Another Solution (Crowley County Series Book 4)

by T. E. Killian

  This was not a normal conversation between him and Granny. Something was up and he had a feeling it didn’t have anything to do with Karen either.

  As he watched her out of the corner of his eye, he became certain that she had something to tell him but as usual was taking her good-natured time getting around to it. He could see her mulling it over in her mind. So he just leaned back and rocked slowly while he waited.

  He took the time to think about his granny. She was a strong woman even though she was thin. Her hair was almost pure white but her face was barely wrinkled.

  He didn’t rightly know how old she was. She wouldn’t say and he sure wasn’t about to ask. He’d done the math many times while he was growing up as he quickly did now. He was thirty-three now and his mother had been eighteen when he was born and he was sure Granny had been in her early twenties when she’d had his mom. So from that he figured she was in her early seventies.

  “Got a disturbing phone call today.”

  That was all she said for a couple of minutes and he knew he had to wait her out again. She just rocked and sipped her iced tea.

  “You remember what we told you about the man your mother was supposed to marry?”

  He had to do some quick thinking. It had been many years since he’d even thought about the man who had supposedly fathered him.

  “Yeah, I guess. He ran off when he found out she was pregnant.”

  He didn’t think she was going to say anything else. In fact, he took a quick look at her. Her head was still leaning back against the chair, and her eyes were now closed.

  He wasn’t sure how long he should wait to make sure she was asleep?

  “He called!”

  Jason was used to his grandma talking in as few words as she possibly could. But those two words almost knocked him out of his chair.

  “But I thought he was dead.”

  Another wait. “So did we. Last we heard he went to prison for selling drugs about the time you were born. He never came back when he got out of prison. No one around here ever heard from him again. His folks moved to California during that time too.”

  Jason didn’t know what to say or even think for that matter. He’d grown up without either parent. How could he even think about the fact that he had a father out there somewhere? Then he needed to know more.

  “Where is he?”

  “San Diego, California.”

  He waited.

  “Seems he went into the navy a few years after he got out of prison and stayed in until he retired from it recently.”

  He waited again.

  “He wants to see you.”

  Jason’s anger almost got the best of him so quickly he had to work hard not to shout. Even then, he was only able to utter one word.

  “Why?”

  “Said he’d been at sea most of the last five years. Gave him plenty of time to think. He sounded different, and he said he was different.”

  He snorted. “Of course he’d be different. He’d be better than fifty now.”

  Granny gave him a dirty look and he figured he’d better qualify that statement.

  “Not that fifty’s that old. It’s just that in thirty-three years a man would have to change some.”

  He thought he saw a gleam in her eye before she turned her gaze back out toward the woods behind the barn.

  Jason leaned his head back now and closed his eyes. What did he feel? How should he feel? Did he want to meet that man? It didn’t take long for him to decide.

  “What did you tell him?”

  “Told him to call back tonight and I’d give him your answer after I talked to you.”

  “Tell him to come on. I want to see him. If nothing else it’ll give me a chance to tell him what I think of him.”

  She just nodded her head with her eyes still closed. But he was sure there was a slight smile on her lips. He knew his granny better than anybody else in his life. He was sure that his answer was exactly what she’d wanted him to say.

  Well, it wouldn’t be the first time she’d ever twisted him around to her will with hardly a word and for sure never a harsh word.

  He sure did love that old woman. She meant the world to him and he’d do anything for her. He almost snorted before he caught himself. He just did, didn’t he?

  He stood, leaned over her still form, and kissed her on her forehead. She opened her eyes and said, “I love you Jason.”

  He had to leave now. He certainly didn’t want her to see the tears that were gathering in his eyes. He loved her too.

  * * *

  Karen was tired and it was only noon. Maybe she was tired because it was her turn to work Saturday. Maybe it was because she didn’t sleep much last night. Maybe it was because she was going out on a real date tonight for the first time in almost four years.

  Sure, she and Jason had seen each other several times this week for supper but that was different. It had been more like a couple of friends getting together to enjoy a meal together. They hadn’t really talked much about themselves yet. But she was going to make sure that happened tonight. She wanted to know everything about Jason Walker.

  Why? Why should all of this bother her as much as it seemed to be doing? She had to be honest with herself. True, she liked Jason Walker. No, she really liked him a lot. It had just taken her quite a few months to get herself out of her horrible past enough to actually be able go on a date with him.

  As she finished with her last morning patient, she was glad she was meeting Daisy for lunch. Daisy Bates had proven to be a friend indeed over the past year. In fact, Daisy undoubtedly was Karen’s best friend in so many ways. She didn’t think anyone understood her quite as well as Daisy did. Not even her mother or her older sister. Or should she say especially her mother and her older sister.

  Both her mother and her sister had pushed her to start dating again, almost immediately after Larry had left her waiting at the church almost four years ago.

  As she stepped outside, the warm April sunshine felt good on her face. She unpinned her long black hair from the bun it had been in and just let it fall free down her back. She was tired of winter and this last one had been an unusually cold and wet one.

