by June Kramin
“I’m so sorry for all the drama I brought in your life, Slick.”
“I’m not by any means, babe. I never knew what I was missing by not having a big family. I really like your brothers.”
“What about all the rushing to the hospitals? The reporters? The waiting room brawls?”
“Now that was one for the books. I swear I heard my own nuts crunch when you kneed that duke. Remind me never to piss you off.”
“I don’t know what possessed me.”
“You were upset. I’m glad we were in the hospital here.”
“Why? He didn’t need medical attention.”
“No. But I’m pretty sure if we were in his country, you’d have been drawn and quartered.”
“He was just a cheat to me. I don’t care what crown he wears. And shut up. I don’t care if dukes don’t wear crowns. You know what I mean.”
Bix stopped rubbing her back and took her chin in his hand. “Someone cheat on you? Break your heart? You sure take that personal.”
“Other than what Nancy did with Tony, no. I just feel strongly about it. I guess I was just the right amount of angry and he was handy. What about you?”
“What about me?”
“You ever the cheat-er or cheat-ee?”
“The second one. It’s my pet peeve, too. That’s what happened with Ginger.”
“Ginger? You never said her name before. Were you engaged?”
“Thinking about it.”
“Did you date very long?”
“Three years.”
“Three years?”
“Neither one of us was around much. We didn’t live together. We kinda just floated back and forth between apartments.”
“But you were monogamous.”
“I was — apparently she wasn’t.”
“I don’t know how she could look elsewhere.” Ellie stroked his chest.
“Don’t worry. I don’t feel inadequate. You don’t need to fluff my ego. I had a few months where I had to travel a lot and I guess she couldn’t go without for a couple of days. I don’t know. Do we have to talk about this?”
“No. I guess we’re done anyway. As long as I’m not your rebound girl.”
“Babe, you are far from the rebound girl. I honestly don’t think I ever felt about her the way I feel about you.”
“But you said she broke your heart.”
“I think it was more my ego. If there was something there, we would have been married a long time ago. I knew something wasn’t right. I should have paid more attention to what was going on between her and my best friend. I guess I just trusted them.”
“Your best friend? Shit.”
“Tell me about it. I think I miss him more than her.”
Ellie nuzzled into his chest. “I’ll be your best friend.”
He laughed. “I accept.”
“Did she want you back?”
“I thought we were done talking about this?”
“Did she?” Ellie insisted.
“Yes. Does it matter?”
“I guess not. I just don’t think it’s in our best interests if we both have stalkers.”
He laughed hard then held her tight.
They walked upstairs the next morning and found Bix’s father in the sitting room with a newspaper and heard pots clanking in the kitchen which meant his mom was already busy starting breakfast. Ellie walked to the couch and sat by Bart, folding her legs under her. He put down his paper and smiled at her.
“I’ll go get coffee,” Bix said as he headed to the kitchen. “You need a refill, Dad?” he asked, apparently surprising both Bart and Ellie.
“Thanks. I have a full cup.”
“I’m glad you decided to stay for a few days, Mr. Newman,” Ellie said to him.
“Call me Bart, Ellie.”
She smiled. “Okay.”
“I wasn’t about to leave town with a maniac running around after my family.” He placed his hand on Ellie’s knee for a quick pat.
“Anything interesting in the paper this morning?”
“There’s a duke in town.”
“Anything other than that?”
He picked up the paper. “That twin and her family still has no comment on the incident that — ”
“I will hurt you.” Ellie laughed as she ripped the paper from his hands.
He reached back for another section at his side. “Seventy percent chance of snow today.”
“Is that the best we can do? The weather?”
He laughed. “You know, I have to say you look great. I had my appendix out when I was around your age. I don’t recall fairing half as well as you are.”
“I’m a tough cookie.”
“Mighty tasty cookie, too,” Bix said as he walked in with coffee, apparently forgetting his father was there. He cleared his throat. “Anything news-worthy?”
“We’ve already gone there, Bix. By your dad’s replies, my guess is no.”
“Smart ass, was he?”
“That must run in the family,” Ellie said with a smile.
Bart looked around the room. “There’s so much of Mom and Dad in this house. I’d really like family to come and see what they want. Your great-aunt Ruth would love some of the memorabilia. I’d appreciate it if you could come let them in when they can show up after we get it sorted.”
“Sure. I can do that. Actually, with all that’s going on, I don’t want to go back to Ellie’s until this bastard is found.”
“Smart move. Of course you can stay. Actually, I insist on it. I can come help you move the rest of your things when the time comes.” Bix’s mother had come into the room to take egg requests and Bart pulled her on his lap. “With your permission, son, I’d like to start dating your mother. I want to see a lot more of her and I’m trying to get a transfer to a route in the Twin Cities so we can be closer. That okay with you?”
“It’s a little late for my permission.”
“I’d still like your blessing.”
“You don’t need it.”
“I’d still like it.”
