Читать книгу Hometown Reunion - Pam Andrews - Страница 10

Lori punched in numbers on her cell phone, looking forward to a long chat with her best friend from high school, Sara Bennings. They’d kept in touch via e-mail, but actually getting together in person was a treat and one of the benefits of spending the summer in Apple Grove. Sara had married her high school boyfriend and settled into life as a farmer’s wife and the mother of Sunny, her four-year-old daughter.

“Hi. It’s me, Lori,” she said when Sara answered.

She was rewarded by a squeal of pleasure, and she could almost see her excitable, red-haired friend go pink-cheeked with enthusiasm.

“What are you going to be doing all summer, until the café is ready to open?” Sara asked after they exchanged recent news.

“A woman I know is writing a cookbook of recipes that will appeal to preschoolers. She’s going to pay me to test some of them while I’m here.”

“That sounds like fun.”

“I expect it will be, and it will give me a little income before I take another restaurant job.”

“Any prospects?” Sara asked. “I hate to think of you leaving again, but I can’t imagine any jobs around here that would interest you.”

“One with good potential in Chicago, but I don’t need to make up my mind right away. The restaurant is still under construction.”

They had so much to catch up on that Lori was surprised to see that they’d been talking for over an hour. She said goodbye, promising that they’d get together soon.

One thing she hadn’t mentioned to her friend was working with Scott on the café. Sara was the only friend who’d known about Lori’s big crush on him in high school. Sara might get the wrong idea if Lori brought it up. Lori didn’t want her friend to think she was still attracted to Scott after all this time. He was, after all, a married man.

“Daddy, wake up!”

Scott reluctantly opened one eye and grimaced at his son.

“How about letting me sleep a few more minutes?” he asked.

“You said we’d do something fun today,” Joey reminded him, planting himself astride Scott’s chest and digging in with his knees.

“What time is it?” He turned his head to look at the big red numbers on his alarm. “Seven o’clock! You don’t get up this early on day-care days.”

He couldn’t help noticing that Joey was already dressed in jeans and a green T-shirt, with the tag sticking out in front.

“I don’t have to go there today. Get up, Daddy!”

“I will if you get off me.”

Scott ruffled his son’s fine blond hair and growled in an imitation of a tiger. Joey tumbled off the edge of the bed and slipped his feet into the big work boots sitting on the floor. Scott reluctantly sat up while his son clunked the short distance to the kitchen area. Scott slept on a hide-a-bed in the trailer’s living area so Joey could have the only partitioned bedroom. It gave his son a private place where he could keep his toys, although they still seemed to spill out all over the place.

Scott stood, his foot narrowly missing a plastic dinosaur. He really should make Joey pick up all his toys before he went to bed at night, but sometimes they were both too tired.

Joey was rummaging in a lower cupboard, where they kept the cereal and crackers.

“I’ll make you some oatmeal as soon as I get dressed,” Scott said. “Meanwhile, pick up your toys. I nearly stepped on Dizzy the Dino.”

“Not oatmeal again,” Joey said dramatically. “Can’t we get some doughnuts?”

“Maybe later,” Scott said, remembering how empty the cupboards were. He absolutely had to get to the grocery store today, or they’d be living on peanut butter sandwiches.

The market wasn’t the only place he had to go. He’d just finished a job on Ridge Road. Now he had to get going on the café. He’d promised the committee an estimate in a week, and that meant he had to do the calculations this weekend. He planned to give them a rock-bottom price, not that he had any competition in the area, but he wanted to do what he could to help the town survive.

“What are we going to do, Daddy?” Joey asked as he energetically shook the last serving out of a box of dry cereal.

“Let me give it some thought,” Scott said as he measured out a scoop of coffee.

“We could go to Uncle Cory and Aunt Doreen’s farm.”

“Sorry. It’s too far for today.”

Scott loved his older sister, but he wasn’t up to her incessant questioning about his dating life or lack thereof. He didn’t know why she was so gung ho to see him married again. Right now he didn’t have time for anything but Joey and his job.

“Maybe the zoo,” Joey said hopefully.

“Sorry, partner. We’re not going to drive all the way to Des Moines.”

He had to give Joey the bad news that they were going to the big builders’ supply store. It wasn’t his son’s favorite place, but at least he wouldn’t have to have a sitter again this weekend. Scott had promised that he wouldn’t. He put bread in the toaster and milk on the table, then watched while Joey poured his own. Most likely he would spill some, but his son loved to be independent.

