by Leger, Lori
Susan joined in on the conversation. “That’s right. But it turned out this girl is a master at detecting dialects. She connected him to the Chicago area, and sure enough, there were some unsolved cases with the same MO. She also detected a residual Minnesota accent, and guess what? More unsolved cases and same MO. Not a speck of evidence, but because of one blind woman, they may be close to breaking this case.”
“But he’s still on the loose? Oh, hell, that’s not good,” Katie admitted. “How far is her rent house from yours, Sam?”
“One house over and opposite side of the street. We can stand on our front porches and yell at each other.”
Josh nudged Sam. “Man, you think you’ll be able to stand being that far away from her every night?”
Sam grinned at the man. “Carrie omitted your mastery of sarcasm.”
Josh bowed his head in utter defeat. “My finest quality. I’ve worked decades honing that particular skill. I foresee imminent castigation.”
Sam joined in with several other siblings’ laughter.
“But seriously, did you have to pull some strings to find a place that close to you?”
Sam recalled the serendipitous chain of events that made this come about. “I’ve known her landlord for years, but I swear it all just kind of fell in my lap. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t thrilled at the turn out.”
Several minutes later, Carrie burst out of her mother’s bedroom, excited and grinning like the cat who just discovered a private stash of canaries. “Grant and the twins are meeting us in Jennings at four o’clock. They’re bringing some of my furniture and anything else that can fit in the truck.” She clapped her hands together excitedly and beamed at Sam. “They want to spend the night at the new place with me tonight.”
Sam reveled at the pure joy in Carrie’s face. She practically glowed at the thought of being with her children in their new home for the first time. Praying he could keep that look on her face, he nodded. “I’m ready when you are.”
Carrie turned to her mother. “Sorry we have to eat and run like this, Mom.”
Everyone crowded around Carrie when Elaine put the money and checks into her hands. “Here, honey. This is to help you get started.”
“It’s from all of us,” Katie explained. “It’s a gift, not a loan. Use it however you need it.”
Carrie blinked back tears of gratitude as she calculated the results of her family’s generosity. “We could get by with a lot less than this.”
“If that’s true, I could use a couple hundred,” Josh said.
“Me too,” Mack said, grabbing for the money.
“God, y’all are idiots!” Christie slapped at her brothers’ hands. “Just take it, Carrie. We all hope it’ll make the transition easier for you and the kids.”
Carrie couldn’t speak because of the lump in her throat. Finally, she was able to croak out a weak, “Thank you.”
Josh lightened the mood by whispering loudly to Carrie. “Hey, sis, about that ‘it’s a gift—not a loan’ comment? I’m sorry, but I need my sixteen dollars and thirty two cents back ASAP.”
“Could you possibly be any more obnoxious than you already are?” Christie accentuated the question with several sharp jabs to his shoulder.
Josh gave a deep chuckle. “There’s always hope, little sister.” He made a show of rubbing his shoulder. “You really need to find another outlet for all that animosity, Christine.”
“I know,” she groaned. “I’m praying it comes in the form of a man.”
Sam backed-up his truck to Mack’s house next door to Elaine’s. Within fifteen minutes, the queen size mattress, headboard, and rails were loaded and tied down in the back of his pick-up.
As Sam waited for Carrie, Mack approached him, his hand extended.
“Thanks for doing this for her, Sam, we appreciate it.”
“I’m more than happy to, Mack. I was worried this morning it wouldn’t happen.”
Mack guffawed loudly. “Yeah, Christie told us all about that. Little sister had you scratching, did she? That’s good. It means she’s getting some of her old spunk back.” He shook his head. “She was a different person with Dave, you know. That son of a bitch did a number on her self-esteem. Make sure you treat her right, okay Sam?”
“You have my word.” He started his truck and backed slowly out of the driveway.
