Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Volume 3

by Chautona Havig

  A new thought agitated her a little. “I—well—how long have you done business with Renee?”

  “Never before today. Granny did. Her will was filed with Renee and I talked to her through the probate and trust exchanges but—”

  “Well, she’s my lawyer too. I don’t know if she can represent both of us.” Before Adric could respond, Willow shook her head. “How ridiculous. Bill will take care of it anyway. He knows what he’s doing.”

  “Do we need a realtor?”

  “I don’t see why. Mother used to say that people were fools to buy property without a lawyer so who needs a realtor if you know who is selling and buying?” She glanced out the greenhouse windows, looking for Adric’s car. “Where is Rebecca?”

  “I came by on my lunch break. She’s at the house, probably bored stiff. There isn’t much for her to do at my place.”

  Eagerly, Willow suggested that he urge her to visit. “She can help me or at least talk to me while I work in the garden, or with animals, and things like that. It’ll be fun.”

  “You wouldn’t mind?”

  “Of course not! Just have her call so if we’re gone she doesn’t waste the walk.”

  This amused Adric. She saw it in his face and could almost hear his thoughts as she realized what he must be thinking. Of course Willow Finley would assume that someone would just cross property. The fact that it’d take half an hour or more would never cross her mind. The sad thing, at least in her estimation, was that if he was thinking that, he was right.

  “I really appreciate it. The other women—they had things they did—work, hobbies, came to work with me even, but Rebecca seems a little lost or something.”

  “Do you mind if I ask a personal question?” The opportunity was too great to ignore it. At Adric’s encouragement, she asked him about his situation. “Are you glad you’re doing this?”

  “Usually. Month three I would have said no.” Adric leaned against a nearby worktable, his arms crossed, and observed Willow as they talked.

  She continued with her picking, cutting, and replanting. “Mind if I ask what happened?”

  “She was more concerned with winning the ‘contest’ than winning me. I was glad when she left a little early.”

  In a moment of insight, Willow brushed off her hands and briefly hugged Adric. “You’re very alone in this, aren’t you? I mean, I know Pastor Allen and Lily are family, but they at least have to pretend to be neutral. It’s like asking Switzerland for help in choosing allies. They can’t or their neutrality is in question.”

  “I am very alone and yet, I have the Lord, a few friends, and truly, if there was a true problem, Lily would definitely be there for me.”

  She walked him to his car talking to him and encouraging him. He rolled the window down just before he drove away. “Thanks—not just for buying my property, but for talking to me. I wish I had met someone like you a long time ago.”

  “You have friends here. Come anytime. Even if it’s just because you need a break from the strain of constant ‘get-to-know-yous.’ It must be wearying.” She laid her hand on his arm. “I’ll be praying.”

  Adric turned the car around and drove down the driveway, watching her from his rearview mirror. He sighed. “Wow.”

  Chad stirred. One glance out the window told him it had to be around noon. The only sounds in the house were those that floated in through open windows. Willow must have been on one of her “fresh air” kicks. Even in the dead of winter he’d arrive midday to find a window open in one room or another to “air it out.”

  He stood, stretched, and glanced outside. Another thought occurred to him. In a few weeks or months, he could be sleeping in that room. Which side of the bed would he get? Feeling foolish but curious, Chad climbed back into bed and crawled out the other side glancing out the other window. This time, he noticed Adric’s car in the driveway.

  He dressed quickly. Maybe Adric already had a price on the land. That’d be nice; Willow wanted it, and as much as it rankled that he couldn’t get it for her, she could afford it. This was going to be good—long term anyway.

  In the kitchen, he found a sandwich in the icebox next to a glass of lemonade. Grabbing both, he stepped onto the porch. Willow and Adric were in earnest conversation in the greenhouse. Chad chewed slowly and watched as Adric leaned against a shelf and crossed his arms. The conversation looked intense.

