Leaves In Autumn (Moonridge Memories, #2)

By L.M. Pfalz

In book two of the Moonridge Memories series, it's seven years later and Theresa and her friends begin a new chapter in their lives: marriage and parenthood. Theresa's marriage to David is tested as he struggles to find a job and turns to an unexpected source for comfort: his alcoholic father. Life becomes all the more complicated when Theresa's mother requests they spend the weekend together, and Patrick Jordan is released from prison.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.M. Pfalz
• Release date: Feb 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301993680

L.M. Pfalz

L.M. Pfalz started writing novels at the age of 13, as a way of channeling her vivid imaginings after packing away her childish playthings. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but has spent most of her life in Florida. She currently resides in the Tampa Bay area with her cat, Cheshire.

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Leaves In Autumn

Moonridge Memories

Book 2

by L.M. Pfalz

Copyright 2012 L.M. Pfalz

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Original photograph used in the creation of the cover by:

John Nyberg – http://www.sxc.hu/profile/johnnyberg

Table of Contents

Chapter 1…Theresa & David

Chapter 2…Beth & Wil

Chapter 3…Donna & Paul

Chapter 4… Faces From The Past

Chapter 5…Freshmen

Chapter 6…Keeping Secrets

Chapter 7…When It Rains

Chapter 8…It Pours

Chapter 9…Mourning

Chapter 10…A Simple Procedure

Chapter 11…Mother’s Weekend Begins

Chapter 12…Mother’s Weekend Continues

Chapter 13…Mother’s Weekend Ends

Chapter 14…Halloween Night

Chapter 15…Boo

Chapter 16…All That Remains

Chapter 17…Reunited

Chapter 18…Old Debts

Chapter 19…Boogeymen

Chapter 20…Donna’s News

Chapter 21…A Sister’s Song

Chapter 22…Compromise

Chapter 23…The Note

Chapter 24…Little Brothers

Chapter 25…Now Leaving Moonridge

Author’s Note

Chapter 1

Theresa & David

Moonridge – October 26, 2005

Theresa stood in the kitchen, trying not to burn the scrambled eggs she had cooking on the stove. The telephone began to ring, startling her out of whatever random thought she had been thinking and that quickly, forgot. She reached for the cordless phone docked on the countertop.

Hello, Theresa answered, stirring the eggs.

Is Duncan there?

Who?

Duncan!

Sorry, wrong number, Theresa said, hanging up the phone. Breakfast!

David came out of the master bedroom dressed in a nice black suit and tie.

Tell me honestly, Tare, would you hire me in this? he asked, still trying to get his tie straight.

You wore that suit to our wedding, and you're applying for a construction job, Theresa remarked.

They had gotten married in March of 2000, when Theresa unexpectedly got pregnant on New Year's Eve. Though her mother was convinced that David only married her because he knocked her up (and was not shy about telling Theresa this), the truth was David and Theresa were in love. She even suspected they had been since they were kids but were unwilling or just too naïve to admit it to themselves.

I don't think they'll hire me if I go in wearing worn out jeans and a T-shirt, David said.

Lose the jacket, and put on a more casual tie. You'll be set. A burning smell wafted into the air, and Theresa realized she had forgotten to take the eggs off the burner. Shit, she said, grabbing the pan handle. They're burned.

Around here, Tare, nobody cares, David said, before heading back to the master bedroom.

Nathan, their five year-old son, ran out of his bedroom and plopped down at the dining table. He was still in his fire truck jammies, whose top strained to button over his belly. His mussed brown hair hung in his hazel eyes.

Good morning, Nathan, Theresa said, combing her fingers through his hair in an attempt to straighten it out.

He swatted her hand away. Morning, Mommy.

Theresa smiled and headed back into the kitchen. You want apple or orange juice today?

Apple juice.

You didn't get dressed for school yet, Theresa said, bringing him some eggs. Did you need help?

Uh-uh. He stared down at his plate. Mommy?

Yes?

Do I have to go to school? Nathan asked, looking up at her with puppy dog eyes. The kids are mean to me.

Honey, you just need to try to stay away from kids who are mean to you. Or tell Mrs. Bradley.

