“I can still see the look on Annie’s face when we saw you and Rooster. Both of you in leather vests with tanned muscular arms, looking for all intents and purposes as though Rooster would have liked nothing better than to do away with the lot of us.”
“Rooster has that way about him.”
“That he does,” Bethanne agreed. She’d come to admire and appreciate Max’s closest friend. It’d been Rooster who’d held the company together after Max’s wife and daughter died. Without him, Max would have lost everything.
Suddenly, the front door flew open and Grant let himself into the house. “Bethanne,” he all but shouted her name.
“Hold on a minute, Max,” she said.
Wearing a huge grin, Grant came toward her. “I just heard the news.”
Bethanne set her cell aside and stood. Grant wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her off the ground, and swung her around.
Bethanne let out a squeal and, laughing, demanded, “Grant, Grant, put me down this minute.”
“We’re going to be grandparents.”
“Yes, I know. Andrew phoned me this afternoon.”
“We need to celebrate.”
“Grant, hold on.” She reached for her cell. “Max, Grant is here. I’ll call you back in a few minutes.”
“What does he mean you need to celebrate?”
“I don’t know; he just got here.” Her husband sounded jealous, which was ridiculous, seeing that the two of them were deeply in love and married. “I won’t be long, I promise.”
“Call me back when you can.”
“Will do. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Bethanne ended the call and turned to face her ex-husband.
“Are you as excited as I am?” Grant asked, his face aglow with happiness.
“More so.” Bethanne could barely sit still.
“We can’t let this opportunity pass without celebrating. Let me take you to dinner.”
Bethanne hesitated but then agreed. Max wasn’t the jealous type; he’d understand, and she’d phone him later with plenty of reassurances. But now was a time to celebrate.
Chapter Three
Lauren knew Elisa was stunned by the news that her daughter was pregnant. Thankfully, Elisa had resisted the urge to rush to Pullman and browbeat Katie into getting an abortion, thanks mostly to Garry, her husband.
On hearing the news, Garry had insisted they give Katie and Dietrich time to sort this situation out themselves, the same way Elisa’s parents had done twenty years earlier when they discovered Elisa was pregnant. Although Elisa didn’t like it, she’d agreed to give the two young adults breathing room. It was hard for her friend to stay out of it, Lauren realized, and she had to admire Elisa’s restraint.
In the morning Elisa was already at the store when Lauren arrived just before ten, and Lauren was determined to distract her from dwelling on the situation with Katie.
“I’ve made my decision,” Lauren announced.
Elisa looked up from the computer screen and blinked as if she didn’t have a solitary idea what Lauren was referring to.
“About me and Todd,” she elaborated. “It’s clear that since he’s been riding the fence this long, he’s simply not ready to move forward. I can accept that. I don’t like it, but it is what it is.”
Elisa rolled back her desk chair as she nodded approvingly. “So you’re going to take my advice and give Todd an ultimatum.”
“No.”
Elisa’s eyes widened. “No?” she repeated.
“I’m uncomfortable pressuring him to make a bigger commitment when clearly he isn’t ready, or more than likely he wants to keep matters the way they are, which tells me he simply doesn’t want to marry me.”
“So what are you going to do?”
As far as Lauren could see, she had no other option. “I think it’s best if the two of us make a clean break of it.”
This didn’t appear to make sense to Elisa. “But, Lauren, you’ve got all this time invested in the relationship already. It would be foolish to give up on Todd now. What he needs is a bit of incentive.”
“I’ve already given him incentive. As my father would tell me, why put good time after bad, only he’d say money instead of time. My relationship with Todd is stagnant. His focus is on his career, and that’s not going to change. I have no option but to own up to the fact that he isn’t interested. He doesn’t see himself as a husband and father, at least not with me as his wife.”
“But—”
Lauren cut her off. “Our relationship is exactly where it was twelve months ago when we had ‘the talk.’ Todd likes attending social functions with me, and frankly I’ve enjoyed it as well.” And she had. Parties and charity events had become a natural extension of their relationship, but Lauren couldn’t remember the last time they’d had a serious conversation. Everything revolved around the places they went, the food and wine they’d tasted, the people they met. Until recently it hadn’t struck Lauren how shallow their relationship had become. It bothered her to see how far off she’d wandered from what she’d once considered important. No longer. She had seen the light.
“Todd has helped build up our clientele,” Elisa reminded her.
Unwilling to be sidetracked, Lauren didn’t argue the point. “I’ve made a list.”
“A list of what? Customers?”
“No, silly. A list of what’s important to me in a man. I always thought it was someone like Todd. Handsome, outgoing, ambitious, but those qualities are actually superficial and basically not all that important.”
Elisa continued to look at her as if seeing Lauren with fresh eyes. She leaned back and rolled a pencil between her palms. “So tell me, what qualities did you put on your list?”
“I’ve dated handsome. Handsome is a dime a dozen. Character is far more important.”
“Personality?”
“No, character: a man of integrity and honor.”
“You want to marry Abraham Lincoln?”
