“Hope you like apple crisp.”
His eyes widened, and she got a glimpse of the eager young boy he must have been. “I haven’t had apple crisp in years! Can we start with dessert?”
She laughed. “It’s pretty hot. I just took it out of the oven. Do you like chili? I made some earlier in the week. I’m making grilled cheese sandwiches to go with it.”
“Chili and grilled cheese are a perfect meal for a fall day. Okay, let’s start with that.”
She finished grilling the sandwiches, and they sat. They bowed their heads while he gave thanks. What a comfortable routine we’ve settled into. How long will it last?
“Aside from cooking, what are you up to today?” he asked between bites.
“I found out another family moved away from Zutphen, taking one of my actors, so I’m going to have to rewrite the script again. I’m so glad I finally let the education committee know they’d need to find someone else to take over the job starting next year.”
“I heard about that. You’ll be sorely missed, but everyone can understand your reasons. It’s time for someone else to step up. Or maybe they can do something different for Christmas.”
“Like what? What would Christmas be without a pageant?”
“There are other ways of celebrating with the congregation. A Christmas hymn sing, for example. Or an adult drama. I’m sure they’ll come up with something suitable.”
She thought about that. At first it was difficult to imagine a Christmas without a pageant. But Mike was right. Times changed, and the community needed to change with it. With fewer and fewer families, maybe a pageant wasn’t feasible any more. She marveled at the sense of peace she had with that thought.
“It’s sad to see the community shrinking. This has always been a wonderful place to live and raise children.”
“I guess the village elders are meeting to see what, if anything, can be done to keep families here.”
“From what I understand, most of the people who leave don’t want to go, but have to because they need to find jobs.”
Mike leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his handsome face. Realizing she stared, Helen pretended to study her chili.
“If the jobs were here, what kind of housing is available for people moving in?”
“I-I don’t know. Since people have moved out and I haven’t heard about people moving in, I suppose there are some houses for sale. But there aren’t any condos or apartments. Sounds like you need to be on that committee,” she teased.
“Matt is already on it. I’ve got an idea I’ll pass on to him.” He put his spoon down. “This chili is delicious, but I’m ready for some apple crisp.”
Helen went along with the change of topic, but a part of her wondered what his idea was. And why would he be concerned with Zutphen’s population problems?
Chapter Twenty
“Thank you, Helen, for your many years of service on the Education Committee. We’ll miss you and your talents, especially your work with the youth in the Christmas pageant each year.”
The applause from the rest of the committee was enthusiastic, and Helen sank in her chair, uncomfortable with the praise. “It was a pleasure,” she insisted. “I’m sure that the next person to work on the pageants will do a wonderful job.”
Milton Longton stood. “Well, you might be on to something, Helen. I may have to retire from committee work, too. Martha is bugging me to take her traveling. Well, if you and the pastor’s brother end up together, you’ll do your share of travel.”
Helen froze. If they end up together? We’re already being discussed? Does everyone think Mike is the reason I’m stepping down? “Um, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Milton nodded. “I suppose it’s early days yet. But Martha is happy about the prospect.” He put on his overcoat and followed the rest of the committee toward the stairs.
“I’ll be glad when the church is finished so we won’t have these stairs to contend with,” someone complained.
“I’m sure the pastor and his wife will be glad, too,” remarked another. “It’s got to be difficult for them, having so many people coming in and out of their home all the time.”
Helen put her coat on, but before she could button it up, Matt stopped her with a hand at her elbow.
“Kathy and I were hoping you could join us for dessert tonight. The kids wanted to see Uncle Mike, and the only way I could drag him away from the article he’s writing was to promise I’d keep you here after our meeting. Plus, we’d enjoy getting to know you more.”
“Oh! Why, I… I…”
“Please stay. We don’t bite.”
“I — thank you.”
She took her coat off and carried it up the stairs. At the top landing, one door opened to the breezeway between the house and garage, and the other went into the house. Matt opened the second door and gestured for her to precede him.
Kathy sat at the kitchen table, reading. She looked up and stood when they entered.
“How are you, Helen?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“I got some beautiful strawberries at Zylstra’s the other day and decided to make shortcakes to eat with them. Does that sound all right?”
“It sounds delicious. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Please have a seat.” Matt pulled one out for her, and as soon as she sat, Loretta came through the doorway to her apartment.
“There you are, Helen. I understand you and my son are an item.” She took a seat next to Helen.
“An item?”
“A couple, a pair, in an understanding, whatever the terminology is nowadays.”
“Err, I suppose. Maybe.”
“You’re not sure?”
“Well, he’s my tenant, so it could be that he’s just extremely courteous because of that.”
“Extremely courteous tenants do not kiss their landlords goodbye when they leave their homes.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
“They do not drop everything and stay up half the night rearranging their schedules so that they can go on trips to wherever their landlord is going.”
