The Lighthouse Road(35)

Hosea nodded approvingly. "Wait for Rebekah downstairs. I'd like a word with her."



"Good night, then," Odd said, and walked down the stairs.



When Hosea was sure Odd had descended the second staircase, he looked at Rebekah. "Your gift to Odd, it was wonderful. Thank you for talking me into finding those old pictures."



"I'm glad he was pleased."



"And the bell? You think he liked it?"



"It pains me to say it, but yes, I believe he liked the bell."



" Pains you?"



"Oh, never mind." She took her cloak from the front closet. She sat on the divan and laced her boots, then stood to leave. "Good night," she said and turned to leave.



"Rebekah?"



She turned again. "What is it?"



"Your innocence is not unlike Thea Eide's ever was. I meant to say that over dessert."



"I've never been innocent a day in my life, you've seen to that."



Hosea sat up in his chair. "Don't bare your teeth at me like that. I was feeling generous. Be grateful."



She said, "I'm sorry."



Hosea stared at her for a long moment. "Very good. Go ahead over to Odd's."





They walked up the Lighthouse Road, the hypnotic sound of the waves on the breakwater in the distance. The snow fell slantwise. They passed the hotel and turned up the alleyway and found the lakeside trail that led to Odd's fish house. There were already four inches of snow on the ground— the first real snow of the season— and Odd kicked a path clear for Rebekah as he went along.



When they came to the gravel beach on the cove, Odd walked to the water's edge and stood looking out at the lake beyond the point. Rebekah waited up on the knoll, shivering from the wind. She wanted to go inside, had so much to tell Odd. After a minute she said, "Come up, Odd. Let's go inside. I'm cold."



He turned to her. "You go in. I'll be there in a second. Rekindle the fire in the stove." And then he turned back to look at the water.



The pictures of his mother, now tucked inside his coat, held in place by his hand in his coat pocket and the waistband of his trousers, had awakened something inside him. Was it sadness? Surely the look on her face in those pictures conveyed nothing if not sadness, even the picture in which she held him. Was there another word for this feeling? If he dove into the winter water, would it wash away? He shuddered at the thought of the lake and turned to look up at the fish house, the window in the door now glowing amber from the table lamp she'd lit inside. A kind of beacon. Follow it on in, he thought.



She was unlacing her boots by the warmth of the woodstove. She looked up at him. "My boots are full of snow."



"I guess winter decided to come after all." He set the bell by the door, took off his coat, and crossed the fish house. From its hook on the wall he took down the lantern and lit it. He set the pictures on the ledge above his bunk and looked at them for a moment before he turned.



She was crying.



He walked quickly to her, knelt, and said, "Hey, hey, now. What is it?"



"I have to show you something, Odd. Another picture. I have to show you this and then I have to tell you something. You have to listen and I don't want you to say anything. Do you understand?"



Odd nodded. He pulled his three-legged stool from beneath the boat, which sat in its bracings.



She reached into the pocket of her skirt and withdrew a postcard that she kept palmed in her hand. He could tell she was steadying herself. Steeling herself. Though for what reason he could not fathom.



"I'm showing you this because I want you to know everything. Because what I have to tell you will change a whole lot, and you need to know this in order for that to happen."



"What in the world are you talking about?"



"Shh," she snapped. "I said I want you to listen. I don't want you to say anything until I'm finished."



Now she stood and put the postcard to her lips. Then, as though pushed, she reached between them and handed him the postcard and turned away. She did this in one motion and stood with her back to him, her hands at her mouth.



"Don't say anything. Do you understand? Do not say anything. Let me figure this out."



Odd looked up from the postcard and waited for her to turn around. He waited three full minutes, his mind clamoring for a clear thought.



" Hosea rescued me, in a way. And he was always— always— perfectly honest with me. Before we left Chicago he told me exactly what would be expected of me." Now she turned to face Odd. "That," she said, pointing at the postcard, "is the price I have had to pay. A small price compared to the one I might have. The price I would have."