Chapter 21
“Married? My baby brother is getting married?” Irene’s tone was more subdued than John expected.
“You don’t have to sound so shocked.”
“I’m not shocked. I’m excited. Julie was wondering how fast it would happen. Monika was betting on days rather than months.”
“People were betting on us?”
“Oh come on, John. When the two of you are in a room together the rest of the world doesn’t exist.”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
“No, because you’re way too busy admiring Lucy. Not that she’s any better. So, is that the reason you’re calling before church?”
“That’s one of them. I need to borrow the small tractor with the trench backhoe and the tree felling attachments.”
“Why?”
“The tornado front on Friday knocked down about a hundred trees on the property. One of them totalled the trailer and another one totalled her car.”
“Is she okay?”
“As okay as anyone is after they lose their home. Phyllis Plunkett offered to put her up for the next three weeks. I’ve got custody of Bruno.”
Irene sounded confused. “Three weeks?”
“We’ve decided to get married September 15.”
“Are you sure?”
John smiled and relaxed. “Reenie, I’ve never been more certain of anything. The last time I felt this way was when we finished the restoration of the portico at the cathedral in Hanover. That was the day I decided I was going to get my master’s papers as soon as I could.”
“So, does Lucy need any help getting ready?”
“We had supper yesterday with Lily and Phyllis after we finished rescuing what we could from the trailer. Lily has decided that Lucy is one of her granddaughters and Phyllis is going to be the mother of the bride. You can try to help…”
“But I won’t get a word in edgewise. I wonder if Lucy is regretting taking their help already.”
John remembered Lucy’s tears of happiness when Lily made her offer on Saturday evening. “Lucy was raised by nannies and boarding school matrons until she hit fourteen then went to live with her eighty-five year old widowed grandfather. I don’t think she’s ever had a mother in her life before. And Phyllis didn’t have any girls. They’re both over the moon about it.”
“Okay. When do you need the tractor?”
“We’ll be by after church to get it.”
“It’ll be faster if Ernie drops it off. He’s got the right hitch on the big truck. And we’ll bring a picnic supper after the evening milking. Call me when you know how many I’m feeding. If I know you it will be a community effort so don’t worry unless it’s more than eighty people or you want something other than hamburgers. And yes I know where Lucy’s trailer is. We took the twins down to the swimming hole a few times. It’s beautiful there.”
“It’s not quite so beautiful right now but it will be again. See you around six thirty?”
“About then.” There was a pause. “Johnny?”
“Yes, Reenie?”
“I really like Lucy. I’m very glad she’ll be family.”
“Me, too, sis. Me, too.”
“I don’t know what he sees in that painted Jezebel.” Maggie Donlon commented to her daughter.
“I don’t know either, Mum. But I do know that he’s never looked at anyone else that way.”
“He should find a proper wife. Someone like you.”
Diana Donlon looked at her mother with resignation. “We went on one date, Mum. He’s nice but he’s not that exciting.”
Sitting in a nearby chair, Lucy contained her surprise. Not that exciting? Her man had half the women in the room sighing as they tracked his movements around the room. She remembered the first time she’d shown up at church. She’d arrived a little early and helped Phyllis set up for coffee time. She should have been prepared for the impact but when he arrived in his perfectly fitted summer weight suit in a dark forest green that made his blue eyes stand out… Well, it was more than just her who noticed.
Then he’d come over to stand next to her and there were as many fond looks his way as dagger stares her way. All of those initial looks had intensified this morning as the news of their engagement had rippled through the room. She looked around and spotted John joking with Jason MacDonald and his friend Aaron and wondered how she’d ever gotten along without him in her life.
I only met him six weeks ago, she thought. And we’ll be married in twenty days. She waited for the panic to arrive but a sense of completeness came in its place.
“Maggie, lass. Are ye finished trying to ruin Miss Wilkinson’s reputation?” Archie MacDonald joined the group. “Or are ye just trying to be inconsiderate? If ye’re goin’ tae gossip, ye should make sairtin yer victim is out of earshot.” Archie smiled in Lucy’s direction.
Lucy held her coffee cup up in salute and pasted a bland look on her face to cover her incipient giggle.
Diana turned red and opened her mouth to speak but her mother said, “Well, it’s indecent is what it is. If the baby is his they should have married months ago. And if it isn’t then the real father should step up.”
