Texas Sunrise (22 page)

“Mam! What . . . why?”

“You needed me. Just put your arm around me and ease me down gently. I can sit on this little ledge,” Billie said brokenly.

“Oh, Mam,” Maggie cried, wrapping her frail mother in her arms.

“Maggie, Maggie,” Billie whimpered.

“I don't want you to die, Mam. God, I don't want you to die.”

“I'm not exactly overjoyed at the idea myself,” Billie said tearfully. “This wasn't supposed to happen. I had it all planned in my mind. It's so hard. I don't have the words to try and make it right for you. Thad and I will be leaving right after breakfast. I need you to understand.”

“Mam, come to Hawaii or let me go with you to Vermont. Let me take care of you. I'll stay with you night and day. Please, don't leave us.”

“I'm not leaving you, darling. We'll see one another again. Thad . . . Thad needs to be with me. He needs to take care of me, and I need him. It's what I want. Please, Maggie, don't make this any more difficult than it already is.”

“Okay, Mam.” Maggie gulped. “About Cary ...”

“I know you'll make it right, darling. Cary is a very understanding person. Be kind, darling. Always be kind. Now, I think we have to figure a way for me to get down this hill in one piece. Thad is going to be so angry with me for coming up here.”

“Then let's not tell him,” Maggie said lightly.

“Let's not.” Billie smiled.

Billie turned to face Amelia's headstone. “I'm on my way. Don't get impatient,” she whispered.

Maggie bit down on her lip so hard, blood trickled into her mouth.

When the two women reached the bottom of the hill, Maggie led her mother over to the milk box. “Sit here and catch your breath. If anyone is awake, they'll think we just came out to see the sun come up.” After her mother was seated, Maggie said, “Mam, there's something I want to tell you. I think Rand slept with Valentine Mitchell while he was in Minnesota. I don't know what to do about it.”

“Darling, when I don't know what to do about something, I do nothing. You said you
think.
That isn't good enough. Please, don't accuse your husband unless you are certain. Right now, our family is in a bit of a turmoil. There is every possibility you're overreacting to the situation. Think before you speak, is all I ask. Can you at least promise me that?”

“Yes, Mam, I can.”

“That's good enough for me,” Billie said lightly.

“Billieee!” Thad called.

Billie threw her hands in the air. “See what I mean? He gets hysterical if I'm not in his line of vision. I'm over here, Thad,” she called gaily.

My God, how does she do it? Maggie wondered.

“Breakfast is ready. What are you ladies doing out here so early?”

“I was watching the sun come up, and Mam joined me. We were having one of those mother-daughter talks, with the daughter doing most of the talking,” Maggie said just as gaily.

“Thad, if you'll just help me. My legs are a little wobbly this morning.” For an answer, Thad scooped his wife up into his arms.

“You went up the hill, didn't you? I know you, Billie,” Thad whispered against her neck.

Maggie smiled when she heard her mother's response. “Thad, did you
see
me go up the hill?”

“No, but—”

“There are no buts, Thad. Either you saw me go up the hill or you didn't.”

“All right, already,” Thad grumbled.

Maggie trailed behind, her eyes misty with tears. She reeled suddenly, almost losing her balance. Damn, what was that on her shoulder? She brushed at the loosely woven shawl and then a smile spread across her features. “Thanks for checking in, Amelia. I'll give your regards to Cary,” she whispered. Overhead the trees rustled and a huge branch dipped and then heaved upward in the early morning breeze.

The feeling she had now, Maggie thought, was the same feeling she'd had in the hospital when she'd heard the angels sing over Sawyer.

As the family gathered at the front door to see Billie and Thad off, the phone rang loudly. No one made a move to veer off to the living room to answer it. Moss, in his mother's arms, chortled happily, his one bottom front tooth showing clearly.

“He loves the sound of the phone,” Riley said huskily. “Hold on, everyone, I'll get it.” He marched off stiffly, relieved at the break. This parting was going to be just as horrendous as the one with his grandfather. He barked into the phone, listened, and said, “Hold on, I'll get him. Don't hang up, for God's sake. Yes, yes, I know. Wait now,” Riley babbled.

