Where Azaleas Bloom

by Sherryl Woods

  Mitch gave her a lingering look that held a hint of disappointment, but he took her hint and stood up. “I’ll just grab ’em and go,” he said. “I signed yours and left it on the counter, Lynnie.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’ll call you later.”

  She nodded. Relief washed over her when he’d gone. Not that he hadn’t had more right to be here than Ed did, but she’d known it would get awkward. Even now, Ed was obviously feeling territorial, and he wasn’t the sort of man who’d hide it well.

  She turned back to find him pouring his own cup of coffee and leaning back against the counter.

  “So,” he said, studying her speculatively, “you and Mitch? I’d never have guessed it. Then again, he did have a thing for you years ago.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she claimed, though she could feel the heat climbing into her cheeks. “If you want to talk about Jeremy and Alexis, let’s talk. Otherwise, you can go.”

  “I thought I’d take them over to the beach this weekend. They used to love going to Sullivan’s Island.”

  “It was one of their favorite family outings,” she agreed.

  “When I mentioned it, Jeremy was all for it, but Lexie refused to go.”

  “Really? She didn’t say a word to me about it.”

  “You need to talk to her, straighten out this attitude she has toward me.”

  Lynn stared at him incredulously. “If she has an attitude, who do you think brought it on? Not me, Ed. That’s all on you and your parents. It’s up to you to fix it. You might start by warning your mother not to bad-mouth me in front of them. Lexie, especially, is very protective of me these days.”

  “Which you’ve no doubt encouraged,” he said.

  She stared at him in amazement. “Are you really that clueless? I could praise you to the heavens, but she would still see that I was struggling to put food on the table, that I couldn’t sleep trying to figure out which bills I could pay with the few dollars left in the bank.”

  “You should have kept all that from her,” he said stubbornly.

  “It’s hard to keep it a secret when there’s no food in the refrigerator or the cupboards. Do you have any idea how many times we’ve had dinner at Carter and Raylene’s?”

  “Why is that a big deal?”

  “They included us because they knew the situation was dire over here. Mandy picked up on that from Lexie. Raylene figured it out for herself when I came to her looking for a job.”

  “So now half the town considers me some kind of deadbeat?” Ed demanded. “Thanks for that.”

  “You can thank Jimmy Bob for that,” she corrected. “Has your attorney turned up? Will he be in court tomorrow?”

  Ed finally squirmed uncomfortably. “He filed for a continuance. Hal Cantor granted it. Hasn’t Helen told you?”

  Lynn’s gaze narrowed. “When did this happen?”

  “Late yesterday. Jimmy Bob’s still out of town.”

  “Doing something more important than showing up in court for his client?”

  “He’s tied up, that’s all I know.”

  “And you believe him? Maybe he’s taking an extended vacation with the money he was supposed to be paying me in child support or our bank for the mortgage.”

  “I told you I’d taken care of that,” Ed said stiffly. “It won’t happen again. I’ll pay closer attention or I’ll handle it myself.”

  “Look, how you handle it is none of my concern as long as you don’t leave me and the kids without food on the table or a roof over our heads. Understood?”

  “Crystal clear,” he said. “Now, about Lexie.”

  “Talk to her yourself,” she repeated. “Despite everything that’s happened recently, she adores you. I’m sure with all your charm you can think of the right words to get through to her.”

  “When did you get so cold?”

  “I’m not cold. I’m learning to stand up for myself,” she said, then actually smiled. “Thanks for that, by the way. It’s something I should have learned to do years ago.”

  “Does this new attitude have something to do with Mitch Franklin?” Ed speculated. “How much is he hanging around here?”

  “I told you I’ve been working part-time for him.”

  “And were you working for him when you and the kids were with him at Rosalina’s?” he inquired, seemingly delighted when the question brought a blush to her cheeks. “Didn’t think I’d hear about that, did you? You should have known better. Three people had called me before you ever left the restaurant.”

  “Nice to know your spy network is thorough,” she said. “But what I do these days or whom I see is absolutely none of your business. I don’t ask what you’re up to.”

  “It’s my business if they’re hanging around my kids.”

  “Do you have some kind of problem with Mitch?” she asked.

  “I just don’t like walking into my house and finding him with my wife at eight o’clock in the morning. Was he here all night?”

  Lynn stood up, trying not to let him see that she was trembling over his outrageous insinuations. “Get out, Ed. And don’t come back here without making arrangements ahead of time.”

  For an instant he looked taken aback by her fury, but then his expression turned smug. “So, that’s the way things are,” he said. “I thought you were smarter than to fool around right under my nose.”

  “Get out now,” she said. “I mean it.”

  Thankfully he didn’t argue. The second he was gone, she sat down hard and picked up the phone. She dialed Helen’s number, though the first two times she got it wrong because she was shaking so badly.

  “What’s the matter?” Helen asked as soon as she heard Lynn’s voice. “Are you crying?”

  “Trying not to,” she said. “Ed was just here.”