Carrie ran out to meet him, brimming with excitement. “You remember my mom mentioning Vivienne McAllister? Her son, Scott, will be meeting us at Christie’s. He and his brothers are loading up his trailer with the two sets of bedroom furniture Vivi is giving me. Red’s going to follow us to Kenton and after we unload the trailer, he’ll head back to LSU.”
Sam nodded. “These McAllister’s are close friends of the family, I presume?”
“Vivi is my mom’s second cousin, actually. I used to babysit for the kids when I was in junior high and high school. You can’t ask for nicer people. The kids are all red haired and blue eyed, like their dad, smart as whips, and sweet, all eight of them. They’re good people.”
Once they got to Christie’s, she filled her suitcases with her belongings. The twins had most of their clothes with them at their dad’s already. Between Carrie and Sam, they had her car loaded down in thirty minutes. Sam had just closed her trunk, when a full-size truck hauling an enclosed trailer pulled up to the intersection and honked the horn.
Carrie waved at the driver. “Here’s Scott.”
The truck pulled over next to Christie’s drive. Sam watched as a tall, buff young man in his early to mid-twenties jumped out and bounded up to give Carrie a big bear hug.
“God, it’s good to see you, Carrie!”
“Scottie!” She hugged him back. “Thank you for going to all this trouble for me.”
“No problem. The folks would have emptied out the house for you. Man, they’re proud of you.” He turned toward Sam. “Hey, I’m Scott McAllister, but my friends call me Red.” He pointed to his dark auburn hair. “I don’t think it needs any explanation.”
Sam laughed and gave the young man a firm handshake. “Sam Langley, Red. It’s good to meet you. I’ve heard good things about you and your family.”
Red gave him a broad smile. “Thanks, Sam. We all think the world of Carrie, you know.”
When Carrie went inside to make a final run-through of Christie’s place, Red turned to Sam. “You plan on treating her right?”
Sam’s gaze followed Carrie into the house. “Only for the rest of my life.” He turned his gaze to the young man, who stood a couple of inches taller than himself. “I’m crazy about her.”
Red flashed him a grin. “So I’ve heard. How does she feel?”
Sam turned as Carrie locked Christie’s front door and made her way toward them. “She won’t say yet, but I’m working on it.”
They drove their vehicles to the small town, where Jen and Tom were waiting for them at Ruth’s place.
“Now who lives here?” Sam asked Carrie as they met in front of the large two-story home.
“My cousin, Ruth, lives here with her husband and two kids. Her dad is Donald, my mom’s baby brother.”
Once Carrie made introductions, Ruth led them to the three extra sets of living room furniture stored in her spacious home.
Carrie stared, dumbfounded, at the choices. “It’s like a furniture show room in here. How did you accumulate all this?”
“I keep my ears open,” Ruth said. “You’d be surprised how many people get tired of their good quality furniture before it wears out. I’ve got the room for it, so why not take it? Somebody can always use it.”
“I’m glad you do, or we’d be sitting on lawn chairs,” Carrie admitted, before choosing a set for her home.
Within thirty minutes, the men had a very nice couch, two matching chairs, and a set of end tables loaded into Red’s spacious trailer.
Carrie thanked Ruth once more as they left to meet up with Grant and the twins. By the time they pulled up at the designate
d area, her kids were waiting with Grant’s truck loaded down. Carrie scanned the items in the truck-bed, and gave her kids a big thumbs-up at the sight of her favorite armoire and nightstand.
The caravan of five vehicles drove off in a northerly direction, arriving in Kenton within a half hour.
Grant and the twins piled out of his truck and went straight to their mom for hugs and introductions.
“Hey, Mr. Sam,” Grant said, shaking his hand firmly.
“Nice to meet you, Grant.” Sam grinned as he checked out Carrie’s kids. “I’ve heard good things about you three.”
“Yeah, we’ve heard some pretty good things about you, too,” Grant said.
Gretchen stepped forward. “Are you my mom’s boyfriend, or what?”
Sam scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Well, I’d like to say yes, but it kind of depends on you, your sister, and your brother.”
