Best Laid Plans

by Martha Rogers

  Caroline sat back and realized she had enjoyed Hal’s company far more than she wanted to admit. His sense of humor still made her laugh after all these years, and his willingness to help scored points for him as well. One question marred the evening, however.

  How could she trust him when he’d betrayed Clint and her by moving to Atlanta without them? With the atmosphere charged with good feelings, now would be as good a time as ever to ask about that.

  Caroline twisted her iced tea glass with her fingers and took a deep breath. “Hal, one thing that has bothered me for all these years is why you didn’t ask Clint to be your partner when you went to Atlanta to start your new business. You had a good partnership here.”

  Hal’s coffee cup stopped halfway to his mouth. His eyes narrowed and his lips twisted in a grimace as he set the cup back on its saucer. After a few moments, Hal shook his head. “That’s something I should have explained at the very beginning, but I was too embarrassed or ashamed to admit the truth.”

  Embarrassed or ashamed? That wasn’t like him at all. Caroline leaned forward.

  “And what is the truth?”

  He cleared his throat. “Velmas’s brother needed a job, and he’d done some construction work. Velma said if I didn’t make him partner, she’d take it as a sign I didn’t favor her family. She said it as a veiled threat to leave me if I didn’t.”

  Caroline’s heart jumped in her chest and words stuck in her throat. Velma had been controlling even in high school, but to think she’d do something like that boggled Caroline’s mind. “I . . . I had no idea.”

  “No one did.” He reached across for her hand. “To be honest, Velma and I didn’t have the greatest relationship. She wanted to get out of Bloomfield and to the city where she could become involved and make a name for herself. Bloomfield society was not her idea of fame and fortune.”

  Remorse for all the hard feelings she’d harbored since that move began to dissolve. With an admission like that, Hal opened a crack in the wall she’d built to shut out the hurt Clint had endured. It hadn’t been betrayal—but survival—that took Hal away from Bloomfield.

  “I’m so sorry. How difficult that must have been for you.”

  She and Clint had such a good marriage that it never occurred to her that Hal’s had been less. She began to see the past thirty-five years in a completely new light, and her trust in Hal now split the shell around her heart wide open.

  “It was, but let’s not talk about that now.” He reached for his wallet and nodded for the waitress to bring the bill. After paying, he led her from the restaurant without further conversation.

  Hal stopped on the front porch of the inn. “Thank you for a special evening. I’m glad we have things out in the open between us now.”

  Caroline’s heart thumped. Standing this close to him brought back memories of . . . No, she couldn’t go there. Not yet. “I had a lovely time. Thank you for the work you’ve done on the courthouse plans.”

  Before she had time to react, Hal dipped his head and brushed his lips across her cheek to the corner of her mouth.

  “I hope we can do it again sometime,” he said before heading down the steps and toward his car, leaving Caroline leaning against the door, her fingers pressed to her lips.

  Selena met her in the foyer. “I just finished with the ledger. Everything ran smoothly here. I suggested the Monroe family try Bert’s for dinner and they were delighted with it. They’re going to our church in the morning. The Wilsons spent the day touring and loved the museum, so everyone’s happy and satisfied this evening. Did you have a good time?”

  “Sure did, and I knew I could count on you take care of things. I’m going to bed now.” Caroline headed for her room to get more comfortable and think about what had just happened.

  “Um, before you do that, call Winnie. I promised her I’d tell you as soon as you got home. She said it didn’t matter what time it was, and she wants to come for coffee and a complete rundown of what went on.”

  Caroline burst into laughter. “She may not want to know that she was one of our topics of conversation, but I do need to talk with her, so I may as well call. Go ahead and put a pot of decaf on to drip and I’ll tell her to come on over.”

  Twenty minutes later, Winnie stood on the doorstep and waited for Selena to let her in. Caroline motioned for her to come on back to the bedroom where they could talk and have coffee too.