  Since Daisy wasn’t working today, they were meeting at the coffee shop.

  When Karen entered the BFF Coffee Shop, Daisy was already there sitting at a table with a baby in her arms. That was Daisy all right. She sure was a kid magnet.

  Enough of that daydreaming. Karen pulled out the chair across from Daisy and sat down just as the baby’s mother, Jo Turner, came from the kitchen and took him.

  “Hey Karen it’s good to see you today.” Jo bounced her son, Luke, on her hip and said, “Time for this fellow to eat so he can take a nap during the lunch rush.”

  With that, Jo went back into the kitchen leaving Karen and Daisy staring across the table at each other. Karen knew exactly what the first words out of Daisy’s mouth were going to be.

  “Well, Karen, are you excited about your first real date with Jason tonight?”

  She had been right. But at least Daisy wasn’t like some of Karen’s co-workers who’d asked her basically the same question that morning, Daisy was genuinely concerned about Karen and really wanted to know how she felt.

  Karen shook her head and smiled. “Yes, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t. But, somehow I feel comfortable about the whole thing. After all, we’ve been together quite a bit this week already.”

  Daisy laughed and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “Yeah, I’m sure that it seems as if Jason has been right there every time you turned around since last August.”

  Karen laughed then. “Yes, but ever since we explained things to him, he was rather sweet about the whole thing. Don’t you think?”

  Daisy giggled at that. “Sure, but you didn’t see him when he came over to our house and complained to Mike about how long it was taking you to let him get closer to you.”

  Karen was ready for a change of subject, but she wasn’t q
uick enough.

  “Karen, I still can’t imagine what it must have been like for you to be at the church on your wedding day and your fiancé never showed up.”

  She reached out and touched the top of Karen’s hand on the tabletop. “But you have come back and conquered all of that and I for one am proud of you.”

  Finally, Karen was able to change the subject. She didn’t even want to think about Larry. What he had done to her was all in the past. She was just beginning to conquer those intense feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness that he had caused and she certainly didn’t want to relive any of that.

  “How are you feeling Daisy? Have you had any more morning sickness?”

  Daisy shook her head as she grinned back at Karen knowing full well why she was changing the subject.

  “No, and Stella thinks I’m finally over it. You would certainly think so at seventeen weeks.”

  Karen giggled. “That must be nice working right alongside your doctor all day long.”

  Daisy nodded. “It sure is. I’m so glad that Stella offered me that job last fall.” She stared off into the distance. “I thought I was so happy at the home with Bert, Barbie, and all the others and I was to a certain extent. But once I started working for Stella, I realized just how much I’d missed nursing.”

  “Good for you.”

  Daisy smiled back at Karen and said, “Oh, I almost forgot some wonderful news.”

  When Karen gave her a puzzled look, she said, “Mike is walking all the time without his cane now. Isn’t that just great?”

  “Oh, Daisy, it is.” She grew thoughtful for a moment. “You know I never doubted for a minute that he was going to walk again. The first time he came into PT, he told me flat-out that he was going to walk again and that I should do whatever I needed to do to him so that would happen as soon as possible.”

  They both laughed at that. Karen thought back to when, Mike, Daisy’s then future husband had been shot and the bullet had lodged near his spine causing paralysis. Yes, he certainly had come a long way. For that matter, they all had.

  Daisy paused between bites of her sandwich and said, “So, where are you two going tonight?”

  Karen didn’t mind now that Daisy was changing the subject back to the date. As long as she could keep Daisy off certain other subjects, then she should be okay.

  “We both decided to keep our first real date rather simple. We’re just going to the steakhouse then to the late movie and come home.”

  Daisy giggled at that. “What, no moonlight drive around the lake and stopping somewhere romantic?”

  Karen was shaking her head even before Daisy finished. Just then, they were interrupted by Sue Ann McCracken who came to the table to clear away their dishes.

  “Hey there Karen. I hear you’ve got a big date tonight.”

  Karen was surprised to see Sue Ann up and working this way. After all, she was due any day.

  “You mean to tell me they’re letting you work today?”

  Sue Ann put her finger to her lip. “What they don’t know won’t hurt me. I can’t just sit all the time.”

  Daisy just smiled and nodded her head as Sue Ann made her way slowly back to the kitchen.

  Both women looked at their watches at the same time and rose from their chairs.

  As they were walking out the door to their cars, Daisy turned to Karen and said, “You know Mike and I will be praying for you and Jason both tonight.”

  Karen choked up for a moment then.

  But before she could say anything, Daisy said, “I think it’s so great that Mike and Jason have become such good friends and of course you and me too.”

  Karen nodded and turned her head to brush her eyes but Daisy saw her anyway.

  * * *

  Jason had never been this nervous in his life, certainly not for a date at least. He had heard about women trying on several different outfits before finally deciding on what to wear and it made him laugh when he realized that was exactly what he was doing.

  He finally decided to dress as he would for church, thinking that was what Karen would probably do as well. She usually wore a nice looking dress but not really a fancy one though. He usually wore dress slacks and shirt.

