Celebrations With Jake and Joe

by Roger W Buenger

“You of course!” Millie chimed in without missing a beat as Anne laughed.

  “Wonderful,” he declared sarcastically, pretending that he was upset by their meeting. In fact, nothing could have been further from the truth. Seeing them enjoying each other’s company made him very happy. It also made him hope that Millie would now be able to move past her worry about his interactions with Anne. He couldn’t possibly know at this point that Millie had accidentally found an ally in a much greater plan, and he was the object of it.

  “I’ve learned all kinds of interesting things about you,” Anne teased as she sat back down in her chair.

  “I just gave away all your secrets, Henry. She’s got you figured out now,” Millie piled on.

  “Yes, my book just got a lot more intriguing.”

  Book? The jokes had just gotten a whole lot less funny as far as Henry was concerned.

  “Yeah, I don’t think so,” he said as he walked past them and circled to the far side of the table to take a seat of his own.

  “I’m just joshing, of course! Your secrets are safe with me, Henry Engel,” Anne promised with a chuckle.

  “So, what brings you back already? Did you drive straight through?” he asked. Before Anne could answer him, Millie made a move to get up.

  “If you two will excuse me, I’ve got lots to finish that I let go this afternoon. I’m going to get some chores done and let you two visit,” Millie said as she stood and left the table. Henry smiled. He knew that Millie was not just conscientious about her cleaning but also very considerate. She understood that Anne had come to Oak Forest to see Henry and was giving them their privacy. Before she headed upstairs to attend to his bathroom, however, she paused momentarily.

  “Say, Henry, how’d your lunch go with Mayor Ross? Seems like it ran kinda long. Did everything work out the way you hoped?” Millie asked.

  “It went perfect; everything played out just the right way. I ran a couple of errands afterward, and that’s why I didn’t get back until now.”

  Millie smiled and nodded in approval as she continued up the stairs. She could see that Henry was happy, and that was all that mattered to her.

  “You had lunch with the mayor today?” Anne asked.

  “Yeah, we had some things to talk over.”

  “He seems to be a fine man. Very professional, too; I thought he did a smashing job for me.” Anne was referring to the mayor’s dual role as a realtor and the manner in which he had helped to facilitate her purchase of the Stewart place.

  “No doubt about that; he’s a top-notch guy for sure,” Henry said as Joe rubbed her body against his right calf to greet him. “Hello, sweetheart! I missed you,” he said sweetly as he bent to pick her up.

  Joe held still as Henry scooped her up and snuggled her against his chest.

  “Were you happy to see Anne again?” he asked the little cat.

  “Was she ever!” Anne answered on Joe’s behalf. “She made me feel very, very welcome, that’s for sure.”

  “Good! I’m glad to hear it! What did you think about the big news?” he asked not knowing that Millie had neglected to tell Anne about Joe’s upcoming motherhood.

  “News? I’m sorry, what news is that?” Anne asked with no clue as to what he was referring to.

  “You mean Millie didn’t tell you? Joe is going to be a mother!” Henry proclaimed proudly like a father speaking about his cherished daughter.

  “Really? That’s fantastic!” Anne declared jubilantly. “I had no idea. I thought that perhaps she might have gained a wee bit of weight since I saw her last, but I didn’t put two and two together on it.”

  “Yeah, how about that?” he crowed as he nuzzled Joe’s face against his chin.

  “When is she due?”

  “Should be sometime in early June, according to the vet.”

  “Aww Henry, that’s wonderful news! Have you decided yet what you plan to do with all of the kittens?”

  “No, not really. My pal George is already penciled in for one, but I don’t have a clue yet about the rest. Depending on how many she has, I’d guess we might keep one. After that, I honestly don’t know yet. Do you know anyone that might be in the market for a kitten?”

  “You’re looking at her!” Anne trumpeted with enthusiasm. “I’d be honored to adopt one of Joe’s babies if the opportunity presents itself.”

  “No kidding? Did you hear that, Joe?” Henry asked the expectant mother. Just then Millie came down the steps to get a bottle of window cleaner. Henry couldn’t resist the chance to needle her. He knew that Millie loved to be the one to deliver the latest scoop when she knew something others did not.

