The Best Is Yet to Be

by Eve Fisher

  “But people will blame me,” Matt said. “They’ll think I’m just like him.”

  Kate took a deep breath and said, “Matt, that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about. Nobody is going to blame you.”

  Matt thought for a moment, then asked, “Do you really think I can stay here?”

  “Of course you can,” Paul assured him. “What your father did isn’t your fault.”

  “That’s not what he says,” Matt replied.

  “What do you mean?” Paul asked.

  “Well, the truth is, I’m...different,” Matt said slowly. “I always have been. I knew that back when I first went to school. I didn’t fit in. And I know that people get angry with me, and frustrated, because I don’t do or say what they expect.”

  “That must be hard,” Kate said, biting off the end of a french fry.

  Matt was quiet for a moment, then continued, “Mom didn’t mind that I’m different. But it drove Dad crazy. It still does. He says that if I wasn’t so different, we could hang around together. But we can’t, and that’s why he has to find his fun elsewhere. And sometimes he gets in trouble.”

  “That’s...that’s nonsense,” Kate said, anger surging through her.

  “That’s just an excuse your father is using to cover up his own behavior,” Paul added. “It has nothing to do with you at all. If it wasn’t you, he’d find somebody or something else to blame.”

  “Really?”

  “Really,” Paul assured him. “People do it all the time. Proverbs 19:3 says, ‘A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord.’”

  “I knew he’d quote somethin’ from the Bible,” Bo said casually, finishing the last of his french fries.

  “And if they don’t blame God, they blame their jobs or their parents or their children,” Paul continued. “But those are just excuses. Your father stole and lied and cheated and gambled, and none of it has anything to do with you.”

  “But Dad—” Matt began, but Bo interrupted him.

  “Matt, would you believe what your father says about his finances?”

  “No. He always lies about money.”

  “Then why in tarnation do you believe what he says about you?” Bo asked.

  Kate felt like cheering.

  Matt was quiet for a moment. “I never thought of it like that,” he said.

  “Well, if I was you, I’d start thinkin’ about it now,” Bo said.

  “Good advice!” Paul glanced at his watch. “Well, we’d better get going. And any time you want to talk, Matt, just call me.”

  Matt nodded. “I will. Thank you.”

  “How much for the burgers?” Paul asked, getting up and reaching for his wallet.

  Bo looked up at him and shook his head. “Don’t you dare bring out a penny. This one is on the house.”

  “Thanks,” Paul said.

  Bo turned toward Matt and said, “Now, I still say that career passes trumps consecutive...”

  JOE ANSWERED THE DOOR at Amanda’s house, and Kate smiled with delight to see him there.

  “Kate! Come on in,” he said, gesturing for her to enter.

  “Kate!” Amanda cried.

  She started to rise, but Kate protested, “Don’t you dare get up. I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”

  “Just fine, now that she knows we didn’t rob her blind,” Joe said.

  “Sit down, Kate,” Amanda said. “Joe, would you mind putting the kettle on and making us all some tea? We never did have our tea last night.”

  “No, we didn’t,” Kate said. “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not,” Amanda replied. “I’m glad you found out the truth about Junius, and that you got him. The nerve of that man! And that reminds me,” she added. “I was told all about the scarf, and it’s sitting on my bureau. Please take it back. If I had only known...Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Well, to be honest, you had just had a heart attack,” Kate said.

  Amanda chuckled. “I suppose that isn’t the ideal time to tell someone that her suitor’s a crook.” She patted Kate’s hand. “I understand.”

  “Here’s tea!” Joe said, bringing in a tray loaded with teapot, cups, creamer, and sugar bowl. “Needs to steep a minute, but we can wait.”

  “Well, good,” Amanda said. “Sit yourself down, Joe, and don’t loom over people.”

  Kate stifled a smile, looking at Joe’s slight figure.

  “So, Junius took Ada Blount’s money,” Amanda said calmly. “I heard this morning that Mabel Trout’s silver creamer was found in a box marked quilt scraps, and no one has any idea how it got there, least of all Mabel.”

