“Oh, this old dilemma.”
“Don’t start with me.”
“OK, I’ll finish. I get that you have a great, even if platonic, relationship with your wonderful boss. It’s admirable. You’re one of the lucky ones. You get all these perks, and there’s no strings attached. But a new position would keep your mind off a certain person who dropped the ball on Thanksgiving.”
“I suppose.” She was right about that. Diving into something new would cut down on her moping around about Corbett.
“It would be a great way to start the New Year. You said you wanted to make some changes after you broke up with Corbett. A promotion would require a new wardrobe and maybe, dare I say it, a new hairdo.” Gwen reached over and fluffed her hair. “Maybe try some highlights.”
“What’s wrong with my hair?” She grimaced.
“Nothing. But I always feel great after a snip and flip.” Gwen’s phone rang. “I hate to run, but Roger’s called me three times. He wants me to help him pick out a gift for his mother.”
Anna Beth stood with her then followed her into the living room. “Thank you for coming over.”
“It was my pleasure, Anna Banana. Anything for you. Remember that.” Gwen buttoned her toggle coat. “I know you’re hurting right now, but you are nobody’s rebound. You are a beautiful, caring woman with a heart of gold. You’re a great catch and someone who isn’t hung up on their ex is out there waiting for you.”
“Thanks for saying that.” She put the presents she had for Gwen into a bag and handed it to her. “You’ve been so good to me the past few weeks. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“I mean it. It’s time to focus your energy on something new. Promise me you’ll think about that job offer you’re dodging. Corbett doesn’t deserve one more tear.”
“I will. I promise.” Anna Beth walked her to the door. “Don’t forget we have a standing reservation to pig out and make ridiculous New Year’s resolutions we’ll never accomplish.”
“I look forward to it. And don’t play anymore sad Christmas songs.” Gwen’s phone rang again. She rolled her eyes when she looked at the display. “He’s a royal pain.”
“I guess things are going well. You’re never this patient with men.”
“Roger’s nice but…he’s not Kyle.” Gwen gave her a weak smile. “Happy holidays.”
“Y-yes,” Anna Beth stammered. “Happy holidays.”
She shut the door, not sure if she’d just heard what she thought she’d just heard. There had been something in Gwen’s tone whenever she asked about Kyle. Perhaps Gwen’s crush on Kyle had meant something more all those years ago? She was so used to her friends having a crush on her brother it was hard to take any of them seriously. Kyle had that effect on women. There she was, miserable about Corbett when Gwen might have been suffering over Kyle for much longer.
Now that she thought about it, Gwen and Kyle would make a great couple. They were both outgoing and fun. Anna Beth had made a decision a long time ago to stay out of her brother’s love life, but perhaps it was time to get involved. She’d always felt Kyle wasn’t giving his all in those flash-in-the-pan relationships. He did casually ask about Gwen sometimes; the last time he’d inquired about her was Thanksgiving.
She looked at the Christmas tree. Suddenly she didn’t feel like decorating anymore. It was official. She’d lost whatever momentum she’d had earlier. There had to be something she could do to get out of this funk. First, she’d call her brother and see if she could yield any clues from him about his interest in Gwen. Then she’d see if there was anything constructive she could do with her time.
CHAPTER FOUR
Three hours later, Anna Beth had arrived at her destination. She opened the door to the bustling office, hoping she’d made the right decision. When she’d decided that volunteering would lift her spirits, she remembered that the foundation was hosting a slew of charitable events this week. Surely Morgan and the ladies would need some help. The Blake Foundation’s biggest events to date would be the holiday festivities they’d planned for the week.
She put on her badge and looked for Morgan, who was leading the charge today. People were zipping around and answering phones. Morgan’s friend Nina was in a conference room jotting down a menu on a dry erase board. Sam was talking to a few of the Regency agents who frequented the Blake Enterprises office about the trucks that were scheduled to pick up the food drive items.
