by A. J. Wells
We say yes then want to know where it came from. “It’s an engagement gift for you girls. We couldn’t think of anything else to get ya.” Miss Lili is doing the talking.
“Thank you, Miss Lili. We appreciate it.” Maria and I sit down in the swing.
“It’s not from me. Bob and Steve got it for ya.”
“Thanks guys. If we weren’t so tired we’d kiss ya.” I say.
“If you’ll come over here, we’ll still kiss ya.” Maria says. The guys hop over on their crutches for their kisses.
I hear an alarm and go running in the back. One of the puppies is in trouble. I take a look at the puppy and it’s moved and is pinching the tube for its I.V. I move the tube and everything’s quiet. I go out to sit down and relax. Penny starts asking questions about what I do so I take her in to see the sleeping puppies. She pets them, lightly, then says she’ll pray for them and we go outside.
Miss Lili says she’ll take Penny to the hospital so I can stay with the patients. I thank her. Then she tells us that the boys had stayed up all night putting the swing together. They had a couple of guys come by to clear and prepare the area for the pavers and lay them. Then help bring the furniture over. Now they have to go, the boys have doctor’s appointments and Miss Lili and Glen are going to take Penny to see her Mom.
I stop Steve to let him know I have to stay with the puppies tonight. He says he’ll get his cot, but I remind him Penny needs some one close by and Miss Lili sleeps on the main floor. He groans, but agrees. I remind him I have three on Wednesday. Miss Lili reminds him our tree is to be finished today and the other trees are to be delivered tomorrow. She would like for us all to be there when Penny comes home. I say I’ll try.
Maria and I go in to check on the puppies. They aren’t awake yet so we discuss how nice the patio furniture is and how nice the guys are to do this for us while we clean the surgical instruments and the room.
When we come out, we find a small, decorated, Christmas tree sitting in the waiting room with some extra decorations for the room. Maria and I decorate the room and find there’s enough for a few in the office and exam rooms. It’s looking like Christmas around here. We even find eggnog in the refrigerator.
Chapter 18
We’ve sat down to have a cup of it when Steve and Bob come in. They’re limping but they don’t have their crutches. They come into the office and they both have walking boots on, leaning on a cane and beaming from ear to ear. “You’re back on both feet. That’s great.” Maria says.
“We can drive again, but we have to wear these boots for a few more weeks. We’re supposed walk a little more each day ‘til we get the strength back in our legs.” The guys have had the crutches for two months and they’re glad to be rid of them.
Maria and I get up but they motion us back in the chairs thinking we’re offering the chairs to them. I tell them we’re going to check on the puppies. They come with us and are surprised at how much they’ve grown. The guys ask what we want for supper. Maria says she has to get Shay and she just wants to stay home ‘til we have to be at Miss Lili’s to see the tree. I want Chinese so the guys go to get the food, Bob goes to Maria’s and Steve comes back here.
We sit at the patio table to eat as it gets darker. Steve goes to his truck and brings back a candle so we can finish eating. We’re checking on the puppies and necking when the phone rings. Miss Lili says they’re on their way home. Can we make sure the lights are on when they get there? Sure, and I think, why not? In a sarcastic way.
I check the puppies and they’re waking up so I take the I.V. out, we take them out and return them to their kennel then climb in our trucks to go home. Maria, Bob and Shay arrive shortly after we do. Thirty minutes later Miss Lili, Glen and Penny arrive.
Penny’s eyes are as big as Shay’s at the huge glistening Christmas tree. I ask Penny about her mother. When she’s through telling me her mother will be coming home soon. I explain to her about my being gone tonight, but Steve will be here if she needs anything. I hug her and kiss Steve. At the office, the puppies are doing very well, but I stay anyway. I’ll need to feed them soon. Besides, I have some thinking to do.
I don’t know what’s bothering me, but I have this uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. It’s always been a warning before. But about what, now? I call Mom and she offers to come in so we can talk.
When Mom and Dad arrive, I’m feeling foolish, but they reassure me that if there’s a problem that needs to be uncovered, they’ll do the best they can.
