“I have to take the trash out, Mason. And I need to check the snowblower. I think I'll walk to the gas station for gas. You have things under control here, right?”
“Yes, sir, I do. The pie is coming along nicely. The stew is simmering. I'm going to do some laundry. Do whatever you have to do.”
“The boys need their vitamins. They're on the windowsill.”
“I took care of that, sir.”
“The pee pads need to be washed in Clorox.”
“I've taken care of that, sir. The boys' laundry is washing now.”
“You're right, Mason, you do have it under control.”
Hank grabbed his jacket and entered the garage through the kitchen. He checked the snowblower. He had an identical one at home in New York, so he knew how to work it. Alice was right, though, it was bone dry, as was the gas container. He made fast work of bundling the paper products and separating the glass and plastic bottles. Then he dragged the heavy trash cans through the snow and out to the curb. How the hell did Alice do all this? He was huffing and puffing when he made his seventh trip down the driveway.
Should he start to shovel the driveway, or should he slog his way to the gas station for gas? He looked around for the shovel but didn't see one. He snorted as he grabbed the gas can and started down the driveway. He stopped in his tracks when he heard Churchill bark. He strained to see through the snow. Is that Mandy on the front porch of the Carpenter house? What the hell is she doing now?
“Hey, what are you doing?” he yelled.
“Decorating. Why do you care what I'm doing?” Amy shouted back.
Hank sucked in his breath and got a mouthful of snow. He didn't mean to say the words, they just popped out of his mouth. “Do you need any help?”
Amy strained to see through the swirling snow. She could use some help. “Yeah,” she said before she could change her mind. Maybe she could get to the bottom of whatever it was that was bothering Hank.
He was on the porch a minute later, the orange gas can in his hand. “I was going for gas for the snowblower. I can do your driveway if you like. What are you doing?”
“I'm decorating Mr. Carpenter's front porch. I found all of our old decorations in the garage. Mom bought all of these reindeer one year and the sleigh. Don't you remember?”
“Yeah, yeah, I do remember. Your family won the prize that year for the best-decorated house. Why aren't you putting them up on your own front porch?”
Good question. “I'm not sure why. I just wanted to do something for Mr. Carpenter. He was always so big on Christmas even though he and his wife never had children. Remember how he used to say because he was a teacher all us kids were his children? Maybe it's a send-off of sorts.
“I came back home because I was trying . . . I wanted . . . I guess I was trying to recapture that last Christmas that I never had. You can't go home again, Hank,” she said sadly. “I wish so much that I had come back sooner. I wish I had told Mr. Carpenter how much he meant to me growing up. I wish so many things. I guess I'm trying to make up for that. Is it right? Is it wrong? I don't know, and I don't care. I just need to do this. For me and for Mr. Carpenter.”
Hank stared at the young woman standing across from him, tears in her eyes. “It makes sense to me,” he said. “You're the one who paid for the funeral, aren't you?”
“How did you know?”
“I went to the Mastersons' to leave my donation. She told me an anonymous donor called Mr. Dial and paid for it. Tell me right now, who is Amy Lee? What were you doing with someone else's credit card? I didn't know how to deal with it.”
Amy slid down on her haunches, her back against the front door. “Is that what your attitude was all about? Why didn't you just ask me?”
“Well, I didn't . . . All kinds of crazy thoughts were going through my mind. I was devastated when my thoughts . . . We were hitting it off so well. It was like a dream came true, then suddenly there was a glitch. I've been trying to deal with Alice and all that mess. So, who is Amy Lee? The name sounds familiar to me.”
“Me. I'm Amy Lee. Flo and the studio wanted me to change my name. Flo wanted to wipe this place, my early years away. And yet she stayed in touch with the people here. She made sure the house was taken care of, cleaned and aired several times a year. It just never made any sense to me.”
“Studio? What's that mean?”
“I'm a movie star. I work in Hollywood. I make pictures. Even got nominated for an Academy Award twice, but I didn't win.”
“You're a movie star! Well, damn! I guess that's why the name sounded familiar. I haven't been to the movies in years and years. Are you good?”
Amy laughed. “I get by. I came back here thinking I wasn't going to go back to Hollywood. I had thoughts of retiring after I finish out my contract. I might be able to buy it out, at least that's what my agent said. I never understood how I could be good at something I didn't like doing. I still don't understand it. I've had enough. I'm not sure I want to stay in Apple Valley, though. I was hoping to find some answers here. I know now the answers are inside me. This place is just a memory, but I'm smart enough to know I have to lay it to rest before I can go on. My big regret is it's taken me so long.”
Hank inched closer to Amy. “I don't know what to say. I feel stupid for jumping to conclusions. I'm sorry, Mandy. Or should I call you Amy?”
