The Road to Cardinal Valley by Earlene Fowler

Author:Earlene Fowler [Fowler, Earlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101618981
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2012-12-31T00:00:00+00:00

18

LUCAS

“Why didn’t you tell me about Ruby’s father earlier?” Lucas asked Birch the next morning, standing next to the coffee machine, holding an empty mug. “This thing takes forever. When was the last time you cleaned it out?” He hated that such a huge event happened in Ruby’s life and he was one of the last to know. Why hadn’t Ruby called him?

“I just found out myself.” Birch looked at the clock on the white stove. “She called from Las Vegas about two hours ago. She knows I get up early. I didn’t want to wake you up at five A.M. There’s not much any of us can do right now except pray.”

“How is he?” Lucas asked, feeling ashamed at his childish response. Her father had had a stroke, for Pete’s sake.

“He’s in ICU. She said they aren’t giving them much hope.” She took a loaf of bread from the metal breadbox stenciled with red and yellow flowers. It had sat in that same spot on the tile counter for as long as Lucas could remember. “I have some raisin bread from Maxie’s. Would you like a slice?”

He shook his head. “I wish she would have called yesterday. I hate to think of her driving to Las Vegas at night by herself.”

Birch placed two slices of bread in the toaster and pushed down the lever. “She didn’t. Ely went with her.” She faced Lucas. “He was with her yesterday when she received the call from Joe’s wife.”

“Oh.” Lucas poured himself a cup of coffee. “Well, good.”

“Yes, I suppose it is,” Birch said. Despite his attempt at nonchalance, it was apparent on his aunt’s face that she understood what he was feeling. “Would you like some eggs?”

Lucas took a deep breath, then sipped his hot coffee. “No, thanks. I need to get to the shop and start working on those story jam notebooks.” He’d been asked to donate three leather notebooks for the first, second and third place winners of the contest that would be voted on by the people attending the event.

“Thanks, sweetie,” Birch said, patting his back. “You’re a good kid.”

“Guess we’ll keep him,” Bobby said, coming through the swinging kitchen door. “Top of the morning to you, la familia.”

“Hey, Uncle Bobby,” Lucas said.

“Hear anything more about Joe Stoddard?” Bobby asked, hooking his silver-topped cane on the back of a kitchen chair. “That’s a real shame. He’s about our age, isn’t he?” He sat down heavily, his face tightening slightly.

“Close,” Birch said. “I think Ruby said he’s sixty-seven. I haven’t heard anything else since she called. I’m sure she’ll let us know if anything changes.”

“Or Ely will,” Lucas said, trying to keep his voice light.

“Right,” Birch said, glancing sideways with a sympathetic look.

“Glad Ruby isn’t alone,” Bobby said. “Is her brother with them?”

The toaster popped up and Birch placed the two pieces of toast on a clear glass plate. “You know, she didn’t say.” She buttered the toast and set it in front of Bobby, along with a prescription bottle of medication.

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