Page 9
“I think Dad and Glenda are going to get divorced,” she pronounced.
“They’re not going to get divorced,” Patience replied firmly and pulled into the garage next to her father’s old Cadillac Eldorado—his one true love and the car he’d driven for the past twenty years. “Now, let’s go make dinner.”
* * *
That Sunday, her father spoke about the birth of Christ. With Christmas only three weeks away, Patience enjoyed the sermon, but she had to admit that some of his others made her uncomfortable. He was so sure of what he believed that he could get a little too strident in trying to convince others.
After the service was over, she noticed Glenda standing at the back of the room, speaking to the Lawsons, an older couple who owned the new and used bookstore. Glenda used to attend church all the time. She’d also helped Patience with service projects, church dinners and other events. But she’d pretty much stopped coming since marrying Jack. He probably wanted her to spend the day with him. That was what he’d wanted Patience to do when they were married, which was what had caused some of the friction with her father.
Catching sight of Kelsey getting up from one of the pews in front, Patience left Ari talking to a small group of her own friends and made her way over to say hello. She liked Kelsey and felt bad about her current situation. But she also wanted to give Glenda time to finish her conversation and leave so she wouldn’t have to pass by her former friend on the way out. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Good,” Kelsey replied. “That basket you brought over yesterday was delicious. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Did Kanon ever get the boiler fixed?”
“He did. He’s going to patch the roof and take care of the dry rot around the eaves this week.”
“So he’s handy.”
“And a hard worker.”
“That’s a plus. But didn’t you just pay someone to hang Christmas lights?” The whole town had made a concerted effort to decorate for the festival. “Wouldn’t they have noticed if there was dry rot around the eaves?”
“I hired Baker Horne, a high school kid. He probably wouldn’t know dry rot from asbestos.”
“Got it. Well, it’s nice that Kanon’s taking care of a few things. He didn’t want to attend church with you today?” she asked with a facetious grin.
Kelsey laughed. “I knew better than to even ask. Besides, he volunteered to man the front office while I’m gone.”
Normally when she had to leave, Kelsey locked up and left a sign on the door with her cell phone number. “I’m so surprised he’s back in Hard Luck,” she marveled.
“Me, too.”
“I mean…he doesn’t have a wife or kids? Anything to keep him in North Dakota?”
“Apparently not. I’m sure he has no trouble getting female attention when he wants it. But I doubt he’ll ever marry. He’s too prickly to let anyone get that close.”
Still curious as to how he’d come to be in Suzanne’s will, Patience couldn’t help asking, “Was he friendly with your mother at some point?”
“No. She tried, several times, to build a bridge. She wanted to provide him with some family. But he rejected every effort.”
“Suzanne was a good woman.”
“His father tried, too, once he got sober,” Kelsey said. “His relationship with Kanon was his greatest regret. But, again, Kanon wasn’t receptive. He was too angry and bitter.”
Patience shook her head. “So why’d your mother leave him half the inn? Bing wasn’t able to offer you any explanation?”
“Nope. Just said he tried to talk her out of it, but she was adamant.”
“At least Kanon’s being helpful,” Patience said, going back to that in an attempt to offer what solace she could.
“He’s smart and capable. But he’s also strong and opinionated. And very intimidating.” She grimaced. “I hope we never get into an argument.”
Recalling her encounter with him yesterday, Patience thought intimidating had to be the understatement of the year. “Maybe he’s matured more than we’re giving him credit for.”
Kelsey made a show of crossing her fingers. “Time will tell,” she said. Then she gestured toward the back. “I haven’t seen Glenda in church for a long time…”
“Neither have I.” Patience pretended having Glenda around didn’t bother her. But she couldn’t help wondering if her ex-best friend’s presence here today signified something—maybe that she and Jack hadn’t made up after their argument last night. What if Ari was right, and they split up?
