by Diane Kelly
What he wouldn’t give for those nights to be year-round . . .
CHAPTER FIVE - ANNALISE
The snow crunched under the tires as the truck proceeded slowly down the snow-packed drive that led a quarter mile back into the woods. As Jeremy rolled to a stop in the drive, Pappy’s huskies, Flurry and Zamboni, bolted through the flap of their doggie door, across the front porch, and down the steps to meet the newcomers. As Jeremy and her dad rounded up the luggage from the bed of the pickup, Annalise and her mother greeted the dogs.
“Hi, there, Flurry,” she cooed, bending down to give the dog a scratch behind the ears. Zamboni, meanwhile, had set his sights on her mom, bounding in circles around her, his tail whipping madly.
Jeremy carried her suitcase up the stairs, setting her bag aside to retrieve his keys from his pocket. After unlocking the door, he pushed it open and stepped back to allow her and her mother to enter first. The guy had impeccable manners. Grammy had made sure of that.
The living room and adjacent kitchen looked exactly as they had when she’d left mere weeks before. The threadbare but comfortable couch and recliners her grandparents had bought decades ago still sat in front of the fireplace. The same scratched countertops and dented appliances graced the kitchen. Yet despite the fact that nothing had changed, the house had an entirely different feel without Pappy in it. It felt cold and empty and lifeless.
As she glanced around the space, she realized that the photographs on the walls and bookcases told a different story. One that was warm and full and alive. The pictures told a story of a man and woman who’d shared their cabin, land, and lives with so many. A daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter whom they’d adored and who’d adored them right back. An at-risk teenage boy who’d been abandoned by his mother but, with Pappy’s intervention, had proved himself worthy of trust and respect. Employees, neighbors, and schoolchildren who could always look to her grandparents for help and support, whether it be emotional, financial, or otherwise. Pappy hadn’t been the only one to profit from his successful syrup business. The entire community had benefitted as well. So what if the girls’ hockey team Sappy Pappy’s sponsored hadn’t scored a single goal all season? They’d had a lot of fun playing the game. As if to confirm that life went on, Grammy’s cuckoo clock sounded in the kitchen. Cuckoo! Cuckoo!
Her mom groaned. “I never could understand why my mother liked that clock so much. That is the most annoying sound in the world.”
Jeremy stepped inside with Annalise’s bag and gave her mom a mischievous smile. “You want it smashed, just say the word. I’ve got a hammer ready.” Apparently he was none too fond of the loud clock, either.
Her mom returned his smile and ruffled his hair. “My mother would turn over in her grave if I ever got rid of her favorite clock. But thanks for the offer.”
Jeremy set her suitcase down next to her. “I’ll start a fire.”
“That would be nice, Jeremy,” her mom said. “Thank you.”
The dogs trotted along behind them as Annalise and her parents took their things down the hall to the large spare bedroom they shared on their visits. Mom rolled her suitcase up to the queen-sized bed she and Dad slept in, while she stowed hers under the daybed in the corner. As her mother freshened up in the adjoining bath and Dad took a moment to return a phone call, she stepped into the hall and walked down to Pappy’s bedroom, pausing at the open door.
While the faded patchwork quilt had been straightened on the four-poster bed, Pappy’s slippers still sat on the braided rug next to it, as if waiting for him to return. The familiar scent of cedar came from the large chest situated at the foot of the bed. Through the open door of the master bath she could see Pappy’s trademark menthol shaving cream sitting on the sink. She used to tease him that it made him smell like a candy cane. If only he were here now, so she could tease him again.
Footsteps sounded behind her and she turned to find her mother coming up the hall.
Her mother put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “We need to choose a burial outfit.”
The thought brought fresh tears to her eyes, but she blinked them away and followed her mother to the closet. She pulled the doors open and began to slide hangers aside. From most of them hung denim overalls or standard blue work shirts, Pappy’s unofficial uniform. At the end was his Sunday suit, which he wore only to church and weddings and never looked completely comfortable in. Much to her grandmother’s chagrin, he’d fidget like a little boy, craning his neck and pulling at the tie. “I can’t take you anywhere,” she’d say, though the gleam in her eyes said she loved him nonetheless.
Her mother retrieved the suit and held it up. “I suppose we should bury him in this.”
“He hated that suit,” Annalise said. “He shouldn’t have to spend eternity in it.” Silly, maybe, given that he’d surely be issued something new and more fashionable in the hereafter, some kind of fluffy white robe, probably, like the ones offered in fancy hotels. But still it bothered her. “Would there be anything wrong with burying him in his overalls?”
Her mother mulled things over for a moment before shrugging. “I suppose not. Those overalls are what people are used to seeing him in.”
