Iced

by Carol Higgins Clark

  “She told me she had a boyfriend last year,” Regan said.

  “She did?” Angus sounded indignant and then quickly tried to cover his reaction. “A few months after that I had to go away on a business trip to California. That’s when I met my Emily and I never came back to Aspen to live again. We got married, I went into Emily’s father’s business, my folks retired to Florida, I enlisted in the service, and all of a sudden Aspen was a memory. Until now.”

  “Geraldine is donating a valuable painting to the museum. It’s called The Homecoming,” Ted said.

  “I remember that painting.” Angus’s fist rapped the table.

  “You do?” Regan and Ted said together.

  “Heck yeah. That was hanging behind the bar in Mr. Spoonfellow’s saloon. The day I went in there panting after Geraldine, her old Pop-Pop was taking it down to make room for a little Christmas tree on the counter. He must have gotten ideas on decorating from his trip to New York. You know something? He never did end up putting that painting back up before I left town a few months later. Now here it is, famous as famous can be. I should have tried to buy it from him back then!”

  “Now,”Ted said, looking down at his notebook, “would you say that you had a longing to come back to your roots?”

  “You could say that if you wanted to,” Angus replied. “The fact of the matter is that after Emily died last year, I felt lonesome. My kids were raised and were scattered all over. I didn’t want to be a burden to any of them, but I knew I wanted to move somewhere else. There were too many memories where I was. So one day in the paper I read your article”—he slapped Ted on the back—”and it gave me a good kick in the pants. Why not go back? I said to myself. This place is where all the action is now! It’s got the advantages of a small town with all the activity of a big city. I always missed the snow and the mountains. Emily always said she wasn’t a cold-weather person, so we never came back. But my grandsons are such good skiers, I figured why not see what this place has to offer? I’m going to be looking at a few houses this week. It’s expensive around here! But there’s a house outside of town that needs a little fixing up. The lady at the real estate office thinks it might be just fine for someone like me. I like to tinker around with a house anyway.”

  Ted looked alarmed. “So it’s not definite that you’re moving back?”

  “Are you kidding? After being here for one day I feel alive again. I’ve been so blue since Emily died. She had been sick for a while, but once she was gone there was this great big void and I didn’t know how to fill it. When I stepped off that plane the other day, I just felt I was home again.”

  By now, Ted was scribbling madly. “Perfect! Perfect!”

  Regan couldn’t resist a question. “Do you think you’ll call Geraldine while you’re here?”

  Angus ran his fingers through his thick white hair. “It’s kind of hard when you remember that somebody wouldn’t give you the time of day. And that’s when I was good-looking!”

  Regan laughed. “You’re still good-looking! And that was a long time ago.”

  “Well, I don’t know. But I will tell you something…” He pulled a ticket to Louis’s party out of his pocket. “I’m going to do my best to get reacquainted.”

  38

  WHEN REGAN FINALLY got back to the room, Kit was just about ready.

  “Perfect timing,” Kit said. “Tripp brought me up the newspaper to read. I lounged in your bed, caught up on current events, dozed and finally got together the strength to take a shower. How was your morning?”

  “Interesting,” Regan said as she pulled her ski pants out of the drawer. She told Kit about Ted and the meeting with Angus.

  “I’ll tell you one thing,” Kit said as she combed her hair. “I want you to strangle me if I go mooning after the Pledge man decades from now. I’ll just allow myself to be miserable for the next month or so.”

  “He’s not mooning after her. This is different,” Regan insisted. “He didn’t come back here for her. He came back because he grew up here. They had never gone out, so it’s not the same.” She was now digging out her ski socks. “He remembers the Homecoming painting hanging behind the bar of the Spoonfellow saloon.”

  “I wonder why Geraldine never went out with him,” Kit mused.

  “Me too,” Regan said. “It could be that she just plain old wasn’t interested, but there’s something about it that just doesn’t sound right.”

  “Hmmm,” Kit said as she studied her appearance in the mirror. “It couldn’t have been that he bored her to death with talk of computers. They weren’t even invented yet.”

