Home at Last Chance

by Hope Ramsay

  Why couldn’t Sarah be like that? Formidable. Imposing. In control.

  The woman looked up, and their gazes locked across Ruby’s linoleum floor. Her green gaze traveled from Sarah’s windblown hair, across the silly bunny logo on her golf shirt, down to her baggy khakis, and ended with her slip-on boat shoes, which were appropriate footwear for Grandfather’s sailboat, but not at a funeral.

  The woman said something into the landline and then something into her cell phone, and hung up on both conversations simultaneously, all while continuing to study Sarah as if she had been blown in by an unwanted wind.

  “Are you with Tulane?” she asked without any preamble.

  “Oh, Aunt Rocky, that’s Miss Sarah,” Haley said from her place on Miriam’s lap. “You know, the one who fainted that time.” Haley smiled her Bucky Beaver smile. “Hi, Miss Sarah.”

  “Hi, Haley.” Sarah nodded toward the little girl and the ancient church lady. Then she turned back toward Aunt Rocky, who must be the little sister Tulane had mentioned. Rocky Rhodes was stifling a little half-smile. She seemed more delighted than she ought to be, considering that someone had died. “I’m Caroline,” she said, holding out her hand.

  “Caroline?”

  “Yes. I go by that name these days.”

  “But she’s really Aunt Rocky,” Haley said as she continued to drop cookies on the baking sheet.

  Sarah wondered if the real reason Tulane wanted to keep Haley out of the limelight was that Haley knew everything about everyone and had no filter on her mouth.

  Sarah ignored the precocious child and shook Rocky’s hand. The woman had a firm, businesslike grip. Rocky probably had a firm, businesslike grip on everything in her life, including her career.

  “I’m Sarah Murray,” she said. “I’m Tulane’s sponsor liaison. I was with him when we got the news. I traveled up here in Clay’s van while I worked on getting Tulane out of his various weekend obligations. Now my cell’s dead, and I don’t have a charger. I was wondering if I could use the phone, so I can arrange for some clothes to be brought down for Tulane.”

  Rocky gave her a pixie smile, full of mischief, and stepped aside, clearing a path to the phone. “Phone’s all yours. But there’s no need to call for a car. I can take you up to Florence, if you need.”

  “Oh, that won’t be necessary. I don’t want to put you out. I’ll just get someone to send a car and then I’ll just ride back. Oh, and do you know who’s handling the funeral arrangements? National Brands wants to help any way we can, maybe with flowers for the service.”

  “Do you now? That’s nice,” Rocky said, a speculative gleam in her green eyes.

  “Yes, we do. Do you know who—”

  “You know, Momma told me all about you,” Rocky interrupted.

  “She did?” Sarah had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She could just imagine what Ruby had told Rocky—a lot of nonsense about how she had worn a black suit and fainted.

  “She said you were Tulane’s nursemaid, and I didn’t believe her. I didn’t think anyone could actually keep my brother in line, but you seem to have the knack. That’s impressive.” The grin on Rocky’s mouth grew into a wide, beauty-queen smile.

  “Uh, well, it’s not—”

  “I’m guessing that being his nursemaid might be pretty interesting, since my brother is so immature. I can see they’ve sent a sensible person to keep him in line.”

  “Well, um, thanks, I guess.”

  “C’mon, I have a car. I’ll give you a lift up to Florence. To be honest with you, I wouldn’t mind getting out of this madhouse before Momma and I start arguing. And besides, I could use your help.”

  “My help?”

  “Momma told me you were handling all of Tulane’s personal appearances. I can only assume there is a lot of planning that goes into a baby-changing race. And I can clearly see that you’re in the middle of handling all the little details of my brother’s life right at this moment. I know what it takes to manage details, not to mention a difficult boss. So, the way I’m thinking is that you are, pretty much, the answer to my prayers.”

  “I am?”

  “Absolutely. I’ve got a crisis at the moment with my boss, Senator Warren. He’s having a snit fit about some stupid Englishman who has a real estate problem that needs fixing right away. The senator doesn’t really care that there’s been a death in the family. He can be an insensitive SOB at times. But he does depend on me. So all in all, you being here is like a godsend. It means I don’t have to continue to try to conduct two phone calls simultaneously.”

