A Big Life in a Small Town (Bellingwood #2) Read online

  "Thanks, boys," Polly said. She pulled her wallet out of her jacket pocket and slipped two five dollar bills out as Sylvie joined them. "I appreciate your help with him today."

  "Thank you, Miss Polly. You're the best!" came from Andrew, while Jason simply said, "Thanks."

  "Thank you, Polly," Sylvie said as she patted Andrew on the head. "We'll see you later."

  Polly held the door for the Donovans and then went up to her apartment. She had plenty of time before she needed to be back downstairs and what she needed right now was some hot tea and time with her animals. Obiwan followed her into the kitchen as she drew water and put it on to boil. "Sorry, bud. Nothing for you."

  She watched the parking lot empty as the light of day began to fade. It had been a good day. The barn was in great shape, Sylvie was making a name for herself, Elise was safe, and people were having fun in her house. She knew it was time to shake off whatever malaise had settled in so she pulled out her basket of teas and chose an orange spice.

  As the sun set, lights around Sycamore House came on. She poured hot water over the tea bag and stood for a few moments inhaling the steamy fragrance, then picked Luke up off the counter and set him back on the floor. He wound around her ankles a few times as she stood watching the last few vehicles leave.

  A knock at her door startled her out of her reverie and she set the mug down. Obiwan ran to the door, wagging his tail and she attempted to walk without stepping on the cats. She pulled the door open to see Henry standing there.

  "Hey, what's up?" she asked.

  "How are you?"

  "I'm fine," she said. "Did you need something?" She knew her tone was short, but facing Henry wasn’t in her plans for these few moments of quiet.

  A frown creased his eyebrows, "No, I guess I don't."

  "Then don't worry. I'm fine."

  "You don't sound fine."

  "Let it go, Henry. I'll see you downstairs. I need to get a shower and dressed and I assume you're wearing something other than that."

  He was dressed in jeans, with a flannel shirt over a t-shirt. His jacket was well-worn, his work boots were filthy and his Chicago Cubs baseball cap had seen better days.

  Henry huffed out air and said, "Something happened between the last time we talked and now and somehow you're mad at me."

  "I'm not mad, Henry. Not mad at all, but we don't have time to talk about this right now."

  She started to push the door shut and he put his hand on it, holding it open. He stepped forward into her space and Polly backed up.

  "No. We're going to talk about it now. I'm not going to wonder what in the world I've done to set you off while you spend the evening with a couple hundred of your new friends."

  Polly's eyes turned to slits. "I wasn't mad, but this could easily get me there."

  "You're not going to scare me with your anger, Polly Giller. I know you well enough to know that you'll calm down once everything makes sense in your head again, so spit it out. What happened? Who said what to you?"

  She turned around and stalked back into the living room, throwing her arms up in the air. "Why do I have to be responsible for your emotional health? Why do I have to worry about you falling apart if a relationship between the two of us doesn't happen? Why can't we take our time?" She spun back around on him and said, "Why does there have to be pressure? I didn't ask for this. I have told you over and over that I want to go slowly, that I'm not ready for a commitment."

  Henry's eyes had gotten huge and his mouth was trying to make sounds, but nothing came out. He finally choked out, "What?" then took a breath, stepped in a little closer and said, "What happened? Who said what to you? Who told you there was any pressure?"

  "Look," she said. "I get it that you are some wonderful, golden boy in this community and that everyone loves you. I get it that I'm an outsider who might hurt your little heart, but don't ever forget that I had plenty of life before I got here and I can make my own damned life with or without you in it. I didn't ask to fall for you and I didn't ask you to fall for me, so if this is going to turn into a huge, big, all-community commitment, well ... you all can go to hell!"

  Polly's face had gotten red in her frustration and even as she said the words, she knew that she was blowing things out of proportion. Henry listened to everything she said and led her to the sofa, pushing a little so she would sit down. He sat beside her.

  "You're falling for me?" he asked.

