“I’ll get colors and fix it up. I’m working on a couple of Jacob’s rehabs so I can do your house at the same time,” Jill said. “That will be fun.”
Heather looked at Jill, then Sandy. The women looked at Blane together. Blane was looking at Katy.
“You’re going to be the baby’s Daddy,” Katy said. “Do you mind if it’s a boy?”
Shushing Katy, Jill stood to take Katy from Blane.
“It’s all right, Jill. I’m used to the psychic thing,” Blane said. “What do you say, Heather?”
“Let’s try it. If it doesn’t work, I can do something else but...” Her eyes welled with tears. “This is the happiest I’ve felt since he left me at the restaurant.”
“And who was that?” Sam’s face was set in anger.
Heather shook her head.
“Looks like it doesn’t matter, Dad,” Jacob said. “Blane’s going to be a Dad.”
Katy clapped her hands. Sandy hugged Heather again. Standing to give Blane her seat, Jill leaned to kiss Jacob.
“You’re a psychic too. Aren’t you?” she asked him.
“Like my mother and my daughter,” he said. “That’s what Katy and I have been doing mid-morning. Meditating together.”
“I knew you were meditating. I mean, I’ve seen you but...” Jill fumbled for words. “What do you see for us?”
“Babies!” Katy exclaimed.
Jill looked at Katy then at Jacob. He laughed.
“You’ll get used to it, Jill,” Sam said. “Now, I heard there were cookies? I need to wash the bitter pill taste from my mouth.”
“From Heather?” Jill asked. “Heather’s one of the best people I’ve ever known... I...”
“He means the board,” Jacob said.
“Cookie?” Delphie asked.
“Just in time,” Sam said. “See Jill, you’ll get used to it.”
As Jill and Katy moved past Sam to the bathroom, Sam said in her ear, “You never get used to it.”
Delphie slapped at him and he laughed.
~~~~~~~~
Friday early morning — 3:35 A.M. PDT
Hollywood, CA
“Should we call Jacob? Delphie?” Mike asked.
He set a cup of tea down for her. They were sitting at the small kitchen table in her Hollywood Hills home.
“Nah,” Valerie laughed. “They like surprises. Plus we won’t be home for another week.”
Mike’s eyes scanned her face. His big hand covered hers and she looked up into his eyes.
“Are you doing this for me?” he asked.
“Having you with me every day highlights how my life doesn’t work. For me.” Valerie looked down at her tea. “Did you know I still own the house in Monterey?”
“WHAT?!? Let’s go there!”
“It’s managed by a company up there. They rent it out. It’s rented now by someone who works at the Aquarium. I haven’t been back since...”
He stroked her face. She nodded to her tea, then looked up into his eyes.
“I want to sell this house and be done with it,” she said.
“I thought we...”
“I can live anywhere I want now,” she said. “If I want to come back to LA, to the soap, I’ll rent.”
“Or WE’LL buy another home.”
She smiled.
“Love you, Mike.”
“When does the movie start?” he asked.
“Next January,” she said. “Why?”
“Hockey season,” they said together.
She laughed.
Chapter Forty-Five
A solution or three
Friday evening
“Jill lived in this building for a long time,” Jacob said. He entered the building followed by Honey, in her lightweight wheelchair, and MJ. “Her apartment is on the second floor. There are a couple of empty apartments together on the third floor. We can combine them into a suite.”
Jacob pointed in the direction of the elevator. They made their way down the hall.
“Why did Jill live here?” Honey asked.
“It’s very affordable,” Jacob said. “She and Trevor lived here for six years I think.”
“Oh, I forgot,” Honey said. “Seeing you and Jill together? It’s like you’ve always been together.”
MJ pressed the elevator call button and the ancient doors opened.
“I think everyone would rather forget Trevor,” Jacob said. He punched the button for the third floor.
“I would,” MJ said.
“I heard you were buddies,” Jacob said.
