Hope's Garden Read online

  “So anyone can use it?” another board member asked.

  Gage nodded. “I’ve also talked to the high school principal and offered to allow students to be bused out to use the driving range and tennis courts in the mornings in April and May.” That had been his partner’s idea, a good one.

  Most board members nodded in approval at this.

  Gage continued, “To use the property, all the school would have to do to is to pay a liability insurance policy to cover the students at the course.”

  The board chair held up Gage’s proposal. “I see you had an environmental impact study done. Have you talked to the DNR?”

  “Yes, I have their tentative okay, pending your approval.”

  More nods from the row of men.

  A voice came from the back again, “May I address the board please?”

  “Yes, Mr. Burton,” the board chair replied.

  Everyone turned to see the president of Venture Corporation standing near Mrs. McCanliss. He must have just arrived.

  Mr. Burton, dressed in a sport shirt and chinos, walked forward to address the board. “I haven’t had the pleasure of talking to Mr. Farrell before now, but I have heard of his plans and I am in complete agreement. I cannot tell you how many times prospective engineers have turned down a job here because of the lack of leisure opportunities. This addition to the community will only make Eden more attractive to new residents.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Burton. We appreciate your input,” the board chair said.

  Mr. Burton shook hands with Gage, then sat down.

  “How are you prepared to finance this, Farrell?” Myer snapped. “We don’t want you to get started and not be able to finish it.”

  Not with bad checks, Gage wished he could say. But it wasn’t possible. “It is all there in black and white—from the down payment to the schedule of membership fees to yearly dues.”

  “The plan and the figures look good to me.” One board member looked at his watch.

  “Okay, let’s go ahead with the vote,” the secretary announced.

  “Wait! Wait!” Myer objected. “This is all just figures and promises. How do we know we can trust this stranger?”

  The four other county board members looked at Myer as if to say, “You’re questioning his honesty?”

  The county board chair looked around Gage. “Cat?”

  “Yes?” She stood up.

  “You’re in a partnership with Gage Farrell, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.” She folded her hands in front of her.

  “Have you found him to be a man of his word?”

  “Absolutely.” Then she sat down.

  Jim proceeded, “Okay. That’s all we need to know. Someone make a motion to vote and someone second it.”

  One member declared, “I make a motion we approve this golf and tennis club pending the successful sale of the property and final DNR approval.”

  “I second.” The secretary raised his hand.

  “All in favor?” The chair asked.

  Chapter Ten

  Gage held his breath.

  Four “Ayes” rang out.

  Gage exhaled gratefully.

  “Nays?” The chair looked at Myer.

  “Nay!” Myer shouted.

  “Approved.” The chair’s expression didn’t change. “All in favor of adjourning?”

  Again four “ayes,” one “nay.”

  “This meeting stands adjourned.”

  Gage felt Chuck thumping him on the back. Bet hugged his neck. Hetty was dancing some sort of exotic jig up and down the aisle between the folding chairs. But Catherine hung back, smiling at him. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She’s stood there—golden, tanned, sweet-smiling. He wanted to break away from his well-wishers and sweep Catherine into his arms and hold her tight against him. I love her.

  Like a rushing wind, this thought overwhelmed all other sensations. He felt as if the floor had come up and hit him in the face. I love her. I love Catherine.

  “I’ve got to get home!” Chuck declared. “Laurette is waiting.”

  Everything around Gage sped up. En masse, his supporters surged out of the building carrying him along like a bobber on the river’s surface. He tried to reach Catherine, but she stayed on the fringe of the wave.

  Desperate, he called to her, “Come to Chuck’s!”

  One more round. His back was pounded, he was embraced. Then everyone drifted away to their vehicles and departed. Everyone but Catherine excused themselves from coming to Chuck and Laurette’s. He found himself driving away in his car.

  In his rearview mirror, Gage was relieved to see Catherine following him through town instead of turning away toward her home in the country. As though nothing were out of the ordinary, Gage followed Chuck’s car as they drove up their quiet street into the garage. In the near dark, Catherine parked her white truck behind them.