  Winnie wasted no time in getting to the point. “Well, what did he have to say? Does he have a good idea for us to see? How did you two get along? Are you going out with him again?”

  “Mercy sakes, Winnie. Slow down.” She shut the bedroom door and poured coffee into mugs Selena had brought from the kitchen. “Here, drink this, it’s decaf.”

  Winnie grabbed the cup. “Okay, but I want to know everything.”

  After settling into her comfy wingback chair, Caroline began to share with Winnie. “Hal has a great plan and one I think everyone is going to like. It links the two buildings together and takes away only a small portion of the back part of the lot where the cottage is. Hal thinks Woody will like the idea too.”

  “Humph. If it’s not his own, Woody may not like any idea of Hal’s.”

  Winnie had presented the perfect opening for Caroline’s next plea. “That’s something else I want to discuss with you. Why are you so down on Woody? You two were such good friends all the time we were growing up.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because he didn’t ask me to the prom or to our senior breakfast. I always thought we’d go to those two things together.” Winnie bit her lip and stared down at her coffee mug.

  So that was it. Caroline remembered Winnie’s being hurt by that, but then Earl asked her and the two had hit it off so well that they ended up getting married and stayed that way for thirty-five years until Earl’s death from cancer. “I’m sorry about that, but look where it led. You’d never have gone out with Earl if Woody had asked you. If I remember correctly, he didn’t attend either event in the end.”

  “No, he didn’t, and I kinda gloated about that. I had me a date and he was all alone at home and it served him right. It hurt my feelings, but I enjoyed being with Earl and we had a long and happy marriage until . . . well, you know.”

  Caroline reached over and grasped Winnie’s hand. “I do know.” Clint’s accident had happened only months after Earl’s death, and they’d grieved together for many months. She leaned back in her chair.

  “But that’s all behind us, and we’ve moved on in life. I think it’s time you offered the hand of friendship to Woody once again.”

  “What? After all these years? That old man isn’t going to give me the time of day. He cringes every time I get around him.”

  “I bet you’d be surprised how he’d act if you showed him a little kindness and understanding. Sweet words and actions get a lot more done than acid and vinegar.”

  “So you think I’ve been acid and vinegar all this time.” Winnie knit her brow and seemed to be thinking hard about the subject. “Well, if it will help our cause, I think I might be able to be a little nicer to the old codger, and I’ll start tomorrow at church. I can put as much honey in my words as the next person. Besides, it’ll be worth it to see Woody’s expression when I’m nice to him for a change.”

  Caroline smiled. The old spark still smoldered. Now if Winnie followed through and fanned the flames a little, they might have a bonfire on their hands. That was one fire Caroline wanted to see.

  Chapter 11

  Caroline entered the sanctuary at the church and scanned the area for Winnie. When Winnie appeared from a side door, Caroline gasped. Gone were the bright colors and gaudy jewelry. Winnie had replaced them with a deep rose two-piece suit that actually flattered her slightly overweight body. Even her hair was styled in a way that set off Winnie’s pretty eyes. To t
op it off, her suitcase-style handbag had been replaced with a sensible smaller shoulder bag.

  What in the world was Winnie up to this morning? Oh, yes, their conversation last night must have worked. Caroline grinned and waved at her friend who hurried over to where Caroline stood.

  “What do you think? Will Woody like it?”

  “I do believe he will. You look very nice, and I’m pleased you meant what you said last night.”

  “Humph, I’m not sure it’ll do any good, but I’ll do anything I can to help save the cottage.” She clutched Caroline’s arm. “There he is now. Wish me luck.”

  Winnie drew in a deep breath and planted a wide smile on her face. She headed straight for the mayor.

  Caroline could only watch with her mouth open and eyes wide. The surprised look on Woody’s face was well worth any trouble Winnie had gone to this morning. She placed her hand on Woody’s arm and gazed up at him like a schoolgirl. Caroline suppressed a giggle. Too bad she wasn’t close enough to hear what Winnie had to say that caused the glazed expression now covering Woody’s face.

