by Barbara Lohr
“Thanks for inviting me, although I think McKenna took care of that.”
“You bring a breath of fresh air from the Midwest.”
“A cold breath, although I do love Chicago. You know, the bustle of a big city.” Or had Seth taught her to appreciate his hometown? He’d taken her to all the ball games, Buckingham Fountain and even the zoo.
Delete. Delete. She was going to enjoy her time here, not wallow in memories.
When they entered the coolness of the parking garage, Harper led her to a black SUV. “Most of your family still in Michigan?” Clicking her remote, Harper popped open the trunk and Selena swung her bag inside.
“My parents settled in Kalamazoo, and two of my brothers and my younger sister live there too. McKenna may have mentioned that Rafael, my oldest brother, married a girl from Santa Fe. He teaches high school out there and so does his wife Ana. “ She slid into the passenger seat next to Harper.
“I hear that’s where we’ll be for McKenna’s wedding. I’m excited and so is Cameron.” Harper snapped her seatbelt shut and Selena did the same. In no time, they’d exited the parking garage.
Taking in the greenery by the side of the road, Selena smiled. “Palm trees? Are you kidding me?”
Harper gave her a sideways glance. “McKenna said you’re having a rough time right now.”
“You could call it that.”
“My brother’s not easy.”
“Sometimes I wonder if I’m expecting too much.” Had Selena ever heard her father tell her mother that he loved her? Those signs of affection weren’t common when she was growing up. But her parents did have a partnership with shared goals. Did she have that with Seth? They'd never sketched out a future together.
As they passed a huge sign for the Airstream Corporation, Harper gave her a glance that reminded her of McKenna. “I guess that’s up to you, Selena. What do you want from a man?”
“Good question. Part of me wants to be a career woman. I love my midwifery work with McKenna and the years of training weren’t easy. I’m not about to walk away from all that.”
Harper broke into a chortle. “That will never be you, Selena. Besides, can’t a woman be married and still work, even after the kids? I doubt that McKenna will give up her career after she marries Logan. What’s your plan?”
Selena’s throat tightened. “We never got to that part. I would love to be married and still work, at least part-time. But I don’t know if Seth feels that way. Just never came up.”
They’d come to a stoplight and Harper hit the brake hard. Selena jerked forward, seatbelt tight across her chest.
“Sorry, Selena. Are you kidding me? Seth never talks about marriage? He’s crazy about you.”
The pleased heat bathing Selena’s face felt almost embarrassing. “Is he? Really?”
The light changed to green and Harper pulled away. “Whenever I get him on the phone, all he does is talk about you.”
“He does?” She tried to squelch the hope fluttering in her heart.
“Absolutely. I ask him how he’s doing, what his next step is. But all he does is talk about the latest pair of twins you’ve delivered or a difficult breech birth. He’s so proud of you.”
“Next step for Seth? What do you mean?”
“Oh, you know. He’s an emergency tech but shouldn’t he be taking classes to be a paramedic? After all, he’s almost thirty. Seems like he should be moving on with his career in emergency medicine. He thrives on it.”
By this time they’d turned onto Hwy 94 and the only sound was the hum of the tires. Sitting silent, Selena mulled over Harper’s words. Had she been so self-centered that she’d never even considered that the man she loved hadn’t worked out his career goals? “Oh, Díos mío,” she groaned.
“What? Don’t you think Seth should continue his education, while he’s still working? From my experience, getting a degree doesn’t ensure a job. My family supported me through college, and Seth was part of that. I was grateful not to have a loan when I graduated here in Savannah. But I felt so stupid not having a job after everything my family had done for me. Cameron helped me put all that together. Takes a little work. Couldn’t Seth take the classes at night?”
“Of course he could.” Selena’s voice sounded as hollow as she felt. “I never asked him about this. Where was my head?” She felt terrible.
Reaching over, Harper squeezed Selena’s hand. “Now, don’t go blaming yourself. Seth’s a big boy. This should be his decision.”
“Yes, but we should have talked this over, I guess.”
