Leaving Liberty

by Virginia Carmichael

  The doorbell sounded a long series of chimes throughout the house and Rhonda bustled through the small bedroom doorway.

  Daisy breathed a small sigh of relief. She was really a sweet woman. Motherly, friendly, concerned and caring. Also, a bit stifling. Maybe it was because she hadn’t grown up with a mother figure, but Rhonda made her feel as if she wasn’t getting enough air.

  She snapped her suitcase closed and ran a hand over the burnished leather side. The old Samsonite case was polished to a deep chestnut color with a few scrapes and dings in the leather to give just a bit more character. Rhonda’s bed and breakfast was filled with antiques, but they were the fussy kind: crystal, velvet, flowered everything. Not much functionality in the surroundings. It made Daisy feel like she was living in a ‘do not touch’ museum.

  The sound of voices echoed through the long hallway and she paused, listening. She really didn’t want to make any small talk, if she could help it, but it sounded as if the visitor was moving from the entry way and in her direction. No way out the back. Russell lifted his head and gave her a long stare, followed by a huge yawn.

  “You’re not a lot of help.” Daisy dusted off the knees of her pants and took a quick peek in the dresser mirror before Rhonda re-appeared in the doorway. A small frown between her brows but her hair wasn’t frizzing too much.

  “Look who’s here to help get you moved!” Rhonda sounded thrilled, voice a few octaves higher than normal.

  Taking a deep breath for courage, Daisy turned, forcing the frown from her face. She didn’t need any help. How many times did she have to say it? “Thanks but I’m perfectly okay-”

  “Oh!” The sight of the pretty dark haired woman startled the syllable out of her.

  “Were you expecting someone?”

  She scrambled for an answer. Yes, but she wasn’t going to tell the world that she’d been one hundred percent positive Lane Bennett was standing behind her. “Not really. I…” her voice trailed off. Awkward.

  “Do you remember me? I’m Jamie, Lane’s sister. He told me you rented the cabin for the summer and I thought I’d stop by and see if you needed anything.” She threaded her fingers through her long, curly hair. “I’ve got to pick up my little guy from preschool in an hour, but I’d be happy to take you out there.”

  Of course, she could see just a bit of the sibling link now. Same bright smile, same athletic figure, same teasing glint. “I’ve got the rental car, but it would be fun to have you give me a tour of all your projects. Did you do all the woodworking yourself?”

  “Sure did.” Jamie grinned. “My husband should never have bought me that table saw for Christmas. It was all downhill from there. Drills, sanders, paint strippers. I’ve got everything.”

  She couldn’t help but like her, even if she shared Lane’s genes. Where he was irritatingly bossy, Jamie was welcoming and friendly. Her silky green top was beaded and shimmered in the light. She seemed a happy, fashion-conscious suburban mom. “You don’t look like someone who loves power saws.”

  “Because I’m a woman?”

  Uh-oh. Daisy could really see the resemblance now. Jamie’s jaw jutted out in just the same way, her feet planted apart and hands on hips. “No, because you’ve got all your fingers. I’m sure I’d lose one the first day I started a project.”

  Jamie let out a breath and smiled. “Nah, you’d be fine. I can teach you everything you need to know. Especially how to keep your digits intact.”

  “Well, I’ll let you two girls go. Daisy, you be sure to come back for dinner.” She was enveloped by a warm, perfumed hug. Rhonda wandered back toward the front parlor, probably to straighten her china display.

  “She’s a sweet lady,” Jamie said softly, head tilted toward the retreating woman. “But you’re probably ready to have some space.”

  Suppressing a smile, Daisy nodded. “True.”

  Following Jamie down the hallway, lugging the heavy vintage case that now held more than it did when she arrived, Daisy wondered what on earth she was thinking. If she was smart, she’d stay in Rhonda’s over-decorated room, even if Russell barked every morning at dawn. Moving into Lane’s cabin, becoming friends with his sister and trying to keep him separate from her plan to save the library was not going to all fit together.

