The Settlement

by Ali Spooner

  “Wait until you see the bathrooms,” Johnny said.

  “Let’s go look,” Cadin told him.

  The bathrooms were beautiful. The new floors, paint, and fixtures made the rooms brand new. “You put in new doors, baseboards, and crown molding too.”

  “I had some extras,” he said.

  “These look fantastic,” she said. “How’s the dining room coming?”

  “Come, see for your own,” he said.

  Cadin followed him into the dining room as the men were finishing the last few sections of floor. When the final tile was ready to be placed, he looked to her. “Would you like to do the honors?”

  “I think Emma should do that. Emma, can you come in here, please,” she called out.

  Emma, Serena, and Meagan filtered into the room. Everyone turned to look at her as Johnny held out the last square of tile.

  “Would you like to do the honors?”

  Emma nodded and turned to Meagan. “Will you help me?”

  “Yes, Mama,” Meagan said. They knelt down together and put the last tile in place.

  “There,” Emma said, her fingers tracing the edges of the tile.

  The others clapped and cheered.

  “Thank you all,” Emma said as she stood and hugged Johnny and Cadin.

  “What now?” Cadin asked Johnny.

  “We let the floor settle tonight. Tomorrow we install the new counters, baseboards, and crown molding.”

  “We are planning a cookout for tomorrow night at my place. Would you and the crew care to join us?”

  Johnny laughed. “You should know by now, we never pass up a free meal. What can we bring?”

  “Healthy appetites,” Emma said.

  “That’s never a problem. We’re ready to clean up and lock the doors for tonight. Will we see you tomorrow?”

  “Do you mind spectators?” Cadin asked.

  “Absolutely not,” he answered.

  Cadin looked at Emma. “Why don’t we watch until lunch and then head over to your place to prepare for dinner?”

  “That sounds like a good plan.”

  “We will see you gentlemen tomorrow then,” Cadin said and left with the other women.

  They drove to Emma’s and unloaded the art supplies and the prints they had purchased for the diner. As Meagan and Serena took the last load inside, Cadin turned to Emma.

  “Can we cook steaks tomorrow?”

  “Yes, that will be fine. I’ll have to go shopping.”

  “Pick me up at the hotel early and I’ll go with you. Think about what else we will be eating tomorrow night,” Cadin said.

  Emma nodded and followed the girls into the house.

  †

  It was still early when Cadin returned to the hotel, so she picked up her phone to call Renee.

  “Hey,” she said when Renee answered the phone. “Did I catch you at a good time?”

  “Any time you call is a good time. Oh my goodness, that sounded cheesy didn’t it?”

  Cadin chuckled softly. “It’s always good to talk with you too. How have you been?”

  “Work has been so incredibly busy, but I’m doing all right. How is your trip going?”

  Cadin spent the next several minutes telling her about the diner remodel, then Meagan and Serena. “That’s such a beautiful story. You’re a great person to give these women such a positive future. Missy would be proud of the things you have already accomplished.”

  “I think she would too. I’ve been doing a great deal of soul searching on this trip as well and I think I know where I’m heading once again.”

  “I’m glad it’s been a therapeutic time for you. I hope you’re heading home soon.”

  “I will be. I think the time away from the city and getting out into the fresh air has helped to clear all the confusion I’ve been experiencing over Missy’s death.”

  Renee remained silent for several long seconds as Cadin paused. “I’m glad to hear you’re headed back this way. I’m excited at the prospect of seeing you soon.”

  “I am too. It’s time for me to start moving on with my life and stop dwelling on the past. The last thing Missy would want is for me to struggle like this.”

  “You’ve been through a great deal in the last year,” Renee reminded her. “You needed this time to find you.”

  “I have to admit something to you, Renee.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “I’m strongly attracted to you, but I’m in no means done grieving my loss of Missy. I don’t want you to feel like you’re being compared to a past life that can never be replaced.”