Lily Duncan toddled up. “Still stirring the pot, Maggie?” She shook her head sadly. “The father was killed in Afghanistan while serving with the Army. John’s brother Rob promised Nick to look after Lucy for him but …”
Diana’s eyes grew wide and she glanced at Lucy. “That’s horrible.”
Maggie Donlon interrupted. “Well, John should know better. That woman is no better than that tattooed hussy Megan Ritchie.”
Archie’s eyes grew hard. “Have a wee care, Mrs. Donlon, when ye speak o’ my family. Mrs. Ritchie is a fine young woman. I remember ye from before ye married yer man and how sudden that wedding was. There’s pots and kettles of all sorts in this room. And I give thanks that the good Lord can turn them shiny again.” He smirked. “Even if I’m still waitin’ my turn.” Lily laughed then changed the subject.
Diana edged away from the group and stood next to Lucy’s chair. She indicated the vacant one next to Lucy and asked, “May I sit?”
Lucy saw contrition in Diana’s face and said, “Sure.”
Diana didn’t know where to start so Lucy began, “You aren’t your mother.”
Diana’s shoulders sagged in relief. “Thank you. I guess you heard?”
Lucy shrugged. “I used to be a doctoral student. Your mother is less diplomatic than some of the Ph.D. students but no less unkind.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I didn’t see you do anything except try to change the subject.” Lucy smiled. “By the way, I don’t agree with you. John is pretty exciting.”
Diana smiled in return. “I’m very glad you think that. Mum’s been trying to set me up with John ever since he started wearing those Hugo Boss suits to church. She thinks he’s rich enough to afford to keep me in style but he and I don’t have a lot in common. Don’t get me wrong. He is a very good man but he’s not for me. I couldn’t convince Mum that he wasn’t interested in me. Still can’t. On top of that, he’s one of my clients and it wouldn’t be professional to get involved with him.”
Lucy studied Diana with her wavy auburn hair in a neat bun, prim dark blue shirtwaist dress and sensible shoes. “You’re his accountant?”
Diana rolled her eyes. “Unfortunately, yes. I really hope his company doesn’t get too much bigger without getting a secretary or assistant to keep him in line.”
“I’ll have to see if he’ll let me help out.”
“I hope he will. You have to be better organized than he is.”
Lucy had an image of his immaculately organized truck and workshops. Diana saw the puzzled look and said, “He doesn’t see paperwork the same way he sees his tools. It’s neatly stacked but it isn’t organized.”
Lucy nodded. “I think you may be right. I’ll probably be able to help him. I’m used to keeping reams of data organized.”
“Well, Mum will be m
ad at me for this, but I don’t care. John deserves to have a good woman who can love him.” She gave Lucy a hug. “Congratulations on the engagement. I’ll see you next week.”
Lucy controlled her automatic stiffening and allowed Diana to give her the hug. Hugo Boss suits? Lucy hadn’t considered that aspect of John before but when she added up the indications it was apparent that he was very well off financially.
John came to offer his hand to assist her to stand. Although she didn’t need it yet and probably wouldn’t for another month she liked the idea that a man was trying to take care of her. Her man. She gave him a sunny smile and saw a smouldering look in his eyes that would have resulted in a kiss if they’d been alone. She gave him a peck on the cheek instead and said, “So, what’s up?”
He took her arm and headed for the door. “Well, I asked around to see who was free after lunch to help us. Ernie texted to say he’s dropping off the small tractor at your farm around one and the whole family will be back at six-thirty or so. Reenie offered to feed everyone if I let her know how many.”
“And how many will there be?”
John pondered and started to count on his fingers, “Jason and Aaron, Archie MacDonald, the Mackenzie boys, Mike from work, and at least a couple more. Phyllis mentioned she’d like to come by too. So at least ten workers for the heavy lifting and about the same number of light duty helpers plus us. Probably thirty people all told. I’ll bring a generator so we can run the well pump for water.”
Lucy frowned. “Will Irene be able to feed thirty people?”
“Reenie said she could feed up to eighty. Ernie will probably have put his monster barbeque on the trailer with the tractor. They have more hamburger patties in the freezer than you can shake a stick at. But you might have to run in to Smiths Falls for extras and dessert.”
