Finally, a Family--A Clean Romance

by Callie Endicott

  Nonetheless, whether it was now or a few years from now, she was going to lose this space. If she wanted to stay her own boss, she had to do something.

  * * *

  PENNY STOPPED PULLING weeds and sat back on the five-gallon plastic paint bucket she used as a seat and rubbed her knees. Gardening used to be easier. There was no use pretending—her legs were seventy-two years old. Not that she was using age as an excuse; she just had to find ways around arthritis and creaky joints.

  With a snort of disgust, she grabbed the trowel and dug at the weeds again. What had she been thinking to neglect the yard for months on end? Sorrow sapped everything, including energy. No matter how much she’d promised to keep embracing life when Eric was gone, it was easier said than done. She was lucky to have Jessica next door and be able to spend time with her great-granddaughter. Kevin’s friendship was another help.

  Still, Eric’s absence remained an aching wound. Their life together had been so good, with great adventures and passionate love. Now she was faced with years alone...which was why he’d refused to date her in the beginning.

  Penny dropped a handful of weeds into a second bucket. At eighteen she hadn’t truly understood Eric’s concerns, but she was still grateful he’d relented. If being alone in her senior years was the price, she’d gladly pay it in return for all they had shared. She just wished her granddaughter could have something equally joyful.

  Jessica blamed herself for her divorce, but Penny didn’t have any use for a man who abandoned his family that way.

  Her cell phone rang. “Yes,” she answered with a snap.

  “Hey, Penny.” It was Kevin. “Is something wrong? You sound annoyed.”

  “Sorry, I was thinking about the skunk who ran out on Jessica. It put my dander up.”

  His chuckle traveled over the line. “Understandable.”

  “I can’t say things like that to her. She claims it’s her fault. Besides, I don’t want Cyndi to hear my opinion.”

  “She’s never met him, has she?”

  Penny sighed. “No. But what kid wants to hear her father called names? Half her DNA comes from Aaron, so I keep my mouth closed. All the good stuff is from Jessica, though.”

  “She’s a treasure,” Kevin said warmly. “Listen, I talked with Logan again and he assures me that they’ll do whatever is possible to keep Jessica and the store from being harmed. Plus, I’ll be home in a few days and can help keep an eye on everything.”

  “She’ll still have to move, won’t she?”

  “It’s possible, but let’s not cross that bridge until the shoe drops.”

  Penny’s lips curved. She liked the way Kevin sometimes mixed up his sayings and metaphors. With her, at least. She didn’t know if he did it with other people.

  “How is everything in Chicago?” she asked.

  “Terrific, but I’m anxious to get back to Seattle, even if I can watch the Cubs and the White Sox on local stations here.”

  “You don’t have a favorite between them?”

  Kevin snorted. “I wouldn’t dare choose. My daughter loves the Cubs and my son-in-law is a die-hard White Sox fan. It makes for spirited conversations in this household.”

  “I’ll bet.”

  “How are you, Penny?” His voice was serious.

  “Okay. I’m in the garden. My knees don’t appreciate the effort, but there’s a serious accumulation of weeds.”

  “I’ll lend a hand when I get home.”

  She looked at the wilderness she called a garden. Jessica had been working on the other side and her efforts had extended into her grandmother’s half. It was what had prompted Penny to go out herself to work. Her granddaughter had enough on her plate.

  “You don’t have to do that,” she told Kevin.

  There was a long pause. “The thing is, I don’t feel useful any longer. I don’t regret selling the agency—my clients deserved young, energetic representation—but now I have nothing to do.”

  “Don’t be a ninny,” Penny said bluntly, concerned by his attitude. “You’ve got plenty to accomplish, and if you need more, give me five minutes and I’ll make a list.”

  “If it would make a difference, I’d move to Chicago, but the kids don’t need an old man around all the time. My life doesn’t have a purpose any longer.”

  A deeper worry hit Penny. She’d seen too many people retire, only to live a short time because they lacked the will to go on. Men seemed especially vulnerable.

  “I never expected to hear such ridiculous nonsense from you,” she scolded. “Good grief, a man becomes a grandfather and the next thing you know, he’s complaining about being old. It’s time to fly home and start your second career. Just don’t plan on becoming a comedian.”

  A chuckle sounded through the phone. “Thanks, Penny. How about going out to dinner sometime when I get back to Seattle?”

  Now it was her turn to hesitate. Having dinner was a new way for them to spend time together, almost date-like. No matter what she’d told Jessica about embracing life, it was a silly speculation for a woman her age, especially with a younger man. Not that Kevin was that much younger, being in his mid-sixties, and he’d already been married to an older woman. Sighing, she shook her head. Life was complicated.

  “It sounds wonderful,” she said, “provided my knees hold up after this gardening stint.”

  “Leave plenty for me to do. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Safe travels.”

  Penny disconnected and attacked the flower bed while her mind buzzed over the conversation. Maybe she should take Kevin with her the next time she volunteered at the animal refuge center. Working with animals was a worthwhile activity and he needed to remember how much difference he could still make in the world.

  She had to keep him busy and interested in living. With Allison gone and now Eric...she couldn’t stand the thought of losing such a good friend.

