“I’m not, he’s allergic to physical labor, but bringing lunch was a kind gesture. I’ll be happy to tell him to leave, if you can’t.”
“It’s not that I can’t, it’s just so crazy right now, with moving and getting ready for the opening. I need to be three people to think of everything I need to do. Preston has been a big help.” Chelsea dropped her head against the sofa back. “I keep thinking he’ll get bored, but he seems to enjoy being here.”
“Nope, I’m not buying that. There’s something in it for him, or he wouldn’t be wasting his time.”
“He says he wants to make up for being such a jerk, so maybe that’s all there is to it.”
“Maybe, but don’t let your guard down.” Sharon shuddered. “Ooh, what was that saying? Someone just walked over my grave,” she shuddered again.
“Helloooo,” Mac’s voice rang throughout the house. “Anybody home?”
“We’re back here,” Chelsea called, her mood suddenly lifted.
“The place looks great,” John said as he followed Mac into the sunroom. “You’ve really done the old girl justice, Missy.” He placed the bottle of champagne he’d kept chilling in the cooler all day on the coffee table along with four plastic cups. “I thought you might want to toast your new home, sorry about the glasses.”
“John, that’s so sweet,” Chelsea picked up the bottle. “The champagne is welcome no matter what we drink it from, thank you.”
“My pleasure. Why don’t you do the honors, Son? Make yourself useful.” John walked over to the window. “That view never disappoints.”
“Ladies, you look exhausted, but the house looks great.” Mac smiled as he popped the cork. “Dad, are you sure it’s okay for you to drink this?”
“What’s it gonna do, kill me?” John laughed. “Hell yes, pour me a glass. And wipe those pained looks off of your faces. This is a celebration.” Taking the cup from Mac, he raised it and waited until the others followed suit.
“To Chelsea Bates and the Cliffs of Starsdale, may you long enjoy success and happiness together.” After touching cups, Chelsea drank and raised hers again.
“And to John Mills, the only man I know with the vision to listen to a crazy woman.” Smiling warmly at John, Chelsea drank, then slid her eyes to Mac. “Thank you too, Mac. For dropping everything to come and help your dad and me turn a dilapidated old building into a gorgeous home.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Mac smiled into her eyes, the rest of the room disappeared.
John and Sharon exchanged a knowing glance, both of them thrilled with the way things were working out.
“How about you give me a tour of the upstairs, show me what you girls have been up to all day,” John spoke to Sharon, hoping to give Chelsea and Mac some time alone.
“Let’s all go,” Chelsea spoke up, eager to show John and Mac the semi-finished bedrooms. “The linens will be in place tomorrow, along with most of the artwork and knick-knacks I’m getting from local artists. Even without the finishing touches, you can get a sense of the atmosphere I’m trying to create.” Chelsea led the way up the stairs as she spoke.
“It already feels warm and very welcoming,” Sharon told her as she trailed behind Mac and John.
“Thanks, that’s the idea.” Chelsea walked all the way down to the end of the hall to the largest bedroom. “Mac, would you mind helping me with this?” Kneeling down, she picked up a small plaque propped against the wall. Flipping it over, she pressed it against the center of the door.
“Mills Suite, Dedicated to a true visionary, John Mills,” John read and felt the moisture fill his eyes. “Why, that’s beautiful, Missy. And an honor. Thank you.”
“It’s the least I could do, John. Without you, there wouldn’t be a Cliffs of Starsdale. From here on out, the best room in the house will be known as the ‘Mills Suite’.” Chelsea handed the plaque to Mac and stepped back. “Mac, if you’ll do the honors of attaching it to the door, John and I will supervise.” Grinning, she looped her arm through John’s and watched as his son centered and attached the plaque.
Stepping back to join them, Mac admired the elegant gold letters engraved on the stained wood. It was a lovely gesture, one that touched him deeply. She had forever made his dad part of her home.
“Are you naming all the rooms?” Sharon asked as she quickly wiped away a tear.
