by Susan Calder
Paula thought Leah would be appalled by the public display and Jarrett’s unawareness of her serious issues with him. Or would she be swept up in the romance? Could the gesture so offend her that it drove her closer to the Beckers, Brendan or Johnny? The outcome, from Paula’s perspective, seemed to be lose-lose-lose, and it would also be wrong for her to try to manipulate it. She went for the truth. “I think you and Leah have to talk and really listen to what the other says.”
He slouched into the rocker. “Leah has to listen to me, too.”
“Didn’t I say that?”
“What if she’s already in too thick with the cowboy or whoever?”
“I don’t think she is.” Paula wished she knew for sure.
“He’s got to be twice her age. What does Leah see in an old dude like that?”
“Nothing, I hope.”
“I don’t like that cowboy prowling around Leah.”
Paula didn’t either.
Chapter Twenty-four
“I talked to a real estate agent,” Erin said. “He’s going to list the house next week.”
“It’s a busy time for me to deal with this now.” Paula lifted Pepper to her lap.
Across the living room, Erin bounced a ball for Salt. The puppy jumped higher and higher.
“Shouldn’t I handle it, Mom? The house is in Leah’s and my names.”
“You two don’t have experience with—” Controlling, Paula mentally heard Leah say. “Are you sure there’s not a better way to deal with your renters, especially Isabelle?”
“You don’t know the awful things she said to me.” Erin threw the ball down the hall. Salt skidded after it.
“How will the dogs adapt to a small apartment?”
“When I’m at school, I’ll come home during the day to take them out to run around.”
Paula stroked Pepper’s greying hair. “I’m sure Isabelle didn’t mean what she said.”
“She did. I’m not jealous of her and Habib. Sure, I was friends with him first and with her, too, but that doesn’t mean….” Erin’s voice trembled. She squatted to pick up Salt, her face hidden by her hair.
Was there some truth to Isabelle’s claim that Erin was jealous of her friends’ fun? What could Paula do to help? Interfere, Leah would say.
“I don’t know, honey,” Paula said. “Whatever you and Leah want to do about this place, go ahead. You don’t even need to run anything by me.” She hoped that sounded more genuine than it felt to her.
* * *
At David’s house, Paula’s mother handed her a shopping bag with four jars of cherry jam, two for her mother to take back to Montreal and two for Paula.
“Sam couldn’t eat enough of that jam as a kid,” David said. “It made him downright fat.”
Sam had never mentioned any childhood weight issues. “Does he devour it now when he visits you?”
“Hmmph.”
David thanked her mother for her help with the canning. Had he ever thanked Sam for the multitude of tasks he did?
“See you, Theda,” David said.
Her mother smiled at him. “Looking forward to it.”
“Do you have plans to meet again?” Paula asked in the car.
Her mother either didn’t hear or ignored the question. They drove over the bridge to downtown.
“Have you given more thought to this trip to Edmonton?” Paula asked.
“We’d have to leave tomorrow?”
“Or Saturday, if you only want to stay one night.”
“Why don’t you go alone with Sam? You and he would enjoy the time together.”
“We’d enjoy it more with you and can go away on our own any weekend,” Paula said. “I feel, Mum, like I’m neglecting you.”
“Nonsense.”
In the shade of the office towers, Paula stopped for a red light. Clearly, her mother wasn’t up for Edmonton, which might be just as well for Paula.
“What did you and David talk about all day?” she asked.
“This and that.”
“You don’t find him a tad curmudgeonly?”
“We’re all curmudgeons about certain things. For instance, Sam about the Stampede.”
“Okay, Sam has a pet beef or two. With David, it’s everything. If I believed Sam would grow into his father, it would be over between him and me.”
Her mother closed her eyes and leaned back against the headrest. Snoring gently, she looked tired and old and far from preparing a leap into romance. Her relationship with David was probably just companionship, as it was with Walter. Both men were her mother’s age; they shared her interests and general worldview. In a seniors’ condominium, her mother would have all kinds of contemporaries to hang out with. Possibly, among them she would find romance despite the lopsided ratio of women to men in that cohort.
They left the city centre and turned away from the setting sun. Not surprisingly, Nils’ office light was on. How many more times would Paula pass by the old building before it was gone? The new premises, directly ahead of her in Inglewood, would be closer to her home. She could walk to work, although that would rarely be practical when she was always driving from the office to visit claimants and accident sites. She crossed the Elbow River and steered the car right. The bump over the railroad tracks jerked her mother awake.
“I hope I’m not too tired for Gary’s breakfast tomorrow,” her mother said.
Paula had forgotten that her ex-husband had invited her mother to his company’s pancake breakfast. Gary and her mother still kept in touch with Christmas and birthday cards. He made a point of visiting her when he was in Montreal.
“What time does the breakfast start?” Paula asked.
“Gary said ten o’clock.”
“That should give me plenty of time to get back from my early morning appointment.”
“Walter offered to drive me, so you don’t need to rush home.”
“It’s no problem for me.”
“For Walter, it’s five minutes to downtown. He enjoys lending a hand.”
