NATALIE HANOVER
As the SUV bounced along the pitted dirt road, Natalie held on to the seat for dear life despite the seatbelt strapped across her. In the back were three unusually quiet children. Natalie looked into the side mirror and saw the Channel 4 van bumping right along behind them.
She glanced at Garrett, who hadn't said a single word since barking, "Seatbelts, everyone," as they had piled into his car. He stared straight ahead, obviously pretending his head wasn't hitting the roof every time the SUV plunged into a particularly deep hole.
"Are we almost there?" she ventured to ask. He nodded without looking at her.
She let go of the seat and folded her arms across her chest. Why was he grumpy? Hmph.
The kids hadn't really wanted to go on this adventure. Andie hadn't wanted to leave the house while the turtle was still missing. Mike hadn't said much, but kept casting Natalie sullen looks.
Sylvie had been devastated at being caught on film with curling sticks in her hair. She wouldn't step foot out of the house until the cameraman had promised to edit out that part.
Natalie sighed. How had she gotten into this? More important, how could she get out?
"We're here," Garrett said.
He eased off the accelerator and the vehicle slowed. Natalie looked out the front window and saw a large dilapidated white house squatted on a slight hill.
A wraparound porch was probably its best feature, making the house look like a squashed hat with a wide brim.
It definitely needed new paint and maybe a bulldozer. To the right, she could see an old red barn that leaned drunkenly to one side.
Around the two eyesores Mother Nature reigned in all her glory. Trees were scattered around the house and a small forest beckoned from behind the barn.
Green grass waved hello with the help of a gentle wind and the sun shone from a bright, blue sky.
Natalie suddenly felt better. Maybe this day was salvageable after all.
As Natalie let the kids out, she saw Garrett look around. Then he whistled. "Rigby should be around in a minute. He's a German Shepherd."
"Does he like sheep?" asked Andie.
Garrett looked at her. "Sheep?"
She shrugged her tiny shoulders. "Well, he's a shepherd, isn't he?"
"Andie, it's a type of dog," said Natalie. "He's not really a shepherd."
"Then why is he called a German shepherd if he doesn't like sheep?" She aimed the question at Garrett and he looked nonplussed.
"I—uh." He rocked back on his heels. "Well, people call him a German shepherd."
"I thought his name was Rigby."
"It is."
Andie's blue eyes stared doubtfully at him. "I think you're confused Mister Doctor Hart."
"I think you're right," he said, then ushered everyone toward the house. Natalie suspected it was just so he wouldn't have to answer any more of Andie's questions.
"Can we go see the barn, Dr. Hart?" Mike asked in a soft voice.
Natalie looked at her son in surprise. He was taking an avid interest in his sneakers. Garrett caught her gaze, asking with his eyes to give an okay. She nodded.
"Sure, Michael," Garrett said.
"Just Mike," he said, finally looking up.
"Okay, then, Mike. I want you to call me Garrett."
"All right."
Natalie saw Andie pull Garrett's pant leg. "Hey, Dr. Garrett. I want to go, too. Are there chickens in there?"
"No. There are probably lots of bugs and mice, though."
Andie's eyes gleamed with interest. "Spiders, too?" she asked excitedly.
Natalie saw Garrett give Andie a puzzled look. "Yeah, probably."
"Cool!"
She raced off to join her brother.
"Garrett." Sylvie wiggled her cell phone. "No reception out here. Do you have a land line?"
"Nope."
Natalie wanted to laugh at her daughter's look of horror.
"Oh my gawd!" Sylvie said. "How am I supposed to call Melissa?"
Garrett rubbed his chin. "Smoke signal?" he suggested.
"Mo-ther!" Sylvie wailed.
"Tough break, kid," said Natalie. "Why don't you go explore the barn with Andie and Mike?"
"Yuck! He said there are mice and bugs out there."
"Then go get acquainted," Natalie said in a firmer voice. "And keep an eye on your brother and sister."
Sylvie tossed her a tortured look and then trudged toward the barn. Andie and Mike had already disappeared inside.
Susan joined them. "We have to go back to the studio for more film," she said. "The two stooges forgot to check supplies before we headed out here."
Natalie looked at her friend. "So that you would make you stooge number three?"
"Ha. Ha." Susan said. "We'll be back in a couple of hours."
"What are we supposed to do while you're gone?" Natalie asked. She hadn't planned on being with Garrett alone, especially ten miles out of town.
"Just do some discipline or whatever. We'll film bits and pieces when we get back and then call it a day."
"Why do you have to go?"
"To make sure Twiddle Dum and Twiddle Dee get the film, of course." Susan grinned, then turned and sprinted to the van. Natalie watched as it made a U-turn and bounced back down the road. Dust churned in its wake.
Natalie turned to Garrett, who was looking around the house.
"Lose a contact?" she asked sweetly.
He raised an eyebrow. "No. I'm looking for Rigby. Usually he's here to greet me when I get home."
Garrett gave a long, shrill whistle. Despite the annoying summons, no dog appeared.
"I guess he'll come back when it's dinner time," Garrett said, but Natalie still saw the concern in his eyes. "C'mon," he said. "I'll show you the house."
The inside looked nearly as bad as the outside.
Natalie hazarded a guess that they stood in the living room. The only clues were a ratty couch and a small television sitting on a rickety end table.
Boxes were piled everywhere.
She spotted a TV tray next to the couch and surmised Garrett ate his meals on it. He shot her an apologetic look.
"I haven't had a chance to do much," he said.
"It's ... um, nice."
"It's a disaster," he said. "But at least it has potential. Do you want to see the rest?"