Carrie stepped forward, saving Sam from more of Gretchen’s outspoken grilling. “Okay, we’ve got to unload these trucks before dark.”
“Yeah, so you can enjoy the first night in your new house with your mom tonight.” Sam glanced over at his own house. “Look, it’s more free labor.” He waved to Nick, who was standing out on the porch. Within seconds, he was making more introductions.
“I wonder if she’s planning to bring Toto here.”
Sam turned to Carrie’s twins and addressed Lauren’s comment. “Go check out the backyard.” He followed them and pointed out its qualities. “It’s fenced in and the screened-in back porch is plenty big enough for him to stay when it’s cold and rainy. I could even build him his own dog house to put back there. This place is perfect for Toto.”
Lauren nodded. “I guess so, but we’ll miss him at Dad’s.”
He nodded, hoping to score some points. “I bet you will. But just think how much it would mean to have a bit of home here with your mom. And when you’re here with her, you’ll have Toto, also.”
“Yeah, and Dad still has Lucas,” Gretchen added. “Toto found Mom when he was a puppy, so it’s only fair that she gets to keep him.”
Lauren turned away and headed for the back door. “It’s not fair.”
Gretchen’s apologetic gaze landed on Sam. “She’s still kind of mad about all this, but she’ll get over it.” She followed her sister into the house.
Lauren’s statement settled on his chest like an anchor, a heavy reminder that nothing had changed. If her children didn’t eventually accept this—well, he didn’t want to think about the rest of it.
Carrie joined him a moment later, her voice echoing his concern. “I hope the kids will like it here.”
He pulled her into his arms for a quick hug. “It’ll be fine, you’ll see. Now come on inside and show us where you want everything.”
By six o’clock, all five vehicles were unloaded and furniture placed where Carrie wanted it. Beds were made and ready to be slept in thanks to extra sets of sheets and blankets Carrie’s children had packed. By eight p.m., everything else was unpacked and placed. The extra help left for their own homes, with Carrie’s profuse thanks and a promise to cook them a meal at the first opportunity.
The four teenagers sat in the living room, snacking on junk food, comparing schools, teachers, and friends. Sam and Carrie walked from room to room, Carrie with her pad and pen again, adding to her previous list of things she’d need for the house.
“I need so many things. Thank God Len left the utilities on in here,” she admitted. “I have four hundred dollars put aside for deposits, but I’ll have to hit the stores for a few things tomorrow. The kids thought to bring bedding, towels, and wash cloths. At least we can take baths tonight.” She turned to Sam. “Are there any grocery stores open?”
“The convenience stores, but it’d be cheaper to wait and hit Market Basket tomorrow.”
“I need to feed my kids some kind of supper. I’m not worried about breakfast. I’ll have time to go shopping tomorrow morning before any of them crawl out of bed.”
“Why don’t y’all come on over and I’ll heat up our leftovers,” Sam suggested. “I’ve got enough to feed an army.”
She gave him a brief hug. “That’d be nice. Thanks.”
After walking over to Sam’s, the teens headed to the living room with plates of reheated leftovers to watch MTV, talking and joking like they’d known each other for longer than a few hours. Sam and Carrie settled at the small dining room table to talk quietly among themselves.
She pushed her food around with her fork, too excited to eat. “I feel strange, like I’m living someone else’s life.”
“It’s your life, just different.”
Carrie dropped her fork on the paper plate. “I just hope it’s better for them.” She nodded toward her children.
He placed his hand on hers. “It’ll be fine.”
“God, I hope so. A week ago, I would never have thought it possible this could be happening tonight.”
Within minutes, their kids clambered back into the kitchen with empty plates.
“Mom, is it all right if we go take a spin around town in my truck?” Grant asked. “Nick wants to show us around.”
Carrie gave Sam a questioning look and he nodded. “Go ahead, but be careful.”
