For Sale By Owner

by Marlene Bateman

  Another two times around, and Sara said, “Let me try it on my own now.” She skated backwards, proud of how well she was doing. But when she glanced over to see if Corey was watching, she straightened her knees too much and fell. Corey raced over to help her up. Sara’s cheeks flushed from cold and embarrassment.

  “You’ll catch on,” Corey said kindly. “It took me a while before I got it.”

  But she’d had enough and started skating forward. At least she felt competent at this. They skated for a long time, then Sara said, “My ankles are tired.”

  “Mine aren’t.”

  “That’s because you turn them out all floppy-like. You should keep them straight.” When Corey frowned, looking like he was about to disagree, Sara said quickly, “Let’s have some hot chocolate and then go for a walk.”

  “Okay.” After they put their boots on, Sara held the cups while Corey poured. Then he got another cookie out. “I’m glad you’re going to move here. When are you coming?”

  “I don’t know. I guess when Mom finds a house. Uncle Tom said we could live with him for a while, but my mom hasn’t decided. She said we might stay in Chicago and she’d drive to work until she finds a house. But it’s a long drive. I’d like to stay with my grandma and grandpa, but I don’t think we will.”

  Corey gazed at her, puzzled. “Why not?”

  She shouldn’t have said anything. It was too hard and too embarrassing to talk about. But she had to say something. Corey was waiting. Finally she said, “My mom’s mad at my grandpa.” She sipped her hot chocolate then added, “He said something that hurt her feelings.” Sara got a cookie for herself and handed another to Corey.

  “Do you ever see your dad?” he asked hesitantly.

  “Oh yeah, every other week. But I don’t like leaving my mom alone. It makes her sad.” Corey nodded as if he knew all about it. His sympathetic expression made her go on. “She was sad for a long time when my daddy left.”

  “Why did he go?”

  “He liked someone else better.” Even now, Sara couldn’t understand it. Sometimes it made her chest ache to think her dad liked someone else so much that he didn’t want to live with her and her mom.

  “Did they fight a lot? Corey asked munching on his cookie. “One of my friends told me his parents are getting a divorce, and he says they fight all the time.”

  “Not too much, but sometimes I’d hear them at night.”

  “What did they fight about?” Corey was curious.

  “Lots of different things.” Sara shrugged. It was impossible to keep track of them all. “Mom didn’t like him being gone so much. And they’d fight about having a baby. Mom wanted to have one, but he didn’t.” Sara sighed. “It would have been fun to have a baby sister.”

  “Is your mom still sad?”

  “No. Well, sometimes. She used to come home from work grumpy. There was a man there who was mean to her. I think that’s why she quit. She got a new job, but I think she’s scared.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Corey put his head to one side. “Maybe it’s like going to a new school. When we moved here, I didn’t like that.” He put the thermos away, and when they stood Sara shook the tarp so crumbs went flying.

  “The mice can come and eat the crumbs,” Sara said, then folded it into a neat square.

  Corey put the backpack on top of the folded tarp. “Let’s leave our skates here too, so we don’t have to carry them. We can pick them up on our way back.”

  It was a good idea. They set off and turned right at the main trail. The trail wasn’t as well-trodden as the path to the pond had been. “I guess not too many people come this way.”

  When they came to a fork, Corey pointed to the left at an unbroken path. You could only tell it was a trail by the shallow indentation of snow. “Let’s go that way.”

  Sara hesitated, eyeing the thick trees all around. “Do you think there are any bears around here?”

  “Nah.” But Corey glanced around as if making sure. “Come on. Let’s go this way, and at the next fork you can pick which way to go.”

  “What if we get lost?”

  “We can’t get lost; we can follow our footprints.”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  They went on, with Sara following Corey as he plunged ahead. It was fun at first. And Corey seemed to be having such a good time that Sara didn’t want to tell him that her legs were tired. But he went on and on, and finally she had to say something.

  “Corey, stop! Let’s go back.”

  “Just a little farther. Come on, Sara, I want to show you a neat place. If I can find it. At least it looked neat in the summer.”

  That reminded Sara of the little hut she’d found. “Me and my mom found a cool place. I’ll show it to you on our way back.”

