Keeping Up With the Joneses

Part Two

Chapter 4

Jim slowly finished washing his hands. He was dreading dinner with Jonesy. Why on earth did Mom invite him? Deep down, Jim knew the answer. His mother was an extremely kind and trusting individual. If someone performed an act of kindness for her, she felt she had to repay it tenfold. He would have to watch his temper at dinner. It greatly upset his mother when his infamous redheaded temper flared.

Jim straggled into the house where he heard voices in the kitchen. The kitchen was his favorite room. It was always warm and cozy in there. Enticing smells often radiated from the oven. His mother was a wonderful cook. Mom is nearly perfect in every way, Jim thought. Her only fault is that she is too trusting…

Jim noticed the dining room table was already set for three. A wave of guilt passed through him. He usually helped his mother by setting the table. He should have been doing that instead of brooding about Jonesy.

His mother exited the kitchen and entered the dining room. “Jimmy, I was about to send a search party out for you,” his mother teased. She placed the platter of fried chicken on the table. “Everything is ready. Now that Jimmy is here, we can sit down to eat.”

Jim went over to his usual spot at the dining room table. Jonesy began to sit down across from his mother. “Don’t sit there!” Jim blurted out. Jonesy looked up in surprise.

“Are you expecting more visitors?” Jonesy asked, taking the seat across from Jim.

“That was Dad’s seat. I’d just rather nobody sat there, right now.” The room was filled with an uncomfortable moment of silence.

“No problem, kid.” Jonesy said as he noticed the look of relief that passed Katie’s face.

“Sorry, Jimmy. I wasn’t thinking when I set the table.” She grasped her son’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Now, everyone eat before it gets cold.”

They began filling their plates. “Sure looks good, Katie. I haven’t had homemade fried chicken for years.”

“Fried chicken was always Win’s favorite.” Katie smiled at Jim. “My men always requested chicken when we went on a picnic.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, how did yer husband die?”

Katie sighed and put down her fork. “Win died from an aneurysm in his brain. It was very sudden and unexpected.”

“I’m really sorry. That would be a tough thing to go through.” Jim looked up in surprise at Jonesy. The man truly sounded sympathetic. Could this guy actually have a nice bone in his mean body?

“What about you, Jonesy? Do you have any family?” Katie asked as she refilled his water glass.

“No, ma’am. I’m all that’s left in my immediate family. My ma left my dad when I was about Jim’s age. I haven’t heard anything from her since. I had an older brother that was killed in the war. My dad died a few years after that.”

“That’s very sad,” Katie said softly. “I know what it’s like to be alone. My family was originally from Holland and immigrated to the United States when I was a baby. They moved back there shortly after I married Win.”

“What about yer husband’s family?” Jonesy asked. He filled his plate full again with chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn.

“Win’s parents died when he was in college. He was an only child, so there are no brothers or sisters. He does have an uncle who owns a large house and ten acres in Sleepyside. In fact, Jimmy is named after Win’s Uncle James.”

“Has he ever offered to help you and the boy out?”

Katie shook her head. “Uncle James isn’t well, and I don’t want to bother him. His wife died a few years ago. He hasn’t been the same since.”

“I’m sure Uncle James would help us out, Mom,” Jim implored. “He’s got all that money, and he really loved Dad. If he knew we had to sell the house, I know he would help us out.”

“Jimmy, we haven’t seen Uncle James in years. I couldn’t, in good conscience, ask him for money.” Katie daintily wiped her mouth with the cloth napkin lying on her lap. “Uncle James became a bit of a recluse after Aunt Nell died. They were such a romantic old couple. They had been married forty years, but you would think they were newlyweds! You probably don’t remember them, Jimmy. You were so small the last time you visited Sleepyside.

“Then Aunt Nell was bitten by a copperhead, and Uncle James couldn’t get her to the hospital in time. After her death, he blamed himself. Win tried to talk to him at her funeral, but Uncle James lashed out at him. He has that same redheaded temper you’ve inherited, Jimmy. Just because it turns gray and falls out, it doesn’t calm your temper.

“Years later, Win finally reconciled with his uncle. But by that time, Uncle James had begun to let himself and his land go. He stays holed up in that old mansion, only getting out of the house long enough to yell at the neighbors. He didn’t even come to your father’s funeral, although he did send a nice note.”