  Gage jumped out and tried to reach Catherine’s truck before she got out. He wasn’t fast enough. Blast. She closed the vine-decorated door of her truck and faced him in the driveway.

  He wanted to say, I love you, Catherine!

  She tilted her head and smiled up at him.

  “Come on!” Chuck shouted from the garage. “What’s holding you two up?”

  Cat led Gage into the kitchen. The sensation he was experiencing felt like being underwater. He could see, hear, but through an invisible buffer. He wanted to swim to Catherine and pull her in with him, then he could ignore everything else. Be only with Catherine.

  “Chuck?” Laurette’s voice floated from the living room. “Are we celebrating?”

  “You better believe it! Eden is going to have a golf and tennis club!” Chuck hustled Gage away from Catherine and into the living room. Laurette, Harry and Jo looked up eagerly.

  Gage suffered through another round of hugging and back thumping. Catherine still hung back. The desire to hold her close ached inside him. He had to regain control. A few deep breaths and his heart and lungs slowed closer to their usual rhythm.

  “Time for pizza!” Harry and Jo disappeared into the kitchen.

  Vaguely aware of the aroma of pizza, Gage wouldn’t take a seat. He waited to see where Catherine would sit.

  “Sit down!” Laurette ordered. “What’s the matter with you two?”

  Swallowing to moisten his dry mouth, Gage bowed to Catherine. “After you.”

  Catherine rewarded him with one of her dazzling smiles. She sat down on the plaid chair beside the very pregnant Laurette who reclined on the green couch.

  Since he could not sit closer to Catherine, he sank into the matching plaid chair opposite her. At least he could enjoy looking at her.

  Within minutes, Harry and Jo had placed a paper plate with a slice of pizza in Gage’s one hand and a cold glass of cola in the other. Chuck sat on the floor by his wife with his back against the sofa. Harry and Jo sat Indian style as usual in front of the fireplace.

  Gage tried not to stare at Catherine. Following everyone else, he bit into the thick slice of pizza. Warm, red sauce squirted to both sides of his mouth. He knew the pizza must be tasty, but tonight his mind couldn’t take in one more sensation. Catherine, beautiful Catherine sat across from him.

  “So what happened?” Harry asked. “I want every detail.”

  Gage shrugged and chewed slowly. If he opened his mouth to speak, he didn’t know what might come out.

  Catherine spoke up, “Everything went as smoothly as clockwork. Gage had everything down in black and white—”

  Chuck interrupted, “Did you know that Mrs. McCanliss and Mr. Burton were coming?”

  Gage shook his head and continued chewing like a dumb animal.

  Catherine put her piece of pizza down on her white paper plate. “I expected Mrs. McCanliss. She likes to be in the center of things. I knew she wouldn’t miss it.”

  “But how did Burton know?” Chuck asked the question that had occurred to Gage earlier.

  “I called him and introduced myself, tol
d him about the proposed club.” Harry waved his slice in the air. “I can’t believe you didn’t think of that, big brother.”

  Still distanced from everyone, Gage wiped his mouth with a paper napkin and took a deep breath. “Thanks, little brother.”

  “I don’t wish to horn in on your big day, bro, but…” Harry rose to his feet in one graceful movement. “This is a day for celebrations. The Hadley estate is complete.” Harry bowed with a dramatic knightly flourish.

  “Ahead of schedule?” Catherine exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

  This broke through Gage’s abstraction. He put down his pizza, stood up and grabbed his brother’s hand. He shook it vigorously. “That’s great!”

  Harry’s face split with a broad smile. “I am really pumped! I feel like I have conquered the world.”

  “I know what you mean.” Gage tugged his brother into a quick back-slapping hug. He felt himself coming back to the shore, bit by bit.

  “Save some of that. More congratulations are in order.” Harry pulled away from his brother, then offered his hand to Jo. She took it, and he drew her gracefully to her feet. “Jo and I are engaged.”