  They came to a large tree that had fallen across their path. Putting their hands on the trunk to keep their balance, they stepped between the branches, which were partially covered by snow. Corey tripped on a branch after climbing over the trunk, and tumbled to the ground. Then Sara lost her balance and fell. Laughing, they got up and brushed the snow off themselves.

  They went on, zigzagging around bushes and trees and tripping over hidden obstacles. Finally Sara planted her feet. She’d had enough. “Come on. Let’s go back.”

  Corey turned yearning eyes at the untrammeled woods before him but apparently heard the note of finality in her voice.

  When she added, “It’s getting late too,” he sighed deeply and turned around.

  They started back. When they reached the fallen tree, Sara stepped between two branches and reached out to put her hands on the trunk as she moved forward. But her left foot became wedged at the crotch of the branches. Unable to stop because of her momentum, Sara tumbled awkwardly—falling to the side—her ankle twisting as the branches held it firmly in place. Crying out as she fell, Sara twisted her body around to relieve the pressure on her ankle.

  Corey rushed to help. Seeing her leg at such an odd angle, he tried to turn it, which made Sara cry out even more. Finally, with Corey’s help, she lifted herself enough to ease her foot out. Tears rolled down her face as Sara clutched her ankle.

  After a few minutes of anxious waiting, Corey asked, “Can you stand?”

  She rose with Corey’s help, but the pain made her dizzy. White lipped, Sara sat abruptly. Fear fluttered up inside. “I—I don’t think I can walk.”

  “I bet you sprained your ankle. We’ll wait until it feels better.”

  Sara nodded and wiped her cheeks. After ten minutes, she was ready to try again.

  “Put your arm around my neck and lean on me,” Corey said.

  She stood on one leg but after a minute shook her head. “I feel dizzy. I need to sit down.”

  Corey’s worried expression as he looked around made Sara fearful he was watching for bears.

  “If I had a sled, you could sit on it and I could pull you out.”

  Sara wished they had one. Then after her head felt clear for a while, Sara asked Corey to help her stand again. This time, she was hopeful. “I’m not dizzy anymore, and it doesn’t hurt as bad as it did before.”

  However, when she put weight on it, the sharp pain caused her to cry out. “What am I going to do?” Sara asked fearfully. “I can’t walk.”

  “Put your arm around my neck. I’ll help.”

  They took a few steps. Sara bit her lip and tried hard to be brave but stopped. “I can’t do it—it hurts too much!” She looked around at the deepening shadows, fear rising and making a hard knot in her chest. “What are we going to do?”

  “I’ll go back to your grandma’s house and get help.”

  The idea of staying behind alone in the woods where there could be bears threw Sara into a panic. “No! You can’t leave me!”

  “I won’t be gone long. I’ll run all the way!” Corey spoke urgently, trying to convince her to let him go.

  “No, no, don’t leave me,” Sara begged. Although Corey
told her there weren’t bears around, he could be wrong. And this part of the woods looked like the kind of place bears might like. No, she couldn’t stay here alone. If an animal came, she couldn’t even run. But what could she do? Then Sara had an idea.

  “Can we say a prayer? Mom says to pray if I’m scared.”

  “Um, sure. Go ahead.”

  Sara had hoped he would say it, but she folded her arms, leaned on Corey, and began. “Dear Heavenly Father, I hurt my ankle and can’t walk. Will Thou please help us so we can get out of the woods? And that no bears will come? In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” When she unfolded her arms, Sara gave Corey a confident nod. “Okay, let’s try again.”

  Sara put her left arm around Corey’s neck. Leaning on him heavily, they began moving along the trail, a few difficult inches at a time.

  * * *

  4 The recipe for Apple Cider Cookies can be found at the end of the book.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Jared led the way down the trail, occasionally slipping as he hurried along with Kenzie close behind. A few minutes later, Jared stopped. “I think I hear something.”

  Putting a hand on his arm, Kenzie shouted, “Sara! Corey!”

  There was a faint sound. It had to be them. They hurried on—faster now. Soon, a faint answer came in response to their cries.

  “Dad? Is that you?” It was Corey.

