A Beautiful Fall (5 page)

Samantha turned off the globe ceiling light in the bathroom, snapping on a small night-light next to the mirror. She turned off three lights left on in Beth’s room before making the return trip to her bedroom.

“We knew each other as kids, that’s the way it is in a small town, you know. I talked with him a lot that summer when they were so in love. I know how special she was to him.”

“Do you honestly think he’s still carrying a flame for her?”

Both women were silent for a moment.

“That would be very romantic,” Christina said.

“There’s a lot more to true love than romance, Christina.”

Samantha shut off Jim’s closet light and closed the doors. She sat down on the bed to rest again.

“Yes, but if he’s kept a candle burning just for Emma all these years, that’s the kind of thing most women would melt over.”

“If he still feels that way, I hope she doesn’t hurt him.”

“What, like not return his feelings?”

“We’re getting
way
ahead of ourselves here, but yeah. None of us has spent any significant time around Emma in twelve years, and after a couple of days in Juneberry, we might not see her again for another twelve.”

“By then, we’ll all be well into our forties,” Christina joked. “Talking about Weight Watchers and wrinkle cream.”

“Some of us aren’t waiting until then to think about it.”

They both laughed again. Samantha picked up her nail file from the nightstand and started smoothing her fingernails.

“So when are you going to see her?

“I thought I’d go by her dad’s place tomorrow morning. Noel said the doctors might release Will as early as the afternoon or Wednesday at the latest.”

“Close call.”

“It was a close call, and absolutely miraculous how they were able to reverse a dire situation when he got to the hospital.”

“Are you going to call her first?”

“I don’t know yet. I think the first time I talk to her I’d like us to be in the same room.”

“That’s probably best.”

“What are you going to say?” Christina asked.

“I don’t know. I feel like she’s been on a long cruise and she’s coming into port for a few days. I just want to make the most of that time. What about you?”

“I’ll pray about it,” Christina said. “I want to spend some time with Emma to see how she’s doing emotionally … and spiritually.”

“That’s the counselor in you.”

Christina was quiet on the other end of the phone. Samantha could always tell when she was thinking.

“I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always sensed there’s something broken in Emma. Something made her go away. I’d just like to know if she’s found peace.”

“One thing’s for sure, she has some awfully good friends and doesn’t know how lucky she is.”

“Maybe that should be our prayer,” Christina said. “That Emma discovers how loved she is.”

The two women said their good nights.

Christina shut off her phone and held it against her chest, lost in thought. Inside her house it was dark except for a delicate string of dewdrop lights tucked beneath the cupboards in the kitchen and the antique Tiffany lamp in the entryway. She had finished writing for the day. The evening promised a long bath and reading a good book in bed. The phone rang in her hand while she was carrying it back to its dock.

“Hey, sorry for calling so late, but remember how you said you wanted me to start calling you more for no reason? Well, I’m calling.”

Christina smiled. “Bo, you are getting major points for this. See, and all that time I thought you weren’t listening to me, you were taking notes.”

Christina turned and walked up the stairway.

“I like working under the radar of your low expectations. That way, whatever happens, you’re surprised and happy about it.”

“I am surprised and happy by your phone call. I was just thinking about you, and wondering how your night was going.”

Christina stepped into her bedroom, a comfortable place lit only by soft yellow light from her bedside lamp. Music drifted in quietly from an alarm clock radio.

“I’ve decided that Sunday night is a lonely night, Christina.”

“Aww, why is that?”

“Well, think about it. Sunday night knows all about the fun Saturday night’s had. Saturday night’s been bragging about all the date nights, movies, and dinners out. Friday night’s been yucking it up too, showing off just because he gets to go out and have fun. But Sunday night, all he gets out of the deal is missing you.”

Christina sat on the embroidered quilt she’d just bought, ran her fingers across the fine rouge needlepoint and smoothed the wrinkles atop her bed. The quilt was a reward she promised herself if she reached her professional goal for the summer. Tulsa, the weekend before, was speaking engagement number ten.

“Hmm … sounds like we need to do something for Sunday night. I feel sorry and understand now why he’s so lonesome. I think my Sunday night has been saying something like that to me, too.”

