Inside the kitchen faucet was dripping, the ceiling in the living room had a crack that ran from wall to wall, and the walls were neon green and pink.
“It would make a good fixer-upper,” Belinda said, ever chipper although Mattie was obviously discouraged.
The realtor took them to several others houses, but just when it was beginning to seem half the town was for sale, Belinda regretfully admitted she didn’t have anything else to fit Mattie’s requirements.
“Of course, we’re getting new listings all the time. Sometimes people want to move before school starts for their children, so we may have a last-minute rush.”
“I’d like to move before Labor Day,” Mattie said.
“Have you considered something a ways out of town?” the realtor asked. “We have a nice frame house on two acres with a brook running through the property. It’s been for sale since winter, so the owner is more than ready to negotiate.”
“No, I lived on a farm since the day I got married. I’m ready for something in town.” Mattie clenched her lips, a sure sign she couldn’t be persuaded.
“Well, I’ll keep in touch,” Belinda said as she dropped them off in front of the Sawyer mansion. “As I said, this is a busy time for new listings. I’m sure something will turn up.”
“Maybe an apartment wouldn’t be so bad,” Mattie said as she trudged wearily through the foyer to the kitchen. “It’s hard to get old and not know where you belong.”
Annie put her arm around the older woman’s shoulders. Now more than ever she could sympathize. Her dreams were fading, replaced by an impossible love for Nathan.
Chapter 17
By the end of the week Annie did believe half the town was for sale. The realtor kept coming up with more houses to show, but by Friday all that seemed available were mostly three and four bedroom homes, more house than Mattie needed or wanted.
“Maybe I will end up in an old folks’ home,” she said after they’d spent Friday afternoon looking at several homes in a new development.
“I’m sure it won’t come to that,” Annie said, trying to boost her spirits.
It was hard to cheer up Mattie when she’d never felt so dejected herself. She’d stopped at the flower shop before work a few days ago, and the owners were more reserved than she’d ever known them to be. Were they looking for a different buyer, someone who would buy them out immediately? They listened to her assurances she would have the down payment by Labor Day but didn’t comment.
Nathan was practically the invisible man. He’d left early every morning that week, and Mattie said he sometimes stayed at his office until eight or nine at night.
“That boy works so hard it’s high time his father came home and did his share,” Mattie confided. “My Tom worked from sunup to sundown during planting and harvesting seasons, but he did take it easier in the winter. That was his time for repairing equipment and studying the markets. We stored corn in our own bins until it was the best time to sell.”
“I don’t know much about farming, but I do love seeing fields of corn as high as my head.”
Annie encouraged Mattie to tell her about farm life instead of brooding over her future. If only something could distract her from thinking about Nathan!
She was ready to leave and face the Friday evening crowd at the pancake restaurant when Nathan came through the front door.
“How are my favorite women?” he asked, sounding in unusually high spirits.
“We looked at more houses,” Mattie said in a sour tone. “I’m ready to pack my bags for Iowa, truth to tell.”
“Don’t start yet,” he said. “Come into the kitchen. I have something to show both of you.”
“I have to leave for work,” Annie reminded him.
“This won’t take long, but I want to share my idea with both of you.”
Annie checked her watch as Mattie and Nathan settled down at the table. She could spare ten minutes since she kept her uniform in the car, but she didn’t have the energy to deal with Bob Hoekstra if she was late.
“This isn’t all my idea,” Nathan said, opening his laptop. “I’ve been e-mailing back and forth with Dad and consulting with a contractor here in town. I think I have a solution.”
Annie leaned over Nathan’s shoulder to see the screen, enjoying the spicy scent of his aftershave a little too much. She’d never noticed what nice ears he had, close to his head with sculpted lobes. She backed away a bit but could still see the screen.
“Look at these houses,” he said, going to a site that featured prefabricated homes. “I was amazed at what you can buy now, everything from a modular apartment building to tiny single person dwelling as small as 300 square feet.”
Sitting beside him, Mattie avidly watched as he brought up a variety of designs from ultra modern to cozy and traditional.
“This is all well and good, but I don’t have a place to put a prefab,” she said.
“That’s why I’ve been communicating with Dad. Our property here goes all the way to the street behind us, more than enough for a small house and a big garden when some of the trees are cleared.”
“You mean bring one of those ready-made houses here?” Mattie asked sounding a bit awed. “What about a cellar? I can’t live where there’s no place to go in a tornado warning.”
“Not a problem. The contractor I’ve been working with can dig a foundation while we wait to put up the house. Do you see any designs here you might like? If not, there are a lot of other companies to check out.”
Tears were streaming down Mattie’s face, and Annie was having a hard time not crying herself. Nathan had come up with the perfect solution. His great aunt would have her own home, but she’d also be close to the family.
“I can’t believe it,” Mattie said, wiping her eyes with a napkin from the holder on the table. “I was almost ready to go back to Iowa a few minutes ago.”
“I’m not going to let that happen,” Nathan said, getting up and hugging her.
As happy as Annie was for the older woman, she didn’t feel she belonged there. Backing away as quietly as she could, she practically ran to her car when she was out of the kitchen.
