Double Mocha, Heavy On Your Phone Number

by June Kramin

  “This is part of what we found in the safe. There were envelopes for all the kids.”

  “Why do you have two?”

  “Because Gramps added one last thing to the safe before he died. There was one on the top of everything else.” Bix held one of the envelopes up. “This one has your name on it.” He turned it around so she could see it.

  “Me? Why did he put something in there for me?”

  “Because he loved you, I guess. You won the old coot over, babe. He must have been sicker than he let on, but he wanted to be sure to leave you something.”

  She turned it over and saw the back still sealed. “You didn’t open it?”

  “Of course not. It’s yours.”

  “Did you open yours?”

  “I thought we could do that together.”

  “You first.”

  “Together.” He put his hand under the flap and so did she. “One, two, three, go.”

  Bix watched as Ellie pulled out a piece of paper. It was a small piece of lined yellow paper from a notepad and handwritten. She read through it then pressed it to her chest.

  “What did it say?”

  “I’ll read it to you in a second.” She shook the envelope. “I can’t look.” Ellie handed it to Bix. He took it and looked in, let out a whistle, then pulled out a diamond tennis bracelet.

  She looked at the letter again and read it to him. “I bought it for Debbie, but she never wore it. Said it was too nice to wear around the house and always waited for a special occasion. Don’t wait for that special occasion. Life is too darn short. Love, Gramps.” She looked up at him with tears pooling in her eyes. “There’s more. Just a note to me about liking me and to keep an eye out on the city slicker for him. He did know he was going to die, Bix. Why didn’t he tell us?”

  “I guess he didn’t want to be coddled through it. He spent a lot of his life alone. I really didn’t expect him to accept me being there at all.”

  She grasped his hand. “I’m glad for both of you that you moved in with him.”

  “I’m glad for all three of us.” He took her hand and put the bracelet on.

  After he fastened it she said, “Now yours.” He read it out loud.

  Dear Bix,

  I have to admit that I was hesitant about the idea of you moving in with me. I pride myself in being an old man set in his ways. As a rule, farm folk and “citiots” shouldn’t mingle, but I’m glad the exception was made. You may have come from my son’s loins, but you’re a good kid.

  As they say, blood is thicker than water. I may not have approved of your father’s choices, but he’s still my boy. I can’t have my dying wishes to be ones than shun him. I left the will as your grandmother wanted it, but I added a few revisions in the safe for the grandkids. It’s not a lot, but it’s all I could do.

  I hope you enjoy the toys in the shed. I started collecting them after your Grandma left. Your dad doesn’t have a clue about ’em. Be good to my girls. All my girls. That includes Noelle. She’s good for you, boy. Don’t screw it up.

  Gramps

  He dumped the key to the shed out of the envelope then had to stand up and walk towards the window. His eyes filled with tears and he didn’t want Ellie to see it. After a minute he walked back over to her bed and leaned down. His face was right above hers. “Have I said ‘I love you’ yet?”

  “Hmmm…I have to think. Can’t say for sure. Maybe you have to try again.”

  “I’ll have to see if I’m ready for that kind of commitment.”

  “Don’t wait too long.” She pointed to the bear in the corner. “There is a line forming for the opportunity.”

  He lingered over a long kiss. When they broke apart, she playfully pushed him away. “You taste like a dozen beers and a bar burger.”

  “Jealous?”

  “Hell yes,” she said with a laugh.

  He looked at her with a serious expression. “I do love you, babe.”

  “I love you back, Slick. Stay with me till I fall asleep?”

  “My pleasure.” He lay flat with her and pulled her close and stayed until she was sound asleep.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Bix woke up the next morning and went upstairs. He could smell bacon cooking and smiled at the thought of having one of his mother’s great omelets. He took the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. His mother was at the stove cooking and his father was tight to her back and nibbling at her neck as she giggled and threw her head back.

  “What the hell is this?” Bix demanded.

