by Regina Duke
“Fine! To hell with all of you. I’m leaving.” She dragged her suitcase toward the door. “I hate you all!” She did not close the door behind her.
Polly went over and shut the door.
The room was oddly still after Britney Beth left.
After a moment, Polly said quietly, “I think I should call her mama and let her know what’s going on. She may want to do something about the children.”
“Or not,” said Thor, glumly. “Considering the blood line they came out of.”
“Oh, honey, you know the Beales. They can’t say no to people in need. And I love them for that.” She moved to the sofa and sat with Rocky, stroking his head.
“You okay?” asked Thor.
“I’m worn out,” said Polly sadly.
Ashley said, “Sorry I blew up at her. I just couldn’t stand to have her smear Thor’s reputation.”
Polly chuckled. “Oh, honey, I wouldn’t have missed that for the world. That girl has been asking to be knocked on her keester for years. Come over here and give me a hug.”
Ashley did as Polly asked. Her eyes burned with tears as she murmured, “I wish I’d had a mother like you.”
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Thor checked his messages and email while his mother made her phone call in the back room. It only took him a few minutes.
Ashley waited on the couch. Rocky was keeping Polly company.
When Thor finished, he could hear his mother’s voice, still talking.
“That’s going to take a while,” he said. “Even when things are fine, they enjoy talking to each other. Let’s go get some pastries and coffee.” He wrote a note and stepped into the back room to hand it to his mother. She nodded as she read it, but kept talking on the phone.
Ashley walked with her arm around Thor’s waist.
Thor reciprocated. Once outside the office and the drama that had greeted them there, their smiles returned.
In the bakery, Ashley made her selections by pointing through the glass. They selected a variety of croissants, cream puffs, Napoleons and Mexican wedding cookies.
Thor got a cardboard carrier for three coffees and paid the clerk.
“Do you think she’s through talking?” asked Ashley.
“No. She’ll need a good forty-five minutes.”
“Do you think Britney Beth is really gone?”
“Probably not. She creates these moments of crisis expecting to get people’s attention. The last thing she wants to do is drive away alone and spend two or three days on the road without an audience.” Thor motioned her toward a table in the corner. The before-work crowd was gone and the coffee break crowd had not yet arrived. They had the place to themselves.
“I want one of these cream puffs before my father gets to town. Fair warning. He’ll finish off whatever’s left in the bag.”
“Thanks for the heads up. I’m taking the wedding cookies. They seem appropriate.”
“Oh, really? All three?” He nuzzled her cheek. “Is that what I have to look forward to? My little bride getting all plump and cuddly?”
“You’re one to talk,” teased Ashley, tilting her head to enable further nuzzling. “Cream puffs for breakfast?”
“I need my strength if I’m going to repeat last night.”
“In that case, eat both cream puffs,” giggled Ashley.
They were halfway through their pastries when Polly came in, shivering.
Thor set a coffee in front of her. “Done so soon? I thought you and Darlene would be on the phone for quite a while.”
“Ordinarily, yes, but Britney Beth was trying to call her mother. I told Darlene to call me back when they finished.” She took the plastic lid off her coffee and inhaled the steam. “Lovely.” She peeked into the bag and used a napkin to withdraw a croissant.
“Did you lock the door?”
“Rocky is sitting right next to it. No one is going in past that dog,” said Polly. “But I don’t want to leave him alone for long. I’ll head back.”
“We’ll go with you.”
As they stood up, Rocky whizzed past the window, then skidded to a stop when he spied them through the glass.
“Darn,” said Polly.
Thor went outside to keep Rocky out of the street.
Ashley collected the cup carrier and pastry bag.
Polly juggled her coffee, croissant and phone as she followed them out. Thor was at the corner moving toward his store front. Rocky was now content to amble next to him. Ashley and Polly caught up to him before he reached it, and all three stopped cold when the door opened and a shopping cart’s nose was thrust out.
Ashley’s face lit up. “Mina?”