  With that finally settled, he walked out the door of his townhouse in time to drive up to the front of Karen’s similar unit on the other side of the complex at exactly six.

  When she opened the door, he was just as dumbstruck as he was the first time he had ever seen her. He had been pushing Mike’s wheelchair into PT and she had been walking toward them in ugly purple scrubs. But all he had seen had been that face with those bright blue eyes framed by her beautiful black hair and her athletic form striding toward him.

  Now she stood before him in a soft yellow dress with that long black hair hanging down her back almost to her waist.

  After a long moment, she giggled and said, “Good evening Jason. I’m ready. Shall we go?”

  All he could do was grin down at her and step aside so she could close her door and pass by him on down the steps toward his pickup. Oh boy! He was just short of making a fool of himself . . . again.

  When he finally forced his legs to move, he almost had to run to get to the passenger side of the truck in time to open her door.

  She smiled up at him and said, “Thank you.”

  Well, maybe he was beginning to gain back some of what he’d lost before.

  When he situated himself behind the wheel, he turned to look at her again and that was his second mistake. He got lost in those bright blue eyes again. He couldn’t move. He could barely breathe.

  Finally, he shook himself out of his trance when he heard a soft tinkling sound and realized that it was Karen laughing at him. Way to go Walker. Now she’s laughing at you.

  “Jason, are you okay?”

  He had to think fast now. “Sure I’m okay. It’s just that finally being here with you like this has totally blown me away.”

  Okay, that was brilliant. Did he actually just say that? Now what?

  She smiled at him and said, “Thank you Jason. That was a nice thing to say.”

  When he continued to stare at her, she giggled and said, “Don’t you think we should be going. We don’t want to lose our reservation do we?”

  That finally knocked him out of his stupor enough for him to start the truck and head it toward the restaurant.

  As soon as they were seated, he almost laughed. The menus were rather large and both of them seemed to be hiding behind them while they made their choices.

  Once they had ordered, there didn’t seem to be anything else to do but look at each other. He steeled himself for the effect she always had on him. This time, however, he was able to concentrate on her slim hands as she placed them on the table in front of her.

  He was glad she started the conversation because he didn’t think he could have.

  “You know Jason, I was just thinking this afternoon that even though I’ve known you for almost a year and we’ve spent a little time together this week, I don’t really know much about you at all.”

  She seemed to be waiting for him to say something and it got across to him after a moment of silence.

  “Uh, what would you like to know?”

  “Jason!”

  She giggled again and that was when he realized that she might be just as nervous as he was. That calmed him down better than anything else could have. He took a deep breath then.

  “Well, let’s see. Where should I start? Okay. I’m thirty-three and I’ve lived in Crowleyville all my life.”

  He thought about that. “Actually, I grew up on a farm a few miles out past the high school. But now I live in the same townhouse complex that you do.”

  She smiled again. “Yes, I know. I’ve seen you coming and going from there.”

  Silence again. She must want him to say more now. Okay, he guessed he could do that.

  “My grandparents raised me after my mom died when I was two.”

  “I’m sor
ry. What about your dad?”

  He turned red and she quickly said, “Oh, I’m sorry Jason. I didn’t intend to push.”

  He shook his head. “No, that’s okay.” He blew out his breath. “It’s just that he left before I was born and I’ve never met him.”

  She blushed now then frowned. “Oh. I’m so sorry Jason. That must have been hard on you.”

  Before he could think of anything to say, she said, “I know how difficult it was for me when my dad died of a heart attack when I was ten. It was all so quick and I was devastated.”

  At his questioning look she grinned and said, “If you’re wondering, that was twenty years ago which makes me thirty now.”

  He grinned back at her.

  She paused as their waiter placed their meals on the table in front of them. “One thing I do remember about my dad is that he always said that if a meal was in front of you then you should devote your full attention to it and not a bunch of mindless chatter.”

  Jason laughed deeply. “He sounds like my gramps.”

  “Yes, but I think he had a reason for saying that though. I have a sister who is three years older than me and between the two of us, we sure could talk.”

  He laughed with her and they both ate their steaks in relative silence after that.

  When they finished, Karen looked over at him and said, “I’ve met your grandmother, but is your grandfather still living?”

  “No, my gramps died about five years ago.” He snorted. “I wouldn’t think you’d be ready to be around my granny again anytime soon though. Not after the way she attacked you Sunday at dinner.

  “Oh no, Jason just the opposite. I enjoyed being with your grandmother. She’s a delightful woman.”

  He looked into her eyes and only saw sincerity. “Yes, Granny may be a strange person. But to me, she’s the most wonderful person in the world. It’s just that most people never make the effort to get to know her though. She has a weird way of saying things. And you haven’t really seen her at her best . . . or worst.”

  At Karen’s puzzled look, he continued, “Well, take today for instance. As you know, I’ve been fishing down at Bull Shoals for the last two days and I stopped by the farm when I got back to town. She didn’t say a word not even hello for almost five minutes. Then she dumped something rather important on me in short sentences every once in a while until she’d told me the whole story.”