Special Delivery Read online

  “I’m Ida, the eleventh child of Axel and Eloise Crupe.”

  Karli tried to remember her manners, even though she was certain Ida wouldn’t make her life any easier. “I’m Donna’s daughter.” Ida was probably in her mid-forties, about five years younger than Karli’s mom. Eloise had miscarried after her mom was born, but was determined to have another baby. She miscarried twice after Ida until she had Charlie, her last child.

  Pale gray eyes studied her. “How is your mother?”

  “Fine. Happy. You?” Karli couldn’t recall seeing her mom’s sister before. Where had Ida been when they’d returned to check on Charlie? Had she run away from home at an early age? Or did she hide every time their family came to visit? She and Mom were close in age, but opposites in personality.

  Ida drew herself up. “I’m happy enough. I’ve been blessed with a job that’s let me support myself. When I heard about Father, though, I took a leave of absence to do my duty.”

  “Your duty?”

  “To care for him, of course. How ill is he?”

  “He’s old and can’t walk. He has good days and bad days, but he might last a long time.”

  Ida frowned. “My leave won’t extend past three months.”

  Three months? “Axel’s in the sun-room. We’ll have to use the living room to reach it. I stained the kitchen floor last night.” She’d decided not to take a chance and stayed up late, finishing it. She’d used duct tape to put up sheets of cardboard at each doorway to keep Dusty out of the kitchen. The floor wasn’t dry enough to walk on yet, but it wasn’t sticky either. If Kurt snuck in, lured by leftovers, she should be able to sand out his footprints and re-stain. She’d put deli roast beef and bread in the cooler before she’d started and set it outside. It was cold enough to keep the food safe. They could eat sandwiches for supper tonight. She’d already phoned Ralph’s diner and ordered four of his specials for lunch. She’d have to grab another corned beef dinner for Ida, but it was time to set some limits. She didn’t mind feeding Axel. If he ate well and moved around more, she was helping him. When Kurt came, she didn’t think he had any money, so she didn’t push for him to chip in. Sylvie was another story, but Karli hadn’t expected to stay long once she showed up. And now there was another Crupe.

  She led Ida to Axel. He stared at her and let out a long breath. “You look just like your mother at that age. What’s wrong with you? You used to be pretty. Still could be.”

  Ida shrugged. “Vanity is a sin.”

  “No man in your life, huh?” His words stung. They were cruel, even for Axel.

  “That’s rude!” Karli snapped.

  Axel studied his daughter. “She packed a bag and snuck out of here to run away with some tourist when she was fifteen. She was always boy crazy. Now I’m supposed to believe she’s a saint?”

  Karli felt sorry for Ida and turned to offer her sympathy, but Ida looked unaffected.

  “I found out, like most women, that I was better off without men.”

  Ouch!

  Ida walked closer to stare down at Axel. “I have a three-month leave of absence. You have to die before then, or I can’t help you.”

  Axel threw back his head and laughed. “I plan to be inconvenient.”

  “Your choice.” Ida looked at Karli. “My father’s never been easy to deal with. You must have a beautiful soul to have tolerated him this long, but I can look after him now.”

  “You’ll be havin’ plenty of help.” Sylvie walked into the room. “Should we be honored that you’ve finally come to our rescue?”

  Ida looked Sylvie up and down. “I see you haven’t defeated your dark side yet. You’re just as unpleasant as always.”

  Kurt coughed from his corner of the room, and Ida finally noticed him.

  She shook her head. “Still lazy. Idle hands are of no use in this house.”

  Axel interrupted. “Enough already. I listened to you three bicker the whole time you were growing up. I don’t have to listen to it now. I’d rather go to a home.”

  “No!” all three of them said together.

  Karli frowned. “What’s wrong with a home? He’d get three meals a day and twenty-four-hour care.”

  “They’d take all his money,” Kurt blurted.

  Axel gave a sly smile. “Damn right, they would. You three wouldn’t like that, would you? And I’ll make sure to live long enough that it’s all gone.”

