“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do!” She was more than ready to leave, but first it was time to finish wiping the pompous smirk from his face. “But like I said, Hidden Hills is mine, and I’m keeping it.”
“There’s a contract…”
“But I can, and will, turn down any offer.”
“You’re talking lunacy. There’s no guarantee they’ll find gas or oil. Do you honestly think you can pay off the debt with what you get from leasing the mineral rights?”
“Of course not,” she said. “So I’ve decided to turn it into a resort.”
Anger, making his face glow a dark crimson against his white hair, was no surprise. She’d been the cause of it countless times, but she was a little dismayed when his forehead splotched, and the veins in his neck popped like a frog on a lily pad. The thought of him stroking had never crossed her mind.
“It takes capital!” he hissed, actually shaking. “The world is full of get-rich schemes not even warranting a line of credit. You might as well get it out of your head, missy.”
His attitude hadn’t changed one bit since he’d learned of her plans to open a beauty salon. But this time, it didn’t matter. With God’s help, she’d faced the fears of raising her girls alone, and now, with the additional help of Jake and his friends, her biggest liability had a chance to become her most valuable asset.
Having finished all she’d come to do, Charlotte crossed to the door, then stopped. “You know, Judge, it seems as if everything you’ve tried to do to me was meant for evil, but God’s used it for good. I’m sorry you hate me so much.”
“Mitch should never have married you,” he said, seething. “My boy was going places!”
She was a gnat’s hair from unloading her full contempt for him, when a strange calmness descended on her shoulders like a cooling blanket. In an instant, she saw the judge, not as the greedy, corrupt man she knew him to be, but as a lost sinner who’d gone through the agony of losing a son without God’s strength to lean on. For the first time in her life, she felt compassion for the man.
“Mitch went to the best place of all. He’s in heaven.”
“How do you know?”
“Because we discussed our faith before we married. Mitch told me he’d given his heart to the Lord when he was a junior in college.”
The judge squirmed. “About the time he started talking his silly nonsense about saving those kids.”
Tom McGregor needed someone to witness to him, but he hadn’t listened to Mitch so there was no way he’d listen to her, not even if he was standing at hell’s gate. She’d made it to the end of the hallway when she felt a light touch on her arm.
“Mitch would have been proud of you in there,” Ellen said, glancing back toward the den. “He never had the courage to confront his father, but I sensed he wanted to many times.”
Charlotte blinked. Not in her wildest dreams had she ever expected an ally in Mitch’s mother. “Thank you?”
Ellen laughed. “I’ve never wanted anything to do with the house — mercy me, I grew up there. All of those floors! To this day I won’t touch a mop!”
“Mitch said his grandpa was tough, but fair.”
“Sure,” she agreed. “If you were a boy. With me he was just tough… Charlotte, I want you to know your money will go into college funds for the girls.”
Charlotte had a new respect for the woman. Living with a man like the judge had to be difficult.
“You know,” Ellen continued when they reached the door, “I used to go to church when our boys were little. Maybe it’s time I got started back. And who knows, if Tom gets tired of being alone, he might even go with me.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Charlotte scanned the appointment log for the third time, trying to squeeze another perm in before the holidays. Norma had been able to fit Annabelle Jones in for a quick cut, but the following week was already booked solid. “Where has the time gone?”
Annabelle laughed. “You think it’s flying now, just wait until you’re my age.”
“It’s just nerves talking.” Norma never missed a snip with her trusty scissors on Annabelle’s brown locks. “Jake has invited Charlotte to his folks’ for Thanksgiving dinner, and she’s terrified of meeting the family.”
Charlotte couldn’t deny it. Her first meeting with Mitch’s family had been a total disaster, and in the back of her mind lurked the fear Jake’s family wouldn’t like her either.
“They’re good people,” Annabelle said. “You’ll fit in.”
Norma chuckled, measuring the length of the woman’s bangs. “Yeah, but it’s different when you’re on parade as the future daughter-in-law.”
