Saving Laurel Springs (22 page)

Rhea pushed at him with her hand in annoyance. “You did that, Carter Layman. You risked fate by spending intimate time with a woman like Judith. You said yourself you knew what she was like.”

She hugged her arms around herself. “I wasn't cheating on you here. I
never
dated anyone else while you were gone,
never
spent time with another man alone. Even if I wasn't sure I wanted to come to California, I was sure I loved you. I believed you would come back to me.”

When he tried to interrupt her, she rushed her words on. “I believed our dream would bring you back.”

“It did, Rhea.” He studied her calmly now, trying to understand. “People can't go back and erase the past, but they can go on. Move past hurts and disappointments. Find new happiness, a new future.”

She spit out her next words before thinking. “Well, I'm not sure I can just forgive and forget. I think Judith Benton will
always
be there between us. I don't think I can ever forget that.”

Carter's eyes grew hard and filled with pain now. “You're saying you won't marry me because of Judith, because of Taylor, and because you refuse to forgive me for what happened in the past. Even when you know everything now?”

Rhea hated the wounded look she saw in his eyes.

“I want to move on, but I don't know if I can right now.” She twisted her hands in her lap. “Maybe I just need more time to digest all of this.”

“No.” His voice sounded cold. “I think you know exactly what you want, just like you did when you wouldn't come to California with me. To love aright, you have to be willing to give, often more than you receive, and to forgive time and time again. I learned that well with Judith. In the end, I loved her in my own way. I'm not ashamed to admit that. She was my wife; she was my son's mother. We lived together six years. I watched her live; I watched her die.”

He turned to look out the car window. “I had another life these last nine years after I went to California. I can't change that. But I wanted the rest of my life to be with you, Rhea.” He blew out a deep breath. “I'm sorry you don't want that, too.”

“Carter . . .” she began.

He turned his eyes to her, but then Rhea didn't know what to say.

Carter shook his head in resignation. “I've lived with disappointment before. I can live with it again.” He reached over to open the car door for her. “I won't die because you said no to me. And I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for.”

She got out of the car, wishing she had some words to say to make the moment better. It didn't surprise her that Carter didn't call out his usual warm good-bye as he drove away.

CHAPTER 20

T
he weeks after the night spent in Jonas Sutton's secret tunnel dragged by laboriously for Carter. Every day he hoped Rhea would come to him, saying she'd changed her mind about the stand she'd made refusing his marriage proposal. While angry that night, she'd told him,
Maybe I just need more time.
Carter stayed hopeful for weeks, remembering those words. Now summer, and the heavy tourist season at Laurel Springs, neared its end, and reality reared its ugly head.

“I've lost her,” he said out loud as he walked through the covered bridge heading to Billy Wade's house. They met regularly on Billy's porch every Monday morning to discuss the progress on Laurel Springs and the new house.

Carter reached down to pet Jinx, whose ears had pricked at the sound of his voice. “I've done everything I can, Jinx, but I've lost her.”

Carter thought about dropping a penny through the cracks in the old bridge to make a wish that things could be different. But how could it help? He was beyond wishing and hoping.

Crossing the Camp Roads intersection, Carter saw Billy propped back in a cane chair on the front porch of the caretaker's house—his and Jeannie's home—waiting for him. A colorful fish-shaped windsock fluttered around its pole in the morning breeze.

“Nice flag,” Carter said, walking up on the porch.

Billy looked up from the pile of paperwork on his lap to grin. “Jeannie bought it on the weekend. Puts up a new one every month it seems.”

Carter nodded, taking a seat and pouring out a cup of coffee from the battered carafe on a metal table. “I like this one better than the butterflies.”

Billy snickered. “There's some of Estelle's fried pies in that box there, Carter. And some napkins underneath.”

“You're a good man, Billy Wade Ledford.” Carter grinned as he opened the pastry box. “I'll miss these Monday morning treats in the future.”

Billy glanced up in surprise. “Going back to California for a week or two again?”

Carter sat back in his chair, finishing a large bite of peach pie before he answered. “I'm going back to stay. It's time for school and a good time for Taylor to make the move.”

Rattled, Billy dropped the papers in a heap on the glider beside him. He leaned toward Carter, his eyes full of questions. “Having second thoughts about the country life? I thought you and Taylor both liked it here.”

Billy watched him closely when Carter didn't quickly respond. “What does Taylor think about this?”

Carter hunched his shoulders. “I haven't told him yet.” He forced the unsettling thought from his mind. “But he's only a kid; he'll adjust.”

“I see.” Carter felt Billy's gaze bore into him. “What's all this about, Carter?”

