Summer in the Tri-Cities

By Ruth A. Stillings

No About the Book available this time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798369412114

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Copyright © 2023 by Ruth A. Stillings.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 11/23/2023

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

CHAPTER 1

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Donna Jones and her daughter Candy drove into Pasco, WA, off of highway U.S. 395. They were on the northbound lane (Monday night & Tuesday), and it felt like they had been on them forever. They pulled off on the 20th. St. exit and drove down to a Best Western Plus Motel that still had its Vacancy light displayed. Donna parked the car and went in to register for a week’s stay. That’s how long she figured it would take to find a nice apartment or small house for them, she already had the best job in the whole world, and she couldn’t be more pleased about that.

The air was just starting to cool down from the day’s heat, being almost midnight; the pool area across the way was closed, too bad. How she yearned for a long, cool dip in the pool, but she would settle for a tepid shower before laying her weary head down for the night. Candy was asleep in the car, she hated to wake her up, but it wasn’t like she could carry her anymore.

Candy, we’ve got a room, #210 upstairs, sweetie, come on. Wake up, she opened the car door and the dome light shone onto her daughter as she shook her shoulder. Candy stretched and yawned. Donna opened the trunk and took out a suitcase to take to the room, while Candy pulled a backpack out of the back seat. It was defiantly going to take more than one trip upstairs to unload this car. But for tonight it was just going to be what was necessary.

Mom, I’m going to bed, can we empty out the car tomorrow? Candy said as she flopped down on the second double bed in the room.

That’s fine, sweetie, I’m taking a shower, then I’m going to bed myself, the car can wait. Donna yawned as she walked into the bathroom to start the water. For a short minute, she thought about a long soak in the tub with some bath salts, but she was just too tired from the drive today and the bath salts were down in the car. They had been on the road for fourteen hours coming up from Redding, CA. The roads had been windy, bumpy, and narrow. She hadn’t been on good roads until she got to Washington state. What Oregon called highways she called backroads. But it got them there.

It was hard to leave family and friends but when a job comes along like this one, you must make major decisions. This was a once in a lifetime career opportunity for Donna. After finishing at the Business College and some online schooling she put out all those resumes and she worried that nothing would happen, nobody would respond. To her great surprise, she had several responses from her letters. The one from Pasco was the farthest one from where they lived but it had the best benefits, like a retirement fund they matched, a medical plan they paid, with a dental plan too, for her and her daughter. But, the one benefit that blew her mind was a living allowance, which was practically unheard of, currently. It just seemed too good to be true. After some investigating, Donna found out this job was real and she went for it.

Next morning Candy was up bright and early with all the energy of a fire ball. Ready to get things done so she could go hit the pool. They emptied out the car and put things away in the room. Now Donna had to get some food to stock the place. Are you coming with me to Wal-Mart, or are you staying here, Candy? Cuz I’ve got to go to the store for groceries and I am thinking about stopping at the mall, too. Of course, if I’m lucky everything I need will be in one spot, Donna said hoping she’d find what she needed today.

No thanks, Mom, I’ll stay here, and work on my tan. Candy grabbed a beach towel and out the door she went. She saw some others down at the pool already and they looked about her age, too. Luckily, she had her new two-piece on, and it looked good on her, and she brought her favorite book, Happy Birthday, is one of Daniel Steele’s best. This way if she’s not in the water she can pretend that she was reading, but instead she can be checking out the guys. And there are a couple of really nice-looking ones sitting around the pool.

Candy sashayed into the pool area and took a lounge chair, over by the deep end, to stretch out on. There was a family of five at the shallow end of the pool, splashing around. But across the pool, two guys sat at a table talking, not paying any attention to her at all. She knew how to fix that; she’d just jump into the pool.