Annabelle squealed, springing from the chair. “He proposed? Fantastic! Have you set the date? And a shower — we have to plan a shower.”
Charlotte’s mouth flew open. “No, it’s…“
“It’s about time, is what it is. These two have been dancing around each other since the middle of summer,” Norma added, ignoring Charlotte’s protest. “Seeing them together every Sunday — if we didn’t know better, I’d say they were already married.”
“Now, it’s not what you think!” Charlotte insisted, a bit too vehemently for her own good. “We’re together because…“
“Tell me you’re not sleeping with him.” Annabelle appeared more than a little upset at the possibility.
“Of course she’s not,” Norma replied. “Are you?”
“No!” Charlotte wasn’t sure how she’d gone from a blushing bride to a floozy in less than a minute. “He hasn’t asked — I mean, actually he did ask, but…“
“Explain yourself, young lady. Just what’s he up to?”
“He asked me to marry him, but he wasn’t serious.”
“How do you know he wasn’t serious?”
“I just know, okay?” Charlotte wished she’d kept her mouth shut. Other than Jake, the two women in front of her were her closest friends. But she couldn’t explain what she didn’t know.
Norma wasn’t having it. “Neither of you have looked at another soul since you met. Don’t wait for a man to lay his heart out. Look at how he treats you, how he makes you feel. There’s more to love than fancy words. Why do you think he’s worked so hard to turn your house into a legitimate business?”
“Because it’s…“
“I’ll tell you why.” Norma persisted, determined to make her point. “He’s head-over-heels in love — that’s why! Now, what’s your problem?”
“It’s not like we’re being buttinskis,” Annabelle added, softening the tone with her voice of reason. “We’re just concerned.”
“Speak for yourself,” Norma continued. “The guy’s a catch, and she needs to reel him in.”
“Maybe so, but it’s her decision. Just make sure you love him.”
Norma wasn’t to be deterred. “Charlotte, honey, I’ve seen men crawl into liquor bottles after losing their wives, but not Jake. They say his Bible and God’s strength are what pulled him through. You’ve got a good man there. Don’t let him get away.”
The difference in Norma’s outlook since accepting Jesus as her Savior last month was amazing. Her boss’s conversion made her realize it was time to move her church home to Cherry Road. Her relationship with Jake, and where it was going, had been the holdup. Since giving her problem to the Lord, she knew the peace of having a church home.
Glancing at the street, she saw the blinker flash on Jake’s truck and ran for the door. “I’ll make a deal with you. If he gets around to asking, and it’s a big if, we’ll make sure the kids get to spend our entire honeymoon with the two of you.”
“No way!” Norma cried. “Your bunch may look angelic sitting in a church pew, but we know what they’re capable of.”
****
Jake pulled into the parking lot of the Beauty Boutique just as Charlotte came out the door laughing. It was the welcome he’d needed to brighten his day.
“Thanks fo
r giving me a ride.” Sliding into the seat beside him, she fastened her seatbelt and waved at the staring faces in the shop’s window. “Bill ordered a fuel pump for my car, but it won’t be here until tomorrow around noon.”
“No problem.” He inhaled the clean, sweet smell of honeysuckle. She always smelled fresh and clean, regardless of what she was doing.
“If it’s not too much of a bother, can I get a ride to Milner’s in the morning?”
“No problem,” he repeated, concentrating on pulling into traffic before glancing her way again.
Charlotte changed radio stations until the soothing sounds of violins filled the air. “You sure are agreeable today. What gives?”
“I’m always agreeable. You just haven’t noticed.”
She rattled on non-stop about the problems with her car, not once realizing he’d been waiting for just such an opportunity. The traffic was light when they entered Broad Street, headed toward Birch. Up ahead, past the video store, the Silver Spur’s parking lot began to fill with hungry patrons. This time Jake wasn’t worried about standing in line. He’d called, right after Charlotte had asked for a ride home, and had booked a corner table.
