At Bluebonnet Lake (Texas Crossroads Book #1): A Novel (30 page)

“Are you sure I can’t help?” she asked. Even though she’d never win a culinary award, she was confident she could apply pineapple glaze or dot pans of sweet potatoes with marshmallows.

Carmen shook her head. “You’d just be in the way. I suggest
you rest up. Things are going to be hectic this afternoon.” She stirred a dollop of mustard into the baked beans as she said, “I can’t tell you how exciting it is to think of families here. Rainbow’s End hasn’t been a family-friendly place in decades. The last owners didn’t allow anyone under sixteen, and the Sinclairs raised that to eighteen.” Carmen turned and grinned at the teenagers. “KOB have been the kids.” When they grimaced, she added, “It’ll be good to hear children laughing.”

“It will, won’t it?” Kate could picture Fiona with her mismatched socks standing in line for a chili dog or rubbing her arms to chase away goose bumps during the movie. “If you’re sure you don’t need me, I’ll see what Angela needs done.”

Carmen laughed. “I guess you didn’t get the memo. Angela and Tim went to San Antonio for the day. They won’t be back until tomorrow morning.”

And so Kate found herself and Greg serving as hosts, greeting guests, directing traffic, and accepting compliments. Of course there were a few glitches. Two boys dared a third to jump off the dock, with predictable results. Before his parents could learn what he’d done, Brandi hustled the soggy youngster to the laundry room. Half an hour later, he emerged wearing dry clothes and a sheepish smile.

Later someone managed to tip over a jar of lemonade, attracting an army of ants that fascinated the youngest guests until one tried to herd them and wound up with bites on his fingers. But overall it was a nearly flawless day. The children’s excitement when they learned which movie they’d be watching more than compensated for the effort of creating makeshift shades, and Kate knew that her memories of the parents’ relaxed expressions when they left the dining room would be indelible.

“I can’t believe how well it’s turning out,” Kate said after she had ushered the last seating of adults to the dining room.

Greg nodded. “It’s more work than I expected, but it’s also
more fun—thanks to you. I couldn’t have pulled this off without you, Kate.”

Though the warmth in his eyes made her pulse race, Kate forced herself to remain calm. “You’d have done fine on your own, but I’ve had fun.”

More than fun. Even during the day’s most hectic moments, she had felt content and complete, as if this was exactly where she was meant to be. She had helped with Easter egg hunts and the delivery of lilies to nursing homes on Easter Day, but nothing had felt as fulfilling as welcoming guests to the Rainbow’s End celebration.

“I can tell. You look more excited than you did when you came up with the idea for Aunt Ivy’s.” Greg put his arm around Kate’s shoulders and drew her close for a quick hug. “You’re a natural at this.”

What felt natural was working with Greg. Though she had thought the team at Maddox worked well together, it was nothing like this. Planning and executing this party gave partnership a whole new meaning. There was no need for memos or status meetings. Instead, she and Greg seemed to anticipate each other’s needs. Kate even found herself completing Greg’s sentences, and he did the same to her.

He’d joked that they must be on the same wavelength. That was possible, but to Kate, what was happening was more than that. She felt as if she and Greg were two halves of a single whole, that when they were together, she was complete. And, as wonderful as that thought was, it was also more than a little scary, for she knew it could not last.

A
s the final strains of the
South Pacific
soundtrack died, Roy rose and extended his hand to help Sally up from the settee. Though Kate had told her that the children would sit on the floor to watch their film, someone—probably Kate and Greg with the teenagers’ help—had returned the normal furniture to the lodge so that the adults would have more comfortable seating. Sally was thankful for that along with a million other things, including the man who stood so close to her.

“I can’t ever remember an Easter like this,” Roy said as he led her outside. “It was wonderful to see the town celebrating together.”

Sally nodded. She had a lifetime of memories, but few could compare to those she’d made today. She and Roy had been together since the early morning service, and though they had spoken of nothing earthshaking, it had been a day of quiet comfort, of the simple pleasure of being with the man who made her remember what it felt like to be young and in love.

“Everyone looked so happy,” she said softly, not wanting the day to end. “I’m glad I could be here to be part of it.” Even though she hadn’t made her final decision, Sally’s instincts told
her that she would not sell her home and that her days with Roy were numbered. As much as she’d come to care for him, in a choice between him and Kate, Kate came first.