  “Shit,” his dad said as he dropped his chin to his chest.

  “This is so not happening.” Bix turned away and stormed back downstairs.

  After a few minutes, someone knocked, but Bix didn’t reply. His mother came down the stairs anyway and handed him a cup of coffee.

  “I’m sorry. We didn’t hear you come home last night. I thought maybe you slept at Ellie’s.”

  “That’s the only thing you’re sorry about?”

  “I may be your mother, but I’m a grown woman, too.”

  “I don’t care if you do half the Vikings football team, but him?”

  She crossed her arms. “I don’t believe I’ve ever hit you before.”

  “No, you haven’t.”

  “Well, I have half a mind to right now.”

  He sat in a chair in front of one his computers. “You guys getting back together or what?”

  “I’m not going to go that far. Not yet, anyway.” She sat in front of him and ran her fingers through his hair trying to straighten it up like only a mother could do. He promptly ran his fingers through messing it up, like only a pouty son would.

  “I played a tough game, but I never did stop loving your father.”

  “What the hell was to love, Mom? He was a liar and a cheat.”

  “He gave me you and your sister. Something like that doesn’t go away. I don’t expect you to understand until you have kids of your own.”

  “Ellie’s brothers are going to help me move. I can be outta here tonight. You guys can do what you want. But I’m not sticking around for it.”

  “You don’t have to move so soon, Bix.”

  “No point in putting it off. I told you I don’t want to be around here now that this is his.”

  “He’s not so sure he wants to sell it now.”

  “What?”

  “We had a long talk last night. Maybe he’s feeling nostalgic, but he doesn’t want to see his old home plowed up. He said you could stay for as long as you needed. He won’t make any decisions until you made up your mind.”

  “I have made up my mind. Ellie’s not just a roof over my head. I love her, Mom.”

  “I see that. I’d hate for you two to rush and spoil it if you didn’t have to. What if you could buy this place?”

  “I don’t want to buy this place. I knew it was going to be a temporary gig when I moved in. I thought you liked Ellie.”

  “I do like her. That’s why I don’t want to see this get screwed up.”

  “Talk about screwed up relationships. If I wanted my face slapped, I’d have more to say on that matter.”

  “You’re not so stupid after all.” She stood up. “You know, it wouldn’t exactly kill you to try to make amends with your father, Bix. Everything that happened wasn’t entirely his fault. It takes two people to fuck up a marriage that good.”

  “Watch your mouth.” He finally managed half a smirk and looked up at her.

  “Give him a chance.”

  “Maybe. I don’t know. No promises, Mom. Don’t push it, all right? Give me time to get used to this. I feel like I’m eight and just walked in on you two having sex.”

  “Your sister is thrilled.”

  “She knows? This isn’t the first time?”

  “No, it’s not. And judging by your reaction, I was smart to keep it from you. I wanted to wait a while. Now really isn’t the time for this. Will you at least try to be civil so we can get things in order here?”

&nbs
p; “Yeah.” He felt like a scolded child. “Just don’t ask me to address it. It still feels…gross. What happened with Doug anyway?”

  “That was over long ago. You mean to tell me you’d rather have your mother sleeping with a college professor than your own father?”

  “Eww…did you have to say it?”

  She playfully smacked him on the head. “Knock it off, you spoiled little shit and come upstairs and have breakfast with your family.”

  He let out a long, loud sigh. “Just give me a minute. I want to see what time I can go spring Ellie.” She turned to walk away and he said, “Thanks for the coffee.”

  “You’re welcome. Now grow a set and come upstairs.”

  He laughed. “Sure sounds like you’ve been hanging around Dad again.”

  “I’m not the angel you think, although I am grateful to have pulled it off long enough for you two to turn out the way you did. Besides this attitude, I do believe I’ve done all right with you.”

  “I love you, Mom.”

  “Love you more, Bartholomew.”

  “It’s been legally changed, you know.”

