surprised at how much his children talked to each other, considering they didn’t get along all that well. “She asked if I’d be able to find another place if you moved into a condo.”

Sam was annoyed. “That’s none of her business.”

Russ shrugged it off. “That’s just the way she is. I let her talk, then do what I want.” He was quiet for a moment, then asked, “Are you really selling it? I saw the real estate lady here the other day.”

Sam didn’t answer immediately. He was thinking. “I don’t know. What do you think I should do?”

“I think you should sell it. It’s just you now. You might as well not have to spend your time taking care of a house.”

“What would you do, if I sold it?” Sam asked.

“I’d make out, rent a room or something. Right now, I don’t know what I’d do, but I’m not worried.”

Sam squinted his eyes, thinking as he spoke. “What if I were to move out to western Mass, get a place out there in the Hampshire Hills?”

His son smiled. “You and your new friend, huh?”

Sam almost choked on the beer he’d just swallowed. “No, no!” he exclaimed. “I’m too old for that. Anyway, she’s just a good friend.” He waited a second, then went on. “It’s pretty country and there’re some nice houses.”

“I wouldn’t mind,” his son said with a smile, “on one condition — you invite me out when the skiing’s good.” Then he looked at his father askance. “Are you serious?”

“Naw,” Sam laughed, “just dreaming. But keep it to yourself. Cynthia’d have a fit.”

That evening Kathleen came by bringing the makings for hot fudge sundaes. “Thought you guys might like desert.” They’d finished a roast chicken and potato salad they’d bought from the grocery store and were cleaning up. Kathleen, eying her brother uneasily, kept her distance.

“Hi Kath,” Russ said.

“How’s it going?” she responded, talking across their father who stood between them. “How’s the head?”

“Headaches are gone. So’s the double vision. I’m going back to work on Monday.”

Sam unpacked the plastic bag Kathleen had brought. “Chocolate chip ice cream, Hershey’s chocolate and whipped topping. Thanks.”

“I’ll get the bowls,” Russ said.

“What’s the occasion?” Sam asked.

“Nothing, really. I was just sitting in my apartment feeling lonely and thought I’d try some family. Russ,” she said cocking her head and peering at him, “you really do look a lot better.”

“Thanks. I feel better.”
She turned to her father, “And how’s Msss. Haas?” She dragged out the Ms.

“Msss. Haas?” Sam laughed. “Annie’s fine and I had a good time.”

She waited for him to say more and when he didn’t, asked, “Is that all you’re going to say?”

“There’s nothing else to say,” Sam said casually, wanting to keep the conversation light.

“Nothing else? My father visits this woman for the third time, spends two nights out there, and says there’s nothing more to say. How serious are you? Is she moving here to Marblehead? Are you going out there?”

Sam shook his head. “Neither. We’re friends. We enjoy each other.”

“Uh huh. I know about friends. Before you know it, you’ll be moving in with her.”

“Would that be so bad?” Sam said, getting irritated.

“It would be if it meant your leaving Marblehead.” She was scooping ice cream from the box and the scoop slipped sending a ball of ice cream skidding across the kitchen floor. “Dammit!” she shouted. Key West, leaped from the table thinking it was a play ball, and pounced on the ice cream. Surprised by it’s coldness, he sat down and began licking the cream from his paws. Kathleen got some paper towels and started to clean up the mess.

“Leave it,” Sam said. “Key West might as well have some before you clean it up.”

She returned to making the sundaes. “I’m sorry. I’m just lonely tonight. I am pleased that you’ve found a friend, but I’m afraid she’s going to take you away from us. And another thing. Cynthia says you might sell the house. I can’t imagine somebody else living here.”

“Nothing’s forever, Kathleen,” Sam said weakly.

“Tell me about it,” she replied.

Russ barked a laugh, “Ain’t that the truth.”

Kathleen turned on him. “At least you’re here in your old bedroom.”

“Stop it!” Sam declared. “You’re like a couple of teenagers. Here,” he said handing the Hershey’s to his son, “put this in the microwave, then shake up the topping. I’ll get the maraschino cherries.”

They finished making the sundaes, and sat down at the table. Kathleen, who hadn’t said a word since her outburst, said, “Just tell me, Dad, that I don’t have anything to worry about.”

He sighed. “As far as it concerns me, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“Then you’re keeping the house? You’re not selling it like Cynthia wants?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Later that week Sam followed Dorothy Schraft into a condo that faced Marblehead Harbor. She’d been begging him to look at condos since he got back, so he thought if he went with her, it’d shut her up. The complex of fifty or sixty units was well kept up and the landscaping attractive. The unit they entered was on one floor with a large living room, kitchen and dining area, and two bedrooms. It was empty and had nail holes in the walls where pictures had hung. High-traffic trails were worn into the carpeting, ghostly imprints of its former owners.

