Trust Me II (43 page)

“Well, since you’ve already started supper, the least I can do
, is help you put that mess away out back,” James said, fighting the urge to laugh. “We can use the barn for now. It’s supposed to rain tonight and we can’t have things getting wet.” James patted Creighton on the back and led him through the back door before either Mary or Sandra noticed the younger man’s embarrassment.

“Are things better between you two?” Mary asked after the door closed.

“Things are great, why do you ask?” Sandra frowned.

“I could sense something was wrong yesterday at city hall. Creighton seemed a little…distant.”

“We had an argument after we left here the other night,” she said honestly. “I said a lot of things I didn’t mean and it hurt his feelings. He wasn’t sure if I was having regrets about marrying him and having his baby.”

“Are you? Regretting it I mean?”

“No. When Creighton first approached me on the beach in France, I couldn’t think; he was so gorgeous and so polite. He showed up on the ship when I took my diving lesson and agreed to be my personal guide. It was so amazing, seeing everything from on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea with him; he led me around and helped me feel at ease. Then afterward he asked me to supper; I think I fell in love with him before the night was over. I knew in my heart there was no way I could say good-bye to him, even though marrying him was a bit scary and very premature. I mean, we really rushed things…a lot.”

“But that’s a true sign of love,” Mary said with a smile and a pat to her granddaughter’s hand. “You two were meant to be together; I knew that from the way he looked at you when he was here last year. He
couldn’t stop staring at you. It made your sister a bit angry though. She had hoped…well, there’s no point in hashing over any of that.”

“I know what she hoped,” Sandra said, lowering her eyes to the table where they had just made love. “I just wish I would have noticed him when he was here; who knows where we would be now if I had.”

“Things are meant to happen in their own time,” Mary said with a smile. “I just can’t wait to start telling everyone about this baby. You need to tell his family. I’m going to be a basket case by the time you do.”

“Just a few more weeks Nana; I want to make certain everything is
good before we start announcing it.”

“I suppose that’s wise, but I’m not a very patient person you know?”

“I know, you’re just like my husband. He can barely contain himself sometimes.” Sandra took a sip of the cold coffee in front of her and stood to warm it in the microwave.

“Creighton told me he bought your farm,” she said a few seconds later as the small black box began beeping.

“I was wondering if he was going to tell you or not. Papa and I wanted to explain it to you, but Crey said it would be best if he talked to you about it first.”

“Are you sure it’s what you want? I know how hard life is here, but it’s your home.
You’ve been here your entire lives.”

“We’re sure,” the older woman said with a smile. “Your Papa’s arthritis has been bothering him a lot
these last few years and we’ve been thinking of moving, we just haven’t had to money before now. To be honest, honey, we’re tired of picking up the pieces and rebuilding the place every time a tornado stops by to say hello. We’re not getting any younger and I’d like to spend my remaining years with my husband and family and not in an underground shelter.”

“Creighton said you were thinking of moving to England, is that true? I mean, you were talking about moving to Florida to be closer to Aunt Sally last I knew.”

“That’s what we originally wanted and with the money we got for the place and for the land, we can buy a small house in Orlando as well as Yorkshire. But we want to be near you and Cathy seems to be hitting it off with Creighton’s brother. With luck, she’ll move to England as well and then our girls will be together again.”

“I just want to make certain it’s really what you want, Nana. I know Creighton can be a little persuasive when he sets his mind to it.”

“Sandy, you remember the tornado of 2006? We weren’t hit as badly as so many others were, but it took us eight months and nearly thirty thousand dollars to repair the place. I’m tired, honey. I want to go someplace quiet where Papa and I can live out our remaining years in peace. I don’t want to have to go to bed at night and pray I die before I see another tornado.”

“I didn’t know that was how you felt,” Sandra said, tears filling her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her grandmother’s neck. “I want you with me, I just don’t want to be selfish about it and take you away from the rest of the family.”

“Oh honey, we’ve already talked to the family and they’re excited. They now have somewhere foreign to visit. Hell’s bells, we’ll probably see them all a lot more often now.”

The back door opened and the two men walked back in, stopping in the threshold to look at the women with tears running down their faces. It wasn’t much of a sight for either to see and one James didn’t see often.

“Everything okay?” he asked with a frown when his wife and granddaughter turned around to see him.

“I’m just happy yer wantin’ to come live with us,” Sandra said, her tears bringing out the country girl
dialect in her and making Creighton smile.

“Whoa, there,” James said hugging her as she flung herself into his arms. “We never said we were going to be
living with you. Crey said there’s a house nearby that he’s checking on. We’ll have our own place, but somewhere you can visit.”

“What about here? All of your friends are here, what are you going to do about your bowling nights?”

“Hell, Sandy, we ain’t that good anyway,” James laughed, returning her hug before walking to Mary. “Maybe we can get a family league together, us and the Ashfords. I’m sure there are bowling alleys in England.”

“Yes sir, there are,” Creighton answered, wrapping his arms around Sandra’s waist and pressing his chest against her back. “We’ve gone a few t
imes, but nothing professional, just for fun. I know my dad and mum would love to have something to keep the family together.”

“See, no matter where we are, we’ll be with family,” James said with a wide smile. “Besides, we’ll be busy with you and all those
great-grandbabies you’re going to give us. You’ll need help while you’re writing your books and we’ll be close by.”

“Thank you,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks again. Creighton turned her and wrapped her in his arms, his large hands rubbing her back.

“Aren’t you happy?” he asked her gently. Sandra nodded but found herself unable to stop the tears.

“Oh, honey, she’s just emotional. It’s a part of her new condition.” Mary
assured him turning back to the task of finishing their supper.