Heck, they were a part of Pappy’s persona.
The two riffled through the overalls until deciding on the pair with the fewest patches. They likewise chose the blue shirt that looked the newest, as well as his best pair of work boots.
Annalise pulled his plaid cap with the earflaps from a hook. “We can’t forget this. It’s his trademark hat.”
Her mother smiled softly and took the hat from her, staring down at it. “He was quite a character, wasn’t he?”
“He sure was.”
When they returned to the living room, a warm fire was roaring in the fireplace. Jeremy stood at the old stove in the kitchen, stirring a pot, the smell of warm stew wafting through the air.
While her parents took seats in the living room, she joined Jeremy in the kitchen, fixing hot tea for everyone. Ironically, though she felt awkward with him when others were around, when the two of them were alone like this everything seemed comfortable and right.
She handed him a mug of tea and leaned back against the counter next to the stove.
Jeremy took a sip and grimaced. “You forgot Pappy’s secret ingredient.” He set the ladle aside and reached into the upper cabinet to his right, retrieving a bottle of spiced rum. He unscrewed the top, adding a splash to her mug and his own before returning it to the shelf. He sipped his tea again. “Ahh. Much better.”
She couldn’t help but smile. She rounded up four bowls and spoons and set the table. Minutes later, the four of them were seated, enjoying the stew and sharing fond memories of Pappy, the pain of his passing slowly beginning to ease. He was gone, sure. But he’d never be forgotten.
CHAPTER SIX – JEREMY
Wednesday morning, he and Annalise rose early and rode together down to the syrup factory headquarters at the front of the property. He followed her into the main office that had been Pappy’s domain. The light on the phone blinked, the readout indicating three messages awaited them. While he turned up the heat, Annalise jabbed the button to listen to the messages and removed her beanie, scarf, and parka.
The first message played, a man’s voice coming from the speaker. “Hello, there. I’m calling from Sunrise Breakfast Foods. We heard the unfortunate news about Mr. Sorensen and wanted to extend our condolences.”
“That’s thoughtful,” she said.
“Yup.” He held out a hand to take her parka and hung it on the coat tree in the corner.
The man continued. “We’d also like to speak with whoever’s in charge now. We’d like to be first in line if the company’s going up for sale. Please give me a call back at your earliest convenience.”
She stiffened and glared at the phone. “How about I give you a foot in the ass?”
He would’ve laughed if he hadn’t felt so enraged, too. The next message was also from a competitor want
ing to know whether Sappy Pappy’s would be going up for sale. Pappy’s not even in the ground yet and already the vultures have begun to circle.
The third call was from their biggest customer, a regional grocery chain that bought syrup by the truckload. “Just checking to see whether Sappy Pappy’s is going to continue in business. If not, we’d like to talk to you about buying the remaining inventory.”
Annalise flopped into Pappy’s rolling chair and put her head in her hands.
Seeing her so upset made his heart contract into a hard, tight ball. He stepped over and put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s all going to be okay, ‘Lise.”
“Promise?” she asked, not looking up, her voice muffled by her fingers.
“I promise.” He he had no business making such a claim and hoped he could keep the promise. But what good will worrying do?
Her shoulders softened. She removed her hands from her face and looked up at him. “If you say everything is going to be all right, then I believe it.”
His heart expanded now, feeling full and warm. He was glad he’d been able to cheer her up, even if only for a moment. “I better get to work,” he said. “I’ve heard the girl who’s filling in for the boss is a real hard ass.”
She narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at him. “You got that right.”
Gotta love that sass.
The day went quite smoothly, given the circumstances. Though his title was Assistant Chief of Operations, the truth of the matter was that he’d taken on more and more responsibilities over the years. He and Pappy had essentially traded places, with Jeremy being the one in charge and Pappy serving as backup. Pappy had even joked recently that he should order Jeremy a new nameplate for his door.
While the other men loaded the trucks that morning and headed out for their deliveries, he carefully inspected the equipment in the sugar house and bottling room to make sure it would be ready when the sap began running in a few weeks. Though it was cold now, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, temperatures would be perfect for collecting sap from the maples by Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day. He wondered if Annalise would still be in Thief River Falls then. Regardless, she’d still be in his heart. Was it wrong of him to hope that she’d run into some snags wrapping up her grandfather’s estate and have to extend her stay? Yup, it was wrong. But he couldn’t help it. The holiday would be a good excuse to take her out for a nice dinner. Of course he’d play it off as merely two unattached singles making the best of the sappy holiday. But he’d love to show her a good time, share a bottle of wine with her, maybe split a dessert. Then afterward . . .