“Why are we stopping here?”
“As of right now, you’re kidnapped.”
“Like someone would pay a ransom for me?”
“I would.”
Charlotte laughed. “But you’re my kidnapper.”
“I suppose I’ll have to release you after dinner, won’t I?” The truck barely squeezed into the parking spot. “Besides, the kids would miss you.”
“Works for me.” She flipped the visor down to inspect her makeup in the mirror. For a woman straight out of the beauty shop, she was wasting valuable time trying to improve perfection. “Speaking of kids, are they meeting us here?”
He killed the switch and relaxed his arm on the steering wheel. “I’ve taken care of our little problem.”
She replaced the lip gloss in her purse, and reached for the door. “I hope Kimmie remembers to wash their faces before bringing them.”
Jake rested his free hand on the back of her neck. “Charlotte, I didn’t kidnap the whole bunch — just you.” He had to fight the urge to take her in his arms when a slow grin tilted the corners of her pink lips. Her eyes glowed.
“You mean, this is like a real date?”
He nodded, trying to keep a straight face. “If doubling Kimmie’s price and having six extra-large pizzas delivered, so I could be alone with you…“
“Six?”
“Oh yeah.” He nodded. “They drove a hard bargain.”
She toyed with the door handle. A slight blush tinted her smooth skin. “You must want to be alone with me.”
Jake lifted her chin with a gentle touch, forcing her to look into his eyes. “You have no idea,” he said, before tasting the lips he’d been longing for. Her response was exactly what he’d hoped for, considering the truck was in the parking lot of the busiest restaurant in town.
A loud slap on the hood followed by “Atta-boy!” interrupted the kiss. Of all people, it was Ralph and Shelby who’d been witness to his lack of control. “Don’t worry, we’re meeting clients, so we can’t intrude on your evening.”
He waved his eternal gratitude. It was his first chance to be alone with Charlotte, and he intended to make the most of it. The vibrating phone in his pocket proved to be another interruption, but glancing at the number, he knew it had to be answered.
“What’s up, Kimmie? Out of pizzas already?”
“There’s marshmallows, and fire, and the curtains. Andy’s burned and — you gotta come home!”
Jake froze at the panic in her voice. She sounded like gibberish, talking a mile a minute. Fear gripped his heart when he heard smoke detectors in the background.
“Kimmie, slow down — I can’t understand you.”
“Just. Come. Home!”
“Kimmie!”
The phone died.
“What’s wrong?” Charlotte refastened her seatbelt when he put the truck in gear and spun out of the parking lot.
“I’m not sure, but I have a feeling it’s not good.”
“Do I hear sirens?”
He lowered the windows, and realized the sound was up ahead. The truck shot forward, running stop signs as if they weren’t there.
Charlotte’s eyes widened in panic. “It’s a fire truck. Oh, no! Kimmie’s call?”
“Now don’t panic.” The nerves in the back of his neck were ready to snap. “It may be nothing.”
“Nothing? You don’t call the fire department for nothing!”
Kimmie’s frantic cry of ”Andy’s burned” had pierced his heart. Thinking of his baby in pain was too much to bear. The restaurant wasn’t more than a mile from home, but it seemed to take forever to get there. He could hear Charlotte’s prayers before they ever reached Robins Lane.
The fire engine parked in front of her house with the lights flashing confirmed his worst fears. Why had he thought they could have a night alone without a disaster happening?
He whipped into his drive and saw the firemen returning to their truck, rolling the hoses as they went. A strong stench of smoke hung in the air, but the only damage to her house appeared to be the kitchen window. The Borden sisters, from down the street, were standing on the curb watching the children, while a paramedic wrapped Andy’s hand in white gauze. Relief soared in his heart when he did a quick head count and everyone was there.
