Orchard Hill Volume One

by Kara Lynn Russell

  “That’s not what I wanted to hear,” growled Ian as he hung up.

  ****

  Reluctantly, Ian went home to his ranch-style house on a few acres outside of town. He’d done the best he could do under the circumstances, he told himself, but he didn’t feel any better.

  Before he went inside, he walked to the back of the house and let George out of his kennel. At the animal shelter, George had been a tiny scared puppy. Now he was a huge, hairy, drooling monster. But Ian had worked with him diligently, and he was at least a well-mannered, huge, hairy, drooling monster.

  Thrilled to have Ian home, George romped around, wagging his tail excitedly. Dog and master went inside. Ian fed George and put a frozen pizza in the oven for himself. While it baked, he went down the hall to the house’s second bedroom. The moment he opened the door there was a chorus of high pitched squeals. Ian smiled, and his mood lifted to see his three guinea pigs excitedly popcorning when they saw him. He gave Clover, Alfalfa and Petunia each some fresh hay and water.

  George, who was not allowed in the “pig pen,” whined softly outside. Ian went from cage to cage, talking to and stroking each guinea pig. When the timer on the oven buzzed, he finished up and returned to the kitchen, securely closing the door behind him, to George’s disappointment.

  While he ate and channel surfed, Ian wondered if he should call Lily. She was probably still mad at him, maybe even more so if she’d discovered he’d called Riley. But he wanted to know she was all right. How bad was this ex-husband and where did he live anyway? Close enough to come over and cause trouble if he was mad enough? For Lily’s sake, he hoped not.

  Before Ian gave in to his urge to call, the phone rang. It was Riley.

  “I thought you’d want an update,” his brother told him. “I called Grace at her mother’s and told her about Lily. She went over to her apartment right away. Ted, Lily’s ex was calling about every five minutes, and Grace finally convinced Lily to go home with her.”

  Ian felt relieved. “She’s all right then.”

  “Well, pretty much. I guess she’s really angry at you.”

  “I know. She didn’t like that I talked to him.”

  “That’s an understatement. She said it was your fault he went all crazy with the phone calls. I guess he doesn’t like the idea that she might have a boyfriend.”

  “I was trying to help.”

  “I know, Ian. I’m just telling you, you might want to tread softly around Lily for a while.”

  He let out a sigh of frustration. “That’s nothing out of the ordinary.”

  Riley chuckled. “Don’t give up. Grace thinks Lily is secretly touched by your gesture.”

  “This sounds like a conversation we might have had in junior high,” Ian responded dryly.

  “Think of her like one of those strays you’re always helping with at the shelter. She’s been hurt, and she’s afraid to trust. How would you help an animal like that?”

  “I can hardly treat Lily like a lame schnauzer.”

  “No, but the concept is the same. How do you learn to trust again?”

  “Hmmm. You may have something there, Riley.”

  ****

  The next morning, Lily opened her shop on time, in spite of being sleep deprived, in spite of the fact that she didn’t have an appointment scheduled for a couple of hours. She was angry with both Ted and Ian. True, Ted was acting like a jerk, but Ian had just added fuel to the fire. Still, as she’d finally drifted off, sometime around 3 a.m., she remembered how Ian had held her while she’d cried.

  It was a gesture of comfort; a hug like Grace would give her. Friends had been in short supply in Lily’s life for a long time, by her own choice. And male friends had been scarcer for an even longer time. Ian had held her and comforted her and hadn’t asked for anything in return, not even a kiss. Lily didn’t know what to make of it. How could she be angry with him and touched by his actions at the same time?

  As Lily was setting up her work station, the bell on the door jingled. Angel Marcel walked in. “Good morning, Lily,” she called.

  “Hi Angel,” she answered, with a smile she realized was sincere. “What can I do for you?”

  “This may seem like an odd question…” she paused, wringing her hands.

  “What is it?”

  “I hope you aren’t offended but…”

  Truly puzzled now, Lily urged her to finish.

  “Do you ever take dogs as clients?”

  “What?”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t know who else to ask.” Angel’s words rushed out now. “Cherub got away from me last night. Actually, she’s quite the escape artist. Usually she comes back home pretty quickly, but last night she must have found something to roll in, and now she…well, she stinks to high heaven. I usually take her to work with me, but Jeff won’t let her in the office, and I can’t say that I blame him, but she’s not used to being home by herself all day…”

  “Angel, breathe,” commanded Lily, steering her to a chair. “Where is Cherub now?”

  “I tied her leash to the bike rack outside. But I can’t leave her there for long, because she’ll slip out of her collar if she gets bored.”

  “Maybe you should have named her Houdini.”

  With a wail, Angel hid her head in her hands. “What am I going to do?”

  Lily was hard pressed to hold back a laugh. “Well, I can’t do anything for her in here. Bring her around the back, to the laundry room. Maybe we can bathe her in the sink there.”