She stood up and strutted over to the diving board, where she jumped up and down a couple of times, showing off her skill. Then she dove in with very little splash. When she came up, she snuck a peek at the guys and was disappointed to see they were still deep in conversation and not looking her way. She swam to the edge and got out to return to her chaise lounge. Laying it flat she laid on her stomach to tan her back and she could read for a while. Those guys could go suck lemons as far as she was concerned; they weren’t that good looking, anyway.

What she didn’t know was that Tom and Mike were really talking about her among other things. It’s just that it wouldn’t matter what she would have done, they were more interested in each other than in a girl. They were traveling to Canada to live their life together.

Reading made Candy sleepy, she turned over onto her back, more to even out her tan than anything else, but the sun was hot, and it was making her eyes tired. Not even her sunglasses seemed to keep her from squinting. She turned over onto her side and look over the pool area.

The two guys were just walking out the gate but someone else was in one of the other lounging chairs. This was a man that made you look twice, blonde hair, buff, about 6’5 or 6’6 feet tall, and the deepest blue eyes. She peeked over her glasses as he was staring at her. She wondered who he was and what he was doing here in the motel. Was he just traveling through, or could he possibly be a resident, she thought more than likely, just passing through.

Just as she was getting up to take another dip, she heard a horn honk. She looked into the parking lot and saw her mother waving at her to come and help her. The afternoon had passed too quickly for her. One last look at that lovely man, oh how she wanted to stay a little longer, but she knew she had to go. She picked up her things and headed for the gate.

Hey, will I see you later? a husky voice called to her.

She almost jumped out of her skin, Candy said, Oh, yeah, I’ll be back a little later. Then she strolled out of the area. Not more than ten feet from the pool she broke into a run. Mom, guess what, you’ll never believe what just happened. There is this guy out by the pool. He looks so cool. He’s blonde, Mom, and he has these incredible blue eyes, and they’re so dreamy. Mom, are you listening to me? Candy was taking packages up the stairs and talking as fast as she could. Donna just nodded in answer to her questions because Candy was talking a mile a minute, she couldn’t get a word in edgeways.

Yes, sweetie, I hear you. He sounds mysterious. Can you put these away in the kitchen for me, Donna was handing Candy the bags that she had carried up the stairs. She heard all this before, but she didn’t want to be rude. Maybe you’ll see him again at the pool. Actually, she hoped Candy wouldn’t see him. Donna didn’t need Candy getting in a situation, not now.

Things were going good right now; she needed Candy to be on her best behavior. She had the tendency to be a wild child. She was only 20 years old but, in some ways, she wasn’t quite all that mature. She was a high school graduate, but Donna just couldn’t convince her to take some college, or at least not yet. Donna was trying to persuade her to take some classes online, to get her feet wet, so to speak. Candy was well read; she shouldn’t have any trouble. Then Donna was brought out of her deep thought by Candy’s voice, Mom, I’m going back over to the pool, call me when dinner is ready, okay?

Sure, Donna waved.

Candy’s thoughts were on this guy at the pool. Would he still be there? What would he be like? Does he live here? All of this was running through her mind as she trotted over to the pool. Sure, enough he was still there. What should she say? Or should she say nothing? Oh my God, she thought to herself, what do I do? She walked through the gate and had a big smile on her face, hoping this would make up for not saying anything to this guy first.

Hi, your back, the blonde man said to her from across the pool. They were the only ones there. She didn’t feel too embarrassed.

Hi she said back boldly, and she went to a lounge chair and made her nest. She put one towel across the base of the lounge, and the other one across the back, so the plastic wouldn’t stick to her after her swim. Then she stood back proudly admiring her artwork.

My name is Ed Hartland, he said intuitively as he sat up from his lounge chair, swinging his leg over to one side.

Mine is Candy Jones, nice to meet you. Do you live here? Candy thought twice after asking that question that maybe that was too personal, but maybe not.

Well, actually, yes and no. I’m just staying here until my house is finished being renovated, it will be a couple of more days, he smiled easily as he shaded his eyes. And you. Are you just passing through?

