Caroline thought about this. “Probably not. He’s not my type. Not really. Although I’m not so sure about how he feels.”
“I’m guessing he’s interested,” Janie said. “Why else would he call so many times? I assume he was the one doing the calling.”
Caroline nodded. “He wanted to come over and visit, but I just couldn’t bear the idea of having him in my mom’s house. It’s embarrassing enough to have my friends drop by, which I totally appreciate, but I can’t even imagine what someone like him might think or say about that place. You know what it’s like.”
“So what is he like now? What’s he been doing since high school?”
“He’s a high school football coach.”
Janie laughed. “Well, that’s not surprising. Let me guess—Clifden High?”
“No, he lives in Eugene. He’s divorced and has a couple of grown kids who live in other states. He seems kind of lonely. It sounds like he’s a little disenchanted with his job, too.”
“So what was he doing here?”
“Checking out real estate. After his divorce, he scaled down. He lives in what sounds like a pretty modest condo, but he wants a beach house over here.”
Janie broke off a piece of the pumpkin muffin they were sharing. “That sounds like a good plan.”
“I just hope I wasn’t leading him on,” Caroline said with guilt.
“Maybe he just wanted someone to talk to.”
“That’s what I told myself.” Caroline decided it was time to change the subject. The point of meeting with Janie was to get her mind off of her own troubles. “Hey, I heard about the Bonnie-Abby showdown at your house.”
Janie filled her in on the details as well as the other latest bits of news that Caroline had been hungry for. On one hand, it was reassuring to hear how her friends’ world continued to turn without her; on the other hand, she felt left out.
As they finished their coffee, Caroline asked how Janie’s renovations were coming, and Janie invited her to stop by on her way home. “You can see the tile and Marley’s latest work.”
Caroline eagerly agreed. “I have about thirty minutes left. I’ll meet you there.” Feeling like a kid who knew recess would soon be over, she drove over to Janie’s. The next thing she knew, Janie was introducing her to a guy named Mario and discussing the possibility of him cleaning up Caroline’s backyard.
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Caroline held up her hands. “It’s a pretty big mess. I can’t even imagine how—”
“I have a friend—Lorenzo. He’s looking for landscape work.”
Caroline scowled. “Landscape work would be lovely, but this yard is more in need of a dump truck than a rake. It’s full of junk. It’s probably not even safe.”
Mario nodded with concerned eyes. “Yes … I see.”
“But thanks anyway.” Caroline smiled, relieved to have averted what could’ve turned into a very embarrassing situation. She didn’t want anyone going into that backyard—ever.
“Come see Mario’s lovely tile work,” Janie said as she led Caroline through the garage, which though slightly cluttered with boxes and tools and things, was nothing like that horrible, foul-smelling mess Caroline’s mom had created in her garage.
“Wow, that’s beautiful,” Caroline said when Janie showed her the hall bathroom. She ran her hand over the marble countertop, admiring the pale green and blue tiles on the backsplash. “Very, very nice.” Again, Caroline compared this showplace to her mother’s sorry house. Who would believe that the two homes had been built at the same time and by the same builder?
“I got lucky with Mario. He’s a real craftsman. And he’s fast.”
“I feel bad acting uninterested in his friend,” Caroline admitted. “But I just can’t let anyone in that yard, Janie. It’s too horrible.” She looked at the tile in the shower stall, which looked almost done. “Your house is going to be drop-dead gorgeous, Janie.” Caroline fought to hold down her envy as she saw the other nearly finished rooms, reminding herself that life wasn’t meant to be fair … and that Janie’s life wasn’t as perfect as it appeared.
“Oh, Janie,” Caroline gushed, “this place could be featured in House Beautiful.”
Janie laughed. “Thanks, but I don’t think so. Especially if anyone saw the exterior. Plain-old ranch houses don’t usually make House Beautiful.”
“Well, this one would.” Caroline walked around admiring everything. “Look at your kitchen,” she said. “It’s nearly done too.”
“Maybe I can have an open house in a couple of weeks.”
“It’s all coming together for you.” Caroline forced what she hoped was a convincingly happy smile. “And how about Victor’s boat? How’s that project coming?”
As Janie described what sounded more and more like a fairy tale, Caroline’s cheeks began to ache from the fake smile she had plastered there. She couldn’t believe that she’d just spent her last precious minutes of freedom being tortured like this. As much as she loved Janie, she could’ve done without this little peek at the lifestyles of the rich and deliriously happy.
“Well, it all sounds like fun.” Caroline glanced at her watch. “But I promised Mom a McDonald’s lunch, so I better get going.”
“Call me if you need anything.” Janie hugged her. “I mean it, Caroline. I’m here for you and just a few blocks away.”
“Thanks.” Caroline nodded, swallowing against the lump that was growing in her throat. “I really appreciate that.”
