Autumn Spring

by Shelley Thrasher

  “How are you?” Linda sat down in a nearby rocking chair. “Nice afternoon, eh?”

  “It certainly is.” Ann’s eyes glittered. “Guess who dropped by earlier.”

  Linda simply raised an eyebrow.

  “Bree Principal. She’s back in town. Can you believe it?” Ann looked as if she’d just announced the arrival of the president of the United States.

  “Oh yes. I ran into her at Silverado the other day. She was visiting her mother.”

  Ann’s face fell. “And you didn’t tell me?”

  Linda was in a quandary, as she usually was when she tried to spare Ann’s feelings. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t applied all too often when it came to Ann. She’d lied to Bree. She hadn’t really told Ann that Bree was back in town. But at the coven get-together, for some reason it had seemed important for Ann and Bree to have a good long talk.

  So she kept right on lying. “Since you two haven’t spoken in fifty years, I didn’t think you’d care one way or the other.”

  “I didn’t. It was like hearing from a ghost. How did she even know I was in town?” She stared at Linda with narrowed eyes.

  Linda opened her own eyes as wide as she could, caught between protesting her innocence and confessing the truth. Lying wasn’t her strong suit.

  “Carolyn probably told her,” Ann muttered, to Linda’s relief. “She’s the only one who’s stayed in touch with Bree and has probably talked all kinds of trash about me. I’d bet my last dollar on it.”

  Linda didn’t say another word. It was Sunday, after all, and still Samhain for some Wiccan groups, two days she tried to honor by being totally honest. After all, she’d just wanted to help Ann, not upset her.

  Ann looked down at her left hand, then over at Linda. “Hey, you. Come over here and sit next to me.” She patted the empty space beside her on the swing. “Look what I just got.”

  Linda didn’t hesitate, and when she was settled, Ann held out her hand. “Carl Paul was just over here. You know him. The most eligible bachelor in town.”

  The diamond on Ann’s ring finger was even larger than the other five in her collection. “Wow. That’s a monster,” Linda said. “So he popped the question this afternoon? I didn’t even know you two were dating.”

  Ann held up her hand and let the solitaire catch the light. “We didn’t want to advertise. You know how people around here talk.”

  “I certainly do. But hey, congratulations. I heard he’d sworn off women.”

  “He hadn’t met me then.” Ann beamed like she’d just won a million dollars. “We’re flying to Hawaii in a few days to get married. Be gone until right before Thanksgiving. Can you look after the place while we’re away?” She motioned to the house and surrounding acreage.

  Linda took a deep breath. Here we go again. “Don’t you think we should put it on the market?” she asked. “After all, you’ll be living with your new husband now, won’t you?”

  “Yes, of course. His house is one of the biggest and nicest in town. But you never can tell. I like to have this place to fall back on in case things don’t work out. And I’ve almost finished having it remodeled.”

  Linda usually had to supervise the unending stream of repairmen and other workers who kept their family home and acreage in good condition. She was getting tired of being responsible for two homes. “Why don’t you just rent an apartment if things don’t go the way you want them to?”

  Ann looked as if Linda had suggested they spit on their father’s grave. “Get rid of Daddy’s place? Why, it’s been in his family for years. He’d have a fit.”

  “He’s dead, Ann. I don’t think he’d care if we sold it.”

  Ann practically stomped her foot. “That shows how much you know. He loved this place. He’d never want us to sell. Why, when I think of—”

  “Okay. Calm down. Go ahead and enjoy your trip to Hawaii. I’ll take care of things.”

  Ann’s breathing began to slow, and she settled back into the swing. “Thanks. At least I can always count on you.”

  Linda got up. “Congratulations, again, Ann. I hope things work out for you this go-round.”

  Ann rose too and gave her a rare hug. “Thanks, little sis. Me too.”

  Linda couldn’t erase Ann’s wistful expression from her mind as she slowly drove home. And she hadn’t learned anything about Ann and Bree’s puzzling relationship. Maybe she should try to forget it and focus on what she wanted for a change.

