Where Azaleas Bloom (11 page)

“I thought I’d take them over to the beach this weekend. They
used to love going to Sullivan’s Island.”

“It was one of their favorite family outings,” she agreed.

“When I mentioned it, Jeremy was all for it, but Lexie refused
to go.”

“Really? She didn’t say a word to me about it.”

“You need to talk to her, straighten out this attitude she has
toward me.”

Lynn stared at him incredulously. “If she has an attitude, who
do you think brought it on? Not me, Ed. That’s all on you and your parents. It’s
up to you to fix it. You might start by warning your mother not to bad-mouth me
in front of them. Lexie, especially, is very protective of me these days.”

“Which you’ve no doubt encouraged,” he said.

She stared at him in amazement. “Are you really that clueless?
I could praise you to the heavens, but she would still see that I was struggling
to put food on the table, that I couldn’t sleep trying to figure out which bills
I could pay with the few dollars left in the bank.”

“You should have kept all that from her,” he said
stubbornly.

“It’s hard to keep it a secret when there’s no food in the
refrigerator or the cupboards. Do you have any idea how many times we’ve had
dinner at Carter and Raylene’s?”

“Why is that a big deal?”

“They included us because they knew the situation was dire over
here. Mandy picked up on that from Lexie. Raylene figured it out for herself
when I came to her looking for a job.”

“So now half the town considers me some kind of deadbeat?” Ed
demanded. “Thanks for that.”

“You can thank Jimmy Bob for that,” she corrected. “Has your
attorney turned up? Will he be in court tomorrow?”

Ed finally squirmed uncomfortably. “He filed for a continuance.
Hal Cantor granted it. Hasn’t Helen told you?”

Lynn’s gaze narrowed. “When did this happen?”

“Late yesterday. Jimmy Bob’s still out of town.”

“Doing something more important than showing up in court for
his client?”

“He’s tied up, that’s all I know.”

“And you believe him? Maybe he’s taking an extended vacation
with the money he was supposed to be paying me in child support or our bank for
the mortgage.”

“I told you I’d taken care of that,” Ed said stiffly. “It won’t
happen again. I’ll pay closer attention or I’ll handle it myself.”

“Look, how you handle it is none of my concern as long as you
don’t leave me and the kids without food on the table or a roof over our heads.
Understood?”

“Crystal clear,” he said. “Now, about Lexie.”

“Talk to her yourself,” she repeated. “Despite everything
that’s happened recently, she adores you. I’m sure with all your charm you can
think of the right words to get through to her.”

“When did you get so cold?”

“I’m not cold. I’m learning to stand up for myself,” she said,
then actually smiled. “Thanks for that, by the way. It’s something I should have
learned to do years ago.”

“Does this new attitude have something to do with Mitch
Franklin?” Ed speculated. “How much is he hanging around here?”

“I told you I’ve been working part-time for him.”

“And were you working for him when you and the kids were with
him at Rosalina’s?” he inquired, seemingly delighted when the question brought a
blush to her cheeks. “Didn’t think I’d hear about that, did you? You should have
known better. Three people had called me before you ever left the
restaurant.”

“Nice to know your spy network is thorough,” she said. “But
what I do these days or whom I see is absolutely none of your business. I don’t
ask what you’re up to.”

“It’s my business if they’re hanging around my kids.”

“Do you have some kind of problem with Mitch?” she asked.

“I just don’t like walking into my house and finding him with
my wife at eight o’clock in the morning. Was he here all night?”

Lynn stood up, trying not to let him see that she was trembling
over his outrageous insinuations. “Get out, Ed. And don’t come back here without
making arrangements ahead of time.”

For an instant he looked taken aback by her fury, but then his
expression turned smug. “So, that’s the way things are,” he said. “I thought you
were smarter than to fool around right under my nose.”

“Get out now,” she said. “I mean it.”

Thankfully he didn’t argue. The second he was gone, she sat
down hard and picked up the phone. She dialed Helen’s number, though the first
two times she got it wrong because she was shaking so badly.

