“He’s stable.” Her blue eyes bore into his when he released her. “Where are the kids?”
“In the waiting room with a friend.”
Smiling, she said, “I’ll go visit with them while you talk with your father.” She patted his arm and continued down the hall.
Crockett sucked in a deep breath, uncertain of what he might find on the other side of the door. Dad had always been so strong. Invincible.
Stepping inside, the beeps of monitors and the groans of an IV machine met his ears. To his relief, though, his father didn’t look too worse for wear. His color was a little off, but the oxygen tubes in his nose probably made things better.
Dad turned then, his dark eyes landing on Crockett. “’Bout time you got here.”
With a weary chuckle, he approached the bed. “What’s this I hear about you trying to check out on me?”
“Ah, don’t you go worryin’. I’m not goin’ anywhere just yet. The good Lord’s still got some work to do on me.”
Crockett couldn’t help grinning. At least his father’s sense of humor was still intact. “Guess we’d better let those doctors get you fixed up, then.”
The man nodded, his smile fading as he focused on his tanned hands. “In the off chance that I’m wrong about the Lord’s timing, though, will you look after Irene for me?”
Suddenly, Crockett found it hard to speak. “Of course.” He had to force the words out.
“She’s a special lady, Crockett. I don’t know where I’d be without her.” Dad and Irene met shortly after Crockett went off to college, and they married a year or so after that. She made his dad happy, which made Crockett happy.
“She’s a good woman, Dad.” Truth be known, he was envious of Dad and Irene. Growing old with someone you love might sound simple, but achieving it was a feat. Crockett would give anything to have what his father had.
The older man sniffed. “The best.”
A woman dressed in blue scrubs came into the room. “We’re ready for you, Mr. Devereaux.”
Crockett held up a finger. “Can you hold on for one second while I get his wife? She’s just down the hall.”
“Sure.”
He squeezed his father’s shoulder. “I’ll see you after a while.”
In the waiting room, he found Irene with her arms around Mac and David, chatting with Paisley. “I told them you were on your way. They’re about to take him back.”
“Oh, thank you.” She hugged the kids. “I’ll be right back.”
Taking Irene’s place between Mac and David, he met Paisley’s concerned gaze.
“How is he?”
“His spirits are good, and he looked better than I’d anticipated.”
“Is Grandaddy going to be okay?” His boy stared up at him, uncertainty swimming in his blue eyes.
“I believe he is, son. Once they get his heart fixed up.”
Returning his attention to Paisley, he said, “Thank you for coming with us. I mean, you signed on for dinner, not a trip through four counties.”
“I’m happy to do it, Crockett.” She shrugged. “What are friends for?”
Friends. Yeah. That’s what he wanted, right? To keep Paisley at arm’s length, not allow her anywhere near his battle-worn heart.
So why did he find himself suddenly hoping for more?
Chapter Twelve
Paisley couldn’t recall the last time she’d been so busy. First with Mackenzie’s party, then the flood, the wedding reception and the scare with Crockett’s father. Thankfully, the older man was doing quite well.
She, Crockett and the kids had remained at the hospital Sunday night until Mr. Devereaux was moved to recovery. Then, after returning the items to the church and their meeting with Wes on Monday, Crockett had taken the children to see their grandfather and spend the night with Irene so he could be there when his father was released on Tuesday.
In the meantime, Paisley spoke with Molly, letting her know that the remediation had been satisfactorily completed and she had resumed packing. Though due to the flood, Wes’s start date was going to be delayed. A disappointing fact, but with several homes and businesses in the area damaged, every contractor in town was scrambling to help get folks up and running as quickly as possible.
Now, as Paisley finished up breakfast at Rae’s Thursday morning, she prayed she could survive her parents’ visit.
They’d arrived yesterday afternoon eager to show her all of the upgrades and redecorating they’d done to their RV since their last visit, before sitting down to a dinner of grilled salmon with a heaping side of interrogation. Her parents had asked question after question, wanting to know about her day-to-day life, her friends and her plans for the future, making her wonder if they ever paid attention to anything she said when they talked on the phone.
So when Paisley slipped off to bed early last night, she’d decided to avoid round two by having breakfast out where she had friends she could call on if need be. Fortunately, her parents had behaved, thus far.
“Do you want anything else, Ms. Paisley?” Maggie, Rae’s foster daughter, grinned shyly, seemingly happy to be helping. Dressed in a casual pink dress, she clasped her hands behind her back and rocked back and forth on her pink Crocs while her little brother, Max, waited behind her, looking timid, despite a sparkle in his dark brown eyes.
Paisley was thrilled that her friend had these two to keep her company. She missed the chaos of a busy household, which was only one of the reasons she loved it when Crockett and his children came to visit. She’d missed all of them this week. It had been a while since she and Crockett had gone this long without seeing each other. He’d become a good friend, though, if she didn’t watch herself, he could easily become more.
“I think I’m good.” She looked at her parents. “How ’bout y’all?” Reaching around the girl, Paisley tickled Max’s arm. “I see you hiding back there.”