Caroline waved to Mario, then got in her car and drove slowly down the street. Her unshed tears were making it hard to see, so she continued cautiously. While waiting in line for the drive-up window, Caroline put on her sunglasses and just cut loose, letting the tears flow freely. She hated feeling jealous of Janie, but she would do almost anything to be in her shoes. Oh, not literally … but compared to Caroline’s pathetic excuse of a life, Janie’s looked absolutely perfect. Even though she knew Janie had been through hard times, it wasn’t easy standing on the outside looking in. Even the news that Janie’s apartment had already sold hurt. So far Caroline hadn’t even had a bite, and she could actually use the money!
As Caroline slowly inched her SUV forward in the line of cars, her tears eased up a bit. She reached for a tissue and blew her nose and told herself to get it together.
As the girl was giving her change for her mom’s lunch, Caroline’s cell phone rang.
“Hey, Caroline,” the now-familiar voice of Adam said pleasantly. “How’s it going?”
“Okay.” Caroline quickly explained that she needed to keep it short because she would be on the road in a minute or two.
“I’m on my lunch break too,” he admitted. “But I was thinking of you. I just wanted to tell you to have a good day. I know it’s not easy doing what you do—in my opinion there should be a special place in heaven for people like you. Your mom’s lucky to have you, Caroline.”
The kindness in his voice made her start crying all over again. “Thanks,” she told him in a choked voice.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes—yes—I’m just fine,” she blubbered as the girl handed her a bag. “Perfectly fine.” She tossed the bag to the passenger seat, put the car in gear, and pulled forward.
“You don’t sound fine.”
“Okay, I’m not fine. The truth is I’m having a meltdown. I’m in the middle of a pathetic little pity party. Pity party of one. But my respite time is about up so I really need to get home, Adam. But thanks for calling.”
“Can I call you back later this evening?”
“Sure … if you want.” She knew she should tell him that it was futile to pursue a serious relationship with her. She was simply using him, selfishly filling in the empty spaces of her life with his voice.
“Okay, talk to you later. Now you drive
carefully, you hear?”
“Thanks.”
“Hang in there, kiddo.”
She sniffed loudly as she hung up. Really, this was getting ridiculous. She had to pull herself together. Other people, including her young friend Brent, who’d been emailing her almost daily, survived these things. Surely, Caroline could too. Still, the old image of that white knight coming to rescue her, even if it was only Adam Fowler, was more appealing than ever right now.
Chapter 18
Janie
“Does your friend Lorenzo speak English as well as you?” Janie asked Mario as he was setting tiles onto the kitchen backsplash.
Mario’s brow creased as he pressed the glass into place. “No. Lorenzo’s English is not so good.”
“And my Spanish is not so good,” Janie admitted.
Mario stood up straight. “But Lorenzo’s brother, Roberto, he speaks English pretty good. He works at El Capitan.”
Janie nodded, wondering how that helped.
“Roberto works nights in the kitchen,” Mario continued.
Janie brightened. “So he might be available to work during the day?”
“Oh, yes. He is happy to work days.”
“Can you call them for me, Roberto and Lorenzo?”
So she quickly explained her plan, waiting as Mario called his friends, speaking to them in Spanish. She could only make out a word or two. Then he paused, holding the phone down. “When you want them?”
She shrugged. “When can they come?”
He grinned. “Now.”
“Oh.” She nodded, trying to decide if she was really up to this. “Okay. Sure. Tell them to come over. Do they have pickups?”
“Lorenzo can use my pickup,” Mario offered. “We trade sometimes.”
“Great. And they have tools?”
“Oh, yes. They have tools.”
It was a little past one when Lorenzo and Roberto showed up. They talked to Mario in Spanish, then Mario introduced them to Janie. “Senora Sorenson is your boss,” he said in a formal way. “Her Spanish is not so good.”
Janie laughed. “So you’ll have to be patient. And you can call me Janie.”
Mario translated this to them in Spanish, and they smiled and nodded. Then Mario proceeded to tell them Janie’s plan. At least she assumed that’s what he was telling them. It was hard to say for sure, but the two guys kept nodding and agreeing, as if they really got it. She could only hope.
“You guys follow me,” she said after Mario finished. “I will help get you started.” As she drove the few blocks to Caroline’s, she hoped this was not a big mistake. What if Caroline felt invaded? Or what if it upset Caroline’s mom? Caroline so didn’t need that right now. At Caroline’s house, Janie asked the guys to wait in the pickup, promising to be back shortly. Then she quietly knocked on Caroline’s door. She didn’t want to ring the bell because she knew how it upset Ruby.
Caroline looked surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m on a mission.” Janie nodded to the blue pickup parked out front. “My friends and I are here to work on your backyard and—”
“Oh, no.” Caroline shook her head. “I can’t let you do that, Janie.”
“Look, I’m not taking no for an answer, and I’ve already put together a plan. I’ve got several boxes of black yard bags as well as a roll of tape. The guys are going to tape the bags over the back windows so your mom can’t peek out there. And they know they’re supposed to be extremely quiet. I had Mario tell them a very sick woman lives here and cannot be disturbed. They also know they’re to only go alongside of the garage to and from the backyard. So, really, there’s not much chance your mom will see or hear them. Please, say you don’t mind.”
