Covered Bridge Charm

by Christner, Dianne;

  “Uh-oh.”

  “I’m already over budget this month. I’m hoping this doesn’t turn out to be an epidemic. All those houses were built at the same time, and you know how these things run in cycles.”

  “Well don’t fret. Finding the money to pay for repair isn’t something that should fall on your shoulders. That’s for Simon and the board to worry about.”

  “Except Simon forces me to cut corners, and I don’t like to do that.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Listen to me. Ruining your good day. Go on now. Don’t pay any attention to me.”

  “One day at a time, Rocco.”

  “You bet. Thanks for reminding me.”

  For a few minutes, Carly brewed over Rocco’s predicament, but eventually her thoughts returned to Adam, and she couldn’t keep from smiling.

  Inside her assisted-living building, her heart hummed. At breakfast, Nines asked if she could help her rearrange some things in her apartment. She’d agreed and now found herself listening to Nines’s explanation.

  “So you see, if my chair was right here”—the older woman stood in the middle of her living area—“closer to the TV, then I could hear it better.”

  Carly tapped her cheek. “I see your point. But that’s in the middle of the room, and you might get tired of walking around it. Why don’t I get Miranda to show you how to manage the volume on your remote.” They’d gone over this before. More than once.

  “No.” Nines shook her head. “I can’t remember how to do it. And what’s the use of watching TV if I can’t hear what’s going on?” She patted her cat, Teacup’s, head. “We’d like it here, wouldn’t we?”

  “All right. Let’s give it a try. Why don’t you go sit on the sofa, and you can tell me when I get it right.”

  Excitement lit the older woman’s face. She sat on the sofa with her purse in her lap, leaning forward with anticipation so that Carly felt bad for not giving in to her request sooner. She knew exactly what the outcome would be because they’d done this before, but why not make her happy? Restore her dignity? Today, she wanted everyone to be happy. It took a lot of effort, but Rocco had too many other things on his mind to bother him, and finally she got the heavy recliner dragged into the center of the room. “How’s this?”

  “It blocks my view of the TV.” Nines frowned.

  “Come sit in it. Then tell me.”

  Nines shrugged and moved as if someone was making a big imposition upon her. When she sat in the chair, she used the recline lever and nestled down into the chair. “This is better!” she exclaimed.

  “Good.”

  The woman looked behind her. “But now it looks so bare where the chair used to be. And I’m too far away from Teacup’s pillow.”

  “We can move Teacup closer.”

  “No, I might stumble.” She shook her head, which at the present was adorned with a black hat with black netting. “Can we move the chair back a little?”

  “Jah, sure.” She helped Nines out of the recliner and back to the sofa. Carly moved it about two feet. “How about here?”

  “No, a little more.”

  Carly moved it another two feet. “How’s this?”

  The woman gestured, “More.”

  “Here?”

  “A little more.”

  When the chair rested back in its original carpet imprints, Nines squealed, “There! That’s perfect. Should I try it?”

  Carly helped her back to the recliner. Teacup leapt into Nines’s lap. She grinned. “Perfect. So much better.”

  “Jah. That should work good for you. Want to rest a bit, while you’re in your chair?”

  “Yes. Thanks, Carly.”

  “I’m glad I could help.”

  Back in the hall, she paused to rub sweat from her temple. Miranda appeared from a resident’s room. “Did Jimmy tell you we got together before he went out of town?”

  Carly shook her head. She’d been so engrossed in her own weekend with Adam that she’d forgotten about them. “I haven’t seen him since the other Sunday when we were all together.”

  Miranda lowered her mascara-painted lashes. “We went out to eat one night. Afterward we talked a long time before he took me inside.”

  Carly pushed away the image Miranda was creating in her mind. “So what are you trying to say?”

  Miranda shrugged, looking hurt. “Nothing. I like him. I just wanted to thank you for setting us up.”

