A Last Resort

by Brenda Sinclair

  But what would have become of Shelley if she and Lyndon weren’t here? No one would ever convince her that things in life didn’t happen for a reason. This week’s reason was named Shelley. The teen needed her help, and Emma intended to comply.

  Chapter 16

  Lyndon agreed with Emma that he should email Mike to provide an update since she’d been in contact with Rachael only. Lyndon was certain his client would be worried and wondering how things were going with all three of them, since only he knew Emma and Shelley weren’t alone.

  Lyndon disappeared into Mike’s workshop office and opened his laptop. Thankfully, the cabin wireless Wifi reached the new garage. And finally, some peace and quiet. Why did teenagers play their music at a decibel level that could be heard from outer space?

  Hi Mike

  I’m sure you know by now that your niece is here with us. As far as Rachael’s concerned, Emma is dealing with her alone. Shelley’s a good kid and Emma’s getting along with her really well. No problems so far, and I don’t anticipate any. Except now I’m contending with two females. But I have Jake, so I’m not totally outnumbered. And I thought the poison ivy and typing was a challenge. Thanks again for your understanding, and rest assured, the project hasn’t suffered for it.

  Thank goodness, Emma is here. I’m convinced I’m too much of a soft touch to be a parent. Shelley has me wrapped around her little finger. She skunks me at video games every night, but she’s keeping up with homework. Actually, Emma and I like the kid.

  At least, the project is back on schedule and I should be finished in another couple weeks. We’ll see you when you come here for final inspection and to sign off on the project. Thanks for the installment payment, and my subtrades thank you also.

  I’ll keep you informed over the next few days if anything changes here.

  Talk to you soon

  Lyndon

  He hit SEND and then leaned back on the wooden box he’d been using for a chair. Now that the electric heaters were wired and he’d finished drywalling the office area and the bathroom, and he could tape today. He could mud tomorrow, sand next day, and arrange for the painters to arrive a couple days after that. He heard a notification ping and glanced at his laptop balanced on his legs. He’d received a reply from Mike already.

  Hi Lyndon

  Rachael has been keeping me up to date on all that’s going on out there with Shelley. Thanks so much for taking care of her, and Emma as well. If you’re falling behind on the project, don’t sweat it. I understand other things take priority. And I’ve been really busy here, so I won’t be available to spend a weekend out there for at least another couple of weeks anyway.

  If you require anything regarding the women, let me know. I’ll make certain you get it. My brother is cooling his heels about Shelley. Which is saying something for Walter. He can be an intense guy at times. Can’t blame Shelley for doing what she did, but don’t tell her that.

  Looking forward to hearing when the garage is finished.

  Talk soon

  Mike

  Lyndon blew out his breath. Mike understood why Shelley ran? Wow. How bad could this brother be? Mind you, Lyndon couldn’t see himself making such a life-changing decision with a wife and kids, uprooting the whole family to move halfway around the world. For a different job? Only one hell of an advancement opportunity could justify such a decision.

  He checked the time and decided he’d call it a day. Besides, he should check on Emma and Shelley. Emma would be writing. Shelley would be starting dinner soon; the kid was one heck of an outstanding cook for fifteen. At that age, he could barely make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He heaved a sigh. His life seemed like he’d suddenly been dropped into a new dimension: family man. Coming home to see how his wife and kid were.

  “Reynolds, this is not your life. You didn’t sign up for this.” He closed the side door and locked it. Building a garage with a workshop included had seemed a simple enough job. If he knew then what he knew now…

  * * *

  Emma stood hands on hips. “I don’t even like kids.”

  “Fine. I don’t like authors.” Shelley glared at her.

  “Then why did you have so many books in your backpack?” Emma countered. “I saw at least a dozen of them when I helped carry your belongings into your room.”

  “I love books.” She raised her head, defiantly. “I don’t like writers.”

  Emma scoffed. “And where the heck do you think books come from? The word fairy?”

