Memories from Acorn Hill

by Melody Carlson

  “Mr. Winston wants cheese and mushrooms,” she told Jane. “Mrs. Winston wants mushrooms and onions. The Langleys both want the works. They’ve already become great fans of the chef.”

  Jane laughed. “How’s Mr. Langley’s back?”

  “He said it was much better, but I warned him to keep taking the ibuprofen anyway. Too many people stop taking the medicine as soon as they feel better. The next thing you know, they’re in pain again.”

  Jane expertly flipped the omelet over, then out of the pan, and Alice carried the plate to the dining room.

  “Will your sister mind making an omelet for Laura?” asked Mrs. Winston as Alice set the plate before her. “If she doesn’t get up in time, that is. I thought I could take breakfast up to her in a bit—”

  “If Laura wants breakfast,” her husband interrupted, “she should come down here like the rest of us and get it herself.”

  “I know, dear,” said Mrs. Winston in a low voice, “but you know what happens if she doesn’t eat regularly.”

  “It’s no problem,” Alice assured them both. “Just let us know how Laura likes her omelet when you’re ready to go back—” She stopped in mid-sentence when she saw both Laura and Adam coming into the dining room. “Good morning,” she said to them, and the others turned to see. Laura had on pale blue sweats, and her hair was pulled back into a slightly messy ponytail. Today’s sunglasses were square-shaped with tangerine rims. Adam’s hair looked even worse than yesterday, and Alice suspected that he had actually slept in his clothes. She wondered if she should offer to let him use their laundry facilities or if that would sound too pushy.

  “Laura!” exclaimed Mrs. Winston. “How did you get downstairs—”

  “Adam helped me,” said Laura in a somewhat irritated voice. “It’s no big deal, Mom.”

  “Come sit down,” said Alice as she went over to Laura and guided her to an empty chair next to her mother.

  Mrs. Winston gave Alice a grateful smile. “Well, I’m glad you could join us. Jane’s omelets are divine.”

  “And her cinnamon rolls are excellent,” said Mr. Winston. “I think I’ll have another.”

  Alice took Laura’s and Adam’s orders for their omelets and then returned to the kitchen. Before long, everyone, except Alice and Jane, had been served.

  “Shall we join them?” asked Jane as she slid Alice’s omelet onto a plate.

  Alice shrugged. “If you want to, but I don’t think they’ll miss us. It’s a full table and Aunt Ethel has been doing a good job of keeping them entertained. She’s filling them in on all this week’s activities, including a detailed description of Mr. Easter Rabbit’s breakfast next Saturday before the big egg hunt.”

  Jane laughed. “I vote to eat in here.”

  Soon, they were both seated at the kitchen table, and Alice voiced her concerns about Adam spending time with Laura. “I don’t know what to do about it,” she finally admitted.

  “I don’t see why you should do anything,” said Jane as she peeled off a section of her cinnamon roll. “It’s not as if Adam is your personal responsibility, Alice.”

  “I know … it’s just that I feel as if it’s my fault that he’s here and possibly spoiling things for the Winstons.”

  “I don’t see how his help in getting Laura downstairs should be perceived as spoiling anything.”

  “But you should see their faces, Jane. I can tell they’re concerned about his appearance, not to mention his manners. Of course, they’re too polite to say anything.” Alice lowered her voice, although she knew they could not be heard in the dining room. “Honestly, Jane, I am seriously considering telling him that he should do his laundry while he’s here. I’m almost certain he slept in his clothes, and I think he may have even been living in his car.”

  Jane laughed. “That’s not such a big deal for a kid. I saw a lot of that when I lived in San Francisco.”

  “It’s not exactly the norm for Acorn Hill,” said Alice.

  “Not exactly.”

  “Oh, I’ll be so relieved when Mark gets here.”

  “What if?” said Jane in her teasing voice. “What if Mark has never met this kid before? What if he doesn’t know him from—from Adam?” Then she started giggling. “What if Mark’s real friend is some dignified professor from Harvard and this kid has been sleeping in his bed and—” She burst out laughing now.

