Violet noticed that all the color drain out of Howard’s face, as if he was seeing a ghost. He cleared his throat and said hesitantly, “Nice to meet the two of you. Do you need some repairs to your vehicle?”
“What? Oh, yes I do,” Melanie replied. “My old Ford has seen better days and its making a funny noise. Someone said there’s a good mechanic named Howard in Peakview.”
“I’ll back at the garage in the morning, if you want to swing it by.”
After watching their plates heaped with enough food to fill an army, Sophie and Melanie joined in the conversation between bites. They seemed to fit right into the family.
Seven-year-old Haley was especially excited to have another girl to talk to, even if she appeared quite a bit older. “Sophie, do you live here? Where do you go to school? Do you like to ride horses? I got riding lessons at Peaktop Ranch from Howard for Christmas.”
“Haley, slow down. Let her answer one question at a time.” Sarah cautioned.
“Sophie laughed, “It’s okay, Haley. No, I don’t live here. I live near Columbus, Ohio, and I’m a freshman in high school. And no, I’ve never been on a horse, but I always thought it looked like fun.”
Having finished her meal, Haley jumped up and grabbed Sophie’s hand, “Come on, I want to show you all my Christmas presents.” Haley smiled ecstatically when Sophie got up and followed her.
***
Howard worked hard to regain his composure. Just a weird coincidence. His mind flashed back thirty years. When Melanie walked in, he swore she was Connie standing in front of him. Of course, a young Connie he had known and fallen for. Connie today, if she were still alive, would be in her sixties just like him. He guessed everyone had a look alike somewhere. His old mind was indeed playing tricks on him. That stupid dream he woke up from last night! That’s what caused this.
Still, he breathed a sigh of relief when Sophie said they lived in Ohio, not Pennsylvania. They all grabbed their coffee and migrated back into the living room in front of the fire. Howard couldn’t track the conversations going on around him, so lost he became in memories and ghosts from the past.
“Howard, do you want some more coffee?” Violet said standing beside him, pot in hand. “You look like you’re a million miles away.”
“Sorry, Violet. I started to dose off after your delicious meal. I didn’t sleep well last night. I best be getting back to my cabin. Tomorrow’s a work day.”
With that, he stood up and grabbed his coat, suddenly smothered by the warmth of the cabin and the families around him. He couldn’t wait to get back to his place. Maybe he really was meant to be a hermit. It suited him fine. “Thank you, Violet, for a wonderful meal, as always. Melanie and Sophie, nice meeting you. Stop by the garage in the morning, and I’ll take a look at your car.”
Everyone said their goodbyes, and Howard trudged the few hundred feet to his own cabin. Still, the stirred up memories would not leave his head, and he tossed and turned for most of the night.
***
Not wanting to overstay their welcome, Melanie gathered Sophie to say their goodbyes, and head back to the motel in Aspen Ridge. Violet generously in insisted that they take a bag of leftover turkey and a pumpkin pie along for later. She noticed the wistful look in Sophie’s eyes as they drove away. In thirteen years, this was the first time Sophie experienced a real family Christmas. How she longed to give that kind of life to her daughter.
Back at the EverOpen Motel, Melanie tossed and turned again. She finally got out of the bed they shared and curled up in the hard, cold pleather chair to avoid waking her sleeping daughter. She was no closer to any answers. She’d not expected to run into Howard Crandall at Violet’s home. It didn’t seem like the time or place to mention why she was really here. So many years and so many different pictures she’d conjured up of her unknown father. This Howard Crandall was not one of them. After all, she was always led to believe that her father was even more screwed up than her mother. The fact that he never bothered to even meet her, affirmed the picture her mother painted. But this Mr. Crandall, seemed like the really decent sort, not someone who would abandoned a child. A sinking feeling that this was yet another in a series of dead ends, hit the pit of her stomach. Still…she had to know for sure, for both herself and Sophie.
CHAPTER FIVE
When Violet returned to the café bright and early on the morning of the 26th, she was not at all surprised to find a fresh pot of coffee already made and Howard sitting at the counter reading the Denver Post.
“Thanks for a wonderful Christmas dinner,” he said, as she took off her hat and scarf. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you came, and the kids haven’t stopped talking about your generous gifts.”
It’s the least I could do for letting me be part of your family. Want some coffee?”
“In a minute. I need to get the stoves turned on and ready to go.” With that Violet disappeared into the kitchen. Coming back through the swinging door, Violet stopped in front of Howard, “I’m really glad that Melanie and Sophie joined us. They seemed very nice, didn’t they?”
Howard cleared his throat. “Yes, they did seem nice. I better get over to the garage and see if any business came in the past couple of days. See you later.” Howard quickly pulled on his Carhart jacket and made a hasty retreat out the front door.
Violet thought about the strange look on Howard’s face yesterday when Melanie and Sophie walked into the room. What could it be about them that made him so nervous? Did they remind him of someone he knew? Whatever the reason, he sure didn’t want to talk about it.