  She hadn’t set them up! Or had she? It wasn’t coming out at all like she’d envisioned with Jimmy ignoring Miranda. But why did it matter so much to her? All of them were adults. Still, she didn’t want to raise Miranda’s hopes. “You’re welcome.” Carly started to turn away, then thought better of it. She should be honest with Miranda. “You both seemed to click, but be careful with your feelings. I feel responsible now.”

  “Don’t worry. We’re just dating. Having some fun.”

  “Jay, okay. I’m happy for you.”

  Miranda pursed her red lips, “So what’s going on with you and Adam?”

  “We’re dating, too.”

  “I thought so. He’s super cute. Better take your own advice. You’re way more sensitive than me.”

  Surprised, Carly nodded. “I suppose so.”

  “Hey. Maybe we can double sometime.”

  Carly laughed. “Actually, Adam’s pretty busy at the tree farm right now. And Jimmy doesn’t approve of Adam and me.” She shrugged. “But who knows?”

  Suddenly the day didn’t seem quite as bright. She started toward the receptionist’s desk but halted when she heard loud barking.

  Mrs. Maloney, one of the new volunteers who brought her pet to the center, had lost control of her normally mellow dog. The basset hound’s barks soon turned into a hair-raising howl. Becca scurried to shut off her fan, and when the plastic bag that had been dancing near the receptionist’s counter finally deflated, the dog’s howl turned back into barking.

  Mrs. Maloney half dragged her dog over to the bag to reassure it that everything was all right. Glancing around the room, Carly saw that most of the residents were responding as if it were good entertainment. Only Nines seemed concerned, leaving them to go and check on Teacup.

  The dog incident, though minor, had fried Carly’s nerves. She shook her head. As she watched Mrs. Maloney work the room, her thoughts returned to Adam, and she pinpointed her frustration. It was Miranda’s warning to watch her heart. Adam could have invited her to their family birthday party. But he hadn’t. And she was worried that after being around his family, especially his dad, he would withdraw again.

  Adam was managing a rough day by whistling away his cares and thinking about Carly. He couldn’t wait until he could see her again. But the happier he felt, the more sullen Dad became. After checking one of the noble fir fields and noticing some fungus, he ditched the whistling, and they drove in stony silence to the cut-your-own site where they needed to do some last-minute pruning.

  Glancing over, he saw Dad’s face remained glum, and he was slumped down in the passenger’s seat. Normally, he had an anger problem. This pouting attitude was somewhat new and unpredictable. But whatever kind of snit he was in, it was better just to pretend not to notice. But Dad wasn’t having it that way, either. As soon as Adam turned off the ignition and moved to open the door, his arm shot out to stop him.

  “There’s a rumor going around about you.”

  Lightly gripping the steering wheel, he tried to be patient and prepare for the worst, and most likely the ridiculous. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You were seen at the Crawfordsville Bridge with that Blosser woman.”

  Adam rolled his gaze upward. Not this conversation again. “Well that’s not a rumor because it’s true. I was at the bridge with Carly.”

  Dad slapped the dashboard with both hands. “Son, what were you thinking?”

  Adam gripped the steering wheel tight. “Why is that such a crime?”

  “Because they caugh
t you with your clothes off. For Pete’s sake, couldn’t you have done it someplace private and not out in broad daylight? Good grief, half of the church lives off of Halsey—Sweet Home Road.”

  For a few futile seconds, his mind tried to figure out who saw what. Half the church? But it didn’t matter. Whoever ratted was a gossip and had their own problems. He crossed his arms. “A grown man shouldn’t have to explain himself to his dad or half the church.”

  Dad shook his head. “At least consider the woman. She’s already had to live down one set of rumors. Although she probably doesn’t have any good chances anymore.”

  Adam stared, deeply offended.

  “For marriage, I mean.”

  “I don’t know why you would say that. I don’t believe those things Dale said about her.”

  “So what are you going to do about this?”

  “Look, we kissed behind a big tree where nobody could have seen us, and then I got ants all over me. I was throwing off my clothes because they were eating me alive. I was probably running toward the men’s room when”—he raised his hands to make air quotes—” ‘half the church’ saw me. And you’re right. If what you heard was disgusting, then it’s nothing but a rumor.”

