Zach nodded, the movement curt. He didnt want any side excursions into high school memories. He had intended to take Meredith to their senior prom, going so far as to sell his beat-up old car in order to have enough money to do it right. But fate, in the shape of Margo King, had intervened.
You know that the house went to your stepmother after your fathers death, of course, Jake said, raising a questioning eyebrow.
He nodded. The only surprising thing was that Wally Randal had hung on to enough money to pay the taxes and keep from losing the place altogether.
Im not sure why the property comes to me, he said. Im not related to Ruth.
Jake shrugged. I guess she didnt have any other family. Her will was clear enough. Everything goes to you. Unfortunately, as I mentioned in my letter, the house is badly run-down. If you want to sell
Definitely, Zach interrupted him. As soon as possible. Can you refer me to a real estate agent?
Jake frowned, his frank, open face looking suddenly older. To tell you the truth, I doubt you could find anyone to take it on. Its in such bad shape I dont know how youre going to find a buyer.
Zach could only stare at him. Hed ignored the place since hed heard that he owned it. Now, it seemed, he was going to pay the penalty for that.
Youre telling me that I own a worthless piece of property, and I wont be able to get rid of it. He glared at Jake, who returned the look with interest.
Youll recall that I sent you several letters asking you to come back and deal with the place. You didnt.
So it was his fault. Hed like to deny it, if he could think of anyone else to blame, but he couldnt.
Okay. Zach blew out a long breath. Where do I go from here? If he stopped paying the taxes, the place would eventually go up for sheriffs sale, but he couldnt bring himself to do that. It would be proof that he was trash, just as the good people of Deer Run had always supposed.
As I see it, you could either do the minimum amount of repair work to make the place saleable. There might be a trace of sympathy in Jakes face. Or you could have the house demolished and try to sell the lot.
Either way, his legacy was going to cost him. The old man would be laughing his head off, if he knew about this from wherever hed ended up.
You have an opinion about which? Zach raised an eyebrow.
Jake shook his head. Yes, that was definitely sympathy in his expression. Sorry. Thats not for me to make a recommendation. If you want the opinion of someone in real estate, you ought to talk to Colin McDonald. You remember him from high school, dont you?
Zach nodded. Another one of the in crowd. Presumably theyd all stayed here, where they could be big fish in a small pond. Ill give him a try.
Jake reached across the desk, holding out a set of keys. In the meantime, Id suggest that the first thing you ought to do would be to take a look for yourself.
Zach forced himself to take the keys, fighting down a wave of nausea. That wasnt the first thing he wanted to do. It was the last thing.
* * *
IF SHE CONCENTRATED on what Sarah had asked of her, Meredith decided, she might be able to keep her mind off Zach. She would not let herself wonder why she hadnt seen him since the previous day, or what he was finding to do in Deer Run.
Reminding herself of her good intention, Meredith walked quickly down Main Street and turned up Church. Church Street, named for the two houses of worship which faced one another on opposite sides, sloped gently uphill to Maple, where Victor Hammond, heir to the Hammond Grocery chain, had built a dream house for his wife, Laura.
There would be no taking over the comfortable old Victorian house where Victors parents had lived. Gossip had it that Victor had been so surprised and pleased when Laura accepted him that hed have given her anything, including the ultra-modern home that now sat uneasily among its more traditional neighbors.
Since no place in Deer Run was too far to walk to, Meredith had walked. The problem was going to be finding Laura both at home and accessible. The secondary problem was having some believable reason for dropping in on her.
Well, shed create some logical excuse for her presence. If she were going to find out anything else about Aarons death after all these years, Laura was the obvious place to start.
The clearing at the dam had been the meeting place for Laura and Aarons ill-fated romance. The curiosity of three ten-year-old girls had been more than up to unraveling that little secret. Theyd known, and theyd been awed by the Romeo-and-Juliet story of Amish and Englischtheir golden knight involved with the most beautiful girl in the valley.
But Aaron had died at the dam, and Laura had never been the same since. That had to add up to something. Perhaps Laura had broken up with him and hed taken his life in a moment of despair, or maybe hed been showing off for Laura and had fallen, to be caught up in the treacherous swirling waters. Try as she might, Meredith couldnt come up with any other likely alternatives.
