Christmas With Hover Hill (22 page)

She felt anger well up in her. “You are right. I am
hurt and upset at you. Just so you know, I had the best Christmas
I've ever had with a very nice family complete with a sleigh
ride.”

“
Oh, really? Didn't you miss me just a little.
I sure did miss you while I watched the football game and ate my
bowl of chicken noodle soup,” Scott said, sounding
bewildered.

The tone of Scott's voice made her feel sorry for
him. “You have to know I'd miss you very much no matter what I did
on Christmas,” Elizabeth said charitably.

“
Would it be possible for me to come visit? I
want to see you face to face. If you are still mad at me, I'll let
you poke me in the nose like you used to do when we were kids,”
Scott offered, genuinely sounding sorry.

“
All right, I do want to see you, and I'm not
as mad as I was at first. I suppose Steven told you I have been
living here.”

“
Yes, and Father called me to tell me you were
there,” Scott said.

“
I thought both of them might let you know,”
Elizabeth said. “Did Father tell you he has given me a month to
move in this house and move out again?”

Scott snorted. “No, he didn't, but sounds like the
old man.”

“
Did Steven ask you to pay him for the robot?
He left here mad, because I wouldn't let him take Hover Hill. I
told him the robot was my gift, and I'm keeping him.”

Scott laughed. “Steven didn't mention that, but good
for you. Do whatever you want with the robot.” The line became
quiet.

Elizabeth said, “Scott, are you still there?”

“
Yeah, I was debating if I should tell you the
latest gossip. Guess it wouldn't hurt. Steven is dating again. The
woman works at the gym he goes to.”

“
I'm glad he has moved on. That will keep him
from pestering me,” Elizabeth said honestly, feeling nothing but
relief. “We can catch up when you get here. Bye for
now.”

She hung up and started for the door. Bud would be
wondering where she went. The phone rang again. Scott must have
thought of something else he wanted to tell her. “Hello.”

“
Elizabeth, is it really you? Thank heavens,
you're alright. I have been so worried about you. I don't know
whether to be mad at you for scaring me half to death or happy that
you're alive.”

Elizabeth giggled. “Slow down, Zoe, and come up for
air. I'm deeply sorry that I worried you. I was afraid to tell even
you. If anyone knew where I went and let it slip, Steven Mitchell
would hunt me up. I didn't want to be found for a while.

Good news is I'm not in hiding anymore, and it's so
good to hear your voice. I have missed you, my friend.”

“
Well, in that case, I guess you are forgiven.
How soon are you coming home,” Zoe said.

Elizabeth heard a loud sniffle on the other end. “I'm
going to keep you posted about my plans from now on. I promise. I
just haven't decided what I want to do yet.”

“
You mean you might not come back to Cedar
Falls?” Zoe shrieked.

“
Oh, Zoe! I just don't know yet. I might stay
here in the country or in Wickenburg and teach at the school if
there is an opening,” Elizabeth explained. “You can come see me any
time you want, and I can come visit you.”

“
Okay, if you say so,” Zoe said. “Do you still
have that man robot?”

“
Yes, and we're getting along much better now
that we are used to each other. Oh, and I've met a man I like a
lot.”

“
So now the plot thickens. He might be the
reason you aren't coming back here,” Zoe said.

They chatted for a few minutes about mutual friends.
Finally, Zoe ended the call, because she had a date to get ready
for.

When Elizabeth walked out the door, the world
suddenly seemed brighter. She had her brother and her best friend
back in her life

During dinner that evening, Elizabeth set her coffee
cup down. Clasped her hands tightly together in her lap and hoped
that her announcement went over without much fuss. “Bud, my father
left town this morning. Susie called me to tell me I could pick up
the key. Father said it was all right to use his house now that he
isn't in it.”

Standing at the end of the table, Hover droned a deep
regret, but for once, he didn't offer his opinion.

“
You want to move out of here?” Bud
asked.

