Chapter 20
Liz stood near the back door, watching as Echo bounded up the steps, her cheeks flushed and a bright smile on her face. “Thank you for keeping Teddy for me while we unloaded the van.”
“He’s been an absolute doll.” Liz led her to the bed where the two, who woke at the sound of Echo’s voice, slowly stood. Teddy scampered across the floor. “Are you still interested in some of the household stuff I’m not using?”
“You’ve already done so much, not charging me deposit fees and renting the new place at a monthly rate I can actually afford. You don’t have to.”
“I want to,” Liz insisted. “What are your plans for the rest of the day?”
“I don’t have any other than settling in. ”
“Let’s run over to your place to take an inventory of what you need. After we’re done, we’ll head to the farm to see what I have and then grab a bite to eat in Green Springs. Floyd’s busy and won’t be around.”
“Dinner?”
“At the Green Springs Café. Have you ever been there?”
“No. I don’t eat out too often. I’ve been trying to save money for a place of my own.”
“Dinner will be my treat.”
While the women meandered toward Echo’s place, they chatted about the Rasmussen farm.
“I never was a city girl,” Echo said. “The country has always called me. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.”
“Even though you loved your job working as…”
“An evidence technician, processing and sorting criminal evidence for the county. ”
“I’m sure you’re doing a great job for the Rasmussens, but if you truly enjoy that line of work, it wouldn’t hurt to put out feelers around Montbay County to see if there are any job openings.”
They reached the mobile home, and Echo led the way inside. She set Teddy on the floor and he promptly began investigating. Duchess squirmed until Liz set her down and she trotted along after her brother.
A faint musty aroma filled the interior. “It smells a little musty in here.”
“Paige and I thought the same thing.”
Liz and Echo made their way through the home, opening windows and letting the fresh country air in.
Starting in the back, they inspected the main bedroom, which was next door to the primary bathroom. Although dated, the mobile home was in excellent condition. Whoever had previously lived there had taken good care of it.
A long hall connected the bathroom and bedroom to the kitchen and eat-in dining area. The women spent most of their time in the kitchen, with Liz making a mental note of what Echo needed. Her meager belongings left plenty of cupboard space for small appliances and kitchen utensils, something she had plenty of.
Passing through the sparsely furnished living room, Liz continued making a mental list.
Their last stop was the guest bedroom, a room Echo planned to turn into an office, with an adjoining half bath for visitors.
“I love it.” Echo’s eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands. “It’s perfect. Have I thanked you yet?”
“Multiple times and you’re very welcome,” Liz laughed. “Let’s go. We’ll stop by the farm first to see what we can find and then head out for dinner. When we’re done, I’ll drop you back off here. ”
Echo’s expression sobered as little Teddy trotted over. “What about the puppies?”
“We’ll take them with us.” Back in the driveway, Liz transferred the crate to the SUV’s back seat and discovered both puppies easily fit inside.
During the drive, Echo asked Liz how she and Floyd had met.
“I had moved back to Michigan from Florida. I was down on my luck. Gloria loaned me some money to buy a vehicle. Paige’s mother found herself in trouble with the Rasmussen family, so my sister and her sleuthing group of buddies decided they needed a little intel at the farm and I was the one going in.”
Echo’s eyes grew round as saucers. “You met Floyd while working at the farm?”
“I did. Do you know Betty and Betsy, the cows?”
“Yeah. I call them the gentle giants. ”
“Don’t let them fool you. Betty has a dark side.” Liz told Echo the story about falling into a pile of cow poo and had her laughing so hard, tears ran down her cheeks. “It was the most horrid and disgusting experience of my life. Floyd told me he knew right then that I was the woman for him. Little did he know it wasn’t spunk or determination, but my sister. I never would’ve set foot in that barn if not for Gloria.”
“So in a roundabout way, your sister set you up.”
Liz grinned. “Yes. I guess she and the other Garden Girls had a hand in it.” They reached the farm and Liz eased into her spot near the house. She grabbed the dog carrier and her purse, chatting with Echo as they made their way inside.
Making sure they settled the pups first, the women headed to the finished basement and the storage room filled with boxes of household items and furniture Liz planned to either sell online or donate to a local charity. It had been weeks since she’d been downstairs and forgotten how much there was.
The look of excitement on Echo’s face as she admired a plain, white toaster reminded Liz she had been blessed beyond measure, with a wonderful husband who loved her, and friends and family who would do anything to help her.
There was more…a coffeemaker, pots, pans, silverware, plates, cups and mixing bowls. Echo and Liz made several trips from the basement to the SUV until there wasn’t a single empty spot in the back seat or rear storage compartment.
“I can’t let you give all of this to me.” Echo slid the last box, this one filled with bath towels and washcloths, in the only available empty spot. “Let me pay you.”
“Nonsense. As I said, I planned to donate it to charity or sell it for pennies on the dollar. You can use this stuff, and I’m glad I’m able to help.” Liz closed the hatch and dusted her hands. “I don’t know about you, but all of this packing and loading has made me hungry.”
“Me too.”
Treece’s newer pickup pulled into the driveway. He parked next to Floyd’s truck and climbed out, giving Liz and Echo a friendly wave as he made his way over. “Hey, Echo, Liz.”
