by Lori Wick
From his bed between their chairs Rufus gave a quiet yip in his sleep and his back legs buffeted the air. Squirrel-chasing dreams, no doubt. It was the dog’s single redeeming grace, as far as Al could see. Rufus hated squirrels with a passion and successfully kept their yard and birdfeeders squirrel-free. Of course he’d been known to tear through screen doors when he spied one, and once the pursuit of his mission had cost them a set of living room draperies.
There were probably hundreds of squirrels living in all those massive trees surrounding the Updyke house. Maybe thousands.
Millie’s cheerful voice interrupted his brooding. “How about a slice of lemon cake?”
“What?” Al twisted in his chair to level a wide-eyed stare on her. Lemon cake, made from his dear mother’s recipe, was his favorite dessert in the world. A staple at family Christmas and Easter celebrations, the recipe called for the cake to sit for three days entombed in a cocoon of plastic wrap in order for the tangy glaze to fully saturate every spongy morsel.
Was there no end to the woman’s machinations? No depth to which she would not sink?
“Lemon cake,” she repeated, wrapping her knitting needles in yet another half-finished wooly scarf and stowing the bundle in the basket at her side. “I made it on Wednesday.”
On Wednesday? So this scheme wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment idea at all. She had two days’ head start on him.
He allowed suspicion to saturate his tone. “Why?”
Her eyes widened. “For tomorrow, of course. But you seem out of sorts this evening, so I thought a treat might put you in a better mood. I think two days is long enough, just this once.”
Tomorrow? Tomorrow was Saturday. Nothing special about a Saturday besides being a weekend. Saturdays did not warrant lemon cake in and of themselves. Something else then. Were the kids coming for the weekend? Lord, he hoped not. He loved them dearly, of course, but baby Lionel was a handful now that he’d started to walk. A glance around the room revealed that Millie had not put her immense collection of knickknacks up out of the toddler’s range. Not the kids then.
Wait. What was the date? This morning he’d turned the page on his calendar to March twenty-third. So tomorrow was the twenty-fourth.
Drat!
He’d forgotten their anniversary.
“A piece of cake would be good,” he conceded with a nod.
Millie bustled out of the room, humming. Rufus bounded to his feet mid-snore and waddled after her, no doubt hoping for a handout.
Al stared after them, chagrinned at his lapse. No need to admit his near-error. He’d get up early and run out for a card. Maybe pick up some flowers too, something special in light of the lemon cake. After thirty-six years of marriage—no, thirty-seven—they’d moved beyond the gift stage decades ago. He settled deeper in his recliner, his taste buds anticipating the first delicious bite of sugary tartness.
Then he jolted straight up as realization struck him like a slap in the face. Millie did know him well. His mood was lighter already. That in itself was more than a little alarming.
Millie sat in bed, leaning against fluffy pillows and paging through the Better Homes and Gardens she’d picked up at the Save-A-Lot that morning. This month was a special issue devoted entirely to old home renovations, which she and Violet agreed must be the Lord giving a divine nod to her plans for the Updyke house. So many beautiful pictures of country kitchens, updated bathrooms, and cozy bedrooms. Already the image of the entry hall she would create loomed clearly in her mind’s eye. Comfortable and welcoming, something that would set people at ease the moment they stepped through the doorway. Not too much furniture, or it would feel crowded. A simple runner on the floor, a few old-fashiony pictures on the walls. A small table, a coat rack, and maybe an antique wooden bench. She’d always admired those. The handrail on the stairway would take on a regal gleam with a little polish and a lot of work.
When Albert came out of the bathroom in his pajamas, she casually set the magazine face-down on her nightstand.
“That yard is mammoth,” he announced as he slid beneath the comforter beside her. “Do you know how long it would take to mow it?” He pounded his pillow, a tad more violently than necessary, and settled his head into the indentation.
“You could buy a riding mower.” The moment the suggestion left her mouth, she realized her mistake.
Albert sat straight up. “Do you know how much those things cost?” Accusation sparked in the glare he turned on her. “I’m not made of money, you know. I’m retiring in three years. Three years, Millie. We need to start tightening our belts. Saving our pennies. Stretching every dime.”
“You sound like Violet,” she remarked mildly.
