Day? Back when Kelli still lived at home, she and Dad had always made a point of fixing a nice breakfast in bed for Mimi, usually accompanied by a gift certificate for a day at a spa. This year, Kelli wondered how her real mother would be celebrating. “Your mom has always been such a do-it-yourself-type person. I’m surprised he could convince her to agree to a move like that.”
“You wouldn’t be so surprised if you knew Kevin better. He’s a master manipulator. He played it off to Mom that he wanted her to be closer to the grandkids, yada yada, and when she didn’t go for that, he threw in a whopping dose of guilt about what a burden it is on the family to have her so far away. That’s what got her to give in.” Julie shook her head. “Her independence was the one thing she always valued most, and now she’s lost it just that quick.”
“That is so sad.”
“I was the only one of the four kids against it, so I was overruled. Poor Mom, I heard her crying after she went to bed last night.”
“If she’s leaving, why are they continuing the remodel?”
“It’ll make the place look better when it goes on the market next month.”
“Can I go over and tell her good-bye?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She put a hand on Kelli’s arm. “I don’t blame you a bit, you did the right thing. But last night, Mom said she wished she’d never answered the door when you came over. Seeing you right now would not be a good thing for her.”
Kelli looked toward the Layton house and thought about the wonderful woman who had lived there for at least fifty years and now was having to leave because Kelli had tried to help her by telling the truth. Why hadn’t she just kept her mouth shut? It would have been better for everybody. “Will you . . . tell her something for me? When you think she is ready to hear it?”
“What?”
“Tell her I’m sorry.”
Julie sighed and stood up. She kept her eyes focused toward her mother’s house. “Yes, when the time is right, I’ll tell her.” She turned and walked away without looking back.
10
K enmore made it just in time. He’d been putting money in the floor safe when he’d realized it wasn’t going to be so easy to get back to his feet. He reached for the nearby chair, barely able to grasp it with his right hand, and slid it toward him. Finally, he was able to push himself up. He’d just made it to standing when Shane pranced into his office.
“What’s the matter with you? You’re huffing and puffing like you just ran a marathon.”
Kenmore glared at his son. “What exactly are you doing here?” He reached forward and pretended to wipe a spot on the desk. In truth, he simply needed a place to lean.
“Glad to see you too, Pop.” Shane crossed his arms across his chest and grinned. “I could ask you the same question. It’s Saturday evening, supposedly your day off.”
“Two of Ashley’s grandkids have the stomach flu—apparently so does her daughter. She called me and asked if I could take over so she could help out, not that it’s any of your business.”
“Maybe it’s time you think about selling this place.”
“And do what?”
“Spend your days fishing. Learn to relax a little. You’re sixty-two. A lot of people retire at sixty-two.”
Did Shane know something or was he just talking? “Sit around by myself and get old, you mean. You can peddle that snake oil somewhere else.”
“Then why aren’t you getting serious about hiring someone to replace Frieda? Today is the perfect example of why you need another person.”
“Frieda didn’t work Saturdays anyway.” He made a point of looking Shane up and down. “You’re looking downright pretty.” He nodded slowly and grinned. “Fancy-looking dress shirt and khakis. I’m betting there was a tie at some point today. The real estate business is making quite the fine gentleman out of you.”
“Quit trying to change the subject. Why wouldn’t you hire Ronny? He
“You wouldn’t be so surprised if you knew Kevin better. He’s a master manipulator. He played it off to Mom that he wanted her to be closer to the grandkids, yada yada, and when she didn’t go for that, he threw in a whopping dose of guilt about what a burden it is on the family to have her so far away. That’s what got her to give in.” Julie shook her head. “Her independence was the one thing she always valued most, and now she’s lost it just that quick.”
“That is so sad.”
“I was the only one of the four kids against it, so I was overruled. Poor Mom, I heard her crying after she went to bed last night.”
“If she’s leaving, why are they continuing the remodel?”
“It’ll make the place look better when it goes on the market next month.”
“Can I go over and tell her good-bye?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She put a hand on Kelli’s arm. “I don’t blame you a bit, you did the right thing. But last night, Mom said she wished she’d never answered the door when you came over. Seeing you right now would not be a good thing for her.”
Kelli looked toward the Layton house and thought about the wonderful woman who had lived there for at least fifty years and now was having to leave because Kelli had tried to help her by telling the truth. Why hadn’t she just kept her mouth shut? It would have been better for everybody. “Will you . . . tell her something for me? When you think she is ready to hear it?”
“What?”
“Tell her I’m sorry.”
Julie sighed and stood up. She kept her eyes focused toward her mother’s house. “Yes, when the time is right, I’ll tell her.” She turned and walked away without looking back.
10
K enmore made it just in time. He’d been putting money in the floor safe when he’d realized it wasn’t going to be so easy to get back to his feet. He reached for the nearby chair, barely able to grasp it with his right hand, and slid it toward him. Finally, he was able to push himself up. He’d just made it to standing when Shane pranced into his office.
“What’s the matter with you? You’re huffing and puffing like you just ran a marathon.”
Kenmore glared at his son. “What exactly are you doing here?” He reached forward and pretended to wipe a spot on the desk. In truth, he simply needed a place to lean.
“Glad to see you too, Pop.” Shane crossed his arms across his chest and grinned. “I could ask you the same question. It’s Saturday evening, supposedly your day off.”
“Two of Ashley’s grandkids have the stomach flu—apparently so does her daughter. She called me and asked if I could take over so she could help out, not that it’s any of your business.”
“Maybe it’s time you think about selling this place.”
“And do what?”
“Spend your days fishing. Learn to relax a little. You’re sixty-two. A lot of people retire at sixty-two.”
Did Shane know something or was he just talking? “Sit around by myself and get old, you mean. You can peddle that snake oil somewhere else.”
“Then why aren’t you getting serious about hiring someone to replace Frieda? Today is the perfect example of why you need another person.”
“Frieda didn’t work Saturdays anyway.” He made a point of looking Shane up and down. “You’re looking downright pretty.” He nodded slowly and grinned. “Fancy-looking dress shirt and khakis. I’m betting there was a tie at some point today. The real estate business is making quite the fine gentleman out of you.”
“Quit trying to change the subject. Why wouldn’t you hire Ronny? He
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