  They exchanged glances, and Karli realized even Ida had come for the cash. Well, that was their problem. Thankfully, she needed to drive to town to pick up their meals, and she couldn’t wait to get out of this house.

  “The toaster and bread are in the dining room, if you’re hungry. There’s peanut butter and jam, too. We can’t use the kitchen until the floor dries, so I ordered food from Ralph’s. I need to go get it. I’ll be back in less than an hour.”

  Ida’s gaze shot daggers at her siblings. “I’ll get my things and take them upstairs. I don’t expect anyone to enter my room once I get settled.”

  Sylvie rolled her eyes. “You haven’t changed. You’d scream if one of us touched your doll when you were little.”

  Karli was tired of listening to them. She turned on her heel to get her coat and purse. She didn’t turn on the radio on the drive to town. Silence felt like a blessing. No more squabbling. She decided the three worst Crupe kids had come like vultures to hover over Axel. She almost felt sorry for him.

  She was passing a harvested field when she noticed movement in it near the tree line. A dozen wild turkeys pecked for corn that had fallen. She slowed to get a better view. It was a first for her. She loved the mix of shops, fields, and lakes around here. Indy had more restaurants and activities on offer, but Mill Pond had more charm. She sighed. She loved this town and its people.

  When she ducked into Ralph’s, the diner was crowded, as usual. Brad was sharing a table with a woman she hadn’t met. Karli’s order was waiting, but Ralph’s wife, Jules, told her it would take a minute to make up another one. Brad waved her over in the meantime.

  “Have you met Steph? She makes bread with Maxwell, and they do catering together.”

  “You sent Axel pumpkin and zucchini bread,” Karli said. “They were delicious.”

  “Thanks.” Steph grinned. “I’ve gotten really lucky. First, I got to work with Paula and Tyne at the inn, then Tyne introduced me to Maxwell, and Max has taught me all about breads. Sometimes, I think about what I’d have learned if I’d gone to culinary school, like Paula wanted me to, but I’m doing what I want to now.”

  Karli frowned. There was a whole history here she didn’t know. “You don’t think you’d have liked culinary school?”

  “I’d have loved it,” Steph’s expression softened, “but I love being married to Ben more, and I’m still cooking and baking. I have the best of both worlds.”

  She’d chosen a man over school. Karli was intrigued. “I don’t want to pry, but do you ever regret not leaving?”

  Steph didn’t hesitate. “Never. For me, life’s about being surrounded by people I love who love me back. A job comes second.”

  Jules motioned Karli to the counter to collect her order, so Karli said her goodbyes. On the drive back to the farm, she thought about what Steph had said. She loved her mom and dad, but she really enjoyed traveling. Her jobs were so temporary, though, she didn’t make deep friendships. Even her affairs were casual, and that was beginning to wear a little thin.

  How much more did she want? Would Keagan be satisfied if she drove to Mill Pond every other week? She didn’t think so. When she left here, he’d move on. Would she regret losing him? Yes. The question was: How much?

  Chapter 33

  Karli took down the cardboard at the kitchen doors before she went to bed. The wood floors looked wonderful. She’d have liked to give them another clear coat to protect them, but not with three extra p
eople milling around the house. She fed Dusty, then went to her room for the night and called her mom before it got too late.

  “Ida came today. Kurt and Sylvie don’t seem to like her any more than they like each other.”

  “She made it hard to like her,” Mom said. “Charlie, Ida, and I were the last three kids Mom had. Charlie and I stuck together, and we’d have included her, but she always made us feel like competition. If we got something, she made us feel that it was at her expense. Our oldest brother, Jackson, left Mill Pond before Ida was born. Three years later, Ronnie left, and three years after him, Kurt moved away. Each time a brother or sister left, there was more room and more food at the table—Ida’s slice of the pie got a little bit bigger, but she wanted it all.”

  “That’s sad.”

  “It was her choice. According to her, she was always wronged. She became the grand manipulator, trying to think of ways to use people, especially boys.”