  “Thank goodness.” Surprisingly, Dad’s lip curled. “Ants, huh?”

  “Jah. Ants.”

  “Well that’s a relief. At least there’s no wedding to be planned?”

  “Not yet, anyway.”

  “So you didn’t get your fill of her yet. Well, you will one day. And it’ll be too late.”

  “Carly isn’t her aunt. And she didn’t lose a little boy.”

  “What’s your point?”

  “Maybe Fannie was still mourning.”

  Dad seemed to consider it. “Is that what Carly told you?”

  “Jah. Said she’s still afraid to love again.”

  While Dad was considering that, Adam went on, “Carly’s not a clone of her aunt. She’s kind and caring. And I believe there’s more to the story of what happened between her and Dale. Why don’t I invite her to Jacob’s birthday party so you can get to know her? Find out for yourself?”

  “No, for Pete’s sake,” Dad huffed, then gave him a sideways glance. “Your mom probably isn’t keen on her, either. There was a time she was jealous of Fannie.”

  “Well there’s been a lot of water under the bridge since then. It’s time you both forgave Carly for something that wasn’t even her fault. You’re even members of the same church.”

  “It’s got nothing to do with forgiveness. But I guess if anybody would know what’s going on under the bridge, it’d be you. You know I don’t approve, but at least be more discreet in the future.”

  Dad opened the door and climbed out of the truck.

  Adam went to the bed for their pruning tools. He wished he could lop off Dad’s hard-headed ways as easily as he could shape a tree for those who used it to celebrate the Lord’s birthday. But somewhere beneath all that crustiness, he thought he saw glimpses of a vulnerable man. Only, if Dad had never gotten over Fannie, then how did he expect Adam to get over Carly?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Carly watched Nines conversing with Dot about her missing cat. Teacup was the only residential pet aside from the household bird, Magnificent, and Dot’s canary. Teacup must have been named as a kitten, because it was anything but tiny. It was as ancient as its owner and normally didn’t do anything but eat, sleep, and use its litter box. As long as Nines could care for the cat, it was allowed to stay at the center.

  “I think that barking dog upset Teacup. He got off my bed in the middle of the night, and I haven’t seen him since.”

  That day Martha had needed extra care for her worsening asthma, so the staff hadn’t made a search for the missing cat yet.

  With a shaky hand, Dot carefully set down her decaf coffee. “He couldn’t have gotten far. He’s stiff as a board. Looks ready to croak. That’s why I’m not worried about him eating Birdie. He’s got to be in your room someplace. Did you look under the bed?”

  “Of course I looked under the bed.” Nines smacked Dot’s arm with her spoon. “He could easily take your bird if he wanted to. He’s just too civilized. And he’s certainly not useless. He can still get on my lap.”

  Dot pulled on her sleeve. “You got mashed potatoes on me.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the one without any table manners. You never place your napkin on your lap.”

  Dot snatched her napkin, dabbed at her sleeve then spread it out on her lap. “I guess I forget sometimes.”

  “Got this?” Carly asked Miranda. “I need to give Martha her breathing treatment.”

  “Sure, we’re good here.”

  Carly started toward the hall. They’d been in and out of Martha’s room all day, and the resident nurse had even been called in earlier. Usually, Martha’s asthma worsened at night. If they didn’t get these symptoms under control soon, it would be a rough night.

  Hall Patroller stopped wheeling her chair long enough to confront their tallest resident, the General. “Go put your pants on,” she scolded.

  He seemed undeterred, with his long, Casper-white legs nude up to his paper underwear. “Huh?”

  Carly raised her voice. “Put your pants on!”

  “Lady. I swim in less than this.”

  Hall Patroller gasped. She wheeled up to Carly. “He’s doing it again.”

  “Thanks for pointing it out to me,” Carly mumbled. She caught his arm. “Jah, but we’re not swimming today. It’s November, the start of winter.” He’d been dressed earlier and had been one of the first ones finished with his breakfast. “What happened to your pants?” she asked, leading him back toward his room.

