Читать книгу Mommy in Training - Shelley Galloway - Страница 13

“Why didn’t Matt tell me that he worked for SavNGo the first chance he got?” Minnie griped as she grabbed hold of a dandelion and yanked hard on its stem. “He had any number of chances to tell me the whole reason he was here, but he didn’t.”

As a tiny gust of warm wind floated around Minnie’s front yard, Wanda repositioned the brim of her floppy straw hat. “Maybe it was because he knew you’d react this way?”

“React how?”

Wanda motioned to the limp weed Minnie was clutching in her hand. “Like you’d pay money for his body to be buried in the ground near here.”

In reflex, Minnie dropped the dandelion as if it were covered in red ants. “That’s unfair. I certainly don’t wish Matt was dead.”

“Just maimed?”

“No, of course not.” Minnie fumed as she pulled up another weed, grasping it in a chokehold the way she was envisioning wringing Matt Madigan’s neck. “I just hate being surprised, that’s all. And I embarrassed myself, too.”

“Embarrassed yourself? When?”

“I don’t know. A couple of times.”

“What did you say when he brought the dishes over?”

“Too much.” Minnie tossed a handful of weeds into her wheelbarrow. “Wanda, I know you love Matt like he was your own, but you have to try and see things from my point of view.”

“Oh, I think I can see your side, plain as day. But I can see Matthew’s, too.” As if weighing her conscience, she slowly said, “Matthew never could abide conflict or confrontations. He doesn’t trust easily, Minnie. I don’t know if he ever has.”

This was news to Minnie. “Because of his dad?”

“Because of a lot of things. Matt is a pleaser on the outside. He does what people expect, says what they want to hear. It’s charming. But unfortunately, it makes all those feelings and emotions inside of him get all bottled up. He hasn’t been able to count on too much, you know. His mama died when he was nine, and, well, his daddy had never been the type to listen to complaints or secrets.”

Minnie picked up her spade. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Of course.”

“Years ago, I had such a crush on Matt.”

“Oh, honey. I already knew that.” Under the brim of her straw hat, Wanda grinned broadly. “Everyone knew that.”

Well, that was mortifying. Minnie pushed at the ground with her spade to cover up her embarrassment. “Oh.”

Wanda chuckled. “Don’t worry, Minnie. You weren’t the only girl who was sad to see Matt leave town. And I don’t think you’re the only one who has entertained a thought or two about Matt Madigan over the years.”

Watching a bumblebee zip around her geraniums, Minnie added, “Maybe I’m just thinking about what could have been.” She looked Wanda’s way. “I guess you remember about Matt dating Paige?”

“I do. I remember she failed him, too.” She shook her head sorrowfully. “Oh, Paige. What a mess that girl was!”

“Paige was so mean to him.”

“She broke his heart.” Incredibly, Wanda was probably the only person Minnie could trust to be objective when it came to her older sister. Paige had been born thinking that she knew everything, and the sad part of it was that most people thought she was right. Minnie sometimes felt that she was the only person to see that Paige had a healthy case of impulsiveness and arrogance that got her into trouble.

Minnie looked down the street, thinking of Matt, thinking of Kimber. “It’s not just broken dreams I’m anxious about, Wanda. I’m worried about everything. I’m worried about Kimber. I’m worried about SavNGo coming in and taking away my only means to support her.”

“You have every right to be troubled, dear. Those are all justified fears.”

Minnie brushed off her hands. That was why she liked her neighbor so much. Wanda Wyzecki never tried to shrug off Minnie’s concerns or sugarcoat bad news. From the day Minnie had met her, Wanda had always been the kind of woman to call a spade a spade.

“Have I told you lately how glad I am that you live across the street?”

“No.” But the lady’s lips twitched. “But I love you, too, Minnie. Don’t worry so, okay?”

Minnie glanced at the new pile of weeds next to her knees, their leaves and stems already shriveling up in the hot afternoon sun. “What should I do about Matt?”

“Whatever you think best, I suppose.”

“I’m going to have a real hard time looking at him every day if his SavNGo puts me out of business.”

“Some might say you would have every right to feel that way.”

“But not you?”

“I’ve been around long enough to know that feeling bitter doesn’t help a person sleep at night. Just like I know that work isn’t the only thing that matters.”

“The only people who say that are the ones whose jobs are going real well.”

Wanda stood up. Minnie noticed that her crisp white capris were still, well, crisp and white, and her red T-shirt looked straight out of the dry cleaners. She, on the other hand, had a coat of dirt all over her.

“I best get going,” Wanda announced. “Matthew said he’d help me organize Jim’s golf things this afternoon.” Looking fondly at Matt’s truck, Wanda smiled. “I tell you what, though, no matter how you must feel about that man, one thing just can’t be denied. He sure is handsome.”

Saying Matt was handsome was like saying the sky was blue. Neither did the reality justice.

As Wanda walked back home, Minnie scooped up the last of the weeds and tossed them and her spade into the wheelbarrow. After pulling off her gloves, she walked to her front porch. The shade was a blessed relief. She sat down on one of the wicker rocking chairs and tried to look everywhere besides Matt’s shiny black pickup truck across the street.

It was sure hard to realize that heroes were made of flesh and doubts.

“NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE the day when this field would be made into a parking lot,” Lane Henderson said as they watched yet another dump truck roar out onto the street. For the past five hours, earthmovers had cleared out shrubs, grass and rubbish while Bobcats had followed, smoothing over what used to be the Crocker Ranch. “If all goes well, you’ll be opening right on schedule, in eight months’ time.”

In less than a year, Crescent View would be making progress. Providing jobs. Giving people like Lane a good bit of money that was sorely needed in the current economy. “Yep. Everything’s moving along like clockwork,” Matt said.

“The town council couldn’t be more pleased. Some are even talking about moving the Chicken and Bread festival to next March.”

The Chicken and Bread festival was the town’s biggest event. Years ago, Crescent View’s founding fathers had decided to capitalize on the three things their sleepy town had going for it: area poultry farms, wheat fields, and the beautiful countryside covered with bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush, a byproduct of Lady Bird Johnson’s efforts to beautify the nation’s highways and byways. Consequently, Crescent View hosted thousands of people in the summer, people ready to enjoy the beauty of wildflowers and fried chicken. “Think so?”

“Maybe. Lots of tourists come in for the festival. We’ll be pleased as punch to show off our new SavNGo while we’re at it.”

Matt felt a hearty surge of satisfaction. He could hardly count the number of times he’d sat in his Ford pickup and watched a ground-breaking. Usually he oversaw one or two construction sites and did his best to meet with the town councils and local construction crews at the same time. He’d also become adept at putting the best possible spin on the incoming store.

Here in Crescent View, he hadn’t had to do any fast talking at all. He genuinely believed that SavNGo was going to help boost the town’s economy, and he’d do everything he possibly could to ensure that the vision became a reality.

What people didn’t know was he’d done a lot of fast talking to even get SavNGo in the county at all. Not everyone in the company had thought Crescent View had a future.

Lane rolled back on the heels of his work boots. “Things are going to be a lot different round here soon.”

That was no lie, SavNGo might have a bad rap for taking out small businesses, but it had also given back to a lot of communities. Jobs were created, other businesses flocked to the areas surrounding the supercenters, and people enjoyed paying less money for everyday necessities. He liked working for the chain.

Of course, he’d never had to come face-to-face with brown eyes that filled with tears at the thought of SavNGo’s impending arrival.

“We’re real pleased you asked our company to install all the heating and air-conditioning,” Lane said. “Henderson HVAC is going to make sure everything goes as smooth as silk.”

“I’m sure it will be that way. And don’t act like I did you a favor, y’all turned in the best bid. The decision was strictly based on business.”

“We’re going to do a good job. Crescent View needs this store in a bad way. We need the work now, and we need the jobs it will bring in the future. Did you know a couple of restaurant chains are now considering coming here?”

“I heard.”

“Things are going to turn out real good, I just know it. For years I’ve been putting everything I’ve earned back into my business. But now things might get a little easier. I might finally be able to put something in the bank.” Gazing off toward the twin water towers that marked the entrance of their town, population 5500, Lane grinned. “Shoot, I might have to start thinking seriously about getting married.”

“Married? I didn’t know you were seeing anyone special.”

“I’m not, but it’s about that time.”

“Remember when jobs and marriage seemed a lifetime away?”

“It used to be. ’Course, we had other things on our minds.” Looking into the distance, Lane said, “I was going to become a chemist or something.”

“You always were damn smart. All I ever wanted to do was move on.”

“You did that.”

“Yeah. And now I’m back.”

“So…how is being here? As hard as it used to be?”

“In some ways, yes.” Matt knew his buddy hadn’t asked the question lightly. Lane had witnessed his father yelling at him when he’d fumbled the ball and lost the championship game his freshman year. He’d also sat by Matt’s side during his father’s memorial service. Lane was one of the few people who knew that Matt was haunted by his past.

Changing the topic, Lane said, “My folks asked if you’d like to come over for dinner soon.”

“Thanks, I’d like that.”

“I’ll let them know. How’s the move coming along?”

“About as well as can be expected. Mrs. Wyzecki has too much stuff, but we’re getting there.”

Lane laughed. “She’s always had too much stuff. Some things never change. When are you going to officially move in?”

“I’m in enough. And there’s no hurry. Wanda’s new condo won’t be ready for another month and a half, sometime around the beginning of September.”

“I don’t know how you’re doing it, living with her again.”

“She and I get along great, and it’s not like there’s that much involved. She does her thing, and I do mine.”

“No curfew?” Lane asked with a grin.

Matt played along. “Nope, she’s been coming in before eleven, so I thought I wouldn’t press her.”

“You know what? I wouldn’t put it past her to stay out later than you!”

“Me, neither. That woman’s phone rings more than any teenager’s.”

After another hour, Lane went on his way and Matt stood alone, watching the trucks come and go and thinking for the first time that maybe Lane had gotten it all wrong. All this time, he’d been thinking how good it was to be in Crescent View because it felt familiar and like the only real home he’d known.

But as he thought of Wanda’s upcoming move to the retirement condo, the changes that SavNGo would bring, as well as his move back to Crescent View, maybe the opposite was true. Maybe nothing stayed the same. Maybe nothing ever did.

And if that was the case, Matt wondered what he was going to end up holding on to when he finally decided to trust someone besides Wanda Wyzecki.