Jane looked up. “Oh, I’m fine. I just don’t understand this recipe. It somehow doesn’t seem right, and I can’t find my regular recipe.”
Alice laughed. “Well, knowing you, Jane, you’ll have created a completely new recipe by the time you’re done.”
Jane nodded. “That’s probably just what I should do.” Then she looked up from the book. “Hey, I thought you had a date with Mark this afternoon?”
“Well, it wasn’t a date exactly, but I thought we were supposed to be getting together.” Alice looked at the kitchen clock, which read one-thirty now. “Maybe I misunderstood. You haven’t seen or heard from him, have you?”
“Nope, and I’ve been in the house all morning. So has Louise.”
“I’m sure he and Adam must’ve just forgotten the time,” said Alice. “Perhaps they ran late and decided to stop for lunch.”
Jane closed the book and folded her arms across her chest. “Well, that’s just wrong, Alice. If Mark keeps this up I will have a hard time liking that man.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s—”
“Really, Alice. He can’t keep asking you to play second fiddle to that boy. If Mark has feelings for you, he should come right out with it and—”
“Oh, I don’t expect him to do that. I just thought it might be nice to have a quiet talk with him. That’s all.”
Jane rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, Alice. You know that’s not all. You’ve been walking around here on needles and pins ever since Mark arrived. Don’t act as if it’s no big deal.”
“But …” Alice stopped, then said slowly, “actually, I’m not sure what it is, Jane.”
“What do you want it to be?”
“I’m not sure about that either.”
Jane stepped closer, looking into Alice’s eyes as if she could see deeper, as if she somehow knew what Alice herself did not know.
Alice grew uncomfortable, blinked and stepped back.
“Come on, Alice,” urged Jane. “How do you really feel about him?”
Alice did not want to be dishonest with her sister. “The truth is I’m not sure.”
“Not sure?”
Alice nodded.
“Okay, I’ll quit pestering you, dear sister.” Jane reached out and hugged Alice. “I just don’t like seeing you going around with this cloud hanging over you. It’s so unlike you.”
“Really?” said Alice with interest. “Does it seem to you that I’ve had a cloud hanging over me?”
Jane nodded. “I’ve just assumed it’s because you are trying to sort things out with Mark and with Adam too. I’m sure it’s been frustrating, but I’m so used to you as a cheerful, stable, contented person. And lately, well, you haven’t exactly been yourself.”
“I know….” Alice sighed.
“Well, I’m sure that everything will fall into place,” said Jane.
Alice was not so sure, but she knew that it was useless to keep talking about it. “I think I’ll fix a bite of lunch,” said Alice, heading toward the refrigerator. “Then perhaps I’ll go back to my quilt project. Would you like something?”
“No, thanks. Louise and I already ate.”
Alice made a turkey sandwich, which she took back to her room with her. She didn’t want to seem unsociable, but she also didn’t want to be questioned by her sisters or by her aunt, if she popped in again. Although they had plenty of questions, Alice had no answers.
Alice decided to put Mark out of her mind after she finished her lunch and returned to her sewing. Surely, he and Adam were just fine. Perhaps today was the day when Mark would have that breakthrough with Adam. Wasn’t that what she had been praying for? To sit around feeling sorry for herself was not only silly, it was also a waste of time.
It was nearly four o’clock when Jane came upstairs to tell Alice that she had a phone call. “It’s someone from your work,” said Jane. “If they want you to come in, you better say no.”
Alice hurried down to get the phone.
“This is Alice.”
“This is Peggy from ER.”
“What’s up, Peggy?”
“Well, I have a friend of yours here,” said Peggy.
“A friend?” Alice felt a chill of alarm run through her. “Who?”
“He’s a guest from your inn,” said Peggy. “Mark Graves.”
“What’s wrong?” Alice’s heart began to pound.
“It’s not serious, Alice. Apparently he and his young friend were climbing a rock wall here in Potterston, and Mark slipped and broke his arm.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yes, it was a nasty break. He’s in surgery with Dr. Tyler right now.”
Alice sighed. “At least he’s in good hands.”
“That’s for sure.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No, he just wanted you to know.”
“When will they release him?”
“If all goes well, he should be out by this evening.”
“Should I come to pick him up?”
“No, he specifically said to tell you not to worry about that. He said his young friend will drive him back to the inn and that he’ll see you later.”
“Well, thank you,” said Alice. “Do tell him that I’m thinking of him and I hope that he’s feeling better after surgery.”
“I’m sure he will be.”
“Please feel free to call, Peggy, if I can be of any help.”
“Of course. By the way, how’s your little vacation?”
When Alice heard the word “vacation,” she almost laughed. “It’s been interesting. Thanks again for calling, Peggy.”
“No problem.”
After Alice hung up, she told Jane about the bad news.
“Oh, poor Mark,” said Jane.
“What happened to Mark?” said Louise as she came down the stairs.
Alice related the story to Louise.
“Goodness, what a bit of bad luck.” Louise shook her head.
“I’m beginning to think that Adam is a bit of bad luck,” said Jane.
“Oh, it’s not his fault.”
