by Verna Clay
"Actually, yes." She leaned forward. "And, Monica, I have to say he looked really pissed. I saw him talking to her at her car."
A third woman who was most likely in her forties exclaimed, "Wow! I wonder how this is going to play out? Do you think they have feelings for each other that they’re suppressing?"
Sarah laughed, "Julie, you should have been the romance writer and not me."
"No, Mom. You're better at it than anyone. Hey, maybe you can create a storyline using this real life drama for inspiration."
"I don't know about that, but what I do know is that everyone is waiting for the next edition of The Paxtonville Weekly. The townsfolk will probably be standing in line for it."
The women laughed and then Sarah asked Julie about someone named Missy's plans for the summer.
"She's been selected by her high school for an internship at the State Legislature in Denver, and Dixie and Alligator offered to let her stay with them."
Sarah laughed and replied, "I wouldn't be surprised if my granddaughter became the governor of Colorado someday."
Phoenix glanced at her watch and realized she'd been so involved in listening to local gossip that she'd overstayed her fifteen minute break. She gulped the last of her Razzle-Dazzle and rushed back inside.
Justin dismissed her apology. "Don't worry about it."
And for the remainder of her shift, surprisingly, she enjoyed working at Dixie's Cuppa Joe.
Chapter 8: Extra Extra
Harris stretched as he headed for the kitchen in his parents' home. His recovery after being thrown off Devil-for-Hire, the bronc that had almost killed him, was almost over. Except for residual pain in his ribs that had been broken and stiffness in his left forearm that had also been broken, he felt pretty damn good. His hometown doctor, Dr. Casper, brother of Judge Casper who had presided twice over Eli's debacles defending Angel from tabloid reporters, had released him to rejoin the rodeo circuit in the fall, and he was excited about returning to the sport. Not only because he loved it, but because he hoped that getting back into the swing of things would wipe lying Lucinda from his heart.
In the kitchen he went straight to the coffee pot. His mother's coffee was the best. He lifted the old percolator and filled his cup to the brim, then turned to greet his mother, father, youngest brother Austin, and teenage sister Sunny. His other brother, Morgan, had joined the navy and wouldn’t be home until Christmas. Briefly, he thought about Eli and Angel honeymooning on the Greek Island of Santorini, with a stopover on their way home to visit Paxtonville's local heroes, Alex and Hannah Wyndham, at their Estate in Wiltshire County, England. After that they would return to the cabin Eli had purchased a year previous in the Ponderosa Ridge area. It was small and rustic and perched atop a mountain affording incredible views. It was also the place where Eli would continue writing his spy novel series and Angel would begin her blog and website catering to women.
Harris was proud of his brother. Not only was he a gifted writer, but brilliant when it came to investments and negotiating lucrative endorsement contracts for Harris; his last one being spokesperson for a popular western clothing company's new line of dusters. Luckily, he had completed a commercial for them before his accident. As for new endorsements, they were dependent on his recovery.
He sighed and lifted his cup to his mouth. Other than his quandary over Lucinda, his life seemed to be getting back on track. He glanced at his family sitting in the breakfast nook and frowned. It was strange that no one had greeted him. His mom and dad had their iPads in front of them and Austin and Sunny were reading something on their cell phones. "Hey, what's up? No morning greetings?"
His mother said without lifting her head, "Good morning, son."
Sunny said, "Wow! Harris, you've got to read this."
Harris felt goose bumps on his neck. Cautiously, he asked, "Read what?"
His sister glanced up. "The apology from that reporter who dissed us."
Harris bristled. "I don't want to read it. There's nothing she can say that will change my mind about her."
His dad glanced up. "That's your prerogative."
His mother set her iPad aside. "It took a lot of courage for her to write an apology and face the town. I'm starting to think better of her."
Harris couldn't believe what he was hearing and practically shouted, "Are ya'll crazy! She exposed private matters about our family that's been picked up by the tabloids, and I, for one, think she's a snake. I can't believe you're letting her off the hook."
