Letters From Al (14 page)

"It might have been taken in the break-in." Leland suggested. "Mrs. Smith should recall that, she called the deputy. He did show up and investigate, but never found out who broke in. It's not good to have an empty residence. Another reason a single woman shouldn't have a big old place like this."

"I suppose." But Maddy wasn't convinced.

"Good. Good. I hope they're recovered but I doubt it. Now, getting back to the house, I hate to push it, but I do have an interested party that wants to look at the place. I think you ought to show it to them. They're cash buyers who want out of the big city badly. What do you think?"

"I don't know." Maddy was unsure, but a cash buyer in this day and age was rare for anything. Leland's ominous description of the problems of owning a house like this reared up in the back of her mind. This forced her to come to grips with the situation head on and the cash part was temping. She realized she must make up her mind, and soon.

"Look, if you're still not certain, why not let me just show the place once. If you like their offer, good, if not, you don’t have to accept it." Leland stood up and shrugged. The coffee pot gave a loud burp and Maddy poured two cups and sat down, thinking. Leland walked around gazing out the windows, sipping his coffee quietly.

"I tell you, Maddy, there's a lot more work to a place like this than you realize, and for a young woman alone? Why, look at the lawn, it's dry and overgrown and the flower bed needs so much work."

"That's the next thing I was going to start now that the house cleaning is done." Maddy defended herself, but his list of all the chores waiting to be done was beginning to exhaust her.

"As I came in I noticed the outside is due for a coat of paint and a shutter's hanging. I know there are rooms inside that need some major work too."

"Yes, that's all true." Maddy sighed, recalling a very poor job done of patching water damage in one of the back bedrooms. "I suppose showing it once won't hurt as long as I'm not obligated in any way. Understood?"

"Yes, of course. I'll just need your signature on a form concerning my commission, just in case there is a sale." Leland sighed in relief.

"Well, it's just a formality," he said, but when she glared at him he tucked the papers back in his bright sports coat. Trailing behind her as she got up he smiled. "I'll call before we come."

"Fine." Maddy opened the door, eager for him to go. But now that he had basically what he wanted he wasn't in any hurry to leave. He acted as cheerful as his sunny yellow coat.

"You say you haven't done the attic yet?"

Maddy nodded and absently rubbed her tired eyes.

"I don't know. Mostly furniture from the quick look I took. The light doesn't work so Alec is coming Saturday to check it."

Maddy leaned against the door in relief when he left, wondering if she had done the right thing in allowing him to show the house, even once. She had a feeling she should have said no, but the die was cast.

***

"I don't know, Maddy, I don't trust him." Aunt Polly said as she chewed thoughtfully on the steak and salad Maddy fixed for supper that night. Alec needed a rain check since he had to work but said he'd stop by later. After her little session with Leland, Maddy needed someone to talk to.

"I know you don't trust him. After today, I don't think I trust him either, but I don't know why. I thought I'd better see if anyone would be interested in a serious offer on the house, just in case. Cash sales are pretty rare."

Sitting in the cozy kitchen Maddy felt warm and secure as the rays of the setting sun cast a golden glow over the whole back yard. Food tasted better, she slept sounder and got up feeling excited about each new day since arriving in Nielsen. On her best day in Chicago she had never felt like this.

She kept putting off buying another cell phone, relying on the landline. Marie's phone call plagued her. It sounded as if Larry was trying to find out what was going on through her friend.

"You know, Aunt Polly, this trip has been healing for me. Things that had been in the background and puzzling, now are making sense. I've wondered so much about why things were the way they were with my family, now I'm beginning to understand a little."

"You look like you got the weight of the world on your shoulders, honey."

"I feel like it sometimes. In Chicago, it all seemed to run together, work, home, sleep, eat, and work again. I mean, look at that sunset. I've never taken the time to really see a sunset like that before, it's breathtaking." Maddy stood at the chipped porcelain sink and nodded outside. The purple and pink sky with white slashes of clouds broke through the last rays of the sun.

Aunt Polly had tied one of Aunt Madeline's aprons around her ample waist to protect her cotton housedress while finishing up the dishes.

"I know. I never get tired of the view anywhere around here, either." Folding the damp towel, she hung it on a towel rack and wandered outside with Maddy. They walked among the overgrown garden that bloomed brightly despite the weeds.

"Look, there's hollyhock back there. You say Tommy is coming over to do the lawn tomorrow?" Aunt Polly slapped at a mosquito and frowned at Maddy's bare feet. "You're going to step on something, young lady. Better get shoes on those feet." Her gentle reproach was music to Maddy's ears, someone cared again. She slipped an arm around her friend as they followed the stone steps to the adjoining gate.

"I'm going right back inside when you leave."

"Well, I'm leaving now. I'm beat. Since Alec is coming over tomorrow, I'm sleeping in. If you guys need anything just call." Aunt Polly yawned and opened the white picket gate.

"Aunt Polly?" The old woman paused, looking over her shoulder, pulling her favorite crocheted shawl around her.

"I think I've made up my mind to stay, not sell. I still have to figure out if I can afford it, but this..." she swung her arm wide to include the house and yard and sunset, "this is what living should be like. I really do love it here." Maddy swallowed a lump in her throat. Saying it out loud was emotional.

"Shoot. If one good sunset was all it took, I wish I'd drug you out in the yard before. But, you have to listen to your heart and decide in your own good time. Good night, my dear. Lock up tight and sleep well."

Maddy nodded and waved, retreating on the cool stones up to her own back door, she went in and pulled the portable TV out and picked up the daily paper. The routine made her feel like an honest-to-goodness citizen of Nielsen. Even the local newscaster was beginning to look and sound familiar.