“But Mom, just because he is an old hermit doesn’t mean he wouldn’t help us,” Jim pleaded. “Maybe if we went up to see him, we could get him out of the house for awhile and cheer him up.”

Katie shook her head. “No, Jim. I don’t want to worry your uncle with our problems. Your father wouldn’t want us begging money from his relatives. Besides, Uncle James’ fortune is put aside for your inheritance. You’ll need that someday for college.” Jim lowered his head and silently finished his dinner.

Unnoticed by Katie or Jim, Jonesy’s ears perked up at the term inheritance.

Jim sat quietly throughout the rest of dinner and dessert. His mother and Jonesy chatted about gardening and various other topics. Jim was hoping Jonesy would just leave, but of course, he was too polite to say so. Soon, it was almost nine o’clock.

Jonesy looked at his watch and jumped up. “I didn’t realize how late it was, and I have a long drive ahead of me. As much as I’ve enjoyed your company, I’d better get home.”

“Oh, my! I’m sorry to keep you here so late. The time passed so quickly. It’s been so long since I’ve visited with anyone besides Jimmy.” She patted her son on the hand and smiled at him. “Not that Jimmy isn’t wonderful company,” she added.

“I feel bad about leaving you with all this cleaning up to do.”

“Don’t worry. You’ve done enough to help us today. Jimmy and I can take care of it easily enough.”

“Well then, I’ll see you Saturday morning. Maybe the boy there would help me load the plow up.”

Katie smiled and patted Jim’s arm. “I’m sure Jim would be a big help. He’s very strong from helping his father. Thanks again, and drive carefully.” Jonesy walked to the door. As he was leaving, Katie called out, “Make plans to stay for lunch on Saturday!”

Katie and Jim began the task of cleaning up the kitchen. Thankfully, Katie had already washed most of the dishes she used in food preparation. She washed the dishes in hot, soapy water as Jim dried them and put them away.

“So, did you catch a lot of fish today?”

“Yeah. I cleaned them and stuck them in the big freezer in the garage.”

“Mr. Jones will be coming to pick up the plow and fix the truck on Saturday. Do you think you caught enough for all of us? It might be nice to have a fish fry.”

Jim’s heart sank at the thought of spending his entire Saturday with Jonesy. He wanted to complain, but he didn’t want to worry his mother. Besides, Jonesy was going to buy the plow, and it was nice of him to fix the truck. “Yeah, there should be plenty,” he murmured, sullenly wiping a plate.

Katie put down her dishrag and carefully studied her son. “What’s wrong, Jimmy boy?”

Jim shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing. I guess I’m just tired.”

“Jimmy, you should know that your mother is too smart to buy that excuse.” Katie wiped her hands on her apron. She gently lifted Jim’s chin and tenderly looked him in the eyes. “If you can’t look me in the eyes, I know something is wrong. Now, what is it?”

“I’ve just been thinking about Dad today,” Jim answered softly. “I miss him so much. I was thinking about our last fishing trip together and how much fun we had. I just don’t know why he had to die!” Jim began sobbing, and his mother tightly embraced him. For the first time that day, Jim felt safe and secure.

“I know how much it hurts, Jimmy. I miss him, too,” Katie whispered. “But we know it must have happened for a reason. The Bible says the Lord will never place more on us than we can bear. He knows what we are going through, and we just have to give Him our pain. I don’t know why your father had to die, but I can’t see the big picture.

“Each of our lives is a picture painted by the Lord. Each thing that happens in our lives is a brush stroke. We’re too close to the situation to see it clearly. Only God can see the entire canvas as the paint strokes are added. We have to trust Him to make the final masterpiece.”

Katie held Jim as long as he needed. She rubbed his back and stroked his hair and cooed comforting thoughts. Finally, Jim pulled away, and Katie wiped his tears with her apron.

“You go on upstairs and go to bed, Jimmy. I’ll finish up here.”

Jim smiled and gave his mother a quick hug. “I love you, Mom. You’re the most special woman in the whole world!”

Katie laughed. “Compliments will get you everywhere, Jimmy! Now hurry up to bed.”

