“Oh?”
“Now, don’t start getting all worried. I also forgot to mention that, as trustee, I’m allowed to give you what you need to fix the place up.”
“Well, thank you.”
“Of course, if you don’t stay on for the full year, any improvements will simply make it easier to sell the house anyway.”
“Right.” She opened the driver’s door now. “Well, I should probably go before Andy changes his mind.”
“Good luck.” As Hope drove the few blocks to Nona’s house, she wondered if he meant good luck with Andy or with the house. Maintenance and repairs? Hopefully it wasn’t anything too major. No leaky roof or bad plumbing. Surely Nona would’ve seen to those things.
As it turned out, the roof looked solid and there was no sign of water damage that Hope could see. She and Andy did a complete walk around the house just to check it out. And other than its need for paint and some tightening of shutters and screen doors and whatnot, it seemed fairly sound. And Andy seemed truly happy to be home as he danced around the yard. His tail wagged vigorously, and when they got back to the side door, he was anxious to go in. However, once inside, the house did smell musty. And the kitchen, just the same as it always had been with its forties linoleum, painted cabinets, a stained old sink, and Formica countertop, now appeared antiquated and rundown. And yet it was charming and Hope knew there was potential. The small living room and two bedrooms had been re-carpeted when Hope was in high school, but now the carpet was old and worn. With some suspicious-looking spots which she deduced were related to Andy.
He was sniffing around, too, going from room to room as if on the hunt. And finally he jumped up into the old rose-colored recliner, the same one that Nona had spent most of her evenings in either reading or crocheting or sleeping, and Andy just sat there looking forlorn with his head cocked slightly to one side as if to ask, Where is she?
“She’s not here, Andy.” Hope sighed. “And she’s not coming back, either. I’m sorry.” She turned on some lights, looking around the room, trying to determine why it seemed so dark. And then she noticed that some kind of storm windows had been installed over Nona’s lovely old single-pane, wood windows. Of course, that was the problem. The storm windows were dirty and dingy and probably difficult to clean. And although they might’ve made the house warmer in winter, they were also blocking the light.
It was time to make a list. And before long, she had made several lists. A to-do list for the house, which included donating some of Nona’s old furniture to the Habitat secondhand store that Hope had noticed in town; removing the carpets and storm windows; finding someone to work on the kitchen and bathroom (which was in similar shape to the kitchen); and painting the interior and exterior.
Basically, Hope needed a good handyman. If she were on better terms with Cherry she would ask her. As it was, she half-expected Cherry and Drew to charge over here and accuse her of stealing Nona’s fortune from them. Fortunately both their cars were missing from the driveway. Drew was probably at his dad’s ranch, and Cherry was probably chauffeuring her children to whatever lesson or practice was on their schedule today. Unless she was having another clandestine meeting with Lewis. And Hope did not want to think about that.
She pulled out the worn card with Erica’s phone number on it and called, quickly telling her the news.
“You’re kidding!” Erica sounded shocked. “Your grandmother had a million bucks stashed away?”
“Well, not quite. And, like I said, I have to live here for a year to get any of it and there’ll be taxes and who knows what else. The house alone is probably going to eat a fair amount. It needs all kinds of work done. In fact, that’s why I’m calling.”
“You want me to work on your house?”
Hope laughed. “No, but if that’s an offer…”
“No. I’m not into that sort of thing.”
“Actually, I wondered if you might know of a good handyman, or a painter, or a contractor.”
“Hey, do you remember Brian Godwin?”
“Sure, from school. I even went out with him a couple of times before I started dating, well, you know who.”
“Yes, your new neighbor.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“That is an interesting twist. I wonder if your grandmother did that on purpose, you know, to help you girls mend your fences.”
“Yes…the thought’s occurred to me, too. However, I’m afraid that Cherry and Drew probably won’t be speaking to me now.”
“Oh…because they expected to inherit?”
“That’s what I’m thinking. Anyway, back to Brian Godwin. Are you saying he’s a handyman now?”
“He’s a contractor. And like a lot of other contractors, right now, things are slow. You should give him a call.”
“Do you have his number?”
“I probably do somewhere. But just look in the phone book. He’s listed.”
“Thanks. By the way, I forgot to tell you, I’m now a dog owner.”
“Really? What kind?”
“Chihuahua mix.” Then she told Erica about why her sisters had been laughing over the old hymn at Nona’s funeral.
Erica laughed. “I’m sorry, but that actually is funny.”
“I guess.”
“Well, I have a dog, too. We can take them on walks together and do play dates at the park, and all sorts of quirky things.”
“What kind of dog?”
“She’s an adorable Yorkie named Bessie.”
“Great, we’ll have to get them together.” Then Hope thanked her for the tip, dug out Nona’s old phone book, found the number, and called Brian. After a brief introduction, he remembered her and offered to come over later in the afternoon.
“Really?” She was shocked. “You can come today?”
“I can for you.”
“Well, I really appreciate it.”
“See you around four thirty.”
“Thanks!” She hung up and looked at her other two lists. One was for groceries, and that could come later. The other was titled Things Related to Portland. First on the list was to call the firm and give them a heads-up on this new development in her life. She wasn’t expected back in until next Wednesday, but now she wondered whether she’d be back in at all.
