FOUR DAYS LATER, they were in Anchorage again. Ursula had scheduled the visit for late afternoon, so that Rory wouldn’t have to miss any school. She’d been in with her grandparents for half an hour now. Ursula was pretending to read a magazine, but Mac noticed she hadn’t turned a page in the last several minutes. She was always doing that, pretending nothing was wrong. Today, she’d said there was no need for Mac to spend his time riding along, but when he’d insisted, she looked relieved.
She’d kept up a cheerful dialogue with Rory on the way in, explaining that her mother’s parents were in town and wanted to see her. Rory didn’t seem exactly eager, but not opposed to the meeting. She asked a lot of questions, most of which Ursula had no answers for.
Once the social worker had led Rory away, Ursula had lapsed into an uneasy silence. Now she sighed and set her magazine on the coffee table. “I saw a coffee kiosk in the lobby. Would you like something?”
“Sure.” Mac set down his book and started to stand, but Ursula motioned him to stay where he was.
“I’ll get it. Black coffee?”
“That would be great.” He watched her walk toward the stairs, her usually light step stiff from the tension in her body. Just after the door closed behind her, Mac’s phone rang. He glanced around, and since the waiting area was empty, picked up. “Hello, Chandler.”
“Mac. Just wanted to check in. I’m in Omaha. I’ve been looking for the sorts of spots Thaine might frequent. No sign yet, but I’m just getting started.”
“Good, good. Anything on the Normand matter yet?”
“Nothing definite, but my people say there’s some buzz about his development in Vail. Some group has been protesting, trying to stop the second phase from breaking ground and now they’ve filed a lawsuit to stop him. It’s costing him. A couple of contractors are saying he’s been slow to pay.”
Mac straightened. This could be the silver bullet. Leverage Ursula could use to counteract the implied threat Shepherd had made about Sam. That is, if Normand didn’t want his troubles made public. “You think he’s in serious financial trouble?”
“From what I’ve heard so far, I doubt it.” Chandler’s words deflated Mac’s hopes on that score. “The permits were all in order, so the group isn’t likely to get an injunction to stop the construction. We’ll dig a little deeper, but he’s handled bigger projects than this. Probably just a blip.”
“Okay. Well, keep me informed. Good work getting that tip from the sister about Omaha. Hope it pans out.” Mac pressed the end button as he thought it through. From what he’d seen, Chandler had good instincts on this sort of thing. If he didn’t sense Normand was in serious financial trouble, he probably wasn’t. All the same, Mac had to wonder if there was some connection between this and their sudden interest in Rory.
Ursula returned. Mac decided not to mention Chandler’s information yet. She had enough on her mind. If and when he learned more, he’d fill her in. She handed him one of the foam cups. “It’s hot. Let it cool a little before you drink.”
Mac grinned. “Yes, ma’am. It’s not as though I’ve ever drank coffee before.”
“Sorry.” She chuckled. “I guess I’ve gotten used to looking out for Rory.”
“You’re always looking out for everyone.” He set his coffee on the table and touched her hand. “Maybe sometimes you need to let other people look out for you.”
“That’s a hard one for me,” she said, “but I admit, having you along on all this legal stuff has been a tremendous help.”
“I haven’t done anything.” A fact he found increasingly frustrating. He should have been able to help her, to make everything better for her and Rory, but all he could do was sit by and watch the drama unfold.
“You’ve been there beside me lending me your strength. And you’ve acted as my sounding board. When I talk it over with you, it gives me confidence that I’m doing the right thing for Rory. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”
Mac knew exactly what she would have done. She would have fought for Rory’s well-being, no matter how hard it was. He was just glad if his presence made it any easier.
Before he could formulate a response, Ursula spoke again. “I took your advice and talked to my lawyer about not reporting Sam’s mother missing. She said it would depend on the judge. Some are real sticklers for procedure. Others, not so much.” She opened the drinking spout on her cup but set it down without drinking it. “I hate to think Rory’s fate would be based on random judge assignment.”
“I’m sure even the most regimented judges would weigh the pros and cons, not base their decisions on one incident.”
Ursula nodded, and this time she did take a sip. She wrinkled her nose. “Bitter. Did I give you the one with the cream?”
“Can’t handle the hard stuff, huh?” He chuckled and exchanged cups with her. “I’ve been known to drain multiple pots of strong coffee when I’m on a deadline.”
“I’ve always heard writers drank, but I thought they were talking about whiskey.”
“I’ve been known to take a medicinal sip now and again,” Mac admitted, “but my vice is caffeine.” To prove his point, Mac swallowed a healthy slug of the strong brew.
