House of the Forest

by Diana Wallis Taylor

  With a touch of irritation it also occurred to her that he hadn’t called her back either. She didn’t think much of John Howard, but the first chance she got, she’d talk to him, alone.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  They ordered salads and while they waited for their lunch, Gloria perused the charming room with the sets of cups and saucers, antique dishes, picture frames and various other appealing gift items.

  “This is lovely, Laura. I’m surprised to find a tea room in a rustic town like this.”

  Laura gave her mother a mischievous smile. “Well, you know, Mother, after they get through hunting bears, every red-blooded mountain man needs a cup of tea.”

  Gloria arched her eyebrows. “Well, I must admit the town has grown a great deal since the last time I came here.” She sipped her tea. “So you’re going to keep the house?”

  “I really want to. There’s just something peaceful about it that appeals to me. There’s no mortgage to pay on. I think I could manage it with the funds Aunt Estelle left me.”

  “She signed over her royalty interests to you?”

  Laura nodded warily. “Yes.”

  “Don’t apologize for the gift, Laura, but you must understand that those checks are going to fluctuate. You can’t count on the same amount month after month. Just when you think things are going well, the amount of your checks could drop suddenly.”

  “Mr. Devers did warn me of that, but then I have my job so I’m not dependent on those checks for a living.”

  Gloria set her cup down carefully. “Did you consider the upkeep?”

  “Upkeep?”

  Her mother shook her head in exasperation. “Darling, the water, gas and electric, the phone, someone to tend the yard while you are gone, all these things cost money. And what is Alan going to say about all this?”

  Laura chewed on her lower lip. “I don’t know. I’m sure he would enjoy having a place the church staff could go to on retreat, and for that matter, a place we could come to for vacations.”

  “Darling, you’re naïve if you think that man wants his wife to provide those things. He’s ambitious. That’s obvious, and he’s going to have his hands full running that big church. And don’t look at me as if I don’t know about those things. A church is like any other business. It has bills to pay and people to deal with to staff the programs. Do you really think Alan is going to be delighted you own a rustic old house in the mountains?”

  “Why wouldn’t he?” She leaned forward eagerly, “There’s a gardening service that already takes care of the yard and I’ve transferred the utilities into my name. I figured Aunt Estelle’s money could take care of the upkeep on the house.”

  Gloria pointed a finger at her daughter. “Speaking of upkeep, the carpeting in the front bathroom is rotten underneath. I found a corner of the carpet loose and there was a plastic trash bag under it. You need to take out that carpet and put down linoleum or something.”

  Laura sighed. Did she find that when she was looking for the money? “I didn’t see that. You’re right. I’ll call the flooring store tomorrow. While we’re speaking of flooring, I think I’ll replace the old linoleum in the laundry room. It’s curled at the edges and looks like it was never tacked down properly.”

  “Good idea. You might as well get them both done at once.”

  They ate their salads in silence. Finally Laura observed her mother, with her make up on. She was beautiful. “Mother, what are your plans when you leave here?”

  Gloria’s face took on a wistful look. “I don’t know, a friend has a condo near Cabo San Lucas and has invited me to spend a week with her.”

  “Her?”

  “Darling, I don’t spend all my time with men, lovely as they are.”

  “So there’s no gentleman friend in the picture right now?”

  Gloria arched her eyebrows. “I didn’t say that. I just said I don’t spend all my time with men.”

  Laura grinned. “What’s his name?”

  Her mother suddenly looked off across the room for a moment and then shrugged.

  “His name is Matthew. He’s an artist.”

  “That sounds interesting. Where did you meet him?”

  “An acquaintance of mine invited me to an art gallery to see his work. It was his first showing.”

  “Is it good?”

  Gloria’s fork paused in midair. “The relationship or the art?”

  Laura chuckled. “Why the artwork of course, is it good?”

  Her mother reflected a moment and then nodded slowly. “Yes, it is. It’s very good. He paints seascapes.” Her face took on a wistful look. “You can almost feel the salt spray and smell the ocean.”

  Laura started to ask about the relationship but put her lips together. Something was different about this man, she could see a change in her mother’s face as she mentioned his name. Matthew. Well, it was a Biblical name, at least.

  Her mother changed the subject and Laura realized she didn’t want to talk about him right now. Instead they discussed window coverings for the family room. They didn’t mention the money or Uncle Ray, but Laura had a feeling it wasn’t far from her mother’s mind. When her mother went to the powder room, Laura seized the opportunity to call John Howard. In a low voice she filled him in briefly on her mother’s return and Deke’s visit. He didn’t seem surprised and she remembered he and another man were keeping him under surveillance. They probably already knew he’d been to the house. He thanked her for calling him and asked her to keep him posted of anything unusual.

  Laura had no sooner put her cell phone away and picked up her fork when her mother returned to the table.

  Gloria sat down and reached for her napkin, “The restrooms are lovely. Lots of knick knacks and art work. Darling, it just occurred to me that you are going to need a cleaning woman. The last one to clean missed the spider webs near the ceiling. I hate spiders!”

