by Tonya Kappes
All the parking space in front of The Busy Bee were taken. She knew all of Grandberry Falls was not taking knitting classes. They were bellied up to the bar at The Thirsty Turtle, watching the latest sporting event on one of their 55-inch flat screens.
Whether you drank liquor or not, The Thirsty Turtle was the place to be after a long day of work, or late at night on the weekends.
She had to get some materials from The Busy Bee first, but thought she might pop her head in for a quick hello. It would be good for business.
The bell above the door jingled more than usual. Liz looked up and saw that Clarice had tied a bunch of jingle bells to it to add to the festive spirit.
The shop was empty except for Hazel and Clarice, who were sitting at one of the back tables with take out from The Fatted Pig.
“What brings you in again?” Clarice gestured Liz over.
“I don’t want to interrupt your dinner.” She checked her watch. “I’ll come back tomorrow.”
“Don’t’ be silly.” Hazel slid her take out box over a little to make room for Liz to sit next to her. “We were just talking about you.”
“What were you talking about?” Liz asked Hazel, who had a curious smile on her face.
Everyone in town loved Hazel. Who wouldn’t? The seventy-year old was just as feisty as a twenty year old. Besides, what seventy year old could pull off the long wavy silver hair and bohemian style clothes? She never left home without bangles lined up and down her arm, long head scarves, and a cup of sweet tea in her hand.
Hazel was known for three things in this community. One, they were the wealthiest family, but you’d never know it. Two, she made the best tea this side of the Mississippi, and three, she was a match-maker whether you liked it or not.
“Well, it sure isn’t any of my business, but I sorta know things.” Hazel looked at Clarice, who was nodding her head agreeing with Hazel. “And I think you might have a male suitor.”
“Male? Who?” Liz didn’t understand.
Jenna had told her many times that Hazel had great intuition and it never failed her. One of those times was right before Jenna’s husband was killed by the drunk driver. Hazel had told them two days before that she wanted them to stay home all weekend. She said that she had a bad feeling about something but couldn’t pinpoint it. Jenna had rented all their favorite movies, ordered delivery food, but they didn’t have enough coffee to last, and so Dan went to Benton’s IGA. That’s when the drunk driver hit him.
“A certain Cole Michaels.”
“What?” Liz’s wide-eyed expression was merely a smoke screen. She laughed nervously.
“You heard me.” Hazel’s eyes were sharp and assessing.
Liz couldn’t look at her. If Hazel was as good as Jenna claimed, Hazel would be able to read her like a book, a New York bestseller at that. Her smile told the story.
“Oh, you mean the dog trainer?” Liz thumbed through the yarn samples to go on the Mayor’s new sofa.
She needed something masculine, dark.
“Yep, that’s the one. I saw him in The Thirsty Turtle boasting about a new client.” Hazel looked into her eyes, causing her to look away.
“Boasting?” Liz was confused. Was she wrong about him? Was he one of those men who try to get the “new” gal in bed?
“You are his first client since he’s been home.”
“Where has he been?” This was Liz’s chance to find out something about him.
“Now I don’t go around spreading gossip.” Hazel wagged her finger in the air. Her bangles jingled more than the bells on the door. “But I know he’s a great catch.”
“Oh no, Hazel Greenlee.” Liz shook her head. “You aren’t going to be playing match-maker with me.”
Hazel was known as the town’s match-maker. After all, she had introduced Jenna and Dan on the first day of school, and Mayor Mitch and Maggie on the day Mitch’s family moved into Grandberry Falls when he was five. Only Maggie and Mitch were the only couple that she has tried to set up that hadn’t worked out—yet. And from what Liz gathered from Jenna, Maggie was hot and heavy with some financial bigwig in New York City, and Hazel was none too happy about it.
“Clarice, I’ll take this fabric for the Mayor’s sofa pillows.” Liz picked up her purse. “I will see you ladies later.”
