Cedar Lane Properties—The Wallace Brothers

Chapter 24

**

After putting the finishing touches on the makeshift dining area they created in a corner of the barn, Mike and Crystal stood back and admired their work while waiting for Marissa and Edna to arrive.

“We make a pretty good team, girlfriend,” Mike teased in his best, high pitched girly voice.

The massive oak dining table and eight chairs were brand new from a nearby Amish furniture store, but the China hutch, sideboard and cabinets were reclaimed and refinished. Crystal’s trash-to-treasure centerpiece—thrifted floral pieces in an Anchor Hocking Wexford vase—sat on a small dollar store mirror and a lace table runner—also thrifted.

The table was set with new, but clearanced, dinnerware while the china set from Des Moines graced the hutch along with other finds.

“I agree,” Crystal smiled and put her arm around Mike. “I wish I’d thought to find an area rug, but this looks perfect. I just love that vase. I found out it’s a more recent piece, but I think it looks timeless. I want to collect a set of it, piece by piece.”

“It’s a great pattern and will go with anything.” Mike's phone buzzed. “They’re ten minutes out!”

“Yay! I’ll get the snacks out while you go watch for them.” Crystal was also proud of the mini charcuterie plates she had made. She had found two sets of Federal Glass luncheon plates with cups. Then she learned how to turn hard salami into roses by folding the circles of meat over the rim of a champagne flute before turning the layers upside down and removing the glass.

Four of the plates held a meat flower—as Mike referred to them—along with toothpick skewers of cheese cubes and olives, sliced carrots and celery. The other four plates held other meat choices, a variety of cheese slices, more veggies and crackers. The cups held dips or mixed nuts.

That was just for snacking. There was a brisket in the smoker and sides in the refrigerator.

She heard the crunch of gravel and ran out to greet her friends.

Mike stopped, rolled down the passenger side window and yelled, “Get in! Let’s take them down to unload their suitcases first.”

Crystal waved at Marissa and Edna in the car behind Mike and climbed into the front seat with him.

They drove the short distance to the campers and then everyone hugged. It didn’t take Marissa long to notice the ring on Crystal’s finger.

“What is this?” Marissa demanded.

Crystal leaned over to Marissa’s ear, and in a loud whisper, giggled, “It means I’ve been sleeping with your brother.

“It’s just a promise ring,” she added at Marissa’s gasp.

“I should have known,” Marissa laughed and hugged Crystal. “You’re perfect for my brother. But—“ she drew back to look from Crystal to her brother and back again at Crystal as Edna peered over her shoulder, “why didn’t you tell us?”

“Because I wanted to tell you in person,” Mike spoke up.

“That’s beautiful,” Edna remarked. “I didn’t know you young ‘uns still did promise rings.” Her weathered face was kind and approving.

“This young lady has changed my life. I’m trying my damndest not to screw it up,” Mike said. “Wait until you see the decor she made for the Airstreams! She spruced up my life in much the same way.”

“Don’t make me cry, Mike,” Crystal tried unconvincingly to scold him.

“You are definitely perfect for my brother,” Marissa repeated and kissed Crystal on the cheek.

After the suitcases were unloaded and a tour of the Airstreams had been given, the group of four headed for the barn. Marissa and Edna were both very impressed with the progress that had been made.

“I knew my brother was talented, but Crystal, you definitely helped bring his work up a notch!” Marissa was wowed.

“I don’t know if I can eat this pretty flower,” Edna admired the salami art.

“I can teach you how to make more,” Crystal promised. She twisted the cap off a new bottle of St. James’ blackberry wine. “Ladies?”

After snacks and wine were had—beer for Mike—Mike got Mark on the phone and put him on speaker.

“Hey, brother, say hi to the girls. You’re on speaker.”

“Hello, ladies!” Mark’s voice boomed through the phone. “What’s up? Are the girls ganging up on you, Mike?”

“No, but I’m about to go over some of our plans for up here and wanted to include you since you can’t be here.” Law enforcement rarely had the luxury of taking weekends off.

“Awww, thanks!” Mark said. “It’s very nice to be included!”

“Did you know our brother bought Crystal a really nice promise ring?” Marissa barked out.

“Whoa, sis, you’re coming in loud and clear, so you don’t have to yell! No I did not, but I can’t say I’m surprised. Crystal is perfect for Mike.”

“Thank you!” Mike and Crystal said in unison.

“We have other plans, too,” and Mike launched into a semi rehearsed speech about their plans for the land.

“That’s a lot of changes, but I support you,” Marissa nodded when Mike finished. “I think it’ll be great when you get it all done.”

“I am a little surprised you want to sell the first two properties, but I totally understand. I support you, too, brother,” Mark agreed.

“Well, I have an announcement, too,” Edna spoke up. “George and I have decided to retire and run off to Hawaii in January. For good. We’re sick of winter.”

Three jaws dropped. Mark was silent.

Crystal finally clapped her hands together. “Yay!! I knew he was sweet on you but you never seemed to notice.”

“Oh, I noticed. I thought he was a fool, but I’ve been sweet on him, too. Anyway, that frees up room at the Victorian for some staff who might want to transfer there.”

“I hate to see you go, Edna, but I’m happy for you. And for George.” Mike got up to hug his faithful employee. “I’ll keep this in mind when we decide when and where we’re doing a Christmas party.

“Ok, so one last thing before we let Mark go. I know not all of the betters are here, but I have Squeaker’s DNA results here. He is half Great Pyrenees, which I guessed correctly, part Bernese Mountain Dog and part Newfoundland.”

“So you’ve basically got a horse,” Mark guffawed.

“Where is Squeaker?” Marissa wanted to know after the call with Mark ended.

“Guarding the current loves of his life,” Mike rolled his eyes.

At Marissa’s confused look, Crystal explained about the kittens. “They’re all down at the cabins if you want to take a walk.”

“Hold on a minute, ladies. I have gifts.” Mike disappeared into the machinery side of the barn and came back with a platform dolly loaded with three large packages. “I need more arms,” he laughed.

“Oohhhh, what did you get us?” Marissa demanded.

“Well, here,” Mike said and passed the gifts out.

“You get your wrapping skills from mom,” Marissa pouted. “I think I got mine from a T-Rex.”

“It’s almost too pretty to open,” Crystal sighed. “I think my wrapping skills came from the same T-Rex.”

“Well I’m getting too old to stress about pretty paper!” And Edna playfully tore into hers with her teeth.

The girls’ giggles all turned to ooohs and ahhhs when they finally broke into their gifts with the help of Mike’s trusty pocket knife.

Edna’s quilt was made in shades of yellow and green like the John Deere tractors she loved; Marissa’s in her favorite color pink and Crystal’s in blues, greens and purples.

“It reminds me of a peacock but without screaming peacock. I love it, Mike. Thank you.” Crystal stood and kissed him, followed by Marissa and Edna.

“Jacob helped,” Mike confessed. “But I did tell him what colors.”

The four laughed and giggled for most of the weekend. They took turns holding the kittens and eventually named them Bootsy and Lewie. Bootsy, with his four white paws, was still a little spitfire. Lewie was beginning to relax but still eyed everyone like a mob boss.

“If he were human, I can imagine him sitting back in a tux, smoking a cigar while quietly ordering someone’s house burnt down,” Edna explained. “He just looks like a Lewie.”