Jim turned to go upstairs. Before he left the room, he turned around once more. “Thanks, Mom. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Chapter 5

Jim lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He couldn’t go to sleep. He just couldn’t stop thinking about what an awful day it had been. Well, the whole day wasn’t awful. He enjoyed fishing in the pond and had been quite proud of the string of fish he caught.

Dad had taken him on many trips to fish in that same pond. While he fished, Jim thought of the many happy memories he had with his father. His father taught him what bait to use to catch certain fish. His father showed him where all the best spots were. He knew his dad would have been proud of him for catching so many fish. After his trip, Jim hurried home to the garage where he would clean the fish and put them in the freezer.

Then Jim met that wicked man. The thought of Jonesy made Jim’s blood run cold. He was an awful man. No one had ever talked to Jim the way Jonesy had. He was cruel and did not seem to mind that he had made Jim angry. In fact, if Jim had to wager, he thought Jonesy enjoyed offending him.

Jim wanted to tell his mother everything. He wanted to tell her all the snide comments Jonesy made. He wanted to beg her never to let Jonesy set foot on their property ever again. But he knew he couldn’t. They were in financial straits. The money from the plow was very much needed. And Jim knew they needed the truck fixed. As talented as Jim was, he couldn’t fix it. He was like his father, preferring horses to motors. Jim knew he must grit his teeth and endure Jonesy’s company, no matter how deplorable it was.

One thing that puzzled Jim was that Jonesy honestly seemed kind to Katie. In fact, if Jim hadn’t already had the unpleasant encounter with Jonesy in the garage, Jim might have liked the fellow. There was just something about him that wasn’t quite right.

Jonesy was friendly enough when he was with Katie. He seemed quite solicitous. And as far as Jim could tell, it wasn’t in an objectionable manner. Jim was on the lookout for men preying upon his pretty, widowed mother. Most of them didn’t show much interest anyway, after they saw him.

Jim knew his mom wasn’t interested in meeting someone new right now. She was still very heartbroken from losing Dad. Sometimes Jim heard her crying in the night. He knew his parents had a deep love for one another. Dad always said it was love at first sight. He remembered hearing his father tell about it…

Katie Vanderheiden was late in preparing her thesis. She had spent her entire morning in the college library finding the reference books she would need. She had the rest of today to complete a fifty page report for her psychology class. “Oh why do I procrastinate so?” she wondered as she heaped up the books in her arms and walked toward the librarian’s desk. Suddenly, someone bumped into her, knocking her and her books on the floor. “Oops! Sorry about that! Let me help you up.”

Katie looked up into the greenest eyes she had ever seen. A tall redheaded man stood in front of her, holding his hand out for her to take. She gingerly grasped it, and he easily pulled her to her feet. For a moment, neither of them said a word, but just stared into each other’s eyes. Katie quickly gathered her thoughts and her frustration returned.

“You should watch where you’re going,” she scolded. “I’m in a hurry. I have a big psychology paper due tomorrow that I have yet to start. I can’t waste time playing bumper cars here in the library.”

The tall redhead’s eyes grew a bit greener. “Look, I said I’m sorry. My friend and I were talking and I didn’t see you.” Katie noticed the redhead wasn’t alone. Oddly enough, there was a second redheaded man beside him that had gone unnoticed. “For that matter, if you hadn’t procrastinated, you might not be in such a rush.”

Katie stomped her foot and placed her small hands on her hips. “I don’t think it’s any business of yours if I wait till the last minute to write my paper. I don’t need any lectures from you. And for that matter, I’ll ...”

The first redhead laughed. “Calm down, blondie. I didn’t mean to lecture. It must be my major talking. I have a double major in education and zoology, and I’ve been accused of practicing my teacher lectures on my friends.” He stuck his hand out to Katie and for the second time, their fingers touched.. “Very nice to meet you. My name is Win Frayne.”

“I’m Katje Vanderheiden, but everyone calls me Katie,” she said shyly. Suddenly she noticed that they were still holding hands. He grinned at her and slowly each withdrew their hands.

“Ah, you must be of Dutch descent.”

“That’s right. My family is originally from Holland.”