“Maybe we should let them spend some time together. You know, let my Sunday night go out with your Sunday night? Just see how it goes.”

“I miss you, Bo.”

Christina laid her head against one of the decorative pillows her mother had bought her for the bed. She loved hearing his words, loved his thoughtful phone calls. More than anything, she loved Bo and lived with the frustration of things hoped for, but not yet seen.

“I think that’s what I called to hear.”

“No fair. Say you miss me too.”

“My phone call should tell you that.”

“It does, but I like it when you say it.”

In his modest, prefab home by the lake, Bo leaned back into the pocket of his old flannel sofa. He kicked his wool-sock-adorned feet up onto the coffee table in front of him. His black dog, Bear, raised his head at the commotion, then rested it back down to sleep by the fire.

“I wish I was there right now,” Bo said. He glanced at his silver wristwatch. He wouldn’t need much prompting to put his work boots back on and make the twenty-minute drive out to Christina’s.

“I wish you were too. It’s probably best if we don’t though.”

The love between Bo and Christina was obvious; so was the reason they weren’t together that night, and every other night.

“Not trying to start a fire, sweetheart. I just called to say I love you.”

“Thanks, Stevie Wonder. You’re the best.”

They laughed. She was certain they’d be together one day. One day the good man she’d fallen in love with would wake up brand new, ready to commit again. And she’d be there for him. Until the end of time.

“No, you’re the best,” Bo told her. “We both know that. I just want to be the man who gets close to the best. That’s enough for an old dog like me.”

“That seems a reasonable enough request,” Christina whispered to Bo in a voice just for the two of them. “I’ll grant it.”

~ Four ~

I don’t know what I want, so don’t ask me
’Cause I’m still trying to figure it out.

—T
AYLOR
S
WIFT

“A Place in This World”

Emma woke to a pure and simple sunrise. Normally, it would still be dark when she arose to the sounds of traffic on Boston’s busy streets. Her father’s house, on the contrary, felt as peaceful and quiet as an early-morning Sunday chapel. The dawning of the new day brought with it the promise of a fresh start. The Interscope trial that had devoured Emma’s energy for months was finally over, buried in the past a thousand miles away. Her father would be coming home soon.

After a long shower, Emma propped her suitcase on the bed and snapped open the latches. There had been time to grab only the essentials—a three-day survival kit. She unpacked jeans and tops, two warm sweaters in case of cold weather, a comfortable pair of loafers because they went with everything, and a black turtleneck just in case … she wasn’t exactly sure why she’d packed that. She dressed in a pair of jeans and a sleeveless shirt and headed downstairs.

The boards in the old hardwood floors creaked when Emma walked down the hallway to the kitchen. “Old houses,” she said aloud, both comforted and cautious by the thought that some things never change. In the sun-kissed kitchen, light overflowed in a room filled with windows. On the tile counter she found a full pot of cold coffee, minus one cup, sitting in the coffeemaker next to the toaster. Emma took the coffee pot out and poured the dark roast down the drain in the sink, frightening evidence of the attack that almost took him.

She’s the one that found him, you know.

Will kept his food on a stainless steel pantry rack in the laundry room. Emma found a large blue can of Maxwell House on the center shelf and took stock of the food, hoping to find bagels. Will’s pantry wasn’t all that different from her own––bare except for a few essentials. Single people only stock what they need. Emma carried the coffee into the kitchen and brewed a fresh pot.

A silver Dodge Caravan pulled onto the horseshoe drive and parked beside the cluster of three weeping willow trees. Samantha opened her car door and stepped out into the cool morning sunlight. She’d already redone her lipstick and makeup inside the van. On the driveway, she tugged the creases from her clothing and walked to the side door that lead into the kitchen. Emma was waiting for her. Their eyes met on either side of the glass and both stood there for a moment until Emma opened the door.

“My gosh, Emma, you’ve hardly changed at all,” Samantha said. The two women hugged.

“It’s good to see you, Samantha, and look at you!”

They both stared at Samantha’s belly.

