by H. P. Munro
“I thought that maybe—”
“No,” Erin interrupted as she selected another slide. “It was made quite clear to me that I wasn’t to contact her again, and I haven’t.” She turned to face Virginia. “Now let’s get these samples shall we.”
***
As she closed the door behind Mrs. Grace, Erin slumped against it. Her energy had seemingly left the building with the older woman, leaving her drained.
“Did you both survive?” Cindy put the lights out and picked up her purse.
“Barely,” Erin replied, still somewhat frazzled from her run in with Virginia.
“Sully’s?”
“Oh God yes!” Erin grinned, opening the door and sweeping her hand for Cindy to pass. “This has been a tough week, starting with Emmett Day and ending with Virginia Grace. I must have been really evil in a past life.”
The walk to Sullivan’s Sports Bar was just enough for Erin to clear her head and as a bonus rescue Cooper before he managed to eat his body weight in ‘sell-your-mama’ muffins, as her brother called them, from Ruby’s Coffee Shop. In Sam’s opinion, one bite of the latter and you were likely to consider the former.
They slipped into the bar and motioned across to Sully for a couple of drinks. Before they’d even completed the wave two beers were placed on the bar in front of them.
“I heard you had a visit from Persian pussy Pearl and Miss Vagina, I mean Virginia,” Sully said grinning.
Cindy sprayed beer across the counter. “You are a complete bastard, Matt Sullivan. You deliberately waited until I took a drink.”
Sully shrugged. “Why would I do that? Makes more work for me.” A large guilty smile adorned his handsome face as he wiped down the counter. “You okay Erin?”
“Nothing I haven’t handled before,” Erin replied with a cocksure grin of her own. However, the tone of Virginia’s query about Charlotte was still lingering in her mind.
They went across to their usual table in the corner and sat shooting the breeze while keeping half an eye on the baseball games playing on the various TVs positioned around the bar. They were on their second bottle when Ruth arrived, pushing a basket with dollar bills in it under their noses.
“You playing tonight?” she asked, referring to the tradition of betting on the point during the Doc’s radio clinic that Mack, the town’s nurse, would let rip at Gregor White and his hemorrhoids.
Erin looked around the bar, then into the basket. “You just started collecting? The pot doesn’t look too big tonight.”
Ruth shook her head. “Nah, I’ve been around already. Seems like there were some pay issues with the lumberyard this week, so money’s a bit tight for some folks. You’ll play though?”
Erin tossed a couple of tens into the basket for both herself and Cindy. “They’re obviously missing your organizational skills Ruth.” She smiled as Ruth nodded in agreement. “I’ll take one-minute forty-four. How ’bout you?” she asked Cindy.
“Fifty-four seconds,” Cindy said absently, tearing her eyes from one of the TV screens.
Ruth laughed. “You say that every week and you haven’t won it once.”
“Yeah, but I started with it. So now I’m stuck with it.” Cindy sighed, finishing her beer. “Another?” she asked Erin, who nodded. “Can I get you anything, Ruth?”
“I’m good.” She watched Cindy depart then turned her attention towards Erin. “I heard about Virginia’s visit. You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. Like I said to Sully, nothing I haven’t dealt with before,” Erin replied with a wry smile.
“Did she mention Charlotte at all?”
“Wow,” Erin muttered. “For twenty-two years people have avoided saying her name in my presence and in the space of a couple of hours I hear it twice and once from her mother of all people. What gives?”
“Virginia cornered me last week when I was out with Ben and gave me this big speech about how she hoped I’d fair better in the mother department than she did.”
The incredulous noise Erin made echoed into the neck of her beer bottle.
“I know!” Ruth acknowledged. “Damn near shocked the hell out of me,” she admitted with a laugh. “She just sounded sad…No, it was more than that. She looked defeated.”
Erin nodded. “I had a similar thing with her earlier. She was like a different person when she asked after Charlotte.”
Ruth snapped her fingers. “Exactly! Which is why…in my defense…when she asked, I gave her Charlotte’s email address.”
