by Syndi Powell
He surveyed the bags of trash. “Need help?”
Suzy looked around. “How did you know?”
“That you needed help? A little bird might have told me.”
“More like a big bird by the name of Will Stone, right?”
“He might have mentioned it during softball practice the other night.”
She should have known that man wouldn’t leave her alone. He was determined to interfere with her work. But then if he’d sent his boss to help, she wasn’t going to refuse. “Yes, I could use a hand.”
Rick rubbed his hands together and followed Suzy to the backyard. He gave a low whistle as she opened the gate and went to the garage for the remaining bags of trash. “Wow. I didn’t realize there was this much stuff. You know who you need to call? My Lizzie. She’d get this place organized in no time. And all with a clipboard in her hand.” He gave her a goofy smile that she knew meant he truly loved his fiancé.
Her eyes swept over the cluttered space. It looked the same as it had since she’d grown up there. “Mama liked to hang on to things.”
“The whole family was sorry to hear about your mom. She was a staple at the pickle factory for years.”
“Thanks.”
Rick pointed at the Camaro and ran a hand along the rusted hood. “Nice. A collector could do something special with this.”
“My dad had planned to restore it, but he left before he had the chance.” She motioned to the other bags of trash. “I’ve got to get these out before the truck comes.”
Together, they were able to shift all of the trash to the curb. Rick waved at the sanitation workers as they arrived and loaded the bags into the garbage truck. He shook their hands before they left. Suzy had always marveled how Rick could talk to anyone. But then as mayor, he probably had to.
Suzy thought about inviting him inside for coffee, but she’d been up almost twenty-four hours and needed at least four hours sleep before she returned to work. She rubbed her arms. The temperature had been dropping steadily all week. Their first frost couldn’t be too far away. She gave a smile to Rick. “Thanks for the help.”
“There’s a lot more to do.”
“I know. And I still have a week left.”
Rick frowned. “Do you think you’ll have it ready in time?”
“Sure. If I don’t sleep between shifts at the home.” She chuckled a little. “Sleep is way over-rated as it is.”
Rick surveyed the yard. She wondered briefly if he saw the disaster that Will seemed to or the neglect that she did. “I don’t want you to lose the house because of lack of time. Maybe I can get Will to give you an extension.”
“It would only delay the inevitable. I’ll be fine. But I appreciate your help today.”
He nodded and bit his lip. “What if I could do more? Maybe come back and give you a hand with some of this? My Lizzie would love to step in and do the same if you gave her the chance.”
Everyone was always offering to help. Even when Mama had been alive, people had offered but her mom had insisted they could do this just with the two of them. As if she didn’t trust anyone else with her secrets. Only Suzy. It got a little tiresome at times when she had to do it all. She closed her eyes and fell into old habits of relying on no one but herself. Mama had always told her you couldn’t trust anyone. And after a while, Suzy went along with it because it was easier than arguing. “No, you’ve got the diner. Running the town. It’s too much. Besides, I’ve got the weekend off and can get a lot done then.”
He snapped his fingers. “Great idea. I’ll bring a crew with me on Saturday morning. Some of my softball team maybe. Lizzie, of course. Say nine o’clock?”
A crew? Here where all Mama’s secrets would be exposed? “I can’t let you do that.”
“Why not? Neighbors help each other out. And we could have it in tip top shape by lunchtime.”
Tears sprung to her eyes. “Why would you help me?”
He put his hand on her shoulder. “Because I didn’t help your mom out more when she was alive. If I’d known how sick she was...”
“She didn’t let anyone know.” She had only let Suzy know when it got so bad that she couldn’t take care of herself anymore and called her, begging her to move in and nurse her. Why couldn’t Mama have told anyone else? What had driven her to keep all these secrets? Daddy leaving had been hard on them both, but she had survived. Why couldn’t Mama?
“So let me make it up to you. Let me and my team help you.”
Suzy looked down at her hands. They seemed so small and incapable of doing what needed to be done. Maybe it was time to let the past go in more ways than one, to rely on someone else when she needed them. Finally, she relented. “All right. And I’ll provide donuts and coffee.”
Rick held out his hand, and they shook on it. He left soon after, and Suzy grinned at him as he backed out of the driveway and drove away. She walked back into the house and studied the state of the living room. It wouldn’t take her long to clear out the whole house if she had a few extra bodies.
But Mama never allowed people inside. And Suzy couldn’t either.
* * *
THE NEXT EVENING, Will and Tori checked in on their mother and found Ma had calmed overnight. She was less angry, more resigned. It was almost a relief.
Will left Tori in the room saying he needed to make some phone calls. He took his cell from his pocket and fiddled it with, trying to find the courage to make these calls.
One. Two. Three. Will gripped the phone and counted the rings. Four. Five.
And then the answering machine clicked on. He waited while the message played then the beep. “Hey, Joanie. It’s Will. Again. Listen, I know things between you and Ma haven’t been the greatest. But you need to come and see her. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”
He ended the call and thought about his message. Getting the answering machine made things easier. He wouldn’t have to argue with either sister. Just state his case and hang up. He took a deep breath and dialed the next number. One. Two.
