by Gayle Hayes
In the spring of 1982, Frances wrote to Phyllis, Carole, and Harold to tell them she had been enjoying the weather in Arizona but was afraid John and Lynn needed a break from her. She wanted to visit her Montana friends before she returned to New York. There were letters from all three friends encouraging her to come and suggesting local concerts and plays she might enjoy while in Buffalo Jump.
Along with the cruel note Frances wrote to Harold announcing Emma was his, Emma possessed signed proof John Favager had falsified her birth certificate. Phyllis had already confided that Frances told her Harold was responsible for her pregnancy, and she planned to have an abortion. Emma would be able to produce a live witness and signed statements verifying her birth. She made copies of the most important letters and put the copies and originals in the safe. Then she looked through the photos in the bottom of the box. She selected photos showing Frances with her three friends in Buffalo Jump and also with John, Lynn, and Emma after her birth and set them in the safe as well. Emma was surprised to find a photo of her at the funeral for John and Lynn. Then she realized Frances must have attended and taken the photo without Emma knowing who she was. Emma was relieved. She hoped there would be enough time for her to complete an inventory of her father's assets before returning to Denver. Then she could begin paying bills and settling the estate.
Thursday evening Emma showed Phyllis what she found in her father's office and asked her to go to the Sun River County Clerk of Court on Friday. On the way, Emma picked up a dozen certificates of her father's death. She would need only one for the Clerk of Court, but she would need the others for his bank, insurance company, social security office and investment advisor as well as others. Wanda Merrifield had been Clerk of Court for several years and knew Harold Lowe well. She read through his will and codicil. Then Emma showed her the letter her father had signed the morning of his death. Emma hoped it would not be necessary to show anyone except Phyllis the letters she found in the box from Marilyn Tucker. She was relieved when Wanda Merrifield agreed the will and codicil were valid. Wanda asked one of her deputy clerks to give Emma several certified copies of the letters testamentary proving she had the authority to settle Harold's estate. Emma would need to present a letter authorizing her as executrix, along with a death certificate, to each agency or firm where her father had an account.
Once she was back in her father's office, Emma began going through other items in his Personal box in the safe. She found a spreadsheet showing his various investments and their value as of the previous month when he made the last entry. After doing a rough calculation of his financial worth, she was stunned to find it was almost the same as Frances' estimated worth. Emma found a file drawer devoted to business matters and removed a folder with spreadsheets from her father's accountant. She understood then why his net worth was less than it should have been. In addition to pro bono work and other cases charged at a reduced rate or written off, her father had contributed heavily to various charities.
Emma remembered it was Friday. She was unlikely to find people in their offices late in the afternoon, so she stopped trying after a few calls and devoted the remainder of the day to making a list of names, phone numbers, and addresses to contact once she was back in Denver. The accountant had already taken an inventory of the depreciable items in her father's office, so she made her own inventory of the office and took photos with her phone. She would do the same thing at her father's home on Saturday. Her flight back to Denver would leave early on Sunday morning.
Although she knew there was too much to be done in the short time she had left, Emma decided to get a burger at Billy's Balsamroot Café and return to the office to work. The waitress wrapped the burger in foil so it would stay hot and travel well. Emma enjoyed the burger and nibbled on French fries while familiarizing herself with the files in her father's office.
Emma was typing a Notice to Creditors when she was distracted by headlights in the window on the door. She was glad to see Deputy Knudsen.
"I saw the light in your father's office and thought I better check it out," the deputy said.
"Come in. Thank you for doing that. I'm burning the midnight oil trying to get as much done as I can before I leave on Sunday," Emma said.
"Have you thought any more about staying?" Deputy Knudsen asked.
Emma gestured towards the interior of the office. "There's too much to think about here to start rethinking my future."
"Have you thought about extending your vacation? This might be easier if you were actually here," the deputy said.
"Some of my cases are going to trial in Denver. It's just too hard to take a lot of time off at once in my line of work. It would be easier, though. I might have to fly up on a long weekend here and there."
Deputy Knudsen brightened. He handed her one of his cards. "If you think of anything I can do, please let me know. I have plenty of time on my hands when I'm not working."
"I'll probably take you up on that. I don't want to burden Phyllis and Carole with everything. They've been so good to me. And they were very dear friends of my father."
"Well, I guess I better get back on the beat," the deputy said.
"Thanks for stopping. Be careful out there."
Deputy Knudsen went out the door, and Emma went back to work at the desk. Then the deputy turned around and knocked on the glass.
"Did you forget something?" she asked.
"I was wondering if you're busy for dinner tomorrow," he said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Emma borrowed Phyllis' bicycle and placed her computer bag in the basket. Within a few minutes, she was at her father's house. She opened the front gate, parked the bicycle near the porch, and unlocked the door. There was something strangely comforting about the squeak. She opened a few windows to bring in some fresh air and enjoyed the repartee of the chickadees. There was a definite pattern to their conversation. She could identify the notes of at least four different birds. They sang in minor keys with the answering bird an octave higher than the first. Their songs were pitch perfect. Even though they were in trees some distance from the house, the song notes were intense and easily pierced the silence of the house. Emma imagined the chickadees missed her father and welcomed her in his absence.
