Newton Neighbors (New England Trilogy) (36 page)

It also meant Jessie could throw all her energy into her studies, because the end of year exams were looming. If she worked very hard, she didn’t have to think about Dan. It was better not to dwell on what a fool she had been—again. Would she ever learn?
 

Ely seemed to have learned her lesson. Jessie still thought her friend spent too much time with Josh, but she had started to study. Life seemed calmer on Crystal Lake than it had been when they’d lived on campus. Perhaps it was Noreen’s influence, or maybe it was the peace that seemed to surround the lake.
 

There was one area that troubled Jessie, however, and that was her new next-door neighbor. Maria Sanchez had cooled toward her. The babysitting had all but stopped after she’d found Orga, and Jessie had a pretty good idea why. She had recognized the look in Maria’s eye. Maria didn’t trust Rick Sanchez, and to a certain extent, Jessie felt responsible.
 

The disturbing truth was that there was something between Jessie and Rick. They hadn’t done anything, but she knew the chemistry had changed. To deny it would be naive. They had become overly friendly between coffees and looking for the damn dog together. She didn’t like to think about it, because she felt a bit guilty. That was the surest sign that her relationship with Rick had veered in the wrong direction.

Jessie was sitting at her desk in Noreen’s house, trying to focus on external influences on the stability of a marriage under strain. That was what had made her mind wander in the first place. How could she study that and not think of Rick and Maria?

She hoped they would be okay. Rick was nice, and Jessie didn’t want to hurt their marriage—even if it meant losing her job as their sitter. Jessie threw the pen down on the desk and pushed her chair back. It was time for a break.

She wandered downstairs and found Noreen and Ely in the kitchen. Noreen greeted her with her usual smile. “Hello, love. It’s good to see you taking a rest.”
 

“Hi, Noreen,” Jessie said, and then she addressed her friend. “How’s the studying going?”

Ely groaned and buried her head in her arms at the kitchen table with ample melodrama.

It made Jessie laugh. She tousled Ely’s long hair. “Come on, it can’t be that bad. It’s only your first year, and all of your written papers are excellent. I should know.”

“It’s not that.” Ely brought her head back up. “I feel rotten, and I didn’t even stay out late last night.”

“Didn’t you? I thought I heard your rendition of ‘Santa Baby’ at around three this morning in the upstairs hall, or maybe that was Noreen?”

The older woman laughed. “Oh, I hope I was tucked up safe at three o’clock this morning, but there was one Christmas party here—in the early seventies. I remember some of the boys trying to ski off the roof. Crazy, now that I think about it.”

Ely’s eyes brightened. “Why don’t we have parties like that anymore?”
 

But then Jessie saw her wince in pain. “You really are in trouble, aren’t you? Do you want a tablet or a doctor?”

Ely shook her head. “No, I just need my bed. I don’t think eggnog agrees with me.”

Noreen shuffled over to her great big range and turned on one of the back rings. “I’ll get to work and we can all have hot chocolate.”

Jessie got the milk from the fridge and gave it to Noreen. “You make the best drinking chocolate I’ve ever tasted.” She had grown very fond of Noreen in the three weeks since they had moved in.

“Greg brought over a Christmas tree this afternoon. It’s not a big one, but I thought you girls could help me decorate it this evening?”

Ely flopped her head back down onto her arms again and groaned, while Jessie thought about the mountain of work on her desk, but she also saw the hopeful look on Noreen’s face.
 

“We’d love to,” she said.

Noreen hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d said it was a small tree. It was three feet tall. Jessie thought about Greg choosing the tree for his mom. Why would she want an enormous tree anymore? Big trees were for big families. This was perfect for them—three feet for three people.
 

“I’m afraid I have far too many decorations,” she said when Jessie came up from the basement with yet another box.
 

“You do seem to have more than Macy’s.” Ely was lying on the sofa watching them do all the work. She had said she wasn’t able to help and they believed her. She was as white as the snow outside.

“Well, there was a time when we had a huge tree. One year I think we even had two. I don’t want a big thing anymore, but I still have all these decorations.”

“You could give some away,” Jessie said. “Maybe your son across the road would like a few.”

Noreen remained silent but nodded like she was mulling it over. Rusty started to run in circles.

“Jessie, be a dear and let the dog out,” Noreen said, keeping her eyes on the little tree. “Ely, do we have enough lights?”
 

Ely groaned, which made Jessie laugh. “Girl, you’re a terrible patient.”

She opened the front door to let Rusty out, but the air was so still and the night so peaceful, Jessie decided to step out for a moment. It was great to breathe the chilled air after so much time cooped up in her room studying. Snow clearers had shoveled the excess powder off the stoop and walkway, so it was safe to venture down the path now. Jessie folded her arms around herself to keep warm and stared up at the night sky. It was the blackest Jessie had ever seen, and there were tiny stars scattered everywhere.
Funny
, she thought,
it really does look different to the night skies in England
.
 