Meredith approached the wrought-iron gate and stopped, hand on the cool metal. The grounds surrounding the house were professionally cared for, she felt sure. She couldnt picture Victor cruising along on a riding mower, or Laura deadheading the chrysanthemums.
Merediths breath caught. It looked as if the way had been paved for her. Laura, her face hidden by a floppy-brimmed hat and a pair of dark glasses, sat on a wrought-iron garden bench, motionless. Was she admiring the gold and bronze of the mums, or staring into space?
Even as she watched, Laura stood. She paused, as if shed forgotten what she was about to do, and then drifted wraithlike along the path between the rosebushes.
She wouldnt get a better chance. Meredith slipped through the gate and hurried toward the rose garden.
Laura?
Laura turned at the sound of her name, her expression, or what Meredith could see of it with the barrier of the glasses and hat, oddly stiff. For an instant she seemed about to speak but instead made a gesture, which Meredith decided to interpret as an invitation to join her.
I hope you dont mind my dropping by without calling first, Meredith said.
Of course not. The polite words took a visible effort. Its always nice to see you, Meredith. Laura pulled off the dark glasses, managing a smile. I was just enjoying... The sentence trailed off, as if it took too much effort, and she gestured vaguely at the roses.
Your roses have been beautiful this year. They were about past their prime now, a sentiment that could apply equally well to Laura.
What had become of the prettiest girl in the valley? In recent years, Meredith had thought Laura resembled a childs fashion doll with her perfect face, perfect hair and perfect clothes. Today she looked...empty. There seemed no life at all in the blue eyes half-hidden by drooping lids.
Yes, lovely, Laura repeated. The gardener does it all. She cupped one overblown blossom in her hand. You wanted... Again the sentence trailed off.
Fortunately the flowers had given Meredith a reasonable excuse for her presence. The church womens group is having a flower stand at the Amish school auction tomorrow. If youd like to donate some of your blossoms, it would be appreciated. I could come by early tomorrow and pick them up.
All of that was true, although not, strictly speaking, her reason for being here. Still, she was bending the truth for a good cause, wasnt she?
Laura nodded, her attention still on the rose in her hand. Fine, fine. Her fingers tightened on the rose, and with a quick wrench she pulled it off. The flower disintegrated in her hand, petals scattering on the flagstone path.
The sudden violence of the gesture made Merediths stomach twist. She tried to think of something to say, but came up empty. If she intended to bring up Aaron, shed better do it.
These are too perfect, Laura announced. She caught another of the full red blossoms and subjected it to the same fate.
You...dont care for the red ones? That was an inane question, but she couldnt think of a better one.
Too perfect, Laura said again. She reached out as if to destroy another bloom, but then her hand fell to her side, the animation draining away as quickly as it had come.
I wanted to ask you... Meredith began.
The little white roses grow wild along the edge of the field. Laura swung on her, frowning. You know that, dont you?
Yes, of course, she said, feeling as if shed stumbled into some dark version of Wonderland. Everyone knew the wild roses that grew with abandon if given a chance. They practically had to be firebombed to be gotten rid of.
Those are real roses, dont you think? Lauras expression turned dreamy. Aaron brought me those. She smiled. You remember. Hed scratched his hand on the thorns, but he said it was worth it. I kissed it to make it better. You remember, dont you? Her tone demanded an answer.
Yes, I remember, she soothed. Thats a nice memory.
Why was Laura so insistent that she remember? Maybe she was thinking of the three young girls following her and Aaron around that summer. Theyd never given away those secret meetings between Laura and her Amish lover. Maybe that idea had planted itself in Lauras apparently scrambled thought processes.
I remember a lot about that summer, she went on, watching Lauras face for a reaction. Aaron really loved you.
Yes. Lauras smile was dreamy, and she stroked her cheek with one of the despised roses. He loved me. We were going to get married. But then She stopped, her expression shifting in an instant. It all changed. Why did it change? She grasped Merediths arm, her nails digging into the skin. Why did it change?