Austin stood, stuck a piece of bacon in his mouth, and headed toward the living room. "Whatever."
Sunny also stood, pocketed her phone, kissed her parents on their cheeks, and said, "I'm meeting some friends at Dixie's Cuppa Joe." To her brother she grinned and smirked, "I wonder why she rattles your cage so much."
Before he could reply she darted from the kitchen. Harris fumed as he poured his coffee into one of the cups his mother insisted were to be used when leaving the house. The day that had started out so well, had suddenly gone sour. "I'm headed for Eli's cabin," he said petulantly. "I told him I'd check on it before they returned."
"Don't you want breakfast first? I'll make you pancakes," said Tooty.
"I'm not hungry."
His mother and father shared a glance and then bid him goodbye as if nothing were amiss. They acted as if Lucinda’s airing of their dirty laundry, so to speak, was perfectly okay. The whole world now knew that Harris' birthfather was the once famous rodeo star Lucky Larry, and that his mother had been unwed and sixteen years old when he was born. They also knew that Harris had confronted his birthfather only months before and then hired him to drive his RV, and that Tooty had accidently run into him while surprising Harris with a visit. The article also revealed that Lucky Larry had left the rodeo scene when his career spiraled downward because of alcoholism. Lucinda's tell-all had upset the apple cart of Harris' great life.
His mouth twisted downward as he headed for his old Chevy truck. He jerked the door open, jumped into the cab, slammed the door, and sloshed coffee on his jeans. "Shit!"
Since Harris' family lived in the next county over from Paxtonville, he had plenty of time to think during his drive. To reach Eli and Angel's cabin he had to pass through town and he intended to drive straight through, but when the highway became Main Street, he suddenly swerved to the curb and jumped from his truck in front of Buster's Barber Shop. He pulled several coins from his pocket as he stepped inside the business that had been serving Paxtonville for over forty years, and lifted a newspaper from a stack on the counter. He tossed the coins down. Glancing at Buster who was trimming Mayor Quigley's beard, and then into the waiting area, he said, "Howdy, ya'll."
Buster replied, "Howdy, Harris. Need a haircut?"
"Nope."
Two old timers waiting for their turns glanced up from their newspapers, and Amos, who had lived in Paxtonville since God knew when, yelled out because he was hard of hearing, "Howdy, Harris! Looks like that gal is really sorry. Since you're just buying the paper, I guess you haven't read her apology yet."
Buster lifted the razor from the mayor’s neck. "Hell, Harris, since you're the topic of so much excitement 'round town, you can have the paper for free."
The old-timers nodded exuberantly and Mayor Quigley said, "We haven't had this much excitement since Hannah married into royalty."
Amos said, "Sure we have. When Eli punched that reporter and ended up in front of Judge Casper."
Pablo, the other old man said, "Maybe we should vote on which was more exciting."
Harris ended the ridiculous conversation with a grunt and returned to his truck. In an attempt to blow the town, he chirped his wheels.
An hour later, sitting on the deck of his brother's cabin with the newspaper tossed on the chair next to him, he had yet to open it. Several hummingbirds buzzed the periphery of a feeder above his head and a cool breeze moved the branches of pines below the cabin. The pristine sky was cloudless and the air fragrant with for
est scents. Beyond the forest, mountain peaks rose to staggering heights.
Harris huffed and reached for the paper and read the headline.
APOLOGIES TO THE BRIGHTMAN FAMILY AND THE RESIDENTS OF PAXTONVILLE
He didn't want to read the article, but he was captive to it.
Chapter 9: Confrontation
The evening of the release of her apology, Lucinda finally collapsed onto her couch. Since early morning she had been inundated with phone calls and visits to her office at the newspaper. The reception of her apology had been mixed. It appeared that half of those contacting her accepted her apology and the other half still despised her. Ward had said it was a good start and expected most of the townspeople to eventually come around as she posted more articles over the next weeks chronicling the happenings in Paxtonville.
