Mountain Country Courtship

by Glynna Kaye

  He motioned for them to cross the street and continue their walk. In silence they moved side by side until they rounded a corner to a quiet residential street that led to the church.

  “What’s the deal, Lillian? Why did you lead me to believe your fiancé was the one to break off your engagement?”

  “I never said he was the one to break it off. You jumped to the conclusion that he did.”

  Had he? “You didn’t correct me.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I should have told you. I just— You’d shared with me about your breakup. About how your fiancée left you at the altar. I guess...I guess I didn’t want you to equate me with her. To judge my situation, my motives, by hers. Maybe withdraw your support of the renovation, and we’d have to cancel Barbie’s wedding—and then Aunt Viola would lose her job at the inn, I’d lose a shot at the librarian position, and we’d all have to move to Phoenix, where I could support us.”

  He shook his head. “Slow down here. I don’t see the connection.”

  “Barbie is my former fiancé’s younger sister, and their grandmother is on the library advisory board. Ever since I left her grandson standing at the altar, she hasn’t been real fond of me. In fact, my reputation in this town pretty much tanked after that. And if I’m responsible for her granddaughter’s wedding day being a disaster? Bye-bye library job for sure.”

  Denny closed his eyes momentarily, trying to get his head around everything she was firing at him.

  “Hold on. You said earlier the guy wanted no part of Taylor or your aunt. Was that true? Or did you make it up to garner my sympathy?”

  “It’s true. The day before our wedding, Cameron jumped at a job offer back in Boston without consulting me. Informed me that there had been a change in plans, to pack my bags and say farewell to Hunter Ridge.”

  She took a quick breath, then rushed on. “When I protested that I had a job and responsibilities here, he said I could get a new job, and he’d retain a caregiver for Aunt Viola and foot the bill to place Taylor in a private school. Believe me, I prayed long and hard that night and almost right up until showtime. How could I marry a man like that, Denny?”

  He tilted his head to study her, an ache growing in his heart. “You think if you’d have told me the whole story, I’d have thought you should have married the guy? That I’d have thought ill of you for having the courage to stand up on your own behalf and the behalf of your aunt and niece at the risk of calling down ridicule on yourself? You don’t think a lot of me, do you, Lillian?”

  “But I do, Denny. It’s that I was scared and so mixed up and—”

  “I know we haven’t known each other long, but I’d have thought by now that I might have built up some respect in your eyes.”

  “My mistakes, my poor judgment in this situation, are in no way a reflection on you. Please believe that.”

  That was going to take some doing.

  “I don’t know what else to say.” Her eyes pleaded for understanding. “Except I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “You didn’t.” Liar. “You just...opened my eyes to reality.”

  She started to reach for him, but he stepped back. “Let’s not beat a dead horse, Lillian. We’ve got a renovation to finish. Let’s focus on business.”

  But he’d been shaken. Lillian didn’t trust him. Didn’t respect him. A man could be given the whole world on a silver platter, but if the woman he was coming to care about more than anyone else didn’t respect him? Then how could he respect himself?

  Realizing there was nothing left to say, he gave her a final searching look, then turned and walked away.

  Chapter Eleven

  Lillian looked up at the clock. Shouldn’t Taylor be home by now? Tonight was the birthday party, and she’d been so excited that Aunt Vi thought she’d probably run all the way home after school. Lillian had taken the afternoon off to put finishing touches on the decorations, blow up balloons and get a pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey game set up.

  It had been a rough day, though.

  How had things gotten so tangled up with Denny? There were so many misunderstandings on both their parts. If only she hadn’t lost her temper with Randy. If only she’d told Denny the whole story of her broken engagement earlier, when she’d had the opportunity.

  Friends.

  That was what he wanted to be. That was all they could ever be. All she dared to let him be. It was one thing to risk her own heart, to take a chance to win or lose. But she couldn’t play games with Taylor’s.