I dont know. Meredith fought to keep her voice soft. Why did it?
I dont know, either. Lauras face crumpled like the roses. That last night...
What about that last night? Her heart thudded in her ears.
That night Lauras breath caught on a sob.
Its all right, Laura. Dont worry about it. Meredith put her arm around Lauras waist.
She was ashamed of herself, tormenting this poor creature by asking questions. And yet, even though shed come here for that reason, she hadnt had to bring up the subject. It was as if her presence was enough to send Lauras thoughts back to that lost summer.
You have to know, Laura said. She pressed her fingers to her forehead. You know, dont you? Her eyes pleaded with Meredith.
Im not
Well, Meredith. What a surprise.
She spun around to see Victor puffing across the lawn toward them, his round face caught between anger and worry, it seemed.
Meredith moved a step, aware of some insensible desire to shield Lauras tears from her husband.
Its nice to see you, Victor. She managed what she hoped was a natural-looking smile. Laura and I were just discussing the possibility that you might donate some flowers for the womens association stand tomorrow.
Thats tomorrow, is it? He seemed to respond automatically while scanning Lauras face, perhaps gauging her emotional temperature. Yes, Im sure wed be happy to do so. Anything for a good cause. He edged around her to take Lauras arm, patting it. Isnt that right, Laura?
Thats right, Laura parroted, her expression blank.
Merediths stomach gave a decided wrench. Definitely time to beat a retreat. Laura wouldnt say anything else with Victor there, and judging by the way he grasped her arm, he had no intention of leaving Meredith alone with her.
Ill stop by in the morning to pick them up, she said.
No need. Victor waved his hand in dismissal. Ill have the gardener drop them off first thing. Down at the fire hall grounds, right?
Right. Most outdoor events of any size were held there, and the twice-yearly auctions to support the local Amish schools were a fixture.
Good, good. His attention on Laura, Victor began nudging her toward the house. Time you were having a rest, dear. You know youll get a headache if you stay out in the sun for very long.
Laura nodded, face empty. She walked toward the house next to him, as docile as a doll.
Poor Laura. Everyone in town knew about what Victor called her visits to a spa. The kind murmured of a nervous breakdown, while others speculated on rehab, drugs, alcohol. No one knew for sure, but the woman was clearly hurting, lost in one tragic event in her past.
Meredith hurried to the gate. Shed made a mistake in coming here. Anything she did to uncover the events of that summer was bound to cause pain to someone. She should never have gotten into this.
CHAPTER THREE
ZACH HAD COME to the conclusion that being back in Deer Run had turned him into a coward. Hed tried to walk over to the old house after his meeting with Jake Evans, but hed wimped out. Twice.
Too many bad memoriesmemories hed effectively buried for years but never quite gotten rid of. His boss had been right. He should have come back years ago to settle up with Deer Run once and for all.
He walked down Main Street, not sure where he was going but knowing he didnt want to go back to the bed-and-breakfast. He couldnt leave, and he wasnt ready to face the house yet. The tiny post office, its flag fluttering in the breeze, sat where it always had, and the imposing red brick of the bank still stood on the corner. There was a bench between them where a guy loitering to meet the girl he was forbidden to see could spot her coming out of her house.
Hed imagined that the years would make it easierthat hed have forgotten Meredith and that hed have come to terms with his father. Instead, the shadow of his old man could still turn his spine to spaghetti. And as for Meredith...
When hed seen her, the years had telescoped and hed been a love-struck seventeen-year-old again. At least he hadnt let her see that, he trusted.
Neither of them was the same person now, and imagining anything else could lead to disaster. He had to figure out how to make peace with his memories, and hed better do it fast, because Meredith was walking down Main Street toward him.
He sucked in a breath, telling himself to play it cool. She hadnt seen him yet. Her gaze was fixed on the sidewalk, and something had upset her usual equilibrium, setting a frown on her forehead and anxiety in the set of her jaw. It struck him that he might have been the cause, given how hed spoken to her yesterday.
There was a difference between being cool and being cruel. He didnt have the right to hurt her for decisions theyd made when they were seventeen.