“What’s the matter?” Helen asked as soon as she heard Lynn’s
voice. “Are you crying?”

“Trying not to,” she said. “Ed was just here.”

“I’ll be right over.”

“You don’t have to come,” Lynn said, but she was talking to
dead air.

Not ten minutes later, she heard a car squeal to a stop out
front and Helen burst into the house through the door Ed had obviously left
unlocked.

“What happened?” she said, her hands gripping Lynn’s shoulders.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

Lynn shook her head, even as she burst into tears. After an
awkward beat, Helen gathered her close.

“Oh, sweetie, nothing can be that bad. Don’t shed a single tear
over that man.”

Lynn finally calmed down enough to draw in a deep breath. She
took the tissue Helen handed her and dabbed away her tears.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how furious and upset I was until
I saw you. Then I kinda came unglued.”

“Do you have coffee?”

Lynn managed a small smile. “Given the morning I’ve had and the
parade of people stopping in, it’s a good thing I thought to make a big
pot.”

At the kitchen table, she filled Helen in on Ed’s visit and his
hints about her relationship with Mitch.

“Could he make something out of that?” she asked worriedly.
“Mitch has been so kind to me. I don’t want him to get dragged into the middle
of my divorce because of that.”

“I wouldn’t put anything past Ed or Jimmy Bob, but you’ve done
nothing wrong, Lynn. Nothing! You need to remember that.”

“Ed says the court date has been pushed back again.”

“Unfortunately, yes. I just found out this morning. I gather
that happened right at the end of the day yesterday. Hal Cantor’s office was
very apologetic when they called this morning. His clerk said he’s fit to be
tied about all these delays and excuses from Jimmy Bob.”

“Is there a way to stop this?”

“First I have to find Jimmy Bob,” Helen said. “The investigator
told me last night he has a lead. He thinks he’s in the Cayman Islands.”

“Why on earth would he go there?”

“He’s on an extended vacation, or he’s hiding out from
something or someone. The investigator’s going down to check it out.”

Lynn stared at her with alarm. “I can’t afford to pay expenses
for a trip like that.”

“Not to worry. Ed will cover it if I find that they’ve dreamed
this up as a way to avoid bringing the case before the judge. If not, I will.
I’d love to be the one to catch Jimmy Bob with his fingers in some cookie jar
where they don’t belong.”

Lynn was a little surprised by the venom in Helen’s voice. “You
really don’t like him, do you?”

“I like him fine,” Helen corrected. “I just don’t trust him,
and I think he’s a disgrace to the profession.” She studied Lynn. “You okay
now?”

“Better, thanks.”

“Then I’d better get back to my office. I had three clients in
the waiting room when I ran out. Barb’s probably ready to string me up by now.
She hates it when my schedule gets thrown off, especially when I’m the one
responsible for ruining her orderly plan for the day.”

“Apologize to her for me,” Lynn said.

“No apology necessary. And it gives me a chance to remind her
once in a while that it’s still my office and I’m the boss. She forgets that
from time to time.”

“Thanks for coming over.”

“Anytime, you know that. I’m not just your attorney, I’m your
friend.”

Tears stung Lynn’s eyes once more, but she managed to keep them
in check until Helen had gone. Then she allowed them to flow freely.

11

T
he minute Jeremy came home from school, he
raced past Lynn and headed straight upstairs with barely a greeting. Minutes
later, he’d changed his clothes and was about to head right back out when Lynn
snagged the back of his shirt.

“Hey, you, don’t you want a snack?” she asked.

“There are snacks?” he asked, the question all too telling
about the way things had been recently.

Lynn nodded. “I baked cookies.”

Her son’s expression immediately brightened. “Chocolate
chip?”

“Of course.”

He pumped his fist in the air. “All right!” Ignoring the milk
she’d poured, he grabbed a handful of the still-warm cookies and started once
again for the door.

“Don’t you want to sit here and drink some milk with those?”
she asked. All afternoon she’d been craving a return to the old days when the
kids would share their day with her over a snack.