  Sarah frowned. “A godsend? Really?”

  “Sarah, around here we believe in the power of prayer, and I was just praying for someone to help. And the minute the prayer left my mind, you came strolling into the kitchen. I have a huge favor to ask. I’ve got way too much on my plate at the moment, and none of my brothers could plan their way out of a paper sack, since they were all close to Uncle Pete. And Aunt Arlene, who might be able to do that sort of thing, is a total mess, as you might imagine. As for Momma, she just lost her only brother, and she’s joined at the hip with Aunt Arlene right now. So until you walked into this room, I was thinking that I was going to have to manage this funeral all by my lonesome.” Rocky smiled. “But the reinforcements have arrived, haven’t they?”

  “Have they?”

  “Well, you did just say that National Brands wants to help any way they can. I’m going to take you up on that offer.”

  “You are?” Sarah could hear the jaws of the trap swinging closed. Deidre was going to love this. And Tulane was going to be angrier than one of the rodeo bulls that Dad used to ride when he was much younger, before Mother roped and tied him.

  “Yes, I am. Have you ever planned a funeral before?” Rocky asked.

  “Uh, no. But my mother is a devout Presbyterian church lady and member of the casserole brigade.”

  Rocky laughed out loud and took Sarah gently by her upper arm. “Sarah, I think I like you. C’mon, let’s go. You can get some clothes for yourself and Tulane and then you can help me with the arrangements.”

  Rocky turned toward Miriam Randall. “Miz Miriam, can you put Sarah up for the next few days? I wouldn’t want to make her stay at the Peach Blossom Motor Court.”

  Miriam looked up at them from behind her glasses. “Of course I can put her up. She stayed with me the last time she was here. And thank you, Sarah. I’m sure your mother would approve of your helping out.” She smiled like a possessed cherub.

  “Good, it’s all settled, then.” Rocky tugged Sarah through the kitchen door and out into the parlor, where she announced that they were taking care of everything. Then they marched out through the front door and into the Carolina heat and humidity.

  Rocky didn’t wilt in the heat. This didn’t surprise Sarah one bit. Because Rocky was a force to be reckoned with. Just like her mother.

  Haley spooned the last bit of cookie dough onto the sheet, and Miz Miriam handed it to Miz Polk, who put it in the oven.

  Haley watched the Sorrowful Angel, who was sitting in her place by the broom closet. The Sorrowful Angel wasn’t bawling today, but she was sad.

  Everyone was sad, on account of the fact that Uncle Pete had died.

  But didn’t that mean Uncle Pete was up in Heaven with Jesus? Haley just couldn’t quite understand what was so sad about that.

  She reckoned it was just that folks would miss Uncle Pete. And she would, too. But Uncle Pete had been really sick for a long time. He hadn’t been very happy lately.

  So, all in all, maybe it was better for Uncle Pete to be with Jesus now.

  “Miz Miriam?” she asked.

  “What, child?” Miriam gave her a little hug. The old woman’s arms were kind of bony, but Haley liked the way Miz Miriam smelled. She used lavender water, and Haley decided that when she grew up she would use lavender water, too.

  “Do you think I could get Miss Sarah to let me help Uncle Tulane with his idea about car seats?”r />
  “Well… I think maybe you should ask your daddy first. We talked about this before, didn’t we?”

  Haley had already tried once to get Miz Miriam to help her on the whole car seat thing, but she’d turned out to be a whole lot like Granny and Daddy. Of course, Dr. Newsome was kind of interested. They had spent several sessions talking about car seats and how Haley felt about them, especially since a car seat had kept her safe when she and her momma had been in that car wreck.

  Miz Miriam patted her knee with one age-spotted hand and then turned her eyes toward the broom closet, as if she could truly see the Sorrowful Angel. “Sugar Beet, I don’t think your angel really wants you to help Uncle Tulane with that car seat program.”

  “No?”