***
Howard opened the garage and after turning on the heat and checking to see if he had any urgent messages, he settled into the back room to work on his December invoices. He worked undisturbed for the next couple of hours, lost in year-end numbers and the country music that blared from his radio. He didn’t hear the front door open.
“Hello, is anyone here?”
Howard jumped. That voice, he could swear he’d heard it before, many years ago. He hurried into the garage to greet Melanie and Sophie.
Melanie’s voice sounded uncertain, “Are you open? You said we could come by today.”
“Yep, just catching up on paperwork. This isn’t my busy season—no tourists. Give me a minute to open the overhead door and you can drive your vehicle right in. I’ll check it out and see what I find.”
Melanie walked back out to the car. Sophie looked down at the floor. Howard noticed how much she was a miniature version of her mom.
“Are you enjoying Colorado?” he said to break the awkward silence.
“I really haven’t seen much of it, except from the inside of the Jeep, but it’s beautiful!”
“That it is,” Howard said as Melanie climbed out of the vehicle. “This could take a while. I want to give it a thorough check. You and Sophie walk next door to the café and have some breakfast. I’ll come over and let you know what I find. No sense in hanging out in this dirty old place.”
“I, I don’t have much money. Will the repairs be expensive?”
“The diagnosis is free. I’ll let you know more as soon as I’ve had a look.”
“Okay, thanks. We’ll head on over to the café.”
***
Melanie and Sophie walked into the café. She noticed a half dozen or so customers seated at the counter engaged in a lively discussion of some kind.
“Melanie, Sophie, so good to see you again. Find yourself a seat. Would you like a coffee and hot chocolate? Violet shouted out over the other voices.
“That would be great.” Melanie replied settling into a booth.
Violet came up behind them with their steaming mugs. “Everyone, this is Melanie and her daughter Sophie. They’re passing through and have a little car trouble, so Howard’s checking it out for them. Melanie, this is Jeff Walker, his wife June, and their son Luke. At the end there are Molly and Jim Peyton. They own the Peaktop Guest Ranch just outside of town.”
“Nice
to meet you all,” Melanie said before turning back to look at her menu. Everyone sure was friendly here. It must be nice to live in a small town where folks look out for their neighbors. She’d had her fill of big, unfriendly cities. Maybe they should start over somewhere smaller. What did one do for a living in a place like this?
Sophie looked up from her menu smiling and whispered, “Mom, those are the people from the ranch where Haley is going to take horseback riding lessons. Maybe we could go there and see the horses?”
“Maybe, but it probably costs money that we don’t have to ride them.” Sophie’s face fell from a smile to a frown. Melanie paused, she hadn’t seen her daughter’s face light up in quite a while. What the heck? After ordering some breakfast, Melanie turned back to the couple at the end of the counter. “My daughter loves horses. Would it be possible for us to come by and look at yours?”
Molly smiled. “You’re more than welcome to stop by, but we’re closed to guests this time of year and all the horses moved down to lower pastures.”
At Sophie’s dejected look, June spoke up. “You’re in luck, Sophie. We raise horses at our ranch, and we have several that we keep in the barn for the winter. Including two adorable yearlings, Lilly and JJ who are too young to ride, but love to be played with. You’re welcome anytime. I’ll draw you a map.”
Sophie beamed with delight. “Can we go, Mom?
“Well, I suppose that once we get our car back we could stop by.”
***
By mid-morning all of Violet’s other customers had drifted in and out. Melanie and Sophie, having nowhere else to go, remained alone in their booth, Sophie working through a book of Sudoku puzzles, and Melanie lost in her latest romance novel.
“More coffee?” Violet said as she walked by wiping down the booths.
“Oh no thank you, I’ve had too much already. Would you like us to leave and get out of your way?” Melanie said.
“Don’t be silly, you’re welcome to stay all day if you need to. Not a very nice day to be out and about. Make yourself at home. I’ll be in the kitchen, putting together some chicken and dumplings for the lunch special. Just holler if you need anything.”
Intent on her cooking, Violet lost track of time until she the front door squeaked open and shut. Wiping her hands on her apron, she looked out to see Howard enter, grab himself a cup of coffee, and join Melanie and Sophie in the booth. She wasn’t the nosy type—not really—but she couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.
“Well, it could be worse. You need some new shock absorbers on the front end, before you attempt any more mountain driving. Won’t take me long to fix, but it may take a few days to get the parts up here from Denver. Total cost shouldn’t be over $400.”
Violet watched the tears welling up in Melanie’s eyes. “I don’t have an extra $400, and I don’t know how we’d get back and forth to the motel in Aspen Ridge while you repair it. I don’t suppose there is anywhere in Peakview that I might find some work for a few days?”
“Sorry, not many businesses in Peakview, especially this time of year. I do have another cabin down by the river that’s winterized. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s close by. You’re welcome to stay there for a few days—no charge.”
That’s very kind, but I still don’t have the money to pay you.”
Oh what the heck. Violet liked something about this girl from the beginning. Walking into the room, she said, “You said you have waitressing experience?”
Melanie looked up, “Yes, I’ve worked in restaurants ever since I turned fifteen.”
