Vermont Escape

by Marsha R West

  “Thank you,” Jill murmured, glancing briefly over her shoulder at him, the dimple barely in evidence.

  He’d hated blond hair for years, but hers seemed different, not bleached, but more a soft, golden color like summer corn. She wore it pulled back in a low, loose ponytail reaching to the middle of her back, not puffed up in a hard bubble like his ex.

  His mother, the consummate hostess, made the inquiries of her guest seem natural.

  “Where’s your family, dear? How do they feel about you moving to Vermont?”

  Jill fidgeted with her fork and glanced at Karen, whose eyebrows slanted upward. Did the two share a secret?

  After a moment, Jill said, “I have twins. My daughter Ellen’s a marine biologist and lives in the Florida Keys, and my son Ethan’s in the Army in Virginia. They both live busy lives. They just want me to be happy.”

  “No one else, dear?”

  “No.” Jill shot another look at Karen.

  “Liz, Jerrod’s daughter, owns a Pilates studio in town,” Karen jumped into the silence. “She’s great. I go twice a week. You’ll have to visit.”

  “Thanks for the plug,” Jerrod nodded toward Karen.

  “I tried Pilates once in Fort Worth but couldn’t fit it into my schedule on any kind of regular basis. I’ll have more opportunity here. I’ll be sure to check out her studio.”

  “Might not have more time—if you buy the store,” Anne said, an optimistic lilt in her tone.

  “Mother.” God, he sounded like Hawkins’ thirteen-year-old daughter. What was the matter with him?

  “I’m not pushing.” She waved her hands in front, palms out. Her smile lit her entire face, and she arched her eyebrows at him, as though attempting an innocent expression. “So,” she leaned forward. “Don, my other grandchild, is an FBI agent.”

  Jill dropped her napkin.

  “Spoken like a proud grandmother.” Jerrod leaned over and retrieved the cloth for his mother’s guest. She nodded her thanks but didn’t make eye contact.

  “As if he’s not special to you,” his mother teased.

  Jerrod’s laughter boomed out. “You got me. Don works out of the Montpelier office, so we see each other often during the session, Ms. Barlow.”

  “The Assembly meets annually, Jill, unlike in Austin, where your—”

  “The Texas Legislature meets every two years.” Jill cut off Karen’s words.

  Damn. She hadn’t struck him this way, but Jill rudely interrupted Karen, giving the impression she was afraid of what her friend would say. Well, count on a Texan to be brash. He’d better get out of here before he let slip a comment he’d regret.

  “Mother, please excuse me. I need to be up and on the road early. The session has less than a week to run.”

  “You’re skipping out on my apple pie?”

  He nearly laughed at the tone suggesting he’d mortally wounded her. Jerrod nodded. “Afraid so. I promise to make up for the loss when I return.” He punched Tim on the arm. “I’ll be in touch. Karen, make sure he gives you enough time off from the clinic for your volunteer activities.” Jerrod patted her on the back.

  He held out his hand to their guest from Texas. “Pleasure to see you again, Ms. Barlow.”

  He’d barely begun speaking before she returned the shake, this time in a firm palm-to-palm grip. A zing from her hand ripped up his arm. She gulped in a short breath. Did she feel something, too? What the hell was it about her that short-circuited his nervous system?

  “Uh... Thank you, Mr. Phillips,” she said in a breathless rush. “Hope the rest of the session goes well.”

  “Me, too. The dinner was up to your usual excellent standards, Mother.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Promise you’ll secure Dust Mop.”

  His mother patted his shoulder. “I’ll try, and thanks for today’s rescue, Son. I’m glad you chose to join us. Especially since we had company.”

  JILL’S HAND TINGLED. She’d been determined to give Jerrod Phillips a proper handshake and not let him get away with the light-fingered touch he offered at the store earlier in the day. The electric-like charge took her breath for a moment. He’d be gone for several days, and when he returned, they didn’t need to see much, if anything, of each other.

  Jill normally displayed more self-control with desserts, but she ate every bite of Anne’s flaky crust pastry with just the right amount of cinnamon. Tim had been right to be excited about this award-winning pie.