“Anna Beth?” Teri-Lyn came up and hugged her. “Shouldn’t you be on a Costa Rican beach getting tan lines and having fun with your friends?”
She hugged her back. “Something unexpected came up, so I changed my plans.”
“I’m sorry to hear about that. But it’s always good to see you.”
“No worries. Disaster seems to be the theme of this Christmas.”
“I don’t like hearing that one bit. This is a special time of year. Miracles are possible, especially when things seem most dire.” Teri-Lyn caressed her cheek.
She loved Teri-Lyn’s enthusiasm for life. She had a way of making all of your troubles fade away. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You’re not going to Kentucky to be with your family?”
“No.” She sighed. “I love them dearly, but I needed a break from them.”
“I always say family provides the best entertainment.” Teri-Lyn laughed. “Since you won’t be with your family, how about you spend the day with your other family? We’re having a big dinner at the ranch on Christmas Day, and I’d love for you to come.”
Anna Beth’s heart lifted. Christmas at the Twelve Horseshoes Ranch was spectacular. They ate all day and opened presents, but they also had events for the kids. J.J. and Bo’s description of it always sounded so magical. But there was a chance Corbett would be there. Why wouldn’t he? He was family. Her heart couldn’t take sitting down to a civilized dinner with him. Right now getting snockered with Mr. Whiskers sounded like a safer idea.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll keep a low profile. I have a crappy Christmas theme going on and I’d like to keep up the momentum. Helping out here in some way may balance the scales a bit. But I do appreciate the invite.” She gave her the best smile she could.
Teri-Lyn put her finger to her chin. “What if I told you I have just the thing that will cheer you up and turn your Christmas around one hundred and eighty degrees?”
“OK.” Anna Beth rubbed her hands together. “What needs to be done?”
“A group of us are going over to the children’s hospital to decorate their rec room for the party they’re having in a few days. Seth and some of the players are going to entertain the kids for an afternoon.”
“Decorating sounds like it’s right up my alley.”
“J.J. told everyone what a great job you did at the office party. I think we could use your creative touch.”
“Anything to help the kids forget they’re in a hospital for a little while. How about we get the kids involved? They could do some arts and crafts that we’d display in a special way. We can pass out treats and a few trinkets for helping us prepare for Santa’s arrival at the party. Maybe Seth could convince the players to pull Santa into the hospital like reindeer. In their jerseys of course.” She beamed. She’d gone to the hospital with the Blakes in the past. It was heartbreaking what some of those kids were battling. An afternoon of fun would be a nice distraction.
“That’s a great idea. It’s too bad about your vacation, but I’m delighted to have use of your brainpower. J.J. says you’re indispensable.”
“We complement each other’s work styles.”
“Whatever it is you do, my boys don’t burn themselves out thanks to how well you run that office.”
“They make it easy. They spoil me rotten.”
“Isn’t it nice when someone loves and appreciates you?” Teri-Lyn gave her a knowing smile.
It certainly was a nice feeling while it lasted with Corbett. “It does, but nothing lasts forever, Mrs. Blake.�
��
“I don’t know about that.” Teri-Lyn linked arms with her. “All relationships have rough patches. John Jacob and I had plenty of fights before we got married. The trick is to know how to smooth them over. And what did I tell you about calling me Mrs. Blake?”
“Sorry.” Anna Beth winced. “I guess propriety is ingrained in me. And I don’t know where it comes from, because my family is a bunch of crazy nuts who think working in any office is highfalutin, sissy work.”
The Grangers of Texas were hard-working, upper-middle-class folks. But the Grangers of Kentucky were rough-riding rabble-rousers who made trouble whenever they went.
She laughed. “I have a few members on my side of the family who feel the same way. They were so disappointed when John Jacob decided to go into business for himself and eventually sat behind a desk of his own.”
“I can’t imagine you and—” she stammered, still getting accustomed to calling the pioneer of Blake Enterprises by his first name, “John Jacob ever having a fight.”
