by Karin Beery
Mom
Ashley pushed the paper away. “Do you want anything else with your bacon, or are you happy with a plate of pig?”
“I’ve got eggs and potatoes. What would you like?”
“I don’t usually eat this early, so don’t bother cooking for me.”
Russ pulled out pans and utensils. “I’m not cooking for you, I’m cooking for me. I like a big breakfast, and you don’t look like you eat enough.”
“Is that a compliment or an insult?”
“An observation.”
Ashley hopped onto a stool as she watched Russ slice potatoes and dice onions like a pro. He cracked and whipped the eggs, working two pans as if they were extensions of his arms. Calm and relaxed, unphased by the fact that she had delayed his start. Should she be honored or insulted that a nap together in the loveseat didn’t seem to affect him?
As Russ tossed the eggs and vegetables in one pan while potatoes sizzled in the other, the warm feeling from the day before wrapped around Ashley. She should have appreciated Sunday mornings with her parents more. She’d eaten a lot of oatmeal since then.
“Why do you think you started sleepwalking again?” Russ glanced at her, his eyes ever calm. “Do you suppose it has to do with Tom’s death?”
“Maybe. It’s strange, though. Tom and I were good friends, but I wasn’t close to him like I was with my parents. I didn’t think it would affect me like that.”
“How long did it last before?”
“About six months, I guess.”
“I hope it doesn’t last that long this time.”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll figure out the housing situation before then.”
Russ looked at her like she’d grown a third eye. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he said. “It sounds like the sleepwalking might be dangerous. I don’t want you to worry about it for another day, much less six months.”
“Oh.” Her neck and cheeks warmed. “You’re not the only one.” Who knew where she’d end up? Years ago, she woke up in the front yard, but at least she recognized her surroundings. What would happen to her here, waking up in a strange house? Maybe it would be better if she went to John and Rose’s after all. That thought wrenched her gut.
“You’re looking a little green.”
“Just thinking about moving to Florida for a while.”
Russ dished up the food and set a plate in front of her. “You don’t look like you want to go back.”
“Not really.”
“You don’t like it there?”
“It’s okay, but my aunt and uncle live in a retirement community, so it would have to be temporary.” Instead of obsessing about it, she sampled Russ’ food. Fluffy eggs melted in her mouth. She could get used to mornings if they all started like that. Not caring what Russ thought, she bent over and dug in.
Russ leaned against the counter with a plate in his hand. “Are you going to stay in town then?”
Ashley shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it yet.”
“You can stay here for a while. Things are slowing down on the farm.”
“I appreciate it, but that might not be the best idea.”
“Why not?”
“We don’t know each other.”
“I guess, but Tom knew you, and I trust him more than I trust myself. If you want to stay here, I can introduce you to the family. Show you more of the farm.”
The idea calmed her, but curiosity invaded her peace. “Why?”
“Like I said, it’s slow.” He took a bite of food then mumbled. “It’s nice having someone else in the house again.”
And it was nice being in a house with someone. No more meals for one. Someone to watch TV with. She had that when she visited Rose and John, but it wasn’t the same. Not only could she talk with Russ about things relevant to that century, but she’d get to know Tom’s best friend. Tom’s stories about Russ had impressed her, and so far, the person lived up to every expectation. “That’s tempting.”
He smiled at her.
Very tempting. “Can I ask a personal question?”
“Sure.”
“Did you pick up any weird habits after your dad died?”
Russ’ fork stopped moving. “My dad?”
The heat must have kicked on in the house because Ashley’s clothes felt stifling. “Tom said you and your dad were close and that he died unexpectedly. I was wondering if, well …”
“If I started sleepwalking.”
She nodded.
“I never had time to pick up any habits. Dad died, but there was a farm to run. We had the funeral, and I went back to work.”
A new heaviness weighed on Ashley’s heart. “That’s terrible.”
“Not really. I didn’t have a chance to get depressed.”