“‘lo?”
Oh, great. “Hi, Carol. It’s Will.”
“Yeah, I know. Caller ID.”
Obviously, she wasn’t going to make this easy for him. “Right.”
“If this is about Ma, you’re wasting your breath.”
Which is why he’d hoped to get her answering machine. “She’s getting worse. The cancer...”
“Not my problem.”
“She’s your mother.”
“She didn’t exactly shower us with love, did she? No, she let him hurt us and kept her distance.”
Always the same arguments. Didn’t matter how he tried to explain things. “She took enough from him too. Did the best she could to get him to change his ways, treat us with kindness?”
Silence on the other end. Then her voice came back, quieter and sounding a little more watery. “Whatever makes you sleep better at night. I gotta go.”
“She’s dying, Carol.”
“Then call me for the funeral.”
The dial tone rang in his ear, and Will stared at his phone. Not exactly how he’d hoped that would go. In fact, it opened old scars. Made him itch and sweat.
Tori came around the corner, and he held up his hand. “Left a message with Joan, but I got a hold of Carol.”
“I can tell.” She put a hand on his shoulder and rubbed it back and forth. “Don’t let her get to you. She’s a bitter, angry woman.”
“So why aren’t you? We grew up in the same house. Got yelled at, called names by the same father. Why aren’t you like her?”
“What would it change?” Tori held out her hands, palms up. “It’s not worth my time or effort to dwell on it, so I don’t. Why get upset over something that I can’t change or fix? I’d rather focus on the good in my life.
The boys. Ma. Even you.”
He gave her a grin. “Good to know I’m in the positive column.”
“Don’t push it.” She glanced behind him and nodded at the nurse’s station. “I don’t see the cute nurse.”
“Suzy has the day off.”
Tori snapped her fingers. “I knew you had a crush on her. You can’t deny it now. I didn’t say who I was talking about, but you knew her name.”
“Oh stop.”
“I’m just saying.” She linked her arm through his and they returned to Ma’s room.
* * *
SUZY SETTLED BACK into the sofa pillows and groaned as she clutched her belly. Thank goodness she’d worn her yoga pants that night. “Don’t let me eat another piece. I’m stuffed.”
Pres nodded and changed the channel on the remote control. “We have all night. In the mood for a chick flick? Or something scary?” She waggled her eyebrows.
“Chick flick. You know me and scary movies.” Suzy shuddered. The last one they’d watched, she’d ended up sleeping with a butcher knife next to the sofa.
“You can spend the night if you get scared.”
Suzy shook her head and took a sip of her soda. “Something light. And fun. Where I don’t have to think too much.”
Pres changed the channel and found a movie on the Lifetime channel about a woman who met a psycho online. They considered it a compromise. Romance with a dash of thriller. On the second commercial break, Pres turned to Suzy. “What don’t you want to think about?”
“Want a list?” She picked at a loose thread on her sweater. She could write a book on the things she’d rather avoid. “I’ve got to deal with the backyard but would rather be doing anything else. I’m still paying bills from when Mama was sick. And don’t even ask where I’m going to find the money. On top of all that, I think I’m working too much.” She looked up at Pres and gave her a grin. “I dream that I’m working when I’m not there. I should be getting paid for that time too, right? Maybe even time and a half.”
Her friend smiled. “You and me both. We haven’t had a chance to hang out together for a while because of our schedules.” She lowered the volume when the movie returned. “Are you doing okay? And don’t tell me you’re fine.”
To be honest, Suzy didn’t know how she was doing. She avoided her feelings even more than dealing with her problems. Feelings were messy, Mama had always told her. And talking about them certainly didn’t solve anything. But she knew Pres wouldn’t have asked the question if she didn’t want an answer. Her friend cared, and that meant a lot to a woman who was alone. She shrugged. “Is everything perfect? No. But I’m dealing with it.”
“Are you?”
Okay, so it was a tiny lie. She was planning on dealing with things when she had more time to do so. Unfortunately time seemed to be running out. Suzy nodded. “Yes. Once the backyard is finished, I have some things I want to clear out of Mama’s house. Get it straightened up.”
“So you’re deciding to keep the place then?”
“You’re the one who told me not to make any major decisions for the first year after Mama died. So I’m trying to figure out what I want.”
Pres leaned forward. “What do you want, Suzy?”
That was the big question, wasn’t it? She’d been doing what she was supposed to for years. What was expected. She’d put her own wishes aside to become a nurse because Mama had insisted she would never be without a job. Not that she didn’t like nursing, but it hadn’t been her first choice. And now she had the freedom to choose. To explore.
If only she had the time.
She could sell the house and go back to school. Or she could keep doing what she was doing—working with people she loved. Maybe she could move somewhere warm that had tropical drinks named after it and live on a beach. Mama’s death had opened her future wide.
