Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon

by Melody Carlson

  “I can.”

  And although they hadn’t said anything about this being their child together, Hope knew that it would be. Or at least she hoped.

  Lewis took Hope and Monroe to church with him the next day. Hope had been surprised that Monroe had so readily agreed, but then she had sort of tempted him with an offer to go early-birthday shopping afterward. Lewis had told her he knew a thing or two about mountain bikes since he was on his third one now.

  But what Hope hadn’t considered, or remembered, was that Cherry and her family went to the same church as Lewis. And so when she, Lewis, and Monroe were seated in front of Cherry’s family, it was a bit uncomfortable. Or perhaps as the pastor was saying, God was simply at work in ways that confused mere humans. Whatever the case, everyone was congenial when they stood around to visit afterward. And Drew even informed Hope that Avery was no longer grounded.

  “Do you still need help at Nona’s house?” Avery asked with big brown eyes.

  “I sure do.” Hope put an arm around Avery. “And I missed you.”

  “I missed you, too.”

  “I have things to unpack and put away, and there’s still the garden to work on, and all sorts of things.”

  “Cool!”

  Cherry didn’t say much. But at least she tried to smile. Then, when she got her chance, she ducked away on the pretext of helping with the coffee table. “There goes our little Charity,” Drew said with a sarcastic edge, “off to help anyone in need.”

  “We’ll see you around,” Hope told them.

  “I’ll come over tomorrow morning if it’s okay,” Avery said as they parted ways.

  “That’s perfect,” Hope called back.

  Then they went to look at mountain bikes. Lewis’s friend owned the shop, and after Hope listened to him explaining what was good, better, and best in a bike, she decided that best made most sense. She also decided that her budget, which was already getting tight, could only afford one bike. And that would be for Monroe.

  “What about you?” Monroe asked her. “I thought you were getting a bike, too, Aunt Hope.”

  “Not today.” She pointed to the helmets. “You should also go pick out one of those. And if I ever hear of you not wearing it, I’ll—”

  “I know,” he told her. “It’s the law.”

  “I know Lewis has a bike rack,” she told Monroe as she stuck the receipt in her purse, “but maybe you’d like to ride it home?”

  His grin was her answer. “Thanks so much, Aunt Hope,” he told her again. “And then, if it’s okay, I’ll change clothes and ride over to show Alex. Unless you want me to paint or some—”

  “No,” she told him. “I think we all need a day off.” She also thought it would be nice to have some alone time with Lewis. Unless he had other plans.

  But then he dropped them both off, told her he’d see her later, and then left. She couldn’t help but feel a little let down. But instead of moping, she let Andy out and decided it was time to plant something in the window boxes as well as to get some mulch for the garden, and perhaps a new wheelbarrow. Surely her budget could manage that much.

  She was just sitting in the backyard, making a list of things to get at the hardware store, when Cherry came through the back gate—and the way she was walking looked like she was on a mission, and not a good one, either. As Andy started to bark, an alarm went off in Hope’s head, telling her to make a run for it. But it was too late.

  “You told him, didn’t you?”

  “Told who?” As she scooped up Andy to stop his barking, Hope had no doubt about whom Cherry meant.

  “Lewis, you told him everything. I could see it in his face. Yesterday, when you crashed the Habitat—”

  “I was told that was open to the public.”

  “Whatever. Anyway, you told him then, didn’t you? And then you probably acted all hurt and asked him to take you and Monroe to church…right?”

  “Wrong.”

  “Oh, I know how you worked it. Don’t think you can pull this over on me.” Cherry’s eyes narrowed. “But you won’t get away with it.”

  “Get away with what?”

  “Stealing him.”

  “Oh, Cherry…” Hope shook her head. She actually felt sorry for her baby sister. How could anyone be so delusional?

  “Don’t oh, Cherry me like you think I’m still a baby…like I’m too little, too dumb to understand. I do understand.”

  “Not really, Cherry. You don’t.”

  “Well, then why don’t you explain it to me, big sister?”

  “It’s impossible to steal something from someone who doesn’t own that certain something.”