  Regan laughed. “There’s always something boring to talk about. Let’s get out of here. The guys must already be up on the mountain.”

  On the way out they passed Tripp at the desk.

  “Hey, Regan,” he said. “I called around to a few of the art galleries in town. I got one of them to say they’d come by and pick up the Louis painting. You have to stop by there tomorrow to pick out a frame.”

  “That’s great!” Regan said. “Thanks a lot. They can get it done by Thursday?”

  “They’ll deliver it Thursday.”

  “Tripp, you do good work.”

  “Would you mind putting that in writing for my father?” he asked.

  “We’ll figure out a way to get it on your résumé,” Regan said as she and Kit headed out the door.

  Kit looked at her watch. “We’re just on schedule. Everybody else has been out skiing since the lifts opened and we’ll get to the mountain in time for a late lunch.”

  They took the gondola to the top of Aspen Mountain and then skied down to the midway point, where Bonnie’s was nestled into the hill. A colorful array of skis and poles was propped up outside the restaurant, waiting in the snow for their owners to reclaim them after they’d had enough food and socializing.

  “Everyone here is so trusting,” Kit said. “Don’t a lot of skis get stolen?”

  “What we should do is take one of your skis and one of mine and put the two mismatched sets in different places,” Regan said.

  “That’s my buddy,” Kit said. “Foiling those criminals at every turn.”

  It didn’t take long to find Larry. He was decked out in all-black ski attire. His sunglasses were mirrored.

  “Hi, Larry,” Regan said, staring at her reflection.

  “Hi, babe. We’ve got a table over there. Get your food and come on back outside.” It sounded like the tone he might use to tell his patients to open wide.

  “Isn’t it a little chilly to eat at the outside tables?” Kit asked.

  “You see more out here,” Larry said. “These are the tables that fill up first. Don’t worry. The sun keeps you warm.”

  Regan and Kit pushed their trays through the line, chose sandwiches and bottled water, and paid what could probably feed a family of four a nice turkey dinner. They were still getting used to walking in their ski boots.

  “The bathroom is one flight down,” Kit said.

  “Grab the banister and walk sideways,” Regan advised. “It’s not worth it.”

  Outside, they walked over to the table where Stewart and Derwood were already eating.

  Stewart wiped his mouth and patted the seat next to him. “Sit here, Regan,” he said.

  Larry’s abandoned tray was next to Stewart. He was busy making the rounds of the picnic tables, looking for old friends, new friends, anybody from the New York area who might need quality dental work.

  “Larry should set up his dentist’s chair in a gymnasium,” Regan said as she sat down. “He’d be able to work off some of his excess energy in between patients.”

  Stewart laughed heartily. “The skiing has just been fabulous,” he announced. “How many runs have you made today?”

  “A half,” Kit said and bit into her ham-and-cheese.

  “You’re joking,” Stewart said.

  “No, we’re not,” Regan replied. “I had some things to do this morning and Kit tried to get over
her jet lag.”

  Stewart studied Regan. “What were you doing?”

  Regan shrugged. “A few errands.”

  Derwood looked up from his leafy salad. “At the hotel where I’m staying you can actually hook up computer games to the TV set.”

  Kit was in the middle of taking a slug of water. She started to cough and some came out of her nose. Stewart winced while Derwood patted her on the back.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Never better,” she answered.

  “I was wondering,” Stewart said, regaining his friendly expression, “where we should go for dinner tonight.”

  Regan glanced at Kit. “Tonight we’re meeting my parents for dinner.”

  “Where?” Stewart asked.

  “At Kendra Wood’s house. That’s where they’re staying.”

  “Kendra’s a beauty,” Derwood mumbled.

  It amused Regan that the remark seemed to annoy Kit.

  “I’d love to meet her,” Stewart said.

  I don’t know whether that’s a hint, Regan thought, but it would be best to just ignore it. “Maybe we can meet you guys later.” She glanced around. “Hey, Stewart, do you produce skiwear for kids?”

