Home to Sparrow Lake (Harlequin Heartwarming) (6 page)

CHAPTER SIX

K
RISTEN
WOULD
NEVER
admit she was enjoying herself in Alex’s company, but there it was. Halfway through their deliveries, she had already seen parts of town she didn’t remember. She’d also seen some nice people she remembered from the old days and felt good about doing something positive for the elderly who couldn’t do for themselves.

Apparently, Alex hadn’t hesitated in taking over for the regular driver. His generosity of spirit touched her. She was having a real feel-good moment because of him. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done something so spontaneous and for such a good cause...not that she’d had much choice in the matter. But still...

“I hear Margaret is retiring,” Alex said.

“She turned in her resignation at the university a few days ago.”

“About time she took it easy. She’s...um...a lot like you.”

Surprised, she said, “I’m nothing like Aunt Margaret. She’s so creative. She has an artist’s soul. I’m very practical and boring.”

“Boring?”

Kristen waited for a verbal shot from the police chief, but he simply let the word hang in the air between them.

Then he said, “I wasn’t talking about what you do but about how you do it. From what I understand, Margaret has been filling her every moment, mostly with work. Sound familiar?”

“Okay, so I admit I’m a type A. What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing. But people can be ambitious and competitive about fun things, too.”

“I’m not sure I know how to have fun.”

Having an adventure like this was unexpected and a little strange. So was giving up control to someone else. And yet, letting someone else be in charge for once gave her a taste of freedom that she enjoyed. No decisions to make, even if for a short while. She couldn’t help but respect Alex.

She gave him the address for the Gerbers, who were the next people on the list and a couple she knew. A few minutes later, he pulled up in front of a house that showed its age. The siding didn’t look bad, but paint peeled from the porch steps and the windows. In addition, the grass was overgrown and the flower beds needed tending.

“Wow, this place could use some work,” Kristen said.

“Make a note of it on your list.”

“Why?”

“We’re starting a community service program for first-time offenders. We’re looking to help people who can no longer do outside work for themselves and can’t afford to hire anyone.”

“Sounds like a great idea.”

“I’m glad you approve,” he said.

Kristen started. Expecting to see that snarky smile, she was surprised that Alex actually
did
appear to be pleased. Why her opinion was important to him, she couldn’t imagine.

“As long as you don’t mean you’re starting the community service program for me.” She narrowed her gaze at him. “You don’t, do you?”

He grinned. “Not unless I catch you jaywalking again.”

Biting back a smile, she checked her list. “We need to deliver three meals here. Two regular and one vegetarian.”

“You get the vegetarian and I’ll grab the other two.”

Glad to get out of the vehicle—she’d merely been a passenger until now—Kristen opened one rear door as Alex opened the other. She dug out a vegetarian meal and then looked up. He was smiling at her. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling in return.

She let herself enjoy the moment as she followed him up the five steps to the door.

He rang the bell.

Movement at the corner of her eye made Kristen start. A silver-haired woman was staring through parted curtains out the window. Kristen raised the container of food to show her. The curtain closed, and a moment later, the door opened.

“A couple!” the woman exclaimed. “Well, that’s a first. Is that Kristen Lange?”

“It is, Mrs. Gerber. Good to see you again.”

“You, too.” Mrs. Gerber looked from Kristen to Alex. “Aren’t you two cute together!”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Alex said politely. “Would you like me to carry the food to your kitchen?”

“Nah, Herman needs the exercise.” The woman turned to yell, “Herman get off that couch and come get lunch!” Then she turned back to the porch and gave Kristen and Alex a sweet smile that made her face look like crumpled paper. “Herman and I have been married for sixty-three years. How long have you two been together?”

“About an hour.” Amused by the woman’s mistake, Kristen explained, “We’re not a couple.”

“Oh, really? You have that look about you. Doesn’t she, Alice?” she asked, as a silver-haired look-alike—her sister—stepped next to her.

“What look, Betsy?”

“Like they’re a couple in love.” Betsy yelled again, “Herman!”

“Coming! Give a guy a minute, would you?”