  Of course, no matter which way she turned the problem over in her mind, Lane Bennett just got a larger and larger role in her summer plans. Maybe she should stop fighting him every step of the way and conserve her energy for what was really important: convincing the town that saving the old library was the right thing to do. She needed to readjust her vision a bit.

  Daisy swung her suitcase into the trunk of the rental and took a last look at Main Street. Maybe being so close to her old home, Rocky’s place, was making it hard to sleep, too. Maybe she could find peace out in the cabin, a peace that had eluded her anywhere else in the area.

  Sure, it looked like she was moving from a big city, to a small town, to all-out isolation but she had a plan and she was sticking to it.

  Chapter Nine

  Lane crossed the street with a quick stride, thinking furiously. He needed to get ahold of Jamie and talk about the garden. It hadn’t occurred to him until a few minutes before his lunch hour that they’d be planting soon- right in Daisy’s backyard. Of course it was their land. Of course they’d planted vegetables every year without fail. But somehow he had neglected to mention that fact to Daisy the morning he’d given her the keys. Where was his mind lately? He huffed out an irritated breath. Pretty soon he’d need one of those hand held organizers that kept his entire life on a schedule so he didn’t forget to eat or sleep.

  It would probably be better if the news came from Jamie. She had a way about her. Friendly, easy-going. Daisy seemed more than eager to see the last of him just a few hours ago and she probably didn’t want to have a long talk with him again so soon. Especially about the garden and the summer guests that would be there.

  Lane unlocked the cruiser and angled inside. He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck and wished life was little less complicated. But there was no way around this one. The garden would be planted, like it always was. And the plants would be tended like they always had. Well, like they had the last few years since Rocky had joined them.

  He couldn’t ask him not to help out, he knew how much satisfaction it gave the old man to be out in the warm mountain sunshine and see the fruits of his hard work. And Daisy wasn’t going to let go of that cabin. So, that left an uncomfortable situation that needed to be addressed ASAP.

  He dialed Jamie’s cell number and shifted in his seat. He was sure she’d be able to address the topic a whole lot better than he could.

  “Hey, I was just thinking about you.” Her voice echoed a bit, as if she was farther than the few blocks from her house.

  “I need to talk to you about Daisy and the cabin. It just occurred to me that we’re planting the garden in a week.”

  There was a pause. “Right.”

  “Well, can you talk to her about it? Maybe stop by Rhonda’s?”

  Another pause. Lane frowned at the dashboard of the cruiser. His sister was usually the one who talked a mile a minute, raising her voice to be heard over her rambunctious boys. “We’re out at the cabin now. I suppose I could talk to her about it.”

  And seconds later he heard murmuring in the background. “Uh-huh, it’s Lane. He wanted me to talk to you about the garden.”

  He cringed, feeling heat creep up his neck. Was she going to go through the whole conversation right now, while he was on the other end? “Jamie, hang up and talk to her. See, since Rocky’s going to be there-”

  “He is?” His sister was back now, speaking to him.

  “I’m not going to tell him not to come.”

  A brief silence and he could hear what was clearly Daisy’s questioning voice on the other end.

  “I just don’t think that’s a great idea.” Jamie again, a cautious tone shadowing her voice.

  “Can we talk ab
out it later, then? I thought I could call you, see if you could bring it up, and then-”

  A louder question sounded in the background and then Jamie said, “Here, why don’t you talk to her.”

  Oh, boy. Lane felt all the muscles in his back tighten at once. Worst case scenario. He got to tell her the bad news, over the phone.

  “Hey, Lane. What’s the problem?” Her voice was softer than he remembered. It was almost as if he could see her smiling. She probably thought he didn’t have anything better to do than shadow her every movement around Liberty.

  “I wanted to tell you…” his voice faded away. He couldn’t do it, not over the phone. “Do you mind if I swing by? I’m on my lunch hour.”

  “Sure, come on over. It’ll be a party.” Her teasing tone almost made him smile. Almost, but not quite because he was sure she wasn’t going to be happy to hear what he had to say.

  ****

  Daisy plunked her suitcase down on the blue and white quilt in the bedroom. So, a mysterious phone call, veiled references to something she had to know and now Lane was on his way. Well, if he thought he was going to shoo her out before she even got unpacked, he was wrong.

