The brightest star, p.12
The Brightest Star, page 12
Madison set her cup on the side table. “You’re joking? Isn’t he one of the richest men in the world, or America, or something like that?”
“Yep, the one and only. He’s the head of Globalgoods.com and the king of online commerce.” Lauren smiled, and for the first time since she’d learned of this opportunity, she was extremely excited.
“Oh, Lauren, that is the best news ever. Give me all the dirty details. You know what I mean,” she added.
“Actually, I don’t think I’ve comprehended this myself until now. The timing is off, and Dad—well, you know how he feels about online anything, so it wasn’t pretty when I told him. Actually, he was ticked off last night and this morning when I broached the subject.”
“I know your dad; he’s not real hip on the web. He’ll warm up, I’m sure, once he realizes what a huge opportunity this is for you.”
“I’m not going to hold my breath on that. He’s so determined to keep this family-lineage thing, if you will, as it was in his day and Grandpa’s, that part of me feels like this is a lost cause. Mom, she’ll be okay with it. I think she’d enjoy using the Internet, too, but she stands beside her man and all that jazz.” Lauren sipped her tea.
“That’s just her generation,” Madison added. “Though your parents aren’t that old.”
“No, they’re not, but I think they enjoy their fifties-style marriage, though I have to say Mom is very independent. She did have her own career.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll work this out. So, how are you going to manage to run the store and write a book?”
Lauren shook her head. “Shouldn’t be too hard considering we’re not all that busy this year—Black Friday was awful—so I’m using that as my baseline for what the rest of the season will be like. I can work here just as easily as I can anyplace else. I went to the cable company yesterday, and I now have access to the Internet at home and here, so that part will be easy. I was supposed to fly out to Seattle this afternoon. Of course, with this storm, my flight was canceled, so here I am.”
Madison drained the last of her tea, placing her cup on the small table beside the old sofa. “Are you heading north after this storm, or do you know?”
“Yes, and I’ll let you in on the details as soon as I have them. Speaking of details, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your making that call to James. He’s given hope to a family, and right now, it seems that’s about all they have.”
“You’re talking about Lee and her daughter?” Madison asked.
Lauren nodded. “I bought a jacket for Charlotte, and took it to Beth Keener’s house, that’s where she’s staying until her mom is . . . better.”
“You mean Beth Simms, the knockout?”
“Said one knockout. You know her?”
Madison rolled her eyes. She was not the least bit vain. “Yes, she was a couple of years ahead of us in high school. Homecoming queen, cheerleader, and I’m pretty sure she was a runner-up in the Miss Carolina pageant back in the day. I always thought she’d move up north and become a famous fashion model or an actress.”
“That explains it. She’s stunning, and so is her daughter, Lacey. She’s super nice; I had tea and cookies with her and the girls. Apparently, Charlotte and her daughter have been BFFs since they were babies, plus there’s another girl, Kiley. They refer to themselves as the Three Musketeers. No matter, Beth is acting as a stand-in parent while Lee’s in the hospital.”
“Then I’m thrilled to have helped out, even in a small way.” Madison got up and put the teakettle back in the microwave. “I have an idea.”
Lauren held out her mug. “Dare I ask what it is?”
“I’m thinking. I know Lee—rather, I used to. She married some guy right out of high school; it didn’t last, as you know, but get this,” Madison said, filling their cups with hot water and fresh tea bags. “She would be perfect for Brent Ludmore.”
Lauren reached for her mug and stopped. “She’s sick, Maddy, like not-sure-if-she’ll-make-it sick!”
“Let’s not think that way. We have to be positive. You, of all people, should know this. Let’s say she beats this disease. She’s beautiful, at least when I last saw her she was; she’s kind, and we know her. I think she and Brent would make a perfect couple. Yes, we’ll have a few hurdles to jump, but promise me you’ll think about it.”