“Oh, thank God!” Charlotte offered a prayer of praise and then was surrounded by kids the moment the passenger door opened, everyone telling a different version of what had happened as she lifted Andy from Jeremy’s arms, wiping his tears away. ”You poor baby!”
“Is everybody okay?” Jake tried to hug everyone at the same time, including Kimmie. He shook like a leaf but couldn’t stop.
“I’m so sorry, sir,” she said. “The paramedic said Andy’s fingers aren’t bad — but, it shouldn’t have happened.”
With Andy in his arms, he checked the bandaged hand and glanced around for Jeremy and Bruce. He found them climbing like monkeys on top of the fire truck, as if nothing had happened. Their fears from the fire, replaced momentarily by the resiliency of youth, would probably return in the form of nightmares.
“Sitting with boys should be the same as watching girls,” Kimmie said, babbling from nervousness. “I had no idea they would do something like this.”
Jake froze. “What happened?”
“They caught the curtains on fire!”
What was he thinking, asking this skinny, little, sixteen-year-old girl to control his boys, when it was a constant battle for himself. This was by far the worst thing they’d ever done, and he’d had enough.
“Get over here — now!”
“Aw, Dad.” Bruce dropped to the ground. “The fireman said we could check out the fire engine. We even get to wear their hats.”
“You boys are in big trouble.”
Jeremy frowned. “But the chief said we could…”
“Forget about the truck! I want to know what happened here today.”
Kimmie stepped between the boys, her hands on their shoulders. “They didn’t do it. It was my fault.”
Jake pinned her with his gaze. “You wouldn’t lie for them, would you?”
“No, sir. But it wasn’t them. We were watching a movie when Maggie and Andy left the room — I didn’t even know they were gone.”
“The fire — Kimmie! Who started the fire?”
“Andy.”
Jake blinked. “Andy?”
“Yes, sir. He and Maggie.”
“Were they playing with matches?”
“No, sir. They were stuffing marshmallows in the toaster, and when the flames started, Maggie said she threw a towel over it. It must have started smoking again, because she threw it into the sink and missed.”
“Ms. McGregor?” The fire chief walked up behind them. “There’s some smoke damage in the kitchen, but other than the cu
rtains and the window, everything appears to be okay.”
Charlotte held onto her girls. “Thank you. Those lace curtains came from the thrift store, so it’s no great loss.”
“Lace, huh?” The fireman walked away. “No wonder they burned so fast.”
“Maggie.” Jake lifted her with his free arm so he’d have the full attention of both kids involved. He hugged them close. “Want to tell me what happened?”
“No, sir.” Maggie shook her head, red curls flying. “Are you mad, Mr. Jake?”
He walked away from the others in hopes of getting the truth without an audience. “I’m not mad. Your mom and I just want to make sure it doesn’t happen again. You could have been hurt bad. Do you understand?”
Andy held up his bandaged hand. “Hurts!”
“I know,” he agreed. “Marshmallows catch fire when they get too hot. Did you see the fire?”
“Uh-huh, marshmallows burn big!” Maggie’s head bobbed. “There was fire, and I throwed the toaster in the sink, but it hit the window, and the window busted. And there was more fire, and Andy cried, but I didn’t cry — ‘cause I’m big. Then the fire truck come and…”
“You were a brave girl, throwing the toaster in the sink,” he said. “Did you get burned?”
The little arms circled his neck again in a tight hug, her body trembling against his chest. “Not me, but Andy did ‘cause he’s little.”
Jeremy asked to take Andy over to see the fire truck, but Jake held on to Maggie until her heart rate calmed. It wasn’t the evening he’d planned, but at least they were together, and the kids were safe. Six pizzas should feed everyone. But first, they had to call Mrs. Wilson and see about getting rid of the smoke damage and replacing the window.
****
Less than a week later, the house was back to normal. Charlotte couldn’t say the same for herself. The fire had been small, but she kept thinking it could have happened at the other house. The outcome would have been a lot worse.
Hidden Hills Page 20