Chapter Fifteen

Alice was alone in the kitchen Saturday morning. The guests had finished breakfast and left the inn, and Jane was out working in the garden, something she enjoyed too much to consider it work. Louise had gone to Potterston to finish her food shopping for some items not available at their local grocery store. Since she was scheduled to work that afternoon, Alice was relaxing and enjoying a midmorning cup of tea. Certainly today was off to a better start than yesterday. They’d had a good laugh telling Jane about their misadventures, but the sisters sincerely hoped that they hadn’t booked any more guests as unpleasant as the Browns.

“Is anybody here?” a woman’s voice called from the front entryway.

Alice went out to see who was there and was pleased to find Viola.

“I never know whether to knock or walk right in,” she said, flicking back a pale blue silk scarf with one hand and clutching a small basket in the other.

“Come back to the kitchen,” Alice invited. “Have a cup of tea with me.”

“I’d love to,” Viola said, “but I can’t stay long. I’m not alone.”

“Oh no, you’re not.” Alice looked into the basket and smiled in delight.

A ball of black fluff uncoiled into a darling little kitten. She couldn’t resist touching the soft fur on its back.

“Isn’t he adorable? I still haven’t found a home for him when he’s old enough to leave his mother. I’m keeping a female from the litter for myself, but I’m way over my limit.”

“You brought him here to seduce me,” Alice said with mock disproval.

“Have I succeeded?”

Alice only smiled. “Let’s have that cup of tea, and you can tell me more about the litter.”

She was tempted to say yes. She would love to take care of a new kitten, but her nursing obligations made that nearly impossible.

Viola put the basket on the floor where no one would trip over it, then sat at the table as Alice brewed a cup of tea for her.

“How is the fawn doing?” Viola asked.

“Fine, I hope. Rose Bellwood called on Wednesday and assured us it was getting along well.”

“Hello. Alice, are you there?” She recognized a familiar voice coming from the side door and went to greet Jack.

“Jane said to walk right in,” he said. “She’s out there getting the garden in shape.”

“Hello, Jack. Have you come to report on the fawn?”

“Well, sort of,” he said. “I … what do you have here?”

He walked over to the basket and stooped for a better look at the kitten.

“He still needs a home,” Viola explained. “I brought him here for Alice to see.”

Jack scooped him up in one of his large hands and softly rubbed the kitten between his ears.

“Are you going to take him, Alice?” he asked.

“I probably shouldn’t,” she said. “Jane has too much work already, and she would have the most responsibility for a new kitten. Also there’s no predicting whether Wendell would take to him.”

“You know,” Jack said thoughtfully, “my wife is crazy about cats, but we always end up with dogs. I think a kitten would be a nice surprise for her.”

“You’ll take him?” Viola asked.

“Well, you offered him to Alice first.” He stroked the kitten’s head.

“I think it would be lovely if you take him for Alison,” she said.

“How will your dogs feel about him?” Viola looked a little worried.

“We only have Roscoe right now, and he’s as gentle as a lamb. I don’t think it would be a problem.”

“Well, if you’re sure about not taking it, Alice, I guess Alison is getting a cat,” Viola said.

“Have you named it?” Jack asked.

“No, I always let the new owners choose the names of kittens I give away.”

“I guess my wife would enjoy picking a name. She isn’t crazy about the name Roscoe even though I think it fits our dog.” He replaced the kitten in the basket. “Just let me know when it’s old enough, and I’ll come by for it.”

“I’m sure you’ll make a lovely home for him. I love giving my kittens to people who are real animal lovers, and it’s a relief to have all my babies placed,” Viola said.

“Can I make you some coffee, Jack?” Alice offered.

“Not today, thanks. I’ve got a list of things my wife wants done. Actually, I was in the area and just wanted to fill you in about Jazzy.”

Jack pulled on one end of his mustache. “I have a lead on a private nature sanctuary that takes in orphan fawns, but they only have room for so many. I checked, and they don’t usually take any from outside their county. They’re not unwilling to help, but their financing depends on local people.”

“That’s not very encouraging,” Viola said.

“No, but there may be a way to work out this matter,” said Jack. “Perhaps Mark Graves knows someone there. If you are willing to ask for his help once again, Alice, the folks at the sanctuary might agree to take the fawn.”

