They needed time alone together, and the aftermath of the fire had consumed every waking moment. Doubts and uncertainty plagued her days and infiltrated her dreams at night as they all waited for the results of the investigation.
Walking into the fire station later that afternoon, Julianna was grateful for J.R.'s support. He was holding her hand again, and Julianna had the impression that his distress was entirely about the fire and not necessarily about her. Chief Grimes met them when they entered and ushered them to a make-shift conference room. He held a file in his hands.
"Thanks for coming in," he began. "I'm sorry we couldn't do more to save the house. It burned surprisingly quickly. And, according to the report, it had been burning for a while before anyone noticed the smoke. You folks were in Portland that day, is that right?"
J.R. answered for them all. "Yes, sir. I had business in the city and I took Mama and Jun...Julianna with me to make a few purchases for the house. But at lunch Mama felt sick, and we skipped the shopping trip. We came directly home."
"I'm not sure it would have made a difference if you had been home, other than maybe putting one of you in danger."
Julianna breathed a sigh of relief. The worry from wondering whether their untimely trip was partially to blame had been gnawing at her for a couple days.
Chief Grimes continued, "The investigators concluded that the fire started in the basement and determined that a hungry mouse shorted out old, faulty wiring. The wiring was near the dryer vent and lint in the venting system caught fire easily. Once there, it quickly spread to the old timber of the house and combined with the newly painted walls and varnished floors, the fire escalated faster than normal."
"All our work on the house just made it easier for it to burn?" Julianna asked.
"Unfortunately, that's true."
"But it was an accident," Mama clarified.
"Absolutely. No foul play. No reason to believe it was anything but an accident."
J.R. squeezed Julianna's hand, and she squeezed back. "Is there anything else we need to know or do?"
"I'll have a copy of the report available for you in a minute. Your insurance company will need it for your claim to go through."
"Thanks. We'll wait outside, if that's okay."
The chief nodded and stood, "I'll get that copy made and be right out."
J.R. led their short parade to the front of the station house.
It didn't take any time for the chief to bring the report out, and everyone climbed back into the truck.
"Well," J.R. said, "that's a relief."
"Were you worried that someone had started the fire on purpose?" Mama asked.
"A little," he replied.
Julianna held her breath. Could he have suspected her after all?
"Who?" Mama asked.
"I shouldn't say," he said faintly, "but I guess I kind of considered that maybe Stacy could have had something to do with it."
His hesitation was obvious, but Julianna didn't understand why he would suspect her. "But why?" she asked.
"Just because she was acting all clingy when she was here that one day, and I know she's harboring a grudge against you, Julianna. I thought maybe she figured if the house caught on fire you would get blamed, like you did at work, or that if the house project was removed, I would go home, and we would be separated again. She doesn't have a clue."
Hearing him say an event like a catastrophic fire wouldn't tear them apart gave her a renewed hope for the future. "I'm glad it wasn't her. I don't like her, but I don't want to think she was capable of something that dangerous."
Mama grunted but didn't say anything.
"Let's go down to Connie's diner and get an early dinner. Then we can figure out our next step."
Mama agreed, and Julianna nodded. Time to put together a new plan.
While J.R. and Sharon put their heads together planning the destiny of the burned-out farmhouse, Julianna worked on her own agenda. A week after the fire inspection report was released, Brad Taylor had called and asked her to return to work. When she asked about the shortage and her suspension, he blew it off saying it would simply be a note in her file. Uneasy about the unsettled nature of the theft, she nevertheless agreed to return.
There wasn't anything she could do to help Mama and J.R. now. J.R. had permission from the insurance company to begin the clean-up of the site and a large dumpster now sat in the middle of the driveway, blocking the path to the garage, where everything that had survived was now being stored.
Bobby's huge grin when she walked in the following day went a long way to lifting her spirits.
"Hey, Bobby," she said, answering his smile with one of her own.