“You sound as if you’re planning to leave.” Roy wrapped one arm around Sally’s shoulders and drew her closer, then laid his other hand under her chin, tipping it so she looked directly at him. Though night had fallen, the light from the street lamps that illuminated the way to her cabin was bright enough that Sally could see Roy’s eyes, and what she saw made her catch her breath. He was looking at her the way Rossano Brazzi had looked at Mitzi Gaynor, as if she were the only woman in the world.

“I was hoping you would stay.” Roy’s voice was low and deep, resonating with sincerity, while his eyes shone with an emotion so intense Sally wanted to believe it was love. In less than three weeks, what she felt for Roy had changed from mild attraction to something much deeper. Now when she let herself dream, she dreamt about a life with Roy, the man she loved.

Sally could picture them living in his current house or building one in the midst of that incredible bluebonnet field. It didn’t matter where they lived. What mattered was being together. But the dreams vanished as quickly as the soap bubbles Kate used to cherish for their rainbow hues, blown away by the winds of reality. Though she cared for Roy—Sally swallowed deeply and amended her thoughts—though she loved him, there was no happily-ever-after in their future.

Roy’s lips softened into a smile. “We’ve only known each other a few weeks, but that doesn’t change the way I feel.” His hand caressed her chin before his fingers moved upward to feather across her lips. “I love you, Sally, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

Yes, yes!
The words almost burst forth, but Sally bit them back. If this were a movie, she’d be in his arms, her lips pressed
to his. But this wasn’t a movie. It was real life, and real life included a granddaughter who longed for the security of a world that changed at no more than glacial speed. “Oh, Roy, I don’t know if I should.”

He looked as if she’d slapped him. “I’ve got to say that wasn’t the answer I was hoping for. Should? We should eat more vegetables and less red meat, but what does ‘should’ have to do with love?”

Sally’s heart sank. She’d hurt this wonderful man, when that had been the last thing she wanted to do. “It’s complicated,” she said.

Roy lowered his hand but kept his eyes fixed on hers. “Then let’s uncomplicate it. Do you love me?”

“Yes, I do.” Sally infused her answer with every bit of the certainty she felt. Her love for Roy wasn’t the same as the love she’d had for her husband, but it was no less strong. She and Larry had shared first love. This was different, a more mature but equally wonderful love.

“Do you want to marry me?”

Yes, yes, yes!
Sally nodded. “I do.”

A smile lit Roy’s face. “Then that’s all there is to it.”

Though she wished that were the case, Sally knew it was not. “That might have been true fifty years ago, but now I have Kate to worry about. She was terribly upset when I mentioned possibly selling my home and moving here. I don’t want to hurt her. You know I’m her only family.”

The silence hung between them, punctured by the hoot of an owl and the soft soughing of the wind through the cedars. At last Roy spoke, his voice firm. “I’d say that I could move to Buffalo to be with you, but I don’t think that’s the real issue. Kate’s a grown woman with a life of her own. You’ve done a wonderful job of raising her, but it’s time to let her go. Even if she doesn’t want it, you need to push her out of the nest.”
Roy’s eyes were solemn as he took both of Sally’s hands in his. “Don’t throw away our chance at happiness. Say you’ll marry me.”

Sally swallowed, wishing the lump that had lodged in her throat would disappear. “I can’t,” she said. The thought of leaving this wonderful place and never seeing Roy again made her want to weep.

“Not yet,” she added.

Kate stared at her laptop as she opened her email. As she’d expected, there was a message from Heather. As she’d hoped, Heather said she and Nick loved Kate’s concept and were confident the Prestons would too. Then came the problem. Heather wrote that she’d already spoken to Hazel and Ike, and they were eager to proceed. They wanted Kate to present the plan to them and would send their corporate jet to San Antonio to pick her up. Tomorrow. The day Kate and Sally were supposed to spend being pampered at the spa.

Taking a deep breath, Kate tried to marshal her feelings. She was happy—thrilled, in fact—that Heather and Nick were so enthusiastic about her idea. She was pleased that the client was close to signing a contract with Maddox. But she was more than a little annoyed by Heather’s high-handed scheduling and the assumption that Kate would interrupt her vacation to go to New York. Hadn’t she already done enough?

She powered off the laptop, then made her way into the office and picked up the phone.

Half an hour later, she was retracing her steps, this time with Sally holding on to her arm. Though her grandmother was visibly tired and her eyes held an unexpected hint of sadness, her voice was cheerful as she said, “Yesterday was wonderful, wasn’t it?”