Lauren laughed. “I can do that, but first, we have to make sure she’s well. As in forever. I wouldn’t want”—she was going to say she didn’t want to strap Brent down with a dying woman, but that was too crude—“to pressure either one. But if she gets through this, I’ll do my part in steering Brent in her direction, or vice versa.”
“Tell me what you know about her illness,” Madison said, returning to the old sofa.
“Not much more than I told you yesterday. She has leukemia, that’s all I know. Oh, and her daughter, Charlotte, is a bone-marrow match. Lee needs a transplant, as in yesterday. She was going to be released last evening, and that’s why I asked James to step in, see if he could pull a few strings, keep her there a while longer. She’s doomed if she gets a cold, or any kind of infection. Frankly, that’s all I know about the disease. I probably have overstepped some boundary here, but she needed help.”
“And it’s genetically programmed in your DNA to help,” Madison said, though she was smiling. “Same as Brent’s.”
“Apparently,” Lauren agreed.
“Why do I feel like you’re not telling me everything? Remember, I know you.”
Madison knew her well. Lauren wanted to keep the financial end quiet, but if she was going to involve herself in Lee’s health, Madison was her best friend. Lauren wanted her to know what she’d committed to, even if it was only to herself.
“Yep, there’s more.”
“I’m listening.”
“This book contract is financially life-changing, though, of course, it depends on whether I can write it and it finds a home with a publisher.” She took a deep breath. “That aside, I was going to help fund Lee’s hospital bills.”
There. The cat was out of the bag.
Madison stared at her.
“Tell me if it’s not my business, but exactly how much is life-changing?”
They didn’t have secrets. Though they never discussed their financial situations in detail, Lauren knew Madison’s salary, knew Scott made a hefty wage, and Madison knew she was financially stable.
“Three-point-five million dollars’ worth.”
Madison’s lips formed a circle, but no sound came from her mouth.
“I know. I’m still in shock. Of course, Angela has her fees, taxes, you know how it is, but it’s more than enough to cover Lee’s medical costs. James told me there’s a thing called an indigent fund at the hospital. Says most hospitals have them, but they don’t advertise it. He was pretty sure that Lee’s treatment would qualify her.”
Madison shook her head, her raven-colored hair swinging from side to side, her blue eyes sparkling. “Amazing. Doesn’t she have insurance from her job at the post office?”
“Apparently, it’s catastrophic. Although I don’t know how much more catastrophic one can get. So, long story short, I’m going to try to help out, set up an account for them. It’ll be my good deed for the month.”
“Month? You mean the year, the century.”
“Now you’re all caught up on my life. Your turn,” Lauren said.
The bell on the customer entrance jingled.
“You are literally saved by that bell I hung up earlier. Don’t move.”
A young couple, probably in their mid-twenties, said hello and walked up and down the aisles, then thanked her and left. “Sure,” Lauren said to the door, then hurried back to the office to resume her conversation.
“Okay, it’s still your turn.”
“Don’t you have customers?”
“No, they were browsers.”
“I do kind of have something to tell you, but you have to keep it a secret.”
“Always.”
“This is a really big secret, Lauren. As in humongous. Probably the biggest secret I’ll ever tell you.”
“Stop it! Just spit it out and tell me.”
“I’m pregnant!”
“Holy moly! Are you serious?”
“Would I joke about something we’ve been trying for since forever? Yes, Scott and I are going to be parents! Isn’t that the most exciting news you’ve ever heard?”
Lauren reached across the old shabby sofa, hugged her best friend, and immediately looked at her stomach.
“I’m not showing yet, if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s too soon. I’m only eight weeks, and I can’t tell you how much I wanted to tell you yesterday, but I had to wait until we had some girl time.”
Tears filled Lauren’s eyes because she knew how much Madison and Scott wanted a family. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a very long time. That explains all that junk food in Scott’s shopping cart when I ran into him at the grocery last night. You little sneak, you!” Lauren hugged her again. “Wow, this is big.”
“Here’s the not-so-fun part. Other than Scott, I haven’t told anyone else. I wanted to wait until I was through my first trimester. You okay keeping this to yourself for a few more weeks?”
