Investment in Love (Contemporary Romance) (4 page)

An almost unbearable silence stretched out on the other end, and when his aunt finally spoke again she sounded choked with emotion.

“Calvin? Is that really you?”

“It is,” he said, trying to sound cheerful.

“Oh, Calvin, honey, we haven’t heard from you since… well, since Ann’s funeral.”

His eyes prickled at the memory of that painful day, and he cleared his throat gruffly. “I’m sorry,” he said suddenly. He was sorry, too. Why had he never tried to contact his mother’s sister?

“Oh, honey,” she said softly. “It’s okay. We love you just the same.”

Another silence emerged, but this one felt more peaceful. When Calvin was about to speak, his aunt beat him to it. “You said you had questions about Mom and Aunt Loretta?”

“Um, yes. I realized I don’t know anything about how they grew up or anything like that. I never had a chance to talk to Grandma about it.”

“Oh, sure,” Aunt Sheila said kindly. “Well, let’s see, where shall I start? Can you talk for a while?”

“Oh yes,” said Calvin. “Take as long as you need.”

“Well, hmm. Mom was born in the early 1930s, and Loretta was a little bit younger. They grew up in some tiny little mountain town in Oregon.”

“Carterville?” Calvin asked eagerly.

“Yes, that sounds right,” she answered. He peered around the house with new eyes, wondering if this was where his grandmother had been raised. It looked too new, though.

“Mom always said she grew up in a tiny little shack,” his aunt continued.
Well, that answered that question.
“I think their daddy was a miner or logger, something like that—and they were poor, real poor. Their mom died when they were just little kids. I’m not sure how. I don’t know if Mom even knew, but if she did she never said.”

Calvin made a sympathetic, interested noise, eager to unravel the mystery. If they’d started poor, how had Great-Aunt Loretta gotten $10 million?

“Now, what your Grandma Maude told me the few times I got her to open up about it, was that her dad went downhill fast. She said he took to drinking. I’ve always wondered if he was abusive, but no one ever said.” Aunt Sheila’s voice softened at the memory, and she paused briefly before continuing. “I think Mom pretty much ended up raising Aunt Loretta, though. And I know she did really well in school, and that’s how she ended up getting the teaching position in California, because someone recommended her. Then she met my dad—your Grandpa John—and got married when she was just 19. The rest, as they say, is history.”

“Wow,” said Calvin, unsure of how else to respond. This was a big spread of new information—but unfortunately it didn’t answer most of his questions. He decided to proceed carefully, since he didn’t want to tell Aunt Sheila about the inheritance. He was afraid he’d hurt her feelings. After all, surely she ought to have had some claim on her aunt’s riches. “Um, what about Great-Aunt Loretta?” he asked, trying to sound casual.         

Aunt Sheila inhaled sharply. “Oh, Calvin, honey, I don’t know if anyone told you, but Aunt Loretta, she passed…”

Calvin fought the urge to smack himself in the forehead. “Sorry, Aunt Sheila! I should have been more clear. I know that she passed on recently. I was just hoping to learn more about her and Grandma’s lives.”

“Oh, okay,” the older woman said. “Well, let’s see. I think she moved out to California a little while after Mom and Dad did, but she didn’t stay too long before heading back to Oregon. Mom never said much. I think she was pretty withdrawn her whole life. I know she was never much interested in visits from me and the kids. She visited a couple times when your mom and I were growing up, and we used to write letters, but eventually she just kinda fell off the map. Last time we talked was not too long after your mom died, I think.”

“Hmm,” said Calvin. “Did she ever get married or anything like that?”

“Nope,” said his aunt. “She was pretty much a recluse, so far as I know. Maybe a few suitors back when they were young—her and your grandma were apparently quite the beauties back in their day.” He could hear the smile in her voice.

Calvin chuckled at the information, but his mind was racing trying to put it all together in terms of the inheritance and the house. If Great-Aunt Loretta had been a poor recluse, where had the money come from? Had she been robbing banks or something? If so, was the money legal now?

This bit of fancy was banished when Aunt Sheila spoke again. “So Calvin, honey, tell me about you. You sound all grown up.” She sounded wistful, and Calvin put his full attention on the phone conversation.

“I don’t know if I’d say all grown up,” he responded with a smile.

“What about a job? You must be working by now.”

“Sure,” he said. “I have a position as a stockbroker with Lincoln & Bosch in New York, actually.”

“Oh wow,” Aunt Sheila said. “You really are grown up. What about a girl? Married?”