Riley sprinted back to the wide central hall and tapped his cousin on the back. “The call's for you. I'd snap to it if I were you.”

“Did . . . is Sumi ready . . . oh, shit . . .”

“Move!” Thad roared.

The moment Cole was out of sight, Riley whispered, “It's a girl. Eight pounds, eighteen inches long, and she has all her toes and fingers.”

“Eight pounds!” Maggie and Sawyer chorused in unison.

“How wonderful,” Ivy said, hugging her son. “Now you have three girl cousins to play with,” she cooed to Moss.

“Cole will make such a wonderful father,” Billie whispered. “I think all firstborns should be little girls. Of course, I'm slightly biased.”

“I can't wait to buy a baby outfit,” Susan said happily.

“I have a daughter,” Cole said, coming back into the room. His face was full of awe. “Eight pounds, can you imagine that? Everyone is fine. I'm a father, for God's sake!”

Riley clapped Cole on the back. “Get your gear together, cousin. I'll drive you out to the plane. You sure you're up to flying back alone? You look like you're about to go into orbit.”

“I'm fine. I'm really fine. Sumi picked a name. We agreed that if it was a girl, it would be Sumi's choice.”

“Don't just stand there like a ninny, can't you see we're all holding our collective breath?” Sawyer grumbled.

Cole walked over to his grandmother. “Sumi said, and I agreed, to name the baby Billie Otami Amelia Tanner.”

“Oh, honey, I'm . . . I'm overwhelmed. Riley, darling, your mother would be so happy. Thad,” she said, turning to her husband, “I think this might be a good time for us to leave.”

Cole hugged his grandmother. “Do you ever get the feeling someone is watching over us?” he whispered. “It couldn't have been timed better.”

“I know what you mean,” Billie whispered in return. “Promise me something, darling.”

“Anything, Grandmam.”

“Love your daughter unconditionally. Don't ever deviate from that love for even a second.”

“You got it. I think you better get out of here while the going is good. Otherwise—”

“'Bye, everyone. We'll write and call,” Billie said, sashaying through the open doorway.

Cole closed the door. The tear-filled faces staring at him tore at his heart. “Listen up, everyone. I don't care if it is ten o'clock in the morning. I want to toast my new daughter. Break out the champagne. Two bottles, one goes to Cary.”

“I'll take it over to the hospital,” Susan offered.

The toasts and congratulations over, Maggie walked over to her son. “Will you send pictures of little Billie as soon as you get home? Please don't be angry with me, Cole. I . . . ah, I have some things on my mind. I'll be going over to the hospital later to apologize to Cary. I'm going to be leaving late this afternoon. I think Susan will be staying on a bit to look after Cary. I've decided to get started on Billie Limited.” She was talking too fast, her eyes pleading with her son for his forgiveness. If she had to grovel, she would. She waited, hardly daring to breathe.

“My Nikon will be clicking every second. I'll FedEx them to you. Hell, I might even develop them myself. Cary is a wonderful guy, Mother, and he's probably the most understanding man I've ever met, next to Adam. Good luck,” he said, hugging her tightly. “Listen, now, anytime you want to hop over to see your granddaughter, just do it. We don't stand on ceremony. That goes for everyone!” He laughed happily.

“Wait for me,” Sawyer said, her eyes sparkling devilishly. “Adam just called to beg me to come home. It seems the girls woke up at five
A.M.
and crawled out of their cribs. They squirted whipped cream all over the kitchen, then ate half a jar of sweet pickles and puked all over the kitchen floor. Adam says he thinks they ate a stick of butter too. So I'm going upstairs to pack and head for the airport.”

“Oh, we're going to be alone again. I'll miss all of you,” Ivy said sincerely. “Susan, you aren't going, are you?”

“No, but I thought I would stay in town. If you need me, I can go back and forth, but I don't have a car.”

“Both Riley and I would like you to stay, Susan, but the decision is up to you.”

“Town will be better. I'll be open for dinner invitations though.”

“You have an open invitation,” Riley said. “You can take my car, Susan. The keys are under the mat. I won't be using it for the next couple of days.” Susan nodded happily as she made her way up the stairs.

