CHAPTER Twenty-two:

   Lauren’s troubles were not quite over. When she woke up, she remembered what day it was.

   She was staring at the calendar when the phone rang. Charlotte had already picked it up. 

   “Is it Riley?” Lauren asked. “Grant? Amanda?”

   Each time Charlotte shook her head, motioning her away. A crease formed between her eyebrows, and her mouth twisted to the side. Was it annoyance or worry?

   Lauren couldn’t tell. But she was miffed that Charlotte wouldn’t tell her who was calling her own phone.

   Well, she had other things to do. She went to her room and got changed to go into town. By the time she came out, Charlotte was off the phone.

   They both rushed into action. First, they dropped Willow off at Aunt Betsy’s place, then split up.

   Charlotte drove to Redston so she could take money out of her bank account, just in case. Lauren had told her not to, that she wouldn’t accept it. She didn’t want to ruin her chance at a new start.

   Lauren gathered her savings from the safe hidden in the closet, then went to the store to pick up her pay-cheque. It added up nicely, but she knew it wasn’t quite enough. She pulled up in front of the bank, and Charlotte arrived next to her.

   “I’ll go in alone,” Lauren said to her, stepping out of her car. 

   She was late. They’d told her to come by noon – she knew the contract said it.

   “An hour isn’t very much difference,” Charlotte reassured her. “I’m sure they’ll be understanding.”

   Lauren knew they wouldn’t be understanding. They had never been so before.

The truck door creaked as she closed it. Scenarios began flashing through her head. If, or rather when she lost the house, Charlotte would have to leave too. 

   Claire had already threatened to take Willow away. After her illness and time in the hospital, maybe she’d try again. Especially if she knew Charlotte had no place to stay. 

Besides, where would Lauren go? Butterflies danced in her stomach as she pulled open the door.

   Claire Howland stood behind the front desk. She cast a smug glance at Mr. Howland. The room was frigid and oppressive.

   Move, move your feet girl. Lauren had to remind herself to breathe.

   “What did I tell you?” Mr. Howland sounded uncharacteristically cheery. “I said she wouldn’t make it in time, and she didn’t.”
   Lauren slapped down her savings on the counter with her paycheck. She knew there was more in her account. For a moment, she didn’t know if Claire would count it. Surprisingly, she did. Lauren knew what she’d find.

   “You’re three thousand dollars short.”

   “Yes, I know, and I’m sorry. I just thought that if -”
   “No. No more time.” Mr. Howland moved behind his wife and shook his head.

   The door swung open. They all looked. One by one, people began filing through the door.

   Amanda, Riley, Aunt Betsy, Mr. Stevens and his wife, and even Jared from work. Chuck led a parade of other townsfolk that Lauren recognized. 

   Following the parade came Raymond and Foster. They quickly moved to the other side of the room, to make it clear they were not part of the crowd.

   Amanda was the first to come up next to Lauren. She slapped down a wad of cash on the counter. Her eyes shot sparks at Mr. Howland.
   “You can’t give me your savings,” Lauren protested.

   “Just you watch.” Amanda smiled at her friend. “I don’t need half of it anymore.”

   Next came Riley, who did the same. She was followed by a dozen others. The Howland siblings started to look like they wanted to disappear.

   Once everyone had finished and stepped away, the room grew very silent. Mr. Howland stared at the pile of money on the counter.

   “You’re still late,” Claire said very matter-of-factly. “We’ve been more than fair. This little show doesn’t change anything.”
   “Please, it’s only an hour late,” Lauren begged.

   Everyone was staring at the Howlands. 

   “Dad, maybe you should make an exception, just this once.” Raymond leaned forward and hissed it.

   Mr. Howland looked at him, shocked by his response. Lauren felt just as dumbfounded.

   “Well, naturally,” he found his voice. “There would have to be a fee of course. Five hundred dollars.”

   The door swung open again. Lauren jumped. Claire and her husband looked towards the door, their faces pinching. Heavy footsteps sounded, then stopped right behind Lauren.

   “What were you saying?” Grant growled at them.

   There was a tone to his voice that he did not use often.

   “Nothing,” Claire nudged her husband.

   “We were saying,” Mrs. Howland began, less malleable than his wife. “Lauren Quinley arrived an hour late and missed her deadline. With the wrong sum, might I add?” He was not intimidated. “There is a fee for being late. Five hundred dollars.”

   Lauren flinched. Grant was silent as he pulled out his wallet and counted through the cash, he’d brought just for the occasion. He slapped down five hundred dollar bills.

   “Take the money if you want. But I tell you, after everything you’ve done; that girl owes you not one dollar more than what she’s already brought.”

   Claire elbowed Mr. Howland in the ribs to stop the protest that was about to come out of his lips.

   “We’ll take it,” she said.

   “Very well.” Grant stepped back. “In future, I hope you’ll remember to be more generous in your business arrangements.” He narrowed his eyes at them. “That was a warning. I’m sure the whole town feels the same. Next time you cause trouble, we might forget our generous spirit.”

   Lauren held back a smile. A few town members called out in agreement.