  Kate nodded. “Mindy’s necklace was found in Junius’ apartment. And this morning Renee told Betty that her ring has been turned in as evidence. As far as Ada’s rhinestone brooch, well, I have a feeling that’s going to be turned in as evidence as well.”

  “Oh good,” Amanda said, smiling.

  “If you don’t mind my asking, did Junius ever ask you for any investment funds?”

  “No,” Amanda replied, “but I’m sure he was working up to it. Although he’d have had a sore disappointment in me. I’ve had experience with bad eggs.”

  There was a sudden, heavy silence.

  “I’ve changed,” Joe said softly.

  “Yes, I know you have,” Amanda said apologetically. “I was talking about my brother, Bob.” She sighed deeply. “Truth is, compared to him, you were an angel. Yes, you cleaned his pockets of money that wasn’t his. But Bob was the one sitting there with a wallet full of payroll money. Did you ever wonder what he was doing with it?”

  “No,” Joe said. “I never thought about it.”

  “I did,” Amanda said. “And I asked him about it. You should have seen his face! And the spluttering he did...That’s when I knew what he really was. He’d taken that money specifically to gamble with, and if you hadn’t shown up, he’d have gambled it with somebody else. No, you might have tempted him, but he fell all on his own.”

  Amanda looked down at her hands. “It took me a long time to realize that. I blamed everybody in the world for Bob’s faults, when he was the one who committed them. But then, he was my childhood hero.”

  “I’m sorry,” Joe said.

  Amanda nodded and turned to Kate. “Kate, would you mind getting the graham crackers out of the kitchen cabinet?”

  “Of course,” Kate said, fetching them and putting some on a small plate.

  “I always like a graham cracker with my afternoon tea,” Amanda said when Kate returned with the plate. She picked up a cracker, snapped it in quarters, and dipped one quarter in her tea.

  She glanced at Joe every once in a while in a way that made Kate apprehensive.

  “The money you sent,” Amanda said suddenly. “To repay Bob? He pocketed it. He’d already repaid the bank with the money out of my college fund.”

  “No!” Joe cried. “And you never got to college?”

  “I did indeed go to college,” Amanda said, wiping her fingers on her napkin. “I didn’t graduate, but that’s because I got married. The only difference is, I worked my way through instead of having it all paid for. But I think it was good for me. I got to know what it was like to live on a paycheck.” She smiled ruefully. “That’s something I didn’t know back when you and I were seeing each other.”

  “But Bob took your money and never paid you back?” Joe asked.

  Amanda nodded. “He told the bank he’d lost the wallet somewhere. And then, once he’d gotten my college money—”

  “How did he do that?” Joe interrupted.

  “We-ell,” Amanda said reluctantly. “Bob was executor of Daddy’s will, not to mention chief beneficiary, so he could actually do anything he wanted with the money. But that money was earmarked for me, and he did do me the honor of asking me to help him out first. And I agreed. Partly because I was so angry with you.”

  Joe winced.

  “So he got the money and went trotting back to
the bank and told them he’d found the wallet. I’m still surprised they believed him, but I think we were more naive in those days, don’t you? I certainly was. Or perhaps the bank just didn’t want the scandal. I certainly didn’t want that either.”

  “But why didn’t he pay you back?” Joe persisted.

  “Because he didn’t have to,” Amanda said. “I’m his sister. Besides, I didn’t even know about the money you’d sent him until long after Walter and I were married. Mama told me when I came home to take care of her when she was dying.”

  Amanda was silent for a moment, then she sighed. “I kept waiting for him to come back, but he never did. And to be taken in by Junius after all that...”

  “Amanda, it’s perfectly understandable,” Joe said.

  “I was flattered, and I enjoyed it,” Amanda replied. “He flirted with me, gave me compliments and presents. Stolen ones, but presents. The truth is, it was my pride that was involved, not my heart. It may be silly, but being a woman stays with you well into old age. And sometimes you want to feel attractive, even when you’re wrinkled and gray and arthritic.”

  “Don’t say that,” Joe said. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. You always have been, and you always will be.”