“My name is Mandy. I hated it that they took away my name. First my parents, Apple Valley, then my name. I was just a kid back then, and while I tried to deal with it, I guess I didn't do such a good job of it. What were you saying about your sister-in-law?”
Hank explained the situation. Amy burst out laughing and couldn't stop. “I'm on her side. Boy, did that take guts. She must really trust you, though, to leave her kids with you.”
“Well, I didn't do so good. Those kids hated me on sight. Churchill hated me and ran to you. I had to hire a nanny. A guy!” Hank said, his eyes almost bugging out of his head. “He had things under control in ten minutes. He cooks, does laundry. Hey, the guy is
IT.
” Then he told her about Ben's e-mail. “So for my Christmas present to the family, I hired Mason for six months to help Alice. Ben will be back home by that time to pick up the slack.”
“That's so wonderful, Hank! When are you going to tell Alice?”
“I can't tell her anything because I don't know where she is. She said she was going to a hotel to pamper herself.”
“No, no, that's not what she's doing if their financial situation is so precarious. She's probably staying with a friend and talking it all to death. She was overwhelmed, that's the bottom line. I give her another day, and she'll be back. She's a mother, she won't abandon her kids. Trust me.”
“You think?”
“I do, Hank. It's not easy being a single mom, and that's what she is with Ben away. It all falls on her. She's just one person, and there are just twenty-four hours in a day. She's frazzled. What you're planning on doing is a wonderful thing. I just wish there was a way to tell her to ease her misery.”
Hank nodded. “So we're friends again, right?”
“Of course. If you help me get the sleigh over here, I can finish up while you go for the gas. Are we still going to the wake this evening?”
“Absolutely, but we might have to walk.”
“I have boots, so it won't be a problem. Okay, let's go get that sleigh.”
Hank reached for her arm and linked his with hers as they trudged across the lawns to Amy's garage. Minutes later, the sleigh was on Albert Carpenter's front porch, and Hank was on his way to the gas station that was only a block and a half away. He started to sing “Jingle Bells” as he trudged along. He looked down when he felt something hit his knee. “Churchill!”
“Woof.”
“Hey, big guy, how're you doing? Where's Miss Sadie? Yeah, yeah, she's no fool, I bet she's sitting in that sleigh. It's just me and you, Churchill. You know what, I'm not even mad at you because Mandy's one in a million. You got good taste, I'll say that for you.”
“Woof.”
“Jingle bells . . .”
Chapter Seven
The caravan of cars leaving the snow-filled cemetery was several miles long. Albert Carpenter had been laid to rest, and the whole town had turned out to show their regard and to honor the man who had done so much for the education system.
It hadn't been a sad affair at all. More like a celebration of Albert's life. The wake that started at six the previous evening had gone on well past midnight to allow all the citizens of Apple Valley to pay their respects. They came in trucks, on sleds, on skis, and the sanitation workers had shown up on the town's snowplow.
During his teaching years, Albert had always conducted the Christmas Pageant, and when the actors took their final bow, the audience and cast alike had stayed to sing Christmas carols. And that's what they did this year before the funeral director closed the doors for the night. Until her passing, Mrs. Carpenter had been in charge of the refreshments. This night, Apple Valley's school principal did the honors.
So many memories had been shared, but the most poignant of all had been the story of Albert's financial problems that so few knew about. All his savings had gone to cover his wife's long illness. He'd been forced to take out a reverse mortgage that allowed him to continue to live in the house until his death. Albert Carpenter had died with just a few dollars in the bank, but he didn't owe anyone a dime. In fact, Charles Leroy from the bank said he'd made his final payment to the hospital just two months ago. Then he said something that brought tears to everyone's eyes. “Albert didn't want to join his wife until all his earthly debts were paid. It wouldn't look right or feel right knowing he was leaving others to pick up his slack.”
Hank drove carefully in the long procession, no more than five miles an hour. “I thought the Apple Valley Band did a good job,” he said. “You know what else, I'm glad you decided to decorate Albert's porch. I bet the town awards the prize to him this year. Posthumously.”
“I liked that we all sang carols, just as we used to in school. It was sad, and yet it wasn't sad. He was so loved. Apple Valley and the people here are so special, Hank. There's so much kindness and goodness here. People actually care about one another. They help out and don't expect anything in return. It's not that way in California. Well, maybe it is, but I've never witnessed it. It's not just the season, is it, Hank?”
“No, Mandy, it's not just the season. This little place is just one of a kind. I used to think I should come back here and live, but then I told myself no, I needed to leave, to move on so someone else could move here and experience this life. For me to stay would have been selfish. Ben now. Ben was different. He said his roots were here, and he wasn't digging them up. This was home to him, and while he and Alice have lived all over, this was the place he always came back to.