  An hour later, Lily and Angel were both soaked, and Cherub still smelled awful. “I’m sorry, Angel. I don’t know what else to do.”

  “It’s okay, Lily. I really appreciate that you tried. Cherub will just have to stay home today, I guess. I’ll have to change before I go in to work anyway.”

  “I thought you were an artist? What do you do at the real estate office?”

  “I work part time for Jeff as a receptionist. It’s just until I get myself established in the art world,” she added hurriedly.

  “So you’re dating the boss?” Lily asked with a teasing smile.

  Angel blushed. “I know how it looks, but Jeff is a complete gentleman.”

  “I know. I was just kidding.”

  “Anyway, I should get going. Jeff will need me at my desk”

  “I really wish I could have helped you.”

  Suddenly, Angel reached over and gave Lily a tremendous hug. “You did help. Thank you Lily.”

  Tears came to her eyes, and she was even sorrier she hadn’t been able to solve Cherub’s problem. An idea came to her. She didn’t want to do it, but then again, she didn’t want to completely let Angel down.

  “Let’s not give up yet. I have one more idea.”

  “Something different? What?”

  Lily took a deep breath. “Let’s call Ian.”

  ****

  Ian was just finishing up with Mrs. Vernon’s cat’s yearly check up. The cat was fourteen years old and as ornery as…as Mrs. Vernon herself. He was seeing the pair out when his receptionist told him he had a phone call. Nursing a scratched hand, he went into his office and grabbed the phone. “Dr. O’Neil.”

  “Ian, I need your help.”

  This was the last person Ian expected to be on the phone, asking for his help. Immediately, his mind filled with dire imaginings. “Lily? What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Cherub.”

  “What?”

  “Angel’s dog, Cherub. She rolled in something really smelly. We’ve washed her three times, and she still smells.”

  “That’s it?” Relief washed over him.

  “Yes, that’s it. Do you know what to do?”

  “I have some dog shampoo that should take care of it. There’s a lull in the office now. I’ll bring it over.”

  “Thank you, Ian.”

  He was at Lily’s shop within ten minutes. He couldn’t help laughing at the two wet, disheveled women or at Cherub’s long-suffering look.

  “W
hat’s so funny?” demanded Lily.

  He schooled his expression into one of polite concern. “Nothing. Here’s the shampoo.”

  “Thank you so much,” Angel said. “I was starting to think I’d be living with this smell for good.”

  The bell on Lily’s front door jingled. “I need to see who that is,” she said.

  Jeff Bradley was standing there, looking mighty annoyed. “Have you seen my receptionist?” he asked.

  “Yes, we’ve been giving Cherub a bath. Multiple baths actually.”

  “Does she smell any better.”

  “Not yet. Angel and I didn’t have any luck, so we called Ian O’Neil. He brought over some special dog shampoo. Come on, they’re in the back.”

  Angel and Ian had already started the fourth bath. Angel smiled over her shoulder at Jeff. “We’re almost finished,” she told him.

  “That’s good. I was wondering if you were coming to work at all this morning. The phone’s been ringing off the hook.”

  “I’m sorry, but I had to do something about Cherub.”

  With his hands on his hips, Jeff stared at the little dog. “You are more trouble than you’re worth sometimes, you know that.”

  Cherub gazed up at him with big, sorrowful eyes. Jeff relented and smiled at her. “It’s a good thing I like you,” he said, causing her to wag her tail and spray Ian and Angel with water.

  Lily grabbed a stack of clean towels. She gave one to Ian and one to Angel and wrapped Cherub in a third. “I hate to desert you,” she told them, “but I have a perm scheduled in ten minutes, and I think I’d better change.”

  “And I’d better get back to work,” Ian added.

  Angel took Cherub from Lily. “Thank you again for your help. I owe you one, and you too, Ian.”

  “No problem,” Ian assured her and Lily echoed his sentiments. They left Jeff and Angel in the laundry room. Lily walked Ian out. He paused at the door.

  “Lily, I know you’re mad at me for last night. I’m sorry if I made things worse with your ex.”

  She shrugged. “I can handle it. Never mind. I know you meant to help.”

  “I do want to help. Please call me if you need me. I’ll do better next time…if there is a next time.”

  Unfortunately she was sure there would be. What should she say? If she refused his offer of help, he wouldn’t leave her alone. But if she accepted, he might think she was a helpless female in need of rescuing. “Um…Thanks. That’s a great offer.”

  He studied her face. Did he notice that she’d complimented his offer, but not accepted it?

  “Well, I have an appointment in,” Lily checked her watch, “five minutes, now.”

  “I’ll let you go then,” said Ian.

  She watched him for a moment, ignoring her need to hurry. Ian O’Neil was definitely different from most men she had known. She had a momentary wish to know what made him tick. Then she remembered she had to hurry, and she turned away.