Momentarily distracted, his mouth snapped shut. Violet’s constant use of clichés drove her husband insane.
“In this case, it’s justified. Mildred Richardson, you’ve gotten an idea in that head of yours and it’s addled your brains. You’re not thinking clearly. We need to be on the same page, now more than ever.” He warmed visibly to his topic. “Retirement looms, Millie. It looms over us like clouds on the horizon. Those clouds can be white and fluffy”—the heavy creases on his brow deepened—“or they can be dark and threatening.”
Oh, dear. His voice had taken on the dramatic tone of a bad Shakespearian actor. Never a good sign.
“Don’t take on so, dear. Remember your blood pressure.”
“I am remembering my blood pressure,” he countered. “What do you think my blood pressure will be when I’m seventy-two years old and forced to go back to work because we’ve spent all our money fixing that behemoth of a house? By then the computer industry will have left me behind. My skills will be obsolete.” Reproach settled over his features. “I’ll have to go to work as a Walmart greeter. Is that what you want, Millie?”
“Now you’re just being ridiculous.” She rearranged her pillow. “You act as if the house were ready to collapse, and you haven’t even seen it. For all you know it might be in perfect condition. It could be a real bargain. Maybe even an opportunity to make money.”
There. Though that was definitely a broad hint at step two in her plan, it wouldn’t hurt to let him ponder the idea of making money. She turned off the light on her nightstand and slid lower beneath the comforter. “The least you could do is look at the house so we know what we’re turning down.”
In the silence that followed, she turned onto her side—facing Albert, because after all tomorrow was their anniversary and she did love him and didn’t want him to think she was angry with him even though he was being stubborn—and closed her eyes in preparation for sleep.
“Fine. I’ll look at it.”
Surprised, Millie’s eyes flew open. “You will?”
“As an anniversary present.” His expression hardened. “And just so you know, while we’re inspecting the house I intend to point out all the flaws and pitfalls of this crazy scheme so you will put it out of your mind once and for all.”
Of course he would. But getting him through the door was an important step, and it had happened rather more easily than she’d expected. An excellent sign.
“I would expect nothing less.” Millie sat up to place a tender kiss on her husband’s tight lips and felt them soften beneath hers. “Thank you. I love you.”
“Do you?” His eyes searched hers. “Even after thirty-seven years?”
“Now more than ever.” She flashed one of the dimples he loved to kiss. “Turn off that light and I’ll prove it.”
With a click darkness descended, and Millie nestled into the familiar warm embrace of her husband’s arms.
Read more about the lovable and quirky town of Goose Creek in the Tales from the Goose Creek B&B series!
The Most Famous Illegal Goose Creek Parade
In this first book of the Tales from the Goose Creek B&B, you’ll fall in love with a small town that feels like coming home. Its quirky characters and their many shenanigans will make you laugh out loud as they touch a place in you
r heart.
Dr. Horatio vs. the Six-Toed Cat
(prequel novella)
Set in the years before the Richardsons launch their bed-and-breakfast scheme, the quirky residents of the small Kentucky town are all in a tizzy over the upcoming Fall Festival. Alison, Al and Millie’s headstrong daughter, astounds everyone with the news that she’s getting married—in three weeks—to a Colombian! As her parents frantically try to stop the nuptials, Dr. Horatio, Goose Creek’s beloved veterinarian, is determined to solve the mystery of the six-toed kittens that have been popping up all over town.
This charming prequel will make you laugh out loud, fall in love with the delightful residents of Goose Creek, and remind you why you love reading.
Renovating the Richardsons
Things never stay quiet for long in Goose Creek. The inner-county softball game is coming up, and the small-town team is a disaster. As if that weren’t enough to keep the gossips busy, a massage therapist has opened up shop. No decent Creeker will stand for it. It’s up to Millie—again—to save the day.
The Room with the Second-Best View
Millie and her husband, Al, agreed to open a bed and breakfast after he retired, but Millie spies an opportunity to open the B&B early for an upcoming wedding. Although confident in her ability to be a gracious hostess, she must admit her first guests are more than she bargained for.
A Goose Creek Christmas
Forced into retirement, Al Richardson fears his wife will insist that they open their B&B early. He needs time to come up with another plan. But in Goose Creek, no secret stays hidden for long. Is Al in for a Merry Christmas or a Marriage Crisis?
