“Habit I suppose,” she shrugged and twisted the ring on her finger.
“I will see if she asks for it back. In the meantime, I’ll give her the number to the motel in town.” Thomas turned and headed down the stairs. “Thanks for the sandwich. I’ve got to get back to work in order to stay on schedule.”
Chapter 27
Carolina took a deep breath, paused in front of the open door to the guest room trying to gather courage to face the situation. She straightened her shoulders and marched in. “Janice, we need to talk.”
Janice looked up from unpacking her suitcase. Without responding she hung a shirt on a hanger and placed it in the closet.
Carolina propped her hands on her hips. “Janice, did you hear me? I don’t think your staying is a good idea. As you can see, this room doesn’t even have a bed.”
“Yes, what happened to it? I know when you and Chris bought the house you had it furnished.”
“I’m guessing the renters stole it. I’ve already had to replace some things. And I don’t have the money right now to get a bed in here for you to sleep on. In fact,” she took the shirt she just hung up and handed it back to her, “I believe you will be more comfortable at the motel in town.”
“Motel?” Janice huffed. “I’ve never stayed at a motel in all my life.”
“Well, there’s a first time for everything isn’t there?” She forced a smile.
Janice narrowed her eyes. “I’d much prefer to stay here. If you don’t mind.” She snatched the shirt out of Carolina’s hand and hung it back up.
Carolina didn’t have time for this crap. She considered standing her ground when she noticed a look cross Janice’s face. Was that…fear?
“Whatever. There’s tea in the refrigerator and half a sandwich in there too. I’ve got to get busy outside.” She turned and walked down the hall.
Janice followed after her. “Where are you going? Are you not going to get me settled in my bedroom? What about a bed? Or mattress at least?”
Carolina sighed and turned around. “Janice, I just bought a new mattress and used bed frame for my bedroom. I don’t have the funds to replace everything right now.” She kept walking right out the front door.
Outside she shoved her fingers through her hair and looked at the dying mums and bright orange pumpkins sitting near her door. She went to her jeep and pulled out the work gloves and rubber boots and quickly changed.
She needed to feel dirt beneath her hands and wind in her hair to help her forget that horrible woman who had made her life hell for so long. Why in the world did she believe she had the right to just march in and make herself comfortable without an invite?
Of course, there was another issue to consider. Janice wouldn’t stay long in her house.
It wasn’t new enough for her snobby expectations.
Carolina worked with an energy she didn’t know she had. She had gone to the small shed off to the side of the house to retrieve a shovel and realized all the tools were gone. Thankfully Thomas had a shovel in the bed of his truck that he allowed her to borrow.
Despite the hard ground, she made quick work of the flowerbeds. She planted a lot of the mums while putting two of the hardiest looking mums into small planters she found in the shed. She planted the ferns in two tall planters and arranged pumpkins around them and the front door.
She grabbed some small limbs and twigs and made a quick arrangement in the watering can and used it as part of the décor. She propped the wicker basket by the front door and retrieved a red and black flannel blanket from the laundry room and draped it over the edge of the basket. She removed the dead debris from the flowerbeds and trimmed back the evergreen with some hand shears that Thomas lent her.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead as she examined her work.
“That’s quite a difference.” Thomas came up behind her.
“Yeah. It certainly needed it.” She looked at the setting sun. “Wow I didn’t realize it had gotten so late. I’m making chili tonight. Want to stay and eat?”
“Are you kidding? Not with dragon lady inside.”
She barked out a laugh and handed him his shovel. “I completely understand. I’m willing to bet she’ll be gone by tomorrow.”
“Good luck in the meantime.” He loaded his shovel in the back of the truck and slid inside. She went to her jeep and pulled off her rubber boots and work gloves and placed them in the back, before walking up to the front door.
She stepped inside and froze.
Chapter 28