  The antique highboy dresser creaked as she pulled open the first drawer. It was repainted in a soft white with blue trim and the mirror was clear, showing her reflection. Mouth set in a straight line, green eyes serious. She’d put her clothes away, right this very minute. It was a small move, but she was staking her claim in the only way she knew how. She wasn’t going to be standing by the front door with a fully packed suitcase when he came in with that lease. It was legally binding and she was going to fight him every step of the way if he tried to cancel it.

  “You want some coffee?” Jamie called from the kitchen.

  “That would be great, I’m almost done.” She kept her tone cheery, upbeat. Lane’s sister was a nice person and she hated to think of her in the middle, but it couldn’t be helped.

  Gazing around the room, Daisy took a few minutes to soak in the sweet atmosphere. A large window faced the mountains, with the edge of the porch just visible to the right. The morning sun would come right through, a welcome start to the day. Gauzy white curtains hung on either side with a shade rolled up to the top and tucked out of sight. The cast iron bed was clearly ancient, but Daisy gave a small test to the mattress. No lumpy coils in this one. It was perfect. All of it, except the man who was headed her way at that very moment.

  She heard the sound of gravel under car tires and peeked out the window. Lane’s cruiser pulled up behind her car and he stepped out. He looked up at the trees. Daisy let herself examine him, head to toe, in a way she hadn’t before. Maybe he was used to getting his own way because he’d grown up the handsomest guy in town. Maybe it was the way he exuded effortless masculinity and girls fell all over that uniform. But she wasn’t going to keel over from admiration so he better have a really good reason for showing up to ‘talk’.

  His shoulders straightened. He half turned to the cabin, eyes closed, head bowed. His lips were moving. Was he talking to himself? Daisy leaned closer to the window, frowning. Maybe he was wearing a blue tooth headset. She’d passed fellow shoppers a hundred times and thought they were chatting to her, when they were actually on the phone. Squinting, she could see his head was bare. Then, as clearly as could be, she saw his lips form the word ‘amen’.

  Daisy stepped back from the window, her heart pounding. Her thoughts from a moment before made her feel physically ill. She was apparently ready to go to war with a man who had loved Marie, suffered a terrible loss, and harbored a deep faith. Daisy sank onto the bed, disgusted with her own pettiness. She was judging him the way she hated to be judged- on appearances and speculation.

  The sound of the front door opening brought her up straight. Her stomach clenched.. Something was important enough that he’d paused in the driveway to chat with God. She had no idea what was going to happen in the next few minutes but she better make her way out to the living room and face the situation head on.

  ***

  “Wow, you look worn out. Sit down and I’ll get you a cup of coffee.” Jamie motioned Lane to the table, her eyes brimming with concern.

  “I’m okay. Just a little stressed.” He glanced around the tidy living room, expecting to see Daisy, afraid of how she would handle the news her father would be hanging around her new home. He lowered himself into a chair and rubbed a hand over his face.

  “She’s unpacking.” Jamie paused on her way to the kitchen. “Did a criminal finally strike in Liberty? Or did you have to give out a speeding ticket?”

  “Funny. And no, everything is fine.” Almost everything.

  She came back through the small doorway bearing two mugs, one with cream and sugar the way he liked it and one black. Jamie sat at the end and took a sip of the steaming liquid, gaze never leaving his face. “She’s not going to claw your eyes out.”

  “So you say.” He stared into his mug, wrapping his hands around the hand-thrown clay. His grandfather’s mug had always given him warm memories. All he felt right now was dread.

  “And why would I do that?” Daisy was standing in the hallway, head cocked, lips quirking up.

  Twisting around in his chair, Lane went to stand and tangled one of his legs under the table. A few seconds of maneuvering and he was finally free, standing awkwardly to one side. He could feel the heat in his face and wished he hadn’t inherited the Bennett gene for ridiculously long legs.

  “Let me get you some coffee. Black?” Jamie was out of her chair and headed for the kitchen, giving Lane a look that was part laughter and part disbelief.

