Woodlands

by Robin Jones Gunn

  Leah turned the hose onto the grass and began to water the lawn. The tormenting thoughts of Seth, Collin, and Franklin’s estate had followed her to the garden sanctuary, and they didn’t seem eager to leave. Leah knew the main conflict was deciding whom she was going to believe. It still seemed impossible to her that Seth could have filed bankruptcy and had a police record. She preferred to believe the research was incorrect. A different Seth Edwards had shown up on Collin’s report. It had to be.

  Still, there was the nagging thought that women more intelligent and less trusting than Leah had been duped by men before. She could have fallen into a great big trap.

  What have I fallen into, God? A trap? Or a pocket of grace? What do I do now?

  Oddly, all Leah could think about was the poster behind Alissa’s desk of the gondola in Venice. Yes, I would like to run away and float down a serene canal right now. Is that what you’re telling me, God? I should buy a one-way ticket to Italy? Say the word, and I’m there! Ciao, baby!

  Leah thought of how pleasant it would be to sit back in that gondola and let someone else do the navigating through these challenging canals before her. She felt as if she was doing all the rowing and steering, which had been her pattern in the past. But this time she had no idea where she was going. Only uncharted waters lay ahead.

  Bungee began to wrestle with the dripping garden hose, delighted with the spray of water that soaked his underside.

  “Not a bad idea, Bungee. Come here. I’m going to hose you down and get all that mud off you before Seth comes for you.”

  Leah held Bungee down and washed him off. Once all the mud was gone, she unfastened the leash, picked him up, and took him inside to towel him off. Blocking the doggy door, she then instructed Bungee to stay put and stay clean while she changed and started dinner.

  Closing the door to the mudroom, she turned to see Seth standing in her kitchen with a bouquet of red roses.

  “The front door was unlocked,” he said. “I guess you didn’t hear me knock.”

  Without saying a word, Leah examined everything about Seth in an effort to determine if he was trustworthy. He looked stable. Sincere. Honest. Could he really be out to deceive her?

  “I, um …” Leah felt weak and unable to respond to Seth and the gorgeous bouquet. “I’m all wet,” she finally managed to say. “Let me go change. I’ll be right back.”

  She fled to her bedroom, closed the door, and crumpled onto her bed. There she cried what seemed like a thousand salty tears. It was all such a cruel joke. A guy, who was perfect for her in every way, was standing in her kitchen waiting for her with a bouquet of red roses. It was the dream she had given up long ago when she realized all “the good ones” were taken.

  Who am I supposed to believe? Which canal do I paddle down?

  The fear of the unknown paralyzed Leah. If it weren’t for her cold, soggy T-shirt, she might have stayed in that position a lot longer. Pulling herself to her feet, she drew on the strength and determination that had been her banner traits in demanding situations. She took a deep breath and changed her clothes. Then, washing her face and quickly brushing her hair, Leah returned to the kitchen.

  Seth had managed to find Leah’s one and only large vase and had arranged the flowers for her. They dominated the kitchen counter. The daisies he had given her on Friday were still fresh and filled a jar on her small kitchen table.

  “How are you doing?” Seth asked cautiously, as Leah stood staring at the roses.

  When she didn’t answer, he took several steps closer to her with his arms open, inviting a hug.

  Leah pulled back and put up her hand. “I’m still processing all this, Seth.”

  “Tell me about it.” Seth scratched his forehead. “It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.” Leah cautiously made her way past Seth to the small kitchen table where she lowered herself onto a chair. “It’s pretty overwhelming, all right.”

  Seth joined her at the table and moved the daisies so they could see each other more clearly. “Can I get you something to drink, Leah?”

  “No. I mean, I should be getting you something to drink.” She hopped up and went to the refrigerator. “Juice? Milk? Water?”

  “Just water,” Seth said. He had gotten up and was standing beside her. “I can get it. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes, I’m okay.” Leah heard the edge in her own voice and headed into the living room, as if the soft furniture would offer her comfort at this moment of confusion. Part of her wanted to order Seth to leave her house. Another part of her wanted to fall into his arms and beg him never to let go.

