The man stepped closer. “Jay?” He finally lowered his weapon.
“It’s good to see you, Charlie.”
“Boy, what are you doin’ here? Why didn’t ya tell me you’re comin’? I could’ve shot ya.”
“With that thing?”
He pointed to the shotgun. It looked as old as Charlie. He was a crusty old man, easily in his early seventies now, but sharp as a tack. And clearly still looking out for Jay and his property.
“Nut’n wrong with my gun.”
With one arm, the other still holding the shotgun, Charlie pulled him into an awkward hug.
“So what are ya doin’ here?” He motioned to Tara. “That your girl?” Charlie grinned appreciatively.
Jay looked over his shoulder at Tara, not knowing how to answer the question. Was Tara his girlfriend now? It was in her hands.
Tara took a step forward, reaching her hand out to Charlie. “I’m Tara. Nice to meet you.”
Charlie shook her hand. “I’m Charlie.” His gaze drifted back to Jay.
“Charlie owned the dry dock I told you about,” Jay explained.
“Owned? Oh, so you’re retired now?” Tara asked politely.
“Retired?” Charlie laughed and jerked his thumb at Jay, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I would be if it wasn’t for this fella here.”
Knowing exactly what Charlie was alluding to, Jay decided to intervene. Tara had heard enough of his past, and there was no need to go into any more detail. He slapped Charlie on the shoulder, squeezing it briefly.
“How’s Mabel doing?” he asked instead.
“She’s a pain in the butt as always.” He glanced at Tara and added, “My wife.” Then he turned back to Jay. “She woulda baked ya a pecan pie if you’d only told us ya was comin’.”
“It was all last minute,” Jay said.
“You wasn’t even gonna stop by, was ya?”
Jay sighed. No, he hadn’t planned on meeting anybody from his past. It still conjured up too many painful memories.
Charlie nodded. “Don’t ya wanna at least see what ya money does?”
“I read the letters.”
“The kids would love to meet ya,” Charlie coaxed.
“Kids?” Tara suddenly asked from beside him. “Your grandkids?”
Charlie shook his head. “Na. Mabel ‘n I, we don’t have any. Wasn’t meant to be. But kids we got plenty now.” He pointed to Jay. “Thanks to that fella.”
“I’m sure Tara isn’t interested in hearing about that, Charlie. And we should be getting back anyway.”
Tara looked at him curiously, then smiled back at Charlie. “I’d love to hear about it.”
“Well, then let’s get ‘n the car and go there.”
“Go where?” Tara asked.
“To the harbor of course. School’s out, so the kids are there most of the day anyways.”
Jay suppressed a sigh. It appeared that Charlie wasn’t going to let him off the hook this time. In his letters, Charlie had asked many times when Jay would come to see what he’d created in his home town, but Jay had always made excuses. He didn’t want public thanks. He wanted to remain in the shadows. He wasn’t the kind of benefactor who did charitable things so that society could thank him. He did them because he wanted others—less fortunate people—to benefit from them.
~ ~ ~
Tara looked at the gate they walked through after getting out of the car.
Charlie’s After-School Boating, the sign said. Beyond it, there was a dry dock and several docks on which various vessels were moored: sailboats, motorboats, and dinghies of all shapes and sizes.
“It should say Jay’s, but he’s too modest, that one,” Charlie claimed.
Kids of different ages were milling about; some were sitting in the boats, others tinkered with sails and engines, while several adults appeared to supervise them.
Tara turned to Charlie and Jay. “What is this?”
“It’s an after-school program,” Jay finally admitted. “Kids from poor families can come here and learn to sail and take care of boats. They learn that boating isn’t just for the elite.”
“You created this program?”
“I wanted these kids to have the same opportunities Charlie gave me.”
Charlie grinned proudly. “Jay put a lotta money up to make this happen. Neighbors thought he was crazy. But them kids, they love it. Have never seen ‘em happier than when they’re here. Makes ‘em forget their troubles at home.”