So on top of everything else, she’d probably lost this contract. The sleep hadn’t helped either. She had a monster headache and would have been better off staying awake.
She tried to settle her panic and couldn’t. How did she explain this to Sully? She still had to make a birthday cake and deliver it by five. In a messy-as-hell kitchen.
Maybe it was time to quit. Maybe she should do a resume, start looking for a regular job and move far, far away.
If she thought for one minute that the crushing pain would go away, she’d do it. Her entire being was crying out for Shane and her brain was arguing loudly and vehemently against giving him a second chance to hurt her.
She turned into the Low Down parking lot, drove to the delivery door in the back and was blocked by a repair truck.
“Great.” She backed out of the narrow alley and parked as close to the front door as she could get.
Inside, she looked for Sully. She sighed in relief to find only a few people in the restaurant, so maybe this disaster was salvageable. Sully was behind the bar talking with a woman.
She gave herself a quick pep talk, took a deep breath and went to the bar.
Sully came around and met her. “There you are. I was starting to get worried. You okay?”
“I’m so sorry. Made desserts, then fell asleep. It won’t happen again. I added another dessert in free of charge.”
Sully smiled. “Not a problem. Slow morning. I think the heat has lots of people holed up.”
“There’s a repair truck parked by the back entrance. I couldn’t get in.”
“I’ll go have him move it.”
She had to say it. Had to know. “Sully, are you going to fire me?”
Sully screwed up his face. “Why would I want to do that? People love your desserts. You’re good for business. Stuff happens, including my cousin being stupid.”
“So you heard?”
“It would have been hard not to in this family.”
“Did you hire me because I was Shane’s girlfriend?”
Sully dropped to a stool, his mouth set and serious. “I hired you before I knew you were Shane’s girlfriend. I don’t mix business and personal. One has nothing to do with the other. I tested your product before I agreed to hire you.”
“What about now? Now that I’m not his girlfriend anymore?”
“I don’t mix business and personal.”
The woman behind him cleared her throat. Sully turned and scowled. Kendra finally gave her a good look.
Her stomach clenched. “Amy Rose, right?”
The woman held out her hand. “Amy Rose O’Hare. Yes, I’m Shane’s sister-in-law. Didn’t know who you were when we met before either.”
She wanted to be rude, but still felt bad for being late, so she shook Amy Rose’s hand.
“After you unload your desserts, would you sit down and talk with me for a minute?”
“I really need to…”
“Please, seriously, you look like you could use a friend and I may have just gotten married, but Jess and I were split up for a while before that. I understand how you feel. I only want to talk…and get a taste of your desserts.” Her smile was genuine and friendly and made Kendra feel isolated and alone.
“All right. Let me get my car unloaded.”
Sully finally chimed in. “You want some lunch? On the house?”
She juggled her keys in her hand. “I’m late on the delivery and you offer me a free lunch?”
Sully stood. “Lunch is personal, not business.”
She didn’t know what to say.
“How about the lunch special? Beef barley soup and a roasted turkey sandwich.”
“Sully, you didn’t tell me you had turkey.” Amy Rose had a pretty pout.
“Honey, the way you’re eating, you can have the turkey with Kendra and still eat the club with Jess.”
Kendra looked from one to the other.
“Great.” Amy Rose smiled, then shooed her. “Go. Get your desserts unloaded. I want a taste.”
Sully rolled his eyes. “She’s pregnant and eating for four.”
“What?” Kendra stared at Amy’s stomach, then realized what she was doing.
Amy Rose laughed. “Yeah, triplets. Yes, I’m panicked. Trying to ignore it at the moment, but I am starting to eat everything in sight.”
Kendra smiled. “I think I would be, too.”
Amy Rose’s cell phone vibrated. “I’ll get us a booth over there. Okay, Sully?”
“Yeah, take the one in the back corner.”
“By your poker table?”
Sully gave her a pained look. “You are really full of it today.”
“Have pity. Jess has had me trapped since he found out this baby is babies.” She patted her tummy. “The only way I could keep him calm was to keep my feet up and let him pamper me.”
Kendra smiled at the two of them. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll see you at the table.” Amy Rose picked up her cellphone and glanced at the readout.
Sully went past her to the kitchen. “I’ll meet you in the back by the door and help you.”
She went outside and stood on the wide porch for a minute, struggling to stifle tears and breathe. Relief flooded through her, yet it was mixed with trepidation about the impending conversation with Amy Rose.
“At least Sully isn’t mad.” She went to her car and drove back to the side door. While they were talking, the repairman had left. Sully was waiting at the door.
He took two trays of desserts and she took two inside.
He set the desserts on the serving counter in the back corner of the kitchen. “You know, say the word, and you could use the restaurant to bake this stuff instead of transporting from home. I have an empty store room in the back that you could use for your supplies.”
Stunned, Kendra juggled one of the trays. “Why would you do that?”
“Shane’s family.”
“Shane and I aren’t together anymore.”
“You sure about that?”
She choked on an answer. “Thought you said business and personal was separate.”
