SIX
“I have a surprise for you,” Milla told Paulette over breakfast. “Well, two surprises, actually. The first is this.” She handed her sister a tumbler of eggnog. “I made it myself. I know it’s your favorite durin’ the holidays.”
James poured himself some coffee and watched Paulette as she raised the glass up to her face and sniffed. “You remembered the nutmeg.”
“’Course I did.” Milla handed James the creamer. “I figured since you had a bit of a shock yesterday you could use a treat.”
“Nonsense. I couldn’t have paid for better publicity.” Paulette took a delicate sip of eggnog and then took another, rather unladylike slurp, and replaced the tumbler on the table with a thud. “That story will be picked up on the national level by tonight. I’m quite pleased.” She looked at James appraisingly. “You’re out and about rather early for a weekend. Don’t librarians lounge around reading or organizing their spice cabinets during their free time?”
Milla answered before James had the chance. “Our spices are already in alphabetical order, and James is gonna see a house that’s just come on the market. His Realtor lady called last night all excited.”
“Foaming at the mouth, most likely,” James mumbled.
“We are headin’ over to the Holiday Inn to visit with some special guests. And then we’re all goin’ out to lunch.”
Paulette’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve barely recovered from our mid-week foray to that disgusting goat farm. Who would these special people be?”
“Oh, just your children,” Milla replied casually.
“Truly? Chase is here?”
“ And Chloe.” Milla chided with a smile. “I thought it would be nice if we could all spend some time together before the weddin’.” Folding her napkin into a neat square, she hastily added, “Wheezie’s here too.”
Her face instantly darkening, Paulette scraped back her chair and placed her hands on her hips. “You invited Louise! How could you do that to me?” She pulled her cell phone from her purse. “You should have known better. I’m calling Willow and telling her to book us on the next flight home. I did not agree to be a participant in one of your Hallmark moments.”
Milla reached over and gently clasped her sister’s hand. “In case you didn’t notice-we’re getting old , my dear. Do you want to go to the end of your days without seeing your own sister again? She’s your flesh and blood, Patty. She looked out for you when we were little-keeping the Howell boys from picking on you, baking you special treats, sewing your dresses after you tore them climbing trees…”
“And what?” Paulette was angry. “I ruined her life in return? Is that what you’re going to say next? That I rewarded all those kindnesses by destroying her dreams?”
Grabbing Paulette’s other hand, Milla pushed the cell phone aside and stared fixedly into her eyes. “It is time for guilt and pride and blame to be set aside. What happened was a long time ago. If Wheezie was willing to come, to make peace with you , than you should be willing to hold your arms out to your eldest sister and embrace her.” James had never seen such a fierce determination animate Milla’s features. “You owe her that much, Patty.”
Paulette pulled away and fell silent. James hurriedly finished his breakfast of low-sugar oatmeal and loaded his bowl, spoon, and coffee cup into the dishwasher. He could feel both women watching him as he wrapped a scarf around his neck and zipped up his parka.
“You’ve always been such a sentimental fool,” Paulette finally said, her voice tinged with annoyance. “So after this charming family reunion, I suppose I’ll be allowed some time alone in order to bake your wedding cake samples.”
“Certainly.” Milla cleared the breakfast dishes. “And James will be ready and willing to taste them all this evening. Right, my dear?”
James paused. “Just a bite of each.” He then opened his pocket journal and recorded the calories he had just consumed.
Cinnamon & Spice Oatmeal 120 calories
Banana 110 calories
Coffee w/cream 40 calories
Not bad, James thought to himself. Though usually reluctant to leave the warm and cozy kitchen, he was more than happy to step out into the morning’s sharp cold in order to escape Paulette’s discontented stares.
Joan had offered to pick him up at her office so that they could drive to the house in one vehicle, but he had politely declined. James knew that she would use that opportunity to influence his opinion on the property by touting its fine qualities while de-emphasizing its flaws. She had already mentioned the fact that the owner was being relocated and was therefore very motivated to sell.
“It was a promotion, you see,” Joan’s voice was airy as she relayed this bit of gossip to James over the phone the night before. “So he doesn’t need to focus too much on profit. Apparently, his new house in Nashville is on a two-acre lot and has twice the square footage of the one they’re selling. It’s a good thing too because his wife is expecting twins, and though this house might be perfect for you , a bachelor, or for a couple with only one child, it’s rather tight for a family of four. Do you need directions?”
James had already driven by the house twice, so he knew exactly where it was. He desperately hoped the interior was in good repair, because he had liked the house occupying 27 Hickory Hill Lane upon first glance. A two-story cottage with a front porch and a fenced-in yard, the little yellow house seemed tidy and welcoming.
Even in winter, when the trees and shrubs in the yard were bare and the lawn was brown-tinged in its dormancy, the white icicle lights dripping from the porch eaves illuminated the entire façade of the home. The buttery paint color, the curls of white smoke emanating from the chimney, and the well-groomed appearance of the yard were very attractive to James, and he was anxious over the thought that someone else would snap up this gem before he had the chance to get inside.
“I hope you haven’t been waiting long!” Joan chirped loudly as she rattled a fistful of keys. She hesitated at the end of the front path, clasping her hands together theatrically. “Isn’t this a charmer?”
“I like it,” James admitted cautiously.
“Wait until you see how darling it is inside!” Joan unlocked the front door and asked James to wait on the threshold, and she breezed around turning on lights, her spiked boot heels clicking across the hardwood floors.
He then followed her mutely through a spacious living room, a brightly lit kitchen, and three small but comfortable bedrooms.
“The baths have both been redone and the appliances in the kitchen are new as of this year,” Joan trilled. “You’ll have to buy your own washer and dryer, but aside from that, you could practically move right in.” She frowned as they stood in the center of the third bedroom, which obviously belonged to a young boy. “I guess you’d have to remove all those glow-in-the-dark stickers on the ceiling and repaint that. Hopefully it won’t require sanding. I really wish people wouldn’t use those things! Too, too tacky!” She looked at James. “Do you want me to ask the seller to deal with that repair? It could be one of the terms of your offer.”
James was surprised. Had his immediate affinity regarding the house been that transparent? “That’s okay.” They returned to the kitchen and gazed out over the deck. “I’d like to walk around the backyard really quickly,” James said.
“Of course. I’ll stay right here and give you a moment to think.” The real estate agent pointed at a copse of trees lining the right-hand corner of the property. “And don’t worry about that swing set or the tree house back there. You could always get rid of those by putting an ad in the Star . People love getting something for free, whether it’s a swing set or lumber.”