“Mr. Easter Rabbit,” corrected Ethel.
“Otherwise known as Lloyd Tynan,” said Louise in a hushed tone. “The mayor of Acorn Hill.” Then she introduced Mattie to them.
“Welcome to our town.” Lloyd bowed graciously.
“This is too precious,” gushed Mattie. “Mr. Easter Rabbit himself. Oh, I wish I’d brought my camera.”
They began loading their plates with fried chicken, potato salad and the other goodies that Jane had packed. Mattie remained on hand to assist Mark, and Alice tried to act as if she didn’t mind. Then once her plate was filled, she simply sat back in the chair, focused her attention on the picnic crowd all around them and ate her lunch.
“This potato salad is delicious,” said Mattie.
“That’s Jane’s special recipe,” said Louise.
“It’s a version of German potato salad,” said Jane.
“It’s yummy.” Mattie turned to Mark. “Can I get you another serving? You seem to have enjoyed it too.”
Mark looked uncomfortable. Alice suspected Mattie’s attention embarrassed him, but then he admitted he would like more, and Mattie hopped up and got it for him.
Jane turned her head away from them so that only Alice could see and mouthed, “What is going on?”
Alice just shrugged, then said, “There are the Humberts.” She waved and called hello, then turning back to Jane, asked, “Where are the Langleys and the Winstons? I thought perhaps they would join us.”
Jane pointed across the park. “They’re over there. Mrs. Winston’s cousin invited them to share a picnic and the Winstons invited the Langleys.”
Alice smiled. “How nice.”
Jane still looked agitated, but Alice pretended not to notice, and as soon as her plate was empty, she excused herself. “I’m going to go talk to the Humberts,” she said. She felt relieved to get away from her little picnic group. It was unsettling to see Mattie cozying up to Mark, but Mark was a grown man. He could surely deal with the situation.
“Alice,” said Vera. “Come join us.”
“I just thought I’d say hello.” Alice said. She chatted for a bit, then went around greeting and visiting with others in the crowd.
“Those prize baskets were wonderful,” said Sylvia. “Little Leo Andrews showed me his, and it was very impressive. Good job.”
Alice smiled. “I guess it pays off to send out a letter in advance.”
Sylvia lowered her voice now. “Where is Dr. Graves?”
“He’s over there eating with my sisters and some friends.”
“Everything okay?”
Alice nodded. “Of course.” She continued making her rounds. By the time she got back, only her sisters were there, packing things up.
“Where have you been?” asked Louise.
“Just visiting,” said Alice.
“Well, Aunt Ethel and Lloyd went home. Lloyd had a headache. Then Mattie begged Mark to give her a tour of the town, and he finally gave in and agreed.”
“That’s nice.” Alice forced a smile to her lips.
“That’s nice?” Jane stood up and looked at Alice with raised eyebrows. “You think that’s nice? Mattie may be determined to make Mark husband number five and you think that’s nice?”
Louise blinked. “Husband number five?”
“That’s right,” said Jane. “Didn’t Alice tell you that Mattie goes through men like Kleenex?”
“Well, no …” Louise looked at Alice. “Goodness, I don’t believe that I have even owned five cars in my lifetime. Five husbands?”
“Only four,” said Alice.
“That’s right,” said Jane as she closed the picnic basket. “Mark would be number five.”
“Oh, Jane.” Alice went over and put her arm around Jane’s shoulders. “Don’t worry so much. Mark is a grown man. He’s able to take care of himself.”
“It’s not Mark I’m worried about,” said Jane. “It’s you.”
Alice smiled. “I’m fine, Jane. Really.” Then she began folding up the chairs and table and helped her sisters to load things back into Louise’s car. “You go ahead without me,” said Alice. “I’d like to walk home.”
“By way of town?” asked Jane hopefully.
Alice shook her head. “I just want to enjoy this lovely day.”
Jane gave Alice a look that seemed to question Alice’s sanity. Alice decided to pay her no mind. She hummed to herself as she walked back toward the inn. Really, she asked herself, why should I be concerned?