Bix looked over at Ellie. If the combination sad eyes with a begging look were a competition, she would take the gold. She bent down and picked up the cat as if she was trying to avoid being brought into the conversation.
“If Mom is happy, I’m happy.”
Sue climbed off of Bart’s lap and walked over to Bix. She kissed him on the cheek then held his face. “You just earned Eggs Benedict, young man.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Sue and Ellie shared several glances and smiles over breakfast, both enjoying the men finally getting along. Bix seemed to have finally forgiven his father and was acting civilly as they caught up on the years they missed. The women cleaned the dishes while the guys went out to the shop.
“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that they are finally talking and not yelling at each other. I swear I wanted to kill them both, Ellie.”
“I can imagine. There doesn’t seem to be a stage in which men stop acting like boys.”
Sue laughed. “No, there doesn’t.”
“Do you really think you guys can make a go of it again?”
“I actually believe we have a better chance. We weren’t much more than kids when we got married. Having babies right away wasn’t the best for our situation. We were both so ambitious and had so many dreams. I don’t want to sound like the children held us back, we just sacrificed a lot for them and it wore on the relationship. I don’t regret my children for a minute. Understand that.”
“Of course I do. Even with Bix claiming to not like his dad, I can see he had a big part of his upbringing when it mattered most. Bart had to have been a wonderful father when Bix was young. Bix is a dream compared to some guys I know.”
“That’s the truth. We just grew apart over the years and we both knew it was best. The kids would have hated living in a household where all we did was fight. I never stopped loving him, but I just couldn’t live with him. I honestly think I love him
now more than I did then. Maybe age does bring wisdom after all. And holy smokes, don’t get me started on the sex.”
“Mom!”
“Sorry.” She chuckled. “When I was your age, an older couple saw us together. I don’t know what brought it on but they said, ‘If you think the sex is good now, just wait till you’re older.’ By golly, they were right.”
Ellie laughed, and then it stopped as fast as it started. Tears formed in her eyes.
“Honey, what’s the matter?”
“I guess I didn’t realize how much I missed talking with my mom till just now.”
Sue reached for Ellie and pulled her close. Ellie sobbed freely as Sue rocked with her and stroked her hair. “I’m so sorry. I’m sure I’m no substitute, but I’ll do my best to be here whenever you need me. Promise to call me anytime. Even if it’s just to talk about nothing or text me a picture of great shoes you just got on sale.”
Ellie managed a giggle then sniffed.
“I’d love to hear from you anytime. Promise me.”
Ellie nodded. She picked her head up and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, honey,” Sue said as she wiped away her tears. “You’re already a part of the family.”
“So what are you going to do with all the tools, Dad?”
“I have everything imaginable. Twice more than I’ll ever use and the storage chests to put them in. I’ve been thinking about thinning it out, not adding to it.”
“You sure kept Gramps supplied in Snap-on tools.”
“I’ve done well for myself and Gramps loved the perks. I can’t re-sell ’em. You take what you want and we’ll go from there. We may have to have an auction down the line. Everything that isn’t picked over will have to go that way. I know that sounds cold to you…”
“No, it doesn’t. Not now. I know it all needs to find a home. I’m not going to hold onto things for keepsakes. I loved that he left ol’ Bessie to me, but it’ll just die from neglect. I’m no farmer.”
“It won’t be hard to find someone that can make good use out of her. We have all the time we need. I’m not in a hurry to do this and most of it is certainly waiting for spring. So, what are your intentions with the cars?”
“I haven’t thought about it much. It’s funny we didn’t even have a clue about them. You think he would have bragged about having the cars and told us everything. I don’t know if they were already restored or if he bought them that way.”
“He could have rebuilt those engines himself with his eyes closed. That much I know for sure. It’s a puzzle why they were hidden, though. Just leave ’em where they are for as long as you need to.”
“Thanks.”
The next few days were filled with going through Gramps’s office, cleaning out paperwork and hauling a couple years’ worth of newspapers to the recycling plant. Clothes and books were donated to the Goodwill, but Bix and Ellie decided to keep the board games. They worked long days over into the early morning hours and Bix did what he could on a laptop he brought back.
Ellie often fell asleep on the couch while Bix worked, not wanting to go to bed without him. He insisted on driving Ellie to the hospital every day so she could visit Nancy, not daring to leave her alone for any length of time. She didn’t like it, but she allowed him that much paranoia and didn’t fight him. It’ll wear off soon, she convinced herself. She felt bad for taking up even more of Bix’s time, but she had stopped fighting with him after the first day.
She was only able to see her sister two of the four days. The nurse said she was sleeping once and another time she had been so bad just before they showed up, the hospital psychiatrist was called to visit with her. The nurse apologized for not calling her and letting her know to save them the trip.
“Holly,” Ellie said. “She seems like she’s getting worse, not better.”
