Kate shook her head.
“None for me.” Leonard held up his hand, palm out.
Lori sat down as though disappointed. She turned to Linc, her eyes pleading with him to say or do something to ease the tension in the room.
“I’d like to propose a toast,” Linc said.
The two older people regarded him skeptically.
“To marriage.” Linc didn’t wait for anyone to chime in, but raised the mug to his lips.
They each took a small sip. Linc noticed that Kate clung tightly to the mug handle and focused all her attention on her coffee. Leonard, on the other hand, kept staring at his wife as if he couldn’t stop himself.
“I didn’t know if you were aware of the fact that I went to see Leonard this week,” Linc said to his mother-in-law.
“No,” Kate told him. “Lori didn’t say anything about it.”
“I would have, Mom, but anytime I mentioned Dad you said you didn’t want to hear his name again.”
“I didn’t and I don’t,” she snapped.
Rather than allow the two women to get sidetracked, Linc continued. “We had a nice, long chat. Isn’t that right, Leonard?”
“We, uh, did,” Bellamy said.
“What I found interesting was the story of your courtship.” Linc paused and waited for some reaction. “Kate had talked about a few things, but Leonard filled in the blanks.”
“That was a long time ago,” Kate said, then added pointedly, “When I was young and foolish and didn’t know any better.”
“We were both young and foolish.” Leonard took another sip of coffee and set the mug aside.
For just an instant, Linc feared the other man was about to walk out. Fortunately, though, Leonard sat back, crossing his arms over his chest.
“That conversation made me understand why Leonard and I started off on the wrong foot.” Linc reached between the two chairs to link hands with Lori. “Leonard worked hard to prove himself to your family, didn’t he, Kate?”
“He did,” she agreed begrudgingly.
“How many years did it take?”
“A few… I’ve forgotten now.”
Linc would bet that Kate knew, right down to the day.
“Five,” Bellamy supplied. “Five long years.”
“Lori and I didn’t wait,” Linc said. “We each saw what we wanted and went for it. That was a mistake, and one I’ve regretted ever since.”
“You regret marrying me?” Lori asked, wide-eyed with shock.
Linc squeezed her hand. “Not for one second.”
“Give yourself time,” her mother interjected. “The regrets will come.”
“Kate,” Leonard said in a sharp voice. “Can’t you see how much in love these two are? Don’t disillusion them.”
“What I regret, Lori,” Linc said to clarify his statement, “is that I didn’t go to your parents and give them an opportunity to meet me first.”
“I didn’t want you to meet them,” Lori insisted.
“I know,” Linc said, “but I shouldn’t have listened. I should’ve followed my instincts.”
“You didn’t want him to meet us?” Kate asked, staring at her daughter, her expression aghast.
“No, I didn’t,” Lori said again. “I was afraid you’d tell me what bad judgment I’d shown with Geoff and that you couldn’t trust me to find a good man and…and I didn’t want you to try to talk me out of marrying Linc.”
“In other words, you didn’t care what we thought,” Leonard said. His arms remained crossed.
“I did but…” Lori didn’t finish.
“None of that’s important now,” Linc continued. “Lori and I are married, and while Leonard and I still have some way to go in building a relationship, I believe we’ve come to terms.”
“Have we, now?” Bellamy arched his brows.
“I believe we have,” Linc returned calmly. “We just got off to a rocky start.”
“You mean you’re willing to forgive and forget everything my husband—my soon-to-be-ex-husband—did to sabotage you and your business?” Kate asked aggressively.
Linc met his father-in-law’s look head-on. “I’m willing to forget it because when I stopped to analyze Leonard’s reasoning I could see his point.”
Leonard uncrossed his arms and leaned forward.
“This was a man who loved his daughter enough to put an upstart like me to the test. Hopefully I passed.”
“Frankly, I don’t see why he felt it was necessary to test you at all,” Kate said. “All he had to do was read the investigator’s report to know you’re a good man. But he wouldn’t believe that. Oh, no, he was prepared to risk our relationship with our daughter just to prove he was right. He was absolutely convinced you’d turn out to be underhanded.”
“What investigator’s report?” Lori blurted.
Leonard ignored her question. “That was before—”
“Before the two of us talked this week,” Linc finished for him.
Leonard nodded.
“Now, while I was talking to Leonard in his office, there was something else I learned. Something that struck me as profound.”
Leonard leaned forward again. Kate, too, seemed interested.
“I discovered how much Leonard loves his wife and family. He’s an example of the kind of husband and father I want to be to Lori and our children.” While that was a stretch, it was close enough to the truth. The essential part of his remark was genuine. Leonard might be arrogant and controlling but at heart he wanted the best for his family. His intense desire to protect them sometimes made him oblivious to their desires and to their ability to make independent decisions about their own lives.
Kate glanced at her husband and Leonard met her eyes. “It’s true,” he whispered. “I love my wife and my children.” As though he couldn’t stay seated any longer, he jumped to his feet and began to pace. “I suppose that’s why what happened on Friday came as such a shock. I never thought my wife would stop loving me.”
“How can you say that?” Kate retorted. “I’ve loved you all these years, haven’t I?”
