by Leigh Tudor
“Oh, wow. You can tell you’ve been spending time with Madame.”
“She’s a strong influence with an extensive vocabulary and an atrocious French accent,” Nate admitted.
Nate began to gather his paper plate and napkin. “I need to check on the girls and make sure they’re not going home hopped up on sugar or sinking into a carb coma.” He grabbed his empty cup with his pinky. “Let me know if you want in on that harmless bet, that if you were to lose, would only benefit the college savings of two deserving young women.”
“Yeah, I’ll get back with you on that,” she said, as Alec’s hand found her thigh underneath the table. “We’ve got our own college savings plan to think about.”
“Hey, you win, and a bond can be awarded to one Amelie Ingalls Wilder. The question is, are you feeling lucky?”
Alec’s hand squeezed her thigh affectionately. “I’m feeling very lucky.”
Nate squinched his nose. “Gross, old people sex,” he said, turning away with an exaggerated shudder.
Loren turned toward Alec and plastered her nose into his neck, breathing him in as he conversed with Gus, who was sitting across the table next to Landon.
Alec kissed her on the lips. “You figure out what’s going on?”
“No,” she moped. “Either Nate really knows nothing or he’s got a future in espionage.”
“That’s a scary thought,” Alec said, just as Becky walked up behind Gus and leaned on him with one hand, her plate in the other as she sat down beside him.
“Hey, Becks,” Loren said, with her chin on Alec’s shoulder. “Glad you could come.”
“Where’s Amelie?” Becky whined, making gimme hands. “I need a baby fix.”
“Don’t you dare wake her up,” Loren warned, mimicking Alec’s Texan accent. “We have a rule around these here parts, and that’s to never wake a sleeping Amelie.” Then she added in her own voice, “A rule that Alec breaks on the reg, by the way.”
“I can’t help that I can’t keep my hands off her. Like mother like daughter.”
Loren acted put out when she was anything but. Life was perfect, and for the first time since the car accident so many years ago, she felt truly happy and safe.
That suffocating feeling, the one that used to plague her, the feeling that it could all be taken away at a moment’s notice, had disappeared. And she was left with basking in true happiness.
She had moved in with Alec straight from bringing Amelie home from the hospital. Jimbo stayed at the cottage in Newberry while Becky and Samantha stayed on just a little longer, at least until the renovations on the home they had shared with Sam were completed.
After they moved out, Jimbo would be living by himself in Newberry, and Loren wasn’t comfortable with that. She and Alec considered offering him a room at their house, but with Ally there and now the baby, there really wasn’t room.
She’d have to work on finding him a compatible roommate.
Loren’s relationship with Ally had improved, Ally coming to her with her daily trials and tribulations and sharing milestones. But she didn’t seem to let up on her desire to learn to fight, and Alec continued to support the idea.
Loren continued to ruminate about what that might look like in order for it to be done without causing any mental or physical anguish while meeting Ally’s expectations.
Maybe she’d run it by Mercy and see what she thought about it. But these days, pinning her sister down was near to impossible as she was spending most of her time at Trevor’s house. And when she wasn’t there, she was carting the kids to their various activities.
Cara was back at the house with Madame and keeping weekly sister dates with Loren and Mercy, the older sisters making it a point to spend one-on-one time with her as well.
When Cara spent evenings with her sisters, Madame was spending time with Levi, who continued to dote on her with the intensity of a much younger, smitten beau.
All in all, life was perfect.
Although she would like to know what was going on with Mercy and Trevor.
“Hey, Loren,” Becky said, looking over Alec’s shoulder. “Some woman just pulled up in a Bentley, and she’s walking this way. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her before.”
Loren turned to see a beautiful woman, who must have been in her early to mid-fifties, making her way toward the rows of picnic tables. Everyone else stared at the rare sighting of a stranger in the small town of Wilder.
She was really quite attractive for her age. A cross between an Elizabeth Hurley and a Shania Twain. But she also appeared lacking in confidence, holding her hand to her stomach and her eyes scanning the crowd.
Laying her napkin on the table, Loren started to make her way toward the woman with Alec close behind.
Ever the protective one.
“Hi,” Loren said, with what she had hoped was a welcome smile. “Can I help you?”
The woman’s search didn’t stop as she said, “Yes, I’m looking for someone. A James Bartholomew.”
“Oh,” Loren said, saddened at having to give the lady bad news. “There’s no one here by that—”
“Loren,” Alec interrupted, scratching his temple as Loren glanced at him. “That’s Jimbo. His legal name is James Bartholomew.”
The woman’s eyes lit up with the wattage of a thousand Christmas lights. “You know him? Is he here? I stopped at the church, and someone said…”
“Elise?”
Loren couldn’t have been more surprised as she turned to see Jimbo standing at the grill, not looking at all happy to see the mystery woman.
“Elise,” Jimbo repeated with a scowl, holding the grill tongs in one hand. “What are you doing here?”
Handing the tongs to whoever was standing nearby, Jimbo came striding across the lawn, not curious as much as accusatory.
Loren felt Alec pulling her to the side as they were standing between the couple. The beautiful woman was wringing her hands, and Jimbo had a scowl on his face.
