Susannah's Garden (Blossom Street #3)(53)

Susannah didn’t understand why everything had to be about fun. Chrissie would experience a rude awakening when she discovered that there was more to life—that fun was meant to be a diversion, not the main activity.

“I’m not really that much help packing up Grandma’s stuff, anyway,” Chrissie added, as if that excused her behavior.

Without another word, Susannah walked out of the bedroom, gathered up clean clothes and quickly showered. Afterward, feeling refreshed, she dressed and blow-dried her hair and decided to talk to Chrissie again, but it was too late. Her daughter had already left the house.

So much for that.

At nine-thirty Carolyn phoned. “Was it him?” she asked after the briefest of greetings. Her enthusiasm for this project was just the solace Susannah needed, especially after her initial caution about looking for Jake.

“No,” Susannah said. “Someone altogether different.”

“I have a little time this morning. If you stop by the mill, I’ll do some checking on the computer here.”

“Will I get a chance to meet the lawn-maintenance guy you mentioned? You did say he’d be mowing the grass outside your office, didn’t you?” she said mischievously.

“No.” Carolyn’s response was adamant. “And no.”

“I’ll try not to be too snoopy.” A renewed sense of hopeful anticipation filled her. “I’ll be there in about an hour.” Susannah felt like dancing as she hung up the phone.

She hurriedly ate a piece of toast, then drove to Altamira to see her mother. Vivian was tired and listless, insisting she’d spoken to George, who’d apparently visited in the middle of the night. The conversation delayed her an extra ten minutes while her mother repeated word for word the entire exchange with her dead husband. When Susannah finally left the complex, Vivian seemed grateful to return to her morning nap.

On her way out the door, Susannah made an appointment with the nurse. She felt it was time to discuss the state of Vivian’s mental health.

From the assisted-living complex, Susannah drove directly to the mill. She parked in front of the office in the vacant visitor’s slot next to Carolyn’s truck. As she parked, a battered pickup pulled out. It had to be the lawn guy. She tried to get a look at him, but failed.

Carolyn was waiting for her in the outer office.

“Who was the guy I just saw leaving?” she asked casually. “In the beat-up blue truck.”

“That was Dave,” her friend said, glancing around self-consciously.

“Any reason he stopped by?” She wanted to hear every single detail. “You told me he wasn’t working here today.”

“He came to get an update on Grady, the man who had a heart attack last week.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “I’m supposed to meet Dave later this afternoon to go over some ideas for my new flower beds.” Carolyn said this stiffly, as if she regretted ever commenting on her plans. Then she got up from her desk and closed the door.

“You really are keen on him, aren’t you?” Susannah asked.

Carolyn hesitated. “Is it that obvious?”

“Not really, but I know you.”

She exhaled sharply. “Call me a coward, but I’ve decided against the new flower beds. I…don’t think I’m going to go through with it.”

Susannah had hoped that Carolyn’s attraction to Dave would overcome her shyness and her fears.

Carolyn sat down at the computer. Purposely changing the subject, she said, “Like I told you, I had a few extra minutes this morning and logged onto the Internet. I found six other Jake Presleys.” With her eyes on the computer monitor, she reached for her mouse and hit the print icon. The hum of the printer started immediately.

“Six!” Susannah felt exhilarated, despite her nagging concerns about Chrissie.

Leaning back in her chair, Carolyn gazed up at Susannah. Her eyes narrowed slightly. “So how’s everything with you this morning?”

Susannah merely shrugged.

Carolyn gestured for Susannah to sit down, which she did.

“When we were in France,” she said, “I could always tell when you were unhappy. You get this look I can read a mile away.”

Susannah couldn’t see any reason to hide what was happening. “Chrissie and I had an argument this morning,” she confessed. “She’s spending the day with Troy. He’s driving into Spokane and she’s tagging along.”

“They’re together again?” Carolyn straightened, frowning slightly.

“That’s not all. I went to see Mom before I came here.” She mentally reviewed the disturbing conversation. “Mom insisted she talked to my dad again last night. Apparently he had an important message for me. She claims my father loved me deeply. Mom said Dad would never do anything to hurt me. He wanted her to tell me it was because he loved me that he got rid of Jake.” Susannah found it impossible to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

“Ask your mother to have him check up on my parents,” Carolyn teased.

“Very funny.”

“You notice I’m not laughing all that hard. In a few years that could be us, you know.”

Susannah sighed. “I know.”

The phone rang, reminding her that the mill was a busy place.

Carolyn grabbed the sheets from the printer tray and handed them to Susannah. “Good luck,” she said.