After booting her laptop, Emma opened the spreadsheet she had created to take inventory of her father's belongings as part of the probate process. She denied a strong impulse to visit the garden, knowing she had only one day to accomplish everything. Then she began methodically listing the furnishings in each room. This was the first time she noticed a photo of her father and an older woman. They resembled each other. Emma wondered if the woman would have been her grandmother, Eloise. She guessed her father would have been in his thirties, slightly older than she.
Emma noted serial numbers where she could find them. She set her laptop on a cabinet in the library while searching for a serial number on the television. Then she discovered the mahogany cabinet was actually a vintage console record player. The top opened to reveal the turntable and controls. The speakers were housed in the bottom of the cabinet behind mesh fabric. A matching cabinet with sliding doors on the front held a record collection. She found 78 RPM records by Kay Starr, Gogi Grant, Perry Como, Doris Day, Andy Williams, Patti Page, Vic Damone, Jerry Vale, and Nelson Riddle, among others. She chose the album, In Person, by Tony Bennett. The dated record player still worked, and the albums had been well preserved. Bennett's album was released in 1959, twenty-three years before Emma was born, but the music was classic. As she typed her inventory into the laptop, it occurred to her that typewriters might have been replaced with word processors, but no one had replaced Tony Bennett. His style and sound were still unique, and the words and melodies touched her heart as she swayed to Just in Time, Taking a Chance on Love, and Fascinating Rhythm.
By noon, Emma had inventoried the living room, library, and bedroom. She had been looking forward to enjoying her lunch in the garden. She discovered her father did not keep too m
any groceries on hand, which was probably just as well under the circumstances. She did find cheddar cheese and bread along with some mixed vegetables that were still fresh. She made a sandwich, placed celery and carrots on the same plate, and allowed herself a soft drink as her reward for staying focused all morning. Then she carried the lunch to the garden, got comfortable in a lawn chair, and took a deep breath.
Her father's garden was so much nicer than the sterile view from the balcony outside her apartment in Denver. She wondered how she would feel returning there after enjoying this setting so much. Emma used the video feature on her cell phone to record the sight and sounds of Buffalo Creek and the chickadees so she could play it back once she was miles away. Then she reluctantly went inside and finished the inventory of the kitchen.
Emma checked her father's mailbox at home, tossed the mail into the basket on the bicycle, and headed back to the inn. She thanked Phyllis for the bicycle. Phyllis was disappointed that Emma would not be available for a going-away dinner that evening. Instead, they planned to get together with Carole for an early breakfast on Sunday.
After a shower, Emma dressed in the same lime green dress with spaghetti straps she wore for her father's birthday party. She wore only foundation, blush, mascara, and a little lip gloss. She did not want the deputy to get the impression she had fussed about her appearance. She definitely was interested in him, but she did not want to be too obvious about it. Lisa Alexander called her room to let her know Deputy Knudsen was in the lobby. Emma did her best to conceal the excitement she felt.
Eric Knudsen looked very different than he did in uniform. He was wearing a pale blue short sleeve shirt, navy chinos, and slip-on shoes. He looked more relaxed. His smile betrayed his pleasure in seeing Emma in a dress.
"You look great. I thought we'd drive to Great Falls. There's a nice riverboat restaurant there," he said.
"My father took me there. I was hoping I'd have a chance to go back," Emma said.
They walked to a black Volkswagen GTI. Eric opened Emma's door and went around to the other side. He'd been listening to a duet by Elvis Costello and Tony Bennett. Emma wondered if the music was some kind of omen for their relationship. Eric started to turn off the music and Emma stopped him.
"I like it," she said.
They listened to They Can't Take That Away From Me as Eric drove out of Buffalo Jump and took the on-ramp for I-15.
Eric had made reservations for six o'clock to give them a little time in the lounge before dinner. He ordered a gin and tonic for Emma and bourbon and water for himself.
"Do you have other family in Denver?" he asked.
"No. Just a few friends. I'm sure they'll be shocked to know I'm thinking about moving to Montana," Emma said.
"I know what you mean. I came to Great Falls for a buddy's wedding and decided to stay," Eric said.
"Where are you from originally?" Emma asked.
"A little town, or it was little, in California. I was born in Santa Maria, but it's changed a lot. Montana cities are still old-fashioned small towns," Eric said.
"Have you always been a cop?"
"Pretty much. I was a barista while I worked my way through school, but it's not my idea of a career choice. Have you always been a lawyer?" Eric asked.
"Actually, I wanted to be a barista, but I couldn't handle the stress." Emma laughed.
"You have a nice laugh. And a nice smile. You should smile more often," Eric said.
"You know, you're right. I used to smile and laugh a lot before I made a career out of other people's divorces. I just haven't decided whether to change jobs in Denver or move here," Emma said.
Eric was about to comment when the pager lit up. They carried their drinks to the table and ordered the special--sirloin steak medium well with baked potato and salad with ranch dressing on the side. They laughed about it, but Eric hoped it was the first of many things they would find in common. Emma wished she had ordered something else. She knew she had blushed when he ordered "what she's having." Would he have ordered the steak anyway, or was he flirting with her?