  “Milk and sugar, please, if there is any.” Daisy moved into the living room, that small smile still pasted to her face. She looked wary, unsure. Something about that fragile smile made him want to reassure her, to promise her life would be easier. But that wasn’t on the agenda and he hated himself for it.

  He took a breath, wishing there was a better way to say what he needed to say. “I forgot to mention we’ll be planting the garden next week.”

  She said nothing for a moment, brows rising higher. “You’re worried I’ll have a problem with the garden? I assumed you would be around.”

  “Right, we will be.” He rubbed the back of his neck, wishing Jamie could have had this conversation. But it seemed he and Daisy just couldn’t catch a break. Everything had to be as complicated and messy as possible.

  “Lane, please, just tell me whatever it is.” Her voice was strained.

  “Rocky will be working in the garden.” He saw her green eyes widen. “With me. I’ll be bringing him out here when I come till and plant the seeds. Also, on the weekends we weed and harvest.”

  She seemed speechless. He could see her chest rising and falling rapidly.

  “But why?” she whispered.

  Lane flinched at the tone in her voice. Betrayal, disbelief. “Because we’re friends.”

  “Your family is friends with my father?” She glanced at Jamie, who was studying the mug in her hand, hovering in the doorway.

  “No, Rocky and I are friends.”

  “Why?” This time her voice was stronger.

  The answer was so far in the past that he didn’t know where to start. “Why is anyone friends?”

  She snorted, crossing her arms over her chest. “Because you have things in common, like goals, dreams, character.” She said the last word like an accusation.

  “Well, maybe we do.” It was a stupid response but he was floundering under her angry gaze.

  “You like to drink? You can’t keep a steady job? Have a habit of kicking your dog out the door every morning?” She was breathing hard, eyes narrowed. “Excuse me, but you look as if you’ve showered a bit too recently to have a lot in common with my father.”

  “He’s different now,” Jamie said quietly.

  “Nobody changes that much.” She spoke without breaking eye contact with Lane. Her tone was cold, empty.

  “They do when they a
ccept God’s forgiveness and make amends,” Lane said.

  She opened her mouth, face creasing in anger, then seemed to think better of it. Her gaze dropped to the carpet.

  “Here.” Jamie held out Daisy’s mug, steam curling off the surface. “Have a seat and we can talk about it.”

  She took the mug, as if dreaming, lost in thought. Lane sat down at the table and slanted a glance her way. Her face was closed, betraying nothing.

  “I understand how-”

  “Lane, please.” She held up a hand, as if to ward off his words. “You can’t understand.”

  He fell silent. He did, just a little. His parents were wonderful, but he and Rocky had an interesting past. After one tragic misstep, he’d lost a promotion because of that man. Being passed over had cost him much more than a paycheck.

  “I need to think about this.” Daisy looked up at him, then Jamie. “I’m heading back to the library. Can we talk later?”

  “Of course.”

  “Okay, and thanks for the coffee.” Her lips went up in a pale imitation of a smile and she left the mug on the table, not pausing on her way out the door.

  There was a long silence as they listened to the sound of her footsteps across the porch, down the steps. Then a second later, a car engine fading into the distance. She was gone, and there was nothing he could do except pray she understood why he wouldn’t keep Rocky away.

  ***

  Daisy shifted into first gear and followed the winding driveway toward the main road. It was all she could do to continue the long-ago memorized motions of driving the car, because her brain had overloaded about ten minutes before. Overloaded and shut down.

  The blue sky seemed to be mocking her with its clarity and cheerfulness. Life was a messy activity, she knew that. But this? Beyond messy, beyond complicated.

  Turning onto the main road, the tires hummed on the pavement. Daisy blew out a long sigh. Lord, I don’t understand what You’re doing, but I trust You’ve got my future in mind. That was all she had. No fancy words, nothing clear. Just trust. It would have to do.

  She glanced at the stack of papers on the seat next to her. She’d been printing all morning at the library, hoping to get started this afternoon on applications for grants. There were tens of thousands of dollars in matching grants and federal loans for an old Carnegie building like the library. She’d been ready to put in serious time on these applications but it felt like her mind had been shut down. Yet again, her personal life in Liberty was taking center stage.