He took a few more bites of Estelle's fried pie, washing it down with coffee afterward. “It's hard keeping on top of all the work with Quest from here. I need to be in California more. Benton's having a hard time; I'm a key player in the company and a partner.”

Carter licked the last bites of pie off his fingers. “The renovations are nearly finished now. I can come back and forth to Laurel Springs to check on what few improvements need to be completed.”

Billy sat quietly watching him.

Trying a smile, Carter added, “You've done a great job with everything, Billy. I'm grateful.”

“This is about Rhea, isn't it?” Billy Wade frowned.

Uncomfortable now, Carter got up to stand, looking out over the front lawn. A late patch of black-eyed Susans waved sunny petals in the light breeze, and a hummingbird flitted in and out among the clusters of orange trumpet vine spilling over the split-rail fence.

“I'll miss it here.” Carter reached out a hand to trace it down the windsock.

“Dadgumit.” Billy Wade kicked over a small stool in annoyance. “Anyone can see that you and Rhea still have a thing for each other. Can't you get her to see it, too?”

Carter slumped into the chair beside Billy's. “I've tried all summer. Even asked her to marry me, and she turned me down. Said she can't forget I got involved with and married someone else.” He dropped his hands between his knees dejectedly. “I can't stand to live around her, loving her and wanting her the way I do. It will be better for both of us if I'm in California most of the time.”

“What about Taylor? He's crazy about Rhea, and he loves it here.”

“I know.” Carter ran a hand through his hair. “But lately, Rhea has started avoiding Taylor, too. He's starting to pick up on the vibes that all isn't well. We both know Taylor's known too much unhappiness in the last few years to endure more, Billy.”

“Dang stubborn woman.” Billy crossed his arms in annoyance. “Did you tell her all that happened out in California? Why you married Judith?”

“She was the first I told, down in the tunnel the night we got trapped at the Sutton cabin, before I told you and Jeannie and my folks.” Carter blew out a breath. “Learning what happened didn't resolve things with Rhea. She claimed I courted trouble spending time with Judith at all.”

“Well, we ain't none of us saints.” Billy drank down the last of his coffee. “She was right stupid herself running around with Marshall Sutton all those months she did, not discerning what he was like.”

“Perhaps.” A faint smile flickered over Carter's face. “I guess that rival is out of commission.”

Billy snorted. “It still makes me mad his slick lawyer got him off. Even when the sheriff found more evidence in Marshall's townhouse to finger him, he didn't even get an indictment. His lawyer claimed no proof existed he attacked you or Taylor. Of course, the sly dog wouldn't admit it either.” Billy flexed his fingers in annoyance. “All Marshall got were a few fines and monetary damage payments for trespassing and vandalism. The man isn't even leaving the area, just transferred himself to the other bank his family runs over in Newport. He even got some folks convinced he had a right to look for what his kin left behind.”

Carter shook his head. “There are no guarantees that life will be fair, Billy. You take what comes, and move on and do the best you can.”

He turned to pick up the papers Billy Wade dumped on the porch glider. “Let's look these over and do our business so you can get to work.”

They spent the rest of their time together talking about the final renovations planned for Laurel Springs.

In his own office later, Carter called Alvin and told him to schedule the jet to pick them up the following Monday.

“You know I'm thrilled you're going to be back here,” Alvin said. “But I'm worried whether it's the right thing for you and Taylor.” He paused. “Have you told Morgan you're coming back?”

“No.” Carter flexed a fist. “But he'll be glad because of Taylor and because he knows all I'll do to continue to grow Quest. You know, he tempted me before to stay in California, offering to give me Quest. I don't want to lose my edge of negotiations with him by letting him learn I might stay for more than a visit this time. Keep this under your hat, Alvin.”

“Sure thing.” Carter could almost picture the white flash of Alvin's grin. “I'd love to have you for a boss instead of Morgan Benton. He's smart as the devil but he's rather short on diplomacy and humility.”

“Tell me about it.” Carter shook his head.

A short silence ensued before Alvin spoke again. “Last time you were here, Morgan really upset Taylor—made him cry. Remember? I'd hate to see more of that for the boy after all he's been through.”

“I'm going to talk to Morgan about Taylor. Don't worry.” Carter considered this. “It's been over a year since Judith died. Morgan should be working through his grief and less likely to put pressure on Taylor like he did before.”

“Hmmm. I hope so.”

Carter checked his watch. “Alvin, call to see if Martha Oslo will go over and clean the house before next Monday.” Carter flipped his daybook open and read Alvin a cell phone number. “She does that when I come in for one of my short stays. Start shopping around for a regular housekeeper for me, too, if you would—someone to be there when Taylor gets home from school and to do the cooking and cleaning. I don't want him staying over at the Benton place. Call an agency if you need to. Tell them I want someone happy and warm-hearted.”

