by T. L. Haddix
“Okay.”
“I don’t have much time left. I want you to promise me that when I’m gone, you’ll make sure she’s okay. I’m hoping you won’t walk away from her, but if you do, promise me you’ll make sure she’s on her own two feet first.”
Eli wanted to argue with him, to protest that Fred still had a long way to go before he needed to worry about dying. But that would be patronizing—empty, comforting words to placate them both—and he respected Fred too much to say them.
“You have my word.” He glanced down at his hands, then back to Fred. “You think her uncles will cause problems?”
“I’m afraid they will. I like to think I did a good job with Haley. I didn’t do so well with them or with my daughter, I’m ashamed to say.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m going to need a favor from you, young Campbell.”
“Name it.”
“I need you to take me to town.”
Eli straightened. “Sir? Are you up to that?”
“It hardly matters if I am or not. It’s a trip I have to make. But I’m having a good day today. I think we’ll do fine. I’ll give you money for gas.”
When Eli scowled at him, Fred chuckled. “Or not.”
“That’s where she gets it from, you know. That stubbornness. Straight from you.”
Fred grinned proudly. “That she does.”
An hour later, Eli was shaking his head grimly even as he signed a slip of paper. “I don’t like this, Mr. Muncy. I don’t like it at all.” He handed the paper to the manager of the bank they were in.
“You don’t have to like it to choke it down. I don’t particularly like fried chicken anymore, but I’ll eat it if it’s put in front of me.”
The bank manager coughed into his hand. “It’s hard for me to imagine not liking fried chicken, Fred.”
“I’ve had too much of it over the years. Any kind of chicken is more than I can handle these days, just about. Henley, I appreciate you doing this for us. I know it bends the rules a bit.” He shook hands with the manager.
“We go back a long way, Fred. It’s the least I could do. Do you need anything else today?” he asked as he stood.
“Nope. That covered it.”
“Well, you let me know if that changes. Anything you need, I’ll do my best.” Henley shook Eli’s hand, and then he was gone.
“Okay. Where next?” Eli asked, unlocking the wheels on Fred’s chair so he could roll him out to the street.
“Home, if you don’t mind. I’ll get in trouble if I stay out too long.” He laughed.
“You’re going to get both of us in trouble, I’m afraid,” Eli told him as they reached his SUV. “Haley won’t be too happy about this.”
“Haley won’t find out about this until I’m gone,” Fred cautioned. He gave Eli a hard stare. “This is between us.”
Eli had a sinking feeling, but he didn’t argue. “Yes, sir.”
Getting Fred in and out of the SUV had taken some careful maneuvering, but they managed to do it without too much stress on either of them. Once they were on the road back home, the older man sighed.
“I can rest now that’s done. Thank you, son. You’ve taken a large burden off my shoulders. I didn’t think I was going to make it out of the hospital this last time. I kept putting this off, didn’t have anyone I trusted enough to do it with, and I almost lost my chance. So thank you.”
“This” was transferring ownership of the safe-deposit box he owned with Haley out of his name and into Eli’s. Ordinarily, both owners had to be present for the transfer to be authorized, but Fred had called in some favors with the manager.
“You’re sure no one else knows about the box?” Eli asked. “Other than Haley, I mean?”
“Positive. When we switched banks a few years back, she put the fee for it on her account. The boys knew we did have one, but after that, I told ‘em we’d decided not to do it up again at the new bank. Didn’t have anything to put in it and all that. It’s a sad world when a man can’t trust his own children not to rob him blind.”
Eli agreed. “It happens more and more these days, feels like.”
He didn’t know what was in the safe-deposit box, only that Fred had brought a shoebox along with him. He’d spent several minutes alone in the vault with the safe-deposit box, then they’d completed the transfer. Eli hadn’t asked what the box contained. It was none of his business.
“You have the key?” Fred asked.
“Yes, sir.” Eli patted his chest. He still wore his dog tags, not ready yet to let go of them, and he’d put the key on the chain with them.
“Good.” He cleared his throat. “Now, in case you wondered, I’m fairly certain that you’ll do what you need to do with that key after I’m gone. But in case you don’t, let me tell you now that I know what your brother can do. If you let me down, I’ll find him and he won’t see a moment’s peace until you fix things.”
Eli threw a stunned glance at Fred. “Sir?”
“He can see the dead. He wears it like a heavy cloak, sitting hard on his shoulders. I can see that kind of thing, you know. Don’t bother denying it.”
As he tried to figure out what the hell to say, he wracked his brain. Noah had accompanied him a couple of times for the visits, and he tried to think of anything that had been said that might have revealed his brother’s abilities. He came up blank.
“What do you mean, you can see that kind of thing?” he settled on asking.
“You know how all those New-Age hippies like to talk about auras and such?”
Eli felt like someone had dropped him into a New-Age alternate reality, but he nodded. “Sure.”
“Well, it’s kind of like that. He’s haunted, your brother. But not you.” He coughed and reached for the bottle of water he’d brought. “I understand if you can’t talk about it.”
