Christmas Home (The Coming Home #6)

7. Ruther

seven

Ruther

I ’d just come out of the café when a familiar face nearly walked past. “Amos?” I asked, and the man looked up.

“Rutherford Crawford?” Amos asked, sounding shocked. “I never thought…” His words trailed off, but I knew what he must be thinking.

Amos cleared his throat. “Did you just finish at the café?” he asked, quickly changing the subject. I nodded, pasting a polite smile on my face. “I was just going in to get something for my husband. Do you remember Emanual?”

“Vaguely,” I responded, but husband resounded in my mind. I knew Amos and my cousin had fooled around one summer when Farlow came to visit. I was a lot younger than them, but I remembered Amos as being a handsome man. Hell, he still was.

“What’re your plans this afternoon? I know Emanual would love to chat,” Amos said.

I looked at Corey, who recognized my cue to respond for me. “We’re meeting Jake Hudson to get the keys to the condo we’re staying at. After that, we don’t have plans.”

I nodded. Corey was ever the efficient one. “Do you have time later today?” I asked, suddenly wanting to catch up with people I’d known years ago.

“I do. Not sure about Emanual. I could text you after I speak to him?”

I nodded just as Corey handed his business card to Amos. “Text me, and I’ll let him know.”

Amos smiled and looked at the card. I knew having a personal assistant must seem strange here. Hell, it was strange enough for me, and I’d had one most of my adult life.

“That’s wonderful. I’m Amos,” he said, reaching a hand out to Corey.

I narrowed my eyes at my assistant to make sure he knew not to snub the man, but Corey smiled and shook Amos’s hand without missing a beat. “It’s my pleasure. I’m Corey King.”

“Nice to meet you. I’ll see you both later today,” Amos said. Then, after saying his goodbyes, he disappeared into the café.

“An ex?” Corey asked.

I laughed. “Um, no. He’s a bit too old for me, or was, but I had a boyhood crush on him when we were younger. He did have a fling with my cousin, though.”

Corey frowned. I didn’t have much to do with my extended family. Farlow, my eldest cousin, had been the exception to the rule. He’d been my father’s right-hand man in our company and had taken as much abuse from him as I had. As a result, Farlow and I had been close.

“That reminds me, you need to get in touch with Yamato,” I said. “I forgot his birthday is coming up.”

“I remembered for you,” Corey said. “I’ve already purchased his gift—tickets to see A Beautiful Noise .” I nodded, thankful for my assistant’s efficiency. Ever since Farlow had died, I’d been trying to stay close to his widower. Most of Yamato’s family still lived in Japan, and he was the only family I had left. Or the only family I had contact with.

We walked along the street to where a large brick building stood. I had noticed the new construction project when we first got into town. It definitely hadn’t been there when I was growing up. I couldn’t quite remember what had been, but it was nowhere near as nice.

A smartly dressed woman met us as we entered the hotel, and I was shocked when I recognized her Manhattan accent. “You’re from New York?” I asked, getting a cocked eyebrow from her.

“Yes, you?”

“Off West Fifty-Seventh,” I said, not mentioning that it was Central Park South.

She regarded me momentarily, then looked at Corey, and I knew she must’ve picked up on the fact that I’d come from money. Oh well, I had come from money. There was no use hiding it.

“We were supposed to meet Jake Hudson here,” Corey said.

“Oh, yes. Sorry, Jake got pulled away. Come with me, and I’ll show you to the condo. I’m surprised Jake was able to get the owner to agree to this. Jesse is usually rather protective of who stays in his condo.”

Neither Corey nor I responded since we didn’t know the circumstances. Whoever this owner, Jesse, was would be well compensated for leasing us the unit, I’m sure.

The woman, Catherine, wore a name tag but hadn’t formally introduced herself. We followed her up a short flight of stairs, she pointed toward a door. “You’re welcome to use the elevator or the stairs. Enjoy your stay.”

She handed us the key and left.

I honestly didn’t expect much. A simple room with maybe a modern kitchen. But the high-end, stylish furniture and tasteful décor were pleasant surprises. The appliances were as nice, if not nicer, than my own, and the bedrooms and en suite were equally impressive.

A small balcony led off the side of the building and faced an old railroad track. I stepped out for the full view and could see that across the track was a little park with a gazebo. I remembered sitting in that gazebo as a boy. My gaze strayed from there to the hill, and I caught sight of my old home.

Cold sweat immediately broke out across my forehead, and I quickly slipped back through the door and pulled the blinds shut. Guess I won’t be using the balcony .

Forcing myself to calm down, I walked back into the living area, where Corey was speaking on the phone.

“Yes, you can have the luggage delivered here. I’ll be waiting, yes.”

I knew he’d made arrangements with the limo service to bring our luggage from the airport. It was still early, and the limo driver hadn’t arrived when our plane landed. I also didn’t want to show up in Crawford City in a limousine. So, despite his disappointed stare, Corey had arranged for them to deliver the luggage once we were settled.

“If you’re going to wait here, then why don’t you let Amos know I’m going to walk back into town.”

I should’ve gotten Amos’s number myself, but if I asked now, Corey would pout. He was already upset enough about the circumstances that I didn’t want to upset the applecart more than I already had.

I went to the kitchen, pulled a sparkling water out of the refrigerator, and sat at the counter to drink it. I was about to consider returning to the bedroom for a nap when Corey said Amos and his husband were available to meet.

“Where?” I asked.

“Town hall,” Corey said.

I nodded and left him to do his million phone calls and whatever else he did when I was occupied.

I remembered the old town hall, which, to be honest, looked about as ragged as it had in my childhood.

The old school next to it had been refurbished and was now a public library. The café sat just across the street. I could see the improvements now I didn’t have Corey clouding my vision. Most of the buildings were occupied. There was even construction going on across from where the hotel and condos stood.

Most small towns this size were dead or dying. Crawford City, however, seemed to be moving in the other direction. I had to wonder what was behind that.

I climbed the old stairs to the second floor, where I found Amos sitting across from another man in an office. Amos smiled when he saw me, then stood and opened the door.

“Hi, Rutherford. I’m glad you had time to visit. This is my husband, Emanual. You weren’t sure if you remembered him or not.”

I noticed the frown on his husband’s face and for a brief moment, I wondered if maybe my family or I had said something that offended the man back then. Maybe it was just my imagination because he quickly smiled and shook my hand.

“It’s been a long time since you’ve come to these parts. How does it feel being back?” he asked.

I nodded. “It’s…well, it’s time, I guess.”

I looked up and saw the same man in a painting behind his wide oak desk. It was titled, Mayor of Crawford City .

“You’re the mayor?” I asked. “That’s unexpected, assuming you and Amos are out.”

The mayor smiled. “Crawford City is special, and compared to the rest of the state, it’s rather progressive.”

We spent the next hour catching up. I learned Emanual had been the town doctor until his son took over the practice, then he decided to run for mayor. Amos also had a son, apparently a construction manager here in town, and they were in business together.

It felt like we were long-lost friends, but nothing could be further from the truth. Our lives hadn’t been remotely similar, and had barely even intersected in our youth, but I enjoyed hearing about their lives. Given their prominence in town, maybe I wouldn’t have to deal with bigots while here. That was something, at least.