Hometown Series Box Set

by Kirsten Fullmer

  Becky huffed into the room, carrying two blue, wooden dining chairs. “Where do these go, sweetie?”

  “Right here.” Tara pointed. “Did you guys bring the pillows for the loveseat and the mirror for that wall?”

  With her hand on her bosom to catch her breath, Becky nodded. “They’re in my car.”

  The sounds of truck doors slamming, motors running, hammers nailing, men’s voices, and power tools suddenly ceased, and a deathly silence settled over the property. Tara, Becky, and the crew glanced at each other. Popping their heads around the doorway, they looked through the living room, toward the open front door.

  A woman’s voice hummed to them, low and smooth, across the hushed yard, her words inaudible, mingled with Justin’s baritone rumble. Footsteps sounded on the porch, and a woman appeared in the doorway clutching Justin’s arm.

  She wore a snug, leopard-print dress with a blood-red belt and matching red spiked pumps. Her coifed hair settled from the breeze as she entered the room -- her eyes bright with curiosity, darting from box to box in the cluttered living room. Justin came up behind her, tugging his arm free, chagrin written on his face. He lifted his hands as if to say he was just as shocked as they were.

  “Muffy!” Tara sputtered, stumbling past Becky into the living room. “We didn’t expect you until tomorrow.”

  With a wicked smile stretching her lips, Muffy reached out to touch a crate of dishes stacked on two boxes of towels, before her eyes lifted to meet Tara’s distraught gaze. “I know, darling, but I couldn’t wait one more day to see my resort.”

  “But—but, we’re not ready for you yet.”

  “Don’t mind me, dear, pretend I’m not even here, I won’t be any bother.” Muffy strolled through the room, her hips swaying, as she ran her fingers across a stack of packing crates.

  Tara glanced at Justin in despair. He moved up to grip Muffy’s elbow. “Tara, you go ahead and work on the kitchen, I’ll give Muffy a tour of the second story.” He calmly led the woman away, toward the stairs.

  Tara knew he’d bought them a short reprieve to collect their thoughts, so she swung back to Becky and the moving crew. “I’ll finish with the dishes and get the kitchen thrown together; you guys get everything out of this room that doesn’t belong in here. We’ll unpack and stage in the den around the corner. Becky, can you toss this room together in the next ten minutes?”

  Everyone nodded and ran to organize their tasks. Three more men hurried into the kitchen as Tara scrambled back onto the stool. “Justin said to stop working in the barn when he saw the car. He said you’d need our help, what can we do?”

  Tara bit her bottom lip and glanced at the boxes and trash on the floor of the kitchen. “John, hand me that box of dishes, then set up the dining table and chairs. Skip, pick up all the trash in here, then go help the crew unpack.” She turned to the third man. “Smitty, go help Becky in the living room.” They nodded and trotted away.

  * * *

  The second Justin and Muffy rounded the top of the stairs, the older woman turned to him, her long fingernail plucking at the button of his polo. “Justin, you’ve done such nice work here.” She smiled up at him, her lips trembling with excitement. “I want you to know that I can get you anything you want. If you want Denny to build twenty more resorts, I can make it happen.” She paused for effect, nodding her head to be sure he knew she meant it. “If things go well with us, I can influence his friends’ wives into wanting whatever it is you like to build.”

  Disgust and shock froze in Justin’s spine as he clenched the woman’s wrist in his fist. “Muffy, don’t…”

  She pouted, her bottom lip thrust out, her other palm hot on his chest, lashes fluttering. “Oh, don’t act so shocked, you knew all along how I felt about you. Surely you aren’t surprised that I came up early so we could… explore our options.”

  He pushed her back a step. “I don’t do business that way.” He scowled darkly, leaving no doubt in her mind that he meant what he said.

  To his surprise, Muffy’s shoulders slumped and she broke into tears. Turning away, her back shook and she sniffed against the back of her hand.

  At a complete loss as to what he should do, Justin paced away, then back bending his head to see her face. “Muffy?”

