teacher and the kids. But the art teacher’s wonderful.” Tracy realized she was basing an awful lot on one painting of Janya’s.
“You ever been to Palatka?”
“Where?”
He snorted. “Northeast of here. Directly south of Jacksonville. They have a bunch of murals all over that town. Local seniors went on a bus tour to see them. You never heard of Palatka for a good reason, but after you saw those murals? You’d never forget it again. Told the whole history of the area.”
“That’s ambitious.” Tracy hoped she could survive just one. “Since you’re the resident expert, what should we start with here?”
“Well, considering it’s a rec center, maybe something about recreation in Sun County.”
“I’ll tell Janya. It’s a good idea.”
He snorted again. She was beginning to worry about his sinuses. “Brighten this corner of the world a little,” he said. “It needs it.”
Now she wondered about her hearing. “You like the idea?”
“You sure do jump to conclusions about everything, don’t you?”
“I’m working on that.”
“I can tell.” She expected him to leave, but he stayed beside her. “I thought of something Herb told me.”
She was surprised by this piece of late-breaking news. “Really? I’ve learned he had a daughter, but I’m not much closer to finding her.”
“Sometimes people don’t want to be found.”
“I wonder about that. But he died on my watch, in my house, and I can’t just ignore that.”
“I’d tell you more if I knew more. Herb was the most private old cuss I ever met.”
She could have enlightened Mr. M. about a number of things pertaining to Herb, but those were secrets she was going to keep in the old man’s honor.
She instructed one of the kids to be careful and signaled a counselor to move in closer. Then she turned back to her new informant.
“Anyway,” he went on, “he told us once that when he was a young man, he used to tend bar at a place called Gaspa-rilla’s, up north in Cargo Beach. Said in those days it was almost like home.”
Tracy had hoped for something like “Herb kept all his important papers in a safety deposit box and left me the key.”
“Hmmm…Gasparilla’s. I wonder if it’s still there?” Although even if it was, who would still be alive to remember Herb? Or maybe…Clyde?
“Couldn’t say. I came to Florida to retire. By then my drinking days were long over.”
“I appreciate your telling me.”
“You make sure these kids paint something bright. Knock a few socks off, while you’re at it.”
With the sense that she had passed some unwritten test, Tracy watched him head back to the courts. The musical ring of colliding discs and children shouting in the pool was a happy summer soundtrack.
Driving lessons were progressing. Janya was gaining considerable confidence. Today somebody honked—not at her, but at a pesky flock of seagulls—and she didn’t even flinch. She was almost driving the speed limit, which meant she was still going at least fifteen miles an hour slower than anyone else, but she no longer stood out. She had crossed bridges, driven on the interstate and pulled into many parking spaces.
She still had more to learn. Parallel parking sounded impossible. But she was determined she would learn, and soon. She wanted her license and the freedom that would come with it. Rishi was already talking about finding her a little car all her own. And she had finally agreed to drive with him, to give Wanda a rest. He had turned out to be attentive, patient and flattering. This attractive husband of hers, with the character in his face.
She wondered what Alice would have thought of Darshan.
On Monday afternoon she was contemplating that as she prepared supper, a dish called red beans and rice from a new library cookbook, when she heard a knock. She had changed the spices to different ones she liked better, and left out the sausage, along with something called ham hocks, which she didn’t want to think about. The only thing she had left alone was the rice, because it was the reason she’d chosen the dish. She had made many portions, so if she was late getting home from the rec center, there would be food in the refrigerator. She hoped it was good. It certainly was plentiful.
She still had a wooden spoon in her hand when she found Olivia on her stoop. She smiled at her young friend and gestured her in, quickly closing the door to keep it cool inside. “Does Alice know you’re here?”