Chapter 6: At the Bauers

Lupe

Chief Bauer’s parents are the nicest people I’ve met in ages. When the chief unloaded us at their farmhouse, Erin Bauer led us into their cozy living room, where they had a fire going. Clint Bauer greeted us there, and they offered us a bite to eat. We had stuffed ourselves at Terry’s expense at one of the food stands and declined politely. Once Chief Bauer left us — she lived in town with her wife — Clint offered us small helpings of a homemade blackberry wine, not enough to get us drunk, but delicious all the same. Terry used the opportunity to unload the bottle of blended Scotch he had brought along for the hoax party, offering it to Clint, explaining that he didn’t like booze himself.

We also had small chunks of Clint’s own, homemade cheese, to go with the wine, while Erin gently questioned us. Hearing the story in full, the elder Bauers shook their heads.

“Something like that, you couldn’t have done in our high school, back in the day. Then again, we sure had no trust fund babies in our classes. Too much coddling for them and never hearing the word ‘no’ will do that to a young person,” Clint summed up his take.

“That was smart of you, Terry, to ask Jenny for help. She’s always ready to lend a hand; it’s how we raised her,” Erin smiled.

“Yeah, Terry is a smart one. I’m kicking myself for not getting to know him before,” I said, giving him an apologetic look.

“Hey, you gave me the first opening I ever got,” he smiled back, and suddenly I thought how nice it would be to be alone with him.

Pretty soon, the gentle heat of the fire got to us, and we we started to yawn. Our hosts noticed.

“We didn’t put you in the bunkhouse. It’s still nippy at night, and to heat the entire bunkhouse would be a waste. If you go upstairs and to the left, there’s the children’s room. Sorry you have to share the room, but there’s two doubles in there, so it shouldn’t be too awkward.”

“That’s great, Missus Bauer. We appreciate your hospitality,” I said quickly, before Terry could protest against sharing the room. It would be nice to have him nearby. “May we use a bathroom? I mean, one after another.”

Erin chuckled. “Of course, dear. It’s opposite the stairs. I put some towels out for your use.”

Terry shook his head. “Missus Bauer, I was very upset this afternoon, but finally getting to know Lupe and then meeting you and your family, this still became a great day. Thank you.”

“You are a very nice young man, Terry,” Clint said. “Your classmates are the losers, and they don’t know it.”

As we trudged upstairs, I took Terry’s hand and pressed it.

“Thank you. What you just said makes my day.”

“No, you made my day.”

“We made each other’s days, how about that?”

“I can live with that,” he smiled, giving my hand a squeeze before he let it go.

The former children’s bedroom was not very big and filled almost to capacity with two doubles and a small desk by the single window. There were fresh sheets on the beds and genuine wool blankets on top of the covers.

“I’ll send them something nice on Monday,” Terry said. “Maybe a nice vase for Erin and a good pocket knife for Clint. He’s a farmer. He’ll find a use for it.”

“Good idea. I’ll chip in, and we’ll get something really good for them. Is it okay if I get the bathroom first?”