“A woman who serves her husband with divorce papers brings that into question.”
“I hope you got the message.”
Leonard turned to face her. “I got it all right, loud and clear. You want to end our marriage and—”
“Mom,” Lori said, cutting off her father. “Do you still love Dad?”
“Of course I do. That’s a ridiculous question.”
“Will you still love me if we’re divorced?” Leonard asked.
“Yes, but I’d learn not to.”
“Which you seem quite willing to do.”
“It’ll be difficult, but I’ll manage.”
“Difficult and completely unnecessary,” Linc inserted. He gestured toward Leonard. “When I went to his office, I found a man who’s lost and broken without his wife.”
Leonard opened his mouth to contradict Linc, but apparently changed his mind.
Kate shook her head. “One thing Lenny’s never been is lost or broken. His pride would carry him for the rest of his life before he’d admit he was wrong.”
“Is that so?” Leonard challenged, glaring at her.
Kate glared right back at him. “Can you admit you made a mistake? And that you regret the way you’ve treated our daughter and her husband?” she demanded.
Leonard looked from his wife to Linc and Lori. “I…might’ve been a bit hasty in judging Linc’s motives for marrying Lori.”
“See what I mean?” Kate muttered. “He’s still not convinced.” She stood and carried her mug into the kitchen. “He hasn’t been able to admit he’s wrong in over thirty years.”
“I…may have jumped to conclusions on occasion,” Leonard said in a loud voice.
“There’s no need to yell, Lenny. My hearing is perfectly good.” She left the kitchen and strode to the front door. “He simply can’t acknowledge when he’s made a mistake.”
Linc frowned at his father-in-law. I
f Leonard didn’t stop Kate now, there was nothing more Linc could do.
Kate was opening the door when Leonard shouted, “Okay! Okay. Fine, if it’s so important for me to say the words, then I will. I was wrong about Linc and Lori. There. Are you satisfied?”
Kate froze, one foot inside and the other out the door.
“Did you hear me?” Leonard asked.
Slowly she turned toward her husband, her head held high. “Can you apologize?”
Leonard hesitated and his jaw tightened.
“See what I mean?” Kate murmured.
“All right, all right. Linc, I apologize.”
“All is forgotten,” Linc said, and they exchanged a handshake.
“Satisfied now?” Leonard asked Kate.
Instead of answering, Kate looked at Lori.
Leonard sighed. “Lori, you, too.”
“You, too, what?” Kate said.
“I apologize.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” Lori walked over and gave her father a hug. He returned her hug and held his daughter close.
“Anyone else?” he asked Kate.
She offered him a smile. “That wasn’t so difficult, was it?”
Leonard shrugged. “Actually, it was, but now that I’ve done it, I feel a lot better.” He reached out and squeezed Lori’s hand. “I love you, you know.”
“Yes, Daddy, I know.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
“I love your mother, too,” he said. “If she leaves me, I—”
“I could be talked into reconsidering,” Kate broke in. “Under certain conditions, of course.”
Leonard’s features softened. “Would it be possible to talk right now, just the two of us?”
Kate smiled and then nodded. “I think that would be very nice.”
A few minutes later, they left together, in their own cars. Linc didn’t hear where they planned to go but it wouldn’t surprise him if it was the family home, where they both belonged.
“Oh, Linc,” Lori said, slipping her arms around his waist. “That went so well.”
“I knew it would.” His in-laws would be fine, and so would he and Lori. Next year and thirty years down the road, he would love Lori as much as Leonard loved Kate.
Thirty-Six
Late on Wednesday afternoon, Will Jefferson and his sister met in the foyer at Stanford Suites. Luckily a unit had become available, and over the weekend they’d moved Charlotte and Ben into their new apartment. The most difficult aspect of the move was deciding which furniture to take. So many pieces were part of their family history.
“Mom,” Will had said, “you’ve go to do something with all this dead relatives’ furniture. I have my own stuff—I don’t need it.”
“I can’t just get rid of it,” Charlotte had moaned.
In the end, they fit what they could into the small apartment and what didn’t fit was doled out to him, Olivia and Justine, with a few pieces held back for James. That appeared to satisfy Charlotte. All she wanted was to know that those antique sofas and chairs and cabinets would be loved and treasured the way they’d once been. They wouldn’t have the same sentimental value for him or Olivia, but he wouldn’t sell them on eBay, either.
A good portion of what hadn’t been allocated was stored in his basement. It could stay there indefinitely as far as Will was concerned. Being single and without children, he hadn’t accumulated a lot of possessions, other than basic furniture, a TV and so on.
“You talked to Mom?” Will asked his sister.
“I did. She’s doing all right so far.”
“And Ben?”
“Him, too.”
The transfer of the house on Eagle Crest was a simple matter of a few signatures and a check. The house was in good shape, especially with the new kitchen. Will was happy to return to his childhood home, and even happier to be helping his mother and Ben. He’d come full circle, he mused. He’d lived in this old house during his childhood, and now he was back. With this move came a sense of rightness, of completion. He’d been away from Cedar Cove for most of his adult life, had faltered and failed. He’d disappointed himself. Moving home had given him a fresh start, a new perspective, a chance to become the man he’d always wanted to be.
