She looked around at her family. Her dad and his fiancée tenderly touching and kissing. Alex and Ellie, her arm through his, talking intimately. Ben swinging Cam into his arms for an impromptu dance around the kitchen. Her two little nieces exploring the only cupboard not child-proofed, pulling out the kid-friendly stuff inside as if they were getting away with something. It was crowded, loud, chaotic.
Syd had never felt more alone in her life.
If she didn’t do something her dad would see there was a problem. “We need the right kind of liquor for a special toast. I’ll run into town and see if I can get some champagne.”
“Not necessary.” Her father put a hand on her shoulder to stop her from leaving. “I stashed a couple of bottles in the garage refrigerator.”
“Then I’ll go get it,” she offered.
“Let me,” Alex said. “You round up some glasses.”
“Okay.”
Too bad. A couple minutes in the solitude of the garage might have helped with an attitude adjustment. She’d been willing to go the extra mile to get her dad right where he was and didn’t want to spoil this lovely memory with her bad mood. It was tough to be hearty when your heart was broken.
“We don’t have champagne glasses,” she informed them. “Not even the plastic kind from New Year’s Eve. Although it will offend my sister-in-law the hotel heiress’s five-star sensibilities, I think wineglasses will work. I propose we do that.”
As intended, there were loud groans at her pun. Cam wrinkled her nose at the idea of champagne in the improper glass but conceded it was the best option. That didn’t stop her from mumbling about a little warning and she could have arranged to borrow the right flutes from the lodge.
Ellie and Cam pitched in to help so that when Alex returned and popped the cork on the bottle, an eclectic group of glasses waited on the kitchen island. Seven to be exact. An odd number. Because Syd didn’t have anyone.
As her vision blurred with tears, she was nudged aside while her brother poured the bubbly golden liquid. Then the glasses were handed out. The toddler girls got sippy cups with juice even though they were too little to understand what was happening around them.
“As the eldest son, I propose a toast,” Alex said. “To Dad and Loretta. Congratulations!”
Everyone sipped.
Then Ben cleared his throat. “As the second son, an heir and a spare,” he said, “way to go, Dad. Welcome to the family, Loretta.”
Loretta’s eyes were suspiciously moist. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. It was important to Tom that you all approve, so I’m glad you do.”
“It was never Alex and Ben who worried me.”
Syd couldn’t meet her father’s gaze. He’d said something similar just before Burke had driven into the auto shop for the first time. The pain of that memory sliced clear to her soul and somehow she had to keep them all from seeing. It was her turn to propose a toast.
“Ben and Alex have memories of Dad with Mom, but I don’t. To me there was always sadness in his eyes. Until Loretta.” She held up her glass. “To the woman who put a twinkle in my father’s eyes. Thank you for making him smile again.”
Loretta hugged her, too moved to speak. There was a chorus of “aww” and then everyone drank.
When the excitement died down, the conversation turned to wedding plans. “This is going to be a short engagement. A week, maybe two,” her father said. “Just long enough to put together a simple ceremony at the church. Family and friends.”
“That would be pretty much the whole town of Blackwater Lake,” Alex pointed out.
“And we wouldn’t have it any other way.” Loretta smiled up at the man she clearly adored. “As the mayor of this town, I have resources.”
“And she knows how to use them,” Tom said proudly. “This woman can delegate. But we’re going to need everyone’s help.”
“Anything you need, Dad.” Syd meant that with all her heart. After all, she’d propositioned a perfect stranger in order to move her father’s romance along.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Loretta met her gaze. “Because I’d like you to be my maid of honor.”
Syd’s chest tightened as she reached out to hug the woman who would marry her father. “It would be my...honor.”
“Cam, Ellie, will you be co-matrons of honor?”
“Of course,” they both said at the same time.
While everyone was oohing and aahing over the engagement ring, Syd slipped quietly out the back door. She drew in a deep breath as the chill in the air cooled her face. The only light was what spilled from the kitchen. She’d never felt so much like she was on the outside with her nose pressed up against the window, wishing she had what everyone else did.
Finally all by herself, the tears she’d been fighting trickled down her cheeks. Her chest hurt from holding everything back and the realization dawned that in all her life she’d never been quite this miserable before.
She never heard the back door open, but suddenly strong arms came around her and pulled her into a comforting hug. Her father’s familiar warmth wrapped around her.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
The kindness and support just made her cry harder, but her dad silently held on until the sobs quieted.
“Oh, Daddy, you should go back in. I didn’t want to spoil the celebration.”
“You’re not spoiling anything.”
“I tried not to let anyone see how upset I am.”
“You’re my girl.” He sighed. “I know you too well. When you snapped at Alex for making a joke, it was a dead giveaway. Usually you’re the one leading the smart-aleck attack. You can’t hide how you feel from your old man. Consider that a warning.”
“Understood.”