“Hello, Treece,” Liz said. “Your father is around here somewhere.”
“He’s out back on the tractor.” Treece motioned to Liz’s loaded SUV. “Are you moving stuff over to the new place?”
“Not yet. Have you been by there?” Liz wrinkled her nose. “The chateau is uninhabitable in its current condition.”
“Dad mentioned it needed a good cleaning and some updating.”
“Which is an understatement. I thought it needed a wrecking ball, but now that I’ve spent some time over there, extensive renovations with tons of money dumped into it will probably do the trick.” Liz patted the SUV’s door. “Echo is moving into the empty mobile home that’s on the property. I was giving her a few things to help her get started.”
“I can run by there and give you a hand if you need it,” Treece offered.
Echo’s cheeks turned a tinge of pink. “I…it’s a very generous offer, Treece. Paige and I already unloaded most of it. I’m sure Liz and I can handle this.”
Liz, detecting an undercurrent of attraction between Floyd’s son and their new tenant, jumped in. “I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt to have some extra muscle to help us. Besides, you had your eye on the ottoman and side table we couldn’t fit in my SUV. Perhaps Treece wouldn’t mind loading them in the back of his pickup and following us over there.”
“Not at all. I need to drop off these parts so the guys can start on the new lines. I’ll be right back.” Treece hurried off and disappeared inside the building.
Echo tugged at the neckline of her blouse. “That’s awfully nice of him.”
“Treece is a good-looking young man,” Liz said. “You two are probably close to the same age.”
“I think I’m a year or two older.”
“But not too far apart in years.”
“No.”
“I don’t believe Treece has a girlfriend. Perhaps you should hang out sometime.”
The pink in Echo’s cheeks deepened to a flaming red. “Are you trying to play matchmaker?”
“Me?” Liz feigned innocence. “Why on earth would I do that, other than I’m pretty good at it and I detect a level of interest on both sides?”
“Tr-treece isn’t interested in me,” Echo stammered .
Liz arched a brow.
“You think he is?”
“Most definitely.”
“Here he comes,” Echo whispered under her breath. Forcing a smile, she grew quiet as Treece crossed the driveway. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Positive. Where’s the furniture?”
The trio made quick work of loading the odds and ends Echo and Liz had set aside. There was still plenty of room to add more, but Echo was adamant Liz and Treece not give or do anything else for her.
They finished loading his pickup, and then Liz ran back inside to grab the pups. She returned to the SUV and realized there was no room for the crate plus Echo in the passenger seat. “I don’t have room for Echo and the pups.”
“They can ride with me,” Treece offered. “I have plenty of room in the front seat. ”
Echo shot Liz a look of desperation, and she gave her an encouraging smile. “Wonderful. Thank you, Treece.” She handed the carrier to him and propelled a reluctant Echo toward the passenger side. “It’s only about a twenty-minute drive. You can follow me.”
She hurriedly ran back to her SUV, watching in her side mirror as Echo climbed in. Her expression was pinched, but Treece didn’t seem to notice as he slid the crate in next to her.
Liz waited near the road for him to catch up and then they made the short drive back to the farm. She parked off to the side, leaving plenty of room for Treece and Echo to pull alongside the deck.
The couple emerged, both laughing and smiling. Liz caught the young woman’s eye and winked, which made Echo smile even wider.
With three of them working together, they unloaded in record time. Treece insisted on helping move the heavier pieces of furniture around, and then they stood back to admire their handiwork. “This place is nice, Echo.”
Liz's stomach grumbled loudly, to the point of embarrassment. “I’m sorry. My stomach is going crazy.”
“Don’t let my dad work you to death,” Treece joked.
“He’s not. Echo and I are heading into Green Springs to grab a bite to eat. Would you like to join us?”
“Thanks, but I need to get back to the farm. Maybe some other time.” He motioned toward the house. “I saw this place right after Dad bought it. I can’t wait to see what it looks like when you’re done.”
“Me either, and the sooner, the better,” Liz quipped.
“When I get settled in, I’ll have you over for dinner as a…as a way of saying thanks,” Echo stammered .
“I would like that.” The dimple in Treece’s chin deepened and Liz didn’t miss the spark between them. She discreetly stepped away as Echo escorted him out of her new home and to his vehicle.
When she returned, there was a spring in her step.
“Treece is a good guy,” Liz said. “Inviting him over for dinner was very thoughtful.”
“And dumb on my part. I’m regretting it big time.”
“Regretting it? I saw the way you two looked at each other.”
“I don’t know how to cook. Microwave dinners are about all I can do.”
“Well.” Liz straightened her shoulders. “I’ll be completely honest. I’m not the best cook, either, but if you invite Treece over for dinner, I’ll give you a hand. Between the two of us, I’m sure we can whip up an acceptable meal. ”
“Thanks, Liz. This has been the best day I’ve had in a very long time.”
Liz impulsively hugged Echo, feeling her shoulder blades through the thin t-shirt she was wearing. Something told her the young woman needed this break…needed a helping hand. It was a situation she knew all too well and it brought tears to her eyes to think God had placed Echo in her path.
Liz couldn’t wait to find out what God had in store for Echo and what he still had in store for her. “I’m starving. Let’s go eat.”