Wilhelmina’s long gray hair was in braids, and she looked a bit harried. “Sorry I let the dog out. I came for my shopping cart.”
“Is everything okay?”
Mina looked from Ashley to Thor, then glanced in Polly’s direction. “Well, not exactly.”
Thor pulled the cart free of the door jamb and parked it right outside the door.
“Let’s go inside,” he said. “You can fill us in.”
Mina peered down the street toward her shop. “Okay, but I can’t leave my sales girls alone for long.”
Thor said, “You remember my mother, Polly?”
Mina looked relieved. “Oh, thank goodness. The Polly I keep hearing about?”
Thor nodded. “Now, what’s going on?”
Mina spread her hands and looked desperate. “Could you please come down and get Britney Beth? She’s in my shop, crying and wailing and talking on the phone, making a real scene. The customers who were shopping just up and left. I swear, that girl needs help.”
Polly set her coffee and croissant on the desk. “I’ll come get her. Mina, is it? So nice to meet you. And you’re right, she does need help. I think she’ll be getting some real soon. I’ve been talking to her mother.” She turned to Thor. “I’ll see if I can’t cajole her back to the Inn. I need to let Mr. McAvoy know we’re canceling the ceremony.”
“Just a minute, mom.” Thor glanced a question at Ashley. She nodded.
“What is it, dear?”
“Ashley and I are already married. Lulamae orchestrated it in Vegas. She had a feeling something was going to happen with Britney Beth.”
Polly smiled a knowing smile. “I figured that’s what happened when I found you two together this morning.” She winked at Ashley. “After his brother’s marriage failed, Thor swore he was going to take his time looking for the right girl and marry her before they made love.”
Thor blushed. “Not my exact words, but close enough.”
Polly squeezed his hand. “So, are you telling me to cancel? Or telling me to go ahead with the ceremony because the marriage is a done deal?”
“Daddy’s on his way. I say go ahead with the ceremony. He’s headed for Kuwait on business. When he gets home in a few weeks, we can have a real celebration, but at least he’ll be here for the ceremony.”
“That’s what we’ll do then.” She pinned Ashley with a mild frown. “Young lady? Do you love my boy?”
Ashley’s cheeks burned. “Yes, ma’am, I love him with all my heart.”
“Good.” Polly beamed. “That’s what I wanted to hear. Now I’d better go take care of Britney Beth.”
A waft of cold air entered with a gray-haired, sun-worn banty rooster of a man. “What’s that girl got up to now?”
“It’s about time you got here, Rudy. Come and meet Thor’s bride. I have a crisis to avert.” Polly gave her husband a quick kiss, then turned to Mina. “Let’s go save your business.”
Thor and Rudy hugged.
“Well, well, my youngest boy is getting married. I am so happy for you.” His eyes sparkled as he looked Ashley up and down. In a good-humored stage whisper, “She’s a looker, son.” Then he opened his arms. “You mind giving an old man a daughterly hug? I’m fixing to leave the country on business, and I’ll need some sweet memories to get me home again.”
Ashley began to
cry.
“Darlin’, what’s the matter?”
Thor and Rooster both encircled her in a protective hug.
Ashley wiped tears away. “I’m sorry. It’s just that my dad’s family is from Texas, and you sound just like him. It’s like music from heaven.”
CHAPTER FIFTY
For Ashley, the best part of Rudy’s arrival was his desire to talk to the two of them. His questions were short and to the point, but he expected detailed answers.
And she discovered that Thor kept no secrets from his father.
Before she knew it, the story of their relationship from the first moment to the present, including the napkin bearing their signatures, was on the table. Or in this case, the coffee table of his rooms at the Inn. Polly had booked them into one of the suites on the top floor. Nothing like those Ashley had seen in Vegas, but roomy and comfortable in a rustic Colorado way.
Rudy studied the napkin. “And you’re saying this came after you fell in love?”
Thor nodded. “The minute I saw her, daddy, I knew she was the one for me. It took a little doing, though, to keep her from running out the door to look for a real bodyguard.”
