Polly watched Heath as they walked in the front door. Davey’s was where she’d first seen him as someone other than a hoodlum. He’d been miserable that night with his aunt and uncle; shut down and existing in as small a space as possible. Now, even after the beating, he was a much happier young man. He smiled and laughed with Rebecca and stood as straight as his healing ribs would let him.
The hostess took them into the main room and Polly laughed when she saw a large table filled with her friends. Lydia glanced up from her menu, then stood and waved them over.
“We can make room,” Lydia said. “Please join us.”
Polly looked at Henry and he smiled. He shook Aaron’s hand, then stepped around to greet Len Specek. Beryl and Tallie scooted over so Polly and Rebecca could sit with them, while Aaron made room for Heath.
“We didn’t want to bother you tonight,” Lydia said. “I know you were busy with Elise and Camille this morning.”
“We are celebrating,” Polly said.
Beryl leaned across Tallie. “Celebrating what?”
“I guess everything. Aaron has the murderer, Heath is better, you and Tallie have found each other. Everything,” Polly said. “I feel…” she looked around the table. “Content.”
“That’s a good word for it,” Beryl said. “It’s been a strange couple of weeks, but I’ve learned something.”
“What’s that, dear?” Lydia asked.
“You were right.”
Lydia grinned and tipped her water glass at Beryl. “Of course I was. Is there ever a question about that? But what was I right about?”
“When we were kids, family was defined in very limited ways,” Beryl said. “We never would have considered our friends to be family. Tonight, I look around this table and this is my family. Sisters that I could never have hoped to have, men who care for me as brothers should, and then out of the blue, a young woman shows up who, though our DNA is linked, I might never have gotten to know. And she’s family to me. Love is kind of unexpected when it shows up, isn’t it?”
Polly smiled and took Rebecca’s hand in hers. She knew exactly what Beryl was saying. She risked a glance at Heath and gave him a small smile.
Aaron had leaned back while Beryl spoke and put his arm around Heath’s chair, rubbing the boy’s shoulder. Heath swallowed twice and looked down at his lap. One of these days Polly would quit thinking of him as having had a rough life in the past and they would fully focus on his present and future. But for now, she was still so grateful that he was in their lives.
Beryl caught the waitress who had been quietly taking drink orders around the table. “Who’s the bartender tonight?” she asked.
“It’s a new guy,” the waitress said and then she grinned. “I forgot about that. What are you ordering?”
“Well,” Beryl said. She bit her upper lip and grinned around the table. “Old Jedidiah Carter, who was one of the founders of Bellingwood was a bank robber.”
The young woman nodded.
“He stole gold from his brother’s bank and that legend has disrupted many a family this week.”
“I heard he buried it in town somewhere,” the waitress said. She glanced at Aaron. “But nobody knows where.”
“They may never find it,” Beryl said. “But some of us found something even better than gold.” She grinned at Tallie. “Are you game?”
Tallie nodded.
“How about the rest of you?” Beryl asked. “None for the kids, of course, but I promise it will be fun.”
Henry and Polly smiled at each other, then nodded. Soon everyone was agreeing.
“Bring a Gold Rush for everyone here,” Beryl said. “And tell your bartender to make up something fun to match for the kids, okay?”
“What’s a Gold Rush?” the waitress asked.
“If he can’t figure it out, tell him to come ask me himself,” Beryl said. “Go on now, I can’t wait to hear what he says.”
The waitress left the table and Beryl turned back. “It’s just bourbon, lemon juice and honey syrup. It should be tasty.”
"When are you going back to New Mexico?" Polly asked Tallie.
"She's leaving Monday morning,” Beryl interrupted. “I'm going to miss her. We've had a wonderful week together."
Lydia smiled. "I'm so glad for you. Are you ever coming back for a visit?"
Tallie looked at Beryl, as if waiting for the woman to answer for her. Beryl scowled at her and Tallie replied. "This summer for sure. I want to be here for the sesquicentennial. And we’re talking about a more long-term arrangement in the future when I can spend some time studying with Beryl.”
“She’s a wonderful teacher,” Andy said.
Beryl shrugged. "We’ll see. I’m thinking about scheduling a trip to Taos this spring. Tallie tells me that the colors are so different in the Southwest I won’t believe it until I actually see it. An old lady has to be willing to learn, too, doesn’t she?”
“That sounds cool,” Rebecca said quietly.
“Maybe I’ll wait until school’s out and take you with me, little thing,” Beryl said. She winked at Polly. “Would you let her travel with me?”