“Look at this view of the harbor,” Dorothy said standing by the picture window at the end of the living room. “It’s extraordinary. You do sail, don’t you?”

“No.” His answer was curt to the point of rudeness, but he’d seen the harbor a thousand times. He was more interested in the cheap molding around the door frames that was poorly joined at the corners. Knots in the wood bled through the coat of latex that covered them. He tapped on the doors. Hollow core. No wonder she wants me to look at the view, he thought. This place is only a few years old and already it’s tired. “What’s the asking price?”

She quoted him a figure. Sam laughed to himself. It was more than the house he’d looked at with Annie and Francis and only a fraction of its size.

“Look,” Dorothy said exuberantly, “there’s Claude’s and Cynthia’s boat moored out there.”

After his third condo, Sam pleaded to be taken home. “Just one more,” Dorothy said and started the car. An unmistakable flop, flopping sound caused her to stop. They got out and walked to the rear of car. “Damn!” she exclaimed, dropping her professional demeanor. The left rear tire was flat. “What am I going to do now?”

“Call triple A,” he suggested with a wry smile. “I’ll find my own way home.”

That night Cynthia called. “I’m proud of you, Dad. You’re really looking. Dorothy said she’d showed you the Plover Landing unit and you could look right out at our mooring.”

“We looked at another one too, but it wasn’t as nice as that one.”

“So that’s the one you like?” she asked, her tone hopeful.

“No. I don’t like it at all. It’s poorly constructed.”

“Ohh.” Her voice trailed off. “Well, I’m sure we can find something you’ll like. Claude and I are doing some research. If we find something, I could show it to you this weekend. Claude’ll be racing Saturday morning and the children and I will be coming with him. Are you free then?”

“Sure, if you bring Claudia and Vickie.”

His two granddaughters were about as interested in house hunting as he was. They’d already spent an hour in the car coming from Newton and dropping off their dad at the yacht club. They’d hoped for time at the beach with their grandpa.

“I don’t want to hear anymore about it,” Cynthia said from the driver’s seat to the girls in back. “You couldn’t go to the beach anyway. It’s going to rain.”
“But it’s not raining yet,” Claudia pleaded.

Sam turned around and asked Claudia, “Are you excited about stating first grade this fall?”

She forgot about the beach. “Yes. I got a new rain coat with a hat and a book bag with straps and there’s a lunch box in it.”

“Then you’re all set.”

“Uh huh,” she grinned.

“I’m going school, too,” Vickie announced.

“That’s not a real school,” Claudia corrected her. “It’s a nursery school.”

“Is too school.”

“Girls!” their mother shouted. “Stop it. We’re going to find Grandpa a nice place to live and you need to be good.”

“Where are we going?” Sam asked. They’d driven though Salem on 1-A and crossed the bridge into Beverly.

“It’s call Beverly Arms. I’ve checked it out thoroughly and I think you’ll love it.”

Sam drew back and frowned. “I’ve heard of that place. Isn’t it the one advertised on the radio?”

“Really? I didn’t know that.”

“It’s what they call, ‘Assisted Living,’ isn’t it?”

“That’s the term,” she said guardedly, “but don’t prejudge it until you’ve see it. The brochure says it’s got a nine hole golf course, tennis courts, pool, health club and rec room.”

Sam grumbled, “Sounds like a retirement home.”

“It’s not what you think. Just wait.” She turned off the highway through an impressive stone gate and drove up a winding, tree-lined road toward a hotel-like building. They parked in the visitors’ parking lot. A few drops of rain were beginning to fall.

“See over there?” she said pointing at several duplexes arranged around cul du sacs. “That’s what I’m talking about. It’s like a planned community. Come on. Let’s get in out of the rain.” Sam held his granddaughters’ hands and they hurried toward the portico of the main building. Inside, Cynthia told a receptionist she had an appointment with a Mr. Frazier.

“Please have a seat in the atrium and he’ll be right with you,” she said.

The atrium was a like a lobby where two wings of the building joined. The walls and ceiling were glass, affording an unobstructed view of a rose garden with a fountain. The golf course was beyond it.

“See,” Cynthia whispered, “it’s lovely.”

A trim young man in a blue suit approached quickly across the atrium. “Mrs. Barber, how nice to meet you. And this must be your father, Mr. Langley.”