  Lillian looked at the clock again. Her niece being thirty minutes later than usual made her uneasy. She headed out to the front porch in hopes of spying her coming down the street, when an older-model Toyota pickup pulled up in front of the inn.

  Annalise. She looked like a thundercloud, and Taylor, in tears, was seated beside her.

  Taylor’s mother turned to say something to her, her expression sharp. Irritated. The little girl nodded, then climbed out of the vehicle to race up the porch steps.

  Lillian caught her niece’s arm. “What’s going on?”

  Chin quivering and refusing to look at Lillian, she pulled loose and pushed by her and into the inn.

  Annalise slowly got out of the pickup and folded her arms. “She’s coming with me, Lillian.”

  Oh, no.

  “You don’t mean right now, do you? Today’s her birthday party.”

  “I guess you and Lover Boy will have to eat the pretty cupcakes yourselves.”

  What?

  Annalise stepped up on the porch, her expression belligerent and her voice rising. “How could you, Lil?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You didn’t think Taylor would tell me, did you?”

  “Give me a clue here. And hold your voice down.” The whole street didn’t need to listen in.

  “Don’t act innocent. I know you’re going to try to take her away from me. My own daughter.”

  “I’m not—”

  “Don’t lie to me. Taylor wouldn’t make something like that up. She says you and your boyfriend are getting married and plan to get a lawyer to gain legal custody of her. Grab her away from me. Adopt her, even.”

  “I’m not marrying anyone. And I wouldn’t—”

  “You are a liar in the first degree, Miss Goody Two-shoes. That’s one thing Taylor’s never done. She’s never lied to me, and I don’t believe she’s lying now.”

  “Please, Annalise, listen to reason. There’s clearly some misunderstanding.”

  “You can say that again, if you thought you could sneak off and do this behind my back. What were you intending? To slap me with neglect charges? Abandonment? Abuse?”

  “I wasn’t—”

  Annalise stuck her finger in Lillian’s face. “Well, you’re too late, lady. She’s coming with me. Now.”

  “Annalise, please—”

  At that moment, a still-sobbing Taylor stumbled out the front door lugging her suitcase. Aunt Viola was right behind her.

  “What’s going on?” She looked with alarm from Lillian to her great-great-niece as Taylor dragged the suitcase down the steps.

  Annalise shot her a warning look. “You stay out of this, Aunt Vi.”

  “Don’t talk to her in that tone of voice.” Lillian kept her voice low, but firm. “You can be rude to me all you want, but I won’t allow you to disrespect our aunt.”

  “It’s no secret you’ve always been her favorite. I imagine she’s up to her eyeballs in this plot to snatch away my daughter, too.” She looked over her shoulder. “Get in the truck, Taylor.”

  “Please, Annalise. Don’t do this. Not now. It’s her birthday...”

  The little girl wavered, at long last meeting Lillian’s gaze in a silent plea. Without hesitation, Lillian took a step in her direction, but her sister blocked her way and yell
ed at Taylor. “Drop the suitcase and get in the truck! Now.”

  The little girl quickly obeyed.

  “Don’t be harsh with her. It’s me you’re angry with.”

  “No joke.” She moved to the pickup and slung the suitcase in the bed. Jerked open the driver’s-side door. “Just so you know, I’m going to find a lawyer of my own and slap a restraining order on you, so don’t attempt to contact Taylor or raise a legal ruckus. You won’t be pulling the wool over my eyes ever again. I won’t be messed with.”

  Annalise climbed into the truck, said something sharp to Taylor, then with a snarl of a smile backed out and headed down the road.

  As Lillian stood immobilized with shock, Aunt Viola immediately came to her side and slipped her arm around her waist. “Oh, sweetheart, what happened? Why’s she upset?”

  Lillian couldn’t keep her lower lip from quivering. “I— She thinks I’m trying to take Taylor away from her.”

  “How did she jump to that conclusion?”

  “She says Taylor told her. Told her I was getting married and then I was going to get custody of her.”

