Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon

by Melody Carlson

  She went in to see that tile work was in process. And a toilet was already in place. “Wow, indoor plumbing!” she exclaimed as she tried a flush.

  “And the shower’s nearly done,” Monroe told her. “It looks nice.”

  “And someone painted in here, too,” she said in wonder.

  “Another great color.”

  “Kind of a robin’s egg blue…” She ran her hand over the sleek white tile.

  “The sink’s not in yet,” Monroe observed, “but at least you have the one in the kitchen.”

  She just nodded, trying to take it all in. Then she went to peek in her bedroom. And it, too, was painted, the same robin’s egg blue as the bathroom. It made a pretty contrast with the beautiful wood floors. And her bed, like the other one, had been centered on the back wall, with one end table next to it.

  “This place is starting to look like a real house,” Monroe said as they went back to the living room.

  “It gives me hope.” She sat down on the rocker and just stared in wonder.

  “Aunt Hope has hope,” Monroe teased. “Maybe you can start a trend with your sisters.”

  “Wouldn’t that be something?” And Hope really did feel hopeful as she rocked in the chair. Her little house was really starting to fall into place. Not only had she misjudged Brian—worrying that he’d abandoned the project—she now owed him a great big thank you. Maybe she’d get up early enough to locate her coffeemaker and grinder from the back of the U-haul and greet him with a hot cup of coffee when he arrived in the morning.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  First thing in the morning, after a really good night’s rest, Hope took Andy out back to do his business. Then, hoping to distract him, gave him his food—canned food, which was a special treat. Feeling like a thief, she quietly slipped out of the house and into the back of the U-Haul. It wasn’t even seven, and though she knew it was juvenile—not to mention paranoid—she didn’t want to be spotted by her baby sister just yet. And she did want to make coffee. A small gesture, perhaps, but Brian deserved it for all his hard work. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before she located the appropriate plastic crate, thanks to her “labeling fetish,” as Brian called it, and she snuck back into the house without disturbing any of the neighbors.

  “Good boy,” she told Andy as she came inside. “You didn’t even find anything to bark at while I was gone.” Then she set up her coffeemaker on top of the dryer in the laundry room, since there was no countertop in the kitchen, and proceeded to grind and make coffee. Remembering that Brian took cream, she decided to make a fast run to the market. And to ensure Andy’s silence, she took him as well. It took only about five minutes to get there, on foot, and by seven thirty she was back in her house with not only cream, but some fresh fruit, yogurt, and pastries as well.

  She dug around until she found some of Nona’s plates and things, and she set these up in the laundry room as well. Not exactly luxurious, but somewhat tempting, she hoped. Then she poured herself a cup of coffee and went into the living room to sit in the rocker and to admire the floors and the walls by daylight. She was actually relieved not to have to do the painting, and she knew she never could’ve done such a great job. That Brian! How did he manage to do it? She leaned back and imagined how nicely her white chenille couch and plum chair and ottoman would go in here. As well as her oriental carpet and other things. She couldn’t wait to make this house her home.

  Of course, now she wished she’d hired real movers and brought the rest of her things to Sisters as well. She was just envisioning how she would arrange the living room when she heard what sounded like someone at the back door. Assuming it was Brian, she hurried out to greet him, but when she looked out she was surprised to see it was Lewis instead.

  “Oh…” Slightly stunned, she stood there with a coffee cup in one hand and the screen door in the other, realizing she hadn’t even brushed her teeth yet. “It’s you.”

  His brow creased slightly. “I was actually hoping it was you in here. But you seem disappointed to see me. Should I leave?”

  “Of course not. Come in. I just thought it was Brian.”

  Lewis stepped into the laundry room, taking in the homey scene of coffee and goodies. “It looks like you were expecting company.”

  “That was for Brian.” Even as she said this, she had a feeling it sounded wrong…not like she’d meant it.

  He just nodded, but his eyes seemed troubled.

  “But, please,” she said nervously, “help yourself. I got way more than enough.”

  He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets now. “That’s okay. I already had something to eat.”

