Let it Snow

by Rita Hestand

  "Oh, I'm sorry, but she acted as though she had no one to look after the kids while they attend this function at night."

  "I see, well, that's why. Helen doesn't keep them at night. She goes to bed pretty early."

  "I babysat a lot in New York for my married friends. Babysitters cost so much, but I don't charge for it."

  "Don't charge for it. You're going to babysit three children and not charge for it. Whoever heard of such?"

  "I look at it as a good deed, Aunt Judy. And then if I ever need help with something, I can call upon my friends to help me." Lori smiled.

  "You have the strangest way about you hon. It's sweet it really is, and I doubt anyone would believe it." Judy shook her head.

  "Yeah, it got to be a little much in New York though, I'll admit. I had too many friends with children and since I didn't charge them, they did tend to take advantage of me. So I've learned to pick my times to babysit. This way I can get to know her kids and help her out. It's sort of a way to make friends, and break the ice."

  "Speaking of which, after I see what kind of money I'll be making, I want to pay you rent, that way it will help you out and make me feel as though I'm paying my way." Lori announced.

  "I'm not about to charge you for living here, you are family." Judy insisted.

  "It's either charge me rent or let me buy the groceries and half the bills. Which would you prefer?"

  "Let's wait and see how much you make." Judy fretted. "I don't feel right charging you."

  "Tell you what, half of what I make goes to you, and you can use it however you want. And I'll still have half and can buy clothes and things I need. Deal?"

  "Lori, I don't feel right about this."

  "See, now you know why I don't charge for babysitting."

  Along about noon Mark knocked on the front door and Lori met him.

  "Want to come in and say hi to Aunt Judy?" She asked.

  "Sure, are you ready?"

  "Just about, I was pressing some clothes and I need to put my iron up." She told him.

  He went on in the kitchen and she could hear them chatting away.

  When she hung up the last of her clothes, she put her iron and ironing board away and went to the kitchen.

  "Lori tells me you two are going to try to find her a bike to ride to work." Judy looked at Mark for confirmation.

  "That's what we plan, yes. Since she doesn't drive, a bike is the next best thing." Mark smiled as Lori came to sit down.

  "Do you need anything while I'm out?" Lori asked her.

  "No, I just went to the store the other day, so we are good for a few days. But if you see something you want get it and I'll put it on my list next time."

  "Will do. I guess I'm ready if you are." She looked at Mark.

  "Great, Judy, is your sewing circle coming by today?"

  "You always remember, don't you? Yes, I've got cupcakes in the oven and when you bring her home stop in and I'll send you home with a few." She told him.

  "I only wish you could get my mother interested in doing something like that." Mark commented.

  "I'll make a point of inviting her next Sunday." Judy told him.

  "Good, she's got too much idle time on her hands, she's still trying to get over dad's death." Mark remarked.

  "It's been over a year now, maybe I can get her involved in something. I'll sure make the effort." Judy promised.

  "Thanks, I knew you would."

  "See you in a bit." Mark waved to her as they headed out the door.

  "You know," Lori was saying as she hopped into his truck. "Aunt Judy let me know that I might have stepped on your mother's toes by offering to babysit your sister's kids."

  "No, you didn't. Although I am a little shocked that you offered. Mom goes to bed pretty early and gets up at the crack of dawn every day. She couldn't handle all three of them at night. She usually keeps them on Saturdays."

  "Good. I was afraid I'd put my foot in it." Lori chuckled. "Any time I do, please let me know."

  "You are very unusual Lori, to offer to babysit and not even know the kids that well." Mark gave her a questioning glance.

  "Kids are kids. And if you keep them busy doing something, they practically babysit themselves. Besides, I have fun with them." She smiled confidently.

  "Well, just the same, I think I'll come over and help you out."

  She glanced at him and wondered suddenly if she'd been too presumptuous about helping. Some people didn't know how to accept help.

  "Aunt Judy says you are the same way." Lori blurted.

  "What do you mean?"