“Or you could.” Lucy turned to John with a challenging look.
Phyllis was waiting with Lily next to John’s Volvo for a ride home. “I know that look, John. I’d apologize now if I were you.”
“I’m sorry, dear. I’m still pretty new to this ‘us’ stuff.”
“It’s new for me, too, love.” She stepped forward and tilted her head back.
“We’ll figure it out, I’m sure.” He kissed her nose affectionately and stepped back. “Do you want me to buy the below-ground power cable we talked about?”
“I can’t afford it, John.”
“We can afford it, Lucy.”
Lucy shook her head. “We’ll discuss it after we’re married.”
“As you wish. Ernie can bring back the tractor whenever we need it.” He turned to Phyllis. “Will you be coming out to the farm?”
“I’d love to come out later in the afternoon. That should give you men a chance to clear the lane. I’ll see if Lily is up for it, too.”
Lily spoke up. “I’m right here, Phyllis, and there is no way that you will go without me.”
Lucy smiled at Lily then moved to climb into the Volvo. “I’ll see you at the farm, John. I might be a bit late. I want to stop at Jessie’s for lunch and to bring her up to date on everything.”
John waved as he headed for his truck. “Say hello to her from me. I’m sure we can start without you.”
Lucy waved back and started the car.
Sally Munroe waved at Lucy from her place at the family table earning a disdainful look from the snooty daughter. Jessie smiled from behind the cash as Lucy took a stool at the diner’s counter close to Sally’s table and called an order for soup, salad and a sandwich to Alec.
“Good afternoon, Lucy. What brings you here on your day off?”
“Lunch. And some news I didn’t want to wait until tomorrow to share with you. I would have been in yesterday but I spent most of the day with John doing various things.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I had lunch with one of John’s former neighbours. Megan’s a single mom and her dad isn’t acknowledging her or his grandson. That was an interesting time because John took the dad’s side without thinking and he owed Megan a big apology. After lunch we headed into Ottawa to buy some cleanup supplies. There are at least a hundred trees down at the farm from Friday’s storm. I don’t have power anymore and the trailer got totalled.”
Jessica interrupted. “Were you there when it happened?”
“John called to see if I was all right because he’d heard there were tornados touching down near me. While I was telling him I was okay the power went out then the big poplar next to the trailer dropped a main limb through my bathroom then the big oak uprooted and crushed my kitchen. It was pretty scary.”
“Were you hurt?”
“No. Bruno and I were in the bedroom which was untouched. Although I did have to crawl through the cargo hold under the bed to get out of the trailer. It was a pretty tight squeeze.”
Jessica got an odd look. “Where are you staying?”
“Near Kemptville with Phyllis from church. We rescued most of my things yesterday afternoon but we had to go shopping almost immediately afterward.”
Jessica nodded. “Good. Did you need to shop for clothes?”
Lucy broke into an ear to ear grin. “No I was able to rescue them and my laptop and most of my books. We went shopping for this.” She brought her left hand from under the counter and placed it on the countertop. A solitaire diamond winked at Jessica from a salmon gold band.
Jessica gaped then bustled around to the front of the counter to wrap Lucy in a big hug. “Oh, what a wonderful surprise.”
Alec leaned through the service window to see what the fuss was. “What surprise, Jess?”
Lucy held her left hand high. “John wants to make an honest woman of me.”
Sally Munroe struggled to her feet and brushed off her daughter’s assistance. She toddled determinedly the few steps to the counter. “Let me see, dear heart.”
Lucy helped Jessica ease Sally onto the stool next to hers. Lucy put her left hand in Sally’s and said, “Did you hear about my trailer?”
“I caught enough of the story.”
Lucy beamed at Sally. “Well, John proposed on Friday in the middle of all the mess at the farm. I’m still trying to believe it’s real.”
“So when’s the wedding?”
“Would you believe September fifteenth?”
“That’s quick.”
“John’s a pretty decisive kind of guy. He said the last time he felt this certain about a decision was when he decided to pursue his master mason’s papers. I know we’re going to have to try pretty hard to make things work between us but I do love him. And he loves me and the baby. So I think we have a better than fighting chance.”
Sally said, “So he’s graduated from mythical boyfriend to mythical fiancé.”