“Can’t,” he mumbled, his mouth full.

“Why not? Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

“Next door. Remember, Mitch said I could help.”

“Does he know you’re coming over this afternoon?”

“Uh-huh. I told him when I was there yesterday.”

Lynn frowned. “You were there yesterday?”

“And the day before. Don’t freak out, Mom. He said it was
okay.”

“I’m just wondering why you didn’t mention it to me. I thought
you’d gone over to your friend Ray’s house.”

He shrugged. “It’s boring over there. All he wants to do is
play video games. This is more fun.”

Lynn resolved to make sure Mitch was as thrilled about it as
Jeremy obviously was. “Don’t make a pest of yourself, okay?”

“No way,” he promised, darting off.

She shook her head as the screen door slammed shut behind him.
Two minutes later, her phone rang.

“I hear your son neglected to mention that he’s been coming
over here after school,” Mitch said. “You okay with that?”

“I am, if you are,” she said. “But, Mitch, don’t feel obligated
to let him stay if he’s in your way.”

“Actually, he’s a good helper. I might have you cut a paycheck
for him this week.”

“Absolutely not,” she said, certain he’d be doing it only to
put a few more dollars into her pocket.

“I’m just saying he works hard. He should be rewarded. A child
is never too young to understand the value of a strong work ethic.”

“I can’t disagree with you about that.” She hesitated, then
said, “Are you free for dinner? Jeremy’s been asking for steak and baked
potatoes, and I finally had enough in the budget to get them yesterday. I
thought we could barbecue on the back deck.”

Nerves stirred at his silence.

“It’s fine if you have plans or if you don’t want to,” she said
hurriedly. “It’s no big deal.”

“I’m just wondering if it’s a great idea, given the way Ed
reacted to finding me over there this morning. I got the distinct impression he
wasn’t pleased.”

“He doesn’t have a say,” Lynn said heatedly, then sighed. “But,
to be honest, I wanted to talk to you about that. Maybe after dinner?”

“Okay, sure,” he said at last. “Do you know how to work that
fancy grill I’ve seen out on your deck?”

“Turning it on scares me to death,” she said. “I’m always
convinced the gas will explode in a huge ball of flame.”

“Then leave it till I get there,” he suggested. “Grilling’s
about the only form of cooking at which I excel.”

“I’m happy to leave it to you,” she said, relieved by his
offer.

“Six-thirty okay? I’d like to go home and shower before I come
by.”

“That’s perfect,” she said. “See you then.”

That gave her only slightly more than two hours to toss a
salad, bake the potatoes and panic over whether she’d just made a terrible
mistake.

* * *

When he’d finished his call to Lynn, Mitch found Jeremy
sitting on the floor raptly watching Terry Jenkins cutting the trim for the
windows.

“How does he know how to make the corners fit together?” Jeremy
asked Mitch.

“Come over here with me,” Mitch said, taking him over to his
worktable. He sketched out the angles needed for the cuts, then demonstrated how
to mark them on the wood. “Then the machine does the rest.”

“It looks easy,” Jeremy said. “Is it?”

“Once you get the hang of it,” Mitch told him. “Want to
try?”

Jeremy’s eyes lit up. “Can I?” Then his excitement faded.
“That’s a saw, isn’t it? Mom said no saws.”

“I think her biggest worry is that you’d try to do something
without supervision, but you’re not going to do that, right?”

“Never,” Jeremy promised, sketching a cross on his chest.
“Promise.”

“Then I think we’re okay. Hey, Terry, how many more pieces do
you need for that frame?”

Terry glanced at Jeremy, clearly guessing Mitch’s intention.
“You gonna take over for me?” he asked the boy.

Jeremy nodded excitedly.

“How about I help you out this time?” Terry suggested,
positioning himself behind Jeremy. “You see the line I’ve marked?”

“Uh-huh,” Jeremy said, his brow knit in concentration.

