When You Fall...

by Robinson, Ruthie

  “No, thank you,” Carter said.

  “So tell me, Carter? What do you do for a living?”

  “My sister and I are working at turning our family’s ranch into a bed-and-breakfast. I would like to raise and train horses. My cousin wants to farm.”

  “Oh, another farmer like my son. And you want to work with horses?”

  “Yes.”

  “How long have you known my son? Are either of you married?” she asked.

  “No, neither of us is.”

  “Why not?” she said.

  “Haven’t found the right man.”

  “What is this, ‘the right man?’ You with your right man, and Rafe with any woman will do. It must be the youth and all these choices that make the young come up with all these ideas, to be a farmer and to work with horses. You have parents?”

  “Yes,” Carter said, trying to keep from laughing.

  “Your parents wanted you to work with horses?”

  “No. I’m actually an accountant,” Carter said.

  “An accountant. That’s good,” she said, smiling. “You aren’t an accountant anymore?”

  “No, I am still an accountant. I’m using it to help with the ranch.”

  “I see. All that accountant training down the drain. Just like my son, who wanted to be a farmer. Who wants to be a farmer? We come to America for a better life, and what does Rafael want to do? Work in the fields. Does that make sense to you?”

  “It doesn’t have to make sense to her, it just has to make sense to me,” Rafe said, appearing from the back of the house. He came to stand behind his mother’s chair.

  “You are here to interrogate my friends?” he asked, giving Carter a wink. His mother stood up beside him.

  “Have you eaten?” she asked, moving his hair from his face. He smiled, and looked over at Carter, who grinned.

  “I’m hungry. And if you want to cook, I’ll eat,” he said.

  “Good. Carter, would you like something, too?” she asked.

  “Sure. She would love to stay and eat with us,” Rafe said, answering for her. He winked at Carter again. In light of how she had been feeling lately about him and Courtney, she was pleased to be invited.

  #

  Rafael entered his home, back from seeing Carter to her car. His mother was in the kitchen, cleaning up the dinner dishes.

  “So, you’re serious about this one?” his dad asked from his seat on the couch.

  Rafael looked in the kitchen; a quick glance to make sure his mother was occupied.

  “I am,” he said, his eyes again darting toward the kitchen. His mother was busy working.

  “Marriage?”

  “Maybe.”

  “What maybe?” his father asked. Rafael sat down next to him and took a deep breath.

  “I don’t want to love someone who doesn’t love me. One who is not nice to me,” he said, trying to convey his answer without having to say his mother’s name out loud.

  “I love your father,” his mother said from the kitchen. What was with his mother and her hearing?

  “Look, I never said you didn’t. But sometimes it’s hard to tell. You don’t thank him when he does you a favor. You’re short with him most of the time, order him around, and he loves you. I can see it. I don’t want that.”

  “Then don’t have it. You don’t know what goes on between a man and his wife. And don’t judge what goes between your parents mijo. You don’t know, just like I don’t know what will go on between the woman you marry, and that’s the way it should be. You two will be a team, and then a family. Keep all the others out and that means keeping you out of mine. I’m going for a walk. You stay and talk some sense into your son’s head,” she said, pointing to his father before she stalked out the front door.

  He was dumbfounded and turned to face his dad.

  “I know how it looks. I know what you think. I’ve heard you. Why do I put up with her? Would you believe that she’s the one that has been putting up with me all these years? It’s a long story and a very personal one that I don’t care to discuss with you. But she is there for me, and has been, and I’ve given her reason not to be. She loves this family, me included. We’ve had our moments, as you will, but you have to decide to make it work. Don’t quit at the first sign of trouble. It’s a give and take—sometimes you take more and sometimes it will be her doing most of the taking.

  “The way she talks to you sometimes,” Rafael said.

  “It’s not your business son, just as what you and Carter will have will be between the two of you. I’m not talking physically hurting her, that’s a different thing all together, but when you start letting others into your relationship, based on what they see from the outside—not taking into account what love can do for each of you—then you’ll be in trouble. I love your mother and she loves me. We’ll work out whatever is between us. Don’t use me as an excuse to keep your heart to yourself. You’ll miss out on so much if you do.”

  “I don’t know,” Rafael said.

  “Yeah, you do. It takes courage to love. It’s a lot like firefighting.”

  “What?”

  “They’re always running into buildings, not knowing what they’ll find. It’s the same way with marriage, same with love, but you do it anyway. Courage, my son. I’d better go check on your mother. I don’t want your goats to eat her.”

  “I’ll help you find her,” he said. Rafael opened the front door. His mother sat on the top step of his porch.

  “Are you ready to leave?” his dad asked her.

  “I am. I like your Carter, Rafael. I’ll like whoever you bring home as long as you’re happy and married. I’m happy,” she said, standing up from her spot on the top step.

  “Thanks.”

  “Let’s go. It will be dark soon, and your father doesn’t see like he used to,” she said. His dad chuckled at that.

  #

  Wednesday

  “If Madison calls me one more time, I’m going to scream,” Carter said, picking up the house phone.

  “Please stop calling me,” she said into the phone. Carter glanced over at Courtney, who shrugged. No sympathy from that front.