“Remember when we went to Apple Grove and looked at that old restaurant?” Scott said.

“Yeah, I liked Lori.”

Scott was surprised that she’d made an impression on Joey. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t do for either of them to get too interested in her. She’d left Apple Grove once, and no doubt she’d do it again as soon as she could.

“She’s going to cook there for a little while when I get it fixed up.”

“I didn’t like it. It was scary.”

“It’s old and dirty, but I’m going to make it nice again.” Scott patted his son’s uncombed hair. “It just needs fixing up, and you know that’s what I do. I thought you could be my helper today.”

“How?” Joey liked specifics.

“What I need to do is a little measuring, and then I have to make a trip to Bensen’s.”

“That will take forever,” Joey wailed.

Joey had trailed after his father too many times in the home improvement superstore. It wasn’t his idea of fun by any means.

“I’ve been thinking,” Scott said. “I have a bag of wood scraps in the storage shed. Maybe it’s time to get you a hammer and some nails of your own so you can make something.”

It was a bribe, but Scott was glad he’d thought of it. Joey didn’t have friends his age in the trailer park, and there wasn’t much for him to do when he wasn’t at day care.

Joey’s enthusiasm proved it was a good idea.

“Eat up while I get ready to go. We won’t have to spend much time at the café. We’ll leave after I have my coffee,” Scott told him.

They weren’t going to day care. Joey could wear his shirt backward if he wanted to.

It took longer to get going than Scott had hoped. Joey had to fill his backpack with the usual odds and ends, including Dizzy the Dino, who, his son insisted, liked to ride in the truck. Scott ate his toast, then took a few minutes to clean up the kitchen area and flip his bed back into a couch. They weren’t likely to have visitors, but he didn’t want Joey to grow up thinking it was all right to be messy.

By the time they got to Apple Grove, it was after nine o’clock. Scott parked in front of the café and helped Joey out of his car seat, then took out the key Bess Raymond had given him. With his son at his heels, he went to the front door. It was unlocked. He stuck his head inside and called out loudly, not wanting to startle whoever was there.

“Anybody here?”

There was no answer, so he stepped inside, keeping Joey behind him. It was unlikely, but some transient might have broken in to spend the night.

“Hello! Anybody here?” he called again.

“Oh, I wasn’t expecting anybody. Hello! Hi, Joey! What do you have there?” Lori stepped through the swinging doors from the kitchen.

“His name’s Dizzy,” Joey said, holding the plastic dinosaur up for her inspection.

“Hope I didn’t startle you,” Scott said. She was like a burst of sunshine in the dingy café.

She shook her head. “No, so many people have an interest in this place that I expect drop-ins. Well, Joey, are you Dad’s helper this morning?”

“I’m going to get my own hammer,” Joey said excitedly.

“Wonderful! Then you can build things like your daddy,” Lori replied.

Scott was pleased that she showered so much attention on Joey. He was reminded of how kind she was, always concerned about other people. Even though they’d never dated, he’d always admired that about her.

She smiled at him, and he grinned back to show her how much he appreciated the attention she was giving Joey.

Did she know about Mandy’s death? He knew how gossip circulated in small towns, but possibly she didn’t know yet. He wasn’t sure how to bring up the subject, and the last thing he wanted was more sympathy. He’d heard enough platitudes to last him a lifetime. He’d finally figured out that saying conventional things helped people deal with a loss, but he much preferred to get past his wife’s tragic end.

Had he been straight with Joey when he’d told him his mother had gone to heaven? Or had it been just another platitude? The important thing was that his son was comforted by the idea. He didn’t need to know how much Scott was struggling with his own beliefs.

A year ago he’d made the decision to start Joey in Sunday school. He wasn’t sure why, but it just felt right to include his son in the life of the church, even though he didn’t feel moved to participate himself. Some day Joey would have to decide for himself what his beliefs were. Scott didn’t want it on his conscience that he’d failed to expose him to Christian teachings.

Joey chatted with Lori as though he’d known her for ages. He didn’t usually take to strangers that quickly.

Taking out the notepad that held all his measurements and specifications, Scott studied the pages. He needed to check a few more things, then wait for the exterminator to give him a copy of his inspection report. It would make a big difference in Scott’s estimate if he had to shore up the building the way he had the pharmacy.

“Do you need any help?” Lori asked.

“Thanks, no. I just have a few things to check,” Scott said. “What brings you here this morning?”