  The radical thought immediately made her feel a little better.

  Chapter Eight

  Bree pushed through the front door of Silverado and walked past several small groups of people. Apparently a lot of family members visited on Sunday afternoon, and Bree was glad she’d come.

  She knocked, surprised by her mother’s welcome. “Oh, hello. Good to see you.”

  “I’m glad.” Her mother’s welcome cemented a question she’d pondered. “I’ve decided to stay in town awhile.”

  Her mother smiled. “Fine. But don’t you need to get back to Chicago soon? The museum won’t run itself without you.”

  “They can manage, at least short-term. Besides, I may just decide to retire and settle down here.” Bree laughed to herself. As if she’d ever fit in. Never had, never would.

  “Fine. But you better think long and hard before you do something you might regret.”

  Sarah had always given her this contradictory message: This is a wonderful place to live, but would it suit you?

  “Don’t worry. I will. Having a good afternoon?”

  Sarah glanced around the room with a strange expression. “It’s okay.” She seemed distracted. “Did I take my blood-pressure pill?”

  “Isn’t that one reason you moved here? So an aide can make sure you take your medicine regularly?”

  “Oh. That’s right. I forgot. My memory’s not what it used to be.” Sarah gazed at her small sitting area that flowed into her tiny bedroom as if suddenly realizing where she was. “I was driving myself crazy trying to keep up with all those pills.”

  Her mother had rarely been sick. How could she have changed so quickly during the past year or so? Maybe the shock of the fall, and the preceding ones, had affected her more than anyone realized. Surely she’d revert to her old self when her wound healed.

  Sarah glanced down at her leg. “It’s nice not to be responsible for anything or anybody.”

  “Do you like it here?”

  Sarah shrugged. “The food’s not always what I want, but I can tolerate just about anything. And if I don’t want company I can close my door.”

  “Do you know a lot of the residents?”

  “Yes. Three of the women I taught with live here, and we play bridge almost every day.”

  “That’s great.” A bubble of relief filled Bree.

  Sarah smiled again. “We girls laugh and have such a good time.”

  “Sounds like fun. Maybe I’ll get a room here too.”

  Sarah stared at her. “Ha. You have a lot of good years left. I just hope you’re not too bored and lonely staying in our big house all by yourself.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m fine. In fact, Carolyn took me to a party last night, out at Sandy Porter’s, and guess who I ran into.”

  Sarah radiated interest. “Linda Morton.”

  “How’d you know?”

  “Sandy is Linda’s aunt, and they’re in the same coven. They celebrated Samhain, right?”

  “I thought they kept that a deep, dark secret.”

  “They do, from the townspeople so narrow-minded they’d burn them at the stake.” Sarah stood and limped over to her easel, resting heavily on her walker.

  “I should have known Carolyn would tell you.”

  Sarah grinned like a kid. “I even went with her last year.”

  “You did? What did you think?”

  “I found it pleasant. Healthy food and good company.” Sarah gazed at her easel, then picked up a small jar of paint and a brush. “They stayed up later than
I’m used to, though,” Sarah said. “I almost fell asleep outside around that fire.” She added a touch of color to her latest painting, then stepped back as if studying its effect.

  Bree laughed. “You’re something else.”

  “Thanks. You are too. But I’m glad you mentioned Linda. I want you to do something.” She added another bit of blue to the sky in the stark black-and-white painting of their willow tree.

  “What?”

  Again, Sarah stood back and examined her painting. “The other day when Linda came in, you acted more interested in Ann than in her. I think you hurt her feelings.”

  “But Ann was my friend, not her. Back then, Linda barely said a word to me, so I never gave her a second thought.”

  Sarah screwed the lid back on the paint jar and rinsed her brush in the small sink near her bed. “That’s exactly right. She’s never stood out in a crowd. You could have knocked me over with a paintbrush when she married Mike Morton.”

  “Mike Morton. He was a year younger than me, I think.”

  “Yes. And nice enough. Took her some interesting places overseas and seemed to treat her well. They raised some good kids.”