“It is. This is still a separate business transaction. But wouldn’t it be easier to bake these here and not have to transport them?”
Infinitely. But she wasn’t ready for that and she liked keeping all her business concerns in her own kitchen. “I appreciate the thought, Sully. But I think for now I’d like to keep doing it the way I already am.”
“Okay, but keep it in mind.”
She unloaded the rest of her car in silence.
Sully lifted the lid on the last one. “This is new?”
“Yeah, Caramel carrot cake. If you like it, I’d like to add it. Thought it would be a good mix with your menu.”
“Do it. This one is already sold.”
“You buying?”
“Nope. Amy Rose loves carrot cake. Sending it home with her.”
“What does she want to talk to me about, Sully? Because really I can’t take any more.” Tears rose and she swallowed hard against them.
His eyes shifted away from hers. “I don’t know for sure.”
“Liar.”
He raised a hand. “I’m not in the middle of this, don’t want in the middle of this, won’t be in the middle of this. But you do look like you could use a friend and Amy Rose is aa true blue as anyone. I’ll put in your order.”
She sighed. She wouldn’t get anything else out of him. She started to the back door.
“And Kendra?”
“Yes?” She turned around to look at him.
“If you’re late again, could you remember that I love blueberry muffins?” He grinned, his dark hair falling across his forehead.
She chuckled silently. “I’ll make a note.”
She went outside and moved her car back to the front. She was not hungry and was reluctant to sit for an extended period of time with Amy Rose because she didn’t need to be cross-examined about Shane. She didn’t want to
even talk about Shane. She’d cry because it hurt so damn much. She couldn’t do that in front of his sister-in-law.
She detoured to the bathroom and washed her hands. Her face was pale as powdered sugar and she pinched her cheeks. It didn’t help. “To hell with it.”
She left the bathroom and made her way to the back, happy to note that more tables were occupied in the large, popular restaurant.
Amy Rose gave her a little wave.
She slid into the seat. A glass of water on the table awaited her. She took a desperate swallow to wet her throat and calm her nerves.
“I know you have to be reluctant to sit here and talk to me.”
The fact that Amy Rose was so on target helped her relax. “A bit.”
“Well, we won’t talk about you know who. Okay?”
Kendra nodded, still uncertain. “Okay. Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you single me out for lunch? It is because of Shane.”
Amy Rose sat quiet for a minute. “I could say a lot about him. I’ve known him since high school. But I won’t. It’s not what you need to hear.”
“Honestly, I don’t know what I need to hear or if I even want to.”
“I think what I want to tell you is this. He told us about your father. I’m having difficulties with my own father at present, so I get how this played out.” Pain flashed through her eyes, then was gone. “But I think you have to look at the intent behind the lie.”
“You sound like a lawyer.” She took another sip of water.
Amy Rose gave a little laugh. “Too much time in law school. What I mean is some people lie because they are mean and hurtful and have an agenda. Others lie because they don’t like their lives and have to make themselves more important. Still others lie to protect people or themselves from dozens of things. Our lives aren’t filled with absolutes. It isn’t black or white. It’s generally big wide shades of messy gray that run from legal to illegal, emotional to delusional.”
“Now you sound like a psychologist.”
Amy Rose reached for her hand. “Give Shane some time to work things through. He has a big messy shade of gray on his plate and it got away from him.”
Tears filled Kendra’s eyes and she sniffed, trying again to hold them back.
Amy Rose squeezed her hand and reached in her bag for a tissue. “That’s all I have to say. We can talk about the weather, or baby stuff, or desserts.” She handed over the tissue and released her hand.
Kendra blew her nose. “What I hate is that I hardly slept last night. I have this crying headache and my nose is raw from blowing it. I miss him so damn much I couldn’t sleep in my own bed, and I want to beat him upside the head.” The words poured out without any thought.
Amy Rose handed her another tissue. “Yep, I’ve been there, too.”
An older waitress arrived and set their food on the table. Her perky “Can I get you anything else?” made Kendra clench her teeth.
“No, this is fine, Joyce.” Amy Rose seemed to handle everything with calm efficiency and Kendra said so.
“Had a few moments recently where calm wasn’t in my vocabulary. These O’Hare men….” She rolled her eyes.
Kendra stared at the food in front of her. “I’m not really hungry.”
“I’d tell you to eat and keep your strength up, but that’s a load of crap. I couldn’t eat when I was broken up with Jess, although part of that was morning sickness.”
Kendra stared across the restaurant to Sully talking to another woman. Finally, she turned back to Amy Rose. “What do I do?” She whispered out the words.
“Give him a chance. I think you’ll figure it out.”
The words were like a lifeline and she held on to them with all her emotional might.
∞∞∞∞
Shane didn’t know where Kendra was, but he was glad she had been gone for so long. He’d expected to get into the house, drop the pink rose on the counter and get back out, but her kitchen was a disaster zone, there was a blanket on the sofa and her bed had been stripped and dumped on the floor.