“Don’t be so sure,” said Jane quickly. “Adam keeps pushing Mark to do things—things that he may be a little too old to be doing.”
“That is true,” agreed Louise. “I think Adam is not only a bad influence on Laura, but on Mark as well.”
“Speaking of Laura,” said Jane, “how is she doing?”
“Her mother told me that she’s been kitten-sitting again,” said Louise. “Mrs. Winston was rather put out that Adam had not returned yet. I should go and tell her about Mark’s accident. At least that gives Adam an excuse.”
“It’s not really Adam’s fault,” said Alice as Louise headed back up the stairs.
“Not directly,” said Jane, “but think about it, Alice. Mark never would’ve broken his arm if Adam hadn’t challenged him.”
“I’m sure that Adam feels bad.”
“Maybe.” Jane made a sly face. “Or maybe Adam is like that movie from the fifties—The Bad Seed. Do you remember watching it on TV?”
“Oh, Jane.” Alice just shook her head. “Adam is not a bad seed.”
Jane laughed. “No, I don’t think he is, but it does make you think.”
“Perhaps it would be better to pray.”
Jane nodded. “Yes, as usual, I’m sure you’re right. Sorry I said that, Alice. It wasn’t very nice.”
“And, really,” said Alice, “Adam can’t be feeling too good right now.”
“Serves him right.” Then Jane winked at Alice and headed to the kitchen.
Mark and Adam didn’t get home in time for dinner or before it was time for Alice to head over to the Assembly Room in the chapel to set things up for the ANGELs meeting. Even with Jane helping, it took two trips to take the prizes, baskets and the evening’s treats down to the basement room.
“Need any help?” offered Jane.
“I think we’ll be fine,” said Alice as she set down her last load. “Although you
know that you’re always more than welcome to join us.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll start boiling those eggs,” said Jane. “I think I can get about half of them done tonight.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
Soon the girls began arriving and, as Alice had suspected, they began to ooh and aah over the prizes.
“These are way better than last year’s prizes,” said Jenny. “Way to go, Miss Howard.”
“Yeah,” agreed Ashley as she held up one of the chenille toys. “I wouldn’t mind winning one of these baskets for myself.”
“You’re too old,” said Sarah.
The ANGELs put the baskets together with very little help from Alice, laughing and joking as they worked.
“I think they should change the age limit from ten,” said Ashley. “I mean, just because we’re older doesn’t mean we don’t like to hunt for eggs.”
“It wouldn’t be fair,” said Jenny. “The older kids would find all the eggs and then how would the little kids feel?”
“Besides,” said Sarah, “Who would hide the eggs?”
“That’s right,” said Jenny. “That’s lots more fun anyway.”
“Don’t forget,” added Alice. “You’re the ones who have to go around and look for all the missed eggs afterward.”
“There were hardly any left over last year,” said Ashley.
“Maybe we should hide them better,” said Jenny. “Maybe if we started earlier, we could come up with some better places.”
“Yeah,” said Ashley. “We could make it really hard.”
“Not too hard,” Alice said. “Remember some of the kids are barely able to toddle.You need some easy ones for them.”
“They have their parents to help them,” said Jenny. “Did you see how many eggs little Tommy Sanders got last year? His basket was so loaded that the handle actually broke.”
“Yeah, my mom said that his dad should’ve been embarrassed for being so greedy.”
Alice laughed. “Don’t worry, there are plenty of eggs. Remember it’s about having fun.”
Soon the gift baskets were filled. The girls wrapped them in colorful cellophane that Jane had found at a craft store and carefully tied large pastel-colored ribbons into big bows on the tops of each one.
“These are beautiful, Miss Howard,” said Ashley, her eyes glowing with pride. “Don’t you think they’re the best ones ever?”
Alice smiled as she recalled the prize baskets from when she had been young. In her mind’s eye, they had been even bigger and better than these, but she had been a little girl then. Things look very different when you’re young. “You could be right, Ashley,” she told her.
When they had finished with the baskets, they had their treat of homemade gingersnaps and punch. Then it was time to review the previous week’s memory verses. Alice was pleased that all the ANGELs were well prepared, and she happily gave them prizes, in addition to the chocolate eggs that Jane had made for the girls.
“Wow,” said Jenny, “double prizes tonight!”
“Because it’s almost Easter,” said Alice.
Finally, it was time to clean up and call it a night. Alice finished wiping down the counters and tables after the last ANGEL had left. She was about to turn out the lights, when she suddenly had a realization that filled her with guilt. Goodness, she thought, there Mark is, possibly still recovering from surgery, maybe in pain, and I haven’t even thought about him once. Of course, she told herself that it was like that when she was doing things with the ANGELs. She so enjoyed these girls that she often forgot about the pressures of the day. To make up for her neglect, she said a quick prayer for Mark’s recovery as she hurried back toward home.
She saw Mark’s Range Rover parked in front of the inn, which under the circumstances, she felt Louise would overlook. After all, the poor man had just been released from the hospital.
She went into the inn, pausing to remove her raincoat, then went off in search of Mark. She found Louise in the living room.
“Hello,” said Louise as she looked up from her book. “How was ANGELs tonight?”
“Great,” said Alice. “I noticed Mark’s car.”
