Ellen shook herself mentally. Now where did that thought come from? I’m just beginning to know Darren, and there’s certainly been no mention of marriage. I need to stop thinking about something that may never happen, especially if my daughter doesn’t approve of me seeing Darren. She added a bit of cream to her cup and stirred it around. Hopefully, Darren will win Becky’s heart, the way he’s beginning to win mine.
Berlin
Miranda had started clearing the breakfast table when she heard a vehicle pull into the yard.
“Bet that’s Daddy!” Kevin leaped out of his chair and raced for the back door. Debbie was right behind him.
Miranda was scheduled to work this morning, so Trent had agreed to take the kids to their cooking class again. She hoped this time he would stay with them and not go off on his own. When she got home from work this afternoon, she would quiz the kids about what went on.
Miranda placed the dishes in the dishwasher, and as she closed the door, Trent entered the kitchen, both kids clinging to his hands.
“Morning, Miranda. How’s it going?” Trent’s cheerful attitude made her wonder if he was up to something. She still hadn’t asked him about attending the marriage seminar, but she’d wait to do it until he brought the kids home this afternoon.
“It’s going,” she responded. “How are you?”
“Doin’ okay, but I’d be better if…” Trent stopped talking, let go of the kids’ hands, and moved across the room. “If you’re not doing anything this evening, I’d like to take you somewhere so we can talk.”
I bet you would. Miranda bit her lip to keep from verbalizing her thoughts. “What do you want to talk about?”
He nodded with his head in the direction of Kevin and Debbie, who had moved over to stand by the back door. No doubt, they were eager to go.
“Is there a problem?” She spoke quietly.
He shook his head. “Not really, but there are some things we need to discuss.”
I bet he wants to talk about a divorce and doesn’t want our son and daughter to hear. Miranda’s muscles tensed. “I’d need to get a sitter. Sure can’t leave the kids here alone.”
“No, of course not.” Trent fingered the top button of his pale green shirt. “If you can line someone up to stay with the kids, I’d be happy to pay the sitter.”
Miranda tilted her head from side to side, weighing her choices. If she and Trent were alone, regardless of his agenda, it would give her a chance to bring up the marriage seminar. Maybe Trent wants a divorce. If so, he’ll never agree to go to the seminar with me.
“Okay, I’ll go, but not till after the kids are in bed. I don’t want them asking a bunch of questions.”
“That’s fine. I’ll come by around nine. Will that be okay?”
She nodded. “I’ll see you then.”
When Trent went out the door with Debbie and Kevin, Miranda released a lingering sigh. I hope I made the right choice agreeing to go somewhere with Trent this evening. Maybe I should have suggested he talk to me here, after the kids have gone to bed. But then if he should bring up the topic of divorce, it’s not something I want the children to hear. They would have to be told, of course, but Miranda wanted to be the one to tell them. Hopefully, she could do it in a gentle way so they wouldn’t be too stunned and could accept it.
Chapter 31
Walnut Creek
When Darren pulled his SUV into Heidi’s yard, he glanced around, hoping Ellen would be there by now. But there was no sign of her car. He needed an opportunity to talk to her before the class but figured it could wait till later. He just wanted to make sure Ellen and Becky were still planning to go with him and Jeremy to the Firemen’s Festival later today.
Darren set the brake, turned off the engine, and got out of his vehicle. When he turned to shut the door, he was surprised to see Jeremy still sitting in the back seat. “Hey, are you getting out or what?”
“In a minute.” Jeremy fiddled with something in his hand.
“What have you got there?” Darren leaned over and stuck his head inside the rig.
“It’s nothing, Dad. I’m gettin’ out now.” Jeremy hopped out and shut his door. Then, with his hands in his jeans’ pockets, he strolled up to Heidi’s front porch.
Darren closed the door on the driver’s side and followed. He wondered if Jeremy had brought his pocket knife along, even after he’d been asked to leave it at home.
Woof! Woof! The Troyers’ dog bounded over from the other side of the house.