Bradshaw, Mommy. Mrs. Bradshaw.

Theresa sighed. I knew that, Nathan, honestly I did. Just tell Mrs. Bradshaw, and try to stay by your friends.

Nathan nodded.

Theresa returned to the kitchen to get Nathan his juice.

None of the other kids look like me, Mommy. They’re not fat.

Theresa was taken aback by her son’s candor. There's nothing wrong with being fat, Nathan. It doesn't make you any worse than anybody else. And if someone tells you differently, well…tell them to go to hell, she said, having trouble hiding her anger.

Nathan's jaw dropped. You want me to curse, Mommy?

She thought a moment and then said, Well, no, you'd better not. Mrs. Bradshaw probably wouldn't like that. Just tell them to leave you alone and tell them that you don't care what they think.

"But I do care."

But they don't have to know that, sweetie, Theresa said, gently.

He nodded.

David came in wearing a blue and white striped tie, and no jacket. Better?

Better, Theresa said.

He sat down at the table by Nathan. Well, how's my big boy this morning?

Leave me alone, I don't care what you think, Nathan said, looking down at his food.

Theresa covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. She wiped the smirk off her face and said, Nathan, honey, why don't you go get dressed? You can finish your breakfast afterwards.

Nathan got up and ran out of the room.

What’d I miss? David asked, puzzled. Is Nathan mad at me?

No, David, you just got a dose of some of my wonderful motherly advice, Theresa said. Nathan's sensitive about his weight.

He raised an eyebrow. He's five years-old, and he's concerned about his weight?

Kids are teasing him.

I see. Who are these kids and where do they live?

Yeah, my sentiments exactly. Unfortunately last time I checked it's illegal to kill five year-olds, Theresa said, with a smirk.

Damn, David said. Hey, hun, can you bring me some eggs?

What, are your legs broken?

You're already up.

Mmhmm, Theresa said, getting out a plate. You're not going to turn me into your mother.

Whoa, where the hell did that come from?

I'm just saying. She handed him a plate of eggs. Bad habits start small.

Well, I'd rather you turn into my mother than your mother.

Theresa glared at him. Bite your tongue. The day I turn into my mother is the day the sky opens up and hellfire spews out.

Hellfire spewing out of the sky, huh?

Mmhmm, that's how unlikely it is.

David grinned and ate his breakfast.

Theresa's younger brother, Michael, shuffled out of the spare bedroom, groggy and bleary-eyed. He and Winny (Wil’s little sister) moved in with Theresa and David six months earlier, with their now four year-old daughter Veronica, Ronnie for short. Though they never married, their relationship seemed as solid as ever.

Morning, sunshine, Theresa said. Want some eggs?

Michael sat down at the table. Sure.

How's the job hunt going? David asked him.

Swell, Michael said, sarcastically. It seems people are eager to hire the only black guy living in this lovely little town.

Theresa handed him a plate of scrambled eggs. Maybe you should start telling people you're only half-black.

Michael snorted. Yeah, that would work if people were only half-racist.

Did you ever consider that it's not your race but your criminal background? David asked.

David! Theresa scolded.

Michael glared at him. I don't know, David. Maybe you should wear black face to your job interview and let me know how it goes.

Hey, it's not like I've been getting a ton of breaks lately, Michael, David said. I have trouble finding jobs too.

Yeah, but you eventually find them, don't you? You don't hear 'The position's been filled' before you even sit down, right?

No, but then again I've also never had the luxury of being able to stay at my sister's house rent-free, David retorted.

No, just your wife's.

Theresa slammed her hand down on the table. That's enough. I'm tired of hearing this bullshit from both of you. Try being the only woman at a job that only hires men and knowing you have to work twice as hard to make half as much, then and only then do I want to hear you two gripe.

Now that is a valid point, Winny said, entering the dining room.

David shook his head. I need to get going, as much as I would love to stay for the bra burning, he said, walking over to Theresa.

You're an ass, she said in good humor.

David grinned and kissed her cheek. I won't be late.

He left the apartment.