  “That’s what I like to see. I take it you had a talk with her.”

  Caroline spun around at the sound of Hal’s voice. “Mercy, you have a habit of sneaking up on me.” Then she grinned. “Yes, and I can’t believe Winnie got to working on him so soon. I figured she’d hem and haw around and give me all kinds of excuses for not being nice to him.”

  “You never know what a little stoking will do to a smoldering fire.”

  Victoria Masters stopped beside Caroline and nodded in the direction of Woody and Winnie, who were now proceeding down the aisle toward a pew. “Well, I never would have believed that if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”

  “Me neither, but it’s happening. By the way, Hal has some great ideas on how to take care of the expansions and save the cottage.”

  “Yes, and as soon as I have them ready, I’d like to meet with the garden club for their approval.”

  Victoria’s grin lit up her face. “Just let me know when. I’m so glad you’re on our side. I know we need improvements, but Woody’s proposal is preposterous.”

  “I couldn’t agree more, and I hope you approve of my plans.”

  “If Caroline approves, then I’m sure we will.” She glanced behind Caroline. “My husband is waving, so I’d best get to our seats. I’ll talk more with you later.”

  Hal waited until Victoria was out of earshot before he said, “Looks like we’ve started the ball bouncing. Now let’s hope it winds up in the right court.” He paused a moment before adding, “I have a favor to ask of you and Libby after church. This is her Sunday to work in the nursery, so she’s meeting us after the services.”

  He glanced around. “Looks like the music is about ready to start, so I think we’d better find a seat.”

  Once they were settled in a pew, Caroline mulled over Hal’s comment. What could he possibly want with her and Libby? Maybe he wanted to show Libby the sketches and needed her for support. That wasn’t really necessary since Libby would like what he’d done anyway.

  Curiosity nibbled at her like a mouse on a piece of cheese all through the service. She kept checking her watch for the time during the sermon then chided herself for not paying attention. As soon as the last song ended, she scooted from the pew and headed up the aisle toward the foyer. Hal followed close behind.

  Several members greeted Hal as he and Caroline waited for Libby, most of them curious about his plans for helping Woody. He explained his position more times than Caroline could count, but he never lost patience with any of them. She had to give him credit for that in addition to what he’d done so far with his ideas.

  Libby waved from the foyer. “There you two are. Must be important for you to wait for me. Not all parents are that prompt in picking up their cherubs, so it took longer than I thought it would.”

  “Hello, Libby. Of course we’d wait. It was me that asked you to meet in the first place.”

  Caroline arched an eyebrow and tilted her head. “Then he asked me, and my curiosity is about to come unglued. What is this all about?”

  Hall took her arm and then Libby’s. “Let’s talk about this over lunch. My treat, and we’ll go in my car and I’ll bring you two back here.”

  Caroline couldn’t very well object to such an invitation, so she let him lead Libby and her to his car. Libby jumped into the back seat as soon as Hal hit the remote to open the doors. Caroline shook her head as Libby grinned and winked. Anyone would think they were back in high school.

  Hal drove them to Bert’s Barbecue, where Jolene greeted them with smile and a nod toward the back. “Look who came in together. Never thought I’d see the day, but she’s gazing at him like he’s the richest pastry on the plate.”

  Sure enough Woody and Winnie occupied a table in the rear corner. Caroline stifled a giggle. When that gal said she’d do something, she didn’t do it halfway. If she wasn’t careful, this could actually lead to something.

  Jolene seated them a few tables away from the couple, but Caroline grabbed the chair that would give her a good view of them. Jolene handed out the menus. “The usual drinks, sweet tea and water?”

  “That’s fine, Jolene.” Hal grinned and pushed the menu aside. “I know what I want. How about you ladies?”

  Caroline didn’t need the menu to order a brisket plate with potato salad and beans. Bert had the best beans she’d eaten anywhere. Libby ordered her usual chicken and a garden salad, but Hal added sausage to his barbeque plate.