  “I can understand your hesitance to start new, and I’m a very patient person. I’m attracted to you too, and would like to get to know you better.” She paused briefly. “And if nothing more than a friendship develops then I’ll be content with knowing I have a great friend. I have to be honest with you too though. I want more than that with you. I think together we can build a future that is good for both of us.”

  “I’m so excited about getting to know you,” Cadin said.

  “So you get your cute butt home soon,” she teased.

  Cadin chuckled at her comment. “It won’t be long now.”

  They talked for a while longer and when the call ended, Cadin felt a wave of relief wash over her. Since meeting Renee, she had felt a chemistry between them. She was relieved to hear that Renee was interested in building a life together. She knew it wasn’t going to be easy, letting go of Missy, but in her heart she knew it was the right move to make.

  She slept, a deep peaceful sleep, until the alarm jarred her awake.

  Chapter Nine

  Cadin and Emma left the market with beautiful steaks, corn, other fresh vegetables to cook, and ingredients for a fresh salad. “Let’s drop these at home and go see what the boys are up to,” Emma said.

  They carried the groceries inside and Cadin saw the prints sitting in the living room. “Let’s take these and get the boys to hang them for us.”

  “Great idea,” Emma agreed.

  Cadin carried them out to the car. “What are the girls up to this morning?”

  “Getting Serena all settled into her new home,” Emma said.

  “Do they want to go to the diner with us?”

  “No, they said they would make the salad, and get the other vegetables ready while we’re gone.”

  “Okay, will you drop me off to get my bike?”

  “Sure thing,” Emma said and slid in behind the wheel.

  †

  Cadin settled onto her bike and fastened her helmet before starting the motor. The familiar vibrations between her legs felt good, and she couldn’t hold back a smile at the thought she had just had. It was the first remotely sexual thought she had experienced in months. She grinned, kicked the bike in gear and rode to the diner.

  Emma was unloading the prints as she pulled up beside her and parked. “Can I help with those?”

  “I’ve got them if you’ll just get the door,” she answered.

  Cadin held the door open and one of Johnny’s men rushed over to take the prints from her.

  “Let me get those for you, Emma,” he said and smiled sweetly.

  “Thanks, Bobby,” she said as she relented to his assistance.

  Cadin whistled loudly. “This place is looking great.”

  Johnny looked down from nailing a section of crown molding and smiled. “Good morning, ladies.”

  One of the crew entered carrying a new table, another followed with two chairs, and they placed them in the middle of the room. “Now you can have a seat, ladies,” he said.

  “These turned out very nicely,” Cadin said as she sat in one of the seats. “Very comfortable too,” she added.

  “We are assembling the rest of them now while they finish the baseboards and molding,” the man said.

  Johnny climbed down from the ladder. “You are just in time,” he said.

  “Just in time for what?” she asked.

  “To see you
r new counter being installed,” Johnny said as he pointed toward the kitchen.

  Two of his men were rolling a huge counter carefully across the new floor. “We’re going to need everyone’s help to move this thing,” Charles said.

  “This turned out beautiful, Charles,” Emma said as she walked over and ran her hand along the smooth edges.

  “It was a pleasure to make for you, Emma. I’ve eaten many a good meal at the old one and hope to eat many more on this one,” he said.

  “Starting with breakfast Monday morning,” Emma said.

  They watched as the men lifted the counter off the dolly in two large sections and bolted it to the floor.

  By the time the counter was finished, it was time for Emma and Cadin to head back to Emma’s to begin working on dinner.

  †

  Cadin pulled out the grill from the garage and prepared the charcoal for lighting. When she entered the house, Emma and Meagan were busy in the kitchen rinsing the chopped vegetables for cooking. The potatoes were in the oven baking and Serena was preparing pitchers of tea.

  “Do you think we should sauté some onions and mushrooms for the steaks?” Emma asked.

  “I think that would be a lovely touch,” Cadin answered. “Is that bread I smell baking?”