“I’ve been looking for you,” she said breathlessly.
Loren turned back toward her dear friend, who continued to appear put off and put out, and then at the woman who looked both excited and terrified to have found James Bartholomew.
Jimbo didn’t seem to care to be found. “Well, I hate to disappoint you, but once again, I’m gonna have to tell you that you’re not wanted here.”
Five picnic tables of friends gasped in unison upon hearing a man, who had never uttered an unkind word to a single human, be so callous and dismissive.
Loren half expected Elise to break down in tears, but instead, she straightened her spine and lifted her chin.
“I’m not going anywhere until I’ve had a chance to speak with you. Is there somewhere we can talk privately?”
Jimbo chuckled. “If you have something to say to me, you can say it right here. I figure the closer you are to your fancy car, the sooner you’ll leave.”
“Fine,” she said, taking a couple of steps closer but still providing some distance between them. “First of all, James, you know as well as I do, that car belongs to you.”
More gasps.
Loren side-eyed Alec in disbelief.
Elise continued, “But I’m not here to discuss your car or to repeat past mistakes.”
Jimbo stood with his hands on his hips as if in a showdown. “Educate me then. Why are you here?” He shrugged, nodding toward the car. “And then go.”
She took a deep breath and forged on, “I’m not here to beg you to come back to me.”
His eyes squinted, and he moved his weight to the opposite leg. “Well… that’s good. That got old.”
Loren tried to think if there was ever a time when Jimbo mentioned a woman in his life, let alone who was stalking him?
Nope. Never.
“I’ve been in therapy,” she offered, suddenly conscious of the number of eyes on her, and cleared her throat. “And I’ve come to the understanding that I deserve better than what you were willing to give
me. That I have worth and… and value.”
Loren’s eyes moved in unison with Alec’s toward Jimbo, riveted by the conversation but afraid to make any sudden moves that would distract from the moment.
“Okay, so?” Jimbo said, his harsh glower beginning to waver.
She pursed her lips together. “So, if I let you back into my life, there will be conditions. Those conditions are nonnegotiable and will be typed up and signed by you.”
Jimbo sniffed and looked to the side, and then back to her. Just when Loren thought he was going to personally escort her back to the car, he scratched at his beard and asked, “What kind of conditions?”
The woman took a deep breath as if to gather herself and garner some courage. “Well, for example, you’d have to quit drinking. And you’d have to go to counseling. Both individual and couples sessions. And I don’t care if you’ve already quit drinking or for how long. Refusing to attend counseling, even missing one appointment, would be a deal breaker.” She took another step forward. “Also, you must attend these sessions with a kind heart and earnest regard. None of that passive-aggressive harrumphing or condescending sighs.” She seemed to be picking up confidence along the way, taking another step. “You’ll also have to live with me, but I will allow you to determine the town and location of your choosing.”
“What if that’s the back alley of Lucky’s?” he asked with renewed attitude.
She shifted her stance, her chin lifting. “Then I’ll need you to point me toward the nearest sports and recreation store, as I’ll be needing an all-weather sleeping bag,” she countered, totally calling his bluff. “But, mind you, you will have to agree to live with me whether it be under the stars or a roof, and attend counseling for no less than three years. After three years have expired, I will reassess the relationship.”
“And what if I hightail it sooner?”
“Then you will lose me forever,” she said sadly, and then added, “I may not be making myself clear, James. This agreement is completely one-sided and is not meant to keep you tied to me, but to allow me to easily sever from you.”
The picnic revelers were all holding their collective breaths. Watching the two go back and forth as if they paid for thousand-dollar seats at a high-stakes tennis tournament.
Elise’s head dipped as she said, “If you want me, you’ll have to work to get me back and keep me. I will accept nothing less, because,” she said, taking yet another step, “I deserve more.”
“And if I come home stinkin’ drunk and destroy all of the good china?”
“I won’t stand for it. You’ll be out the door as quickly as I can get a security company to the house… or… back alley.”
Jimbo pulled at both sides of his beard with one hand in contemplation. “And you won’t put up with any of my nonsense?”
“Absolutely not. This is not my journey. It is yours, James. I am here to share my life with you, but only if you choose one that is healthy and happy. I’ll never be a convenient whipping post for you, ever again.” As if realizing how that sounded, she leaned to the side, looking past Jimbo’s imposing frame and toward the wide-eyed crowd and said, “Metaphorically speaking. He’s never laid a hand on me.”
Elise was now within five feet of the burly man, her hands clasped in front of her, waiting for his final decision.
Loren checked out the crowd that was still watching with bated breath. Emmy Lou Roberts was sitting at a table, leaning against Pastor Roberts, trying to hear every word. Lenore Sterling was sliding her disgusting but ever-present shrimp mold salad onto the table of side dishes, while Sue Ellen Whalen mindlessly held out a tray not taking her eyes off of the disgruntled couple, while Edgar nervously removed the steaks off the grill as the grillmaster was in the midst of a domestic dispute.
“Well then, Elise, I’ve only got one thing to say.”
She straightened her back as if preparing for an imminent rejection.