“Physically, she’s healing okay. The damage from the incident is making things slow going. If it was only about the transplant, you know she’d be out of here by now. We were afraid her body was starting to reject the kidney, but we got past that. Something happened to her mentally. If her attitude were more positive, things would be going a lot quicker. She fights us at everything. It’s like pulling teeth to even get her to eat.”
“She won’t even say much to me when I’m with her. She keeps saying she hurts and she’s tired and doesn’t want to talk.”
“We’ll just have to give her time,” Holly said.
Ellie looked down the hall and saw her brothers talking to Bix. She thanked Holly and went over to talk to them.
“You guys staying out of trouble?”
“How long have you known us?” Nick laughed.
“I know your normal tricks, but I’d like to hear it from you that you’re not out doing anything stupid like looking for Shawn.”
“I got my eyes open. That’s all I’m going to say. How’s Nancy today? She didn’t look so hot yesterday.”
“I didn’t get to see her. She’s in therapy.”
“We’ll go eat and come back. You two want to join us?” Nathan asked.
“I’ve really got go back. This packing up business is kicking my ass. You can go with them, Ellie.”
“No. I want to help you. Bad enough you waste an hour hauling me back and forth here every day.”
“Let him and shut up about it,” Nathan said. “If he didn’t, I’d come get you myself. You watch your ass until this prick is caught.”
“Yes, Mother.” Ellie took Bix’s hand. “Let’s go home. I’m beat.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
The next day, Ellie told Bix not to bother going to the hospital. “I called the guys and said your mom was leaving today and I wouldn’t be stopping by.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. It’s not doing any good anyway. She just stares at nothing and refuses to talk to me, anyway.”
He took her hand. “You’ll make headway, babe. Just give her time.”
“All I’ve been doing is giving her time. I know I can’t imagine what she’s been through and nothing could be harder to deal with, but I just want her to start talking to me already.” She looked up at him. “I’m sorry.”
“What for?”
“You’ve been just as involved in all of this…even more so. You’ve been putting in some really late hours and all I’m doing is complaining.”
“I’m used to it, though. I am kind of a night owl by nature. It’ll get better soon. When Mom’s gone, I’ll have my days back again. At least until spring and Dad shows up to take care of the outside. It’ll be all right, babe.” He gave her a strong hug. “A normal life will settle in soon. Just hang in there.”
They finished loading Sue’s car with boxes of framed photos, photo albums, and Grandma’s Hummel figurines for her to disperse to the granddaughters. When Sue lost her grandmother, each of girls in the family got two teacups from her collection. She’d always cherished them and wanted to do the same kind of thing for the girls in the family.
Besides the items she knew the few relatives that lived close by would want, only furniture and kitchen-wear was left. Those items would stay for as long as Bix and Ellie needed them.
“You two take what you want and see that the rest is taken to Goodwill,” Sue said to Bix as they lingered over their goodbye in the foyer. “I think we did all right here.”
“You’re a hell of a drill sergeant, Mom,” Bix said with a chuckle.
“I had a very efficient crew. Your dad said the two of you are going to work on the outside in the spring.”
“We got it covered.”
“Good, because I wouldn’t have a clue of what to do with any of it. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you two are getting along again.”
Bix shrugged. “He’s my father and you love him. What’s a guy to do?”
Sue reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m going to miss having you underfoot.”
“So come visit Ellie and me soon.”
“I’ll have to do that.” She took just a moment longer before she released her hug. “You keep me posted on that Shawn fellow. I want to know when he’s caught. I’ll be worried to death until he’s found.”
“We’re fine, Mom. Anything else to load?”
“It’s all in and there isn’t a square inch to spare if it wasn’t.”
They walked outside and over to her car. Bix kissed her cheek. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too. You take care of that girl.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Bix saw Ellie on the porch. She had already said her goodbyes to his mom, but apparently she’d had a change of heart. She walked over to the car and threw her arms around Sue.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Ellie said through tears.
“Me too,” Sue said, losing her own fight with tears. “We’ll visit often. Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Keep him in line, would you? Boy there is a handful.”
“I’ll do my best.” Ellie wiped away her tears and walked over to Bix. They had an arm wrapped around each other as they waved goodbye while Sue drove away.
The next morning, Ellie’s brothers showed up. Bix opened the door and smiled. “You missed breakfast,” he said as he invited them in.
Nathan laughed. “We’re good. Thought we’d take Ellie in to see Nancy today and let you get caught up on some work.”
“That would be great. I never thought working from home would kick my ass so bad. I appreciate you taking her. She made an excuse not to go yesterday and I was kind of waiting for one today.”
“You know, Bix, figuring women out is bad enough, but having to figure your sister out is even worse.”
“I just can’t figure how a man could mistreat a woman,” Bix said.
Nate sighed heavy. “I know. But besides the whole motel thing, I think there’s more to her and Ellie. She say anything to you?”
“I’m afraid I can’t help you there. You see the same things I do with those two. I think when Nancy’s better, we need to lock them in a room and let them duke it out until they like each other.”