  “The word stork drops them into bookstores and libraries after hours.” Shelley’s mouth twitched at the edges.

  Emma forced herself not to laugh at the outlandish reply.

  “Do you two realize how ridiculous you sound?” Lyndon accused, sauntering into the kitchen.

  “She started it,” Emma and Shelley claimed in unison.

  “You two are going to be the death of me,” he muttered, grabbing a beer from the fridge. “Should I alert Amazon and Barnes and Noble about this bird?”

  “Leave him be,” Shelley blurted. “He’s equally reliable as UPS and Fedex.”

  Emma burst into laughter. “I give up. With that imagination, you should write fiction.”

  “More competition for you.”

  “I can handle it.”

  “Ladies! Enough!” Lyndon slumped onto one of the barstools at the island and drank a quick mouthful of beer. “What’s for dinner?”

  Shelley winked at Emma. “Roast word stork and carrots?”

  “Very funny.” Lyndon headed for the living room. “I’m dead on my feet or I’d help. Call when the meal’s ready. If I’m asleep on the sofa wake me up.”

  Emma met Shelley’s eyes. “Actually… what is for dinner?” she whispered. She’d gotten used to the teen doing most of the cooking.

  Shelley shrugged. “I got busy writing my essay for English class. I haven’t planned anything.”

  “Oh.” Emma’s breathing quickened and she swallowed the rising panic. Hopefully, the teen didn’t expect her to come up with something in the next few minutes.

  “We could make homemade pizza. You clean the veggies and I’ll make the dough.” Shelley peeked out from behind her bangs. The kid really required a haircut.

  “Sounds perfect.” Emma smiled. “Veggies I can handle. And I’ll mince some of that shaved ham as well.”

  “You got it!” Shelley exclaimed. “For an author, you’re not so bad.”

  Emma feigned a faint. “Such high praise. Be still my beating heart.”

  “Don’t let it go to your head. I simply appreciate the help with dinner.”

  Emma playfully swatted her arm. “As if. You love my books. You adore me. Admit it.”

  Shelley giggled. “Not admitting to anything.”

  “All right. I guess I could finish that chapter that takes place at the airport instead of washing peppers and…”

  “Okay. Okay. You’re all right. For an old person.” Shelley scurried around the island and grabbed the large metal bowl from under the counter.

  “Old person?” Emma accused. “Who returned home first after our jog this afternoon?”

  “I stopped because Jake needed to pee.”

  “Excuses, excuses.” She opened the fridge and inspected the contents. Peppers, fresh mushrooms, a jar of black olives, and the shaved ham. She’d open a can of pineapple chunks to go with it. And skip the ham and add extra cheese to hers. She could do this.

  Emma startled when a pair of skinny arms wrapped around her. She turned and stared into the teen’s eyes.

  “If I haven’t said so lately, I do appreciate what you’re doing for me.” Shelley took a step back, appearing a little shy. “Letting me stay with you guys. Telling my parents to back off for a while. Allowing me to hang out here, feeding me, and helping me decide what I should do.”

  Emma tucked a stray strand of the teen’s hair behind her ear. She looked adorable in those pigtails. “I was a teenager once. Back in the dark ages,” she tea
sed. “I know what it’s like. Trying to be heard, but no one is listening. At least, it seems that way.”

  “No matter how many times I told my parents I wasn’t moving to Dubai, neither Mom nor Dad would even consider my arguments. And my sister is two years younger than me, and Carla wouldn’t argue with them.” Shelley’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want to go, but my parents consider it a done deal. Dad’s transferring to this new job and the rest of us are expected to accompany him without any say in it.”

  “Your parents aren’t coming here for another week, at least. Maybe they’ll think about other options for you.” Emma piled the veggies on the counter and then closed the fridge door. “They must realize now how serious you are about staying in Canada.”

  “I hope so. Can you imagine the cost to run away from home if you’re in Dubai? Airfare alone would be a killer,” Shelley said, grinning.