“There’s nothing mythical about him.”
Sally smirked. “You’re right. He’s more of an epic hero or cowboy in the white hat kind of man.”
“So will you still be working for me?” Jessica asked.
“I’m still planning on being here until Thanksgiving. Then I’ll take some time off before the baby comes.”
“No honeymoon?”
“John was thinking that we would go somewhere nice and warm with child care for a few weeks in January. Unless there are complications.”
Sally and Jessica shared a matronly leer. Sally voiced their thoughts. “January, eh? That’s enough time after the delivery for everything to heal nicely.”
Lucy felt herself turn red and wondered when her ability to blush at ribald remarks had returned. “Oh, you two.”
Jessica gave an airy wave as she returned to her station behind the cash. “There are probably at least a hundred women who’d be happy to take your place.”
Lucy looked at her ring again and smiled. “But he chose me and I don’t intend to give him any reason to look at anyone else.” She looked at Jessica and asked, “I don’t suppose you have enough pies to let me buy six from you? We have a big work party coming out to the farm to help with t
he cleanup.”
Jessica looked through the service window. “Alec? Do we have six pies we can let Lucy have?”
Alec waved and called, “Let me check.” A moment later he began to push pies through the window. “Two apple, two raisin, a lemon meringue and a peach pie. Sorry, Lucy. We’ve had a run on lemon meringue today.”
Lucy tried to get up but Sally stopped her and pulled her head close to whisper. “I think you made the right choice, Lucy. Your John seems like a very good man. And it’s a nice bonus that he’s handsome and has a good job.”
“I think he’s a very good man, too, Sally.” Louder she said, “Let me help you back to your table.”
Sally glared at her and said, “I only need you to help me up. That’s all.”
Lucy stood and offered a hand. Sally took it and stood with some difficulty. Lucy whispered, “Bad day?”
Sally shrugged, “It was until I saw that rock on your finger.” She pulled Lucy’s head down and kissed her cheek. “You have my blessing girl and I’m sure that Everett would feel the same.”
“Thanks, Sally.”
Jessica gave a customer their debit slip and pointed at Lucy then the pies. “They don’t put themselves in boxes, Lucy. You aren’t a guest.”
Lucy laughed and squeezed past Jessica.
By four-thirty the crew had cleared the lane of the deadfall. As John had predicted, Ernie put the big barbeque on the trailer. Mike’s wife, Robyn, Lucy and Phyllis were wrangling it on to the porch while Lily called out ‘helpful’ advice from the rocking chair.
David Mackenzie was an electrician and he made quick work of unhooking the trailer from the power line and installing a box for a generator hookup to power the water pump.
Phyllis opened the trailer door and peeked in to see the damage to the kitchen and bathroom. “You are very lucky that the propane line didn’t get hit.”
“Actually, it got severed and the emergency pressure shut off kicked in. If it had been only a pinhole, it might have built up and caused an explosion. There’s a pilot light in the water heater.”
“What are you going to do with the property now?”
“John thinks we should put in a park model trailer and bury the power line and put in a phone. The insurance should cover about half the cost.”
“And John wants you to be happy.” Phyllis turned back to the porch.
Lily spoke up. “Of course he wants that.”
The rumble of a Harley sounded from the lane. Lucy turned to watch. “I wonder who that could be?”
Phyllis replied. “I don’t know anyone at church who owns a Harley.”
The motorcycle rolled up to the parking area. There was a tall slender man driving with a small woman behind him. Lucy’s suspicions were confirmed when the woman took off her helmet and shook out a mane of curly black hair.
“Zara!” Lucy descended the steps to greet her friend. “Hi Zack. Nice bike.”
Zack flashed a thousand watt smile. “Thanks. Zara hadn’t heard anything from you in a couple of days and I said it was a beautiful day so why not drop in?”
Zara kicked a stone shyly. “I wasn’t sure you’d want company but Zack said if you were living in the country it would be okay because manners are different out here.”
Lily laughed and Zack continued. “But I also said you never drop in empty handed.” He turned back to the bike and retrieved two bags from the cargo compartments which Bruno came over to inspect. “Our contribution to supper.”
