Chapter 63
Hope went outside to hang a colorful, spring wreath of daisies, red birds, and greenery on the front door. It was a sale purchase from Michael’s. After seeing Cheri’s gorgeous home, she wanted to spruce up her house. As she adjusted the floral arrangement, music blared from a passerby.
She bopped her head to the beat and sang as the familiar sixties song “Mellow Yellow” reverberated. The music reminded her of her parents. Turning toward the sound, her mouth fell open when she spotted Larry perched in the passenger seat of Willow’s newly restored Volkswagen Microbus.
At school Willow had mentioned she and Larry had searched junk yards in Missouri and Arkansas every weekend and after school. Eventually, they found all of the necessary parts and had managed to piece together the retro vehicle using car bumpers, windows, doors, and tires from three ancient VW’s. Willow had explained the interior was in decent condition but the exterior was rusted out and needed a paint job and serious body work. She said she bought the makeshift automobile after her neighbor agreed to repaint the exterior in exchange for a hundred dollars, meals, and yardwork.
The sight of the yellow VW bus brought back painful memories but Hope was glad Willow and Larry were happy. Fleetingly, she wondered if the VW bus would help restore Larry’s recollections. All smiles, the couple pulled into Hope’s driveway, still obviously with zero clue as to her connection to Larry.
Hope gave the wreath a final tweak before walking toward them. “Hi, guys. This looks great.” She patted the door, peered from side to side, and gave them two thumbs-up.
Admiring the vehicle, Hope said, “Your neighbor did a factory-like paint job.” It’s just missing the Daisy decals and peace signs or it would be a dead ringer for the now-obliterated VW Microbus, Ol’ Betsy, not that Larry remembers.
Larry strummed on the dash to the beat of the song as Hope peeked inside. She spotted clothes in a hanging garment bag as well as a small toiletry bag.
“Going away for the weekend?”
“Yup,” Larry said.
“Where?” Hope asked.
He winked. “Wherever we end up.”
Some things never change. Hope sniffed the air. “What do I smell?”
“Dinner.” Willow beamed. “Hungry?”
“Did you say dinner?” Hope glanced back inside the van. “Do you have a crock pot in there?”
“Nope.” Willow leaned out the window. We’re cooking a roast right on Buttercup’s manifold.”
Hope’s eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean you’re cooking a roast? How does that work?” She walked around the vehicle and poked her head inside. “I’ve got to see this.”
“No problemo. Hand me the key, Willow.” Larry opened his creaky side door, stepped to the back of the vehicle, and opened the rear engine hatch. The aroma of the cooking meat got stronger as he lifted the hinged lid.
The savory scent made Hope’s mouth water. Her eyes bulged when she spotted a roast wrapped in aluminum foil and tied to the exhaust manifold using metal baling wire. “That’s unbelievable.” She raced toward her house while yelling over her shoulder, “Don’t leave. Let me get my phone. My students will never believe this.”
Larry chuckled. “Take your time. We ain’t in no hurry.”
Hope ran inside and returned with her Smart phone. She zoomed in to get a close-up and took several photos from every angle. “Willow, I bet your art students would love to see these pictures.”
Willow threw her arms in the air. Her brightly colored bangle bracelets clanged together. “They already think I’m nuts.”
“I think it’s cool. I wish Suzy and Alex could see this. How does the meat cook?”
“Easy.” Larry demonstrated with his hands. “The heat from the engine browns and cooks the roast. Willow even put a fancy rub on top. We might try a pork loin tomorrow.” He wiped his drooling mouth with the back of his hand. “Smellin’ this is makin’ me hungry.”
Willow appeared at the back of the vehicle and reached for Larry’s hand. “Thanks, sweetie. I hope you like it.”
Sweetie? Hope didn’t realize they were that close. Obviously, Willow and Larry were getting along famously. The aromatic smell invaded her nostrils and she unconsciously rubbed her belly. “I’m hungry now. Is it done?”
Willow beamed. “It needs another hour or so. It does smell good if I say so myself. I can’t believe you’ve never heard of this. Didn’t your mom ever—”
Hope cut her off. “No. God rest her soul.” She glanced at Larry to see if he had any recognition but he didn’t react. She changed the subject. “I can’t wait to tell Alex. She’d rub a gallon of antibacterial on her hands just thinking about all the germs.”
“Germs?” Larry and Willow both asked.
“You’d have to know Alex to understand.” Hope shifted from foot to foot, feeling awkward about her dad’s blossoming relationship with her colleague. She hoped they didn’t plan to camp in her driveway. “Maybe you can find a KOA Campground and have dinner on a picnic table.”
“Great idea. We can build a fire, roast marshmallows, and spend the night at the campground.” Larry grinned at Willow. “I even brought some red wine.”
Wine? He always drank beer. Hope studied Willow’s reaction but she had a poker face. Willow had become more than a Hilltop colleague. She was now a friend who was dating and likely sleeping with her presumed-dead hippie father. I’m not sure how I feel about this. I definitely don’t want details.
Larry double-checked the security of the meat balancing on the manifold and closed the panel.
Hope studied Larry as he climbed inside. He was in dire need of about twenty pounds but he appeared much happier than he had in the old days when he stretched out on her couch, drank beer, and aimlessly flipped through television channels without a job nor a care in the world.
Willow turned the ignition on and put the VW bus into gear. “Great seeing you, Hope. Gotta run.”
Hope waved. “I’m glad you stopped by. Enjoy the roast.”
“Honky Tonk Woman” by The Rolling Stones blared as Willow and Larry drove off. Both stuck their hands out the window and waved. Hope’s mind raced as she watched Willow’s long, gray braid flap in the wind.