Rudy humphed. “You’re more than man enough to do that job.”
Ashley squeezed Thor’s arm. “You can say that again.”
Rudy grinned.
Thor looked pleased.
“Now what’s all this about you losing your daddy and can’t find your mama?”
Ashley started talking and found she couldn’t stop. Between her narrative and his questions, they spent almost two hours bringing Rudy up to speed. When they arrived at the moment he entered the office, Rudy squinted at Thor.
“You still waitin’ for an answer from Uly?”
“Or his college roommate,” said Thor. “Uly said he’d look into it, so I know he’ll call.”
Ashley glanced at the clock. “I wonder how Polly’s doing?” She hesitated before asking, “Has Britney Beth been diagnosed with mental health issues? Is everyone in the world dealing with troubled family members?”
Rudy pulled out his phone. “I’ll give Polly a call and find out. But yes, I think there are a lot more fragile people in the world than we hear tell about. For my parents’ generation, you never talked about the troubled ones. You just quietly helped them along and covered up their messes. Near everybody I know has some kind of illness in the family, be it physical or mental. But if we stopped living and loving because of it, there wouldn’t be no one left.” He wagged his eyebrows at her, then moved away to call Polly.
Ashley sighed deeply.
“You okay?” asked Thor.
She leaned against him. “I think your parents are wonderful.”
Thor relaxed and hugged her. “Thank goodness.”
“I’m feeling a little sorry for Britney Beth.”
“Now you understand why I couldn’t just defy her and go behind her back to tell everyone about her twin. Once you understand what someone is going through, it’s hard to be totally against them.”
Ashley nodded. “Do you think she’d want to come to the ceremony? I told her she wasn’t invited, but now I feel bad about that.”
“We can re-invite her. It’s fine with me.” He leaned close and whispered a very married suggestion in her ear.
Ashley blushed. “Your father is standing right over there.”
“Well, we wouldn’t do it here.”
Ashley gave him a playful pinch.
Rudy returned to his chair. “Hold on, you two. Time for that later.” He winked. “Polly is in Britney Beth’s room. She’s got the girl to lie down for a nap. Meanwhile, she’s been busy on the phone. Britney Beth’s mother is flying up to take charge. Polly’s sending the jet for her.”
“Do we need to drive to Pueblo?”
“No. Polly’s arranged for a private car. When she takes charge, she does it up right.”
“Ashley wants to re-invite Britney Beth to the ceremony, if she wants to come.”
“I have a feeling Darlene will want to take her daughter home right away. The Mercedes can stay here for a bit. They’re working it all out between them.”
“Speaking of the ceremony,” said Ashley, “is there anything we need to do?” She looked from Thor to Rudy.
Rudy laughed, a crusty sound full of humor. “Are you kidding? With Polly on the ground? I’m sure she has matters well in hand. Besides, this is just a little ceremony so I can witness the two of you saying your vows before I head overseas. We’ll have the big wedding at home in Texas when I get back.”
Ashley’s eyes grew big as silver dollars. “The big wedding?”
“Well, surely darlin’, you don’t think Thor is getting married without the biggest party in Texas, do you? Polly and Darlene already started making plans. This little party tomorrow is for me. And Uly. He promised he’d make it.”
Ashley’s jaw dropped. When she could work her mouth again, she turned to Thor. “The biggest party in Texas?”
Thor shrugged. “Dad’s not normally real flashy with his money, but he loves a good party.”
Rudy’s eyes twinkled. “I brought you a wedding present, too.” He produced an envelope. “Don’t look like much, but with you two up here in Colorado, it seemed the perfect gift.” He handed it to Ashley.
“You want me to open it now?”
“Why not?”
Thor nudged her. “Go on. I’m curious.”
Ashley opened the envelope and read the contract within. Thor turned to his father while she was still trying to read through the legalese.
“Dad, that’s awesome! Thank you.” He gave his father a hug.
Ashley was still confused. “Explanation?”