“Don’t laugh, but I was planning the menu.”

“It will be a while before you can do any cooking here,” he said, laughing.

“Yes, I know, but I was trying to remember what Amos Conklin had on his menu. I want to capture the ambiance of the old café, but with healthier food.”

“I liked his pizza. It was great, but oil would run down your arm when you ate it. Great hamburgers, too, about half fat.”

“I remember his mashed potatoes. He served them with a big scoop of gravy and a huge pat of real butter. It’s hard to make things taste that good and still be heart-healthy.”

“I guess most people don’t want that kind of food anymore,” he said, “but it’s a treat once in a while. I love eggs fried in real butter, with hash browns on the side.”

“As soon as the café is up and running, I’ll fix you a breakfast special that will make your mouth water.”

“I’ll hold you to it,” he said with a grin. “While I have you here, maybe you can give me some idea what type of floor covering you want. I’ll be putting in new wallboard, too. It can be wood panels, or I can paint or paper it, whichever you like.”

“I’m afraid I’ll have to meet with the committee on stuff like that. What do you suggest?”

“I’m not a decorator, but I am on my way to Bensen’s to get some quotes. Why don’t you come along? Joey and I would love your company. While you’re there, you can pick up some tile and wall covering samples to show the committee.”

Joey didn’t give her a chance to say no, urging her to come with four-year-old fervor.

“You can help me pick out my hammer,” he said excitedly.

“If you have something else to do, I can grab a handful of samples for you,” Scott said. “I have to warn you, Joey and I plan to stop on the way home at a fast-food place with a play area. You know, slides and a pit full of balls, stuff like that. I’m afraid he’ll want to stay awhile.” Scott was also afraid she could read in his expression how much he hoped she’d say yes.

“Come with us,” Joey said enthusiastically.

Lori tucked a lock of her chestnut hair behind her ear, a gesture that meant she was trying to make up her mind. Scott was surprised that he remembered that little habit of hers.

“I’d love to come with you,” she finally said.

Scott was pleasantly surprised and realized he’d been holding his breath, waiting for an answer. What did he think he was doing? He wanted to spend time with her, but asking her to go to a building supply store was about as far from a date as anyone could get.

“Great. Joey will love having you.”

“My cell phone doesn’t get good reception in here—maybe the tin ceiling or something. Aunt Bess wanted me to go shopping, so I’d better tell her to go ahead without me.”

When she went outside, Scott took out his notepad. He relied on it to keep track of the specs for the job. While he worked, Joey occupied himself by tracing his name on the dusty tabletops, a skill he’d just mastered.

His whole mood had brightened. It would be good to have another adult join the two of them, especially since it was Lori.

Lori was older and wiser now, but she still felt a disturbing warmth in Scott’s presence. Was it only a remnant of the huge crush she’d once had? She felt drawn to him, but he had a family, a wife and an adorable son.

Lori made a quick call to Bess, letting her know she wouldn’t be going shopping with her and the reason why. Of course, her aunt thought it was a splendid idea, although Lori was a little puzzled by her aunt’s enthusiasm.

Lori didn’t know Scott as a man, and she couldn’t help wondering how much he’d changed from the boy she’d known. At any rate, he wasn’t available. She was worrying about getting to know him better when nothing could come of it. Going to the store with him was a practical decision. She wanted to do everything she could to get the café up and running. At least then she could leave Apple Grove knowing that her aunt’s pet project was under control.

She elected to wait outside while he finished whatever he was doing. In truth, the derelict interior of the café filled her with doubts. By the time it was renovated enough to open, it might be long past her deadline to give a firm answer to the job offer to work at the new restaurant in Chicago. In spite of Lori’s determination not to stay in Apple Grove beyond the summer, her aunt was counting on her to revitalize the café. How long would it take to do that? Would the committee be able to hire a replacement chef?

Scott didn’t keep her waiting long. He came out and locked the door, his hand on Joey’s shoulder to steer him toward the truck.

“I hope you don’t mind riding in the jump seat. Joey’s car seat isn’t secure enough back there.”

“No, not at all,” Lori said.

“Let me get a wipe,” Scott said to his son. “Your hands are filthy.”

“I can write my name,” Joey proudly told Lori.

“That’s great! What are you going to make with your new hammer?” she asked.

“Lots of things. Dizzy needs a house.”

“Dizzy?”

“His dinosaur,” Scott said, retrieving a moistened wipe from the truck and scrubbing his son’s hands.