  “No, child. I think she wants you to work on something much closer to home. Didn’t you say she stays in your daddy’s room at night?”

  “Yes’m, she does. Do you think she wants me to help Daddy because Momma died, like Uncle Pete?”

  Miz Miriam gave her a squeeze. “You are a wise child, Haley Rhodes.”

  “But how?”

  “I don’t know how. I truly don’t. But your daddy changed after your momma died in that wreck.”

  “Everyone says that. Is the same thing gonna happen to Aunt Arlene? She’s so sad.”

  “I hope not. But we’ll have to be extra kind to your aunt the next few weeks. And we’ll just have to keep thinking about what to do with your daddy.”

  Haley sat back against Miz Miriam’s warmth and studied the angel for a long moment. “Miz Miriam, couldn’t you find my daddy a new wife? Wouldn’t that solve his problem? I’m thinking maybe that would help to get the angel back to Heaven where she belongs.”

  “Ooooh, child, that’s a hard one. You see, near as I can tell, your momma and daddy were meant to be together. I felt that from the time they were both just small children. And, truth be told, your momma and daddy were great friends before it ever even occurred to them to fall in love.”

  “So when Momma went to be with Jesus, Daddy got left all alone?”

  “Well, no, you and your sister are here, aren’t you?”

  Haley nodded, but she understood the truth. She had been listening to Dr. Newsome go on about Daddy and Momma, and she knew what the grown-ups all said.

  Daddy was lonely, even though he was surrounded by people who loved him.

  Even though an angel stood over him in his room every night.

  That’s why the angel was sorrowful.

  “Miz Miriam, everyone says you have a knack for matching people up.”

  Miriam chuckled. “Well, that’s because they’re fools, Haley. Don’t you believe what folks say about me. I don’t make matches. I just find them. The Lord makes the matches.”

  “So you’re saying that the Lord made a match between my momma and daddy, and now that she’s with Jesus, he has to be alone until it’s his time to go to Heaven?”

  Miriam gave her another squeeze. “Oh, baby, I surely do hope that’s not what I’m saying. But sometimes I’m afraid it is.”

  Haley nodded, a deep hollow place inside her chest opening up. “If that’s the truth, then I guess the angel has a really big reason to be sorrowful, doesn’t she?”

  CHAPTER

  8

  Sarah and Jane, Clay’s wife, sat quietly in Ruby’s kitchen after having cleaned up the dishes and put away what seemed like three tons of macaroni-and-cheese casserole. Jane was knitting on a messy tangle of army-green yarn that was supposed to be a sweater for her husband. Ruby and Arlene had gone off to bed. Clay, Rocky, and Tulane had disappeared about two hours ago.

  “Wherever they are, I’m sure they’re crying like little kids,” Jane said. She turned back to the mess in her carefully manicured hands with an expression as placid as a Madonna.

  Sarah checked her watch. It was almost eleven, and she was exhausted. “Well, I guess I can walk over to Miriam’s house. She gave me a key, but I’ll bet the door isn’t locked. Last Chance is small enough that I could find my way.”

  “Don’t be too mad at Tulane and Rocky for abandoning you.”

  “I’m not mad. Just tired.”

  Jane dropped the knitting onto her lap and looked up, mischief sparking her brown eyes to life. “We could call the law out on them if you want.”

  “Why would I want to do that?”

  “Because it will probably happen anyway. And maybe we can make sure Tulane doesn’t get blamed this time.”

  “What?”

  “I know it’s not my place to say, seeing as I’m a new member of the family, but it seems to me that it’s open season on Tulane whenever he comes back home. In this instance, I’m pretty sure Rocky is the main instigator of any trouble that’s going to happen tonight. I heard her say she was getting the beer.”

  “Well, Tulane doesn’t have to drink it, does he?”

  Jane shook her head. “He’s grieving. He’ll drink it. And then the trouble will happen, even though he didn’t go looking for it. And when the trouble happens, Stone will step right up to the plate and offer up a sermon about how Tulane needs to grow up. This is a cycle of very negative affirmations.”