The VW failed her. Maybe she tried to start it too quickly, but it sputtered and wheezed but didn’t kick in. Gathering up her uniform, she started to walk. She’d be late, but she didn’t see an alternative.
“Annie!”
She’d only gotten as far as the end of the driveway when Nathan called after her.
“I have to go,” she said over her shoulder, still feeling too emotional to talk to him.
“You can’t walk to work,” he said, running to catch up with her. “It must be a couple of miles.”
“Not that far. Anyway, I like to walk.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“Really, you don’t have to. Mattie will want to hear more about your idea.”
“She’s heard all she can digest right now,” he said catching her hand in his. “I’m taking you to work.”
After one more feeble protest, she let him lead her back to his car, telling herself it was because she didn’t want to deal with her boss if she was one minute late.
“The prefab is a wonderful idea,” she said when they were on their way.
“The land is just sitting here. Dad has no plans for it, so Mattie might as well use it. I like the idea of having her close.”
“She has so much energy, it’s easy to forget how old she is,” Annie said.
“Yes, this should work out. With luck, I can have her moved into her own little house before my parents get home. But that’s enough about Aunt Mattie. There’s something I want to ask you.”
“I’m practically late for work,” she said, not ready to hear what he was going to say.
Would he tell her Mattie no longer needed a companion? She would have to agree, although it would be an awful blow to her plans to buy the flower shop.
“Why don’t I come by when you’re through this evening? Meanwhile, I’ll
take a look at your car and call a mechanic if I can’t get it going.”
“Or you could call my grandfather. I’m sure he’d take care of it.”
“I won’t need to bother him. It’s the least I can do after you spent the week trudging through houses with my aunt.”
It’s what you’re paying me for. She thought it but didn’t say it aloud.
As soon as he pulled into the parking lot, she slid out of the car with a quick thanks. How could she possibly get through the evening without knowing what he was going to ask?
“You just made it,” her waitress friend Marie said when Annie punched in. “Bad news. The boss’s wife is here.”
Annie couldn’t stifle a groan. Bob was overbearing enough, but when his spouse decided to keep the staff on their toes, she gave so many orders it created chaos.
“I have to change,” Annie said, ducking into the small staff restroom. Her uniform was wrinkled from lying in the car all day, the apron she’d grabbed from the linen cupboard had a big stain, and she wanted to cry, sure Nathan didn’t have good news for her.
Had everyone in Westover decided to have pancakes for supper? By six o’clock people were lined up for a table, and Mrs. Hoekstra ordered Annie to clean tables when the bus boy, who happened to be the Bob Hoekstra’s nephew, couldn’t keep up.
“You take the party of ten,” she said as Annie tried to wheel away an overloaded cart of dirty dishes.
“They’re sitting at Marie’s tables,” she protested, tempted to quit and scrap her dream of being independent. Maybe it wasn’t going to happen anyway.
“We’ll work together,” Marie said. “That’s how we do it.”
The boss’s wife sputtered, but maybe she realized how close she was to losing two waitresses at the peak of Friday night business.
When the noisy, demanding family of ten left, she didn’t bother to share the one-dollar tip with Marie.
Usually busy nights went fast. This one was the exception. Annie was sure her watch had stopped, and the hands on the kitchen clock seemed to move at a snail’s pace too.
Bob, who’d been pretty quiet while his wife bullied the waitresses, decided all the tables and chairs had to be scrubbed before they could leave for the evening. Annie had just plunged her hands into a pail of hot water and disinfectant when Nathan come to the door, knocking to get inside.
“We’re closed,” Mrs. Hoekstra scolded through the glass, opening the door when he refused to leave.
“I thought Annie was through at ten,” he said, pointedly looking at his watch. “I’m a little late picking her up.”
“The waitresses are expected to help set up for tomorrow,” Bob said.
“Do you pay them for the extra time?” Nathan was taking a small white card out of his shirt pocket.
“They’re adequately compensated,” Mrs. Hoekstra said.
“That wasn’t my question,” Nathan said in a quiet voice, handing her his card. “We do have some labor laws in this state.”
“Oh, you’re with Sawyer and Sawyer,” the boss’s wife said in a pleasant voice. “They handled my divorce.”
“That would be my father. Do you need to get anything before we leave, Annie?”
“Yes,” she said, glancing at Marie who’d continued scrubbing a sticky table. “Can we give my friend a ride home?”
“Of course.” Nathan gave the manager and his wife a challenging smile.
Marie was quick to realize she’d been released too. In only minutes the two of them were in the parking lot.
“I have my own car, but thanks for getting me out of there,” she said with a mischievous smile. “I was going to give two weeks notice, but now I may quit after this weekend. I just passed the test for my real estate license, and I start with an agency after the Fourth of July.”
“Congratulations!” Annie said, hugging her before going to Nathan’s car.
“Were you able to get my car started?” she asked, hoping to postpone whatever he wanted to tell her.
“Yes, it’s back at your house. I think you flooded it.”
“Thank you. It can be tricky to drive.”