“Then you put your hands here, and here,” he said, covering
Jeremy’s little hands with his work-roughened ones as Mitch stood by, grinning.
Terry was a master carpenter with grandchildren of his own. Mitch knew he’d done
exactly this with them on many work sites over the years, introducing them to
his craft with gentle guidance. He’d taught Mitch much of what he knew as well,
taking him under his wing when Mitch had started hanging around the work sites
with one of Terry’s sons.

Satisfied that the boy was in good hands, he walked back over
to check the specs for the fieldstone he needed to order for the fireplace. He’d
barely glanced at the paper when he heard Jeremy’s whoop of exhilaration.

“I did it!” he shouted, then came running back to Mitch. “See,
look. Terry says it’s just right, that he can use it on the window. I made
something that’s gonna be in Raylene and Carter’s house, like forever!”

“Good job,” Mitch enthused. “Since it’s almost time to shut
down for the day, how about sweeping up around here? You up for that?”

“Sure,” Jeremy said as if Mitch had offered him an equally
exciting task, rather than what his men considered necessary drudgery.

He grinned as he watched Jeremy tackle the task with extra
exuberance. When Terry joined him, he gave Mitch a knowing look.

“Kid’s cute,” Terry said.

“And eager to learn,” Mitch replied.

“His mom’s not bad-looking, either.”

Mitch frowned at his longtime employee. “Do you have a point
you’re trying to make?”

“Just saying I’ve seen you over there a time or two
lately.”

“So?” Mitch said defensively.

“Settle down,” Terry said. “I’m not criticizing. If you ask me,
it’s about time you had a little fun in your life again. It’s what Amy would
want for you.” He smiled. “And Lynn, she’s good people.”

“Okay,” Mitch said slowly, sensing there was more on his old
friend’s mind.

“Ed’s another kettle of fish. He’s not going to be happy about
your poaching on his turf.”

Mitch had realized the same thing this morning, but he couldn’t
help defending himself—and Lynn—to Terry. “The divorce is practically
final.”

“
Practically’s
not final,” Terry
cautioned. “A lot of people in town respect Ed, though I’m not entirely sure
why. Some folks are conservative in their thinking. You don’t want to get them
to talking about Lynn, do you?”

“Of course not,” Mitch said. “It’s not as if we’re running
around flaunting some big romance. We’ve been out once with the kids, that’s
it.”

Terry’s deep laugh rumbled in his chest. “Yeah, that dinner at
Rosalina’s hit the grapevine before the two of you got your sodas.” He looked
directly into Mitch’s eyes. “Word of advice from a man who’s lived his life in
this town?”

Mitch nodded reluctantly.

“It’s not what you do in plain view that’s gonna get you into
trouble.”

“Meaning?”

“Your truck in her driveway late at night or early in the
morning. That’s going to stir talk, the kind you don’t want. Park right here at
Raylene’s. She won’t care and you’ve got a legitimate reason for being
here.”

As much as it annoyed Mitch to be told he needed to be sneaking
in and out of Lynn’s, especially when he’d barely stolen so much as a kiss, he
could see Terry’s point.

“Will do,” he said. “Thanks.”

Terry nodded toward Jeremy. “Take your helper there on home.
I’ll finish up in here.”

“Thanks, again,” Mitch said. “I’ll do that.”

And he resolved that when he came back for dinner at Lynn’s
tonight, he’d walk.

* * *

Lynn listened to Jeremy’s report on his afternoon
helping out on the construction site with a mix of delight and annoyance. She
loved seeing her son so excited, but hadn’t she made herself clear to Mitch what
he was and wasn’t allowed to do?

The minute Mitch returned from his quick trip home to shower
and change, she frowned at him. “A miter saw? You let my ten-year-old use a
miter saw?”

Jeremy winced. “Sorry I blabbed,” he whispered to Mitch, then
scampered from the kitchen to the safety of the back deck.

“Did he mention that Terry was right there with him?”

“You mean the same Terry who lost the tip of his finger on the
job a couple of years ago?” she said wryly.

Mitch had forgotten all about that. “He’s the one,” he
confirmed. “Taught him a valuable lesson, so he’s extra careful now.”