  “I’ll be right over.”

  “You don’t have to come,” Lynn said, but she was talking to dead air.

  Not ten minutes later, she heard a car squeal to a stop out front and Helen burst into the house through the door Ed had obviously left unlocked.

  “What happened?” she said, her hands gripping Lynn’s shoulders. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

  Lynn shook her head, even as she burst into tears. After an awkward beat, Helen gathered her close.

  “Oh, sweetie, nothing can be that bad. Don’t shed a single tear over that man.”

  Lynn finally calmed down enough to draw in a deep breath. She took the tissue Helen handed her and dabbed away her tears.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how furious and upset I was until I saw you. Then I kinda came unglued.”

  “Do you have coffee?”

  Lynn managed a small smile. “Given the morning I’ve had and the parade of people stopping in, it’s a good thing I thought to make a big pot.”

  At the kitchen table, she filled Helen in on Ed’s visit and his hints about her relationship with Mitch.

  “Could he make something out of that?” she asked worriedly. “Mitch has been so kind to me. I don’t want him to get dragged into the middle of my divorce because of that.”

  “I wouldn’t put anything past Ed or Jimmy Bob, but you’ve done nothing wrong, Lynn. Nothing! You need to remember that.”

  “Ed says the court date has been pushed back again.”

  “Unfortunately, yes. I just found out this morning. I gather that happened right at the end of the day yesterday. Hal Cantor’s office was very apologeti
c when they called this morning. His clerk said he’s fit to be tied about all these delays and excuses from Jimmy Bob.”

  “Is there a way to stop this?”

  “First I have to find Jimmy Bob,” Helen said. “The investigator told me last night he has a lead. He thinks he’s in the Cayman Islands.”

  “Why on earth would he go there?”

  “He’s on an extended vacation, or he’s hiding out from something or someone. The investigator’s going down to check it out.”

  Lynn stared at her with alarm. “I can’t afford to pay expenses for a trip like that.”

  “Not to worry. Ed will cover it if I find that they’ve dreamed this up as a way to avoid bringing the case before the judge. If not, I will. I’d love to be the one to catch Jimmy Bob with his fingers in some cookie jar where they don’t belong.”

  Lynn was a little surprised by the venom in Helen’s voice. “You really don’t like him, do you?”

  “I like him fine,” Helen corrected. “I just don’t trust him, and I think he’s a disgrace to the profession.” She studied Lynn. “You okay now?”

  “Better, thanks.”

  “Then I’d better get back to my office. I had three clients in the waiting room when I ran out. Barb’s probably ready to string me up by now. She hates it when my schedule gets thrown off, especially when I’m the one responsible for ruining her orderly plan for the day.”

  “Apologize to her for me,” Lynn said.

  “No apology necessary. And it gives me a chance to remind her once in a while that it’s still my office and I’m the boss. She forgets that from time to time.”

  “Thanks for coming over.”

  “Anytime, you know that. I’m not just your attorney, I’m your friend.”

  Tears stung Lynn’s eyes once more, but she managed to keep them in check until Helen had gone. Then she allowed them to flow freely.

  11

  The minute Jeremy came home from school, he raced past Lynn and headed straight upstairs with barely a greeting. Minutes later, he’d changed his clothes and was about to head right back out when Lynn snagged the back of his shirt.

  “Hey, you, don’t you want a snack?” she asked.

  “There are snacks?” he asked, the question all too telling about the way things had been recently.

  Lynn nodded. “I baked cookies.”

  Her son’s expression immediately brightened. “Chocolate chip?”

  “Of course.”

  He pumped his fist in the air. “All right!” Ignoring the milk she’d poured, he grabbed a handful of the still-warm cookies and started once again for the door.

  “Don’t you want to sit here and drink some milk with those?” she asked. All afternoon she’d been craving a return to the old days when the kids would share their day with her over a snack.

  “Can’t,” he mumbled, his mouth full.

  “Why not? Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

  “Next door. Remember, Mitch said I could help.”

  “Does he know you’re coming over this afternoon?”

  “Uh-huh. I told him when I was there yesterday.”

  Lynn frowned. “You were there yesterday?”

  “And the day before. Don’t freak out, Mom. He said it was okay.”

  “I’m just wondering why you didn’t mention it to me. I thought you’d gone over to your friend Ray’s house.”

  He shrugged. “It’s boring over there. All he wants to do is play video games. This is more fun.”

  Lynn resolved to make sure Mitch was as thrilled about it as Jeremy obviously was. “Don’t make a pest of yourself, okay?”

  “No way,” he promised, darting off.

  She shook her head as the screen door slammed shut behind him. Two minutes later, her phone rang.

  “I hear your son neglected to mention that he’s been coming over here after school,” Mitch said. “You okay with that?”

  “I am, if you are,” she said. “But, Mitch, don’t feel obligated to let him stay if he’s in your way.”

  “Actually, he’s a good helper. I might have you cut a paycheck for him this week.”

