Country Wishes

by RaeAnne Hadley

  “So what are we going to sell it for?”

  “We need enough to put down on another place and to move. We can sit down and go over the figures tonight after the girls go to bed if you’d like.”

  “Yes, we need to be on the same page if this town pans out. Speaking of which, look at that.”

  They were so busy talking she hadn’t looked out her window for a while. She looked out through the windshield and smiled. They had crested a mesa and what lay before them was stunning. Snow-covered mountains lined all three sides of their view. They were driving into a bowl surrounded by beauty. Trees were so thick that you could only see twinkling of buildings. It was unexpected and breathtaking.

  “Is that Millflower?” She squeezed his thigh in excitement.

  “No. I think its further south. We have to come into Delaware then Ogden before we hit Millflower.”

  “So we are going to be even closer to those mountains? Oh my gosh, it’s so beautiful. Do you see it girls? Look at that view.”

  “Don’t get too excited. Remember when we pulled in to Hopeful the first time?”

  She felt her smile fall slightly. “I’ll never forget it. We had driven through all of those adorable mountain towns and I was getting so excited. Then we pulled into Hopeful. All the industrial buildings and junk yards, abandoned and broken-down houses. It was so disappointing.” She looked out of her window still lost in memories. “The only saving grace was the community. Some of the nicest souls I’ve ever met. It’s been nicer the last few years with the county and community fixing up the town and the houses. It’s actually quaint now. Its appearance has greatly improved.”

  She broke her trance and glanced back at Jack. “I have faith and hope that Millflower will be all it’s cracked up to be.”

  Jack looked back at her and smiled. “I just don’t want you to be disappointed, especially if you’ve built it up in your mind.”

  “You can be such a pessimist.”

  “And you can be such a dreamer.”

  “Yeah but that’s one of the things you love about me.”

  They rode in silence the rest of the way, traveling through Delaware then fifteen miles later, Ogden. Delaware had some recognizable stores and a quaint downtown that the highway brought them through. Ogden was a mystery, located somewhere west of the highway. The only way they knew they were in Ogden was a sign indicating to turn west.

  The landscape changed drastically, flowing from sagebrush and desert to vacant harvest fields as far as the eye could see. Tree groves barren of leaves began to spring up, sparsely at first, then becoming so thick you couldn’t see the next rise. Rena tried to rein in her excitement but the snow-covered mountains were starting to close in around them and the sight was magnificent.

  They saw the sign welcoming them to Millflower and all of them cheered. Eager eyes scanning the landscape for signs of the bustling town.

  “Mom, where’s all of the stores and parks? I thought you said there were tons of parks?” Anabeth complained.

  “Give it a chance. We are on the outskirts of town.”

  She glanced at Jack, worry on her face. He shrugged his shoulder slightly so the girls wouldn’t see but she knew what he was thinking. This was another town like how Hopeful used to be; industrial, old and run down.

  They drove another couple of miles in silence. All of the stress Rena had been dealing with for the past couple of years bubbled up into her throat and she swallowed down a sob. This was supposed to be her saving town, the place they were going to move to, to become a family again, to be happy again. There was no way they would move from one desolate town to another. She looked down at her hands, finding she had been wringing them in her lap.

  “Well they are big enough to have their own airport.” Jack pointed out. “And it’s a nice one too.”

  She looked listlessly at the airport. It did appear to be newer and much larger than the one in Hopeful but what good was an airport if they weren’t going to live there. “Let’s just get to the hotel and check in. We will figure out what to do after we get there.”

  “Honey…”

  Jack’s tone was gentle but stern. She knew he was telling her to put on a happy face for the girls’ sake. She needed to stop sulking and make the most of the trip. This was also supposed to be a fun getaway for them.

  She glanced back at the girls and smiled. “I think this hotel has an indoor pool.”

  “Woo hoo! Can we go swimming now?” Shari bounced happily in her seat.

  “No, not right away. Let’s get checked into our room and maybe go get some lunch. We need to check out the town, remember? You can swim later.”

  “But Mom…”

  “No buts. Listen to your mother. You can swim later; I’ll even take you down.” Jack promised.

  “Yay!”

  Rena looked at her phone to check the GPS for the hotel. “We should be coming up to the hotel here pretty soon. It’s going to be on your side, babe.”

  “It looks like we are coming into town,” he pointed out.

  The buildings became denser on the blocks and familiar signs and stores became apparent. There were a few mom and pop stores but retail chains such as Burger King and AutoZone were mixed in.

  Anabeth pointed out the side window. “There’s City Market, Mom. Where you like to shop.”

  “Yes, I do.” She stared at the grocery store as they drove by. It was an older building and store but wasn’t as old as the one she shopped in Hopeful.

  “What are you thinking of? Or should I ask?” He grabbed and squeezed her hand before focusing back on his driving.

  “I didn’t think it was this old. The pictures that I Googled seemed newer,” she admitted.

  “Give it a chance. We haven’t seen the entire town yet. Let’s get checked in then make a game plan.”

  She loved how he could calm her nerves and see things in a different way. They may be completely different; polar opposites if she was honest, but they complimented each other perfectly.