She waved to them over her shoulder before walking out the door.
Roaring laughter could be heard on the sidewalk before she even got near The Thirsty Turtle. From the windows, she could tell it was packed.
She’d had a long day and didn’t feel like fighting the crowd for a single drink. Maybe another time, she thought, and none too soon. The snow was starting to fall faster and the cold wind howled. She’d much rather be in the comfort of her own home, curled up with her quilt in front of her wood burning stove, with Tramp by her side.
FIVE
“Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”
~Franklin P. Jones
Liz patted the empty space next to her when she woke up. She sighed heavily as the empty cold space reminded her that her dream of being in Cole’s arms was just that, a dream. It’d been a long time since she’d wished there was a man there. Her body tightened at the thought of Cole lying next to her. She woke up several times throughout the night with images of his biceps around her.
“Ridiculous,” she muttered, and then stumbled into the bathroom.
Tramp lifted his head, looked at her, and laid it back down.
“You think I’m ridiculous too, don’t you?” She flicked the bathroom light on.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she glared at her image.
“Yes, you are ridiculous; thinking a man like Cole is going to be interested in a single mother.”
She shook her head and shuffled down the hall with Tramp following closely behind, ready for their morning ritual.
Mmm. Coffee smells so good in the morning. Especially on cold mornings like this one.
She glanced out at the snow. At least it had stopped snowing.
“Well Tramp, Hayes gets home today.” She always talked to Tramp as if he was a human.
She poured a cup of coffee and walked over to let Tramp out the back door.
The freshly fallen snow looked so pretty and undisturbed. But not for long. Tramp turned the snow upside down as if ten children had been playing in it.
It made her cold watching him run around like he didn’t have a care in the world. She walked back in the house and into the family room. The hearth was still hot and toasty.
She sat her coffee on the table next to the couch and put a few more pieces of wood in the stove.
With a flick of the light switch, the Christmas tree lights lit up the room. All the colors sparkled as though they too were waiting for Hayes to get home—too.
The phone rang. She was sure it was Paul.
“Hello.” She answered, and picked up her mug to take a sip.
If she was going to fight with Paul this early in the morning, she needed to be armed with caffeine. Plus, this was the first time he was bringing Hayes all the way to Grandberry Falls. He was going to take a quick trip south before the holidays and it was on his way. She wasn’t going to complain. With the price of gas, she’d let him drive the extra miles.
And it would be just like him to prolong Hayes’ visit with him.
“How was dog class?” Jenna belted out on the other end.
“Tramp was a genius.” Liz had never thought she’d be a proud parent of a dog.
“That’s what all moms say about their babies.” Jenna laughed.
“Really? Cole had this agility course and Tramp knew exactly what to do.”
“Cole?” She asked.
“Yeah.” Liz had momentarily forgotten how cold Jenna had become when they were at The Trembling Cup. “The guy from the Trembling Cup. He’s the teacher.”
“Cole, huh?” There was anxiety in Jenna’s voice. “One thing you need to learn is that t
his is a small town. Everybody knows everybody. And everybody isn’t always what they seem.”
This was not the Jenna that Liz has grown to love. She had never beat around the bush about her feelings about others. So why was she doing it with Cole? What was she hiding? And why hadn’t anyone ever mentioned his name before?
“Hayes comes home today. I’m going to work on the fundraiser and make his favorite dinner. What are you doing today?” She loved her friend and didn’t want there to be any tension between them, so changing the subject to Hayes was a good way to keep Cole out of the conversation.
No man was worth that.
“We are making cookies over here. I’ll be sure to bring you some.”
With a little small talk and a few details about the fundraiser, Liz got off the phone. She wanted to finish her morning coffee and get her to-do list done before Hayes got home.
Sunday had become a special day, sort of a tradition.
They ate pizza in bed while watching a movie. Lately, he’d wanted to put the featherbed in front of the wood-burning stove and snuggle in front of the TV while they ate.