She slept well most of the night. Dreams faded in and out of her memory, scary things, unknown and lost things she couldn't understand. As she hugged her pillow after waking up breathless from something that frightened her, Maddy could hardly wait to tell Alec about her decision.

That thought intimidated her a little too, more than the bad dreams. He was a big part of the decision, whether she wanted to admit it or not. What if it,
they,
didn't work out? What was it that she was worried about? Loving him, she guessed. Did she? There was always that matter of trust.

Chapter
9

Saturday mornings in Chicago Maddy usually slept-in. But this glorious morning she woke up instantly, showered and anticipated Alec's arrival. She slipped on jean shorts and a cheery, red-checked gingham blouse she felt would be cool and just right for cleaning an attic full of dust and cobwebs.

"Good morning. Is anybody up yet?" Alec tapped on the back screen door, which was locked.

"Hi, come on in." She said smiling as she unlocked the door, "The OJ is frozen, but I just whipped up a batch of muffins, and the coffee is perking. How's that for domestic prowess?" Yanking off the apron Aunt Polly wore yesterday, Maddy held open the door. "Any offer to help when it comes to dark, scary places, full of spiders, deserves breakfast as well as my undying thanks."

"Hey, who said anything about scary places? All I said was I'd help you get the lights working in the attic." Alec joked.

He looked great in washed-off jeans and a red Nebraska tee shirt that accented his physique.

"I know. But, if you look up that dark stairway to the attic, it's scary. And I'll be the first to admit that I also hate spiders. How was your day yesterday?" She pointed to a chair and sat down across from him.

"Tiring, I had to go to Lincoln. Wish you could have been with me. It was a long ride home alone." Winking he took a bite of one of her muffins and chewed vigorously.

"Sorry you were all alone. However, Aunt Polly and I finished the whole upstairs, hope you're impressed. It looks great too."

"Bet that's a relief. Did you find any of the mysterious missing jewels?" He wiggled his eyebrows and kept eating.

"Unfortunately, no," she said, lost in thought.

"It's good to get the place cleaned up, what with it being for sale and all." He got up and poured coffee for them both, keeping his back to her. "When did you decide to sell out?" He asked stiffly.

"Sell?" Maddy looked incredulously at him. "Come on. Whatever gave you that idea?" She licked the butter from her fingers. Would he be surprised when she told him she was going to stay.

"Well, the
FOR SALE
sign in the front yard is usually a good indication." He plopped the coffee mugs down on the table and looked accusingly at her, his blue eyes probed hers.

"Alec, quit it. Quit teasing. I’m not selling." Then she recalled the 'one-time-only' showing Leland had talked her into. Jumping up she ran to the front door and leaning on the porch rail saw what Alec was talking about. Sure enough, a big FOR SALE sign and Leland's realty name right underneath it.
Darn him! Darn that Leland!
Just because he was showing it once he had no business planting a sign out there for all to see. She rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

"I think that means your house is for sale." Following Maddy out, Alec stood next to her and munched on another muffin. He took a big gulp of coffee looking from her to the sign. Wiping his mouth he pointed to it. "Did someone just put that there for no reason?"

"There's a perfectly good explanation, Alec." She began.

"I suppose." Alec didn't sound convinced and walked back into the house. Maddy could have ripped the metal sign in two with her bare hands, she was so angry.

"Alec, I was so excited about telling you something first, I forgot all about Leland and this deal. Why are you acting so funny about it? I'll take the sign down."

Maddy was angry with Leland but Alec was coming in a close second. He probably wouldn't believe her now so she let her temper get the better of her.

"Hey, look. If you don't believe me and you don't want to stay and help, please don't feel obligated." Maddy felt he was overreacting. Maybe her instincts about not getting involved with him had been right. This was just too hard on her heart.

"No, I said I'd help you today. I just thought you might have told me first rather than let me see a sign on your front lawn, is all. I told you I've gotten used to having you around." Picking up the flashlight and broom he started for the stairs with her trailing behind holding the dust mop and trash bags.

"Alec, will you slow down a minute? It may interest you to know I told Aunt Polly last night I decided to stay, although I'm having a few reservations about it now. I only let Leland show the house to one couple to get him off my back. Not that it's any of your business. I have an important decision to make concerning my life, mister. I have a good job back in Chicago and dear friends, with goofy names, true. But I care about them." She didn't tell him she felt a lot closer to the friends she'd made in Nielsen lately. But he had eyes, couldn't he see that?

"Fine. Of course you do." He said over his shoulder and continued upstairs.

"Fine." Maddy mimicked, as she stomped up the last few steps and walked past him to hold the door to the attic open. "Be careful, Alec." It was an innocent statement but he glared back at her, switching the flashlight on in her face, making her squint.

"Oops, sorry. There, it works now." Chuckling, he ducked from a swing she took at him and his clowning.

"Great. Now I'll see spots before my eyes for the next hour." She grouched at him.

"Look at it this way, you won't be able to see any of that scary stuff." He was enjoying this.

"Shut up and don't electrocute yourself, it'll detract from the sale of the house and Leland will never forgive you."

"Don't worry about me. You're sure feisty so early in the morning. Maybe I ought to just lock you in here. Hey, there's an old mattress in here."

"Only in your dreams, Buster. And I'm feisty, as you put it, when people are so darned stubborn." Maddy retorted but then said 'Bless You' when he sneezed. Hesitantly they went in further, the flashlight making a dull little splash of light.

"What else do you see?" She whispered and he chuckled.

"What are you whispering about?" He said in amusement and she couldn't help but laugh.