“He is a well-known and highly respected vet,” Viola said. “His intervention might do the trick.”

“I’ll see if he can help,” Alice said.

“It’s worth a try,” Viola said.

“Here’s the number and the person to contact at the sanctuary. I’ll have my cell phone with me all day,” Jack said. “Call me after you’ve talked to Dr. Graves, or you might have him call me. Right now, he’s our only hope.”

After her friends left, Alice hesitated to call. Maybe they were asking too much of Mark. He wasn’t at all involved with local wildlife, and she hated to put him on the spot. Still, she didn’t have a better idea. If Jack couldn’t find another place for the fawn, who could?

Before she could phone Mark, she got a call from Samuel Bellwood. He wanted to inform her that Jazzy was doing nicely. When Alice filled him in on the latest development, he wished her well and promised to continue providing the best care possible until the issue was resolved. Alice thanked him for doing as much as he could, then made the call to Mark. He wasn’t home or at his office, but she left messages on both phones, hoping he would call before she had to leave for work that afternoon.

A half hour later, he returned her call.

“Alice, I got your message. Good to hear from you,” he said.

“I hate to bother you again about the fawn, but Jack has found a place for him. It’s a privately owned nature sanctuary, but they aren’t keen on taking animals from counties other than their own. I know it’s asking a lot, but do you think you could make a call for us? They might be more willing if a vet asks.”

“I’ll be happy to, although I don’t know whether I can influence them.”

“You’ve examined the fawn. You can tell them the circumstances and assure them that it’s a healthy animal.”

“Give me the name and number. I’ll get right on it.”

After she talked with Mark, Alice realized that she didn’t know exactly where the sanctuary was. Her fawn might be going hundreds of miles away. Worse, she might not be accepted at the sanctuary. What would they do then?

She tried to find a task to occupy her mind, but she ended up pacing the hallway, impatient for Mark to call but worried that his news would be bad. Whatever happened, she was sad that she wouldn’t have a chance to watch her fawn grow into a mature doe.

Louise arrived with groceries to put away, and Jane came into the house just before noon to clean up before lunch. They were both sympathetic about Jazzy, but this was a problem they couldn’t help solve.

At last the phone rang, and Alice rushed to answer it. She could tell by the tone of Mark’s voice when he said hello that he had good news.

“It’s all set,” he said. “It’s amazing what a small donation and a one-year family pass to the zoo can accomplish.”

“You had to bribe them?” Alice sounded amazed.

“No, I only offered to underwrite the cost of care for a year. I always have several zoo passes to give away. That was just my way of thanking them.”

“I’ll be happy to pay for the care.”

“Alice, it’s a trivial amount. Let me contribute to a good cause.”

“Oh, Mark, I can’t thank you enough. I’ve been so worried about the poor little thing.”

“Why does that not surprise me?” he asked with a soft laugh. “I’ll call Jack O’Hara and give him directions to the sanctuary. I hope he’s willing to take it there.”

“I’m pretty sure he will be. He’s been so concerned about it.”

“I have an idea. They’re open to the public by appointment. Maybe you and I can go check on the fawn when it’s had time to settle in.”

“Oh, that would certainly put my mind at ease. Thank you, Mark. You’ve saved the day.”

“My pleasure. I wish everyone cared for animals as much as you do. I’ll give you a call when we can visit.”

After she finished talking to Mark, she hurried to tell her sisters the good news. Twenty minutes later, Jack called, confirming that he would pick up the fawn at Bellwood Farm that day and transport it to the sanctuary.

“You’re welcome to come along,” he said.

“Oh, thank you, but I have to work this afternoon. Since I’m the substitute, there’s no way I can find someone else to take the shift.”

This was one of the few times Alice wished that she didn’t have to go to the hospital. Maybe, though, it was for the best. It would be terribly sad to see the helpless little fawn introduced into another strange, and perhaps frightening, place.

Lunch was a hurried meal. Ann had returned to the inn and invited Jane to go with her to a tag sale in Potterston. In turn, Jane had invited her to eat with them.

“The sale started this morning, so it may be picked over,” Ann told the sisters. “But they advertised that it’s a huge one with new items being offered as others are sold. It’s supposed to last a week, and today is only the first day. It will be fun checking it out even if neither of us buys anything.”