The elevator lurched a couple times before it crept upward.
“He thought we were,” MJ said.
Honey looked up at MJ. She reached for his hand. Taking hold her hand, MJ smiled.
“Thailand?” Jacob asked.
“I was in Special Forces training that entire year. And the one before that,” MJ said. “I don’t remember but my LC checked. Leave Special Forces training for vacation? You’re out. I graduated. That, I remember.”
“MJ was more friends with Jill and Tanesha because they ran track,” Honey said. “MJ was a jock. I never met Trevor until my sister brought him to meet Mom.”
After jerking, the elevator came to a complete stop. The doors slid open.
“The elevator’s not too great,” Jacob said. “I’ve looked at replacing it but I’d have to evacuate the building. Asbestos. The residents say it’s okay, so I keep it running. I’ll probably do something about it in the next year or so. I didn’t think I’d keep this building but...”
“Why do you own it, Jake?” Honey asked.
“That’s a very long story,” he said. “The benefit to this building is that it’s accessible right away. You can get in the front door, there’s an elevator and the doors are wide enough for your wheelchair. We gutted these apartments last month, so they are ready to be converted to wheelchair accessible.”
He opened the door to one of the apartments. Honey rolled in first followed by MJ. Jacob closed the door.
“Jake, please don’t take this the wrong way,” Honey said. “But this place is a shit hole.”
Jacob laughed.
“I’m serious. We lived in better places when I was a kid,” Honey said.
“It’s pretty bad,” Jacob said. “I’ve made improvements, but people who live here don’t like a lot of change.”
“A wrecking ball would do it,” MJ said.
“That’s what Jill says,” Jacob said. “People need safe places to live.”
“Nice places. Clean places,” Honey said. “Why did you gut this apartment?”
“I’m hoping to eventually redo all of the apartments,” Jacob said. “When they become available, I gut them. If I need one, I put in new material. The building is awful, but you’d be surprised what a little work can do. There aren’t rats or roaches any more. I was able to get all the appliances to work.”
He shrugged.
“Would you like to at least see it?” he asked.
“Sure,” MJ said. “It’s nice of you to take the time to show us around. We don’t want to seem ungrateful, Jake.”
“It’s a shit hole. Now,” Jacob said. “But we can make the apartments what we want. Eventually, the building will convert.”
Jacob escorted them through what once was a two bedroom apartment.
“There’s a vacant one next door. If you need more space, we can combine them,” Jacob said.
“You said there was another option,” MJ said. “I’d worry about Honey being here by herself. Even with a nurse’s help, she’ll be alone here a lot of the time.”
“Until I find work,” Honey said.
“Until she finds work,” MJ said.
“I wanted to show you this first. I know how independent Honey has always been. This apartment would offer real independence. You could come and go as you please. Once you’re ready for a van, you can park in the lot.”
“Jake, I know you’re trying to be positive and helpful,”
Honey said. “But... I don’t think I can live here. Just the smell...”
“Ok, moving on,” Jacob said.
They retreated to the elevator.
“I make good money, Jake,” MJ said.
“MJ helps support his brother and sister too,” Honey said.
“But I make enough for us to live on,” MJ said.
“Plus, I’ll find a job,” Honey said.
Jacob smiled at Honey’s insistence on working.
“We’ve looked at a couple of other apartment buildings that might work,” MJ said.
“So don’t worry if we can’t make this work.”
“I’m glad you looked.” Jacob nodded. “Let’s take a look at the other place before you decide. The other place isn’t wheelchair accessible right now.”
“Where is it?” Honey asked.
“The Castle,” Jacob said. “Would you be okay going back...”
“The Castle is gorgeous,” Honey said. “I mean, it’s your family home. You wouldn’t want...”
“You are family, Honey,” Jacob said. “You guys wanna get a bite to eat before we look at the Castle? I was thinking...”
“Cereal?” Honey asked.