“But did you grieve?”
“In my own way, I guess.”
“I hope you had a chance to grieve. It’s so important.”
“I take it you took time off for that?”
“I’d just graduated from high school and didn’t have anything else to do. I was able to grieve as long as I needed, and no one rushed me.”
Russ grimaced. “That sounds depressing.”
“It was depressing until I moved on.” The wonderous freedom of that day flooded her spirit. Ashley smiled. “I remember the day I decided I’d had enough. I broke this hideous lamp in the living room. It was this wooden, midcentury statement piece, but it reminded me of the lamp from I Dream of Jeannie. My first thought was that I’d never find another one like it. I even spent a couple of hours looking for a replacement online before I realized I didn’t have to replace it. I could buy a lamp that I actually liked.
“I didn’t want to forget my parents, but I didn’t want to stay trapped in the past either. I love them, and I miss them, but they wouldn’t want me sitting alone in their house forever.” Which was exactly why she’d sold it and moved to Michigan to be with Tom.
Russ set down his plate and crossed his arms. “What did you do after your parents died?”
“I skipped college and used the insurance money to become a medical transcriptionist. I bought my own equipment, took correspondence classes, and never had to leave home.”
“And you’ve been doing that ever since?”
“It’s not a glamorous life, but it pays the bills.” As she said it, the sad reality of the statement nearly gagged her. Seventeen years of the same work in the same house. Regardless of what happened with Russ and the farmhouse, she couldn’t go back.
“What about your pictures?”
“What pictures?”
“All those photos you were taking. Why do you do that?”
“I needed to get out of the house. It’s nice working from home, but it’s lonely. For whatever reason, I felt like I needed an excuse to go out, so I picked up my camera, and I’ve been taking pictures ever since. It’s empowering when you capture a moment in history for all eternity.”
The corner of Russ’ mouth twitched. “I never thought of it like that. It’s a nice way to view the world.”
“I think so. You did a nice job of changing the subject, by the way, but you never answered my question. What about you changed after your dad died?”
Russ picked up his plate. “Nothing.”
She didn’t believe him but decided not to push the subject. After all, she wasn’t in a hurry to move back to Ohio. She had time to figure out Russ while she figured out her life.
CHAPTER 11
Sunlight filled the downtown building, spilling in through the windows along the front wall as Russ entered the lobby of Rob’s office and passed the empty reception desk to his right. The smallish pleather couch and armchairs, both in light shades of green that complemented the dark-green carpet, reminded him more of a doctor’s office than a lawyer’s. And a lawyer was what he needed right then.
“I need to figure this out. Fast,” Russ said as he grabbed one of Rob’s coffee mugs and helped himself. The heater kicked on, forcing warm
air into the suite as Russ turned around and carried his coffee across the hallway and into his friend’s office. “Ashley moved in and has no intention of leaving.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Rob dropped a brown, waxy bag on his ridiculous desk. Russ couldn’t remember the last time he’d visited his friend at work, but it hadn’t included the dining-room table pretending to be a desk.
Russ pointed at the bag. “I thought you were on a diet.”
“I am, but I get a cheat day.”
“How many have you had this week?”
“Instead of doing it all at once, I prefer to cheat a little each day.” Rob pulled a chocolate-covered doughnut out of the bag before passing it to Russ. “Kelly knows. It’s not me she’s worried about. Her mom’s spending more time at the house these days, and she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Kelly doesn’t want to tempt her, so I suffer.” Rob bit into his pastry and sighed. “I can’t remember the last time I had a doughnut.”
“Can we stay on topic, please?”
“Right. Ashley won’t move out. Legally that’s not a problem. You’re the squatter.”
“It’s my family’s farmhouse. I don’t care if Tom did have the legal right to will it away. I’m not letting a stranger take it. If we can’t find anything to keep it in the Russell family, then I’ll take her to court.” Saying the words nearly strangled Russ. The farm was doing well, but he’d invested a lot into transitioning from traditional apple trees to dwarfed roots, plus the farm equipment. Next spring the house would need a new roof and furnace if they survived that long. How much would legal fees cost?