  “Getting married? Why would Taylor tell her that? That’s nonsense.”

  But Taylor had seen that near-kiss between her and Denny. The little girl had clearly been doing her fair share of trying to make a match there. She was obsessed with brides and weddings and happily-ever-afters. Did that almost-kiss imply to her a commitment had been made? Was it wishful thinking on her part that her aunt Lillian and Denny would marry and open their home to her? Then, in a childlike way, she’d unwisely shared that dream with her mother?

  “We should call the police,” Aunt Vi urged. “Put out an Amber Alert.”

  “Taylor’s in no real danger, and I won’t imply to law enforcement that she is.” Thankfully, her sister would tear anyone apart who tried to harm her child. “There’s never been anything legal drawn up between us, except to give me the right in her absence to make decisions for medical care and school-related issues. Taylor’s always come and gone at the whim of her mother, and I chose not to rock the boat for this very reason—that I could lose Taylor entirely.”

  “Well, there’s got to be something we can do.”

  “Pray.” Feeling as if her heart had been ripped in two, Lillian gently pulled away from her aunt. “I’m going for a walk. I can’t—I can’t talk about this right now. I’ll contact the parents, let them know the party’s been called off.”

  “Sweetheart—”

  “I’ll be fine.” She gave Aunt Vi a reassuring smile that she hoped she wouldn’t see through. “I need time alone.”

  Lillian quickly placed the phone calls, providing as little detail as possible. Then woodenly, she walked the winding streets of Hunter Ridge into the early tinges of twilight, heedless of the barking dogs and passing cars.

  At long last, she ended up in the deserted community park, children and adults alike having returned home for their evening meal. She sat down on one of the swings, idly pushing herself back and forth in a comforting motion.

  Would she ever get the image of Taylor’s tear-filled, pleading eyes out of her memory? Do something. Help me. Don’t let Mom take me away.

  But she’d let her niece down.

  Please, God, let Taylor understand. Calm Annalise. Talk sense into her. Please, please make her bring Taylor back to me.

  “Lillian?”

  She looked up, and in the fading light she saw Denny coming in her direction.

  Slowly she stood, acknowledging his presence as he approached. “You heard?”

  “Viola told me. Are you okay?”

  “I guess. How is she?” It had been selfish to leave her aunt alone to grapple with the pain that punctured her own heart.

  “She’s praying your sister will see the foolishness in what she’s done and bring Taylor right back.”

  “I’m praying that, too.”

  “I’m sorry, Lillian.” He gazed down at her with compassion-filled eyes. “So sorry.”

  Her chin trembled. “I’m in shock. It happened so fast, it doesn’t seem real. I feel as if when I return to the inn, Taylor will come bopping out the door to greet me. To greet Mister.”

  She offered a wobbly smile as her heart wrenched for Denny. He loved Taylor. He’d be hurting, too.

  “Oh, Lillian.” Without hesitation, he drew her into his arms and she clung to him. Held fast to the arms that sustained her with a strength that surged through her very being. “She’ll bring her back. I know she will.”

  “I’m not sure this time,” she whispered against the front of his windbreaker, realizing she’d gone off without a jacket and the air had cooled rapidly once the sun disappeared behind the pine tops. She pressed in closer to his warmth. “I love her and I’m terrified I’ll never see her again. That my last memory of her will be of her eyes begging me to do something.”

  Denny’s arms tightened around her. “Viola said Taylor told her mother you were getting custody of her. That’s what set Annalise off.”

  Lillian nodded. “I don’t know where she got that idea. I’ve never so much as hinted anything to her about that. Ever.”

  She felt a groan vibrate his chest. “But you did tell me. Could she have overheard us talking when I asked you about that possibility? Before she walked in on...you know.”

  Lillian pulled back slightly to look up at him. “Do you think she could have?”

  “It’s possible.”

  “But we were just talking. Discussing. I was still uncertain if it was something I could pursue. Something I had a right to pursue. Remember?”

