She understood his motives. “But we could sit outside after it gets dark?”
“Yes, we could if you want to. It will be cooler then.”
“And it would be more difficult for anyone walking past to see us, right? Or, rather, see me?”
“Now, Ellie…”
“Dad, I don’t want to hide inside this house all the while I’m here.”
“I just want you to be cautious. Your mother worries.”
He walked to the bay window overlooking the front yard and the street beyond and stood there staring out. It had been more than a year and a half since she’d been with her father, and there was a distinct difference in his appearance. He didn’t look well. His complexion had a gray tinge, and he’d put on a little weight in his belly.
“It’s going to be a hectic week before the wedding…,” he said.
“Yes, I know.”
“… and we don’t know where he is.”
“Evan Patterson.”
He turned to her. “Yes, of course Patterson. I would rest easier if I knew where he was hiding.”
“We can’t let him run our lives… ruin our lives,” she corrected. “He shouldn’t have that kind of power over us.”
He didn’t answer. The strain of worrying was there on his face. Her father was a distinguished-looking man with thick silver hair and handsome facial features. His shoulders were broad and straight, and she knew he tried to take care of himself, but stress could do so much damage, and he’d lived with it for years. All because of Patterson and his sick obsession with her.
She was beginning to wonder whether coming home was a mistake.
Changing the subject to something more pleasant, she said, “You painted the house since I was last here. I like the color.”
“We painted it last month,” he replied, smiling now. “Your mother has been on a cleaning frenzy because of the wedding. I’ll take you to see the apartment above the garage. We finally cleaned it out. It didn’t take much to spruce it up. The two bedrooms and the bath were in good shape, but we refinished the floors. All we had to do with the tiny kitchen was replace the stove and fix a pipe under the kitchen sink. Except for the plumbing and the electrical, your mother and I did most of the work,” he said proudly.
“What made you decide to do it now?”
“We have so many relatives coming in for the wedding, and not all of them will want to stay in the motels or the one fancy hotel we have here in town.”
“You should consider renting it out after the wedding,” she suggested. “I’m sure there are students at the university who would love to have the space.”
Her father shook his head and sat down on the sofa facing her. “Finishing the apartment adds to the value of the property,” he explained. “I don’t want any college kids tearing it up. This home is an asset, and that includes the apartment when it comes time to sell.”
She laughed. “Oh, Daddy, you love this house. You’ll never sell it.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m getting old, and all those stairs…”
“Mother loves this house, too,” she reminded him.
“I’m just saying sometime in the future.”
The conversation ended when the back door opened and her mother called out, “I need help carrying in the groceries.”
Ellie jumped up and ran to the kitchen. “I’ll help.”
Her mother was so surprised to see her, she nearly dropped one of the bags on the floor. She quickly turned to set them on the kitchen counter and then grabbed Ellie for a long embrace. “You’re early,” she exclaimed.
After Ellie had carried in the remaining groceries, her mother made her stand in front of her for an inspection. “Have you grown? I swear you look taller. Maybe you’re just thinner. Have you been eating? With those horrible long hours at the hospital, I’ll bet you’ve been skipping meals. Are you hungry, Ellie? I’m defrosting a chicken casserole. It should be ready to pop in the oven. What about something to drink? I could fix you-”
“Mother, I’m fine, and I’m not a guest,” she said.
Her mother smiled. “I’m just so happy to see you.”
Ellie pulled a chair out at the kitchen table, told her mother to sit while she put the groceries away, and to please catch her up on all the news.
“Ava will be dropping by tomorrow or the day after. She’s got so much to do still before the wedding. She and John just purchased the cutest little house about two miles from here. John’s taken a position at the Winston Falls Clinic,” she added.
Ellie put the milk in the refrigerator and folded the grocery bags.
“He’ll be working next to the hospital,” her mother went on. “Ava told me that dermatologists have set hours. That will be nice, won’t it? To get home for supper each night?”
Her mother was looking expectantly at her. She wanted some kind of a response or acknowledgment about Ava and John. Ellie refused to discuss either one of them, and so she stayed silent.
“Your father and I are thrilled that John decided to move here. It will be nice to have them so close.”
“When will Annie get here?” she asked, ignoring her mother’s comments about Ava.
“She can’t leave San Diego until Thursday, but she’ll be here for an entire week.”
Ellie pulled a chair out and sat down across from her mother. “You and Dad should go to San Diego sometime to visit her. It would be a great vacation for you.”
“Oh heavens, no. That would cost a fortune.”
“Are you worried about finances?” she asked.
It was a foolish question, she decided. Her mother and father were always worried about money. Just the expense of having her live so far away all those years had been a drain on them. The flights alone had been exorbitant.
“No, we’re not. We’re frugal,” she explained. “And we live on a budget.”
“The house looks wonderful, and Dad said the apartment is finished.”
“It was time we cleaned up this old house and fixed up the apartment.”
“You look great, Mom.”
It was a sincere compliment. Her mother was a beautiful woman. She still had the same figure as the day she was married. Ava and Annie shared their mother’s bone structure and coloring. All three were slender and had honey blond hair and blue eyes.
“It’s the new makeup. It’s supposed to make you look rested.”
Ellie laughed. “That’s a new one. I’ll have to buy some.”
“Listen, I know I didn’t want to discuss this before, but I’ve decided we need to talk about Ava, to clear the air before-”
Ellie cut her off. She wasn’t in the mood to hear about her sister. “I’d like to talk about Dad.”
“What about him?”
“When did he have his last physical? He doesn’t look good, Mom.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that. You’ll hurt his feelings.”
“Mother-”
“He’s tired, that’s all.”
“Maybe he should use some of your miracle makeup,” she said, her irritation obvious in her voice.
“Don’t you take that tone with me, young lady,” she said. “Your father is fine. He saw the doctor just last week.”
Her mother was defensive, and Ellie couldn’t understand why. She wasn’t attacking her father. She was concerned about him.
She decided to let that subject go, too. The list of what she couldn’t discuss was growing. Money and health and Ava. What was next?
Her mother reached across the table and took Ellie’s hand. “I’m so happy you’re home, and I’m sorry if I’m a little short. There’s just so much more to do.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Your father wants to paint all the bedrooms before the relatives arrive. He’s finished our room and the study across the hall from us, and he’s also done two of the bedrooms upstairs. He still has Annie’s old room. You could help with that.”
“I’ll be happy to,” she said.
Her father walked into the kitchen and put his hands on Ellie’s shoulders.