  Jared began running—shining his light in front of them. Kenzie kept up with him. In a few moments, their flashlights illuminated two small figures. Reaching them, Jared bent to hug them, and as he did, Corey bumped Sara. Off balance, Sara stumbled and cried out.

  Grabbing her so she didn’t fall, Kenzie asked urgently, “What’s the matter, baby?”

  “I hurt my ankle.”

  “Her leg got stuck in some branches, and she fell,” Corey explained.

  Allen knelt by his granddaughter. “I bet you sprained your ankle.”

  “I was going to run back and get help, but Sara didn’t want to stay alone.” Corey’s voice trembled a bit. “I tried to help her walk.”

  “You were very brave to stay and help her,” Kenzie told him.

  “It hurts a lot to walk,” Sara sniffed, tears beginning to stream down.

  Pulling off his glove, Allen wiped her tears away. “I bet it does. We’re here now, though, and it’s going to be all right now. But you can’t cry, or else you’ll have icicles hanging from your chin.”

  His words brought a small smile to Sara’s wan face.

  There was no sense trying to take Sara’s boot off, not here in the cold. Allen handed his flashlight to Kenzie and gathered Sara in his arms. There was a glint of tears on Kenzie’s face as she kissed her daughter, then they started back with Allen leading the way.

  It was easier going once they reached the main trail. At the turn off to the pond, Allen told them, “You go on and get Sara to the house. I’ll get the backpack and skates.” Jared held out his arms, and Allen gently handed over his granddaughter.

  Holding Corey’s hand, Kenzie shone her light on the path ahead of Jared. Two tall figures appeared ahead of them. The bigger one was Tom, followed by his oldest son, Adam.

  “Mom called me,” Tom explained as he hurried toward them. “What happened?”

  “Sara twisted her ankle,” Kenzie said.

  Rushing to open the gate, Adam held it as they spilled through.

  In the house, Elaine and Mandy jumped to their feet when Jared came in carrying Sara. “She’s all right,” Jared reassured them as he laid the girl on the couch, “but she might have sprained her ankle.”

  Soon Allen came in, limping.

  “You too?” Elaine asked in surprise.

  “I tripped and fell, but I’m all right.” Allen hobbled to the fireplace and threw on more logs until there was a roaring blaze.

  Although Kenzie was careful as she took off her daughter’s boots and socks, Sara still cried out. Jared eyed the ankle, which was swollen and blue, while Mandy ran to get ice.

  “I think you’d better have that checked out,” Tom advised.

  Kenzie nodded in agreement as she took a dry pair of socks from her mother. She only put the left sock on partway. “There we go,” Kenzie said. “Now your toes won’t freeze.”

  Jared asked Kenzie, “Do you want me to drive you to the hospital?”

  “That would be great.”

  “Dad and I are coming too,” Elaine told Kenzie, then looked at Jared. “What about Corey?”

  His son had been standing back, watching everything with wide eyes. “Can I come?” he asked his father.

  “I don’t think so. Trips to the ER can take hours and hours.”

  Mandy jumped in. “Why don’t you come home with us, Corey. Brian and Hilary would love to see you. If you went to the hospital, you wouldn’t be able to go back with Sara. All you’d be able to do is sit and wait, and that can get pretty boring.” Mandy clinched the deal when she said, “On the way home, we’ll stop and get hamburgers and fries for dinner.”

  Corey’s face brightened, and Jared’s problem was solved.

  Then Mandy said to Jared. “You probably won’t get back until late—what about having Corey spend the night at our house? We could stop at your place and get his pajamas and toothbrush.”

  “That would be great. Thanks.”

  Tom, Mandy, Adam, and Corey left, and Allen was locking the back door when Kenzie spoke up, “I think we ought to give Sara a blessing before we leave.” She turned to her daughter. “Would you like one?”

  When Sara nodded, Allen went to get the consecrated oil. Kenzie and her mother stood side by side with folded arms, while Jared anointed. Then Allen gave his granddaughter a blessing. After the amen, Kenzie wiped tears from her cheeks.