Lucy shooed Bruno away and looked in the bag to see an enormous tub of taboule from her favourite Lebanese restaurant, two bags of pita bread and two packages of fresh ground coffee. Zack looked at the trailer with concern. “I hope you have a way to make coffee.”
“As it happens, John brought a coffee maker with him. It’s on the table by the generator.”
John sauntered over. “Hi Zara. Is this Zack?”
Lucy said quickly, “Oh, sorry. John, this is Zack… I’m sorry Zack, I don’t think I was ever told your last name.”
“It’s Saunders.”
“This is John MacLeish…” She held up her left hand, “my fiancé.”
Zara squealed and took Lucy’s left hand in hers. Lucy looked at Zara’s ring and sighed then her eyes widened. “You didn’t.”
Zack drew Zara into her side. “We thought we’d be able to celebrate our engagement with you guys. I owe you big time, Lucy.”
“So when?” Both Zara and Lucy began to ask about the other’s engagement. Phyllis cleared her throat. Lucy remembered her manners. “I guess introductions are in order.” By this time there was a big crowd gathered and Lucy made all the introductions.
“Before you start with the stories, Lucy, we’re about done clearing the lane. What do you want us to tackle next?”
Lucy blew out a sigh. “Can you scout the path to the swimming hole? And maybe the research loop?”
He smiled and Lucy’s world shrank. “I looked at the swimming hole path before you got here. There’s a few trees down. I’ll take a couple of the guys with me. Oh. Don Mackenzie wants to know what you want to do with the deadfall.”
“If any of the crew needs firewood they can split it among themselves.”
“Firewood is good. But he says you’ve also got six or seven good saw logs and six intact telephone poles from the laneway. Don was hoping to buy those from you and any others you’d like to sell.”
“Oh? What’s the going rate for those?”
“Archie will keep him honest so all Don needs to know is if you want to sell them.”
Don came forward. “I’ll have to get my father to bring out the truck and a tape measure but it will probably be north of twenty thousand. You’ve got eight really good old oak trees down and five of them were uprooted and not splintered and there are ten or so good maples that we could make either furniture or flooring from. I’d be happy to do a survey and buy any others you have lying around. If you want to sell them.”
Lucy was stunned by the amounts he was tossing around. “I’ll have to think about it but I’ll sell you the ones you’ve already identified along the lane and along the two main paths, well except inside the biosurvey plots.”
“I’ll give Dad a call then and have him bring the logging truck out.” He walked away and pulled a cell phone out of his pocket.
John gave Lucy a hug and said, “Come on lads. Let’s go move some more trees.” He walked over to the tractor and started it before waving and heading down the path.
Zack looked torn. Zara said, “Go help, sweetheart. But make sure you’ve got work gloves.”
Zack gave Zara a kiss. “Thanks. It will be good to do some physical labour again. I kind of miss it.”
Lucy called. “Check the back of the big black pickup for work gloves. John brought extras.”
Zara sighed as Zack took off his leather jacket to reveal a wiry muscular torso. Lily, Phyllis and Mike’s wife Robyn all exchanged knowing looks at Zara. Lily spoke first. “Maybe I should have tried for a Ph.D. myself if these are the kinds of men you attract.”
Zara turned on the ninety year old woman and almost began to scold her then realized that Lily was teasing her. “Well…”
“Lily,” prompted Lucy.
Zara joined in the spirit of the teasing. “Well, Lily, you’d get free tuition. Who knows? Maybe you could find your own good looking younger man.”
Lucy smirked. “I don’t suppose nine years younger would be as significant for you, Lily?”
“He seems more grown up than most young men his age. He’s what, twenty?”
Zara paused. “Twenty-three. But he spent most of the last five years helping his parents with their medical mission work in south and central Africa. He’s seen some pretty awful things.”
“That certainly makes you grow up quick. But he does have a lovely baby face.” Lily toddled back to the wicker rocking chair she’d commandeered. “Now ladies. You have a supper to set up and some stories to tell.”
Lucy waggled a finger at Lily. “And you’ve got thirsty ears I suppose?”
“And now that you’ve mentioned thirsty, I don’t suppose that one of you would be willing to split a can of light beer with me?” Lily sounded hopeful. “The doctors say I shouldn’t have any but a quarter can once in a while to remind myself what I’m missing can’t hurt.”
Robyn laughed and said, “That sounds like just the thing.”