Harper snorted. “Sure. Right. Like a Kirkpatrick man is going to allow that. Look at Connor and Amanda. From what I understand, he never admitted that becoming a father terrified him. Five years trying to become a dad and they never covered that topic?”
Propping an elbow against the closed widow, Selena rested her head on one hand. “I feel so stupid.”
“Don’t blame yourself. This has to be Seth’s choice.”
“Right. And loving me has to be his decision too.”
“Of course he loves you. He might not know how to say it. The boy’s never been good with words.” Harper glanced over and the SUV bobbled.
“Watch the road, okay, Harper? You’re making me nervous.” But Harper’s words bothered Selena more than her driving.
“Sorry.” Harper refocused her attention on the road ahead but her forehead stayed puckered. “You mean my brother’s never even told you that he loves you? How long have you been dating?”
“Two years,” Selena said on a defeated sigh. “And no. No he hasn’t. We have no plans.”
“Wow.” Amazement echoed in Harper’s voice. “What's going on with him?”
“Not your problem. As you said, Seth’s a big boy.” Selena didn’t want this mini-vacation to become a painful therapy session with Seth’s sister. That wasn’t fair to Harper. Besides, Selena had come here to forget. “So what should we do while I’m here? Although really, I can find my way around by myself.” She was plenty good at doing that.
“Don’t be silly. You’re giving me an excuse to ditch work. And I’ve got the boss’s approval. There’s a lot to see in Savannah. I might just wear you out. Cameron and Bella can’t wait to see you. Connie, Cameron’s housekeeper for years, is picking Bella up today from school. They should be home when we get there.”
“How does it feel now that you’re a girlfriend and not just the nanny?” Bella, Cameron's little girl, had been a difficult child with an eating problem.
“Feels amazing, my own Cinderella story come true. Of course, relating to kids is something that comes with time and it’s never easy. Just ask Amanda. When I saw her at Christmas time after they brought Sean home, it was like I was looking at a different woman. Babies and toddlers take a lot out of you. Bella was a little older. No night feedings, just that attitude.”
Selena chuckled. “Kids are never easy.” But she was so ready. Her heart and soul clamored for bebés. Seth's babies. But she wasn’t here to think about him. Time to concentrate on the gorgeous scenery and count the palm trees. By this time they were in the city, headed for the house she’d heard so much about. Doing a mental sweep, Selena tried to clear her mind and leave any worry about Seth behind. When Harper pulled into the garage behind a mansion that would put Tara to shame, Selena’s eyes almost dropped out of her head. “Are you kidding me?”
She’d never seen anything like this, una casa grande. Sure there were houses like these on the west side of Chicago. In fact, McKenna had mentioned that Logan’s grandmother lived in one in River Forest. But Cameron’s home had a certain southern grace. Maybe it was the side garden with the fountain. Or the wisteria climbing the wrought iron railings of the double balconies. And that wasn’t all. Lots of boy toys were parked in the spacious garage. They scooted past a red Porsche and a black auto with classic lines.
“His Bentley.” Harper pointed to the stately car as they exited through a side door. The sun filtered through the tall o
ak trees as Selena dragged her suitcase over the mossy stones in the garden.
Harper led the way. “Really is something, isn’t it? When I came here for my job interview, I almost turned around and left. Sure wasn’t Oak Park, and I didn’t know if I could handle it.”
“I see what you mean.” Hadn’t Selena felt that way so many times in her life as she struggled to change from the girl who worked in the fields to the girl who went to college? The sunlight and beautiful plants in the courtyard, along with the mermaid fountain, began to melt the block of ice in her chest. “Your sister was right. Coming here was a great idea.”
“The magnolias and the palm trees stay in bloom all year round. The live oaks lose their leaves but you really don’t notice it because of the moss draped on their heavy branches. And we rarely have snow.” Harper grinned. “That’s sure a plus.”
Selena followed Harper up the back stairs, almost hating to leave the beautiful courtyard behind. This peace and serenity were why she’d come. Maybe she’d have time to relax in this garden. Harper pushed open the oversized back door and sang out, “Connie, we’re home!”