  “Yes, Serena and I were digging through the freezer and we found several loaves, so we thought we would bake them,” Meagan said.

  “Great idea,” Cadin said as she swiped a section of carrot and bit into it. “Have you turned the steaks?” she asked Emma.

  “Nope, I left that for you.”

  Cadin walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a large pan holding the steaks, placing it on the counter. She used tongs to flip the steaks, dredging them through the marinade mixture. “I can’t wait to sink my teeth into one of these,” she said as she covered them and returned them to the refrigerator.

  “What can I do?” Serena asked.

  “You can slice those mushrooms and I’ll slice the onions,” Emma said.

  “I can do them both,” Serena said.

  “Have at it then.” Emma grinned.

  “What about me, Mama?” Meagan asked.

  “You and Cadin can set up the spare tables and chairs in the backyard.”

  Cadin followed Meagan to the garage and they carried out two folding banquet tables and a dozen chairs, setting them up on the patio. The men would be arriving within the hour, so Cadin lit the fire to prepare the coals for cooking, then followed Meagan back inside.

  No sooner had she stepped into the kitchen than her phone rang. She looked at the display to see that Lexie was calling her and stepped back outside to take the call.

  “Hello, Lexie.”

  “Hi, Cadin, I got the phone today.”

  “So I see. How are you?”

  Lexie rattled on excitedly about starting school, her new friends, and how much fun she was having in school for almost ten minutes, barely pausing to take a breath. When she stopped talking, she regrouped and asked, “When are you coming back?”

  “Soon, I think,” she answered.

  Lexie pried for more detail. “As in next week?”

  “Possibly, but I don’t know for sure yet.”

  “Oh I hope so, Cadin, I have so much to tell you.”

  Cadin chuckled. “I will see you as soon as I can, and that’s a promise.”

  “Goody,” Lexie giggled. “Mommy’s calling me to dinner. I love you.”

  “I love you too, see you soon.”

  “Hurry,” Lexie said. “Bye for now.”

  “Goodbye,” she said and tucked the phone back in her pocket.

  The back door opened and Serena came out carrying the container of steaks. “Are we ready to start cooking? Johnny called and they are on their way.”

  “I guess we’d better get cooking then,” Cadin said.

  †

  The dinner turned out wonderful and when the crew left to return home, Johnny lagged behind.

  “We will finish the last touches on the diner tomorrow, and I have Hank from the Health Department scheduled for eight on Monday to certify the new facilities. If all goes well, you will be open for lunch.”

  “After the inspection, I’d like you and the boys to enjoy the first unofficial breakfast, on the house, since I did promise Charles,” Emma said.

  “We would love that,” Johnny said.

  “If you will prepare the final bill for tomorrow, I’ll bring you a check,” Cadin said.

  “I will,” Johnny said and bid them all a good night.

  Cadin finished carrying the tables and chairs back into the garage. “I think I’ll head out too. I’m in desperate need of a shower.”

  “You did an excellent job on the steaks,” Meagan said.

  “Thanks.”

  “I’ll walk out with you,” Emma said.

  They walked to Cadin’s bike and then Emma grabbed her up in a hug. “Thank you again for everything. You’ve made my dreams come true and Meagan is so excited about college, she can barely wait until the fall.”

  “You know she could take some courses online, once she’s accepted.”

  “I’ll have to get her a laptop then,” Emma said. “She’s going to need one for college anyhow.”

  “May I do that as an early graduation present?” Cadin said.

  “I feel bad. You’ve done so much for us already.”

  “Please, I’d really like to do this for her.”

  Emma nodded her consent. “Thanks.”

  “My pleasure,” Cadin said and mounted the bike. “See you tomorrow at the diner?”

  “Yes, that will be great. I want to work on some new menus and get acquainted with the new equipment.”

  “See you then.”