“Is it one of those huge old homes on the east side of town?” Alice asked.

“I don’t know, but the advertisement said that the same family has lived in the house for four generations.”

“It’s sad that there isn’t a fifth generation to keep the tradition going,” Louise said. “Or perhaps the younger family members don’t want the burden of a huge house. I know we would have been hard-pressed to keep our father’s home if we hadn’t turned it into a bed-and-breakfast.”

“Yes, we’re fortunate to be able to have a business here and still live in the house,” Alice agreed. “I would hate to see all our family heirlooms stripped away in a tag sale or auction. Imagine how desolate the house would seem if all the furnishings and mementos were carried away.”

“It’s not the house itself that’s important,” Louise agreed. “The memories are what make a place special.”

After Louise asked a blessing, Jane passed the bowl of spinach salad. For a quick meal it was exceptionally tasty with slivered almonds and a special dressing, but all of them were too intent on their afternoon activities to have seconds. They didn’t even finish the plate of bacon-and-cheese points that Jane had prepared under the stove broiler.

Alice excused herself to get ready for work. She had a few errands in Potterston before beginning her shift at the hospital. Jane and Ann were eager to get to the tag sale, but Louise seemed in a somber mood.

“Is everything all right?” Jane asked her after Ann had gone to her room to freshen up for their afternoon excursion.

“Yes. I’m sorry to be so glum. Diana and I are having another lesson this afternoon, but it won’t be enough to get her ready by Tuesday.”

“Maybe she should postpone the driving test.”

“She would love to, but her father thinks she’s ready after all the lessons she’s had. He can’t understand why she’s having so much trouble when she’s such a bright girl in other ways.”

“You said she finally mastered parallel parking. That’s a big accomplishment.”

“Yes, but her street driving is erratic. She finds it hard to maintain a steady speed. Sometimes she remembers the rules, and other times her mind is miles away. She’ll stop halfway through a stop sign, or she’ll slam on the brakes five car lengths before it’s necessary. And I can’t get her to pay attention to cars behind her. Now I know why driver-training cars have signs on the roof to warn other motorists.”

“She may surprise you and come through the test with flying colors,” Jane said optimistically.

“I pray she does, but I don’t know where the girl’s head is when she’s driving. She simply doesn’t keep her mind on the task at hand. It’s almost as if she’s programmed herself to fail. She says that she wants to help her mother by getting her license, but she may not be able to.”

“Maybe Diana has to find a solution herself,” Jane said to comfort her sister. “You can only give her the opportunity to practice.”

“Yes, but you know me. I can’t let a problem rest until I’ve found a solution.”

“Well, good luck. I’ll see you at dinnertime. I’ve invited Aunt Ethel to join us, but I have everything planned. If you get back before I do, just kick off your shoes and relax. Tonight’s guests have all checked in, and there’s nothing urgent that needs doing.”

“What an angel you are,” Louise said with a grateful smile.

Louise drove to Diana’s house with a growing sense of dread that only deepened when she saw Mrs. Zale in the front yard with her daughter. Lara was dressed in khaki pants and an oversized green T-shirt and had obviously been trimming bushes in front of the house. At the moment, however, she was absorbed in conversation with Diana. Louise watched without getting out of the car, not wanting to interrupt their discussion.

Lara saw her first and started walking toward Louise.

“I want to thank you again for all you’ve done for Diana,” she said. “I’m afraid my daughter has decided that there’s no point in more lessons. She’s given up on getting her license.”

Louise was genuinely surprised. She was only at the Zales’ home because Diana had desperately sought more lessons before her test on Tuesday. They had agreed on this lesson and a final one on Monday. As much as Louise would like to be excused from them, she wasn’t willing to give up at this point. Something must have happened to change Diana’s mind.

“I’ll talk to her,” she said resolutely, not paying heed to Lara’s weak protest that it was of no use. “I wonder if I could trouble you for a drink of water.”

“Yes, of course. I’m really sorry I didn’t call and save you a trip out here. It’s something of a last-minute decision. I’ll get that water for you.”

After she went into the house, Louise approached Diana, who looked far from being at ease.

“Have you canceled your driving test?”

