Comfort And Joy. Fern Michaels

      “Then believe it,” Eva snapped. “Where is that daughter of mine? Stay here, Angus, I’m going to see if I can find her.”

      Angus waved her off and continued to rock in the new chair he had come to love. He wondered what it would feel like to rock a baby. Eva said he was going to love the feeling. Eva seemed to be right about most things, he thought happily. In a short period of time he’d come to trust her judgment completely.

      Eva walked out to the main section of the second floor. Her startled gaze took in two things instantaneously. Her daughter looked like she was frozen in time as she stared at Josh Eagle and a tall woman who was kissing him. She blinked, and then pinched her arm as she walked up to her daughter to place a motherly hand on Angie’s shoulder. She could see tears in the corners of her eyes. This is not good, this is not good, this is not good. A mind’s eye picture in real time will never go away.

      “I’m sure it’s not what it looks like, Angie. She’s probably someone he used to know. You young people tend to kiss hello, good-bye, and everything in between. She probably just stopped in to see what’s going on. Everyone in town wants to see what’s going on. Come along, dear,” Eva babbled.

      Eva thought it was magical how her daughter could talk without her lips moving. “Really, Mom! How do you think she got in here when all the doors are locked? She called Josh ‘darling’ and was reminding him that they had a date for the Harvest Ball on Saturday. She pinched his cheek and was so cutesy cute she made my hair stand on end. Josh…Josh just smiled. He smiled, Mom. You’re right, let’s get out of here.”

      Josh took that moment to look in their direction. He looked so guilty even Eva had a hard time defending his actions.

      Together, mother and daughter marched off, Josh calling their names. “Walk slower, Angie. I cannot run. And if you run, he’ll know you’re upset.”

      “Damn it, Mom, I am upset. I’m here busting my butt, working round the clock for that jerk so he can prove to his father that he knows what he’s doing. We have a date on Saturday. Won’t it be interesting to see how he wiggles out of it. I was starting to trust that jerk! Did you hear me, Mom?”

      “Sweetie, I think the whole store can hear you.”

      “Guess what, Mom, I don’t care! I’m going home. Don’t worry, I’ll be back at some point. If that Halloween stuff I ordered arrives, just unpack it. I’ll see you later.”

      “Angie, I don’t think going home…”

      “Don’t say it, Mom. Don’t call me, either. I’m going to try and catch a few hours of sleep. I was here all night.”

      Eva, her heart heavy, watched her daughter as she made her way down the dim hallway that led to the Eagle’s, loading dock. She looked behind her to see if Josh was anywhere in sight. He wasn’t.

      Angus had only to look at Eva’s face to know something was wrong. “Do you want to tell me about it, or are you going to wear a hole in this new carpet?”

      “Your son! He’s a cad! He’s out there on the floor kissing some long-legged woman who looks like she’s been varnished, then shellacked. It seems he has a faulty memory. He has…I guess I should say, had, a date with Angie for Saturday evening, and that shellacked person stopped by to confirm her date with your son for the Harvest Ball on Saturday. I’m going home. You can have your son take you home. I don’t know if I’ll be back or not.”

      “Eva…wait!”

      “Don’t talk to me right now, Angus. Talk to that son of yours.”

      Angus heaved himself out of the rocker. He wondered how in a few short moments things could go from wonderful to terrible. He looked up to see the terrible end of things approaching at breakneck speed, a look of pure panic on his face. For some unexplained reason, the panicked expression on his son’s face pleased Angus.

      “Where’s Angie, Dad? Did you see her? Is Eva here?”

      “Is something wrong, son?” Angus asked.

      “Hell yes, something is wrong. Angie caught—saw Vickie Summers kissing me. At least I think that’s what she saw. Don’t even ask me how Vickie got into the store. That woman can do anything she sets her mind to. I don’t know how long Angie…What I mean is I don’t know what she heard…She wanted…She thinks…I’m not doing it…She won’t take no…Where the hell is Angie? I know her mother said something to you. You two are joined at the hip these days. What’d she say, Dad?”

      A devil perched itself on Angus’s shoulder. “You don’t want to know, son. It will only upset you. You can’t dangle two women on a string, Joshua. I think I told you that when you were sixteen, and girls were throwing themselves at you. You should have listened to me back then. Sit down, Joshua.”

      Josh recognized the iron command. In no way was it an invitation. He sat down in one of the rockers. “What? I think I’m a little old for a lesson on romance. Where did Angie go, Dad? She was pissed off, wasn’t she?”

      “No, son, she was hurt and humiliated. If the situation were reversed, how do you think you would feel?”

      “Okay, okay, I get the point. Look, I didn’t invite Vickie here. Like I said, I don’t have a clue how she got into the store. I haven’t seen her in…months. Actually, the last time I spoke to her was back in April. I did not invite her to the Harvest Ball. I didn’t, Dad. That’s the truth. Before I knew what was happening, she planted a lip-lock on me and I had a hell of a time pushing her away. That’s when I saw Angie watching. If you know where Angie is, you better tell me, Dad, or I’m walking out of here and never coming back. I’m serious. She’s my girl! I want to get to know her better. Hell, I think I want to marry her. I can’t pull this off,” he said, waving his arms about, “without her. Will you help me out already for God’s sake?” Josh pleaded.

      Lip-lock? It must be a new term for kissing. The devil on Angus’s shoulder started a lively dance. Marriage. Maybe he’d get to rock in a chair with his very own grandchild. He just knew he was going to make a wonderful grandfather. Then he remembered the look on Eva’s face and the way she’d said, your son, like he was the Devil incarnate.

      Angus pulled his pipe out of his pocket and stuck it in his mouth. He chewed on the stem, his eyes on his son. “I’m too old to be offering advice. You’re on your own, son!”

      “That’s it? I’m dying here, and you’re telling me I’m on my own? What’s wrong with this picture? Thanks for nothing, Dad.”

      Angus removed the pipe clenched between his teeth, and stared at it. “In my day, which was a lifetime ago, a fella would crawl on his knees, flowers in hand and the truth on his lips. If that didn’t work, then the fella would throw a pebble at her bedroom window at night, and when she opened the window he’d sing her a song. Doesn’t matter if the fella sounds like a frog. It’s the thought that counts.”

      Josh was listening intently. “Yeah, yeah, what else would that fella do?”

      Angus shrugged. “I never got beyond the singing part.” He watched his son out of the corner of his eye and was pleased at what he was seeing.

      “How far did you have to crawl?”

      Angus wanted to laugh out loud, but he didn’t. “Up the walkway, up the steps, across the porch, and into the foyer. She kicked me out. I got two holes in my trousers for my efforts.”

      Josh looked down at his jeans. They were sturdy. What’s a few holes? I can always buy another pair. “Thanks, Dad! I knew I could count on you. Take care of things, okay? I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

      Angus was so pleased with himself he made his way out to the loading dock, where he fired up his pipe and smoked contentedly. There was a lot to be said for experience.

      Eva opened the front door. How quiet the house was. The first thing she saw was the brown envelope on the