More eBooks in the Lori Wick Short Stories Collection
Vol. 2:
Beyond the Picket Fence
Volume 2 reveals the blossoming love story of “Beyond the Picket Fence.” Dominique “Nikki” Brinks thought moving back to her small hometown would give her more time to write children’s books. She didn’t expect to find two very special children and their father right next door. As Nikki’s sweet spirit brings healing to two little hearts, she discovers the abundant love God has waiting for her beyond the picket fence.
BONUS! Chapter One from the first book in Lori Wick’s endearing Rocky Mountain Memories series, Where the Wild Rose Blooms, is included.
Vol. 3:
An Intense Man
The Camping Trip
Volume 3 shares two charming tales of unexpected love. In “An Intense Man,” when Nick Hamilton walks back into Kelly Donovan’s life, she gladly helps him understand his new-found faith in Christ. But will his singular focus on learning overwhelm her need for love, or will Nick realize that Kelly’s heart is in his hands? The endearing story “The Camping Trip” tells of how coach Adam Maxwell, while guiding a fatherless boy on his softball team, finds that he cannot overlook the boy’s shy, hardworking mother.
BONUS! Chapter One from Lori Wick’s moving full-length novel, Every Storm, is included.
Vol. 4:
The Rancher’s Lady
Volume 4, “The Rancher’s Lady,” showcases Lori’s western romance flair. Shasta McGregor leaves Australia for a temporary wrangler position in California, giving her heart time to heal after being jilted by her fiance. Kyle Harrington, the ranch’s crusty owner, at first mistakes Shasta’s natural, graceful beauty for lack of skill. Although in time they soften toward one another, it takes a tragedy for them to wonder–could God have brought together this rancher and this lady?
BONUS! The Prologue and Chapter One from Every Little Thing About You, the first book in Lori Wick’s Yellow Rose Trilogy, is included.
Christmas Special:
Christmas for Two
The Christmas Gift
Lori Wick’s Christmas Special features two uplifting holiday stories. In “Christmas for Two,” Stan and Ellen face their first Christmas as empty-nesters. They must decide whether to spend it with their daughter or to fulfill Ellen’s lifelong wish to celebrate in Disneyland. In “The Christmas Gift,” Brenda has been in foster care with the Hartmans just long enough for the entire family to adore her. Will Brenda’s first Christmas in a real home show her God’s love, and will the family’s surprise gift to Brenda fulfill all her hopes?
BONUS! Several chapters from The Hawk and the Jewel, the first book in Lori Wick’s famous Kensington Chronicles, are included.
Other Books by Lori Wick
A PLACE CALLED HOME SERIES
A Place Called Home
A Song for Silas
The Long Road Home
A Gathering of Memories
BIG SKY DREAMS
Cassidy
Sabrina
Jessie
KENSINGTON CHRONICLES
The Hawk and the Jewel
Wings of the Morning
Who Brings Forth the Wind
The Knight and the Dove
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MEMORIES
Where the Wild Rose Blooms
Whispers of Moonlight
To Know Her by Name
Promise Me Tomorrow
THE CALIFORNIANS
Whatever Tomorrow Brings
As Time Goes By
Sean Donovan
Donovan’s Daughter
THE ENGLISH GARDEN
The Proposal
The Rescue
The Visitor
The Pursuit
TUCKER MILLS TRILOGY
Moonlight on the Millpond
Just Above a Whisper
Leave a Candle Burning
YELLOW ROSE TRILOGY
Every Little Thing About You
A Texas Sky
City Girl
STAND-ALONES
Sophie’s Heart
Every Storm
Pretense
The Princess
White Chocolate Moments
Bamboo and Lace
About the Author
Lori Wick is the bestselling author of 39 books (more than 6.3 million copies sold), including the popular Rocky Mountain Memories and Californians series, the Tucker Mills Trilogy, and stand-alone novels such as Sophie’s Heart, Pretense, and Bamboo and Lace.
Now for the first time ever, Lori’s short stories are released to her ebook readers in this new Lori Wick Short Stories collection, with a personal note from Lori after each story.
About the Publisher
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To learn more about Harvest House books and to read sample chapters, visit our website:
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
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