“
Yes, I do. You knew that this day was coming.
I still have a lot of thinking to do about my future. It just seems
to me I will be able to do that thinking in the peace of my
father's house by myself,” she explained. “I hope you're all right
with my decision.”

Bud said flatly, “Whether I am or not, at least you
didn't say you were going back to Cedar Falls. That's encouraging.
When do you want to move?”

“
As soon as possible.” Elizabeth added, “When
you have time to help me.”

“
All right, if you're sure that's what you
want, I'll help you move tomorrow,” Bud offered.

The move went as quickly as it did the first time.
Only in the reverse. Two weeks went by. Bud didn't come visit. He
must have taken her at her word that she wanted to be left alone to
think.

Elizabeth's plan to work on her book flew right out
the window. That would be the window in the living room that faced
the road. She spent most of her time there or sitting on the porch
steps, staring at the road and listening intently for the motor of
an old beater pickup.

One afternoon, Hover opened the screen door. The
rusted hinges squeaked, announcing he was behind her. “Would you
like this glass of iced tea?”

“
That sounds good. Thank you, Hover.” When
Hover handed her the sweating glass, she said, “I wish you could
get down here and join me. I'm tired of sitting by myself with no
one to talk with.”

“
It is not possible for me to join you on the
steps.”

Elizabeth sighed. “I know. Wait, I'm going to bring
two chairs out here so we can sit together.” Elizabeth hurried
inside and came back with two dining room chairs. “Open the door.”
Hover held the door while she maneuvered her way outside. She
plopped the chairs down side by side. “Now sit down, Hover.”

“
These are more words than you have spoken to
me in two weeks,” he droned as he eased down on the
chair.

“
I've decided it's too quiet here. I want
someone to talk to, and you're it,” Elizabeth said.

“
No, I am not it. Farmer is it. I am just a
poor substitute for the real thing. He is the one you miss talking
to, and you should have done something to rectify that mistake
before now,” Hover droned truthfully.

“
We should look at this from Bud's point of
view. He's glad he has his house back to himself again. You must
have noticed he hasn't been around for the last two weeks,”
Elizabeth surmised.

“
I noticed. I would say that is more your fault
than his,” Hover droned.

Elizabeth puzzled. “My fault. Why?”

“
You are pushing him away. You should make up
your mind soon to move back in with Farmer, or he will stop coming
altogether,” Hover advised.

“
Looks like you may be right. That may have
happened already. As much as I hate to say you're right, I have the
feeling Bud has given up on me. Why can't I figure out what I want
to do with my life?” Elizabeth moaned.

“
I do not know what your problem is. But as
Farmer would say, you need to get off the fence on one side or the
other and soon,” Hover said sagely.

“
Thanks for the advice, Paul
Harvey.”

“
I do not know him, but if he tells you the
same thing, he is a wise man,” Hover declared, standing up. “I have
work to do. Unlike someone else I know, I have not a problem
knowing what needs to be done.”

Elizabeth grumbled, “Go on. Leave me alone, and take
your chair back to the kitchen with you.”

“
No need. It will be in use soon enough right
where it is. Now I will go in and fix dinner for two.”

Elizabeth looked confused. “Two? Are you going to eat
with me?”

“
No.”

“
Have you got a hidden crystal ball in that
internal computer of yours that says two will be eating here at
dinner time?”

“
No, I just hear very well. Farmer is turning
off the highway and headed here as we speak,” Hover
said.

Elizabeth checked out the tree lined road. “I don't
see him.”

“
You will. Farmer told me to tell you he would
be here soon,” Hover added and went inside.

Elizabeth watched the road eagerly. When Bud's pickup
rumbled to a stop, he gave a slight wave to her through the
windshield and climbed out. He grinned as he ambled toward her with
his Paul Bunyan stride.

She tried to keep her voice calm as she greeted him.
“What are you doing here today?”

“
I had the Sunday fidgets,” he said as he sat
on the chair beside her. “Didn't Hover tell you I was
coming?”

