The C.E.O. & the Cookie Queen

by Victoria Chancellor

  “Hey, big sister,” Carole yelled, rushing down the steps.

  Kerry handed her baby to the big guy, who’d been joined by an equally imposing man in a dark suit, and held her arms out to Carole. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” Carole said, pulling back. “I didn’t know how much I needed to talk to you until this afternoon. It’s like you read my mind.”

  “No, I just listened to Mom. What she said and what she didn’t say. You, little sister, have problems.”

  Carole felt her lip tremble as if she were still a child. “You’re right, I do. And I don’t know what to do about it.”

  “Aunt Princess Kerry!” Jenny squealed, running down the steps.

  They all hugged, then went into the house with the very healthy and vocal Prince Alexander. He hadn’t liked being confined in his car seat and wanted everyone to know about it. Fortunately, Jenny offered to take him into the newly cleaned kitchen, where he could crawl around on the floor to his heart’s content.

  “So, what happened with Johnny Ray? Mom told me the story.”

  “I don’t know yet. Greg said we should let the lawyers handle it.”

  “Greg?”

  “Mama didn’t tell you?”

  “No, she left out that juicy morsel.”

  “I’m shocked.” Carole took a deep breath. “He’s the C.E.O. of Huntington Foods and he came down here to ask me to be the new spokesperson for the company.”

  “Wow. The real Ms. Carole. Finally.”

  “You just assumed I said yes.”

  “Mom told me you were in Chicago taping commercials. I made a giant leap. So, tell me about Greg.”

  She looked into the kitchen and saw Jenny on the floor, rolling a ball to the future king of Belegovia. Carole leaned forward and said in a low voice, “He’s…I’m in love with him…I think.”

  “You think?”

  “I knew I was in love with him in Chicago,” she whispered, “but then I got a message from Mama about Johnny Ray, and I knew I’d made a big mistake. Again. I knew I shouldn’t be there in Chicago, all dressed up as Ms. Carole, giving interviews and smiling into cameras. What do I know about publicity? For that matter, what do I know about men?”

  “Shh,” Kerry said. “Answer this. Why do you love Greg?”

  Carole leaned back in her chair and frowned. “This all happened so fast. I don’t know how to answer that question.”

  “Right now, do you feel like you love him?”

  “I don’t know. I think I do, but then everything else comes into my mind. My poor decisions in the past. My roots in small-town Texas. Greg says he loves me and I believe him, but I’m not sure I can do this.”

  “Do what, sweetie?”

  “Be the love of his life. Be the savior of his company’s reputation. Be the best mother I can be to my daughter, who has a big jerk for a biological father.” She shook her head. “Sometimes it’s too much, Kerry.”

  Kerry moved to sit on the side of the chair and put her arm around her little sister. The same sister who had caused so much family grief at the time Kerry was graduating from high school and worrying about how she was going to pay for college.

  “It’s okay. We all feel that way. You just have a few more issues, that’s all. And this is all new to you. All this relationship angst and self-doubt. You’ve been so mature and competent for so long that you aren’t used to being insecure about yourself as a woman or a mother.”

  “Until I met Greg, I didn’t know what it meant to be a woman.”

  “Ah, so it’s like that. Well, good for you.”

  Carole frowned. “Why do you say that?”

  “Because now you know what the rest of us who are in love know. It’s not always easy. It’s often not convenient. Lord knows, falling in love with a prince in four days wasn’t exactly on my agenda while I was graduating from college. Getting pregnant when I’d just started a new job wasn’t a good idea. But hey, those things happen. And you know what? I wouldn’t change a thing. I love Alexi with all my heart.”

  “Do you ever wish you could just turn back the clock? That you weren’t in the truck stop when he came in?”

  “No. Never.” Kerry took her hand. “Do you ever wish Greg hadn’t sought you out to represent his company? Do you wish you hadn’t gotten involved with him?”

  Carole sat back in her chair and gazed into the wise, beautiful face of her big sister. And just then the door burst open and all her guests arrived, potluck dishes in hand.