Sam stood, partly to be polite but mostly to show the young squirt that he could stand. As they shook hands, Mr. Frazier said, “Your daughter told us you’re interested in finding a place to live that lets you do all the things you like without the bother of taking care of a house.” He smiled broadly, confident that Beverly Arms filled that bill. “I’d like to take you on a little tour of our community. You don’t mind a little walk, do you?”

Sam narrowed his eyes. “I can manage.”

“I see you’re in good shape, Mr. Langley. Do you work out?”

“Yeah,” Sam said. “With a lawn mower and snow shovel.”

The man laughed. “Well, none of that here.” He led the little party to the health club. The room was lined with Nautilus exercise equipment, rowing machines, step machines, Nordic Track machines and weights. Two men and a woman about Sam’s age were working out. “You can see we have a fully equipped gym. There’s also a professional trainer to set up a program for you.”

They hurried the girls out of the room just as they were about to climb on the rowing machines. Mr. Frazier took them next to the pool where the children thought they should go swimming, then to the rec room where four women older than Sam were playing Bridge. They nodded to him in a friendly way, as if encouraging him to sign up. From there they were guided down plush halls to the dining room. Each table was covered with a linen tablecloth and place settings for six people.

“This is elegant,” Cynthia said. “Like a fine restaurant.”

Mr. Frazier smiled. “Our residents who live in their own homes can come here for dinner if they like, or do their own cooking.”

Sam looked toward the door anxious to get on with the tour. After a quick peek at the kitchen, Mr. Frazier led them to a van with BA scrawled in gold on the door. He drove them to one of the homes that served as a model. It was indeed nice although a bit cutesy. Sam had a brief picture of himself in plaid golfing knickers, knee-high stockings and cleated shoes heading out for the links to play a game he wasn’t very good at and didn’t much like. Cynthia, misunderstanding his smile, smiled back at him.

“Let’s go to my office and I’ll explain the various options for joining us here at Beverly Arms.”

“Yes,” Cynthia said, “we’d like to do that.”

Both she and Frazier looked at Sam who squeezed out a smile. They returned to the main building where an elderly man, hunched over a walker, was talking to the receptionist. He turned to Mr. Frazier as they came by.

“Oh here you are,” the man said angrily. “She claimed you were out, but I knew you weren’t.”

“I’m busy right now Victor, but I can see you in about half an hour.”

“This can’t wait,” the man said irritably. Sam studied him. He wore a tie loosely tied with the narrow end hanging in front of the wider side. His hair hadn’t been combed nor had he shaved in a day or two. There were food stains on his dress shirt which was wrinkled and hung over the belt on his pants. His fly was open.

Mr. Frazier gave Sam and Cynthia a strained smile. “I’m sorry.” Then he turned to Victor. “You just tell Sally here what the problem is, and I’m sure she can help you.” Then back to Cynthia, “Right this way.”

But Victor wasn’t to be put off. He bumped his walker in front of Frazier. “I want my clean sheets. Why do I have to come down here every time I want clean sheet.”

“You had clean sheets yesterday. You’ve just forgotten.” Frazier leaned toward the woman named Sally and said, “Buzz Fred.”

Sam watched sadly. Claudia and Vickie huddled behind him, terrified. Cynthia was wringing her hands.

Fred, a burly man who might have been the trainer for the health club or a tackle for the Patriots’, arrived at a trot.

“Hi there, Victor. Let’s get those clean sheets and I’ll take you back to your room.”

“Well, it’s about time. The only way to get anything around here is come to the desk and yell.”

When he was gone, they followed Mr. Frazier into his office. The girls sat on Sam’s lap while the man presented various ways in which a person could become a resident of Beverly Arms. Sam didn’t hear a word he was saying. Minutes later they left with a packet of brochures and forms, and with Cynthia promising to get back to Mr. Frazier in the near future.

Getting in the car, Sam knew he’d paid his last visit to Beverly Arms.

That evening Sam signed Dorothy’s listing form giving her permission to sell his house, and put it in an envelope addressed to her agency. Then he called Annie and said he’d like to come out there in the morning, if it was all right with her.

“I’d love it, but I’m going to be in Fitchburg at a dog show. I’m taking Molly. Could you come later in the afternoon?”

“Okay,” he said disappointed. “I think I’ve made up my mind about some things. I’m anxious to tell you.”

“I hope it’s what I think.” She thought for a moment, then said, “Look, why don’t we meet in Fitchburg. It’s on the way. At the Royal Plaza Conference Center where Highway 2 crosses 31. Molly goes on with the working dogs at 8:30. Can you make it that early.”

“I’ll be there. I’ve never been to a dog show.”

Chapter Fifteen