Chapter Twenty-Five
When Alice reached the inn, she was surprised and delighted to see a familiar car parked not in front, but in back. She knew that beat-up old Nissan had to belong to Adam, and she could barely keep from running as she hurried inside.
“You came back!” she practically cried when she saw him standing in the foyer with Jane and Louise.
Louise smiled at Alice. “Adam was just apologizing for the trouble he caused.”
Alice went straight to Adam and threw her arms around him. “I’m so glad you came back, Adam.” She hugged him tightly, not caring whether he minded or not, and finally she let him go and stepped back. She could tell he was embarrassed by her display of affection, but at the same time, he seemed to appreciate it.
“I’m sorry I was such a jerk to you, Alice,” he told her.
“Never mind about that,” said Alice. “I’m so glad that you came back. Do you know how much we all missed you?”
He looked down at the floor. “That’s what the Langleys said, but I wasn’t really sure.”
“Well, be sure,” said Alice. “Mark and I looked all over for you. So did the Winstons. Laura’s been just sick with worry for you.”
“And the kitten,” said Jane. “How’s Boots?”
“I better go get him,” said Adam quickly. “I left him in the car. Just in case … you know. I put the window down so he wouldn’t get too hot.”
“Yes,” said Alice. “Do go get him.”
“There are leftovers from the picnic,” added Jane. “Fried chicken and potato salad. Come in the kitchen when you’re ready.”
For the first time, Alice thought she almost caught Adam smiling.
“Thanks,” he said as he started to head out, then paused. “Where’s Mark?”
“Oh, he’s showing an old friend the town,” said Alice. “He should be back soon.”
Adam nodded and went out.
“Isn’t it wonderful,” said Alice to her sisters.
“I hope so,” said Louise with a slightly skeptical expression. “Let’s just hope that he’s sincere.”
“Oh, I’m sure he is,” said Alice.
“I think so too,” agreed Jane. “Maybe that little stint out on his own helped him to see things differently.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Alice walked Adam up to his room and waited as he got Boots settled in. “That cat is lucky to have you, Adam,” she said as they left the room.
“I don’t know….” He turned and looked at her. “I mean Mark was kind of right. I can barely take care of myself.”
“Maybe you just need some help.” She reached over and patted his shoulder. “It’s not much fun to be all on your own, is it?”
He shook his head. “You got that right.”
“Well, I know we got off to a rocky start, Adam, but I’d really like to be your friend.”
“Yeah, I know. I think I was just jealous of you.”
“Of me?”
“You know, it’s like you were getting Mark’s attention, and I was acting like a spoiled brat. Pretty dumb, huh?”
She smiled. “We all make mistakes, Adam. The best thing is to realize what we’re doing wrong and try to make it right.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping.”
Alice felt more hopeful than ever as they went into the kitchen. It really seemed that things had changed, or were changing, with Adam. Why else would he come back here and apologize? Besides, she reminded herself as she fille
d a plate with picnic leftovers for him, one should always think the best of a person. Of course, she wondered if she could also apply this philosophy to Mattie Singleton.
Adam was just finishing his meal when the Winstons came back to the inn. Alice met Laura at the door with the good news.
“Where is he?” asked Laura.
“Right here,” said Adam as he emerged from the dining room. Then he walked right up to the Winstons and apologized for being so disrespectful.
Mr. Winston looked surprised, but he reached out and shook Adam’s hand. “Takes a man to say I’m sorry,” he said.
Adam nodded, then looked away. Alice felt sorry for him. She knew this couldn’t be easy.
“Where’s Boots?” asked Laura eagerly.
“I’ll go get him,” said Adam. “Want to meet me on the porch?”
The afternoon settled into a relaxed pace with Adam and Laura playing with Boots on the front porch, and Mr. Langley and Mr. Winston enjoying a game of chess in the library while their wives visited with Louise in the parlor. Alice went to the kitchen to help Jane get some things ready for dinner.