“We had plenty when we were younger. As you get older, you figure out that it’s just wasted energy when you can simply be happy together with the right amount of compromise. I call them love growing pains. Anything worthwhile takes time, remember that.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Let’s get you a cup of hot chocolate and see if we can figure out how to lift your spirits.”
“OK.”
Anna Beth swallowed the lump in her throat. She was pretty sure Teri-Lyn knew about her and Corbett. But in her subtle way, Teri-Lyn was trying to tell her something. J.J. would say his mom used a soft mallet when she was trying to make her point.
* * *
When Corbett pulled up to Bo Sr.’s cabin, he could see his mother trying to hang a wreath on the front door. He’d been packed and ready to head back to New Mexico when his mom, Bonnie, called and asked if he could drop by the ranch. Too bad he had some major plans once he returned home. It was going to be a bachelor’s paradise of binge watching TV shows, drinking beer, and pigging out on takeout from his favorite Italian restaurant. There would be no one there to tell him to clean up or not to overdo it with the baked ziti. But he wouldn’t do that anyway. He’d been hitting the gym pretty hard, and the last thing he wanted was to have to put losing a beer gut on his New Year’s resolutions list.
He’d said goodbye to his brothers at the private airport yesterday. He’d given Wyatt a reassuring hug. He thought it was endearing that he was nervous about making a good impression on Avery’s family in Philly. Big brother Bo was more confident since he’d been spending time with his in-laws for a few years. He visited Georgia often with Summer, and the Waverlys were crazy about him. He’d been helping Jared navigate the in-law waters since he and Autumn were slated to get married soon.
Now Corbett only had to deal with his mom. When she’d said she wanted to chat before she left on her vacation, his stomach got that familiar knot. Who knew what free spirit Bonnie was up to these days? The last time she’d wanted to have a talk she’d declared that she and Bo Sr. were seeing each other again and she’d be spending more time in Texas. He’d accepted and come to terms with that. After getting better acquainted with his Dad the last year, he understood his parents better and it was clearer why they eventually divorced. She’d never gotten over Bo Sr.
Now the free spirit was on the porch, trying to hang yet another wreath. He parked the car and cut the engine. There was never a dull moment in his family.
“Hey, Mom. Let me help you with that.” He bounded up the steps and took the wreath from her and adjusted it. “There.”
“Thanks, sweetie.” She gave him a big smooch on the cheek. “I love kissing those cheeks. You always had such an adorable face ever since you were a baby.” She squeezed his face.
“You said you wanted to talk to me?”
She scowled at him. “I may have been loose on the rules in our house, but I taught you manners. Bo was right. You are in a mood.”
“Sorry. When you said you wanted to see me, it sounded important.” The suspense was killing him.
She started to pace. “Well, I wanted to talk to you boys together, but that’s not possible with everyone’s busy schedules. But I can’t keep it to myself any longer. You know I can’t keep a secret if my life depended on it.”
“You did a pretty good job keeping your overlapping marriages to Bo and my dad a secret from me and Wyatt for all these years,” he mused.
She glared at him. “Bad example. That falls under grown folks business.”
“I had a right to know.”
“You have a right to know you were a natural lefty, but I convinced you to use your right hand.” She wagged a finger at him.
“What?” He wiggled his left hand.
“But that’s water under the bridge.”
“That explains why I prefer to wear my watch on my right hand. I know it’s not done, but it always felt better to me.”
“Well, now you know.” She started pacing again.
“Mom.” Corbett put his hands on her shoulders. “What is it that you’re trying to tell me?”
“Bo and I have been talking about living together.” She looked up at him.
“Oh.” He moved back and put his hands on his hips. The news shouldn’t have been a surprise, but he couldn’t help feeling like he’d just been sucker punched by his own mother. “Well, that’s good news.”
She gave him a look. “Your body language says otherwise.”