  CAROLE’S GUESTS were just finishing seconds of her mother’s coconut layer cake and Gwendolyn’s strawberry trifle when there was a knock at the door. Kerry and Alex’s two unobtrusive bodyguards, who had been eating in the living room rather than around the crowded table, answered it with stern faces before the family could respond.

  Carole heard the hum of men’s voices, but she couldn’t see beyond the men’s broad backs into the dusk. She felt drawn, though, as if someone was calling her. Someone who shouldn’t be here until tomorrow.

  “Greg?” she said softly as she skirted the hulks and looked outside.

  “Carole,” he said softly, “would you tell these gentlemen that it’s okay for me to come in?”

  “Of course. This is Greg Rafferty, C.E.O. of Huntington Foods. He’s…expected.”

  Carole stepped back with a tentative smile. Greg’s expression, as was so often the case, was unreadable, yet intense. He stepped into her small foyer off the living room, but the door didn’t close right away. She saw another man’s shape outlined by the porch light, but didn’t recognize him. Had Greg brought a guest? A business associate?

  “Mr. Rafferty!” Jenny exclaimed, bursting into the room with energy to burn. “I’m so glad you came to our potluck supper. I really missed you. Puff missed you, too.”

  Greg hunkered down until he was at eye level. “He did? Well, I’ll have to give him a special treat when I see him.”

  “Yeah,” her crafty daughter said, “treats are nice.”

  Greg laughed, but then his smile faded. He stood up, but kept one hand on Jenny’s shoulder. He turned to look at the other man, whom Carole had forgotten about while watching the interchange between Greg and Jenny. They looked so darn good together.

  Like father and daughter. There. She’d at least internally voiced the words that she dared not speak.

  “Carole, Jenny, there’s someone here who needs to talk to you.”

  Someone behind them flipped on the overhead light. Only then did she see who stood inside her home. A collective gasp from her family and friends indicated they’d noticed, too.

  “Johnny Ray,” she whispered, feeling her legs turn to lime gelatin. “What the…heck are you doing here?”

  “Hello there, Carole. You look real good, darlin’.” He grinned as though he didn’t have a care in the world, then looked down at his daughter. The child he never wanted or acknowledged. “And you must be Jennifer Lynn. Mr. Rafferty told me all about you.”

  “Daddy?” Jennifer said, holding tight to Carole’s side.

  “I guess I am at that, but believe me, little darlin’, that’s a title no one’s used on me before.”

  “Why are you here?” Carole asked, her voice sounding more harsh than she’d intended as she hugged Jenny closer.

  “Greg here asked me to come so we could straighten everything out. I hope this isn’t a bad time for you.”

  As if that would really bother him. “No, this is a great time. The whole family is here. Of course, you didn’t really get to meet them before. My mother, Charlene Jacks, who drove to Nashville in the family station wagon to bring me home. My older sister, Kerry, who is now a princess, and her son Alexander. My younger sister, Cheryl, who has often threatened to—well, never mind. And these are my friends, Hank and Gwendolyn McCauley. She’s an English lady, by the way, so don’t pour on the good-ol’-boy routine too thick.”

  “No need to be snippy, Carole,” he said, slightly peeved.
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  “No need to be gracious, either, until I find out why you’re here.”

  “I asked him to come,” Greg replied, “so we could clear up everything once and for all.”

  She narrowed her eyes at the man she might just love. “I thought the lawyers were supposed to handle this.”

  Greg shrugged. “They were too slow. I preferred the more direct route.”

  “He’s a real straight shooter, Carole. You might try keepin’ this one.”

  She glared at her ex-husband. She had to admit he looked good. Of course, he was a big star now. Or at least a star. He wasn’t Garth Brooks or George Strait. At some point Johnny must have stopped drinking and smoking dope, because he didn’t look like the dissipated slob she’d imagined for years, despite seeing his photo in the magazines when she couldn’t avoid it, or hearing his songs on the radio if she didn’t turn it off fast enough.