  “Have you seen the house?” she said eagerly, hoping to move the conversation in another direction.

  “Do you like it?”

  “I absolutely love it.” She set down her coffee cup and opened the kitchen door. “Come in and see it.”

  So he followed her in, and she took him from room to room, except the spare room where Monroe was still sleeping, and showed him how wonderful everything looked.

  “I like the wall colors you chose,” he told her.

  “Thanks. I can’t believe how well they look with the floors. I’m just so pleased.”

  He made a puzzled frown now. “So, I see that U-Haul out there. Does that mean you’ve changed your mind?”

  Suddenly she remembered that this wasn’t just Lewis (her friend and, hopefully, something more someday if she was lucky), but he was also the trustee of Nona’s estate. The attorney in her realized she should’ve informed him of her intentions before coming back here like this, blasting into the house and acting as if she still owned it. For all she knew, he could’ve sold the house by now. Especially considering her state of mind the last time they’d talked. She’d adamantly pulled the plug on the whole thing, told him it was over, and then run like a whipped dog back to Portland.

  “Uh, yes,” she stammered. “I guess I should have let you know that I changed my mind.”

  He nodded somberly. “That would’ve been nice.”

  Just then she noticed a turquoise blue pickup pulling over. “Wow, this place is getting pretty busy this morning,” she said. “I wonder if I should move the truck so Brian will have a place to—”

  “That’s okay,” Lewis said quickly. “I’ll move my SUV out of the driveway.”

  “Thanks.” She gave him what felt like a weak smile.

  She watched as Lewis backed out and Brian pulled in. The two smiled, waved, and exchanged some words, then Lewis just kept on driving down the street.

  “I hear you have breakfast ready for me,” Brian told her as he came into the laundry room with his tool belt in hand. “So you finally kept your promise.”

  She waved her hand toward the mini feast. “Help yourself. And I have to say I’m really impressed at the house. It looks fantastic. You’ve done wonders.”

  “You can be thankful for some good subs.” He set his tool belt down then picked up a chocolate-glazed donut. “And the tile guy should be here soon. I came early to do some quick tweaks to that shower before he finishes tiling. Hopefully he’ll get the tile up today and start grouting tomorrow. Then, if we can get the plumber in as planned, you should be able to take a shower by Monday night. How’s that sound?”

  “That’s wonderful!” She had already poured his coffee and was adding cream. “Say when.”

  “That’s good.” He took the cup and grinned. “I had no idea you were so domestic.”

  “It’s just my way of saying thanks.” She wondered how she could gently hint that this was just a working relationship without offending him.

  Brian finished his donut and, with coffee still in hand, picked up his tool belt. “If I want to get that done before the tile guy gets here, I better get moving. Thanks for the treats, Hope.”

  “You’re welcome. Thanks for the great work!” She went over to the kitchen window and looked out, hoping that perhaps Lewis had returned or was going to, but the street was q
uiet and void of traffic. She wished she had handled that differently. But she’d been so surprised to see him. Especially so early in the morning. She wondered what he had been doing here. Was it possible that he really did intend to sell the place? Maybe there was a Realtor’s sign out there right now—perhaps she hadn’t noticed it.

  She went out with Andy on her heels and checked out the front yard but saw no for sale sign. However, she did notice that the exterior painting had been finished as well. It looked great, but she was a little disappointed since she’d imagined that she and Monroe would complete it together. Still, there would be plenty else to do. That is if she got to stay here…if Lewis hadn’t put the wheels in motion for Plan B.

  She was just going back into the house when Andy started to bark like a wild thing. Thinking it was probably the plumber, she turned to call her dog and was surprised to see Cherry striding purposefully toward her. Hope couldn’t read Cherry’s expression but decided to take the high road and just smile. “Hey, neighbor,” she called out in a friendly tone.

  “What are you doing here?” Cherry’s voice was flat.

  “It’s so nice to know you’re glad to see me,” Hope said sarcastically. “Thanks for the warm welcome.”