“It couldn’t have been better,” Kate agreed. “Everyone seemed to have a good time, and as far as I can tell, only Greg and I noticed the glitches. Even though all we had to eat were leftovers, the day ended well. I really enjoyed
South Pacific
.”

Sally warbled a few bars of “Some Enchanted Evening.” “You know how I love that movie. Thanks for arranging it.”

“It was Greg’s idea.” Kate wouldn’t take undue credit. He was the one who’d expanded on Russ Walker’s desire to treat his children to a movie, bartering his time and talent for an action flick that had delighted the children and a likely Academy Award contender for the adults. She also knew he’d chosen
South Pacific
specifically for Sally
.
“Greg thought we should have movies for grown-ups.”

“But you must have told him it was my favorite.”

Kate opened the door to the dining room and steered her grandmother toward their table. She wanted Sally to be seated when she broke the bad news. “I might have mentioned it once or twice,” she said, hoping the pleasure
South Pacific
had brought Sally would compensate for tomorrow.

Sally squeezed Kate’s arm as she sank into her chair. “Thank you. You’re the best granddaughter anyone could have.”

Guilt washed over Kate like a wave on the shore. “You may change your mind about that when you hear what I have to say.” She took a shallow breath, then let the words tumble out. “Heather wants me to go to New York tomorrow. She’s sure the client will like the concept, and she wants me to present it.”

“But tomorrow is our spa day.” Sally’s eyes radiated disappointment.

“I know, but it’s the only day the clients can be in New York.”

“It’s also the only day the spa had time for us.”

“I know.” Kate had tried to convince Heather that the Prestons could wait a day, but she’d failed. It was tomorrow or never, at least according to Heather.

“I wish it were otherwise, but I need to go to New York tomorrow. My partnership hinges on this. If I don’t go, I could lose my job.”

When Sally said nothing, Kate continued. “I want to be a partner. That’s what Grandpa Larry wanted for me.”

“Oh, Kate, is that what you believe?” Sally appeared on the verge of tears. “Larry and I wanted you to find your place in the world, the one God has planned for you. It doesn’t matter whether that’s in advertising or chicken farming, and you certainly don’t need to be a partner to please either of us.”

Kate blinked as the words registered. Sally was mistaken. “Grandpa Larry wanted me to be a partner,” she insisted. “He wanted me to accomplish what he hadn’t been able to.”

“Is that what you think?” Sally asked, and this time there was no ignoring the sorrow in her voice. “Do you think that Larry wasn’t good enough to be a partner, that he somehow failed?” Without waiting for Kate’s response, Sally continued. “That’s not true. Larry was on the partnership track, but when you came to live with us, he took himself off the track because he wanted more time to spend with you. He knew he couldn’t do both, and you were more important.”

Kate closed her eyes and let the words settle in. If what Sally said was true, and she had no reason to doubt that, her world had shifted again. She thought she had known her grandfather, but it seemed she did not, at least not completely. Both of her grandparents had sacrificed for her, and now she was going to disappoint her grandmother.

Kate knew that Hazel and Ike Preston wouldn’t wait. If she refused to come, Heather and Nick would lead the presentation. They’d make excuses for Kate, and those excuses might be strong enough to convince the Prestons that Maddox was the right agency for them, but even if that happened, Kate’s partnership was in jeopardy. It would be delayed, perhaps per
manently. Kate wasn’t Grandpa Larry. She couldn’t let that happen.

“I’m sorry, Sally, but I need to go.”

“You don’t need to go,” Greg said when Kate explained her plans for Tuesday. He’d seen her leaving the dining room after breakfast and had hurried toward her to report that the phone had been ringing constantly with Dupree’s residents calling to tell Angela and Tim how much they’d enjoyed the Easter celebration. The grin that had accompanied that announcement faded when Greg heard Kate’s news. “You could do the presentation via videoconferencing.”

Kate shook her head. “From the spa? I don’t think so. And even if I could manage that, it’s not the same. The client will be working with me. They want to meet me to be sure we click. The chemistry’s important.” Kate knew that from firsthand experience. That had been one of the reasons she’d left her first job: clients at that firm were assigned based on who was available rather than who would work best together.

“I think you could find a way that wouldn’t disappoint Sally.” Though Greg did not raise his voice, Kate heard the steel in it.

Anger flared through her. “It’s easy for you to say that. You have plenty of money and a secure future even if you never work again. I don’t. I’m sorry if you don’t agree with me, Greg, but I’m going to New York. I have to.”