  “Aunt Estelle was the last person to clean, well, I take that back. Ginny came in and spruced things up before I got there. I don’t think Aunt Estelle had a cleaning woman. I’ll ask Ginny if she knows of anyone.” Laura pulled a small notepad from her purse and began to write down the things that needed to be done. The old upright piano needed tuning. Laura was going to play some hymns from the old hymn book the second day in the house but stopped, cringing at the sour notes.

  Gloria wanted to know what happened with Alan and Laura found herself repeating what she’d told Ginny.

  “Mother, do you think I’m being unrealistic?”

  “That’s hard to say, Laura, only you can sort out your true feelings. You have to decide if you want to live the life he’s planned for you. Believe me, I’ve been through that a few times myself.”

  Gloria sighed. “Sometimes just finding another person isn’t the answer.” She laid her fork down and studied her plate a moment before facing her daughter. “Laura, I loved your father. He was my world. When he died suddenly, I felt lost. For a long time I was angry with him for leaving me. He took care of everything, the bills, the house. He was loving and fun. Then he died. I had to fend for myself. I was vulnerable and lonely. I chose the wrong men for your stepfathers. Choices that were based on my own need and not who was right for me. I just wanted someone to fill in the gap and take the pain away.”

  A rare moment of candor and Laura found her heart hurting for her mother. Why hadn’t she seen what her mother felt? “I didn’t know, I’m sorry.”

  Gloria covered Laura’s outstretched hand with her own. “Oh, no point moping around about it, what’s done is done. And don’t blame yourself, Laura, you were too young to understand.”

  In those moments, Laura glimpsed a side of her mother that she had not been aware of before. Forgive me, Lord, for judging her. I had no right. Only You can look into a person’s heart and see what’s there. Help me to pray more for her and while we have this time together, give me a chance to share Your love with her.

  They polished off their lunch with pieces of apricot/raspbe
rry pie that had a crust so flaky it melted in their mouths.

  Her mother made a token protest, but Laura picked up the tab. Somehow she sensed that her mother was low on funds right now.

  Laura slipped her arm through her mother’s as they approached the car. “You know, for a price I’ll tell you where I found some fabulous gifts.”

  Her mother gave her a knowing glance from the corner of her eyes. “Really? Now that sounds like a lovely idea.”

  Laura took her to the Village and they stopped in a couple of gift shops to poke around. Like two girlfriends, they chatted and laughed as they peered in windows and tried on some fragrance samples. Laura’s heart lifted to have this special time with her mother after all these years.

  As they were leaving one of the shops, something across the street caught Laura’s eye. A short ways down the street a now familiar figure opened the door of an old brown Camero and slipped quickly inside. She caught her breath. Deke.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Pouring through the yellow pages Monday morning, Laura found a carpet and linoleum dealer. He suggested she measure the approximate width and length of each room to give him an estimate of the flooring. If she came in and selected the pattern today, they would be able to install on Thursday morning. They would move the washer and dryer, and the toilet, but she’d have to make sure the small items were out of the way. Gloria made an appointment Thursday morning for a manicure and pedicure.

  To Gloria’s annoyance, Mr. Howard sent a man to crawl under the house. He seemed a bit surly and Laura didn’t like the looks of him, but if John Howard had sent him she figured it would be all right. The man didn’t find anything and after a brief conversation with Mr. Howard on the phone, Laura found they were coming to the conclusion that the money wasn’t there and it had been a wild goose chase. Either her uncle hid it somewhere else or he was telling the truth when he said his partner hid it and died before he could divulge the location. Mr. Howard informed her that Deke drove back down the mountain Monday morning, probably to return to work. They’d still keep an eye on him and would inform her if he traveled up to Big Bear again.

  Gloria went with Laura and together they picked out an interesting linoleum pattern that would work for both the bathroom and the laundry room. Gloria had an eye for color and design. She had Laura order custom vertical blinds for the odd-sized windows in the family room but it would be at least six weeks for delivery.

  She’d have to make arrangements to be there when they were installed or find someone to do that for her.

  From the looks of things, there would be no need for Laura to stay another week and her mother showed signs of being bored. Laura prayed even harder for a way to reach her mother for the Lord.

  The two women went through the articles in the house again, but Laura found little she wanted to get rid of. and Gloria showed no interest in her sister’s things.

  Tuesday the door bell rang and Laura found Ginny waiting at the door.

  “I have the name of a good cleaning woman, Laura. She cleans for a friend of mine and is reliable. She can’t come until next week, but if you aren’t here, I can let her in and lock up after her.”

  “Oh that’s wonderful. Do you have time for a cup of tea?”

  “Of course, dear, that would be lovely.”

  Gloria glanced up from her book and gave Ginny a brief nod of acknowledgement but declined their invitation to join them.

  As they sat down in the kitchen to sip their tea, Laura remembered the alarm system. “I’ll leave the alarm system code and password with you so you can get in the house. You’ll need a key.”

  Ginny gave her a guilty grin. “I must confess, Laura, that I already know them. Esty wanted someone nearby to be able to get in the house if something happened to her.”

  “I figured you did, but I’m having the locks re-keyed just to be sure. Since Aunt Estelle changed the code and password for the alarm system a year ago, I left that.”