“If you insist,” Jacob said. “The Shoppe?”
The elevator slammed to the bottom, jerked up, bounced, and the doors creaked opened. They returned to MJ’s SUV. MJ lifted Honey from her chair and gently placed her in the passenger seat. Jacob folded the wheel chair and stuck it next to him.
“If it’s all right with you, Jake, I’d like to see what’s available at the Castle,” MJ said. “I don’t want to get in the way of your cereal consumption. Is the cereal ban still in effect?”
“What cereal ban?” Jacob’s smirk indicated his lack of compliance with the ‘No-Captain-Crunch’ health program.
Honey laughed.
“What’s available at the Castle, Jake?” MJ asked.
MJ turned left at Colfax Boulevard then took an immediate right onto Race Street.
“We’ve finished a couple apartments. There are a couple others that rotate uses. Aden and his kids like one. Blane stays in the studio when he’s sick. Jill and I moved into part of the attic so where I lived is vacant.”
“How big is the Castle?” MJ asked.
“You can just go up to the gate.” Jake pointed to the metal gate. “How big is the Castle? Honestly? I don’t know. The building was originally about eight thousand square feet but there’ve been additions. Last year, we found a bunch of underground rooms. We found the ball room about six months ago.”
“Why are things hidden?”
MJ turned left into the Castle driveway. Jumping out, Jacob punched in the code for the gate.
“Lots of reasons,” Jacob said. “One area was converted to a speakeasy and shut off from the rest of the house. Also, in the bust years in Denver, people would break into these old mansions and steal stained glass, doors … anything they could sell. We found the original owner’s diary. He mentions sealing off rooms to protect original details of the house but there are few specifics and no plans that show all the additions and changes. We found crazy stuff, like a room filled with the original doors. I keep hoping I’ll find the original chandelier.”
MJ parked the SUV on the wide concrete in front of the garage. They looked out onto the vegetable gardens and fruit trees. The Indian summer had extended the growing season at the Castle. Fruit hung on the trees. Tall corn lifted toward the sky. Burdened tomato plants gave a back drop to blooming rose bushes, purple cornflowers, and bright yellow yarrow. Brilliant colored asters and mums lined the driveway.
“The gardens are beautiful,” Honey said. “I don’t think I’ve seen them before.”
“Delphie designed and maintains the gardens. We help, but only on her instruction.”
MJ moved to get Honey’s wheelchair.
“I am sorry but right now it’s probably easier if you’re carried,” Jacob said. “We can easily fix the access but today may be tricky.”
MJ lifted Honey from the passenger seat of his SUV.
“I don’t mind having a man servant,” Honey said.
MJ flushed. He opened his mouth then shut it. Jacob grinned when they kissed.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Jacob said. He nodded toward Delphie, Jill and Katy. Sarah and Scooter bound toward them with a happy, body-wagging greeting. “They wanted to see what we were thinking of doing with your space.”
“Where’s Dad?” Honey asked.
“He’s opening the rooms,” Jacob said.
While Jill kissed Jacob, Delphie said her hellos. Jacob picked up Katy.
“Rooms?” MJ asked.
“We have three garden level rooms. They’re next to Dad’s area. They’ve been used for storage. The original plans show they were interconnected by doors. We’ve cleared out one of the rooms and made some progress on the second.
“There’s Dad.” Jacob pointed to his father. Sam was standing near an outside door to the area they hoped would work for MJ and Honey. The group continued to move toward the Castle. “If you decide to move in, we have a number of options for the outside space. We can create a small private patio for you, pour a sidewalk to connect you to the driveway, or whatever you think makes sense.”
“When is the wedding?” Delphie said.
Honey blushed. MJ kissed her nose.
“We’re not sure,” MJ said. “We’d like to get married before Honey’s surgery, but it doesn’t seem quite possible.”
“Why not?” Jill asked.
“You know,” Honey said.
“The Catholic thing,” MJ and Honey said together.