Throughout the day, between getting the week’s cleaning taken care of completing her work on the fundraiser, and tending to Tramp’s needs, her mind would wander back to Cole. Her heart danced with excitement thinking about the time they had spent alone together. There was no way she was wrong. There was no denying the attraction between them.
When she heard a car door slam, she looked out the window. Hayes was running through the snow, bolting to the door.
“Mom, I saw Aunt Kristen at the Bengal’s game.” Hayes came bursting into the house and slammed the door. “Mike’s birthday is next week.”
“I missed you too, squirt.” Liz ruffled his hair.
“Mom, seriously, can we go?” His blue eyes always made her give in.
“Of course, but you’ll have to miss Tramp’s obedience lesson.” She reminded him.
“Hey, buddy!” Tramp licked Hayes all over. Hayes giggled. “I see Tramp didn’t learn anything at this week’s class.”
“Sit!” Liz said, sternly and loudly to get Tramp’s attention. Tramp did exactly what he was told, and immediately sat at her feet. “Don’t tell me that he didn’t learn anything in class.”
With his mouth wide open, Hayes begged, “Do it again.”
Liz did it one more time before she went to the kitchen to get the pizza. Hayes and Tramp followed right behind her.
“Alright!” Hayes pumped his fists in the air after seeing his favorite movie and what was for dinner on the old farm table.
“I thought we’d have an Adam Sandler marathon.” She grabbed the box, and two sodas.
They sat in front of the TV on the feather bed, letting the Christmas tree lights glow along with the roaring stove, and let Adam Sandler entertain them.
Every once in a while, Hayes would tell her something about the weekend, but she found it hard to concentrate. She was continuously thinking about Cole, especially when Hayes would bring up the obedience classes.
“Mom, if I go to Mike’s party next week, am I going to miss Tramp’s class again.” The corners of Hayes’ mouth turned down.
“It’s okay. I can take him.” She was definitely looking forward to watching Cole work his magic.
Only, she wasn’t sure who the magic was working on more.
Tramp or her?
“Can he take another class this week?” he asked.
“I’ll see.”
“Promise you’ll call.” Hayes held out his pinky.
Liz hooked her pinky in his. “Promise.”
They sat in silence while they watched the movie. It was magical. She was exactly where she wanted to be, sitting in front of the warm fire with pizza, a great movie, and her favorite person. It was everything she’d been wishing for with each coin toss in the waterfall.
Why was she thinking of Cole?
Hayes fell asleep half way through the first movie.
Quietly, Liz got up to let Tramp out one last time before bed.
It was a perfect time to call the Claw and Paw. It was after ten p.m., and she’d just leave a message, putting the ball in Cole’s court.
“Uh… Joe?” She checked the time on the microwave.
Never in a million years did she think someone would answer. Nothing was open in Grandberry Falls at ten p.m. Well, The Thirsty Turtle was. “This is Liz Day.”
“Hey, Liz, it’s Cole.” His voice was a little deeper on the phone. More businesslike.
She preferred his softer tone to this one
She took a couple of quick breaths to help clear her head.
“Liz?” he questioned. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” She put hand over her face, and then ran it through her hair. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone to answer the phone.”
She put her hand up to her heart. She hadn’t planned on talking to him and not being prepared left her feeling uneasy and out of sorts.
“Well, it’s just me. What can I do for you?” Cole cut to the chase.
“I was going to leave a message about Tramp’s appointment next Saturday.” She wondered why he’d be working so late. Didn’t he have more important things to do on a Sunday night?
“Listen, Liz, I already apologized. Please don’t cancel. Give me another shot.” There was silence.
Cancel?
“Did you think I was going to cancel?” she asked.
“Yes. You said that you needed to talk about this Saturday. . .”
“No, no.” Me? cancel? Not on your life. She wondered if he could sense her smiling. “My nephew is having his birthday party in Cincinnati. Hayes wants to go, but he made me promise that I’d call before I went to bed and try to reschedule our appointment for earlier in the week.”