The two women beamed at them until Kristen started to grow uncomfortable. She was thankful when Herman finally came to the door. Completely bald, he looked at them out of rheumy eyes.

“I’ll take those,” he said gruffly as Alex handed him his boxes and Kristen put hers on top. “New delivery people, huh?” He didn’t seem to recognize either of them. “Thanks. Real nice of you.”

With that, he turned and shuffled away.

“Yes, thank you both,” Alice said.

“I still think you two belong togeher,” Betsy added, making Kristen practically run back to the patrol car.

She slid into her seat and pretended interest in the list when Alex opened the driver’s door and got behind the wheel.

“Quite the characters, aren’t they?” he said.

“Uh-huh.”

“Are you uncomfortable?”

Though heat surged up Kristen’s neck, she said, “No, of course not. Why would I be?”

“Why, indeed?” Alex murmured, as he started the engine.

Kristen gave him the next address, then said, “I wonder how old they are.”

“Depends on how young they were when they married. Could be mid-eighties. Herman looks older.”

“Sixty-three years. That’s amazing. I’ve never met a couple who’ve been together that long before. Relationships usually don’t last.”

“It all depends on the couple. My parents have been together nearly forty years. You just need to find the right person.”

“Well, that’s the trick, isn’t it?” She’d thought Jason was the right guy for her and look how wrong she’d been. “People can fool you.”

Feeling Alex’s questioning stare, Kristen looked away from him out the side window. She didn’t want to talk about the man who’d disappointed her, who’d ditched her when things got rough, so she was relieved when Alex didn’t press her.

She checked her watch. Good grief, she’d been gone for nearly an hour already, and she hadn’t even called her sister to tell her what was up. Heather had seen Alex haul her off, though, so it wasn’t as if she’d just disappeared. She left her cell where it was. Explanations could wait until she got back to the store.

The final few deliveries went faster than she’d expected. Alex kept the conversation on general topics about the town. Then he headed the patrol car back toward Sew Fine, and Kristen girded herself to be tormented by Heather. Undoubtedly her sister would have her own suppositions about Alex’s arresting her.

* * *

T
O
K
RISTEN
’
S
SURPRISE
, the moment she walked into the store, she was attacked by a five-year-old ball of energy dressed in bright yellow.

“Aunt Kristen!” Addison said, wrapping her arms around Kristen’s legs. Her blond hair was poking in every direction around her beaming face.

Kristen tweaked her niece’s ponytail. “Hey, Addison, I thought you and Taylor were at day camp.” Fortunately, Heather had been able to enroll both girls all day, five days a week.

Addison let go of Kristen and gave her a big, big sigh. Her expression turned serious and her blue eyes held a touch of sympathy. “Taylor told a boy to stop bothering her and then she punched him and Mommy had to come get us. Mommy gave her a time-out.” She pointed to the back of the store.

Indeed, Taylor sat in a chair, arms folded over her little purple-clad chest. Her expression was stormy and she was kicking her legs in the air.

“Oh, dear, how long is the time-out?”

Addison shrugged. “She got up twice, so Mommy finally told her to sit there until she had permission to get up or there would be
consequences.
”

Kristen bit the inside of her lip to keep from smiling. The twins were always so dramatic. And naughty. Especially Taylor, who was the little leader of the duo. They were also sweet and loving.

Seeing her sister coming toward them, Kristen thought how lucky she was to have the girls.

“Uh-oh, here comes Mommy,” Addison sing-songed while slinking away.

“So you’re back,” Heather said. “Finally. Have a nice lunch?”

Kristen’s stomach growled. “Um, I never had a chance to eat.”

“What in the world were you doing all that time? Did Alex really arrest you?”

“You wouldn’t believe what we were doing.”

“That good, huh?” Before Kristen could deny anything had gone on between her and Alex, Heather said, “I need to ask you for a favor. Taylor is being impossible today. I think she might be coming down with a little cold. I can’t keep the twins here.” Her gaze zeroed in on her mobile daughter, who was running through an aisle of fabric, touching each bolt as she went. “Addison, honey, walk please.” She turned back to Kristen. “I’ve just been waiting for you to return so I can take them home.”