  Despite herself, Alice laughed too. “Oh dear,” she finally muttered. “Wouldn’t Louise be furious at me.”

  “Furious at what?” said Louise as she carried a small stack of dishes into the kitchen.

  Alice giggled. “Oh nothing, big sister. I was just being silly.”

  Louise set the dishes by the sink and then came over to the table. “I am getting quite concerned over your young man,” she said in a lowered voice.

  Alice nodded. “I know. If it makes you feel any better, I am too.”

  “But he’s not Alice’s young man,” Jane defended.

  Louise held one finger in the air. “I say he is. At least until Mark arrives.” She looked at Alice now. “I think you should keep tabs on him until then.”

  “Yes,” agreed Alice. “I think you’re right.”

  Jane shrugged as she forked her last bite. “Well, I’ll leave all that to you two. As for me, I plan to spend most of my day gardening in this beautiful spring sunshine.”

  Alice was surprised to see that Adam was still in the dining room when she went to clear the table. He seemed to be trapped in a conversation with Ethel. Alice tried not to appear to be eavesdropping as she slowly gathered up things from the table.

  “Do you plan to return to school next year then?” asked Ethel.

  He shrugged and looked down at the table. “I don’t know.”

  “But don’t you think it would be wise?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “My goodness, son!” she exclaimed. “You don’t seem to know much, now, do you?”

  He stood up and gave her an exasperated look. “I guess not.”

  “Well, you should work on that,” she said. “Folks who don’t know much hardly ever amount to much. And I think that—”

  “I gotta go,” he said, which was more of a good-bye than Alice had heard from him before. Then he hurried out of the dining room.

  “Well,” said Ethel, clearly insulted. “What a rude young man.”

  “At least he spoke to you,” said Alice as she picked up the last coffee cup. “That’s more than I’ve gotten.”

  “Really?” Ethel smiled in a coquettish fashion. “Well, I’ve always had a way with young men.”

  Alice tried not to giggle as she pushed the door open into the kitchen. Too bad she could not pawn off Adam onto her aunt today. Ethel followed Alice into the kitchen, chattering at her as she went.

  “Thank you, girls, for the lovely breakfast,” she told them. “I think I’ll head off to the store for some coffee. Anything I can pick up for you, Jane?”

  “No thanks,” said Jane.

  “How about you, Alice?” she offered.

  “Nothing that I can think of.”

  “And when is the handsome vet arriving?” asked Ethel.

  “I’m not sure,” said Alice. “I think it’ll be later this afternoon.”

  “Well, I can’t wait to see him,” said her aunt as she patted her bright red hair. “And I can’t wait to get to the bottom of this Adam mystery.”

  “You and everyone else,” said Alice. Suddenly, even though it was still morning, she felt very, very tired.

  “Toodles,” Ethel called out as she exited by the back door.

  Chapter Seven

  Excuse me,” said Alice as she caught Adam coming down the stairs. “I wanted to let you know that you’re welcome to use the laundry facilities if you’d like. I can show you how everything works—”

  “I don’t want to do laundry,” he told her in a voice that seemed to be saying “butt out.”

  “But I’ve noticed that …” Alice paused.
“Well, perhaps you’d like me to do some laundry for you. I don’t mind.”

  He studied her for a moment. “Look, you’re probably just trying to be nice, but I don’t need it, okay? I’m not going to be here for long, so maybe you should just pretend like I’m not here at all.”

  “But I—”

  “Just chill,” he said in an irritated tone.

  She nodded as she watched him heading toward the front door. Then, remembering Louise’s warning, she decided to persist. “Adam,” she said in her most authoritative voice.

  He turned and looked at her.

  “My sister would appreciate it if you parked your car in the parking area reserved for the inn. We try to keep the street clear of vehicles.” She cleared her throat. “City ordinances, you know.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, whatever.”

  “And,” she continued, “are you going out?”

  He exhaled loudly, shoved his hands into his pockets, but did not answer.

  “I just wondered,” she said. “In case Mark arrives and you’re not here. When shall I tell him that you’ll be back?”

  “I’m not gonna be gone long,” he said, reaching for the doorknob.

