by Kari Trumbo
She scrunched her face to think. “Ten. I tend to work in warmer climates in the winter, cooler in summer. Though that doesn’t always work out.”
Ten houses in seven years. Not bad. “What made you decide to do that? You couldn’t have had that much money when you left.” Not after buying this house and getting nothing from it. She’d lived with her grandmother and saved for two years while they were engaged to pay for half of it. He’d done similarly with his parents.
“When I told Grammy Jean what happened, she told me I needed to start over and gave me a big chunk of her savings. I paid her back over the next few years. I don’t know what happened to her money when she passed away. I’m guessing some of it went into keeping the house so it could be sold.”
He couldn’t remember anything in the paper about a will, and hoped her money hadn’t been just seized. “You’ve been in town for almost a week now. Why don’t I take you out to dinner? It can’t be all that enjoyable sitting in that huge house alone after work and having to cook too.” He hadn’t tried to push her, knowing she had scars. There was still hope … but not if he didn’t move things along.
“I …” She bit her lip. “I shouldn’t.”
“You should.” He had to become part of her plans, just like he was finally becoming part of her morning routine.
“Why?”
Her eyes were round, questioning, not hostile. Maybe he’d turned some small corner. “Because, you don’t know anyone else in Wonderland anymore. Who else are you going to eat with?”
She looked at the floor, and he fought the urge to bring it back up so he could see her lovely face. Finally she did it herself. “All right. Just this once. As friends.”
As far as Sam was concerned, Ashley could make all the rules she wanted. He was still counting it as a win.
Chapter Seven
Ashley locked the door to the reno house as Sam waited for her outside. Her nerves had been acting up all day, no small fault of her own. Sam’s scent had always been comforting to her. Even when they’d separated, she took one of his shirts with her and wore it until that unique smell was gone. Wearing his coat today, however briefly, had been a reminder of how wonderful it was to be wrapped in his warmth.
Which was why she took it off as soon as he noticed – she didn’t want to give him ideas.
She turned to see him grinning at her, and her foolish stomach bounced like the kickback of a nail gun. Why did he have to be so cute? Couldn’t he have gotten old and ugly? Goodness knows she’d picked up some wrinkles and no longer had a teenager’s body, but he still looked almost perfect.
He flipped his keys in the air and caught them. “You ready?”
“I really should go home and change …” Then lock the door and not come out, because if she didn’t get away from him, she could fall hard.
“You look fine.” He reached out and took her hand, inspecting her fingers. “You don’t even have paint under your nails. I’ve never figured out how you do that – you work so hard, yet always manage to look nice.”
Heart, I command you to stop. For all the good it did - she couldn’t think with him so close and holding her hand and giving compliments. She tried to pull away.
He wasn’t having it. Instead, he wove his fingers with hers and led her off the porch toward his truck. “It’s late. If we both go home to shower, we’re not likely to make dinner at all.”
Wow – he was taking charge? He had a plan? This was different. But it was ruining her own plan of keeping her distance. “Won’t they be busy right now?”
He opened the passenger door, reached into the cab, grabbed his windshield scraper and handed her his keys. “This is Wonderland. The only ‘rush’ happens when both Tangren families bring their kids to town on the same night. Turn it on for me while I get this all cleaned off.”
Ashley had to laugh at the comment – from what she’d heard from Evelyne, the Tangren clan was booming. She shimmied over to the driver’s seat, then was reminded how much taller Sam was – she had to perch on the edge of his seat to reach the clutch and brake. Starting it was simple enough – though she didn’t drive much, when she did, it was usually huge rental trucks from home improvement stores. Sam’s pickup was easy in comparison.
After moving back to her side, she turned on the heater as Sam climbed in. He didn’t ask if she was ready this time, probably because he hadn’t gotten the answer he was looking for before. But he’d been prepared for what she’d say – evidence that he could plan when he had to. Maybe her return would be good for him, if not in the way he seemed to hope.
He took the drive slow on the slick roads. Mountain snow was often wet and slippery, and Wonderland had only one snow removal vehicle. The town wasn’t big enough to require, or afford, more. “Will your dad be out later to plow?” She had no idea if Sam’s dad still had that job.
“He only does driveways now. The county handles the city streets. There’s a committee in Springs Township who take care of the rural snow. They get paid through rural taxes. It works, since there aren’t all that many roads to maintain.”
“How’s he doing?” Sam hadn’t mentioned his family all week. They used to be a big part of his life.
“Dad’s fine. So is Mom. Cam moved to Spearfish - he got married two years ago.” He shrugged. “Not much else to tell.”
Cam had been in high school when she left - she couldn’t even picture him married. “Wow. What does he do now?”
Sam pulled into the small parking lot at Molly’s and found a spot. “I don’t know exactly. He doesn’t come back much and we were never big on talking on the phone.” He turned off the engine, got out, came around to her side and opened the door.
She read doubt in his eyes. “Sorry, I was just trying to make conversation. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
He shook his head and tugged on his ear. “You didn’t. You asked what everyone else does. I hate not being able to answer. I work all day, I’m tired when I get home and I’ve got other things on my mind. I don’t think to call Cam.”
