The Husband She Can't Forget

by Patricia Forsythe

  Her shop had been open for a few days, but the grand opening was still to come—organized by Lisa and doubtless assisted by Gemma...as soon as she returned from her honeymoon.

  Carly gave Sheena instructions on what needed to be done before she left that afternoon, then started toward town. She stopped at the hardware store for some heavy-duty shelf brackets to reinforce some shelves in Upcycle’s back room.

  When she walked outside, she had to step back quickly to avoid a kid on an ancient bicycle. He was riding, head down, along the edge of the street while struggling to balance a box on the front of his bike.

  “Oh, be careful,” she said, but he didn’t respond, pedaling hard as he turned into the parking lot of the Mustang Supermarket.

  Carly stared after him, sure she’d never seen him before, but she wondered why he wasn’t in school at this hour.

  With a shrug, she continued to her shop where she and her employees unloaded and arranged as much as they could, then stored the remainder of the stock in the back room. Janie and Troy went for a late lunch, leaving Carly to walk around the shop, tweaking a few items. As she did, Lisa walked in with a lunch bag and a to-go cup of sweet iced tea.

  “I’m guessing you haven’t eaten lunch yet,” Lisa said, handing the items over and glancing at the clock, which indicated it was after two thirty.

  “You’re right,” Carly answered, gratefully accepting the food. “I’m famished.” She grinned at Lisa. “Even if I had eaten, though, I’d still be hungry.”

  “I know,” Lisa said on a sigh. “I had lettuce leaves for lunch.”

  While Carly scrubbed her hands and then ate the sandwich, Lisa wandered around and commented on the items Carly had beautified with her artistic touch.

  “I remember when you got this chair,” she said, giving the cream-colored gliding rocker a gentle push. Carly had painted red and yellow roses on the headrest and down the arms. She’d accented it with red cushions. “It was in a hundred pieces.”

  “At least,” Carly agreed. “It was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.”

  Eyes narrowed, Lisa gave her a speculative look. “How many hours did it take you to finish it?”

  “Altogether, about ten or twelve over a few days.”

  “And you’re asking $69.95 for it.”

  “So?” Carly eyed her warily. Whenever Lisa had this expression on her face, it usually meant she had an idea brewing.

  “That’s not even minimum wage. You need to be asking more for your pieces. This is beautiful. It’s a work of art.”

  “Look around, Lisa. This isn’t the big city where rich folks will come strolling in and spend huge amounts on furniture.”

  “Which is why you need to advertise. You need to jazz up your website so it features everything you have for sale.”

  “That sounds like a lot of work.” Carly finished the last bite of her sandwich, tossed the bag in the trash and sipped her tea.

  “You can hire one of the kids from the tech class at the high school. Owen Forester, for example, could probably add some pizzazz to your site in no time and keep it updated. He’s only fifteen so he’ll be around for a while to help you out. And, besides, when have you ever been afraid of hard work?”

  “This is different. I’m already learning more than I ever thought I would need to know about the retail business. I know I’ve got trustworthy people covering the gardens, but it’s going to be a huge job to keep up the stock here, almost like having a single job again, at least for a while, and I haven’t done that...” She paused, thinking back. “Since I saw how much Wendolin got accomplished by working at different jobs rather than focusing on one until it was completed, like I’d always been taught. Funny, I never made that connection before.”

  “You learned a lot from her.”

  “Yes. She also taught me how to do needlepoint.”

  “Except that you never sit down long enough to actually finish any needlepoint.”

  “It’s in my long-range plan.”

  “This is going to be an outstanding success,” Lisa stated in a no-nonsense tone.

  Janie and Troy returned right then, so Lisa picked up Carly’s iced tea and tugged her into the back room.

  “What are you doing?” Carly asked, looking around. “You don’t want to be in here. You’re way too much of a princess.”

  “Remember how I grew up, Carly. I’ve earned my princessness.”

  “Is that even a word?”

  “I’m willing to take a chance on getting dusty. Sit,” Lisa ordered, pointing to one of the many chairs crowding the workroom. Then she dusted off one for herself and perched on it.

  “Carly, I understood—Gemma and I both understood—that you were afraid to start this business right now.”

  “But I’m doing it, aren’t I?” Carly asked, throwing her arms out. “This is what you both thought I should do.”

  “And it’s still a good idea, but you’re so worried and stressed about the situation with Luke and his mysterious project, I’m afraid you’re not going to get any pleasure out of it.”

  Carly set her cup down on a nearby cabinet and shook her head. “It isn’t only the project, it’s the fact that he, his dad actually, owns the mineral rights to my property. I hate standing on my land and knowing my family only owns the top few inches, that the rest belongs to someone who doesn’t care about it. I hate knowing that he could do anything and I would have no say in it.”

  “Do you think Luke would do that?”

  “No. I’m not sure,” she amended. “I don’t know him anymore. He’s not the man I knew, but I suspect Robert is still the same.”

  “I’m sure Luke’s changed. You’ve changed, too, for that matter. The only way you’re going to get an answer is to call Luke, ask him when the project will start and what it will involve.”

