by Linda Warren
As she walked away, Reed wasn’t thinking of Daphne. He was thinking about Cari and her words.
Be honest. Please don’t stay that lonely little boy.
“Reed.”
He turned to his sister.
“Are you okay?”
“Sure. It’s been a long day.”
Marisa hugged him. “Then get some rest. We’ll see you later.”
After Marisa and her family left, his parents went upstairs to bed.
And Reed was alone.
Really alone.
Like he had been so many times in his life.
He didn’t want to stay that way. Of that he was certain. Cari was right. He’d slipped back into his world, his comfortable, safe world. That Richard Preston had created for him.
It was time to step up to the plate and take control of his life. Out in west Texas he’d told Cari he didn’t know if running Dalton’s was his goal or his father’s. Or if he knew the difference.
All his life his goal had been to please his father. Even though Richard had shown him very little attention or love, that goal had never changed. When he’d found out what his parents had done to Marisa, he’d left without any intention of returning. But Marisa had begged him to come home. He had, and stepped into his old mold of pleasing Richard.
As he was doing now.
Be honest.
He took a long breath and slowly made his way upstairs to his room. The words followed him.
Be honest.
He looked out the window, the same window he’d looked out of as a kid. His view was the backyard, the pool, the tennis court. Even though the well-lit yard and everything had been updated, it was still the same as it had been back then.
Was he still the same?
He ran his hands over his face and admitted he was. He was still that same lonely little boy who had never known love. Now that he’d found it, why was he still afraid?
A moan escaped him. He could see clearly that Daphne was safe, had fit perfectly into his world. That’s what had appealed to him. She’d never touched his heart or deepest desires, not the way Cari had. Was that what he feared? Sharing all of himself? Everything he was and wanted to be? Was he afraid of the pain that might cause?
Cari had said love sometimes brought pain. He gazed out the window and watched the shadows, hiding, not revealing secret places. His heart was just like that—in shadows, hiding from the pain. He sucked in a breath. He was ready for the light to reveal his inner emotions as he had with Cari. He didn’t want to hide from reality any longer. Or hide from love.
Suddenly he wasn’t afraid anymore.
He would be honest with himself.
Chapter Sixteen
Cari’s family smothered her with attention and love. She didn’t object because it felt so incredible to be alive. Since she couldn’t wear shoes, she was limited to the house and she was okay with that. She slept in her old bed and enjoyed that sense of being home.
Her baby brother, Chase, was home, too, but she knew he wouldn’t be for long. The oil company he worked for had interests all over the world and he’d be jetting away soon. It was nice to visit with him. He was so handsome with his dark hair and eyes and that killer smile.
She was sitting in the swing on the wraparound porch of the old farmhouse when Chase swept her into his arms.
“Where are we going,” she asked, laughing.
“For a ride,” he replied, depositing her on the seat of their dad’s truck. “It’s cotton-picking time and I thought we’d drive around and watch big brother and Dad work.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she said.
Chase turned the key and the old truck sputtered to life. He shifted into gear. It reminded Cari of all the times she’d driven the truck with Chase and Kitty sitting by her side watching her every move. They had all learned to drive early.
Chase drove down a dirt road, dust billowing behind them, in between fields of cotton. Sammy was operating a cotton picker and he waved to them.
“So how are you doing?” Chase asked and she knew they were all worried about her.
“Fine,” she replied. “It’s good to be home.”
“Nothing like coming home, is it?”
“No. I can’t believe how anxious I was to get away from here.” The truck hit a bump and Cari held on to the door.
“Me, too. I never wanted to be a farmer.”
Her brothers were so different. Sammy couldn’t envision any other life, but Chase was a dreamer like her.
“I probably would have been if it hadn’t been for you.”
She’d helped to pay for Chase’s college and that was a sore spot with their father. But she had known how Chase had felt and wanted to help.
“I just paid your tuition. You worked a job and made good grades. I was proud of you.” She reached over and pinched his cheek. “I still am.”
“Ah, sis, you’re gonna make me blush.”
“Yeah, right. You stopped blushing when you were sixteen and discovered the girls were falling over themselves to date you.”
He grinned unabashedly. They came to the end of the field and their dad waved from a tractor as he pulled a trailer filled with cotton. It would soon go to the cotton gin.
They waved, but didn’t interrupt. Time was of the essence when cotton was in the field waiting to be picked.
As Chase shifted gears to turn the truck around, she asked, “Is there anyone special in your life these days?”
“Nope. Just my work.”
“Me, too.”
He glanced in her direction. “Kitty’s under the impression you’re in love with Reed Preston.”
“Kitty has a big mouth.”
“Oh, I hit a nerve.”
“Yes, little brother, so back off.”
“Is there any chance…”
“No. He’s marrying someone else. Let’s drop the subject.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He parked at the house. “Tomorrow is Sunday and we’re finally going to celebrate Dad’s birthday. After that I have to be on the road again.”
She made a face. “So soon?”