Jimbo’s entire countenance softened. “How would you like your steak cooked?”
Everyone exhaled together as Elise brought both hands to her mouth in an attempt to cover an overly zealous grin. Then she lowered them and gave him a pretend scowl. “You know very well that I like my steak well done.”
Jimbo held out his arm, and she graciously took it.
“Well, that’s just plain wrong,” Jimbo said. “You know how I feel about desiccated beef, woman. It’s a culinary abomination.”
“Get used to it,” she replied saucily. “That’s how I like my steak cooked, and that’s how it’s going to be cooked from now on.”
Jimbo patted her on the hand, looking at her as if seeing the woman he had always loved and then some, and Loren thought the woman was going to self-combust with sheer joy.
“Everyone,” Jimbo called out to the alfresco diners as if he hadn’t already captured their attention. “This is my wife, Elise Bartholomew. Elise, this is everyone.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Music is love, love is music, music is life, and I love my life.” — J. McLean
The final casserole dish was washed by Loren and dried by Cara as Alec and Gus finished clearing and storing the last table in the back of Alec’s truck to return to the hardware store first thing in the morning.
Landon had left early, as football season was in full swing and he needed to get a good night’s sleep for an early morning practice the next day. While Loren was picking up leftover plastic plates and cups, she couldn’t help but notice that he gave Cara a quick kiss goodbye after she had walked him to his truck. It wasn’t overly attentive but rather appropriate given the setting, and it obviously wasn’t the first one.
But her heart ached a little when she caught Nate’s despondent expression, having caught the public display of affection as well. Marleigh and Haley continued to play in the backyard, with Nate cautioning them over every potential danger with his head low and his shoulders drooping.
Loren walked backed inside through the side door into the kitchen, where Becky was searching for space in the refrigerator to store leftovers, all while intermittently checking out Gus through the kitchen window with a secretive smile.
Madame had said her last farewells to the multitude of guests, and Loren insisted she take a load off with Levi on the front porch swing while they finished cleaning up.
Jimbo and Elise had also waved their goodbyes, Jimbo apologizing for the reunited couple’s early exit, but obviously eager to discuss their new living arrangements, amongst other things, Loren was sure.
Mercy had called, advising they would be there later in the afternoon, and asked if the family would please wait before going their separate ways. That they had an important announcement to make.
When Nate wrangled the girls inside the kitchen for a drink of water, Loren informed him of Mercy’s mysterious request. He waggled his eyebrows and said, “Wanna double the odds? Winner takes a four-hundred-dollar bond? A college education doesn’t pay for itself, you know.”
She just chuckled as she made her way into the living room, finding Alec standing there with a remorseful look on his face and Amelie in his arms.
“You woke her up!”
Alec bit his lip, guilty as charged. “It wasn’t my fault. She was making these sweet little breathy sighs and I had to have her in my arms. But don’t worry, she’s still out cold. No need to pop out the equipment.”
Relieved she didn’t have to wrestle with her newly acquired breasts the size of melons and a nursing bra that eerily reminded her of a straitjacket, she made her way to the living room to sit down, exhausted from the events of the day, when she heard a vehicle pull into the drive.
With renewed energy and avid curiosity, she exclaimed, “Ooh! It’s Mercy and Trevor. Let’s go outside and see what’s going on.”
She dropped a blanket over Amelie to protect her from an errant breeze as they made their way to the front porch.
Mercy and Trevor emerged from the truck as everyone converged on the front porch. Mercy
gave him a side glance with an eager smile while glimpsing behind her toward the vehicle.
Trevor cleared his throat as they approached, capturing everyone’s attention. “Could we all go inside for a moment? We have some news to share.”
Everyone looked at one another, wordlessly questioning why they had to be inside for the grand announcement but followed instructions as they were also eager for answers.
“Everyone, please move along,” Madame said, “Posthaste please.”
“Nate,” Mercy said, “Could you watch the children?” He gave her a chin lift, fully aware of his role on this auspicious day.
They all made their way inside, with the exception of Nate and the girls. Mercy glanced behind her as Nate opened the back door of the extended cab with no one the wiser.
As soon as everyone was settled, Mercy looked at Trevor as if unsure who would share the big news until he tilted his head her direction.
This was the most excited she had ever been, except for the day they escaped the Center.
“Well, we have some news to share,” she repeated, aware the delay was grating on everyone’s nerves. She smiled at Trevor and held up her hand, showing the room her ring. “It’s official. I have my very own ball and chain.”
Cara and Loren squealed simultaneously and nearly tackled Mercy, checking out her wedding band while everyone took turns congratulating Trevor while wiping their eyes and waiting their turn with Mercy.
Once the room died down, Cara said, “Wait, shouldn’t Nate and the girls be here? I mean, this is their day too.”
Trevor squeezed Mercy’s hand. “They already know.”
“Oh, that sneak!” Loren said, feigning disgust at Nate’s duplicity. “And to think I was this close to taking him up on his bet.”
“Don’t feel bad,” Becky said with a rueful grin. “Gus wasn’t as lucky.”
Gus started to pull out his wallet, muttering, “I could’ve sworn it was the adoption getting finalized.”