  * * *

  AT THE AIRPORT the following Wednesday Kevin kissed his daughter and shook his son-in-law’s hand. Reluctantly he handed his granddaughter back to her parents, only to spot tears streaking down Jill’s face.

  “Hey, kiddo, what’s wrong?”

  “I don’t want you to leave.”

  It was sweet, but he knew she was extra emotional from postpartum hormones. Jill, Bryan and Allie needed time together as a family, without a grandfather hanging around.

  “I’ll be back soon,” Kevin said gently.

  Jill sniffed. “You’d better be. Allie needs to grow up knowing her grandpa.”

  Bryan put a comforting arm around his wife. “We realize you’re close to the folks in Seattle, but don’t forget, you have family here, as well.”

  “Thanks, son.”

  Kevin had enjoyed a good relationship with Bryan from the beginning and he was glad his daughter had a husband who loved her so deeply. Some couples struggled to keep a relationship strong when they had trouble conceiving, but Jill and Bryan had gotten through it and now there was little Allie to enrich their lives.

  He hurried through the security checkpoint, choking up as he turned and saw them still watching and waving. Once in his seat on the plane, he felt torn. He wanted to be home, but he also wanted to be with his family. Still, it wasn’t hard to fly from Seattle to Chicago; he needed to plan more regular trips.

  Before they asked everyone to turn off their electronic devices, he saw a text message from Penny Parrish, offering to pick him up. He replied that he’d left his car at the airport in long-term parking.

  That was nice of her. Rachel had also offered to meet him when she learned he was returning. He’d always liked the four young people who’d bought his agency. After deciding to sell Moonlight Ventures, he had thought of them immediately. Perhaps he should have realized that with their talent and energy, the agency would expand and space could become an issue. If he had, he wou
ld have put a protection clause for the Crystal Connection into the sales agreement.

  Hindsight was 100 percent, he reflected as he closed his eyes, hoping to sleep during the flight. He couldn’t go back in time and fix anything, but he could do his best to help Jessica now.

  * * *

  FOR SEVERAL DAYS after buying the large celestite ball, Logan found himself spending any spare minute gazing into its sparkling depths. The art piece deserved a better location than his desk, but his office was too limited in size for more than the essentials.

  Despite the money they’d spent on remodeling, certain issues had been impossible to work around. In the middle of the renovation it had belatedly dawned on them that they needed a combination lounge and break room. Rather than spend even more money to undo completed work, their architect had turned one office into a small lounge and divided the remaining square footage. Logan and Rachel had volunteered to take the resulting smaller rooms since they’d be the last to arrive.

  The one thing he hadn’t expected was to feel hints of claustrophobia in the closet-like space. Ultimately he’d move into one of the new offices and one or more junior agents would get his.

  Someday they might even put in stairs and create a rooftop garden that everyone in the building could enjoy.

  Logan yawned.

  Cabin fever was making him less productive, resulting in additional coffee sales next door, even though seeing Jessica was a reminder of the conundrum facing Moonlight Ventures.

  “You seem lost in thought,” Rachel said. She was standing at the door he usually left open. “Any great insights on the horizon?”

  “Nothing impressive enough to be called an insight. I just wish we had a better option for expansion. But I’ve checked and we can’t get permits for adding a second floor to the building. So it comes back to us needing Jessica to move.”

  Rachel made a face. “We sure are struggling with the landlord side of the business. Regardless, we can’t force the Crystal Connection to move until the lease expires, even if we wanted to.”

  “Which we don’t want.”

  Logan glanced at the celestite crystals inside the carved sphere. He didn’t know what he’d expected when he asked Jessica about their healing properties, but he hadn’t expected her to tease him about art and beauty.

  He focused on Rachel again. “I’d rather do business our way than ride roughshod over people, even if that’s how some corporations operate these days.”

  “Absolutely,” she agreed. “Simon admits he was ruthless when he first started, but I’m glad he’s changed.”

  As always, her eyes sparkled at the mention of her husband, and Logan wondered again why some people seemed suited for love, while others didn’t. Not that he was unhappy, and there were plenty of folks who felt the same about staying single. For him, the tricky part about dating was figuring out who genuinely didn’t want commitment, in contrast with the women who claimed it wasn’t a goal, yet privately hoped for an ending with orange blossoms and white lace.

  It was interesting that Jessica had suggested he was trying to warn marriage-minded women away with his calendar biography. She hadn’t rolled her eyes, but her tone had suggested it was arrogant. He didn’t know. Wasn’t it better for everyone to be up-front about expectations?

  “I’m worried there may not be a good resolution,” Logan said slowly. “We need the space, but I’ve been listening to Jessica’s concerns and I’m afraid moving will have a negative impact.”

  “How about permanently lowering her rent as incentive or compensation? Perhaps halve it?” Rachel suggested. “I’m sure Adam and Nicole would agree. We aren’t getting much income on those empty spaces in the back as it is. Some would be better than none.”

  “We could try, but when I talked to Kevin, he mentioned that he’d offered the Parrishes a lower rent on the shop during one recession and they’d refused. I suspect Jessica has the same sort of pride.”