Walter’s pickup was parked out front. Would her mother be able to hoist herself into the cab? Walter wouldn’t be much help to her with his bum foot.
Paula went over to his porch, where he was enjoying the warm evening. She commented on his offer to drive downtown. “Can your foot handle the accelerator and brake?”
“That anti-inflammatory’s doing the trick.” He grabbed on to the railing and took tentative steps down the stairs.
Paula supposed that between them, her mother and Walter would manage.
“All I want now is a spot of chamomile tea and a bedtime snack,” her mother said as they entered the house. “Nothing with jam. I’ve eaten enough today.”
After a cookie and tea, her mother went to bed. Paula checked her e-mail and phone messages. The claimant with the damaged roof was free tomorrow morning. Paula slotted him in for ten o’clock. Her home phone rang. Cynthia Hawryluk.
“Can I talk to Johnny?”
“Why would he be here?”
“Is that Paula? He left me a message to phone him at your number.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he say what he wanted to talk to you about?”
“I was thinking it might be the prices he got for the jewellery.”
Paula carried the receiver to the front window. No pickup other than Walter’s was parked by the curb. “I thought Johnny went with you and Brendan to get the paintings appraised.”
“That got changed. We decided we didn’t really need the three of us talking to the gallery owners. It made more sense to split up and have Johnny and Ma get prices for the jewellery. Before we all left, Brendan insisted on taking pictures of every single piece. He’s so suspicious.”
All of that had happened while Paula was downstairs talking with Leah? It seemed quick, especially since it had required the four of them to reach a consensus.
“I heard that Johnny drove my daughter to her boyf
riend’s apartment around noon,” Paula said. “That must have been before he and Florence went to the jewellers.”
“I don’t know. Brendan and I took off before they did,” Cynthia said. “While I’ve got you on the phone, Johnny suggested I ask your advice on my hail claim. Maybe that’s why he wanted me phoning him at your place. My adjuster is being a pain in the neck. Would you mind taking a look at my pockmarked car?”
“I offered to do that this afternoon.”
“We were all too busy then.”
“I wasn’t. It would have saved me a trip.” Although, Cynthia’s house wasn’t too far from her ten o’clock claimant’s house. Nils had told her to give the Beckers a rest; Mike had said ‘Keep doing what you’re doing.’ She preferred Mike’s view. “I can come by tomorrow morning around eleven.”
“Could you make it earlier? I have to—”
“Eleven.”
If her work was shifting to sketchy insurance claimants, she should consider getting her phone number unlisted. In the past she hadn’t worried about the world she dealt with and still wouldn’t worry too much if it were only her and Sam at stake. But now her mother was visiting, and Johnny, Brendan and Florence were swirling around Leah. Before going downstairs to bed, Paula double-checked her side and front door locks in case Johnny showed up again. It wouldn’t hurt to take extra care until she was done with the Beckers, if she ever was.
* * *
Cynthia’s Corolla, as dusty as yesterday, was parked in her driveway. Cynthia greeted Paula on her doorstep. Her floral-patterned sun dress suited her full figure. She wore makeup and strappy sandals and had blow-dried her hair into an attractive flip. A Fossil handbag was slung over her shoulder.
“Going somewhere?” Paula asked.
“To work when we’re finished. Did Johnny turn up last night?”
“No.” Fortunately.
“Ma tried his friend at the ranch. Sometimes they go horseback riding out of cell range, not that Johnny has a cell, but his friend does. The friend hadn’t seen Johnny for a couple of days. Ma’s worried.”
“He’s a grown man who lives most of the year on his own.” The obvious scenario was that Johnny had picked up a woman in a bar and spent the night with her.
“Ma has a bad feeling about it.”
“When did she, or you, last see him?”
“Ma says yesterday afternoon.”
“When they went to get the jewellery appraised?”
“I guess.”
“Two, three, four o’clock? That’s less than twenty-four hours missing.”
“Ma’s kind of intuitive about these things.”
Florence intuitive? “Whereabouts is the hail damage?”
Cynthia’s polished nail—mauve to match her bracelet—pointed at the passenger’s side door.
Paula rubbed the dust. She leaned forward and picked out a few dents. “There’s dirt ingrained.”
“It’s had four days to accumulate.”
“These look like nicks from banging the door against something when you opened it.”
“Worse is the damage to the house.” Cynthia led her to the front window. “The wind was driving from this direction.”
Paula noted a mark on the siding. “Looks like a baseball hit it.”
“The hail was the size of baseballs.”
“In this neighbourhood it was closer to pea size.”
“The adjuster offered me peanuts.”
Which was more than fair. “Negotiate as best you can,” Paula said.
“You aren’t much help. At least I’ll get something for the flood in my basement.”
“Do you want me to have a look at that?” Paula was curious to see this ‘flood’ along with Cynthia’s purchases, which Johnny had said filled the basement.
“The adjuster’s dealing with that part okay.”
In other words, he’d offered Cynthia more than enough for the items she had bought and would never use.
“You’ll let us know if you hear from Johnny?” Cynthia said. “Ma keeps expecting the police to knock on her door.”
“Did Johnny say or do something to make her think they might?”
“Were there any accidents involving a pickup truck last night or this morning?”
