River's Song - The Inn at Shining Waters Series (19 page)

"Oh." His expression grew serious. "I'm sorry."

"Eunice never could accept that her son married a . . .
a halfbreed.
I hate those words, but that's actually what she called me. That and
squaw.
Even in front of her friends. Her bridge club would be there and she would say things like, 'Oh, let my little squaw get that for you, Gladys.' Then she would laugh and act as if she was being funny, like she meant no harm, and like it didn't hurt me. I think it even made some of her friends uneasy. But she did it just the same."

Clark frowned. "What a cruel woman."

"As a result, I didn't spend much time in town, except to go to the library. But I wasn't comfortable being out and about. I'd order groceries and other things by telephone. And if I did go to town, I would try to avoid the sorts of places where I'd see any of Eunice's friends. Or even my daughter's. I know it was cowardly on my part, but once it became a habit, it was hard to stop."

"So I assume this is making you fairly uncomfortable right now, being in town like this."

With eyes cast downward, she nodded.

"Oh, Anna," he said in a compassionate tone. "I'm so sorry for all you suffered here. It's hard to believe anyone could be so unfeeling. But you must understand that it's your mother-inlaw with the real problem, don't you?"

"I try to tell myself that. But I would be lying to say it hasn't taken a toll on my self-esteem."

"How could it have not?" He reached over and took her hand.

Surprised, she looked up at him. His deep-blue eyes caught her off guard and she felt herself catch her breath.

"I think you're an amazing and wonderful woman, Anna. I'm sure your husband felt the same way. I'm just sorry your mother-in-law couldn't see who you really are. It is her loss." She forced a shaky smile. "Thank you."

"I don't know what to say that could help you to be strong, Anna, but I hope you'll try. And don't forget that I'm here with you. I'll be strong for you if you need it."

She thanked him again and he squeezed then released her hand. Now, holding her head high, she waited for him to walk around and open the door for her. Her worst fear was that she'd run into Eunice and some friends and it would be incredibly awkward and possibly humiliating for her. But they went into the café and nothing like that happened. Even so, she had very little appetite and it was hard to make small talk as she focused on slowly eating a bowl of vegetable beef soup.

"It's strange," she told him as they waited for the check, "but I don't know if I would've fully realized how unhappy I'd been here if I hadn't gone back. The difference between being here and being back on the river feels like the difference between darkness and light."

"Sometimes it's good to face our fears," he said. "It can whittle the bullies down to size." Then he paid the bill and asked her about guiding him on a short driving tour of the town. Eager to escape public eyes, she gladly agreed. The cab of the pickup felt reassuring and she relaxed a bit as she pointed out the highlights of the rather lackluster lumber town. And finally, he was parking in front of the office of Joseph P. Miller, Attorney-at-Law.

"Eunice isn't going to be at this meeting, is she?"Anna asked as Clark helped her out of the pickup.

"No. And I made it clear to Mr. Miller that I'm not here as your attorney, but if we need to find someone else to represent your case, we will do so. However, I hope it doesn't come to that. Mr. Miller sounded like a reasonable man."

Not only was Mr. Miller a reasonable man, he was no longer representing the Gunderson family or the lumber mill. He explained that a new attorney had that responsibility now." I can't say I'm sorry either," he told them. "Mrs. Gunderson came into my office last spring and, due to some demands she wanted to make, I decided it was time to part ways." He held up his hands with a weary expression. "I plan to retire next year and I was just getting too old for some of her shenanigans."

"So have you had a chance to go over my questions and concerns?" Clark asked.

Mr. Miller set a manila file folder on the table. "I have." He nodded to Anna now. "Do you remember how I tried to get you to come to my office that time?"

She explained what had happened with Eunice.

"I suspected as much. In fact, that was part of the discussion that led to your mother-in-law seeking out another attorney. About a month ago, I sent a registered letter to you and when it was returned, I learned that you had left the area with no forwarding address."

"What?"

He shrugged. "Your mother-in-law hasn't been cooperative in locating you."

"Which is why we are here," Clark stated.

