A cat leaping across her side woke Polly up. As she struggled to come awake and identify her surroundings, she realized that she and Henry were snuggled together on the sofa. Somehow he had managed to tuck himself around her after she had fallen asleep in his arms. She didn't want to move too much because it felt nice to have him there, but then she realized that his breathing had changed.
"Are you awake?" she whispered.
"No. Be quiet."
"What time is it?"
"Don't know. Shhh."
"I want to turn over, my face is in the couch."
"You're fine, go to sleep."
"Are you falling off the couch?"
"Fine. I'm up," he said and rolled to the floor with an oomph.
"I didn't mean for you to go away," Polly said.
"Well, you weren't going to let me continue to sleep," he grumped and pulled himself up to his knees.
Polly sat up and stretched. "What time is it?"
"Four thirty," he responded. "I should go home. Maybe I can get another couple of hours of sleep in my own bed. You should head into your bed."
"I'm sorry I fell asleep on you. That can't have been comfortable."
"I was perfectly comfortable before you started talking to me."
She giggled, "I'm not going to apologize. I wanted to know what time it was and I wanted to turn over. You were in the way and not answering."
He leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips. "I'm going home. I'll be back in a few hours." He stood up and offered his hand. Polly took it and stood up to follow him into her bedroom.
Henry pulled her into his arms and kissed her once more before releasing her.
She swayed a little and said, "I don't know how you do that to me. Everything in my head just seems to swim away when you kiss me."
He gave her a little push and she sat on her bed. "Go to sleep. I'll let myself out."
When he began walking to the back stairway, she said, "Wait. Thank you for coming over tonight. You didn't have to, you know."
"What kind of husband material would I be if I didn't swoop in and rescue you from the dragons in your life?" he asked, his hand on the railing.
"And thank you for that too," she said.
"For what?"
"For letting me get foolish and not telling me that I was."
He stepped back into the bedroom and pulled her up from the bed and gathered her against him. "You are far from foolish, but you get some crazy ideas about what life is supposed to look like. You do know that we can make our lives do whatever it is we want them to do. You don't have to follow a book or a plan. You don't have to listen to friends who think you should live the same way they do. I know this is little town America, but we can think differently, got it?"
"Henry?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I love you too, Polly. If we're going to think differently about life, I'm glad I'm doing it with you."
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and said, "Now, I'm going home before the night is gone. I have a high level of confidence that you will find some way to make tomorrow entertaining for both of us." He backed away and walked toward the stairway.
Polly watched him leave, then listened to him walk down the steps, open and shut the door. She heard his truck start up and drive away and sighed. She stripped her clothes off and pulled a night shirt on, crawled into bed and patted it, waiting for Obiwan to join her. He jumped up and snuggled against her back, quickly settling into sleep again.
"I'm glad I'm doing it with you, too, Henry," she said and shut her eyes.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"So. You are still planning on tonight, right?" This time the text was from Billy. She'd heard from Doug earlier in the day, making sure she wouldn't forget their dinner plans. They were excited about this evening.
Something caught her eye outside the office window. Boys of all shapes and sizes poured out of a large white van and onto the sidewalk. Polly glanced at the calendar on her computer. Sure enough, Jeff had it on the schedule. Henry's friend from college, Roy Dunston, was bringing kids from Chicago to spend time with farm families in Bellingwood.
Jeff stopped at her door. "Come outside with me. I'll introduce you to Roy and his kids."
She followed him to the front steps and watched as a few of the kids tossed a ball back and forth. Some were texting on their phones while others dropped to the ground to sit and wait.
One of the boys wandered away and she heard a deep voice call out, "Albert, don't you go anywhere. In fact, come here," as the lone adult came around the front of the van to greet them.
"Hi, I'm Roy Dunston," he said.
Jeff introduced himself and Polly to the man and then said, "I thought Henry would be here by now."
Roy laughed, "He just texted me and told me that he was picking up cookies and milk. The kids have been in this bus since early this morning with only a couple of rest stops. They're glad to be able to walk around a little bit."
He put his finger up to hold their attention and said, "Jaleel, can you get my briefcase from the van? Michael, would you make sure everyone has gotten their things out? Make sure you check under the seats. Thanks, guys."
"Do you think Bellingwood is ready for us?" he grinned.
Jeff looked around at the group, "I hope they're ready for Bellingwood."
Polly counted twelve young men spread around her front lot. One of the boys brought the briefcase to Roy, smiled coyly at her, winked, and then sprinted off to sit beside a friend.
All of a sudden, Demi came around the front of the barn and one of the young men jumped up and said, "Cool! Horses! Can we go see them?"
Polly panicked. She didn't know if the horses would handle this much attention and if the kids didn't have any control, it could be a disaster.
But Roy intervened. "When Miss Polly says that it is okay for you to spend time with them, you can go down in small groups."
"Sorry about that," he said. "They are really ready to see farm animals. They've been planning this trip all year long, trying to learn about cows and pigs and chickens and horses."
Henry pulled in, jumped out his truck and said, "Could I get a few hands over here?" Three of the boys ran over and came back laden with grocery bags.