  “I heard you’d gone back to Portland—for good.” Cherry remained about ten feet away from Hope with her arms folded across her front.

  “I had.” Hope studied Cherry. How had her baby sister attained this information? No one else knew that she’d gone for good. Even Monroe, who might’ve told Faye, had assumed Hope had only been going to the city for a short while. “Who told you that anyway?”

  Cherry gave her what seemed a sassy little shrug, but said nothing.

  Hope took a couple steps closer. “No, really, Cherry, who told you that?”

  “Lewis.” She made a half smile.

  “Why did Lewis tell you that?”

  Again with the little shrug. “What difference does it make?”

  Hope felt a rush of panic now. What if Cherry and Lewis really were lovers? What if Lewis was in some kind of scheme with her? And what if the house was already sold? Or worse than that, what if it wasn’t? Would Hope have the guts to remain in Sisters, to just calmly sit by as history repeated itself? This whole scenario seemed impossible…and yet….

  “I’m just curious as to why Lewis told you that.” Hope tried to sound light, but she could feel the pulse in her temples now. She was sure her cheeks were flushing.

  “Lewis and I are friends.” Cherry said this in a way that insinuated more. “He keeps me informed. What more can I say?”

  “Why does he keep you informed?” Hope put on her courtroom persona.

  “Because, like I said, we’re friends. We talk. And he knows that I live next to Nona’s house, so naturally he understands how I’d like to be in the loop. Which is more than I can say for my own sister.”

  A legal term was running through Hope’s mind now. Attorney-client privilege. It seemed to her that Lewis had broken her confidence by sharing her information with anyone. Even if Cherry was Hope’s sister, Lewis knew their relationship was rocky at best. How dare he tell her about Hope’s personal affairs?

  “Don’t get mad, Hope.” The way Cherry said this sounded like a juvenile taunt. The kind of thing she used to spout after borrowing Hope’s favorite cashmere sweater then leaving it soiled and trashed in the bottom of the dirty clothes hamper.

  Hope took in a slow, deep breath. The high road, she reminded herself; she had planned to take the high road. “I’m not mad,” she said quietly. “Just a little disappointed.”

  “It’s no big deal,” Cherry said lightly. “You shouldn’t be offended if Lewis talks to me. We were friends long before you came back home.”

  “Right…” Hope was backing away now. She didn’t know if she could trust herself to remain on the high road much longer.

  “Besides, I was curious,” Cherry continued. Hope could tell her baby sister was switching gears now because her features softened and her voice grew slightly higher. “I just wanted to know what would become of Nona’s estate after you backed out.”

  “And did Lewis tell you that, too?”

  “He said I should talk to you.” Cherry came closer now, even smiled. “So here I am. Want to talk?”

  “Yes. Sometime we should talk, Cherry.” Hope pressed her lips together and nodded. “Just not right now.”

  “What’s wrong with now?” Cherry’s lower lip jutted ever so slightly.

  “I’ve just got a million things to do at the moment.” Hope forced a smile. “How about later today, okay?”

  Cherry was clearly disappointed. “Okay. If I’m not too busy, that is.”

  “Sure. If you’re not too busy.”

  “We have a Habitat house we’re finishing up,” she said importantly. “The dedication is tomorrow, and I want to get some curtains hung.”

  Hope nodded. She remembered what Erica had said…how Bobbie had been teasing, saying she wanted to start volunteering with Habitat in order to spend time with Lewis. Yes, it was all starting to add up now. Or so it seemed. Still, Hope had difficulty believing Lewis would get seriously involved with a married woman. Even so, she was irked at him for talking to Cherry. How dare he disclose her personal affairs to anyone?

  She put Andy back in the house, got her purse, and then told herself to remain calm as she drove over to Lewis’s office. But once there, she knocked loudly on the door.

  “Come in,” he said with a curious expression.

  “I want to talk to you,” she declared.

  He nodded, pointing to a chair.

  Ignoring the chair, Hope jumped right in. “Cherry just informed me that you told her everything.”

  “Everything about what?” He frowned.

