Chapter Ten
Dream vs. Reality
At this rate, she should just move to Jennings Township, Rachel thought as she drove into the MacDonald Dry Cleaner parking lot.
She normally used the one near her office in Hartford, but she was spending another day out at White Hall.
She didn’t want the stain on her blazer to sit that long, so she was stopping here.
Granted, supporting her friend Lottie’s boyfriend Adam and his parents was no hardship.
She’d enjoyed getting to know them all. Rachel had spent a wonderful evening with Jackie MacDonald, Adam’s mom when a sewing circle was formed to help save Lottie’s work on Alex’s wedding gown.
While Rachel didn’t sew, she helped where she could and very much enjoyed the stories the group regaled them with.
Back in the day, Mrs. Mac and Mrs. S had been quite the hellions.
Although, seeing the glint in their eyes, Rachel thought that perhaps their mischief-making wasn’t entirely in the past.
Pushing open the door, she spotted Mrs. Mac seated at a small table to one side of the counter. If Rachel’s guess was right, that plate in front of her would hold some sort of treat from Pie. This was turning out to be quite the week. First Mrs. S and now Mrs. Mac.
Smiling, she waved as she walked over, “Hi Mrs. Mac.”
“Hello… Rachel, right?”
“Yes. I haven’t seen you since the sewing circle. Dang, what was the name that Ethel gave it?”
Mrs. Mac laughed, “LACE. As if Ethel would let us forget. I swear she reminds us once a week. Operation Love and Care Extraordinaire.”
“That was it,” Rachel replied, snapping her fingers.
How could she have forgotten? Ethel had planned the sewing circle with the precision and command of a five-star general.
It was a secret they kept from Lottie until the last minute, so Ethel had insisted on a code name for the black ops operation.
She was so pleased with the acronym she’d come up with. Love and Care Extraordinaire was right.
Rachel grinned. Ethel was a hoot and a half. Since she was in Jennings frequently these days, maybe she’d swing by and visit her.
Mrs. Mac stood and went to the counter. “How have you been?” she asked. “I heard you’re working at that estate by the shore where Alex had her wedding.”
“You know about that already?” Rachel exclaimed.
“Oh, Marilyn was over for dinner last night and told me you stopped in the bakery for a coffee. The Jennings Township gossip train is good, but it’s not quite that good,” she laughed. “Although we do keep an extra special eye out for our own.”
Rachel warmed at the insinuation she belonged to them.
With her parents gone and her sister out of state and not in communication, she’d been on her own for what felt like forever.
It felt good to be a part of something; knowing that people like Mrs. S and Mrs. Mac were looking out for her.
No wonder Lisa and Lottie enjoyed living in Jennings so much.
“Yes, I’m working at White Hall Estate for a little bit,” she replied. “It’s a beautiful property.”
“I’ve heard that. Sounds like a great place. That’s owned by the Fitzgeralds, right? I believe it’s been in their family for years.”
“Oh,” Rachel said. “Do you know the family?”
“Not that well,” Mrs. Mac said hesitantly. “I’ve just seen them in here and around town. They had a couple of kids. Boys, I think? But I don’t recall meeting their children. At least, not that I can remember. Just the parents. They’re… they’re not the warmest couple.”
“I’ve only met them once,” Rachel demurred, holding back her surprise. From what she knew about Mrs. Mac, the woman never said an unkind word against anyone, so her saying something spoke volumes.
“I’m working with their son Cal out on the estate,” she added. “Actually, that’s why I’m here. I got some grease or something on my white blazer and shirt, and I was hoping you might get the stains out.”
“Oh, let’s take a look.”
Rachel put the garments down, running a finger over the jacket. “This is one of my favorite pieces. I hope it’s not ruined.”
“Well, this doesn’t look too bad. We can probably fix them up. I’ll have Cynthia take a look to confirm. Just leave it with us for a few days.”
“Thanks so much, Mrs. Mac. I’m really grateful.”
“My pleasure. Just fill out the contact info on this form, and we’ll give you a call when it’s ready.”
As Rachel filled in the customer card, Mrs. Mac asked, “Have you seen what Lottie’s working on now?”
“I have. It’s a wedding gown with some Swedish influence, right?”
“Yes. I’m so thrilled for her,” Mrs. Mac gushed. “Watching her come into her own and be proud of who she is and what she can do. It’s been a genuine joy to walk with her as she finds her own path. And obviously now that she and Adam have found each other… It’s been an exciting time.”