No, my mother and I are going to be living here in the Tri-Cities. We are staying here at the motel for a week until we find a place. We just got in last night from Redding. Have you ever been to California? She stopped rattling on when she saw her mother at the gate in her swimsuit. Candy wasn’t horrified, but she was taken aback a little bit. Her mother didn’t look half bad. Hi, Mom.

Donna stepped into the pool area with a wide grin on her face. Hi honey, she waves at Candy and walked over to her. Who’s your friend? she said as she stood beside her daughter’s chair staring at Ed blatantly.

Mom this is Ed, Ed this is my mother, Donna. Candy did the introduction and then hoped her mother would just let it drop and not say anything else. But she knew that wouldn’t happen.

Hello Ed, so nice to meet you. Donna said in her sweetest voice.

Nice to meet you, too. I hear you’ve just moved up from Redding. Do you think you will like it here? Ed said as he changed his lounge chair from lying down to the upright position, he could talk to Donna easier.

I’m not sure; it’s still up in the air, in a manner of speaking. This is a different kind of heat then what I’m used to. But I’m willing to give it a try for a good job, with that she gave a little laugh like it was an inside joke. Do you live here?

I’m staying here for a few more days until my house is finished. It’s being renovated, you see there was a fire and I had damage not only from the fire but from the smoke and the water damage from when they put out the fire. The fire department hosed down everything; they don’t think about later, they just want everything wet, so it doesn’t catch fire. I’ve been here for the last four weeks and will be here for another week. They are running a week behind schedule, of course, he said with a chuckle. So, did you move up here for a new job?

Yes, we did. A great job, I hope. It sounds like it anyway. The benefits are all good she wasn’t willing to give too much info about her job. That’s too bad about your house. It sounds like there was a lot of damage. Did they have to redo the whole house or just part of it?

The main damage is confined to the kitchen, where the fire was, the laundry area had smoke damage. The dining room had more water damage than the living room area. I think my biggest cost is going to be replacing furniture but this company that I found out of Spokane claims they can dry the furniture as good as new. We’ll see, he stared off into space thinking.

Donna interjected cautiously, Did you have good insurance?

Blinking and pulling his attention back to Donna he said, Sure, it’s the best, but that doesn’t mean they will pay for what I want. You know how insurance companies are; they want to spend the least amount they can, no matter how good of coverage you have. You see, I know how they work, I’m on to them. Ed smiled his best smile and said, Enough about me, tell me about yourself, how long did you live in Redding? Was that your hometown?

Donna and Ed settled into a light conversation back and forth and Candy just sat there like a third wheel. Not adding anything to their banter. They were getting along swimmingly but that wasn’t what Candy wanted to see. Ed was too young for her mother; he was almost too old for herself, but still better for her than her mother.

Mother, you’re talking Ed’s ear off. Why don’t we go for a swim? The water is great, Candy was sure she could get her mother’s attention away from Ed without too much trouble.

Candy, your mother and I are having a lovely conversation. In fact, Donna would you like to have dinner with me tonight? I know a wonderful restaurant downtown. I won’t take no for an answer either, it’s been too long since I’ve had the company of a beautiful woman, Ed was saying this as he stood up and picked up his belongings.

Oh, ok, if I don’t have a choice, Donna laughed, I would love to go out with you. Just how nice is this place we’ll be going to?

It’s a steak house, nothing formal, didn’t mean to scare you. It’s a nice place though, Ed was starting to walk toward the gate

Well, it sounds lovely, what time do you want to go?

Mom are you sure this is a good idea, you don’t even know this guy, Candy was whispering into Donna ear.

Would 6:30 be good for you?

Mom don’t do this, Candy whispered again.

That’s good for me. We are in room 210, I’ll see you at 6:30 tonight, Donna gave him a little wave as he turned to leave. Then she turned her attention to her daughter. What the hell is your problem? Ed is a very nice man. There is no reason I can’t go out with him tonight, you’re old enough to stay by yourself, that was a little uncalled for, but Candy was acting like a five-year-old.