  “Of course I didn’t own Lewis. No one owns a guy. But that doesn’t mean you didn’t steal him from me. Or at least you’re trying to. Whether you succeed or not remains to be seen.”

  Hope didn’t know how to respond. But instead of losing it, she closed her eyes and petted Andy. She was ready to silently count to ten if necessary.

  “But you know how I feel about him,” Cherry continued to loudly state her case. “I told you that I was leaving Drew—that I was willing to divorce him for Lewis—and then you went and told Lewis the whole thing. I know you did. And you probably made me sound like a wicked witch, scaring him off just so you could keep him for yourself.”

  “That’s not true.”

  Hope felt Andy wriggling in her arms, and she opened her eyes to see Lewis walking toward them, wheeling with him the exact bike that she had wanted. But his expression was grim. “I’m sorry to have eavesdropped, but I heard voices back here…and then since you were talking about me, I listened.”

  “Oh, Lewis…” Cherry’s hand flew to her mouth. “Those were just emotions doing the talking.” She spoke quickly as if she thought she could sweep it all under the rug. And maybe she could, since Hope had no idea how much Lewis had heard. “I think I’m still getting over losing Nona. You know how broken up I was. And Hope’s over here living in her house instead of Nona. And I suppose I’m just overreacting to everything—blowing it out of proportion. You know how sisters can be.” She forced a smile. “We sometimes bring out the worst in each other.”

  He leaned the bike against a tree and walked over to stand by Hope, putting his arm around her in a protective way. “Well, what you said isn’t true, Cherry. Hope never told me any of those things. And Hope certainly didn’t steal me from anyone.” He turned and smiled at Hope. “My heart was yours for the taking the moment we met—or re-met, since I’ve always had a fondness for you.”

  “Always?”

  “Good grief!” Cherry turned away in disgust. But as she did, she let out a gasp, and both Hope and Lewis looked to see Drew by the fence. And judging by his face, he’d witnessed the whole ugly mess. “How long have you been standing there?” Cherry asked in a voice that was strangely void of emotion.

  “Long enough.” He just shook his head. “I’m glad the kids are inside, though.”

  Hope’s heart went out to Cherry just then. Oh, she was thoroughly perturbed at her baby sister, not to mention hurt. But really, Cherry’s life just seemed to get worse and worse. Unless Hope was mistaken, South Sister was getting ready to blow.

  “Let’s go inside,” Hope said quietly to Lewis. He just nodded, and with Andy on their heels, they hurried into the house where Hope picked up the phone and called Faye. “I think Cherry could really use a friend today,” she said quickly. “I can’t give you the details, but trust me, the girl is in bad shape right now—and probably about to get worse. She desperately needs a sister, and I seriously doubt that it can be me.” Faye promised to check on her, then Hope sat down and let out a loud sigh. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” she told Lewis.

  “Wow, I had no idea that was going on.” He was sitting on the sofa with his arms dangling between his knees and a totally mystified expression on his face. “I mean Cherry’s always been nice to me. Too nice, I’m thinking now. And she always seemed to be around, too. Whether it was a
fund-raiser or Habitat or whatever—it seemed I was always running into that girl. And yet, she was pleasant, always saying sweet things. And sometimes we’d talk about your grandmother and how her health and spirits were doing. And it just seemed like she was being a good friend. Really, that’s all I ever thought it was. Even yesterday when you told me you were jealous of her, I thought that was odd. But now I understand.”

  Hope wasn’t sure if she was imagining it or not, but she thought she heard voices next door. She opened the door and listened. “Whoa,” she said as she went outside. “That is not good. The kids shouldn’t be hearing that.” Lewis was behind her as she jogged next door, ringing the doorbell and knocking loudly. Avery answered, and her face was pale. “Go with Lewis,” Hope told her. “I’ll talk to your parents.” Avery didn’t even argue.

  Hope could hear the voices coming from the den. Did they think their children couldn’t hear them there? But before she confronted them, she ran to find Harrison. He seemed rather oblivious, plugged into his Gameboy. “Go on outside,” she told him. “Lewis and I are going to take you kids for ice cream.”