  “I don’t care.”

  After she went upstairs, Bix picked up his cell and called Ellie. She answered on the first ring. “Get me outta here.”

  “Good morning.”

  “Good morning. Now come get me outta here.”

  “You didn’t even know it was me.”

  “I knew it was you, and if not, I wouldn’t care if it was Jack the Ripper calling. Rescue me, Slick.”

  “Did they say you can go?”

  “They aren’t going to keep me. I’m telling you, they were full of shit yesterday. I’d put money on Nick banging Holly just to make me stay.” Bix sent his coffee flying then coughed. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine. Coffee just went down the wrong pipe. Things have been kind of crazy here this morning, too.”

  “Tell me about when you show up. Come now. Please?”

  “I’ll be right there, babe. Sit tight.”

  Bix dressed and went upstairs. His parents were sitting at the table. He reached over and took a couple pieces of bacon.

  “I’m sorry. I’m not ditching you. Ellie can go now and is desperate to leave right away. Depending on how she feels, I may be over later with the guys to start moving my stuff.”

  “You know you don’t need to do that immediately, son,” his dad said.

  “I know. Mom told me. I’m not doing it because I have to. I’ll see you guys later.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  “They what?” Ellie said, putting her hand over her mouth. They were in Bix’s car and on the way to her house. The doctor had made Ellie his first stop and discharged her.

  “I’m glad you think it’s funny.”

  “Come on, Bix. That’s awesome. Every kid from a broken family dreams that their parents will get back together someday.”

  “Every kid but this one I guess.”

  “Is he really that bad or do you just resent having to be the man of the house at eight?”

  “I don’t know anymore. I guess I don’t want to talk about it. You sure you’re feeling okay?”

  “Why don’t you feel me and find out,” she said with an exaggerated wink.

  He let out a growl. “How long do we have to wait anyway?”

  “Just a couple of weeks. We’ll live.”

  “That was nice of you sending the bear to the cancer kid’s ward.”

  “What was I going to do with it? That’s more than moderately creepy. I’ll have to say something next time he comes in when I’m back at work.”

  “Let me know when he’s going to be there and I’ll make sure I’m there.”

  “Why? So you can punch his lights out?”

  “I’m a lover not a fighter, Ellie. I’d stand off to the side and make my presence known. Just be a little reassuring factor to him that you are indeed taken.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “What’s Nancy going to do? Is she sticking around for a while or taking off?”

  “You know her end of it was far worse than mine. The average person stays for at least a week if everything is absolutely perfect.”

  “Wasn’t it fine from her end?”

  “Yes, but Nancy is a big baby. She’s milking this for all it’s worth.”

  “Maybe she’s just not as tough as you, babe.”

  “I talked to Holly. That lawyer of hers has been trying to make magic happen. Her private room is fit for the president. She has it paid up for three weeks.”

  “Maybe it’s for the best. It’s not like she can hop on a plane and go back to Europe right away.”

  Ellie huffed. “I suppose. It’s not like I’m going to offer to take care of her. My brothers are in no way qualified to look after her either.”

  “Did you go talk to her before you left?”

  “Sure. She was so touched she sobbed. There was no thanking me enough for all I have done. Tears of joy and relief streamed from her face.”

  “I’ll take that as a no.” Bix took her hand and gave it a kiss. “Don’t fret about her, babe. You don’t need to make yourself any more upset than you need to.”

  “Maybe if it doesn’t work out with your dad and mom, we can set them up and focus all of our anger in one place.”

  “Ewww. I wish everyone would stop talking about my parents and sex.”

  Ellie laughed. “You’re such a big baby.”

  “A big baby with a hangover, thanks to your brothers.”

  “Held you down and made you drink, did they?”

  “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”

  “When are they going to help you move?”

  “I figured I’d wait till later to call them. I’m sure they went back out again after I stayed with you. They didn’t seem ready to slow down.”