  "She says you volunteer to help decorate for the city. That you are always volunteering to do things for people. I completely understand that." Lori smiled. "It makes me feel good if I can do something for someone else."

  "Never looked at it that way." He glanced at her and seemed to really look this time. "Now you need to tell me, do you want a bike with gears and such or just an old-fashioned bike?"

  "An old-fashioned bike…" She said and he said it with her. "I get frazzled when I have to do something to stop other than use my feet." She chuckled.

  "I knew before I asked."

  She sent him a glance "Well, I like a comfortable seat, and a basket and no gears. I just want to put the pedal to the metal kind of thing."

  "Then I know just where to go."

  "You do?" She looked a bit shocked.

  "Yep! I do." He smiled at her.

  "I know you think I’m a coward for not driving, but I do appreciate you not lecturing me about driving."

  "I don't think you are a coward. But your aunt's little car would be perfect, if you did drive." He said politely.

  "I just can't put myself behind the wheel. I'm sorry." Lori's voice faltered for a moment, but she controlled herself.

  He shot her a look of concern and reached for her hand, "It's okay. I really do understand."

  "Do you? You'll be the first, if you do."

  "You’re a very wise young woman to do like you feel, and not like everyone tells you to. Things like that usually come in their own time. My own mother has problems accepting the fact that my father died and left her. She chooses to be lonely."

  "Maybe we could help each other." Lori murmured.

  His head jerked and he stared at her, "Maybe you could…."

  Chapter Six

  "Do you want to get some lunch now or after we get the bike?"

  "After if you aren't too hungry."

  "That's fine, I had a good breakfast." He nodded.

  "Do you live at home?"

  "No, I've got a place of my own." He told her. "It's a small cabin at the edge of town."

  "You sound like a confirmed bachelor, a little cabin, you aren't expecting to marry any way soon, then."

  "Hadn't given it much thought, lately." He smiled.

  "Handsome guy like you, I don't know why you wouldn't. Unless of course you are holding out for this Heather."

  He threw back his head and laughed. "Yeah, that's it. I'm holding out for Heather."

  "Well, don't fret, I'll help you with that." She encouraged.

  "You are the little helper, aren't you?"

  "I try to be." She gushed.

  "I could say the same for you, giving up your boyfriend because he likes a little football." He chuckled.

  "Hey now, it's not the football, it's Christmas, or lack thereof."

  "Oh yes, well, you'll get plenty of Christmas here." He promised.

  "I'd love to help you decorate for the city!" She exclaimed her eyes widening.

  "Really?"

  "I mean, if I'm not intruding, yes." Her voice held excitement.

  "You're on!" He laughed.

  He took her to a small bike shop on the other side of town and the owner had three bikes that she was looking at.

  "I didn't figure he'd have this many." She glanced from one to the other as though she couldn't make up her mind. They were all priced the same, and very reasonable because people didn't
buy them anymore.

  "Well, not much difference in them except the color. What color do you like?"

  "I'm fond of blue…" She said.

  "Then that one, it's baby blue." He encouraged.

  "Alright."

  Mark knew the old man who owned the shop and when he saw Lori he came right out to talk to her.

  "Say, you are a real biker if you like the old models."

  "I don't want anything with gears." She told him. "I'll take this one," she told him and he nodded.

  "Fine and I'll throw in a tire pump for you too."

  "Thanks." Lori was surprised. She stared at the gentleman, noting his cute little white mustache and his frisky manners.

  "You're new in town, aren't you?"

  "Yes, I am."

  "She's Judy Miller's niece. Lori this is Sam Mullins. He's well known in this town for his fair prices and honest dealings and he's considered a real catch by the ladies, so watch out for him."

  Lori laughed.

  "You don't mean it. I didn't think Judy had any family left."

  "I'm it!" She laughed. "You know my aunt?"

  "Of course, I do. Why I was sweet on her before she married. I been trying to get her attention ever since Howard died."