“Yep. I’m headed to Midland and Odessa.” He paused, rubbing the palm of his hand over the steering wheel. “Are you gonna be okay?”
“You bet. Nothing keeps me down for long.” She sincerely hoped her teasing words were true. Reed had moved on and so could she. Only time would tell though.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’m eternally grateful we’re celebrating a birthday tomorrow instead of attending a funeral.”
She smiled even though she felt a moment of sadness. “Me, too.” She chased the sadness away with good thoughts. “Tomorrow I’m eating fried chicken and I can hardly wait.”
Chase rounded the truck, swung her into his arms and then carried her up the steps. They laughed the whole way as he pretended she was heavy and could barely stand upright from the enormous weight.
Sunday was everything it should have been a week ago. The women worked in the kitchen and the men sat on the porch drinking beer and talking about cotton, corn and oil prices.
Later, Cari sat with her dad on the porch swing.
He stuffed tobacco into a pipe that had belonged to his grandfather. “We’ve been blessed.”
“Yes.”
He lit the pipe and puffed on it a couple of times. She loved that pungent scent. Her dad only smoked the pipe on special occasions and it reminded her of the holidays and of her childhood. A childhood she had thought was lacking because they didn’t have the material things of other kids. But they’d had so much more. It had taken a plane crash to make her see that.
She had to tell him.
“Daddy, I’m sorry for all the times I was embarrassed to wear hand-me-down clothes.”
“Now, girl, that’s nothing to be sorry about.” He blew smoke rings in the air. “Kids always want what they can’t have.”
Adults did, too.
“I know you were upset with me for luring Kitty to
Dallas and paying for Chase’s education.”
He leaned forward, puffing on the pipe. After a moment, he said, “Your mom and I wanted to keep all our children right here under our feet in Hillsboro. That way we could keep them safe and protect them, but that’s not very realistic.” He studied the pipe. “I wasn’t upset with you, but myself. I wanted to give my kids those things.”
“Oh, Daddy.” She hugged him. “You gave us so much more.”
“I don’t know about that. The early years weren’t good. I wasn’t here like I should have been, but your mom was good at holding us together.” He brushed tobacco from his jeans. “Letting you take off to Dallas after graduation was almost impossible for me to accept, but I did it because you wanted it so badly. You were always dreaming of a better life.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I always knew what I wanted, but now I’m not sure about my future.”
He patted the hand that rested on the sleeve of his chambray shirt. “Go with your heart, girl. Always go with your heart.”
Later they made homemade peach ice cream from peaches in the freezer. For a moment Cari thought about Reed and wished he was here. She’d promised to show him a simpler way of life, but now that wasn’t going to happen. He’d made his choice. She tried not to let the thought get her down.
They all sat on the front porch laughing, talking and enjoying the special day they’d been given.
ON TUESDAY Cari knew she had to return to Dallas and sort out her life. She could only stay a little girl for so long. Judith and her mom drove her to her apartment. Ruth had made enough food so Cari wouldn’t have to worry about grocery shopping for a week.
Her mom was hesitant about leaving her, but Cari assured her she would be okay. They hugged tightly. Cari tried very hard not to cry and failed.
Later she roamed around her apartment feeling lonely. She wondered what Reed was doing. To stop such thoughts she washed her sheets and cleaned out the refrigerator. Then she went to her computer. She stared at the screen for a long time. All her life she’d had one goal—to be a success. Could she give that up?
With shaky fingers she typed her resignation letter.
She could no longer work for Dalton’s.
Of that she was positive.
REED HAD BREAKFAST with his parents and they kept glancing at each other. He knew something was up.
“What are your plans today, son?” Richard asked, sipping his coffee.
“I’m going to check in at the office and reassure everyone that Cari and I are fine.”
“Reporters are still snooping around, so be extra cautious. Don’t worry about the office, everything is under control.”
Reed finished his oatmeal and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “You’ve been taking care of things?”
“We have top people in place to handle any situation.”
That kind of explanation no longer sat well with Reed. He carefully laid his napkin on the table. “It sounds as if I’m not needed.”
“Don’t be absurd. You’re the CEO. You need time to heal from this tragedy.”
But Reed wasn’t in control. His father was. That’s what was bothering him. CEO was a title placed on him by Richard, who was still manipulating things behind the scenes.
“Let’s go into the living room,” Vanessa suggested.
“Good idea.” Richard rose to his feet. “Thelma, we’ll have coffee in the living room.”
“Yes, sir.”
Reed carried his cup with him and waited while Thelma served fresh coffee to his parents.
“Your father has something he needs to tell you,” Vanessa said, reaching for a cup on the silver tray.
“Vanessa, I do not need your help,” Richard snapped.
“What’s this about?” Reed asked, knowing in his gut that it was big. After his thinking last night, he had some things to say to his father, but now he had to hear what was so important.
Richard took a sip of coffee and placed his cup back on the tray. “It’s about the dinner party where you met Daphne.”
“Yes, Mother needed an extra person to make up the seating.”