“Yes, but the others have names of native plants found on the cliffs, like the Artic Willow Suite and the Stream Violet Suite. This is the only one that’s not named for local trees and flowers.”
“It makes it more special,” Sharon nodded. “That’s lovely, Chels.”
“Come on in, then, take a look around.” Chelsea blinked back her own tears and opened the door with a flourish.
~~~
“Are you sure you didn’t want to go out to dinner with Mac? I wouldn’t mind.” Sharon maneuvered her car down the mountain, behind Mac and John.
“Not tonight, I’m wiped out. Tomorrow will be another crazy day; I plan to make a quick sandwich, soak in a hot tub and fall into bed.”
“Me too. I’m sorry I can’t help out at the house tomorrow, but someone has to organize the delivery for the restaurant tables.” Excitement showed through Sharon’s exhaustion.
“And the kitchen supplies, and the linens, and the chairs.” Chelsea listed. “I’d help you, but I have to get the house ready for photographs.” Not wanting to dwell on JB, even remotely, Chelsea changed the subject. “We really should start planning the open house.”
“Oh mercy, not tonight. It’s still over a week away. Let’s think about that this weekend.” Sharon groaned.
“You say ‘over a week’ and I say ‘only a week’, we need to get the invitations in the mail, at least.”
“First we have to receive the invitations. The website I ordered them from assured delivery by Saturday. Heaven knows I paid enough extra for the service. We can address them on Sunday, get them in the mail on Monday and the good folks of Starsdale will have them on Tuesday. Plenty of time to add us to their calendars. As if anyone would miss it.” Sharon laughed.
“We need to pick up the final list from Lila, too.”
“I’ll do that tomorrow, after the restaurant’s set up.” Sharon didn’t come out and say that she planned to be far away when JB was there taking pictures; she didn’t have to.
“Perfect. Okay then, I won’t mention it again until Sunday, or maybe Saturday,” Chelsea smiled, but made a mental note to call Lila herself and thank her for helping.
“Agreed. It’s best to take things one day at a time.”
~~~
“That sure was nice of Missy to dedicate that room like she did,” John leaned back against the car seat, both exhausted and exhilarated. It had been a good day.
“Yes, it was.” Mac agreed, glancing in the rear view to get a glimpse of Chelsea.
“She’s a special one, that Chelsea.” John looked sideways at his son. “A man could do a lot worse than having a woman like that by his side.”
“I hear you, Dad. Loud and clear. And I don’t disagree.”
“Good to know.” John backed off, for the moment.
“I’ve been thinking about something, I’d like your take on it.” Mac began, glad for a quiet moment alone with his father.
“Sure thing, Son. What is it?” John sat up straighter, eager to help.
“What would you think if I sold the business, moved up here full time?” As soon as the words were out, Mac knew with absolute certainty that it was what he wanted most to do.
John sat in silence for a moment. As much as he wanted Mac to be with him, for as long as he had left, he wanted him to be happy more. Selling the business he’d spent a lifetime building was also not the issue; it was Mac’s now to do with as he pleased. As long as it was a decision he made for the right reasons.
“Why would you do that?” John worded the question carefully, hoping Mac’s answer was the right one.
“Because I’m t
ired of the rat race, tired of the politics and of jumping through hoops, each one higher than the last. I’m sick to death of going out every night with a different woman, none of whom I find interesting enough for a second date, much less anything more serious. I’m ready for a lifestyle change, Dad, ready to come home.” Mac hadn’t planned on saying all that, it just spilled out of him.
“But why now, when you haven’t wanted to be home for years.”
“Because I’ve finally made peace with the reason I stayed away so long. That’s something else I wanted to talk with you about. After Mom died, I felt such guilt that I’d been so busy taking care of the business that I didn’t see her as often as I should have. Instead of dealing with it, I buried it and put my head into the work. I’m so sorry that I neglected her, and you. If I had it to do over again, I’d handle things a lot differently.” Mac met John’s eyes in the dusky light of the setting sun. Instead of recriminations or hurt feelings, he saw only understanding and love.