Lauren grinned. “I’d tell him to get rid of the top hat, that’s for sure.”
Elisa smiled. “What else is on your list?”
“I want him to have a decent sense of humor.”
“I agree with you there,” Elisa said. “I can laugh with Garry like no one else.”
“I know, and I admire that about the two of you.”
“I was lucky, you know,” Elisa said. “I was still a teenager when Garry and I decided to marry. I didn’t have the sense God gave a goose; it was the luck of the draw that he was someone I could love my entire life. Garry’s a really good guy.”
Lauren agreed. “Basically, that’s what I want, too. A good, down-to-earth guy.”
“Was it a hard decision?” Elisa asked.
“Not really.” That was what had surprised her. Lauren had been ready for this for a long time, only she hadn’t known it. “Todd and I are supposed to meet tomorrow night for dinner. I’m stopping off at the yarn store to pick up supplies to knit a blanket for my sister’s baby. I suggested we dine across the street at The French Cafe, but I give you odds Todd will be late.” It’d happened so often Lauren had come to expect it. “Naturally, he’ll have a good excuse; he always does.”
“Do you think he suspects you want to break up?”
“Todd? Probably not.” One of his biggest flaws was how oblivious he could be when it came to her feelings. “More than likely he won’t believe I’m serious.”
Lauren felt her best friend’s scrutiny. “Will he be able to change your mind?”
After a sleepless night mulling this decision over, Lauren was fairly certain she knew what she wanted. “Not this time.”
“Not this time? You mean to say you’ve tried to break up with Todd before?”
“Just once, about a year ago. If I’d walked away then I would have saved myself twelve months,” she said, dealing with regret. Her instincts had been right on, only she hadn’t found the resolve needed. Because she wanted to believe Todd, she’d g
iven in and their relationship had continued. For a while it was better, but it wasn’t long before they slipped back into the same routine. She wouldn’t be so easily persuaded this time around. Since receiving her sister’s news, Lauren knew what had to be done.
“What happened a year ago?” Elisa quizzed. “I thought you told me everything.”
“I wish I had told you, because you might have talked some sense into me. I needed to know where our relationship was headed.”
“And?”
“And,” it was fairly humbling to explain, “Todd kept telling me how unfair I was being and that no man wants to have his back pressed against a wall. He claimed he loved me and wanted us to marry, but he had a few financial problems he needed to clear up first. He felt certain everything would right itself once he got the anchor slot for the five-o’clock news. Plus, he had an inheritance from his grandfather coming.”
“Oh, Lauren.”
“Someday he probably will be offered that position, but as far as I can see, it isn’t likely to happen anytime soon.”
Lauren’s cellphone rang, and she dug it out of her purse. When she read the caller ID, she said, “Speaking of the devil.”
“It’s Todd?” Elisa asked.
Lauren nodded. “Hi, Todd,” she said, and wrapped her free arm around her waist as if to protect herself.
“Hey, sweetie, about dinner—”
“You have to cancel,” she finished for him.
“No, not cancel, but I thought I should warn you that I’ve got a great lead on a story, and—”
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” she said, doing her best to hide her irritation. It seemed Todd didn’t even have time for her to break up with him.
“I am worried; you know how I hate to disappoint you. You’re upset, aren’t you? But you have to know I wouldn’t put you off if this wasn’t important.”
“Right. It’s fine, it really is.” She glanced at Elisa and rolled her eyes.
Elisa covered her mouth to hold back her giggles.
Afraid she might laugh herself, Lauren turned her back on her employer. “Listen Todd, it’s probably for the best.”
“The best? What’s up?”
“My sister’s pregnant.”
Todd paused as if he needed a moment to translate. “Oh, boy, I know what’s coming,” he muttered, as if this was the last thing he wanted to discuss. “Are we going to revisit the marriage issue again? Come on, Lauren, you know where I stand on the subject. When I get a few bills paid off and lock in the anchor slot, we’ll set the date.”
“Dan isn’t anywhere close to retiring.”
“Not true … just the other day I heard a rumor that—”
“I’d rather not do this over the phone,” she said, cutting him off. Normally she wasn’t this rude, but dragging this out would do neither of them any good.
“Do what?” Todd asked.
“You’re leaving me no option.”
“What?” he demanded.
“Todd, I think it would be best if we ended it now.”
“End it? Is this a joke?”
“No joke.”
“You’re just upset because your sister is pregnant,” he insisted.
“I’m not upset. If anything, I’m disappointed in myself. I hung on to this relationship far longer than I should have.”
“You’re serious. You actually want to break up with me?” Todd asked, with what sounded like utter disbelief.
“Yes.” She couldn’t make it any more clear than that. She didn’t offer excuses or explanations. She was finished. End of story.
“Let me make sure I’ve got this straight. This is all about you and your sister?”
“Not entirely.”
“But that’s what led to your decision?”
“In part, yes.”
He sounded exasperated. “This. Is. Ridiculous.” Each word was carefully enunciated.
“To you, it probably is. This is my life, Todd, and I want to marry and have children. I’m sure you do, too, but not with me, and it’s time I accepted that.”