“Yes, dinosaurs really like having a place of their own,” Lori said, playing along.

The ride to Bensen’s went more quickly than Lori had expected, and as Scott drove down the rural roads, she admired the recently cultivated fields on either side. The corn was newly planted, making the whole countryside seem fresh and promising. She couldn’t ride through rural Iowa without thanking the Lord for the bounty all around her.

The trip went fast because Joey never stopped talking. He was obviously excited about what he would build, and she suspected that it was a treat to have his father’s full attention. She wanted to ask about his mother but decided it wasn’t her place.

“Bensen’s isn’t Joey’s favorite store,” Scott said a bit apologetically when they arrived in the busy parking lot in front of the huge store. “He won’t ride in a cart anymore, but it’s a lot of walking for a kid his age.”

“We’ll play the find-it game,” Lori said, as they got out of the car.

“What’s that?” Joey asked.

“You think of something in the store, and we’ll see how fast you can find it. Then I’ll think of something. Whoever finds things the fastest wins.”

“Daddy will win. He knows where everything is.” Joey looked crestfallen.

Lori couldn’t help smiling. “Daddy can’t play. Just you and me. What shall we look for first?”

She was a little surprised when Joey slipped his hand into hers.

“A hammer!” he squealed with delight.

“Good idea,” Scott said. “Let’s find your hammer first. Then you have to let Lori and me look at other things.”

Joey had no trouble leading them to the right aisle to find a hammer. Lori was a little surprised when Scott started lifting full-sized ones to get a feel for what he wanted.

“Here are some kids’ tool sets,” she pointed out, unable to see Joey using a heavy grown-up hammer.

“Thanks, but I don’t believe in giving kids toy tools. They never work well, and it only frustrates them. Don’t worry. Joey won’t be using it without my supervision.”

“Wow, you’re going to get a big man’s hammer,” she said to Joey.

“I’ll teach him the safe way to use it,” Scott said. “Now we need to find nails. Joey gets a point for finding the hammer. Let’s see who can find the nails first.”

Scott and Lori soon conceded the game to Joey. The store was one big maze of shelves and aisles, but the four-year-old had an amazing memory for finding his way around it.

“You can probably tell that we come here a lot,” Scott said, letting his son hold the heavy hammer while he picked out an assortment of nails to go with it. “Remember when you helped me build a trellis for your aunt’s climbing roses?”

“It’s lasted all this time,” Lori said. “It’s so heavy with roses that it can’t even be painted anymore. When you build something, it’s certainly sturdy.”

“I seem to remember that you were a big help, especially when I spilled the nails and you helped me find them all.”

“You’re being kind. I was the one who knocked them over.”

“Were you?” He laughed. “I don’t remember that, but I do remember your purple phase. All you wore were purple shirts.”

“That was our school color! I remember you wearing a denim jacket with so many metal studs, you clanked when you walked.”

“Guilty,” he said, laughing. “Funny what we thought was cool when we were kids. Do you still paint your nails that silvery color? Always reminded me of a robot.”

She laughed at his teasing. The years seemed to fall away, and they were kids again, covering up their mutual affection with jokes.

Then, they split up for a moment, Joey choosing to go with her while his dad went to the lumber department. She got lost in the plumbing section and was a bit embarrassed to call on the little boy to lead her to the flooring section.

At the end of their trip, she had a stack of samples and absolutely no ideas about how the café should be decorated. Aunt Bess was expecting Scott to miraculously transform the old café into a town meeting place as well as a restaurant. It wasn’t going to be a quick or easy process. Revitalizing the building was going to take a lot of hard work and prayers, not to mention a big investment from the committee members.

“Well, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Scott said to his son when they had paid for their purchases and were out in the parking lot.

He gave Lori his hand to help her into the space behind the driver’s seat. His palm was rough and calloused, but his touch was gentle, and she had an odd sensation of vertigo. She shook her head to clear it.

“Fasten your seat belt,” Joey reminded her.

“That’s right,” Scott said, nodding at his son. “The truck won’t go unless everyone is belted in.”

Scott was bareheaded today, his dark blond hair curling in the back, above the collar of his navy blue T-shirt. She could get only a glimpse of his face in the rearview mirror, and his eyes were masked by sunglasses. She could see his hands on the steering wheel, gripping it tightly as he drove with complete concentration. The deserted country road didn’t seem to call for so much intensity, but then, he did have his son beside him on the seat. She could read his determination to keep the little boy safe in the rigid set of his shoulders. Joey kept chattering, but Scott answered only in monosyllables.