She reached for the remote to turn on her television. Maybe she could find a romance movie to escape the sad reality of her life. Her doorbell rang and she groaned. Was she about to be berated yet again? She dropped the remote onto the coffee table and reluctantly rose.
Peeking through the peephole she gasped. The person standing outside her door was the last person she expected. Her visitor was Harris' mother, Tooty Brightman!
Hesitantly and at a loss for words, she opened her door. Mrs. Brightman said, "May I come in?"
Lucinda stepped aside. "Of-of course, Mrs. Brightman."
"Please call me Tooty like everyone else in town and I'll call you Lucinda…or do you prefer Lucy?"
"Lucinda. I really dislike being called Lucy."
Lucinda was shocked when Tooty actually smiled and said, "You can't imagine the jokes and taunts I've endured from being named Tooty. May I sit?"
"Yes. Yes." Lucinda waved toward the couch and suddenly remembered her manners. "Can I get you something to drink? I have–"
"No. Nothing. I came to talk about your article in today's paper."
Lucinda slowly sank onto the couch and waited for the inevitable castigation.
"I liked your apology and so did my husband and children…other than Harris. He's still angry and refusing to read what you've written."
Lucinda fiddled with her eyeglasses. "That's understandable."
"Yes. It is. But there's something else going on in his head…or perhaps I should say in his heart."
Lucinda's own heart fluttered but she remained silent.
Tooty held Lucinda's gaze. Finally, she said, "And I think there's something going on in your heart, too. I think that's why you've humbled yourself by coming to a town where you're despised."
Lucinda winced.
"So what are we going to do about you and Harris?" Tooty asked pointedly.
"I-I don't know what you mean."
Unexpectedly, Tooty grinned. "I know how you feel, honey. When Miles and I were on the outs, I was miserable. Later, when we were honest with each other, I discovered that he was miserable too. Thank God we came to our senses and forgave each other of past mistakes. Harris was seven when Miles and I married and we still had problems, but, like I said, they were overcome when we finally got honest. And since then, we haven't been able to keep our hands off each other." She chuckled. "That’s why we have five children."
Suddenly, Lucinda realized that Tooty really had forgiven her—and even trusted her. Why else would she reveal something so personal? Lucinda lifted her eyeglasses and swiped the corners of her eyes. She would not cry.
Tooty reached for her purse on the floor and stood. "Well, Lucinda, this visit has been very informative and you've told me everything I need to know. Now, I just need to figure out a plan of action."
Lucinda also stood. "I don't understand."
Tooty reached and patted her shoulder. "It's not something you need concern yourself with. We'll talk again later. Have a nice evening."
Three hours after visiting Lucinda, Tooty was reading her husband's latest suspense novel in the MacRighteous Series that he'd been writing for over thirty years, and laid it aside when he came to bed.
Miles said, "Honey, I can't believe you reread all my books when you're one of the editors. You already know the outcome of every story."
She smiled lovingly. "I love your stories and it doesn't matter that I already know the ending. I still get lost in the adventure."
Miles lifted himself from his wheelchair using arms that were still muscular and strong in his sixties, and settled himself beside her. "Okay, speak your mind. As soon as I saw your reaction to Lucinda’s apology this morning, I knew you were going to visit her. Tell me about it."
Tooty rolled onto her side and lifted a hand to caress the salt-and-pepper stubble on her husband's jaw. "Do you remember what star-crossed lovers we were?"
"As if I could ever forget." Miles chuckled. "So, what you're trying to tell me is that Harris and Lucinda are in love, but fighting their love."
"Of course. And you know it's true by the way he’s reacting. He's crazy about that girl but can't find it in his heart to forgive her…although I'm starting to see chinks in his armor."
Miles pulled his wife's hand to his mouth and kissed it. "Are you softening me up for the big reveal?"
Tooty moved until her lips were against her husband’s and her kiss was playful yet sensual, then passionate. "Is it working?"
A chuckle rumbled in his chest as he placed his arms around her and took charge of the situation. "Oh, yes."
Tooty grinned as Miles pulled her on top of him and she said, "We need to formulate a plan to get Harris and Lucinda together."