  When Willow wiped her hands on her work apron and hugged Adric, Chad guzzled his lemonade, shoved his hands in his pockets, and leaned wearily against the post. Irrational thoughts of bursting into the greenhouse and ordering Adric from their property tried to force their way into his mind; only sheer willpower kept him from losing all control. You’re being ridiculous, he growled inwardly. Ridiculous or not, the feelings didn’t leave without a fight.

  As he saw them stroll from the greenhouse, Chad stepped back into the house and watched from the window. The earnest look in Adric’s eyes, Willow’s hand on Adric’s arm, and the way she stood waving as the man drove down the driveway nearly drove him insane. He debated between going back upstairs or to the kitchen and finally chose the kitchen.

  While he waited to see if she returned to the house or the greenhouse, he thought about his reaction. The ridiculous possessiveness—he had no excuse for some of the thoughts now trying desperately to take up residence in his heart, and yet, they were there. Denial wouldn’t change that fact.

  The screen door opened with a squeak. It’d be squeak-free in less than a minute, or he’d eat his badge. “Chad! You’re up! You just missed Adric.”

  Unaware that she amused her still agitated fiancée, Willow reached into a box just inside the pantry door and pulled out a can of WD-40. “Forty-five seconds,” he thought to himself as she returned seconds later, replaced the can, and shut the door. “What did Adric have to say?” Chad winced. He knew his voice sounded odd.

  “What’s wrong?”

  The temptation to blame it on nerves, fatigue, or even her money tempted him, but Chad forced himself to be honest. “Well, actually, I saw he was here when I got up.”

  “Why didn’t you come out and talk to us?” Willow quickly washed his plate and glass as they talked, standing each in the dish drainer as she finished.

  “I think Shakespeare called it a green monster.”

  “The green-eyed monster is jealousy. Othello.” She glanced at him curiously. “You were jealous? Of what?”

  Hands stuffed in his pockets, Chad mumbled something—deliberately unintelligible. As much as he tried not to watch her expression, he couldn’t. She understood. It was there in the smile behind her eyes and the way her features softened. She slipped her arms around his waist and clasped her hands together around his back, pressing her cheek against his chest. “Adric Garrison is a fine man. I think he’ll make some woman very happy.”

  “But not you.” The words were not as confident sounding as he knew they should be. What on earth was wrong with him?

  “Definitely not me. I don’t think there could ever be another man that could I trust like I know I can trust you. I wouldn’t feel safe.”

  Chad’s hands toyed with her braid as a sigh of relief escaped. “It’s crazy, I know, but I needed to hear that. I just realized that I haven’t seen you with any man since we got engaged.” He rested his cheek on her head, his eyes closed. “I think I panicked at seeing you hug another man.”

  “Well, then I won’t,” she murmured into his shirt. “Not if it makes you uncomfortable.”

  The crunch of gravel and the bang of closing car doors heralded the return of the Tesdalls and Todd. “Let’s go make plans for tonight so they’ll leave you and your calmness alone.”

  “I have to finish up the stuff for the caterer and then call. The clipboard is on the table. Assign jobs and everything should work.”

  As the kitchen flooded with chattering family, Willow kissed his cheek and strolled out the back door. In the greenhouse, she watched as Chad directed his family and Todd t
o set up tables and chairs, directed the moving of the animals, and completed everything else on Willow’s carefully planned lists. Now that everyone was busy and could see results, maybe they wouldn’t have time to panic of her lack of panic.

  Once finished with her own task, she dialed Maître D’ to arrange for them to pick up the vegetables. “They’re boxed and ready to go. You can get them—” she hesitated as she saw Cheri ordering Todd from the porch where she was decorating. “Hey, to save you time, why don’t I send someone to meet you at that little park place between Fairbury and Rockland?”

  “The rest stop?”

  “Yes. Exactly. His name is Todd; he’ll be driving a green pickup truck. He’ll be there in however long it takes someone to drive there from here, but don’t hurry. Please.” Willow’s voice took on an edge of desperation.

  “Got family causing trouble?”

  “Something like that. I’ll send him right out, but like I said, just go when it’s convenient. I’ll remind him about Rockland traffic and all.”

