Hometown Ties

by Melody Carlson

  “Not to mention my stomach. I think I went through half a bottle of Tums.”

  “That’s not good.”

  Marley shook her head, then stood and walked around the room. “Hey, you changed things around in here. Didn’t the sectional used to be over there?”

  “Yes. What do you think?”

  “I like it.” Marley nod approvingly. “Much better. It feels roomier and more balanced. Very nice.”

  “Bonnie Boxwell did it.”

  Marley’s mouth twisted into a questioning look.

  “I couldn’t stop her,” Janie explained. “She came in and told me to leave and to just trust her. So I left and came back to this.”

  “Are you going to tell Abby?”

  Janie sat back down. “I don’t know. Really, I don’t see why I should. She doesn’t know all the deep dark details of my life.” She chuckled. “Not that I really have any.”

  “She does know that Bonnie came to your house.”

  “You told her?”

  “Sorry, it kind of slipped out. Besides, this is a small town. Abby might’ve found out anyway.”

  “How did she react?”

  “Probably just like you would imagine.”

  “I honestly didn’t know that it was Bonnie’s shop when I went in. I don’t want to hurt Abby for anything, but Bonnie is really nice. And she’s smart. And she has a great eye for design.” Janie wondered how much to say now.

  “All things Abby will not want to hear about.”

  “Then let’s not tell her.”

  “Hopefully she’ll qualify to buy her old house.”

  “Her old house? You mean the one she grew up in, the one she and Paul raised their girls in?”

  Marley filled her in about the bed-and-breakfast and how Paul was less than enthused. “Abby wants to leave Paul out of it.”

  “Oh?”

  “It might be a good thing. Abby seems pretty jazzed. She’s getting her ducks in a row.”

  “Good for her.” Janie got up to get her purse. “I’ll write you a check.”

  “You don’t have to pay me today if you don’t want to,” Marley said. “I just sprang it on you, and I know you’re trying to cover a lot of ground here on your renovations.”

  “Well, I just had a bit of good news.” Janie returned with her purse. “My Realtor got a cash offer on my Manhattan apartment yesterday.”

  “Wow, that’s great. And fast, too.”

  “We didn’t really expect it to be on the market for long,” Janie admitted. “It’s a pretty great neighborhood, and word travels fast when a place goes up for sale.”

  “Well, congratulations.” Marley grinned at her. “I had some good news too—a couple of my paintings sold at the gallery.”

  “Then congratulations to you, too!”

  Marley told her who bought the paintings.

  “Did you tell Abby about that?”

  “It hasn’t come up.”

  “Oh dear.” Janie shook her head. “This Bonnie biz is getting more and more complicated, isn’t it?”

  “We all grew up here. We all know what a small town is like.”

  “So now that your art is starting to sell, I should ask whether you’ve raised the price.” Janie waited.

  “No, of course not. If I were a better friend I’d just give it to you.”

  “No, you would not,” Janie said sharply as she took out her checkbook. “You need to start acting like a businesswoman, Marley.”

  “So you really do like it?”

  Janie laughed as she wrote out the check. “Do you think I’m faking it?”

  Marley was over by the painting again. “No. I believe you.”

  As Janie subtracted the amount from her balance, Marley walked around admiring the room. “Abby is going to be pea green,” she said finally.

  “Pea green?” Janie tore off the check and handed it to Marley.

  “Pea green jealous of how Bonnie made this room look so great.”

  “Well, I have to give it to Abby. She’s pretty good at design and picking out materials. But Bonnie has a real gift. Also, she understands my style. Just don’t tell Abby I said that, okay?”

  “Don’t worry. And the same back at you about my paintings.”

  “I might as well get this off my chest: I’m consulting with Bonnie for Victor’s boat, too.”

  “His new sailboat?”

  Janie nodded.

  “So will your friends ever get to see this sweet little boat?” Marley smiled hopefully.

  “I’m sure Victor will be happy to show it off. Maybe we should plan an open house. Or would that be an open boat?”

  “We could whack it with a bottle of champagne.”

  Janie laughed. “I’m not sure Victor will agree to anyone whacking the Heavenly with anything.”

  “The Heavenly?”

  “He renamed the boat.”

  “Nice.”

  “I can see how this whole Bonnie thing could get awkward.” Now Janie wished she hadn’t invited Bonnie to walk through the boat with her. Really, what if Abby happened to see them together?

  “Tell me about it.”

  “I guess we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed that Abby is able to buy her house again. That would probably keep her so busy that she might forgive us for associating with her nemesis.”

  “Yes, let’s hope.”

  “Thanks for the check.” Marley chuckled as she tucked it into her bag. “Now I’m going to go home and attempt to start a new work. I’ve decided I have to prove to Jack—no, prove to myself—that I can still paint. Hopefully I won’t have to get angry to do it.”