"Hey, brother!" Roy said as Henry approached. They hugged like long lost friends while Jeff opened the front door to allow the kids to enter Sycamore House.
He led them to the classroom and Polly followed to help him set up.
Roy called the rest of the boys together before they could wander off and they settled into chairs in the lounge area with their bags scattered around the floor in front of them. Most were still focused on their phones, several had pulled hoods up over their heads and hunkered down into themselves. She realized they must be nervous. Roy brought a group of them out every year to experience life outside of Chicago and see that there were other options in the world. His eyes were opened while attending Drake University's Law School. Living with Henry, he had been exposed to an entirely different view of the world. He'd never known where hamburger or milk came from - they were simply packages in the grocery store before that trip. Henry had showed him where food really began.
Even though he was a partner in a law firm, Roy cared a great deal for boys who didn't have the opportunities he'd been given and made sure that he mentored as many as possible each year. She listened as he spoke to the boys.
"It won't be long until some great folks come to take you into their homes for the next two weeks. We've talked about this all year and you twelve have proven that you are prepared to take on an adventure. These families are ready to treat you as if you are their own children. You'll be expected to get up early in the morning and help work on their farms or in their shop and around the house. I have faith that you are going to continue to make me very proud of each of you.
"This is Henry Sturtz - one of my best friends from college and the reason I bring you to Iow
a. This man," he clapped Henry on the back, "invited me to his house for Thanksgiving one year and then drove me around Iowa to see what I was missing. I thought that everyone lived in a city and unless you had a lot of money for a big house, you lived in a tiny apartment. I didn't want to go back to the city, but then I realized that I might have the chance to show other boys that there was a great big world out there."
"This is Jeff Lyndsay," and he drew Jeff forward. "He and Henry found the six families who will host you. He's done all of the organizing for us on this end and made it possible for us to bring more of you to Bellingwood than ever this year."
Polly looked at Jeff. How he kept finding time to do everything continually surprised her, but he just smiled and nodded.
"And this," Roy beckoned to her, "is Polly Giller. She owns Sycamore House. If you think this place is pretty awesome, it's because she dreamed that she could take an old run-down school building and turn it into a thriving business. She's proof positive that big dreams can come true.
"Now, there are cookies and drinks in the classroom and you all can wander around these four rooms as much as you want. Jeff will show you where the bathrooms are, but I don't want you going upstairs or outside unless you talk to one of us first, okay?"
Mumbled acquiescence came from the group and finally one of the older boys grabbed a friend and headed into the classroom to get something to eat and drink.
Roy approached her, "I have a couple of boys who would really like to see your horses. Is there any chance you'd take them down to the barn?"
"Let me get Eliseo Aquila," she said. "He's good with kids and he'll know what the horses can take. I'll be right back."
She ducked out of the lounge and headed for the auditorium. She'd seen Eliseo go in there earlier and hoped he'd still be close. She opened the door and called his name, but got no response.
"Technology, you nut," she said to herself and called his cell phone.
"Hi Polly, what's up?" he asked.
"Are you busy? There are some boys here who would like to see the horses and I can't do this by myself."
"I'll be there in a minute. I ran downtown to the hardware store and told Sylvie I'd bring Jason back with me. We're going to ride this evening."
"Thank you. I've got twelve boys here who have never been around horses before. Do you think ours can handle that?"
"It shouldn't be a problem. I'll be right there."
"Thanks. I appreciate it," she said and hung up.
Henry had come up behind her, "I don't think Roy wanted to make a big deal out of this," he said.
"It's not, I just want Eliseo to help me. He says all the boys can go down as soon as he gets here. Jason will be with him." Polly smiled. “It will also be good exposure for him."
"Great," Henry smiled at her. "It's going to be a good couple of weeks. Roy won't be around all that much. He spends time out on the farms with the boys during the day and I know he has plans to be in Des Moines for some yearly reunion with his law school buddies. He schedules this trip around that event."
Eliseo and Jason came in the front door. He set a bag from the hardware store inside the door of the main office and said, "We're ready. Jason thinks it will be fun to introduce his favorite animals to people who have never met them, right bud?"
Henry beckoned to Jason, "Come on, let me introduce you to these young men. There are a couple who are your age and they've never been outside the big city. They won't know what to do with Bellingwood."
Polly nodded at Roy and said, "This is Eliseo Aquila. He's glad to take anyone who wants to go down to the barn. They just have to listen to what he says."
As one, the boys jumped out of the chairs and began to move. Roy began to stop them, but Eliseo simply nodded and waved for everyone to follow him. Polly heard him speaking in low tones to them as they left the building.
"Mr. Lyndsay!"
Both Polly and Jeff stopped in their tracks at the screeching voice coming from the front door.
"Mr. Lyndsay, I expected to be able to hang quilts today, but what I find is that there are hoodlums here. If there were a larger venue for this show, I would certainly move it out of here as quickly as possible. I cannot believe that you would allow this to happen when these priceless pieces of art are about to be displayed. Do you not have more courtesy than this for me?"