  Gage’s mouth dropped open. “But you’ve only known each other for two months.”

  Harry tucked Jo close to his side. “It only took two days.”

  Jo blushed prettily and hid her face in Harry’s shoulder.

  Gage stared. Too much was happening. Too much…

  Her eyes wide-open, Laurette propped herself up on her elbow. “When is the wedding?”

  Harry kissed his fiancée’s forehead. “Jo finishes her masters degree next May. We’ll be married in June.”

  “You’re staying in Eden, too?” Gage gasped.

  Nodding, Harry explained, “Jo’s father is the president of Eden College. We had a long talk when I asked him for permission to marry his daughter. I plan to commute to Iowa City to complete my doctorate in fine arts. In the meantime, I’ve been asked to continue as groundskeeper for the Hadley estate. Fanny is going to start up her bed-and-breakfast soon, so I’ll have to move out. But Bet has agreed to rent me a room so my living costs will be minimal. That’s the plan.”

  Gage couldn’t take it all in. His brother had always been a drifter, not really grounded in reality. Love had changed him.

  Gage didn’t feel the same, either. He gazed at Catherine. What would she say if he told her, “I love you”? He’d been blindsided. What if Catherine wasn’t interested in expanding their partnership to a personal level? He couldn’t ask her to marry him out of the blue! What if she looked at him like he was an idiot? If that happened, how could he face her every day at Hope’s Garden? How could Harry be so confident about love while his big brother floundered?

  Laurette began to cry.

  “What’s wrong?” Chuck leaped to his feet.

  “Nothing. I’m just happy. Everything is fine.” Laurette smiled and wiped her eyes with her yellow paper napkin. “Oh!” she exclaimed suddenly. “I have a great idea!”

  “What?” Gage watched Laurette.

  “A garden party! You and Cat can combine the celebration over the groundbreaking for your golf and tennis club and the completion of the Hadley House garden restoration!”

  Chuck clapped his hand on Gage’s shoulder. “That’s a great idea, honey! Gage, you can invite those investors out from Chicago to see what they’ve invested in and attract a huge crowd, not just from Eden, but from the surrounding county. You’ll be inundated with people wanting to buy memberships!”

  Laurette took over. “And it will be great advertising for Hope’s Garden! Cat and Harry can show off what they’ve done! We’ll invite people from the state historical society! It will knock everyone’s socks off!”

  Harry cleared his throat. “I have something more to add to this occasion.” He waited until everyone looked toward him. “My intended—” he paused to kiss Jo’s ear, making her blush again “—has created a large copper sculpture to grace the Hadley garden. This would be the perfect occasion to unveil it.”

  “A sculpture!” Laurette squealed. “How wonderful!”

  More congratulations were exchanged.

  Gage and Catherine were the only two serious people in the room. Gage tried to analyze what his partner was thinking. Personally, he was thinking of hugging Catherine. He tried to move. His feet had taken root.

  “Well, don’t just stand there!” Laurette scolded. “What do you two say?”

  “I could never organize something like this right now, Laurette,” Cat spoke up. “This is my busy season. I’ve got tons of jobs in Paradise Hills—”

  “You wouldn’t need to do anything, but show up. I’ll organize everything from right here on the couch.”

  “Honey, I don’t want you overdoing it,” Chuck cautioned.

  “I’ll just be dialing the phone and giving orders. In fact, this may keep me from going insane in the next month.”

  Jo volunteered, “I’ll help and I’m sure my mother will, too. She’s always entertaining, the wife of the prez, you know.” She grinned.

  “And I’ll help, too,” Harry offered. “I’ll just be doing odd jobs till school starts anyway.”

  “So?” Laurette demanded, staring at Catherine.

  Catherine looked to Gage. He shrugged.

  She conceded, “Okay. When?”

  “We need to get permission to use the Hadley grounds. We need to give people at least two weeks’ notice,” Gage suggested.