“Well, that explains the pretty blonde hair and the big blue eyes.” Katie blushed at Win’s compliment. She discreetly studied Win and saw that he was quite muscular in addition to being tall. He had a clear complexion, but Katie was sure in his youth he must have had a smattering of freckles. Win had an easy grin that suggested he liked to tease. And each time she saw that grin, Katie felt butterflies in her stomach.

The other redhead cleared his throat. “Well, since nobody else has introduced me, I suppose I’ll do it myself. My name is Matt Wheeler, and I was just heading to the fiction section. Pleasure to meet you, Katie.” He smiled at Katie and gave a quick wink to Win. “It will probably take me a long time to find what I’m looking for, so you two go on and don’t worry about me.” He sauntered off in the other direction.

Katie giggled. “I didn’t mean to run off your friend.”

“Aw, don’t worry about Matt. He’s a big kidder.” Win began gathering Katie’s books. “I am very sorry about wasting your time. I made an A in psychology, and I’d be happy to help you with your paper.”

Katie smiled. “I’d like that. I need all the help I can get.”

Win helped Katie study, and then she thanked him by taking him to lunch. Win took Katie to dinner and a movie to thank her for lunch. They went on a double date with Matt and his girlfriend. Soon Win and Katie were inseparable.

On the anniversary of their first meeting, Win took Katie back the library where they first met. He led her over to the exact spot, dropped on one knee, and pulled out a diamond. “Katie, I may have knocked you over that day, but you swept me off my feet. Will you marry me, Katje Vanderheiden?” She tearfully agreed and pulled Win up for a big kiss.

After Win graduated, they were married. Katie dropped out of college and always planned to go back, but she never did. She didn’t mind though. She and Win were so in love and happy…

Jim sighed deeply and clasped his hands behind his head. His life had been perfect before his dad died. He loved living in the farmhouse in Rochester. Sure, he had friends who lived in houses larger and fancier, but there was something special about the farm. The decor was not ornate, but it was attractive and created a cozy atmosphere.

Jim knew some of his friends argued a lot with their parents, but he never did. His father was his best friend. They fished, hunted, and rode horses together. Dad was teaching him about plant and animal life. Dad had even been teaching him survival skills for camping. They had planned to take a big camping trip in the Catskills this summer. Often they just talked, father and son merely enjoying one another’s company. Jim knew he could tell his father anything.

Dad spent a lot of time assisting Jim with his schoolwork. Jim was born with an aptitude for learning, and under his father’s tutoring, he excelled far past the other students his age. Jim had already skipped one year of school. He had dreams of being a teacher, just like his dad.

If only things could have been different, Jim thought sadly. He closed his eyes and remembered the last day he had with his father...

It was a beautiful spring morning. There had been a horrible storm earlier in the week, so on Saturday the whole family was pitching in to clean up the debris from the storm. He and Dad were outside picking up fallen branches. Later on, they needed to repair a piece of fence that had been damaged by a tree limb. They heard Mom in the laundry room and knew soon she would join them outside. Dad motioned for Jim to be quiet. He hid out of view from the door leading from the laundry room to the outside. Jim stifled a laugh as he saw his mother’s blonde head appear at the door. He knew exactly what his father was planning.

Katie came outside and looked around. “Win! Where are y...!” Suddenly, Dad grabbed Mom from behind and gathered her up in his arms. He swung her around as one would a small child. “Put me down this instant, Winthrop James Frayne!” She stumbled a bit, dizzy from the spinning and was overcome with the giggles. She playfully slapped her husband on the arm. “Really, Win. Haven’t you outgrown your childish pranks?”

Jim knew she was only teasing. Mom loved Dad’s tricks almost as much as Dad did. He watched as his father grabbed in mother again, this time lifting her up for a kiss.

“It’s your fault,” Win said, feigning innocence. “If you weren’t so darned cute when you get mad, I wouldn’t be tempted!”

“I’ll show you cute, Mr. Frayne!” Mom started tickling him under the arms. Her skinny little fingers could weasel their way into all of Dad’s ticklish spots. Soon they were both laughing until tears were running down their cheeks, Mom with her soft, tinkling giggle and Dad with his rich, baritone chuckle.

Jim grinned, thoroughly enjoying the sight of his parents playing. “All right, you two. Knock it off. While you two are fooling around, your favorite son is doing all the work!”