“Your mother understood, as I did, that you needed to make your own mark in the world. We were, and are, so proud of the man you’ve become. Don’t regret what you can’t change, Son. There’s nothing you could have done that would make us love you more.”
It was Mac’s turn to contemplate his father’s words. Grateful for the darkening car, he caught a tear before it could slide down his cheek.
“Thanks, Dad. It helps to hear you say that and know that you mean it. I just wish I could’ve explained it to mom while she was alive.”
“She knows, Son, she knows. And just in case she doesn’t, I’ll be sure to tell her when I see her.”
“You do that, Dad.” Mac worked hard not to get choked up. “Do you ever feel like she’s around? I smelled jasmine a few times recently, when there wasn’t a plant in sight. Somehow I knew it was mom.”
“I believe that. I talk to her all the time, have done since she passed. Some folks might call me crazy, but I know she hears me.”
“I think she does, too. It helps to believe that she’s still part of my life.” Mac stopped short of saying that it would help to believe the same of John, but his meaning was understood.
“She’ll always be there, Son. We both will. Some call it energy, some say it’s spirit, but I believe it’s the love that people share that keeps them connected, even after death.”
“That’s as good an explanation as any,” Mac nodded, turning the truck into the drive.
“Now that we’ve covered the hard stuff, I’d like to answer your question about the business.” John turned to face Mac, rather than moving to get out of the car. “If you’d said that you wanted to sell the business and move home to take care of me or out of some sense of loyalty, I’d say poppycock. But you said, and I believed you, that you were tired of your life in the city and that you were ready to come home. Home is key, Son. Starsdale may not be more than a dot on a map, but it’s special to a lot of good people. Being raised here, you learned respect for the land and the ways of a small town early on, so you know what you’re coming home to. There’s a feeling a man gets when he sinks roots into ground rich with his own history. Leaving, even staying away for years, makes coming back all the more sweet.” John reached over and covered Mac’s hand with his own. “Sell the business, Macintyre, make Starsdale your home once again.”
The poignant truth of John’s words left Mac speechless. His dad had summed up everything he’d been feeling for weeks now, but hadn’t been able to express. Gripping John’s hand, he nodded, the rightness of the moment nearly overwhelming him.
“You won’t be sorry,” John said softly, his own heart nearly bursting with emotion. He knew he would be leaving Mac right where he belonged.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Wow, those are awesome,” Sharon stopped to look at the images flashing across Chelsea’s computer.
“I know, JB did a wonderful job,” she caught herself before gushing further. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I have to get used to him being around. You can’t be afraid to mention his name. Are those for the website or the brochure?”
“Website. I need to send them to Preston so he can send them to his designer.”
“Speaking of, Lila told me he’s been in the diner quite a bit lately. He seems to be making himself at home.”
“Ummm, that’s nice.” Chelsea hit send, then turned to face Sharon. “I guess he has to do something with his time.”
“I suppose. I still think it’s odd that he’s just hanging around.”
“Maybe Starsdale’s growing on him. God, I hope not.” Chelsea winced. “Not to change the subject, but we need to nail down plans for the opening. Is now good for you?”
“Sure, I’ve got about an hour before I have to leave for work.”
“Good.” Chelsea whipped out a list from her bag. “Okay, the invitations are ready to go, I’ll take them to the post office in the morning. We should talk about the menu.”
“Actually, I’ve already been thinking about that. This seems like a good opportunity to not only show how well we can throw a party, but to showcase some of the items on the menu at the restaurant. It will be more expensive, but I’d like to serve some of the signature dishes as hors d’oeuvres.”
“Can you do that?”
“Sure, I’ll just make smaller portions, put some things on a stick and voila, we’ve got appetizers. I also thought we could place descriptions next to the serving dishes, telling them what they’re eating. Of course we’ll mention that everything is available at Cliffside.”