They start by asking questions and I answer them. Steve? Bob and Maria? Miss Lili or Glen? The answer is no. But something’s wrong. I’m uncomfortable around Miss Lili, Steve and Bob if they’re together. Feeling outnumbered? Maybe. Out classed? No. But there’s something. Mom calls Maria to see if she can get some one to stay with Shay and come over.
When she gets there, we talk for a while and find out she has the same feelings. The three of them are so tight and so in sync with each other that we feel left out, unless we agree with everything Miss Lili wants. Last night was uncomfortable, to say the least. Mom and Dad haven’t heard about last night.
After I tell them, Mom’s not upset in the least about Miss Lili trying to push Yolanda and Penny off on her. But she understands how I could have come by the ‘pushy’ part. Everyone seems to jump when Miss Lili speaks, especially the guys. They have to do a good bit of the work.
That seems to be it. Her “boys” are our soon to be husbands, but they’ll still be her “boys.” But she’s married now and Glen’s helping, too. We need to see some things happen before Miss Lili’s “boys” become our husbands. They need to cut the apron strings, but they need to stay in town. That’s okay for Bob, but I don’t have a place in town. Then there’s Miss Lili and Glen in that big house. I don’t know the answer to this problem. If I suggest we get another place to live, Steve will find that foolish because of the family home and its emptiness. I wouldn’t consider asking Miss Lili to live someplace else and as long as the three of them live together their bond will hold stronger than ours. And Maria and I will always feel second in our husband’s priorities. Now Maria and I understand the problem, we can either accept it, or try to change it. And if we fail, we can break the engagement and jeopardize the partnership. We’re stuck, hard and fast, between a rock and a hard spot.
Mom and Dad ask two more questions. Do we love our guy? And do we think they love us? We answer “yes” to both questions. They’re advice is to wait to see what Miss Lili’s marriage and her New Year’s resolution will bring. They leave and Maria and I let the puppies out. They’re doing so well I decide to go home and surprise Steve.
He was surprised and I was pleasantly…received, ‘til early in the morning. He had to be at work at four thirty. He was a little late.
Maria’s smiling when I come in. Bob stayed with her last night. I couldn’t say anything ‘cause I was smilling too. I check the puppies over and release them to their owners. The appointments are finished by lunch so Maria and I treat ourselves. We close the office for an hour and go to lunch with the guys. Me and Steve at the station and Bob and Maria at home. Maria’s late getting back.
I find a note from Miss Lili. She was here at lunch, but we we’re. She’ll be back before they take Penny to the hospital. She has something she wants to discuss with us.
When she comes in Glen and Penny are with her. Penny goes out back to play with Betty and Barney while we talk. Glen wants to build a smaller house on the back of the property and put in a pool. I have to ask, “Will there be a basket and balls.” Miss Lili and Maria laugh, but Glen has no idea what it means. She says it could be arranged and we snicker. They would live in the little house and the big house would be Steve’s and mine. Except when Glen’s children are visiting, then we’d switch places, or they’d move back into the master bedroom. Maria and I think that if that’s what they want to do, it’s okay with us.
There’s one more thing. They want to hire Yolanda to keep both ho
uses. She would stay in the maid’s quarters in the big house with us, but would clean both houses, if she takes the job. When she gets outta the hospital tomorrow she’ll come to the house. There’re three retired nurses that will be there six hours a day, two a day and a relief nurse. The doctor says two weeks to a month is all they’ll be needed. Now they need to get to the hospital.
“Don’t forget the tree lighting tonight at the court house,” Miss Lili says as they walk out the door. Then she steps back in, “How about all of us have supper at my place tonight. Then we can walk over to the court house.” We nod.
“Miss Lili, do we need to fix supper?” She shakes her head and says it’s already on.
Maria and I clean the whole office and plan to check out the boarding house, but Steve drops by after work. He’s not happy about the little house being built. He thinks Miss Lili is feeling in the way. Maria and I tell him that wasn’t the impression we got. I thought they were trying to make more room for Glen’s family when they come at Christmas. Steve didn’t get that impression. I look at him, “I guess our moving into the little house when his kids are all here wasn’t a hint to you, huh?” I’m a little ticked.
Steve looks at me like I’d just stolen his ice cream cone. “She said that?”
“I didn’t make it up.” I’m getting a bit stern and Maria nods.