  “She told me a little about them.”

  Sarah nodded absently. “Linda and Mike never seemed to be right for each other. They went through the motions, but—”

  “What do you mean?” Since when had Sarah become a marriage counselor?

  “I’m not sure who was at fault, but it almost relieved me when he started running around on her.”

  “Sarah! Why would you say such a thing?”

  “I think they needed to get a divorce.”

  When had her mother started participating in the local gossip yet having such liberal thoughts? “That’s possible. Linda told me almost the same thing not an hour ago, at the Dairy Queen.”

  “She did? How did you happen to run into her there?”

  “I guess she saw my car and stopped. Wanted to know if I’d seen Ann yet, like she asked me to last night.”

  “I should have known. She’s too nice for her own good. And did you?”

  “Did I what?”

  “Go see Ann, silly.” Her mother sat down in her velour La-Z-Boy again and extended the footrest.

  “Yes. I drove out to their old house.”

  Sarah sighed as if she’d been standing for hours. “How’d that go?”

  “Kinda awkward. Apparently she’s angling to catch husband number six.”

  “I’m not surprised. She’s a lot like her dad.”

  Bree couldn’t decipher her mother’s cynical expression. “Her dad? Why, just last night, Linda told us how wonderful he was.”

  “He was, to Ann and the boys. And, on the surface, to Linda too.” She frowned. “Linda’s never even realized she was the Cinderella in that family.”

  “Cinderella? What are you saying?” Did her mother really have her meds straightened out? Bree needed to ask the aide if she’d been talking crazy lately.

  “I knew Linda’s mother before she married Mr. White. She confided some things that helped me understand their family dynamics.”

  “Why are you just now letting me know?”

  “Because Linda’s mother made me vow not to breathe a word. Besides, it’s not my place to warn Linda or dig up skeletons, and I don’t want to seem like a meddling old woman. But since you’re here now, I need you to do something.”

  Sarah rarely asked for a favor. “Okay. If I can.”

  “I guess Carolyn told you Linda’s started associating with a group of homosexuals in Tyler.”

  “Yes.” Associating with homosexuals. Well, at least her mother’s attitude was modern even if her vocabulary wasn’t.

  “Since you’ve been a lesbian so long, can you help her meet a nice girl before you leave? I’d help her, but I don’t have any idea where to look.”

  Bree could barely speak. “I guess I could try, though you may have underestimated her.”

  Sarah lowered her leg rest and leaned forward in her easy chair. “Promise me you won’t take advantage of her.” Her eyes blazed. “I don’t think you would, but if you do, you’ll have to answer to me.” Sarah had shifted into full teacher mode.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Carolyn had implied that Sarah wanted to fix her up with Linda. Boy, had she ever been wrong. Sarah clearly didn’t expect Bree to move back to this area or become seriously involved with anyone here.

  At least Sarah had been direct for a change.

  *

  The ringing of the telephone startled Linda. Had she fallen asleep watching Doctor Zhivago? She loved its exotic settings, beautiful music, and gorgeous women. She understood sleeping through a Sunday-afternoon football game, but Doctor Zhivago?

  She slowly pulled herself to a sitting position on her worn leather sofa and reached for the phone. “Hello.”

  “Hi, Granny,” a familiar voice said. “Ready for a game of The Farmer?”

  “Sure.” She’d promised Riley she’d play with her later this afternoon, but she’d forgotten. “Let me run get my laptop and I’ll be all set.”

  “Bet you fell asleep watching an old movie, didn’t you?”

  “Now how did you know that?”

  Riley laughed. “I just did.”

  “Okay. Be back in a minute.” On her way to her office, Linda grabbed a bottle of water. Sometimes their sessions could last quite some time, and she didn’t want to have to get up again.

  “Okay. Here I am.” She set her laptop on her kitchen table and sat down for game time with Riley.

  After an hour or so, Riley finally said, “I better go do my homework, Granny. I’ve put it off all weekend.”

  “I should think so. Your dad used to do the same thing.”