“Then I might just have a deal for you. You know my kids and grandkids are here until the end of the week? It would really be nice to spend more time with them. Would you consider working here for me a few hours each day, so I could spend some more time with them? I can’t pay much, but tips are pretty good.”
***
Melanie tried to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes, again. “That would be wonderful.”
“If it’s okay, you can start now, help me with the lunch rush and see what it’s all about today. Then maybe work a couple hours by yourself tomorrow?”
Melanie turned to her daughter. This trip had not turned out to be much fun for a teenager. “Sophie, do you mind sitting here while I try to earn us some money to get our car fixed?”
Sophie frowned, already bored with the café.
It was Howard’s turn to speak up, “That won’t do at all. Sophie, I’m about to close up shop for the day and head over to show Haley and Chase the best tubing hill in the county. You want to tag along? It’s a lot of fun!”
I’d love to!” Sophie said perking up. “Can I go Mom, please?”
“I don’t mind, if Mr. Crandall is sure it won’t be too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all, the more the merrier.”
Melanie smiled, this wasn’t what she was accustomed to. These people in Peakview were so nice, so helpful, even to a basic stranger. She wondered what it’d be like to live in a place where everyone knew and cared for each other. It was so different from the big cities where she spent most of her life, where everyone was only out for themselves. She could get used to this way of life. She knew it was silly, but all of a sudden she didn’t feel quite so alone.
Melanie looked up into Howard’s calm blue eyes, something seemed so familiar about them, almost as though she were looking in a mirror. Could this be the man she longed for her whole life?
***
“It’s settled then. I’ll be back here to pick you up in a half hour,” Howard said to Sophie as he rose to leave. “Put on lots of warm clothes. It’s cold out, and you’re about to get covered with snow.”
Howard walked back to his shop, smiling. He wasn’t really sure why he was so drawn to this woman and her child. Sure, Melanie looked a lot like Connie, all those years ago, but it had to be just a coincidence. His old mind playing tricks on him. Being with Violet and her family always brought out feelings of wanting more of a family of his own. Still….it wouldn’t hurt to spend some time with Sophie, see if he found out a little more about their background and why they were really here in Peakview.
He needed to put these silly ideas out of his head. Surely if he had a daughter he’d have known long before now. Connie would never have given up trying to milk money out of him.
Instead he turned his thoughts to Violet. That woman never ceased to amaze him. She didn’t hire employees and prided herself on running the café on her own. What made her reach out and offer employment to this young woman? Her level of compassion was so attractive. For that matter, everything about Violet was attractive. If he’d ever dared letting a woman into his heart, it definitely would be someone like Violet. But that was water under the bridge, he was much too old for romance now, and Violet’s heart would always belong to Stan. Still, it brightened his life just having her around.
CHAPTER SIX
That night, back in her cozy room at the cabin, Violet lay awake in her bed long after the rest of her family members fell into deep, exhausted slumber from a day of tubing in the soft powder. My, how she loved being surrounded by her kids and grandkids. She wished they lived closer. Living alone wore on her occasionally. She had her friends and customers, and of course, Lucky, purring by her side, but she missed the warmth of Stan, day and night.
That Howard Crandall sure was a kind man. When they first moved to town, he seemed sort of rough. She didn’t quite understand why he and Stan became such good friends. But ever since Stan passed, she understood completely. Howard was always there for her—no matter what. She wondered why he’d never married or had a family of his own. He was a natural caretaker. And if she stopped to think about it, not bad looking either. He’d gone out of his way today to help Melanie and Sophie—typical behavior for him. She made a mental note to thank him more often for all he did for their little community.
She was intrigued by Melanie and whether there was some kind of connection between her and Howard. They bo
th looked at each other as if they were looking at a ghost. She knew absolutely nothing about Howard’s past before he came to Peakview. Nobody here did. Closing her eyes, she silently scolded herself for reading too many mystery novels. She was probably just imagining things.
She flipped over and plumped her pillow, and her thoughts turned to the café. It certainly was a rash decision to offer Melanie a job. She didn’t usually make rash decisions. There was just something about those two that pulled at her heart strings. Maybe it was crazy to be thinking about leaving the care of her business to this young woman—even if only for a couple of hours. Still, she had this gut feeling that Melanie could be trusted. Her intuition was usually right on.
She got up at 5:30 the next morning and quietly tiptoed out of her room so as not to wake her sleeping family. Justin already sat in the small living room enjoying a cup of coffee and staring out the large picture window.
“Look Mom, two deer over there by the trees.” Justin whispered.
“They’re beautiful. That’s why I love living in Peakview. You don’t see that in a big city. Make yourself at home, I’m headed down to the café, but I’ll back around 1:00, and then we’ll all have some fun together.
“I’m glad you hired someone to help you at the café. You deserve to take more time off. You work too hard.”
“You know I love it. I’m not ready to just sit around and grow old, especially now that your father isn’t around. It’s just a temporary break while you’re here. Melanie needed some cash. Spending more time with my grandchildren the next few days is a blessing. See you soon.”
Breakfast for Two (Peakview series Book 2) Page 3
