“Okay, so we’ve got some background on this guy. How about when he was in college?” I suggested.
“Let’s look him up,” said Miles.
He brought up the page for our own college, and entered Ryan Mead’s name in the search field.
“Quite a change of pace once he hit college,” I commented.
“Yeah. He was involved in all sorts of things… theater, football, several committees, student government, a fraternity… ”
“Is he on any social networking sites?” I asked suddenly. “It seems likely, based on this new information.”
Miles did some more searching.
“Yes, he is. Several. Let’s start with this one…”
“He’s got a lot of people on his friend list,” I said. “Let’s look at those.”
“Do you notice the same thing I do?” asked Miles, as he scrolled down.
“I think so, if you’re noticing that there’s not a single guy on his list of friends and that all of these women are young compared to him.”
“Yeah. That’s it. So let’s see what he’s posting, if we can.”
“The guy’s a blatant flirt, that’s obvious,” I said, shaking my head. “I can’t believe girls fall for this stuff. Do they not notice the other million or so girls on his friend list, that he openly flirts with, too?”
“This is going to be time-consuming if we try and go through each of these, so let’s pick a few of his friends, and see where they’re from,” Miles said.
We went through more than a few, and of those, all of them lived in cities where he’d taught and many of them either were, or had been students.
My eyes were starting to feel like sandpaper from staring at the screen of the laptop, and I had to stifle a yawn.
“Tired yet?” asked Miles.
I nodded.
“No wonder, it’s four-thirty in the morning,” Miles said, glancing at the clock. He closed the laptop and set it on the nearest nightstand.
“My goodness! I had no idea it was so—early,” I exclaimed, moving some pillows so we could lie down again. “At least tomorrow’s Saturday, and we don’t have anywhere we have to be.”
I heard Trixie groan, and saw her stretch and open one eye and look at us, before closing it again.
“Do I need to interpret that?” asked Miles, laughter in his eyes as he reached to turn off the lamp.
“No,” I said. “I got it loud and clear! She’s reminding us we have no yard, and she’s been ordered not to go out on her own, so… don’t expect to sleep in very late.”
Miles laughed, and Trixie smiled.
~***~
On Sunday we went to the early service. It was great to see the other students we’d come to know the year before. Some made it to the wedding, and some didn’t. We were bombarded with questions about the break-in at my apartment shortly before the wedding, and how all of the bizarre things that happened to us the year before all tied together. They saw the many news broadcasts and read the newspapers, but wanted to hear it straight from us. The teacher of the class we attended was just as fascinated as everyone else, to the point he forgot all about the lesson he prepared. He commented several times that there were so many miracles there, so many things that couldn’t be explained any other way. I agreed, Miles’ abilities are a miracle, and there were so many others too, like the flashbacks I had that caused me to react instantly, and save Miles’ life.
After class we drove back to the apartment, and I began to prepare lunch, while Miles took the dogs for a run. I was anxiously excited since we invited my family to join us, and I was rather new to the kitchen. I hoped I could pull this off.
It wasn’t long before I had Jenny on the phone.
“I need help!” I said.
“I’ll be right there,” my very good friend replied.
Seconds later, she stood in the kitchen surveying the situation.
“Okay, so what’s got you stumped?” she asked.
“My family is coming over for dinner. I’m making spaghetti. That’s not hard, but I want to make breadsticks, too. I’ve got this recipe, and I started it, but now—it’s rising so slowly, and it has to rise twice, and I’m beginning to think we might not eat until tomorrow if we have to wait for them to be done!”
“Okay, then. Boil some water in the microwave.”
I hurried to obey, and Jenny moved the rack in the oven so the covered mixing bowl that held the dough, would fit. She looked in the cabinet for a shallow baking dish, and put it on the rack below. When the water was ready, she poured it into the baking dish and shut the oven.
“There. That’ll speed up the process. The hot water will warm the air surrounding the dough, and cause it to rise faster. Do the same thing after you mold the dough into breadsticks, and they’ll rise more quickly, also.” Jenny looked at the clock. “You’ve got plenty of time.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“How did you learn to be such a great cook?” I asked.
Jenny only half smiled.
“After my Dad left, it was just me and Mom. We really struggled at first. Mom was working several jobs to try and make ends meet. I was too young to get a job, so I did what I could, which meant I learned to cook. It was trial and error at first, but I discovered I really liked cooking and had a talent for it. So I started collecting recipes, and practiced, tried new things, and got better with time.”
I didn’t know what to say first.
“Jenny… I’m so sorry about your Dad,” I finally said, feeling terrible for her.
“Thanks,” she said, a look of resignation in her eyes. “He wasn’t a very nice guy, though. When he disappeared, our biggest fear was that he’d come back.”
“Oh, Jenny!” I said, giving her a hug as tears pricked my eyes. It was horrible to think of my sweet, kind friend ever being subjected to anything that would cause her to feel that way.
“It’s okay, Anika,” she said. “I’m okay, and so is Mom.”
“What happened after that?” I asked.