“Hold on, let’s talk this out.”
She should have realized he wasn’t going to make this easy. “I can’t talk now, and it’s pointless. Besides, I’m at work and I know you are, too. Let’s leave matters where they are. Like I said, I’m not upset. Really, I’m not. I would have rather done this face-to-face than over the phone, but you had to cancel our dinner plans.”
“That isn’t what I said,” he argued. “I said I might have to cancel. I called because I wanted you to know it was a possibility.”
“We’ve had a lot of fun together over the years, Todd. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
He hesitated, and his voice dipped. “Is there someone else?”
That he would even ask was an insult. “No. At least not yet.”
“Not yet?”
“I haven’t met the guy yet, or maybe I have and simply don’t know it.”
Again he paused. “I don’t feel good about this.”
“I’d rather have done this over dinner. I’m sorry to spring it on you.” Lauren did feel bad that she was forced to break up over the phone. It seemed a bit heartless, especially after a three-year relationship. Todd deserved more than a quick call. “Like I said, I would have preferred we did this in person. I’ve had a couple of days to grow accustomed to the idea and you haven’t. But when you’ve had time to sort through your feelings, you’ll realize this is for the best.”
“Meet me.”
“Todd, no. Talking this over isn’t going to change my mind. It’s clear to me we aren’t meant to be together.”
“Keep our dinner date.”
“You have a lead on a breaking story, remember? You had to cancel.” One would think with all the leads he’d followed he’d have been sought after by a national news outlet by now.
“I said I might need to cancel,” he snapped. “I’ll give the story to someone else. This is more important.”
“Todd …”
“Come on, Lauren, hear me out. You owe me that.” His voice took on a husky, pleading quality.
Lauren vacillated, unsure what was best.
“If I hadn’t phoned, you would have followed through with the dinner, right?”
He had a point. She’d fully intended to be at The French Cafe Thursday night. She sighed. “Yes, I would have been there.”
“Then just pretend I didn’t call. I’ll meet you at The French Cafe at six o’clock just the way we planned, and then we can talk. I don’t want to lose you, Lauren. I love you.”
Lauren was convinced she was going to regret this. “All right,” she reluctantly agreed, “but you should know right now, my mind is made up. I’d like for us to remain friends, if possible.”
“Of course it’s possible, but you should know something, too.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“I don’t intend to let you go without a fight. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. See you Thursday.”
They ended the call, and Lauren exhaled as she slipped her cellphone back into her purse.
“Well?” Elisa asked after an awkward moment. “How’d that work for you?”
Lauren snorted softly and shook her head. “He called me a thing.”
“A thing?”
“He said I was the best thing that had ever happened to him. I’m a woman with a heart and with feelings and with dreams, and those dreams don’t mesh with his.”
“Oh, Lauren.” Elisa stood and gently patted her back. “I wish I knew what to say.”
“You don’t need to say anything. It’s been a long time coming. I should have ended it last year.”
“Listen,” Elisa said, perking up considerably. “I want you to fly to Vegas with me for the gem show next month.”
“But I thought you were going with Garry?” Lauren had attended before, and it was an amazing show. For the last couple of years she’d looked after the store while
Elisa and Garry were away.
“Garry suggested it might be good for the two of us to have some girl time. Besides, he really isn’t all that keen on Vegas.”
“I’d love it.”
“We both could use a break.”
Time away was exactly what she needed. She looked at her friend and laughed. “Let me at that Wheel of Fortune slot machine.”
“And remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”
Maybe for others, but Lauren tended to live on the tame side of town. Then again, maybe she should kick up her heels.
Chapter Four
“I’m so sorry I didn’t call you back,” Bethanne told Max while he clung to the telephone receiver in his Sonoma Valley office. He hated that living apart made this form of communication with his wife a necessity.
“It’s just that oh—Max, please don’t be upset with me,” she said.
Max exhaled, doing his best to hold back his irritation. Bethanne had been with her ex, and while Max hated to sound insecure and jealous, that was exactly how he felt. He didn’t trust Grant Hamlin for an inch when it came to Bethanne. The other man had made his intentions clear. Grant wanted Bethanne back in his life. Furthermore, he was willing to do anything necessary to undermine their marriage.
“So apparently Grant was with you for quite some time.” Max had waited up half the night to hear back from Bethanne. When she didn’t call, it left his mind open to speculation. He could well imagine what Grant had thought up this time to keep Bethanne occupied.
“Max, I am so sorry. I meant to call you first thing this morning, but I had three phone calls before I even got into the office, and then I had one meeting after another all day. A new balloon company is trying to get my business, and their representative was with me a full hour, and then Annie needed help planning a huge party function for the Boeing Company. It’s been crazy around here. Before I knew it, the entire day had evaporated and it was after six. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.” She continued to offer him a litany of excuses.
“You didn’t answer the question,” Max reminded her.
Bethanne hesitated, and then on a breathless note confessed, “I can’t remember the question.”
“You and Grant. Just how long was he at the house?”