On Saturday, five days before Christmas, he heard a report that gave him great concern. A patrol unit had been sent to Aurora’s Attic Bed-and-Breakfast. Hearing the report, Martin was reminded of a few months before when his friend had been robbed by teenage delinquents who had never been caught. Could those same boys have returned, and if so, why would they target the house again? And were they aware that her son was currently living there? And, most alarming, what if Aurora and William had surprised the thieves and been injured?
Only one way to find the answers. So Martin headed over to the century-old Victorian to see what had happened. When he pulled up in front of Aurora’s wide porch, he saw two patrolmen getting into their cruiser. Recognizing one of them, Martin called out, “Dirk, what’s happened? Everything okay here?”
“Yeah, Dr. Foster. Some stuff went missing, but we got a full report. Looks like the perpetrator has left town, but I’ll make sure a unit comes by here a few times during the night.”
Bundled in a thick pink chenille robe, Aurora came onto the porch. Martin got out of his car.
“Why am I not surprised to see you?” she said. “You always seem to know when something’s not right over here.”
“Thank goodness you’re all right, Aurora,” he said. “Was it the same kids from before? Is William okay?”
She held the door open. “You might as well come in. I’ll fix coffee.”
He entered the nicely appointed parlor, looked around and didn’t see Aurora’s son. “Where’s William?” he asked.
“Probably halfway to the West Virginia border by now,” she answered.
He shrugged out of his jacket, tossed it on the sofa. “What are you saying? Why wasn’t he here when you got robbed?”
“I wasn’t robbed, Marty. At least not in the way you’re thinking. Let’s use William’s words and just say that he borrowed a few things he’d convinced himself he couldn’t live without.”
Martin sat in the nearest easy chair but was too stunned to feel comfortable. “Are you telling me your son stole from you?”
She took a seat close to him. “I can understand your surprise, but believe me, this is par for the course with William and me.” She ran her fingers through the twisted strands of red hair that framed her face. “For years William has made a habit of taking from me when I wasn’t willing to hand over what he thought he needed.”
Martin quickly recalled prior conversations about William. Aurora hadn’t wanted Martin to meet her son, claiming there was always tension between the two of them. Martin had thought that strange at the time. “What did he take, Aurora?”
“Some jewelry. I don’t have much that’s worth a whole lot, but I have saved a few good pieces over the years. When William arrived, I hid them under a drawer liner in my dresser. But he found them. Unfortunately he also found an envelope with five thousand dollars in it.”
“You keep that much money in your house?”
She shrugged. “I’ve always been a cash type of person. I never know when money will be needed to pay for a delivery, a subcontractor or a refund to an unhappy guest. Just yesterday I noticed that my stash was running low and I went to the bank to replenish it.” She frowned. “Now I wish I hadn’t. William would have gotten only a few hundred.” She crossed her legs, pulling the robe tight around her thighs. “I’d given him a week to get himself together, but ended up extending his stay for a couple more days. He seemed better, and he’d been helping me. But I should have known he’d eventually resort to his old game.”
Martin inched forward in the chair. “Better? What do you mean better?”
She widened her eyes in a gesture that told him what he’d suspected. “Oh. You mean he seemed clean.”
Martin reached over and covered Aurora’s hand. “I’m so sorry. You don’t deserve this kind of treatment from anyone, especially someone from your family. You’ve worked so hard to get this place up and running.”
She smiled, slipped her hand from under his. “You make it sound like I’m giving up, Marty. Far from it. This is just a setback. I’ve suffered worse. Things are slow now with Christmas almost here, but once Happy Valley opens up and the skiers come, I’ll have business. More than I can handle.”
She was probably right. The beginner slopes of the nearby ski resort brought lots of enthusiastic learners to this part of Ohio. His admiration for Aurora grew. She had obviously considered her profit potential before investing in the old house as a bed-andbreakfast. She knew skiers could be reliable return guests.
“Aurora,” he began. “If I’m out of bounds, just say so, but how long has William had a drug problem?”
She stood. “Follow me to the kitchen, Marty. If we’re going to get into all these details, I’d better get that coffee brewing. We’ll sit at the kitchen table and I’ll tell you the long, and not very nice, story.”
An hour and two cups of coffee later, Martin had a pretty clear idea of the difficult life Aurora had led. She’d married a man who turned to alcohol when he couldn’t succeed as a husband or provider for his family.
“Phil wasn’t a bad man,” she’d said, defending him. “He just wasn’t motivated, or really very bright. But the worst part of his alcoholism was that his addictive nature seemed to have been inherited by our son. I’ve read that addictive tendencies can transfer from one generation to the next. Only with William, it wasn’t so much booze as drugs.”
She tried to smile, wasn’t successful and took another long swig of coffee. “Like father, like son,” she said. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I’ve heard them all through the years. I tried to keep the family together, but in the end I couldn’t save Phil. He didn’t want to be saved. But I thought William had a chance, so I didn’t give up on him.”