  “You don’t know what it’s like,” she sobbed, reaching for him. “He married me for my money, and he doesn’t pay any attention to me.” She clasped his arm in her claw-like fingers as her eyes raised to his, her mascara beginning to run. “Am I so hideous that you can’t find any desire for me? I can do things for you, anything you want.” Her soggy lashes flapped.

  Justin sighed and grabbed her elbow, dragging her toward the hall, talking as he walked. “That’s not going to happen, Muffy, not in this lifetime. I told you I don’t do business that way, and I don’t handle women that way. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up, and we won’t say another thing about this, all right?”

  Sniffing, she tripped along behind him, her back stiffening. By the time they reached the bathroom, she turned to him with a glare. “You can’t just dismiss me! You don’t know who you’re dealing with!” She slammed the door in his face, and when she came back out moments later, she appeared to be as composed as always.

  * * *

  Twenty minutes later, as Justin led Muffy back down the stairs, his voice a bit louder than normal as a warning, the living room looked as if it had been lived in for years. The fireplace mantle contained several polo trophies and a domed terrarium, as well as a scattering of framed photos of European cities.

  An antique Asian silk rug in hues of green covered the center of the polished floor, picking up the light green of the walls. A white slip-covered sofa and a matching overstuffed chair faced each other in front of the fireplace. Matching oak side tables held driftwood lamps and an assortment of glass bowls and bottles in soft shades of blue. White bookshelves covered with glass doors lined one wall -- full of books and white vases of all sizes. Across the top was displayed a collection of antique globes. The oak coffee table was stacked with various books, a large conch shell, and a soft-green leafy plant.

  Muffy blinked as she glanced around the room. “Oh, my goodness...” Her hand came to her chest.

  Tara straightened up from fluffing a blue throw pillow. She smiled as she dropped the pillow onto the sofa and wrung her hands behind her back. “What do you think so far?”

  Muffy glided toward Tara and placed her hand lightly on her arm. “My dear, what you have done here is, well, it’s beyond my comprehension. I had no idea you were so talented! Denny will be so surprised and pleased.”

  Tara asked if she would like to see the kitchen.

  “It’s not my favorite place to spend time, but I’d love to,” Muffy joked.

  Glancing toward Justin for encouragement, Tara fretted. He nodded and rocked back on his heels, so she put out her hand to show the way, then followed Muffy.

  Running her fingers along the soapstone counter, Muffy purred and cooed. “You have outdone yourself here too, my dear.” Her gaze fell to the jadeite canisters against the backsplash, and she froze. “My grandmother had a set of those.” She glanced at Tara, then regained her composure. “The deck is beautiful too.” She wandered to the French doors, stared into the forest for a long moment, then glanced into the formal dining room. “Simply perfect.”

  Tara let out the breath she’d been holding and leaned against the counter. “Would you like something to drink?”

  Muffy turned away from the door. “That would be lovely.”

  Tara racked her brain to remember which cabinet she’d tossed the glassware into, and Justin led Muffy into the living room and settled her onto the sofa.

  As Tara entered with a glass of water, three men in matching polo shirts knocked on the open front door and crossed hesitantly into the room. “We’re here to test the computer control system?”

  “Right,” Justin answered. “I’ll show you where the controls are.”

  Before
Tara could collect her bearings, Winnie poked her head in from the porch. “Hello everyone,” she called. “You must be Muffy,” she smiled warmly, approaching the sofa where Muffy sat with her drink. “Oh, don’t get up, I just finished closing the sale on the Harrison place and figured I’d drive out to say hello.” She settled onto the sofa and patted Muffy’s knee. “We can have a little visit while Tara finishes up.”

  Tara and Becky slipped away to get back to work. “How...?” Tara turned to Becky as they hurried down the hall toward the study.

  Becky grinned. “I called her. I figured she could run interference.”

  “Good idea.”

  * * *

  Winnie had called out the cavalry and within two hours, the house was crawling with people.