  Once Jolene left to turn in their order and get their drinks, Caroline cast another glance in Winnie’s direction. She and Woody looked like they were in a serious discussion, and Caroline’s curiosity jumped another notch.

  “Now, let’s get to the reason for this little meeting.”

  Hal’s voice drew her back to the table. “It’s about time. Between you and Winnie, I feel like Alice. Things are curiouser and curiouser.”

  “It’s really simple. I’ve decided to stay in Bloomfield. My oldest son can run the company without me, and I realize I really miss this town and all her fine citizens, present company included.”

  So he really did plan to stay. It gave their present friendship a whole new perspective. Working together on a project was one thing, but having him in Bloomfield all the time was something else entirely. She wasn’t sure exactly how she felt about him yet.

  Libby grinned and unwrapped her stainless steel flatware from the paper napkin secured around it. “Glad that’s settled, but what does that have to do with the favor you wanted?”

  Hal clasped his hands on the table. “The work crew is going to be finished with remodeling and repairs to the house next week, and I would like to have an open house to show it off.”

  Caroline wrinkled her brow. “That’s a good idea, but how does that involve us?”

  “I know nothing about throwing parties, so that’s where you come in. I need food and decorations and I don’t know of any two women in town better at that than you two.”

  Caroline gulped. That could mean a lot of extra work. “Just what do you plan to have?”

  “I’ll leave that up to you. I figured on finger foods that don’t require anything but a napkin and a plate. If you need to order anything from the bakery, that’ll be fine. Don’t worry about the cost. I’ll pay for it all.”

  Cost didn’t bother her, but time did. However, if he wanted simple desserts and finger foods, she could make up extra for the tearoom. Helen would be glad to help and make a few of the bakery specialties.

  “I think I can manage that. Exactly when do you want to do this?”

  Hal pulled out his phone and looked at the calendar on it. “Today is the tenth, and the house will be finished by the eighteenth, so can we plan on Saturday afternoon, the twenty-third, say about two in
the afternoon?”

  Caroline glanced at Libby who appeared to be doing a bit of calculating in her own head. “What do you think?”

  “By decorating I take it to mean flowers for a centerpiece and for the other rooms, and setting up the tables. We’ll need help with keeping the food and drink moving, but I think a couple of the girls from our youth group will be glad to do that to help earn money for their mission trip in July.”

  “I knew I could count on you ladies to have the perfect ideas. While you take care of that, I can spend my time working on the plans I want to draw up. It’s too noisy and busy at the house, so I plan to use the library for my work.”

  Jolene returned with their orders and set them on the table. She shook her head at Libby’s plate. “Beats all I ever saw. Bert makes the best barbecue around and you go and order a plain old chicken breast and light dressing on the side for a vegetable salad, of all things.”

  Libby grinned and settled her plate in front of her. “I have to watch my figure or no one else will.”

  Jolene rolled her eyes and walked away muttering something about how she should be so thin. Caroline and Libby both laughed, but softly enough so Jolene wouldn’t hear them. “Look who she’s calling thin. That woman is the skinniest one around. If she turned sideways, she’d disappear, permed blue hair and all.”

  Caroline shook her head. “I don’t see how she does it. Nobody knows her real age, but it seems she was old when I was young, and now I’m getting old. She has more energy and a sharper mind than people a lot younger.”

  Hal attacked his lunch. “And that’s why Bert keeps her around. Now quit talking and get to eating and planning. I want this to be the best party Bloomfield’s seen in a while.”

  Caroline’s mouth dropped open. If she hadn’t seen the grin turn up one corner of Hal’s mouth, she might have been put out with his rudeness, but he was up to his old tricks of teasing when he wanted something done.

  One thing for certain, the food would be the best, and with Libby’s skill for flower arranging, the decorations would be the best too. He’d have to get the guest list to her pretty soon. She made a mental note to ask about that later. Right now a plate of brisket with the sweetest sauce this side of heaven had her name on it.