  Despite her best efforts to stifle it, a yawn escaped.

  “Thanks for inviting me, Anne. I’ve had fun, and the meal was delicious, but this has been a busy first day.”

  “Come by the store tomorrow around ten-thirty. We’ll talk about the business a little. We really didn’t tonight.” She slipped an arm around Karen’s waist. “Thanks for stopping by with Jill. I’m excited to see what might come of this.”

  “I’ll see you in the morning then.” Jill went out the front door but waited for her friends. If she’d been using her brain, not one of her strong suits of late, she’d have had a conversation with Karen and Tim already. Stress, anxiety, and exhaustion apparently played havoc with most of the neurons in her head, an argument against making any business decisions now. And probably accounted for her odd reaction to Anne’s son.

  “I’m excited you’re considering buying the store.” Karen joined Jill on the sidewalk with Tim close on her heels. “People come from everywhere to buy Anne’s crystal.”

  “I can’t play tourist this time, though I loved doing so when I visited before. I want to do something useful.” Jill twisted her hands around the shoulder strap of her purse.

  “What’s the matter?” Karen asked, her eyebrows rose. Her body angled forward.

  “I’m sorry for interrupting you in there. I was afraid you’d say something about Dad, and I don’t want folks learning the details about his or George’s deaths. What would they think? I mean, who has two family members murdered?” Her attempt at gallows humor fell flat. Neither Tim nor Karen cracked a smile.

  “Whatever you want.” She squeezed Jill’s hand. “You don’t need people carrying on about it, and a few in town would. We’re pleased you’re here, and that is what’s important.”

  Jill hugged Karen and tried not to cling.

  “Anything you need help with, let us know.” Tim squeezed her shoulder in support.

  “Thank you. After Anne’s meal, what I need is exercise before turning in. Will a walk around town be okay?”

  “We’re a tight community.” Tim opened Karen’s door. “You’ll be safe.”

  Jill nodded. “Thanks. Talk with you in a day or two.”

  “We’ll see the realtor when he gets back to town.” Karen climbed into the car. “Sounds good.” Her friends pulled out from in front of Anne’s house. Jill dragged in a deep breath of the clean, fresh air. She’d made the right choice coming to Vermont.

  She set off down the street toward Crystal Rainbows. If anyone had suggested before she came to Vermont she’d think about buying a store in the first week she arrived...well, she’d have laughed him out of the county. But this particular shop called to her. Could she make this happen?

  Her steps slowed, and her gaze traveled through the windows. This morning, the sun’s rays had caressed the stunning crystal. Rainbows had floated around the room and fueled a hope she might find a new life. In the now closed store, spotlights focused on several pieces shooting brilliant colors in all directions. Her eyes brimmed, and her breathing hitched.

  God knew her life needed some rainbows.

  Chapter Two

  FRIDAY, APRIL 27

  “Good morning.” At ten-twenty Jill smiled at the attendant who held open the front door of the inn for her.

  “Have a good day, ma’am.”

  Hope filled every cell of her body. She walked with a spring in her step toward the shopping area of town. All good things seemed possible in this brilliantly clear, crisp air. A few puffy white clouds highlighted the blue sky.
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  “Oh.” She dropped onto one of the benches in the small central green. Guilt gnawed at her insides. For a moment there, she’d almost felt happy.

  What kind of person was she to forget how her husband was murdered? How her father was murdered? How her life was murdered? She dragged in deep breaths through her nose.

  This is the natural progression of grief. The words of the counselor rang in her head. Jill could expect to drown in pain one minute, followed by a rise into the fresh air until another wave of agony threatened her death. Ultimately, she’d experience more up times than down. Jill prayed the counselor was correct.

  She pulled her lime green sweater close, the chill a stark reminder she wasn’t in Texas any longer. Jill rose, straightened her shoulders, and walked on, ignoring the flutter in her stomach. Dread and anticipation mixed together at what she might discover in the next couple of hours. Was she crazy to consider doing this? Maybe not any crazier than running away to Woodstock in the first place. Crazy defined her life of the last two years.