  Marge showed up at the back door, in a crisp, white chef uniform, with a car full of groceries and enough liquor to stock a bar. Two teenaged girls swept up in the shower room and buffed the workout equipment as it was unpacked from the crates.

  The den was staged and the bathrooms on both floors were cleaned and stocked with fluffy towels, handmade soap, and fuzzy bathmats.

  Justin supervised the crew in the barn, telling them they should clean up as much as possible for now and pick back up two days later, after the grand opening.

  The computerized furnace, lighting systems, alarm system, and cable TV systems were on line and functioning, and the technicians left.

  Muffy was relaxing on the deck, sipping her third martini with Winnie by her side, when Tara found them. Winnie looked up and smiled. “Oh, hello dear, are you about finished for today?”

  Tara smoothed loose curls back toward her ponytail. “Yes, I think we’re just about ready for the ribbon cutting ceremony tomorrow.”

  Muffy preened. “Ribbon cutting? My goodness, what a sweet little village this is! I certainly didn’t expect so much attention for our little resort.”

  Tara glanced toward Winnie, both reading the other’s doubt at Muffy’s statement.

  Muffy waved her sparkling hand toward the forest to draw their attention. “The house and the grounds are quite simply serene. I haven’t experienced this much quiet in years.”

  Again, Winnie and Tara exchanged glances, acknowledging that her remark was more than likely, not a compliment.

  Tara sat on the edge of a patio chair, exhausted and past dealing with Muffy’s games. “Where is Denny? I thought you were coming up together.”

  For the first time, Tara noticed a chink in Muffy’s armor as the older woman frowned into her drink. “He’s always so busy.”

  Tara sighed. “Well, I’m going to head home now. Marge has agreed to stay through dinner cleanup and to see that you’re settled before she leaves. Does that sound okay?”

  Muffy’s sculpted eyebrows rose. “I was going to get a hotel room, but I suppose if the house is ready, I may as well stay here.”

  Tara stood and took Winnie’s elbow as she rose. “I agree but we’ll be back in the morning to get set up before everyone arrives.”

  The three women walked back through the house and met Justin on the front porch. He glanced between Winnie and Tara to gauge the situation with Muffy. “Ladies…” His fingers slid up Tara’s arm to rest on her upper back as they walked down the porch steps.

  Muffy didn’t follow but stood in the evening shadows, with one hand on the support column, the other swishing her drink languidly. She watched as the others crossed the yard. Winnie and Tara turned to wave, then Justin opened Winnie’s car door and helped her in.

  Muffy took a sip of her martini, her eyes narrowed.

  Justin followed Tara to her truck, opened the door, and leaned in close to kiss her cheek. Tara’s head dipped, and he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, then drew her gaze back to his with a finger under her chin. She glanced to the side and said something. Justin slipped his arm behind her back and kissed her tenderly. When Tara drew back, she appeared to be relaxed and in love. Muffy’s lips pressed into a frown and she turned to walk back into the house.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Bending to place the power saw into the black plastic case, Justin wound up the cord and tucked in the corners. In a hurry to get the tools back to his truck, he clicked the locks on the case and turned, nearly running into Muffy.

  “Muffy,” he nodded in greeting. “How are you this morning?”

  The older woman smoothed her hand across the wide pink belt of her bright satin dress. “I’m well, thank you.”

  Justin took her elbow, leading her from the barn. “You shouldn’t be down here, it’s not safe.”

  Muffy leaned into his side as she picked her way through the barn, dodging boxes of decorations and stepladders. He directed her past The Smithville City Band, as the group of seniors unpacked their instruments and donned their matching jackets.

  When they reached the yard, Muffy shaded her eyes against the morning sun and pointed toward the willow tree. “What are you building there?”

  “That’s a stage for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Come on, let’s get you back to the house.”

  As she teetered across the lawn in her spiked heels, she glanced to his face. “Denny will be arriving any minute. I was wondering if we could find a moment to chat.”

  Almost pushing the woman up the porch steps, Justin ran his hand across his scalp and glanced to the barn and back. “Now? I’ve got a lot to do before the ladies aid society arrives with the food.”

