George Hartmann Box Set Read online

  As I take the lead out of Jen’s hand and then step close and look out the window, Lady settles into a concerned whine rather than an all-out bark. Progress, at least. I don’t see anyone in the backyard, but she seems to feel better now that I’m looking out the window. My instincts tell me we had better pay attention. Jen is thinking the same thing.

  “George, how about we take Lady out back and see what she does when she gets down there?” Jen says.

  “Yes, good idea. Let’s see this through. If she’s being territorial, maybe she’ll feel better after walking the perimeter of the yard.”

  “And if she’s barking at someone in particular,” Jen says hesitantly. “Awkward or not, we should see who it is.”

  “I’m with you. Movers probably have run-ins with dogs all the time, like how postal carriers do, right? I doubt they’ll be insulted,” I add. “I once knew a mail carrier who kept milk bones in his pocket. He lived in a tiny town where he had to walk up to everyone’s porch to deliver the mail, and he says those milk bones were a lifesaver more times than he could count.”

  We exit the bedroom and walk downstairs, this time excusing ourselves around two movers who are carrying shelves for our big armoire up to the bonus room. Lady is mostly quiet now, happy that we’re giving her concerns the appropriate attention. Another pair of guys is in the foyer downstairs, ready to carry up our reclaimed wood coffee table that fits like a glove in the middle of the sectional. All Ali’s picks, of course.

  As Jen and I pass the dining room, we see that Leo is awake. We motion for Ali and Leo to follow us outside. Duke and Ethan have moved to the family room at the back of the house, so they follow us out, too. The entire group of us throws on coats and hats and passes through the back door onto the screened porch. Lady walks proudly at the head of the pack.

  “She seemed to be upset about movers being in the yard,” Jen explains to Ali, Duke, and the boys. “We figure we’ll let her take a good look. Duke, come down with us?”

  Duke nods in agreement. “Sure, babe.”

  “Yeah,” I add. “Hopefully we can determine what, or who, specifically has Lady upset. I’ve never seen her like this. Ali, can you keep the boys here on the porch? Maybe get a fire going?” The snow has let up a little, but it’s still bitter cold out. Luckily, the builder stocked the outdoor fireplace with wood for us, so it shouldn’t be difficult to get it up and running.

  “Of course, Georgie. You guys go do some recon,” Ali replies. I love it when she uses tactical terms like recon. It’s hot. My wife may look sweet and unassuming right now, what with the pregnant belly and two toddlers who hang around her most of the time, but don’t let that fool you. She’s tough.

  Jen, Duke, and I walk with Lady down the tall set of stairs from the screened porch and deck to the lawn below. We take her around the perimeter and out to the carriage house. She sniffs around as we canvas the area, but doesn’t act really concerned. No movers in sight. They’ve finished with the carriage house and the outdoor items and are working just in the main house now. It looks like they only have a few upstairs items to go. They were fast. And the beds are set up, so I guess we don’t have to go back to Hampton Inn tonight after all. Score, big time. We weren’t expecting this to be our first night in the new house, which makes it feels extra special. It’s too late to cancel our reservation, so unless the front desk clerk at the Hampton feels generous when we call, we’ll be paying for the night. But who cares? I can live with that. I’ll make sure to tell the boys how this is a good example of a bonus, which is something good that you didn’t know you were going to get.

  “Well, damn,” I say to Duke and Jen. “We’re out here ready for some serious investigation, and Lady seems like she could care less. That was anticlimactic.”

  “Yeah, man,” Duke adds. “I don’t know. I’m here because you two asked me to be. Were you exaggerating the urgency of the situation? You trying to get me down here in this isolated section of the property for a reason?” he says playfully, winking at Jen. She smiles back and moves to ease her arm around his waist.

  “I guess that’s my cue,” I say, turning towards the house and lifting my shoulders and one leg up as if I’m going to make a dramatic exit. We all laugh.

  “Seriously though, guys,” Jen says. “That dog was sounding an alarm. George, how about you take her inside around the movers before they leave? If she was barking at one of them, it would be good to know which one.”