  “About me. The things I told you when I thought I was leaving Sisters for good. Things said privately. Then you went and told her the whole thing.”

  “I only said that you were—”

  “What about attorney-client privilege?” she demanded.

  “Technically, I’m not your attorney,” he said calmly. “Your grandmother hired me. But I do represent—”

  “Technically. So I tell you something in confidence—as my friend—and you go around blabbing it to everyone in town?”

  “I didn’t tell anyone else. And I only told Cherry because she asked and I explained—”

  “So you admit it, you did tell her?”

  “Am I on the witness stand now?”

  Hope sank down in the chair like a deflated balloon. This was not how she’d planned to handle this.

  “I’m sorry this upset you,” he said as he leaned back on his desk. “Cherry asked me where you’d gone. I told her Portland. It didn’t seem that was any violation of your trust. She is your sister.”

  “My sister who hates me.”

  “That’s a little harsh.”

  Hope stared up at him. “Do you really know her?”

  “Sure. I’ve known her for quite a while. She goes to my church and—”

  “I mean do you really know her?”

  He held up his hands. “Look, I don’t want to get in the middle of a sisterly quarrel here.”

  “No, I expect you wouldn’t.” Hope stood now.

  “And, honestly, I’m sorry if you feel I divulged too—”

  “From now on I would appreciate it if anything I said to you in private would be kept private. When I told you those things—all that stuff about me—it was because I trusted you, Lewis. To tell Cherry was—”

  “I only told her you’d gone to Portland, Hope.” His tone was firm, as if addressing a judge or a jury—no longer a friend. “After more than one week passed, she wanted to know if you’d gone for good, and I told her she would have to talk to you about that. I don’t see how I can be blamed if she drew her own conclusions.”

  “No, I suppose not.” Hope reached for the door.

  “For that matter, I believed you had left for good—that’s what yo
u’d told me you were doing. When I didn’t hear from you, I assumed that you’d returned to your job and your life.”

  “Yes, I’m sorry about that. I should have informed you that I’d changed my mind. But, as you mentioned, you are not my attorney.”

  “But I do manage your grandmother’s estate and that makes me—”

  “I said I’m sorry, Lewis. I realize I was at fault. I can only hope you haven’t sold my house in my absence—or moved onto Plan B and completely erased me from Nona’s will, because I’m sure she would’ve understood.”

  He looked angry and hurt now. As if her words cut deeply. Yet, there was a part of her that didn’t care. Hadn’t he hurt her as well? Perhaps it was the simplest way to end this thing—whatever this thing was, which was probably nothing more than her imagination anyway.

  “I’m sorry to have bothered you, Counselor.” She opened the door.

  “Don’t be like—”

  “I’m sure you have other more important matters to attend to. Real clients.”

  “Hope…” His eyes looked concerned. And perhaps sad.

  But not nearly as sad as she felt. And if she didn’t make a run for it, she would be crying in front of him. She did not want to do that again. “Thanks for your time, Mr. Garson.”

  Hope told herself she was driving to the grocery store, where she would purchase food and supplies for her and Monroe, but she drove past the store and back around…finally pulling over by the elk ranch, where she parked and got out of the car. Standing there with clenched fist, she stared at the mountains. Her mother used to say, “I look to the mountains from whence cometh my strength.” Then, later on, when Hope said these words to Nona one day, her grandmother finished what turned out to be a Bible verse, saying, “I look to the mountains. From whence cometh my strength? My strength comes from the Lord who created the heavens and the earth.” And Hope had been surprised.

  Today she looked at the mountains…but she prayed that God would give her strength. Then, breathing deeply, she let go of these things. And she told herself that she had acted childishly, emotionally, stupidly. And if Lewis never spoke to her again, she deserved it. He had probably been perfectly honest with her—that he had only told Cherry that Hope was in Portland. And, naturally, Cherry had pestered him and most likely drawn her own conclusions. But what still irked Hope, what rankled her beyond all else, was that Lewis and Cherry were “friends.” And as badly as she wanted to let this go, she just couldn’t.