“Get used to it Crey,” James said, pouring a cup of coffee. “They do this
A LOT!” Creighton smiled and kissed Sandra’s cheek, easing her away from his chest slightly.

“Is that what it is?” he asked in a soft whisper, watching her nod.

“I’m sorry,” she sniffed. He handed her a handkerchief Mary reached out to him and dried her tears for her.

“It’s half my fault if I remember correctly, though it has been a while since we were reminded of the event.”

James cleared his throat and Mary turned the faucet on a bit stronger to drown their conversation out as Sandra leaned her head into Creighton’s chest to hide her embarrassment.

“
Now will you relax?” he asked, an amused tone echoing in his words. “I’m not trying to move your grandparents’ out of their home.”

“I’m sorry,” she sniffed. “I should never doubt you.”

“Just remember that,” he chuckled softly. “I may not always be right, but I am never wrong.”

Sandra smiled, slapping his chest before wrapping her arms around his waist one last time then turned to help her grandmother.

It was strange; he thought when he joined James at the table, watching his wife and her grandmother finish the preparations for supper. A few weeks ago he was sitting in his flat in Chelsea, alone, trying to think of a way to make her fall in love with him. He planned her trip for the ultimate in romance and passion so she would never want to leave him. Now, he couldn’t seem to remember what it was like to be away from her. She was such a huge part of his life that loving her seemed as natural as breathing. And he could no live without her then he could air.

Supper was delightful; broiled pork chops, baked potatoes and corn, along with warm peach cobbler for dessert
and fresh milk from the cows. Creighton helped James with the chores while Sandra and Mary cleaned the kitchen, fed the chickens, slopped the hogs and fed ol’ Blue. The activity around the house was alive with energy and they were all content, happy and spent the evening eagerly discussing plans for the future.

Sandra felt full and hap
py as she pushed her empty plate aside, wrapping her hand inside her husband’s. The windows and doors were open to allow the breeze of the evening to cool the house down. Crickets chirped by the back porch as James shuffled the cards for a second hand of canasta and Mary heated up another pot of coffee.

“I had a talk with old man Humphrey,” James said as he
dealt the cards. “He wanted to know if you were going to tear down this place when we move or if he could talk you into selling it to him. I told him there’s only fifty acres left and he’s alright with that. He really wants the property for his daughter and her kids.”

“Doesn’t she have her own place?” Sandra asked
as she set up her hand.

“After she and that worthless piece of…I mean her husband divorced, she had to sell the house in order to put food on the table for her three kids.”

“I’m not one for demolishing good property,” Creighton said with a frown. “That’s why I remodeled the Marston place. I had plans on investing in the place, making it a functioning farm for the community. Besides, I’ve learned over the years if a parent buys something this massive for their child, they are more likely to not respect it or take care of it.”

“Sound advice,” James said as they began playing the new hand of cards.

“Does she still work at the thrift store?” Sandra asked, watching her grandfather discard a ten of diamonds.

“That as well as nights at the gas station.”

“Doesn’t she get alimony or child support? I mean her husband was a lawyer, last I recall.” Sandra frowned. She never like Hank Lankly, but she thought better of him…of any man who had children with a woman, divorced or not.

“Hank left Debbie for another woman and she keeps him pretty drained of money
, even though he makes a pretty penny. They moved to Texas and she insisted he buy her a nice home down there. He has a new partnership in Dallas which suits his little Buffy…or Betty, something like that. Debbie is trying to get him to pay, but until she can’t afford legal help, so she’s struggling to buy clothes for her kids and Johnny needs braces, Emmy just had her tonsils out and little Albert needs speech therapy. There’s just one thing after another and she’s drowning in bills.”

“I think we can work out a good deal that will be both amicable and decent for her and the kids,” Creighton said, sipping his coffee
as he watched his wife lay down her meld. Sandra smiled; she was sure her husband would work out better than a
good deal
.

“So when
are you two leaving and going back home?” Mary asked with a heavy sigh.

“Why? Are y
ou trying to get rid of us?” Sandra asked with a sly smile.

“No, not at all
. It’s just that I saw the cutest little outfit at bingo today and I couldn’t resist getting it for the baby.” Mary stood and hurried out of the room to fetch the bag she always carried with her; the one filled with zip lock baggies for leftovers at a restaurant, wet wipes for spills, and every other little necessity one might find a need for, including a small can of disinfectant spray for public toilet seats and a half used roll of toilet paper, just in case the restroom didn’t have any.

“There were clothes at bingo?” Creighton asked with a frown.

“Bingo is held at the church,” Sandra explained. “There are always women who bring in their children’s old clothes or toys to donate and exchange. The church holds a monthly
Exchange and Swap
so items are never disposed of until there is no more use in them. At that point old clothing is made into rags or used as stuffing for pillows or stuffed animals and toys are often placed in a scrap pile where the parts are used at Christmas time to make new toys, or to repair old ones.”

“I like that idea,” he smiled
, laying down his meld in front of him.

“That’s probably what we’ll do with the stuff you have,” James said
, taking his turn. “I’m sure there are a lot of folks who could use something good.”

“What about this Debbie?” Creighton suggested. “Unless you’re going to pack up everything here and move it into a place
in Florida or have it shipped to England. I’m sure she’ll need at least a few things to hold her over.”

“That she may,” James said
with a nod. “Mary and I were talking about all this junk. Hell there’s more than three generations of stuff in this old house; that is, what the last tornado that hit the place didn’t take with it. I know there are some things she wants to see about taking, but if it were up to me, I’d junk the whole kit and caboodle.”