Miranda’s decision to rent his small apartment might not be the best plan, he thought. Will frowned slightly. He had a real love-hate relationship with his assistant. She was an asset to the gallery and he’d come to rely on her knowledge of art and of the community. Half the time he was convinced she couldn’t stand the sight of him. Then she’d do something to throw him off balance—like kissing him. If that wasn’t shocking enough, he’d kissed her, too. And enjoyed it.
Miranda Sullivan wasn’t like any of the women he’d been attracted to in the past. Including Shirley… In fact, she was their opposite. That confused him, although he tried not to think about it. Sometimes he and Miranda laughed at the same things; sometimes they had lively discussions. Since they were together practically every day, it was understandable that they’d grown comfortable with each other. They’d developed a mutual respect—and maybe even a fondness.
“You’re frowning,” Olivia commented. “Are you worried about Mom?”
“No…I was thinking about Miranda.”
“She’s still taking the apartment, isn’t she?”
“So she said.”
Her sister eyed him warily. “Then why the frown?”
“No real reason,” he said, dismissing the question. Actually, he’d prefer not to discuss Miranda. It was hard enough to analyze his own feelings about her, let alone explain them to anyone else.
As soon as Charlotte and Ben walked out of the elevator, their mother broke into a huge grin. “I’m so glad you’re both here.”
“We arranged this earlier, Mom,” Olivia reminded her as she kissed their mother’s cheek. She caught Will’s eye. Charlotte would continue to suffer memory lapses. The appointment with the gerontologist was in January. Then they’d know the extent of her memory loss and what, if anything, could be done.
“But I was talking about the singing. There’ll be home-baked cookies and old-fashioned wassail.”
“We have the papers for you to sign, too,” Olivia said. “For the sale of the house.”
“Yes, yes, I know, but does that need to be done right away?”
“I’d like to get everything in order. It won’t take long, I promise.” Olivia had her briefcase; fortunately, as a lawyer, she was qualified to handle the paperwork.
Charlotte looked at Ben. “I don’t want to be late for the singing.”
“Your mother has a lovely voice,” Ben told them, as if they weren’t aware of their mother’s talent.
His mother had often sung him to sleep, and it was a memory Will would always hold dear.
“The choral group’s asked me to join them,” Charlotte said, obviously pleased by the invitation. “We sing at special events, like this Christmas gathering. We also sing at church services every week right here in the complex.”
As promised, it took only a few minutes to sign the necessary papers, which they did in Charlotte and Ben’s apartment. When they’d finished, Olivia handed him the house keys.
“So when’s moving day for you?” she asked on their way out the door an hour later. They’d stayed for cookies and part of the singing but left during the break. Olivia needed to get home, because she and Jack had a social engagement that evening. And Will was eager to start shifting some of his things over to the house. He wasn’t especially happy to be moving in December, but there was no avoiding that. He’d be out of the apartment in time for Miranda to move in January 2.
The gallery was officially closed when Will returned, although Miranda was in the office, going through some invoices.
“How did everything go with Charlotte and Ben?” she asked, looking up from the desk.
“Great. I even got a few cookies out of the deal and listened to some Christmas songs.”
She grinned. “Lucky y
ou.”
“How was the afternoon?”
“Pretty good. Better than we expected.”
“Excellent.” Then, before he could change his mind, he asked, “Would you like to go to dinner?”
She scowled at the question. “You…and me?”
“Why not? I just bought a house. I’m in the mood to celebrate.”
“And Shirley’s married.”
At her comment and its implication, Will shook his head. “What does Shirley have to do with anything?”
“Nothing, I suppose, except she’s the one you were hot to trot with, not me.”
Will couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard that expression and it made him laugh.
“You find that amusing?”
“Frankly, yes. Hot to trot? Give me a break.” As her eyes narrowed, he quickly added, “Don’t worry, I’m not looking at you as her replacement.”
“I should hope not.”
“The dinner invitation wasn’t meant as an insult, Miranda. However, considering your reaction, I withdraw the offer.”
“That’s just fine.”
“Good.” The woman continually sent him mixed messages. He feared he was guilty of sending a few of those himself.
“I’ll be leaving, then.”
“Yes. Thanks for staying.” He turned his back on her and hung his coat on a peg by the office door. “See you in the morning.”
“Right.” She reached for her coat and purse and was gone.
“Well, so much for that,” Will muttered. It was probably better not to waste time dining out, but he wasn’t looking forward to dragging boxes from one residence to another.
Once he’d loaded up his car and driven it over to the house, he spent the next half hour unloading. The house had been professionally cleaned and smelled of pine-scented cleanser. His sister had arranged this on his behalf and Will was grateful.
Standing in the middle of the living room, hands on his hips, he surveyed the home that was so familiar to him. He’d make it his own, he decided, turn it into a place that suited his adult personality.
Walking into the master bedroom that had once belonged to his parents, he had to smile. As a kid a trip into this room usually meant he was due for a walloping by his father. He’d gotten his share of those growing up. Olivia, too, although his father was always much gentler with her than with Will.