“When we were growing up, the population was just a little under four thousand. Today it's almost six thousand. That's not a great increase, but it's something to pay attention to. I do know one thing for certain: I'll come back here to retire.”
“Me, too,” Amy said happily. “So, are we going to go sledding this afternoon or not?”
“I'm up for it, but first we have to go to the dinner at the church. I offered our services, but Father Mac said if he got any more volunteers, he'd have to move out. In other words, all we have to do is show up and eat. It's all under control. That was a good thing you did, Mandy.”
Amy's face turned pink. She just nodded.
Hank pretended he didn't notice her discomfort. “I'm not sure, but I think I saw Alice at the cemetery. She was so bundled up, and the crowd was so dense, I can't swear to it, but I think it was her. She really liked Albert. Ben told me when she cooked she would always take something over. He was partial to peach pie, and she'd make it special for him in the summer when peaches were in season. When in the hell is she going to come home? It's almost Christmas.”
Amy shrugged. “My guess would be when she can't stand being away from her sons one minute longer. Which is probably any minute now. Did you finish everything on her lists?”
“Almost. I have to get the tree and put it up. I guess I'm supposed to shop for the boys. I'm clueless in that department. Alice always decorates the house, so I guess I should do that, too, since she'll want to take pictures to send to Ben.”
“I have an idea, Hank. Instead of going sledding, let's go get all our trees and set them up. I remember Mom saying you have to put it up in the stand, then let it sit for a day so the branches fall into place. I'd like to put one on Mr. Carpenter's porch, too. I think for sure that will make him a shoo-in for the Christmas prize. After we take care of that, we can go shopping for the boys. What say you?”
Hank reached over to take Amy's hand in his own. “I think that's a great idea.”
Amy thought her hand was going to go up in flames. “Something's happening to us, isn't it?” Her voice was little more than a whisper.
Hank's response was husky, almost tortured. “Yeah. Yeah, something is happening. It's a good thing, isn't it?”
Amy laughed. “From where I'm sitting, a very good thing.”
Hank squeezed her hand. She squeezed back.
The church parking lot was so full, Hank had to park two blocks away. Once they managed to get inside, they had to get in a line that wrapped all the way around the room and out the side door.
Amy found herself standing next to Karen Powell from OK Florist. They chatted a few moments while Hank met up with a friend of Ben's. “Do you have any extra poinsettias, Karen?”
“A shipment was due this morning. It might have been delayed with the snow, but sometime today for certain. Why?”
“Will you send two dozen plants to the Anders house? Hank and I are going to decorate it today. As a matter of fact, we're going to get the trees this afternoon.”
“You might not know this, but I'm selling trees myself. We have them staked up in the nursery. You might not have seen them. And, we deliver!” she added, laughing.
Amy laughed. “Put us down for three trees. We'll stop by when we leave here and tag them.”
“Will do.”
Â
It was after one o'clock when Amy and Hank climbed back into Alice's SUV to do some Christmas shopping. The crowds in the small village carried gaily colored shopping bags as they walked from store to store. Children bundled in snowsuits and mufflers pulled sleds filled with packages. Gaily dressed Santas stood in doorways handing out candy canes and hot chocolate. Holiday music wafted from loudspeakers mounted on the telephone poles that surrounded the square.
Apple Valley was small-town America at its finest.
“This is nothing like New York.” Hank laughed as he accepted a cup of hot chocolate from an elf standing in the doorway of Jones's Pharmacy. Amy opted for a candy cane. They moved on, finally coming to stop at a small toy store. Inside, they turned into little kids, their selections outrageous until they stopped in their tracks, looked at one another, and reminded themselves the twins were just a year old. Sheepishly, they replaced the Barbie and Ken dolls and the catchers' mitts.
When they finally left the store, the stock boy tagged along behind them, their purchases piled high on a dolly. After they were loaded into the cargo hold and the door shut and locked, Hank turned to Amy, and said, “Do you think we'll have this much fun when we buy toys for our own kids?”
Whoa.
She turned around hoping she could be cool.
Cool?
Amy's heart was beating so fast she thought it was going to leap right out of her chest. She struggled for a flip answer of some sort. Nothing came to her. Besides, Hank was looking at her so intently, she needed to respond. “Don't you have to ask me to marry you before the kids come? You haven't even kissed me yet.”
“Not true,” Hank said lightly. “I kissed you once, and I never forgot the feeling. That kiss lasted twenty-one seconds.”
“You counted the seconds?” Amy asked in awe.