  “Joe!” Amanda protested.

  “It’s true. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved. Don’t you know that? I love you. I’ll always love you.”

  They reached out for each other, touched, and held hands. Kate could almost see time peeling away from them. Quietly she got up, picked up her purse, and went to the door. She paused at the door and looked back at them. They were sitting together, hands entwined, looking deeply into each other’s eyes.

  Thank God that old wounds can be healed by love. She softly closed the door behind her and headed home.

  Chapter Eighteen

  It was a warm summer evening when Kate found herself walking across the Town Green. The sun was just beginning to sink below the tops of the trees, and the air was still, dry, and sweet. Birds chirped in the trees, and squirrels raced each other along the branches. People were already filling the park benches that had been arranged in a semicircle around the small platform stage. The town clock tolled 6:45. The first installment of the Copper Mill summer concert series would begin at seven.

  “Kate!” Livvy called out. “Over here!”

  Kate waved and walked to where her friend was seated. “What a beautiful evening,” she said.

  “Isn’t it? I think we’re going to get quite a turnout. Where’s Paul?”

  “Oh, he’s here somewhere,” Kate said, looking around. She didn’t want to say any more lest she give away the surprise the quartet been working so hard on.

  On the other side of Livvy sat Martha Sinclair, Dot Bagley, and Renee’s mother, Caroline Beauregard Johnston. All three women spooned ice cream from plastic cups as they talked. Kate craned her neck, and sure enough, there was the Elk’s fund-raiser stand by the trees, with Mayor Briddle, Joe Tucker, and Eli Weston dishing up ice cream beneath a big banner that read “Root-Beer Floats! Two dollars each!”

  “I see Joe raised the price of the floats,” Kate commented.

  “The mayor did that,” Livvy said. “He said a dollar wasn’t enough to pay for the ice cream, much less make a profit.”

  Kate nodded. “Shall we get one?”

  “Oh yes, let’s,” Livvy said. “We’ve got time.”

  They got up and walked through the rows of benches, exchanging greetings with folks as they went.

  “Y’all aren’t taking off yet, are you?” Skip Spencer asked as they came to the end of a row.

  “No, Skip,” Kate assured him. “We’re just going to get a root-beer float.”

  “Good. ’Cause we’ve got something really special lined up for tonight!” Skip grinned and went on down the row, where he homed in on a young woman with long red hair.

  Kate got in line behind Lester Philpott and looked down the line. Marissa Harris was standing with Jack Wilson, both of them with eyes only for each other. Kate saw Joe take a root-beer float over to a nearby bench where Amanda was sitting. He handed it to her with a courtly bow, shaking his head when she began to fumble in her purse. Then he zipped back to the booth and continued his work. Amanda took a bite of ice cream, smiling happily.

  “How is it?” Kate called to Amanda.

  “Scrumptious!” Amanda replied.

  “Overpriced!” Old Man Parsons added from behind Livvy.

  “You should know,” Amanda responded tartly. “You’ve had two, and now you’re in line for a third.”

  Old Man Parsons grunted. “Well,” he said to Kate and Livvy, “it’s for charity, isn’t it?”

  “That’s right,” Kate said, stepping up to the booth.

  “Two root-beer floats for the ladies!” Joe called back to Eli.

  “How are sales going?” Kate asked.

  “Couldn’t be better,” Joe replied. “We’re going to raise a decent pile of money with these.”

  Eli handed the floats to Joe, who passed them to Kate and Livvy. “Here you go, ladies. Hope you enjoy them!”

  “Kate, can I talk to you for a moment?” Amanda asked as Kate was passing by, touching Kate’s arm lightly.

  Kate gestured to Livvy to go on without her, then walked with Amanda toward a grove of trees. Kate suspected that whatever Amanda wanted to say, she wanted to do it privately.

  “I wanted to let you know I’m leaving,” Amanda said, pursing her lips.

  “Leaving?” Kate repeated, dazed. She felt a little silly, but she couldn’t quite make sense of what Amanda had just said.