“After enough time passed, Mom was able to petition for a dissolution of marriage based on cruelty, abandonment, and insupportability. It was a relief when that was granted, we were no longer waiting on edge wondering if he’d come back. If he did, he wouldn’t be able to waltz back into our home, anyway. When my grandfather died, the inheritance he left to Mom, allowed us to move to Cedar Oaks and buy the grocery store. Life improved tremendously from that point forward. We found our church there, and received so much support and encouragement.”
“Wow, I just—never realized,” I said.
“That’s because I never told you. I guess I’m like Miles… it’s drama from the past. For the most part, I focus on where I am right now, and where I want to be in the future.” Jenny held up her left hand. Her engagement ring sparkled, and she smiled.
I smiled back.
“You’re an amazing woman, Jenny,” I said. “I knew that already, but… now, even more so. And I think I understand better why you’re so good at keeping confidences. Speaking of which, is this something you’d like me to keep from Miles? I’m used to telling him everything, it’s such a habit. But I’ll manage to keep it to myself, if that’s what you want.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “Xander knows too, of course… I would never tell you anything, and expect you to keep it from your husband. So it’s fine.”
I gave Jenny another hug, wishing I could erase that part of her history, and replace it with a family like mine.
“It really is okay, Anika. I’m okay. What Mom and I went through made us stronger, and kinder and more sensitive, to others. Good came out of it.”
“Would you and Xander like to join us for lunch?” I asked.
“Thank you, we’d love that—but, he’s coming over to my apartment for lunch today. John and Annette are driving up to Aspen Hills to visit her grandparents, so it’ll just be us. I’m looking forward to it,” she smiled, and I smiled back.
“I totally understand,” I
said.
It would be a long time before I forgot what it was like to be engaged, and in love, and to be so glad of any time that could be spent together. Actually, I felt the same way now… minus the engaged, part.
Jenny went back to her apartment, and I checked on my dough. Success! It was rising now. Breathing a sigh of relief, I started on the salad.
I was just arranging plates and silverware on the table, when Miles returned with the dogs.
“How was your run?” I asked. The dogs looked happy.
“It was great,” smiled Miles. “Maybe that’ll hold them for the rest of the day.”
“I hope so,” I said. “I missed you while you were gone.”
Miles smiled, and kissed my cheek.
“When will your family get here?”
“At noon,” I said.
“Good. I’ll take a quick shower, then you can put me to work.”
“Okay,” I laughed. I didn’t know enough about cooking myself to delegate very well, but I’d find something for him to do.
Before long, Miles was back, and just in time to mold the dough into breadsticks.
“This could get messy,” I said, a cloud of flour filling the air as I plopped the dough on the kneading board, and began folding it over and pressing with the heels of my hands.
“That’s okay. I can fix that later. Shouldn’t be any harder than dusting,” said Miles, dusting his own hands with flour, and accepting his half of the dough.
“Speaking of which, I’m so glad you’ve got your abilities back,” I said. “Otherwise, there’s no way my Dad could come over.”
“Me too. It’s terrible how allergic he is to cats.”
“How are they taking being confined to the bedroom?” I asked.
“They’re asleep right now, so I’d say pretty well.”
“I had to call Jenny for help,” I said. “The dough was taking too long to rise, but she showed me a trick to hurry it up.”
“That’s great,” said Miles. “She really is talented.”
“She is…”
We silently cut off pieces of the dough and formed them into the shape of breadsticks, laying them out on a cookie sheet.
“She and her Mom have been through a lot,” I said. “Her life hasn’t been easy.”
“No, it hasn’t,” agreed Miles.
I looked up at him in surprise.
“How—what do you know?” I asked.
“Well… I know that she and her Mom moved to Cedar Oaks to escape an abusive relationship.”
“Jenny said her Mom managed to get the marriage dissolved.”
“I’m sure she did, then,” said Miles. “What I know is what I heard Second-Miles’ parents and Polly and Second-Miles’ grandfather say. I’m sure they didn’t have all of the details, or if they did, they didn’t discuss them.”
“Jenny said her grandfather died and left an inheritance, and that’s how her Mom was able to buy the store.”
Miles nodded, but there was something he wasn’t telling me.
“What? Spill it, Mister, or I’ll whack you with a limp breadstick.”
Miles laughed.
“Fine, then. The Bannermans owned the property and the building, and sold it far below its value, so that Jenny’s Mom could buy it. They did a lot of upgrades to the building first, as well.”
“Oh, my goodness! That is so awesome!” I said, thrilled to know this. “They were as humble as you are, Jenny has no idea.”
“No, and that’s the best way to help people. Inconspicuously, and anonymously, whenever possible. That’s one family tradition I plan to continue.”
I stood thinking as I put more water on to boil, and Miles moved the oven rack and slid the pan of breadsticks inside.
“So when you told me that Jenny would make a good friend… when you were pushing me to make solid friends, you know—you had an idea of the kind of person she was already.”
“I knew she was a good daughter, hard-working, and a really nice person. She’d been through difficulty also, like you had been, although of a different type. I figured you’d get along, and she’d be a good friend to you.”
“Well, she was, and is,” I said, emptying the baking pan of the now cold water, and refilling it with hot.”
I turned from closing the oven, and put my hands on my hips, giving Miles a narrow look.
