Home. An interesting word that meant nothing.
“It’s good you made it.” Allison unzipped her coat. “Were the roads awful? They’re asking people to stay off the highway today.”
“Uh, come on in.” Liz backed up. Not that the women had waited for her invitation.
“I brought some granola bars I made yesterday. I hadn’t seen you over at the house this morning, so I figured you might not have had breakfast yet.” Chelsea bustled over to the table and began emptying her pockets.
“I slept in.” True enough. She didn’t remember looking at the time from five to eight. She might’ve slept. Some.
“And I brought loose tea.” Allison held up several small jars. “Your preference?”
“Whatever you like.” Liz had imbibed enough tea to float a battleship in the past few weeks. It would likely remind her of Mason for the rest of her life.
Allison opened a jar, sniffed it, and passed it to Liz. “This is my new favorite. We added whole cloves, slices of dried ginger, and slivers of cinnamon sticks to dried mint leaves.”
“Sure. Sounds good.”
“How did your trip go?” Chelsea dropped to one of the chairs at the table as Allison made herself at home in the small kitchenette. “Any promising leads?”
Liz shrugged. “Two of the three have offered the job to someone else already.”
“Oh no. That’s a bummer.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” came Allison’s voice from the kitchenette.
Liz’s eyebrows went up of their own accord. How nice. Someone else thought they knew what was best for her life.
Chelsea chuckled. “Just wait and hear us out.”
So there was something behind this visit. Not so impromptu after all. Liz took a seat at the table and crossed her arms.
“Here, have one.” Chelsea nudged the cloth package closer.
Liz examined it. “What is that?”
“Granola bars.”
“No, the wrap.”
“Oh, we’re trying to completely eliminate our use of plastic. That’s a piece of cloth that’s been soaked in beeswax to make a covering that’s sealed and can be wiped clean.”
Interesting. Life without plastic wrap?
Allison poked her head around the corner. “Sierra is our beekeeper. I must admit, I find bees completely fascinating.” She came out carrying three cups of tea.
“Thanks.” Liz might as well make the best of it. She unwrapped the granola bar and had a bite. It was delicious. She’d been hungrier than she thought. When was the last time she’d eaten? The drive-through in Coeur d’Alene before that long drive in the heavy snow?
Allison set the tea on the table and pulled up the last chair. “Those jobs you didn’t get. Were they exactly what you wanted? I admit I don’t really know what your skill set is.”
Liz swallowed the bite of granola bar. “Apparently little that’s marketable in the U.S.”
The two women exchanged glances. They were fishing for information. Had Mason set this up?
No, he’d only be glad when she left for good so she wouldn’t be a bad influence on his children. Bile rose in her throat, and she set down the rest of the bar. Too much. Too sweet. Too something.
Allison cradled her mug. An exquisite set of diamond rings gleamed on her left hand. “You have experience teaching.”
“Yes. English to Thai nationals. Not particularly useful on a resume.”
“Any credentials?”
Liz glared at a spot on the table. “Just a diploma for that. And a bachelor’s degree in education that’s almost completed. I’ve been doing that via Distance Ed.”
“Good, good.” Allison glanced at Chelsea. “We’re looking to expand our farm school.”
“That’s nice.”
“Interested in working with us?”
Liz surged to her feet. “Not really. I mean, no offense, but I don’t really fit in.”
Chelsea leaned back in her chair, eyeing Liz through her pink glasses. “How’s that?”
“I’m not really into this whole farming thing. The food here has been amazing, but I’m fine with the easy life. You know, supermarkets and restaurants.” She held up both hands. “You’ve got the wrong person.”
“We do work pretty hard.” Chelsea sighed.
Both women’s nails were short but done up. Chelsea’s rings looked artisan-made. That was another thing. This place was full of married couples. Families. Oh, and Mason. No thanks.
“I suspect you know more about farming and gardening and food preservation than you think you do,” Allison went on. “We have a full syllabus of the class work.”
