The Brushstroke Legacy (31 page)

What would it be like to kiss Paul? Or be kissed by him?
Ragni flipped over on her other side.

What? Are you going back to your teen years? You could always kiss him first.

Not hardly.

You’re a grown woman in your thirties. If you want to find out
—

Lying on top of her sleeping bag because of the heat, she forced her mind back to the Fourth of July celebration at Paul’s. What an amazing family. They worked together, played together, and welcomed in strangers like long-lost loved ones. She almost laughed out loud thinking about the water fight with high-powered squirt guns. Squirt guns had changed considerably since she was a kid. And Paul’s mother gave as good as she got, finally drenching everyone with the business end of the hose.

They acted like coming to work on the cabin was another party. She would have to go to town early the next morning to pick up flooring and Sheetrock to replace the areas that were water damaged. Ivar, Paul’s father, had measured the kitchen–living room area so she knew
what to buy. And Paul was taking her in his pickup so they could haul it all back.

Erika snuffled softly in her sleep. She had fit right in with the other kids, not hanging back like Ragni had been afraid she would. If only Susan could see her daughter like this. Thinking of Susan brought up her own family. So different.
What was happening with Susan? Erika’s right. Something is going on, and no one is telling us. Could Susan be sick? Sicker than just having a bug that was going around? If I’d only been listening more closely, I might have picked up on it

Lord, why did You bring Paul into my life when I have only one more week here at the cabin?

She was putting the final touches on one of the cows in the water hole painting when a horn honked outside. She wiped the paint off her brush, set it in the turpentine so it wouldn’t harden, and rubbed the paint off her fingers.

“You ready?” Paul asked from the door.

“Be right there.” She scrubbed at the basin in the dry sink and dried her hands. “Let me tell Erika I’m leaving.”

“Does she plan on being up when the others get here?”

“I’m sure.” She stepped into the bedroom and nudged Erika’s air mattress with her toe. “I’m out of here. The others should be here in about an hour.”

“I know.” Erika sat up instead of covering her head with her pillow. “Guess I’ll go swimming later.”

“Good thinking. Anything else you want from the store?”

“Caramel rolls from the cafe?”

“Sorry, no time. See ya.” Ragni grabbed her bag on the way out and joined Paul in the truck. She buckled her seat belt and turned to see him watching her. “What?”

“I like seeing you in the morning.” His grin warmed her from the toes up. “And you’ve been painting.”

“You saw me.”

“No, you have a dab of green on your chin.”

“Oh, great. Green zits, at my age.” She pulled down the visor and flipped open the mirror so she could see to scrape the paint off. “Thanks.”

“You have your list?”

“And all the measurements. Your dad is nothing if not thorough.”

“He hates to buy any extra.”

“My dad was like that before the Alzheimer’s set in. He was a really hard worker, used to take me fishing. I helped him in the garden and on projects around the house. Susan was more like my mother, and I know I was Daddy’s girl, or the stand-in for the son he never had. He was wonderful with Erika too, a perfect grandfather. She idolized him.”

“And now she’s losing him.”

“For all intents and purposes, she’s lost him already.”
As have I.
The thought brought sadness anew. And here she was, states away.
I’ll be home soon, Mom. And I promise to do better at helping you.
She stared straight ahead, swallowing hard, wishing, praying that right at that moment her mother would know how much she loved her.

Paul reached over and took her hand in his. The comfort coursed up her arm and right into her heart. She looked at him, seeing the
concern in his eyes, his face shimmering before her as she fought the tears.

“Thank you.” Her voice cracked. She squeezed his hand, feeling the warmth, the calluses that spoke of his hard work.
You are a fine man, my friend
—
if only you lived in Chicago.
She trapped a sigh. Leave it to her to be attracted, really attracted, to a man from North Dakota who had lived here all his life. “Have you ever been to Chicago?”

“Once. Didn’t much care for it. Too many people in too little space, too much noise, too much.” He shook his head, slowly, as if amazed that people could actually live that way. “Do you like it there?”

“Most of the time, but then I’ve not known much else. Until I came here.”

“Do you like your job?”

“I did. I mean, I do. Before I left on vacation, some strange stuff went on.”

“You don’t sound too positive.” He stared intently at the road. “Ever thought about staying here?”

She stared at his profile as he watched for a break in the traffic on the main street of Medora. Had she heard him right? Did he understand her predicament?

