Ring Out the Old (Twelves Months of Romance - January) Read online

  RING OUT THE OLD

  a novella by

  Margaret Lake

  Author of

  historical, contemporary,

  and fantasy romance

  illustrated children’s books

  graphic novels

  http://www.jobreepublishing.com

  Copyright 2012; Margaret Lake, Jobree Publishing, all rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part (beyond that copying permitted by U.S. Copyright Law, Section 107, “fair use” in teaching or research. Section 108, certain library copying, or in published media by reviewers in limited excerpt), without written permission.

  RING OUT THE OLD

  Jennifer Prescott sat in her daughter Natalie's hospital room, holding four-year-old Davey on her lap. Her arms were numb from his weight, but he'd long since fallen asleep, and she didn't want to disturb him.

  Nicole, Natalie's twin, kept vigil beside her sister's bed, holding on to her hand for dear life. This was the fourth trip to the emergency room in the last two months, and this time the doctors insisted that Natalie undergo surgery to repair the hole in her intestine caused by Crohn's disease.

  Jen had Crohn's too, and well knew the pain her daughter was in. The operation would at least give Natalie some relief, but the surgeon wanted to build her up a little more first in order to strengthen her tissues.

  An IV on one side dripped antibiotics into Natalie's arm, and another dripped life-giving sustenance through a chest tube to give her much-needed nourishment.

  As if all this weren’t enough, her husband of fifteen years had taken her aside in the ER to tell her that he'd had enough. He'd coped with Jen’s constant sickness for too long, and he just couldn't cope with their daughter being sick, too.

  And what if, in a few years, Davey got this nasty disease? He couldn't stand by and watch his baby boy suffer, too.

  He had already accepted a transfer to California and would be leaving for the coast as soon as they knew that Natalie was going to be okay. He would keep them on the insurance, and would send money when he could, but he was starting a new life too, and didn't know how much he could spare. California was expensive.

  David had no idea how to handle money. Jen had done it all, and he didn't have a clue as to how much money it took to raise a child, let alone three children.

  Jen had been too tired and too heartsick over Natalie to react to David's announcement, but she knew she couldn't hold it inside forever. Or maybe she'd have to; she'd have to be strong for her children.

  Natalie must never believe that it was her illness that had driven her father away. She had enough to cope with in her young life.

  Now David was leaning over Natalie to kiss her good night.

  “Natalie, honey, I have to leave now, but I promise I'll be back tomorrow as soon as I can,” he told his daughter gently, smoothing back her hair.

  Jen had no doubt that David loved his children very much. He went to all of their recitals and plays. He'd coached a youth football team so the twins could be cheerleaders. He took Davey to the park to feed the ducks and play catch. He really was a good father. He just wasn't strong enough to handle it when they were sick, or even when they were unhappy.

  Despite her own poor health, Jen was forced to be the rock in the family. She was the one who'd had to dole out the discipline. David couldn't bear to punish, or even scold, the children. And if one of them had a problem in school, he went through agony over it, but left it to Jen to handle. David only came out of his study when the crisis was over, and then he was all smiles and teasing; sharing in the laughter, but never the tears.

  But they'd built a life together, made a family together, and Jen still loved him. She thought maybe he still loved her too, but sometimes love just wasn't enough.

  She looked up when David put his hand on her shoulder.

  “Are you staying?” he asked her softly.

  “Yes,” she nodded. “I don't want Natalie to be all alone and scared.”

  David sighed, knowing that would be Jen's answer. She was a good mother, but he knew he was a good father too, in his own way. Jen just didn't understand that kids needed love and laughter, and if they got that, they would grow up fine.

  “How about I take Nicole and Davey home? They need to get to bed.”

  Jen nodded, turning her face away. There was concern in David's voice and sorrow in his eyes, and she just couldn't take that right now.

  “Did you bring your emergency bag in with you? If not, I'll get it before I take the kids.”

  “No, I have it.” Jen had learned a long time ago to keep a bag in her car with books, a deck of cards, money and essential toiletries for those unexpected runs to the hospital.

  “Okay. I'll see you tomorrow.” He leaned down to pick up Davey. “Call me if you need anything.”

  Why the hell does he have to be so thoughtful all the time? If he were mean and rotten and beat me or the kids, then I could hate him and yell ‘good riddance’ at the top of my lungs.

  Jen waved him away, tears threatening to overwhelm her.

  Nicole came over to kiss her good night, after assuring Natalie she'd bring her homework the next day and that they could do it together.

  “’Night, Mom.” She gave her mother a hug and whispered in her ear. “Don't let Nat see you cry. She'll be okay.”

  “Night, baby,” Jen said, giving her daughter a squeeze. “I love you.”

  Jen watched David walk out the door with their son and daughter. She had to give him credit. He'd stayed with Nat far longer than she thought he would. She almost wished he'd made his usual hasty exit. The children had learned a long time ago that tears and sadness sent Daddy running for his study, and it was a strain on them to keep up a happy front. Natalie didn't need the additional stress right now. For that matter, neither did she.

  “Mom, why don't you go get a cup of tea or something? You look beat,” Natalie called from her bed.