  "Really, well, maybe I can help you along those lines." Lori winked at him.

  "Well, you just visiting or staying?"

  "Oh I'm staying. I'm going to be working for Frances at her shop on third street." Lori informed him. "So if you are married, tell your wife to come see me. I can fix her real fancy for Christmas."

  "Well, I'm not married but I'll tell all my friends."

  "Thanks." Lori smiled.

  When they started to leave he hollered after her, "Say hello to Judy for me."

  "Sure will, bye now."

  Mark put the bike in the back of his truck and secured it so it would slip and slide all over. Then he headed for a small café where they could get something to eat.

  "That didn't take long at all. He seems like a sweet man. And unless I'm picking up the wrong vibes, he seems kind of interested in my aunt."

  "He's very interested but Judy keeps saying she's too old for a boyfriend. I don't think so but I've seen her look at him a few times and wondered how I might get the two of them together."

  "That's interesting, maybe I can help too."

  "Great."

  "I want to thank you for this. Any time I need something in this town, I'll know who to ask."

  "That's fine with me."

  "Sure, I know you'll head me in the right direction." She smiled.

  She shook her head and stared into her eyes, "You know, when your aunt first told me about you. I had you figured for one of those second hand New Yorkers, a bit of a snob and not talkative, but you had me fooled. You are a Texan through and through."

  "You can't take Texas out of a Texan." She chuckled. "Okay, so tell me, when are we gonna see, or bump into Heather?"

  "She'll be around at the Christmas decorating, since her father is the Mayor, and then at the Vet Hall Christmas dance, and we could bump into her any time now. She's quite the social butterfly these days."

  "Okay, well you just let me know, and I'll be sure to be more attentive." She promised. "Tell me something, you don't seem like a shy kind of guy, why in all this time haven't you made a move on her."

  He straightened. "I made a move on her a couple of times, but it did little good. She and her daddy want either a football star, or a college graduate on her finger. Not an average guy like me."

  "Nothing wrong with average. Average people run this country. We have to have mechanics, we have to have hairdressers and people like my aunt have to have a handyman, everyone has a purpose. Without you or me in this world things wouldn't get done. I learned a long time ago that there is a place for everyone in this world and a purpose. We are the backbone of this country."

  "Damn, and you’re a patriot too?"

  She laughed out loud.

  He stared, really stared.

  "You really mean that, don't you?" He chuckled.

  "Why not, I'm sure you aren't running around with me for the fun of it. Not exactly fun buying an old bike that no one else would have, now is it?"

  "I never ask you, can you ride?"

  "Fine time to ask that question!" She snickered. "Yes, I can ride."

  "Oh, I forgot, we might need to go to Walmart or the hardware store and get a lock for it, so you can keep it safe and secure." He suggested.

  "That's a good idea, I hadn't thought of that."

  "Yeah, you can't leave it laying around, someone might decide they know how to ride one of those."

  "Hey don't knock it until you try it."

  "Oh, I'm not. I've got one myself."

  "You don't?"

  "I do."

  She laughed.

  "Now what's the best on the menu here?" She asked.

  "I personally like the chicken fried steak." He told her.

  "Hmm…. sounds wonderful. I'll try it."

  "It's a real steak, not the chopped-up variety they give you in the fancier places." He assured her.

  "Good. I'll probably won't want any supper, but that's alright."

  They ordered and talked for a long while then the bell rang over the door and in walked Heather.

  Mark tapped her hand, "There she is."

  And she was walking over to their table. "Mark? I thought that was you. What in the world are you doing in here this time of day?"

  "Fixing to eat." Mark replied.

  "Oh, who's your friend?" Heather glanced at Lori, giving her a quick once over.

  "This is Lori Laningham, Judy Miller's niece from New York."

  "New York, oh well, you're from New York?"

  "No, I'm from here, but I've been living there for several years."

  Heather pulled up a chair and sat between them. "Really, why would you ever want to come back to this humdrum little town?"

  "Well, it's not so little anymore and it is home." She smiled.

