But when her mother spoke, it was Autumn’s turn to be incredulous.
“That’s a shame,” she said.
“What?”
“You could do a lot worse than a man like that.”
“Mother!”
“Well, Autumn honey, look at him.”
Autumn couldn’t believe it. She’d never heard her mother speak like that in her life.
“What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean, young lady.”
“You’ve never spoken about a boy I liked like that before.”
“This isn’t a boy though, is it. It’s a man.”
Autumn nodded.
“All man,” her mother continued.
“Mom, I get it.”
“Autumn honey, if I was twenty years younger.”
“Mom! Gross.”
“Oh, give me that much,” her mother said, laughing. “The nurses and doctors here seemed determined to take everything pleasurable away from me.”
“But you never speak like this,” Autumn said.
“You never heard me speak like this. That doesn’t mean it never happened.”
“Why is it happening now?”
“Because, my dear, now we’re two women, and this is the way women talk.”
Autumn had been feeling emotional since stepping into the room, but now the tears returned to her eyes and fell over her cheeks. It was the first time her mother had ever referred to her as a woman.
“Really?”
Her mother nodded. “I’m proud of you, Autumn. You went to work for those strange people and you kept your word.”
“It didn’t do much good.”
“That wasn’t your fault. You did your part, and I’m proud of you for that. Prouder than you’ll ever know.”
Autumn got back on the bed and hugged her mother.
“I just pray they can get you healthy again, now that you’re back here. You were doing so well before I left.”
“They’ll do what they can do,” her mother said with the resignation of a woman who’d been in too many doctors’ offices and hospital beds to still put her hopes in the latest prognosis. “But let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk about you.”
“What’s there to talk about with me? I’ve been making beds and vacuuming carpets.”
“Oh, I think you’ve been doing more than that,” her mother said conspiratorially.
“Mom!”
“Well? You can’t just walk in here with a man like that, and a baby, and not offer up some sort of an explanation.”
“He’s just a friend, mom.”
“Autumn, take it from a woman who has a lot more experience, a man like that is never just a friend.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, he didn’t just drive you halfway across the country and pay your mother’s medical bills because he’s hoping you’ll become his babysitter.”
“That’s exactly what he’s hoping,” Autumn said.
“Oh, Autumn, please.”
“Well, that’s what I’ve been. I play with the baby, feed her sometimes, give her the female touch.”
“You’re more naive than I thought, my dear.”
“I am not,” Autumn protested, knowing full well that was exactly what she was. “He hasn’t kissed me yet.”
“That will come.”
“He hasn’t so much as touched me.”
“It’s called wooing, my dear.”
“I thought wooing was a thing out of history books.”
“Sadly, it is too often,” her mother said, “but it’s still alive and well if you find the right man.”
“The right man?”
“The kind of man who enjoys that kind of thing.”
“What kind of thing?”
“Drawing out the thrill of the chase, my dear.”
“The thrill of the chase?”
“Oh, honey, you have so much to learn.”
“Then teach me. You sent me out into the world absolutely clueless.”
“You weren’t ready to learn.”
“Well I’m ready now.”
Her mother looked at her and chuckled to herself. “So you are, my dear. So you are.”
Autumn waited, eager for her mother to proceed.
“Well, let me ask you this. Do you think Mr. Cole likes you?”
Autumn shrugged.
“Oh, please don’t be coy, sweetheart.”
“Fine. Yes.”
“So you think he’d like to kiss you?”
Autumn nodded.
“Then why do you think he hasn’t?”
“How am I supposed to know?”
“Humor me.”
Autumn threw up her hands. “Because he’s shy?”
Her mother smirked. “Sweetie, does he look shy?”
Autumn shook her head. “Not really, but he did say he thought he was old enough to be my father.”
“That was just to see what you’d say.”
“I said he wasn’t. He’s only ten years older than me.”
“So you gave him exactly what he wanted.”
“I did?”
“Yes.”
“And what’s that?”
“Permission, child. Permission.”
Autumn rolled her eyes. “Mom, what are you even talking about?”
Her mother put her hand on Autumn’s shoulder and looked into her eyes.
“Oh, you’ll find out very soon, sweetheart. And when you do, it will be the greatest thing you’ve ever experienced in your entire life.”
CHAPTER 27
GRADY
Grady spent a few hours in the cafeteria with Destiny and by evening, they’d been joined by Autumn, Mrs. Lane, and Autumn’s aunt Shirley.
The two older women fawned over him, asking him everything a person could possibly want to know about his childhood, becoming an orphan, being adopted and growing up with the Brotherhood in California, his relationship with Destiny’s mother, including every detail of its tragic end, and finally, the story of how he’d received a phone call out of the blue a few weeks earlier notifying him he was a father.
By the time he’d finished telling the story, he felt like he’d just been interviewed for some exposé in the newspaper.