A little girl with a mop of dark hair dashed from a side room, a huge brown dog galloping at her heels. The girl skidded to a sudden halt but the dog kept coming. In no time at all, Selena was given a thorough licking by a quivering ball of fur. She liked pets, although growing up they’d never had any. Feeding the children was hard enough for her parents as they followed the crops from farm to farm. Migrant workers rarely had pets.
“Selena, I’d like you to meet Bella and Pipsqueak.” Harper laughed as she hugged the spirited little girl.
“Pipsqueak! Stop that.” Taking hold of the dog’s collar, Bella frowned. Looking chastened, the dog sat down, his pink tongue lolling from his mouth.
“Cameron took Pipsqueak to obedience school,” Harper murmured from the corner of her mouth. “Worked great, right?” Meanwhile, Bella studied Selena. The little girl was a charmer. Her pink top set off her dark hair. The bright scarf? Looked like Harper was rubbing off on her little charge.
“Hi, Bella.” Bending forward, Selena put both hands on her knees. “Remember me from Christmas? I met you at the party at Kirkpatricks’ house.”
The little girl nodded, eyes flitting between Harper and Selena like a little humming bird. Although she slid two fingers into her mouth, one frown from Harper and both hands disappeared behind her back.
“Can you say hello to Selena?” Harper urged her.
“Hi, Selena. Are we going to get ice cream?” Bella's question made short work of her shyness, as if the words had been running through her mind all morning.
Harper rolled her eyes. “Okay, I may have mentioned that we plan on going down to Leopold’s for ice cream while you’re here. Bella's not about to let me forget that promise.”
An older woman bustled into the kitchen, smoothing back pale blonde, frizzy curls. An enormous apron was wrapped around her ample waist. Harper introduced her. “Connie runs the place.” The housekeeper blushed but obviously they had a good relationship.
“I can see you have your job cut out for you, Connie.” The large kitchen held an impressive collection of copper pots hanging over an enormous stove. The aroma of coffee and some kind of soup wafted through the air. The housekeeper reminded Selena of Seth’s mom. Wearing a quiet air of authority, she was clearly queen of the kitchen.
Edging toward a doorway, Harper said, “I’m going to get Selena settled upstairs. Her plane was late.”
“Take her to the room your sister used when she visited last year. Everything’s ready,” Connie told her.
McKenna had visited Savannah to cheer Harper up the year before. At the time, Harper had been having some trouble with her new position and of course, McKenna snapped her out of it. Selena had been given all the colorful details, which had made her own trip here doubly appealing. Maybe this time Harper could be the one to provide help. Her comments about Seth had sure given Selena a lot to think about.
Harper led the way from the kitchen, Bella trailing behind with Pipsqueak, the dog’s paws clattering on the white marble floor. The enormous wainscoted foyer held heavy carved pieces and stone-topped surfaces on what looked like priceless antiques.
“This place is huge,” Selena’s voice echoed against the vaulted ceiling.
“I know. The first time I sat on this bench my stomach was doing cartwheels.” Harper motioned to a hand-carved bench and they began to climb the stairs. When they reached an upstairs landing, Selena couldn’t tear her eyes from the large paintings lining the walls.
“Don’t be too impressed,” Harper whispered with a saucy grin. “Cameron picked up the furniture at the Bull Street auction, even the portraits. Trust me, that is not his family.”
Selena had no clue what that meant but it made her smile. Maybe things never were as they appeared.
“Want to see my room?” Bella wiggled in between them.
Harper smoothed back the little girl’s hair—a natural gesture that tugged at Selena’s heart. McKenna’s little sister had always been on the wild side. Maybe she’d left those days far behind. “Why don’t we leave that for later, okay? Selena’s probably tired.”
But Selena hated to see Bella’s smile droop. “I’d love to see your room, Bella.” Face brightening, Bella led Selena into a room that was pure magic. So many toys. Such a magnificent bed. Selena couldn’t help thinking about the cramped migrant worker housing from her earlier years. Her mother had worked to keep the one or two rooms as clean as possible. But they were never in one place for long. Toys? Selena could only recall a Raggedy Ann doll that she’d passed down to her younger sister Sofia. Her mother had to replace the black button eyes at least twice.
