by Jody Kaye
Ross laughed, “That Grandy, she’s a hot ticket. Been on me since I got back.”
“So you don’t go… To church that is?” Rose asked with a hint of relief.
“Christmas and Easter. Makes her happy. Plus she tells me how handsome I look in a tie. You can always count on a compliment from your grandmother when you’re noticing how full everyone else’s lives are, seeing old-time friends with their wives and kids…”
“You do look nice with a noose around your neck.”
“You’d be the one in the know.” The words left his mouth a little harsher than intended and Ross noticed an uncomfortable Rose herself draw back, leaning herself against the door. He joked as he pressed on with the conversation in the way Rodger tended to needle Rose. It was an attempt to encourage the mirthful smile that she’d had on when they were with his family back on her lips. “What about you? Been exorcised of those demons lately or will I be buying a new suit because the girl on my arm burst into flames.” He made a fiery and explosive sound.
“No, I don’t go.”
“Not even on the high holidays? I figured you’d be the type to don their finest. Go to see and be seen.”
Rose slumped down further in her seat. “I’d prefer the opposite actually.”
She’d been banned six years ago from a local church and chose not to attend the others. Ross had made his feelings on her loose morals perfectly clear on their wedding night so there was no reason to go into detail with him about the teenage boy who’d let her down and how he chose to let his pastor father follow the flock’s beliefs. She’d put that behind her, not equating the lesson to what happened with Lathan. Until just now.
“So to make her happy will you go with me at Christmas?”
“If I can’t talk you out of it first.”
Rose fiddled with Grandy’s ring. It fit like a glove until the night air chilled her through.
“It’s cold in here.” She shivered, sliding up the temperature gauge, but the heat remained lukewarm.
“It’s been on the fritz this week. Here slide this on your lap.” Ross wrestled off his jacket one arm at a time.
“Thanks.”
She put her cold hands under his warm coat, twirling the ring. She took it off and slid it into his pocket telling Ross she’d done as much. He frowned and a pang of regret hit her that Ross believed she thought herself better than to accept it. Someday he’d give it to his real wife… Probably after he bought her a real wedding band.
“Hey, Ross? Take my car to the site tomorrow. I’ll bring the truck in to see if they can get this fixed.”
The serviceman at the dealership was skeptical when Rose stated that she wanted the heating system looked at.
“It’s not worth the repairs. I’m sure it’s been a workhorse and, frankly, I’m surprised it’s lasted as long as it has.” He poked at some rust, pushed down on the front bumper, and opened the creaky driver’s side door. “Still solid, for the most part. I can grease these hinges while you’re here.”
“This truck means a lot to him.”
“I’m sure it does. The thing is, it’ll be a few days to fix. I have to order parts for a truck this old. Above and beyond that, there’s no guarantee that I’m not taking your money and I won’t see you here again soon with another issue. I’ll fix up an estimate, miss, but in all honesty, it’s likely more than the monthly payment for a bran’ new one,” he said, blowing through his blackened hands.
Rose pulled her coat tight and stomped her feet. They were in the middle of a cold snap. It took close to an hour to get the windshield unfrozen this morning. She was glad Ross took her convertible, but she was also bone-chilled in the damp garage bay.
She agreed to wait in the lobby where it was warmer and made herself a burnt coffee with four extra sugar packets and freeze-dried creamer. Her lip curled as she sipped from the cup. The beverage would put more hair on her chest than the mechanic had sneaking out from the front collar of his coveralls.
She flipped through old magazines and put them aside and watched salespeople scurry back and forth to greet customers. The showroom was filled. It seemed rather curious for the day after a holiday, but big banners announced “end of year sale pricing” and there were helium balloons tied to several cars’ side mirrors.
Rose had to admit it was enticing. She decided to stroll between the models.
“Do you need help?”
“I’m browsing. My truck’s being looked at.”
“So you’re not in the market? We’ve got some great deals going on.”