“You’re a genius,” Chelsea grinned. “But I’m not sure how much help I’ll be in the preparation. You know I’m not a chef.”
“No worries, I’ve already talked to two of my sous chefs from the restaurant. Both are willing to help me in the kitchen on the day of the party, for a fee, of course.”
“Great. What about servers, should I place an ad, or do you know people willing to help?”
“We really only need a bartender and one person to man the buffet, make sure to keep the trays filled and what not. Lila mentioned that her granddaughter was interested in a job at the restaurant, so I’ll talk to her. Maybe you can find us a bartender.”
“It’s on the list.” Chelsea made a note. “By the way, I hope you don’t mind if I stay here until after the opening. Mac thought it would be best to wait until then to move my personal things into the B&B, and I agree.”
“Are you kidding, I love having you here. Hershey and I will miss you like crazy when you leave, won’t we boy?” Sharon scratched his head. “You and Mac have been spending some late nights at the house, anything you want to share?”
“Not really.” Chelsea hedged. “We’re both so busy during the day, that evenings are the only times we can see each other. Did I tell you that I’m joining them for dinner tonight? John invited me, said he wanted to show off Martha’s hydrangeas.”
“That’s nice, but why don’t you sound happier about that?”
“I am happy, that’s the problem. I’m too happy. Mac makes me feel like a teenager, all raging hormones and crazy thoughts of happily ever after. You and I both know that life doesn’t work out that way. The event center will be finished in a few days, then what? I know he’s planning to stay here with John for the duration, but his life is in Sacramento. How stupid am I to be falling for a guy who doesn’t live here?”
“I think the better question is how stupid would you be if you passed up this opportunity. Mac is a great guy and from where I’m standing, you’re not the only one falling. Sacramento is only an hour or so away. I’m sure that you can make it work.”
“I hope so. I don’t think I could stop it now if I wanted to. I think about him all the time, can’t wait until I see him again. This feeling is like a crush on steroids.”
Sharon laughed. “Enjoy it, Chels. You deserve the wonderful, so take it.” Her eyes clouded with the memory of feeling exactly the way Chelsea described, once upon a time.
&nbs
p; “You deserve the wonderful too, Sharon. It will happen, I know it.” Chelsea read the longing in her friend’s eyes and decided to change the subject. “Just think. In a few weeks, you’ll be your own boss, living the dream of running your own restaurant. There’s no telling who might walk in that door and be swept away by your culinary talent. What’s the old saying, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?”
“Yeah, right.” Sharon laughed. “I suppose it could happen.”
“Of course it could. You just have to be open to it.” Chelsea patted her arm. “Okay, let’s get back to the party.”
~~~
Preston opened his email from Chelsea, barely glanced at the pictures and deleted it. He’d heard talk at the diner that the grand opening party would be a week from Monday, the very night he’d planned to secure his future.
“Now I’ll have to revise the timeline,” he grumbled, opening the file marked Prospectus. “I’ll move the explosion to Sunday, one week from tonight. There’s no reason to change my ‘out-of-town’ alibi; as far as anyone here knows, I’ll be in San Diego.”
Congratulating himself once again on his strategy to play the locals, Preston added ‘tell the maid that I’ll be leaving Friday, back Monday’ to the to-do list. Becoming friendly with the young woman who cleaned his room every day was just another layer of his web of lies. He’d also made a point of getting to know the front desk clerk, often sharing that he was heading over to the job site to see his girlfriend, Chelsea.
The lies came easier and easier, despite the delusions clouding his mind. As long as he had his lists, he could keep the plot straight and remember his role in the drama he’d created. The next few days would be critical to the strategy. Not only must he walk the fine line of avoiding Chelsea while convincing the local busy bodies that they were together, he must also lay the groundwork for the finale. The only obstacle he could see was one named Macintyre Mills.
Killer Romances Page 59