Calvin nearly twitched at the question. What was he supposed to say?
No girlfriend at the moment, but I expect to be married within the next three months.
Instead, he said, “Nothing too serious,” and left it vague.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll find someone,” she said sweetly.

I sure hope so. And fast,
he thought. Suddenly, he added aloud, “When there is someone serious, Aunt Sheila, maybe you could meet her. Maybe I could come visit sometime.”

“That would be lovely,” she said, voice soft with emotion.

They tied the call up after a few more minutes of small talk, and Calvin sat rubbing his tired ear and thinking. Great-Aunt Loretta’s inheritance was more of a mystery than ever—and his aunt had reminded him that he needed some prospects fast if he was going to be married in three months.

What had Ellie said?
The pretty brunette had mentioned something when he’d asked about the singles scene—a community dance. His brain immediately provided pictures of something out of the movie
Grease,
but he quickly banished the visions of poodle skirts. Just because this was a small town didn’t mean they were stuck in the past.

The next thing Calvin envisioned was a nightclub, but that didn’t seem right either. No, if anything, this would be like a middle school dance. Paper streamers, weak punch, bad music…

And women.
Lots of young, single women, hopefully.

With a plan firmly in mind, Calvin felt more confident. Organization always helped him, so he sat down with a pen and paper and titled a list “To-Do.”

o
  
Groceries

o
  
Look for consignment stores

o
  
Apologize to Ellie Parker?

o
  
Or find home design alternative…

o
  
Get details on comm. dance

·
        
Need ticket?

·
        
Bring anything?

·
        
Dress code

Dress code wouldn’t really be a problem—he’d brought a pretty wide selection of clothing in his suitcases. But he did want to make sure he didn’t look awkward, or offend anyone.

The day went by quickly. It turned out there were no grocery delivery services in Carterville—not that he was really surprised—so Calvin drove back into town to do his shopping. While he was there, he was able to not only get ingredients for a week’s worth of meals, but also to stop and talk to the owner of a dusty little store called Treasures ‘n’ Things that looked like it might sell some of his aunt’s old things for him.

Kathy of Treasures had been positively ecstatic at the possibility of going through “old Miss Loretta’s” decorative belongings, and she’d offered to come up within the next week and make an offer on anything she wanted. That made things pretty simple for Calvin, and he resolved to have a complete list of items ready for review as soon as possible. Conveniently, she’d also had a stack of flyers for the community dance, so Calvin had grabbed one to take home with him and then headed back up the hill to the house.

The flyer said
“All Welcome!” and advertised dancing, a raffle, and food. Calvin decided to play it safe with another casual outfit of khakis and a button-up shirt. He’d noticed that the residents of Carterville seemed to wear jeans and T-shirts most of the time, and he didn’t want to look like a fish out of water by wearing too nice of an outfit.

After making himself a simple omelet for dinner, he pulled his to-do list back across the table in front of him. The pen made quick strokes through “groceries,” “consignment store,” and “community dance,” and then he was just left with one item.

Calvin stared at the words for a while. He couldn’t explain why he hadn’t just called her and apologized. He told himself that he didn’t want to work with her anymore—but he hadn’t looked for another business to replace Parker Home Design either.
The practical solution would be to call her right now…
But instead he stood up and headed back to the library to inventory Great-Aunt Loretta’s belongings.

***

Ellie cheerfully hummed her way through the next day’s work, anticipation building for the dance. She couldn’t explain why she was so excited to go to the community dance this time, since Bill wasn’t too exciting and she’d been many, many times before, but a current of energy ran through her every time she thought about it.

Maybe it was having the chance to really dress up. She usually stuck to practical clothes like jeans and a T-shirt.

She pulled out all the stops—eyeliner, shimmery nude eye shadow that made her brown eyes glitter, pretty peach lipstick, curled hair, and a pushup bra. Top it all off with her favorite black dress and a pair of black velvet heels, and she was—
Well, not too bad. Not bad at all, actually
, she thought as she looked in the mirror. There was time for just one spritz of her favorite floral perfume and then a knock sounded on the door.

“Come on in,” she called from her bedroom, transferring things from her purse to a smaller clutch.

“Hi, Ellie,” said Bill Carlisle’s familiar voice. She could hear him closing the door and shuffling around in the living room.

“I’m all ready to go if you are,” she said, still fidgeting with her purse as she walked down the hall.