Liz’s head was already shaking. “No. I appreciate the thought, but no. Whether I get that last job I applied for or not, I’m leaving the panhandle as soon as the weather clears.”
Allison’s perfectly plucked eyebrows rose. “You’d leave without a job to go to, when we’re offering you a term position here? We haven’t even discussed salary or expectations.”
“Not interested.” She’d almost kept her voice steady. If only she hadn’t all but propositioned Mason last night. There was no way she was sticking around now. Not that she wanted to teach farming, anyway.
“Okay. Well, we’ll put the word out then. I’m sure we’ll get some qualified applicants.”
And here she’d wondered if they’d invented a job for her. For Zach’s sister. Of course they hadn’t. What a ridiculous idea.
Allison stood and crossed to the doorway where she put on her coat and boots. “Coming, Chelsea?”
Chelsea glanced between them. “Go ahead. I’ll catch up.”
Allison nodded and left.
Liz stared at Chelsea. Now what?
“Anything you want to talk about? I’m a good listener.”
“Not really.” Like she was going to spill her guts to someone she’d met last week? Not a chance.
“I didn’t think I fit in here when I came a year and a half ago. It turned out I needed to work through some things in my faith.”
Liz’s eyes narrowed.
“I grew up in a Christian home, like you did. What I somehow missed was how much God loved me, Chelsea Riehl.” She grimaced and shook her head. “Sorry, I keep forgetting I’m Chelsea Welsh now. Or Chelsea Welsea as Maddie likes to say. But back to the point. I knew God loved everyone. I mean we were taught that in Sunday school when we were little kids, right?”
That required an answer? Liz gave a terse nod.
“It didn’t seem personal. But Keanan helped me a lot. He gave me these.” Chelsea fished in her pocket and came out with a small stack of note cards. “I’d like to give them to you.”
Was this where Liz told Chelsea to take her gift and leave? She couldn’t find the gumption to be that rude.
Chelsea stood, compassion radiating from her, so welcoming that Liz took an involuntary step closer before catching herself.
“I’ll leave them on the table. Have a look. You might find them interesting.” Chelsea reached for her coat. When she was bundled up for the wintry day, she turned back to Liz. “I think I understand a lot of what you’re feeling. I’m praying for you.”
With a blast of cold air, the door opened and shut behind Chelsea.
Liz eyed the note cards on the table. Did she dare?
Chapter 18
His father looked up from reading his newspaper when Mason entered the house. The twins had spread toys from one end to the other and were running around like banshees.
“Daddy!” yelled Christopher.
Autopilot kicked in. “Inside voice, please.”
The decibel dropped and Avery smashed into him, sending him reeling. “Avery. Slow down.”
How could Dad even pretend to read with all this going on? This was an awful lot of mess for two hours after school. Guilt poked at Mason. He put his parents out enough on days Mom was home, but this was the result when she was at work.
“Put the toys away, kids. You have ten minutes before we need
to be on the road home.” He removed Avery’s arms from around his hips. “Hurry it up.”
“Aw, Dad...”
“Don’t even start, Christopher. Did Grandpa make this mess? I doubt it. You know where the toys go.”
“I’m hungry, Daddy.” Avery tugged at his arm.
“Please clean up. Then we’ll head home for supper.”
Dad got to his feet. “Your mother will be home from work soon.”
Like she needed to cook for three extra people. They weren’t her responsibility. Mason twitched his head toward the kitchen. “Can we talk for a minute, Dad?”
A guarded look crossed his father’s face. “Uh, sure.”
Mason made eye contact with each twin in turn and pointed at the mess. “Get a move on.”
Drooping like two flat tires, they each reached for a toy.
“Dad, I’m sorry I asked you to do after-school care today.”
His dad straightened. “I know things got a bit out of hand—”
“You don’t have to let them walk all over you, you know.” Mason shook his head. “But it’s not just that. I need to think of a better solution.”
“They’re my flesh and blood.”