When they got to the town where Scott had promised to stop for lunch, Joey literally bounced in his car seat. Lori wondered when she had last felt enthusiasm like his.

Her fervent prayer was that someday she would have a child of her own, someone to love without reservation. Joey reminded her of what she was missing. Maybe it would never happen. Maybe she would be like Aunt Bess, devoted to following the Lord and doing what she could for others. It was a good life, a satisfying life, but still her heart was moved by Joey, by his innocence and his zest for life.

They stopped, and she got out of the truck while Scott was occupied with extracting Joey from his car seat.

Scott smiled at her warmly and nodded at the rather garish fast-food place, with its enclosed play area on one side.

“Joey’s favorite restaurant,” he said a bit apologetically.

“I’ve never been here. It will be a new experience,” she said enthusiastically.

They were early for lunch, but still the play area was a busy place. As soon as they went through the restaurant’s door, Joey made a beeline for the enclosed play area, with a slide, climbing ropes, places to crawl and an enclosure filled with hundreds of red, green and yellow balls.

“I guess we’d better find a table and order some food,” Scott said, with a small smile. “Not that Joey has the slightest interest in eating while he’s here.”

She followed Scott to a green-topped table where he could keep an eye on his son while he played.

“What can I get for you?” he asked.

“I’d love something cold to drink, but I’m really not hungry,” she said.

“Yeah, I feel the same way about the food here,” he said, with a knowing grin. “I’ll just get some chicken nuggets and fries, which we can all share, if that’s okay with you.”

“Fine. I’ll just sit and watch Joey. He certainly can climb.”

“Like a monkey.”

If the noise level was any indication, a dozen or more kids were having the time of their lives. Lori was immensely entertained by their antics and almost tempted to jump into the deep layer of rubber balls, which came up to Joey’s waist. He was trying to shimmy across them, sending them flying in all directions.

Scott came back with a tray full of chicken nuggets and French fries, with an apple juice for Joey and tall cups of lemonade for them.

“I’ll tell him the food is here,” he said.

It was obvious that Joey preferred playing to eating, and Scott was an understanding father. He didn’t insist that his son come to the table.

“He’ll come when he gets hungry,” he said, returning alone.

Lori dipped a limp French fry in the ketchup that she had squeezed from a foil packet, but it was only to have something to do. Now that she was sitting alone with Scott, she didn’t know what to say. They sat for several minutes without saying anything, but it was a companionable silence. When he did speak, it was only to comment on how much Joey was enjoying himself.

“So how did you like working in Chicago?” he asked finally.

“I liked it, even though the job didn’t work out. I have a chance at another if I make up my mind soon enough,” she said.

He nodded but didn’t ask any more questions, and his reticence discouraged her from satisfying her curiosity about his wife, although she did wonder why he never mentioned Joey’s mother.

“You really do look good,” he said after he returned from checking on Joey.

It was the last thing she’d expected him to say, and she didn’t know how to respond.

“You’re not one of those cooks who enjoy their own food too much,” he said.

He smiled directly at her, and it was like the sun coming out on a gloomy day. She wanted to say something nice in return, but she was at a loss for words.

“Here he comes. I knew he’d get hungry eventually.” Scott stood to let his son slide into the booth beside him.

“That big kid kept hogging the slide,” Joey complained. “He sat there and wouldn’t let anyone else go down.”

“Maybe he’ll be gone when you’re done eating. You can play a little longer if Lori doesn’t mind,” Scott told him.

“No, of course not. I was tempted to jump into those balls myself,” Lori confessed.

“Big people aren’t supposed to,” Joey said, with a worried frown.

“I’m not really going to do it,” she assured him.

“Lori is very good at resisting temptation,” Scott said.

She couldn’t help but notice that Scott didn’t smile when he said that.

After letting Joey play awhile longer, they headed home. The little boy dozed off on the way back to Apple Grove, but the silence in the truck felt comfortable. She and Scott had grown up in the same town, had gone to the same schools, and had known the same people. Their shared history made it unnecessary to fill the time with words.

Joey woke up when she got out of the truck.

“Bye, Lori,” he said sleepily.

“Have fun making stuff with your new hammer,” she said as she turned to walk up to Aunt Bess’s house.

Scott thanked her for coming along. She stood and watched as his truck went down the street and disappeared from sight.