Win gave Jim a mock salute. “Yes, sir!” Before he left to finish his work, he leaned over to his wife, wiggled his ginger eyebrows, and whispered, “We’ll finish our ‘fooling around’ later.” He was rewarded with another giggle and a firm slap to his backside.

“Jim, my boy, let this be a lesson to you,” his father said, patting him on the back. “When the time comes for you to find a special girl, find you one with spunk. Because if you get one with a little spirit, I can assure you that life will never be boring.”

“What if the girl I like doesn’t like me back?” Jim asked.

“Then, my boy, you need to woo her. All special girls need wooing.”

Jim scrunched up his face. “What’s that? Sounds kinda gross?”

“Well, you woo a girl by sending fond glances her way. Just look at her like you think she’s the most special girl in the entire world. And be her knight in shining armor. Help her out if she gets in trouble. And if you really think she’s special, give her flowers.”

“What kind of flowers?” Jim said, committing his father’s advice to memory.

“Well, different girls like different kinds of flowers. Mostly, men give their girlfriends or wives roses or carnations. But between you and me, Jim, I think a special girl deserves a special flower. I always liked to send your mother orchids. While Amy and Rhonda and all her other friends were receiving identical bouquets of red roses, your mom was the only one with a large vase of white orchids.”

“Did it work?”

Win gave a hearty laugh. “Well, it must have! She married me!”

“What do you do after the fond glances, rescuing, and orchids?”

Win studied his son. “I thought you felt this stuff was ‘kinda gross’?”

Jim shrugged his shoulders and gave his dad a lopsided grin. “I gotta learn it sometime.”

Win chuckled and said, “I’ll tell you more when you get older. I don’t want you married off too soon.”

Jim suddenly looked quite serious. “When I do find a special girl, she’s gonna be just like Mom.”

“That’s a keen idea, son.” Win hugged his son. “Now we better get back to this work before your mom skins us!”

Jim was busy lifting branches, when he heard a thump. He looked over and found his father collapsed on the ground. He sprinted to his father’s side. “Mom! Mom! Come quick! Something’s wrong with Dad!”

Win’s eyes fluttered open momentarily. “Take care of your mother, son,” he gasped. Then he closed his eyes.

Jim patted his father’s cheeks and gently shook him. “Wake up, Dad! Please wake up!” He began shaking him harder, and finally realized his father was dead. He began sobbing and laid his head on his father’s chest. “No, Dad. No....Don’t go.... We need you... I promise to you Dad that I’ll always take care of Mom... I promise...”

Jim opened his eyes. He didn’t want to remember any more. He wiped his tears with a freckled hand. He knew someday another man might marry his mom. But even if she remarried, Jim would always keep his promise to his father. Jim only hoped that if his mother found a new husband, it would not be a man like Jonesy.

Chapter 6

Jonesy could not believe his misfortune. Of all the women in New York for him to fall for, he had to pick a widow woman with a brat at home. For years, he had managed to have meaningless affairs with countless women. He got what he wanted and then he was on his merry way to find his next victim. Wham, bam, thank you Ma’am. That was his style. He never became attached to any of them, and he was most careful to protect himself from fathering a child. He didn’t want to be responsible for one financially and certainly not emotionally. He hated kids!

I oughtta head over to the bar and pick me up a woman, Jonesy thought. Bertha’s always willing to have a quick roll in the hay. Deep down he knew another fling wouldn’t remove a certain small blonde from his thoughts. Jonesy had never even really touched Katie, but she had affected him more deeply than any other woman ever had before. Day and night he thought about her. He knew it was bordering on obsessive, but still he could not stop. And the worst thing was he didn’t understand why.

What was so special about Katie Frayne?

Jonesy knew he was attracted to her beauty. Any living, breathing man would be. But it was more than that. He knew lots of good-looking women that would be happy to have a one night stand with him.

There was more to this tiny blonde than a pretty face. Katie treated him with kindness. She didn’t look down on him like his family had. She respected him. Nobody had ever respected him. Sure, the guys who worked for him feared him, but Jonesy knew they didn’t respect him. And there was a certain helplessness that Katie possessed. Helping her made him feel powerful.