Martin stared into brilliant green eyes that held such determination, such strength. “How did you keep it all together?” he asked. “You had to maintain a home, your faith that everything would be all right with William, not to mention your dignity.”
She gave him a resigned smile. “There came a time when my dignity didn’t matter so much.”
“But what about finances? I’m assuming you couldn’t rely on a paycheck from Phil to keep you going.”
“Oh, heavens no. But I’m not poor, Marty. You know I paid cash for this house. I was an executive assistant for a big commercial real estate firm in Chicago. Indispensable, they called me, and I expect I was. At least I kept getting raises and decent Christmas bonuses. I suppose I’m a businesswoman at heart, though my business savvy definitely didn’t apply to my relationship with my son.”
She sighed. “How was I able to do my job so well at the firm and then screw up so badly at home...?”
Martin understood. He’d known others like Aurora, people with good hearts and sometimes narrow judgment. “He was your son, Aurora,” he said. “Rules of common sense often don’t apply to family.”
She nodded. “William had a way of getting to my emotions. He knew just which strings to pull. I lent him money when he convinced me he was clean. I paid for his rehab stays. I visited him weekly, encouraged him, loved him.” She wiped a finger under her eye. “I still do, but I can’t help him anymore. I knew I shouldn’t have let him in my house last week, but there he was, sitting in the cold on the porch in that light jacket with that junker car in the parking lot. I looked at him and all I could see was my baby boy with that winning smile.”
Martin knew all too well what it felt like to want to give your children whatever they wanted. Sometimes it was just so darn hard to say no even when you knew it was the right answer. But he’d been blessed with good girls and a caring, loving wife for many years. How difficult it must have been for Aurora to try to hold her family together, to keep up with the grind of a high-pressure job, with nothing but her hopes and a will to succeed.
“You’re an amazing wom
an, Aurora,” he said. “You’ve been a good friend to me and my girls and I believe in you.”
“Well, thanks, Marty. I appreciate that. But we’ve established a two-way street of trust. I believe in you, too. I wonder, though. Do you still believe in me after I tell you I sent the police after my son?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ve done it before—had William arrested. When I couldn’t think of another way to get him into rehab, I’d use the law. But this time he has five thousand dollars, so I don’t think they’ll find him. Unless they...”
Martin knew what she couldn’t say. Unless they find his body. What a nightmare to live with such uncertainty about someone you loved with all your heart.
“I wish I could do more to help you, Aurora.”
She stood, indicating he should leave. “You’re doing all you can do, Marty, circumstances being what they are. You’re being my friend, maybe the best friend I’ve ever had.”
He clasped his hands together. “But it’s not enough...”
“Go home, Marty. I’ll be fine.”
He walked to the door of the kitchen but stopped and turned back to look at her one more time. She glanced up, her eyes moist but her smile back in place. She waved her fingers in a dismissive way. “Go on, shoo.”
She didn’t say anything else, and he left.
* * *
WHEN LIAM HAD talked to Jude on Tuesday, their relationship seemed back on track. Not exactly a track he wanted, but at least they were speaking. There was hope. Liam didn’t kid himself about where Jude stood with regard to his adventures, and perhaps for the moment, not bringing up the topic for a while was best.
Jude told him she’d received an email answer from a humanitarian group in Costa Rica. The group, according to her request, agreed to pay half the shipping costs for her goats.
“That’s super,” he’d said. “What’s needed to get the process moving?”
“I’ll contact a live animal transporter and have the goats taken to Baltimore, where they can be loaded on a ship for Central America.”
“Good for you,” he’d said. “But Eloise stays?”
Jude had laughed. “Yes. She can’t be trusted on a long voyage. She’d eat through the side of the boat and try to swim home.” She’d paused a moment before saying, “I wouldn’t have been able to do all this without your advice, Liam. I really owe you, and so does my dad. Which reminds me, there’s a check here for you.”
“Tear it up,” he’d said. “My pleasure. And speaking of pleasure, can I come over tomorrow?”
“I’d love it if you would.”
“I can bring a new-release movie and sub sandwiches.”
“Okay. Make sure the movie is kidappropriate.”
When they’d disconnected, Liam considered that just the sound of Jude’s voice lifted his spirits, made him grateful he’d been able to help her. But his feelings went far beyond his ability to offer advice. He was crazy about a woman who seemed determined to make him crazy by making him feel guilty about something completely innocent that he looked forward to every summer.
Who would have thought he’d ever fall for a woman like Jude. Sophisticated? Not at all. Knowledgeable about clothes and fashion? Not her. Educated with diplomas on her wall? No, she didn’t need diplomas to find her own kind of success. She was good-hearted, caring—qualities that often made a diploma superfluous in defining a worthwhile life.
But what was he going to do about her fear of losing him over his exploits? He wasn’t going to give up what he looked forward to every year. He didn’t want to disappoint the best friends he’d ever had. These friends, these adventures had become part of his life. But how, in good conscience, could he disappoint Jude? Especially if the life he wanted with her wasn’t going to happen if he continued participating in risks she disapproved of.