Emma let Eric do most of the talking while they ate. He reminisced about weekends at Pismo Beach. She was surprised he was afraid of girls as a teenager. Emma had been to the beach only once in Oregon and always hoped to go again. Then they realized both worked in pizzerias during high school.
After dinner, Eric suggested they listen to the jazz quartet in the lounge. They both ordered Black Russians. By this time Emma was more comfortable and enjoying the fact they had so many things in common. They were sitting in a booth listening to the music. She liked that Eric rested his right arm on the back of the booth behind her. The sax player introduced Prisoner of Love. Eric asked Emma to dance.
Emma did not realize how fit Eric was until she rested her left hand on his shoulder. The muscles in his upper back were well developed. He pulled her close to him and touched her cheek with his. He moved easily around the dance floor.
They danced to two more songs before Emma suggested they leave. As much as she was enjoying Eric, she would need to request an early wake up call to allow time to pack, eat breakfast with Phyllis and Carole, and go through security at the airport.
Eric walked with Emma as far as the front door to the inn. No one was around except for the overnight desk clerk.
"I really enjoyed myself. Thank you," Emma said.
"Me, too. I hope we can do this again."
Then he took her in his arms and kissed her.
"I hope you have a good trip, Emma," he said.
"I will. Good night."
Emma seemed to float through the lobby. She'd been undecided about returning to Buffalo Jump, but the evening with Eric gave her a push in that direction.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Emma was startled by the phone ringing. Phyllis was at the registration desk to bid her a good morning.
"Time to wake up, sleeping beauty," Phyllis laughed.
"Um, thanks, Phyllis, see you in about an hour," Emma said.
Emma could hear the birds outside the sitting room even though the one door to the garden was closed. The sun struggled to burn through the clouds. The creek had slowed even more and was soothing now as it tumbled over rocks instead of rushing over the top of them. Emma showered and dressed in her jeans, a loose-fitting top the color of ripe watermelon, and her sneakers. She packed the last-minute items in her case, including her father's suit coat. Then she zipped and locked it. She had considered leaving the scrimshaw in her father's safe, but she decided to take it with her. She was curious about its real value and thought she would be more likely to get an accurate appraisal in Denver. She tucked the note from Frances into her purse so she would remember to make a copy of it once she was home. Before she headed toward the lobby, she glanced around the room. She remembered the first day in Buffalo Jump when Phyllis told her about Jeannette Rankin. It seemed like a very long time ago.
Phyllis had decorated their breakfast table with red, yellow, and white roses from the garden. She and Carole gave Emma a small gift wrapped in pale yellow paper with multi-colored butterflies and a lavender bow. Phyllis and Carole had framed the photo of the four of them as they enjoyed the cruise at the Gates of the Mountains earlier on the Sunday when Harold died. They told her she could open the gift when she was back in Denver. Phyllis wanted her to open it in their presence, but Carol objected, saying she was sure Emma would cry, and it would spoil their breakfast and be a sad beginning to Emma's long travel day. Emma's curiosity was piqued, but she promised to wait until she was back in Denver to open the gift.
The three friends enjoyed scrambled eggs with bits of bacon, green pepper, and cheddar cheese and freshly-baked cinnamon rolls. Emma could tell Phyllis and Carole were anxious to know about the date with Eric, but she was glad they did not ask. She wanted to tell them she was almost certain she would be returning to stay, but she knew it was too soon. Once she was back in Denver, in her old apartment, and with her friends at the law firm, Emma mig
ht feel differently. Then there was Eric. She did not want him to hear Emma was swept off her feet the night before, even if it was true.
Emma insisted Phyllis and Carole drop her at the curb at the airport. She told them how much she appreciated her time with them and their friendship with her father. She thanked them for offering to check on her father's house and office until she returned. After hugs and promises to keep in touch, they went in opposite directions, each one wiping tears away.
Emma got comfortable near the concourse she would use to board her flight. She relaxed. Everything went smoothly that morning. She enjoyed her breakfast with Phyllis and Carole. She was at the airport in plenty of time to catch her flight back to Denver. Her car would be waiting at the Denver airport. She would get a good night's sleep, and tomorrow she would be back at work. Even though she was weary of divorces, she did enjoy legal work and her co-workers.
Emma thought about leaving her office for life in Buffalo Jump. She had always been somewhat of an introvert, but she still enjoyed having people around, listening to their weekend escapades on Monday morning, and having others to bounce ideas off of on occasion. As the lone attorney in her father's office, she would be entirely on her own without backup in an emergency and without the advantage of a variety of legal opinions. Life in Buffalo Jump was an unknown quantity. She wondered if she was courageous enough to leave her comfort zone for it. Enjoying a place while on vacation when one is free of care is one thing, but actually living the day-to-day is another. For now, she had things under control in Buffalo Jump. She would have time to be sure her next move would not leave her with regrets. Even though she felt indecisive at the moment, she enjoyed having a choice. The inheritance from Frances and her father gave her the option of leaving her current position. If she could have changed anything, she would bring her father back. If he were still alive, her decision to move to Buffalo Jump would be much easier.