  “You didn’t tell Anne about Joe’s big news? Man, you’re slipping,” he marveled.

  “Oh my gosh! I sure forgot. How did I miss telling you that? I guess we were so caught up in talking about everything else, it somehow slipped my mind,” Millie explained to Anne with a wink. The truth of the matter was that when the author appeared at the front door, Millie had an agenda to pursue, and kittens weren’t a part of it. Then, once she realized that Anne was not her enemy but, in fact, a potential confederate, Millie pivoted to a different and even more important matter. Amid all of her strategic movements, the news of Joe’s motherhood had been inadvertently pushed aside.

  “Anne says she’d like a kitten. What do you think about that?” Henry asked, seeking her approval.

  A broad smile spread across Millie’s face. “Really? You want a kitten, Anne?”

  “Oh yes, very much so.”

  “I think that would be wonderful! See now, Henry, I told you everything would work out. They aren’t even here yet, and we’ve already got two sold,” she teased as she went back about her business. Henry and Anne laughed and resumed their conversation.

  “All right then, so what gives? How come you’re here?” he asked like a concerned parent addressing a college student who had just come home unannounced.

  “Just couldn’t wait to get started is all. I found myself daydreaming about my new home more and more and decided to load up some things and head west,” she laughed. “My agent is going to handle things on the backside so that I can get going here.”

  “And so you just jumped in your truck and drove all night from New York?”

  “Daddy always said I had an impulsive side,” she joked impishly. “Besides, who better than me to oversee the renovation. You were a dear to be willing to look after things, but that wasn’t fair of me to ask. I’m going to write books and renovate the house all at the same time.”

  Henry couldn’t help but admire her fortitude. It was yet another quality that the two shared.

  “Well all right! Have you been by there? Louis hasn’t called me on anything yet, so I really don’t know what the situation is inside,” he advised.

  “No, I haven’t been there yet. I came here first for fun, hoping to surprise you. I did speak with him on Wednesday though, and he said that the power and the plumbing both work so I’m off and running. I’ve got a sleeping bag and my checkbook so I’m certain I can make a go of it.”

  “Are you kidding? Is there even any furniture in there? How about you stay here in the guest room until you get the place livable?”

  Anne was quite touched by his caring concern. “Thank you ever so much for the dear offer, Henry, but I could never impose on you like that. Besides, I am sure I can find suitable accommodations at the Western if things are too out of sorts.” Anne was referring to the town’s lone motel, which had served as her lodging on her last trip to Lewis.

  “But…” he protested.

  “Now Henry, I’m a tough girl. I’ve traveled the world and spent nights sleeping on the sands of Cairo and in the deepest jungles of Peru. I’m quite positive I can survive the perils of Molly Stewart’s house,” she assured him with a chuckle and a smile.

  The exchange sounded like something her own father might have said to her and it warmed her heart. Realizing that she was not a child that needed his guidance and seeing
that she clearly had her mind made up, Henry let the matter drop. The pair continued to talk for a time about a variety of topics as Millie occasionally passed through while finishing her cleaning. Soon, the afternoon was waning, and the effects of Anne’s marathon journey were finally beginning to show.

  “Do you want some more lemonade?” Henry asked, noting that her glass was nearly empty. “Or something else maybe?” He knew that it was almost time for his meeting with Jake and Joe, and he was more than open to her and Millie joining him in the festivities.

  “I was originally hoping for a cup of tea. I heard a rumor that the proprietor of this establishment has a glorious antique teakettle. However, I learned that he thinks it’s an ornament for his desk and not an indispensable part of a civilized gentleman’s kitchen,” she lamented and shook her head in disapproval. Henry’s face blushed modestly as he recognized that he had neglected to thank her for the gift. Misunderstanding his reaction and thinking that her playful reprimand had embarrassed him, she immediately moved to diffuse the situation. She didn’t comprehend that Henry had no interest whatsoever in tea. He was simply mortified that he had allowed her kindness to go unrewarded. It was against his nature to do so.