Mom, I saw him first, Candy said with a huff and folded her arms across her chest.

Are you joking me, you’re kidding right. He is way too old for you and I’m sure you could see that. I’d bet he’s almost thirty or even in his thirties.

Yeah, too young for you! Candy uttered almost under her breath.

Donna acted like she didn’t hear the last comment, but she did, and she knew her daughter meant for it to hurt her, and it did. But Donna learned over the years to let these remarks go, to make life easier. It didn’t do any good to fight with her over some of the slightest things like this.

Are you ready for a swim, darling? Donna said sweetly to Candy who was standing beside her with her hands now on her hips.

Oh, Mother, Candy whirled around and sat down in her lounge chair.

Well, I’m going for a swim if you care to join me, you’re welcome too. With that Donna walked over to the end of the pool and dove in.

Candy didn’t know what her mother was thinking, going out with a younger man. But it’s not like she’d never done it before. But she’d never taken a man away from her before, this was uncalled for. This was downright mean of her. Not that anything will become of it, she was pretty sure that once he realized that she was way too old for him, that he will come back to her with no problem. Tomorrow will be a brighter day; he will be all over her like ‘white on rice’. With that good thought she got up and jumped into the pool with a big splash.

They swam for about half an hour in the heat of the day, and then went back to the room. Donna had to get ready for her date tonight.

The whole time Donna was getting ready for the evening Candy was upbeat and didn’t seem to have a care. But at 6 pm it was like a switch was turned off and Candy went into a tyrant. When are we getting out of this dump? I hate it here. I don’t have any friends. What am I supposed to do while you’re gone, twiddle my thumbs? Why do you get to go out and I have to stay here? Candy was lying on her stomach, on her bed, with her head in her hands, almost to the point of tears.

Donna was used to this type of outbreak; it was very common with Candy. She walked over to Candy’s bed and sat down beside her daughter. She patted Candy’s back in a soothing way and said, Now, you know we are only going to be here a few days, until I find us a place of our own. In fact, tomorrow I have three places to look at and you can go with me. It needs to be good for both of us, right? And as far as friends go, that takes time, you know that. You have TV you can watch or use your cell phone and call your friends back home; they’d love to hear from you. Tell them about our trip up here and where we are staying. That would be cool. But tonight, I’m going out with Ed for dinner, that’s all. I will be home before 10 PM. She could see in Candy’s eyes that calling the kids back home was a good idea.

Okay. Tomorrow sounds good for house hunting. I will definitely give Wanda a call tonight and see what’s going on with everybody back home. But do you have to be gone so long? Can’t you be home sooner? Candy said with the whiniest voice she could muster. But there was a little grin there too; Donna could see one coming on.

No, you know I’m a grown woman and I can come home when I please. Now, buck up. You’re a grown up too, sort of, when you choose to be anyway, She gave her daughter a big hug, and then got up to finish her makeup.

Candy rolled over and kicked her feet up in the air, like a little kid and said, Waa, then she laughed and sat up. Ok, I know, it’s just so hard, sometimes, to be grownup. She walked over and gave her mother a big hug. But this isn’t over about Ed, you know, he’s too young for you. Don’t do anything stupid, ok. I don’t want to have to pick up the pieces when he breaks your heart, and he will if you’re not careful. No funny stuff, just have dinner then come straight home.

Okay, my little mother hen, if you say so. Donna loved it when her daughter became the mother and she the daughter, it was good roll playing for Candy and Donna took it with a ‘grain of salt’.

Now there was a knock at the door. It never seemed like the good moments lasted long enough between Donna and Candy.

Hi Ed, I’m ready, Donna gave Candy a hug and a quick kiss on the forehead. Then walked over to the door and out with Ed.

She okay with this? he asked as they were walking down to his car.