“Hey there, Rusty ole boy.” Darren stopped to pet the dog’s silky head, watching his stubby tail wiggle back and forth. “Are you the official greeter today?”
After a few more barks, Rusty ran up to greet Jeremy, apparently in need of more attention.
As Darren followed his son to the house, he realized the boy was in need of a haircut. Jeremy’s thick hair curled around his ears and had even worked its way under his shirt collar. When Caroline was still alive, she would have noticed our son’s hair way before me and taken him to the barber. I might be an okay dad, but I fall short in the area of mothering.
Allowing his mind to wander a bit, Darren imagined what it would be like to be married to Ellen. How would Jeremy take to the idea of having a stepmom? Would he appreciate all the motherly things she would bring to their home, or would he resent her?
Shaking his thoughts aside, Darren stepped onto the porch, joining his son by the door.
“Did you knock?” Darren asked.
Jeremy nodded.
A few seconds later the door opened. Randy stood looking up at them. “Guess ya must be here for the cookin’ class, huh?”
Darren smiled. “That’s right. Are we the first ones?”
“Yep.” Randy opened the door a bit wider. “Heidi’s in the kitchen. Said I should tell ya to come in.”
“Okay, thanks, we will.”
When they entered the house, Randy darted away, and Jeremy excused himself to use the bathroom. Darren took a seat in the rocking chair. Glancing around the tidy room, his thoughts returned to his wife again. Caroline was an immaculate housekeeper, although she never nagged him about picking up after himself. If things got a little disorganized, she quietly put them away herself.
I should have been more considerate, he thought. Too bad there are no second chances for me. If there were, I’d do a lot of things differently.
Darren got the chair moving and sat quietly, until Jeremy came back to the room and took a seat on the couch.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Someone was obviously at the door. Darren hoped it was Ellen, but before he had a chance to see who it was, Heidi came into the room. “Hello, Darren. Hello, Jeremy. You’re the first ones here, so just make yourself at home. I’m sure the others will be along shortly.” She gave them a brief smile. “A few minutes ago Randy came into the kitchen to let me know you were here, but just now, I thought I heard someone knock on the front door.”
He nodded. “You did.”
Heidi’s cheeks looked flushed, and she fanned her face with both hands. “Guess I’d better see who it is.”
“Guess what?” Velma asked when Heidi greeted her at the door.
“I don’t know. But from the looks of your cheery smile, I’d say it must be something good.”
“Sure is.” Velma looked down at Peggy Ann, standing beside her on the porch. “Me and the kids went to church last Sunday, and I think I’m gonna take ’em another time too.”
Heidi smiled. “That’s good. If you’re planning to go again, you must have enjoyed the service.”
Velma’s head moved up and down. “Can’t speak for the kids, but I sure did.” She lowered her head a bit. “I didn’t know any of the songs, though. They were nothin’ like the ones I sang when I was girl and attended my grandma’s church a few times. Guess after I go awhile, I’ll catch on. Of course, I may try a different church next time.”
“It may be a good idea to try a few until you find a church you are comfortable with.” Heidi opene
d the door wider. “Why don’t you two come inside and join Darren and his son? I assume Eddie didn’t come with you today?”
“Nope. Hank’s home for the weekend, so Eddie’s there with him.” Velma nudged Peggy Ann. “My daughter’s here for the class, but I won’t be comin’ in. Came here to work, not sit around.” She turned toward the yard, then looked back at Heidi again. “Got anything outside ya want me to do? It’s a beautiful day for yard work.”
Heidi tapped her chin. “Well, I suppose you could do some weeding in my vegetable patch. Those sneaky little weeds have a way of coming up a few days after you pull them.”
“Did you and the kids get to do any weeding together? You’d mentioned it when I first started doing some tasks for you.”
“Actually, we did work in the garden one afternoon, but the weeds keep growing, so it needs to be done again.” Heidi stepped out onto the porch and gestured toward the garden plot.
“Well, just point me to your gardening tools and I’ll get started on it.”
“Everything is in the barn. If you’ll follow me there, I’ll show you where I keep everything.”
