Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained

by Roseanne Dowell

  “Yeah, she’s really good with dogs. You should have seen how she handled Bruno.”

  “Okay. Call me when lunch is ready.” Ed kissed Bea’s cheek and went upstairs, leaving Bea to her baking.

  ***

  Delores turned the door knob. Locked. She went around to the front and tried it. Locked. Maybe the garage. She tried the door. Locked and she didn’t know the code. She tried Mavis’s birthday and that didn’t work, tried their wedding anniversary with the same result. Too bad she couldn’t remember Harry’s birthday. Seemed to her it was either April or May but darned if she could recall the date. So much for that idea. What were the chances a window was unlocked? She started around the house, looking at each one. No luck until she came to the kitchen. Problem was, how was she going to climb up that high, not to mention climb inside? If she was taller, she probably could have managed it. She had two choices, go back next door and wait for Mavis to come home, or try to climb in.

  She looked around for something, anything to stand on. There had to be something, a brick, anything to give her more height. Ah, an old plastic milk crate on top of an old flower pot. That might just do it. Delores stepped on it, careful not to tip it, and hoping not to fall through. She stood half in the center and half on the edge, reached up, and opened the window. Thank goodness it slid up easy. Pulling herself up on the ledge, she said a quick prayer she had the strength to pull herself inside. It wasn’t as easy as she thought. Halfway there. Just a bit more and she’d be in. Half in, half out, she stopped for a breath.

  A voice came from below. “Mother, what are you doing?”

  Delores looked at her daughter, feeling with her feet for the carton, and slid down. “Trying to get in. The door’s locked. You forgot to give me the key and the code for the garage door.”

  Mavis looked horrified. “You were actually going to climb in the window?”

  “I wasn’t hanging there for my health.”

  “Where did you go that you’re outside?”

  “What? I’m not allowed outside? I went for a walk. How did I know the door locked behind me?”

  “Oh, for heaven sake, Mother. Of course, you’re allowed to go out, but climbing in a window, honestly. You couldn’t wait for me?”

  “No, I was getting cold. How did I know when you’d get home? I could have been out here for an hour or more. Can we go inside, please?”

  Mavis unlocked the door and motioned Delores ahead of her. “Are you hungry? I can make some dinner.”

  “Of course, I’m hungry. I haven’t had anything since breakfast. What are you making?”

  “How about a salad?”

  “Harrumph. What kind of salad?”

  “Just a tossed salad, nothing special.”

  “That the best you can do? Don’t you at least have chicken or tuna?”

  “You know we don’t eat that stuff.” Mavis hung her coat in the closet and reached for Delores’s jacket.”

  “Well I do, so you’re going to have to take me to the store.” Delores tossed her jacket to Mavis. “Honestly, I don’t understand how you can eat that way. What happened to you?”

  “Nothing happened. I agreed to eat the same as Harry, that’s all.”

  “Why? There’s nothing wrong with you. Why should you follow his diet?”

  “Besides, it’s easier to make one meal.” Mavis took radicchio, endive, arugula, and romaine from the refrigerator. “What kind of dressing do you want? Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette, or Soy and Sesame?”

  Delores scrunched up her nose. “Don’t you have any Ranch? It’s bad enough you don’t have any normal crisp lettuce.”

  “Sorry, no Ranch. This is good for you. It’s healthy.”

  “Yeah, well you eat it. I’m going out.” Delores grabbed her jacket, found her purse, and headed for the door.

  “Just where do you think you’re going?”

  “To find a store that has normal food.”

  Mavis laughed. “And how do you propose to get there?”

  “I’ll walk. My legs aren’t broken, you know.”

  Mavis put the salad fixings back in the refrigerator. “I’ll drive you. It’s much too far to walk.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I really wish you’d start eating healthy, Mother.”

  “And I wish you’d start eating normal, so we’re even. You’re not eating any meat. Why can’t you eat meat? Harry can eat meat. Meat’s good for you. It’s protein.”

  “We get plenty of protein, thank you very much.”

  “Have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re like a skeleton with skin.”

  Mavis shook her head. “Of course, I’m not.”