  “Carole, we’d best be going so you can talk. Call me in the morning, you hear?” her mother said.

  “Do you want me here?” Kerry asked.

  “Only if you can loan me your bodyguards for about thirty minutes…later, if needed.”

  Kerry gave an evil chuckle. “I’ll be at the Robin’s Nest if you need me, in the shabby chic room. These two,” she said, eyeing the stern-faced men, “will be in the cowboy suite.” A sleepy baby Alex nestled against her chest as they all departed for the Land Rover.

  “Gwendolyn and I are only a stone’s throw away if you need us,” Hank reminded her, heading for the door.

  “Lovely to meet you,” Gwendolyn said to Johnny Ray in a frosty voice that implied anything but.

  Carole’s mother came up and hugged her, then turned to her former son-in-law. “Don’t you dare do or say anything to hurt this family or you’ll be singing a higher note, you hear me?” Carole had rarely heard her mother use that tone of voice.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Johnny Ray said, not appearing too chastised. Well, why should he be? He was nearly thirty, rich, famous and good-looking. He probably didn’t have a care in the world.

  “That goes double for me,” Cheryl said, taking their mother’s arm.

  “Good night, Mama,” Carole said as Charlene gave one last glare at Johnny before heading for her car.

  Finally all the guests were gone except Greg and Johnny Ray. Jenny still clung to her, uncertain as only a child can be when faced with adult issues.

  “Let’s have a seat. If you’re hungry, go grab some food. My family brought enough for an army.”

  “Maybe later,” Greg said, taking a seat on the couch. Carole sat beside him, but not too close. Jenny sat beside her. Right beside her. Johnny Ray took the big easy chair opposite them.

  “Carole, I understand your mother got a call from my manager. I’m real sorry if he upset her. I’ll have a talk with him tomorrow.”

  “Yes, she was upset. Are you telling me that you didn’t instruct him to threaten us with legal action?”

  Johnny shook his head. “He might have taken it that way, but that’s not what I meant.” He looked at Jennifer and smiled. “You sure are a pretty girl. You look a lot like your mother, but you’ve got a little of my coloring, don’t you?” He leaned back as if he were studying the situation. “The truth is, Jennifer, that your mama and I got married real young. Too young. I had to take her to Arkansas so we could get married right away, without her mama’s consent. And I shouldn’t have done that. All I can say is that I was young and stupid.”

  “Why did you do it, then?”

  “Ah, darlin’, that’s a long story and kind of personal between me and your mama. Let’s just say I wasn’t ready to be a husband or a father.”

  “Oh.”

  “Truth is, I never thought about having a kid. Er, a child. I guess I knew I wasn’t ready. When your mama said she was going to have a baby, I just didn’t know what to do. I freaked out for a while.”

  “But what about now? I wrote you a letter. Uncle Hank helped me mail it. I just wanted you to call me.”

  Johnny shook his head. “I never got your letter, but I’m sure it was a good one. You see, I have a bunch of people who work for me and do things like sort my mail and just give me the things I’m looking for. And Jenny, I know this doesn’t sound very nice, but I wasn’t ever lookin’ to be a father. I still don’t know the first thing about havin’ a child. I’m what they call a biological father, not a real daddy.”

  “You don’t want me to be your daughter?” Carole hugged her baby close as she heard the insecurity in Jenny’s voice. The same type of insecurity Carole often saw in herself. She just wanted someone to love her. That’s all anyone wanted, she supposed.

  “I think you have a great family right here in Ranger Springs. Your mama and your grandmother, your aunts and everyone else. They all love you because they’ve known you for a long time. Me? I don’t have much time to get to know people. I travel a lot and don’t see my friends much when I’m on the road. I don’t have time for a family.”

  “Oh. That doesn’t sound like it’s very fun,” Jenny said.

  “You might be right, but I sure do like a good audience,” Johnny said with a big grin. His smile faded as he leaned forward, his attention focused solely on Jenny. “Now, I’m not much of a father figure, I admit. But I know someone who is. See this man?” he asked, pointing to Greg. “He’s a really nice guy and I think he loves you a lot. He’d make a terrific dad. If I were you, I’d get my mama to marry him right away so you could be a real family.”