Jill nodded.
“What does that mean?” Jacob asked.
“Catholics have to take classes before they get married,” Jill said. “Didn’t help me much, but... I wonder if we could find someone who would perform the ceremony anyway.”
“I can marry people,” Delphie said. “I could marry you now and you could get remarried in the church.”
“See, I knew we’d find a solution,” MJ said. “Whoa...”
They were standing in front of an open door. Even with battered wood floors and dusty plaster walls, the room was beautiful. A tile fireplace stood on one side of the room while built-in book shelves lined the other.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Delphie put her hand on MJ’s arm. “Maple floors, shelves and moldings in this room. Sam’s rooms are all birch. The room next door is... I don’t remember. What is it, Jake?”
“Oak,” Jacob said. “The diary says this level was designed to celebrate the American forest. I would guess the last room is pine or cherry. I thought there was another room on this level, on the other side of Dad’s room, but we haven’t found a way in yet.”
MJ and Honey wandered around the room. Jacob opened a door leading to the adjoining room. Even partially full of boxes, the room’s inherent beauty was apparent. A fireplace made of similar tile stood on the opposite side of the wall. Jacob opened the next door and they could see stacks of boxes, doors, and other household items.
“Dad and I worked on plans to combine these rooms into a living area, a couple bedrooms, a small office and a nice sized bathroom. We can also add a small kitchen if you’d like one.”
“In total, it’s a little more than a thousand square feet.” Sam opened the exterior door of the second room. There were a number of overgrown trees just outside the door. “With a little outside space, there’s room to live here.”
“It’s gorgeous,” MJ said. “What do you think?”
“Wow,” Honey said. “Can you really convert it? I mean, you don’t mind me living here?”
“We’d be happy to have you,” Jill said.
“It’ll take a bit of time to do the conversion, Honey,” Jacob said. “We’ll work to get it done by the time you need it. If it’s not ready, Dad said you can stay in his room until your area is done.”
“Can I see that?” Honey asked.
“Sure,” Sam s
aid.
They followed Sam through a hallway into his rooms. He opened the door to his birch paneled room. Outside the tall leaded windows was a small patio with a couple of chairs.
“God, that’s gorgeous,” MJ said.
“You’ll have access to most of the first floor,” Jacob said. “Everyone uses the main kitchen and the common rooms downstairs. There’s a gym in the basement, so we’ll have to figure out how to get you down there. We keep private spaces private, so you’ll have to respect that. But it’s pretty easy.”
“Wow,” Honey said. “What do you think?”
“Wow,” MJ said. “This is really gorgeous. What would you rent it for?”
“The building’s paid off,” Jacob said. Gesturing to everyone, he said, “We split the grocery bill, cleaning, maintenance and help out to keep things going.”
“Keep things going?” MJ asked.
“Everyone will help harvest and bottle honey from my beehives this weekend,” Delphie said.
“Val will go through the boxes in these rooms. Jill will pick colors; Mike will paint; I’ll check the mechanical,” Jacob made a list on his fingers. “Stuff like that.”
“We’d want you to participate in the household,” Delphie said. “We take care of each other.”
“What happens if we can’t?” MJ asked. “I travel a lot and Honey’s just starting to figure out what she can and can’t do.”
“Why don’t we cross that bridge if the cows get out?” Sam asked.
Shaking his head at Sam, Jacob asked, "Would you like to see the plans?"
MJ looked at Honey and she nodded.
“Hey.” A male voice said from the doorway.
“Steve!” Jill ran over to hug her brother.
“You’re home, sis?” Steve asked. Kissing her cheek, he said softly, “How did it go?”
Jill shook her head.
Knowing everyone was watching them, Steve said, “We’ll catch up?”
Jill nodded.
“Hi everyone. Hey Honey.”
“Hey Steve,” Honey said from her perch in MJ’s arms. “Did you ever meet MJ?”
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