  “Carter, listen. I’m calm now. I promise not to scream at you. But I need you to listen to me. Carter? Really listen. I wouldn’t call if this wasn’t important. It is vital that you help us. I’ve tried, Stuart has tried searching for other sources of funding for his business, but you don’t know what this economy is like. Yes, it was wrong of our father not to tell you. Are you listening, Carter?” she asked.

  “I am. I don’t know that I will help you, though.” Carter said.

  “That’s fine. Can you promise to think about it? Promise me that. I know you can give us money if you wanted to. I’ve read the will, too. Please promise me that you’ll think about it. I’ll leave you alone. I’ll stop calling, but please think about it, Carter. I can call you this Saturday or you can call me. That will give you at least a week. Please.”

  “Okay, I will,” Carter said, hanging up the phone. She looked over at Courtney, who shrugged her shoulders again.

  “No sympathy. At all?” Carter asked.

  “Not an ounce,” Courtney said.

  #

  Thursday

  Carter hadn’t seen Courtney since this morning. She’d just gotten out of the shower and was standing in the kitchen eating one of Courtney’s muffins. Her sister was a great cook and baker. Rafael was taking most of his meals over here now and that annoyed her like you wouldn’t believe. She was so in love and didn’t have a clue what she should do. Rafael hadn’t helped, either. He didn’t seem to want to meet her in the barn anymore, or anywhere else for that matter. He’d walked her to her car after dinner with his parents and he hadn’t even tried to kiss her.

  Courtney was up earlier than usual, and that was saying something, because she was an early riser, too. Talk about energy. She had enough for the both of them.

  Carter placed her coffee cup in the sink and headed ove
r to the barn. Her spirits were lighter this morning, the result of having had dinner with Rafael and his mother and father, even without the kiss.

  She pulled up short at the sight of Rafe and Courtney in the golf cart heading toward her now, back from who knew where. Courtney’s hair was flying behind her in the breeze. She was clad in her usual attire of a tight t-shirt and even tighter jeans. The professional look she’d worn at their first meeting was long gone.

  “I like to be comfortable and you never know when your potential husband will stop by. You always want to have your assets displayed to their best advantage,” she’d told Carter, explaining her switch from professional attire to tight everything.

  The golf cart stopped when it reached her.

  “Done mucking out the barn?” Courtney said, with a smile.

  “Just getting started, actually,” she said, glancing at Rafe. He was full of smiles, too.

  “I’m taking Rafe out to see my potential orchard. Found three peach trees, and thought I could add more. It will take time. We’ve got nothing but time, right? I could develop the perfect peach pie,” she said, all the while looking at Rafe, like he’d make the greatest peach pie.

  “Oh, that’s good,” Carter said, trying to pull out a smile.

  “We’ll be back in a few,” Courtney said, before hitting the gas and off they went.

  She heard Courtney’s laugh, saw Rafe’s hand at her sister’s back. It didn’t mean anything, she thought. Her good mood was replaced by glum again.

  #

  “You have to talk to her,” Madison said. She was at her parents’ home. “You started this. I can’t believe you would do something so vile as to allow the property to be sold without telling her. You know how much she loved that place,” Madison said, looking at her dad, the one man she had thought she could count on.

  “Have you spoken to Carter?” Gloria asked.

  “Yes, but she won’t help us. And we need help. Stuart has gotten us so deeply into debt,” she said. She wanted to cry, but really, she was done with crying. Men.

  “We could help.”

  “It wouldn’t be enough. We need more. We need the proceeds from the sale desperately. We are considering bankruptcy,” Madison said.

  “Since when?”

  “Since about three months ago.”

  “Is it that bad?” Gloria asked, and moved to sit closer to Madison.

  “It is. Stuart has more property than he can stand, and those properties have loans attached to them. He’d hoped to turn them quickly, but he hasn’t been able to. Stuart says the proceeds would go a long way to putting us back on solid ground.” She started crying.

  “Oh baby,” Gloria said, her arms around Madison as she looked over at her husband.

  #

  “How did the orchard trip go?” Carter asked later on that evening.

  “Fine. Rafe agrees with me. Thinks I should add more trees, maybe next spring. It will take a while before they are producing fruit. He thinks I should go on and plant them now. The sooner they are in the ground, the sooner I can try my hand at peach preserves, pies, tarts, and muffins. You name it, chances are I can cook or bake it.”

  “You and Rafe work well together,” Carter said.

  “We do, don’t we?” Courtney said.

  “You know, he has a list of requirements for a wife.”

  “I know. He told me, and luckily I have all those. And then some,” she said and gave Carter a wink.

  Carter was quiet.

  #

  Friday evening

  Carter and Courtney were in the kitchen, home to their new office, hunched over Carter’s computer, inputting estimates for expected and unexpected costs of remodeling the house. They both looked out the window as a car approached. It was her dad’s Mercedes sedan now, parking next to her car.

  “It’s my dad and Gloria,” Carter said, saving her work before closing her computer. “More push to get me to change my mind I bet,” she said, standing up and moving to the back door to meet them.