  Seth joined her with two glasses of water, both with ice. He placed them on the coasters on top of the suitcase coffee table. Then, as if he sensed Leah’s need for a little breathing space, he sat in the recliner, letting her have the love seat to herself.

  They sat for several long minutes without speaking. Seth sipped his water.

  “Seth,” she said at last, “I have to ask you something. Did you know that you weren’t in Franklin’s will until he changed it two weeks ago?”

  “No, I had no idea. I told you at the law offices. I didn’t even know he changed the will.”

  “Did you know what was in his will before he changed it?”

  Seth hesitated and looked down. He gazed up at Leah. “Yes, I did. Franklin told me. I didn’t ask. He told me. On Easter.”

  A random phrase Seth had used several days ago suddenly came back to Leah. Franklin said you are the key to my future happiness.

  “So you knew he had a large estate.”

  “No, I didn’t. I thought it was just the house and the land. I didn’t know about the treasury bills.”

  “The land?” Leah echoed. “You knew about the land?”

  Seth leaned back and rubbed his hand across his jaw line. “I was going to tell you when the time was right, but it got a little awkward.”

  “A little awkward?” Leah repeated. Her memory flashed on the file folders she had seen in Seth’s cupboard. She remembered now that the first rather full file had been labeled Madison Property. At the time, she hadn’t made the connection.

  “I hired a person to run a title search, and all the papers came in right after Franklin passed away. It felt awkward for me to tell you the results of my research on the heels of his death. I was going to tell you the day of his memorial service. I had studied the map, and I thought I’d take you to the property and tell you there.”

  “The woodlands,” Leah whispered.

  Seth nodded. “Once we got there, you were still pretty distraught. It was such a beautiful place. What you and I shared that day was so intimate and incredible to me that I felt it would ruin the moment if I started to talk about Franklin’s estate. I knew we were meeting with the lawyer Monday, and I thought it best to wait until then.”

  Leah let his words sink in. Something still felt unbalanced. “You knew about the land, but you didn’t tell me.”

  Seth nodded. “I should have. Then it wouldn’t have come as such a surprise to you at the law office.”

  “And you knew I was listed as heir to Franklin’s estate.”

  Seth nodded again.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that? You knew I didn’t know anything about it.”

  Seth shrugged. “I don’t know, Leah. I guess a few other dimensions of our relationship seemed more important to me. Not to mention that the melanoma surgery pretty much occupied my attention for awhile. To be honest, I was waiting for you to bring it up so it would feel more natural.”

  Leah felt her lower lip curve inward. “None of this feels natural to me.”

  “I know,” Seth said. “I understand this is all surprising. It’s surprising for both of us. But, Leah, I’ve thought about it all day, and I think Franklin had the right idea. His methods were a little wacky, but Franklin knew that you and I were really good for each other.”

  Leah studied his expression, trying to determine if she could trust his
words.

  “Not only that,” Seth continued, “but I think the conditions of the will are … well, they’re good.”

  “Good?” Leah repeated.

  Seth readjusted his position and leaned forward with his hands folded. “I know this has to be the world’s most backward, crazy, unromantic proposal in history, but Leah, honey, I think we should get married.”

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Leah stared at Seth in disbelief. All of Collin’s cautions about Seth’s eagerness to marry her and to take possession of the inheritance came rushing back. She couldn’t believe Collin’s predictions had come true before the sun had even set that day.

  Seth rose with a timid expression on his face. He opened his arms, welcoming Leah to come to him and to accept his proposal.

  Leah couldn’t move. “Seth, I have to ask you a question. And you have to promise me you will answer honestly.”

  “Of course.” He lowered his arms and sat next to Leah on the love seat.

  She looked him in the eye. “Seth, is it true that you filed bankruptcy with a credit-card debt in excess of $30,000?”