  “Uh, that’s insightful, but see, it’s my job to keep Tulane out of trouble.”

  Jane leaned over the tangle in her hand. “So I’ve heard. How’s that going?”

  “We haven’t been sued in the last three weeks.”

  “Well, that’s a positive sign.”

  Sarah pushed up from the table. “I’m going to go see if I can find Miriam’s house.”

  “Don’t do that. Stone will take you. I’ll just give him a buzz.”

  “But—”

  Before Sarah could stop Jane, she had whipped out her cell phone and reached Stone on her speed dial. “He’ll be here to pick you up in a minute.”

  “You didn’t need to do that.”

  “Oh, yes I did, because Stone is dealing with his grief by throwing himself into his work. He’s out there patrolling the town, keeping everyone safe. And if he saw you walking alone to Miriam’s, he would be furious with Tulane for making you walk home alone, and then Tulane would have his head handed to him on that score, too.”

  “But Tulane is not my keeper.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Stone approves of you.”

  “He approves of me? Really? I’ve said like five words to him.”

  “Yeah, I think it’s the whole keeping-Tulane-out-of-trouble thing. It’s like the two of you are both enforcers or something.” She gave Sarah a speculative look. “Too bad Miriam didn’t tell you to be searching for a tall, dark guy wearing a gun.”

  “How did you know Miriam told me anything?”

  Jane smiled. “Because you’re not from around here. Whenever someone who isn’t from Allenberg County shows up, the old girl immediately starts with her predictions. I only wish you were destined for Stone, because if you ask me, the grump needs to get laid.”

  Sarah’s face burned.

  Jane leaned back in her chair and stretched. “But, alas, you are not destined for Stone. The holy rollers around here have bigger game in mind. I swear those church ladies have been talking about you solid for the last three weeks.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. Especially after what Miriam told you to be looking out for.”

  “You know what she told me?”

  “Of course I do. Everyone does. They are pretty sure you and Bill are a match made in Heaven.”

  “Bill? What are you talking about?”

  “C’mon, Sarah, you’ve been here long enough to know that Miriam Randall is considered some strange combination of a matchmaker and a fortune-teller. And, as near as I can tell, the woman is connected to the larger powers of the universe. I mean, it’s uncanny the way she can predict the future.” Jane leaned in with an avid look in her brown eyes. “So, have you met Bill yet?”

  “No.”

  Jane smiled broadly. “Sarah, I’m sorry to tell you, but you’re in serious
danger of losing your heart. Probably tomorrow.”

  “I am?” Sarah wasn’t sure how she felt about that, having never had even one satisfactory sexual encounter in her life. Losing her heart seemed like a pretty bold next step.

  “The good news is that he’s not your average preacher.”

  “Preacher?” Sarah’s voice cracked, and she sank back down into one of the kitchen chairs.

  Jane frowned. “I take it the idea of you and a preacher is scary?”

  “You have no idea.”

  “How come?”

  “Because I promised myself a long, long time ago that I would never, ever, ever grow up to be my mother.”

  Jane cocked her head. “Your father’s a preacher?”

  Sarah squeezed her eyes shut and then dropped her head to the table, so she could rest her forehead against the cool Formica.

  Jane howled with laughter.

  Sarah raised her head. “It’s not funny. Please don’t tell anyone. Mother is not only married to a minister, she’s a librarian at a theological seminary in Boston. You have no idea what my life was like when I was in college and living in Boston. Mom trotted out a steady stream of theological students for my benefit.” Sarah paused for a long moment as she rested her chin on her fists, elbows planted on the tabletop.

  “You know, it’s worse than that,” she continued. “My grandfather was a minister, and my great-grandfather was a missionary, and, well, it goes all the way back for generations. I am not going to marry a minister. Period. You understand me? So please don’t tell Miriam or anyone else.”

  Jane’s face sobered. “Sarah, I promise I won’t tell a soul. But the thing is, if Miriam told you that a minister is in your future, well, a minister is in your future. When he crosses your path, something wacky is going to happen to your brain, and it will all be all right. Trust me on this.”