“So is there anything else you haven’t told me?” I asked.
“I’m sure there is. Think about how many years’ worth of memories I have. I couldn’t possibly tell you everything, unless that’s all you want me to do for the next several years.”
I considered that.
“Okay, fine. You’re off the hook.”
“Good,” he smiled. “Considering how violent you are when you’re in a teasing mood, I can only imagine if you were actually mad at me.”
I gasped as if horribly offended, and tossed the bottle of salad dressing to him, which he caught.
“Did you use your superpowers?” I asked.
“No,” said Miles, pouring some of the dressing on the salad, then tossing it with the tongs.
“You’ll do fine playing basketball then,” I said, and smiled.
“In spite of what I said before, really, I should thank you,” Miles replied seriously. “You’re the reason I have such good reflexes.”
I rolled my eyes, and he smiled.
~*~
The spaghetti was ready, and I was just taking the breadsticks out of the oven, when the intercom next to the door buzzed.
“I’ll get it, don’t burn yourself,” Miles cautioned, as he reached the door, and pressed the button to allow my family access to the elevator.
I quickly put the breadsticks in a basket and covered them with a cloth, and—everything was ready!
It had been a while since we last saw my family. We drove in to Glen Haven and visited with them a few times over the summer, but we spent most of our time at the castle.
“It’s good to see you, Mrs.—I mean, Mom,” said Miles, as Mom hugged him.
“It’s so good to see you, Miles,” Mom said, turning to me and giving me a hug. Doreen and Tryon entered right behind her, and Dad gave Miles a hug.
“Great to see you, Miles,” said Dad, smiling.
It’s great to see you, Dad,” Miles smiled back. It made him feel very good that my parents wanted him to call them mom and dad, just like I do.
“Hi, Dad,” I said, as he turned to hug me.
“Hi, honey,” he said. “You’ve got a nice place here.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Dinner’s ready, but after that, I’ll show you around.”
“How are you, sis?” I asked Doreen, as we made our way to the dining room.
“Good,” she said, smiling and petting Trixie.
“And how about you, busy-boy?” I asked Tryon.
“Good!” he said, laughing, as Chip gave his cheek a lick.
Doreen and Tryon loved it whenever they had a chance to babysit the dogs for us. Other than the trial Miles testified at before we were married, and our honeymoon, we hadn’t been anywhere overnight. The kids hinted strongly every time we talked to them, that we should!
“I’m amazed, my allergies aren’t bothering me a bit,” said Dad, as he sat down at the table. “Whatever you’ve done, it worked.”
“Ooh, maybe we can have a cat!” said Doreen, taking her seat.
Miles and I looked at each other as he pulled out my chair for me.
“Yeah, but—if our cats were out running around, Dad wouldn’t feel so good,” I pointed out.
“It’s almost impossible to get a place completely free of cat hair, too,” said Miles. “You wouldn’t want to spend every minute doing that. You’d have no time to enjoy the cat.”
“Well how did you do it?” asked Doreen.
Distract! Redirect! Oh my goodness, I can’t think of anything!
“We had a professional do it,” said Miles. Talking about himself, no doubt, as he sat beside me.
“Oh,” said Doreen.
“But hey,” I said. “You can come visit us, and our cats. I’m sure they’d like that.”
“Okay,” she said reluctantly. It wasn’t what she really wanted, but she’d take what she could get.
We held hands around the table and Miles prayed, then we began passing the dishes of food so that everyone could fill their plates.
“So how’s kindergarten?” I asked Tryon.
“Good,” he said, then filled his mouth with a breadstick.
“Now eat some salad, too,” reminded Mom. “It’s very good.”
Tryon made a face, and I almost laughed. I felt the same way!
“How’s work, Dad?” I asked, as he struggled to get the spaghetti onto his plate, and not all over the table.
“It’s great,” said Dad, a spark of enthusiasm in his eyes. “We’re continuing to expand. It’s unbelievable the amount of new business that’s been coming in.”
“That’s excellent news,” said Miles.
Had he ever played poker when he visited the wild, wild west, he would have been good at it. I had a feeling he had something to do with all that new business, but you’d never know it by his expression.
“I spoke with Susan yesterday,” said Mom, helping Dad with the spaghetti. “She told me Jenny’s engaged.”
“Yeah, isn’t that great?” I said.
“Xander’s a good guy,” agreed Miles, as he passed me the breadsticks.
“Susan is so excited. She really likes him, too,” said Mom. “I remember him from your wedding. He seemed like a very nice young man.”
“Funny, too,” said Tryon, laughing.
“Yeah, he is,” Miles smiled.
“Are you looking forward to classes starting?” Dad directed that question towards me and Miles.
I looked at Miles and waited for him to talk first, I had a mouthful of spaghetti that needed chewing.
“Yes, this semester I’m taking several courses that will count toward my major, so I’m looking forward to that.
“And what did you decide to major in?” asked Mom.
“Business. That makes the most sense for me.”
He’s so modest. That’s not all he’s majoring in.
“That’s probably smart,” agreed Dad.
“I think so,” said Miles. “I’m sure what I learn will be useful.”
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