He was silent until he parked on the street in front of her house.
“I don’t know quite how to ask this,” he said in a hesitant voice, turning off the motor and turning toward her.
Annie braced herself, expecting to be fired from her job as Mattie’s companion. Certainly Nathan’s aunt could get along just fine without her.
“My father always throws a big party at the country club on the Fourth of July. Golf in the afternoon with a black tie dinner and dance afterward. And fireworks, of course. This year he’s dumped the whole thing on me. I’d like to get out of it, but many of our important clients will be there.”
“It sounds like a lot of work.” She wasn’t at all sure why he was telling her about it.
“No, it’s all catered by the club. The manager takes care of the arrangements—and, of course, Bonnie sends the invitations, keeps track of the RSVP’s, that sort of thing. But I need your help.”
“I’ll be happy to help,” she said, although she had no idea what she could do, maybe help serve dinner since she was a waitress. Or being in charge of the floral arrangement might be fun.
“You’ll be saving the evening. I need a hostess.”
“I beg your pardon?” What on earth would a hostess do at a country club party?
“Maybe I should put it this way: I would very much appreciate it if you’d be my date for the evening.”
“Your date? But I’ve never been—I wouldn’t know.…”
“You’re beautiful, charming, friendly—the perfect hostess. Will you go with me?”
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly. I don’t have anything to wear.”
It was the only excuse she could give him without admitting she was afraid of meeting so many important people. What could she say to them? How could she possibly fit in at such a posh party? No, no, no! She just couldn’t do it, not even for the chance to be with Nathan.
“Is that all?” He laughed softly. “I’ll see that you have a gown the other women will envy.”
“You can’t buy me a dress!”
“Then wear that pretty blue dress you wore to the Barn Theatre. Without the jacket, of course.”
“That was my prom dress! I can’t wear that.”
“Then I wish I’d been there to take you to the prom. Just say you’ll go, and we can work out the details. Besides wanting you as my date, I really need you. You’re not going to make me go to the firm’s party by myself, are you?”
Annie was at war with herself. As badly as she wanted to go with Nathan, she was totally intimidated by the thought of a country club dinner dance. What would she say to those people? Would they ignore her or make comments behind her back? She didn’t belong there. Why couldn’t Nathan see that?
“Annie?” he murmured.
“Isn’t there anyone more suitable?”
He laughed.
“Think of yourself as Cinderella if it makes you more comfortable about going. But please go with me, Annie.”
“All right.” She could hardly get the words out, but how could she possibly refuse the man she loved, even if he didn’t have a clue why she was so reluctant?
Chapter 18
“How wonderful,” Annie’s mother said at breakfast Saturday morning when she heard about Nathan’s invitation to the country club party.
“I knew that boy has good sense,” Gramps said, putting three-minute eggs in little cups in front of them.
“I don’t see how I can go,” Annie said, miserable after a restless night worrying about it.
“You did say yes, didn’t you?” Mom asked.
“Yes, but….”
“It wouldn’t be polite to back out after you agreed to go,” her mother said, gently cracking her egg on the edge of her plate.
“It’s a party for the law firm’s clients. Everyone will be older and….”
“You’r
e worried the guests will be snobs,” Gramps said, “but maybe you’re judging a little prematurely considering you haven’t met them yet.”
Her grandfather rarely rebuked her. Maybe she was biased against Nathan’s clients without even meeting them. She’d only been thinking of how awkward she would feel.
“You’re right,” she admitted. “I shouldn’t assume the guests will be unfriendly.”
“It’s settled then,” Mom said.
“No, it’s not! I don’t have anything to wear. Nathan said it was white tie. I’m not even sure what that is, but it certainly doesn’t mean I can wear my prom dress. I can’t possibly go. It has nothing to do with the other guests.”
“Remember, I offered to buy you a new dress now that you’re dating again. We’ll go to the mall today.” Her mother smiled benignly, certain the subject was closed.
“Mom, it’s not a date—not exactly anyway. Nathan needs a hostess. I just happen to be available.”
Her mother looked skeptical, and Gramps cracked his egg so hard the yellow ran out on his fingers.
“I love shopping for you,” her mother said. “You’re not going to deprive me of the pleasure, are you?”
“You know it won’t be easy to find anything to fit me,” Annie said, sure the trip would be useless. Where would she find a fancy dress short enough for her at the small mall?
“I’ve been shortening your clothes for enough years to know I can fix anything you find,” Mom said confidently.
“All right, I’ll go, but I don’t promise to let you buy a dress for me.”
After she hastily finished her breakfast, Annie checked the calendar on the kitchen wall. The Fourth of July was a week from Thursday, her evening off from the pancake house. She couldn’t even use her job as an excuse not to go.
As she often did when she was upset, Annie went out to the garden and prayed while she tended her roses. She had many reasons to be thankful to the Lord, and she had to trust her future to him. The summer would go fast. Even if Nathan didn’t return her feelings, she was blessed with the gift of faith and the love of her family.
When they got to the mall a few hours later, her mother mapped out their plan of attack.
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