He can only say “Oh. Guess I didn’t hear it.”
“What did you say to her when she told ya? Ya didn’t get pissy with her did ya?”
“No! Bob and I didn’t think much of it ‘til she had left. What would make ya think I had?”
“The way you were acting when ya came in. Steve, there’s gonna be a lotta changes coming up. Miss Lili’s re-married. Bob and Maria will be getting married and so will we, if things work out. There’s gonna be a lotta new situations to get used to, so start gettin’ flexible.” I go over to him and kiss him.
“What’da mean ‘if things work out’?” He’s got a tight hold on me.
“None of us are married yet. There’s still the possibility it may not happen.”
“It better be a slim chance. I’m already conditioned to it happenin’ and so is Bob.”
“I’m not expectin’ anything to happen, but ya never know. Not even after you’re married.” I’m teasing him, yet I mean it. He hasn’t loosened his hold yet, so I wiggle a little to try to get away, but that’s not the way he took it. His eyes got a hot sleepy look about them and he pulled me tighter to him.
“I wouldn’t move like that in public, if I were you,” he whispered and kissed me like we were alone. When we come outta the kiss, we are alone. Maria has disappeared. So he kisses me again and put his hands on my butt to pull me closer. I get the feeling we need to go home, but the phone rings breaking us up so I can answer it. Its Bob looking for Steve, he’s needed at the station.
After he leaves, Maria comes in. “That was something. I thought you’d be rollin’ around on the floor before that kiss ended.” We laugh.
But I have to admit “It came close.” I tell her Bob called and Steve had to leave. We go out to check the boarding house for the guests that will start arriving tomorrow. We hosed the dust from the kennels and we’ll put fresh litter in as the cats come in.
We get a few more reservations before we close. The last call of the day is a rancher with a sick horse. I have to make a house call. Steve stops by as I’m leaving so he goes with me.
Two hours later, we’re pulling into the drive way at Miss Lili’s. They’re just about to eat when we come in. I have to shower before I can be in anyone’s company. The horse had eaten thistle and I was ankle deep in the results while I checked the horse out. The rancher had to come into the clinic to get the medicine. And I had to hose down some before I could get into my truck to drive back. Steve insisted the windows had to be down all the way in. I’m sure he was grateful when he could get in his truck for the drive home from the clinic.
I shower and change for supper. I come down to laughter and hear Steve telling about my experience in the stall with the horse and the need for a gas mask and a rain slicker. Maria, Shay and Penny are snickering, but I notice the rest are roaring and cringing at the same time. When I come through the door way, they try to contain themselves ‘til I say “Don’t stop on my account.”
A few comments later, Miss Lili says “That kinda talk isn’t for the supper table. Save it for later.” There’s another round of laughter, but we settle down to eat.
The tree lighting ceremony was nice. We took a five gallon Thermos of hot chocolate, several bags of marshmallows and Styrofoam cups. We all had hot chocolate and cookies at the court house for free. Some of the senior citizens had brought chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies. Penny and Shay loved it.
On the way back, Penny talks about her mama coming home tomorrow. I look at Miss Lili and she nods. I take it to mean they would be moving into the maid’s quarters. When we got home, Maria, Bob and Shay leave and I get Penny showered and put to bed. Then I go downstairs to find out what had happened at the hospital.
Yolanda had agreed to be the housekeeper and live here. Steve and I need to go to the house to get their stuff that’s there, just the personal stuff. Maybe Penny should go with us, she’d know what to get. They have some shopping to do tomorrow morning before they pick Yolanda up. She’ll need some things that are clean. We decide we’ll go over to the shack after work with Penny. Yolanda needs more bed rest.
Next week, Glen’s family is coming. This house is gonna be splitting at the seams for a few days. Oh, my gosh. I have gifts to wrap and a few more to buy. I ask about buying gifts for Glen’s family and Miss Lili says not to worry about it. They’ve already taken care of it. Glen knew what to get and how much since they’ll be driving. They, also, had shopped for them for us since none of us know each other, yet. I agree that’s probably for the best. I have to talk to Bob about Steve’s gift and Steve about Bob’s and both of them about Miss Lili’s gift and Miss Lili about Glen’s. If I can get Yolanda’s size I can get her a dress for church. Penny needs toys and a dress for church, too, but I’ll have to coordinate that with the others.