She headed for the door to let him know he didn’t have to explain further. His brother was younger and she’d never known him that well anyway. She couldn’t exactly chastise him for not keeping up with his family when her own parents didn’t try to keep up with her. She got emails from her mom once in a blue moon.
He led her over to a booth and they sat. Molly’s hadn’t changed a bit – still a comfortable diner with waxed floors, red vinyl seats, wood-paneled walls and a vintage refrigerated display case for their daily desserts. A teenage girl with a high ponytail brought two menus and two glasses of water, then left.
Even the menu hadn’t changed: buffalo burgers, fries, milkshakes, cheese curds. It was a wonder she didn’t weigh twice what she did after eating there all through high school. “Wow, this brings back memories.” She ran her finger down the worn, discolored plastic cover of the menu.
“It hasn’t changed much. Nothing ever really does here.”
She’d been worried about that, if everyone would remember her just as she’d been. Just like she remembered Cam. “It would seem that way.”
Sam kept his eyes on his menu. “So you’ve worked with Evelyne this whole time? Do you talk often, or just about business?”
“We don’t talk every day, but she handles all my business, my finances, my loans. I trust her.” Probably more than anyone else, because she didn’t feel like she had anyone else.
“Does she find your houses for you?” He closed his menu and set it aside, finally looking up to meet her gaze.
“Yes, and before you say anything, this was her fault. She wanted me back in Wonderland, waited until I could afford my grandmother’s house, then tricked me by buying it without my say-so. That’s what I get for granting her power of attorney.”
He laughed. “So that’s where I should send the thank-you gift.”
“I guess – if you’re glad to finally be working on the house again, then she’
s who you’d thank.” She still wasn’t ready for flirting or sweet words. Through the week, her heart had hurt less, enjoyed more, and she’d let go of some lies she’d believed for a long time. They didn’t have to be enemies. But she doubted they could ever be together.
“It has nothing to do with the house. You caught me there the first time I’d gone back since … well, I don’t remember. It was providence.”
“Or Santa Claus.” She couldn’t help thinking of Nick, and pulled his card from her purse. She’d never even looked at it – she’d been distracted when he drove away.
“Santa Claus? I think I’d prefer to believe in something real.”
She ignored that as she glanced at the card. It was completely blank. She closed her eyes and tried to remember when she arrived a week ago. She’d looked at the card briefly, and was sure there had been writing on it. “I meant the guy who gave me a ride from the airport. He was weird. I kept feeling like I was with Santa. I didn’t even tell him to take that route, but he turned off the highway, pulled right up and slowed down like he knew it was my house. I didn’t think about it then, but how could he have known?”
Sam tapped the table and pursed his lips. “I don’t know, but I’m suddenly glad you don’t usually ride with strangers. Apparently you have really poor judgment.” He winked.
She balled up her napkin and threw it at him. “See if I ride home with you.”
“Oh, you planned to come home with me? Have we gotten that far in one week? I thought I’d have to try harder. Grammy Jean’s is one thing – we went there for years – but my place is, well, a single guy’s place. And I haven’t cleaned in –”
“I’m not interested in your house.” Though now that he mentioned it, she was curious what his home would look like. Was it just an apartment, or had he bought a house? Given his usual lack of planning, an apartment made more sense, but nothing he’d done in the last few days made sense. Maybe she was still expecting the Sam she’d known seven years before. The man had a right to grow up.
“Well, when you put it that way, you’re not invited.” He smirked.
Ashley rolled her eyes as the waitress came to take their order. “I’ll have the buffalo steak burger meal with a chocolate shake. Oh, and separate –”
“I’ll pay.” Sam interrupted, then ordered the same with a blueberry shake.
“I didn’t even let you pay for me when we were engaged,” Ashley complained once the waitress left. She couldn’t help feeling like her independent toes were being stepped on.
“I know, but once in a while a guy just likes to treat a lady to a burger – preferably without having to explain himself. I invited … no, scratch that, I insisted you come. So I should pay.”
“Just the buffalo? Are you saying if I’d ordered the vegan burger, you wouldn’t pay?” She giggled, hoping he’d joke back. Wait – why was she hoping for that?
He rolled his eyes and swiped his hand down his face in mock disgust. “You want the vegan, you’ll have to buy that yourself.” He lowered his voice to a whisper that sent shivers down her arm. “But I have heard it’s surprisingly good.”
Ashley’s eyes widened. This. This is what she’d missed for so long. Yes, he’d been the love of her life, but more importantly, he’d been her best friend. It felt like she’d been living without her other half for so long. “Well, I may just have to try it next time.”
Sam glanced up at her, his eyes shining with suppressed laughter. “Maybe when you ask me to dinner.”
Chapter Eight
After Sam dropped Ashley off at Grammy Jean’s, she rushed around to the back door. Shoveling the front walk could wait until morning when the snowfall was finished. She opened the door and shivered. The big Queen Anne was pretty, but heating it for just one person was expensive. She closed the pocket doors to the parlor and formal sitting room, shutting off most of the house, then turned the heat up a few degrees and went to work.