  “Then you’re not looking in the right mirror. Have you weighed yourself lately? I doubt if you’re a hundred pounds soaking wet.” Somehow, she had to get Mavis to eat normal again. Maybe if she smelled some good food cooking it’d stimulate her appetite. If Harry wanted to eat rabbit food, let him.

  Delores pulled out a grocery cart. “You go your way, I’ll go mine,” She didn’t need Mavis hovering over her, watching what she bought. Or worse, lecturing her on nutrition. She didn’t get to be seventy years old eating rabbit food. Healthy! Only healthy diet was everything in moderation. Didn’t she still have a svelte body at seventy? Of course, she’d always had a willowy figure. Her father used to call her hollow legs because she ate so much and never gained weight.

  First place Delores headed was the meat section, bypassing the vegetables. They had more than enough of them, although she made a mental note to buy some Ranch dressing. On second thought, she retraced her steps and picked up some onions, potatoes, a head of nice crisp lettuce, and cabbage for coleslaw. If memory served, they had tomatoes.

  Pork chops, ground meat, a nice big pot roast, and a couple of steaks would hold her for a while. Shrimp, mussels, and some cod fish made her mouth water as she added them to her cart. A couple of cans of soup, bread, bacon, and eggs ought to do it. If that didn’t whet Mavis’s appetite, nothing would.

  She stopped at the lunch meat counter and picked up some Swiss cheese and ham. Already her stomach growled. She couldn’t wait to get home and make dinner. Maybe she’d entice Mavis to have a sandwich with her. A carton of cottage cheese would complete the meal.

  Mavis arrived at the checkout the same time as Delores. A quick look in her cart and Mavis’s look of disapproval came through loud and clear. She’d see how long Mavis objected. Not long ago, these were her favorite foods. Delores was counting on her daughter’s lack of stamina. Mavis had always been a follower. Never came up with an original idea. Surely, she’d have more influence being home all day with her daughter. In fact, she was counting on it. Who knew, maybe she’d talk Mavis into volunteering at the dog shelter. Might just be good for her.

  “Harry’s not going to like all that unhealthy food in the house.”

  “Harry doesn’t have to like it. I do.”

  “Sarcasm doesn’t become you, Mother.”

  “Neither does rabbit food. If Harry doesn’t like it, Harry doesn’t have to eat it. In fact, he shouldn’t even think about it since it’s my food.”

  Mavis opened the trunk, set her groceries inside, and helped Delores with hers. “Problem is even the smell of it makes him sick.”

  “You can’t be serious? What’s wrong with the aroma of meat or fish cooking? There’s nothing better than the smell of bacon and eggs. The only things I bought that Harry can’t eat is soup, bread, and potatoes. He can have meat and fish, but he’ll have to buy his own. I didn’t buy enough for all of us.” Delores didn’t have anything against Harry, other than his eating habits. But then she didn’t really know him too well. The fact her daughter gave in so easily to his eating habits annoyed her.

  “Trust me, he won’t want any of it.” Mavis pulled the car in the drive, popped the trunk, and grabbed the groceries.

  “Good.” Delores finished putting her groceries away and made a sandwich. Ham, cheese, lettuce, and tomato with mayonn
aise.

  Mavis moved about the kitchen, emptying the dishwasher, and slamming things around.

  “Do you have to make so much noise? What are you so angry about?”

  “I just don’t understand why you can’t respect our wishes.”

  Delores finished her sandwich, wiped her hands, drank her water, stood, and put her plate in the dishwasher, trying to compose herself. Finally, she turned and looked at Mavis, hands on her hips. “Why can’t I respect your wishes?” She kept her voice low even though she wanted to scream. “Why can’t you respect my wishes? What makes your needs more important than mine?”

  “I didn’t mean our wishes were more important. You’re overreacting again.”

  “Overreacting!” Delores laughed. “You seem to forget I own sixty percent of this house, which means you and Harry only own twenty percent each. Yet you act like you own the majority. Everything in it, except for my room, is yours.”

  Mavis slumped in the nearest chair. “Please let’s not argue. It’s just Harry and I are used to doing things our way. You know how it is.”