“I guess not.”
“They don’t spend the church service with their heads turned away from the pastor to stare at someone across the aisle.”
“Uh, I didn’t realize that was happening.”
“So when are you going to put him out of his misery and make an honest man of him?”
“Loretta! It’s not like that.”
“No? Why not? It’s not like either of you is a spring chicken. You’re both old enough to make up your own minds. You do know how to make up your mind, don’t you?”
“Y-yes, of course. But-but I’m a lot older than he is.”
“Good! He needs an experienced mom to give him a kick in the pants from time to time.”
Helen laughed. “Loretta, why would he need a mother figure when he has you?”
Loretta seemed to shrink before her eyes. “I’m not going to be around forever.”
Helen leaned forward and touched her arm. “What’s going on, Loretta? Are you sick?”
“I don’t know. I think so.”
“I know Mike and Matt have been worried about you. A lot of us are concerned because we hardly ever see you any more.”
Loretta hesitated, and Helen wondered if she’d decided not to respond. But when the answer came, the words were spoken so quietly she thought she’d imagined it.
“No one will want to see me.”
“Why would you say that? Everyone loves you.”
“Everyone — Oh!” She paled and dashed back into her apartment. Without stopping to think, Helen followed, concerned for her.
The odor that assailed her as soon as she stepped through the door had her flinching. Had Loretta had an accident?
There was no messy trail on the floor, but Loretta had disappeared into the bathroom. The water was running, as well as the fan.
She took a step forward. “Loretta, c
an I help you?” She knocked on the bathroom door.
There was no answer. Had Loretta passed out? Was she unable to speak? She knocked again and called out. Maybe she’d better tell Matt to call an ambulance. She knocked harder. Inside the bathroom she heard water running and faint moans. Finally she heard the toilet flush. The door opened and Loretta faced her with a scowl. Helen noticed with relief that the woman’s color was back, and so was her fiery spirit.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded. “I didn’t invite you in. Have you forgotten your manners?”
Helen folded her arms across her chest. “I have not forgotten my manners. My parents taught me to have compassion and a desire to help someone who seemed to need it.”
“I don’t need any help.”
“Well, my nose tells me that you have a stomach problem. Is that why you’ve been so antisocial?”
Loretta’s defiant stance faded for a moment but came back quickly. “When did you become a doctor?”
“I don’t have a degree, but I’m a mother, just like you. I had two sons who had their share of tummy problems. When I stepped through the doorway, I thought maybe you had an accident and needed help cleaning up, but it doesn’t look like you did. So that means that something else is wrong. I know this apartment didn’t smell like this the last time I came here.”
“When were you here?”
“About ten years ago. Just after your husband died. You insisted you were fine, that you didn’t need anything. But you never left the apartment other than to go to church. I knew you just needed something else to do, someone else to think about, so I came. I told you I needed help with the Christmas pageant, and you were the only person I knew who could help me handle those kids. And you were wonderful with them. When we came back, you went to bed and slept for twelve hours.
“I stepped out of my comfort zone that day to step in where I wasn’t sure I was wanted. But it was the right thing to do. And it’s the right thing now. I’m telling you, Loretta, you need to see a doctor. Stop being embarrassed about it. If you don’t go to Doctor Minton in town, go to a specialist.”
“I’ve already been to the doc. And to a specialist.”
“What did they say?”
“Nothing. I couldn’t tell him I was stinking up my house!”
“Didn’t they take any tests?”
“Not without my permission.”
“Couldn’t you just tell him you had a problem with gas?”
“What would he do with that information? Laugh at me?”
“No, he’d look into what’s happening. Maybe prescribe medication or a special diet.”
“I don’t need more pills. My cupboard already looks like a pharmacy. Kathy had to set up a chart so I knew when to take what.”
“My daughter-in-law did that for me, too. Isn’t it wonderful to have helpful children? Children who care enough about you to make sure you’re okay and have the things you need, like a roof over your head?”
Loretta’s response was muttered. Helen couldn’t quite make it out but figured she’d said enough.
“Well, I’m going to go now that I know you’re not hurt. But make an appointment soon to get some help.”
“I suppose you’re going to go out there and blab about all this to my kids.”
“Well, I—”
“She doesn’t have to, Mom.”
Matt, Kathy, and Mike all stood just inside her doorway. Matt had his hands on his hips. Helen couldn’t remember ever seeing her pastor look so angry.
“You’ve been suffering in silence for all this time just because you’re embarrassed?” Matt asked. He didn’t raise his voice, but there was steel behind his words. “If you’d been upfront with the doctors they could have done tests to see what’s causing your gas problem and set it right.”
“I couldn’t see making other people suffer.”
“So you were going to just suffer in silence and let us worry?” Mike demanded. “You always taught us to think of other people. How do you think it made us feel that you didn’t trust us enough to tell us what was wrong? I was ready to drag you off to a shrink because I thought you had a social problem.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my mind,” she snapped.