  It was hard to imagine Ida attracting boys, but Karli remembered that Axel had been surprised when he saw her. He’d said that she used to be pretty. “She’s dowdy now,” Karli told her mom. “I think she could be attractive, but she chooses not to.”

  “She never picked the best men, probably got burned too many times.” Her mom sighed. “I always hoped she’d get smart, be more open to real love that was mutual, but it must not have happened.”

  “I don’t remember her at all.”

  “She ran off with a guy in his late thirties when she was fifteen, thought she’d hit pay dirt.”

  “I kind of feel sorry for her.”

  “So do I, but be careful. She’s not all that likeable.”

  Karli had already decided that. They talked about Axel and the town a little longer, then Mom gave a long yawn. “Sorry, but it’s been busy at the office lately. I come home wiped out.”

  “Then go find Dad and get some sleep.” Karli worked twelve-hour shifts when she was on duty. She knew how tiring work could be. She glanced at the clock—too early to sleep, so she pulled her blankets around her and reached for her Kindle. She’d finished her Regency and decided to try a mystery this time. Why not go classic? She bought an Agatha Christie and was trying to keep up with Hercule Poirot when she looked at the clock and was surprised to see it was eleven. How did that happen? Too many clues and red herrings, but it was time to call it quits.

  When she curled on her side, Dusty snuggled close, purring loudly. She slept until Dusty jumped off the bed to check out sounds in the kitchen. Someone was moving around in there. It was still dark outside. The cat could fend for himself, so Karli turned over and went back to sleep.

  She woke at eight-thirty to the aroma of garlic, onions, and tarragon. She dressed quickly and went to the kitchen. Perfectly sliced egg noodles draped from every open cupboard door to dry. Karli cussed under her breath. She’d scrubbed every one of those, and now they’d need to be cleaned again.

  Ida glanced at her. “I’m making chicken and noodle soup for Father. Everyone else can eat something else.”

  “Good. I was going to bring that up. We can all pay for our own food.” Ida could do her own thing. No skin off her nose. She shrugged and started the coffeepot. When the coffee was brewed, she poured herself a cup and lifted an empty mug in a question to Ida.

  Ida shook her head. “I gave up caffeine a year ago. I only drink water now.”

  Whatever. Karli carried her coffee into the dining room and scanned the headlines on her laptop as she sipped it. She’d almost finished when Axel called, “Whatever you’re cooking has made me hungry. What’s for breakfast?”

  “Eggs?” Karli asked.

  “And two pieces of toast,” he yelled back.

  When Karli carried his food into his room, he asked, “What smells so good?”

  “Ida’s making chicken and noodle soup for you. Homemade noodles. She got up early to make everything from scratch.”

  “What are you making?”

  Karli blinked. “Maybe nothing. I might go out to eat. There are too many people for me to keep paying for everyone’s groceries.”

  He grunted and dug into his eggs. Kurt drifted down a little later. He sniffed appreciatively and followed the aromas into the kitchen.

  “It’s not for you,” Ida said. “Only for Dad and me.”

  “When Karli cooks, it’s for all of us.” Kurt bent over the pot and smiled at the whole chicken simmering in the broth.

  “She didn’t have to live with you like I did. You’ll have to fend for yourself.” Ida finished peeling potatoes to put in a pan of cold water.

  “Karli bought all the food you’re cooking,” Kurt said. “She should get a vote.”

  Karli came into the kitchen to make herself some toast. “Ida just got here. I’ll donate all of the ingredients to her today. From now on, she’ll have to buy her own.”

  Ida frowned. “Why isn’t Dad buying the groceries?”

  “He doesn’t want to.” Karli buttered her toast and reached for the cherry preserves.

  “That’s going to change.” Ida raised an eyebrow at the bread. “Am I allowed a piece of toast?”

  Karli nodded. “Be my guest. Today.”

  Kurt snickered and opened the refrigerator. He grabbed three pieces of deli meat and pressed them between two slices of bread, then went to join Axel on the sun porch.

  Ida turned to stare at Karli. “Don’t think we’re reimbursing you for the food you cooked Dad.”