  “Okay!” Laurette agreed. “I’ll just need a guest list from you—”

  “Wait!” Cat stopped Laurette. “We need to set a budget first.” She looked to Gage. “I’m willing to use your partnership payment this month for this—”

  “But—” Gage objected. “I wanted that money to cover the expenses on the Hadley job.”

  “No argument. Your brother brought it in just under budget. We’ll manage.” With a playful frown, Cat shook her finger at him.

  “Okay, but I’ll match it,” Gage insisted.

  “Great!” Laurette took over again and declared as though announcing the winner of a contest, “The Eden Golf and Tennis Club’s Groundbreaking will take place three weekends from now with a garden reception afterward at the Hadley estate!”

  Cat gazed at the happy faces in the room. All the news this evening had been good, the best. It was selfish, but with Gage starting another business she felt as though she’d be losing him. She’d become accustomed to working with Gage. Now he’d spend less time at Hope’s Garden, and in a few years, she’d pay him off and she’d be on her own again. She wondered how this would affect Hope’s Garden and her…heart.

  Finally, Chuck and Laurette’s house was quiet and dark again. The pizza had been eaten and the guests had left for home. Gage sat in his basement room on his narrow twin bed.

  Still feeling a bit at sea, Gage lifted the cordless phone and dialed his parents’ number. His mother answered.

  “Hi, Mother, it’s Gage.”

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing.” He couldn’t very well tell her, I’ve just realized I’m in love with my business partner.

  “Are you certain?”

  Yes. “I just wanted to tell you my good news.” What do I do now? How do I find out if Catherine feels anything for me?

  “Good news?” his mother sounded wary.

  “Yes, I’ve gone ahead with that golf course idea I discussed with Dad.” He hurried on to prevent her from dashing cold water on his plans. “I want to invite you and Dad to the groundbreaking and reception in three weeks from this weekend.”

  “In three weeks? So soon?”

  “Yes, I’m inviting my investors from Chicago and I’d like for you and Dad to come out, too.” Everything he said was factual but it still felt like a dream—except for Catherine. Loving her was real.

  “Well, if it’s that important, your father and I will come out, of course. You know, we’ve only wanted you to be successful and happy. If a gol
f course in Iowa will do that, of course, we’ll come.”

  “And I think you’ll be pleased when you see what Harry has accomplished here, too.” Right now Harry’s life made more sense than his did.

  “Harry?” His mother’s voice sharpened. “I’m happy to hear he is still alive. He hasn’t called or sent us so much as a postcard.”

  “He’s been really busy, but I won’t tell you doing what. I think we’ll save that as a surprise for you when you arrive.”

  “All right and maybe I’ll have a surprise for you when I come.”

  Gage chuckled. He pictured his mother meeting Jo, her future daughter-in-law—the buzz cut, five earrings and all. Mother, Harry has a real surprise for you.

  “Would you reserve that bed-and-breakfast for us again—both rooms? I don’t want to share a bath with a stranger.”

  “Sure. I’ll send you an invitation, Mother. Give my best to Dad.”

  He hung up and looked around the shadowy basement, the lonely, empty space. He hadn’t been able to hold Catherine close tonight or tell her he loved her. He didn’t know when he would be able to. Soon? Never? He didn’t have a clue. But he had called his mother and shared the good news about the club. That would please Catherine. He laid back on his bed and stared at the exposed beams overhead. Why hadn’t he seen falling in love with Catherine coming? One thing he knew for sure. Daria had never had this effect on him.

  Three weeks later, as Cat stood sorting the day’s cash income into piles of ones, fives, tens and twenties on her desk, her mind went over the events of the coming weekend—the open house at the group home, the groundbreaking at Gage’s golf course, and the reception at the Hadley House garden with the unveiling of Jo’s copper sculpture. This week Laurette had called incessantly with last-minute details. Even standing here alone, Cat felt jumpy, on edge.

  Her phone rang. Wondering what Laurette wanted now, she lifted the cell phone from her pocket. “Hope’s Garden. We have every bloomin’ thing you need. Cat speaking.”

  “Catherine, we have some bad news—”