  Shari excitedly tapped her father on the shoulder. “There it is, Dad. The hotel is on your side.”

  “I see it. We will go up to the light and turn there. Everyone ready to get out and stretch their legs?”

  The car filled with anxious voices. “Yes!”

  Chapter Four

  They checked in and quickly went to their rooms. They always made sure they reserved a suite which allowed Jack and Rena their own room, while the girls slept on the hide-a-bed couch in the living room. This allowed privacy for the adults and the girls got their own TV to watch cartoons. It was a little more money but they felt it was worth the money.

  They decided to grab lunch from a burger place then find a park and eat there. They were pleasantly surprised to find the temperatures forty degrees warmer than in Hopeful and while they were buried under snow at home, in Millflower, there wasn’t a sign of snow anywhere.

  They picked a fast food place that they didn’t have in Hopeful and found a nearby park. They sat at the bench, enjoying the sun and food while the girls decided where to explore next.

  “Look! There’s a bike trail and over there is a river. Can we go to the river, Mom? What’s that over there? Look at all of those ramps and what’s that wall thingy?”

  Shari punched her sister in the arm. “It’s a skating rink, dummy and that’s a skate park.”

  “Mom, she called me a dummy.”

  “Shari, don’t call your sister a dummy. She’s excited and she’s never seen these things. Be nice or I’ll punch you.”

  Shari laughed then Anabeth chimed in. “You would never hit us, Mom. You love us too much.”

  The truth of the statement made Jack start laughing and soon the four of them we teasing and joking about what a pushover Rena was. She felt her heart swell with the love for her family. She missed this; the laughter, being together, enjoying the company. Her girls were growing up so fast and each phase she thought was her favorite but then they would say or do something
that made her proud to be their mother. It was an incredible experience to go through.

  “Let’s eat up then we can go explore.” Jack leaned over and kissed Rena on the lips.

  “Ewww, Dad, get a room.” Shari giggled.

  “We did,” he pointed out, grinning wolfishly.

  Anabeth stood up and grabbed her trash. “I’m done. Can I go see the skating park?”

  “Yep, just remember, if you can’t see me…”

  The two girls cut her off. “They you can’t see us. We got it Mom. You’ve told us that before.”

  Shari quickly gathered her trash, shoving the last handful of fries in her mouth. “I’m with her.”

  “Don’t talk with your mouth full. And yes, you two have fun.”

  They both watched the girls take off running towards the skate park. There were skaters there, along with some brave bicyclists performing stunts and trying to outdo each other. There were also people walking their dogs, jogging and bicyclists taking advantage of the trails and the lovely weather.

  “It’s incredible here. I can’t get over the weather difference. We are still in the same state.” Rena commented.

  “We are at the south end of the state though. It is nice here. You could almost wear shorts.”

  “What are we doing after this?”

  “Let’s drive around and check out the town. They couldn’t have posted those pictures on the Internet if it wasn’t true.”

  She smiled at him. “How did I get so lucky?”

  He grinned back. “I don’t know.” She went to punch him and he kissed her nose. “I’m the lucky one. Let’s go see what our girls are up to.”

  They played for another thirty minutes before climbing back into the car. They decided to explore on their own and stumble around, foregoing the GPS. They found themselves on the main highway again and turned away from the hotel. They rounded a bend and there was a collective gasp in the car.

  “Are we in another town? This place is awesome.” Shari exclaimed.

  “We are still in Millflower. This must be the newer end of town.” Jack slowed to look around.

  Rena felt herself grinning madly, excited at the scenery. “Oh my god, Jack, look at all of the stores. They are new, and there are tons of them!”

  “There’s a Target store, Mom! And JC Penny's, and Wal-Mart.”

  Rena laughed at Anabeth. “We have a Wal-Mart, honey.”

  “But look at the size of this one. And a Home Depot. What’s a Home Depot?”

  Jack and Rena looked at each other before answering at the same time. “Heaven.”

  They laughed and continued exploring the newer end of town. They decided to check out the surrounding neighborhoods before going back to the hotel to let the girls swim.

  The different neighborhoods varied and there was no rhyme or reason. Some were older, mid-seventies and quaint then two blocks later a brand-new subdivision with huge homes, well over twenty-eight hundred square feet, and then four blocks later a subdivision with horses and various livestock.

  They wound around through neighborhoods back towards the hotel. Jack glanced at Rena. “You know where this reminds me of?”

  Rena nodded. “Home, thirty-five years ago.”

  “Hopeful doesn’t look like this.” Shari butted in.

  “Hopeful isn’t home to Mom and me.” Jack explained. “We grew up in Loveland, on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. That will always be home to us.”

  “All I remember is Hopeful.” Anabeth piped up.

  “That’s because we moved up there when you were only two, honey.”

  “And I was four.” Shari added.

  “Yep. And now we are going to find a place where all of us are happy.”

  “Well I think this place is pretty great so far.”

  Rena smiled at Shari. “So far so good, huh?”

  “Yep, now let’s go swim.”

  “Hey hot momma.”