“Sounds good.” Velma tapped her daughter’s shoulder. “You go on inside now and have a good time. You can show me what ya made after your class is over.”
“Okay, Mama, but can’t I stay outside till everyone gets here?” Peggy Ann tipped her head back to look at Velma. “I wanna see how Randy’s chickens are doing.”
Velma looked at Heidi. “Is that okay with you?”
“Certainly. But if you step inside and speak to Randy and Marsha, I’m sure they’d like to go out to the coop with you.” Heidi chuckled. “Those two never miss a chance to hang out by the chickens.”
Peggy Ann grinned. “I’ll get ’em!” She hurried into the house.
Velma slapped her knee. “That girl. She sure is eager to see them chickens.”
Woof! Rusty plopped down in front of Heidi as they turned to head for the barn.
Heidi leaned down and patted the dog’s head. “Okay, Rusty, you can come with us.”
The dog must have understood, for he jumped up and ran ahead of them all the way to the barn.
“Poor pup.” Heidi looked at Velma. “Since those chickens arrived and are getting all the attention, Rusty’s been feeling kind of left out.”
“He’s a nice dog. How ‘bout he keeps me company while I’m weeding your garden?” Velma asked. “If it’s okay with you, that is.”
“Sure. I’m positive Rusty would love it.”
“I wonder what you’ll be making today,” Ellen said as she turned her car up Heidi’s driveway.
In the back seat, Becky didn’t answer. In fact, she’d said only a few words since they left home this morning. Ellen figured her daughter’s gloomy mood might have something to do with her not wanting to go to the Fireman’s Festival later. Once they got there, and she saw all the festivities, maybe she’d be more interested and have a better disposition. Ellen certainly hoped so, because she looked forward to spending the evening with Darren and wanted it to be pleasant.
She noticed Darren’s SUV parked near Heidi’s house and figured he and Jeremy must be inside. Eager to see him, she hopped out of the car, but Becky remained seated with her arms folded.
Oh, great. Now she’s going into her stubborn mode. “Come on, Becky. Let’s go inside.”
“You go ahead. I’ll be in soon. Randy, Marsha, and that girl with the pigtails are out by the chicken coop. I’m gonna go say hello.”
“Okay.” Ellen closed her door. It was nice to see her daughter wanting to socialize with the other children.
“The last time you were here, did your cooking teacher say what you might be making today?” Denise asked her daughter when they arrived at Heidi’s and had gotten out of the car. “I don’t recall.”
Kassidy lifted her gaze toward the sky. “Are you hard of hearing?”
Denise pointed a finger at Kassidy. “Don’t use that tone with me, missy. I asked you a question, so please answer me respectfully.”
“No, Heidi never said what we’d be making today.” Kassidy’s upper lip curled. “It better be something good, though.”
“I’m sure whatever she teaches you to make will be tasty.”
When they got out of the car, Denise noticed Peggy Ann, Randy, Marsha, and Becky standing outside the coop. “Before we go inside, why don’t we go over and see how much Randy and Marsha’s chickens have grown?” she suggested.
“Why?” Kassidy wrinkled her nose. “It stinks over there, and chickens are dumb.”
“Oh, really? Well, you don’t complain when you’re eating their eggs.”
“That’s different. Eating store-bought eggs is not the same as standing beside a smelly coop and staring at a bunch of dumb little clucking birds.”
“Well, nevertheless, let’s take a walk over there and say hello to the children who apparently do enjoy looking at chickens.” Denise guided her daughter in that direction.
“Oh, no!” Kassidy pointed, then whirled around. “Here comes that mutt.”
Denise looked where her daughter was pointing and saw Rusty running ahead of Heidi and Velma, who had just stepped out of the barn area.
Denise put her hand on Kassidy’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Heidi’s dog is friendly. Just be nice to him, and you’ll see how fast he warms up to you.”
“We’ll see.” Kassidy trudged toward the chicken coop as Rusty ran past, with a wagging tail.
