Читать книгу Special Delivery - Judi Lynn - Страница 15

Chapter 9

When Keagan stopped at Axel’s place on Friday, he delivered the mail and a ham loaf that Betty, who worked at Ian’s inn, had made. Karli let him in and motioned him toward the kitchen. Her dark hair hung loose today, halfway down her back; she wore jeans and a thin, black sweater. As always, she looked good. Brown bags covered the worktable.

“Just got back from the grocery. I’m putting a few things away. Thought I’d fix you guys something to eat tomorrow since you’re working here for free.”

He glanced at a dozen cube steaks stacked to be put in the refrigerator. “Swiss steak?” he asked. Ralph made a mean version of that dish at his diner.

She shook her head. “Thought I’d go for chicken-fried steak with gravy.”

“Now you’re talking!” His mouth watered. When she opened the refrigerator, he saw stew beef and frozen vegetables on the top shelf. “Do you like to cook?”

She got the impression this was a serious question. Food must matter to him. “Once in a while. When I’m in the mood. Not every day. You?”

“I can manage the basics.” He set the ham loaf on the stove. His mom loved gardening and cooking. Some of his favorite memories were spending time in the kitchen with her.

Karli stopped putting groceries away and turned to look at him. “I’ve never tasted ham loaf. Will you thank Betty for me? I have a thing for international food—Thai, Italian, and Mexican. Is there anywhere around here I can find those?”

He frowned. “Not in Mill Pond.”

“I love food, but I’m just as happy if I don’t have to cook it. Do small towns offer much variety? I’ve been spoiled in Indy. Ethnic restaurants are scattered everywhere.”

“Tyne makes all kinds of international food, but only guests can eat at Ian’s inn. I’m guessing you could find them in Bloomington, and I know you can in Indy.” He thought a minute. “Tyne’s coming tomorrow. I bet he’d give you some easy recipes.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to cook the food. I want to pay for it.”

When she looked disappointed, he said, “I’m not bad at Italian.”

Her brown eyes glittered. “What’s your specialty?”

“Chicken carbonara and spaghetti with meat sauce.”

“You’ll have to invite me for supper some time or stop by to cook for us.” She said it casually, but he got the feeling she was going to hold him to that. Did he mind? Not really. It had to be more fun than cooking for Brad.

He glanced at the clock. “Well, I’d better get going. I have to finish my route.”

She gave him a quick wave goodbye, and he’d started for the door when Axel yelled for him.

“Hey, boy, I need you. I could use a favor.”

Keagan frowned. Did he still expect applesauce and cottage cheese when Karli was cooking for him?

“A favor?” Karli shook her head. “He never words anything like that for me.”

“You’re a blood relative. It’s different.” Keagan stalked toward the back room. “I’m only a neighbor. I can ignore him.”

“So can I, when he gets too feisty.”

Keagan went to see what Axel needed. He did a double take when he saw the old man. He’d actually tried to comb his hair. Not that it helped. It was too dirty with too many knots, but at least he’d made an effort. “How can I help you?” he asked.

“I’m getting a little ripe. I could use a shower,” Axel told him.

Keagan expected the floor to open up and swallow him. He usually had to bully his neighbor into washing up. “When?”

“Tonight, if you have time.”

Keagan narrowed his eyes, suspicious. “Is a social worker coming to the house and you want to trick her, pretend you keep clean and tidy?”

Axel’s expression went sour. “Will you wash me or not?”

“I’ll be here.” If the old man would soap himself up, Keagan would get him under some hot water. “What if I come by when I get off work?”

“Fine.” Axel flicked at his beard. “Why don’t you find some scissors and trim this up, too?”

“Do you have a hot date? Is something going on that I don’t know about?”

Axel sniffed. “Don’t get too full of yourself, boy. I just need a little cleanup.”

“No, you need a do-over, but I’ll be here. I washed all of your sweat pants and T-shirts two weekends ago. We’ll get you in some clean clothes, too.”

“If you say so.”

Keagan cocked an eyebrow. “You’re feeling all right, aren’t you?”

“Don’t push it.” Axel turned back to his TV show, and Keagan started for the front door.

Karli called, “Since you’re coming, why don’t you stay for supper? I’m making vegetable soup.”

“With beef?”

“I’m putting it in the pressure cooker now.”

That’s what his mom did, too, to get it tender. “What if I buy a loaf of bread at Maxwell’s? And I’ll bring wine.”

“Perfect.” She looked smug, but immediately turned to grab onions, potatoes, and carrots out of the refrigerator drawer.

Once back in his truck, Keagan thought about the look she’d given him. He must have been mistaken. Why would she look smug? Maybe because he was going to scrub Axel, and she wouldn’t have to smell him anymore. A bowl of soup would be worth that.

With a satisfied nod, he pulled away, reminding himself to stop at Maxwell’s when he got to town.

The rest of the day went quickly, and he found himself driving back to Axel’s by five-thirty. The rich aroma of beef stock and simmering soup wafted through the house when he knocked and Karli called for him to come in. He handed her the long loaf of French bread and a bottle of red wine when he found her in the kitchen. He sniffed and was sure he caught the scent of apples, too.