“
He just did. Right now he is fixing you
dinner. How have you been?”

Bud ran his fingers through his hair. “Truth is, I
can't stop thinking about you. I thought if I stayed away I'd get
used to not being around you. That didn't work. My house is too
quiet.”

“
I just said something similar to
Hover.”

Bud said sincerely, “I can't stand being in my house
by myself. Truth is, I miss you like crazy. I even miss Robot.”

“
Now that last statement sounds pretty amazing
to me,” Elizabeth said and giggled. She sobered up when her eyes
met his.

“
How have you been?” Bud asked.

“
Fine. Busy. I've been working on my book as
much as I can.” The last she emphasized to keep from feeling like
she'd just told a complete lie.

“
That isn't what Robot told me. He said you're
so down in the mouth he can't figure out how to get you to cheer
up. He told me I should come try. You want to talk about
it.”

Elizabeth frowned. “Hover has become more your
confidant than mine. What is your secret? Some sort of bribe?”

Bud gave her an earnest look. “No, it's just that the
two of us are concerned about you.”

I expect you're waiting for me to tell you I missed
you. You should know I do,” Elizabeth admitted grudgingly.

“
I didn't know any such thing until I talked to
Hover. I haven't heard from you since you left, and you haven't
been much for telling me how you feel any other time,” Bud groused.
“I'm not a mind reader you know.”

Elizabeth thought a moment. “Funny, I don't remember
hearing the phone ring.”

“
You wouldn't have. Hover called
me.”

“
Really!”

Bud took her hand and squeezed it. “Now quit changing
the subject. For the first time in your life talk about what is
bothering you, and let me help.”

“
There is a problem, but when haven't I had a
problem. I only have until the end of the month to make up my mind
what I'm going to do. In two weeks, Susie is supposed to ask for
the house key back.”

“
Susie wouldn't do that,” Bud
defended.

“
She's has to do what Martin Winston tells her
to do. This is his house. You see he left a note for me to find on
the kitchen table after he left. He wrote that I could stay here
for one month until I found me a place of my own. Wasn't that
generous of him?

His advice was for me to move back to Cedar Falls and
go back to teaching. He's forcing me to, as Hover put it ,get off
the fence on one side or the other. At the same time, he thinks he
is strong arming me to do what he wants me to do.”

Bud ran his fingers through his hair. “Robot said
that about the fence? Well, the answer is right in front of your
nose. My solution to your problem is to move back in with me so you
have a roof over your head. Bag, baggage and Robot, of course. You
shouldn't have moved out in the first place.”

“
Funny, I've been thinking I may have been
hasty when I moved in with you to begin with. I wanted to get rid
of Steven in the worse way, and you did offer to hide me. Now the
threat is over. I still haven't made up my mind what I want to do,
but it is clear I will have to leave this house soon.”

Bud said solemnly. “Truth is, I got used to you
living with me, and I liked it. I can't imagine spending the rest
of my life without you in that empty house. I don't want you to go
back to Cedar Falls. What would it take to help make up your mind
about moving in with me?” He paused then added, “Course if you did
want to move in with me, I'd have to borrow Hover to help me clean
house before you see it again.”

“
It's only been two weeks. How bad could your
house look in that length of time?”

Bud gave her a faint grin. “I really didn't want you
to know how much of a slob I am until you were stuck with me.”

“
This is a whole new experience for me. I was
getting along just fine in my rut, teaching school and in the
evening at home with a book and a glass of wine. Or, so I thought.
Everyone is after me to make up my mind. I'm having trouble
deciding what I want to do.”

Bud went on the alert. “What do you mean everyone?
You talked to anyone else besides Hover and me?”

Elizabeth nodded. “Scott called to ask my
forgiveness. He wanted to know when I was coming home. My best
friend, Zoe, called to say she's glad I'm alright and wanted to
know how soon I was coming back to Cedar Falls.”