“It’s nice to see you both again.” Heidi called, before gesturing to the coop. “Those chickens are going to get spoiled with all the attention they’re getting.”
“You’re probably right.” Denise cupped her hands around her mouth. “We’ll be in shortly.”
“Take your time. We have a few minutes before class starts.”
As Denise walked toward the children, she glanced across the way and noticed Velma, pulling weeds in the Troyers’ garden. She could barely hear the woman’s soothing voice as she held a one-way conversation with the dog, who had made himself comfortable a few feet away. Rusty must have enjoyed the attention, as he tilted his head as though listening.
Denise had no more than stepped up to the chicken enclosure, when Kassidy looked over at Randy and blurted, “I don’t know what you think is so special about your chickens. They’re just dumb birds who eat bugs and scratch around in the dirt.”
Randy’s chin quivered. “I like my hinkel.”
“Hinkel? What’s a hinkel? Is that anything like a wrinkle?” Kassidy got right in his face.
Before Denise could say or do anything to correct her daughter, Becky stepped up to Kassidy and bumped her arm. “That was mean. Tell Randy you’re sorry.”
Kassidy stood rigid and sneered at her. “I am not sorry, and I don’t have to say I am, either. Besides, I wasn’t talking to you.”
“Well, I’m talking to you, and you had better apologize.” Becky clenched her fists.
Denise held her breath, certain that her daughter would back down. But instead of telling Randy she was sorry, Kassidy grabbed a handful of Becky’s hair and yanked. The next thing Denise knew, Becky retaliated. After a few whoops and hollers, both girls were on the ground, rolling around. The other children stood with their mouths gaping open, except for Marsha, who clung to her brother’s arm and sobbed.
“Stop! Stop that, you two!” Denise yelled.
Chapter 32
Hearing a ruckus outside, along with Rusty’s barking, Ellen and Heidi rushed out the front door. Ellen could hardly believe her eyes. Her normally timid daughter was on the ground in a scuffle with Kassidy, while Randy and Peggy Ann looked on as though in disbelief. From where she stood, it appeared that Marsha was crying.
Ellen’s fingers touched her parted lips. What in the world could have brought this on? I’ve never known my girl to provoke a fight, much less do battle with someone like this. Did Kassidy do something to hurt Becky?
Ellen dashed across the yard, with He
idi running along beside her. She saw Rusty down on his front paws barking at both of the girls. Denise shouted at Kassidy to stop, and as they drew closer to the area outside the chicken pen, Ellen did the same. But the hair pulling, slapping, and rolling about continued. Ellen was beside herself. Never had she been so stunned or humiliated by her daughter’s actions.
With a determined set of her jaw, Heidi clapped her hands and spoke in short, strong sentences. “Girls, you need to stop fighting right now. This is wrong, and it’s not the way to settle a disagreement.”
To Ellen’s amazement, Becky let go of Kassidy’s hair and Kassidy let go of hers. Then both red-faced girls stood up and moved to stand by their mothers.
“What is the meaning of this, Becky Blackburn?” Ellen struggled to keep from shouting. “I have never known you to do something like this.” She gestured to the other children, huddled nearby. “And what kind of an example are you setting?”
“I didn’t provoke it, Mom. She did.” Becky pointed to Kassidy.
“You’re the one who started it.” Kassidy, breathing hard, sneered at Becky.
“Did not. You were making fun of Randy’s chickens, and when I defended them, you grabbed hold of my hair.” Becky blinked rapidly, placing both hands against her flaming red cheeks, and Rusty started barking again.
“She ain’t lyin’.” Peggy Ann pointed at Kassidy. “What she said about Randy’s chickens made me so mad, I felt like punchin’ her in the nose.”
“Nobody should be punching or making fun of anyone.” Heidi leaned down and took hold of Rusty’s collar, which helped him settle down. “It was wrong for you two young ladies to become physical.”
“I tried to stop them,” Denise interjected. “But they wouldn’t listen.” She wiped her brow where perspiration had gathered, and looked at Ellen. “I apologize for my daughter’s behavior.”
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