She smiled and said, “The apple dumplings will be finished soon. Why don’t you clean Axel first, wash up, and then we’ll have supper?”

That worked for him. He’d get the crappy job out of the way, and then he could enjoy the rest of the night. He helped Axel into his wheelchair and then pushed him into the bathroom. He rolled up his sleeves and supported him under his arms to scoot him from the wheelchair to the bath chair made for invalids. It sat in and out of the tub, so he helped Axel strip down, and then lifted his legs to scoot him across the seat to the side behind the shower curtain. He tinkered with the water until it was the right temperature, then hit the button for the shower and closed the curtain most of the way.

When Axel’s hair was soaked, he squirted shampoo on it and scrubbed, then rinsed. Next, he soaped up the wash cloth and scrubbed Axel’s back and bottom. He shook his head. Yup, he’d seen more of Axel than he ever wanted to see, but the old man couldn’t reach behind himself. He soaped the cloth again and handed it to him. “Go to it. Don’t miss any spots.”

He waited until Axel gave him a call, then gave him a quick once-over, turned off the water, and dried him with a thick towel. He dried his hair, too, and ran a comb through it. “You’re nothing to brag about, but you’re clean.”

The old man snorted. “Don’t forget the beard.”

Keagan draped the towel over him and trimmed the wiry whiskers as well as he could.

He grabbed a clean, disposable diaper and slid it on him, followed by the clean sweatpants and shirt. He pulled slippers on Axel’s feet and started to roll him back to his room.

“I want to eat in the dining room.”

Keagan stared.

“Karli said I could if I cleaned up.”

Was that what this was all about? “We’re eating out there,” Keagan told him.

“I know.”

Keagan scowled. “One nasty comment, and I . . .”

“I know. You’ll hike me back to bed.”

He would, too, damn it. He and the old man had an understanding.

Karli carried a giant tureen to the cherry table, along with a platter that held the sliced bread. She put a trivet on the table and carried out a nine-by-thirteen dish filled with apple dumplings.

Axel’s jaw dropped. So did Keagan’s. His mom made wonderful meals on Sundays, but he loved this combination. While she dished up food for Axel, Keagan opened the bottle of red wine he’d brought. When he paused over Axel’s glass, the old man nodded.

“You sure?” He turned to Karli. “Do we have to worry about any of the medicine he takes?”

“Let him have a glass. Tonight’s special,” she told him.

Keagan didn’t think it was possible, but Axel was on his best behavior while they ate. Well, he didn’t say much, mostly shoveled food into his face, but he seemed to enjoy listening to their conversation. Karli asked about the different farms in the area, and Keagan happily told her about the families and the specialties they raised.

“Mill Pond’s changed a lot in the last five to ten years,” he said. “People got together and decided to up their game. We wanted to bring more tourists and money into town, and it’s worked out better than we thought.”

“Do you sell a lot of your dinnerware?” Karli asked.

“Almost more than I can keep up with. I’ve never wanted to own a shop of my own. I’m happy displaying my work at Ian’s inn and in Art’s grocery, but I’d like a bigger studio someday, so that I can make more inventory and products.”

Axel paid attention to that and pointed a finger in his direction. “You’ve got to be close to having enough money by now.”

Keagan nodded. “I live on my mailman wages, but I’ve socked every penny I make from the dinnerware in the bank.”

“For how long?” Axel asked.

“Eight years now. It wasn’t anything to brag about when I started out, but I could almost live off it now. If I find the right property, I can afford it.”

“Good. You’ve earned it.”

Karli glanced at Axel, surprised, but didn’t comment. When they finished the soup, she went to the kitchen and brought back a gallon of vanilla ice cream. Keagan loved apple dumplings, especially a la mode, and had to stop himself from asking for seconds. By the time they ate the last bite, Axel sagged back in his chair, tired.

Keagan laid a hand on his shoulder. “The food and the wine’s done you in. Ready for bed?”

“I changed your sheets while you were in the shower,” Karli said. “You should sleep well tonight.”

Axel grunted and Keagan rolled him to his room and got him into bed. A few minutes later, they heard the TV turn on. Keagan shook his head. “Always with the TV.”

“He needs something to distract him,” Karli said. “But he won’t last long tonight.”

“Neither will I. After we clean up, I’d better go home. We plan to be here early tomorrow to work on the porch.”

When the last dish was dried, Karli yawned. “I’m going to call it an early night, too.”

On his drive home, Keagan had to admit he’d enjoyed himself at Axel’s. Karli was good company and one hell of a cook. Too bad she was only going to be here for a short time. He felt comfortable with her. He liked most people, but he wasn’t very social. He spent most of his free time in his studio. His mom bugged him about being too private. Maybe he was, but the idea of growing old alone didn’t bother him. Not after Cecily. He chuckled. Maybe he’d turn grumpy and stubborn like Axel in his old age.