  Seth’s mouth dropped open. “Where did you hear that?”

  “Just answer me. Yes or no.”

  Seth’s eyes widened, as if he felt terror at her discovering this information. He swallowed and in a low voice said, “Yes, but—”

  “And do you have a record with the Colorado police for illegal drug possession?”

  “Well,” Seth hesitated. “Kind of, but, you see …”

  Leah felt her cheeks turning a fiery red as all the pieces began to come together. “You originally told me you came to Glenbrooke to seek the favor of your great-uncle so you could inherit—”

  “I was only kidding, Leah! I didn’t think Franklin owned anything.”

  “But now you know the inheritance is substantial. And I’m your only obstacle to obtaining it, aren’t I?” Leah couldn’t make herself wait to hear his answer. She sprang from the love seat, marched to the mudroom, and scooped up Bungee and his leash.

  “Leah, it’s not like that!” Seth called out as he followed her.

  Shaking all over, Leah plowed her way back into the kitchen where Seth stood looking pale.

  “Let me explain,” he pled.

  Yanking the roses from the vase, she thrust the flowers and the puppy into Seth’s arms.

  “Please leave,” she growled.

  “Leah, wait!”

  “I mean it, Seth. Leave me alone!” She began to push him toward the front door.

  “But, Leah, you have to let me explain!”

  “No, I don’t!” Leah shouted, yanking open the door and pushing Seth outside. “And I don’t have to trust you, either!”

  She knew her hand hit the spot on his back where the stitches had been because he winced and pulled away.

  “Leah, this isn’t fair!”

  “No, it’s not!” she cried, as the tears cascaded down her cheeks. “Just go!”

  With a slam that rattled the morning-glory stained glass window, Leah locked the door and locked her heart to Seth Edwards. She leaned her back against the door while her heart raced and her lungs painfully pushed out great gasps of air.

  Just then two steady knocks sounded on the door. She felt their vibrations against her back. “I said go away, and I mean it!”

  “Leah,” the smooth, professional voice called from the other side of the door. “Leah, it’s Collin. May I come in?”

  Leah hesitated before unlocking the door and opening it cautiously. Behind Collin she could see Seth standing beside his car with Bungee squirming in his arms and the roses spilling onto the street. Seth looked dumbfounded.

  “Are you all right?” Collin asked.

  Leah looked away. “I don’t know.”

  “May I come in?”

  Leah didn’t know how to respond. She really wanted to be alone. Before she could think of what to say, Seth called out, “Is this where you got the information, Leah?” He still held Bungee under his arm, but the roses were now strewn on the ground.

  “It doesn’t appear that my client is interested in discussing this with you at the moment, Mr. Edwards.” Collin stood between Leah and Seth, pulling his frame to its full height and speaking louder than was necessary in a quiet neighborhood like Leah’s.

  “What else did he tell you, Leah?” Seth persisted, his voice-level matching Collin’s. Bungee started to bark. “Don’t you see what’s happening here? He’s trying to turn you against me, Leah. Why are you believing him?”

  Bungee kept barking.

  Leah peered around Collin’s broad frame and was about to state that she had seen the evidence herself. But Collin spoke even more firmly than the first time. “I have to ask you to leave the premises, Mr. Edwards, unless you wish for my client to add harassment to the case she already has against you.”

  “What case against me?” Seth shouted. Bungee barked louder.

  “Good night, Mr. Edwards,” Collin stated, taking Leah by the elbow and ushering her into the house.

  Leah didn’t protest. Nor did she try to stop Collin when he firmly closed the door on Seth and Bungee.

  “Come sit down,” Collin said, leading Leah to the love seat. “May I get you something to drink?”

  Leah sank onto the seat, shaking her head wearily. Something inside her urged her to run to the front door and let Seth back in. Maybe they could straighten everything out if the three of them could talk calmly. But Leah was not calm. She felt overwhelmed with weakness and vulnerability. She couldn’t stand up and walk all the way to the front door if her life depended on it. All this was out of character for her. She knew how to be strong in any situation. She had proved that over the years. Now, she felt only weakness.