  "But you aren't from here, I mean, you didn't go to school here did you?"

  "No, I was from Houston." She answered, giving the girl the once over. She had to give Mark credit, the girl was lovely, with long light brown hair, and blue eyes. Obviously, they had garnered her attention.

  "Well, Mark, you'll have to bring her to the Vet dance, now won't you?" Heather looked straight into his eyes and smiled.

  "Yeah, I guess I will." Mark smiled.

  "I've got to go; it was so nice to meet you." She shot Lori a quick glance. "See you at the decorating, Mark."

  "Yeah, see ya." Mark nodded.

  When she left, Lori stared at him, "Okay, if you don't mind me saying so, I can see one of your problems, now."

  "Oh, and what is that?"

  "You barely talked to her. You've got to engage her in conversation, let her know you have a brain and it works." Lori prompted him.

  He nodded slowly. "I'm not good at chit-chat."

  "You are with me. You must be tongue tied or something around her. Don't worry, we'll work on it."

  He shot her an indulgent smile. "We will?"

  "Sure, I'm going to help you win her over. You'll see."

  "Have you ever done this kind of thing before?" He asked curiously.

  "No, but I've seen it done before. And you are the classic bashful male. You've got to start thinking of her as…as….me! You don't have a hard time talking to me and you just met me a few days ago, so see, we can work on it."

  "Why do you care so much?" He asked.

  "Well, you brought her up. I want to help."

  "I didn't bring her up, your aunt did!" He informed her.

  "Look, you helped me get a bike and a job, in practically no time at all. I owe you. I want to help you. Besides, we are off to a good start."

  "We are?"

  "Sure, you got her attention right off the bat."

  "Yeah, I guess you are right about that."

  "By the time the Chri
stmas dance rolls around, she'll be wanting you to invite her." Lori promised.

  "You've got more faith than I do."

  She chuckled. They ate, and talked for a long while and then he took her to Walmart where they got a bike lock and she picked up a few things she liked to eat.

  "How's you aunt doing?" He asked out of the blue when they came out of Walmart and he put the stuff in the back.

  "Fine, why?"

  "Oh nothing, I've got to take her to the doctor on the fifteenth just wondering how she was doing." He remarked.

  "Why does she have to go to the doctor?" Lori's little worry wrinkle popped out on her forehead.

  "I don't know, she just asked me to take her. Most older folks see a doctor pretty regularly." He didn't look right at her.

  "Has she been sick?"

  "No…. not lately at least."

  "Maybe it's just a checkup then." Lori was fretting over it though and Mark was wishing he hadn't said anything.

  "I'm sure it probably is." He meant to assure her, but he saw she was the least bit anxious about her.

  Lori bowed her head, "I should be taking her."

  "I don't mind, she already asked me to." Mark explained. "Besides, you don't drive do you?"

  "I know you think I’m probably a worry wort, but I couldn't bear it if anything happened to her. I just couldn't."

  "Don't fret when there is nothing to fret over."

  "It's just that she isn't the kind to tell me about such things. She knows I worry too much."

  He put his hand over hers, "Well stop worrying. She's fine."

  "You're right, of course." Lori couldn't let the niggling in her head alone though. But for now, she'd push it aside.

  "So what did you think of Heather?" He asked trying to take her mind off the subject.

  "She's beautiful. I can see what you see in her. And all is not lost yet. We'll work on her." She smiled at him.

  "I doubt it will do much good. Her father usually picks out her boyfriends."

  "She'll learn to appreciate you."

  "You're a very nice person for doing this for me."

  "What are friends for?" She managed a weak smile.

  When he took her home, he helped her in with her stuff and she put the bike in the garage. That's when she spied the walker. Now what was her aunt doing with a walker. That niggling in the back of her head sprang forward. This was something she needed to ask about, but how? And was now the best time to do it? It was the Christmas season. Not the right time to bring this up. But something told Lori there were things she didn't know, and maybe shouldn't.