  “Absolutely not,” she said, certain he’d be doing it only to put a few more dollars into her pocket.

  “I’m just saying he works hard. He should be rewarded. A child is never too young to understand the value of a strong work ethic.”

  “I can’t disagree with you about that.” She hesitated, then said, “Are you free for dinner? Jeremy’s been asking for steak and baked potatoes, and I finally had enough in the budget to get them yesterday. I thought we could barbecue on the back deck.”

  Nerves stirred at his silence.

  “It’s fine if you have plans or if you don’t want to,” she said hurriedly. “It’s no big deal.”

  “I’m just wondering if it’s a great idea, given the way Ed reacted to finding me over there this morning. I got the distinct impression he wasn’t pleased.”

  “He doesn’t have a say,” Lynn said heatedly, then sighed. “But, to be honest, I wanted to talk to you about that. Maybe after dinner?”

  “Okay, sure,” he said at last. “Do you know how to work that fancy grill I’ve seen out on your deck?”

  “Turning it on scares me to death,” she said. “I’m always convinced the gas will explode in a huge ball of flame.”

  “Then leave it till I get there,” he suggested. “Grilling’s about the only form of cooking at which I excel.”

  “I’m happy to leave it to you,” she said, relieved by his offer.

  “Six-thirty okay? I’d like to go home and shower before I come by.”

  “That’s perfect,” she said. “See you then.”

  That gave her only slightly more than two hours to toss a salad, bake the potatoes and panic over whether she’d just made a terrible mistake.

  * * *

  When he’d finished his call to Lynn, Mitch found Jeremy sitting on the floor raptly watching Terry Jenkins cutting the trim for the windows.

  “How does he know how to make the corners fit together?” Jeremy asked Mitch.

  “Come over here with me,” Mitch said, taking him over to his worktable. He sketched out the angles needed for the cuts, then demonstrated how to mark them on the wood. “Then the machine does the rest.”

  “It looks easy,” Jeremy said. “Is it?”

  “Once you get the hang of it,” Mitch told him. “Want to try?”

  Jeremy’s eyes lit up. “Can I?” Then his excitement faded. “That’s a saw, isn’t it? Mom said no saws.”

  “I think her biggest worry is that you’d try to do something without supervision, but you’re not going to do that, right?”

  “Never,” Jeremy promised, sketching a cross on his chest. “Promise.”

  “Then I think we’re okay. Hey, Terry, how many more pieces do you need for that frame?”

  Terry glanced at Jeremy, clearly guessing Mitch’s intention. “You gonna take over for me?” he asked the boy.

  Jeremy nodded excitedly.

  “How about I help you out this time?” Terry suggested, positioning himself behind Jeremy. “You see the line I’ve marked?”

  “Uh-huh,” Jeremy said, his brow knit in concentration.

  “Then you put your hands here, and here,” he said, covering Jeremy’s little hands with his work-roughened ones as Mitch stood by, grinning. Terry was a master carpenter with grandchildren of his own. Mitch knew he’d do
ne exactly this with them on many work sites over the years, introducing them to his craft with gentle guidance. He’d taught Mitch much of what he knew as well, taking him under his wing when Mitch had started hanging around the work sites with one of Terry’s sons.

  Satisfied that the boy was in good hands, he walked back over to check the specs for the fieldstone he needed to order for the fireplace. He’d barely glanced at the paper when he heard Jeremy’s whoop of exhilaration.

  “I did it!” he shouted, then came running back to Mitch. “See, look. Terry says it’s just right, that he can use it on the window. I made something that’s gonna be in Raylene and Carter’s house, like forever!”

  “Good job,” Mitch enthused. “Since it’s almost time to shut down for the day, how about sweeping up around here? You up for that?”

  “Sure,” Jeremy said as if Mitch had offered him an equally exciting task, rather than what his men considered necessary drudgery.

  He grinned as he watched Jeremy tackle the task with extra exuberance. When Terry joined him, he gave Mitch a knowing look.

  “Kid’s cute,” Terry said.

  “And eager to learn,” Mitch replied.

  “His mom’s not bad-looking, either.”

  Mitch frowned at his longtime employee. “Do you have a point you’re trying to make?”

  “Just saying I’ve seen you over there a time or two lately.”

  “So?” Mitch said defensively.

  “Settle down,” Terry said. “I’m not criticizing. If you ask me, it’s about time you had a little fun in your life again. It’s what Amy would want for you.” He smiled. “And Lynn, she’s good people.”

  “Okay,” Mitch said slowly, sensing there was more on his old friend’s mind.

  “Ed’s another kettle of fish. He’s not going to be happy about your poaching on his turf.”

  Mitch had realized the same thing this morning, but he couldn’t help defending himself—and Lynn—to Terry. “The divorce is practically final.”

  “Practically’s not final,” Terry cautioned. “A lot of people in town respect Ed, though I’m not entirely sure why. Some folks are conservative in their thinking. You don’t want to get them to talking about Lynn, do you?”