He didn’t say anything. She looked up, blinking in confusion, and tried to figure out why Bill was just standing there quiet. The stocky man stood there gaping at her in the light from the lamp, lips slightly parted.

“Holy shi—Excuse me,” he said all in a rush, clearing his throat gruffly. “Wow, Ellie. You look…
gorgeous.
”

She felt herself flush pink at the man’s reaction. “Don’t be silly,” she said automatically. “I just felt like dressing up. Haven’t in a while.”

Bill was still standing there, baseball cap in hand. Ellie rolled her eyes. “You all ready?”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah, sorry,” he said. “Truck’s running outside.”

The sun was just setting as they drove toward the community center, and Ellie noticed self-consciously that Bill kept glancing at her every few seconds. “You know,” she said casually, “it sure is nice of you as a friend to take me to the dance once in a while.”

“Oh, sure,” he said quickly.

“I’m really glad we’re friends
,
” Ellie said again. Then, in case he hadn’t gotten the point, she added, “It’s nice to be able to go out and dance with a guy once in a while without him thinking I’m interested.”

She flashed Bill a friendly grin to soften the blow, and thankfully he seemed to get the hint. “Oh, yeah. Yeah, I’m glad too,” he said, finally putting his eyes back on the road and keeping them there.

Phew
. She let out a very small sigh of relief, glad to have avoided anything awkward, and then Bill was parking in the lot at the center.

Bill took her elbow and escorted through the door and into the din of country music and chattering voices. As Ellie’s eyes adjusted, she peered urgently around the room, looking for a certain pair of sharp blue eyes.

He wasn’t there.

Of course he’s not here,
she grumbled to herself. Why would an out-of-towner show up at their small community event?
You’re being silly, Ellie
, she said mentally.
Focus on your friends.

On her left, Bill hovered anxiously and stared at her with hopeful eyes. To the right, Ellie caught sight of her closest high school friend, Ann, accompanied by husband and daughter.

“Save me,” mouthed Ellie in her direction. Luckily, the other woman noticed.

“Ellie,” Ann said brightly, “why don’t you come check out the desserts with me? Bill doesn’t mind, does he?”

Bill shook his head, eager to please, and Ellie ducked away quickly.

“Thank you,” she said in a hushed tone as they walked.

Ann laughed. “You’re so welcome,” she said. “I’m thinking you shouldn’t accept his invitations anymore. He doesn’t look like he’s taking the ‘just friends’ thing to heart.”

She sighed. “I know, but he looks so sad and hopeful every time he asks. I thought he understood, but today we’re back to square one.” The door opened, and she looked over hopefully, but it wasn’t Calvin Barnard.

They reached the table and peered down together at brownies, sponge cakes, and pies. “Well, look at you!” Ann said, eyeing a particularly well-shaped gingersnap. “Why are you so dolled up if you didn’t want attention?”

“I—” Ellie started, offended.

“I’m teasing,” her friend laughed. “Relax. You look nice. It does you good to get dressed up.” The door swung open again, but it was just a few of the older ladies.

When Ellie looked back at Ann, her auburn-haired friend was eyeing her suspiciously. “Okay,” she said, “who is it?”

“What?” asked Ellie, still distractedly peering around.

“Elizabeth Marie,
spill.
”

Ellie eyed her old friend guiltily, knowing she was busted. “Um, I don’t—”

A small cluster of older women moved over, led by Kathy Timmons. “No, he is, isn’t that right, Ellie?”

“I’m sorry?”

Kathy continued, looking smug about all the attention she was receiving. “There’s a young man in from the big city who’s clearing out Loretta Meyer’s old house. He told me you were doing the renovations.”

The pack of matrons around her looked at Ellie in eager fascination, and Ann raised a suspicious eyebrow.

“Oh, yes, I suppose so,” responded Ellie. “It isn’t official yet, but I’m working on an estimate.”

Kathy lifted her chin in pride. “He asked if I’d take some of the curios and decorative items off his hands. I can’t imagine how he ended up in charge of the place.”

“She was his great-aunt,” cut in Ellie. Everyone spun to look at her again, and Ann’s eyebrows lifted even further. She felt a self-conscious warmth creep across her face.

“He must be one of Maude Meyer’s grandkids then,” interjected old Mrs. Herman. “She moved off to the city way back in the ’50s.”

Kathy Timmons suddenly said, “Well you can ask him yourself. Look, there he is now.” Ellie, whose back was to the door, spun around suddenly, ignoring Ann’s knowing glance.