The drivers returned late in the day, their cargo bays empty. After the last truck was back in the lot, Annalise popped her head through the door that led from the administrative offices to the manufacturing part of the building. “Ready to call it a day?”
He glanced up at the clock. The hands read 4:50. “It’s not quite five yet. We’d be sneaking out early.”
She offered him an adorable grin. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
He returned the grin, tossed his work gloves aside, and grabbed his jacket.
Back at the house, they met up with her parents. The four polished off the last of the stew for dinner, pairing it up with hot rolls and topping it off with a blueberry pie her mother had baked during the day.
She slid a plate with a huge slice in front of him. “Here you go, Jeremy.”
“Thanks.”
Mrs. Quimby helped herself to a generous slice, too. “It’s funny,” she said raising her fork. “In California I’m constantly counting calories, but I never bother when I’m back in Minnesota.”
“No need.” Annalise scooped up a huge forkful of pie. “I’ve heard that shivering can increase your metabolism by as much as five times. All you need to do to stay thin here is stand out on the cold in your underwear.”
He laughed. He wouldn’t mind seeing Annalise in her undies. He wondered what type she wore. That sporty boy-short type? Lace? A thong? Better not let his mind go there or he wouldn’t be able to get up and help with the dishes.
Once the dinner plates, glasses, and silverware had been washed and put away, they called it a night. It had been an exhausting day for all of them, and tomorrow would be even tougher.
He and Annalise parted in the hallway.
“G’night,” Annalise said softly.
“Sleep tight,” he said. “Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
“It’s not bedbugs I’m worried about!” Mr. Quimby called from inside the bedroom. “It’s Jack Frost!”
He and Annalise shared a chuckle. If only we could share a bed. I’d make sure Jack Frost got nowhere near her.
Thursday morning dawned cold and dark. Pappy had left strict instructions for his funeral service, which was held that afternoon. He didn’t want money wasted on a fancy casket when it could be better spent helping needy families or homeless animals at the local shelter. He’d pre-selected the least-expensive coffin for himself. He’d also selected the Bible verses to be read, including Ecclesiastes 3:1-2.
Dressed in his best navy Dockers and a light blue cable-knit sweater, Jeremy stepped up to the podium to read the verse to the large crowd who had gathered in the church to honor Pappy Sorensen. Among those in attendance were the employees of Sappy Pappy’s, fellow congregants of the church, and a multitude of townspeople who’d benefitted in one way or another from Pappy’s generosity. Annalise sat on the front row next to her mother. Both dabbed at their eyes with tissue, but when Annalise looked up and caught his gaze, she gave him an appreciative smile.
He coughed to clear the lump that had formed in his throat. “To every thing there is a season,” he said, “and a time to every purpose under heaven.”
So true, those words. And soon it would be the season in which the sap was collected from the sugar maple trees. He wasn’t sure what would become of Sappy Pappy’s. Probably the company would be sold. But he intended to keep doing his job until he was certain the factory was in good hands. He knew the other employees would keep working, too. Pappy had been good to all of them and they were not going to let him down, even if he wasn’t around anymore.
Of course Jeremy only knew how to run the syrup-making and delivery part of the business. As far as orders from customers, billing, and payroll, he was clueless. Pappy had always handled that end of things. Fortunately, Pappy had fully trained Annalise in the office matters. She’d even taken over the reins for two weeks one summer so her grandparents could take a second honeymoon in Florida. Annalise would be able to keep things afloat, at least until she had to return to California. Heck, she’d been handling things since she arrived, making sure the business continued to run as smoothly as possible.
At the thought of Annalise leaving Thief River Falls again, Jeremy felt instantly empty and alone. Bit by bit over the years, Annalise had stolen his heart. It had been hard enough saying goodbye at the airport when she’d flown back to California after Christmas, and at least then he’d expected to see her again when she returned for her summer visit. But with Pappy gone now, there would be no more summer visits. When she left this time, it very well might be for good.
The pastor took over at the podium, wrapping up the service and directing everyone to the cemetery. There, Pappy was laid to rest next to his wife, a bottle of his syrup tucked into his hands. That touch had been Annalise’s idea. “Heaven wouldn’t be heaven without Sappy Pappy’s syrup.”
Jeremy held back from the gravesite, waiting near an evergreen while the family thanked those who’d come to pay their last respects. But when he saw Annalise shiver, he could hold back no more. He removed his coat and stepped over, draping it across her shoulders. The cold nipped at his body, but when she looked up at him, smiling that sweet smile of hers, those beautiful blue eyes bright with gratitude, his heart felt so warm it was a wonder the snow didn’t melt under his feet.