  “Not to mention the explanations you’d need to fabricate for those customs officers.” Emma smiled and quipped, “But, sir, I can’t possibly stay here another minute. I miss my classmates and my school.”

  “And my friend, Emma, must miss me terribly. I simply must see her as soon as possible,” Shelley said, playing along.

  “I lied… I do like kids. Maybe I could fly over to Dubai and visit you.”

  A horrified expression appeared on Shelley’s face. “Don’t ever suggest that as a possibility to anyone. Least of all my parents. I’m not going to Dubai.”

  Emma chuckled. “Too hot over there anyway. I’d melt the minute I walked out of the air-conditioned airport.”

  “Whew!” Shelley playfully wiped her brow. “For a minute there, I thought you were serious.”

  “Dinner almost ready?” Lyndon called from the family room.

  “Almost,” Shelley replied without hesitation.

  “Won’t be long now,” Emma added, grinning. They hadn’t even started the pizza dough. “This conversation needs to be filed under ‘to be continued later’. Get busy, kid.”

  “Yes, Mom,” she replied, laughing.

  Emma chuckled. “You wish.” And she realized she liked the sound of that. Mom. Maybe one day. An image of Lyndon holding a baby in his arms flashed through her mind.

  Chapter 17

  Lyndon wandered into the cabin after a long day’s work and headed for his room, anticipating a hot shower followed by a cold beer. Instead, loud thumping music coming from Shelley’s guest room greeted him. And he’d thought the click, click, click of Emma’s typing on her laptop had bothered him when she’d first arrived. How wrong he’d been. And was Emma actually working through this? Most likely, she’d escaped to one of her waterfalls or the bridge to write.

  He knocked on the teen’s door.

  Nothing.

  He fisted his hand and pounded loudly.

  A moment later, the door swung open and Shelley stood there appearing a little shocked. “What did I do wrong?” she blurted, her face paling.

  “The music?”

  “Oh, no,” she groaned. “I forgot.”

  “Do you need to borrow my earbuds?” Lyndon offered.

  Shelley shook her head, dashing over to the media player, and then lowering the volume. “No, thanks. I have my headphones. I forgot to use them. Sorry.”

  Lyndon recalled hearing Shelley relegate him to third on her popularity list. Perhaps the two of them required a bit of bonding time. “Got time to talk for a while?”

  “Sure,” she replied, immediately opening her door and stepping back for him to enter.

  “I’ll have a shower first and then I’ll be back.”

  “Okay.” Shelley smiled. “I’ll leave the door open and the music down.”

  “Thank you. My ‘old guy’ ears thank you also.” He grinned. “Where’s Emma?”

  “She and Jake drove down to the store for a few things. They should be back soon.”

  Lyndon nodded. “See you in ten.”

  He hurried through his shower and changed into jeans and a sweater. He grabbed a beer and a single-serving bottle of chocolate milk from the fridge in the kitchen and headed back to Shelley’s room. He knocked on the door frame and her head popped up.

  “I’m back,” he announced as he strode in, handed her the chocolate milk, and then settled onto the chair beside the window.

  Shelley slipped the headphones off and smiled. “Thank you.” She opened the milk and downed several ounces.

  “What are you doing?” Lyndon inquired, nodding toward the pile of books strewn across her neatly made bed.

  “Homework.”

  “Homework!”

  “Yeah, I email Beth every day and she lets me know what they did at school. I’m only taking three subjects this semester and I’m trying to keep ahead of most of it while I’m away.”

  “Doesn’t your teacher, or teachers, think it strange that you’ve disappeared?”

  Shelley shook her head. “I emailed to let them know I was ‘out of town due to an emergency family matter’. So, they’re letting me email my assignments to them.”

  “And they believed you?”

  “Think about it. Emergency family matter. Am I wrong?”

  Lyndon shrugged, seeing the haunted and hurt look in Shelley’s eyes. “Not really, I guess.” This situation wasn’t any of her doing, and she’d reacted with the only option available in her opinion. He viewed the outcome through her eyes, and it couldn’t be easy facing such uncertainty, away from her home and friends. “I’m a little confused about one thing. How did you get here?” He sipped his beer, hoping she’d provide an answer.