“Now,” he said, snuggling her a little closer, “tell me who made you cry.”
“Burke.” She sniffled. “He asked me to marry him.”
Tom gave her one last quick, hard hug before putting her away from him. Light from the window underscored his puzzled expression. “I’m sure there’s a connection between the crying and the proposal, but for the life of me I can’t figure it out. Do you want me to take him out back and beat the tar out of him because he wants to marry you?”
“Of course not.” She took a shuddering breath. “He told me once that he would never marry again. His wife was a selfish witch who doesn’t want to be a wife and mother.”
“I’d say he chose poorly, but—”
She held up her hand. “And he also said that every decision he makes is based on what’s best for his son. So the fact that he asked me to marry him really has nothing to do with me. With us.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“He never said he loved me—” An emotional lump in her throat blocked the rest of her words.
“I warned you not to get hurt, but I guess that’s not something you can help.” Tom shook his head. “I’m really sorry, honey. It’s likely you learned to be wary of love from me. And you should know that your mom would be very put out with me for teaching you that.”
“You didn’t. It goes way back to when Charlie and Violet eloped.” She’d vowed not to get hurt again. The circumstances were different, but the result was the same. Her heart was crushed.
“The message your mom would stress is to take life in both hands and live every day as if it were your last.” He gently tapped her nose. “That’s what you made me see when you concocted that ridiculous scheme to make me think you’d met the man you were going to marry.”
“Ironically he did ask. Even though it backfired on me, I stand by my decision to make you see that it’s okay to be happy.”
“I appreciate that more than you’ll ever know.”
She brushed away a tear that was rolling down her cheek. “I was afraid if you
knew about Burke and me you’d call off the wedding. You’re not, are you?”
Her dad shook his head. “That wouldn’t fit with my new philosophy. I just want you to be as happy as I am.”
“I will be.” She gave him a quick hug. “And I want you to know that I don’t need a man. I have my family and I know you guys are there for me.”
“Absolutely.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I have to get back. Do you need another minute by yourself?”
“Yeah. Thanks for understanding, Dad.”
“Anytime.”
After her meltdown at being the only single McKnight, Syd better understood her father’s desire to see her settled. It seemed that for her, settled meant being by herself. What she’d had with Charlie wasn’t a deep and lasting emotion; Burke had shown her the difference. She was in love with him and knew that losing him would hurt for the rest of her life.
As with her father, there would always be a sadness in her eyes.
* * *
Burke sat alone in a booth at the Grizzly Bear Diner and contemplated his half-eaten Papa Bear burger. The combo wasn’t quite as appealing or exciting as the first time he’d ordered it, but everything had changed since then.
Liam was living with him, although tonight he was having dinner with his friend Todd. Burke had taken Syd to bed for amazingly nice sex. More important, the first Papa Bear burger experience had been before Syd fixed a hamburger for him at her house.
He was realizing that it was the company, not the food, that made everything taste better. And if the look on her face the last time he’d seen her was anything to go by, Burke wouldn’t be getting another invitation to dinner at her house.
Maybe that was for the best. He’d hurt her and didn’t want to do it again.
From his booth in the back he saw Mayor Goodson walk into the diner alone. She stopped at the hostess podium and chatted with Michelle Crawford, the diner owner, who was filling in for Violet Stewart. The two ladies were looking very serious about something, then the mayor smiled and lifted her left hand while Michelle thoroughly examined one of the fingers. The appraisal was followed by a hug.
Burke guessed that Loretta was showing off an engagement ring. If he was right, and he would put money on it, Tom McKnight had popped the question and his proposal had been accepted.
If Syd was here they could share a high five. Mission accomplished. But she wasn’t here. Apparently Loretta was going to be, though. Michelle pointed in his direction and the mayor walked resolutely toward him.
“Hi, Burke.”
When she sat down across from him he decided they were apparently going to have a conversation.
He nodded. “Madam Mayor.”
“How are you?”
“Fine.” He looked at the diamond on her left ring finger. “It would appear that congratulations are in order.”
“Tom asked me to marry him.” She extended the hand and looked dreamily at the tangible proof of the engagement as if she still couldn’t believe it was real. “We told the kids last night.”
By “the kids,” he was pretty sure she was referring to Alex, Ben and Syd, who had to be ecstatic about this turn of events. Her dad was finally moving forward with his life. If Burke had played any small part in the successful outcome, he was pleased. He would have been more pleased if Syd had personally passed along the news. He missed her.
It had only been a couple of days, but he craved the sight of her.
“How did ‘the kids’ take the announcement?”
“They were all very happy for their dad. And me,” she added.
Don’t say it, he warned himself, but the words came out anyway. “How’s Syd?”
“She was the most pleased for her father.” The mayor’s eyes narrowed. “Because she felt responsible for him hesitating on the proposal.”
“Right.” Not a news flash and not what he really wanted to know.