  “I’m moving back to Knoxville to be closer to my children,” Amanda continued quickly. “After the heart attack,” she said, reaching up to pat her perfectly styled hair, “I realized I can’t take anything for granted. I miss my family. I want to see my grandchildren grow up.”

  “B-but...” Kate stammered. How could Amanda leave now? “But what about...”

  “Joe?” Amanda asked, blushing. “I’ll still see Joe as much as possible. Who knows what might happen? I do know that God has worked mightily in bringing us back together after so many years, and I can’t believe he’s going to stop working now.”

  “I suppose that’s true.” Kate bit her lip, trying to figure out what to say. “But Amanda...” she sighed. “We’re going to miss you!”

  “You’re sweet.” Amanda patted Kate’s arm. “But I know this is the right thing. And don’t you worry; I’ll be back to visit all the time.”

  Amanda looked over to where Joe was serving root-beer floats and smiled. “Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for all you’ve done for me. Without you, all of this would have turned out differently.”

  “I’m just glad I could help.” Kate took a sip of her float and smiled as the fizzy liquid trickled down her throat.

  “It looks like the show is about to start,” Amanda said, gesturing toward the stage, where Lester Philpott was testing the microphones.

  “Shall we?” Kate asked, holding out her arm to Amanda.

  “You go on ahead.” Amanda smiled. “I’m going to sit with Joe.”

  “Oh, fine,” Kate said, laughing. “Now you be good,” she teased as she walked away.

  She rejoined Livvy and was surprised to run into Matt Lawson. Behind him was Bo Twist.

  “Hello, Mrs. Hanlon,” Bo said.

  “Hello, Bo. How are you doing?” Kate asked.

  “Pretty well,” he said, poking Matt in the arm.

  Matt looked at him, startled, and then said, “Hello, Kate, Livvy. How are you doing tonight?”

  “Just fine,” Kate said.

  “Great, Matt,” Livvy replied. “How are you?”

  “I’m doing fine.” Matt glanced at Bo, who smiled.

  “Come on, Son,” Bo said, “let’s get us a couple of floats and go find a place to sit down.”

  Kate watched them go. They were an odd duo, but their relationship definitely seemed to be
blossoming into a true friendship. She could see that Bo was helping Matt navigate the difficult world of social interaction.

  “God works in mysterious ways,” Kate said aloud as Joe darted past them, heading toward the Mercantile.

  “Oh, here comes Danny,” Livvy said. “Let’s take our seats.”

  “When is James’ band on?” Kate asked her.

  “The garage bands are always on last,” Livvy assured her. “That’s so the older folks can go home and protect their ears.”

  Danny Jenner got up on the small stage, microphone in hand. “Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the first evening of the Copper Mill summer concert series! We’ve got a tremendous lineup of music and performers for you here tonight, but I want everyone out there to remember, there’s always room for more. I want to see more participants next week. And I want to see you keep drinking those root-beer floats!”

  Everyone laughed.

  “Remember, all the money’s going to a good cause. So, sit back and enjoy yourselves. And now, our concert opener. A brand new group, the Copper Mill Kazoo Players!”

  The quacking sound of kazoos came from behind them. Kate turned and gasped as Paul, Sam, Skip, and Joe came winding their way through the crowd, all of them wearing straw boater hats and red-striped shirts, as if they were in a barbershop quartet. She was laughing with delight even before they made it to the stage, still playing “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

  Everyone in the audience rose to their feet, cheering, laughing, and applauding when the quartet bowed. Paul was grinning from ear to ear. They played two more marching-band numbers and took a final bow before their wildly enthusiastic audience.

  Danny came back up on stage, laughing. “And they’ve promised, folks, to be a part of the homecoming parade this fall!”

  Everyone cheered.

  “And now let’s give a big welcome to the Pine Ridge Jazz Ensemble!”

  As the band assembled onstage, Paul came and sat down beside Kate, who was still breathless from laughing.

  “So, how’d you like it?” he asked. He was still grinning from ear to ear.

  “You...It was wonderful!” Kate beamed at him.

  “You guys were great,” Livvy said, laughing.