Rose spied the sticker price on a nearby window as she walked and talked to the salesman. It was a lot of money for Cavanaugh to cover. The cost of the shiny new truck with pearl-coating was thousands more.
“What’s the financing rate on something like this?” she asked. It was an innocent question.
“Depending on your credit thirteen to eighteen percent. I’ve heard they’ve capped it in some states making harder to get a loan. It’s up into the twenties in some places. Nineteen’s not far off for a five-year note,” he confidently quoted.
“Nineteen percent!” Rose covered her mouth as the numbers aligned in her head. She realized too late that she’d shouted.
“A midrange is more common, little lady. Banks don’t want to go any higher and risk a loss. The manufacturer will undercut a point or two if they can nab the business. I’d be glad to set your husband up with a test drive for whichever one you’re interested in.”
“It’s cheaper to outright buy the car.” She ignored his comment that she wasn’t bright enough to make a decision her own.
The man beamed, taking her comment as dim-witted. “Few folks can afford that.”
“There you are!” The mechanic jogged up to them. “I have good news and bad news.”
Ross stepped back from the front window one more time. Frost etched tiny snowflakes on the pane and cool air seeped through the cracks of both apartments. He’d turn up the heat, but he was so hot under the collar that it didn’t make sense. The lace curtain fell. He ran ten fingers into his dark hair, gripping his scalp.
“All I needed was the heater fixed,” he reiterated, “and she shows up with a new truck.”
Rodger chuckled. He’d kicked back, relaxing on the brass bed thoroughly enjoying Ross’s discomfort.
“You think it’s funny? She’s getting Cavanaugh Construction painted on the doors next week!”
When Rodger didn’t reply Ross groaned. It was as if the younger man took pleasure in the uncomfortable position Rose had put him in.
“How am I supposed to pay her back for this?” He’d asked Rose the same question before she’d beat feet out of the stable yard with Lily Anne to fetch Chinese food.
Ross hardly had time to register that, Surprise! His old truck was gone. It was like she’d planned it this way so that he couldn’t argue for her to take it back.
He’d need to work out a payment plan.
“She doesn’t want you to pay her back. It’s a gift.”
“Normal people don’t give other normal people cars!”
“What’ got you more upset; the money or that you didn’t see something like this coming mile away?”
It was the money. Ross had to pay her back. No, it was the blinders that he’d put on that she’d take a simple errand and turn it into… This!
“Realistically, she didn’t set out to do anything wrong. Our Rose—”
“Your Rose,” he begged to differ.
Ross’s Rose lived in the tiny apartment next door. She did realistic things like brushing her teeth and going to the grocery store. She mucked a horse stall twice a day and rubbed his sore shoulders at night. His Rose did not spend thousands of dollars on a whim when repairs would have only run a few hundred.
“You heard her say that it was going to take three weeks to get the parts. Waiting in weather like this would be brutal. Driving a convertible to a construction site makes no sense.”
“I’ll
tell you what makes no sense.” Ross pushed the drapes back again acting like a magician’s assistant.
Rodger got off the bed and moseyed over to admire the long bed. He kept silent a beat longer.
“You’re in love with her.”
“I’m not in love with Rose. That’s not how this is supposed to work!”
A confused look passed Rodger’s calm visage.
“We’re just friends helping each other out.”
“Then accept the help. Graciously,” Rodger advised. “You can try it your way, but next time she’ll buy you a Caterpillar.” He made a digging motion.
Ross scrubbed his face in annoyance and huffed, smiling and not in a nice way. “You’ll keep taking her side.”
As the devil’s advocate Rodger saw both sides of the coin. He shrugged. Arguing made little difference and while he wasn’t simpleminded enough think both men weren’t intentionally left behind at the apartments for any other reason than for Rodger to smooth things over, he deliberately moved the conversation to another topic.
“I heard you were in the market for more land.”