  “Ice cream?” He nodded and, still playing his game, headed for the door. Once he was out, Hope braced herself as she knocked on the den door, barely cracking it open to call in. “Hey, you guys, I’m taking your kids for ice cream and to the park. I’ve got my cell phone if you need anything.”

  “That’s right,” Cherry yelled angrily. “Steal my kids, too.”

  “Shut up,” Drew told her. “That’s fine, Hope. Thanks.”

  And she had barely shut the door before they were yelling again. Hopefully they weren’t given to violence. She had no reason to think Drew was that type, and Cherry was probably too small to do him much harm. And maybe Nona was right. Maybe Italians fought and then made up. She prayed that would happen, and that Faye would get here soon.

  When she found Lewis and the kids, they had rounded up Avery and Harrison’s bicycles and helmets and were wheeling them into her yard. “I thought we could all meet for ice cream since these dudes are under the impression we’re doing that.” He winked at Harrison. “That way your aunt can try out her new bike.”

  She had completely forgotten about the bike. “That’s for me?”

  “Of course. I would’ve gotten you a helmet, but I wasn’t sure what kind.”

  “We have some extra helmets,” Avery called out.

  “Great,” Lewis told her. “You guys get your helmets and I’ll run home to get my bike. My guess is we’ll meet up in about ten minutes or less.”

  “Less,” shouted Harrison as he clicked the strap of his helmet in place.

  And Harrison was right, because ten minutes later, they were sitting at a picnic table eating ice cream.

  “Do you know why our mom is so mad at our dad?” Avery asked quietly.

  “Not exactly,” Hope told her. “But I do think they need to talk about it.”

  “They’re not talking,” Harrison declared, “they’re yelling.”

  “Sometimes grown-ups act like children, don’t they?” Lewis told them.

  “And they get mad at us when we yell in the house.” Harrison caught a drip before it fell from his cone.

  “Aunt Faye is on her way over there now,” Hope said. “Maybe she can help them to figure things out.”

  Before long, they were on their way to the park. It turned out that an outdoor market of crafts and things was in full swing, including music in the gazebo. Hope gave both kids five dollars and told them to meet them back by the gazebo after they found a treasure. “And stay together,” she called as they left.

  Then she and Lewis sat down in the grass amongst the bikes and helmets and just listened to the music.

  “They’re going to be okay,” Lewis told her.

  “Oh…” She nodded. “Do I look that worried?”

  “A little.”

  She attempted a smile. “I was just thinking of the irony—the old maid aunt returns to Sisters and—”

  “I wouldn’t exactly describe you as an old maid.” He pushed a strand of loose hair away from her forehead.

  “You know what I mean. The unmarried and childless aunt returns and within a month’s time she accumulates one orphan dog, her grandmother’s house, one runaway teenager, two confused children—”

  “And a partridge in a pear tree,” Lewis finished for her.

  Hope laughed. “But, seriously, is that weird or what?”

  “I don’t think you’re going to get stuck raising your sisters’ children.”

  “Not that I wouldn’t take care of them…I mean if it were really necessary. Because I do love them.”

  “I know you do. They are all great kids.”

  “I’d just rather they had their own parents, but healthy, you know?”

  He nodded. “I know. I also know that these kids need some relatives around for them. You know what they say about it taking a village to raise a child.”

  Hope looked around the colorful park where kids and dogs and grown-ups were enjoying the sunshine and music and crafts. “And this is one amazing little village for it, too.” She reached for Lewis’s hand. “You know, more than ever, I feel like I’m home.”

  “Me, too.”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  By Monroe’s fifteenth birthday, Drew and Cherry had been to Faye’s counselor Janna twice. Hope had no idea if it was going to save their marriage or not, especially since Drew had taken to staying at his folks’ place—sometimes with the kids, sometimes not. But Hope felt encouraged that they were at least trying.

  “No way,” Monroe yelped when he saw his mom emerging from her room with a guitar case tied with a big red bow in her arms. “Last but not least,” she told him. “Happy birthday.”

  With wide eyes, Monroe opened the case, removing a beautiful guitar, and immediately he began to play a chord, which didn’t sound half bad. “I think it needs tuning,” he told them.