  Elaine tucked a blanket around Sara as Jared scooped her up, and they were off. On the way, Kenzie distracted Sara by pointing out Christmas lights and displays of lighted deer and sleighs.

  At the hospital, Jared carried Sara inside, placing her carefully on her grandmother’s lap. Kenzie filled out the paperwork, and after a long wait, a cheerful nurse in blue scrubs came with a wheelchair. Kenzie and Elaine went back with Sara.

  Time dragged—it felt like a month before Kenzie came out and told them that the X-rays confirmed a bad sprain.

  “That’s what I thought,” Allen said.

  Jared asked, “How’s she doing?”

  “Though she be but little, she is fierce!” Kenzie quoted. Jared stared, and Kenzie quickly explained, “Sorry, I have a thing for Shakespeare quotes. But Sara is amazing. She hasn’t complained about anything—she simply grits her teeth when it hurts.”

  “A real trooper,” Allen said.

  Kenzie went back, leaving Jared and Allen to settle in their chairs. After a while, Allen fell asleep, snoring like a freight train. Jared watched a tremendously boring TV show and dozed off a few times himself.

  When Kenzie tapped him on the shoulder, Jared jumped. “We’re all done,” she said. Sara sat nearby in a wheelchair—her ankle wrapped securely. A slender young nurse with short brown hair and a friendly expression stood behind her, holding the handles of the wheelchair.

  The nurse looked at them brightly. “Whoever wants to drive this pretty young lady home can get your vehicle and bring it around to the ER doors.”

  “That’ll be me.” Jared practically ran out to his Ford Explorer.

  Once everyone was inside the vehicle and buckled up, Elaine asked Sara, “Are you hungry?”

  The answer was affirmative.

  “Do you want me to stop and get hamburgers?” Jared asked, glancing over his shoulder at Elaine and Kenzie before he pulled out of the parking lot.

  Elaine shook her head. “Not when I’ve got soup and rolls at home. I finished making the soup and baked the rolls while you were off looking for Sara and Corey.”

  Allen held the door open for Jared, who laid Sara on the couch. Kenzie got several pillows to go under her leg, reminding Sara the doctor wanted he
r ankle elevated above her head for a few days. Still limping, Allen put more wood on to revive the fire. Kenzie brought over Poppy the Penguin for Sara and sat with her while Jared helped Elaine butter rolls and reheat the soup. Although he’d called from the hospital to check on Corey, Jared called again. Mandy said he was asleep.

  The clam chowder was delicious, easily as good as what they served at the café. The warmth of the house was inviting. They put their food on trays and took it into the front room to be near Sara. Allen brought over the ottoman so Sara could prop up her leg while she ate. As they enjoyed their food, the flames danced, throwing patterns on the walls. Jared asked for a second bowl, glad they hadn’t stopped for a burger.

  When Sara’s eyelids began to droop, Jared took her into the bedroom. He waited in the hall as Kenzie got her ready for bed. Then Kenzie came out, shutting the door softly. Her face looked all teary and fragile.

  “Is everything all right?” Jared asked, concerned.

  “She’s fine.” Kenzie’s voice was tremulous though, and suddenly her eyes brimmed with tears.

  “Hey, she’s okay,” Jared said, taking a step toward her. “It’s all over.” Kenzie moved into his arms, and he held her as she cried softly. He rubbed her back, trying not to think about how good it felt to have her body pressed against his.

  When Kenzie pulled back, he hated to release her. “Sorry about that,” Kenzie said, wiping her eyes. “I don’t know why I lost it there.”

  “Delayed reaction. It’s understandable.” He looked into her eyes, thinking how easy it would be to get lost in them. She, too, seemed affected and ducked her head shyly. He took her hand and led her back to the family room.

  “How’s Sara?” Elaine asked.

  “Nearly asleep.”

  “I think I’ll look in on her.” She rose and moved toward the hall.

  “Mom,” Kenzie protested, “I just left her. She’s fine.”

  “I just want to peek at her.” As Elaine slipped from the room, Allen smiled then went to the fireplace. Grabbing the poker, he pushed the logs around to settle them.

  Jared and Kenzie sat close together on the couch. He could feel the warmth of her body and wished they were alone.