The adorable five-year-old giggled.
Her mother watched the kids fondly while Dad downed the rest of his coffee.
Setting his cup on the table, he said, “We’re ready when you are.”
“In that case—” she looked at Maggie “—I think we are ready for our check.”
The girl’s smile grew wider as she handed over their bill.
“Now, that’s what I call prompt service.” Paisley took hold of the slip. “Thank you, Miss Maggie.”
Pink tinged the girl’s olive-toned cheeks as she and brother turned to leave.
“I’ll take that, young lady.” Dad grabbed the check. After studying it for a moment, he pulled out his wallet and left the money on the table before tugging his red Bulldogs ball cap over his white hair.
Standing, Paisley addressed her parents. “Shall we go see the castle?”
“Oh, yes.” With her shoulder-length champagne-blond hair clipped to the back of her head, her mother pushed away from the table and slung her purse over her shoulder.
Temperatures were supposed to climb into the nineties today and with no air-conditioning at the castle, Paisley decided a morning visit would be best. Lord willing, the trip would finally convince her folks that she did, actually, have a life here in Bliss and a dream she desperately wanted to fulfill.
“Wow,” her father said as they drove through the gates. “This really is a castle.”
“Indeed, it is.” Paisley wasn’t about to go into the technicalities with the man. Turing off the engine, she continued. “Built by a Scotsman by the name of Angus Renwick in the late 1800s. He built it here along the river because the view reminded him of his home in Scotland.”
“It’s a mite warmer in Texas than it is in Scotland, though.” Her father winked from the passenger seat and opened his door.
Stepping out of the vehicle, Paisley opened the door behind her and waited for her mother to emerge. “Mama, what do you think?
”
Shielding her eyes from the sun, her mother said, “I feel as though I’ve traveled across the pond, as they say.”
“Indeed. It has a very old-world feel, which is what I’m counting on to draw people in. I mean, can you imagine getting married in a castle?”
“It would be a fairy-tale wedding, for sure,” Mama said.
“The grounds are a mess due to the flood.” Paisley motioned to the left and right. “But Crockett will see to it they’re groomed and brought back to their original grandeur. His grandfather was the caretaker of the castle for decades, so Crockett remembers how things looked when he was a little boy.”
“How much land is there?” Her father craned his neck to take in the large live oak.
“Four acres.” She moved under the portico to unlock the door. “I’ll take you out on the terrace later for a better view of the grounds.”
Over the next hour, Paisley walked them through each and every room, detailing her and Crockett’s plans before ending the tour on the terrace. “What do you think?”
Her folks exchanged a look.
“This is quite an undertaking.” Her father’s gaze roamed the property.
“Yes, but as I’ve mentioned before, the Renwicks are funding the entire project. And Crockett and I are both quite excited about preserving this unique piece of history.” She watched their flat expressions as they looked out over the now blessedly low river, knowing precisely what was going through their heads.
“You think I’m making a mistake, don’t you?”
“Peanut, we know that you’re perfectly capable of doing anything you set your mind to. It’s just—” Her father deferred to her mother.
“Don’t you think it’s time you came back home to Georgia, sweet pea?”
A sudden gust of warm air slapped Paisley in the face. “Why would I do that? Bliss is my home.”
“Oh, now how can you say that when you don’t even have a real job?” Mama all but whined. “I know Peter left you financially well off, but still, a person needs purpose, Paisley. You keep dabbling in all of these different things—” Mom gestured to the castle “—but you’re simply killing time, darlin’.”
“Weddings are my purpose, Mama. That’s why I wanted Renwick Castle.”
“Sweet pea, if you want to get back in the wedding business, why not return to Georgia where you’re already established?”
“I’ve been gone for four years.”
“People still remember Weddings by Paisley, though. Do you know how many women have lamented that you’re no longer in business?”
Paisley sucked in a breath, trying not to lose her temper. “I don’t want to resurrect Weddings by Paisley. I want something more. I want to benefit this community I’ve grown to love.”
Her father’s brow lifted. “This Crockett fellow wouldn’t have anything to do with this, would he?”
“No. I wasn’t even aware that he was interested in the castle until we met with the Renwicks’ attorney. That’s when we learned that the only way either of us could have access to the castle was to agree to work together, so that’s what we’re doing. Even if he was part of the equation, that’s for me to decide.”
“It’s the memories, isn’t it?” Lips pursed, her mother stared at her with those sad eyes she’d perfected when Paisley was a child. “You’re afraid that if you return to Georgia you’ll be plagued with memories of Peter and Logan.”
“What? No.” Would the woman ever let her move on with her life? “The memories live in here, Mama.” She pointed to her heart. “They’re with me no matter where I am. And I can tell you one thing—Peter would be cheering me on here, encouraging me to follow my dreams.” Something her parents had never done. Instead, they always seemed to have a better plan. “I’m forty-six years old, for crying out loud. I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions. If you can’t accept that, perhaps you shouldn’t bother visiting me anymore.”