  “I already know it’s going to involve masses of heavy equipment...and destruction.”

  Lisa shook her head again. She picked up the slim clutch that matched her green high-heeled pumps. They even had green butterflies embroidered on the vamps. “I’ve got to show a piece of property this afternoon, so I’ll say only one more thing. You need to call Luke, get all the information you need—or at least any he can share. I wish Gemma was here to back me up, but she’s not, so I’ll go it alone.

  “Carly, you’ve worked hard for twelve years to turn yourself into the person you are now. You always get the answers you need and you don’t leave anything to chance.” Lisa walked over and gave her a hug. “You’ve stalled long enough.”

  Until today, Carly thought as Lisa walked out. She was right, and again, Carly heard Wendolin’s soft voice reminding her that matters could be solved by talking. In spite of the reluctance that dragged at her, the memory of the destruction caused by the flooded stream had her punching Luke’s number and waiting for him to answer.

  “Hello? This is Luke.”

  At the sound of his voice, she shivered. A faint echo told her she was on speakerphone. “Um, yes, Luke. It’s Carly. I want to ask you about what’s going on. There are masses of equipment on the Withers place and I’m wondering exactly what’s going to be happening and when it’s going to happen.”

  She heard a click and the echo disappeared. “I’m not sure yet, Carly. We’ll be starting in the next couple of weeks, though. Almost all of the equipment has arrived and Dr. Wayne is on-site.”

  “Starting soon, hmm?” she asked then told him about the rain and the destruction it had caused in the stream and some of the surrounding area.

  “I can’t have my gardens destroyed, Luke. Not after all the work I’ve... People depend on my produce.” Carly paused, hating that her voice was shaking. She took a deep breath and asked, “What can you tell me?”

  “Not much, I’m afraid. At least, not about the process. I’
m sorry there’s not more to tell, but I promise I’ll do everything I can to avoid harm to your property or business.”

  She paused again, thinking about it. “I guess that’s the best I can ask for. At least for now. Goodbye, Luke.” Discouraged, she hung up, dropped her cell phone into her pocket and chose a polishing rag from a pile on the counter. Dipping one corner into a can of paste wax, she set to work.

  * * *

  “YOU DON’T HAVE to apologize, you know,” Robert Sanderson said from where he stood by the door. “It’s just business.”

  Luke shook his head. “It’s more than that, Dad, and we both know it. I’ve asked before, but I never got an answer. Why start an extraction process in Reston County now? You could have started it anytime since you sold that property all those years ago. Those rights were always yours.”

  “The time wasn’t right.”

  Luke frowned at his father. Robert had always been a driven man, but he showed no signs of slowing down, despite being well into his sixties and having high blood pressure that required three different medications.

  “What makes the time right now, Dad?”

  But Robert gave the same unsatisfying answer he always did. “Funding, interest, siting the operation where jobs are needed.”

  “People don’t need their community destroyed. Carly doesn’t need her land destroyed.”

  “That wasn’t my plan.”

  “No, but if I hadn’t jumped on the property and bought it from Tom, you would have bought it and exercised your rights to the minerals on her property.”

  Robert gave a skeptical laugh. “Isn’t that what you’re doing?”

  “I’m hoping not to.”

  “Ask any geologist or petroleum engineer. Pockets of natural gas aren’t always where indications say they will be. You might have to drill on her land.”

  “I know, Dad. And I’ve told her that.”

  Robert’s frown only deepened. “Yeah, I guess you have to be in communication with her.” He paused, thinking it over, and Luke wondered what was really going through his father’s mind.

  Finally, Robert went on. “But believe me when I tell you, people worry a lot less about that in places like Reston, especially when they’re so slow to recover from the recession. You’ll see.” Robert looked a bit smug when he said it. “If this fairy-tale fracking process of yours comes true, you’ll see exactly what I mean.”

  “It isn’t a fairy tale, Dad, as you well know.”

  Robert shrugged. “Whatever it is, the calendar is counting down. You’ve only got nine months from the finalization of the land purchase to prove this process works, and then it’s all mine.”

  Luke rubbed the space between his eyes, where a headache was starting. “I know, Dad. I know. But why nine months?”

  “Because six is too short and a year is too long to wait and see if this is going to pay off.”

  His dad’s focus was always the bottom line.

  “All right. Nine months it is.”

  Robert looked at Luke for a few seconds longer then turned and left. Luke got back to the projects he needed to deal with before he left Dallas but was interrupted when his secretary announced two visitors. A Ms. Thomas and a Ms. Whitmire.

  Luke stared at the intercom. “You’re kidding.”

  “Um, no, sir. Those are their names.”

  “I’ll be right there.” He hurried to the door and threw it open to find Carly Joslin’s two best friends standing by his secretary’s desk. They were dressed for the occasion—whatever it was—in tailored dresses and high heels.

  “Hello,” he said, trying for a friendly tone. But they were all business. As soon as he swung the door wide, they marched inside.

  “Have a seat,” he invited. “What brings you to Dallas?”

  “We won’t be here long enough to sit down,” Lisa said crisply.

  “And you’re what brought us to Dallas,” Gemma added.