  “Gee, thanks, kid. You trying to get rid of me?” Jen teased.

  “For sure. You don't need to hover over me all the time.” Natalie put a brave face on for her mother, but she was terrified of the surgery, and even more terrified of this disease. She'd seen what it had done to her mother, and didn't know how she was going to get through fifty or sixty years of hospitals and emergency rooms.

  “It's a mother's privilege to hover,” Jen told her, straightening the covers.

  “I know,” Nat told her, rolling her eyes, “but I'm practically grown up now, and sometimes a girl just needs to be alone.”

  “So what show that I don't allow you to watch is coming on TV right now?”

  “Okay. You got me,” Nat grumbled.

  “I'll tell you what,” Jen laughed, “I'll get out of your hair for half an hour so I don't know what you're doing behind my back. But when I come back you have to go to sleep. Deal?”

  “Deal,” Nat said, happily.

  * * *

  Jen was alone when she got out of the car to look at the bungalow she'd seen for rent in the paper. It was tucked in back of a larger house on a tree-lined lot. She hoped and prayed this one would be suitable.

  The house they'd lived in for most of their married life was sold, and David had given her the profits from the sale. It was the least he could do, Jen thought irritably. She hadn't gotten a dime from him in the three months since he'd moved to California. Sunny California, and here she was stuck in snowy Pennsylvania on New Year's Day, looking desperately for a home for his three children.

  The bungalow was only two bedrooms, but the rent wasn't totally unreasonable. Maybe she coul
d negotiate a lower rent with the man, although she didn't know what she could possibly have to offer.

  She couldn't afford much of anything on a receptionist's salary, and the money from the house had to be set aside for medical bills. David had kept his promise to keep them on his insurance, but he hadn't given a thought to co-payments and deductibles, and she would need every dime. Typical.

  Jen pulled into the driveway and parked beside the bungalow. She was disappointed to see that the owner wasn't there and hoped that he wasn't as irresponsible as her husband … ex-husband. Even though the divorce wasn't final, Jen was teaching herself to think of David as her ex.

  While she waited, she walked around the small dwelling, snow crunching under her boots. She couldn't see much through the windows; the winter light was too dim. But the lot was large and there was room for Davey's swing set in back, if the landlord would let her put it up.

  “Hi, I'm Billy Easton. And you're early.”

  Jen whirled around, clutching her throat. She hadn't heard him come up behind her and she should have.

  She couldn't see much of the man's face under the plaid hat he wore with the flaps pulled down. His hands were stuck in the pockets of his plaid lumberman's jacket -his very large jacket. He seemed to take up an awful lot of the space in front of her, and she instinctively moved a step away from him.

  “You must be Jennifer Prescott,” he grinned, “and you must be very cold. Shall we go inside?”

  Jen nodded and turned to go back around to the front of the bungalow, but he shocked her by gripping her hand and leading her there.

  “Careful. It gets pretty icy and I haven't had a chance to clear the path.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief that the man was just being courteous. At first, she thought he was a grabber and she'd better keep looking. But this place was so nice, and the grounds so well-kept, she decided to give him a chance.

  Billy opened the door and waved Jen inside. When he flipped on the light switch, she stood stock still, taking in the spacious room. From the outside, she hadn't thought it would be this big.

  True, it was living room, dining room and kitchen all in one, but the kitchen was separated from the main room by a breakfast bar big enough for all three children. And there was plenty of space to put a table for four plus some comfortable seating and a TV.

  “May I see the bedrooms?” Jen asked politely.

  Billy didn't know what to make of this lady. She hadn't said a word until now when she'd asked to see the bedrooms and he got the feeling that she was holding herself very tightly.

  “Sure. Right this way.”

  Billy turned to the left and showed her the master bedroom with a tiny, three-quarter bath.

  “No bathtub?”

  “Not enough space. I wanted more living space, so I built the bathrooms small. I mean, how much room do you need to brush your teeth?” he laughed

  “Oh, you designed this place yourself?” she asked, astonished. It certainly looked well-planned, with more thought than a man usually put into these things.

  “Yeah. It's what I do. I buy old places and fix them up. I have a crew, but I like to do a lot of the work myself.”

  Jen was feeling confined in the small space, but she thought that was because Billy Easton seemed to fill up whatever space he was in. His size was pretty intimidating, but when he'd taken off his hat and ruffled up his thick chestnut hair, she'd seen he had a kind face.

  “Will the shower be big enough for your husband? It fits me just fine and there's not too many men as big as I am.”

  “No, I would guess not,” Jen replied, trying out a small smile. “I was thinking of my son. He's only four and still takes baths.”

  “Four? That's plenty old enough for a guy to take a shower without his mother,” Billy told her firmly. “So, you and your husband and son, right?”

  “No, actually. I'm in the process of getting a divorce. It'll be me and Davey and I have twin daughters, Natalie and Nicole. They're twelve.”

  “Great. I love kids. But don't you think you'll be kind of cramped here?”

  “We haven't much choice,” Jen told him. “My husband … ex-husband … is in California and he hasn't sent any money, yet.” Jen didn't know why she was telling the man all this, but he did seem interested in a friendly sort of way.