He dropped his hands to his sides. “It’s just that it’s a surprise and not a surprise. I figured you’d want to take your relationship to the next level eventually. When’s the wedding?”
Great. Both his parents had hotter love lives than he did.
“Hold on.” Bonnie touched the brim of her hat. “Nobody said anything about marriage.”
“He’s not marrying you?” He ran a hand over his face.
Bonnie laughed. “We don’t have to be married to share a home.”
“This from the woman who’s been married three times,” he said under his breath.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.” He rubbed the back of his neck, letting it all sink in.
“This also means I will be putting the house up for sale.”
“What?”
“Yeah. I’m in Texas most of the time anyway.”
“Wow.”
“I know it’s a bit of a surprise.”
“No, this is a shock to the system.”
“Corbett.” She cupped his face with her hands. “I know the past several months have been hard on you. Breaking up with Courtney. Seeing Anna Beth in secret. Don’t get me started on why you wanted to keep it quiet. I can’t—”
It was time to go. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Mom. Have a great vacation. I think it’s time I go home.”
“For what? No one’s going to be there. Your dad is going to some hippie hot spring with Glynis.”
“It’s not my fault no one’s going to be there.” He pouted like a child. “I’d rather drown my sorrows at my own place.”
“That sounds like an awful way to spend the holidays.” Bo Sr. stepped onto the porch with a mug in his hand. “Good to see you, Corbett.”
“Bo. I hear congrats are in order on your shacking up—” Corbett stopped when he saw the look his mom was giving him. “Moving in with my mother.”
“Thank you. We were hoping you boys would think it was a good idea.”
His mother looked him in the eye. “Why don’t you stay in town and do something useful?” she suggested.
“Like what?”
Bo Sr. grinned. “I know the Blake Foundation is looking for help for a charity event at the stadium. I’m sure Morgan and the ladies would appreciate it. You’d be helping give someone in need a little hope. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find some hope of your own.”
“That’s excellent.” Bonnie beamed. “The event at the stadium for the kids. Taking photos
, handing out toys. It’s perfect.”
“I don’t know if I’m in the mood for tidings and good cheer. And kids.”
“You get in the mood Corbett Connelly. This family doesn’t turn a blind eye to a person in need. That event at the stadium will be the bright spot in some of those kids’ holiday. I’m sure that’s more important than whatever you have planned at home.”
“OK.” He held his hands up. “You’re right.”
“I’ll call Teri-Lyn and tell her to put you on the roster.” Bonnie smiled, then it faded. “I’m worried about you. We’re going to have a long talk when I get back from my trip.”
“Mom. I’m fine.” He leaned against the wooden porch railing.
“You have five o’clock shadow and you look like you just got out of bed. My Corbett is always neat and clean.”
And boring. For a person raised by unconventional parents, he’d been straitlaced most of his life. He liked the rugged look he’d been sporting lately. He’d made a few changes to his attitude and wardrobe since his split with Courtney. He no longer felt the pressure to be perfect, and that had opened up his world tremendously. He didn’t calculate everything. He threw caution to the wind and had fun. The daring new attitude was what sent him marching to Blake Enterprises to ask Anna Beth out on a date.
“Bed head is in right now.” He ran a hand through his hair.
“Bonnie, leave the boy alone.” Bo Sr. put his arm around her shoulders. “Can’t you see he’s nursing a broken heart? Look at him. Everyone who’s talked to him says he’s in a mood.”
“But I can help—”
“Trust me, darlin’. Corbett just needs some time to sort things out on his own.” Bo Sr. winked at him.
“OK.” She turned to Corbett. “But if you need me, I’ll be right here.”
“I know.” He kissed her on the forehead.
Bonnie strode back into the house to call Teri-Lyn. When she was out of earshot, he turned to Bo Sr. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sure one of these days you’ll pull your head out of your butt and go after that Anna Beth. She’s special and awfully pretty. How long do you think she’s going to stay single?”
Begin Again (The Blake Boys Book 18) Page 5