She helped Sam put the food away and pulled out her steadily lengthening list. “Storage containers and bags, a garbage can and liners, soap, dishwashing liquid—at least Dave let one of the TV’s go from the house.” She looked up at Sam. “I want to go back to my place. Want to come with me?”
“Sure,” he said. “Let me get some laundry going, then I’ll go meet you.”
Carrie closed Sam’s door behind her and stepped into the brisk winter air. She walked slowly toward her new place and stopped at the intersection to observe her surroundings. Her place was the one house as far as she could see down both streets without Christmas decorations of some kind. I’ll get a wreath for the door. She looked at the door in question and couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll get a wreath for my door,” she whispered.
The occasional faint boom of bass speakers from highway traffic penetrated the peaceful Christmas evening. Sam was right about it being a quiet neighborhood. The sweet, woodsy aroma of oak logs burning in a fireplace reached her, and she searched the area, wondering which house it came from.
She continued the walk to her new-to-her home, noting the kids had left the lights on in their bedrooms, as usual. Obviously, it was time to reissue the penny-pinching speech. She used her key to unlock the door. As she turned on a lamp, the strangeness of the place hit her full on. Other than a few items from home, nothing seemed familiar.
She searched out those items as she walked through the bedrooms the kids chose for themselves. She peaked inside one, smiling at the familiar mess of a portable boom box with CD’s scattered on the dresser, a McAllister donation. She flipped off the light switch and headed into the other room, already littered with posters and scrapbooks, another familiar mess. Grant’s old futon was set up in the equally sized office space/bedroom. He’d sworn it was all he needed, along with the computer desk, printer, and PC. She switched off that light, then did a walk-through of the kitchen.
Carrie frowned at her own reflection in the large, bare, glass of the window before reaching over to turn off the light. She stood before it, feeling somewhat less like a mannequin in a storefront window. A slight movement to the left had her body clenching with awareness as a dark shadow took shape, then disappeared, swallowed up by the even darker shadows of the yard. She recoiled from the window, then jumped when Sam stepped through the front door.
“What happened to the lights?”
Her breath rushed out in relief as she switched on the lamp. “I felt like a window display. I turned them off.”
“What happened?”
She placed a hand over her pounding heart. “It’s nothing, I guess.”
He placed both hands on her tension-filled shoulders. “Tell me.”
“You didn’t go out in
the backyard first did you?” She asked anyway, even knowing he couldn’t have been two places at once.
His brow darkened. “No. What did you see?”
She waved it off. “I’m sure it’s nothing but my paranoia at being in a new place. And that damn window.”
Sam searched the darkness, but didn’t see anything. “You got anything big enough to cover this one?”
She shook her head. “Not unless I strip a bed.”
“I’ll be back with something to use until you get curtains for that thing.” He turned when he got to the door. “Is that on your list?”
She stuck out her tongue at his sarcasm. “Don’t knock my list making abilities.” She waited by the locked door until Sam returned with a king size flat sheet a few minutes later. Together they tacked it up over the window.
Carrie backed up to observe their handiwork and breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s better.” She pulled the sheet aside to stare into the darkness. “I sure thought I saw something out there.”
“It was probably a stray dog.”
“Inside the fenced-in yard? Grant checked it for gaps and said there weren’t any, and I latched it myself earlier.”
“Let’s check again,” Sam said, as they headed outside. He raised the closed latch in a smooth, silent motion and lowered it again. “Maybe one of the kids left it open and the wind just blew it closed.”
Carrie’s nose wrinkled at an odd chemical smell. “Did you oil the latch? It squeaked when I tried it earlier.”
“It wasn’t me. It must have been Tom or Red before they left.”
They walked back inside and Carrie brushed her hands over her arms at the chill in the air.
Sam pulled her close. “Come here and let me warm you up.” He rubbed his hands briskly along her arms and back. “How’s that?”
“Much better.” She snuggled for two seconds before spying a sales catalogue in the stack of mail the kids brought for her. Twisting out of Sam’s arms, she reached for it. “Oh, yeah! After Christmas white sales.”