In Bella’s room, the dolls and toys sparkled like new and the high four-poster bed was fit for a princess. “You are one lucky girl.”
“Harper decorated the room for my birthday last summer.” Taking Harper’s hand, Bella gazed up at her with adoring eyes. That look tied a knot in Selena’s throat. Harper had found her place in the world while Selena felt like a kite bobbing aimlessly in the air.
Selena looked up to find Harper’s eyes on her. “Um, why don’t we show Selena her room, Bella, and let her get settled?”
The climb to the third floor reminded Selena that she hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. Her legs felt shaky by the time they reached the spacious landing. Harper turned into a bedroom with long windows that overlooked the street. The walls, coverlet and curtains were green—pretty but dated in a charming way. Americans were always so quick to replace older household goods and clothing that remained useful. Selena could never understand it. Her family liked the old ways, where pots, quilts and family stories were passed from one generation to the next.
Weariness rolled over her and Selena stifled a yawn. The broad, high bed sure looked comfortable. She’d gotten up in pre-dawn darkness to catch her flight. Harper opened the empty top drawer of a white bureau. “Just don't leave anything behind. When Connie was showing me my room after I signed on as nanny, she found a hot pink thong from the last nanny.”
“I didn't bring any,” Selena said when she stopped laughing. “Figured I didn't need one this weekend.”
“Good to know.” Harper closed the drawer and pointed to the doorway. “Bathroom’s in the hall with a clawfoot tub to die for. See you downstairs when you’re ready?” Harper gave her a quick hug. “So glad you’re here, Selena. Now, take your time, okay?”
“Sounds good. I won't be long.”
The dog sniffed at her heels, probably curious.
“Come on, Pipsqueak.” Bella called from the stairway. The dog hesitated but soon disappeared. After zipping open her carryon, Selena arranged the few clothes she’d brought in the drawer. Harper's story about Connie had left her with an idea, a plan of action for a hot chili pepper. But that would have to wait until she got back to Chicago. Now the bed looked so tempting, the springs creaking un poco under her wei
ght.
This bed would have been too soft for Seth.
The thought gave her satisfaction because this trip was only for her. As she closed her eyes, Pipsqueak settled at her side. The warm bundle reminded her she was someplace else and that felt good.
Chapter 5
The wet lips on her cheek made Selena smile. “Seth, cariño. Let me sleep a little more, por favor.”
Then it all came back. Selena opened her eyes. Tail slapping the white coverlet, Pipsqueak offered another affectionate slurp. “What the heck?” Groggy, she pulled herself up.
Late afternoon sunlight fell through the window and somewhere nearby traffic hummed. Visiting Savannah and sleeping? No way. Jumping up, she found the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Her dark curls were snarled and she ran a long-tooth comb through them and dashed on some lipstick before heading for the stairs. Pipsqueak nearly tripped her in his excitement. Once on the first floor, she followed the sounds of voices back to the kitchen and found Harper studying recipes with Connie. Intergalactic battles crashed on the TV screen in the family room, where Bella was watching cartoons.
“Have a good nap?” Harper looked up with a smile.
“I am so sorry. Didn’t mean to punk out on you.”
Barreling into the kitchen to join the party, Bella tugged on Selena’s jean jacket. “Want to go to the park?”
“She means Forsyth Park downtown,” Harper explained. “We could do some exploring. It’s still midafternoon.”
Selena smiled down at Bella. “Know what? I would love it if you would show me Forsyth Park.” The little girl beamed back. How lucky Harper was to have this little sweetheart in her life.
Bending down, Bella scratched Pipsqueak behind his silky ears. “You be a good boy for Connie now, you hear?” Pressing a damp nose against Bella’s cheek, the dog gave her a sloppy lick.
Lulled by contentment, Selena felt her disappointment and heartache ease just a little. The kitchen was filled with the smell of bread baking, and the sun streamed through the tall windows. Winter had been banished and didn’t this lighter jacket feel good? Harper showed her a couple of recipes she’d been considering.