"Let's do it later."
Chapter 10: Friends
Two weeks after being hired by Dixie's Cuppa Joe, Phoenix was up at dawn and preparing healthy shakes in Justin's kitchen when he entered from his bedroom. His medium length dark brown hair was sticking up and he was wearing flannel pajama bottoms and an old T-shirt. He wasn't an overly tall man, probably 5'10", but he was lean and muscular because he loved to jog and lift the weights that he kept in a corner of his living room. He'd told Phoenix he would move them to his bedroom if they bothered her, but she'd replied, "No. Not at all. In fact, would you mind if I used them?"
"Not at all," he'd echoed and grinned.
So, for now, Phoenix and Justin had fallen into a daily routine of healthy shakes and jogging together early mornings. Since he was the manager of the coffee shop his hours were usually seven to four and on-call, while Phoenix worked from eleven to five-thirty, five days a week. She would have liked more hours, but Justin explained the policy was no more than twenty-four hours for summer help, but he'd stretched it to thirty for her.
He grabbed his shake and darted back to his room, calling out, "I'll be ready in five minutes."
Already in her sweats and a tank top, Phoenix sipped her shake and thought about Justin. How could such an intelligent, good looking, and well liked man, be satisfied with a career managing a coffee shop? And from what she'd gleaned, he'd been doing it for a long time. How old was he, anyway? Early thirties?
She finished her shake and started stretching. Justin reentered the room dressed in old sweats and a muscle shirt and followed her lead in limbering up. While they did forward lunges, she said, "Justin, how old are you?"
"Thirty-four. Why?"
Rather than answer his question directly, she said, "You know, you're never too old to go to college and get a degree. You could even study online. With your experience and management skills, you could land a high paying job in a top company."
Justin stopped stretching and turned to stare at her. "Phoenix, I know it's hard for you to understand, but I love my life, my job, and my town. I have no desire to do anything else."
She also stopped stretching. "But that's crazy. Do you want to be managing a coffee shop when you're fifty?"
"Actually, yes. Now let me ask you something personal. How old are you?"
"Twenty-three."
"And why are you so sure that climbing the corporate ladder is the only measure of success?"
"I didn't
say that."
He arched an eyebrow. "You didn't have to say it. It's written all over you and the questions you ask. In fact, it's downright condescending."
Her eyes widened and then she frowned. "Okay. Maybe you're right. But I was raised as trailer trash, so naturally I want to better myself."
"So your judgment of success rests on the employment someone has and the amount of money in their bank account?"
Phoenix met his steely gaze, held it for a second, and then glanced away. "I never meant to come across like that. I was just…" her voice trailed.
"Offering me advice on how to manage a life I love."
She shrugged. "I guess we just see things differently."
He started stretching again. "How about we agree to disagree and leave it at that?"
"Okay, after one more question."
He stilled and waited.
"Now that you know my family is trailer trash, what about yours? Do you have family in Paxtonville?"
When a profoundly sad expression entered Justin's eyes, she wished she'd kept her mouth shut.
Softly he said, "I'm an only child and my parents died in a plane crash when I was fifteen, so I moved here to live with my grandmother. She died five years ago and I miss her every day. Now let's run."
Lucinda entered Dixie's Cuppa Joe after leaving her office for the day and ordered a strawberry iced tea. She scanned the glass case for the candies she'd been eyeing every time she was in the shop—Jalapeño ChocoDrops, Rhubard ChocoDrops, Cilantro ChocoDrops, and other strange flavors. She pointed and asked the clerk, "What's with these unusual chocolates?"
The clerk whose nametag read "SAMANTHA" grinned. "They're really popular in Colorado. The previous owner of the coffee shop, Dixie, married this FBI agent who retired to help run the business, and he invented ChocoDrops. The first one was jalapeño and it's remained the favorite for years. Dixie and Alligator, that's his nickname 'cause he's so big, moved to Denver to expand their candy line and sold the coffee shop to Cecelia. Would you like to try one?"