“I'll start to work on it,” Alvin said before they hung up.

Carter looked around the office he'd created for himself inside the ad-min building. Sandalwood walls, George Masa photography prints on the walls, dark cherry furniture, brown leather chairs, state-of-the-art technology, and—best of all—a big picture window looking out over the old assembly field and across to the church, the cemetery, and the woods beyond.

As Carter got up to walk to the window, Jinx lifted his head from the corner where he snoozed. “These mountains sure do get in your blood, Jinx. I'll miss it here.”

Drawn by the church across the field, Carter closed down his computer, pushed the office door shut, and headed out the side door toward the crisply repainted Greek Revival church. The breeze, still blustering and making its presence known, jangled the bell in the belfry, sending a deep gong out softly over the air.

As he let himself in the church door, Carter put a hand out toward Jinx. “Stay,” he said, and the dog dropped down in a shady spot on the porch.

Inside the church, Carter stopped to look down the aisle. The August sunlight streamed in ribbons through the stained-glass windows, playing across the wooden pews and the newly refinished floor.

“The old place looks good,” Carter remarked as he walked to the Layman pew, third from the front. He sat down, closing his eyes and hoping some of the peace of the aged building would seep into his soul.

“Need a prayer partner?” said a familiar voice.

Carter looked up to see his Grampa Layman scooting into the pew beside him.

“What are you doing here?” Carter leaned his head back, trying to relax the tension in his neck.

His grandfather chuckled. “It might be more appropriate if I asked you that question. I am the preacher here, after all.”

“True.” Carter blurted out the next words before losing his courage. “Taylor and I are going back to California, Grampa.”

“I gather you don't mean for a business trip, from your tone.”

“No.” He put his elbows on the pew in front of him and dropped his head into his hands. “I can't stay here loving Rhea the way I do and knowing she won't have me. I hope you, and Mom and Dad, can understand that.” He let out a deep sigh. “Taylor's growing fond of Rhea, and she's even been pulling away from him lately. I don't want him to know more hurt. He's been through enough.”

“It's hard to hide from hurt and trouble. It has a way of following you no matter where you go.”

Carter shook his head. “I've got to do this. It's killing me to be around Rhea every day when she won't forgive me, won't love me. I've done everything I know to do. Tried everything I can to win her. I know, deep in my heart, she cares for me, but she won't yield to it. She doesn't want to give up her anger and resentment toward me.”

“Have you tried prayer, Son?”

Carter turned his eyes to meet his grandfather's. “Yes. But I don't think even God can get through to Rhea Dean.”

Grampa frowned. “Faith believes and speaks aright, boy. How about you and I aligning our faith here together and believing for a change in Rhea's heart?”

Carter blew out a breath. “It will take a miracle.”

Grampa Dean grinned roguishly. “Our God is good at those.”

“All right.” Carter smiled at his grandfather. “What's our Scripture we're going to stand on?”

His grandfather's eyes twinkled. “How about Mark 9:23—‘all things are possible to him that believeth.'”

“Yeah, that'll do.” Carter bumped his elbow against his grandfather affectionately. “Let's do it.”

The two of them settled in to pray.

Standing up to leave the church later, Carter said, “I still plan on talking to Taylor to start preparing him to leave.”

Grampa's eyebrows lifted. “That's kind of a non-faith action after praying like we did.”

Carter put a hand on his Grampa's shoulder. “It may take a while for even a faith prayer to get through to Rhea Dean. And, in all fairness, Taylor needs some time to settle himself about going back next Monday. To say his good-byes to people and places he's come to love.”

Carter left his grandfather thinking on this while he made his way out of the church and along the familiar Assembly Road toward home. Jinx trotted along beside him happily, and Carter knew the dog would miss the freedom of being off the leash once they returned to California city life.

Coming down the drive toward the big Layman farmhouse, Carter found Taylor swinging idly in the old tire swing that hung from a giant maple beside the house.

“Hi, Dad,” he called. “Hi, Jinx.”

The dog ran over to nuzzle the boy with warm canine affection.

Carter sat down on the whitewashed bench under the tree nearby, patting the seat beside him for Taylor to join him.

“Something's wrong, isn't it, Dad?” Taylor studied him with solemn eyes as he sat down.

“No, nothing's wrong, Son. But I need to tell you that we're going back to California for a while. Longer than usual this time.” Carter dropped his eyes from the probing gaze of his son's. “I've finished most all I needed to do to fix up Laurel Springs, and now I need to fix aspects of Quest that have gone lagging while I've been gone so long.”