  Willow grabbed the first box and carried it to Chad’s truck. He must have seen her because he called to everyone to help. As he helped adjust the boxes, he asked, “Didn’t you say they were coming to get them?”

  “I decided to send Todd to meet them at the rest stop. It’ll give Cheri a break.” Chad’s laughter annoyed her. “You might tell him that he’s not ten anymore. He’ll have a better shot of being her friend if he quits treating her like a likeable pest.”

  Work went much more smoothly with Todd gone. Torn between seeing what Chad saw in his friend and understanding Cheri’s utter dislike, she spent the afternoon working, laughing, and planning ways to get both people to look beyond themselves and encourage the other person. By dinnertime, she was famished.

  “What do you want to do for dinner?” Marianne looked excited. “Finally, Willow forgot something!” As Willow stared at her, confused, Chad’s mom began making suggestions. “We can order pizza or if you think we have time, or we could go into town to a restaurant—”

  Before Marianne decided to spend a fortune on restaurants, Willow decided she’d better share dinner plans. “Oh, dinner is all fixed. I have a container of chili. I was just going to heat it up and have bread with it.”

  “Argh! How about we do something spontaneous—just because we can. Ok?”

  “Um, Mom?” Chad’s voice sounded a little cold. “Why is it a crime for her to be prepared? If she was sitting around drinking lemonade and filing her nails, you’d be going nuts.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. It’s just so unnatural!” Marianne smiled at Willow apologetically. “I am used to seeing brides flipping out because they forgot to buy nylons or the marriage license is lost.”

  “We need a marriage license?” Willow glanced horrified at each person in the room. “We need to get permission to get married! Chad!” Willow turned toward him, fury and astonishment fighting for dominance in her features. “Why didn’t you tell me! I can’t believe this. This is insane. I quit. Have this wedding, but have it without me!”

  She winked at Chad before turning slowly to face the stunned group of Tesdalls. Willow grinned. “There. Was that panicked and stressed enough for you?”

  “Oh you are so going to get it for that!” Cheri reached for the hose. “Dad, turn it on.”

  Christopher shook his head. “Nothing doing. I have to share a bed with your mother tonight, and by the look on her face, it won’t be pretty if I do.”

  “Coward.”

  Christopher nodded sagely. “That I am. When it comes to pranks in the dark, I’m terrified. Last time I crossed your mother, she poured warm water over me while I was sleeping. I woke up mortified.” He shook his head. “I must be nervous. I can’t believe I just admitted that.”

  “Ok, so chili,” Marianne continued, still laughing at Willow and her husband.

  “I want to take everyone out to dinner,” Christopher insisted. “I haven’t gotten to do much for this wedding, and this is something I can do.”

  Finally, an argument that Willow understood. She nodded before asking, “Can we drop chili off at the Allens then? There is no way Chad and I are going to spend every day next week trying to eat up that chili.”

  Night fell, and Willow, pushing the garden cart, walked along the drive, setting mason jars tied with yellow ribbons at the top of every fence post. She’d fill them with cut flowers after she milked Ditto the next morning. Chad, after sending the chickens to bed and giving the animals more water, hurried to help her.

  “One more night, and we’re finished.”

  Laughter rang out across her pastures. “What a flattering picture of marriage,” Willow teased.

  “You know what I meant.” He looked down the highway. “I wonder what is taking Todd so long.”

  “Well, I told him they might not be there. He probably had to wait.”

  “You told them to take their time so he’d be away for a few hours.” The words were almost an accusation.

  “Yes. And tonight, while you guys are supposed to be sleeping, you can give him hints on how to treat the younger sisters of best friends.”

  Headlights appeared around the bend. Chad’s truck turned into the driveway and sped toward them sending dust everywhere. “Oh ugh!” Willow was not impressed.

  “Hey guys! What’d I miss?”

  “Lessons on how to drive for starters,” Chad began.

  “Um yeah. About that…” Todd shuffled his feet awkwardly. “I um, wasn’t paying attention to speed as I drove through town, and a chick cop ticketed me. She sent you a message.”

  “You got a ticket in my truck!”