  She waited for a stoplight to change. The cars, though many, moved at a leisurely pace. So, different from life in Fort Worth. She scraped together a smile for the two young people passing by. Much like her own kids.

  Jill never interrupted Ethan or Ellen’s lives with frequent phone calls. They’d want to know what was up if her behavior changed. So, no calls. She had to trust her father was right. With him gone, Richardson and his crew wouldn’t need to come after any of them. The safest thing to do was to keep the flash drive stashed at the bank.

  A sharp pain shot through the middle of her chest like someone pushed a hand in, took hold of her heart, and squeezed.

  What if she were wrong?

  Someone might be searching for her or her kids right now. The stiffening went out of her legs. The racing of her heart made her light headed, and she grabbed hold of a light pole on the edge of the sidewalk. Her jagged breaths didn’t bring in enough oxygen.

  If she hadn’t been such a wimp, she’d have read her father’s note in Fort Worth before leaving. If she’d done that, she’d have stopped using her credit cards. She’d have taken a less direct route here.

  A shiver of dread ran through her veins like a Texas sleet storm. Oh, my God. Had she put them all in danger from the gambling consortium?

  Drawing in a few shaky breaths, she willed her heart to slow down and her brain to think logically. No one should suspect she had a copy of the flash drive, so they had no reason to search for her. Besides, she couldn’t undo what she’d done. Her heart pounded less rapidly. Straightening, she pulled in needed oxygen. A few more deep breaths, and her heartbeat slowed. With determined steps, she proceeded to the shop and pushed through the door, curious to see what lay ahead.

  “Ah, prompt, I see. Good morning, Jill.” Anne’s welcoming tone said more than just her words. “I want you to meet Sally Dickson, my assistant.” A tall gray-haired woman had a smile wide enough to take in the whole world. Her dark blue denim trousers and crisp white blouse looked comfortable and professional. The refreshing scent Jill remembered from yesterday made her relax, easing her breath and heart rate back to normal.

  “Sally’s been with me for twenty years, starting part-time. I’ve cut back and now she does almost everything. She knows as much as I do about how this place operates.”

  “Hello, Sally.” Jill met the woman’s outstretched hand with her own firm grip.

  “Nice to meet you, Ms. Barlow.”

  “Oh, please, call me Jill.”

  Sally’s smile grew wider in response to Jill’s greeting.

  “We’ll be in the office for a while, Sally, so I can tell Jill about running this store.”

  “Maybe not all about it, Anne. You don’t want to scare her off,” Sally said in a conspiratorial tone. The two women were obviously good friends.

  With Sally’s laughter filling the air, Anne led Jill to a rear area, which appeared to be almost the same size as the front of the shop. “I told her I had a hot prospect on my hands. We’ve had a couple of people consider buying. One even drew up a contract, but he lost his funding.”

  To the left of the doorway, an antique desk accommodated a computer. A four-drawer file cabinet stood near the desk. Jill wandered up and down the aisles to the right of the doorway. “You keep a lot of inventory, Anne.” Three large storage units held shelf upon shelf of labeled boxes of crystal.

  “We keep duplicates of some pieces, but many are one of a kind. For our glasses, I always try to keep whole sets in case someone comes in and wants to buy that way. They can either carry their purchase with them, or we’ll ship to their home.”

  Jill came back from her brief tour of the stacks and sank into one of the chairs covered in rainbow-patterned chintz. The sitting area contained a second stuffed chair with a small antique-looking table standing between. The space welcomed visitors to sit down and enjoy a chat or a drink.

  She rubbed her damp hands on her slacks and shook her head. What had come over her to think of taking on this enormous project?

  “I don’t know, Anne. This seems like more of an undertaking than I can handle.” The words rushed out trying to slow down the scary process. “I know nothing about crystal, except I like it, and I love the name of your store. Crystal Rainbows. Perfect, but—”

  “Don’t panic,” Anne held up both hands. “We’re just beginning, and don’t expect to grasp everything all at once.” The low pitch of her voice calmed Jill. “Would you like something to drink?”