“Pretty, isn’t it?”
 

Jessie spun around. “Holy crack, you scared me!”

Bruce laughed. “I seem to be good at that. Did you say ‘holy crack’?”

“Yes, it’s a family expression. When one of the boys was small, they used to say ‘holy crack.’ I think he meant to say ‘holy crap’ but got it wrong. Anyway, we kind of adopted it as a family phrase.”

He smiled. “Nice, and sorry I keep scaring you. This is just like the time down by the lake.”

“It is a bit creepy,” she said in jest. Then she brightened. “Tell you what—let’s start again. Hi, Bruce.”

“Hullo, Jessie. Out with the dog?”

“Just letting him do his business. What are you up to?”

“I have a dog back in London, and I miss our evening walks.” He grinned and looked a little bashful. It was cute. “So now that I’m here, I still take the walks, only without the dog.”

“I thought you lived here.”

“Just for a couple of months. I’m getting some business straightened out.”

Jessie was intrigued. He still didn’t seem too miserable. “I’m sure Noreen would let you walk Rusty if you wanted to borrow her dog. None of us really walk him, and he’s getting a bit chunky. It would do him good.”

Bruce laughed and called the bulldog over with a very good whistle. He hunkered down and tickled Rusty’s ears. “Hey, boy, how are you? You’re not chunky—that’s just your build.”

She could see that Rusty liked him. “Look, why don’t you come in and meet Noreen. I’m sure she’d let you take the dog for your evening walks.”

He stood up again. “Noreen Palmer? Wow, she’s still alive and well? I haven’t seen her in years. I’d love to say hi.”

They headed back in with Rusty running ahead and barking to announce their arrival.

The blast of heat welcomed Jessie after the chill of the New England night. “Noreen, I’ve brought one of your neighbors in. You remember Bruce Wiswall, don’t you?”

Noreen looked up from where she was kneeling beside her Christmas tree. “You’re not Bruce,” she said with indignation. “Are you trying to confuse me?”

He smiled as if he was used to this accusation. “Um, I am actually, but I think you might know my grandfather better.”

“Miserable Bruce was your grandfather? How is the old man?”

“He passed away in October.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Noreen stood up. “He was a good man, even if he was an old curmudgeon.”

Jessie was uncomfortable with Noreen’s comments, but it didn’t seem to bother Bruce.
 

“Yep, that seems to be the general consensus. He was a good man, but a bloody miserable one.”

Ely sat up, clasping her stomach. “I think I’m gonna hurl,” she said and ran for the bathroom.

“Have you met Ely?” Noreen asked.

“I have now,” he said and grimaced at her discomfort.

“You’re not at all like your grandfather, are you?” Noreen came closer to study his face. “Although you do look very like him.”

 
“So I’ve been told. If I wear his flat cap, I gather I’m his double. You know, I met you years ago, but I doubt you’d remember. I was a nipper, just a kid.”

“How do you remember that long ago?”

He shrugged. “You know the way some childhood memories just get locked in. I think Crystal Lake Lane must have made an impact on me.”

“I forget everything these days. I wouldn’t take it personally, son, and in my defense, I’m sure you’ve changed quite a bit since we last met.”

He smiled and nodded, so Noreen continued. “You’ve moved into the house. Isn’t it a bit large for you? Hasn’t your grandfather been away for years?”

Bruce glanced to Jessie. “Yes, my grandfather was in a nursing home for the last few years. The house is going to be sold, but the family sent me over to go through it and sort out the legal work.”

“You’re a lawyer?”

“Yes.”

“What a nice boy you are. Jessie here is single, you know.”

“Is she now?” Bruce grinned.
 

She felt herself blush. “Noreen! I’m not single.”

“Oh?”

“Well, I mean.” She didn’t know what she meant. “You can’t just say things like that.”

“Yes, I can. I’m old. I don’t beat about the bush.” She shrugged and then turned her attention back to her male guest. “Would you like a glass of wine?”

“Thank you, Noreen. I think that would be very nice.”
 

Jessie could tell he was enjoying Noreen’s old-fashioned interrogation. Perhaps having Miserable Bruce as a grandfather had toughened him up a bit.
 

Not her. Jessie was still too easily embarrassed. “I’m going to check on Ely,” she said and fled the room.

When Jessie found her, Ely was in a bad way. She had made it to the bathroom just in time, so Jessie stood behind and pulled her friend’s hair back from her face. Then she took out her own clasp and clipped back Ely’s hair.

“Looks like you’ve got a bad stomach virus.” Jessie crouched down beside her.

Ely gave her a miserable look.

“Should I ring Josh? I know he’s no doctor, but he might make you feel better.”

“You think?” Ely said.
 

Before Jessie could respond, Ely retched again, so she put her arm around her friend’s shoulders.
 

“Ely, poor honey. There’s no chance you’re pregnant, is there?” Jessie said with a laugh. She didn’t think it was a possibility. Her friend had more sense.

“There’s every chance.”

“What?”