Page 74 of A Change of Location
She ran to hug him. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the floor. “I can’t believe it,” she told him. “Did everyone else know you were coming?”
“Pop did. We wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Best ever, swear to God.” She faced Martin. “This is my Uncle Chase. Dad’s brother.”
“Hey, man. You’re the English dude. She sent me your picture.”
“Right,” he said.
Chase Ballard had the same hazel eyes as Hannah and her father. His bushy hair curled almost as riotously as hers, and was a shade closer to black.
She seized his hand and dragged him into the kitchen. “Mum, Dad, look who’s here.”
Gwen shrieked. Neil, laughing, pounded his brother’s back.
Perplexed by the exuberant welcome being extended to a family member, Martin went in search of his mother. He found her in the rose garden, refining the portrait he’d commissioned.
“Hannah’s uncle just turned up,” he announced. “And the lobsters are about to meet their fate.”
In the kitchen, they found the five Ballards in a scrum, their excited voices rising to be heard over each other.
“Grampa knew.” Hannah held a tissue against her face to soak up her tears. “That’s why he brought so many bugs.”
“Gwennie, you’re looking fine as ever.”
“You drove from Old Town today?” Neil asked.
“Sure did. Through wicked bad traffic.” Chase was short, like his father, but was lean and wiry instead of stocky and broad-chested.
“When did you get that truck?” his brother wondered.
“Not long after I was sprung. Bought it used, and cheap, with some of that money you sent. No bells or whistles, but it gets me where I need to go.”
Hannah leaned against him. “Why didn’t you come back sooner?”
“Too busy at the canoe factory. And they keep giving me more assignments at Indian Island.” He scanned the ring of faces. “I couldn’t show up till I felt ready. Ya know?” He bobbed his head at the Latimers. “I s’pose you’ve told your friends where I’ve been. And why.”
Hannah turned towards Martin. In a tone he’d never heard before, she said, “I haven’t seen Chase in over a decade. I wasn’t allowed to.”
Her simple statement changed the celebratory atmosphere. Her relatives’ facial expressions shifted from joy to something else. She went to the oven and took out the yeast rolls.
“They’re done.” She slammed the metal tray on the worktop and rushed off. Her feet pounded each step on her way up the staircase.
Shattering the silence, Chase asked, “What’s the matter with her?”
“You gave her a shock,” his father said.
“I wouldn’t have minded advance notice,” said Gwen quietly. “Martin and Isobel must be wondering what’s come over us all.”
“I’m the Ballard black sheep.” The younger man’s dark head jerked backward, and he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Served near ten years in the state prison. I got paroled for good behavior and completed my sentence on work release. I’ve just graduated to unsupervised probation. No liquor allowed. No firearms, neither.”
“Not even during deer season?” Arthur asked. “Can’t we go on a turkey shoot next spring?”
“Never again, Pop.”
Isobel intervened, saying calmly, “I hope it’s not too uncomfortable for a Yankee to mix with English people on Independence Day.”
Chase flashed a grin, baring bright teeth. “Doesn’t bother me one bit, ma’am.” The scratch of claws drew him to the sink. “Jeezum crow, that’s a lotta bugs.”