It didn't take long before Mr. Miller made it clear that not only was Anna owed back money from a number of sources related to Adam's military service, she had also inherited money from his estate following his death. He stated all this in a matter-of-fact way, but by the time he handed her an envelope containing a rather large check, Anna felt confused and a bit light-headed. For a moment, she wondered if this was all simply a dream—a very abstract but pleasant dream.

I wish I could say that I understood everything that transpired in Mr. Miller's office,"Anna said as they drove through town." But the truth is, I felt a bit overwhelmed."

"That's to be expected," Clark said as he slowed for the one traffic light in town. "Not only are you inexperienced in the world of finances, you're also under a lot of emotional stress. Considering all that you've been through with your husband's mother, I think you're holding up remarkably well." He glanced at her. "And you're sure you want to go to her house?" He chuckled. "Face the lioness in her den."

Anna nodded. "I want to see my daughter. And I'd like to pick up the rest of my things, if you don't mind."

"Not at all."

She directed him to the white-columned house at the top of the hill. "Go ahead and park the truck right in front," she instructed him. "I don't care if Eunice doesn't like it."

"That's my girl." He nodded.

She took a deep breath, telling herself she could do this.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" he asked as put the truck in park.

She turned, looking hopefully at him. "Would you mind?"

"Mind?" He grinned. "Not at all."

"And do you think it would it be OK—I mean if things should get ugly with Eunice—if I made it seem as if you are my attorney?"

He nodded. "If you don't, I probably will."

She smiled shyly. "Thanks, Clark. You have no idea how much I appreciate your friendship."

As he went around to open her door, she slipped on her gloves, felt to see if her hat was properly in place, and even checked the front of her dove gray suit in case there was something from lunch on it. But it looked tidy. She'd sewn this suit last spring, wanting something presentable to wear to Lauren's graduation. Eunice had questioned Anna about the suit, asking where she'd gotten the funds to purchase such an expensive suit. Anna had explained it was only the price of yard goods and buttons as well as a carefully chosen Vogue pattern. But she'd felt proud that Eunice hadn't realized it was homemade. Especially since Eunice often made fun of Anna's housedresses, hastily sewn and not very fashionable.

Hooking the strap of her black handbag over her wrist, Anna held her head high and walked up to the front door and, for the first time in her life, she rang the bell. It had always been her job to answer the door, although it was never for her; it felt strange to be on this side now. She glanced at Clark, then decided to ring again, bracing herself for the angry face of her mother-in-law. But instead it was Lauren who answered." M
om?"
she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

Anna opened her arms and hugged her daughter. "Oh, Lauren, it's so good to see you. You look so pretty too." She held her at arm's length, taking in the pink-and-white striped sundress with a wide flowing skirt. Lauren's blond curls were pulled back in some new hairdo. "You seem older, darling."

Lauren laughed. "I am older. Remember I'm almost a college coed now." She glanced curiously over Anna's shoulder." Who's that?"

Remembering Clark, Anna did a quick introduction, explaining about how Clark's mother was an anthropologist doing research on the river. "Is your grandmother home?"

"Not right now." Lauren led them inside. The house looked just about the same, although it wasn't neat as a pin like it would've been if Anna had still been living there. She noticed dusty surfaces on furniture, dust bunnies on the hardwood floors, and windows with smudges. Not that she cared.

"That's probably good,"Anna said as they sat down in the formal living room. "I wanted to talk to you first anyway."

"You'll have to make it quick, Mom." Lauren glanced at the mantle clock. "Donald is picking me up in about ten minutes."

"Donald Thomas?"Anna felt worried. Donald Thomas was a few years older than Lauren, and had a reputation when it came to the local girls. Anna had overheard conversations among Lauren's friends and didn't understand why Lauren would want to be involved with someone like that. Then she remembered that Eunice and Donald's mother were good friends. Perhaps that was a factor.

Lauren nodded in a pleased way. "Yes, Donald and I just started going out. He's home from college. He's been at Oregon State, and when he heard I'm starting there in the fall, he sort of took me under his wing." She giggled in a coquettish way.

"What happened with Lou Anne?" Lauren remembered how another girl had been practically engaged to Donald.

Lauren waved her hand. "She's yesterday's news, Mom."

