Bonnie Winn - To Love Again

“Then expect a fight, my dear.” Meredith rubbed Kirsten’s back. “This isn’t over.”

The hard knot in Laura’s stomach grew even harder. Why couldn’t her in-laws see that she was fighting to save her family? That she wished she didn’t have to uproot them? But they hadn’t seen anything wrong in the way their son had dictated his will, easily accepting Paul as the executor.

In the end, there wasn’t anything Meredith could do about the children.

Laura contacted a Realtor who was thrilled to get a listing in the exclusive area and immediately leased out her home to an executive and his family. She committed the house for a year. By then she would know if she could succeed or if she would have to come back.

Without the funds for professional movers, Laura had to downscale. Calling it an estate rather than a garage sale, she culled through the pieces. Even with the rent from the house, it would be tight at first. Kirsten was horrified and locked herself in her room, but Gregg helped her tag the furniture.

Laura hadn’t planned on selling any of the children’s things anyway, not that she could get her daughter to listen. She thought of the baby grand piano and the other pieces Jerry had given to his parents. She certainly could have used the money.

Laura pitched some of Jerry’s shirts in a box for the Salvation Army. They’d collected a lot of things over the duration of their marriage, but Laura wasn’t attached to them. If it hadn’t been for the kids, she would have liked to forget all of that time. So most of the art and collectibles were going on the block, as well. They had been Jerry’s taste anyway, too contemporary for the turn-of-the-century house they were moving to.

Once the plans were in motion, Laura lost no time having the sale, then packing up the house. She hired the cheapest movers she could find.

Farewells with Meredith and Edward were filled with tears and hugs for the children. They were stiff with her, showing their displeasure. Kirsten huffed as she got in the car, her entire face a pout. Despite her own uncertainty, Laura didn’t cave. Instead she headed west out of the city. This time her anticipation edged ahead of her fear.

“This old house?” Kirsten asked in disgust when they pulled into the driveway.

Laura hung on to her patience. It had been a long drive, which her daughter had made feel even longer by sulking the entire way. It was also late in the day and they were all tired.

“Cool roof,” Gregg offered, bouncing out of the car. “Big, old yard! Are there swings?”

Grateful for her youngest’s attitude, Laura followed. She had barely turned the key in the lock when she spotted the moving truck arriving.

Soon the driver and his helper were unloading the furniture.

“Excuse me, some of these cartons should be upstairs,” Laura said, when they’d finished taking the beds and chests up.

“Not in the contract,” one of the men replied as he deposited her kitchen table in the middle of the living room.

Laura sighed. She had chosen the cheapest movers she could find. She and the kids could carry the boxes upstairs. Since she had packed them herself she hadn’t collected big ones anyway. “All right. Could you assemble the beds next? That way I can get them ready before…”

The man was shaking his head. “Not in the contract.”

Laura gaped at him. She couldn’t help it.

The man shrugged and headed back to the truck.

Maybe she should have paid just a little more.

“Mom!” Gregg ran inside. “There’s a lady here.”

Laura poked her head around the kitchen door. Annie had been trying to follow Gregg, but he was already hopping back through the maze of boxes to watch the movers.

“I’m here.”

“Hi! I just saw the truck. Welcome!”

“Thanks.”

Annie looked around at the haphazard cartons. “Wow.”

Laura hated to admit again how blunder-headed she was. “I picked a discount moving company,” she finally said.

“Ah. Well, I love a bargain. It’s like finding treasure.”

Laura straightened a box that was tilted precariously to one side. “I’m afraid it’s going to take a complete treasure hunt to find anything here.”

“That’s not something you have to worry about tonight. You’ll be my guests.”

She didn’t have the money for rooms at the bed-and-breakfast. “I hadn’t planned—”

Annie dodged to one side as the movers carried in a chest of drawers. “As my guests. Ethan and I insist. It’s our welcome gift to you and the children.”

“We can’t—”

“Yes, you can. I know the argument. The bed-and-breakfast is a business. But it’s not our only income. Remember, Ethan is a teacher. And we know where our sheets and towels are,” she added with a laugh.

“That does sound like heaven.” The kids would be exhausted by the time the movers left. And the thought of Annie’s inviting beds… “But isn’t this your busy season, with the wildflowers?”

“It’s Thursday. My weekenders don’t start checking in until tomorrow.”

“Well…”

“And you’ll have dinner with us.”

Laura opened her mouth to protest, but Annie waved her off. “What? You’ll take the kids for burgers instead? I don’t think so.”

Laura was so grateful for her kindness, she felt the sting of tears.

Annie gave her a reassuring hug. “You’re home now. And that’s what friends are for.”

It had been so long since Laura had been able to let friends into her life. She hadn’t been able to confide the terrible state of her marriage to anyone other than Donna. She had been too ashamed. Instinctively Jerry hadn’t liked Donna, so she hadn’t been comfortable coming around when he was home. Swallowing, Laura nodded. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. We’ll see you when you’re done here.”

Kirsten stood at the bottom of the stairs as Annie introduced herself on the way out. “I’ll see you and your family for dinner later, Kirsten.”

“Okay.” She looked back at her mother.

“She invited us to spend the night at her bed-and-breakfast. We get to sleep on beds that are already put together.”

Kirsten didn’t look impressed.

It took another hour for the movers to unload the rest of their things. By then Laura was exhausted and ready to round up the kids.

Annie and Ethan were so welcoming that even Kirsten was subdued. They led the family back to the large kitchen rather than the dining room.

“It’s where we eat,” Annie explained. “We think it’s cozier.”

A pot of chicken and dumplings simmered on the stove and the big round table was set for five with dishes that looked as though they had been in the house since it was built.

Ethan, a cheerful, quick-witted man with a noticeable sense of fun, pulled out chairs for Laura and Kirsten. “And, you, young man, how about sitting next to me?”

Pleased to be singled out, Gregg hopped onto the spindle-back chair. “Okay.”

After they were seated, Ethan and Annie bowed their heads. It took Laura a moment to react, then she gestured to her children to follow suit. Her throat tightened as she heard Ethan ask the Lord to watch over her and the children as they settled into their new home.

Then Annie began to dish up the fragrant stew while Ethan questioned the kids about their schools in the city, explaining that he was a teacher.

“You have to make kids do homework and take tests?” Kirsten asked him with a hint of accusation.

“Yes, but I also direct plays, plan the field trips. Most of the kids love drama.”

Kirsten sipped her milk, but didn’t reply.

“Do you teach any other subjects?” Laura asked, sending Kirsten a reproving look.

“English. I try to make that fun for the kids, too. We act out Shakespeare—makes it easier for everyone to understand.” He held out his bowl and Annie filled it with steaming chicken and dumplings. “I know it’s not everybody’s favorite, but I think most of us can get something out of his works.”