  “I felt like dressing in uniform today.”

  “You miss the air force, don’t you?”

  He moved alongside her but cast a disapproving look at the Hall Patroller. “She thinks she’s in command,” he complained.

  “I know. But she’s lonely, and it gives her something to do. She was once a high school principal.”

  After she had the General clothed, Carly went to give Martha her breathing treatment.

  She found the older woman in a recliner struggling to breathe. Martha tried to tell Carly something but went into a coughing fit. Seeing the asthma had worsened, Carly pressed the emergency intercom button. “I need the nurse at room 110 right away.”

  Then she placed meds in the nebulizer and placed the mask on Martha, patting her purple-veined hand. “Don’t try to talk, dear. Just relax. You want me to call your daughter?”

  Martha nodded vigorously, and Carly made the call. As they waited, she saw a lump moving on Martha’s bed. What on earth? She went to investigate. Teacup! No wonder Martha was having an asthma attack.

  “Did you know Teacup was in here?”

  Martha shook her head.

  “Well that’s your breathing problem. I’ll get her out of here.” Snatching up the plump cat, she hurried it out of the room and placed it in Nines’s apartment, shutting the door. By the time she’d returned, Linda was taking Martha’s vitals.

  “I called 911. They’re on their way.”

  With tears welling, Carly knelt beside Martha’s chair and placed her hand on her knee. “Don’t worry. Once they give you a steroid shot and get you on a ventilator you’ll recover quickly and soon be back here good as new.”

  Martha couldn’t talk anymore, but she squeezed her eyes shut as if she didn’t want to face the procedures that would soon occur.

  Widow Martha felt scared. Torn between fighting for her life and releasing her spirit to go home to the Lord. To John. She hated the struggle of a body that wouldn’t cooperate. Her emotions hadn’t felt so out of control since she’d been a young wife carrying her first child. Helen had arrived squalling and precious. How she’d enjoyed the challenge that came with motherhood. But nobody had warned her that her own daughter would one day turn against her. Put her away in a home and never visit.

 
; “I’m going to be eighty-five,” she’d told Helen.

  “Yes, I know. Do you have something special in mind?”

  Not if I have to spell it out, she’d thought rebelliously. “Surprise me.”

  “How about some warm slippers or a cozy blanket with winter coming?” Slippers! Suddenly she felt resentful that she’d been a December baby. “Not slippers, for Pete’s sake!” she’d replied. I want you to take me home. To bring the grandkids more often. But she was too proud to express her innermost needs. Gasping, she thought maybe it would just be best to end it all today. She sure didn’t want to go to the hospital and get all those needles attached and be prodded and poked. It was so much to bear. She closed her eyes and pleaded with the Lord.

  When the paramedics arrived, Carly left the room. At the receptionist’s desk, she dialed housekeeping. “I need room 110 thoroughly cleaned, the bedding changed, and the filter replaced. Be sure it’s an allergy-proof one, whatever they’re called… Great. Thanks.”

  By the time Carly was off the phone, Martha’s daughter Helen hurried through the lobby. “I was at my granddaughter’s school. Luckily it was nearby. How is she?”

  “Sounds like they’ll take her to the hospital.”

  “Oh, gracious. Let’s see, I’ll have to call Steve and see if he can…” Her words faded as she hurried down the hall to Martha’s room, but the scenario was all too familiar. Helen was always busy, busy, busy. Carly sucked her bottom lip. On the bright side, it would give the family some time together, and that was exactly what Martha desired.

  Needing to clear the hallway, Carly coaxed Hall Patroller to follow her to the lobby. “I know you’re busy here, but I could really use your help for a minute or two. She situated her at the game table. “Just for one second.” Carly went to a bookshelf and brought over a puzzle box. “I need you to get this started. You know how some of the residents struggle, and you’re so good at getting those border pieces going.”

  “I don’t know.” She gazed back at the hall, longingly.

  “Please.”

  “Oh, all right. You know we have to turn them all over first.”