  “Not to worry, I’ll just have to teach you how to use it next time I’m here.”

  “Oh, I don’t care about the tea. I feel rotten that I forgot to thank you for the gift, even though I don’t want it and didn’t ask for it,” he jabbed, to Anne’s delight.

  “Damned Yankee!” she remarked dramatically as if she had been insulted to the very core of her being. Their witty repartee made them both laugh.

  “My, I truly do hate to break this up, but I think I best be on my way before I get too bleary-eyed to make it home,” Anne said with a light yawn. She had been awake for over thirty hours but she still caught herself referring to her new house as home and it made her happy to think of it. She had been transient for a good deal of her life, and the idea of now sinking roots in Lewis was compelling. It was made even more so by her burgeoning friendships with Henry and Millie.

  “You know, since you’re getting tired I can drive you into town if you like. We can come back and get your truck tomorrow,” he offered.

  “You’re very sweet Henry, but that’s not necessary, I’ll be fine,” she responded as she stood up. “It’s not very far.”

  Millie was in the laundry room and could overhear their conversation. She noted that it was getting near her usual time to head home as well. She wondered how to handle that now since her relationship with Henry had suddenly changed so drastically. Normally, she would leave on Friday by 5:00 p.m. and then wouldn’t see him again until Monday morning. Now, the thought of such a prolonged absence from him seemed unthinkable. She wondered how he felt about it. They hadn’t had an opportunity to discuss such things due to Anne’s surprise visit, and she was uncertain of what to do next. However, she soon learned that Henry had given things a bit more thought.

  “If you want, you can follow me home. I’m leaving soon,” Millie called to Anne as she entered the room, causing the author to turn in her direction.

  “Really? All right, Millie, I would like that.” Anne cheerfully accepted the offer as Henry’s face contorted into a forlorn grimace behind her. He looked as if he had just been shot. Because Anne’s back was to him, she couldn’t see his dismay but Millie delighted in his reaction because it indicated he had indeed preferred that she stay. It took all of Millie’s self-control not to react as he silently mouthed a pathetic looking “n-o-o-o-o” to her before Anne turned back to him. As soon as Anne had diverted her attention again his way, Henry instantly regained his composure to conceal his emotions. Millie’s face exploded into a wide smirk, and she silently mouthed “Sorry!” so that only he could see.

  Anne bid Henry and Joe a fond farewell and headed to her vehicle to wait for Millie to gather her things and lead the way. As soon as Henry closed the door and he was sure that Anne couldn’t hear, he complained aloud about Millie’s gesture.

  “Why did you offer to let her follow you?” he grumbled like a lovesick teenager.

  “I’m sorry, I thought I was being nice,” Millie explained innocently as she moved past him in the hallway.

  “I know, and you are. Why do you have to be so damn nice?” he groused comically as she picked up her purse with a giggle.

  “Is it really as bad as all that? I didn’t know you wanted me to stay,” she flirtatiously whispered as he took her into his arms. “Last I heard, you were inviting a pretty young lady to stay in my room.”

  “Your room, huh?” he said softly repeating her words.

  “I’m the only one that’s ever slept in it,” she said referring to the guest bedroom that she had used on occasion when the weather made driving too treacherous.

  “Excellent point, worth remembering,” he agreed with a sly smile. “Come on now, you know better than that. I was just being nice.”

  “I know, and you are. Why do you have to be so damn nice?” Millie teased sarcastically mimicking his earlier words.

  “Now you’re just playing dirty,” he fired back playfully before he eased in for a long sweet kiss.

  “I’m sorry, I wish I had known what to do, but this is all brand new,” she explained.

  “I know, I know, we’ll figure it out. I just hate to see you go. I was looking forward to a nice long meeting with you,” he moaned woefully.

  “Well, you have a nice long meeting with Jake and Joe and miss me then,” she said as his eyebrows sank.

  “It won’t be the same without you.”

  “And then tomorrow night, how about you pick me up and take me out on the town.” Her words instantly made him perk up. It hadn’t occurred to him that this was the New World and that anything was suddenly possible.

  “Yeah?” he asked gleefully.