  “Jack, the girls aren’t asleep yet.”

  “Yes, but our door is shut and they are out watching cartoons on their pull-out bed. Come over here.”

  She smiled and moved to the bed. “What do you think of the town?”

  “It’s nice. But I have other things on my mind right now.”

  She crawled under the covers and slipped into his arms. She loved his arms. Years of physical labor made them strong and she always felt so safe in them. She kissed his lips, keeping her eyes open. His dark hair was streaked with gray, making him appear distinguished. His green eyes had hints of gold and the only lines around them were laugh lines. His spirit was still young and he loved having fun.

  “What are you thinking about?” he asked as he began to nibble on her ear.”

  “How lucky I am to have found you. That I’ve missed you and I want my family back.”

  “One day at a time, babe.” He leaned over her, pushing her back into the bed and she allowed the tethered butterflies in her belly free. She would push aside all of the worries and stress and enjoy the now. Now she had her husband, her lover. Mr. Hyde was far away sleeping.

  The girls woke them up bouncing on the bed. “Wake up, wake up. Let’s go explore some more.”

  Rena groaned and rolled over. “No babies. We need to eat and then hit the road. We have critters at home missing us.”

  Both Anabeth and Shari protested. “No, we don’t want to go back. Why can’t we stay? We can have the Snyder’s feed. Just one more day?”

  “No. We have responsibilities and you have to go back to school tomorrow.” Jack pointed out.

  “When are we moving down then? Isn’t this where we are going to move to?” Shari asked.

  Rena sat up and rubbed her eyes before pulling Anabeth into her lap. Jack grabbed Shari and did the same, tickling her in the ribs all the while. “Well baby, we have a lot of things to do first. You both have to finish school. We aren’t going to move you during the school year. Then we have to sell our ranch. We can’t move until we have it sold. We just need to take this one step at a time. Okay?”

  Anabeth crossed her arms and huffed. “Fine. But the minute school is done I hope we are moving down here. I really like it here. Did you see I already made a friend at the park yesterday? The kids are so nice down here.”

  “Honey, I think you could make friends anywhere so don’t let that worry your precious heart.”

  “Who’s hungry?” Jack asked. “I’m famished. I don’t think I can wait until we go downstairs. I think I need to eat one or two little girls first.”

  The girls screamed and scrambled to escape but Jack already had them in his hold, tickling and kissing them. Rena slipped out of bed and snuck to the bathroom to get dressed, the sound of her family making her more determined than ever to make the move happen.

  Chapter Five

  “There’s just no way we can do this.”

  Rena pulled the scarf back from her mouth. They had been feeding large round bales to the livestock. The daytime temp reached a high of negative seventeen and all of the animals were huddling to try and stay warm.

  “Why, why do you do this negative crap?”

  “Because I’m being realistic. You are not. We cannot get out of it what we need to in order to move. Look at all of the foreclosures in the newspaper.”

  “Yes but our property is unique. It’s got an excellent well, it’s in a beautiful valley and still close to town. Why are you being so negative about this now?”

  “Because I don’t think we should do this. We have the property you have always wanted, I make great money and you are able to stay at home for the most part, you can work on your books. I don’t think we should do this.”

  “I can’t keep living like this. We fight all of the time. We never get to see you, I feel like I’m raising these girls on my own.” She fought back the tears that were forming and beginning to freeze on her eyelashes. “I hate the weather up here. I’m not a friggin Eskimo. There’s nothing to do around here. Hell, we can’t even ride our horses th
roughout the winter because it’s either too cold or the snow is too deep. We are stuck inside the house. We don’t ski, we don’t snowmobile, we hate being cold. I’m over this, Jack.”

  “Well you should have thought about that before we bought this place.” He spat back.

  “You were the one who moved us up here. I was happy in Loveland. I didn’t want to go but you were relocated up here and you are my husband, the father of my children. I followed you because we are married, we are a family and I love you.” She took a breath and tried to compose herself. “You no longer work for that company. There is nothing here to tie us to this place.”

  “Just a three-hundred-acre ranch.”

  “I’ll be able to sell it. Just have a little faith in me.”

  “We will see. I don’t think you’ll be able to do it though.”

  Thanks for the vote of confidence. She wanted to say it out because he hurt her but she knew she had to keep her calm. She attempted a smile. “Is that a challenge then?”

  He looked at her then shook his head. “Whatever. I’m going in the house. I’m cold.”

  She let the tears fall after he left and she finished the chores with frozen eyelashes and a running nose. Maybe it’s already too late to save our marriage.

  She was amazed at how fast the time flew. She had been painting the inside of the house while the snow flew outside. She’d read in Better Homes & Gardens that a fresh coat of paint on the inside of a home can help sell it faster. So she bought warm, inviting colors. When Jack was off, he helped with some of the painting and she made sure to tell him how much she appreciated him.

  Their relationship still struggled; they were fighting more than they were getting along but she still held hope. This move had to happen. She refused to believe her marriage was over, that it was too far gone to be saved. She would live in the city; get a full-time job, anything to get them back to where they were before they moved to Hopeful.