  “I remember. But maybe she only heard parts of what we said. And then, well, you know—in the excitement, the rest of it may have been forgotten. Or not understood in the first place.”

  “I feel awful.”

  “I don’t feel much better. I’m the one who broached the topic. I feel responsible for planting the seed that brought about this blowup between you and your sister.”

  She pressed her hand firmly to his heart. “No. Absolutely do not take this on yourself. If anyone is to blame, it’s me.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “I’ve too long dreamed of taking Taylor in permanently. I’ve discussed it with Pastor McCrae and a lawyer. Yet I’ve never been bold enough to seriously propose it to Annalise. And now it may be too late.” Shaking her head, she looked up into his eyes. Then, with a jolt, awareness of how entwined in each other’s arms they were shot through her.

  Embarrassed, she started to step back. But Denny held her fast, his gaze holding hers captive.

  “Don’t be afraid, Lillian. I know things seem hopeless right now, but you will see Taylor again. I know it.”

  And then he closed his eyes, lowered his head and tenderly touched his lips to hers.

  * * *

  He heard Lillian’s quick intake of breath, but when she didn’t pull away he deepened the kiss, longing to comfort her, to assure her that all would be well. Gently cradling her in his arms, he marveled that she was letting him hold her. Was even relaxing into his embrace.

  Returning his kiss.

  Forget this friends stuff.

  The sweetness, the innocence of the moment as time seemed to unfold and slip away, was like nothing he’d ever before experienced. It was giving, not taking. Sharing, not demanding. Her arms slipped around his neck, seeking solace. Offering comfort.

  Time stretched and his senses heightened as he drank in the sweet scent of Lillian’s hair and the aroma of the surrounding pines. Cool air touched his cheek as twilight deepened. He’d never before felt so alive, and longed for the moment never to end.

  But all too soon, Lillian’s hands slipped from around his neck, and he reluctantly loosened his hold, although every fiber in him cried out to never let her go. To forever protect her. To somehow make ev
erything right in her world.

  She stepped back, looking almost as disoriented as he felt. But he wasn’t going to play the gentleman and apologize for that kiss. He had no regrets and hoped she didn’t, either.

  “Everything is going to be okay,” he murmured as he pulled off his windbreaker and slipped it around her shoulders. “I feel it way down deep.”

  But what he based that on, he had no idea. It wasn’t as if he’d ever had a hotline to God. But wherever that conviction came from, he knew he needed to share it with Lillian. Let it give her hope.

  She didn’t look at him, choosing to stare into the deepening darkness. Was her brain still as befuddled as his was over that kiss? Why did he long for her to acknowledge they’d shared an amazing connection instead of pretending it never happened? He could still feel the electricity in the air. The tension between them.

  “I want to believe you, Denny. Oh, how I want to believe you.”

  “But it hurts like crazy, doesn’t it? Taylor being gone is still our reality.”

  “I hope Annalise doesn’t take out her anger with me on Taylor. She was steamed when she left and speaking harshly to her daughter.”

  “It’ll blow over. The whole thing will. The next thing you know, she’ll grow tired of parenting once again and come begging you to take Taylor off her hands.”

  “I pray that’s the case. But I don’t ever remember her being so angry with me. At least not since we were kids.”

  They were both silent for a long moment.

  “I’d be happy to walk you home.” He’d cruised the streets until he’d spotted her, then parked the Porsche nearby. But a drive would be over too quickly, and for some reason he felt a need to remain close to Lillian.

  “Thanks. I suppose I should get back to the inn and let Aunt Viola know I’m okay.”

  “She was worried about you and filled me in when I stopped by to drop off a birthday present for Taylor. A pad of graph paper, a ruler and a mechanical pencil.”

  “That was sweet of you. So Aunt Vi sent you out like her personal search-and-rescue party?”

  “I know how much Taylor means to you. I wanted to be there for you.”