She will be fine, quickly she changed the subject, Am I dressed all right? At the bottom of the stairs, she gave a twirl in her green summer dress.

Yes, you are perfect, beautiful in fact. You will be the best dressed woman in the place.

I’m not overdressed, am I? she stopped dead in her tracks.

NO, no, just perfect, really, he laughed and opened the door of his baby blue Jag.

Nice car, Ed, Donna got in and was quiet for a few minutes. She didn’t think Ed had money but maybe, just maybe, he did. Wouldn’t that be something to think about, she chuckled to herself, and then turned her attention back to Ed. Do you ever put the top down?

Sure, do you want me to put it down now? It might mess up your hair before we get to the restaurant. It’s up to you, he said with a smile.

Oh, that is very true. Can we have it down after we leave the restaurant? That would be much nicer to drive around with the top down in the moonlight, don’t you think? She wasn’t even thinking about being home by a certain time. She was thinking of the fun they were going to have tonight, together, just her and Ed.

Whatever you would like, he was grinning like the Cheshire cat. He pulled out into traffic, and they were off to Richland.

McDougall Bay Steakhouse in Richland, was packed. Even though Ed made reservations they still had to wait. Ed took her into the bar, for a drink before dinner. By the time they finished their drink their table was ready. It was a very lovely place where each table was a booth, having its own private area. Donna thought this was very romantic but she didn’t want to be pushy in this area so she sat down in the booth, expecting him to sit on the other side. To her surprise Ed said, Would you mind if I sat next to you?

No, not at all, Donna said, a little blush came across her checks. That would be lovely. He was well mannered; she could tell he was well educated. He had an air about him that was very nice. Not snooty, just good family upbringing.

They ordered dinner and another drink each and started into an inquisitive conversation. So, Donna, tell me about this new job. Is it everything you’ve ever wanted? he said in a teasing voice,

Donna sat with her hands in her lap and smiled, I believe it is. Have you heard of a CPA company called Gleson & Roack, Inc., in Kennewick?

Yes, they are my company’s accounting firm. I have an auto body- shop in Richland, called Hartland’s Auto Body Shop. I’ve been with that CPA for 10 years. My dad recommended them to me before he died. He died shortly after I opened my business. I was really working hard at getting my business going at the time and I wasn’t there for my dad like I should have been. I’ll always feel bad about that, he turned his head away from her. She thought she saw tears in his eyes. He was a very sensitive man, she liked that about him. So far, she hadn’t found anything that she didn’t like about Ed.

Didn’t mean to bring up bad memories, she said putting her hand on his comfortingly.

That’s okay, I have a lot of good memories of my dad, that I like thinking about, too. It’s just he went very quickly, and I wasn’t there with him the day he died. I was at my garage working. So, I carry a lot of guilt. But enough about me, let’s get back to your story. How did you get the job here all the way from Redding? he was smiling at her again.

Well, I was going to a Business College d own there and taking some online classes too, those were refresher courses. My major was Business Accounting and I earned my degree. They had this great program that helps place their students into good jobs. They helped me with my resume, reference letters from my professors and explored different areas that I could work in. In fact, they did most of the searching for the companies and even mailing out cover letters, too. They are great people, she couldn’t say enough nice things about her support people. Without them there’s no telling what kind of job she would have gotten. They really knew their business. Ms. Betty, my Counselor, is the one who set me up with the support group and I’ll always be grateful to her, too.

How long did it take you to get an interview? he hoped he wasn’t getting too personal.

We corresponded by letter and then by phone for a month, then last month they flew me up here and offered me a weekend, on them, she laughed, and I went in for an interview on the following Monday. It took them another week to decide and make me an offer. I was so excited, they said be up the first week of June, and here I am, bag and baggage, as it were, she said with a little glint in her voice at the end.

Ed liked the way she talked with her little quirky phrases. She was such a breath of fresh air to talk to. Tell me about the job.