  "What? That has nothing to do with this conversation. It just fell out of my mouth," she sputtered.

  "Well, I heard it and I'm going to keep holding onto that."

  "Whatever," she spat and sat back, moving away from him.

  "First of all, Polly, there is no pressure. Secondly, this has nothing to do with people in the community. Third,"

  "Like hell it doesn't," she interrupted. "Your friend made it perfectly clear to me today that I'd better not mess with your heart."

  Henry cocked his head and the left side of his mouth turned up in a grin. "Which friend is that? Because if he or she could see what happened to me here, I might be done with them as a friend."

  "Your teacher. Fred whoever. He caught me at the barn and told me to break your heart fast because some witch walked out on you."

  "Oh." Henry smiled. "Oh," he repeated. "Well, Fred doesn't know everything about me and he certainly doesn't need to take care of my love life." He interrupted himself and put his hands up as if in protection, "Not that I have a love life or anything. That's not what I'm saying. But he should keep his nose out of things, and you don't need to take responsibility for any broken heart I might have had in the past or might have in the future. I'm a big boy and can take care of myself."

  "I'm not ready for all this stupid relationship drama, Henry."

  "Then let's forego the drama and enjoy the relationship, wherever it takes us."

  "That's good with you?"

  "That's fine with me."

  "I don't want to feel like everyone is watching me and judging whether what I do is right or wrong or watching to see if every move I make is going to hurt you."

  "Polly, you're being ridiculous. Of course everyone is watching and judging you. That's what people do, but you can't let it affect your behavior."

  "I know. Most days I get it."

  "Are we okay?"

  She nodded. "We're okay, but we both need to hurry now. You have to go."

  "I'm going, I'm going. Promise me you won't go all Polly on poor Fred tonight."

  "Go all POLLY?" she asked.

  "Yeah. You know. Yell at him until he wonders how long it will take for him to find his masculinity."

  "Go all POLLY?" she repeated. "Get out of here and take your masculinity with you." Then her voice softened, "And thanks. I'll see you later."

  Henry left and she headed for the bathroom. All of that extra time she had was now compressed and she needed to hurry. After a quick shower, Polly put on a little makeup and tied her hair into a pony tail with a red bandanna. She'd found a great red western style blouse with silver and black embroidery and rhinestones. She pulled her well-worn short black boots on under her jeans and whirled around in front of her standing mirror. Now she was ready for the evening. She pushed the phone into her back pocket and said to the animals on her bed, "Will I do?"

  Obiwan was the only one paying attention. Both cats were cleaning themselves and effectively ignoring her, so she rubbed their heads, snuggled Obiwan and said, "I'm going down early. Don't want to miss my own party."

  Jeff wasn't in his office, but Polly heard noise in the auditorium and saw that the band was setting up on stage. The back door was open and Jeff was watching as they worked. He saw her and strode across the floor. He looked especially nice in an ivory shirt, yoked in black with embroidered patterns sewn throughout.

  "You're looking mighty good tonight," she said as he approached.

  "Thank you ma'am" he said, taking a quick bow. "And you look delectable. The boys will all be panting to dance wi
th you."

  "Let's not go there," she laughed. "What’s the name of the band?"

  "It's a local band called Buckles and Spurs from east of Ames. I went to hear them at a country bar down there and they are great. Their cover stuff sounds fantastic and two of them write very well. They're ready to boot, scoot and boogie."

  "I don't think those are the right words, you city boy, you," Polly laughed.

  "Well, they should be. No one asked me," he replied.

  "I'll be sure to call 'em up and inform them. Have you checked on Sylvie?"

  "Her crew is just coming in now," he said, pointing to people walking through the hallway. "They're going to set up one line through the kitchen and a second through the new classrooms. We're putting the coats in the hallway and offices."

  Three men came into the auditorium with large galvanized wash basins and began setting them out on both sides and the back of the room. Polly recognized Helen Randall, pulling a cart filled with bags of ice. She was followed by several young people who filled the basins and then began pressing more of the handled mason jars into the ice.