  “Agreed,” I respond. “I’ll do that right now.”

  Back through the yard and up the tall stairs Lady and I go, weaving our way past Ali and the boys and into the great room. I walk her through each room on the main level, then up the staircase and onto the second level. No reaction. The tall Asian guy who seems to be a supervisor stops what he’s doing in the playroom to pat Lady’s head for a minute, and she basks in the attention as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. I read his nametag while we’re standing there: Ringo. Seems like an odd fit for him.

  I figure I should make a complete sweep while we’re at it, so I take Lady down into the basement and then back up and out to the front courtyard area. Still nothing. No barking, no whining. Not even a concerned glance. I guess that’s the end of that. Maybe the guys she was upset about have left already. If so, no need to worry about it, I suppose. I make a mental note to remember the barking incident just in case, but otherwise, it’s time to move on.

  “Alright, Lady girl,” I say. “I’m letting it go. Okay? Are we done here?” She looks at me and sits down at my feet. I guess that’s my answer.

  It’s beginning to get dark. Jen, Duke, Ali, and the boys have come back inside and Ali is giving hugs to Jen and Duke and saying goodbye when I walk back into the foyer. Jen and I exchange a glance about Lady, and I raise my eyebrows and shrug my shoulders to let her know that nothing turned up. I wish I had something more interesting to report. She nods her understanding and walks over to pat Lady on the head.

  “Leaving so soon?” I ask. “You know you’re always welcome here, and you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.” Ali cocks her head in my direction and puts a hand over her heart to express how touched she is by my words.

  “George, you’re too sweet,” Jen says. “We have to get home to watch our shows. Hawaii Five-O comes on tonight, and Duke’s a sucker for a feel-good cop drama.”

  “True, true. I won’t deny that.” Duke admits. “Don’t forget about Blue Bloods. I like to watch them back to back.”

  “Well, get out of here then,” Ali says with a laugh. “We have plenty of things to do anyway. Like seeing these baby boys settled into their beds in their new room. Maybe we’ll keep them in our bedroom tonight so they have time to get comfortable in the house. None of us are used to their room being so far away from ours.”

  “We’ll sort it out,” I add.

  “Ok, then,” Jen says and kisses Ali on the cheek one more time while rubbing her pregnant belly. “We’ll see you five Ithaca residents again real soon.”

  We watch out the window as they tiptoe through the snow to their car and start it. It takes a few minutes to warm up before the windshields are clear enough to see out of. We stay at the window, waiting to wave as they pull out of the driveway. When they finally go, Ali turns and hugs me tight.

  “Georgie, I’m happy we live in Ithaca. It was time for a slower pace. And time to live closer to family, Jen and Duke included. The boys needed that. Hell, you and I needed that. We made the right move.”

  “I’m happy, too,” I say as I graze my palms back and forth across my wife’s strong yet delicate shoulders. She has the body of a dancer. “I think it will be perfect for us here.”

  Ringo walks in through the front door just as our embrace is beginning to get a little handsy. We take a step apart and turn to face him. The boys have gone back into the living room to have another go with the little cars from their toy bags. I think they like how the sound of the wheels echo against the empty walls.

  �
��All done?” I ask.

  “Yes, sir. Many hands make light work. Most of the guys have gone home already. The few still left are loading dollies, furniture pads, and straps into the truck right now, then we’ll head out of here and leave you to it,” Ringo says cheerfully.

  “Excellent,” Ali responds. “Thanks for setting some things up as you went. That will make a huge difference for us over the next few days. We have family coming in.”

  “No worries, ma’am. It was our pleasure. Will one of you please sign here to confirm receipt of your household goods?” Ringo asks while handing us a clipboard with an old-school carbon copy form attached to the front. An iPad and a system with electronic signature capabilities would probably make his life easier, but hey, whatever works.

  Ali looks at me to see whether or not everything looked okay when I did my walkabout with Lady. It did. I nod in her direction. “Yeah, everything looks great, sir. Thank you for a job well done.” I say to Ringo as Ali picks up a pen and signs the paperwork. That was amazing, really. Those guys were in and out within a few hours, and there’s no visible damage to the house or to any of our things. What a pleasant surprise.