  “That’s a safe bet. These county road bars are their stomping grounds. Did you eat?”

  “Nope. I left as soon as you called. I had just gotten up.”

  “Want to go somewhere?”

  “I’ll cook at your place. I just want to kick back for a bit. My brain is on overload.”

  She scooted closer to him and began stroking his chest. “Why didn’t you pick me up in my new Camaro?” He quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road and held her chin. He looked carefully in her eyes studying one, then the other. “What’s the matter?”

  “I wanted to make sure it was you.”

  She pinched one of his nipples.

  “Ouch! Come here.” They shared a long kiss before he took off again. “I need to find all the paperwork and see what he has for insurance on them. I have no idea what it’ll run. I may end up having to sell one just to hold onto the other two. I’m pretty good for finances, but not three classic cars good.”

  “You won’t have rent anyway. That should help.”

  “I’m not mooching off you, Ellie. I told you a roof over my head is not what this is about.”

  “You’re not mooching. The house is paid for. My dad had an insurance policy through his job. The house was paid off and my brothers took what was left to buy that resort up north.”

  “What about Nancy?”

  “She didn’t need the money nor did she come to claim it. She was notified and never replied to the registered letters. We know she received them; they had to be signed for. It was her choice to ignore them.” Ellie winced and held her side.

  “What was that?”

  “What was what?”

  “Don’t shit me, Ellie. I saw that. You hurting?”

  “No. It was just like a pinch. I’m fine.”

  “Are you saying that so I don’t take you back?”

  “No. I promise I’m not. It’s already gone.”

  He pulled into her driveway and turned off the car. “Do you promise you’ll tell me if something is wrong?”

  “I promise. You really don’t trust me, do you?”

  “As far as this goes? About as far as
I could throw you.”

  “I promise, Bix. I’m not going to screw anything up that is going to make me take more time off. It’s bad enough knowing that damn intern has my shift longer than I even need to be out. Just because they insist on paying me doesn’t mean I want to sit at home.”

  “You’ll live. Wait for me,” he said, when she reached to open the door. He walked around and opened her door then picked her up.

  “I can walk.”

  “I know and I don’t care.” Once they were inside, he asked, “Couch or bed?”

  “Couch. Bed sounds better, but I wouldn’t mind relaxing over a movie.”

  “I’ll put you in bed and move the TV. How’s that sound?”

  “Sounds like a lot of work.”

  “We’ll set mine up out there when it comes here anyway. It’s a hell of a lot bigger than yours.”

  “You’re going to spoil me rotten, aren’t you?”

  “Or die tryin’.” He kissed her, and then walked her to the bedroom. “Give me a couple of minutes to hook it up then I’ll make breakfast.”

  “You’re not going to do anything illegal, are you?”

  “You give me too much credit. Although I will need to run a splitter to the other TV. And that’s really not all that illegal.”

  “So I won’t totally be going to jail if we get caught.”

  “I’ll buy a second box for it. No worries, babe.” He crossed his heart with his finger.

  Almost an hour later they were cuddled up together with Sleepless in Seattle. Ellie still found it hard to get comfortable. Bix tried to offer her what comfort he could. They didn’t want something too funny so Ellie didn’t hurt herself laughing, but they had forgotten how good the movie was. Ellie did fall asleep towards the end, though, and Bix shut the TV off and joined her in a nap.

  The next few days went pretty much the same. Bix kept Ellie’s moving around to the absolute minimum. He was glad the funeral was put off for a few days and his parents returned to their homes, deciding to swallow the packing in smaller doses. He was able to devote more time playing nursemaid to her every need and even ones she didn’t have.

  Bix decided to stop being so stubborn and took his dad up on his offer about leaving most of his belongings at the farm. Ellie’s brothers helped him move his computers and the bare necessities over to Ellie’s. The last thing he wanted was to have her trying to help. She didn’t need his furniture here; that could all be done later. They brought Miss Kitty to live with them as well.