“Where does this… ability to see things come from, sir?”
“My granny. She knew things she shouldn’t have been able to, had the touch. Some say she was touched in the head. Her name was Mahala. That’s who my Haley-girl’s named after. She was a good woman, too. Strong. Birthed eleven children that she raised to being adults, and she delivered half the children on Troublesome Creek. You know, back before women went to the hospital to have their young’uns. She was a midwife. Knew about herbs and plants and all sorts of things.”
“Does Haley know about all this?” Eli was stunned, and he was curious. He knew someone else who would be, as well. Owen.
“She’s heard the stories. I think she half-believes ‘em. Guess if she marries into your family, she’ll learn they’re more than just old wives’ tales.”
Eli laughed. He didn’t know the half of it. “Sir, do you think you’d feel up to having a visitor Thursday? My grandfather’s fascinated by all this sort of thing, and I know he’d love to talk to you.”
Fred eyed him as though weighing his words, deciding whether Eli was humoring him or not. When he saw that Eli was serious, he nodded. “That’d be fine. You’d best plan to come earlier than noon, though. I’ll bet we could talk all day.”
Eli grinned. “Oh, I’d count on it. My grandmother might want to come too. I don’t want to overwhelm you, though.”
“Nah, I’d enjoy meeting them.”
“Okay. I’ll set it up. And I’ll bring lunch fixings. I can cook while you all talk.”
This time when Fred sent him an assessing look, there was some calculation behind it. “Hamburgers?”
Eli laughed outright. “Yes, sir. Big, thick ones, loaded with toppings.”
“As long as it isn’t fried chicken.” Fred winked at him, and they both chuckled.
The pang of grief he felt when he realized this character of a man probably wouldn’t make it to the new year was very real. As much as he was
growing attached to Haley, he was starting to build a very real friendship with Fred Muncy.
Zanny was fond of the theory that everything happened for a reason, when it was supposed to, and how it was supposed to. Eli tried to believe that, as well, as it helped him come to terms with things beyond his control. But he couldn’t help but wish the time for him to meet Fred and Haley had been sooner. He’d be grateful for every day he had with them, but part of him grieved for time he hadn’t known he’d lost.
Chapter Thirty-Five
The fall air was crisp even though the sun was bright. The distinctive scent of drying leaves was in the air, mixing with the smell of a fire someone had burning down the holler. It was a beautiful day set into a calendar of dwindling beautiful days, and as she tipped her face up to the sun, relishing in the warmth, Haley smiled.
When that wasn’t enough of an expression of her happiness, she laughed, then twirled around.
“You’re certainly in a good mood today,” Eli teased. They were in the yard, working on taking down the garden fence, and he had the sleeves on his blue, long-sleeved T-shirt pushed up past his elbows. The shirt was a handful of shades darker than the cerulean blue sky, and it set off his blue eyes in a striking manner.
He was so handsome, it almost hurt her to look at him. With his hair longer now, a curl fell onto his forehead. Every time he pushed it back impatiently, the temptation to go to him and touch him grew stronger.
Haley had gotten good at resisting temptation as far as Eli Campbell was concerned.
“I’m happy today,” she said in answer to his comment as she raked the dead vines of the tomato plants over to the pile they were getting ready to light on fire. “I’m not over-analyzing anything, just enjoying the moment.”
“Fred seemed to be doing that earlier when Grandma and Grandpa were here. I hope it wasn’t too much for him.” He stepped close to her and lifted his hand, flicking away a dead leaf.
“He had a blast talking to them, today and on Thursday. Thanks for putting them together.”
“They’ve enjoyed meeting him just as much.”
Owen and Sarah had spent most of the day with Fred Thursday, as had Eli, who’d stayed for supper after they’d gone. And today, the three of them had shown up around ten, Owen’s small digital recorder in tow, and the conversation hadn’t stopped. For hours, he’d skillfully interviewed Fred about his family history and the tales that had been passed down through the years.
Haley’d been enchanted as she listened, feeling almost as though she were hearing them for the first time.
Eli’s grandparents left earlier today than they had Thursday, though, around three, with the promise to come back soon. Fred, who’d been feeling tired, had decided to take a nap shortly thereafter. Wanting some fresh air, Haley had pulled Eli out to the yard.
“I guess that’s a hobby of your grandfather’s, the genealogy?”
Eli shrugged. “Kind of. It’s a hobby he takes pretty seriously, really. That’s part of why Sophie’s coming in next weekend, to talk to him about collaborating on a project. See, Grandpa’s been doing this research for… geez, I guess fifty years now? Maybe longer? He was doing it before he and Grandma married, and they had their fifty-fifth anniversary in June.”
“Wow. I can’t imagine that, being married to someone for that long.”
He took the rake from her and finished gathering the tomato vines. “My parents have been married over thirty years. They still act like newlyweds.” He laughed and shook his head. “I’ve been too embarrassed to tell you about the motel.”