“Well, yes, but that doesn’t make them your responsibility. They’re mine.” And that was the problem. His alone. “I’ll apply for subsidized spots at the county-run after-school program.”
His dad’s eyes narrowed. “We Watermans don’t take charity.”
“You know what, Dad? This one does. This one needs help, and he's willing to ask for it.”
Dad shot a glance over his shoulder toward where the kids were elbowing each other as they reached for the same toy. “I thought they went to Green Acres after school on the other days.”
“They had been. But everyone’s busy there, too.” To say nothing of Avery getting too attached to Liz. “Allison and Brent and Finnley are leaving Monday for two weeks away. And it’s just not fair to keep taking advantage of them. Or you.”
“You need a wife, son.”
And he figured Mason didn’t know that? “Yeah, well, God hasn’t seen fit to send someone. I can’t wait around on my knees forever.” Liz. Oh, Liz. Why so stubborn?
“Pickings are slim in a small town like this, but your mother has some ideas.”
“I’m sure she does.” Mason glanced into the living room. The twins were making reasonable progress. “But I’m a grown man, Dad. Would you have let Grandma pick a wife for you?”
A ghost of a smile poked at the other man’s cheeks. “She did point Emma out to me. I hadn’t really noticed her before. Mama was right. We suited well.”
So much for that argument.
Dad thumbed over his shoulder. “Those two need a mother. Seems you need help finding someone. They’re not gonna be young forever.”
It sure seemed like it some days. But hey, he’d made it through diapers and bottles and tantrums. He could make it through after-school care and last-minute suppers, too. Somehow.
Tires crunched in the snow outside. A car door slammed. The back door opened and closed, and Mom appeared, stripping gloves off her hands.
Mason closed his eyes. He’d really hoped to pass his mother’s car on the road. Wave at her as they went opposite directions.
“You're home!” called Avery. She ran into the kitchen and hugged her grandmother.
Mom patted Avery’s shoulders. “Good to see you, sweetie. What are you and your brother up to?”
Avery shot Mason a look of disgust, complete with curled lip. “Daddy’s making us clean up the toys.”
Mom looked at Mason. “You’re not staying for supper?”
He shook his head. “Not tonight, Mom. Thanks.”
She pursed her lips. “It has to be better than the diner.”
Touché. “No diner tonight. I picked up a meat pie at the bakery.”
“They have such good food.” Mom nudged him. “Kassidy works there.”
Avery looked from one grown-up to the other.
“Off you go, princess. Put everything away, please.”
Her lip protruded, but she turned and flounced back into the living room.
“Have you met her?” Mom removed her coat. “She’s a lovely woman in her mid-twenties. Single. A Christian.”
Dad hooked his thumbs through belt loops and grinned at Mason.
Mason took a deep breath. “I’ve met her.”
Mom beamed at him. “Of course you have. She’s the twins’ Sunday school teacher. She finds them charming.”
“I’m glad. They enjoy Sunday school.”
Dad cleared his throat. “What your mother means—”
“I have a pretty good idea what she means.” Was this what it felt like to ride an avalanche? A man couldn’t stop the snow and rocks and trees from sliding. He could only hope to keep his head above the turmoil and not break every bone in his body before it all ended.
His heart was already broken, but that didn’t stop the avalanche. It may have muffled his own need, but he had to think of the kids. His parents might not have the best marriage in the world, but they did okay by the looks of it.
He wanted more than okay. He wanted mutual love and passion. He wanted the sun to rise and set upon his beloved, and for her to feel the same about him. He wanted Liz. She wanted him, but she didn’t want God.
Was the situation really non-negotiable? Maybe she’d come around after a while when she saw Jesus in his life.
A slippery slope, indeed.
Wait. Mom was talking, and he’d checked out. “Pardon me?”
“I said, Kass is off on Tuesday. I’d like to invite her for supper, but I don’t want you to bail on me like last time.”
“The power was out and the roads were closed.”