  “Are you ready?” Courtney asked, following Carter to the back door.

  “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” she said, opening the door. “Hello Gloria. Hello Carl,” she said, in her most professional voice. She wasn’t going to show her hurt. She would treat them like any other people one had to do business with.

  “You both remember Courtney,” Carter said, stepping aside, so they could enter.

  “Yes, hello,” they both said in unison.

  “Would you like something to drink?” Courtney asked.

  “No thank you,” Gloria said.

  “So what can I… we do for you?” Courtney asked, her tone not anywhere near as hospitable as it had been at Carter’s parents’ home.

  Her father turned to Carter. “You are hurting your sisters with your behavior. Madison told me that she’s called you and pleaded with you for help. And that you won’t listen.”

  “So. What do you expect her to do?” Courtney asked, distaste in her tone.

  “Your sisters need financial help. Don’t make it hard on them. Don’t use this as a way to get back at me. I deserve your anger, but not them,” he said, reaching for Gloria’s hand. “There is money enough for the ranch and for you to help your sisters,” he said.

  “I won’t, though. Those proceeds are going to be used to renovate and make this property into something to be proud of. I can’t believe you would even ask me, after all you’ve done. And they are not my sisters. Never have been. I wish you would stop saying that.”

  “Courtney,” he said, looking at her, a plea in his eyes.

  “Hell no! I have no love for the family that disowned my father. You were his brother. It was your family,” she said.

  “Will nothing change your mind?” Gloria asked.

  “No,” Carter said, and turned to look at Courtney.

  “No,” Courtney said.

  “Fine,” her father said, clearly angry. “I can see now that I was wrong to take my anger out on you. I was angry and hurt. Your father had no right to treat your mother the way he did. I loved her. Not telling you was my way of getting back at your great-grandfather and my father, too. They loved Raymond. He could do no wrong in their eyes—thought he hung the moon. He was gay,” he said and spat that out. “I hated living out here. Hated all that talk about legacy. Your mother was the only bright spot, the only reason, I stayed around as long as I did,” he said, looking at Carter.

  Carter remained silent.

  “I’ll see you to the door,” Courtney said.

  “We will see ourselves out,” he said.

  “Good bye… Good bye, Gloria,” Carter said. Courtney remained silent as they made their way to the door.

  #

  It was late, Carter thought while looking at her watch, and then through the back windows of the kitchen. Rafael’s home was dark. It was midnight and he was probably asleep. Of course he was asleep. She wanted—no, needed—to talk to him.

  What a mess this had turned into. She took a breath, reached for her keys, deciding to drive over instead of walking. She wasn’t up for running into any of the creatures that roamed these streets at night.

  Courtney was asleep. Another trait they both shared: both slept like the dead. She had a sister now. It was enough to make her cry all over again.

  She very quietly made her way to her car and drove over to Rafe’s. It was dark as tar out. She missed having lights. Any kind of lights would do. She’d even take some lightning bugs about now. She parked next to his truck and made her way to the porch. She knocked on his door. No answer. She knocked again.

  “Who is it?” she heard through the front door.

  “Carter,” she said.

  “What time is it? What’s up?” he asked, opening the door, decked out in his boxers, no shirt—rumpled and sexy.

  “Can I have something to drink?” she asked.

  “You drove over here at what time is it? Midnight? To ask for something to drink?” he said, a s
mall smile on his lips. She nodded.

  “Sure.” He took her hand, closed the door and pulled her along behind him into the kitchen. He started up his coffee maker and pulled out two mugs. He grabbed the sugar and cream, waited until the coffee was ready, filled them each a cup, and then sat one in front of her. Then he grabbed his cup, pulled out a chair, and reached for her hand once he was seated.

  “What happened?” he asked, and listened as she talked about her dad’s visit. She was confused and hurt all over again.

  “I’m sorry,” he said when she’d finished. He watched her, sad for her, but glad that she’d stopped by. It was a boost to his confidence. It was wearing thin these days. He’d no idea if his plan with Courtney was working.

  “So what now?” he asked, bringing his mind back to the here and now.

  “I’m not helping them. It’s all about me for a while,” she said, staring at her coffee for a minute. “Not really. It’s about Courtney, too. My great-grandfather left this power to me for a reason. I feel bad about Madison, and she calls me all the time. The other sisters call, too, but Madison’s the worst. Let them hang in the wind for a while.”

  “That’s just your hurt talking,” he said, squeezing her hand. “You’re going to be fine.”

  “What would I do without you listening to me? You have always listened to me,” she said.

  “You’ll be fine.”

  “Don’t get married,” she said.

  He chuckled. “I’m not. I haven’t asked anyone that I know of. Not lately, anyway,” he said, smiling. She stood up and put her cup in the sink. “Do you want me to go?” she asked.

  “Do you want to leave?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “Then don’t,” he said. He stood up too, put his cup away, reached for her hand and turned off the light in the kitchen as he led her to his bedroom.

  #

  Twenty-Two

  A week later

  Rafael and Courtney walked toward the front of Rafe’s house as the sheriff’s car pulled into the yard. Rafael had started teaching Courtney how to run his tractor. Frank walked over to meet them.