He got in the linen closet and made her bed with fresh sheets. He folded the blanket, straightened the living room then did a quick run with the vacuum. Fire station cleaning rules combined with his mother’s training had him whipping through chores without much thought.
Then he tackled the kitchen. An hour later, he was wiping down the counters and only had the floor to mop. She still wasn’t home and should have been.
He didn’t want to make her mad, but it was his fault she was not following her usual habits and schedules. The evidence was crushing him. He had stuff that needed saying, but he was so confused in his own head, he wasn’t sure he wouldn’t open his mouth and make things worse.
He found the mop in the cupboard right next to the broom and quickly cleaned the floor, then started her sheets in the washing machine. He took the garbage out, then found her supplies grocery list and took a picture of it with his phone. If the stubborn woman wanted to leave his two hundred dollars on her desk, she could. But there was going to be supplies in the cupboard tomorrow and her lawn needed mowed.
He found a white sheet of paper and left her a note.
Our deal was I’d do the dishes. I tried the carrot cake. Really good. Love, Shane
He let himself out of the house and went to his truck. He was working for the next two days, so he had to start trying to make amends today. He hoped coming home to a clean house qualified for one of the little things Nick had been talking about. He didn’t know how else to tell her he wasn’t letting go.
∞∞∞ ∞∞∞
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jess couldn’t have been more uncomfortable if he’d stripped naked and walked through Dallas Cowboy Stadium on Thanksgiving Day. Each chair in Edgar Adams’ law firm waiting area cost more than Jess’s custom-made saddles. The art work was some abstract splashing that probably had an incomprehensible price tag. The coffee was premium expensive served in a fancy tea cup. He took another sip and rolled the robust flavor around on his tongue.
He was glad Amy Rose had gone to town. She would have gotten suspicious when he brought out his best suit and shined his dress up cowboy boots. She wouldn’t have let him come alone. But some things a man had to take care of. Confronting Amy Rose’s father was one of them. He had no doubt who was driving the non-communication problem and he was damn tired of seeing Amy Rose’s tears over parents that were so cavalier with her love and loyalty.
Determined to stop this issue before the mess slopped over on his children, he’d called and made an appointment under another name so Edgar wouldn’t refuse to see him. Since Edgar’s clients were from a high income level, he went to some pains to look the part, but damn did he wish he was back in the barn with his comfortable jeans and boots and talking with his daddy who didn’t have a single uppity bone in his body.
“Mr. Drury, Mr. Adams will see you now.” Jess rose, hiding private amusement behind a somber face. The old man probably hadn’t even recognized the name he used – James Drury, The Virginian – from the old popular television series.
He handed his teacup to the receptionist and followed the assistant down the long hall. The thick pile carpet pulled at his boots. The air smelled of leather and cigar smoke. The ornate oak doors and gold etched names on the doorplates screamed pretentious. Edgar’s office was at the end of the hall and was a double door monstrosity that didn’t need any inner sanctum label.
The assistant opened the door. “Please go in.”
He walked in and she shut the door behind him. Edgar’s chair was turned to take in the view across downtown Dallas from the wall of windows. The office was big even by big office standards. He wasn’t surprised. The space matched Edgar’s ego.
“So Mr. Drury, you insisted on seeing me. What is it I can do for you?” Edgar swirled his chair, got a look at Jess, and the cordial expression died.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to di
scuss something of mutual interest.”
“We have nothing to say to each other. She made her choice.”
“Not true. We do have things to say.” He picked a sofa to the side of the big massive dictator desk and forced Edgar to rise and move to him. It was a small victory, but helped his resolve. “Your ranch burned down.”
Edgar stood over him for a moment and Jess could imagine the debate raging behind those bland, calculating eyes. Then he eased into a high-back chair to Jess’s left and precisely adjusted his suit pants. “It was for the best.”
“For who? You? Certainly not for Amy Rose who loved your mother’s place. She lost all her possessions and all your mother’s and is having a hard time with that. The insurance is tied up because you refuse to handle the claim. So explain it to me. Does she deserve more punishment because she didn’t do what you wanted?”
“She’s your wife now. Take care of her. Replace her items.”
“Yes, she is my wife now. Thank you for the polite regrets for our wedding. My friends and family came to her rescue and walked her down the aisle. I’ll remember that slight.”
Edgar had the good sense to blush. “Again, I’ll say she made her choice.”
Jess leaned forward. “So let’s get down to business. She’s out of your life, right? You don’t want the land. Sell it to me.”
Edgar’s composure slipped before he masked his expression again.
Good. He’d surprised him.
“Why?”
“Because Amy Rose is pregnant. In less than six months, she’s going to give birth to three beautiful babies.” He was gratified by the surprise in the man’s expression. “Yes, I said three. That land may mean nothing to you, but it’s a legacy – hers and mine, together for our children.”
“Land out there is expensive. You can’t afford it.”
“Edgar, my family owns three times that amount of land. Trust me, I know the value of what I have and what I want.”
Edgar sat silent, his eyes slits, and Jess had no doubt he was calculating every advantage. “Why should I agree?”
Pumpkins, Cowboys & Guitars Page 41