“You’re quitting?” demanded Hal Winslow. “Just like that? Your grandmother dies and leaves you money and you quit?”
So she explained a bit more.
“Oh?” It sounded like the wheels in his brain were spinning. “I see…you have to stay there to inherit your money. Hmm…can’t say as I blame you then.”
“I would be willing to work from here,” she suggested, “possibly on a retainer or something.”
“No, that wouldn’t work for us. We need you here or not at all.”
“Then I guess it has to be not at all.”
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I hate to lose you, Hope.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry to break it to you like this. I plan to write an official letter, but I don’t have my printer here and—”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already got Lydia working on the Birkley account and she’s probably just the person to take over Abbington, too.”
“So…what do I do then? Just come in and clear out my things?” For some reason, this made her incredibly sad. What if this was all a mistake?
“I guess so. And go by personnel, of course, and sign the appropriate paperwork. Then, make sure you come by my office. I assume you’ll want some recommendations…for the future. Unless you’re giving up law permanently. Taking up lifestyles of the rich and famous.”
She laughed. If only he knew. “Yes, I would appreciate recommendations.”
“And we might have some connections for you out there in Central Oregon, too. I’ll check around, Hope.”
“Thanks, Hal.”
“And if you change your mind, you know we’ll always be interested. I can’t guarantee placement, but you know we’d want to be i
n the loop.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
They said good-bye and hung up, and Hope felt like she’d just cut a lifeline. Really, what if this were a mistake? Then she remembered what Lewis had said. If, at any time before the year was up, she changed her mind, the whole agreement would switch to Plan B. She would be off the hook. But she’d also be out of a job. Unless they took her back.
“Stop it!” she told herself, causing poor Andy to jump and then to shiver as if he’d been scolded. “Not you,” she said gently as she knelt down. “You are a good dog, Andy. It’s me. I’m not a very decisive person today.” He looked up with trusting brown eyes. “I’ll bet you’re hungry. And knowing my Nona, I’ll bet she kept treats around here for you.” His tail wagged hopefully. “Do you want a treat?” His tail wagged harder.
“Let’s check out the kitchen.” His little toes tapped on the linoleum as he followed her around the small kitchen. Finally, she located the right cupboard. He had little rawhide chew toys, a box of small Milk-Bones, doggy jerky treats, canned food, and a box of kibble food. “All sorts of good things.” She looked down at Andy. “Now the vet said you only eat twice a day, but did you really eat this morning?” She looked at the clock. It was just past noon. “I’ll give you another chance,” she told him as she filled his little doggy bowl with the kibble food then freshened up his water.
He just looked at the bowl then back at her as if trying to decide.
She backed a few steps away, leaning against the sink. And that seemed to do it. He ducked his head into the bowl, eating eagerly until every bite was gone. She was tempted to refill the bowl but remembered the vet’s warning about overfeeding. “That’s all until dinner, Andy. Want to come outside with me?”
He seemed to understand, following her out into the backyard where she wanted to take inventory of Nona’s flowers and plants. Gardening had always been important to Nona, and Hope had always dreamed of having a small garden herself. In fact, she had kept a number of pots on the terrace of her condo. Pots that would need to be transported back here…along with so many other things. Plus, she needed to list her condo for sale or figure a way to sublet it, in case she needed to go back.
She might not be working nine to five for a while, but she wasn’t exactly going to be enjoying a life of leisure. In fact, she suspected that she would be working a lot harder than she’d ever worked before. She only hoped she was truly up for it.
Chapter Nine
Nona had trained Andy fairly well because he knew how to stay in his yard. However, he did not know that barking was obnoxious. And every time a passerby came anywhere near their yard, Andy would throw an embarrassing barking fit. And Hope would smile and apologize to the UPS guy or the kid on the bike or whomever was lucky enough to get the onslaught of Andy’s tongue-lashing. Fortunately most seemed understanding and as if they were accustomed to Andy’s little antics.
As Hope trimmed some overgrown shrubs away from the house—another way to let in more light—she wondered what Andy was saying when he barked so viciously. Was he swearing in dog language? Or simply warning them to keep their distance? But after a while, Andy seemed to tire of playing watchdog and went onto the back porch where a little dog bed was already set up for him. It was a small basket with a pillow in it. He had three of these basket beds, each with a different pillow—a green plaid one on the porch, a yellow gingham one in the living room by the fireplace, and a pink-flowered one in Nona’s bedroom. On closer inspection, Hope could see that the pillow covers appeared to be hand sewn. Probably by Nona. Perhaps she took them off and washed them regularly.
“Hi, Aunt Hope!” Avery waved from her yard.
Hope looked up from where she was weeding to see that Cherry’s red Mustang was in the driveway now. “Hi, Avery!” Hope stood and smiled. “What’s up?”
“Not much. I was over at my friend Lucy’s house.”
“Oh…” Hope nodded and tried to think of a response. She was glad Avery was talking to her and wouldn’t be surprised if she were the only one in the Lawson house who’d be willing to give Hope the time of day. “I’m just doing some weeding here.”