  Shelley sat cross-legged on the bed. “I overheard Mom talking with our neighbor, Mrs. Landers. She and her husband planned a season-end trip to their cabin to close it up before they left to spend the winter in Yuma.”

  “Okay,” he muttered, encouraging her to continue.

  “I knew this was my chance.” She sighed. “I packed all my stuff and waited until I saw them loading up their SUV on Friday morning after Mom and Dad left for work. I told my sister I was getting a ride to school with Beth’s mom, and Carla left for classes without me. I snuck over to the neighbors’ house and asked if I could get a ride to visit my aunt and uncle who’d bring me back home after the weekend. Mr. and Mrs. Landers own a cabin a few miles up the road from here.”

  “Yeah, I know them. Nice folks.” Lyndon slumped in the chair, completely relaxed. Surprising himself. He couldn’t recall ever talking this long with a teenager before. Not since he was one himself.

  “They know Uncle Mike and Aunt Rachael really well, too. So they didn’t hesitate to allow me to accompany them here. I thought they’d question why I brought so much stuff, but they never said a word. Maybe they think teenagers need a lot of junk.”

  “So the Landers brought you here.” Lyndon had to admit the kid was resourceful.

  “I’d planned to make up a tale about Uncle Mike and Aunt Rachael being out for a walk, expecting the cabin to be dark. But when they pulled up, there was a light on in the cabin and one of the garage doors was open. I didn’t recall a garage being here, but I figured Uncle Mike had one built. I quickly unloaded all my stuff. The Landers wished me a lovely weekend visit and away they went.”

  “Where the heck were Em and I?” Lyndon blurted.

  “No idea.” Shelley grinned. “I raced to the shed, discovered it unlocked, stowed all my stuff in there, and then hid out inside. I almost cried when I realized you and the woman were staying in the cabin and I’d have to remain in the shed all night. And the dog wouldn’t leave me alone. He kept lying down outside the shed. I knew he’d give me away eventually, so I yelled at him and sent him to the cabin. Finally, he left me alone.”

  “Poor, Jake. He loves women and, to his way of thinking, he needed to protect you.” Lyndon laughed. “Mostly from yourself. You were smart to hitch a ride with someone you knew and not strike out on your own. Anything could have happened to you.”

  “I know,” Shelley blurted. “I would
n’t have hitchhiked on the highway or something equally stupid.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Lyndon heaved a sigh and straightened in the chair. “Well, you’re here and you’re safe. That’s all that matters for now. We’ll get all this… whatever it is, sorted out eventually.”

  Shelley’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you. I’m sorry if I—”

  “Don’t worry about it. Emma arrived not expecting to find anyone here and having to share the cabin, too. You showing up isn’t a problem. I’m actually happy we’re here to watch out for you.”

  “Thanks. I do appreciate you guys feeding me and letting me stay here.” Shelley sighed. “Emma is emailing Rachael and they’re going to help me, I think.”

  “We all want to help. Anyway we can.” Lyndon finished his beer and stood. “Just don’t leave here. We all need to know you’re safe. Okay?”

  Shelley nodded. “I’m not leaving.”

  “Us ‘old guys’ don’t need the worry,” he muttered, smiling.

  The teen giggled. “You’re not that old. Not like Mr. Landers.”

  Lyndon chuckled. White-haired and slightly balding, Mr. Landers was well into his sixties, retired, and wintered in Arizona. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Finish your homework and I’ll see you for dinner.”

  “That’s right. You’re grilling steaks.”

  “My turn to cook and it’s going to snow one of these days, so I need to schedule all the barbecue time I can beforehand.” Lyndon walked out of the room and then turned back. “Want the door closed?”

  Shelley shook her head and smiled. She picked up her headphones. “Call me when dinner’s ready.”