  Collin lowered his large frame next to hers and put his arm along the back of the sofa. She didn’t like Collin’s taking her under his wing; yet she felt powerless to do anything at the moment.

  “I’m sorry you had to find this out, Leah. Although I’m certain it’s better to find out now than later.”

  Leah lowered her head into her hands, breathing deeply.

  “This is too big for you to handle alone,” Collin continued smoothly. “You need to give yourself some time. Then, when you’re ready, I’m here for you. I can prepare the case to have the inheritance returned to you. You will only have to be involved at a minimal level. I can take care of everything.”

  “I don’t care about the money, Collin, or the land, or any of it. I just feel so confused.”

  “I know,” Collin said, placing his hand on her shoulder. “Unfortunately, I see this all too often in my line of work. You’ll be glad later that it came out in the open so soon.”

  Leah wanted to cry, but no tears came.

  “Is there any way you can get away for a few days?” Collin asked. “It would be good for you to separate yourself from all this. Let me start handling the case.”

  Leah told him about the reservations Franklin had made at the hot springs and how she was planning to go on Friday.

  “Would it be possible for you to leave earlier?”

  “I don’t think so. Alissa wasn’t able to cancel the reservations.”

  “The reservations can’t be cancelled, but are they transferable?”

  “I wouldn’t know.”

  “It’s easy enough to find out.” Collin pulled an incredibly small cell phone from his breast pocket and asked information to connect him with Hamilton Hot Springs.

  Leah wasn’t sure why, but she liked the idea of leaving town for a few days. She felt too overwhelmed to stay here. She needed to be alone to think and pray.

  “What you’re telling me is that you can transfer the reservations?” Collin said into the phone. “Yes, I’d like to transfer the reservation for Leah Hudson to tonight.”

  “Tonight!” Leah squeaked out.

  Collin put up his hand to silence her. “Right,” he said into the phone. “She will arrive close to eleven tonight.�
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  “I can’t go tonight,” Leah told Collin as soon as he hung up. “I have to make arrangements at work and … I don’t know. I have to pack.”

  “You start to pack. I’ll make a few calls.”

  “But work,” Leah protested. “I can’t call in sick.”

  “Have you ever?”

  “No.”

  “Have you ever used all your sick days or vacation days?” Collin asked.

  “No.”

  Collin reached over and placed his large hand on her forehead. “You feel feverish,” he declared. “As your legal advisor, I’m recommending that you consider the next few days as sick days due to stress and fatigue. You need to take some time to recover. I can make the calls for you. I know several people in hospital administration. Now go. Start to pack.”

  Leah numbly obeyed. In some ways, it all made perfect sense. She pulled a battered suitcase from the back of her closet and began to fill it with everything her foggy brain thought she might need at a resort. She had nothing especially nice to pack, but then, what did that matter? She was going to be alone and to soak in the mineral pools. It wasn’t as if this were a cruise to Alaska or anything.

  Collin tapped on her closed bedroom door just as she threw in her toothpaste and a bottle of contact lens solution.

  “I’m almost ready,” she called out, lugging the ugly old suitcase to the front door. Collin stood there, holding out an envelope to her.

  “I forgot, and I do apologize. This is the key to the safe-deposit box. I failed to give it to you this morning at my office. That’s why I came over this evening.”

  Leah had nearly forgotten about the safe-deposit box. “It doesn’t matter. The bank is probably closed by now.”

  “I made a few calls,” Collin said. “Robert is still there. He said he would wait for us if we came over in the next few minutes. Here, let me carry that for you.”

  Leah handed Collin her suitcase and made a quick check on Hula, giving her more food and water and a calm talking to as she hugged the dog around its neck. Then, locking her front door, Leah headed for her car only to find that Collin was loading her suitcase into his Mercedes’ trunk.