Jonesy knew he had to make Katie Frayne his. For the first time in his life, Jonesy loved someone besides himself. And it frightened him. But as frightening as it was, it was also enticing. If he could only get Katie to marry him, he knew his life would change forever. She would be the catalyst that would make everything in his miserable existence better. There was one problem.

James Winthrop Frayne the Second, Jonesy thought bitterly. Even that kid’s name drove him crazy. He thinks he’s so much better than me! Little brat! Just another crown prince with no subjects!

Perhaps what bothered him the most was that the kid wasn’t afraid of him. Jonesy didn’t like it one bit that the brat didn’t cower to him. Jonesy remembered when his father yelled at him when he was a boy. He would hide in a corner and cover his face and cry. Jonesy didn’t like the thought that maybe the redhead had more courage than he.

If I’m gonna marry Katie Frayne, I’m gonna have to wear that boy down, Jonesy thought bitterly. But I can’t let his ma know. I’ve gotta be sneaky. Katie will be mine. I don’t care what I have to do.

Jonesy knew he had one ace in the hole. He had watched Jim’s reaction when Jim found out Jonesy was staying for dinner. Jimmy didn’t like it one iota, but he didn’t say anything to his mother.

That kid is just too honorable. He’s probably the type who would suffer in silence and not say a word to his ma. He wouldn’t want to hurt her feelings or make her mad or any of that bull. Maybe I can use that against the little mama’s boy, he thought with an evil grin.

*****

Katie Frayne sat in front of her vanity, halfheartedly brushing her blonde waves. As tired as she was, sleep would not come. She had difficulty sleeping ever since Win died. The house was just too quiet. The bed was too big. There were noises outside that Katie had never noticed before when Win was there. Each night she thought she heard burglars trying to break in the house.

This used to be Katie’s favorite time. She and Win would talk privately about their days. They made plans for family outings. Sometimes they would snuggle and tease each other. The night always ended with a kiss, and usually it ended with more than that. Without fail, she would fall asleep in her husband’s strong arms, safe in the knowledge he was there to protect her.

Katie sighed. She was just so lonely! She had friends, but Win had been her best friend. Nobody understood her like he did. No one could make her laugh like Win. She had loved him with all her heart. Now he was gone, and Katie felt so alone. She had problems and needed to talk to someone.

The bills were piling up. They had a small insurance policy, but most of that was used for the funeral. Katie used what was left to make house payments, but the money was dwindling. Her job put food on the table, but it would certainly not make the mortgage payment. As much as she hated to, she had to sell her home. The realtors thought they found a buyer. Because the market was doing so poorly, the selling price was much lower than Katie had hoped. She would barely make a profit.

Win had always managed their money. It took Katie weeks after his death just to figure out what bill was due when. Selling the plow would help with the costs of finding an apartment. She knew she also had to sell Jim’s horse. She hated that for her son. She knew how much Jim loved the big, black gelding that once belonged to his father.

Katie sighed deeply and settled into bed. She grabbed the pillow that had once been her husband’s and held it tightly. If she buried her head in it, she could still faintly smell his aftershave lotion. She used to tease him that he drowned himself in it before coming to bed. Now she was thankful for the scent lingering in the pillow’s stuffing.

Katie was so worried about her son. She knew Jim was hurting over the loss of his father. They had been so close! Katie knew she could never fill the void in Jim’s life. She had always been rather frail and wasn’t very outdoorsy. She had tagged along on the family campouts, but Win and Jim took care of setting up the tent, starting the fire, and everything else. “You sit down and relax, baby,” Win would say. “Let me take care of everything!”

What do I do, Win? Katie whispered in the darkness. I need you so much. I just can’t handle all this by myself! Suddenly, Katie gasped as she felt a sharp pain in her chest. She had been having pains since Win’s death. They were consistently getting worse. Fear gripped Katie’s heart. What would happen to Jim if I died? Who would take care of my son?

These characters are not mine. They belong to RH, but I decided to borrow them. SHHH! J

A big thank you to my wonderful editors, KayRenee, Lori D., LisaMarie, and Kaye! You all helped me out so much! Your input was very needed and very appreciated! If it weren’t for your help with those pesky things called commas, someone would probably come revoke my diploma!