When we go to bed I talk to Steve about Penny’s gifts. He’s already gotten her a bike and a doll. He doesn’t know what else to get her. Bob got her a doll and Maria and Shay have a dress and a cowboy hat. Shay insisted on the hat. I guess I’ll get her a dress, a couple pairs of jeans and tops and some play jewelry. Miss Lili has some clothes and some toys for her. Steve says I should get Miss Lili a sweater, a shawl, or a pretty scarf. He and Bob always give her her favorite perfumes. They already have Glen’s favorite after shave and cologne. “Wait a minute. When did you two have time to do all this?”
“We ordered most of it. The rest only took one afternoon. The same afternoon we got the patio stuff for you and Maria. We aren’t together all the time, in case you haven’t noticed. A situation I hope to remedy as much as possible. Now, kiss me. I’m tired of talking.” I did and we didn’t need words to understand each other after that.
Maria and I finished the appointments by lunch when Miss Lili comes in with Glen and lunch. We talk about the lack of happenings for the calendar next month. It’s mostly club meetings. I ask her to stick around ‘til the surgeries on the three puppies are over to check in the guests. She said she would because Penny and her mother were safely ensconced in the maid’s quarters.
They had traded the full size bed for twin beds so they each have their own bed. Nancy is on the job so there’s no problem at all.
After we’ve finished the surgeries, the hotel is occupied, almost to maximum capacity. People are having Christmas with relatives that are out of town or state. Miss Lili says she heard it all. Many of them said they haven’t been able to visit for years because of the pet. They’re very happy to have the boarding kennel available. Miss Lili and Glen have been working on the newsletter for January, when they weren’t talking to the guests’ owners, and so it’s ready to put on the computer
and print.
I go back to check on the puppies and they’re doing very well, but they aren’t awake yet. Steve comes by with Penny wanting to know if I had an hour or so to go to get Yolanda and Penny’s stuff. I look at Miss Lili and Maria and they tell me to go. They tell us to take Glen so we’ll get done faster.
There’s more “stuff” than we thought. Penny didn’t want to part with anything even tho’ she’d gotten along without it for a week. So Glen goes for more boxes and we pack it all up, right down to the bobbi-pins and toilet paper. We tell Penny we’ll need to wash it all before it can be taken into the house to be sure there are no bugs hidden in the things. She understands. Steve drops me off at the clinic and takes the things home. Glen’s truck was pretty full, too, but Miss Lili went home with him.
Maria and I are left alone with nothing to do. I ask her about a gift for Miss Lili. She has no idea what to get her. I suggest a suggestion box for town improvements. She frowns at me. “But she said she wanted to get the town’s suggestions and she made it a New Year’s resolution…and she put me…us in charge of making her stick to it, didn’t she?” Maria had to nod, she knew it was true.
Then she smiles and so do I. It’s almost cruel, but it’s what Miss Lili said she wanted to do. Can her father build us a box on a stand that’s weather proof, including wind? She calls Miguel to set it up and I offer to paint and pay for it to be done, but Maria wants to share the work and expense. We’re laughing when Steve walks in.
He wants to know what’s so funny. I lie to him, “Just something that happened. Ya had to be there. By the way, what can Shay get Miss Lili and Glen since they’re going to be his great grand-something or others?”
He chuckles, “It is kinda hard to keep track of the relation factor, isn’t it? Miss Lili will like anything Shay gives her. But from a kid’s point of view, I suppose a horn for their bikes would work for her and Glen. Miss Lili got him a bike like hers.” We snicker. “Well, she said it was that or a side car and they don’t make those for tricycles. And Chief rides in the back basket so there’s no room there for Glen.” We’re howling at the thought of Glen sitting in the back basket with his feet and legs dragging the sidewalk behind. He’s a tall Texan. Maria adds the visual of “Poor Miss Lili pedaling hard to keep the bike moving with all the weight of Glen and his dragging feet.” We get through laughing, decide Glen should have his own bike, or they should have a bicycle built for two. Steve shook his head, “They don’t make them in a tricycle with the baskets. They’d tip over.” We’re laughing again.