“See? I told you, everything is turning around,” Ivy whispered to her husband.

“Wise-ass,” Riley said fondly.

“But I'm
your
wise-ass, right?”

“Forever and ever.” Riley grinned. “Listen, honey, Cole and I have some business to take care of. Can you make some coffee and bring it into the study?”

“Just as soon as I settle Moss. Where did Maggie and Rand go?”

Riley shrugged.

“Something is wrong,” Ivy muttered.

“I know, and whatever it is has nothing to do with Cary. Rand's been acting strange since he got here. He's here, but he isn't here, if you know what I mean.”

“Honey,” Ivy said, reaching up to kiss her husband, “I think it's a wonderful thing Sumi did by naming their firstborn after Billie and your mother. Billie was so pleased. Did you see how her face lighted? And your own face, darling one, was just as bright. Wait till Cary hears the news. Go, shoo, Cole's waiting for you. Make sure you tell him how wonderful fatherhood is, and don't just tell him the good stuff.”

“You want me to tell him about the poopie diapers, and the wakeup calls during the night, and the colic?”

“Yep. If you don't, Sawyer is going to scare the hell out of him. He got a little white when she was expounding away.”

“All right. Cole can handle it. Hey, he can call me anytime.”

“Don't forget to tell him you always put the diaper on backward.” Ivy giggled.

“Enough!” Riley shouted, to Moss's delight.

 

It was twelve-thirty when Cole leaned back in his chair, his eyes on his cousin. “It's a deal, then. I'll start the legal work the minute I get tired of looking at my new daughter. From this moment on we are ColeShad. The Cole is from Coleman and Shad is from your grandfather's name. Don't go saying I have a streak of nepotism in me. My last name is Tanner. And we did it in alphabetical order, just the way you wanted.” His hand shot out. Riley grasped it in his rock-hard fist.

“You feeling okay about this, Cole?”

“Aside from the headache I'm going to get when restructuring starts, yes, I'm okay with it. I'm sorry it took me so long. You cut me a lot of slack, Riley. I don't know if I would have been as kind if the situation were reversed. I need to know one thing, though. Where's the string?”

Riley thrust his booted feet on top of the desk and hooted with laughter. “There were never any strings. Just the way there were no strings when you deeded Sunbridge to me. We're family, Cole, that's the bottom line.”

When the cousins wrapped up business an hour later, it was agreed that Riley would make the appointment with Valentine Mitchell and set the wheels in motion to secure Cary's mortgage on Miranda.

“One last thing, Riley. The moment you . . . as soon as you hear from Thad, get on the horn. I need time to get here.”

“I'll do my best, Cole. Grandmam doesn't want any of us hovering and calling all the time. I asked Thad this morning if he would call me every couple of days. He promised. As much as it hurts, we have to do what Grandmam wants.”

“Full circle, Riley.”

“I think we can handle it now, although it was a little iffy there for a while. Did you ever get the feeling these past years that we—this is going to sound stupid, but—that we were being tested?”

“Every damn day.” Cole grinned.

“Me too.” Riley guffawed.

“You realize they set us up, your grandfather and Grandmam Billie? Your grandfather with the old switcheroo from you to me, and Grandmam Billie bank rupting the family with the lawsuits. Think about it Riley, and remember all those trips Grandmam and Thad took to Japan. If it wasn't the lawsuits, it would have been something else.”

“It would have been a lot simpler if they had just told us what they wanted,” Riley groused.

“Nah, it wouldn't have worked. They wanted us to find out for ourselves. We're it, Riley! From here on in we're on our own. I guarantee there won't be any more ashes in the Zen garden, and no one will snatch my beer and sake. Grandmam Billie will rest easy.”

“Jesus,” Riley said, his face full of awe.

“Time for me to go, Riley. I'd like to stop and see Cary first, if you don't mind. I want to tell him about my new daughter. He's gonna bust when I tell him her name, and it might take a little of the edge off when my mother goes to see him. I'll meet you by the car. I have to say good-bye to Mother and Rand.”