“Want any help?”
“Seriously?” Hope was taken aback. “You’d really like to help?”
“Sure.” Avery came over, and pulling her hair into a quick ponytail, she tugged a blue band from around her wrist and secured her long, dark hair with it. Just like Hope often did herself. “I used to help Nona in her yard…you know…before.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. She was teaching me about flowers and things. But this spring, well, she told me she was slowing down. It seemed like it took all her energy just to walk Andy and stuff. I probably should’ve come over more to help her in the yard, but I had school and ballet and soccer and…” Her voice dwindled.
Hope put an arm around her shoulders. “Nona understood, Avery. And I know she really loved you. She often wrote about you in her letters. And if you want to help me in the garden or even in the house, I’d be happy to pay you.”
Avery’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to.” The reason Hope wanted to pay Avery was so that Cherry and Drew wouldn’t think she was taking unfair advantage of her niece. “Besides, I’ll bet there must be something that you could use a little extra money for.”
Avery smiled. “I want a new swimsuit for the Saturday after next. It’s Olivia Hanson’s birthday, and she’s having a pool party, and my old swimsuit looks really yucky and childish. Lucy just got a bikini.”
Hope chuckled. “And you probably want one, too.”
Avery nodded shyly.
“The Saturday after next, huh? Well, that gives you a whole week to earn the money. Believe me, there’s plenty of work around here. Inside and outside. I’m sure I could keep you busy for most of the summer if you liked.”
“Cool.”
“And you could make a nice little chunk of change by the time school starts.”
“When do I start?” She rubbed her hands together eagerly.
“Whenever you want.”
“How about now?”
“Now is fine. I’m trying to get the front section done this afternoon,” Hope told her. “Do you know where the garden tools are?”
“Yep. And I even know the difference between weeds and flowers. Well, mostly. Sometimes I still have to ask.”
“Sometimes I’m not so sure either.”
Avery trotted off to the garden shed and returned with both a spade and a pair of dirty pink gloves. Soon they were visiting and weeding together and Hope got the distinct feeling that Nona was looking down and smiling on them. Perhaps this was what she’d had in mind all along when she’d sat down with Lewis to put that whacky will together. Perhaps it wasn’t so crazy after all.
“I want to take riding lessons,” Avery was telling her as they were about midway down the front flower bed.
“I should think that would be no problem,” Hope said. “I’ve heard that your grandmother Lawson is quite a horsewoman.”
“I know. But Mom says I’m not old enough.”
“Really?”
“She says I need to be sixteen.”
“What does your grandmother say?”
“Poppycock!”
Hope laughed. “Yes, I can imagine Mrs. Lawson saying that.”
“Do you know her?” Avery’s dark eyes grew wide with interest.
“Sure, I know her. She’s a nice lady. I like her.”
“I like her, too. But Mom hardly ever wants to take me out there. She says it’s too far and takes too much time. And Daddy doesn’t want to take me out there because he’s there all day and he says I would get bored. And then, when he’s not working there, he doesn’t want to go out because that’s what he does every other day. And even when Grandma offers to come to town to get me, Mom makes up some lame reason to keep me from going out there.”
“Do you think she’s worried you’ll g
et hurt?” Hope paused to watch Avery’s reaction.
She nodded soberly. “Yeah. I think that’s it.”
“I wonder why.”
“Didn’t you hear about it?”
“What?”
“That girl that got killed on one of Grandma’s horses.”
“No.” Hope shook her head. “What happened?”
“Well, I was only about six when it happened, but I do remember it was a big deal. It was in the newspaper and everyone was talking about it. The girl hadn’t been wearing a helmet, and she landed on her head. And people were blaming Grandma, and she felt so bad that she quit teaching riding lessons.”
“Oh, that’s so sad.”
“I know. And it doesn’t seem fair that they blame Grandma. Does it?”
“It doesn’t seem fair to me. I mean unless there was something wrong with the horse, like he was badly trained or dangerous. And I can’t imagine that was the situation. Although, I suppose the girl should’ve been required to wear a helmet. It’s illegal for children to ride a bike without a helmet, and I can’t see how a horse should be much different.”
“I heard Grandma telling someone once that she had asked that girl to wear a helmet lots of times, but the girl just refused and the parents didn’t really care, well, until it was too late. Then they cared.”
“Did they sue your grandmother?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t think so. Still, she quit teaching riding lessons.”
“That must’ve been hard on her.” Hope remembered Mrs. Lawson. She loved horses, and she loved teaching kids, not only to ride but how to groom and care for and handle the horses, too. In fact, there was a time when Hope had been starting to learn. But then Cherry got so interested that Hope kind of stepped aside.
“And then Grandma was so happy when I told her I wanted to learn to ride. She said she had just the horse for me. And I really do want to ride, and I know other kids my age who ride and do Four-H Club and all kinds of things. It’s just not fair.”
“There’s a lot in life that doesn’t seem fair. It doesn’t seem fair that your grandmother isn’t teaching lessons anymore. And it doesn’t seem fair that people blamed her for the girl’s accident.”
Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon Page 8