“I’m not quite ready for Jeremy to be learning those kind of
valuable lessons,” she said, standing in front of him, hands on hips.

Before she guessed his intentions, Mitch leaned in and kissed
her. She thought she heard him murmur, “God, you’re cute,” just before his lips
settled on hers.

He never once touched her beyond the contact of their lips, but
the kiss took her breath away just the same. She sighed when he eventually
pulled away.

“You are not going to win an argument by kissing me,” she told
him when he stepped back. Needing to cool off, she took a minute to stick her
head in the fridge as she grabbed the lemonade she’d made earlier. When she
emerged, he was smiling.

“Were we arguing?” he inquired innocently. “I thought you were
ranting a little and I was just listening.”

She blinked at that, then sputtered, “Now that’s just plain old
condescending, Mitch Franklin. I was trying to get through to you that I need to
know my son is going to be safe over there or I’ll have to keep him at
home.”

His expression sobered at once. “Jeremy will always be safe
with me,” he said quietly. “He’s your son, Lynn. I’d never put him at risk.”

“Then we’re clear?”

“We’re clear.”

“No more saws,” she said flatly. “I told you that the other
night. It’s one thing for Jeremy to ignore my rules. It’s entirely another for
you to do it.”

“To his credit, Jeremy reminded me of the rules.”

She seemed surprised by that. “He did?”

“Yep, first thing out of his mouth.”

“Then what were you thinking?”

“That when a kid shows a real interest in something, that
interest should be encouraged, as long as it can be done safely and with strict
supervision.”

“So you’d let him jump out of a plane, if he sounded excited
about it?” she inquired, trying to determine just how far that philosophy of his
might go.

“With the right equipment and a certified instructor, who
knows? Maybe.”

“That’s insane.”

“Okay, he’s probably a little young to be jumping out of
planes,” Mitch conceded. “But can’t you see my point? Kids shouldn’t be
discouraged from trying new things, as long as their safety’s not at risk. Once
adults put a damper on a kid’s enthusiasm for things and set too many limits for
them, it’s death to their imaginations.”

Lynn sighed. She could see that Mitch was probably the ideal
father for boys, one who’d give them the freedom to test their limits. She
wondered if that same freedom would extend to girls.

“Did you ever wish you had a daughter?” she asked as she handed
him a glass of icy lemonade, then took a sip of her own.

He seemed startled by the question. “Sure, but we decided two
kids were plenty. Is there some reason you’re asking?”

“Just wondering how you’d react if your fourteen-year-old
daughter expressed a genuine interest in, say, going to a boy-girl party.”

He frowned. “Would the parents be there? Do I know them? How
late?”

She chuckled. “There you go. I knew I could find something that
would freak you out the same way the thought of that saw freaks me out.”

Mitch chuckled. “Okay, you got me. I live by a double standard.
I’m an old-fashioned guy who still believes in protecting the women he cares
about, no matter what age they might be.” Suddenly his expression sobered.
“Which brings me to something I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Can it wait till we’ve eaten?” she asked, pulling a platter of
steaks from the refrigerator. “These should probably go on the grill now.”

He hesitated, then nodded. “I’m on it.” He took the platter and
went outside.

Lexie came into the kitchen just as he left, smiling. “He’s
here a lot. I think Mandy’s right. He has the hots for you.”

“You and Mandy talk too much,” Lynn said. “Take the salad
outside.”

Lexie accepted the bowl and the dressing. “Won’t change what I
know,” she said, though she dutifully did as she’d been told.

When Lynn started to go outside a few minutes later with the
foil-wrapped baked potatoes that she’d precooked in the oven, Jeremy was helping
Mitch with the steaks and Lexie was entertaining him with a story about
something that had happened in her French class. One of the other students had
suddenly started speaking Spanish, momentarily confusing everyone, including the
teacher.

“Mrs. Riley looked as if she ought to understand what Melinda
was saying, but she didn’t have a clue,” Lexie said. “Then it finally dawned on
her that Melinda’s bilingual in Spanish and had just slipped up.”