Page 73 of Christmas at the Ranch
I turned to Arthur, who had just reappeared from the study.
“Diana, this is Martin Manning, he’s handling the sale for us,” Arthur said, joining us. There was a smug expression on his face.
“What sale?” I asked.
“The purchase, actually.” Martin turned to me,smiling. “Congratulations, Mrs. Wentworth. You’re the new owner of apartment 36C in one of the most coveted co-op buildings in New York.”
I glanced from Martin to Arthur.
“We’re not looking for a new place,” I insisted.
Arthur and I have gotten into arguments about our apartment. Now that he’s doing well financially, he wants us to move. But I refuse. Our apartment is only two bedrooms and the neighborhood isn’t ideal, but I couldn’t survive without Ellery. And I like the location. It isn’t as snooty as other parts of Manhattan and it’s close to the park.
“We’re not looking anymore,” Arthur corrected. He smiled at me grandly. “Merry Christmas, Diana. This is your early Christmas present.”
I tried to conceal my concern. It wasn’t the kind of home in which to raise a small child. Drew would leave fingerprints on the windows. And it’s so high up, it would take ages to get down the elevator.
“You were finding it hard to move. So, I decided to keep looking,” Arthur continued. “Martin found this before it was on the market. We’re lucky, it’s almost impossible to get approved. One of my authors is on the board.”
I can only imagine what kind of people lived there. Probably not ones who’ll welcome a young woman from Wyoming and a three-year-old boy.
“Is it big enough?” I asked, trying to think of a reason why we shouldn’t take it.
“The apartment next door might become available soon.” Martin turned to me. “You and Arthur will be the first to know.”
“We’d practically have the floor to ourselves.” Arthur squeezed my hand. “You always say the thing you don’t like about New York is not being able to see the sky.” He waved at the window. “It’s right there.”
How could Arthur not understand? I don’t want to live in the sky, I only want to see it from the ground.
After we signed the papers, we went to lunch at Le Cirque to celebrate. I could hardly eat a bite. I kept thinking about Christmastime in Jackson Hole. Eating cinnamon rolls at the Bunnery and singing Christmas carols in Teton Village. Oh diary, is it possible to miss a place so much, it makes it hard to breathe?
After lunch, Arthur went back to the office and Drew and I spent the afternoon making a puzzle. I was so upset; I didn’t pick up anything for dinner. Now it’s snowing—not the powdery snow we get in Wyoming. Snow that turns to sleet and makes the sidewalks slippery. I’ll order pizza from Lombardi’s for dinner. It’s still Arthur’s favorite food. At least there’s one thing that I’ll get right!
Samantha closed the diary. Suddenly everything clicked into place. Downstairs, the living room was empty. She grabbed the car keys from the table in the entryway and drove into the village.
It was after 5:00P.M.when she reached the gift shop. She wasafraid it might be closed. But Marigold was standing behind the counter when she entered.
“Samantha.” Marigold glanced up from the cash register. “What are you doing back? I was about to close but I had a last-minute flurry of customers.” She smiled. “A woman refused to return to Michigan without an ‘I left my heart in Jackson Hole’ pillow.”
“I’m glad I caught you,” Samantha said.
Now that she was here, she didn’t know what to say. Maybe this was a bad idea. She should go back to the ranch and spend the evening with Drew.
“Did something happen?” Marigold prompted.
Samantha brought her mind back to Marigold. She couldn’t walk away. Drew was too important to her.
“How could you leave Arthur and Drew and come back to Jackson Hole?” Samantha blurted out before she could stop herself. “Drew was only four years old. He’s missed you so much.”
In all the time Samantha had spent with Marigold, she always seemed so sure of herself. Now her face fell and her hands trembled.
“What are you talking about?” Marigold asked, closing the cash register.
Samantha took the journal from her purse.
“I found your diary. Arthur said I could borrow some books from his library. It fell off the shelf and I picked it up.” She handed it to Marigold. “I shouldn’t have read it; I wish I never had. But I’m in love with Drew and you hurt him so much. I don’t know what to do.”
Marigold took the journal cautiously. She turned it over in her hand.