Louise nodded and set her book aside. “They got here shortly after you left.”
“How is he doing?”
“He has turned in for the night,” said Louise. She wore a sober expression that hinted that there was more to her statement than its surface meaning.
Alice sat down in the chair across from her. “Was he feeling okay?”
“He said he was on some pain medication.”
Alice nodded. “Probably worn out.”
“Actually, he sat here for a bit. He wanted to wait up for you.”
“That was sweet, but I’m glad he went to bed if he was tired.”
“I think he was more angry than tired.”
“Angry?” Alice leaned forward. “What do you mean?”
“I mean he and Adam got into it again.”
“Oh dear.” Alice glanced toward the open doorway, concerned that someone might overhear them.
“Don’t worry, I’m fairly certain that everyone besides Jane, you and me has gone to bed.”
“What happened?”
“Apparently, Mark was not impressed by Adam’s driving skills or rather lack thereof.”
“Oh dear.”
“I could tell that he was distraught when they came in. They were barely in the door when Mark mentioned something about Adam’s driving and Adam got defensive.”
“Hey, you two,” said Jane as she entered the room. Then, lowering her voice, “Are you telling Alice about the fireworks?”
Louise frowned. “Yes.”
Jane sat down next to Louise. “It was pretty nasty, Alice.”
“Well, please, tell me what happened.”
“Yes, I will,” said Louise. “Adam got irate when Mark told him he needed to drive more safely.”
“Adam told Mark to mind his own business,” said Jane. “Well, not in those words exactly.”
“Worse words,” added Louise.
“Mark told Adam that since he was the passenger riding in his own vehicle that it was his business.”
“Then Adam proceeded to tell Mark that he should be grateful that Adam was around to drive him from the hospital.”
“And Mark told him that he wouldn’t have needed to go to the hospital if Adam hadn’t insisted on doing the climbing wall for so long.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yes, it just went from bad to ugly and then got worse.” Louise shook her head. “In Mark’s defense, he was in pain and under the influence of the medication.”
“And he did feel bad when Adam left,” added Jane.
“Adam left?”
“Oh yes. Adam went tearing upstairs, got all his belongings and stormed out of here like a cat with his tail on fire.”
“Oh no …” Alice felt like crying. “Speaking of cats?”
“Adam took the kitten with him,” said Jane.
“It doesn’t seem that he will be coming back,” said Louise.
To Alice’s dismay, her older sister seemed relieved. Alice could not really blame Louise, but she did feel sorry for Adam.
“Where did he go?” she asked.
Louise just shrugged.
“Probably to wherever he was before,” said Jane. “At least it’s not winter. He won’t freeze to death.”
“But out there in the night?” said Alice. “Living in his car?”
“It’s his choice, Alice.” Jane stood. “Sorry, I need to go check on the eggs.”
“I know it sounds hard,” continued Louise. “But perhaps it is for the best.”
How could it possibly be for the best? Alice thought. How could Adam living out on the streets and Mark feeling guilty be for the best? She kept these thoughts to herself and, thanking Louise for filling her in, she excused herself to go to bed.
Of course, she did not feel a bit like sleeping once she was up t
here. Instead, she fell to her knees and begged God somehow to undo this horrible mess.
Protect Adam, she prayed. Please, show him the way home. Then she said, “Amen,” and climbed into bed, trusting that things would be better tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty
How are you feeling this morning?” Alice asked Mark when she discovered him sitting by himself in the dining room. It was quite early, and no other guests appeared to be up yet. She had been helping in the kitchen but suspected that Jane would excuse her for a few minutes. In fact, knowing Jane, she would probably be unhappy if Alice did not speak with Mark.
He looked up at her and attempted what appeared to be a halfhearted smile. “I’ve been better.”
“Coffee?”
“Please.”
She filled a cup and handed it to him. “I heard about the disagreement you and Adam had last night.”
“It was more than a disagreement, Alice.”
She nodded and sat down. “Yes, I know.”
“And although I know that I didn’t handle things properly, I think it may have been for the best.”
Alice said nothing, just waited for him to continue.
“I feel that I’ve bent over backward for that kid. I know that he’s unhappy, and I understand that he has good reason to be. But, honestly, I’ve done everything I can think of to get him to—oh, sometimes I don’t even know what it is I’m trying to get him to do.” Mark pushed his fingers through his beard and sighed loudly.
“To trust you?” she offered.
He looked at her over his coffee cup. “Yes, maybe that’s it.”
“Good morning,” said Mrs. Winston as she and Laura entered the room.
Alice and Mark both turned and greeted them.
“How’s your arm?” asked Mrs. Winston.
“Hurts a bit, but that’s to be expected.”
“Maybe you should take some more of those wonderful pain pills,” said Laura in a clearly sarcastic tone.
“Laura,” said Mrs. Winston in a warning tone.
Alice studied the slender girl’s stance and the look of disdain behind today’s tangerine-colored sunglasses. It was clear that Laura was angry.
“What, Mother?” Laura snapped. “Do you expect me to just pretend that I don’t know what’s going on? Act as if I’m blind?”
Memories from Acorn Hill Page 15