“We had power on this side of the valley.” Mom leaned closer. “You need to put some effort into this, son. Erin’s not coming back.”
Mason choked down a laugh that may — or may not — have come out sounding like hysteria. If Mom only knew Erin was planning a visit, but he sure wasn’t saying so when the kids could hear. Mom was right about one thing, though. Erin might return, but it would always be temporary. The chance of him marrying and sharing responsibility with the twins’ other parent was less than zero. Less than Liz and, after the other night, that was saying something. His prospects weren’t looking very good.
He spread his hands. “Fine. Tuesday. The kids are coming on the bus after school, right? That still work?”
“Monday and Tuesday are good.” Mom eyed Dad. “How did it go with the children today, Gary?”
Dad’s gaze shifted from Mom to Mason. “Uh. Okay.”
If that’s how Dad wanted to spin it. Hadn’t looked that way to Mason.
* * *
“It’s always good to spend time with you, Lizzie Rose.” Mom smiled brightly at her across the table in the bakery. “How have you been keeping?”
That smile was going to disappear in a minute. It was like Liz couldn’t help being a disappointment to her parents, but she had her own life to live, separate from theirs. Separate from Mason’s.
“Pretty good.” Liz dredged up some enthusiasm. “I found a job!”
Mom beamed. “Jo said they were going to offer you a teaching position. I’m so happy.”
“No, not that. I’m leaving for Des Moines on Sunday.”
“But...” Mom’s smile faltered.
“I’m really looking forward to it.” She’d spent the last decade and more perfecting her lying technique. She could do this.
“I didn’t know you applied for a job in Des Moines.”
Liz pushed out a carefree laugh. “I didn’t, exactly. But the business I applied to in Las Vegas has a satellite in Des Moines. They’ve already filled the position in Vegas.”
“So you’ll be teaching English?”
This was where it got dicey. Keep it upbeat. “Part time teaching and part time office.” The offered pay was definitely lower. “It sounds like a full-time
position might open up in the next few months and, if I’m right there, it’s sure to be mine.”
Mom’s eyes searched hers. “Is this what you really want to do?”
No. Absolutely not. But she couldn’t tell her God-fearing mother about the mess with Mason. Either the one from high school or the one from this week. She couldn’t stay in Idaho, even if she wanted to.
She’d spent two days trying to decide if it was worth pretending to be a Christian for Mason, but she was pretty sure he wouldn’t be that easy to fool. She knew the language, but she no longer spoke it like a native. No matter how she tried to spin it in her mind, it wasn’t going to work. The only solution was to get away from Galena Landing and forget he ever existed.
Because that had worked so well for her in Thailand.
She shoved the thought aside with a well-practiced mental motion. What had her mother’s question been, again? Right. “I think it will work out fine. I’ve never been to Iowa, and I’m ready to explore someplace new.”
Mom pursed her lips. “You’re flying?”
Liz shook her head. “Driving. I thought I’d head out Sunday morning.”
“Lizzie, it’s the dead of winter. There’s more snow coming. You shouldn’t drive by yourself.”
“I’ll be fine, Mom. I’ll take it easy. They’ll keep the interstate in good shape. From Billings it’s southeast to Des Moines. All major routes. Don’t worry about me.”
Mom stretched her hand across the small table and squeezed Liz’s. “I’ll always worry. You’re my baby. Did Cindy call you about that possibility in Denver?”
Like she was going anywhere near a city where her perfect sister and brother-in-law worked at a church. “My mind’s made up, Mom. You’ll be proud of me. You’ll see.”
“It’s not about that, Lizzie Rose. I’ll always love you and be proud of you. You’re a beautiful woman and smart as a whip. I only want to know you. You’ve been here for what, three weeks? And I’ve only seen you a handful of times. I’m not ready to let you go again.”
Liz forced herself to lean back in the chair. Too bad they hadn’t done more than taste their sandwiches before getting into it. Her gut was churning too hard now to eat. “I don’t know what to say.”
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