Her eyes had widened while he talked, then she suddenly rested her head back and closed her lids. “You’re right, Stephen. Of all my boys, you’re the most solid and intelligent.” Her eyes narrowed. “If you repeat that to your brothers, I will deny I ever said it!”
He held in a chuckle. “Yes, Ma’am.”
“I suppose I’ve been extra hard on Bailey.” Her speech was still slow, but her words were becoming clearer, even after all her recent medical issues.
“Why?”
“It doesn’t matter, but I’m pleased to hear you’re happy with her.”
His feelings for Bailey went way beyond that. There was so much he needed to tell his mom, but he wasn’t sure now was the time.
“What else is on your mind, son?”
“How’d you know?”
“I’m your mother. It’s not like you to sit there quietly and look so contemplative. You have something to say, so speak up before you miss your chance. You never know if this will be the last time we speak.”
He winced. He didn’t like it when she talked like that, but death was a part of life, which he needed to learn to accept whether he wanted to or not. “I have feelings for Bailey, and I’d like your blessing to pursue them.”
Her eyes shot open. “Absolutely not! I’ll concede that she is a good designer, and if you think she can represent Belafonte Designs at the standard that I expect, then okay, but I will not have her be a part of this family.” Her voice shook, and she started to cough. Her pulse monitor beeped faster.
He stood and reached for the water bottle with a straw sticking out of it and held it to her lips. “I don’t understand what the problem is.” He kept his voice calm in spite of his aggravation. It would do no good to argue with his mother. He waited for her to finish then put the bottle back on the table on the other side of her bed within her reach.
“I’m too tired to discuss this further. Leave me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With a sigh, he took his mother’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I love you, Mom. I will let this drop for now, but rest assured this conversation is not over.” He left without a backward glance.
Time to get John’s help. He sent a text to his brother and headed to his car. Maybe John could enlighten him about his mother’s problem with Bailey.
After her coffee date with Stephen, Bailey set out to Bend to check on the house Rick was building. She needed to view the progress anyway. Halfway to the property, she noticed the silver car in her rearview mirror. “What is going on?” Using the hands free feature in her car she told her phone to call Spencer.
“Hey, Bails, what’s up? It’s not like you to call.”
She quickly explained the situation.
“I’ll notify the Sheriff and State Police and see if there are any deputies or officers in the area.”
“What should I do?”
“You said this car has followed you to the building site before, right?”
“Yes.”
“Keep going, but if there’s no one there, don’t stop. Instead go to the State Police office. Do you know where that’s at?”
“Yes.” Her palms sweated. “Are you sure about this, Spencer?”
“Yes. This person has never confronted you or made threats against you.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“True. That’s why you won’t be getting out if no one is there. Stay on the line and talk with me until you arrive.”
She did as he requested and even asked him about the Secret Santa. He denied being it, but indicated he knew who it was and that she had no reason to worry about who was sending her things. Well at least she didn’t have to stress that.
She glanced in her rearview mirror as she signaled and turned off the highway. “He’s following me off 97.”
“Good. I was just notified that there is a State Trooper along the road up ahead.”
“I see him.”
“Good. Now drive normally. The trooper has been briefed on the situation and will pull out after the silver car.”
Sure enough, the trooper pulled out and a moment later flipped on his lights. She pulled up to the site and was only mildly surprised to see Rick’s truck parked outside. She raced inside.
She knocked on the door then let herself in. “Hello! It’s me, Bailey.”
“In here!” Rick said.
Bailey walked toward the hall bath and spotted him hanging a mirror. “I didn’t expect you to be here on a Saturday. I stopped in to check on the progress and make sure everything was moving along on schedule.”
Rick finished what he was doing, then turned and looked past her as if he expected someone to be with her. “We got a little behind when I took off a couple of days. I’m working today to make up for it. The painters will be here on Monday to do some touchups, otherwise there is only finish work and landscaping left. Is Stephen with you?” He glanced past her.
“No. Are you expecting him?”
He shook his head. “The two of you have been spending a lot of time together, so I thought he might be. Excuse me.”
She stepped aside, allowing him to walk past her. “Is everything okay?”
“Sure. Just busy.” He strode down the hall then tromped up the stairs.
She followed after him. Why was Rick behaving so oddly? Regret hit her. She should have gone home rather than here. “Is there a problem, Rick?” She hated confrontation, but dancing around whatever was bothering him, especially when she felt like she was the problem, made her even more uncomfortable.
He stopped in the upstairs bath and began to mount the mirror to the wall. “You tell me?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Rick sighed, stopped what he was doing, then turned and faced her. “I’m sorry. Don’t pay any attention to me. It’s been a rough week, and I’m a grump.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh. Okay. I’m going to take a few pictures then head out.”
He grunted.
She wandered through the house taking pictures with her camera of all the high end touches—crown molding, medium oak hardwood flooring, stainless steel appliances, modern fixtures in the bathrooms, and a sliding barn door mounted on black hinges in the master that led to the walk in closet. It would be handy to have photos when she went to the warehouse to pick out merchandise to stage the place. Rick liked to stage their houses for a quick sale.