Theresa glanced at the wall clock. It was a quarter to eight. I need to get going here too, Nathan's going to be late for school. Winny, you go to work at three this afternoon, right?

Yeah.

Ok, I'll pick Nathan up from school then. I'll have to leave work early—

I can pick him up, Michael offered. I'll be here watching Veronica anyway.

I thought you had interviews lined up all day, Winny said.

Just a few. I'll probably be home by one, two at the latest, Michael told her.

All right, Theresa said. He'll be waiting out front at about 2:30. Don't you dare forget.

I won't.

Nathan! We gotta go! Theresa hollered, putting on her coat.

He came out of his room holding his small backpack. Theresa helped him on with his coat and held his hand as they left the apartment. They walked down the steps to the parking lot and walked over to Theresa's worn out 1989 compact car. Snow flurries breezed around them, and Theresa hoped she could get the temperamental heating system in her car to work. She started the engine with some difficulty and turned on the heater. Nothing happened.

Stupid thing, Theresa muttered, hitting the dash with the palm of her hand. It'll be warm at school, sweetie.

Theresa drove Nathan to Moonridge Elementary School, the same elementary school she attended as a child. Although her memories weren't entirely unpleasant, she still hated having to go back five days a week. Other than the paint color which had been changed from a sickly gray to a less offensive blue, the school looked exactly the same.

Mommy, I need lunch money, Nathan said.

Theresa opened her wallet and took out two dollars. She folded them over and tucked them into the side pocket of his backpack. Do you want me to walk you to class? she asked.

No, I'm ok, Nathan said, opening his car door.

I love you, Nathan.

I love you too, Mommy.

Theresa watched Nathan until he was out of her sight. She couldn't help but feel guilty knowing that kids were tormenting her son. She knew there wasn't really anything she could do though, and that drove Theresa crazy. Her entire life she was never one to hold her tongue or not defend herself and the people she cared about.

The driver behind her honked their horn. Theresa pulled away, resisting the urge to flip him off. She drove on to her job at Allen's Appliance & Electronics Emporium. It was the largest electronics store in Moonridge, and Theresa worked on its loading dock with the rest of the grunts. She parked and went into a rear entrance, rubbing her hands together for warmth. She punched in her time card and headed out to the loading dock.

Mick, her supervisor, held a clipboard and stood in front of the rest of the loading dock employees.

Nice of you to join us, Theresa, he said. As I was just telling the guys, Mr. Allen wants the plasma TV's unloaded first as he wants them on the floor by nine A.M. sharp when the store opens.

Big demand for plasma TV's is there? Theresa asked.

As a matter of fact there is. There's been several reserves already, since the closest store that had them before now is twenty miles away, Mick said. Now the TV's are in the second truck, so unload that one first. When that's done, unload the third truck, first truck, and fourth truck in that order. After the second truck is empty, I want Fitzgerald and Burke on warehouse duty.

Theresa raised her hand.

What is it, Thompson? Mick said.

I was supposed to have warehouse duty today, Theresa said.

Not today. I have you down for Friday.

I haven't been on warehouse duty since last Tuesday, it's already Wednesday. I'm due.

Deal with it, he said, smugly. Now get to work, those trucks aren't going to unload themselves.

Theresa shook her head, frustrated with the unfairness.

David entered the cattle call waiting room, where more than twenty other men were waiting to have their interview for the construction job. He felt very discouraged but took his seat anyway. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, anxious to get into the interview room. The man sitting next to him was sweating bullets. He looked to have several years on David and quite possibly more to lose. He tapped his feet nervously.

Relax, man, it's just a job interview, David said to him.

Maybe for you. My life is on the line here, he said. My wife said this was it, if I don't get a job today she's leaving me. I have never held a steady job…ever. There just aren't enough jobs for everyone.

That's rough, man. Good luck.

A man came out of the interview office. Could I see Jeremy Adams?

A young man stood up and followed the interviewer into the room.

You don't suppose they're going in alphabetical order, do you? David asked the nervous man.

I hope so. My last name's Bailey.

Thompson.

Sorry.

David shrugged. Not like I have anything better to do.