  “Marry Greg?” Jenny asked, temporarily distracted by this new concept. “I thought he was a C.E.O. and kept getting you to do things you didn’t want to do.”

  Carole shrugged and forced a smile. “Sometimes. Sometimes he gets me to do things I want to do.”

  He grinned back. “I have my moments.”

  “If my mom married you, would you be my dad?”

  “If she would do me the honor, I would marry her in a minute and be your daddy forever.”

  Jenny frowned, looking between Johnny Ray and Greg as Carole’s heart raced and blood pounded so loud she didn’t think she could hear her daughter speak.

  “Er, Jenny, I think I need to discuss something this serious with Mr. Rafferty alone.”

  “Okay,” she said, standing up with the sudden resiliency of youth. “I’ll take my biological father out to see Puff.”

  “No, you won’t. It’s dark outside and…well, I just don’t want you wandering around at night.”

  “Can I sit in here and talk to him then? You and Mr. Rafferty can go to your room. But don’t be gone too long. I want to get this father issue settled right away.”

  “Jenny! It’s not that easy.”

  “Sure it is, Carole,” Johnny Ray advised. “Look, go talk with your boyfriend. I’m not going anywhere. Greg here drove over from the airport. I’ll talk to Jennifer, get to know her better. I hear she’s got a really nice steer that won county 4-H grand champion.”

  “Carole?” Greg asked.

  “Okay, but neither one of you are going anywhere,” she said, giving Jenny the look that usually kept her in line.

  Greg took her hand and helped her up from the couch. She led him into the guest bedroom, which she also used as an office, keeping the door open so she could hear a door shut or Jenny make any noise. She still didn’t trust Johnny Ray, even though he was being pretty nice. He’d explained the situation to Jenny with a surprising level of sensitivity.

  “I haven’t had time to prepare for this,” Greg said, bringing her attention back to him. Back to them. “I didn’t make a side trip to a jewelry store or talk to my attorney or anything. I don’t want a prenuptial agreement, nor do I have any preconceived notions about the type of wedding we should have.”

  He knelt in front of her chair, taking her hands in his. “All I know is that I want to marry you, Carole Lynn Jacks. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Jenny, and maybe produce a couple of brothers or sisters for her to play with. She’d make a
great big sister.”

  “Yes, she would,” Carole said softly, running her fingers over the back of his hand. “And what are we going to do about the fact that your job and your family are in Chicago? Everything I know and love is here in Texas.”

  “Do you love me?”

  “With all my heart.”

  “Then everything we both love will be with us always, no matter where we are. We can get a house just outside Chicago, someplace big with room to grow. And we can come back to Texas for long weekends and all the holidays, whenever you want. We’ll build a bigger house here on your land, if you’d like. Whatever you want, we’ll work it out.”

  “If my sister could compromise on marrying a prince of a foreign country, I think I could learn to live in Chicago—at least part time. As long as I can come back to Texas.”

  “When I retire from being C.E.O. of Huntington, which might be in another ten years or so, we’ll retire down here. I’ll learn to be more than a catalog cowboy, and you can bake to your heart’s content. How does that sound?”

  She thought about it for a minute, then looped her arms around Greg’s neck and grinned. “If you think you’re going to retire and lie around the house with nothing to do but eat my cookies at the ripe old age of forty-two, you’re got another think coming.”

  “Ms. Carole,” Greg drawled, “I’m planning on eating a whole lot of your cookies before, during and after my forty-second birthday. Now give me a kiss and tell me again how much you love me, because I’ve got to admit, bringing your famous ex-husband home to talk was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”

  “And one of the nicest. Thank you for giving us the peace of mind we could never have gotten through lawyers.”

  “You’re very welcome. And now, maybe we’d better go back in there before Jenny makes him commit to dedicating his next album to her pet steer.”