"I'm really glad you're back, Julianna," Bobby said, his voice low enough that John, who Julianna could see roaming the aisles, might not overhear.
"What's been going on?" she asked.
Bobby talked out of the side of his mouth, and Julianna almost choked on the humorous vision.
"Well, Mr. Taylor has had an interesting visitor the last few days. One Stacy Grant." Bobby let Stacy's name hang in the air while Julianna thought about the implications.
"Do you know why she was here?"
Bobby snickered. "You mean, other than giving Mr. Taylor a lap dance in his office?"
"No! Really?" Julianna wouldn't put anything past Stacy, but she thought Brad was a happily married man. Leave it to Stacy to continue her efforts to corrupt the entire male population of Cooper Springs.
"I can't say for sure, because he pulled the blinds, but with all the grunting coming from the other side of the wall, I didn't have to use much imagination."
"The plot thickens, eh?" Julianna said as she put on her apron and headed for the back to get her keys and cash drawer. "See you around, Bobby."
Brad was in his office, head down and a frown creasing his forehead when Julianna knocked on the door. "Come in," he said without looking up.
Julianna stood in the doorway, waiting for him to acknowledge her. When he still didn't look up, she cleared her throat.
"Oh, Julianna, you're here." He leaned back in his chair and it was all Julianna could do not to picture Stacy sharing the space...affectionately.
"I need my keys and cash drawer," she said. It seemed the time had passed for her to confront Brad about John and the whole lie about his mother's funeral. In fact, she thought, if he had been seeing Stacy on the sly, it might cause more problems to bring it up.
Brad shot out of his chair and hurried to the safe, where the cash drawers were stored overnight. Putting his back to her, as though Julianna didn't know the combination was his birthday, he opened the safe, and she pulled out her drawer.
"I'll just count it out to make sure there isn't any question as to how much I'm starting with this morning," Julianna said.
Brad nodded and stood with his hands folded in front of his pudgy stomach while Julianna quickly counted out the twenties, tens, fives, ones, and change in her drawer. Verifying the total on her ticket, she initialed it, and Brad initialed beside her.
Taking her drawer straight to her station, she logged into the register and set herself up for the day. Throughout the morning, well-wishers came to her with requests for ways they could help Sharon and J.R. With so many offers, Julianna sent a quick text to J.R. and asked him what Sharon would think of a donation box at the store for people who wanted to help her rebuild.
A few minutes later, he texted her that Mama would have a hissy fit if she saw a donation box with her name on it at the grocery store. How could Julianna think Mama would approve of such a thing? Julianna laughed, imagining the conversation she missed out on. She sent back a "thumbs up" emoji and went back to work, letting people know that Mama was going to be fine and the insurance money would be enough for her to rebuild.
When she got home that evening, Sharon and J.R. were sitting at the picnic table with Sharon's notebook open.
"Hi, Mama," she said as she came around the crispy backside of the h
ouse. "Hi, J.R."
The two nodded but didn't look up from the notebook.
Julianna sat down beside J.R. "What's going on?"
"Julianna Rosalee Brown," Sharon began and instantly Julianna was on guard. Mama rarely used her middle name. "Why in the world would you think that I would want a donation box at the grocery store?"
Indignation poured from Sharon's face, and Julianna worked hard to keep a straight face. "Mama, people want to help. They don't know what you need. They love you and respect you. They're not trying to offend you."
"Well, there are a lot of ways to help that don't display it for the whole world to see."
"Like how?"
"Like...like the meals people have brought over."
"Which you have stock-piled in the freezer in the garage."
"I have not!"
"Wanna bet?"
"You're being impertinent. Knock it off."
"Yes, Mama." Julianna scooted closer to J.R., who had remained surprisingly silent. "I'm sorry."
J.R. put his hand over hers and squeezed. Julianna turned her hand over and pulled J.R.'s under the table and onto her lap.
"We decided to rebuild," J.R. said.
"I know. I thought that was already decided when the insurance company okayed the claim."