  “Coffee, if you have some. I’ll need a lot of caffeine to get through all the business specifics, and if I decide to take this on, gallons.”

  Anne chuckled again, and then made her way into a small kitchenette where she started a fresh brew. “While this is perking, tell me more of your life in Fort Worth. I bet you have useful talents for this job.” She settled into the other chair, her smile bright enough to make the most uptight person relax.

  But what should she tell this kind woman? Jill didn’t want to lie, and she wasn’t lying, because she used her real name. Best to stick with the basics.

  “I was a society wife. Like my mother, I belonged to several organizations, many set up to help others, chaired boards, gave money, hosted large fundraising events, and never—” her shoulders hiked in apology—” held a paying job.”

  “It sounds to me like you made a difference in your community. Being paid isn’t the most important thing. Doing something valuable and something you love is.” Anne crossed to the cabinets, took down two cups and got the cream from the refrigerator.

  “How did you come to run the store, Anne?”

  “I’d shopped in here off and on forever. One day, I stumbled on a glass blower when I’d driven out into the country. He was looking for a way to sell his product. I mentioned it to the storeowners, and one thing led to another. Before I knew it, I’d become the new owner.”

  Anne’s story sounded a lot like what Jill was considering. Maybe it was a good sign that Anne had been so successful.

  “My late husband, a judge and landowner, had considerable investments. Our families settled this area, so I didn’t need to buy a shop.” Pride glowed in Anne’s face and voice for the family’s heritage. “Oh. The gurgles have stopped.” She filled two cups from the fresh pot. “He always laughed at my work, told me it was my inborn Yankee spirit of independence. Still, he appreciated what I did with the store and in Woodstock. It sounds like we’ve both been deeply involved in our communities.”

  Her mom would’ve said something similar. A deep ache throbbed through Jill. The loss twelve years ago nearly broke her father’s heart and hers too. Jill yearned to share the recent happenings with Anne but resisted and merely nodded. Better for everyone’s safety.

  “Wouldn’t those skills you’ve developed serving in various organizations help you handle things around here?”

  “Perhaps.”

  “What do you want in this, dear?” Anne held up a mug.

 
“Nothing, thanks.”

  “You and Jerrod. He says if it’s good, you don’t need to mess with coffee.”

  “Thanks.” Jill accepted the blue pottery from Anne who turned back to doctor her own. So, she had something in common with Anne’s son. Jill would’ve lost money on that bet. She’d never experienced such unfriendly behavior from someone she’d just met before. Almost rude. Something about her offended him. Her cheeks warmed at the galling idea she was attracted to him. His negative reaction could create an awkward situation between his mother and her. She sipped the strong brew. “This is good.”

  Best address the concern now. Placing the mug on the table between them, Jill clasped her hands together and leaned forward.

  “Your son doesn’t seem to like me, Anne, or the idea of my buying the family store. Will that be a problem if we go through with this?”

  The older woman appeared to take a moment to decide how to respond. She shook her head. “No, dear. I own the shop. Jerrod doesn’t want any of this.” She swung her hand to include the store. “If I died and he inherited, he’d sell. This has the same result. Except, I hope you’ll love Crystal Rainbows the way I do.”

  Her voice wavered on the last words. She cleared her throat, set her cup on the table next to Jill’s, and rose. “Now, no more worries about my sometimes, irritating son. He really is a good man.”

  She took Jill’s hand. “Let me show you the pieces so you can begin to get a feel for the stock. Don’t try to remember everything I say. Absorb what you can, but mostly enjoy. If you choose to do this and want her, Sally will be with you all the way.”

  Jill recognized Anne’s let’s-get-down-to-business tone.

  And they did. They spent several hours studying the works of the different artists Crystal Rainbows carried, pausing only for a quick break for lunch. When they moved about the showroom with cases holding gorgeous cut glass and crystal, the kaleidoscope of rainbows lifted Jill’s spirit, and a peace she hadn’t experienced in a long time filled her soul.