Rob reached into the bag and handed Russ a fritter. “You look tense.”
“I’m trying to add up the cost, and I see my life fading from black to red.”
“If you go to court, I think you have a good case. Do you have any idea why Tom would leave the house to a stranger?”
Russ looked through the doorway into the lobby, straining to see the entrance. “Anything I say to you is confidential, right?”
“If you’re seeking legal counsel, yes.”
“Then let’s say I need counsel,” he said as he faced Rob. “Ashley is—was—Tom’s fiancée.”
“Wha—” Rob’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me?”
“I wish.”
“Why didn’t you say anything at the house?” Rob collapsed against his chair. “Wow. This clarifies a few things, but wow!”
“Tell me about it.” Russ bit into his fritter as his friend processed the situation.
“Obviously, your mom doesn’t know. What’s with the veil of secrecy?”
“I’m not doing it on purpose. I didn’t know about Ashley either.”
“How could you not know?”
“Tom didn’t tell anyone, not even me.” The sting of that betrayal rekindled when Russ admitted it. “Ashley showed up to marry Tom. Nobody knew about her, so no one told her about the accident.”
“Whoa.”
“Yeah.”
They ate in silence as the truth filtered through the air between them. Maybe Russ shouldn’t have shared Ashley’s story. A spot of guilt floated through his mind, but he squashed it. He needed help, and the one person he trusted as much as Tom was Rob. Plus, that whole lawyer-confidentiality thing had to count for something.
Bells tinkled as the front door opened. “Hello?”
Every nerve in Russ’ body sprang to life. “Ashley?”
Rob’s eyes lit up as he straightened his tie. “Come on in!” He made his way around the desk, slapping Russ’ shoulder as he walked past. Russ’ body wouldn’t move. “Ashley, it’s good to see you again,” Rob said. “What brings you here?”
“I hope I’m not bothering you, but I wasn’t sure who else to talk to. Do you have a few minutes? I might need to hire you.”
“I don’t have an appointment until this afternoon. Why don’t we step into my office?”
Russ jumped out of his chair, desperate for an escape, but the only way out was through the lobby.
Ashley stepped through the doorway, her eyes on the floor. When she looked up, she froze. Her gaze locked with Russ’ as her mouth opened, then closed. Rob stepped in behind her, escorting her to Russ’ chair. Her gaze never left his.
Of all places. “Good morning, Ashley.”
“Uh, hi. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I can come back later.”
“Nonsense,” Rob said. “Having you both here will give us a chance to talk about your situation. Let me get you some coffee.”
Russ sat in the chair beside her. She’d piled her hair on top of her head in a messy knot like his sisters wore, but everything else was perfectly put together—a pale-green sweater that brightened her eyes, jeans that fit in the best possible way, and a dab of pink on her cheeks. Regardless of whether she or the wind had done that, it suited her.
“I’m not sure what to say.” She twisted her fingers. “I think I’ve reached my limit for shocking situations this month.”
“Yeah, me too.” He checked his watch. “It’s nine a.m. and you’re a functioning adult.”
She gave a soft laugh as she relaxed into the chair.
Rob returned with a steaming mug. Before he set it down, Russ went to the kitchenette to fetch the cream. On his way back to the office, he bumped into Rob in the hallway. Rob raised an eyebrow.
“What?” Russ asked. “She’s been at my house a couple of days. I know how she likes her coffee.”
“How attentive of you.” Rob escorted him back to the office. “Ashley, what can I do for you?”
Russ handed her the creamer. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled. Did Tom know that about her?
“I’m trying to figure out how to explain this,” she said.
“The engagement, you mean?”
The world stopped spinning. Air ceased circulating. Only Russ’ heart moved, beating a violent rhythm of disbelief and shock. “Rob!”