They all had dinner together in the cafeteria and Aunt Shirley noted that having Autumn back had given her mother the strength to leave her bed for dinner for the first time in weeks.
After dinner, Autumn and Aunt Shirley took Destiny to go explore the maternity ward. They thought Destiny would get a kick out of seeing the other babies.
It left Grady alone with Autumn’s mother for the first time.
She said, “You have no idea how grateful I am to you.”
“Please,” Grady said. “I did it because I wanted to.”
“You did it because you’re a good man,” Mrs. Lane said, and then looked at him firmly. “Or at least, I hope you are.”
Grady nodded. He knew all too well the reasons a man like him might help a girl like Autumn. He offered Mrs. Lane some coffee and she nodded. He got up and came back with two cups, cream, sugar and two slices of cake.
“Well, despite being an orphan, you learned good manners somewhere along the way.”
“I was lucky,” Grady said. “I was taken in by a good man and his daughter. He took in four of us, and raised us all like his own sons.”
“That is lucky,” Mrs. Lane said.
“It saved my life. I’m thankful for it every day.”
“And I imagine going through something like that might put you in mind for returning the kindness.”
Mrs. Lane indicated the expensive hospital they were in.
“Oh,” Grady said. “Like I said. I wanted to help.”
Mrs. Lane nodded. She was trying to get a read on Grady and he knew it. She was being a protective mother, and it was only right that she be that way, especially given what had happened to Autumn already. He also knew that there was only so mu
ch he could do in the short time he had with her to put her mind at ease.
“Autumn said you were a guest at the hotel.”
“That’s right. We both arrived on the same day.”
“And what brought you there, up into the mountains, Mr. Cole? It strikes me that Destiny is the kind of place that might be very good for hiding yourself.”
“That’s exactly what I was doing.”
“Hiding?”
“In a way.”
“From who?”
“Myself, mostly. Looking for a new beginning.”
“Things didn’t go quite your way in life thus far?”
“You could say that.”
“I take it having a baby wasn’t part of the plan?”
“Well, not exactly. Certainly not with Destiny’s mother.”
“And what happened to her?”
“She died in a car crash.”
“I’m very sorry to hear that, Mr. Cole.”
Grady smiled at her.
“You can call me Grady.”
Mrs. Lane poured some cream into her coffee and gave it a stir. She took a sip and a bite of the cake.
“This is quite delicious,” she said.
Grady took a mouthful of his own and agreed.
“So, what was it like for my daughter at the hotel?”
“Well, what has she told you?”
“Not much, although I know she wasn’t happy there.”
“They never paid her for her work.”
“I know,” Mrs. Lane said. “But what else did they do?”
Grady shrugged. “All I can tell you is what I saw. Autumn hasn’t confided in me or anything.”
“And what did you see?”
“Well, the Hildegards, they struck me as people who weren’t quite …”
“Quite … ?”
“Let’s just say they weren’t quite right.”
“Did they do anything to her?”
“I don’t know, Mrs. Lane, but they were stern. They were hard on her. They didn’t let her use the phone, or have much free time. They gave her nothing. I didn’t get the impression they would treat her kindly when she needed it.”
Mrs. Lane sighed.
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
“I don’t see how she could have been happy there.”
“I agree,” Mrs. Lane said. “And that’s why I want to turn to you for even more help.”
“More help?”
“I don’t want to send her back to work at that place.”
“I don’t even think she’d go back,” Grady said.
“Oh, you don’t know my daughter as well as I do, Mr. Cole. She’s a good girl.”
“I’ve seen that much.”
“She’s too good. I know that the only reason she left that place was because they didn’t send the money they promised.”
“And she wanted to see you.”
“Yes, and if they promise to start sending the money, if they take over the bills for this hospital, she’ll go right back to them.”
“Even after what’s happened?”
“No matter what they do, no matter how badly they treat her, if they uphold their part of the bargain she’ll go back.”
“I think that would be a mistake,” Grady said.
“So do I,” Mrs. Lane said.
Grady took a sip of his coffee and looked at her.
“So what are you trying to say?”
“Well, I was thinking, you could probably use some help with your baby.”
“You want her to be my nanny?”
Grady was surprised. He’d thought Mrs. Lane would be suspicious of his motives for wanting to help Autumn. He’d thought she’d look at him as some player trying to get her innocent daughter into his bed. In fact, he wasn’t sure if she’d be right or wrong to look at him like that.
“Wouldn’t that make sense?” Mrs. Lane said. “You’ve got a baby with no mother. My Autumn is better with children than any young woman you’re going to find anywhere. She’ll treat that baby as her own. She’ll give it all the love in the world, Mr. Cole.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Grady said.
“You’d be wise not to.”
“I mean, I’ve seen the way Autumn is with Destiny. The truth is, Mrs. Lane, it melts my heart. She brings out a joy and a comfort in my daughter that I never would have seen if it wasn’t for her loving touch. She’s like an angel when she holds Destiny.”