  “You, my dear daughter, seem to forget I’m used to doing things my way, too, and for a lot longer than you and Harry. We’re going to have to set some ground rules if this is going to work. Otherwise, someone’s going to have to move out, and I’ll tell you right now, it’s not going to be me.”

  “You’d really kick me and Harry out?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Well, you sure as heck insinuated it.”

  Delores brushed some crumbs off the counter. “I wouldn’t kick you out. I’d buy you out. I already own most of the house. I’d just own it all. However, I do think with a few rules and mutual respect in all areas, we can live in harmony.”

  Mavis sat back and wiped a tear.

  “There’s nothing to cry about. I just don’t understand why you and Harry can’t respect my right to eat what I want, when I want, and how I want. The same applies to you. If you wish to partake of rabbit food, so be it. It’s certainly none of my business.” Delores went to Mavis and hugged her. “Honestly Mavis, you don’t look good. You’ve lost a lot of weight, you’re pale, not to mention the dark circles and bags under your eyes looks like you’ve been beaten. I don’t think you’re getting the proper nourishment. When’s the last time you had a physical?”

  “We’re not getting off to a good start, are we?”

  “We’ll talk about this more when Harry’s home. You might want to prepare him. We need to set some guidelines that work for all of us. I’m going to finish unpacking.” Delores went upstairs. At least she had a room of her own.

  Not that it was much of a room. Could use a coat of paint for starters. Seemed like Harry painted all the rooms but hers. Once the few pieces of furniture she’d kept arrived, it would help. At least it was large. She could set up a sitting area with TV on one side and her bedroom furniture on the other. For now, the air mattress would suffice. The built-in dressers were nice. They didn’t take up a lot of space, which helped. It annoyed her to think she’d been relegated to her room. Didn’t seem right or fair somehow.

  Delores pulled open the top drawer, but it stuck. She wiggled and jiggled it until it broke loose and came out all the way. Darn near hit her in the head. Something jammed it, but what? She set the drawer down and looked inside. Deep drawers. Looked like an envelope stuck in the top right corner. She shimmied it back and forth, being careful not to tear it. It finally came loose.

  Even though it was wrinkled and stained, it didn’t look that old. Name on the front said, Millie. Delores eased it open, unfolded it and read, “My love, Look under workbench, behind the stair. There’s a box load of money and gems so rare. Just remember, I did it for you.” The corner with the signature was torn off. What could that possibly mean?

  Only one thing to do. She hurried down stairs, thank goodness Mavis wasn’t around. She opened the basement door, hoping it wouldn’t squeak. Only place in the house she hadn’t been yet. Rounding the corner, she looked under the stairs. Nothing. No workbench. In fact, there wasn’t a thing down there at all. Not a box, not a speck of dirt. Not even a cobweb.

  She folded the note, stuck it in her pocket and hurried back upstairs, hoping Mavis was still in her bedroom or wherever she was. Good, still nowhere in sight. Back in her room, Delores looked at the note again. What could it mean? Should she show it to Mavis? If she did, Mavis would insist on showing it to Harry, and she didn’t want to share it with Harry.

  Still, she needed to share it with someone. She snapped her fingers. Tomorrow she’d show it to Lulu. Maybe she could shed some light on it. If nothing else, she probably knew who lived here before. Time to unpack and maybe make a cake or something. That might entice Mavis to eat.

  Next morning, they arrived at the Rescue Center. “Morning Louise,” Beatrice Lulu said. “We brought another volunteer. Delores Bather-Schmidt, meet Louise Jensen.”

  “Welcome. We always appreciate volunteers. I think I’ll assign you to feed the dogs. Beatrice Lulu will you show her the ropes, then come back and work in the office.”

  “Do you know who lived next door before us?” Delores closed the door behind her.

  “Yeah. The Ludwigs, Elmer and Mildred. Nice couple. Elmer passed away some time ago and Mildred moved away. Out of state if I recall. Why?”

  “I found this.” Delores pulled the note from her pocket. “Any idea what it means?”

  Beatrice Lulu looked at the envelope, pulled the note out and read it. “Interesting. I don’t know anyone named Millie. Where did you find it?”