  After Marley left, Janie started to worry about Abby. Really, how would it feel to have not just one but two of her closest friends consorting with the very woman who had tried to steal her husband? And what if Abby did see Janie with Bonnie as they were going out to look at the boat? Or even coming out of Bonnie’s store? Or what if Abby popped in while Bonnie was here dropping off an order? Or vice versa? No, this was not good. In Janie’s line of work, she always felt it most prudent to prevent catastrophe whenever possible. So she called Abby and invited her to meet her in town for lunch. They would face this thing head-on—and in a public place.

  As Janie walked into town, she came up with an idea. The more she thought about it, the more the idea morphed into a plan. And as she walked up the boardwalk to the Chowder House, she realized it might actually be a rather ingenious plan. Oh, some might assume that guilt was motivating her. But no. If anything was motivating her, it was simply genuine interest.

  “Hey,” Abby called out as Janie entered the restaurant. “You made it.”

  “Sorry.” Janie looked at her watch. “It was such a nice day, I decided to walk. I guess it took a little longer than I anticipated.”

  Abby hugged her. “That’s okay. I was so glad to get out of the house, I can’t complain.”

  “Why were you stuck in the house on a day like this?”

  Abby launched into a description of all the paperwork that was needed to get her financing for the house.

  “Marley told me about that,” Janie admitted after they were seated. “It sounds like a fantastic opportunity for you.”

  Abby frowned. “Kind of a long-shot opportunity. But I’m going to give it my best effort.”

  “Do you know when the house will go into short sale?”

  “Not exactly, but the gal at the bank said it could be by the end of the month.” Abby shook her head. “I just hope I can get it together in time.”

  Janie was tempted to spring her idea on Abby then, but years of practicing law reminded her that timing was everything. So she looked over the menu, then ordered Manhattan clam chowder and wait
ed as Abby decided between fisherman’s stew and Boston clam chowder.

  “It figures you’d go for Manhattan,” Abby teased. “You can take the girl out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the girl.”

  “That reminds me of something,” Janie began cautiously.

  “What?”

  “I know that you know that I went into Bonnie Boxwell’s design store,” Janie said, “but I didn’t know it was her store when I went in.”

  Abby smiled. “Yeah. Marley told me all about it. No hard feelings.”

  Janie sighed. “But Marley might not have told you that Bonnie came out to my house and measured for tile, and then she rearranged my living room and—”

  “You let her rearrange your living room?” Abby looked so shocked that an eavesdropper might have assumed Janie let an ax murderer rearrange her furniture.

  “She actually did a good job. You know what a time I had with that sectional, how I wished I’d left it behind in the apartment.”

  Abby nodded. “It was an awkward layout.”

  “Well, Bonnie insisted I give her a chance. So I did, and she worked her magic.”

  “Her magic.” Abby made a disgusting face. “More like witchcraft.”

  “Bonnie isn’t a witch.”

  “Not to you, maybe.”

  “Clifden is a small town, Abby. It’s unavoidable that your friends are going to run into Bonnie. We can’t treat her like a pariah.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because that will only make things worse.”

  Abby frowned. “What are you suggesting? That I welcome my husband’s lover with open arms?”

  “She’s not Paul’s lover, Abby. You know that.”

  “She’d like to be.”

  “Don’t be too sure.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “I mean she’s an attractive and talented woman, and I’ve noticed that men seem drawn to her. She has that way about her. You know, kind of like Caroline.”

  “You mean she’s a flirt.”

  “I’m not saying Caroline is a flirt,” Janie said. “I’m just saying Caroline has a certain demeanor … a way that men like. It’s a skill I’ve never mastered.” Janie laughed. “I’ve actually never wanted to master it. But Bonnie has it too.”

  Abby looked angry. Or maybe she was hurt.

  “Look.” Janie reached over and placed a hand on Abby’s. “I didn’t invite you here to make you feel badly about Bonnie. I just wanted to be honest with you. I happen to think honest friendships last longer.”

  Abby slowly nodded. “Yes, I’m sure you’re right. It’s just that … well, Bonnie is a bit of a sore subject with me.”

  “I know, but I’m hoping you can move on, Abby. For your own sake. And I really think your idea to do a bed-and-breakfast is brilliant.”

  Abby’s blue eyes brightened. “You do?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “That’s what I told Paul. I need something to pour myself into, to take my mind off of feeling sorry for myself or being jealous. Well, I didn’t actually say that, but I told him I need my own business. I’ve always regretted letting that house go, but now, hearing that it could be available, and at a pretty good price, well, it almost feels like fate.” Her brightness faded. “If I can just make the numbers work.”

  The waitress set their soup and bread down. Janie took in a deep breath, then began. “Abby, I have a proposition for you. My Manhattan apartment looks like it’s sold, and I’ve been thinking I need to invest some of it. Also, I’ve been thinking I need an office space, because I’m considering practicing law again. Not corporate law. But more like family law. And maybe even some legal aid if there’s a need for it in Clifden, which I suspect there is.”

  “You’re going to buy office space?”

  “I’m not sure. I was actually wondering about being a silent partner in your bed-and-breakfast.”

  Abby’s eyes opened wide. “You’d do that with me?”

  “I’d like to consider it. If you’re comfortable with the idea.”