Richard glanced at Vanessa and didn’t say anything.
That feeling in his gut intensified. “That’s what it was, wasn’t it?”
Richard swallowed nervously. “When we were notified there were two survivors found from the crash, I prayed that if God let one of them be you, I would never manipulate your life again. And…and I would tell you the truth.”
“About what?”
“The dinner party.”
Reed gripped his cup, and Cari’s words came back to him. Daphne was hand picked by your father. Had she been right?
Richard cleared his throat. “I met Daphne a week earlier at Clyde’s office. After she left, Clyde and I were talking about what a perfect couple you’d make, so—” he rubbed his hands together “—we planned to set you up at the dinner party.”
Reed carefully placed his cup on the tray before he broke it into a million pieces. “Mother was in on it, too?” he managed to ask through gritted teeth.
“No,” Richard replied. “That’s what made it perfect. We all know what an unexpected guest does to your mother and her arrangements. I casually mentioned you could fill in.”
“And it worked.” Reed rose to his feet because he couldn’t sit still any longer. “Good-hearted Reed helps out his mother, and his father stabs him in the back. That sounds about right for the Preston family.”
His words were angry, but most of them were directed inward. He knew his father and should have known what was going on. Cari had. Why hadn’t he?
“You fell in love with Daphne,” Richard pointed out. “I had nothing to do with that.”
Reed shook his head. “Oh, you had everything to do with that. Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted your approval, your attention and your love. But what I got was a strict regime of how I was supposed to act because I was Richard Preston’s son. I was never allowed to be a normal kid, and let me tell you, opening presents on Christmas morning with the nanny sucked.” Words seemed to fly out of his mouth of their own volition and made very little sense.
Richard frowned. “We were there.”
“Mother was still asleep and you were on the phone in your study. Marisa and I had Christmases alone and then came the big breakup and I found out what alone really meant. So if being Richard Preston’s heir is supposed to mean something special, it doesn’t. And I’ll tell you something else…it doesn’t mean a lot out in west Texas either. You always told me I wasn’t ordinary, but out there I was, and pain and suffering showed no discretion.”
“Son—”
Reed held up a hand. “I’m getting sidetracked. Let me finish. You say I fell in love with Daphne and you’re right. Or I let myself believe she was what I needed in my life. I never stopped to ask myself why she was suddenly there. And I should have.” He looked directly at his father. “I think you and I both know why you felt a need to interfere in my life. Suddenly everything seems so clear.” Finally the fog had lifted and he saw what Cari had.
“What are you talking about?”
“Cari Michaels,” he said without taking a breath. “You knew my interest in her was more than friendly and you had to do something before I married someone so unsuitable. Even though you promised Marisa and I you would not interfere with our lives again.”
Richard paled. “I’m sorry, son. I can see I was out of line. That’s why I’m telling you the truth now.”
That had Reed. Richard never apologized. He was always right.
Reed ran both hands through his hair and the anger at himself, at his father, slowly ebbed. He’d been through too much to let anger take root, and he could see he was also at fault.
“I’m to blame, too. I could have walked away that night after the dinner party, but I was looking for something and I found it in Daphne.”
“You mean…”
“No.” He shook his head. “I needed someon
e to take my mind off Cari. In a small way I suppose I was still looking for your approval. At thirty-six and living through a traumatic experience I can honestly say I don’t need your approval anymore.” As he said the words, he felt a freedom he couldn’t explain.
His father was stone-faced.
“Oh, Reed.” His mother wiped away a tear. “I’m sorry about your childhood, but I didn’t know how to be a mother.”
“Don’t worry, Mother. I survived that, too.”
Before he could say anything else, Daphne swept into the room.
“This isn’t a good time,” Richard said, getting to his feet.
“It’s the perfect time,” Reed corrected.
Daphne glanced from one to the other. “What’s going on?”
“Did you know our meeting was a setup?”
She frowned. “Setup? What are you talking about?”
“Your father and mine planned the whole thing.”
“So what?” She shrugged. “We fell in love. That’s all that matters.”
“It matters to me, Daphne. I don’t like being manipulated.”
“It wasn’t anything like that, was it, Richard?” She looked at his father.
Richard drew a long breath. “It was just like that. I wanted Reed to marry someone suitable and I felt I had to do something.”
Daphne’s eyes grew stormy. “Why did you have to tell him? You’re ruining all our plans.”
For a full ten seconds there was silence in the room. The writing was on the wall and everyone could see it.
Especially Reed.
He took her hand. “I’m sorry, Daphne. I think you know it’s over.”
“Reed.” Her eyes pleaded.
“I’m sorry if you’re hurt and I’m sorry you got caught in the middle of my problems with my father. But I don’t believe you’re deeply in love with me.”
“How can you say that?”
“When I was in the hospital, dirty and with a beard, you could barely stand to touch me.”
“You looked so bad and I was just scared.”
“It’s much more than that. You’re in love with Reed Preston the heir, not Reed Preston the man.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Aren’t they the same?”