  “Behind a dresser drawer.”

  “Could’ve been from previous owners, I suppose. Ed might know who they were. I’m not sure how long the Ludwigs lived there. I didn’t know them well. Mr. Ludwig passed away and Mrs. Ludwig moved right after Ed and I got married. The house has been empty for some time.”

  “Thanks, will you ask him?”

  Beatrice Lulu laughed. “Are you afraid of him?”

  “Me?” Delores laughed. “I’m not afraid of anyone. I just figured you’d see him before me.”

  “You’ll see him on the way home, same as me.”

  “Okay, I’ll ask him then. Hello…. who’s this?” Delores stopped outside Thor’s pen. “Aren’t you a beauty?” Thor came up to her and she rubbed his ears. “How does one go about adopting a dog?”

  Beatrice Lulu explained the process. “Are you thinking of adopting Thor?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “I just wondered what your daughter and her husband would say.” Beatrice Lulu couldn’t imagine a dog in Mavis’s house with all that fancy furniture. Especially a shedding dog like Thor. Worse, she could just picture Harry. No way would he be agreeable.

  “Doesn’t matter what they say. It’s my house, too, and if I want a dog, I’ll get a dog.”

  “Okay, then.” Beatrice Lulu showed Delores where they kept the food and explained the process. Small dogs get half a scoop, large dogs a whole scoop. “You’ve got this. I’m going back to the office. When you’re done, come on back.”

  She should have known Delores would fall in love with Thor. What she’d give to be a fly on the wall when Mavis and Harry saw him. Oh well, not her problem. She hurried back to the office.

  ***

  Delores walked along at a steady pace, feeding the dogs and stopping to visit with each one. She’d take them all home if she could. How sad there were so many in need of homes. Besides taking Thor, she’d keep volunteering. A donation to the shelter would help, too. Mavis would have a fit when she heard the plan. Not that Delores cared, it was her money.

  Finished with the feedings, Delores ran into Ed and Ethel, getting ready to walk the dogs. “May I join you?”

  “Sure, choose which dog or dogs you want to walk and meet us outside,” Ed said.

  Not like it was much of a choice, only one dog she wanted to walk. Delores headed to Thor’s pen, found a leash, hooked him up, and hurried outside.


  “You’re walking Thor?” Ethel stopped in her tracks and gasped.

  “Is there a reason I can’t?”

  “Oh, no. Of course, not. I just…. he’s so big.

  Delores laughed. “Yes. He is big. I’m going to adopt him.”

  “Are you sure you can handle a dog that large? I mean, he’s as tall as you. If he stood on his hind legs he’d tower over you.” Ethel lifted an eyebrow.

  “Watch me.” Delores shortened the leash and started walking. Thor walked next to her. She stopped, pulled up slightly on the leash and the dog sat. “Satisfied?” She turned and walked away, not giving Ethel a chance to answer.

  “That was amazing.” Ethel sucked in her breath and looked at Ed.

  “Sure was. Ready? Let’s go. It’ll be three o’clock before you know it.”

  Delores didn’t wait for Ed or Ethel. She walked quickly around the grounds, then put Thor back in his pen. She wanted to talk to Louise about him. It’d be great if she could take him home today, if Ed and Lulu were agreeable. She’d be happy when her car got here with her furniture. She shouldn’t have listened to Mavis about driving here. She’d driven all over the country, what was the big deal about driving a few hundred miles? To keep the peace, she’d agreed. After the conversation with Mavis yesterday, she’d be more hesitant to agree so quickly in the future. Hopefully, Harry would come home on time tonight so they could have their discussion.

  Like it or not, Delores was fully prepared to buy them out. Not that she wanted to, and she certainly didn’t want to put any more strain on their finances. She’d only went in on the house to help them out. Everyone goes through rough times and deserves help. Of course, Mavis tried to put it off on being worried about her. Like her daughter had something to worry about. Delores was quite capable of taking care of herself.

  She opened the office door the same time someone came in from outside. Before she had a chance to say anything, a man came in, obviously quite angry.

  “I warned you about those dogs barking. They keep me up at night. How’s someone supposed to get any rest with that infernal noise?”