  Karli poured herself another cup of coffee. Ida made Sylvie look like a pussycat. She smiled. “I didn’t come for Axel’s money. I wanted to set up health care options for him. He’s not cooperating.”

  “He doesn’t need options. He has us.”

  “Yeah, I feel sorry for him.” Karli heard a chuckle from the back room. Axel had heard her.

  Ida’s expression turned nasty. “What’s your game? What do you want?”

  “I want Axel to make up his mind one way or another by the end of the week. Whatever he decides is fine with me.”

  “No one’s that damn Goody-Two-shoes,” Ida snapped. “You just came to help?”

  Karli pursed her lips, considering, then nodded. “That’s about it. Mom was worried, and I knew she’d come, even though she didn’t want to. I had time off between jobs, so I could spare her any unpleasantness.”

  “Aren’t you the good little girl?”

  Karli laughed. “Not really, but I figured I could handle this.”

  “She’s a nurse!” Axel called from the back room.

  Ida blinked, surprised. “You’re a nurse?”

  “Yup, I could help Axel, but he won’t let me.”

  That statement was followed by a long silence. Finally, Ida asked, “You’re leaving at the end of the week?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  Ida looked as happy as Sylvie had. Karli wasn’t going to get any awards from them for how to win friends and influence people. Not that she cared.

  Ida’s shoulders relaxed. “You still don’t get any of my soup. I cook for Dad and me from now on. Got that?”

  “Knock yourself out.” Karli cleaned up her mess and went back to the dining room table and her laptop. Ida had rubbed her the wrong way. She’d thrown down the gauntlet for the wrong person. It was on! Out of spite, she typed one-dish meal recipes in the search engine. Karli might smile and nod to Ida, but the dumb ass was going down. She wasn’t going to be here that much longer and it would be worth the money to mess with her.

  She’d saved a dozen recipes to a file and made a long grocery list before Keagan knocked on the door with mail. He licked his lips when he stepped inside the house. “Smells good.”

  “Ida’s making soup for Axel and her.”

  He frowned. “Five people live here.”

  “Tell her that. She doesn’t share.”

  He c
aught something in her voice and smiled. “It’s like that, is it?”

  “She can cook for Axel. I’ll cook for Kurt and me.”

  Blue eyes sparkling, Keagan held up a nine-by-thirteen envelope. “Axel has to sign for this. Something official.”

  As he walked through the house to the back room, Sylvie and Ida lined up to follow him. Kurt stood when he took the envelope to Axel.

  “What is that?” Kurt asked.

  “Don’t know. It’s for Axel.”

  Axel muted the TV and signed for it. He opened it and smiled.

  “What is it?” Kurt repeated.

  Sylvie’s hands went to her hips. “Did you make out a will, old man, tryin’ to cut us out of your money to leave it to charity? You’d do somethin’ like that, wouldn’t you? But we’ll contest it.”

  Ida demanded, “Do you have a will?”

  Axel held up a stock statement. “I cashed everything in and had it put in the bank.”

  The three of them looked at the numbers and their eyes gleamed with greed. “You don’t have to wait till you’re dead to give us money,” Ida said.

  Axel waved the paper in front of Karli. “What do you have to say, girlie?”

  “You’re an idiot. Why don’t you use some of that to hire some help and live better?”

  He snorted. “I’m happy doing what I do, but maybe I’ll buy myself a fancy car and hire a chauffeur.”

  “I’ll drive you,” Kurt said.

  “So will I,” said Sylvie.

  Keagan shook his head and turned to Karli. “I’ll come tomorrow night to help you with the cupboards if you’re still doing them. You’re going to have to clean them again since somebody with no brains hung noodles over them.”

  Ida’s eyes narrowed, she opened her lips to bitch Keagan out, but gave him a closer look and decided to keep quiet. Keagan had a certain aura about him that warned people off.

  “I’ve got to finish my route,” he said, starting for the door. “See you tomorrow, Karli. Congrats on your money, Axel.”