“That’s disappointing.” He couldn’t have sounded any more seductive if he tried. “Maybe if we spend more time together, you’llfeel differently.”
Her insides danced at the thought of being around Jayce. She recalled her mother’s warnings again, and Evelyn knew she shouldheed them. Instead, she quietly said, “Maybe.”
Then they agreed to have supper as soon as the weather cleared.
Evelyn would be counting the days. The minutes. And she’d do her very best not to think of how she’d feel when Jayce left.
Fourteen
It was after supper when Esther saw Gus’s truck pulling onto the small gravel driveway in front of the cottage. Everyone,including Lizzie, had retired for the evening. Her sister was reading one of her romance books when Esther told her she wasgoing to visit Gus. Lizzie didn’t offer to go with her, and Esther was sure that was for the best. She didn’t relish the thoughtof going to Gus’s cottage, but she figured she’d better take the battle there before Gus brought his hostilities to the innand disrupted what had finally settled into a peaceful environment. At least, for now.
She slipped into her galoshes by the front door, slung her black cape around her shoulders, and put on her bonnet. It wasn’training at the moment, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t start up again.
As she slogged her way to the cottage, dread filled her. By the time she arrived and heaved herself up the porch steps, her knees felt like lead. She was surprised Gus hadn’t already come out and started yelling. Rapping lightly on the door, she closed her eyes and prayed for patience and tolerance.
The door opened slower than usual, and Gus was dressed quite presentably. It reminded her again of the times he had cleanedup to take her to her doctor and hospital visits. Even though her diagnosis had been a stomach ulcer, all the tests had terrifiedher.
Gus was wearing one of the same red-checkered shirts he’d worn during one of their trips to town. His black trousers wereheld up by suspenders, as always, and his hair was pulled back, but it appeared clean, and his beard had been groomed. Estherheld her breath and prepared for his wrath.
He stared at her, narrowing his eyebrows. “Esther . . .” He paused to sigh. “I don’t have any clothes. And there’s only oneperson I can think of who would steal all my clothes, except the ones I’m wearing.”
Esther was too stunned by his calm demeanor to know how to respond. She’d expected him to open the door ranting and cursingbecause someone had cleaned his house. She thought he might notice the clothes missing later. But then she thought about theway Gus smelled most of the time. Perhaps that was because he never went to town to use the laundromat.
“Why would your crazy sister steal all my clothes?” He scratched the top of his head, frowning. “That’s a low blow even forLizzie.”
Esther tried to be discreet as she peeked around Gus. The cottage was clean, just like it had been when Esther helped Gusa while back prior to a visit from his daughter. The woman had made it clear she never wanted to see Gus again.
“And another thing . . .” He nodded over his shoulder. “Maybe the only reason she cleaned the place up is to spy on me. Or maybe she stole things from me.” His expression soured even more.
Esther turned off the flashlight she was holding since the cottage was lit up with lanterns inside. “Lizzie didn’t steal yourclothes, and she didn’t clean the cottage. Our new employee, Rose, did that. The girl didn’t know any better, and she wasjust trying to help. We would have washed your clothes today and hung them to dry, but the rain prevented us from doing that.It won’t happen again.”
Gus folded his arms across his chest, resting them on his belly. “I guess I’ll sleep in this for tonight.”
Esther didn’t know what to say. Apparently, Gus really didn’t own any other clothes besides the ones Rose had hauled away.
“Thank you for understanding.” She turned to leave, wishing she’d brought a slice of pie to soften the double blow, but shewas also stunned he hadn’t thrown the fit she’d been expecting. “Good night.”
“Can you stay for a few minutes? There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
Esther slowly turned around, uninterested in listening to Gus complain about something.
“Gus, I’ve had an exhausting day.” She forced a yawn, which wasn’t difficult, but she followed him inside when he ignoredher comment and walked into the cottage.
She waited for him to wave his arms around and lambaste Rose for her efforts. But he sat on the worn corner of the couch,where it appeared he always sat, with the TV tray next to his spot. Even though there was no television or electricity inthe cottage, the tray was a makeshift end table.
Esther sat on the edge of a rocking chair, hoping she wouldn’t be staying long.
Gus scratched his chin and stared at the floor for a few seconds before he looked at her. “I went to see Heather today.”
The name sounded familiar, but Esther couldn’t place the woman.
When she didn’t respond, Gus snarled, then huffed. “My daughter, Esther. I only have one daughter. You met her.” He rolled his eyes. “Good grief.”
Esther should have gotten up and left right then. She’d warned Gus about speaking to her in such a manner. But she was toocurious about why Gus went to visit the woman. To Esther’s knowledge, he’d only seen her the one time when they had harshwords.
“Ya, ya. I remember.”
He eyed her a couple more seconds, as if to make sure she knew how disgusted he was that she hadn’t remembered the name ofa woman she’d met only once. “Did your visit go better than the last time? And why did you choose today, with this terribleweather?”
“I figured she would be home.” He pulled his gaze away