  “That’s even nicer than mine,” Alex said.

  “We’ll have to do some jamming.”

  “And I think I’ll move in with my mom,” Monroe told Alex. “Since her house is closer to you than Aunt Hope’s.” He glanced at Hope. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  Hope exchanged a look with Faye. “Not as long as you come by to visit.”

  “Of course.”

  Hope went over to where Cherry was standing in the kitchen, just looking out the window. They had barely begun to speak to each other and that was only a cautious “hello” from one yard to the other. But Hope thought it was time to push it a bit further. “You’re really making Faye’s house look great,” she told her. “I can’t believe how easily decorating comes to you. You’re really a natural with color and texture and everything.”

  “Really? You think so?” Cherry seemed hungry for this recognition.

  “I do. And when my furniture and things come from the city after the sale of my condo closes, I hope you’ll come over and help me figure out how to arrange things. I’m worried my sofa might be too big and overwhelm that small living room.”

  “Sometimes a small room can handle one extra large piece of furniture,” Cherry told her. “As long as it’s placed right.”

  “Well, then maybe you can help me place it right.”

  “Sure.”

  “Are we still going to do some mountain climbing this summer, Aunt Hope?” asked Monroe. “Because Alex wants to come sometime, too, if it’s okay.”

  “Absolutely,” Hope told him. “I was thinking about attacking South Sister soon. It’s a good warm-up climb since it’s only a day trip. Maybe even by next weekend—anyone else want to come?”

  “I’m in,” Lewis told her.

  “That’s two.” Hope held up two fingers.

  “Don’t forget me and Alex—that’s four.” Monroe glanced at his mom now. “How about you, Mom?”

  “Oh, I don’t think so. I’m not in very good shape.”

  “You’ve been walking a lot,” Hope remin
ded her. “And you could go as far as you like up the mountain and then wait.”

  “Wait? By myself?” Faye cocked her head to one side with uncertainty.

  “There are lots of climbers and hikers up there,” Hope assured her. “Really, it’s safe.”

  “I want to go, too,” said Avery.

  “Me, too,” chimed Harrison.

  Avery looked at her mom. “If that’s okay.”

  “South Sister?” Cherry frowned. “Isn’t that the one with volcanic activity? Sounds a little scary to me.”

  Now Faye laughed. “Don’t worry, Cherry, I think South Sister already blew her top.”

  Cherry narrowed her eyes, and for a moment Hope thought she was going to blow again. But she simply smiled. “Right.” She looked at Hope. “Fine then, if Avery and Harrison want to go, I better go, too.”

  “How about you, Dad?” Avery asked Drew hopefully. “Can you come, too?”

  He shrugged.

  “Come on, Dad,” Harrison urged. “You’re not afraid of South Sister, are you?”

  Drew glanced at his wife then almost cracked a smile. “No, her blast is way worse than her bite.”

  “Great,” Hope said, “and if the South Sister climb is a success, maybe some of us will want to tackle Middle Sister in August while the weather is still good.”

  The sale of Hope’s condo unit closed the Friday before the South Sister climb. But in all honesty, Hope wasn’t sure which was more thrilling, knowing she had made that final break from Portland or watching her family all climbing South Sister together. Sure, not all of them made it clear to the top—but still it was an amazing day. And nothing she would’ve predicted a month ago.

  Faye begged out about two-thirds of the way up. “I gave it my best,” she told Hope. And Hope agreed. Then Harrison, who looked a little wilted, offered to stay behind to “keep Aunt Faye company.” And since they had a nice spot in the sun, and Hope was a little concerned that the thin air and cooler temps might not be the best for Andy, she asked them to doggy sit for her.

  Avery was next to wear out. She was slowing down shortly before the summit, and Drew, who had been walking with her and holding up quite well, wanted to stay behind with his daughter. Then, to Hope’s surprised delight, Cherry, unlike her last and only attempt to climb this or any mountain, decided to continue. Though she was obviously tired, she seemed determined to keep going. And in an attempt to give her baby sister the limelight she never seemed to get enough of, Hope asked Lewis to slow down so that Cherry could pass them and be the first in their climbing party to reach the top. And she did!