By the time he finished the story, Haley was in tears from laughing so hard. “I’d have paid a hundred dollars to see your faces. Oh, your poor parents. Eli, that’s awful. And so sweet that they do that. But mostly awful… I can’t believe you guys did that! You actually confronted your dad? In his own yard?”
He sent her a self-conscious grin. “What were we supposed to do? We couldn’t just let it go. I swear I don’t think Noah’s recovered yet. I never realized my brother had so many hang-ups about sex, but he’s something of a prude.”
She propped her hands on her hips and tilted her head. “Or maybe it’s the idea that your parents apparently have a kinky sex life. That’d turn most people into a prude, I think.” She winked at him to take the sting out of her words. “Between the spying and the wife-hunting conversation you had with one of his clients, you two are going to get a reputation if you’re not careful.”
He tossed the rake aside and walked up to her, not stopping until they were touching. When he placed his hands on her hips, Haley’s heart stuttered, then raced. Her own hands were flat against his chest, the solidness of his muscles warm against her palms. Everywhere they touched, she felt electrified.
“As long as you don’t judge me, I don’t care,” he said. His tone was light, but his eyes were serious.
If someone had held a gun to her head in that moment, Haley didn’t think she could have said a word. All she could do was stare at his mouth, hoping, waiting, wishing he’d kiss her already.
Just as he started to lower his head, his phone rang, causing them both to jump. The curse he muttered under his breath had her widening her eyes with its inventiveness.
“It’s Grandma,” he said as he checked the caller ID, then looked at her with regret. “Hello?”
Haley let her head rest against his chest for a moment, then pulled back and picked up the rake.
“No, I don’t mind. I’ll look for them. Sure. Okay. You, too. Bye.” He put the phone back on his belt with a sigh. “She left her reading glasses, she thinks.”
“Ah. Okay.” Haley glanced at him, then back at the garden. “So are you looking forward to seeing Sophie?”
He stared at her for a moment, his eyes narrowed, and Haley got the impression that Sophie wasn’t the topic he wanted to discuss. But then he gave a little shake of his head.
“Yes and no. Yes, because Sophie’s a sweetheart. My third sister, and I’m looking forward to having you meet her. No, because Noah still has issues with her. And I’m a little concerned as to how they’ll interact with each other.”
With the last of the dead plants in hand, she looked over her shoulder at him. “They’ve spent time together since you came home, haven’t they?” She tossed the vines onto the pile and dusted her hands.
“Yeah, but she’ll be at his house at least part of the time. That’s going to be difficult for him, I’m afraid.”
Haley walked up to him, her hands on her hips again as she watched him. “You know, he is an adult. A fairly reasonable one, from what I’ve seen. And you two have worked through a lot of difficult situations over the last few months. He’s held up okay with that, unless there’s something you’re not telling me. Stop worrying.”
Eli looked down at her, then away, shaking his head as his lips quirked up at the corners. “You should know by now that worrying is part of what we Campbells do.”
“Mm-hmmm, I do. It’s one of your sweetest features. Let Noah worry about Noah. He’ll handle it. Or he won’t, and you’ll deal with the repercussions. I think he’ll be fine.”
“I hope so.”
“Speaking of Noah, have you approached him yet about the job?” She stepped back and checked the water hose for pressure.
“I don’t know how to,” he admitted quietly, looking down at his hands. “I don’t want him to think I expect him to give me a job just because he’s my brother. Or feel like I think he owes it to me or anything like that.”
“From the sounds of things, he needs someone to do the job. He’d probably be grateful for the help.”
He’d mentioned the idea to her a week ago.
“He needs a manager,” he’d said as they had lunch Friday. “Someone to take some of the burden off. He’s constantly having to stop and answer the p
hone, take care of this order, that order, this appointment, that quote, et cetera. He can’t get the work done for handling that side of things. Plus, all the stuff he hates? Doing the take-offs and optimizations? Laying out the kitchen digitally? I know it makes me sound like the biggest geek in the world, but I love it, Haley.”
The animation on his face as he told her about all the things he’d been learning from Noah was endearing. She’d sat and watched him, and another piece of her heart broke off and floated into the complicated mess that were her feelings for this man.
“What?” he’d asked when he’d noticed her smile. “Am I sounding like a crazy man?”
“No. Not in the least.” She’d encouraged him then, and she encouraged him now.
“Has he given you any hint of a clue to suggest that he feels like you’re interfering with his life?” she asked softly.
“No.” He sighed. “I guess we’re still in that newlywed phase. Walking on eggshells to avoid our first fight. Afraid that if we break things, we won’t be able to fix it.”
“I can understand that. But you need to ask him. Soon.”
Eli touched her face with the back of his fingers. “Can I cry on your shoulder if he kicks me to the curb?”
Haley caught his hand and kissed his fingers. “Absolutely.”
Thus far in their relationship, a few hugs, a soft kiss to the hand, a touch here or there, that was as far as they’d gone. Haley wasn’t sure if he was gun-shy because of his marriage or if he was simply being respectful of her concerns, but whatever the reason, she appreciated it.
After Eli’d gone home that night, before she and Fred went to bed, her grandfather turned to her.