  “Not skiwear,” he said and reached into his wallet. He unfolded an ad with two blond children modeling bright Christmas sweaters with matching pants. “We just ran this ad last month,” he said proudly.

  Regan and Kit clucked in admiration. “Those kids are really cute,” Regan said.

  Stewart smiled in gratitude. “They sure are.”

  When they had finished eating, they rounded up Larry and they all got back on their skis. When they pushed off, Derwood went barreling down and within ten seconds took a nasty spill. Kit skied over to where Regan had stopped.

  “He told me he was a great skier,” she whispered.

  “Maybe on the computer,” Regan said.

  They made several runs and finally decided to head back to get ready for dinner. When they parted from the guys, Stewart put his arm on Regan’s shoulder.

  “We’re going dancing later. I’d love it if you’d join us.”

  “We’ll try,” Regan promised.

  As they walked back to the hotel, Kit sighed. “He’s a hunk and he likes you. So what’s the problem?”

  “I don’t know. There’s something about him.”

  It was four o’clock and the sky was starting to darken. “We can get changed and grab a taxi to Kendra’s,” Regan said. She found herself hoping that just maybe Yvonne would have found Bessie’s cousin’s number and brought it with her to Kendra’s.

  39

  AT TWO SHARP, Ida grabbed her coat and bolted out of the cleaner’s.

  “Where are you going, a fire?” Max called after her.

  “Someplace even more exciting,” Ida yelled back as the door closed behind her, leaving its Scotch-taped bells tinkling in her wake.

  She hurried home to freshen up and at one minute of three found herself walking up the front path to Kendra Wood’s home.

  This looks like a famous person’s house, she decided, noting its large size and the beautiful stone-and-log design of the exterior. It’s the type you see on Robin Leach’s television program.

  She rang the bell and could hear the fancy chimes playing their own little melody through the house. How elaborate, Ida thought, when a simple ding-dong would do the trick. She pushed her glasses back against the bridge of her nose and blew out of her mouth, enjoying the sight of her warm breath floating out into the cold air. That must be where they got the expression “You’re full of hot air,” she thought.

  Suddenly the door was pulled open and standing in front of her was none other than one of her favorite actresses, Kendra Wood, looking as chic as expected, clad in a ski sweater and black stretch pants.

  “Ida?” Kendra asked.

  “That’s what they call me,” Ida joked and stepped into the foyer. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve seen all your movies,” she blurted, then remembered Daisy’s warning not to talk too much.

  “Well, that’s good,” Kendra said, taking Ida’s coat, “although there are a few I’d rather forget.”

  “Oh, I know what you mean. There were a couple recently that just didn’t measure up to your talent.”

  Kendra half-smiled as Ida stuffed her gloves into her coat pockets. “There we go. I understand that you’re going to be appearing on Broadway soon.”

  “Yes,” Kendra said. “I was just studying my script.”

  Ida’s eyes widened. “Really! How exciting!”

  “Let’s hope it’s exciting,” Kendra said ruefully. “We think it’s going to be a good show. Now come inside and meet everyone. They’ve collapsed after our first day of skiing. We went over to Snowmass today.”

  Ida followed her into the den where a roaring fire was blazing and Kendra’s sons and husband and guests were lounging around reading.

  “Ida, I’d like you to meet…” Kendra introduced her to everyone.

  “I love all your books. I’ve read every one of them,” Ida informed Nora.

  “Thank you,” Nora said, getting up from the couch to shake her hand. “That’s always nice to hear.”

  “I’m a funeral director,” Luke offered.

  Ida looked puzzled. “How lovely,” she said.

  “Don’t mind him.” Nora laughed.

  “Ida, why don’t I show you around the rest of the house and then we’ll end up back in the kitchen?” Kendra suggested.

  “Fine with me,” Ida said, all of her senses drinking in every detail.