  Just then the door opened, and Mrs. Winston and Laura came in. “Oh, hello,” said Mrs. Winston when she nearly ran into Adam. “We just took a little walk around town.”

  “Hey,” he said, looking at Laura.

  “Adam?” asked Laura eagerly.

  “Yeah,” he answered. “I’m just heading out.”

  “Where are you going?” she asked.

  “Just to town, you know.”

  “Need any company?” she asked.

  Alice noticed the look of alarm in Mrs. Winston’s eyes. “Uh, Laura,” she said quickly. “You told me you were tired and we just went—”

  “Not as much tired as bored,” said Laura.

  “You can come if you want,” said Adam.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” began Mrs. Winston.

  “It’s just to town, Mom,” said Laura. “It’s not like he’s going to kidnap me or anything.” She almost smiled now, and Alice realized how pretty she would be if she smiled more. “Are you, Adam?”

  He shook his head, then remembering that she couldn’t see him, quickly said, “Nah, I wasn’t planning on it.”

  “Great,” said Laura as she reached out for him.

  “Uh, okay,” he said as he took her hand.

  “But, I’m not sure that it’s—”

  “Both you and Dad keep telling me to get out and do something,” Laura said as Adam guided her out the still-open door.

  “But when will you be back?” implored her worried mother.

  Laura shrugged, but continued going.

  “Adam said he wouldn’t be gone long,” offered Alice, certain that she felt as concerned as Mrs. Winston did. “After all, Acorn Hill’s not a very big town.”

  “Yes, I realize that.” Mrs. Winston stood looking out the door as Adam and Laura walked over to his car. “Oh dear,” said Mrs. Winston. “I didn’t know they would be driving.”

  Alice went over to see. Laura was waiting on the sidewalk as Adam opened a rear door to his car, then dug around as if looking for something. Finally, he emerged with a gray sweatshirt that he pulled over his head. “Oh,” said Alice in relief. “Maybe he’s not going to drive after all.”

  To her dismay, he then opened the front passenger door, threw some things in the back and helped Laura get in.

  “Oh no,” said Mrs. Winston.

  Alice watched helplessly as Adam then stooped over and helped Laura find the seatbelt. “At least he’s being safe,” she offered.

  Mrs. Winston just nodded, but her expression was one of complete hopelessness.

  “I’m sure they’ll be just fine.” The truth was, Alice was not so sure. She did not trust Adam any farther than she could throw him. Oh, if only Mark would get here. Soon!

  Alice tried to look busy during the next hour, puttering about but really accomplishing little more than keeping a wary eye on the street in front of the inn, hoping and even praying that the two young guests would return soon.

  Finally, she heard voices coming in the back door and hurried toward the kitchen to see Adam and Laura being led in by Jane. “Feel free to help yourself if you want a snack,” Jane said, as she removed her gardening gloves and stuffed them into a pocket of her overalls. “There’s fresh fruit and some oatmeal cookies.”

  “I’m cool,” said Adam.

  “Do you have any apples?” asked Laura.

  As Jane was getting Laura an apple, Adam walked past Alice without saying a word in response to her greeting.

  “Did you have a good time?” asked Alice.

  “It was okay,” said Laura. She took a bite of the apple. “Adam?” she said, unaware that he had left the room.

  “He’s gone,” said Alice.

  “Oh.” Now Laura looked troubled.

  “Do you want me to help you find your mom?” offered Alice.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  Alice took Laura’s arm and led her through the inn. “I didn’t see Adam’s car,” she said as they came to the staircase.

  “He said you told him to park it off the street,” said Laura.

  “Oh yes,” said Alice. “That’s right.”

  “Laura!” exclaimed Mrs. Winston as she came down the hallway that led to the library. “You’re back.”

  “I told you I’d be back,” said Laura in a flat voice.

  “Good,” said Mr. Winston from behind his wife. “I want to take my favorite ladies out for a little ride and then some lunch.” He held up a map and travel brochure. “I’ve discovered some places of local interest that I think we should investigate.”

  Laura sighed. “Not me, Dad, I’m tired. I think I’ll just rest.”