Diana didn’t answer.

“If I thought you were incapable of mastering an automobile, I wouldn’t have encouraged you.” She felt the need to speak frankly.

“I’m sorry,” Diana said meekly. “I didn’t mean to put you to any trouble.” “Well, you have, but it was for a good cause. It’s important to you and to your family that you’re able to drive. What if one of your brothers became hurt or sick while your father was out of town? How would he get to the doctor?”

“Our neighbors will help.”

“You can’t be sure they’ll be home and available. A family has to look out for its loved ones. I don’t know what I would have done when my husband died if I hadn’t been able to drive myself to the places I needed to go.”

“I try to help my mom.”

“I’m sure you do, but this isn’t just about your family. You know in your heart that you can drive. You’ve let fear and doubt take over. If you decide to give up now, you’ll be diminished in your own estimation. It could be years before you regain enough confidence to try again. I’ve known women who never became drivers just because of minor setbacks when they were learning. They spend their whole lives depending on other people to take them places.”

“I won’t be like that. I’ll learn to drive someday.”

Louise shook her head sadly.

“I’m not a quitter.” Diana sounded close to tears.

“Then get the car keys, and we’ll have another lesson.”

“All right, but it won’t make any difference.” She ran into the house through the garage entrance to get the keys.

Lara, meanwhile, came out the front door with a glass of water, and Louise told her that the lesson was still on. She slowly sipped the water while Mrs. Zale stood by, neither of them knowing what else to say about Diana’s driving.

For a while, Louise thought she had failed to reach Diana. It was taking her so long to get the keys and her learner’s permit that Louise was afraid she wouldn’t return at all. Then, to her relief, the girl came out through the open door of the garage. Without saying a word, she got into the driver’s seat of the car and waited for Louise to join her on the passenger side.

“I’ll go inside now,” Lara said, perhaps sensitive to her daughter’s concerns about pulling away smoothly.

It was the first time Diana had taken the wheel without prompting from Louise. When her mother was out of sight, she slowly and carefully drove out of her neighborhood.

“Where do you want me to go?”

“Why don’t you decide?”

“Then we’ll go to Potterston.”

Louise was surprised that Diana was willing to go on the busiest road outside of Acorn Hill, but she didn’t comment.

She drove through the subdivision using reasonable care and avoided slamming her brakes at the stop sign. Louise clenched her lips when they turned onto the highway, trying not to imagine all the things that could go wrong. She was acutely aware that the situation was beyond her control. What could she possibly say that Diana didn’t already know? Maybe it was more a distraction than a help to have a teacher beside her giving instructions as she drove.

Louise forced herself to stay mute while Diana drove to Potterston. Traffic was blessedly light this Saturday afternoon, and it was some time before she came up behind a slow-moving farm truck. Louise waited to see what her pupil’s decision would be, either to crawl along behind the pokey vehicle or risk passing.

“I hate passing,” Diana said under her breath. “I hate it, hate it, hate it.”

Still Louise refused to comment.

“It should be against the law to drive that slow,” Diana said. “I should just turn around and go home.”

The temptation to launch into a lecture was so great that Louise found herself biting her lip.

“Now,” Diana said in a triumphant tone.

She pulled out and executed a reasonably good pass, allowing plenty of space in front of the truck before she went back into the right lane.

“That was well done.” Louise praised her but didn’t make any other comment.

The rest of the trip to Potterston was far from error-free, but Louise kept her resolve to let Diana drive without instructions. Diana asked permission to stop at a discount store and purchase a few things she needed, and Louise was glad to get out of the car for a few minutes. Her knees were shaky from the stress of riding silently with her student driver. She treated Diana to a diet cola at the snack bar in the store, then readied herself for the return trip.

The whole excursion had lasted less than an hour and a half, but Louise felt as if she’d just made an extremely long trip. At the Zales’ house, she confirmed the time for their last lesson on Monday. Diana agreed readily and thanked her. It was a relief that Lara was nowhere in sight. The last thing she wanted to do was give a progress report on today’s lesson. Diana had shown improvement, but Louise still had serious doubts about the driving test.

“There’s no place like home,” Louise said aloud when she finally reached the comfortable atmosphere of Grace Chapel Inn.