For the second time in as many minutes Erin was surprised. “You’re still in contact with Charlotte?”
“Course I am. She’s still a friend.”
Erin blew out slowly, processing this new information. All the years that had passed and Erin had never realized anyone was in direct contact with Charlotte. She’d assumed when Charlotte hadn’t attended her own father’s funeral that the desire to be cut off from Grace Falls, and all those in it, was complete. A myriad of questions started to form in her mind until she remembered Charlotte had made the decision about Erin not being part of her life. The questions slowly dissipated never to see the light of day as Ruth continued.
“After her daddy’s funeral last year I wanted to make sure she was alright so I got Jessica, oh don’t tell Alex that I let her use the internet by the way, I got Jessica to track down an email address. That kid seriously scares me sometimes. I watched everything she did ’cause I still have visions of her doing something like in that Mathew Broderick film in the eighties when he almost caused a nuclear war.
“I’m the only one she keeps in contact with”—Ruth placed a hand on Erin’s forearm—“and even then I’m not sure that’s really a conscious decision of hers. I just bombard her with emails every now and again. More often than not I don’t get a response.”
“It’s fine. You don’t have to protect me. I’m a big girl now, and that was all a long time ago. Water over the falls.”
“Seems like everyone employed at the lumberyard hasn’t been paid full wage this week,” Cindy commented, sitting down and passing Erin her beer.
“Probably some computer error somewhere,” Ruth surmised. “Let’s just hope Jessica hasn’t got anything to do with it, ’cause Alex would have her strung up.” She slapped her hands onto her thighs. “Well ladies I will leave you for the moment. Remember, clear eyes, full hearts…” She waved the basket under their noses and returned to the bar to wait on the radio clinic starting without waiting on their response.
“Can’t lose,” Erin finished absently, her mind still replaying the conversation with Ruth.
***
Ruth gazed down at her sleeping son as she pushed the stroller through the gates of the lumberyard. She was half-tempted to wake the little Nighthawk just to give him a taste of his own medicine. Her son’s proclivity for sleeping all day and keeping her and her husband, Peter, awake all night had taken its toll since his birth.
The sensible part of her just sighed contentedly and smiled, the sort of smile she swore blind before Ben’s birth would never feature on her face, but had since come to accept. She was now a doting mom. A doting mom whose interest was piqued by the news from the lumberyard.
The supposed wage slip up would never have happened on her watch. For all her love of motherhood she was still the same woman who had worked alongside James Grace, making sure his grand ideas actually had plans to back them up. While he shook hands and played the good ol’ boy with buyers, she’d been the one to follow through on those deals.
She walked through the yard silently taking stock of what she saw around her. Standards had definitely slipped since James’ death. Ruth never worked with the man Virginia Grace hired to run her husband’s business. However, she’d heard stories about him and not one of them was flattering. If Ruth believed half of what she’d been told, his attitude towards safety was at best blasé, and at worst downright dangerous. Worse still was that it would appear James Grace’s business strategy had been ditched, and
the yard was no longer operating in the ripped timber market or following the sustainable and responsible felling plan.
She reached the small office, already looking forward to catching up with Chip the foreman. He’d worked for the yard since Ruth was nothing more than a sparkle in her daddy’s eye. Despite their obvious age difference, she and Chip worked well together. Their love for the yard and respect for James Grace had bound them together.
Ruth hesitated at the door. Raised voices boomed out from inside the building. She turned her head to hear better and listened to Virginia Grace in full attack mode.
“I have no interest in what went wrong. I’m telling you to fix it. My reputation does not need to be tarnished by your inability to manage money. If people start thinking we are unable to afford to pay wages my standing will be affected, and I will hold you personally responsible. So unless you want to spend the rest of your life flipping burgers, I suggest you do what I’m paying you for and get this sorted. And take a shower, you smell like you slept in a distillery.”
Ruth gasped. Not wanting to be caught eavesdropping, she quickly pushed the stroller back the way she came. She managed to turn about and slowly walk towards the office as if arriving, just as the door flung open and a determined Virginia Grace flew out of it. The look of fury melted from Virginia Grace’s face upon spotting Ruth, only to be replaced by the blank mask of faux serenity she wore as a matter of course.