Satisfied she had all she needed, she tucked her phone into her purse and headed toward the door. Voices in the direction of the kitchen grabbed her attention. No one else should be here. She crept toward the voices, being careful to stay out of the line of sight, and listened.
“Lacy, when are we going to tell Bailey we’re her secret admirer?”
Bailey gasped. The kids had sent her those cards and the flowers? Of course. No wonder Spencer said she didn’t need to worry.
“Shh. She might hear you. Remember her car is out front.”
“Sorry.” He stage-whispered. “Do you think we made her feel loved?”
A tear slid down Bailey’s face. She didn’t know whether she was happy or sad. These kids were so sweet, but at the same time, her feelings were hurt that they all thought she was so unlovable.
“I’m sure she feels loved now, but we don’t want her to know yet. Miss Nicole said it’s good for her to think it’s Uncle Stephen.”
Nicole is in on it too? She rushed quietly from the house, hoping the kids would be none the wiser. Rather than head back to Mona’s, she would stay at her condo here in Bend. A little time to herself away from Stephen and the Belafontes sounded like a good idea.
She rushed out the front door and ran smack into Judy. “Oh excuse me. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” She blinked rapidly and swiped the tears off her face with the back of her hand.
“What do you have to cry about? Did my husband finally end his affair with you?” Hopefulness filled Judy’s eyes.
“What affair?”
“Come on
. Don’t play dumb with me. I know what’s going on. I’ve had a P.I. following you for weeks!”
“Does he happen to drive a silver car?”
“Yes. So?”
At least now she knew why the car had been following her, but how could Judy think her capable of such a thing? “I don’t know what you think you know, but your husband and I are not involved in any way except professionally. I’m an interior designer and nothing more. Period.”
Judy crossed her arms. “Prove it.” Her voice held venom.
Bailey’s pulse thrummed in her ears. How was she supposed to prove she wasn’t having an affair? “Was your P.I. able to prove that I was?”
“Well, no,” she sputtered. “But I know it’s true.”
“No, Judy.” Rick’s firm voice filled the silence. “I have been telling you for weeks that I am not having an affair with Bailey or anyone else. Let’s take this outside. The kids are going to hear. If they haven’t already.”
“Fine,” Judy snapped.
Rick closed the door behind them then faced his wife.
“Why are you never home?” Her voice hitched. “I came down here several weeks ago to surprise you, but when I saw Bailey come out of the house I stopped and talked to her. By the time I got inside, one of the guys said you’d gone to run an errand. I don’t know how I missed you.”
Bailey gasped. “I told you why I was here. I stopped in to deal with an emergency design decision after vandals ruined some cabinetry.”
“And I left right away, to deal with something else.” His face softened. “Is this what has come between us?” He blew out a breath. “Judy, honey. I love you more than anything, and I would never have an affair, much less with Bailey.”
Ouch! She wouldn’t go there either, but it still hurt the way he’d said it.
Judy’s stance relaxed, and she stepped closer to her husband. “You’re telling me the truth.” It wasn’t a question. “I’m so relieved. I know you’ve said it before, but I finally realize it’s the truth.” She wrapped her arms around Rick, then gasped and turned to face Bailey. “I’ve done something awful.”
“What?” Rick asked.
“I told Mona that the two of you were having an affair.” She looked sheepishly at her husband. “You’ve been so distracted since your mother’s stroke. At first I thought it was because of your mom’s health, and then I began to get suspicious that you were seeing someone. I kept seeing you with Bailey and well . . . my imagination took over.”
Bailey groaned. “That’s why Mona hates me.”
Judy nodded. “I’m so sorry. I will tell her right away that I was wrong.”
“Good.” Rick placed a possessive arm across his wife’s shoulder. “I’m sorry about all of this, Bailey. It seems my wife is more in tune with me than I realized. I have been up to something.”
“Huh?” Judy asked.
His faced reddened. “I bought us tickets to go on a cruise, and I’ve been taking dancing lessons for the past couple of months.”
Judy gasped. “Why so long?”
He frowned. “It turns out, I’m a really bad dancer.”
Judy laughed.
Bailey took that moment to slip away and quickly went to her car. She sat inside and headed home for the first time in over a month. How could she have been so blind? All the little comments from Mona and Judy now made sense. Her face heated at what Mona and Judy believed her capable of. Absolutely crazy!
She definitely needed time and space away from the Belafontes. It was time to go home. She’d call Stephen and let him know her decision as soon as she got there.
Chapter Seventeen
Sitting in his old bedroom at his childhood home, Stephen stared at the phone in his hand as if it held the answer to his problems. What was going on with Bailey? She couldn’t have shocked him more if she’d told him she’d grown a second head since their coffee date this afternoon. What had caused her to leave?
“Stephen!”
“In here, John.” He left his room. “Where are you?”
“Kitchen.”