Pushing aside the accounts he’d been working on in his office, he took a sip of coffee and thought about what he would do. What was a marriage anyway? And how did the M word suddenly pop into his mind? Was he thinking about marrying Jude? Was he ready to assume the responsibilities of looking after a six-year-old? Would Jude even allow him to have an active part in Wesley’s life?
He’d been married before. Two years of a relationship that hadn’t worked almost from the beginning. He and Cheryl had been married but separate, both leading their own busy lives, following their own individual interests.
He often went out with his buddies. She arranged girls’ nights with other high-powered career-minded friends. Cheryl had never once complained about his summer activities. She never once expressed concern. It was enough if she’d say, “Do you have everything you need? Okay, see you in a couple of weeks.”
He hadn’t considered whether her attitude about his exploits made him lucky or not. He was free to do what he wanted. What man wouldn’t be grateful? What husband wanted a woman worrying over him? Well, maybe Liam did. His marriage had ended with a slow-burning fizzle until it just eventually turned to ash. And, oddly, when they both agreed it was over, not much changed in his life.
No one could say that Jude didn’t care. Yes, her fears were irrational. He knew all precautions were taken to guarantee his safety on these trips. He and his three friends weren’t the only guys who took minimal risks for the sake of manly companionship. He knew he’d return to her, and he wanted her to trust him. But she couldn’t. So what was he going to do to earn the love and trust of the woman he wanted?
And how was he going to convince her, and himself, that he could be the positive role model she wanted for her son? And did he even want the job? If only there were a foolproof test of a man’s heart to determine if he was truly ready to be a father. Liam had never given the notion much thought. His life was running along pretty much as he wanted it to. Could he make sacrifices for the son of the woman he loved?
His phone rang and he checked the caller ID. Lenny, the friend who was going on the Mount Dunwoody climb. He called once a week to double-check on the other three guys who’d promised to take the five-thousand-foot trek up the mountain.
“Hey, Len,” Liam said. “How’s it going?”
“If it were any better, I’d have to be twins,” Lenny quipped. “Just calling to see if you’ve made our reservations at the lodge for the week before the climb.”
Liam had completely forgotten his assignment for the past week. “Oh, sorry, buddy. I haven’t done that yet.”
“No problem. There’s still time. I understand the beginning of June isn’t their busiest season. Still a slight chance of snow at the highest elevation.”
Liam thought of his friends and recalled the times he’d shared with these special three guys in the past. They’d established traditions and strong bonds. And then he thought of a future with Jude, the traditions they could build together. And suddenly words he never thought he’d utter came pouring out.
“Uh, Lenny, I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
“What’s that?”
“Something has come up. I can’t make it this year.”
Lenny chuckled. “Yeah, right.”
“No, really, Len. I’m not going.”
“What? Are you kidding me, Manning? You can’t back out. You’re the one who wanted this climb in the first place. I’ve made all the arrangements with four of us in mind. We’ll each have specific jobs.”
“You can do it with three,” Liam said. “In fact, it might be easier to only have to watch out for two other guys.”
“That’s not the point, and you know it. We do these things together. We’re a team. Unless someone’s dying in June, you can’t not show.”
“No one’s dying,” Liam said. “But my reason is important. I’m going to beg off this time.”
“When the other guys hear this, they’re going to be royally pissed. You’ll probably g
et some phone calls.”
“I’ll handle them if I do.”
“What’s this reason? It had better be good.”
Suddenly Liam’s temper began to flare. Now he had to explain himself? “Not that I’m obligated to tell you everything,” he said, “but a friend here needs me at that time. I want to be here for her.”
“Her?” Lenny’s voice rose in anger. “You’re bailing on us for a chick?”
Liam didn’t know intimate details of the marriages of two of the guys who had wives. But he figured those relationships had to be similar to the one he’d shared with Cheryl. Neither friend ever complained about his wife not going along with his plans. Maybe, like Cheryl, they didn’t care enough. He was at a crossroad with Jude right now. The pathway he chose could decide his future.
“She’s a woman, yeah,” he said. “I can’t explain it to you, but you’ll just have to accept my decision.”
Lenny sighed. His voice calmed. “Okay, I will. I know you, Manning, and if you say this is important, then it’s important. But we’ll miss you.”
“Same here. Thanks for understanding.”
Lenny chuckled. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say I understand, but good luck with whatever’s going on with you. I’ll let you know how the climb went.”
“I’ll be anxious to hear.”
Liam disconnected. Tomorrow would be a life-changing day for him. Meanwhile, he was looking forward to subs and a movie tonight.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
AFTER REPORTING AT the radio station on Wednesday morning, Jude went to Main Street of Fox Creek and strolled the hundred-year-old storefronts. She finished her Christmas shopping and went home and wrapped packages until she called Carrie. “When are you leaving Michigan?” she asked. “Christmas is in two days.”
“I know. You’re not going to like what I have to tell you, Judie.”
The Bridesmaid Wore Sneakers Page 19