“But?” Mrs. Lane said, anticipating his objection.
Grady sighed. “But don’t you think that’s something Autumn will have to decide for herself?”
Mrs. Lane laughed. “Oh, I know what she’d decide, Mr. Cole. I wasn’t born yesterday.”
“Even still. It’s Autumn’s life. It’s her decision. I wouldn’t feel right making an arrangement for her behind her back.”
Mrs. Lane nodded, as if Grady’s answer had confirmed something she’d been hoping to see in him.
“You’re quite right, of course, Mr. Cole. It’s wrong of me to try and make her decisions for her. I hope you can understand that I’m only doing it out of love. I’m her mother and I’m worried about her. I don’t want her to go back to the Hildegards and I don’t want her getting into an even worse situation, just because she’s determined to help me.”
“I understand,” Grady said.
“I just want what’s best for her. I want her to be happy.”
Grady nodded but said nothing. He sipped his coffee and took a bite of the cake.
“Look at it as the dying wish from a mother for her young daughter. The last thing I want for her before I die. I want to know she’s safe. I want to know she’s looked after.”
“I can’t promise you what her future will hold, Mrs. Lane. That’s in her hands.”
“Quite right, young man. But you can promise me this much.”
“I’ll promise anything I can.”
“Promise me you’ll make her the offer. Whether she accepts or rejects is up to her. But promise me you’ll offer her a job.”
“I will,” Grady said, “on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“No matter what happens with me or Autumn, you allow me to take care of your medical bills from now on.”
“I can’t ask that of you.”
“You didn’t ask. I offered. I know you now, our paths have crossed, and I insist on this.”
Mrs. Lane reached across the table and took Grady’s hand.
“You’re a very special young man, Mr. Cole.”
CHAPTER 28
AUTUMN
Autumn felt so relieved to be back home with her mother and aunt. Her mother’s condition wasn’t as bad as her aunt had made it sound and now that she was back in the right hospital, she was sure things would only get better.
In fact, she was so happy with the state of things back home, that her concerns started to shift back to herself and what she would do when she got back to Montana. She’d decided long ago that she would do anything, anything, to get her mother this treatment, and if that meant going back to work for the Hildegards, assuming they could be persuaded to make up the pay they’d stolen, she would do it.
She would do it for her mother. She would do it to thank her mother for all the things she’d done for her. Living with Mr. and Mrs. Hildegard wasn’t a good idea, she knew that, they were perverted and controlling and seemed intent on turning her into their dead daughter Betsy, or alternatively, toying with her sexually. Neither was something she wanted for her life.
But when she thought of all the sacrifices her mother had made for her, there was no question. She’d die for her mother. Working for the Hildegards was a good deal more tolerable than death, she told herself.
She was with her aunt, walking through the neonatal ward, looking at the newborn babies and showing them to Destiny. Destiny was fascinated by them, as if she understood they were her people, and kept bursting into fits of laughter.
It was the cutes
t thing Autumn had ever seen.
“So, I suppose you’re pretty pleased with yourself,” Aunt Shirley said in a tone Autumn recognized all too well.
Autumn and her aunt went through periods when they got along great, and then for some reason, her aunt would get jealous and their relationship would go down the tube. It looked like they were about to enter one of the jealousy ridden periods.
“What do you mean?” Autumn said.
“Riding in to save the day with your knight in shining armor.”
Autumn wanted to laugh. She could see how it must look from her aunt’s perspective, her and Grady coming into town the way they had, but he was anything but her knight in shining armor. Although she wouldn’t have minded if he was.
“I thought you’d be glad I came back to fix things, Aunt Shirley. You were so upset with me on the phone when the pay didn’t arrive.”
“Of course I was upset. You practically killed your mother with your selfishness.”
That hurt. She knew her aunt was just trying to get under her skin, but it still cut like a knife.
“Well, now she’s back in the right place,” Autumn said.
“Only because your fancy man paid for everything.”
“My fancy man?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Aunt Shirley!”
“What Autumn? Don’t pretend you don’t know what this is. Don’t pretend you don’t know how you look.”
“And how do I look?”
Aunt Shirley fixed Autumn in her gaze and took a deep breath. Autumn knew something big was coming.
“You look like a cheap whore, that’s what.”
“A whore?”
“Don’t think you can pull the wool over our eyes. We might not be as well travelled as you, now that you’re spreading your legs across the country.”
“Aunt Shirley!”
“A man like that doesn’t just walk into a girl’s life and start picking up the tab for medical bills. No sir. Especially not a girl like you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, come on, Autumn. We all know how you are.”
“And how’s that?”
“You’re a little slut. To be honest, that’s what I told Mr. Hildegard to get you the job at the hotel in the first place.”
“You did what?” Autumn said, her emotions beginning to get the better of her.
“That’s right. That’s how I got you the job. You didn’t think it was your exceptional housekeeping skills did you?”
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