  “Yes, thank you,” Ali says as she reaches into her handbag and pulls out four crisp one-hundred-dollar bills and hands them to Ringo. “Here’s a little something for you and your crew. We appreciate your efforts.”

  “Oh, the thanks goes to you lovely folks for your business,” Ringo responds, taking the cash and bowing his head in gratitude. “And for the warm drinks when we arrived. You’re too kind.”

  Ringo grabs his knit hat out of his back pants pocket and puts it carefully on his head, then gives us a wave as he zips the weatherproof pouch around our paperwork and walks out the front door. Are people nicer when they know you’re wealthy? I can’t help but wonder if we would have received the same treatment if we were moving into a run-down cottage in a crowded part of town rather than this mansion on acreage overlooking the lake. Since my wealth hasn’t ever been so visible before, I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. This moving service sure seemed extra good. Well, whatever the reason, we’re in and our new home is a dream come true. I feel like doing a little dance or something. It’s beyond wonderful.

  3

  What Buds May Bloom

  Ali offers to feed the boys supper and put them to sleep early since it’s been such a long few days, so I decide to call Uncle Liam and let him know we made it okay. It’s getting late, but he’s probably still up. I step out the back door onto the dimly lit, screened porch, sit down on the cushioned wicker sectional, and pull a gray cable knit blanket over me. Thanks again to Ali’s prior planning and great tastes in decor, the blanket is in place and ready to use on night one. Amazing. I smile just thinking about her. The fire’s still going, and the Bose stereo system wired into the walls is cycling through a playlist Ali must have started earlier. Coldplay sings an acoustic version of Fix You as I lean close to one of the porch screens and see that the snow has finally stopped. It’s nice and cozy, kind of like being in a hot tub on a winter day. I’m toasty warm, yet there’s a biting cold around the edges. Something about both extremes at once delights the senses.

  “Hey, buddy,” I say when I hear Liam’s voice on the other end of the phone. “How’s it going down in D.C.? You miss me yet?”

  “George! Hey, stranger. Good to hear your voice,” Liam says. He’s smiling that big toothy grin of his. I can hear it. Maybe that’s where I get it from, come to think of it. Dad’s smile was much more subtle. Maybe the goofy grin gene skipped over Dad but came straight from Uncle Liam to me. I wonder what kind of smile their father had. Maybe I should dig out some pictures.

  “I’m good, man. I’m looking at Cayuga Lake right now. We are officially moved into the new house. Closing is done, keys are in hand, and all of our stuff has been deposited inside. Nothing like moving to make you realize how much you’ve accumulated over the years.”

  “I’m glad to hear it, George,” Liam says, and I can tell he means it. He knows what a big deal this move is for me. Other than Ali, Uncle Liam is my closest confidant and best friend. I can tell him anything, and I do. It doesn’t hurt that we’ve worked together on highly specialized, top-secret missions in the Air Force, so we know and understand things that very few other people in the world do. Plus, we know and understand my dad like very few other people in the world do.

  “Is the house as drop dead gorgeous as you expected?” he asks.

  “Oh, even more so. It’s kind of like a palace, actually. I’m doing my best to enjoy it. Ali’s happy.” I say.

  “Come on now, George, I know how you feel about all that money, but Alec worked so hard for it. I’d even say he paid for it with his life. He worked himself into the ground for his family. Use it and enjoy it. Estella and I do.”

  Dad left mom and me the bulk of his fortune, but he also left his brother a sizable sum. Liam had no idea it was coming until Dad’s will was read at the attorney’s office after he died. Of course, Dad died suddenly so none of us really knew it was coming. Hell, I’m not sure Dad would have told us if he had known he was dying. Ever since I was a kid he talked a lot about building a fortune so I would never have to worry about money like he did, so I knew I’d see some inheritance when he passed away. I just didn’t think it would be so soon. I never really thought about whether or not Liam was getting money and I’m not sure Liam did either, but it makes sense that Dad would include his brother when it came time to share the wealth. He and Liam went through childhood horrors together, and they remained close-knit to the end. Plus, Liam worked with Dad for a few years during the early days when the department stores were brand new. I suppose in that way Liam had sweat equity invested and it made logical sense that he’d one day get a return on his efforts.