“Wouldn’t you think that Mark and Mattie would be back by now?” asked Jane as she rubbed a leg of lamb with lemon juice, salt and pepper, and began studding it with garlic.
“Depends on how much of the town Mattie wanted to see,” said Alice.
“And it doesn’t bother you in the least?”
“Oh, Jane.” Alice sighed. “Of course, it bothers me.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” Jane smiled. “I thought maybe aliens had snatched you and performed a lobotomy or something. I’m not involved with Mark the way that you are, but it bothers me a lot.”
“There’s not much I can do about it, Jane. I can’t see how it makes anything better to feel unhappy.”
“Maybe not, but I think that Mattie has some kind of nerve.”
“In all fairness, I told her last week that Mark and I were only just friends.”
“Even so.”
“And, really, that’s all we are, Jane.”
“Yeah, but …”
“We shouldn’t judge Mattie.”
“Maybe not, but—”
“Speaking of whom,” Alice said, holding a finger to her lips, “I think I hear them now.”
“Go and see.”
Alice slipped out in time to see Mark and Adam talking in the foyer, and then embracing. She sighed in relief. Well, at least that was over. Then Mark was introducing Adam to Mattie and, despite her earlier words to Jane, Alice felt a small twinge of jealousy. Perhaps she was imagining things, but it seemed as if Mattie had suddenly stepped into the role of Mark’s girlfriend.
Alice retreated into the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” asked Jane.
Without mentioning her feelings about Mattie, Alice described the reunion of Mark and Adam.
“Oh, that’s good,” said Jane as she slid the lamb into the oven. “I think we’re done in here, at least for the time being, if you’d like to go visit with Mark now.”
Alice said nothing.
Jane frowned as she hung up her apron. “Come on, Alice. What’s up?”
She just shook her head. “I don’t know …”
Then Jane took Alice by the shoulders, turned her around so she was facing the door and gave her a gentle shove. “Get out of here, Alice. Go and talk to him.”
Feeling like a six-year-old, Alice obeyed. She could hear the voices of Louise and the other women coming from the parlor, and the two men were still playing chess in the library. Looking out the window, she saw that Mark and Mattie had joined Laura and Adam on the porch. Mattie was holding the kitten and the four of them looked so natural and comfortable out there that Alice could not bring herself to interrupt them.
Instead, she went upstairs. She knew, without a doubt, that she had taken the coward’s way out. She also knew that she was just plain tired, and so she took a nap.
When she woke, it was time to help Jane with dinner. First, she freshened up and, determined to put on a brave face, she even changed into a festive outfit—a rich-toned paisley skirt and a sage green silk blouse. She even put on a couple pieces of Jane’s handmade jewelry.
“There,” she said to her image in the mirror. “At least no one will suspect that you’re feeling like a wallflower tonight.”
“Look at you,” said Jane when Alice came into the kitchen. “Very nice outfit.”
Alice shrugged and smiled. “You mean this old thing?”
Jane laughed and handed her an apron. “I was with you when you got that old thing, Alice, and it was only a couple months ago.”
They worked happily together in the kitchen for a while, and then Jane asked Alice to set the dining room table. Jane had insisted they use the best china and crystal tonight, along with candles and flowers. Alice was just lighting the candles when she heard footsteps.
“Lovely,” said a deep voice from behind her.
She jumped and then turned to see Mark. “Oh, you startled me,” she said, then blew out the match.
“My apologies.”
She smiled. “It does look nice, doesn’t it?”
“I wasn’t talking about the room, Alice. Although I must admit that it looks lovely too.”
She felt herself blushing and was glad that she had already adjusted the dimmer switch on the chandelier so that the lights were low. “Where’s Mattie?” she asked as she straightened a napkin.
“Last I saw, she was putting her feet up in the parlor,” said Mark. “I think she was a bit worn out.”