  “That’s kind of the message. She said, ‘tell him I suggest he reconsider who he allows to drive his vehicles through town!’ I think she was ticked.”

  “Y—T—I cannot believe you did that! Children are all over those streets, Todd! There are speed limits for a reason!” Chad’s anger boiled over.

  “Sorry man, I just wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t want to miss any more of the fun.”

  “Well you’re going to. We’re leaving.” Without another word, Chad hugged Willow, jumped in his truck, pointed to Todd’s rental car, and said, “Follow me. And I do mean, follow. As in, drive like I drive. At the same speed. Watching for who you might kill in the process.”

  The house was wrapped in a perfect cocoon of silence. From her mother’s room, Christopher snored almost exactly as Chad did on nights he had slept in there. Cheri hadn’t moved in hours. The moon shone brightly through her window, and yet Willow lay awake, her body already refreshed simply by relaxing. She knew it must be nearly two in the morning.

  Throwing the covers back, she slipped on her flip-flop slippers, found her summer robe, and tied it securely around her waist. As quietly as possible, Willow tiptoed downstairs, out the front door, around the barn, and across the pasture to her mother’s grave. In just a few hours, enormous sprays of lilacs would cover those headstones.

  She leaned her back against Othello’s headstone, wrapped her arms around her knees, and pulled them to her chest. “Lord, I keep wondering what Mother would do or say if she were here now. Would she like Chad? Would she be willing to have a man move into our home? Would I have had to leave this place? Is this why you took her from me? Did she have to go in order for Your will to prevail?”

  Her words were hardly a whisper. The damp grass beneath her felt strangely comfortable. She remembered other nights sitting in the grass under the tree near the house.

  “Mother, why can’t I sleep?”

  “Because sometimes your body forgets what to do to refresh you.” Kari didn’t know how to answer the question and hoped her inquisitive daughter would be satisfied with the answer.

  “I like the moon.” Willow’s childish voice held that special trace of awe that only children seem to experience.

  “I do too. It’s almost like God’s nightlight.”

  “What’s a nightlight?” At nine, Willow had
never heard of such a thing.

  “Well, people who have electricity in their homes are used to light to help them see everything so sometimes they put tiny lights in bathrooms or hallways so that they can see where they’re going to find the light switch.”

  “Oh. Don’t their hands know where to find it? I think my hands know where to find ours, and we never use them.”

  Kari’s hands rubbed the chill from Willow’s. “I think it’s just a comfort thing. Some children are afraid of the dark, so they use nightlights to show the child there is nothing to be afraid of.”

  “Why are the children afraid? Dark is when I can best feel God. It’s when I can ‘be still.’”

  All the times that Kari doubted the wisdom of her choices were washed away in moments like this. “I think maybe some of the children don’t know about God and how comforting He is. I don’t know about the other children. Maybe they find God best in the light.”

  “Oh.”

  Cicadas sang, a nearby toad croaked, and the leaves above them rustled. “Mother?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I never want to leave and live where I might forget to hear God in the stillness and the darkness.”

  Throat swollen with fear and emotion, Kari tried to speak truth rather than the terror in her heart. “Someday you might not think that, Willow girl. Someday, you may decide you want a different life than I chose. You may want to have friends, get married, and have children.”

  “But then I wouldn’t see you. You don’t want people here.”

  With a sigh, Kari forced down her rising panic. “You’re right. I don’t. But you could live nearby and visit often.”

  Small arms wrapped around her and gangly legs crawled into her lap. A sweet, clear, confident voice insisted, “If you don’t want people, then it will stay just you and me. We’re happy. I’ll always be happy as long as I have you.”

  Willow sighed. She’d been so unhappy when her mother died. She remembered the ache that nearly suffocated her so many mornings. She remembered feeling as if she floundered with every change in her life. Missing her mother wasn’t something Willow ever expected to go away. She knew that only her mother could fill one small part of her heart—unless somehow she learned to let Jesus have that corner too. Still, she was grateful that the Lord had brought friends who would tomorrow become family to fill the rest of the emptiness.