"Oh." Anna knew this wasn't the time to express her concerns. Perhaps there would never be a time since Lauren didn't usually take her mother's advice too seriously.

"Susan," Lauren called over her shoulder. "I'm downstairs." Lauren turned to Anna. "Susan's here today. She's dating Gordon Myers. The four of us are driving up to the lake together."

Susan joined them now. She was dressed similarly to Lauren in a full-skirted sundress, although hers was red-and-white polka-dots. Neither of the girls seemed appropriately outfitted for a day at the lake. Although Anna knew she was probably out of touch when it came to fashion—at least that's what Lauren and Eunice usually said. Anna smiled and greeted Susan, introducing her to Clark, then she redirected her attention to Lauren.

"Since you're in a hurry, I'll get right to it." She quickly explained that she was here to collect her things. "I plan to live permanently at my parents' house and I'd like—"

"What do you mean?"
Lauren demanded." I mean I'm planning to stay on the river, Lauren. I wanted to—"

"How can you do that to me?"

"You'll be in college soon, Lauren, and I'm sure you'll be busy with—"

"But there's the rest of the summer,
Mom.
And even after school starts, I'll still be coming back here to visit sometimes. You know, on weekends and holidays. And I might bring friends with me. I want you to be here, Mom."

"You could come to visit me on the river,"Anna suggested." Even bring your friends if you like."

Lauren laughed like this was ridiculous.

"I'm fixing the place up,"Anna explained. "I'm making guest rooms and—"

"
Mom!
You would seriously expect me to bring friends out there?"

Now Anna began to tell her how she was making it into an inn. How there were lots of things to do on the river, and how the beach was nearby.

"That sounds nice," Susan said pleasantly.

"Of course, you'd be welcome there too,"Anna told Susan." It's becoming a popular recreation area and—"

"But what about
me?"
Lauren demanded. "How can you just leave me here with Grandmother? I already told you how I'm having to do all your work with you gone. And it's just not fair."

Susan giggled and rolled her eyes.

"Lauren,"Anna said gently, "I don't understand why you think it's
my
work."

"Because you've always done it. And Grandmother says it's how you pay your way."

"But I'm not even living here now, honey. Why should I still be paying my way?"

"Because that's just how it is, Mom." She made a pout. "If you loved me, I'd think you'd understand that. I'd think you'd want to be here. It's your responsibility."

"Oh, Lauren," Susan teased. "You're starting to sound just like your grandmother."

Anna suppressed the urge to laugh, and Lauren's scowl just deepened.

"Lauren." Anna looked into her eyes. "I'd really love to have you come stay with me on the river. I think you'd be surprised at how nice it is there. It could be a very fun vacation for youn.Ad, like I said, you can bring some friends." She turned to Susan. "I'd love to have you come too, Susan. We could have such a good time."

"It's really a lovely area," Clark told the girls. "I suspect it's going to become a popular vacation spot in the future. And the inn your mother is opening is very unique and quite comfortable."

"I think it sounds great," Susan said. "I'd like to go see it. To be honest, I'm getting a little sick of Pine Ridge. And Gordon likes to go fishing." She looked at Clark. "Is it a good place to fish?"

"The best," he assured her.

"Come on, Lauren," Susan urged her. "Your mom's offering us a free vacation and you're acting like a spoiled brat."

Just then the doorbell rang and Lauren hopped up. "That will be the boys."

Anna stood too. "You will think about this, won't you, Lauren?"

Lauren's lower lip jutted out. "I'm still mad that you're leaving us, Mom. I think that's unfair."

"Don't worry," Susan said offhandedly, "I'll talk some sense into her."

Anna attempted to hug Lauren, but it was like hugging porcupine. "I love you, honey."

"We gotta go, Mom." Lauren hurried off and the two girls grabbed up their bags and things, then burst out the front door without even inviting the young men to come inside. Not that Anna was surprised. Lauren had seldom bothered to introduce her friends, not even to Eunice. And if Anna tried to intervene, it usually resulted in an unfortunate scene. Usually, Eunice would defend Lauren's bad behavior, saying that she'd already met the person in question. It always felt like the two of them were pushing Anna farther away, keeping her on the outside of their inner circle.