“As long as you don’t lose her,” Henry said. “We know about you.”
Beryl cackled. “I’m much better on planes than I am in a car and Tallie promises me that I won’t have to drive anywhere once I get there. She’ll be in charge of our travel.
The waitress returned carrying a tray of drinks. She was followed by a young man who carried a second tray. She walked around the table, but not before nodding to Beryl.
“We have your Gold Rush, Ms. Watson,” he said. “I’ve heard about you and did my best to be prepared, but this one required a little research.” He placed a glass in front of her and smiled.
Beryl picked it up and took a sip, then turned to look at him. "Very good," she said. "You’ve earned your stripes."
They passed out the rest of the drinks and Beryl stood up, lifting her glass. “We might not have found Jedidiah Carter’s gold, but I’ve found something worth so much more. Families come in all shapes and sizes. I am the richest woman in town because I have you.”
~~~
Polly snuggled into Henry's arms on the couch in the media room. Heath had taken one overstuffed chair and Rebecca was curled up with Han in the other while they watched a movie.
"Will you two stop it," Rebecca said. "You're embarrassing us."
"Are we embarrassing you, Heath?" Polly asked.
He put a hand over his eyes and turned toward the television.
"We're an odd little family, aren't we," she said. "Beryl said she was the richest woman in town, but I’d have to disagree. I’m thankful for my riches. I never expected to find any of you, but then, there you were, filling up my life. Thank you."
Henry reached over and squeezed Rebecca's foot. She wiggled it. "You're still embarrassing us," she said softly.
THANK YOU FOR READING!
I’m so glad you enjoy these stories about Polly Giller and her friends. There are many ways to stay in touch with Diane and the Bellingwood community.
You can find more details about Sycamore House and Bellingwood at the website: http://nammynools.com/
Join the Bellingwood Facebook page:
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for news about upcoming books, conversations while I’m writing and you’re reading, and a continued look at life in a small town.
Diane Greenwood Muir’s Amazon Author Page is a great place to watch for new releases.
Follow Diane on Twitter at twitter.com/nammynools for regular updates and notifications.
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Don’t miss the first books in
Diane Greenwood Muir’s
Bellingwood Series
> All Roads Lead Home – Bellingwood #1
A Big Life in a Small Town – Bellingwood #2
Treasure Uncovered – Bellingwood #3
Secrets and Revelations – Bellingwood #4
Life Between the Lines – Bellingwood #5
Room at the Inn – Bellingwood #5.5
A Season of Change – Bellingwood #6
Tomorrow's Promises – Bellingwood #7
Through the Storm – Bellingwood #8
A Perfect Honeymoon – Bellingwood #8.5
Pages of the Past – Bellingwood #9
The River Rolls On – Bellingwood #10
Look Always Forward – Bellingwood #11
Out of the Shadows – Bellingwood #12
Holidays are for Family – Bellingwood #12.5
Unexpected Riches – Bellingwood #13
A short story based
on the Biblical Book of Ruth (Kindle only)
Abiding Love
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This year is going to be fun. I hinted at it in "Home for the Holidays," but Bellingwood is celebrating its sesquicentennial. The four books in 2016 will offer a glance at the deeper history of the community. Iowa's history is fascinating. I fall in love with the state every time I do any research.
Writing is a solitary business and I’ve discovered just how much solitude I need in order to write. Even the smallest distractions throw me off. That my family and friends still love me even though I hide so much means the world to me.
The team that helps me pull this book together is amazing. Rebecca reads each chapter as I write them – with horrible flaws, mistakes and continuity errors. She tells me how fun the story is, with no judgment. I would quit writing if she weren’t here for me. My beta readers are so important to me. They edit, find continuity problems, point out unnecessary words / phrases / thoughts, catch strange grammar and are such a necessary part of my process. Thank you to: Linda Watson, Alice Stewart, Fran Neff, Max Muir, Edna Fleming, Linda Baker, Carol Greenwood, and Nancy Quist. Linda Baker also has been capturing the characters that I build and one of these days I will finally find a creative way to share her information with you.
Thank you to Judy Tew for reading the book after I’ve edited and before publication. She caught so many silly little errors I made that annoy a reader to no end. Y’all appreciate her, though you don’t realize it.
Thank you for being part of this community. One of the most fun things about writing these books is getting to know all of you who read them. If you have a chance, find us on Facebook (facebook.com/pollygiller). If Bellingwood is a real place, this is where you’ll find it.
Unexpected Riches (Bellingwood Book 13) Page 28