“Yep, this makes baby number three.”

“Oh my gosh. Well, come in, sit down. Let me get you a chair.”

“I brought you something,” Samantha said, taking the seat Emma had pulled out from the table. “It’s homemade banana nut bread, baked fresh this morning.” Samantha handed Emma the shiny aluminum-wrapped loaf.

“Oh, that’s so sweet, Samantha. Thank you! Your timing couldn’t be better. This will go perfectly with the coffee that’s brewing.”

“It’s just a little welcome-home present.”

“It’s very thoughtful. Would you like to have some with a cup of coffee?” Emma said, taking a dark blue cup from the cabinet and holding it in the air.

“I would, but mix mine half with water. I can only have one cup a day.”

“Would you rather have decaffeinated tea?” Emma asked. “I saw there’s some in the pantry.”

“Sure, if it’s no bother.”

“It’s no problem. I’ll just boil some water.”

Emma unhooked a stainless steel pan from the overhead rack and filled it with water from the tap. She lit the gas stove with a stick match and adjusted the flame.

“I have to tell you, Samantha, your son is wonderful. He was such a lifesaver yesterday picking me up at the airport, waiting with me all day at the hospital. He’s a pretty mature twenty-two-year-old.”

“That’s Noel. I always tell people he was our exhale. Sometimes with kids you have to hold your breath, but Noel was born with a heart for serving others. I’d like to think it’s something we did right, but he’s just been that way all his life. I can’t remember a time when he wasn’t spiritually grounded. Involved in youth groups at church. He’s worked the last three summers at camp mentoring teens and taking them white-water rafting. He’s even interned at our church. I really feel like God has His hand on him and Noel will end up in some kind of ministry.”

Samantha peeled back the foil, revealing a loaf of banana nut bread that was still warm. Emma served Samantha her tea, poured herself a cup of coffee, and set out serving plates for the bread.

“This bread is like cake. I hope you like it.”

“It smells wonderful,” she said, joining Samantha at the table. They sat without speaking for a moment.

“It’s good to see you again, Samantha,” Emma finally said. “Thank you for yesterday. For finding him. I don’t want to think about what could have happened if you hadn’t been looking after my dad.”

Samantha smiled. “How’s he doing?”

“Remarkably well. He called this morning and told me to hold off on coming in. He said his doctor told him he’d be released sometime today. I’m just waiting for the next phone call.”

“That’s wonderful news.”

“Yes, I was hoping for some time to get the house ready. I’d like to have a few things cleaned and the kitchen better stocked before I bring him home.”

“Emma, I know you’ve got a lot on your mind, but have you thought about how your dad will live here? I mean, it’s a big question, but do you think he’ll be able to stay here by himself?”

“I’ve been thinking about that too, but I don’t really know. For now, I just want to get him home and see how he does. Just take it one step at a time.”

Samantha took a long look at Emma. She’d always known she would see her again, that she’d feel proud of Emma, and feel complete having her home again.

“Emma, you look so young. I can’t get over how successful you’ve become. You were always focused, but you’ve done so well for yourself.”

Emma laughed and shook her head. “We do the best we can, I guess.”

Samantha hesitated over how to ask Emma the question she and Christina wanted an answer to. She hoped a sensitive approach would pop in her head, but it didn’t.

“Emma, this probably isn’t the best time, but there’s something I’d like to ask you …”

The telephone rang, its noisy metal clapper vibrating inside a silver bell. Emma squeezed Samantha’s hand and stood to answer it.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Emma? This is Dena at Wellman Medical. You may have already heard the news, but Dr. Anderson saw your dad this morning, and he’s decided to go ahead and discharge him this afternoon. Probably after lunch, sometime between one and two. Will someone be able to come and pick him up?”

“Oh sure, I’ll be there. I’d planned to catch Dr. Anderson this morning, but I didn’t expect him to be there that early!”

“I didn’t either. Sorry. I know you hoped to speak with him. Usually, he does his rounds later.”

“Dena, do you know if Dr. Anderson called in any prescriptions for him? I’m going to use the rest of the morning to get everything ready for my dad to come home.”