Anna sighed as the front door closed. "I feel like such failure as a mother."

"Don't worry. I'm pretty sure we all feel like that when our kids are this age."

"I guess I should go start gathering up my things," she said.

"Need any help?"

She started to say no. She didn't want him, or anyone, to see where she'd lived all these years, a small room by the laundry room—the maid's quarters. Then she realized she no longer cared. This wasn't her anymore. "Sure," she told him. "I'll see if I can find some boxes in the garage first. I used to keep some stored in there."

"This is a nice house," he said as they went through the formal dining room and then through the swinging doors into the kitchen.

Anna laughed to see what a mess it was in there. "It used to look a lot tidier than this."

"Looks like your mother-in-law might need to hire a real housekeeper."

After finding the boxes, Anna led Clark to her old room." It's rather embarrassing," she admitted as she opened the door to the tiny room, "but this is where I lived."

Clark didn't say anything, but she could tell by his expression that he was uneasy in the small space.

"I'm sorry. If you'd rather wait out there, I can easily load these boxes myself and just—"

"It's all right, Anna. I guess I'm just a little dumbfounded. How many bedrooms did you say this house has?"

"Six."

"Yet you stayed here—in what I'm guessing is the maid's quarters."

"It was partly my own choice," she explained. "I used to have a room upstairs, back when Adam was alive. It was later on, when Eunice or Lauren was entertaining and there was a need for more room, I'd stay down here. Finally, I realized this was actually rather convenient. I could check on laundry or something in the oven without constantly running up and down the stairs." She held up her hands. "And I suppose it gave me some space . . . my little getaway from my mother-in-law."

He nodded. "That makes sense."

It didn't take long for Anna to get the boxes packed and for Clark to carry them out to the truck. He was just picking up the last box for her when she heard her mother-in-law's shrill voice. Calling out loudly, Eunice was demanding to know who was in her house.

"Oh, dear." Anna tossed an apologetic look at Clark and picked up her handbag. "Time to face the music."

"Who parked that utility vehicle in front of the house?" Eunice called out as she came through the kitchen. "I want it moved immediately. Take it around to the—"

"Hello, Eunice,"Anna said calmly as she stepped into the kitchen.

"Anna?"
Eunice clasped her chest with her hand. "Good grief, girl. You nearly scared me to death. What are you doing sneaking around here like this?"

"I'm sorry. Lauren let me in. Then she left with her friends— just a few minutes ago."

Eunice nodded, getting a slightly smug expression on her face as she slowly removed her white gloves. "I see you've returned to your senses then, decided to come back to where you belong. It's about time."

"No, actually, that's not why I'm here. I simply came back to see Lauren—and to pick up my things."

Eunice's countenance darkened. "What do you mean
pick up your things?"

"I mean I'm going back home. To
my
home." Anna nodded to where Clark was just emerging from her room with a box in his arms. Without fanfare, she did a quick introduction.

Eunice scowled with displeasure. "What, may I ask, is he doing in your room, Anna?"

"That's not my room anymore,"Anna said simply. "Clark is just helping me to move my things."

"Just like that you're leaving us?" Eunice set her alligator handbag on the kitchen counter with a thud, dropping her gloves on top. "What about your daughter, Anna? What about your responsibilities to her? Are you just abandoning her?"

"I told Lauren she is welcome in my home at any time. My home will be her home."

"What sort of home could that possibly be?" Her lips puckered like she'd bitten into a lemon. "That nasty backwater place with no electricity or plumbing or—"

"You're wrong about that," Clark injected. "Anna is making some very nice improvements to her property. It's turning into what I predict will one day be a destination place—a delightful river resort."

"I can only imagine." Eunice's tone was full of disapproval.

"Before I leave,"Anna began slowly, "there's something I want to tell you, Eunice. We met with Joseph P. Miller today."

"Oh?"
Eunice's icy blue eyes flickered, and unless it was Anna's imagination, her papery complexion grew slightly paler beneath the rouged cheeks.

"Mr. Miller told me that, uh . . ." Anna wasn't sure how to say this. "Well, he explained the financial situation to me. But I found it rather confusing. His account is much different from yours, Eunice." Anna glanced at Clark helplessly.