  ****

  On Sunday, Lily went to church as usual. She sat in her usual pew, surrounded by the usual people in her church family. But it turned out to be a most unusual Sunday. When Pastor Isaac stepped into the pulpit for his sermon, Lily looked up expectantly, waiting for the message. She was totally unprepared for the point to hit her like an arrow to the heart.

  Pastor Isaac began with talking about spring. They were in Lent, traditionally a time for reflection and repentance. It was, Pastor Isaac said, “a time when the earth is as barren as our hearts. But just as spring comes to the earth, making all things new, so God brings new life to us.

  “The bible states in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.’ It may have been your time to weep, to mourn. But surely as those times come, the time to laugh and dance will come again, just as spring follows winter.”

  That was how Lily felt—as if her own heart was as barren and lifeless as a winter field. She felt deeply ashamed of her mistake in marriage, and she had consciously distanced herself from her friends and family so that the consequences of her mistake wouldn’t spill over onto them.

  Grace had been the exception simply because she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She’d resisted all Lily’s attempts to put up a wall between them. When Lily found Ted in their bed with one of his college students, she’d called Grace. And Grace had come, no questions asked. Grace had helped Lily rebuild her life.

  But now, maybe it was time to open her heart a little farther. She’d enjoyed Angel’s company, and Jeff seemed like a nice guy. Riley seemed ready to be friends with his fiancée’s best friend, too. Was it time to take a chance? Lily had to admit, she was tired of being alone. Grace, as wonderful a friend as she was, had less time for her now that she and Riley were a couple. But instead of feeling jealous, maybe Lily needed to broaden her own circle of friends—beyond one anyway.

  Then Lily thought of her former husband. He’d been the sweetest, most attentive man in the world while they were dating. His darker side hadn’t come out until later. How could she know whom to trust? The thought of being hurt so badly again filled her heart with fear.

  Would there come a time when the pain of being alone outweighed the fear of being deceived and betrayed? Would her soul bloom like a garden again or was it destined to be a desert waste forever?

  TITLE

  Orchard Hill: Volume One

  Chapter Four

  The night for the second meeting of the adoption fair committee came around. Lily was nervous as she drove out to the Orchard Hill Animal Shelter. She’d been thinking a lot about Pastor Isaac’s sermon, and she hoped she could find the courage to reach out. Surely, Angel would be a good choice for a friend. Her judgment couldn’t be so far off as to mistake her sweet, open nature as untrue.

  But Angel wasn’t at that meeting. When they gathered, Mary took roll call and announced that Angel wasn’t attending because she had an important meeting with a client. Everyone else was present.

  “Usually no one wants to miss this meeting, when we get to meet all the pets.”

  Ian was behind her, suddenly whispering in her ear. Lily hadn’t been aware of him, and her heart beat faster as his breath tickled her ear. Surprise, she told herself. He surprised me.

  Mary had a few more announcements to make, but Lily didn’t hear them because Ian pulled her aside.

  “Lily, I’ve been thinking about your situation.”

  She stiffened. “My situation?”

  “Yes. You live alone and have an angry ex-husband. What if he decides to come here to confront you?”

  The thought made her shiver, but she refused to show that it bothered her. She wasn’t a damsel in distress that Ian had to save. “He’s never been physically violent, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Why strain yourself when words can wound as well as fists and don’t leave marks besides.

  “I’m glad to hear that, but he’s still a little hard to handle, isn’t he?’

  Lily didn’t answer. There was no sense in denying it, and Ian didn’t need her to confirm it after last week’s episode.

  “Plus there are the usual safety concerns for a woman living alone.”

  “Oh please, this is Orchard Hill, not downtown Chicago.”

  “That doesn’t mean you should ignore simple safety precautions.”

  “Okay, Ian, enough beating around the bush. Just what is it you want me to do? Install a security system?”

  He looked surprised. “A security system? I wanted you to adopt a dog.”

  A dog. For protection. But a dog could also be a friend, one that wouldn’t hide its true nature behind a charming façade. Maybe Ian had something.

  The group was starting to move from the lobby of the shelter into the area where the animals resided. “I’ll think about it,” Lily said as she moved to follow.

  With the idea of adopting a pet in her mind, Lily paid close attent
ion to the animals as they toured the facility. First they went by the “cat” rooms. There was a gentlemen’s room, a ladies’ room and a room for neutered and spayed cats. Large windows allowed people to observe the cats as they played, ate and slept. Several cages with kittens in them lined the hallway. They were all adorable.

  Next they visited the laundry room. Of course it had a washer, dryer, sink and table for folding. There were shelves that held stacks of clean towels. On one side there were cages that held guinea pigs, hamsters and other small pets. A pair of brightly colored parakeets made Lily smile with their antics. She paused at the larger cages that held rabbits, and thought of the upcoming holiday.