"Well, yes, but we're going to rebuild with a few changes. And one very important condition."
Julianna looked from J.R. to Sharon, both of whom wouldn't look her in the eye.
"And what's that condition?" A trickle of fear wiggled its way into Julianna's heart, and she worried they would ask her to move the trailer out.
"I'm not coming back," Sharon announced.
"Well, that makes perfect sense," Julianna agreed. "You were already planning to move into the retirement home. Now you don't have to worry about waiting to sell the house, and you won't have to live in the mess while it's under construction."
"I'm not moving into the retirement home," Sharon said quietly, an unusual volume for a lady who always said what was on her mind without apologies.
"Okay, I'll bite. Where are you going to live?"
Sharon squirmed a little in her seat, and Julianna couldn't remember a time in her entire life that Sharon looked so uncertain. "I'm...I'm..." she stammered.
J.R. reached across the table and put his hand on hers. Julianna could see the comfort he was sending her way. "It's okay, Mama."
A million thoughts raced through Julianna's mind as she waited for Sharon to explain. Everything from simple ailments to chronic diseases to moving to Portland to be near J.R. In a fraction of a moment she convinced herself she would move to Portland, too, and they could all live near each other. She held her breath and braced herself for the news.
"I'm getting married!"
If there was ever a time when Julianna felt like all the wind had been knocked out of her lungs and she had no way to breathe, it couldn't come close to the shock of Sharon Bentley announcing while she sat at the picnic table behind her burned down house that she was getting married.
"To who?" she managed to squeak out.
Sharon took a deep breath and sighed. "To Henry."
CHAPTER TWENTY
O nce he had gotten over the initial shock—much like Julianna's—of his mother remarrying, J.R. couldn't wish for anything better. Henry Johnson had been a cantankerous old geezer for as long as he could remember, but whenever he and Junior wanted to ride his trails, he always said yes. And once he got over the initial surprise, he also remembered numerous times when Mama took him treats; sweet breads, cupcakes, cookies and such, all in the name of being a good neighbor. The fact that Henry's place was a few miles down the road never entered J.R.'s mind. Growing up, Mama was always baking for a neighbor. Too bad she couldn't receive help as graciously.
"We're all going over to Henry's for dinner," Sharon was saying to Julianna. "He's cooking for us and wants to talk about the wedding."
"The wedding." J.R. held back a sigh. It was his and Julianna's wedding he wanted to talk about, but since the fire, he hadn't had any time to work on changing her mind.
Half an hour later, with Sharon leading their small processional up Henry's front porch, he almost laughed when the door flew open. J.R. nearly didn't recognize the man. He wasn't sure he had ever seen Henry smile before, and this smile covered his entire face. Equally disconcerting was the matching smile on his mother's face.
Henry invited them in, and J.R. took a seat with Junior across from Henry and Mama. An awkward silence descended on the room until Henry popped up and announced that dinner was ready and to please come sit at the dining table. Henry had lived in his cabin a long time and the worn furniture and threadbare rugs reminded J.R. of the condition of his mother's place, well, before the fire. Open beams and paneled walls lent themselves to the rustic decor. The dining room table with its mismatched chairs offered a place for everyone. J.R. couldn't get over the fine china on the table, completely contradicting the vibe of the entire house.
As if Henry read his mind, he said, "I got out the good china, Sharon. It was my mother's. I'm not sure when I used it last."
Sharon smiled again, and patted Henry's hand, "Thank you, Henry. It's lovely."
"Nothing but the best for my fiancée," he said and J.R. thought if Henry had a vest, the buttons would be popping.
"Henry, this is beautiful," Julianna joined in.
Henry nodded and scooted behind the counter that separated the kitchen from the dining room to retrieve their dinner.
"Let me help, Henry," Sharon wiggled into the small space and brought a kettle of chili to the table.
Henry followed with cornbread fresh from the oven. "It's not fancy, like the things you make, sweetheart, but I think it turned out okay."