It’s just an accounting job. Ha. Ha. It’s just the greatest job in the world as far as I’m concerned. They offered me a partnership in a year if all goes well. But enough about me; tell me about your business. Where is it? Oh, that’s right you said it was in Richland, she said sweetly.

Yes, I’ve had it for a little over fifteen years now. I started it when I was seventeen; I was still in high school. I used family money to buy the shop, but from then on, I worked for all I got. I wanted to build it, from the ground up. And that’s what I did. I now have 25 people working for me and it turns a nice profit at the end of the day, he didn’t want to bore her with details. Luckily dinner arrived just at that moment.

Donna was thinking about Candy as she took her first bite and Candy was thinking of her too. Candy had just finished talking on her cell with Wanda. It was good to talk to her and hear what was going on this weekend. She was going to call Tommy tomorrow evening; Wanda was going to tell him that she was going to be calling him. For some reason he didn’t have a cell phone, she had to call his house phone. That was okay, he’s cool.

Candy took out her diary. Dear Diary, just a quick note to say ‘moving sucks. I did talk to part of the old gang tonight and that was great. Can’t believe my mom is out on a date with a guy that I wanted to go out with. Can you believe that? I hope they get a flat tire, lol. Got to go now, goodnight.

She looked at the time, Oh My God, it was midnight, and her mother wasn’t home yet. Boy, was she going to get it when she got home. How could she! She was out with a guy that was young enough to be her son. All these thoughts were going through her head at warp speed, when the phone rang.

Hello

Hi sweetie, it’s Mom said Donna in a sweet mom voice. Sorry about calling so late, did I wake you?

Of course not, mother, why aren’t you home? Candy said in a whiny voice.

Oh, well, we were having such a nice time, we went for a drive with the top down and we ended up in Walla Walla, can you believe that. I’m going to be a little late getting home she started giggling as if she was being tickled.

Candy couldn’t stand it, How dare you do something like this. You know we have that appointment tomorrow with the realtor; we’ve got to find us a place to live. We can’t stay here forever! You are coming home tonight, right? You’re driving back now? she just couldn’t imagine her mother and Ed spending the night together. That was gross.

Yes, oh yes, we are coming back tonight. You just go to bed and don’t worry about it; I have a key to get in. I’ll try not to wake you she knew her daughter was mad at her, now, but she just didn’t care, she was having a wonderful time.

Good night, Candy, Donna said not letting her daughter get to her.

Oh, alright, mother, good night. But you haven’t heard the last of this, Candy was saying as Donna closed her cell phone.

Is she upset with you? Ed asks shyly.

Oh, yes. But she’ll get over it. One way or another, she’ll get over it. Now back to us. This has been a wonderful evening and I do hate for it to end… she started to say.

It doesn’t have to end. We could stay here tonight, at a motel. I’d love to spend the night with you. If you don’t mind me being so bold he said with a chuckle.

Donna blushed; she wasn’t expecting that. Why sir, you take my breath away she said in a rather sultry voice, but really, I have a very important appointment tomorrow that I can’t break, with my real estate agency. Not this time, my good man. She gave him a wink and reached over and hugged him. He responded openly with a kiss to go with it.

As they sat in the parking lot under the full moon, it was so romantic. They were in each other’s arms, kissing and enjoying the moment. Donna didn’t want it to go any farther than this. She just didn’t know what the future held for her yet. She wanted to get all her ducks in a row with her job and housing first then she could work on relationships. This night was just a little fun.

CHAPTER 2

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Wednesday morning Donna and Candy met with Betty Willit, the agent from Unique Properties, Inc., a well-known firm in the Tri-City area. They first went to an apartment in Richland. It had two bedrooms with a den, washer/dryer hookups, all the other amenities, with a patio off the dining area. It was nice but not what they were looking for. It looked more like what they had left in Redding.

Next there was a larger town house in the same area. It had 2 stories, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, large