   Time seemed frozen, while they waited to see what would happen next. Mr. Howland reached out a hand toward Lauren. She shook it.

   “Thank you.” There was a slight tremor in her voice.

   “Lauren, let’s go.” Grant put his hand on her back and led her out the door.

   Everyone else followed behind them. Once they were out in the fresh air, Lauren took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her hands still shook. Was that real? 

   The people around her burst out in cheers, whistles and whoops. She looked at them and grinned. 

   Charlotte climbed out of her char and enveloped her in a bear hug. Others did the same. Finally, they grew quiet, and Lauren stepped forward. 

   “How can I thank you?” She felt tears in her eyes. “Without you all, I wouldn’t be here. You were with me, through loss, and hard times. Now this...” 

   There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd.

   “Your grandparents were good folk. They’d be proud of you, just like we are.” Aunt Betsy stepped forward, Willow beside her.

   Charlotte leaned her head against Lauren’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you too.”

   “Well, this deserves a celebration,” Chuck said, rather gruffly. “Somewhere other than in the middle of town. You all come on over to my place, and we’ll have ourselves a good barbecue.”

   The others agreed and began getting in their cars.

   “Thank you,” Lauren smiled at Chuck as he drove away.

   Amanda walked over to her. “So, how does it feel to be debt-free?”

   “Wonderful. You didn’t have to do that, by the way.”

   “Don’t be silly. You’re my friend. Did you really think I’d stand by idly while you lost your house?”

   Lauren hugged her and gave her a meaningful look. She was glad they had made up.

   “See you at the party. Don’t be late!” She grinned, then turned away. “Riley, why don’t you come with me!” 

   Charlotte told Lauren she’d follow her since she didn’t know the way.

   “So,” Grant was one of the last ones left. “You think I’m a real officer now?”

Lauren opened her truck door and squinted at him. “Well, you don’t need a bigger ego than you already have, but don’t expect me to be doing anything illegal. I’d rather not get on your bad side.”

   “Why thank you.” He chuckled. “That might be the nicest compliment you’ve ever given me.”

   She fastened her seatbelt and put the keys in the ignition. “Seriously though. Thank you.”

   He nodded and shut the door. “Anytime.”

​

 

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   A bonfire cast its glow over everyone who sat in the circle around it. They had all brought their own lawn chairs.

   Willow sat in Lauren’s lap, fast asleep. Mr. and Mr. Stevens visited with everyone, their face wide smiles as they visited. 

   Chuck was retelling the story of what had happened, exaggerating parts of it. In particular, the look on Mr. Howland’s face when grant walked into the bank. It would be a tale told again and again.

   Amanda was laughing with Riley, as they swapped farm animal stories. Grant was sitting on the grass, fondling Westley’s ears as he watched everyone else. Jared was nowhere to be seen.

   Lauren took a deep breath of the smokey air. She had a feeling of gratitude welling up inside her that couldn’t be ignored. This was her home, these people were her family.

 

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   Charlotte saw Lauren observing everyone around her, and in turn, studied her. She saw strength. The grace Lauren held herself with reminded Charlotte so much of her mother. And she saw her dad in her too – in the way she could smile even when she was nervous.

   Lauren caught her watching. “You never told me who called this morning?”

   Charlotte tensed. Not right now, not here, she thought.

   “Do you want to go for a walk?” Lauren sensed her discomfort and motioned to the field beside them.

   She nodded and stood up. If not then, when would there be a right time to tell her?

Willow didn’t stir as Lauren gently slid off the chair. They walked out of the circle of firelight.

   “Did I tell you about my new job?”

   Stalling, always stalling. It was her coping mechanism.

   “Yes, a little bit.” 

   “I think a hair salon will do well in Redston.”

   “Me too.” Lauren smiled. “You’ll be nearby too. You could even stay with me.”

   “Would you mind?” Charlotte asked. “Eventually I would get my own place to rent.”

   “Of course, you can stay. As long as you need.”

   “Thank you.” Charlotte took a deep breath.

   The sound of laughter floated through the night air from the campfire, mixing with the chirping of crickets and frogs.

   “So, who called this morning?” Lauren brought them back to the topic.

   “My cellphone was dying, so I asked him to call yours instead,” Charlotte said, walking a little faster. “It was Jared Matten.”

   Lauren stopped in her tracks and stared at her mother. “The man who paid the hospital bill?” 

   Charlotte nodded. She’d been avoiding the conversation for so long. Now that it was time to tell Lauren the truth, she was afraid.

   “We knew each other, years ago. I didn’t realize that he lives here now,” she said softly. “Working as a farmhand.”

   “Jared? That Jared?” Lauren pointed back at the farm, and her brow wrinkled. “I worked with him. Wait.” She frowned. “He was at the bank too.”

   Lauren looked back towards the group. The campfire looked smaller from where they were, but they could still make out the faces of the people sitting around it.

   Charlotte knew the dreaded question was coming.

   “Why would he want to help?”

   Her heartbeat sped up. What was the easiest way to break the news? There was no easy way.

   “Lauren, he’s your father.”