July
Lucy wrapped her coat against the cold air. The rain was holding off for now, but the clouds were dark and oppressive. She didn’t mind the change in weather. In this very dry climate, the winter rains were an absolute godsend to the farmers of the valley, and she found that in its winter guise, the farm was as beautiful as it had been in its summer and autumn glory.
Lucy held a cup of coffee with both hands, warming them in the process.
“Shall we give them an extra five minutes?” Lena Abrahams said.
“Oh hell, why not?” said Lucy. “It’s Friday.” The two colleagues were standing on the edge of the school field on recess duty. Every Friday they were together, and it gave them a chance to chat.
“I see you’re making great progress with Mikey. There are some other children that really need extra help in the other grades. If I could get one of the other staff members to take over some of your second-grade duties, then perhaps we could have a remedial class next year.”
“I would love to do that, Lena,” Lucy said with enthusiasm.
“So, does this mean that we can count on you to stick around for next year?”
“Definitely,” she said with conviction. “I plan to stay here for the foreseeable future.” Lucy couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. Months earlier, she had told Lena the truth about the circumstances that had brought her to Mountain Shadows. She felt that coming clean to her principal and friend was the right thing to do. And she was glad she had. There had been no judgment on Lena’s part whatsoever, only empathy and understanding.
“Apart from the fact that I’m beginning to love it here, I don’t particularly want to go home and face that mess.”
“We all make mistakes. It’s best to make them when you’re young. When I was twenty-four, I married a man who turned out to have another wife and kids. It took me nearly six years to figure it out. Of course, looking back, there were signs aplenty, but I either couldn’t or wouldn’t see them.”
“Wow, that must have been devastating. How did you cope when you found out?”
“You mean when I found out that my relationship was a lie? Well, it wasn’t quite as spectacular as your story, but I lost it too. I eventually confronted him and his other wife. It turned out she didn’t know about me either. It was quite a scene, I’ll tell you. Betrayal always has huge consequences.”
Lucy was contemplative. “My problem is how do I trust my own judgment now? How do I trust myself to make major decisions when I was so badly duped before?”
“The only thing I know is this: trust your gut, always. Don’t ever silence that little voice that warns and prods you. It’s usually sharpest at three am,” Lena said before draining the last of her coffee. “Hey!” Lena’s voice was a foghorn piercing through the children’s noise. “Give that ball back now!” she yelled at two older girls, who obeyed immediately.
Lucy absently tugged at her earlobe. “I’m also nervous of becoming enveloped in someone else’s family. With Jason, it was all so overwhelming. It was as if I began to lose my own identity in becoming a Palmer. I always want to maintain my identity as Lucy Shepherd.”
“Do you like the de Langes?” Lena was direct.
“I do like them. I find them warm without being overbearing.”
“Well, I can tell you that farmers in this area haven’t always treated their workers very fairly. But the de Langes are one of the most respected families in this valley. Josh’s father had a reputation for perfectionism and expected a great deal from the people who worked for him, whether they were in the boardroom or working in the fields. But he was always a fair man and he helped many people. They are a fine family, Lucy. And not everyone who is successful is corrupt.”
“I think you’re right. But I’m just a bit scared to relax and enjoy my life. Ever since I lost my mother as a little girl, it’s like I’ve been waiting for the next catastrophe.”
“So, maybe it’s time to wait for the next miracle, huh?” Lena said, smiling. “Now let’s get these kids inside for the last lesson of the week.”
As usual on a Friday, Mikey stayed on at school for an extra lesson. Because it was the end of the week, she made sure the lesson was fun. They played word games and hangman and Mikey drank a large mug of hot chocolate. She took him home, driving slowly for it was a misty day raining off and on. Once he was safely deposited at his front door, Lucy headed to her favorite coffee shop, Ruth’s Roastery. Inside Ruth’s was pleasantly buzzing.
“Hello, Lucy,” called Suzie, the manager and barista. Suzy had platinum-blonde hair with blue streaks and a nose stud. “Cappuccino?” she asked, although she knew the answer.
“And you wouldn’t happen to have a slice of pecan nut pie, would you?” Lucy asked.
“One slice saved for you,” said Suzie.
Lucy sat at a small table near the window. From there, she had a view of the comings and goings of the main street. Coming to Ruth’s after school was one of her favorite rituals. Today, there was a low hum of conversation interrupted by the occasional noise of the coffee grinder, and the aroma of the small bakery in the back infused the cozy restaurant.
“So, how’s business?” Lucy asked Suzie, who placed a steaming cappuccino and a plate with a generous slice of pecan nut pie in front of her.
“Well, you know how seasonal this place is. Thank God for our regulars like yourself. But there have been a few tourists through, so we’re okay. How are things out at Mountain Shadows? I’ve heard that the old manor house is quite spectacular.”
“Things are great, and it’s time Josh and I invited you over for coffee.”
“I’d love that,” said Suzie, her eyes wide. “Any chance of a tour of the old cellars?”
“Definitely. I’ll set it up,” said Lucy. She knew that Josh wouldn’t mind, in fact, he loved sharing his heritage with the townsfolk.
She turned her attention to the pie and sipped her coffee. Tired from the end of a busy week and lost in thought, she didn’t notice the man approaching her table.
“Excuse me, miss.”
Lucy looked up. The man in front of her was middle-aged and spoke with an American accent. Nondescript with khaki trousers and sneakers and the obligatory tourist money belt. “I’m afraid you dropped these on your way in.” He held out a bunch of keys. Right in front of the restaurant,” he added by way of explanation.
She shook her head. “Sorry, but I have my keys here. Those obviously belong to someone else.”
“Hmm, well, my mistake, then. Never mind, I’ll just leave them here at the front counter and maybe the rightful owner will claim them.”
And with that, the man left Ruth’s and Lucy returned to her coffee and cake. She didn’t notice that he stole another backward glance at her before he exited the coffee shop.
***
Didn’t notice a thing.
Lionel Mackay shook his head and couldn’t help feeling rather smug. For an entire month, he’d been unobtrusively kicking about this town. Gathering information hadn’t been terribly hard. It always amazed him just how unobservant most people were. I mean, take this Lucy character. He’d been in close proximity to her at least half a dozen times and yet she hadn’t shown a flicker of recognition when he’d handed her the keys.
Getting onto the farm had proved a little trickier. That manager guy, somebody Diaz, had given him full-on attitude when he’d driven onto the estate a while back. Lionel had played the part of the clueless tourist, insisting he’d lost his way en route to a guesthouse. Still, he hadn’t liked the way that big sonofabitch had looked him up and down.
He reckoned he had more or less finished his work here anyway. The rest was up to the client. He didn’t much care what they did with all the information he’d passed on. It seemed to him as if this girl had landed with her ass in the butter, first carrying on with Jack Palmer’s son and now a rich local farmer. From behind the wheel of his hired car, he watched as Lucy exited the coffee shop. He wondered what all the fuss was about. She isn’t bad-looking, he thought, if you like the pale and interesting kind.
Lionel decided he would stay on a few more days and eat out whenever he could. What was the point of having an expense account if you didn’t use it?