  “Are you kidding? I love the idea.”

  “I’d have to go over all the paperwork.”

  “I’d love you to go over the paperwork. The truth is I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.”

  “And part of the deal would be for you to let me have the basement for my law office.”

  “But it’s so dingy down there, would you really want—”

  “I’d probably want to do some renovations, but the truth is I have such great memories of being in that basement. Remember how we hung out there when we were girls, back before you and Caroline got so popular that you left Marley and me in the dust?”

  “We didn’t leave you in—”

  “Never mind, that’s water under the bridge.”

  “Oh, Janie, I’m so excited. This could be so perfect. Would you really want a law office located at an inn?”

  “Why not? It’s a great location. I think the basement could be remodeled into a very cool office. You’d be around to keep me company. Maybe I could even lend you a hand at times.”

  “I can’t believe it.” Abby was so happy that her eyes filled with tears. “This could be so wonderful, Janie. I just can’t believe you want to do this.”

  “Well, like I said, I need to carefully look over all the details. You know me, I won’t agree to anything that I haven’t thoroughly studied first.”

  “I’m just so relieved.” Abby leaned back and exhaled. “I really, really wanted to do this, but I was worried I was getting in over my head, and that if I went under, no one would be around to throw me a line.”

  “It’s a lot to take on all by yourself.”

  “Even though my mom is willing to get involved, I get the feeling that she halfway expects me to fail before I even get started.”

  Janie’s legal mind was kicking into gear now. “So how about you make copies of all your paperwork so I can look over it?”

  “I’ll go home and gather it all up, then drop it by your house later today.” Abby reached for the bill. “And when Paul hears that you’re involved—I mean that you might be involved—well, I’ll bet he’ll probably start singing a different song.”

  Janie extended her hand. “So, it’s a deal.” She shook Abby’s. “If everything looks good and all goes well, we might be partners.”

  Chapter 15

  Abby

  Abby was still feeling slightly stunned as she drove through town. That Janie would even consider partnering with her in this new venture was truly amazing. Of course, it was possible that Janie would review the numbers and decide the whole thing was foolish. But if that happened—and as disappointed as Abby knew she would be—it might be for the best. It wasn’t as if Abby wanted to risk everything and end up losing her savings.

  She couldn’t resist driving down her old street, parking across from the stately old house and just looking at it. She knew this was a big dream, perhaps even an impossible dream. But it was her dream. And yet it was a dream she was willing to share, if that was what it took. Still, she was relieved not to have to share it with Paul. She knew that was probably selfish and perhaps even stupid. But she was glad he had no interest in participating in her dream.

  She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes and attempted to focus her hopes and her energy on God. Faith wasn’t exactly her strong suit, and prayer seldom felt comfortable, but more than ever, she wanted God’s blessing on this endeavor. She knew that God was the one who could open and close doors, and she really wanted him to open this one. If it was for the best.

  “And if it’s not for the best,” she whispered quietly, “then just close this door, lock it tight, and help me to find something else to pour my energies into.” Then Abby said amen and started
her car. As she drove toward home, she remembered that winter was coming, and that her usual volunteer efforts at the soup kitchen and food bank would be needed. Also, she could get involved in the quilters guild again. It wasn’t as if she had nothing to do. It was simply that what she had didn’t seem to be enough. She felt like a river that had become stagnant over the past couple of years. For some reason, her energy and enthusiasm had been blocked. As much as she loved having her old friends around her, she couldn’t help but compare their lives to her own. It was as if they were reinventing themselves, starting over, and enjoying a freshness that she longed for.

  To be fair, she knew that Caroline didn’t see her life like this at all. But even the prospect of caring for a needy parent felt more appealing than just sitting around her lovely new home and doing nothing.

  As Abby turned down her street, she remembered Caroline’s challenge for Abby to get a checkup. Caroline had been concerned that Abby’s struggle was as much physical as emotional. And while Abby knew Caroline might be right, she also knew that being busy always made her feel better.

  She pulled into the driveway, surprised to see that Paul was home already. To be honest, she was a little disappointed. She had hoped to gather up her paperwork, slip into his office, and make the copies at home. In all likelihood he would be in his office, and if she started making copies, he would want to know why. She wasn’t ready to divulge everything to him quite yet.

  To her relief, he wasn’t in his office. So she turned on the copier and quickly began reproducing her paperwork, sorting, stacking, stapling. She was almost done when she heard his voice.

  “What are you doing in here?”

  She jumped. “Just using the copy machine.” She turned and forced a smile. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  “No, of course not. What are you copying?” He was looking over her shoulder as she pulled out a file folder and slid Janie’s packet of papers into it.

  “Just some stuff for the B and B.”

  “You’re still thinking about that?” The tone of his voice seemed to say it all, but she was determined not to go there.

  She simply nodded. “But I’m being very careful about it. Janie is going to look over everything for me. You know, being an attorney and all, she can help to decide if it makes sense or not.” She didn’t want to divulge Janie’s investment interests yet. Not until Janie gave it her seal of approval anyway.