“Yeah. I thought I was going to black out. I was in love with you. I realized I was still in love with you the minute I set eyes on you.”
Amy was so light-headed with Hank's declaration she reached for the side mirror to hold on to it. Hank had just said he loved her. That's what he said. The words were still ringing in her ears. All her dreams were finally coming true. She was supposed to say something. What?
Hank shuffled his feet in the snow. His voice sounded so anxious when he said, “Your turn.”
The words were stuck in her throat. She wanted to say them. Instead, she leaned forward, grabbed his jacket in her mittened hands, and yanked him forward. She planted a lip-lock on him that made her head spin.
“Twenty-
seven
seconds!” she shouted gleefully when she came up for air.
The sound of handclapping brought both of them to their senses as a small laughing crowd moved off.
“Wow!” was all Hank could think of to say.
“That's it, wow!” Amy said. “You up for an encore?”
Hank groaned. He was no fool. He moved closer. All the years of pent-up longing melted away when he brought his lips down on hers. This moment he knew seared his future. When he finally released her he looked into her eyes and saw what he knew was mirrored in his own. In a low, husky voice, he asked, “How many seconds?”
In a voice as shaky as Hank's, Amy said, “Are you kidding, I wasn't counting.”
“Oh, who cares? You going to marry me?”
“If that's a proposal, the answer is yes.”
Hank backed up a step. He looked to Amy like he was in a daze. She smiled.
He smiled.
“We should go to pick out the Christmas trees, Hank.”
“Yep. That's what we should do,” Hank said.
“But are we going to do that?”
Hank groaned as he opened the passenger-side door for her. “Yes, that's what we're going to do, but later, we are going to do other things.”
“Promises, promises.” Amy giggled.
My God, when was the last time I giggled? Never, that's when.
She leaned back and closed her eyes. She realized she had never been as happy as she was at this moment.
Hank laughed, a joyous sound. “There's something you need to know about me. I never make a promise I don't intend to keep. I don't know when I've been this happy,” he blurted.
Amy laughed again. “Me, too. It's such a wonderful feeling. More so because it's the holiday season. Everything seems to be special during this time.” Her voice turned serious a moment later. “But there's Mr. Carpenter and Alice. Are we being . . . ?”
“No. It was Albert's time. Alice . . . well, Alice made her own decisions. While we both understand that, we're doing what we think is right. We're doing what we can for Alice. Albert. . . is beyond our control. Somehow I think he would be very happy for the both of us. No, that's wrong, Mandy. I
know
Albert would be very happy for us. Okay, enough of all this. Are you ready to pick out the biggest, the best, the most-wonderful-smelling tree in the lot?”
“I'm ready, Mr. Anders,” Amy said, hopping out of the truck.
Â
An hour later they were covered in pine resin, but they had three trees that Hank said were the best of the best. The young guy working the tree lot shoved the trees through a barrel. They came out the other end covered in white netting. They watched as he loaded them into a pickup truck and hopped into the cab, where he waited for instructions.
While Hank paid for the trees, Amy explained where the trees were to be delivered. The young man nodded and peeled out of the parking lot, snow spiraling backward in his wake.
“Bet you five bucks those trees are home before we get there,” Amy said, walking hand in hand with Hank back to the SUV. “Wait! Wait! We have to buy tree stands.”
Together they walked back to the tree lot, where Hank picked out three stands capable of holding the big trees. He whipped out his credit card, paid for the stands, then they were on the way home. A light snow started to fall again as they hit the main road.
“Pay up,” Amy said when Hank swerved into the driveway. All three trees were exactly where Amy had told the youngster to put them. Hank kissed her instead.
“That'll work.” Amy giggled again. She felt like a teenager as she helped Hank cut away the netting to set up the tree in the stand on the Carpenter front porch. When they were finished, Hank stood back and said, “It's a beauty, perfect in every way. Tomorrow we can decorate it.”
“Oh, it smells so good. Growing up, you could smell the tree all over the house. I loved it then as much as I love it now. I guess it's the kid in me. That won't change, will it, Hank?”
Hank for some reason knew this was a very important question, and he had to give just the right answer. “Memories are a wonderful thing, Mandy. Sometimes they fade in time, but if you work at remembering, then I think they'll be with you forever. The special memories. Like this one. Christmas was always the best time of year when we were kids. All the wild anticipation, the frenzy of the shopping, the tree, the snow, the way the house smelled. Ben and I used to talk about it. For the most part I think he and Alice pretty much duplicated everything. For them it was easier because they're in the house we grew up in. I know it was different for you after . . . but see, you still have those wonderful earlier memories.” He looked at her expectantly to see if she was in agreement. She smiled, and his world was right side up.