Polly opened her mouth to speak, but Jeff silenced her and said, "Oh, Mrs. Rothenfuss, I apologize. We had discussed having you begin this evening. Did I miss a piece of communication with the time change?"
"No you didn't and don't get sassy with me. I'm here early to ensure that everything is in place when the quilts arrive. I knew that you couldn't be trusted to have things ready. I'm thoroughly disgusted and disappointed."
"There is no reason to be upset, Mrs. Rothenfuss," Jeff continued. "These children are going to meet their host families today. We will be ready for the first quilts to arrive after six o'clock."
"I hope you have these filthy children gone by the time our quilters arrive. I am going to stay right here and make sure that nothing else is out of place. If anything happens, you will be answering to me."
Polly watched Jeff's shoulders rise and fall as he breathed deeply and she wanted nothing more than to take this woman out. Jeff escorted the woman into his office and Polly watched as he went back to the kitchen to get her a cup of coffee. With that taken care of, he closed the main office door and walked back over to a stunned Polly.
"I'm sorry about that," he said
"Why in the hell are you putting up with her?" Polly demanded. "She has insulted Sycamore House, Eliseo and now some of our guests. Kick her to the curb!"
"It's all about good will, Polly. She's the person we have to put up with today, but the quilters and judges are our target audience. I can handle her. I've handled much worse in my life."
"I'd kick her ass out of here," Polly snarled.
"I know that," he laughed, "which is why I'm dealing with her. By the way, we might need to talk about a raise when this is over."
"Whatever," she snorted. "You're the fool who agreed to work with her."
Two of the boys came back inside with Roy Dunston, who mouthed to Jeff, "Bathroom."
"Hey boys, follow me and I'll show you where it is."
They took off through the auditorium and when Jeff returned, several more of the boys had come inside. One of the first two boys took off with a couple of them to show the way and Polly was not at all surprised when Cindy Rothenfuss opened the door and strode into the hallway.
"Why are these urchins being given free rein to run through this facility? Don't you realize that they will steal from you? Where are they from and what kind of security is this?"
Jeff began to speak, but Polly had had enough. She stepped in between the two of them, planted her feet and spoke evenly in low and quiet tones.
"Mrs. Rothenfuss, my assistant, Mr. Lyndsay, has been polite and kind to you, but I'm finished with your poor behavior. We want your quilts to hang here, but you will not insult our guests or my home any longer. If you can't control the things you say in Sycamore House and can't be polite, you can find another place for your quilt show. I don't know why you have chosen to be so rude, but today it stops."
"You go, Miss Giller," came a young voice from behind her. "Bitch," another kid said.
"Stop it," Roy Dunston said, turning on his kids. "Someone else's poor behavior does not give you permission to act out. Go inside and sit down. I don't want to hear another word."
The three boys slunk off and dropped into chairs in the lounge.
Mrs. Rothenfuss' mouth was still hanging open. She sneered at Polly, "I told my husband when you moved into town that you would be trouble. I saw you in the bank the other day and the next thing I’ll ask him to do is force you to close your accounts and take them elsewhere. You think that you are important because you can afford to renovate this place. But, you are as common as dirt and don't think for a minute that because you are
friends with the Sheriff's wife and that uppity artist, it will help you out. As long as you insist on bringing in undesirables, you will find there are plenty of people who don't want anything to do with you. I am only using this ... facility," she paused and nearly spat out the words, "because every other large space in town is already booked. But trust me, next year it will be different."
She stalked back into the office and attempted to slam the door, but was ineffective as its hydraulics caught and slowed the door down.
Polly glanced at her assistant and began giggling. Soon, they were both quietly laughing. Roy Dunston stood there watching them as the rest of the boys came back up from the barn.
"That was impressive!" he said.
Polly replied. "That might have been the stupidest thing I've done today, but it felt great."
"How much power does she have in this town?" he asked. “Can she really force you to change banks?”
"I doubt it,” Polly said, “even if her husband is the president of the bank. One of these days I think I'd like to meet him. I wonder what he's like as a person."
Henry had joined them. "He's a nice enough guy. He works a lot and when he's not at work, he’s at some church or city council meeting. I suspect he does everything he can to avoid being at home alone with her."
Polly tilted her head toward the lounge, "I'm just sorry those kids had to hear that kind of garbage. They're in Bellingwood to see what is good about Iowa."
"Don't worry about it," Roy said. "They've heard much worse and lived in situations that abuse them in ways you can't imagine. They've already compartmentalized her into a place in their heads and dealt with it. Give them time with the folks you've got lined up to host them and they'll be able to identify her as the aberration and not the norm."
"Bob! Sandy! Hi there!" Henry said to a couple in their forties who walked in. "Roy Dunston, this is Bob and Sandy Morrison, one of our host couples. They farm outside of town about ten miles. They've got some cattle and pigs, but Sandy raises chickens and has the best fresh eggs around."
Two more families came in and introductions were made. The final three families had arrived and everyone gathered in the lounge, spreading into the other classrooms. Before long, the young men from Chicago had been assigned to their host families and everyone was clustered into small groups.
Secrets and Revelations (Bellingwood #4) Page 8