  “I’ll be glad to keep a key for you, dear.”

  “I can’t think of anyone I’d trust more.” Laura told her about the blinds and Ginny agreed she’d open the house and be there when they came. Laura would give the store Ginny’s name to notify her when they were ready to install.

  When Gloria got up and went towards the guest room, Ginny leaned forward and whispered, “How’s the search coming?”

  Laura spread her hands and shrugged. “I think we’re wasting our time. We didn’t find anything in the house or the attic and the man the police sent didn’t find anything under the house. Mr. Howard as much as said they don’t think the money is here. Uncle Ray must have hidden it somewhere else or else really didn’t know where it was”.

  Ginny smiled. “Well, it made for a little intrigue, you must say. Perhaps you won’t be bothered any more.”

  Laura realized Ginny meant Deke. “No, I guess not.” While she didn’t care much for Deke, Laura felt a sense of compassion for him. He was family. If only she knew of some way to help him change his life. She’d just continue to pray for him.

  She promised Ginny a new key in a day or so, saw her to the door and after a quick hug, Ginny hurried home.

  Gloria was all thumbs in the kitchen and Laura ended up fixing their meals. It baffled her that her mother should be so inept in the kitchen while her daughter enjoyed trying new recipes. Gloria much preferred to go out and be waited on in a restaurant.

  Laura shook her head. No wonder her mother was low on funds. Managing money was not her mother’s strong point.

  Monday and Tuesday night posed no problem, but tonight she was having dinner with Sam and already getting nervous. Her mother would just have to fend for herself.

  “I’ll just order something in, darling. Not to worry.”

  “Mother, this isn’t a hotel with room service, this is Big Bear. If you want delivery you can order pizza or fried chicken.”

  Gloria considered that a moment. “Actually, KFC coleslaw is pretty good. I’ll be just fine.”

  Laura burst out laughing. “Mother, you’re a fraud.”

  Her mother waved a hand and rolled her eyes. “Found out again. And you thought I ate steak every night by candlelight.”

  They hugged each other and Laura realized how few times they’d actually done that over the years. She smelled her mother’s perfume.

  “What’s that scent called?”

  Her mother struck a provocative pose and glided towards the guest room. “Passion” she called over her shoulder.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Laura put on her tan slacks and cream sweater and checked her hair Just as the clock on the mantle chimed the hour of six, the door bell rang.

  “Hi Sam.”

  His eyes were warm, “You look nice. Are you ready to go?”

  She called back to her mother that they were leaving and Gloria came to the door to bestow a gracious smile on Sam. “You two have a good time.”

  They settled in a quiet corner of the restaurant and Sam pointed to a kiosk nearby where they could choose their salsa preference from six different bowls. Sam liked his salsa hot, but Laura settled for the mildest one.

  They sipped cokes and munched on the chips and salsa.

  “How are you doing with your aunt’s house?”

  She smiled. “Things are pretty well sorted out. I have a man coming tomorrow to put down new linoleum in the front bathroom and the laundry room and I’m having the locks re-keyed.”

  “That’s good. Anything else needing repair?”

  “The piano.”

  He shrugged and grinned. “I’m afraid I’ll have to pass on the piano.”

  Leaning forward on his arms, he became more serious. “Sorry for being so abrupt the day I fixed your wiring after the branch came down. I haven’t been the best company for quite a while.”

  She felt it was best to be honest with him. “Sam, I know about your wife. Ginny told me. I’m so sorry.”

  A shadow crossed his face but he didn’t se
em angry. “It’s just as well. I need to get on with my life. People mean well, but they kept trying to fix me up with someone and I guess I got a little defensive.”

  “I know the feeling, Sam. Believe it or not, I understand.”

  He nodded. “So, tell me about this guy you’re engaged to.”

  “Alan is the associate minister at our church. His father is the Pastor and has been very ill. He’s stepping down and Alan will be taking his place.”

  His eyes were steady on her face. “So you met him at your church?”

  “He was the singles pastor. I started coming to the church because it was near where I lived and had a large singles group.”

  “So what’s he like?”

  “Well, he’s tall, like you, with sandy brown hair. Nice looking. He’s very organized, and helps a lot of people.” She stopped suddenly. What kind of a description was that? This was the man she loved?

  She studied the tablecloth, suddenly embarrassed.

  He moved a spoon around on the table. “So, how come this nice guy who helps people isn’t here helping you?”

  “He has a lot of responsibilities with his father so ill. He just couldn’t get away.” She looked up. “Sam, I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of Alan. He’s a wonderful person.”

  She was saved further comment by the waitress bringing their meals.

  Laura waited a moment, unsure if Sam would say grace. He reached his hand across the table and enclosed hers. “Do you mind if I ask the blessing?”

  Feeling the warmth of his touch she couldn’t answer, and just nodded her head. Lord, what’s happening here?

  He blessed the food and Laura felt he held on to her hand a moment longer than he needed to. Why did her insides seem to be in a turmoil? Lord, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

  He released her hand and reached for his fork. “Now this is a great chimichanga.”