  In fact, Logan was sure of it, considering the way she’d reacted when he wanted to buy the celestite ball, calling it a pity or guilt purchase. It was possible she’d accept a year’s rent to move—incentives were a common business practice—but she’d likely refuse anything that smacked of charity to her. On the other hand, a rent reduction was appropriate for a less desirable location.

  “I don’t think it’s pride, exactly,” Rachel countered. “In the end, a person needs self-respect. If their values don’t allow them to accept something, then all you can do is honor their decision.”

  “I realize that,” Logan acknowledged.

  Rachel knew too much about pity. Magazines and scandal rags had oozed sympathy about her accident, when they’d mostly been interested in titillating their readers. But Rachel had never wailed “poor me” or allowed her friends to do it. Instead, she’d resolutely built another career.

  “The Crystal Connection closes at five thirty,” he said. “Maybe Jessica would be willing to tour the alternate locations this evening and see what she thinks about them.”

  “Good luck.”

  Logan went to the lounge to dump his remaining coffee in the sink and rinse the cup. It was procrastination, the same as his contemplation of the celestite ball. Where was his normal drive to action? A photographer couldn’t hesitate. When a great photo opportunity presented itself, he had to respond instantly.

  That’s before you met Jessica and her daughter, chided his self-honesty. Swift action could hurt them. Having his emotions challenged by Jessica wasn’t helping his decisiveness, either.

  He stepped into the store and saw Jessica was on the phone.

  “That’s good news,” she was saying, “a nice boost to our income.”

  Hope sparked. The better her shop was doing, the better it was for him and his partners. After a minute she got off the call and nodded at him.

  “Good afternoon, Logan.” Her voice was friendly, though he saw stress in her features. Most people wouldn’t have realized it was there, but it had been his job to ensure he captured the right mood in photographs. He’d learned to detect when models were distracted and find ways to focus them.

  “Hi. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but it sounds as if you got good news about the shop.”

  After a moment of looking confused, she shook her head. “If you’re talking about the phone call, it was about a project I’m spearheading in Regen Valley.”

  “As I recall, Regen Valley is a little community, southeast of the city. I’m glad your project is going well.”

  “You bet. It’s important for the town.”

  “Logan,” Cyndi cried as she dashed out of the storeroom. “Did you bring your camera?”

  “Sorry, I came to talk with your mom about the shop. Maybe next week.”

  Cyndi’s face fell. “I have a troop meeting on Saturday morning and wanted to tell them all about your camera and taking pictures. Could you come and show them? I might get an extra point that way.”

  “The extra point is when you bring another girl your age,” Jessica said quickly.

  “I think it’s anyone. The troop leaders claim it’s another girl, but that isn’t what the handbook says.”

  Logan couldn’t suppress a chuckle. Cyndi was a neat kid.

  “Will you?” she persisted.

  He wavered. It seemed devious to agree, knowing it might win points with Jessica. But he liked Cyndi and didn’t mind doing something for her.

  “Please?” she persisted. “My troop never had anyone as good as you.”

  He capitulated. “All right. How can I resist so much flattery?”

  “What do you mean?” She looked puzzled.

  Logan glanced at Jessica and saw the humor in her eyes.

  “You said I’d be good,” he told Cyndi, “so I—”

  “Because you will be. Courtney Willis got her uncle to come the last time and he’s a pl
umber. It was dumb. He talked to us like we were babies. ’Sides, I knew hair clogs the drain by the time I was four. He didn’t have to bring the gunky stuff he digs out to show us. It was totally gross.”

  Logan drew a deep breath. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Cyndi. I’ll try to be better than the plumber.”

  “Thanks. I’m going to finish my homework.”

  Her departure was a relief. It had belatedly occurred to him that discussion about moving the shop shouldn’t happen in front of the owner’s daughter. He turned to look at Jessica, whose face was still alive with humor. Today she wore jeans and a T-shirt that made her look far too young to be Cyndi’s mother.

  He’d worked with many beautiful women through the years, but Jessica had something special that made her attractive to him. He might as well admit the truth to himself and deal with it honestly.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  JESSICA SAW WARMTH in Logan’s eyes, almost as if he was seeing her as a woman, not just a tenant standing in the way of his agency’s expansion plan.

  But she didn’t trust it.

  He worked with women who were much prettier and far more accomplished. She should know—a good number of Moonlight Ventures’ clients came in for coffee and several had raved about him. There would be an increasing number now that he was at the agency full-time.

  She went to the storeroom and closed the door to keep her daughter from overhearing anything.

  “If you’d prefer, I can tell Cyndi you remembered a prior commitment,” she said, returning to the sales counter.

  Logan shook his head. “I’m happy to do it. I’ve done several classroom visits and this is similar. Trust me, I’m better at communicating with groups than individuals. Who knows? There might be a future professional photographer in the crowd.”

  “And my daughter is determined to be one of them.”

  Lately, Jessica couldn’t escape hearing Logan’s name. Cyndi talked about him several times a day and Grams kept making wistful comments about him being single, even though she knew the real reason he was coming around.