Heather looked beat, Kristen thought, even as she asked, “If you go, who is going to be in charge?”

“You, of course. Unless you want to call Aunt Margaret in to work.”

“No, no, let’s not bother her.” Kristen’s stomach did a little somersault. “I can ring up purchases, but I don’t know how to help customers find what they want.”

“Gloria is here now. Louise will be here shortly. Whatever you can do to help them will be fine. And if you have a problem, just call me.”

“Okay.” Hopefully there wouldn’t be a problem and everything would go smoothly.

“Thanks.” Heather sighed and waved Addison over. “Let’s go get Taylor.”

“Bye, Aunt Kristen.” Addison held her arms up for a hug.

Kristen pulled the little girl to her and kissed her cheek. Then Addison ran off ahead of Heather to her twin.

“C’mon, we’re going home!”

“No! I wanna stay here!”

“Taylor, you have a choice,” Heather said in an unbelievably calm voice. “You can either stay here until tomorrow morning, or you can home with us and relax with your stuffed animals. Which do you want to do? It’s your choice.”

Surprised by her sister’s ultimatum—would Heather actually leave the store without Taylor?—Kristen waited as the little girl thought it over, kicked her legs, then stood up. Apparently, Heather knew exactly how to handle the twins. Then again, Kristen had always known her sister was a great mom.

As they left by the back door, Heather waved with a relieved expression. Her sister had too much responsibility for a twenty-three-year-old, Kristen thought. If only Scott hadn’t died in Iraq. Heather and Scott had been crazy about each other from the first time they’d met in high school. Heather had been a freshman, Scott a junior. By the time Heather had learned she was pregnant, Scott was in the Army. They’d gotten married just a week before he’d been shipped off to Iraq. He’d come home from his first tour, but unfortunately, he’d been sent back, never to return.

Kristen thought about her short-lived discussion about relationships with Alex. Even when two people were madly in love and right for each other, there were no guarantees for the future.

* * *

“I
HAVE
A
PLAN
,”
Brian said. “You know that big old house with the wraparound porch and the gigantic garden a block east of Main Street?”

“Sure do,” answered Andy Eccles, a grin splitting his freckled face.

Brian walked along the lake path with his buddies as they did every chance they could late at night. He’d sneaked out after Aunt Margaret and Kristen had gone to bed.

The biggest of the boys, tall with a little extra bulk around the middle from too much food and general lack of activity, Matt Stapleton asked, “You mean the one with the stupid garden statues?” He shuffled along, puffing, as if just walking was too much of an exertion for him.

“A bazillion of them.” Matt’s complete opposite, Andy danced as if hip-hop music played constantly in his head under that mop of curly red hair. He was a scrawny kid, and his raggedy clothes threatened to fall off him.

“What if we move them around?” Brian mused. “You know, like put the deer statues on the other side of the house. And take all those rabbits and frogs and squirrels out of the garden and put them in a big circle on the flattest part of the lawn. What do you think, guys?”

In reality, the idea was as stupid as most of the pranks they’d pulled. Not that they’d actually harmed anyone’s property.

As usual, both boys were looking to him for guidance. Andy and Matt were both about to be seniors in high school. They were practically the only kids around this summer that he knew from before he got moved to California because of his stepfather’s job. For whatever reason, the duo saw him as a leader, and he liked the feeling of having some say in things again. No one else had listened to his opinions in the past four years.

“Woo-oo!” Andy danced some more. “What are we waiting for?”

They set off toward Main Street, Andy making sounds as if he was singing. More like howling, Brian thought. As usual, Matt followed—he was highly influenced by his much smaller friend and didn’t seem to have a brain of his own.

Then again, Brian knew
he
was acting like he didn’t have a brain, either. He didn’t care, though. He had no one to impress but these jugheads. Mom wasn’t here and his sisters and aunt didn’t seem to see him for who he was. Well, maybe Kristen, at least a little. When she had asked him to take charge of phoned-in orders at the store, he’d felt as if someone needed him.

Too bad it was too little, too late.

The big old corner house came into sight. Brian stopped and held his hand up so the others would stop, too.