He roamed down the stairs and into the kitchen where he found his brother scavenging for food in the pantry. “I’ve been going to so many Christmas parties I’m ‘sweeted’ out. You have anything healthy here?”
“No idea. This is Bailey’s domain.” He pulled open the refrigerator. “How about eggs?”
“That works. Better than chocolate.” John took the carton of eggs and whipped three in a bowl then scrambled them. “Do you want any?”
“No thanks.” He had no appetite. “Mom is being released from the hospital.”
His younger brother looked at him. “You’re worried.” It wasn’t a question. “Why? Bailey will take care of her.”
What was it with his family assuming Bailey would jump at their beck and call? “No. She won’t. She’s moving out.”
John shut off the stove and pulled the pan off the burner. “What did you do?” He looked half annoyed, half humored.
“Nothing! Why would you even ask that?”
He raised his hands. “Chill. I only meant to ask what caused her to move out. Where is she?”
“At her place in Bend.”
John pulled a fork out and ate directly from the pan. “So was Mom’s coming home and Bailey’s moving out a coincidence?”
Stephen nodded. “It looks that way. But that’s not even why I called you over here.” He told him that Rick warned him against getting involved with Bailey and how their mom had reacted when he told her he had feelings for her.
“Whoa! How did I miss all this? You and Bailey? Man, I didn’t see that coming. Our Bailey? Are you sure? She’s not exactly your type.”
Stephen crossed his arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know, just that she’s not the kind of woman I see you with. So what is Mom’s and Rick’s problem?”
“That’s just it. I don’t know.”
His brother devoured the rest of the scrambled eggs then rinsed the pan. “How does Bailey feel about you?”
He frowned. “I don’t know that either.”
John chuckled. “You’re in quite a pickle. I’ve sure missed having you around. I didn’t realize how much until now. I’m usually the problem child in this family.”
Stephen wadded a hand towel and flung it at his brother.
“Hey.” He laughed and set the towel on the counter. “I think you need to find out how she feels before you upset Mom.”
“I wish I understood what the problem was there. Mom’s objection makes no sense.”
“You know Mom. She isn’t always rational about things, especially when it comes to us.”
“True.” She once told him he couldn’t date a girl because she didn’t like her hair color. “But what about Rick?”
“He’s a tough one. Honestly, I see no reason for him to object other than not wanting to upset Mom. Which, for the record, you shouldn’t do.”
“Great. Now you’re against me too.”
“Never. But we all know she’s not going to recover from this,” John said it as if it was a fact.
“She’s coming home.”
“Only because they can’t do anything further for her. The infection must have cleared.”
Stephen knew his brother might be right but wanted to believe she was coming home because she was improving. “It’s been a long day. I’m going to bed. Lock up on your way out.”
“Thought I’d crash here tonight and help you in the morning.”
Tension rolled off Stephen’s shoulders. “Thanks. ’Night.” Having his brother here with him eased a huge burden.
The following morning a knock sounded on Stephen’s bedroom door. He rolled over on his bed to face the door.
“Bailey’s here picking up her stuff,” John said.
He bolted upright. Of all days to oversleep. “Stall her?”
“How?”
“I don’t know. Maybe offer to load her car with the stuff in
the office that she wants to move, then go slow. I need time to take a quick shower.”
“You’d better move fast.”
Stephen darted to the shower and readied as fast as possible. He could hear his brother talking to someone. Good, she must still be here. He rushed out and nearly collided with Bailey.
“Easy there,” she said.
He reached for the box. “I’ll get that for you.”
“Thanks.” She brushed her hands together. “That went faster than I expected. I thought I’d be here forever trying to get everything moved. All that’s left are the flooring samples. I’ll get them and meet you at my car.”
“Sure.” Standing in the driveway, talking in twenty-degree weather was not part of the plan. He took his time and sauntered slowly.
John gave him a silly grin and waggled his brows as he passed by on his way back inside. He always was the mature one—not.
He eased the box into the last open space in the trunk.
“Thanks for the help, Stephen.” She laid the samples on the back seat. “I guess I’ll see you Friday for our meeting.”
That was it? “Actually, I thought I could follow you, help you unload, and then we could get breakfast before you go to church and I get my mom.”
Surprise lit her eyes. “Really? You don’t have to.”
“I know. I want to.”
“I’d like that. Thanks. I’ll meet you at the office, and we can go from there. I only had a small amount of personal stuff, and it will keep until after church.”
“You sure?”
“Yep.”
An hour later, they were seated at a popular local restaurant. They were fortunate to be seated right away. He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. He ordered coffee for them then focused on the menu. He wasn’t a coward, but yes, he was stalling.
“I’ve heard so many good things about this place, but I’ve never been. Have you?”
He nodded. It used to be a favorite. “You can’t go wrong with their scones, and their omelets are exceptional.” A moment later, their mugs were filled with coffee and their orders had been placed. “Anything more from that secret admirer of yours?”
A Christmas Homecoming Page 15