  He studied their determined expressions. “I’m guessing this isn’t about my oil and gas extraction process.”

  “You’d be right,” Lisa answered. “It’s about Carly. From what we hear, you don’t know how long you’ll be in Reston.”

  “That’s right.”

  “We just want you to know that while you’re there, we’ll be watching you so that you don’t hurt Carly again,” Gemma said. She possessed the no-nonsense attitude of a nurse who had dealt with difficult situations. Right now, he was the difficult situation.

  “I wasn’t planning on it.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t plan on it the last time, either, but that’s how it worked out.” Lisa looked him up and down as if he was a piece of real estate in need of a complete teardown.

  He couldn’t deny what she said. It echoed his own guilty thoughts.

  “So do we have your promise?”

  They both crossed their arms and waited for him to answer. He knew they wouldn’t leave until they got what they came for. He would laugh if this wasn’t so crazy.

  “I promise I will do everything in my power to keep from hurting Carly again.”

  “Good.” Lisa nodded at Gemma. “I think our work here is done.”

  They turned on their heels to leave, but paused when he said, “Carly’s lucky to have you two for friends.”

  “Just remember that.” Lisa used the first two fingers of her right hand to point to her eyes and then to him in the I’ll-be-watching-you gesture. They went out the door and closed it behind them with a click that echoed with purpose.

  “I think I was visited by the Stiletto Mafia,” he said aloud. “Guess I’d better be glad they didn’t hint about cement overshoes and a quick trip to the middle of Lake Texoma.”

  Grinning, he went back to work.

  * * *

  “I THINK THE thief is some kind of animal,” Sheena said. She had gone home after work, just like always, but Jay had called, so she’d rushed right back. He had never called her before.

  She was amazed to arrive back at Carly’s nearly empty shed to find him inside with various pieces of camping equipment spread out around him. Right now, she was using a hand mirror he’d borrowed from Carly’s house to apply various shades of camouflage makeup to his face. It made him look even more handsome—and dangerous. Like an action hero or a Navy SEAL.

  He was wearing camo shirt, pants and boots and his motorcycle helmet was nearby.

  “Are those the clothes you wear hunting?” No one in her family hunted, so this was all new to her.

  “Not when I’m after game,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Then I have to wear high-visibility reflective gear so some dumb hunter doesn’t shoot me.”

  He seemed to like that she was asking questions. They’d never had such a personal conversation before. “You look like you’re heading off to war.”

  “I am. Like I said, I don’t think an animal is what’s been stealing Carly’s produce, but if it is, we’ll be eating it for breakfast.”

  Sheena grimaced. “If it’s skunk, no thanks.”

  “I don’t think it’s skunk.”

  “So, you’re going to lie in wait in the field and see what you can catch, right?”

  “That’s right.”

  “So why am I here?”

  “You’re my backup.”

  Her heartbeat picked up as she gave him a delighted smile. “I am? What am I supposed to do because... I can’t stay out here all night. My mom would kill me.”

  “Nah, all you have to do is call me every couple of hours so my phone will vibrate and remind me to stay awake.” Jay puffed out his chest a little. “I can stay awake if I want to, but I might need a reminder.”

  Sheena gave him a brilliant smile. “Well, won’t that mean I’ll have to stay awake all night, too?”

/>   “Yeah. I told you, you’re my backup.”

  “Well, okay, but can’t you set your phone to vibrate every couple of hours or something?”

  “Nah.” He glanced away, his cheeks red. “I’ve got this cheapie thing of my mom’s that’s like a hundred years old.” Jay took the old flip phone from his pocket and showed her. “All it does is make phone calls. Can’t even text. But it does vibrate.”

  “All right, then. I’ll call you, but you need to answer sometimes so I know you’re okay.”

  “Thanks, Sheena.” He gestured toward his gear. “Can you help me carry all this stuff out under the apple trees? I’ve got the feeling that’s where this guy, or whatever it is, will hit next ’cause the apples are getting ripe. I want to bed down early and cover myself with branches and stuff—you know, like army snipers do—and be ready.”

  “Sure, I can do that.” She hesitated. “But it’s supposed to be a full moon tonight. Do you think the thief might be able to see you?”

  “Sheena, I know all about camouflage and making myself invisible to the enemy.”

  She sighed inwardly. He was so smart. She picked up his sleeping bag and a canteen of water. It would have been nice if he was paying more attention to her than his mission, but she would take what she could get.

  There was enough light left for them to make their way to the apple trees. After checking for snakes, and every other possible creature, he snuggled into his sleeping bag and, in dramatic whispers, directed Sheena on where to place the branches so he was completely covered.

  When she was finished, Sheena assured him he couldn’t be seen. After promising to call every two hours, she slipped away.

  * * *

  JAY SETTLED DOWN, making a conscious effort to listen to all the sounds around him. He was pretty sure that if he listened carefully enough, he could tell the difference between a rabbit and a field rat. He practiced math games in his head, ran through basketball plays, even replayed all the times last school year when he’d made three-pointers. He was going to stay awake—no problem.

  CHAPTER SEVEN