  “But what about—”

  She cut him off. “Seriously, Dad. I just want to listen to my new CD and maybe take a nap. You and Mom go on ahead. I’ll be fine.”

  “Oh, I don’t think—”

  “Laura’s right,” Mr. Winston said to his wife. “I think you and I should go ahead as planned. And Laura can rest. Then maybe we can all do something together this afternoon. Is that agreeable to you, Laura?”

  She shrugged. “Yeah, whatever.”

  “But will you be okay by yourself, honey?” asked her mother.

  “I’ll be here all day,” said Alice. “If Laura needs any—”

  “I’ll be fine,” said Laura. “I’ll just stay in the room and rest. Okay?”

  “Well …” her mother did not look convinced.

  “She’ll be fine,” said Mr. Winston as he took his wife’s arm and led her to the front door.

  “Have a good time,” said Alice. She turned to Laura. “Do you want me to help you to your room now?”

  “Yeah, I guess so.”

  After Laura was safely in her room, Alice went upstairs to get her new mystery. She had decided that she would stay nearby, at least within shouting distance, just in case Laura needed something. She settled herself in the parlor, choosing an upright chair that was close to the door, as she attempted to focus her mind on the sentences before her. Some time passed, and she glanced at her watch and was surprised to see that it was almost noon. She knew that Laura’s diabetes and medication made it important for her to eat at regular intervals, so she decided to go and check on the girl. By the time she reached the second floor, Laura and Adam were on the landing discussing the possibility of going out to lunch.

  “My treat,” insisted Laura.

  Adam shrugged. “Yeah, like, whatever.”

  “Are you going out again?” asked Alice.

  “We’re going to get some lunch in town,” said Laura.

  “Oh.” Then, thinking that she might head this off, she said, “But there’s plenty to eat here and Jane said to—”

  “I thought this was a bed-and-breakfast,” said Laura.

  “Well, it is—”

 
; “We already had breakfast.” She reached out for Adam and he took her hand. “So we want to go out and get some lunch.”

  Alice had nothing else to say that she thought would dissuade these two young people. She watched as they slowly headed downstairs, praying that Laura would be safe in Adam’s care.

  Finally, they were gone, and Alice went into the kitchen. She was not actually hungry. Mostly, she was nervous and hoped that perhaps Jane would be taking a lunch break.

  “Hey, you,” said Jane when Alice came in. “I just saw the odd couple leaving.”

  Despite her worries, Alice had to laugh. “That just about describes them, doesn’t it?”

  “I think so. I mean, here we have Laura, a cute little preppy that any parent would be proud of—well, other than her attitude, which is excusable under the circumstances—and then you have Adam, the kid who looks like he’s been living on the streets or maybe rooming with Oscar the Grouch.”

  “Oscar the Grouch? Do you mean the one who played the slob in The Odd Couple?”

  Jane laughed. “No, I mean Oscar the Grouch, the puppet who lives in a trash can. Didn’t you ever watch Sesame Street?”

  “Oh, I’ve seen bits of it on the children’s ward at the hospital.”

  Jane took out a loaf of bread. “I used to watch it with kids when I was babysitting. Oscar the Grouch was always messy and grumbling. Adam reminds me of him a little.”

  Alice chuckled. “Well, let’s keep that to ourselves.”

  “I’m making a grilled cheese sandwich,” said Jane. “Want one?”

  “Yes, please.” Alice went to the refrigerator for the cheese and pickles. “I offered to do Adam’s laundry,” she told Jane as she set the items on the counter.

  “And he didn’t take you up on it?” She picked up a knife. “That kid’s not only rude, but dumb too.”

  “Too bad,” said Alice as she got plates. “Where’s Louise?”

  “She walked to town. She’s meeting Viola for lunch.”

  “Oh, good,” said Alice. “Maybe she’ll see Adam and Laura and keep an eye on them. Or call me if it looks like anything is amiss.”

  “If Louise sees Adam out with Laura, she’ll probably call the police.”

  “Oh, I don’t think …”

  Jane laughed. “She’ll probably assume that he’s abducted her and planning on holding her hostage or something.”