  They walked down the long hallway and glanced into the master bedroom and the guest suite. “We all make our own beds, but when you have time, if you could just run the vacuum and clean the bathrooms, that would be great.”

  “Nothing like a little vacuuming to make a place feel fresh,” Ida said. “That and a few squirts of cleanser in the bathroom and it’s as good as new.”

  Kendra smiled at Ida. “We’re so glad this worked out. I hope it won’t be too much for you. I know you’re also working at the cleaner’s in town.”

  Are you kidding? Ida thought. You don’t even have to pay me to do this! She waved her hand at Kendra. “Oh, it’s only for one week. I like to work!”

  “Good.” Kendra laughed. “I like to work too.”

  Back in the kitchen, Kendra had laid out salad makings on the large butcher-block table. “We’re having some guests for dinner, so if you could make a salad and heat up this spaghetti sauce, it should be pretty easy.”

  “You made a sauce?” Ida asked.

  “Well, I guess my former caretaker made it. It was in the freezer. He actually was kind enough to leave us with a few things before taking off,” Kendra said sarcastically.

  “Now, honey,” Sam called from the couch. “Don’t think about Eben. Come back here and study your script.”

  “You’d never know, Sam,” Luke murmured, “that you’re one of the investors in the play.”

  “You go sit down,” Ida urged Kendra. “I’ll take care of everything.”

  Kendra returned to the couch and picked up her script while Ida busied herself washing lettuce and cutting up vegetables. It was a pleasant, relaxed time and everyone in the den was enjoying the quiet. I wish they’d talk more, Ida thought after a half hour of silence. The sauce was on the stove, the bread was all ready to be heated, and the salad was chilling in the refrigerator.

  Ida cut up some cheese and put it out on a tray with crackers. Finally, when she could delay no longer, she went down to the bathrooms and gave them a quick once-over. When she got back to the kitchen, the group in the den was breaking up. The boys had gone to their room downstairs where there were video games, and the others were going to shower and dress.

  Kendra, her script in hand, leaned on the kitchen counter. “Ida, if you could do some food shopping tomorrow, I’d appreciate it. Maybe we should make a quick list.” She pulled a pad and pen out of a drawer.

&nbs
p; “A grocery list in one hand, a Broadway script in the other,” Ida chuckled.

  “Right,” Kendra said absentmindedly as she started to write down the items she knew they needed. When the list was complete, Kendra gave Ida some cash. “Let me give this to you now so I don’t forget later.”

  After Kendra had retreated to her bedroom, Ida set the table in the dining room, which overlooked the front yard. There doesn’t seem to be a bad view anywhere in this house, she thought.

  At six o’clock the chimes sounded and Ida hurried to answer the door. It turned out to be the Grants. Ida knew that they were the other couple who’d been robbed. Kendra came out to greet them. They all went into the den, and before you knew it the place had the feeling of a party going. Nora and Luke and Sam reappeared and the men made drinks. The chimes sounded again. This time when Ida answered it was the Reillys’ daughter, Regan, and her friend Kit.

  “I’m Ida,” she informed them as she took their coats. “Here to pitch in for a few days.”

  Since Eben’s not here to do it, Regan thought.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Ida. I’m Regan and this is my friend Kit.” Ida nodded and hurried down the hall with their coats. Regan and Kit wandered into the den and greeted everyone.

  “Kit, it’s so good to see you,” Nora said, kissing both of them and steering them over to the couches. They all settled in and Sam served drinks.

  “Have you two been having fun?”Nora asked hopefully.

  Kit’s grin was like the Cheshire cat’s. “There’s a guy we met who really likes Regan. We’re meeting him later to go dancing. He has his own company…”

  Luke could see Nora’s pupils dilate.

  “What kind of company?” she asked.

  “Children’s clothes,” Kit pronounced. “He manufactures the most adorable children’s clothes. He even showed us an ad.”

  “He sounds wonderful,” Nora said, her voice cracking.

  “Be still, my heart,” Luke muttered.

  “Mom,” Regan protested. “You’ve never even met him. You know nothing about him.”