  She climbed the steps. “I won’t keep you, I promise.” Gliding toward the white wicker furniture on the porch, she beckoned him to follow.

  He sighed and trudged up the steps. “What is it, Muffy?”

  Patting the blue striped settee cushion next to her, she smiled up at him through her lashes. “Sit down, darling.”

  Justin hesitated but sat awkwardly on the wicker chair across from her. “What do you need?”

  Meekly, she folded her hands in her lap and glanced up, her expression contrite. “I wanted to apologize for last night. I was…distraught and I’m truly embarrassed.”

  Relaxing slightly, he waved her off. “I said we’d not speak of it again, and we won’t.”

  Clearly relieved, Muffy pursed her lips and nodded, then leaned back, crossing her legs to kick a pink shiny pump up and down in front of him. She cleared her throat and appeared to, once again, be confident of herself. “I noticed that you and Tara are quite close. I understand now why…” She gestured with one hand.

  He scowled. “What are you getting at, Muffy?”

  She laughed deep and throaty. “Oh darling, really, I think it’s sweet.” She waved her hand again. “Honest.”

  “What did you want to talk about then?”

  She resituated herself in her chair, leaning toward him, cleavage exposed, her expression serious. “I wanted to let you in on a little secret.” She smiled hesitantly, as if waiting for his approval.

  He glanced toward the yard, longing to escape, then back to the woman. “All right, what is it?”

  She shrugged, her lashes fluttering. “Well, it’s not really that big of a deal. Winnie and I had quite the conversation yesterday, and we came to an agreement of sorts. And given your feelings about Tara, I think you’ll be happy.”

  The hair on the back of his neck stood up. “What sort of agreement?”

  She leaned back in her chair, gauging his expression, apparently shocked by his reaction. “Winnie made me a business proposition. I was quite surprised, really.”

  Justin waited silently, feeling as if a bomb was about to drop. “What did she offer you?” His patience was wearing thin.

  “Well, she wants to be sure Tara has more opportunities, such as this…” Muffy spread her hands to indicate the house and grounds. “…so she has offered to invest in retreats for our friends! It’s that wonderful?”

  Shock resonated though Justin’s chest. Had Winnie known that her offer to Muffy would be taking his future and tossing it away? Building resorts for Denny and Muffy’s wealthy fr
iends was the whole crux of his business venture. Those friends would have more connections, and he’d build a name for himself, but these first few resorts were crucial to his success.

  Of course, Winnie knew – that woman knew everything! Did Tara know too? He’d told her— wait— what had he told her? He’d told her that he wanted to build resorts in the area, he was sure of that. Would she have told Winnie? And did she know what Winnie was planning?

  He glared at Muffy. It had to be a lie, the woman could be a snake, but the idea made sense, and it fed into his worst fears.

  Muffy watched Justin’s face, her lips twitching as his expression darkened. “Well, dear, I’m so glad we could patch things up, I really am happy for you both.” She smiled. “I don’t want to keep you, I’ll get out of your way now.” She rose without waiting for his response and slipped into the house.

  With his gut twisting, he got up from the chair. His head spun and he took a step toward the yard. Three mini-vans pulled up on the grass and women and children spilled from them, carrying all sizes and shapes of food containers.

  Marge marched onto the porch, a frown slashed across her normally bland face. “Justin!” she called, waving a dish towel, trying to get his attention.

  He staggered down the front steps, struggling to regain some control over his emotions. Concern for the children filling the yard crowded his thoughts, reminding him that he needed to return to the barn and clean up before someone got hurt.

  Marge called to him again, wringing the dishtowel in her hands. He waved her off, calling over his shoulder that he’d be back in a minute, and hurried across the yard.

  When Justin entered the barn, the space was filled with women and children holding food, band members tuning their instruments, and men scooting building materials aside to reach the folding tables stacked against the back wall. Taking control, he called for everyone’s attention and soon had tables set up for food, the building supplies tucked away in closets, and the band sent out to sit on the bare concrete theater risers, to practice.