him a present because you’re his landlord?” Tori asked. “Do you think that’s necessary?”
“Not necessary, no, but I think it would be nice,” Russ said.
“Anybody home?” Red’s voice called.
They all turned around to find him standing on the doorstep, Mildred right behind him.
“Come in, Red. The doctor’s not here. He had an emergency,” Toby said.
“We heard. It was bad. They had a couple of fatalities,” Mildred said. “I talked to Anna.”
They all lamented such a horrible accident. Then Mildred asked Tori to put the lasagna in the refrigerator. “We thought the man could use some dinner that’s already prepared. I’m sure he won’t have any groceries yet.”
“That’s so thoughtful, Mildred,” Tori said.
“Here’s the chocolate cake, too,” Red said, extending his offering.
“I know he’ll appreciate it, Red.” Tori put the cake plate on the bare cabinet.
“I guess he’ll get in late tonight. Maybe Elizabeth and I will buy some groceries to fill up the pantry for our housewarming gift,” Toby said. “I’ll call her.” He pulled out a cell phone and moved away from the rest of them.
Tori moved to the door. “Well, I left the office unmanned. I’d better go back.”
Russ stopped her. “Go lock it up and come help us. No man should come in late from that kind of work and find everything a mess. Poor guy doesn’t have a wife.”
“That would be a good way to get to know him, Tori,” Mildred suggested, enthusiasm in her voice.
Uh-oh. The Randall family was famous for its matchmaking, but Tori didn’t want any part of it. Especially with a man who was leaving in four years. “No, I don’t think I can spare the time.”
“Sure you can,” Russ insisted. “Abby will come by after school, and she’ll help you.”
Toby joined them again. “Elizabeth will be by, too. She and Abby agreed to do some grocery shopping.”
Tori was feeling trapped, but at least she wouldn’t be alone. And it would be terrible to find everything just dumped after dealing with a horrible wreck. “Fine. I’ll go close up.”
Once she’d locked the doors downstairs, leaving a note on the door, she went back up the stairs. The main bedroom had a nice bedroom suite all put together. It looked new, with its king-size bed, dresser and bedside table. When she started opening boxes, she found one marked “bedroom” and opened it. Inside were a set of new sheets, and a navy comforter with flecks of maroon forming a pattern. Very masculine.
“I’ll take the sheets to my apartment to wash before I make up the bed. Want me to bring back a pitcher of lemonade?”
Her cousins enthusiastically agreed to that offer.
When she returned, she brought the lemonade, along with what cookies she’d had in her cookie jar. She knew her cousins’ appetites. Especially Casey, Russ and Rich’s baby brother. At eighteen, he was still a growing boy.
“I called Aunt Megan,” she said as they fell upon the snack. “She said she’d be glad to donate the table and chairs just to get rid of them. She’ll be there another hour if you want to go get them.”
Russ stood up. “I think we can get them and be back here before the girls arrive,” he said to Rich.
“No problem,” Rich agreed. “I brought my truck.” The two of them left.
“That sofa is a sore spot, isn’t it?” Casey asked. “I mean, I’m no expert on decorating, but it’s an eyesore.”
Toby laughed. “You’re right.”
“I bet Mom and Dad would like to give him a new sofa.”
“No,” Tori said firmly. “We can’t do that without asking him. And it isn’t necessary for everyone to give him presents.”
“Everyone gave Russ and Abby presents when they moved into their new house.”
“Yes, but everyone knows them. No one knows the doctor. He’s a city man.” She didn’t want to say bad things about him.
“Poor guy,” Casey said. “I’d hate living in a big city.”
“I think he prefers it. He’s leaving in four years.” She needed to keep reminding herself of that. As good-looking as he was, she felt sure he’d have a lot of feminine company while he was here, but she had no intention of involving herself in a temporary relationship. Especially with someone who didn’t respect her.
Casey was still frowning.
“Are all the boxes up here?” she asked, starting to open another one.
Casey groaned and Toby downed his glass of lemonade. “Come on, boy. The lady is cracking the whip.” Both of them headed down the stairs.
Tori continued staring at the sofa. She suddenly remembered a sofa cover she’d used in college. It was royal blue and she thought it would fit the sofa. She hurried next door and searched through her hall closet. She brought it back to the doctor’s apartment, along with several pillows in a blue, green and maroon print. The guys were making a second trip.
“Where did you go?”
“Over to my apartment. I’ll have a surprise when you get back.” As soon as they were out of sight, she slipped the cover over the sofa. It fit perfectly. Then she added the two pillows.
Toby and Casey entered the room, each carrying a box. When they saw the sofa, they set the boxes down and stared.
“You found a new sofa?” Casey asked.
“Of course not. It’s an old cover I used in Laramie.” All of them had attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie.
“Nice job, Tori. It looks a hundred percent better.”
“Thanks, Toby, but that scarred coffee table is the only other piece of furniture he has.”
“Yeah,” Toby agreed. “But maybe he’ll buy some more soon.”
“I think he should buy a TV. He’s only got that little black-and-white thing,” Casey said in disgust. “Man, he’s really roughing it.”
“You’re spoiled, Casey,” Toby told him, laughing.
IT WAS ALMOST TEN O’CLOCK when Jon returned to the parking lot. None of his belongings were still on the gravel. He didn’t know if the Randalls finished the job for him, or if someone had come along and taken what they wanted.
He trudged up the stairs, bone tired. He hadn’t had time to do any grocery shopping. Doc had told him to come back to his house tonight, but Jon was looking forward to puttering around in his own place. He’d skip dinner tonight and eat breakfast at