Suddenly, Alice felt guilty for neglecting her own guest. “Perhaps I should go see if she needs anything.”
“I just came in to see what time dinner will be,” he said.
Alice glanced at her watch. “Jane said it should be ready around seven. Would you let Adam know?”
“Certainly.” He smiled. “Isn’t it great that he came back?”
“Yes, I was so glad to see him.”
Just then Louise came into the dining room. “This looks very nice,” she said after greeting them. Then Mark excused himself.
“I thought I would give Jane a hand,” said Louise.
“But I’m already—”
“I think you should see to your guests,” said Louise in a firm voice.
Alice sensed that she was referring to Mattie. “Thank you,” she told her. “I’ll do that.”
Of course, Alice was not eager to be with Mattie, but she reminded herself that she was the one who had invited her to dinner.
“Hey, Alice,” said Adam as he came down the stairs.
“Hi.” She smiled at him, pleased that it appeared he had put a bit of effort into his appearance. Certainly, his shirt could have used a pressing and his trousers still looked to be ready to fall off, but at least his hair was neatly combed. “How’s it going, Adam?”
He shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
“How is Boots?”
Adam sighed. “I’ve been thinking about him.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been thinking that I should give him to Laura.”
“Is that what you want to do?”
“It might be the best thing to do.”
She nodded, surprised that he was confiding in her like this. “I’m sure Laura would take good care of him.”
“That’s what I thought too. It’s kind of hard having a cat when you live in a car.”
“Are you going to keep doing that?”
He shrugged again. “I don’t really know.”
“You do know that you have friends, Adam. People who are willing to help you.” She wanted to say Mark was one of them, but at the same time knew it was not her place.
“Yeah, I guess.” Then he frowned at her. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
He glanced over his shoulder as if to check whether anyone else was around. “What’s up with this Chatty Mattie lady?”
�
�Chatty Mattie?” Alice suppressed a giggle.
He nodded. “Yeah, she never stops talking. Anyway, she’s like all glommed onto Mark now. I just wondered what was up with it.”
“Have you asked Mark?”
He shook his head. “I thought I better not rock his boat.”
She quickly explained that they had run into Mattie and that Alice had invited her to visit.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but that wasn’t such a bright move on your part.”
She smiled. “Why’s that?”
“Well, I thought you and Mark were like a couple, you know? Now this Chatty Mattie is making the move on him.” He sighed. “If it were up to me, I’d get rid of her ASAP.”
“That wouldn’t be very hospitable.”
“Maybe not, but it would be smart.”
“I was just going to check on her now,” admitted Alice. “The truth is I haven’t been very hospitable already.”
He grinned. “Way to go.”
“See you at dinner,” she said, smiling in spite of herself as she headed to the parlor. As odd as that conversation had been, it was strangely comforting.
“Oh, there you are,” said Mattie when Alice walked into the parlor. “I thought you’d disappeared off the planet.”
“Just took a little rest.” Alice sat down in the easy chair across from Mattie. “I hope you didn’t feel neglected.”
Mattie sat up and patted her hair. “Not at all. Mark took excellent care of me. I just hope I didn’t wear the poor man out. I know that his arm is still hurting.” She looked toward the doorway. “Where is he anyway?”
“I believe he went upstairs.”
Mattie nodded. “I’ll just freshen up a bit before dinner. I’m sure I must look a fright.”
Alice assured Mattie that she still looked fine, and then showed her to the downstairs bathroom. “Dinner will be at seven,” she told her.
“Goodness,” said Mattie, clutching her purse. “I hope I can pull myself together by then.”
As always, dinner was excellent, but Alice was not so sure about the company. Mattie dominated the conversation, and many of her comments and questions seemed focused directly at Mark. Louise and Jane tried to chime in occasionally, but Alice felt mostly invisible. She noticed that Adam seemed rather quiet too. She hoped he was not slipping back into his moodiness again. Finally, the meal came to an end, and Alice rose and began to clear the table.
Memories from Acorn Hill Page 19