  Liam is different than me in that he doesn’t feel guilty or burdened about having money. He somehow keeps it all pretty organized and simple in his mind. His philosophy is basically that if you have money, then enjoy it and spread some around to others in need. If you don’t, make the best of what you do have and don’t waste too much energy feeling sorry for yourself. He doesn’t get bogged down with the subtleties. Maybe it’s because he was the younger sibling and didn’t feel the pressures us only children and older siblings do to make things right and better. Or maybe he’s just a different personality by default. I don’t know. I’m no psychologist. I think about it, though. Especially because I’d like to shed some of the guilt I have about being wealthy. The guilt sometimes feels like just as big a burden to bear as poverty would be.

  “I know we’ve talked about this a few times,” I say.

  “We have,” Liam answers. “We can talk about it again.”

  “Yeah, well, this huge house has it all right up in my face,” I continue, dabbing at the beads of sweat that are beginning to form on my brow. I sweat when I’m stressed, or for most any reason, really. “Did I make a mistake getting such an extravagant place? If not, I’m going to have to figure out how to get past this so I can live here day to day.”

  “Yeah,” Liam says simply. He knows how to let me talk when I need to. He says enough to stay engaged without getting in the way of my flow.

  “Jen’s fiancé Duke was here visiting this afternoon,” I go on. “And he’s a police officer. He’s marrying into money by choosing Jen Wright, of course, but I don’t know much about his background. He’s a great guy. I don’t want him to feel separate or distant because of the money, you know? That would hurt my heart if he did. I want him to feel welcome with us, and welcome in our home.”

  “Yeah, but maybe you’re projecting, George. Did Duke give you any indication he feels that way?” Liam says.

  “No, he didn’t.”

  “Yeah, so, hmmm.” Uncle Liam says. “You’ve been hiding from this issue for a long time, George. You promised Ali-- and yourself-- you’d come to terms with it. Let’s hash it out and get it over with. Jesus Christ! Remember who you’re talking
to. I’ve been there with you as you’ve chosen tiny condos and dilapidated houses to live in, all while you’ve had millions in the bank. That money isn’t doing anybody any good tucked away. And hell, George, you have Ali sitting on the money her parents have given her, too. Roddy and Marjorie worked hard for it, same as Alec. Those two put their creativity out into the world, and the world has embraced them. One of the ways good karma comes back to people who put their creativity out into the world is as cold, hard cash. I mean, think about Roddy Davies. His plays are truly superb. Life changing, even. People come from all over the world to watch and be inspired by what has come from a pure place in that man’s spirit, George. He’s a legend. I agree with your wife that it’s time to ease up a little and enjoy having money, for fuck’s sake. Whatever you do, don’t pass your balled up feelings onto those innocent boys.”

  “I know, I know,” I respond. “But active duty servicemen and women are not usually wealthy, Liam. Neither are Ph.D. students, or law school students, or even attorneys at the nonprofit and government organizations where Ali has worked. Flashing our money would have seemed so out of place in all the situations we’ve been in.”

  “You sound like your mother,” Liam says under his breath.

  “Yeah, John Wendell made the same comment today at lunch.”

  “Glad I’m not the only one.” Liam continues, getting more and more worked up. “George, listen to your grandfather. Listen to your wife. Listen to me, for Christ’s sake. You’ve got to get ahold of yourself. Money is not going to make your life bad. Using it is going to make your life better. If some of the people you know can’t hang with that and continue to be your friends, then they either weren’t real friends in the first place or they have their own issues about money that have nothing to do with you. You are a good person, George. The very best. And Ali is just as good. Hell, she’s an even better person than you, if I’m being honest,” he continues with a laugh.