  "What do you suppose is in the jars?" she asked Jeff.

  "It is just pink lemonade or iced tea. Until we get a liquor license, I'm not walking us into any trouble."

  A couple walked in with bags and stands. Jeff took Polly's arm and led her to them. "Polly, this is Chris and Debbie Johns. They own the photography studio here in town and are going to set up to shoot pictures both here at the barn," and he proudly pointed to the barn set he had created that afternoon, "and will shoot some video and stills of the evening."

  "Wow. Thank you!" she said.

  As they walked away, she asked, "That had to be expensive."

  "Actually, I struck a deal with them. They are going to get a lot of exposure tonight, so they're kind of excited about that. Everything they shoot will be available on their website and if people want to buy prints, they handle it. They're also offering a Barn Raising discount package for studio sessions and talked to me about handing out advertisement about that with the web address." He handed her a postcard with the information on it. "I didn't think you'd have a problem with it."

  "No problem," she said. “It’s a great idea.”

  Polly walked into the kitchen and saw that Sylvie was organizing teams of young people, dressed in black pants and white shirts. "Waiters even?" she asked.

  "I just want to make sure we can get things going at the beginning of the evening and then clear the tables so people have freedom to move around. They're not going to wait tables. People can feed themselves tonight."

  "Awesome. Just when I think it can't get any better, you find a way to make me wrong. Who are these kids?"

  "This is the Bellingwood 4-H team. When I contacted them, I found out they're raising money for some programs."

  "You knock me out, Sylvie. That's terrific."

  "Now, you get out of here. I've got to keep these people moving!" Sylvie waved them out of the kitchen and turned around to give instructions to four kids standing beside a cart.

  Polly smiled and pulled her phone out to check the time. Six thirty. It was nearly show time.

  Jeff stopped her before they went back into the auditorium. "I have a huge favor to ask, Polly."

  "Okay?"

  "I want you to stay out of the auditorium until seven o'clock."

  "Why?"

  "Just stay out here and greet people as they come in. I want to see your face when you walk in that door. Promise me?"

  "But, I've already seen everything," she protested.

  "I know, but I want to watch you take in the whole effect. Please?"

  "I'll wait," she said. "But, you're killing me here."

  He gave her an evil grin, walked into the auditorium and pulled the door shut behind him. Polly went into her office and sat down at her desk. The waiting was the hardest part.

  She didn't have to wait long, though, before she saw cars pull into the lot.

  One of the first couples to arrive was Vera and Adam Lucas. Polly walked out to greet them and said, "I'm glad you made it! Are you ready to dance tonight?"

  Adam took her hand and shook it, saying, "I don't know about that funky dancing kids do these days, but I will take any opportunity I can to hold my little lady tight."

  Vera said, "Oh you, you're incorrigible."

  "I have the room all set up with your furniture and it looks wonderful if you'd like to go upstairs."

  "Do you have time? Surely you have things you need to do to prepare for this evening. We can come back another day," Vera said.

  "No! I've been ordered to stay out of the auditorium until seven o'clock and I can't think of anything else I need to be doing right now. Come on!"

  They walked in and Adam said, "You've done a lot of work on the old school. Do you remember coming here when we were young, Vera?"

  "It looks wonderful. The perfect upgrade for the old place. It sure would be nice if I could have someone move in and restore me like this!"

  Polly opened the door to the Walnut Room and turned on the light.

  "Adam," Vera exclaimed. "Look at this. It's perfect!" She ran her hand across the front of the secretary as she passed it and took hold of the post of the headboard. "I'm glad these pieces will stay together for another generation." Vera walked over to the window looking out toward the grove of trees. "What a peaceful, happy room. Don't you think so, dear?"

  Her husband nodded as he took it all in. Polly could have sworn she saw his eyes mist, but he turned away from her. "Come on, Vera. We need to leave the girl alone so she can make her seven o'clock entrance." He held his hand out and his wife walked over and took it.