  “Yeah,” she confirmed as she put her hand behind his neck and kissed him again.

  “I can do that!” he declared.

  “All right then, you call me tomorrow afternoon and let me know where you’re taking me and what time you’re coming,” she instructed. “That way, I can know what to wear and when to be ready. That’s how it works.”

  “Yes ma’am!” he replied with exaggerated obedience which made Millie snicker.

  “Ok, I better get going, Anne is out there waiting,” she said in a more serious tone. Millie reached up and gave Henry a final gentle kiss and then hurriedly headed off. As she reached the doorway, she stopped and looked back at Henry, who was ogling her. The look in his eyes made her stomach do a backflip. She couldn’t remember the last time any man had looked at her that way. With a decidedly provocative southern accent, she called back to him. “All right then Henry Engel, I’ll see you again.”

  Chapter 15

  Clean Living

  Though this Saturday was to prove to be quite different from the norm, the morning started out typically enough for Henry. By 7:45 a.m., his navy blue Ford Explorer was headed down County Road 27 and rolling toward town. The sky was dotted with puffy white clouds, but ample sunshine poured through to the landscape below. Henry enjoyed the scenery along the way and hummed to the country song playing on the radio in the background. Just after 8:00 a.m., he made his normal first stop at the Lewis Bank & Trust to handle the week’s financial affairs. His dealings there went smoothly and soon he was seated in his customary booth at The Eager Beaver Diner and sipping on coffee.

  Henry was in extremely high spirits and eagerly anticipating the day. He was excited about his date that evening with Millie and also anxious to pop-in on Anne and see how she had fared during her initial night in the Stewart house. For the next ninety minutes, he perused the morning’s editions of the Lewis Gazette and St. Louis Post-Dispatch and enjoyed a robust breakfast. Occasionally, fellow patrons stopped by his table to say hello or exchange words with him. Henry received all comers with a smile and a kind word and genuinely enjoyed the exchanges. His good mood was contagious, and everyone that ca
me into contact with him noticed it.

  As he stepped to the cash register to pay his bill, Suzy Grainger, the owner, couldn’t help but comment on Henry’s demeanor.

  “Somebody sure looks to be on top of the world! You look like you’re having a really good morning, Henry,” she observed as she accepted his ticket and a twenty-dollar bill from him.

  “It shows? Yes, ma’am, I most certainly am,” he confirmed with a broad smile and a chuckle that Suzy then matched.

  “Well, I’m really glad of that! You deserve it, Henry,” she said as she handed him his change.

  “Thank you, Suzy! It’s nice of you to think so. You have a great day now; I’ll see you next time,” he said as he turned and walked out. Suzy had known Henry for years, and he had been to the diner on hundreds, if not thousands of occasions. In all of that time, she could not recall an instance when he had seemed happier, and it tickled her.

  Henry decided to delay his usual Saturday shopping trip and head straight to Anne’s house. He was hoping to catch her at home, and if he did, she might need something from the store as well. If he missed her, he reasoned that he could proceed on and get the things on his list before swinging back by. Either way, he was anxious to see how she was getting along. Also, he had an idea to surprise Millie at home rather than call her to arrange their date later that evening. Since her house was just two blocks over from Anne’s, he figured he could conveniently drop in on one and then the other.

  In short order, Henry was turning onto State Street and approaching Anne’s house. He was looking forward to surprising her and then Millie in succession, but he was the one that was startled. Not only did he see Anne’s vehicle in the driveway, but Millie’s sedan was also parked along the curb out front.

  “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said aloud as he eased the truck to a halt immediately behind Millie’s car. “I should have known,” he mumbled as he shook his head with a smirk. They were thick as thieves when I got home yesterday. Probably in there plotting against me right now, he joked to himself as he exited the Explorer and walked up to the front door. In truth, he wasn’t remotely upset to find Millie there. It was more a mild aggravation with himself that he hadn’t seen it coming. He liked to think he could stay a step ahead of her, but that was more delusion than reality. Knowing Millie’s nature, he should have realized that there was no way she would let a stranger move into town, much less a new friend, without offering to help her get settled in.