He flashed a smile in her direction and pulled out into the stream of traffic. “You haven’t been to the park yet, have you?”

“No, I was thinking of going on Wednesday. Would you like to go with us?”

He reached over and touched her cheek with a gentle finger. “I thought you’d never ask.”

They’d completed all the shopping and loaded the truck bed to the side boards.

“Anything else?” Paul asked.

“Yes, I need to check in with my boss and call Mom.” She took her cell phone from her bag and started to dial.

“How about we pull off and I go get us something to eat while you talk?”

“All right.”
How considerate you are.
She watched him as he stopped the truck and stepped out. He set his hat, turned to smile at her, and headed for the restaurant. His smile had a habit of stirring her middle to muddling. She dialed her office number.

“Hi, this is Ragni, can I talk with James Hendricks please?”

“I am sorry, Mr. Hendricks no longer works here.”

Carmen sounded as if Ragni were a stranger. “What?”

“Mr. Hendricks is no longer with us. Would you like to talk with Helene?”

No longer with us, did he die? Was he let go? What?
Ragni cleared her throat and tried again. “Carmen, what has happened there?”

“I am sorry, I am unable to discuss this. Would you like to talk with Helene?”

Helene? Why Helene? She sure did well from minor member on my team to
—
whatever she was now. And Carmen sounds just like a computer recording. Good grief.
“Fine. Let me talk with Helene.”

“I am sorry, she’s away from her desk. Would you like her voice mail?”

I would like to strangle you. No, I don’t want her stupid voice mail
. Ragni sighed. “Yes, please.” Her voice dripped sugar syrup.
Even though she won’t be able to call me back, unless it’s before we leave Dickinson.
She left a message and dialed her mother, hoping that she could have her voice under control by the time her mom answered.

The hello sounded less than optimistic.

“Hi, Mom, are you all right?”

“Ragni, I’m so glad you called.” Judy burst into tears, huge gulping sobs.

“What happened?” Tears of sympathy clogged Ragni’s throat.

“I…had to put your father in a-a home yesterday. I-I couldn’t take care of him any l-longer.”

“Oh, Mom, I’m so sorry.” She stared at the ceiling of the truck, hoping to get herself under control, but instead the tears brimmed over and rolled down her cheeks. They cried together.

Her mother sighed a big sigh, sniffed, and continued. “Susan made me do it, but she was right. It was time, but its so hard.”

“Oh, Mom. But its a good place, and they had a room for him. It’s good that Susan was looking ahead.”

“I know. I am so grateful for you two girls. You’re out there taking care of my family home and Susan’s helping here in spite of…”

Ragni caught her breath. “In spite of what, Mom?”

“Well, you know, she…ah…”

She what? What is the big secret?
“Mother, you and Susan have been keeping some secret and the time is long past to tell me what’s happening.”

“But you can’t tell Erika.”

“What is going on?”

“Susan had a lumpectomy and is now getting radiation.”

The words lay between them like a writhing snake. “And she never told me?”

“She wasn’t sure before you left, and then she didn’t want to destroy your vacation. Or Erika’s.”

“When was she planning on telling me?” Speaking from between clamped teeth wasn’t easy.

“When you came home. She won’t have to do chemo. They say they got it all.”

“That’s positive news.”
But she lied by not telling me.
“And what am I supposed to say to Erika when she asks me about her mother? Does Susan realize how perceptive her daughter is?”

“That’s why she sent her with you, to protect her.”

Ragni snorted. “Thanks a heap.”

“When are you coming home?”

“Still next Saturday.”
Not that I want to leave here, but what choices do I have?
She glanced up to see Paul crossing the parking lot, food bag in hand. “I need to go, Mom. I love you.”

“Me too. Give my love to Erika, and will you tell her about her poppa?”

But not her mother.
The words rang without being said. “Sure. Bye, Mom.” Ragni pushed the Off button and rubbed her forehead with her other hand.

“Bad news?” Paul had opened the truck door and stood gazing at her, concern etching ridges in his forehead.

“Ah, yes, I…” Her phone rang and she shook her head as she pressed the Talk button. “Hello?”

“Ragni, this is Helene returning your call.”

“Thank you.”
I think
. “It seems like there have been some changes there.”

“Yes, some rather major changes. The powers that be let James go…”

“He didn’t die then?”

A slight chuckle as if she thought Ragni was being funny. “No, the party line is that he decided to strike out on his own.”