“In fact she was afraid her dad would call it off when he found out the two of you were over.”
“You know?”
“In this town good news travels fast. Bad news spreads at light speed.” She shook her head and gave him a pitying look. “Poorly played, Burke. I expected better of a hotshot like yourself.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“You’re not seriously going to make me spell out the pitfalls of what happened, are you?”
“I asked her to marry me,” he protested.
“And listed the perks as if a proposal was a job interview.” Loretta actually tsked. “And there were no flowers, dinner or grand gestures. This conversation happened just inside the door of her house. While you paced like a caged tiger. A very unhappy one.”
“Whatever happened to ‘it’s the thought that counts’?”
“That’s the thing. It didn’t sound like you thought it through. Along with the houses, cars and trips, you offered to take her away from all this.” She held out her hands, a gesture that included all of Blackwater Lake. “Did it occur to you that she might not want to leave? That someday she’ll be taking over the business Tom spent his life building? That she loves this town and it’s in her blood?”
No, he hadn’t thought about that. But it was a confession he had no intention of sharing. He was a man of action. The business wouldn’t have exploded under his leadership if he’d been anything less than that. But apparently when dealing with women, being a man of action had its drawbacks.
As far as he could see, there was only one fallback position here. “I was sincere about wanting her to marry me.”
“Really?” There was no anger, frustration or sarcasm in her tone. Just pity. “You wanted her to marry you. But do you want to marry her?”
“I asked, didn’t I?”
“It was the way you asked.” She leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table between them. “As if you wanted her to say no.”
A man of action never wanted rejection. Now he was starting to get irritated. “How did Tom propose to you? What did he say to get a yes?”
Her look was wry. “He certainly didn’t leave out the three most important words. In fact, he led with them.”
He knew what she was saying. Those three words were all that stood between him and another failure. “It was a decent proposal.”
“Was? You’re giving up?”
“What am I supposed to do? She turned me down flat and said don’t darken her doorway again.”
“She actually said that?” The mayor’s tone was skeptical.
He shrugged. “It was more like don’t let the door hit you in the backside on the way out.”
“Can’t say I blame her.”
This woman was an expert at sending mixed messages. First he was giving up and now she was validating Syd’s reaction. “Whose side are you on?”
“That implies you expect special treatment because of the business your development project will bring to Blackwater Lake.”
Sydney was the only thing on his mind and if he could change that he would do it in a heartbeat. “Believe it or not,” he said, “I wasn’t thinking about business at all.”
“I’ll have to trust you on that, Burke. And trust me when I say that I’m not taking sides. Both of you are my concern.”
“Okay.” He met her gaze. “I suppose everyone in town knows about this?”
The mayor smiled. “A person in this town would have to be living under a rock not to. But everyone likes you and wants the best for you and Syd.”
“Glad to hear it.” If he focused hard enough on Liam and the job he came here to do, maybe he wouldn’t miss Syd so much.
“I have to go meet Tom. And for the record he doesn’t know I talked to you. I just stopped by to show Michelle my ring and she mentioned you were here.”
“So
you decided to read me the riot act?”
“That wasn’t the riot act. Believe me, you’d know if it was.” She met his gaze. “But I’m asking a favor. I’d like you to think about something.”
“Okay.”
“You don’t strike me as the sort of man who gives up easily. It seems out of character.”
She was right about that. He was also smart enough to know when not giving up turned into beating your head against the wall.
“Syd made her feelings clear,” he said.
“Did she? I wonder. But that’s for you to decide. This is my ‘buck up’ speech.” She cleared her throat. “I’ve been in love with Tom for a number of years now, long before he was ready to move on from losing his wife. If I’d given up, I wouldn’t be getting a happy ending now.”
“So that’s the message? Don’t give up?”
“We only fail when we fail to try,” she said. “For what it’s worth, folks in Blackwater Lake are pulling for you and Syd.”
“Why?” he asked skeptically.
“You’re good people. And she’s one of our own. We want you both to be happy.” She slid out of the booth and stood. “Okay. That’s all I have to say and worth what you paid for it.”
“Thanks, Loretta. I appreciate you talking to me.” Then he remembered the question that she’d skirted before. “How’s Syd?”
She sighed and there was sympathy written all over her face. “She’s as miserable as you.”
That information should have given him some satisfaction, but it didn’t.
Chapter Fifteen
Burke was sitting on the sofa watching a movie with Liam. On the flat-screen TV stuff was exploding and giant robots were morphing into cars, trucks and helicopters. It was loud and didn’t require much concentration. That was fortunate since he couldn’t concentrate, at least not on this.
All he could think about was Sydney and the void in his life now that she was gone.
Liam missed her, too. It had been over a week since they’d spent time with her and the boy had been asking questions. When were they going to see Syd? Could they go to her house for dinner? Maybe she and Burke could sit on the patio again while he practiced with his new soccer ball.
A Decent Proposal Page 18