“Morning,” Ruth said jovially, hoping to give no indication of what she’d just heard.
“Ruth Campbell,” Virginia trilled. “Perhaps while you’re visiting you can give Mr. Ford some assistance on how to run a lumberyard.” She waved a gloved hand back towards the office where an enraged looking Brett Ford stood boring holes into the back of Virginia Grace’s head.
“I would have thought a lumberyard would be dangerous for a child,” Virginia remarked, picking invisible lint from her sleeve as she glanced into the stroller. Her face softened for a moment as she regarded the sleeping child. “He’s an attractive child. You know you really are fortunate he got the Campbell features and wasn’t blighted by the Anderson nose.”
She considered Ruth’s face. “Your more robust face seems to cope with it, but your poor sister has more delicate features which seem to be rather overpowered by it.”
Before Ruth gathered enough of her wits to formulate a response Virginia swept off.
Brett Ford slammed the office door leaving her standing alone in the center of the lumberyard tentatively touching her nose and wondering what having a robust face meant.
Chapter Five
Charlotte dragged Molly’s legs off the sofa, earning a groan of displeasure from her friend. Molly lay with a cushion covering her face recovering from a hangover after an impromptu girls’ night that consisted of old musicals and wine. The consumption of the latter resulting in her passing out on Charlotte’s sofa.
Charlotte's phone lit up alerting her to a text. Seeing it was from Molly’s sister, Joanne, she opened it wondering what could be so important so early on Sunday.
Is my lazy ass sister with you? I’ve been calling her since 7! If she is, tell her brunch 10:30 usual place…you come too.
Before she could tell Molly, her phone buzzed again. This time it was a text from Joanne’s partner Ellie.
Sorry for early morning call! Joanne’s wired. She's wedding planning…you've been warned!
Charlotte laughed as she read the message. “Molly, your sister is going into meltdown again. We’re meeting her and Ellie for brunch, I think Ellie needs our help.”
Molly groaned. “What’s with her and this Goddammed wedding. She’s flown aircraft into Iraq and had things fired at her.” She removed the cushion from her face. “Don’t ever mention that in front of mom. She doesn’t know, and her blood pressure is only now back to normal with Joanne flying commercial. If she can do that, why the hell is her wedding throwing her into a tailspin?”
Charlotte smiled as Molly started to head-butt the cushion.
“It’s her wedding, that’s the difference. I’m going to shower. You are not allowed to touch any communications device belonging to me. Are we clear?” Charlotte warned her friend. She was still smarting at finding Molly reading her email from Ruth the previous week.
She’d spent a lot of time trying to forget Grace Falls and those she left behind. The last thing she wanted or needed was Molly getting curious about her background and starting to ask more questions than she had already. Molly’s muttering followed her as she left the room.
***
“Remind me again. Where are we up to with the wedding plans?” Molly asked, as she and Charlotte walked towards their favorite coffee shop.
“This is your sister’s wedding; you should be paying attention.” She grinned at Molly’s rolled eyes. “I’m not sure. I think we’ve narrowed it down to three possible venues. But to be honest, I’ve taken the nod and smile approach ever since the dove conversation.” Charlotte grimaced at the memory of that debacle.
“Oh lordy, I’d forgotten about that.” She smiled at Charlotte as she pushed open the door of the coffee shop. “Assume the brace position as we encounter bridezilla.”
As they entered the coffee shop, they spotted Joanne and Ellie hunched over a coffee table strewn with papers. Joanne was gesticulating wildly while Ellie looked on with a mix of bemusement and fear.
Charlotte looked at Molly and pursed her lips. “Okay, you be the advance party. I'll get us something to drink. I think this could be a long one!”
Molly took a deep breath and walked over to the table. Almost immediately Ellie leaped up to engulf Molly in a bear hug.
Charlotte stood at the counter waiting, smiling when her usual server turned around. “Hey, Jen.”