  "Thank you for showing us this, Polly."

  "I'm glad you like the room. We'll take good care of it."

  They left, Polly turned out the light and pulled the door shut, then followed them down the steps. She still had several minutes before she was allowed in, so she wandered back to her office, saying hello to those who passed her. She sat in the outer office, bouncing her leg, biding her time. Finally she decided she'd waited long enough. She checked the time and it read 6:57. That was close enough.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “Exactly the reaction I was hoping for,” Jeff said when Polly opened the doors to the auditorium and gasped. She blinked as the photographer's flash caught her off guard.

  "I'm glad I was able to meet your expectations," she said. "But, oh my, this is beautiful."

  As he escorted her to the front of the room she was glad for his hands on her arm, because she trying to take in the whole effect instead of paying attention to where they were walking. The main lights had been dimmed, and the room was lit with strings of white lights draped from the overhead beams in glorious, shimmering rows. Candles on each table added a golden hue to the faces of people leaning in to talk to each other. More candles glimmered in between the cupcakes on the tiered centerpieces. The three sixteen-foot lengths of tables, one on either side and at the back, were covered in muslin with white lights twinkling from underneath. Four lanterns highlighted each of those tables and more light came from the glass cases on the walls, which held items from the crates they had found in the basement last fall.

  Music was coming through the sound system and the band was wandering around the room. She watched as two of them stopped to have their pictures taken in front of the barn. The 4-H kids were scattered throughout the room and, at Jeff's nod, began inviting tables of people to move through the food lines. Jeff took Polly's arm and said, "Tonight you eat with me. No more missing meals because you're busy with people."

  "Okay, boss," she said.

  They walked into the hall and Polly was again thankful for the people with whom she'd surrounded herself. Sylvie had prepared a wonderful casual meal. Polly had her choice of barbecue pork or beef and giggled when it was placed in a pie tin. A scoop of baked beans with chunks of bacon, another of cheesy potatoes, and she nodded yes to the salads. When she a
nd Jeff made their way back to a table, she found baskets filled with biscuits and sliced bread.

  "I think Sylvie is going to sleep for a week after today," he laughed.

  She smiled and kept eating, then looked up and around. She hadn't seen any of her friends when she came in and wondered where they were. Finally her eyes landed on a table in the middle of the room where Beryl was holding court. She was standing with her right leg up on a chair, showing off her red cowboy boots under a flared denim skirt. The skirt and bandanna around her neck were the quietest part of her outfit since the scarlet blouse she wore was covered in sequins and rhinestones. Polly watched as Lydia giggled and Aaron looked desperately uncomfortable. He was saved any more embarrassment when one of the 4-H kids stopped at their table and pointed to the food line.

  The room quieted as people began to eat. Sylvie and Jeff had created a great traffic flow and everyone had been served relatively quickly. Jeff got up and asked, "Tea? Lemonade?"

  "I'm fine with the water I have here," she said, pointing to the mug at her place. "Thanks."

  He wove in and out of people and came back with a mug of tea, dripping from the ice in the basin.

  She looked up at a touch on her back and then stood up to hug Lee Geise. "I'm so glad you came!"

  "We couldn't get up for the barn raising, but we had to see what you were doing up here!" Lee said. "How are the kitties?"

  "So you're the ones responsible for the beginnings of Polly's zoo!" Polly laughed as Mark Ogden joined them.

  "They're only responsible for the cats. Those boys," she pointed at Doug Randall and Billy Endicott, "gave Obiwan to me." Then, she said to Mark, "You're the vet in town, how long do I have to wait to get a horse?"

  He said, "Whenever you find one you want, I guess. That's an awfully big barn for one horse, though."

  "I like to plan ahead when I can. I'm going to be here for a long time and animals seem to show up when I least expect it."

  "You finish your dinner," Lee said. "We'll see you on the dance floor, right?"

  "Right," Mark said for her. "She's almost a pro at it by now."