But the house and all the stuff inside it was an anchor around her neck. Until she could get rid of them, she was stuck.
She couldn’t escape. Couldn’t move forward.
CHAPTER SIX
SUZY SET UP a card table that she’d found behind a pile of boxes then wiped it down with a damp rag to rid it of the cobwebs and dust that covered it. Maybe after the day was over, she’d pitch it in the dumpster she’d rented. She covered the table with one of her mother’s linen tablecloths then arranged the boxes of doughnuts, cups and napkins on it. She ran an electrical cord from the outlet next to the front door and plugged in the percolator she’d cleaned up and filled with fresh water. Within a few moments, coffee percolated and sent a welcoming aroma through the neighborhood.
Suzy expected Rick to be the first to arrive, but he was soon followed by a familiar silver pickup truck. Apparently, Will had volunteered too. Probably more to oversee the work and make sure she did it right. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, and instead plastered a smile on her face. Lizzie Maier got out of the passenger seat of Rick’s jeep and joined Suzy by the breakfast table. She held out her hand. “Hi, Suzy. I’m—”
“Lizzie. I know.” The women shook hands and sized each other up. “Rick talked nonstop about you the other day.” Suzy glanced at the woman’s left hand and smiled at the ring. “And I see Rick still has good taste.”
Lizzie looked down at her hand and blushed. “I told him simple.” She fingered the diamond solitaire ring and smiled. “I just didn’t expect perfect.”
Suzy liked what she’d heard about the young woman. But then anyone who loved Rick as much as everyone else in town had to be special. Even more so when she produced a clipboard and pen. She had a list of names of those who’d volunteered. “Let’s see the backyard so we can make a plan. Sound good?”
They left the rest of the volunteers to fill themselves up on sugar and caffeine and walked to the back of the house. Lizzie didn’t judge as she made notes on her clipboard while Suzy gave a tour and listed what Will said he’d wanted removed. When they had made the entire circle, they returned to the deck. Lizzie nodded as she reviewed her notes. “No problem. We can get this done by one, then descend on Rick’s diner for lunch.” She looked up at Suzy. “Okay?”
Suzy choked down the tears that threatened to spill. She couldn’t talk without crying, so she gave a simple nod. Why were people being so nice to her? Why would they help her out? She hadn’t done anything for them to be so generous.
Rick joined them on the deck. He put an arm around Lizzie’s neck and laughed at the clipboard. “You couldn’t resist, could you?” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I bet you’ve got one for the wedding plans too?”
“More than one.”
Rick turned to Suzy. “You’re coming, right? It’s only...” He took a deep breath and gazed at his bride. “One more month, and then you’re all mine.”
Suzy shifted her weight, and her gaze drifted to Will who directed some guys to the garage. With effort, they lifted the door. One of the guys groaned at the sight of the confusion of boxes and trash bags that filled the space. Suzy had no clue what was in there, if there was anything to be kept or not. It might be better to load it all into the dumpster. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her, right?
But what if there was something important buried under the trash? A memory she’d need one day.
Suzy glanced over to Lizzie and Rick. Try not to think about it. Try not to. “Wait!” She ran to the garage and peered inside then turned to Will. “What were you planning on doing in here?”
Will pointed to a stack of boxes on the left side. “Taking those to the dumpster.” Trash bags impeded their progress into the garage. “After we get those cleared out first.”
“You can’t.”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Come again?”
“I haven’t had a chance to go through anything in here. You can’t just throw it all away.” She stood in front of the
garage and spread her arms. “I won’t let you in here.”
Will took a deep breath then lifted her and set her to the side. “This is not only a fire hazard, but it attracts critters.”
“Critters?”
“Mice. Rats. Snakes.”
Suzy shivered and peered inside. “I haven’t been inside here since I graduated high school.”
“All the more reason to let it go.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You have to start letting things go, Suzy, or we’ll never get anything accomplished. And you will lose.”
She looked inside at the boxes that held something. Maybe nothing. She hadn’t needed anything out here ever. Mama probably hadn’t known what was there. Maybe she could let it go. She gave a short nod. “Fine. Take it all away.”
“I promise if I find anything important, we will set it aside.”
“Thanks.” She took one last look then headed towards Lizzie who was giving out orders to the rest of the volunteers. She pointed to Suzy then to the fence line. “You’re on trash detail with me.”
With this many workers, they’d be finished in no time.
* * *
THEY WERE NEVER going to finish with the yard.
Suzy sighed and lifted another trash bag over the edge of the dumpster. Liking the squishy sound it made when it made contact with the others. She dusted her hands off and walked back to the yard. And sighed again.
They’d been hard at it for almost two hours but had only made a dent in what needed to be done. The old mowers hadn’t started so they were in the dumpster along with the other trash bags. The walls of the shed had rotted so a few of the guys had dismantled it and thrown them out as well. But the old car still waited to be moved. The flat and worn tires made moving it difficult, so Will had let them postpone that job while they worked on clearing the rest of the space.