They’d almost finished their coffee when the social worker brought Rory back. As soon as she rounded the corner, she broke into a run and rushed to Ursula’s chair. “Can we go see Griffin now?”
“Of course.” Ursula handed Rory her jacket. “How was your visit?” Ursula made eye contact with the social worker over Rory’s shoulder, who gave a reassuring smile.
“Okay,” Rory said. “They said I could call them Grandmother and Granddaddy, but they didn’t tell funny stories like Grandma Gen used to. Mostly they just talked about people and stuff. Coaches or something. They were nice, though. They showed me some pictures of Colorado, where Mommy used to ski. I told them about school, and my friends, and Frankie.”
“That’s good.”
The social worker put a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Bye, Rory. It was nice to meet you.”
“Bye, Wendy.” Rory turned to Mac. “Are you going with us to see Griffin?”
“That’s the plan. Then I hear we’re all going out to eat.” Mac collected the empty cups and crossed the room to throw them away. From his vantage point, he could see down the hall. Mr. and Mrs. Normand stepped out of a doorway and took a few steps toward him before turning down another hall. Busy with her phone, she didn’t notice Mac standing there, but Mr. Normand looked toward him. The man seemed pale, shaken. They held eye contact for a long moment, before he nodded and turned to follow his wife.
“Come on, Mac. Let’s go!” Rory called. Mac accompanied them down the stairs and held the door for Ursula and Rory.
He stepped outside in time to see the Normands crossing the street. Something about the weariness in the man’s step struck a chord with Mac. Mac dug in his pocket for the keys and turned to Ursula. “Say, I just remembered an errand I need to run downtown. Why don’t you and Rory take the car to Sam’s, and we can meet at the restaurant later. We’re still eating at Simon and Seafort’s, right?”
“Uh, all right.” Ursula eyed him suspiciously, but she took the keys.
“Don’t you want to see Griffin?” Rory demanded.
“I do, but he’s coming to dinner, isn’t he? I’ll see him then.”
“Come on, Rory,” Ursula said. “You and Griffin can sit by Mac at the restaurant. He’ll love that.” Her grin let him know she was kidding, but Mac didn’t mind if he did sit between them. He liked being around the baby, almost as much as he enjoyed spending time with Rory. And if this hunch panned out, he was going to enjoy it a lot more.
* * *
IT WAS A long shot. By the time Ursula and Rory were in the car and on their way, the Normands were out of sight. Since they were walking, Mac assumed the couple was staying nearby, so he looked around for the nearest high-rise five-star hotel. He dialed the desk and asked to be transferred to their room.
“One moment, please.” The call rang through and Mac hung up.
He gave it about twenty minutes, strolling through the square and in front of the downtown shops and restaurants. His breath turned white in the frosty air. Finally, he walked into the lobby of the hotel, past the mural of early Alaskan achievements, and took the elevator to the bar on the top floor.
It didn’t take long to locate Mr. Normand, sitting alone at a table, staring into a glass containing a smidge of dark liquid. “May I join you?”
He looked up and regarded Mac. “My lawyer wouldn’t like it.”
“No, I don’t imagine either of the lawyers would approve.”
He shrugged. “I’m not all that enamored with lawyers just now. Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” A waiter popped over to take their order. Mac nodded at the glass. “Two more of those, please.”
“Right away.” He disappeared as noiselessly as he’d appeared.
Mr. Normand studied Mac’s face for a moment. “You’re that writer, aren’t you? The one whose daughter was murdered.” His voice was matter-of-fact, conveying neither shock nor pity. Mac appreciated that.
“Yes, I am.”
“Why are you in Alaska? I thought you were in Oklahoma.”
“I was. But I had to get away, after everything.”
“So you know what it’s like.”
“To lose a child? Yes, I know what it’s like.”
Mr. Normand drained his glass and set it on the table. “How did you know where to find me?”
“It wasn’t that hard. You looked like a man in need of a drink.”
“Yeah.” The waiter arrived with their glasses. Mr. Normand took a large sip before setting his on the table. “So why are you here?”
“Because of Rory. I’ve grown quite fond of her, and I don’t want to see her get caught up in a power struggle between adults.”
Finally, a brief smile broke through on Mr. Normand’s face. “She looks just like Kendall did at that age. More talkative, though. Rory’s quite a chatterbox.”
“Yes, she is. Big animal lover, too.” Mac tasted his drink and returned it to the table. “You won’t be able to get at Rory’s money, you know. The bank isn’t going to let it go without a struggle, and before you could work your way through that, it would be too late for your project.”