“It’s a year’s worth of access to that private jet we took to Vegas.”
“Wow! Thank you so much.” She gave Rudy a big hug.
“You’re welcome, darlin’. You’ll use it, too. We expect to see a lot of you, now, you hear? I want you two to use the heck out of that thing.”
“We will, dad. I promise.”
“I wanted to buy you a jet,” he said with a pout. “Your mama said owning a plane is too much trouble. She didn’t want to give you any extra headaches.”
“This is perfect, dad.”
Ashley beamed at the two of them. “I am so lucky. I get two wonderful men for one ‘I do.’ It doesn’t get better than that.”
Rooster made a show of clearing his throat and studying the toes of his boots. Then, “Don’t forget Uly. Could be three.”
The rest of Thursday was a blur. Rooster drove to the cabin with them, and they only headed back into town when Polly called to say Darlene had arrived. By the time they returned, Darlene and Polly had agreed that Britney Beth would do better at home. Darlene had already set up an appointment with Britney Beth’s therapist. But before they left, she wanted to ask Thor a few questions about the two boys he’d rescued from the fire.
Everyone had gathered at Thor’s office for their farewells. The private car was waiting by the curb. Ashley wanted to give the families some privacy, so she jumped at the chance to speak with Mina when she saw her pass by the window.
She found her next door in the empty shop between Thor and The Muffin Man.
“Hi, Mina. I wanted to be sure to invite you to our little ceremony tomorrow.”
Mina’s expression brightened at the sight of Ashley.
“I’d be delighted. Do you have someone to help you with your hair and your veil?”
“Not yet. I’d love it if you’d do that for me.”
Mina hugged her. “You can count on me.” She waved an arm at the open space. “What do you think? I want to open a gallery in here.”
“Not another boutique?”
“I want to diversify. I let local artists hang their art on the walls of my shop, and there are more and more high end customers moving into the area. They want something on their walls. I’ve sold a lot of art work in the past six months. I think a gallery would do well here.�
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“That would be lovely. I was an art major. Maybe I could display something.”
“That would be perfect. When I can I see samples of your work? Do you have a portfolio?”
Ashley shrugged. “Not really. With dad’s illness, I didn’t get a chance to work on my painting much in the last year. And in college, one of my professors told me I would never make it big. He said my work was more in the realm of arts and crafts, not fit for a museum.”
“He sounds like a first class jerk,” said Mina. “One of the reasons I want to open a gallery is so I can display my own work. I do watercolors. Say, why don’t you go in on this with me?”
“You haven’t even seen my work yet.”
“Doesn’t matter. I like you. And this space is right next door to Thor. It’s a match made in heaven, and if it doesn’t work out, we can always part company.”
Emboldened, Ashley fiddled with her phone. “I have a couple of pictures of my college work on my phone. Here’s the last one I did.”
Mina peered closely at the tiny photo. “Oh, Siamese! I love it. My cats are all Siamese. Got more?”
Ashley showed her a few more. “I have a thing for cats. My instructors would give me an assignment, and I just couldn’t get motivated until I found a place to put the cat.”
Mina was delighted. “You have a lot of talent. These are delightful. The old car with the cat tucked under the wheel well is amazing. I don’t know what your instructor was looking for, but I know what my clients look for, and these paintings are perfect for the gallery. You should be telling people you’re an artist. Don’t keep this talent a secret. Please say you’ll think about going in on the gallery with me.”
Ashley’s hand shot to her mouth. “Oh! Lulamae talked about my secret talent.”
Mina blinked at her. “If that means you’ll say yes, good for Lulamae, whoever she is.” She checked her watch. “Speaking of my cats, I have to go. I have kittens at the shop. And they’re just about ready for new homes.”
When Mina opened the door to leave, Britney Beth stepped inside.
Ashley’s heart softened at the sight of her. She looked sunken and unsure.
“I came to say goodbye.” The strident, cocksure Britney Beth had transformed into a quiet, saddened figure.