J.R. cringed to hear Henry call his mother "sweetheart." This marriage would take getting used to. In a way, he'd love to be a fly on the wall when the people at church found out on Sunday; that is, if the news of their engagement waited that long. When he and Julianna got engaged, people would probably nod, and say they figured it would happen eventually, and why did it take them so long. He let his mind wander to how he could ultimately win her over as conversation continued around him.
"Oh, hey, Henry," J.R. said, remembering his idea of fixing up Henry's house. "Have you ever thought about doing a renovation like Mama's?"
"Well, now, that's an idea to consider. Maybe after the wedding and honeymoon are over..." Henry paused to brush a finger down Sharon's cheek, "...we could talk about that."
J.R. swallowed at the romantic gesture and forced the thought of his mother's honeymoon from his head with a vengeance.
By the time everyone finished eating and Henry had referred to his mother as sweetheart a few more times, their upcoming union didn't feel as foreign. Seeing Mama grinning like a Cheshire cat only days after her house burned to the ground spoke volumes to J.R. It wasn't where you lived or how successful you became; it was the people you loved and lived with that made all the difference.
After J.R. had dropped Mama off at Mrs. Sutter's, where they'd been staying since the fire, he took Junior back to the trailer. The smell of soot and charred paint still permeated the air and the path to Junior's trailer was littered with debris. Gallons and gallons of water had soaked the grass to the point of turning it into a lake that first night, and only a narrow trail had dried enough to avoid mud-caked shoes.
"I'm happy for Mama. Leave it to her to find the soft spot in Henry Johnson, huh?" Julianna said. "Oh, that reminds me, I heard some interesting news at the store today."
"Oh?" J.R. still hadn't got used to the daily gossip mill, and he only half-listened as Julianna talked.
"Yeah, Bobby said that Brad has had the most interesting company since I've been gone. To be specific, Stacy."
J.R.'s thoughts stopped, and he gave Julianna his undivided attention. "Stacy?"
"Not only that," she said, her voice barely containing the laughter, "he swears she was giving him a lap danc
e in his office."
J.R. tripped in the dark and Julianna grabbed his arm to keep him from landing on his face. "Brad? He's too smart for that."
"Well, I'm not sure I'd call him smart. He did lose the store, you know. He's not the owner anymore, just the manager."
J.R. remembered Mama mentioned that. "Who's the owner now?"
"No one knows. It's probably the best kept secret in Cooper Springs."
"Hmmm."
They reached Julianna's door, and J.R. couldn't help his distraction with that kind of information. Cooper Springs had always seemed like a transparent town. Everyone knew what everyone else was doing. It was hard to keep a secret. Of course, it would be public knowledge, but maybe a company owned it, and no one knew the company.
"J.R.," Julianna said, her voice suddenly serious, "can you come in for a minute?"
"I'm not sure that's a good idea, Junior. It's not like Mama is watching from the window anymore."
"I have something to tell you, and I don't want to sit outside. It's too cold."
J.R. nodded. "Okay."
Once inside, Julianna turned on the lights over the living area and the kitchen-dining area. Even though there was only enough room for one person at a time to move between the spaces, it didn't seem overly tight. They sat on the sofa, facing the door and J.R. wondered if they could live here after they were married until the house was finished. His heart picked up speed. Maybe Julianna was ready to accept his proposal.
Julianna pulled J.R.'s hand into her clammy one, and dread filled his spirit. Perhaps not the acceptance he hoped for.
Julianna took a deep breath and squeezed J.R.'s hand. She closed her eyes and prayed for help. The outcome of this conversation would change the course of her life and she needed to be prepared for whichever way it went.
"I told you about why I was mad at you at graduation," she began. "There was more."
J.R. turned slightly toward her and lifted his leg across the seat, resting their hands on his knee. "But you believe me when I said there was nothing between me and Stacy, right? It was you, only you. I thought prom night would have convinced you of that."
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