“I know.” Mr. Normand curled the edge of his cocktail napkin. “I assumed that would be the case. The money was just an excuse.”
“For what?”
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he asked, “Were you closely involved in raising your daughter, or did her mother make most of the decisions?”
“Andi’s mother died when she was a baby. I raised her alone.”
The man scratched his chin. “Kendall’s mother pretty much raised her alone, as well. I was around, but I was busy growing my business, especially once we moved to Colorado. Once in a while, I’d take Kendall out for some daddy time, but it was all too rare. Crystal was the one who made the parenting decisions. I didn’t always agree with those decisions, but I didn’t question her. She was the hands-on parent.”
“I see.”
“One of Crystal’s biggest rules was that there should be no empty threats. If Kendall didn’t follow the rules, she suffered the consequences. I remember her sixteenth birthday. Two days before, she was goofing off with her friends and showed up for practice half an hour late. Crystal grounded her for a week. We had a big party planned, and I tried to argue for a one-time exception, but Crystal was adamant. She cancelled the party.”
She sounded like a tyrant, but Mac couldn’t fault her basic premise. “Discipline is important.”
“Discipline is everything, according to Crystal. And for the most part, she was right. Kendall excelled, both at sports and academics. She got a lot of attention, but it didn’t turn her head. She was a sweet girl.”
“Yes. I never met your daughter, but I saw her interviews and special reports when she was competing. Her personality sparkled.”
“Sparkled. That’s exactly what Kendall was like.” Mr. Normand stared at some point past Mac’s shoulder, no doubt lost in memories of his daughter. “She sparkled.”
He still hadn’t answered why he was here for Rory, but Mac had a feeling pushing him for more information wasn’t the way to go. “As I said, I know what it’s like to lose a daughter you love. I also know about regrets.”
Mr. Normand returned his gaze to Mac. “Do you? Did you allow yourself to be separated from your daughter because she had the gall to want to live her own life?” He shook his head. “I always thought we’d reconcile. I knew Crystal wouldn’t back down, but I thought Kendall would eventually reach out, smooth things over. She was good at that. But it never happened.” His voice broke and he took another drink before continuing. “I shouldn’t have waited for her to make the first move. I should have stepped in, done something. I certainly should have met my granddaughter before she was eight years old. That’s inexcusable.”
A familiar flood of grief washed over Mac. “I have different regrets. Things I should have seen. Things I should have done. It’s too late. My daughter is gone. So is yours. But you’re lucky. Rory’s still here.”
“I was useless as a father.” Moisture glistened in his eyes. “I allowed myself to be pushed to the edges of Kendall’s life. I had to make up this excuse about the money to convince Crystal we should check on our own granddaughter. She’d told Kendall if she moved away she was cut off from the family forever and she was sticking to that, even after Kendall died.”
“She seems interested in Rory now.”
“She wasn’t. Said Kendall made her choice. It wasn’t until she saw Rory cross that finish line on Sunday that she suddenly changed her mind. She’s still after that gold medal.”
“But you’d filed for custody before that.”
“It was a ploy. Get her guardian worried she might lose custody and then settle for management of the trust. At least that’s what I told Crystal. Mostly, I just wanted a chance to see her.”
“So you have no intention of taking Rory away from Ursula?”
“We didn’t. But now...” He hesitated. “Crystal’s seeing visions of gold. And how can I turn my back on my own granddaughter? Shouldn’t we take her in, raise her? Don’t we owe Kendall that much?”
Mac didn’t speak immediately. When he did, he kept his voice gentle. “It’s not about you, or Kendall, or what you might owe her. It’s about Rory, and what’s best for her. Tell me something. I understand your wife was a phenomenal ice skater. Does she still skate?”
“Crystal?” He snorted. “She hasn’t put on a pair of skates since we married. After she didn’t make the national team, she joined a traveling ice show. She hated it. To her, it symbolized failure. She was convinced if she’d only started earlier, gotten better training, she would have had the gold. Before Kendall was even born, Crystal was strategizing her career.”
“From what Ursula tells me, your daughter loved to ski, and she and her husband shared that love with Rory since she was a baby. They skied for the joy of it.”
“Yes. She did look happy on Sunday.”
“She always looks happy when she’s skiing. Don’t take that joy away.”
The man frowned into his drink and he shook his head. “You think we should just go away? Pretend we never met her?”
“No. You’re Rory’s grandfather. You should be part of her life. But don’t let your guilt drive you to do something that’s not in Rory’s best interest. Ursula was there the day she was born, and she’s been a part of Rory’s life ever since. They love each other. Let Rory stay where she’s happy.”
“Rory’s happy? After all that’s happened to her?”