When her parents sold the home she’d grown up in, they’d stored many personal items at Grammy Jean’s. She’d never heard from her mother that anything had to be moved, so all those things were presumably still in the house. Precious items like pictures. She searched through the drawers and cabinets, coming up with numerous treasures, but not what she was searching for. Grabbing a flashlight from the butler’s cabinet, she headed to the basement.
Wispy cobwebs hung in the corners of doors and between the ceiling joists. There wasn’t much else down there. The basement was small, with a seven-foot ceiling, but that’s where Grammy had stored things like her Christmas tree. It was the most likely place for all her parents’ personal items to have ended up. Finally, in a bank of cabinets along one wall that Grammy Jean used to keep her canning jars in, she found the boxes that belonged to her family. The top small box was photos and she lugged it back upstairs to have a closer look.
Stack upon stack of memories were in that box, from her first step to her first date. All the evidence of her and her parents’ lives, most of hers with Sam by her side. Their families had lived next to each other from first to fifth grade, before the Pattersons moved to the other side of town. In Wonderland, that wasn’t far – she’d ridden her bike over to visit almost daily.
There were few days growing up when she hadn’t seen him. Rare arguments dotted long strings of pleasant memories: birthdays, fishing trips, outings to Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park. He was just a part of her everyday life.
She shuffled a picture to the back of the stack, and there was a photo of her with Sam at the senior prom. She’d worn a crystal-blue mermaid dress and he’d worn a matching vest. They both looked so young and carefree, so confident they knew exactly where their lives were going.
The next image was Sam in his football gear. He’d been a linebacker, good enough for South Dakota State to offer a scholarship, but he’d passed it up to stay home. Probably to stay near her. She frowned as she looked closer at the image. There, behind Sam, was Chelsey in her cheerleader outfit, her hair and makeup perfect, her adoration for Sam plain as day. There hadn’t been anyone in Wonderland who Ashley could say disliked her, but Chelsey certainly had motive to start a rumor. She’d wanted Sam.
Come to think of it, Chelsey had asked Sam to prom first, and he’d said no. He hadn’t planned to ask Ashley either, because neither of them were the dress-up type, but since he’d told Chelsey he already had a date, he’d asked Ashley. The night had been so romantic that he’d made their relationship permanent. Or so she’d thought.
She pushed the box aside and stood to stretch. She couldn’t consider Sam again. They both should’ve moved on. He shouldn’t have waited for her, shouldn’t have dreamed of Grammy’s house, shouldn’t be working with her now. Getting all the old feelings out in the open was good, but it couldn’t last. Hopefully by Christmas, they’d both be better people, ready to go find new love.
That thought left her lonely. Who else was there? No one else had a history with her like Sam. Who else could compete with half a lifetime of friendship and romance?
Her phone buzzed and she answered. “’Lo.”
“You still awake?”
Sam’s gentle baritone immediately made her feel less lonely. How did he do that? “Nope, sleepwalking again,” she teased.
“Ah, so that’s why you don’t drive. Dangerous.”
She’d never owned her own vehicle. “Well, I like to live dangerously, but other drivers might not agree.” She laughed.
“Probably not. I’ve got an idea.”
She tensed. “Sam, you aren’t acting like you’re supposed to. The Sam from before didn’t make plans.”
There was a long pause. “I’m not the Sam I was before. Just like you’re not the same Ashley.”
“I haven’t changed.” Other than the wrinkles by her eyes, but he’d better not mention those.
“You have. You don’t trust people like you did before. You don’t go out of your way to see people. You hide behind that tough façade.”
“Hey, I am tough.” But she wasn’t feeling that way at the moment.
“I know, but you don’t have to hold up every wall.”
All the walls she’d held up for so long were admittedly getting heavy. “Okay, what’s your idea?” She couldn’t help feeling like she was being led into something she couldn’t see.
“Grammy Jean always decorated for Christmas. It’s kind of late now, with the snow on everything, but I’ve got ladders. I know where everything goes because she asked me to help her the last Christmas she was in that house.”
He was here when she wasn’t? He’d taken care of Grammy when she and her parents were elsewhere? She still wasn’t ready to deal with the loss of her grandmother, and digging through her Christmas items would force her to. “That sounds like an undertaking.”
“What do you say we take a day off from the renovation and do your decorating? You at least need to put up the tree.”
She hadn’t put a tree up in years – why start now? “I can live without it.”
“Did you live without it when you were growing up?”
He knew the answer to that. Her family started decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Everyone in Wonderland decorated and participated in Christmas, giving the whole town the feel of a Dickens novel. “I’m not a kid anymore.”
“What’s Wonderland without the wonder?”
He’d never been so assertive. Maybe the old Sam really was gone. The Sam who’d listened to a rumor had grown up, past it. But if that was true, why did he still need that feeling of Christmas? “I’m not extending my stay, Sam.” Even staying through Christmas felt unbearable.
“Don’t worry, I’ll finish the reno if you have to move on. I’ll be over tomorrow morning with doughnuts. You make the coffee.”
“How about you bring the coffee and I’ll make breakfast?” She couldn’t just let him decide everything.