  Riley giggled and repeated with her, “The longer you put it off, the more it seems like you have to do.”

  “That’s right. Now you have a good night, and be good at school. I enjoyed playing with you. Love you.”

  “Me too. See you soon.”

  Wide-awake after their game, Linda realized she hadn’t eaten anything since lunch except her lemonade drink at the DQ. She devoured a bowl of Cheerios topped with banana slices and blueberries, then spotted the piece of pecan pie she’d brought home. Her son and his wife had said they were on a diet, though they’d eaten a generous slice each. She tried to talk herself out of indulging in another piece for the day but didn’t have any luck.

  Had Bree eaten much tonight? If so, what? Something quick like the hot dog and fries she’d had at the Dairy Queen, or did she usually prepare healthy food for herself? Did she have a long-time partner waiting back in Chicago, who cooked for her, or was she a confirmed single person? Maybe Linda should invite her to the women’s dinner Tuesday night in Tyler. That way she could satisfy some of her curiosity about Bree and keep tabs on her diet.

  As she rinsed her bowl and spoon, the phone rang again. Speak of the devil. Maybe it was Bree.

  “Hi, Mom. How’s it going?” her daughter Maureen said.

  “Fine. Did you have a good Halloween weekend in Chicago?”

  “I’ll say. We went to a smashing party last night.” She imitated her partner’s native British accent.

  “I did too, after all the trick-or-treaters finished their rounds. Wish you could have seen the grandkids. Riley dressed as Rapunzel. With her long red hair and wearing a medieval-looking dress, she looked so cute.”

  “She’s ten now, isn’t she?” Maureen asked. “She’ll be grown before you know it.”

  “Yes, time flies. I’m retiring completely soon, and I don’t know what I’ll do with myself.”

  “You’ll find something, Mom. Like always.”

  They chatted awhile longer about the promotion Maureen’s partner Terry had just gotten and other news.

  “Well, give Terry a hug for me. Love you, Maureen,” Linda finally said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing you Thanksgiving.”

  “Me too, Mom. Can’t wait.”

  Maureen�
�s happiness pleased Linda, even though her daughter stayed so wrapped up in her career and life in Chicago, she rarely visited home.

  Linda glanced at the clock. Almost time to watch tonight’s episode of her favorite TV series. She settled into her easy chair for a mindless hour. Then, after the show ended, she picked up the phone again. “Hello, Bree?” she said. “It’s Linda. Sorry to call so late. Am I bothering you?”

  “Linda? Oh, hi. No, it’s not late, and you’re certainly not bothering me. My social schedule has slowed way down since I got here.”

  “That’s why I called.” She cleared her throat nervously. “Do you have plans for Tuesday night?”

  Bree chuckled. “I’m not sure. Let me check my calendar.” She paused a beat. “Luckily that night’s free. Have something in mind?”

  “Yes. I belong to an organization in Tyler called TAG—Tyler Area Gays.”

  “Uh, yes?”

  “The first Tuesday night of every month, we meet at a restaurant over there to eat together and catch up on what’s going on.” There. She’d asked her. “Oh, just the women.” Bree would probably find their social activities around here boring and beneath her.

  “Are you inviting me to go?” Bree asked gently.

  “Yes. If you’d like to.” Linda wished she’d never called, that—

  “Thanks. Really. I’m interested in what the women in this area are up to.”

  “Yeah? What if I pick you up about five? We’ll meet the group at six for Asian food. Okay with you?”

  “One of my favorites. And thanks, Linda. You’re a pal.”

  “Thanks for going. I hope you find my friends interesting.”

  “I’m sure I will.”

  “’Bye, now. See you then.”

  “’Bye.”

  Still nervous, Linda clicked off. If that’s all she and Bree could manage to say on the phone, what would they talk about on the drive to and from dinner Tuesday night?

  Chapter Nine

  Mildly curious about the dinner Linda had invited her to, Bree dressed in her best pair of jeans and pulled on a lightweight black-and-white sweater. Then she picked up her old leather jacket in case the temperature dropped later.