Jean Gordon - Small-Town Midwife

“I know, but the house isn’t your responsibility, and I didn’t want to wake you up if you’d been out last night.”

“I was. I had a hot date with a pile of billing invoices.”

“Still haven’t found a temporary office assistant?”

“No, but Jamie texted me last night that she may have someone. Her cousin is looking for a summer job.” Autumn motioned to the door. “So, do you have time to come in for a while? I’ll put coffee on.”

Anne looked longingly at the door. “No, thanks. I told Drew I’d help with signing out this week’s campers at Sonrise this morning. I need to get these guys home and dressed and down to the lake.”

Autumn nodded. They all helped in the summer with the Christian camp and conference center that her uncle Drew managed on her family’s Paradox Lake property.

“But your aunt Jinx had better have some fresh coffee ready, or I’ll leave this crew with her and be right back up the road to take you up on your offer.”

“You’re welcome anytime. I’m goofing off this morning. I’m on the crew to help with the cleanup and to get the camp ready for the new campers coming tomorrow. So maybe I’ll see you all later.”

Autumn watched Anne fasten the kids in their car seats and drive away. She glanced at the moving van. The stone-faced driver sat in the cab tapping the steering wheel with his finger while the other mover leaned against the side drinking a cup of coffee from the Paradox Lake General Store. She’d recognize the store’s distinctive logo anywhere. It wasn’t her problem that Jon was late. She went back inside and made some coffee for herself.

* * *

Gravel flew as Jon shot up Hazard Cove Road. He’d told the movers that he would meet them at the house at eight. They couldn’t have stopped and had breakfast or something when they got off the interstate at Schroon Lake? He eyed the house as he came to a stop. The New England–style shake shingles were painted a light gray, and the house had white-and-steel-blue trim. Both his unit on the right and his neighbor’s unit had bright red front doors.

The Realtor, who was the town historian, had talked his ear off about how the house dated back to the early 1800s and was built by one of the Hazards who’d settled the area for logging. He’d also regaled Jon with the details of how and when the current Hazard family members had built their homes on or just off Hazard Cove Road.

Jon got out of his car and strode across the yard to the moving van, wondering if those other family members included Autumn. Even though she was a few years younger than him, she might own a home.

The moving van driver and his helper got out and met him in front of the duplex.

“Dr. Hanlon?” the driver asked.

“Yes. Sorry for the delay. I wasn’t expecting you until eight. I’ll unlock the door.”

The man nodded. “We’ll start unloading.”

Jon followed the shale walk up and to the left. He inserted the key the Realtor had given him and swung the door in. A lemony scent mixed with the warm summer air. It and the gleaming, wide-planked pine floors attested to the Realtor’s word that he’d have the house cleaned and ready for him today.

“Hey, Doc.” The helper wheeled Jon’s Sportster down the ramp and over beside the truck. “Sweet bike. Where do you want it?”

“In the back.” The house didn’t have a garage, but the Realtor had assured Jon that there was plenty of room in the shake-sided outbuilding behind the house. A former chicken coop, according to the Realtor.

“Follow me.” Jon led the mover to the shed and inserted the key the Realtor had given him in the lock. It didn’t work. He called the Realtor and got his voice mail again, so he tried the Hazards’ number. No answer there, either. A movement in the window of the other side of the duplex caught his eye.

“I’ll go ask my new neighbor for a key.” Jon crossed the yard to the back door and knocked. He tapped his foot as he waited for someone to answer.

“Hi.”

“Autumn. You live here? I’m surprised the Realtor didn’t tell me. He told me the history and everything else there is to know about the house.” Why was he stammering like the teenage nerd he once was facing the most popular girl at school? He looked into her light blue eyes. She probably had been one of the most popular girls at school—definitely one of the prettiest. “Why didn’t you say something yesterday?”

“I thought I’d surprise you later once you were settled in.”

The light in her eyes said she was teasing him, but years of sarcastic criticism from his family made him unsure whether he was reading her correctly. He cleared his throat. “Do you have a key to the shed? The one the Realtor gave me isn’t working.”

“Yes, sorry about that. Some kids out partying tried to break into it a few weeks ago with a nail file that jammed in the lock. I don’t know what they thought I had in there.” She pushed an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “That’s a problem here. There’s not a lot to do, and some kids have too much time on their hands. I had to hacksaw the lock off and get a new one.”

She spoke so matter-of-factly. “That didn’t bother you, being out here alone?” He refrained from saying a woman here alone.

Autumn laughed. “Me, alone?”

Jon glanced around and saw nothing but pine forest. “Someone was living in the other unit?”

“No. But I’m surrounded by family. No one can get up the road without passing by Dad’s and my grandparents’ houses, and no one can come up from the lake without passing the lodge where my aunt and uncle live. I wasn’t home, but Grandpa and Uncle Drew were both here in time to block the kids’ car in. They ran off into the woods, but the sheriff’s deputy caught up with them quick enough. They were summer folk. But you’re not here for my life story. Come in and I’ll get you the key.”

Jon stepped in and waited in the kitchen for Autumn to return. He breathed in the aroma of the coffee brewing on the counter, and his stomach growled to remind him he hadn’t had any coffee or breakfast.

“Here you go.” Autumn walked back into the kitchen. She looked from him to the coffeemaker he was eyeing and bit her lip. “Want a cup?” she asked after a moment.

“Yeah, but I shouldn’t keep the movers waiting any longer than I have.”

“I’ll bring one out to you. Cream and sugar?”

“Black is good.” He couldn’t tell if she was being nice or wanted him to leave. “I really appreciate it.”

“I could tell. You were looking at my coffeemaker like a man who’d just crawled his way out of a waterless week in the desert.”

“That bad?”

“That bad.” She handed him the key on a key chain that read I Conquered the High Peaks.

Had she climbed all of the Adirondack High Peaks? he wondered. At Samaritan, she’d always been open to a challenge. His former roommate could attest to that. The roommate had run into Autumn and some of the other women shooting hoops at the Y one evening and, after some back and forth, had challenged them to a three-point competition. It had come down to his roommate and Autumn. She matched him shot for shot until the competition was called because the Y was closing.

So she certainly had the tenacity to conquer the peaks. Her crossed arms and wide-legged stance stopped him from asking, though. He should get back outside, but he couldn’t seem to get his feet moving. They were going to be working together and living next door to each other. He’d like to get past the undercurrent of resentment she exuded.

“I’ll bring the key right back.”

“Keep it. I have another one, and you’ll need a copy anyway.”

He pushed open the screen door and reached behind him to close the main door.