Ashley gasped. “Russ! Why did you tell him?”
“Because I needed advice. Isn’t that why you’re here?”
She snapped her jaw shut.
Rob chuckled. “Your secret’s safe with me. I wouldn’t have brought it up like that, but you’re both here for the same reason. We can avoid each other and be secretive about this, or we can get it out in the open and work through this together. Now, Ashley, what did you want to talk about?”
“I, um …” She set her coffee on the table. “I can’t take the house.”
“Legally it’s yours, so you can do whatever you want with it.”
Russ’ gut wrenched.
“No, I can’t. That house belongs to the Russell family. I can’t take it from them.”
“Thank you.” Russ hadn’t meant to say that out loud, but now that it was out there, he was glad he’d said it.
“You’re welcome. Tom told me about Fourth of July picnics and Christmases there.” Her face brightened. “I wanted to be a part of that, not end it. So, Rob, what are my options?”
“You can give the house back to the family.”
“I would if I could, but”—she shifted in the chair, dropping her gaze—“I don’t have any place else to go.”
“She sold her house in Ohio,” Russ said.
Rob scribbled on a notepad. “How much did you make on the sale?”
Ashley looked up, shifting her gaze between the two of them. “Enough to pay off my aunt and uncle’s mortgage. Tom encouraged me to do it. When he asked me to marry him and move up here, we saw it as a chance to bless them.”
“How much do you have left?”
“I invested some of the money and upgraded my camera and computer for my photography internship. I have a few thousand, but I also need a car. Mine died a few weeks ago, and Tom said he’d help me find a suitable vehicle for Michigan winters.” She shook her head. “The internship is part time and doesn’t start until after the New Year. I can keep doing the transcriptionist work, but I don’t think it will be enough to cover rent and a car payment.”<
br />
Russ considered the new information. She’d given up everything and gained nothing. If he took her to court for the house, she’d lose any bit of savings she had left. He wouldn’t do that to her.
“You could sell the house back to the Russells.”
Russ groaned.
His friend crossed his arms. “Care to elaborate on your enthusiastic response?”
Russ glared at him. “Who’s she going to sell it to? I don’t have that kind of money. Liz, Carrie, and Rachel have their own homes, and none of them make enough to take on a second mortgage. Mom’s retired. There’s no way I’m mentioning this to Tom’s parents. They’ve been through enough.”
“You can’t afford to buy it, and I can’t afford to give it away.” Ashley sighed as she reached for her coffee.
“Even if you could, I wouldn’t let you.”
She stopped with the mug halfway to her mouth. “Excuse me?”
“Gentleman’s honor. About a month after Dad died, Uncle Bill—Tom’s dad—seriously considered selling the farm. He said it was too hard running it himself, but Tom and I talked him out of it. It took about a year before Bill told us how glad he was we convinced him not to sell. After that, Tom and I made a pact. If anything ever happened to one of us, we’d wait twelve months before doing anything with the house or farm. That’s what Tom would want, so I’m holding you to it.”
“You can’t tell me—”
“What Tom would have wanted?”
Ashley flinched.
Too late. Now that he’d opened the valve, Russ’ thoughts wouldn’t be denied. She may have been engaged to Tom, but Russ grew up with him. “This is what he’d want you to do. He may not have told me about you, but he and I talked about everything else, including this type of situation. We lived through my grandpa’s and my dad’s deaths, so we knew how hard it would be. This is what he’d do if I—” But Russ couldn’t say it. Didn’t want to think about it.
A drawer scraped open. Rob handed Ashley a tissue. As she dabbed her eyes, Russ kicked himself. What kind of man didn’t notice a beautiful woman’s tears?
She crumpled the tissue. “You’re right. Tom and I didn’t talk about this, but he talked about you. All the time. If this is what you think Tom would want, then I want to honor it. I’ll wait.”