Rachel pushed the completed form across the counter. “I happened to be over there the other night. I guess Lottie’s also been getting some wedding gown donations and picked up a few formal dresses? It sounds like she’s really spreading her wings.”
The other woman beamed. “She is, and it’s a pleasure to see. Now,” she said, coming around the counter. “Don’t let me hold you up.” She held out her arms and before Rachel could react, Mrs. Mac had wrapped her up in a hug.
Rachel stiffened. She hadn’t been expecting that, but she quickly relaxed into Mrs. Mac’s embrace.
How long ago was it that she’d really been hugged by someone?
Not for doing something or hugging someone else for support.
Just had someone wrap their arms around her just because?
The truth was, she couldn’t remember. And that was a harsh truth to accept.
So she hugged Mrs. Mac back. Closing her eyes to imprint this moment on her soul. After a moment, Mrs. Mac leaned back. “Now you get yourself to work and no more playing in grease, okay?”
Rachel smiled, “That I can manage.”
She left with a wave and a happy heart. She could conquer the world, or at least another meeting with Cal.
◆◆◆
Entering the grounds, she saw a large landscaping truck by the house. Pulling into the parking area, she got out and glanced around. When she spotted Cal near one of the trees along the driveway, he waved her over, introducing her to the landscaper when she got closer.
“Stephen and I are discussing some long-range plans.”
“Oh,” she replied. “What have you got in mind?”
“Stephen has recommended some additional plantings for the pathway to the chapel. I like the idea of adding a kind of landing area along the way. Like a gazebo or archway. And there are some trees by the road to the old barn that I’d like pollarded.
If that’s to be the distillery one day, I’d prefer the trees not crowd the road. ”
“Pollarded? Gesundheit,” Rachel said, earning a bark of a laugh from Stephen. Well, at least someone found her as amusing as she found herself.
Cal merely sighed before explaining, “It’s a method of cutting back the trees to limit their eventual growth.”
Rachel wasn’t certain she understood what that meant but kept quiet as the two men continued to talk.
Surveying the property, she couldn’t help wondering if Cal was just wasting his time.
If his parents didn’t keep White Hall, there would be no use to pollard or polka or whatever else he wished to do to the trees.
After several minutes, Stephen left with the promise of emailing over a quote.
Rachel waited until he was out of earshot to ask the obvious.
“Don’t you think that’s a little premature?
We haven’t even started gathering all the data needed for the recommendation to your parents and you’re getting quotes on landscaping as if it’s a done deal. ”
“I understand where you feel it’s a bit presumptuous, but if my parents retain the property for events, then with the quote in hand, we’re poised to move ahead quickly with some needed upkeep before winter settles in.
If they decide to go a different route, then plans and quotes could be a bonus to potential buyers. ”
Rachel let it go, even though she didn’t entirely agree. They began moving in the direction of the house. “I guess I can follow that.” She hesitated, not wanting to ask anything too personal, but he must have sensed she had more on her mind.
“What?”
“Well, it’s not my place, but what will you do if your parents decide to put in a golf course or simply sell the property?”
“There’s nothing simple about them selling this property,” he snarled before looking off into the trees.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “Um, well, if they take option two or three as we’ll call them, then I guess I’m screwed.
” He shrugged. “I know my parents want me to join them in the stock brokerage firm, but I can’t even imagine doing that.
It’s not something I enjoy. I guess I’ll just have to start over somewhere else.
“I spent my summers here growing up. Some of my friends as well,” he rambled. “My grandfather always made this a special place for me. Here I could be myself, and that was okay. Later, he welcomed my college roommates and friends.”
Rachel wasn’t sure if he was speaking to her or just talking out loud.
“A group of us who have remained close over the years gather here once a year to catch up, reminisce, and relax. Actually, they’re all coming this weekend.” Cal smiled. “Our Friends’ Weekends inspired me to dream of returning the estate to its glory.”
He turned to her. “I hate thinking this could be the last Friends’ Weekend here. But this is what happens when you make a five-year plan.” He laughed darkly. “It gets blasted all to hell.”
Rachel felt Cal’s words land in her heart. She knew how it felt to feel so alone in the world. And to have your life plan ripped away. As much as she tried not to feel sympathy or a kinship with him, she found herself swayed.