“No, but since I don’t have a choice, yes, I will keep it to myself. Though Mom would be on cloud nine if she knew this. Dad too.”
“We haven’t even told our parents, so yours, they’ll just have to wait. I know it’s asking a lot to keep this quiet. I just couldn’t keep this to myself any longer. Scott said you commented on the junk food in his shopping cart. I thought you might figure it out, so I wanted to tell you face-to-face, hence the real reason I stopped by.”
“I’m beyond happy for you two. So, boy or girl?”
“I don’t know yet, and won’t for several more weeks.”
“I get that. I meant what are you and Scott hoping for?”
“I don’t care, either will be absolutely perfect. A baby! Oh, Lauren, I am so over the moon, I don’t know if I can wait seven more months to meet this little bean. That’s the size. Can you believe it? A bean or, the doctor said, a raspberry. Just so itty-bitty!”
Lauren chuckled. “You’ll be a great mom, Scott a great dad. This changes a lot. Right?”
“Yes and no. I’ll have a bump, which I can’t wait for, and no, I’ll continue life as usual. I’ll probably take some time off work once the baby is here, but I don’t foresee any huge changes. ”
They burst out laughing.
“That’s bull, and I know it. My entire life will change, but Lauren, it’ll be in such a good way. Listen, I need to get out of here, let you do your work.” She paused, a dazed look on her face. “Did I just blow the wind out of your book sails, pun intended?”
“Never! I don’t think my news compares.” She walked Madison to the front of the store. She saw her bright red Corvette parked outside. “You might have to consider another vehicle, though.”
“I don’t like that car anyway. I’ll be getting an SUV or a minivan. Something family-like. Oh, Lauren, let me hug you one more time, then I’ll get out of your hair.”
Lauren gave her a hug, promised to keep her updated on Lee’s health, and congratulated her once again.
Inside the store, she couldn’t help but smile, despite herself. Madison’s was the best news she’d heard all day.
Chapter 12
Lauren left the shop, shocked at how the temperature had dropped; it was a mere ten degrees, according to the gauge on the dash. Hundreds of tiny white snowflakes flurried from the inky sky and were wiped away by the windshield wipers as fast as they fell. She drove slowly down the sleeted highway, the Honda’s wheels struggling to get a firm grip on the icy road. The heater did little to keep up with the bitter cold. Lauren couldn’t wait to get home, take a hot shower, and continue to work on her research.
She was surprised when she saw that the house was dark, with no warm light reflecting in the windows. That was unusual. She hurried out of the car and jiggled with her keys. Inside, the house was dark and too cold. She went to the kitchen and flipped on the lights. On the center of the table was a note in her mother’s perfect cursive handwriting.
Lauren, dear,
We’ve gone to visit Grandpa. Will be home late. There’s soup in the fridge if you’re hungry.
XOXO,
Mom.
“In this weather, Mom? Really,” Lauren said to an empty room. She adjusted the thermostat in the living room, then returned to the kitchen. She wasn’t hungry after the lunch she’d had at Ruby’s, but a cup of tea would warm her up. Using her mother’s old-fashioned cast-iron teakettle, she clicked the stovetop on and waited. She chose an orange-spice tea, knowing it had a kick. Lauren needed a kick just then. She was tired, and knowing her parents had to drive back from the Upside in Pine City, the luxury assisted-living facility her grandfather called home, she would be lucky to accomplish any work until they were home safely.
She rolled her eyes. She was worse than her mother. Still, this kind of wicked cold was not normal for the area, and Lauren wasn’t sure her mother or dad could handle the roads. She’d crawled home at fifteen miles an hour, fearing she’d slide off the slick surfaces. Neither of her parents had a cell phone, so calling them was out of the question. Just one more twenty-first century convenience her father dismissed as frivolous and unnecessary.