“I don’t remember hearing anything on the radio.”
“I thought with your police connections.”
“Tell your mother it’s too soon to worry.”
“Johnny’s driver’s licence was issued in the US, where he mostly lives. If he doesn’t carry anything with our addresses or phone numbers, Ma’s afraid it could take the police days to trace him to us.”
“You’re sure Johnny doesn’t carry a cell that would have your contact details logged in?”
“He’s old fashioned that way.”
“I really think Florence—”
“You’re right. Ma’s overreacting. I’ve gotta run. I’m already late for work” Cynthia opened her car door and paused. “You’ll call us, okay? If you hear from him?”
Chapter Twenty-five
While his printer spat out documents for him to bring to Edmonton, Sam took Paula in his arms. “We’ll have a blast this weekend. My friend’s house has terrific soundproofing. Your mother won’t hear a whisper from us.”
“I can’t go, Sam,” Paula said.
He pulled away. “How come?” The printer rumbled to a stop.
“I mean, not today. I have to meet with claimants, and my mother will be too tired from her pancake breakfast for me to whisk her up to Edmonton, especially after yesterday’s jam marathon.”
“How did that go?”
“If she decides she’s interested in the trip, we’ll drive up tomorrow.”
“And stay the night.” He stroked her ear.
“No promises. It depends on her and—”
Sam fumbled with Paula’s bandana.
“I found out today that Johnny Becker is missing or hiding or,” she said. “Most likely it’s nothing. Nils ordered me to put the Beckers on hold. I don’t want to, and I think he’s wrong.”
The bandana slipped from her neck. She caught the lime-coloured cloth before it hit the floor. “What are you doing?”
Sam unfastened her top button. “I know you. You’ll get caught up in work and not make it to Edmonton.” He undid the next button.
“The windows and blinds are wide open.”
He let go of her to grab the cords and lower the shades. The room grew dark.
“Then there are our parents,” she said.
“Was my father an asshole to your mum?”
“It seems they got along really well.”
Sam moved closer, his eyes wide in mock horror. “That’s terrible.”
“I worry about her expectations.”
“Do you realize that if they hook up, you and I would become siblings?”
“That’s kinky.”
“Kinky might be fun.” He drew her close and unfastened the rest of her buttons. His hands on her skin felt so good. She wanted his comforting more than sex. She pulled off his polo shirt and eased him next to her. So much to do today. Meet with two claimants. Finish her office clean-up. Erin’s house sale. Leah, Brendan, Florence, Johnny.
Her cellphone rang through her purse. Sam kissed her breast. Was it Cynthia with news of Johnny? Gary saying her mother was ready to be picked up?
Sam’s lips left her skin. “You’ll go nuts if you don’t answer that.”
She rooted through her purse for her phone. Mike. She edged toward Sam’s kitchenette.
“Sorry I had to cut you off yesterday,” Mike said. “What’s up?”
Paula glanced at Sam’s flushed face. He rounded the desk to his printer.
“Johnny Becker’s gone A.W.O.L.,” she told Mike. “Florence last saw him yesterday, around mid-afternoon. I can’t imagine it’s unusual for him to take off without notice, and yet Florence is concerned enough to worry Cynthia, who never thinks beyond herself.”
“It’s
been less than twenty-four hours.”
“I wonder if Johnny said or did something to make Florence afraid he’s got into trouble or crashed his truck.”
At his desk, Sam sorted his printed papers into folders.
“It wouldn’t hurt to run a check of his vehicle,” Mike said.
“Shortly after he disappeared, Johnny left a message with Cynthia, asking her to call him at my home phone number.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I have no idea, except that he’s got this notion he and I are a team on this issue of his uncle’s death.”
Mike paused. Sam packed the folders into his briefcase.
“I could swing by your place tonight, around eight if you’re free,” Mike said. “We haven’t touched base for a couple of days.”
She could reschedule her evening claimant to late afternoon or Saturday morning. “Would you phone me if you hear anything before then about Johnny? I’ll call if I find out he’s resurfaced so you don’t waste more time on him.”
Sam leaned against his desk, his chest bare. She felt too distracted for sex, but if Saturday night fell through, she might not see him for several days. Her shirt tails swaying, she sashayed toward Sam. His desk phone rang.
He leaned across the desk to see the call display. “Work. I can’t escape this one.”
She returned to the kitchenette to give him space and glanced into his bathroom with shower. Sam had all the basics he needed in this compact area: futon sofa bed, wallmounted TV, bar fridge, two-burner cooktop, convection microwave.
“Shit,” Sam said into the phone.
He was at his computer, the receiver to his ear, tapping the keys about an architecture problem that sounded unrelated to the Edmonton one. This looked like it would take some time. She phoned Gary to ask when he wanted her to come and get her mother.
“The breakfast is turning into lunch,” Gary said against a backdrop of merry-sounding chatter.
It felt strange talking to her ex-husband unbuttoned, with Sam present. She did up her shirt.
“Your mum’s charming them all,” Gary said. “I’ll drive her to your place when she’s ready to go.” He assured her this wouldn’t infringe on his work, which was a washout today anyway.