“There’s some to the east. I’m hoping I’m not getting too far ahead of myself. All of the current plots sold. Houses are going up fast despite Mother Nature. We’ll pull out of the subdivision in the next month or so and start moving earth on the acreage I picked up this fall.” Ross snagged a chair Rose had found on consignment from the table they built together out of scrap. He turned it around to prop his forearms on the back understanding Rodger was trying to placate him. “It’s a good investment. Except, now I’m not sure how to manage. Things slow down at the holidays anyhow, but the economy’s not so hot. I may have no other option than to ride it out.”
He whined about money and repaying Rose one last time. A vision of driving the perfect white truck up through another finished Cavanaugh development soothed his temper.
His tension eased, explaining that land was going to be dotted with bigger and better homes. Ross envisioned families playing with their kids in driveways. Growing up. Growing old. Maybe some would move on, needing more space. Seeking out their next Cavanaugh custom build.
He ignored Rose when the girls walked back in, unwilling to give her the satisfaction. Their squabble wasn’t over.
She tossed a tablecloth over the rough wooden surface and set the table. Lil placed the Chinese take-out containers on top, calling them over to eat.
Ross sat down across from Rose. They filled their plates with noodles and dumplings, digging in. Lil and Rodger began telling them about the most recent wedding planning.
Rose nodded attentively. Her hair was up in a messy bun and she had on a Cavanaugh T-shirt. Out of nowhere, Rose laughed, her cheeks bunching up into the truest smile Ross had seen in weeks. Her two top teeth sunk into her lip. She hadn’t shown this much emotion about anything since they’d gotten the loan. Under her eyelashes, she glanced in his direction.
“What?” she mouthed with dancing brown eyes.
Caught watching her while he’d been mad, Ross shook his head and took another bite off of his fork. When Rose turned her attention back to Lil his lips quirked. There’d been a glimpse of his Rose and he wouldn’t fight with her if she was on her way back to him.
The sun came up glistening off of the dewy grass. It wasn’t so warm yet for the rays to heat the shingles on the old tractor shed across the stable yard, but the forecast called for better than average temperatures by the afternoon. It would be the perfect weather for Lil and Rodger’s wedding.
Rose pulled her barn boots over her jeans and snagged a heavy sweater from the peg by the door. She bent over to picked up an envelope on the doormat. It had grown thicker, filling with more cash as the weeks went by, as Ross insisted on sticking to a payment plan for the truck. He could keep his money. Opening and closing her apartment door, she shivered slightly and then bent again to slide the offensive bundle back for Ross to find.
“Don’t you think this is getting old, Cavanaugh?”
She skipped down the steps, grasping the post to twirl and propel herself toward the barn. Her eyes fell on the truck with the two big C’s emblazoned on either side. What had it been, close to a month of this silly tit-for-tat? Although, she’d now begun looking forward to receiving his missive every morning and delivering back to him.
“I’ll be out in a jiff,” he called. And Rose understood he felt the same way.
She didn’t wait to start her chores. They’d be short on time anyhow with today’s last-minute wedding preparations. Lil was adamant that Rose not be late to get her hair done. She needed to bring her dress and ensure Ross met them at the church on time.
Rose greeted Lavender, breezing around the stall to get her breakfast items gathered up. She shoveled the pile from overnight and took the wheelbarrow out the back door. When she came back in she leaned her chin on the top of the shovel and started telling the horse all about the big day and how romantic it was for Lil, and Rodger too.
Last night was the rehearsal dinner. She attended it alone. With an unusual sense of trepidation, Rose found her seat at the table and allowed Lily Anne to be the center of attention. She was glad for them, but her heart was as empty as the chairs on either side.
“We’ve had to rearrange the seating assignments,” Rodger informed her.
Rose absently picked at the stitching on her white napkin.
“I’d be glad to move. Where do you want me.”
“Next to this guy.”
Rose looked up to see Rodger toss his thumb over his shoulder. Ross walked up behind him and Rose felt herself relax.