“Morning, Charlotte. You may have your work cut out this morning. They were standing outside waiting for me to open up. I think Joanne’s lost it.”
“I’d gathered as much. Can you really take your time with our coffees? I’d like to stay in my happy place for as long as I can,” Charlotte whispered behind her hand.
Jen laughed and started to make two Americanos. “These are on the house since I reckon with Joanne there you’re probably going to be buying enough of these today to keep me in business. Drink plenty of water too. I can’t cope with you both wired to the moon as well.”
Charlotte thanked Jen, took a deep breath, and headed over to her friends. “Hey Joanne.” She greeted her friend, who held up a hand in acknowledgment while still studying the folder in front of her. She shared an apprehensive look with Molly, before turning her attention to Ellie. “What’s up Doc?”
“So how is our favorite loafer?” Ellie stood up to embrace her friend.
Charlotte scowled at the description. As she opened her mouth to complain she was stopped by Joanne waving her hands in the air.
“Yes, yes, we all know you’re still taking some time out. However, meantime I’m planning a freaking wedding here people. Are you bringing anyone?” She scowled at Charlotte. “Because that will entirely screw up my seating plan.”
“Sweetheart.” Ellie sat back down and patted her fiancée’s arm affectionately “You’re going to have to breathe ’cause you’re gonna die if you don’t.”
“Yup ’cause I am sooooo close to killing you right now.” Molly sipped her coffee, throwing a sickly sweet smile towards her sister.
“Okay, so now that we’re all here.” Charlotte raised her voice with false cheer and clapped her hands in an attempt to diffuse the situation. “What do we need to do?”
***
After three hours of sitting looking at seating plans, eight cups of coffee and only a bagel for sustenance, Molly felt like she would never be able to sleep again. If she did close her eyes, she would still be able to picture the damn seating plan causing all the issues. “I’m sorry but I’m not getting the problem here.” Molly rubbed her eyes.
“It’s the six degrees thing.” Charlotte nudged Molly, hopin
g that it would be enough for her to leave it before Joanne’s blood pressure hit records level.
“Six degrees? Is Kevin Bacon coming to your wedding?” Confused, Molly scanned the seating plan again in case she’d missed the opportunity to sit next to someone famous.
“No Kevin Bacon is not coming to our Goddamn wedding,” Joanne yelled, thumping her fist down onto the seating plan in front of Molly.
“Okay, no more coffee for the crazy lady.” Charlotte smiled at Joanne as she reached over to rub her friend’s back and remove the coffee cup from her grasp.
“It’s the ex-law that Joa…we”—Ellie hastily amended when she spotted Joanne’s glare—“thought should be in place with the seating plan. No table to have more than two exes and if we can, make sure there have been at least six partners since they were together.”
“Oh, okay ’cause now it makes sense and doesn’t sound crazy.” Molly’s tone dripped with sarcasm.
“It’s Celia that’s causing the issue. She’s been around…a lot!” Charlotte looked closely at the table plan. “How ’bout there?”
Ellie looked at where Charlotte was pointing. “Oh, we are not putting her next to my Aunt Adrienne.”
“What? She seemed like an open-minded woman. She was friends with your gay grans,” Charlotte said, recalling when she met the woman at Ellie’s abuela’s funeral the previous year.
Grinning, Ellie nodded. “She is open-minded, but she’s also in her nineties. So no, Celia is going nowhere near her.”
Charlotte sat back and threw her hands up in defeat. “Why don’t you just put her at the table with Molly and me? That’s a pretty safe one!”
“Hmmm.” Molly winced. “Maybe not so much our table.” Her head snapped back in surprise as the three other woman at the table spun around to face her.
“Whaaat…Molly Parsons have you been holding out on me?” Charlotte looked incredulously at her best friend.
Molly shrugged as she sipped her coffee. “It was no biggie.” Seeing the looks around the table she narrowed her eyes. “What? If my best friend and baby sister are lesbians, why shouldn’t I give it a whirl? Besides, I just had a pasta night at Joanne’s birthday party last year.”