“No, there’s not,” Mike agreed. “But I’m sad that you didn’t think enough of us to trust us with what was wrong. Did you think we would laugh at you? That we would think less of you? I don’t know whether to be insulted or sad about that.”
“I just… I can’t…” Loretta fumbled for words and finally sank in her chair, sobbing. Her sons went to her, while Kathy and Helen went about opening windows. Helen noticed several scented candles scattered about the apartment and lit them using a lighter set next to one of them.
How ironic. Loretta’s medical problems continued longer than they should have because she didn’t trust her sons. Howard thinks I trust my sons too much. How do you know when to trust and when to keep things to yourself?
Chapter Twenty-one
Mike got out of his car and walked up the drive toward the house. Leaves in bright colors covered the lawn and driveway, and he made a mental note to use the broom he’d found in the garage to sweep the leaves off the drive. The yard rake was hung neatly next to it, a testament to the pride Helen’s husband had taken in his yard. Raking the yard would take some time, but it would be good exercise, he supposed. He really needed to speak to her about hiring a lawn service.
Funny how he’d come to think about yard and lawn care now that he’d been in Zutphen for a while. In Chicago he hadn’t had to think about it at all. While at work downtown in the urban jungle, there was no lawn, except for the small patches of green cared for by city workers. Home was in a high-rise apartment building with small bits of grass taken care of by others. But here, people took pride not only inside their homes, but the outside area. Every time he’d cut Helen’s lawn, he’d seen other people outside doing the same thing, and they’d often wave at each other. Apparently it was another way residents bonded with each other.
He knocked on the front door of Helen’s house, a small bouquet of flowers clutched in his hand. When she opened it, he couldn’t help staring at the disheveled woman who stood in the doorway.
“What’s wrong? Are you sick?” he blurted.
She frowned. “No, why?” She ran a hand through her hair and grimaced. “Oh. I guess I haven’t washed up today. Too much to do.” She shook her head as if to shake the mental cobwebs away. “You’re all dressed up. Are you going out of town?”
“I was going to see if you wanted to have dinner with me. But if you’re busy, maybe I should ask if I can help you.”
She laughed then, and relief washed over him that she was healthy but just tired. “I’d love some help. This is easy but tedious work. Come in.” She opened the door wider and stepped back. She waved her arm over the dining room table, which was covered with envelopes and various advertising materials. “I’m stuffing envelopes for Paul. He had to cut back on his business expenses and asked me to help him with this mailing. I had no idea it would be this much work. I’ve been at this all day.”
He held the bouquet out to her. “Here. Looks like you need these.”
Her quick intake of breath and the light in her eyes made him glad he’d brought the flowers. “Oh, they’re lovely! Let me put them in a vase.” She took them to the kitchen sink, and he followed her.
“Matt and I got them to thank you for getting my mom to agree to go with us to see the doctor and to agree to tests. She’s promised to be upfront with him about what her problems are, including her embarrassing moments, and hopefully we’ll find out exactly what’s happening. Matt and Kathy and I are extremely thankful.” He rolled up his sleeves. “And now that you have those, why don’t you let me help you finish the job here.”
An hour later, Helen sealed the last envelope and placed it in one of the boxes Paul had provided for her. Ten other boxes sat stacked against the wall, and Helen placed this one on top
of them.
“Tell me again why you’re doing this,” Mike asked.
“Paul said his envelope stuffing service became too expensive and he had to quit using them to save money. He was looking for a cheaper service, but then his secretary left on maternity leave, so there was no one to do it. He asked me if I could help him out, and I agreed. I had no idea he had so many clients.”
A red flag waved in his mind. The mailing didn’t include the type of things he would send to present clients. They were advertisements from someone seeking new clients.
No use making accusations or upsetting her. This is her son, and she’s not going to want me speaking ill of him.
“Well, his work is done. Can you join me for dinner?”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh, that would be lovely. I don’t think I’ve eaten since my bowl of cereal this morning!” She looked down at herself and groaned with dismay. “But I’m such a mess.”
“I can wait while you freshen up. I’ve got some phone calls to make.”
He waited until she’d closed the door to her bedroom before he pulled out his cell phone. Finding the number he needed, he dialed.
“Woodland Investigations.”
“Harry, this is Mike Sikkema. I’d like you to get some information on the financial status of a consulting firm here in West Michigan…” He told his friend what he suspected and why.
“I’ll find out what I can. Can you verify the spelling of the son’s name? And do you have an address and the name of his firm?”
Mike glanced at the envelopes they had just stuffed. The firm’s address was on the envelope. He took one out and read it aloud.
“Got it. I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“Thanks. I’d like to get at the bottom of this.” He put his phone back in his pocket, only to find Helen staring at him.
The Patricia Kiyono Christmas Collection Page 23