Caroline pressed her lips tightly together. She looked as if she wanted to slam the door in Janie’s face. Instead she just shrugged and made what seemed a forced smile, but her eyes looked worried. “Whatever.”
“You have to promise not to look out there or go back there,” Janie continued. “Until I tell you it’s okay. Okay?”
Caroline grimaced at the sound of her mom’s voice calling out. “Oh, Janie, this really isn’t a good idea. You don’t know how bad it—”
“Please,” Janie said firmly. “Just trust me, okay?”
“Well, I know no one can do anything to make it any worse back there. I just don’t want anyone getting hurt then suing me.”
Janie smiled. “I’m an attorney, remember? Between you and me, I’ve got a pretty strong hunch these guys are here illegally, so they’re not going to want to get involved in any judicial issues.”
Caroline nodded. “Still, I don’t want them to get hurt.”
“I agree. But I’m pretty sure they can take care of themselves. And Mario recommended them.”
“But what about you?” Caroline glanced over her shoulder as her mom called again, louder this time.
“I won’t work back there until it’s safer,” she promised. “I’m only here to get them started, okay?”
“Okay.” Caroline was backing up now. “I have to go.”
“Yes. Don’t even think about it. Just trust me. And make sure you pull the drapes and blinds on windows that face the backyard until the guys get them blacked out, okay?”
Caroline nodded and waved, then closed the door. Janie returned to the pickup, directing her instructions to Roberto. “It must be very quiet,” she said, holding a forefinger in front of her lips like sign language. She showed them where to park the truck, off to the far side of the driveway and out of sight of the front window. Then she showed them which route to take, but when they attempted to open the gate, it seemed stuck. Roberto gave it a good shake and it came off the hinges.
“That’s okay,” she told him. “We will replace it.”
He nodded. “Sí.”
Janie took a plastic bag and held it up over a garage window, holding up the roll of tape. “Cover the windows first,” she said quietly.
They both nodded and she handed them the materials, then slowly picked her way past trash cans and rotten boxes and all kinds of broken things. It really did resemble a small junkyard, and Janie suspected that if the city had any idea what was back here, they would’ve intervened long ago. Really, this was a mission of mercy.
She just stood there staring, trying to take it all in, trying to imagine how this was even possible, and she soon became completely overwhelmed. No wonder Caroline didn’t want anyone back here. Not only was this a mercy mission, it was mission impossible. The two guys were quietly moving junk away from the house so they could reach the kitchen window. They had found a stump that they were using as a step stool, and before long they had the kitchen window completely covered.
Janie picked her way over to the fence to see that it, like the gate, was rotted. The only thing holding it up seemed to be blackberry brambles. She wondered how many trips to the dump this project would take, then realized these guys would need some money to cover that expense. She slowly made her way over to Roberto. Whispering, she asked him if he knew where the garbage dump was located.
“Sí,” he said quietly. “I know it.”
Janie reached into her purse now, pulling out two twenties. “To pay for dumping the garbage,” she explained. “For today.”
“Sí. Gracias.” He pointed to a decaying cardboard box of glass jars. “And for glass … it is free.”
“Oh.” She smiled. “Recycling?”
“Sí.” He nodded eagerly. “Recycling.”
“If you have questions or need more money for the garbage dump, you come by my house, okay?” she whispered.
He nodded. “Sí.”
“Or call Mario.” She held up her cell phone.
“Sí … sí … No problem.”
“Sí,” she e
choed him. “Bueno. And gracias.”
“Gracias,” he said.
She held her forefinger to her lips again. “Shhh.”
He mimicked her now.
Feeling that Caroline’s backyard was in good hands, Janie left. When she got home, she called the county refuse-disposal number and asked some questions. As it turned out, Roberto was right. Not only were glass, metal, and several other recyclable items free, they would discount the dumping fees in exchange. Also, if the guys waited until Saturday, the dump was holding their annual free disposal of hazardous waste materials. Janie wasn’t sure if there were hazardous waste materials there, but she would be surprised if there weren’t.
Finding Mario now grouting the tile in her kitchen, Janie explained everything to him, asking him to convey the information to his friends for her. He promised that when they exchanged vehicles at the end of the day, he would do this.
“Also, please, tell them I will pay them at the end of the day,” she said. “And that the dump closes at six.”
With this settled, Janie decided to pay a visit to the local home-improvement store. Not only would she shop for things for Caroline’s place, but for her own as well. She’d wanted to get things started in her own backyard, and there seemed to be no time like the present.
It was getting close to five by the time Janie made her selections and purchases. She arranged to have most of it delivered to her house, where Roberto and Lorenzo could sort things out and transport them to Caroline’s as needed. Encouraged by the fact that her check for the Manhattan apartment was supposed to clear by the end of the week, and enticed by some big clearance reductions, she’d probably gone overboard. She picked out ceramic planters and shrubs and pavers and a small fountain and birdbath and some outdoor furniture. All in all, it was just plain fun, and, despite the fact that she had no specific plan or blueprint to work from, she hoped that her selections would come together in some pleasing design once in Caroline’s yard. And yet, she reminded herself, anything would be an improvement over what was there now.
Hometown Ties Page 17