“What are you doing here?” Her cheeks appled.
“One of my groomsmen’s come down with the flu,” Rodger remarked.
“You’re taking his place?”
“Rodger twisted my arm.” Ross patted him on the back. “Said I’d keep you out of trouble too.” He winked.
“I don’t plan on causing a problem.”
“You never do. It’s part of your lovely charm. But excuse me if I’ve convinced Ross here to be extra insurance.”
Rose fake-glowered at Rodger under a furrowed brow. She wasn’t upset with him for finding her an exceptionally handsome babysitter, only the fact that he’d called her out.
Ross sat himself beside her, sharing the meal the way they usually did by recounting their day. Ross slid in a little token for her to ponder about his future business plans and chided her for doing mental math while she was supposed to be enjoying the evening out.
His hand ran up her thigh the same reassuring way he’d have done at home. Yet somehow here in public it seemed more intimate and Rose licked her lip. He started to apologize and got cut off by Mr. Andrew clinking a glass to toast the bride and groom.
It’s okay, she thought to tell him. The words didn’t leave her mouth. Rose’s attention became rapt with the way Ross grinned, holding his glass up and the sip he took after that. His freckles had completely faded over the fall and he’d shaved for the event. His crisp, clean suit made her anxious to see him in a tux the next day. The way his eyes shone as he glanced back, regarding her as if she was the only woman in the room made Rose curious. Given the chance, would Ross still look at her the way he was now in ten years?
“We have a small problem.” It was so much bigger than Rose was letting on. This man cared for her in her weakest moments without hesitation and encouraged her to be more than what others expected. She wasn’t jealous of her cousin’s big wedding to her best friend. No, all Rose wanted was the chance to celebrate her first anniversary with her husband at the little table they’d cobbled together. She was in love with him and the sweet life they’d forged.
And, although she’d used her trust to build the stable and pay for the new truck, Rose was ready to hand her checkbook back to Eric. She’d graciously thank him for the life he provided until this past summer. Because without it Rose wouldn’t know this small life—led with someone you were proud of—was the path for h
er.
“My father is attending the wedding,” she began, hedging, “He knows we spent time together before, but I’m not sure how he’ll react tomorrow.”
“Because you’ve been avoiding him.”
Ross let out a strained huff. There was nothing worse than the pins and needles he’d been sitting on while waiting for his wife to break the news to her father. And, also how she’d go about doing it.
“I guess we sleep on it and come up with a plan,” His tone was flat to his own ears and he tried to ignore the decision she’d make and wall up his heart.
Couples mingled about, several stepping in time to the music.
“We should join them,” he announced and led Rose to the dance floor.
Still thinking about the night before, Rose started swaying her hips, dancing with the shovel as a partner. She was lost in a little daydream of last night that brought her back to her first meeting with Ross last summer at The Grille. They’d be in each other’s arms again today and…
“Did you do any more thinking about our dilemma?” Two thumps of his boots and hearing Ross’s voice shook Rose back to reality.
“Not really,” she began, focusing on the easier conversation, hoping to find a segue into what she wanted to say, but was still uncertain about admitting. “I see your point on the new land, but still think subdividing smaller is the way to go.”
“The point is to step up each time, Rose. Reach for a bigger piece of the pie.”
In that instance, he sounded more like her father than her friend.
“Bigger isn’t always better. More houses mean more profit. Your patience, considering the economy, may be what drives you past the goal if you stretch out the timeline.”
He sighed, “I still have to find the funds to purchase it.”
He tossed straw on bare spots.
Rose looked away. This topic had been a circular evening discussion. She’d fix it in a heartbeat using the funds she’d promised him on the back of that yellow calendar page. And she didn’t need Grandy’s intuition to understand that, in Ross’s opinion, buying a the truck as a grandiose gift for him was wrong even though she’d done it with sincere appreciation for the way Ross had treated her since before they’d gotten married.