  †

  Cadin woke early the next morning and rode south until she found a store with an electronics department. When she exited, she carried a laptop bag full of equipment from a top-of-the-line laptop, headphones, jump drives, and a compact portable printer. She strapped the bag onto the bike and returned to Bogalusa by midmorning.

  She parked and walked into the diner. Squeals were coming from the kitchen, so she placed the computer bag on the floor and stepped inside to see what they were all the excited about. Serena, Emma, and Meagan were staring at a commercial waffle iron, watching the timer tick down the final seconds.

  “I don’t remember a waffle iron on our list,” she said, startling them.

  “Johnny got this for us,” Meagan said. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

  “Smells great,” she answered.

  “Have a seat at the counter and you can be our first guinea pig,” Emma teased. “I’ll bring you a waffle and some fresh coffee out in a minute.”

  “Would you mind if I steal Meagan?”

  “No, go ahead.”

  “What did I do now?” Meagan asked, but followed Cadin into the diner.

  “Nothing, I wanted to give you an early graduation present,” Cadin said as she picked up the computer bag and handed it to Meagan.

  “What’s this?”

  “It’s a laptop, silly. You will need one for college, and if you’re interested, you can use it to take some online courses this spring to get a start on college. But first, I thought you could design a new menu for your mom.”

  Meagan was speechless for several long seconds, until the reality of the moment struck home. “Oh my God, Cadin, thank you,” she said and grabbed her in a hug.

  “You’re very welcome,” Cadin said. “It probably needs charging, so why don’t you plug it in?”

  Serena and Emma were smiling as they watched through the serving window.

  Meagan carefully placed the bag on the counter and opened it, taking out the laptop and charger. “This is beautiful,” she said as she plugged the cord into the computer and opened the lid.

  “Incoming,” Emma announced as she walked into the room carrying a plate with a golden brown waffle.

  “That came out perfect,” Cadin said as Emma plac
ed it in front of her. “You know, chicken and waffles is all the rage right now in Atlanta and other places. Do you think Bogalusa is ready for that?”

  “I think that will be the first new item on our menu,” Emma said.

  “Why don’t you try them out on the crew tomorrow morning? If they pass their approval, I think they would be a success.”

  “That’s a great idea. I’ll need to make a run for some chicken tenders today.”

  Cadin poured syrup over the waffle and cut the first bite as Serena carried out another plate.

  “Here you go, boss. Yours is cooking, Meagan.”

  “Thanks,” Meagan answered, barely looking up from the laptop.

  Cadin moaned as she took a bite. “This is really good. I’d be surprised if they aren’t a best seller.”

  “Relatively easy to prepare too,” Emma said and took a bite. “These are good.”

  “There are so many ingredients you can add too,” Cadin said, “to give the customers a variety to choose from.”

  “Like what?” Meagan asked as she took up a pen and made ready to take notes.

  “Let’s see. Chocolate chips, pecans, blueberries, strawberries, peanut butter chips, for starters,” Cadin said. “I’m sure we could think of other items.”

  “Dried cranberries,” Serena said.

  “Diced fruit like apples and peaches,” Emma said.

  “See, it’s only limited by your imagination.” Cadin grinned.

  †

  They were deep in the development of a new menu when Johnny and several of his crew arrived to put the finishing touches to the diner.

  “Good afternoon, ladies,” he said.

  “Hey Johnny, how are you today?” Emma asked.

  “I couldn’t be any better,” he answered with a smile. “If you’ll tell me where you want those prints hung, we’ll do them for you.”

  “You have a deal,” Emma said.

  Emma and Johnny experimented with placements. Meagan and Serena were busy working on the new menu. Cadin smiled as she watched them work and then let her eyes take in the redesigned diner. My work is complete here.

  “I’m going to head out unless you need me for something,” she told Emma.

  “No, I think we’ve got it from here,” Emma answered. “Will you come over to the house later for some dinner? Meagan and Serena are making spaghetti tonight.”