Lauren took her tea upstairs to her room and took a warm shower. She slipped into leggings, a sweatshirt, and warm socks, then sat on the bed with her laptop, ready to research her new subject. She read article after article on Giampalo, finding nothing too negative. When she glanced at the bedside clock, it was after ten. Her parents should have been home already. Worried, she peered out her window at the winding drive leading up to the house. Her heartbeat steadied when she saw the lights of their old Chevy station wagon coming up the drive.
She put away her laptop and headed downstairs. She really did want to hear about their visit. She hadn’t seen her grandfather in a couple of months, and now with her new book contract, she wasn’t sure when she’d have time to make the hour-long drive to Pine City. Lauren did talk with him on the telephone weekly, but she knew that was no substitute for an actual visit. Again, if he would step into the new age, they could FaceTime, but just like her father, he refused to acknowledge what most of the world now thought of as normal.
She put the kettle on for a second time, knowing they’d appreciate a hot drink. Lauren heard them bustling through the front door, keys dropping into the dish, coats being hung in the closet. She smiled. If you wanted routine and predictability, her parents were the textbook definition.
“Hey, Mom. Dad,” Lauren greeted them as they entered the kitchen. She felt the cold emanating from them. “I’ve made tea,” she said, and placed two large mugs on the table.
“You should be in bed,” her mother commented, “though I appreciate this. I don’t remember it ever being this cold in Fallen Springs. The weather forecast was certainly accurate.” Her mother was wearing black slacks and a heavy, dark green wool sweater. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, her hair alive with static from her sweater and the lack of moisture in the bitter night air. She slid into her usual seat across from her husband.
“This is nice, Lauren. Thank you,” her father said, his speech stilted and void of his usual cheerfulness. Obviously, he was still upset with her.
“No problem. So, how was Grandpa?” she asked, wanting to change the subject. “I miss him.”
“Al is doing fantastic at the Upside. He’s made so many friends and is involved in all they have to offer, which is one of the reasons we’re so late. They have a Christmas play every year, and we watched them rehearse. They’re quite exceptional. I told Al we would try to make it to opening day, provided this weather isn’t a factor. It was a treacherous drive home.”
“I was concerned when I came home and saw you two weren’t here,” Lauren said, though she was smiling when she said this to let them know she wasn’t upset with them. And why should she be? They were entitled to get out of the house. She had to stop thinking of them as older than their chronological ages. Maybe if they weren’t so stuck in the past, she could.
“Lauren, thank you for the tea. I’m going to call it a night. I’ll see you two ladies in the morning,” her father said as he took his cup and placed it in the sink. Her mother quickly followed behind him, rinsing his cup and placing it in the dishwasher. In the past, Lauren hadn’t paid that much attention to these minute details, but now she did.
“Night,” she called out, but she was more concerned with her mother’s actions. As soon as he was out of earshot, she spoke. “Can’t he put his own cup in the dishwasher anymore? He’s moving easily enough tonight.”
“Lauren, why in the world would you say that? I always take care of these silly things.”
“I know, Mom, but he’s capable, too. I know this rheumatoid arthritis is tough on him, but I think he needs to stop expecting you to wait on him hand and foot when he does have good days. He’s ticked at me, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to follow him around as though he’s a two-year-old, catering to his every wish.” Lauren drained the last of her tea. “He needs as much independence as his health allows.”
“Actually, his doctors have had him on a new medication for a couple of weeks. It’s in pill form, so he won’t have to have those injections. He’s terrified of needles, so this news has lifted his spirits tremendously.”
Lauren squinted. “What? Dad doesn’t like needles? Since when?”
“Since forever. He’s actually quite embarrassed about it. That’s why he refuses when you offer to go to Dr. Keller’s office with him. To be honest”—her mother looked toward the door, probably making sure her husband wasn’t listening—“it’s stressful on me, though I’ve never told him this. It’s bad enough he has this debilitating arthritis.”
“I know it is, but he’s always been so . . . well, a bit controlling. In a nice way,” she added, so her mother wouldn’t take offense.