Dad crossed his arms. “You did it again, Barbara June. You pushed her over the edge.”
“Oh, you hush, Ralph.” She clasped her hands against her stomach. “I’m sorry, Paisley. I didn’t mean to upset you. But you know how I worry.”
Paisley blew out a breath, hating that she’d allowed them to upset her so. They were her parents, after all, and only wanted the best for her. But they needed to understand that they couldn’t dictate her life anymore.
“I know you do, Mama, and I’m not trying to hurt you. But I’m not a little girl anymore. You can’t protect me from everything. I have to live life on my terms, and if I make a few mistakes along the way, then that’s on me, too.”
“I understand, baby. I won’t bring it up again.” Her mother hugged her, but Paisley was still unsettled. Because while she meant everything she told her mother, the woman had gotten one thing right. Paisley needed purpose. And if this castle didn’t get back on track soon, she might go out of her ever-lovin’ mind.
* * *
With country music blaring from the speakers, Crockett headed home from work a little early on Thursday, hoping to beat the rush at the grocery store and grab some of their fresh fried chicken for dinner. It may not be the healthiest meal, but around his house, it was definitely a crowd pleaser.
He eyed Donny Glick’s hay meadow as the melody of guitar and fiddle filled the cab of his truck, thrusting his mind back to Saturday night when he was holding Paisley in his arms on the dance floor. He missed her.
He shook his head at the ridiculousness of the thought. So what if he hadn’t seen her in three days? He should not be missing her. They were just friends.
When was the last time you thought about kissing one of your friends?
He roughed a hand over his face. So he enjoyed Paisley’s company. Found her intriguing. That should not equate to missing her. Yet it seemed no matter how much he tried not to think about her, the desire to see her and talk with her was always there, lurking beneath the surface. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, life was just nicer when Paisley was around.
A second later, his phone rang, and her name appeared on the touch screen on his dash, sending his heart into a gallop, though he quickly discounted it. She was probably just calling to check on his dad, because it was in her nature to do stuff like that.
Hauling in a frustrated breath, he tapped the answer icon. “Well, hello there.”
“Help me.” The playfulness in her plea made him chuckle and put him at ease.
“Okay, I’ll bite. What do you need help with?”
“My parents.” Her voice was just slightly above a whisper. And judging by what sounded like birds, she was outside somewhere.
“Is something wrong?”
“Uh, if you were to ask them, they’d say I’m what’s wrong.”
“I’m not following you.”
Her frustration crackled through the line in the form of a sigh. “They’re trying to convince me to move back to Georgia.”
“Why?” He tried to ignore the sliver of terror that shot through him.
“They think I’m bored here. That I have no life.”
Tapping the brakes at the county line, he wished he could be there to defend her. “I would think you of all people would set them straight.”
“You don’t know my parents. They hear what they want to hear. I tell them I want to be in Bliss. They hear ‘I can’t be in Georgia because of Peter and Logan.’ They’re nuts, I tell ya.”
He couldn’t help laughing. “All right, what do you want me to do? Pretend to be your boyfriend or something?” If only.
“Would you?”
He sobered quickly, knowing it was a role that would be all too easy to slip into. “Seriously?”
“No, that would be lying.”
Unwanted disappointment washed over him.
“However, if you and the kids were to join us
for dinner, even if I introduced you as my friend and explained that Mackenzie is in my Sunday school class, I have no doubt they would come to that conclusion.”
His mood brightened. “So you’re saying I run the risk of being interrogated by your father.”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” She blew out a breath. “I just need a buffer. I understand if you don’t want to come, but could you at least let me borrow Mackenzie and David? Of course, you’ll miss out on an awesome steak dinner.”
“Now you’re playing dirty.”
“Hey, I’m learning your weaknesses, and I’m not afraid to use them to my advantage.”
Did she realize that she was quickly becoming one of his weaknesses?
“Please, Crockett. I’ll bake you molasses cookies for a month.”
“Wow, you really don’t want to be alone with them, do you?”
“You have no idea.” He’d missed their playful banter.
“All right, we’ll be there. But only because it’ll be fun to watch you squirm.”
There was a long pause. Then, “Why would I squirm?”
“Guess you’ll just have to wait and find out.”
“Crockett Devereaux.”
He busted out laughing. He liked it when she got riled up. “Do you want us to come or not?”
She heaved a sigh. “Yes.”
“Okay. We’ll see you at six.”
Ending the call, he sat a little taller as he changed directions to head for home. The fact that Paisley had asked him and the kids to come to her aid did strange things to his psyche. She could have asked one of her friends, but she’d called him. And something about that made him very happy.
He pulled into his driveway a short time later, eager to tell the kids. They were going to be ecstatic. They’d missed Paisley, too.
After parking his truck, he headed inside.
“Oh, good. You’re home.” Ashley stood from her spot next to David on the couch. “David’s not feeling well.”
“What’s the matter, bud?” He crossed to join them, concern and disappointment warring inside of him.
A Future to Fight For Page 14