A wave of apprehension swept through her. The thought of Hayes and Cole meeting made her anxious.
Hayes had never been around another man. Besides, she was getting way ahead of herself. She may have been interested in Cole, but was Cole interested in her? He might have a girlfriend, be married, or have a mistress. . . . take your pick.
“What did Hayes think of Tramp’s new tricks?” He asked.
How cute. He was asking about Hayes. Ah, a man getting to her heart through her child.
“He said Jenna picked a good dog from the pound.” She tried to imagine him on the other end of the phone leaning over the counter at the Claws and Paws.
“Jenna?”
Liz hit her forehead with the palm of her hand. How stupid. She hadn’t meant for Jenna’s name to slip out of her mouth. One thing was for sure, neither of them was fond of the other.
“Jenna Greenlee.” Liz threw it out there. It seemed to float around like a leaf on a breezy day. “You know, from The Trembling Cup.”
“I do.” There was a visible change in his voice.
Someday, one of them was going to have to come clean. Like Jenna said, they lived in a very small community.
“How do you know Jenna?” Cole asked.
“She’s my best friend. Jenna has been so good to Hayes and me since we moved here.” Liz anticipated his reaction with bated breath.
“Liz, I have my calendar here and I don’t have any openings this week.”
Liz was taken aback by his sudden change of personality. What was going on? One thing was for sure, she was going to get to the bottom of this mystery between her best friend and the man who was capturing her heart.
“Is it something I said?” Liz didn’t want to beg, but she did promise Hayes that she’d reschedule. And she never let him down. “Cole?”
“Fine. Can you guys come on Tuesday? We can go over a few more commands.” He finally answered.
Liz agreed to the time and abruptly hung up.
She couldn’t stop replaying the conversation over and over in her head. Cole and Jenna are both good people. It must be really bad in order for both of them to react the way they did when they heard each other’s nam
e. She still thought it was strange that she’d never heard about Cole Michaels until the day he walked into The Trembling Cup.
SIX
“Like the measles, love is most dangerous when it comes late in life.”
~Lord Byron
The next morning, when Liz dropped Hayes off at school, a bunch of his friends came up to him as soon as he got out of the car.
She put her hand over her heart. Seeing him so clearly accepted gave her a bottomless peace and satisfaction in the pit of her stomach that she hadn’t felt in such a long time.
This was a far cry from when she used to drop Hayes off at his private school in Cincinnati. As a matter of fact, their whole life in Grandberry Falls was very different from their life back in Cincinnati.
They lived in a cozy, small cottage in a small town, instead of a multi-million dollar home in a big city.
Seeing Hayes fit in was something she was not used to seeing. He used to kick and scream, begging her not to make him go to school. As the good wife, she had listened to Paul.
“All kids hate school. He’s fine. He’s been around you too long. Stop babying him, Liz.” Paul would say and scowl at her the entire time.
Now she realized how much Paul had controlled their lives. She was thankful that he wasn’t controlling them anymore.
Now Hayes was a completely different child. No matter how rich or poor, every child in Grandberry Falls went to the same school.
“Bye, Mom.” Hayes waved. There was happiness in his eyes.
“Bye.” She wanted so badly to tell him she loved him, but didn’t want to embarrass him in front of his friends. “Have a good day,” she yelled.
He didn’t hear her. He was already laughing and paying attention to his buddies.
Instead of going straight to The Mole Hole to work on some more of her clients’ designs, she headed to Pet Mall in Lexington to check out their obedience classes.
The drive did her some good. It gave her time to think about last night’s phone call between her and Cole.
It haunted her.
She could tell by the way he was talking that he was on the fence about working with Tramp because of her friendship with Jenna. The last thing she wanted to do was cause any more conflict or have any drama. She got rid of all the drama in her life when she moved to Grandberry Falls.