The men were, in fact, called alphabetically, and David had a long wait. He glanced through magazines, looked over his resume, and even counted flowers on the terrible wallpaper in the room. He was the second to last man called, after waiting over three hours.

David Thompson, the interviewer called.

He wiped his brow before heading into the office.

Have a seat, the interviewer said. Do you have a resume?

Yeah, David said, handing the paper to him.

You've worked in construction before? the interviewer asked looking over the resume.

Yes, Sir, I had a steady construction job out in San Francisco right out of high school, and I only lost it when I came back here to Moonridge, my hometown. I worked in construction a little since then.

Off and on for four years, this says, the interviewer said.

Yeah, hired mostly for freelance work. Laid off a lot just because of low demand for employees in this field, David said. I enjoy construction work, I like hard work.

The interviewer nodded and began clicking his pen obnoxiously as he finished perusing the resume.

You know, I believe my sister-in-law married a Thompson, the interviewer said.

Really?

I don't suppose it's you…though you do look kind of familiar, the interviewer said. You're not married to a Theresa, are you?

David was taken aback. Yeah, I am. Who are you…

Well, what a coincidence. I'm married to her sister, Barbara. I'm Brian Fairbanks, he introduced.

Oh, right, I think we met at some family gathering several years ago, David recalled.

I believe so, yeah. I'm sorry we didn't come to the wedding, we were very busy at the time, Brian said.

No worries there, it was a very small ceremony.

How is Theresa? Brian asked. Barbara has been meaning to call her. Time goes by so fast.

She's good. And Barbara?

Oh, Barbara's great, yeah. She's in real estate now. She shows houses all over Ohio. The housing market here in Moonridge is a bit narrow, because of the town's size and the loyalty of the residents to their homes, so she's travelling a lot and doing really well, Brian explained.

David found the spiel to be odd, as if he had to force himself to make Barbara sound more successful than she was. It almost seemed scripted.

That's great, he said, forcing a smile. Theresa works on the loading dock at Allen's. She's really due for a promotion, she's been there for so long.

Hm, Brian muttered. Well, you know, you guys should come over some night, play some cards or something. I'm sure Barbara would love that.

Sure, sounds fun.

Good. Now about the job, you're obviously qualified, experienced, but I'm not sure how the company would feel if I hired a family member, Brian said.

David sort of chuckled. Well, who would know? We're not exactly related, it's more of a six degrees of separation sort of thing.

Small town, people talk. It probably wouldn't take long for them to figure it out, Brian said.

Okay. I'm not gonna beg you, but I do need this job. We're really struggling. David was practically whispering, not wanting to admit it. Don't hire me because we sort of know each other, just don't not hire me for that reason. Consider me like you would any other applicant, okay?

Fair enough, Brian said. I'll give you a call.

Thanks.

David left the office, and Brian followed him out to call in the last applicant. David walked out of the building and to his car, which was in even worse condition than Theresa's. He sat down in the driver's seat and rested his forehead against the steering wheel. He felt royally screwed and didn't especially want to go home yet. He started up the car and drove to the bar that Theresa sang at when she was twelve. It was really the only bar in town, otherwise David probably wouldn't have driven so far just for a drink. He went inside and was surprised to see a few of the men from the cattle call. Everyone looked like they had lost their best friend, and most of them had already had a fair amount of alcohol.

David sat down on the last stool at the bar, away from everybody, and ordered himself a beer. He didn't especially enjoy drinking, as it made him think of his father and how he'd get drunk and treat his mother, sister, and himself like garbage. But as was tradition in Moonridge due to lack of anywhere else to go, when men wanted a break from their home lives they went to the bar to have a drink. David figured every man in the place was killing time before heading home to face their wives. David felt as if he had at least one up on them, as he never dreaded going home to Theresa, because he knew there was truly no judgment from her whether he was unemployed, drunk, or in any other lowly state that other men would be afraid to show their wives. In that way, Theresa did remind him of his mother, as she too never nagged or judged her husband.

As that thought crossed his mind, David looked across the bar and saw his father sitting there, looking three sheets to the wind. He shook his head at the smallness of the town, where you were never truly alone and never away from those