  Billy felt sorry for this lady. She seemed kind of sad and worn out, and he wondered how he could help her. He never could resist helping people.

  “Come on and look at the kitchen,” he urged her. “I'll bet you never saw a kitchen this size so well-equipped,” he said proudly.

  “A dishwasher?”

  “Yep, and look at this.” He opened a door to reveal a stacked washer and dryer.

  Jen thought she'd died and gone to heaven. The place was small but had all the conveniences she could have wished for. The washer and dryer was a huge bonus, and she mentally started re-figuring her budget so she could get this place for her children.

  “Do you like to cook, Mrs. Prescott?” Billy asked. He'd just had a brilliant idea.

  “Yes, I do,” she frowned, wondering what that had to do with anything.

  “Well, if you don't mind cooking a little extra for dinner a few nights a week, I could knock a couple of hundred off the rent.”

  Jen nearly sagged with relief. That would make all the difference.

  “I think that would be satisfactory, Mr. Easton.”

  “Billy, please,” he insisted, offering his hand for her to shake. “Deal?”

  “Deal,” she smiled, echoing her daughters' favorite word.

  * * *

  It was the first night in their new home, and Jen was sagging with exhaustion. She didn't know what she would have done without Billy's help. Of course, she would have managed somehow; she always did. But it was nice to have help for a change.

  Except for a few pieces of bedroom furniture and their personal belongings, everything was now at the consignment shop. None of it would fit in the bungalow and she needed the money.

  She'd found the perfect four-seater table at the same shop, as well as a settee for her and the girls, and a beanbag chair for Davey. A few of her own pillows made the settee more comfortable, and a fleecy throw on the beanbag gave Davey a cozy place to burrow into.

  But it was Billy who sent his crew over to do the moving, Billy who helped her negotiate prices with the consignment shop, Billy who helped her arrange her furniture to take advantage of every inch of the small space.

  They did all of it at night so Jen wouldn't have to take any more time off from work. Dr. Haskett was good about giving her the time. He understood about her illness and everything she was going through since he was also her G.I., but she didn't like to take advantage.

  On top of everything else he'd done, Billy had insisted on ordering pizza. They made a party of it with the three men that had helped with the moving, and Davey, bright boy that he was, enjoyed being fussed over immensely.

  When it was time to leave, Billy ceremoniously handed over the keys along with a bottle of champagne she hadn't noticed hiding in one of the cabinets.

  “If you need anything, don't hesitate to knock on my door,” he told her seriously.

  “I'm sure we'll be fine,” Jen told him. “I can't thank you enough for all you've done.”

  “It was my pleasure,” he smiled. And it was more than a pleasure to see those sad blue eyes grow soft with contentment. He guessed this was the first kindness she'd received in a long time, and he made up his mind to help her and her beautiful family in any way he could.

  * * *

  Nic woke to the sounds of someone vomiting. Since Nat had gotten sick, she'd become a very light sleeper, always listening for anything that would indicate her twin was in trouble.

  But a quick look over the side of Davey's old bunk beds showed Nat tucked quietly under the covers. Nic didn't bother with the ladder, but slid backwards onto the floor. She tied her robe as she ran through the small space to her mother's
bathroom. Thank goodness her mom had thought to leave several night lights burning, or she would have stumbled over the unfamiliar furniture.

  “Mom, are you having a flare-up?” Nic asked, wetting a washcloth for her mother.

  “Thanks, honey,” Jen replied, using the cloth to wipe her face. “I'm okay. It was probably just the pizza.”

  “Mom, you're not okay,” Nic said firmly. “I can see you're in a lot of pain and you need to get to the hospital. Suppose you have a blockage?”

  “I'll go tomorrow after I drop you kids off at school,” Jen replied, but she didn't know how she was going to make it through the night. She really was in a lot of pain. Although pain was nothing new to her, this was the worst she'd felt in years.

  Since Natalie's illness and her father leaving them flat, Nicole had to do a lot of growing up in a very short time. Ignoring her mother, she took charge and ran back to the room she shared with her sister.

  “Wake up, Nat,” she said calmly, shaking her sister's shoulder. “Mom's sick and I need you to stay with her while I go get help.”

  Natalie never woke up as easily as her twin, but this was an emergency, and she knew as well as Nicole did that there was no one else to depend on.

  Nicole had on her boots and heavy coat as quickly as Natalie donned robe and slippers. They both ran across the everything room (as their mother had decided to call it), with Natalie heading for the bathroom and Nicole heading for the door.

  Nicole gave thanks for the bright, full moon that lit her way. The street lights didn't penetrate this far back and she couldn't afford to lose any time dodging anything in her path that might trip her up.

  She reached the back door and pounded on it as loud as she could, calling Billy's name. She hoped that he wasn't a heavy sleeper. With her grandparents away on a New Year's cruise, there was no one else for her to call.

  Billy was having a nightmare. One he hadn't had in years. There was a pounding in his head and a yelling for help that was all too familiar. He struggled to shake off the dream and wake up when he realized that the young voice calling to him was not saying Daddy.