“The real definition,” I say, “means to cohabitate without the residents being aware.”
Our mother’s eyes are wide. “I had no idea.”
Liv is the first to respond. “It happens a lot, Mom. I went to a few parties like that when I came back from college, especially the really big houses. Ollie?”
“Yeah,” he says. “But lately the big ones are off-limits due to better security systems. That leaves some of the older?—”
He stops talking as Becky joins us.
“The cottages at Stark Lake are empty,” she volunteers, “other than the two being used. Hank and I checked before we came here.”
My gaze searches. “Where’s Hank?”
“He’s with Deputy Ford. Hank has been hunting this land since he was a boy. He thought he could be of more help on that search.”
“Shannon,” my dad says, speaking to my mom and reaching for her hand, “we should go home and wait.”
“No. I can’t sit at home.”
“Shannon,” Becky offers, “Crystal opened the Sunshine Cafe to feed the volunteers. I was going to go and give her a hand. Why don’t you come with me? That way you’ll be able to talk to people as they come in, maybe learn something.”
“That’s a great idea,” my dad says. “We can all get something to eat and then those who want to can comewith me; I’m going to check listings for uninhabited homes.”
Though my dad doesn’t work as a realtor any longer, he is the co-owner of a local real estate firm. For the last fifteen years, he’s utilized his engineering degree, working for the city of Grand Rapids, developing new infrastructure.
“What about Julie’s car?” Ollie asks. “Shouldn’t we take it home?”
Dad looks around. “Let me check with Sheriff Manes.”
“Where is it?” I ask.
“Over here,” Ollie says, leading Liv, Matt, and I away, as Mom and Dad begin talking to the sheriff.
When we stop, I remember seeing this car at Brooks Park. It is a bright yellow bug, not exactly a car that hides in a crowd. “I didn’t know she drove a VW bug,” I say.
“It’s new for her,” Ollie replies.
“She was driving Dad’s old truck, like we all did,” Liv volunteers.
“Is that old thing still running?” I ask.
“Barely,” Ollie says, “but right now it’s in my garage for a little TLC.”
“TLC?”
“A few weeks back,” Liv says, “Mom had a close encounter with a deer.”
I make a face. It is what Dad warned us about since I first began to drive. “Was she injured?”
“No, just cosmetic damage to the truck,” Liv answers. “But Julie was left without anything to drive. I told you, Julie has had a rough time lately.”
“Mom wasn’t hurt,” Ollie answers. “The deer ran off. Dad and I went to where she said it happened. Hopefully, it wasn’t mortally wounded.” He shrugs. “I hate to think of it lingering in pain. And like Liv said, the truck only had a bit of cosmetic damage. I’m waiting on a new headlight and turn signal. Not easy to find for that early of a model.”
I can’t believe that truck is still running. It was a relic when I was in high school.
Ollie was always the one who could fix anything. Even as a little boy, he would take things apart just to put them back together. “It’s great you can help,” I say as a memory returns to me. “Remember when you took Dad’s brand-new riding lawn mower apart?”
“He was so pissed,” Liv says with a smile.