“Yes.” Mac was certain of this. “She has bad days and she misses her family, but in spite of that, she’s happy. She’s a remarkable child.”
“But after all we’ve put her through, would Mrs. Anderson be willing to let us be a part of Rory’s life?”
“I think you’ll find Ursula has an amazing capacity for forgiveness. I warn you, though, if she thinks you’re doing anything to harm that child, she’ll fight you with everything she’s got. She loves Rory with her whole heart.”
Mr. Normand eyed him. “And you? You said you’re fond of Rory, but it seems to me you have strong feelings for Mrs. Anderson, as well.”
“Ursula is my neighbor and my friend. I have great admiration for her.”
Rory’s grandfather laughed. “Okay, if that’s what you want to call it. I’ll think about what you’ve said. It makes sense.”
“Will your wife go along with your decision?”
“I believe so, eventually. She’d never admit it, but she’s been miserable ever since Kendall left. It’s time for her to let go.”
Mac reached out his hand. “Good talking with you, Mr. Normand.”
“Drake.” He accepted Mac’s hand and shook it.
“Drake. And I’m Mac. I hope we meet again.”
“I’m almost certain we will. And this time, I’d like to think we’ll be on the same side of the table.”
* * *
“LEAVE IT, BLOSSOM. Come.” The dog had almost buried herself in the snow under a tree, digging for a shrew or something she’d scented. She never caught them, but she enjoyed the chase. Mac adjusted his ski pole before continuing along the trail toward Ursula’s B&B, where he’d been invited for dinner “to celebrate.”
Ursula wouldn’t say what they were celebrating, but Mac had a pretty good idea. Today was Tuesday. When he’d left Drake Friday evening, the man had been doing some serious thinking. He’d had the whole weekend to convince his wife that their best chance to stay in Rory’s life was to get in the good graces of the woman Rory’s parents had chosen, and probably talked it over with their lawyer on Monday.
Drake was more perceptive than Mac had given him credit for. After meeting Rory, he’d understood that she needed to stay where she was comfortable, that the constant pressure to perform wasn’t what she needed.
Drake was perceptive about more than Rory. He’d easily seen through Mac’s declaration of admiration for Ursula. And he was right. Mac hadn’t wanted to admit it to himself, but the more time he spent with Ursula, the more he wanted to spend. She and Rory were rapidly becoming the center of his life, and he wanted it to stay that way.
Could it possibly work? Mac had decided long ago he wasn’t husband material. He’d failed miserably at his one foray into marriage. A good husband would have realized from their phone calls that Carla was depressed, would have asked the right questions. A good husband would have done something to help before it was too late.
But that was a long time ago, and he’d been overseas when it happened. He’d matured since then. He’d raised a daughter, and while he regretted some of the decisions he’d made along the way, she’d grown into a woman he was proud of. Her death didn’t cancel that out. Maybe he hadn’t done everything wrong.
Would Ursula even want him? Yes, she seemed to care for him, but then she was a kind and caring person. She’d responded to his kisses, but attraction wasn’t the same as love.
Love? Was he really thinking about love? His mind had somehow jumped from friendship to marriage without giving a name to his feelings. Ironic for a man who made his living with words.
Did he love Ursula? What did it even mean? He was happier when she was around. He cared about her, wanted what was best for her. Frankly, he admired her more than anyone he’d ever known. But did he love her?
He thought back on their time together. The laughter around the kitchen table when they’d all played cards during the snowstorm. Her warm smile that welcomed him. The way she felt in his arms when she’d finally let go and cried out her frustrations and fears. As though his empty arms were finally fulfilling their intended purpose. To hold her.
Blossom ran over and planted her feet in front of his, staring up at him. He laughed and brushed the snow off her fleece jacket. “Yes, I’m daydreaming again. Sorry. If you’ll get off my skis, we can head on over. I’m sure Ursula has a biscuit waiting for you.”
At the mention of Ursula’s name, Blossom’s tail wagged. She turned and galloped forward on the trail, looking over her shoulder to make sure Mac was following. He chuckled. He wasn’t the only one who’d fallen in love with Ursula Anderson.
Mac was panting by the time he arrived at the inn. In the distance from his cabin to the B&B, Rory would just have been warming up. Blossom sniffed around the trees surrounding the inn, no doubt looking for signs of Frankie the squirrel, while Mac caught his breath and removed his skis. He left them on the porch and whistled for the dog.
When he opened the front door, Blossom ran inside and straight across the room to where Rory was moving things around on the coffee table. She squealed and hugged the dog. “Hi, Blossom.” Two people seated on the couch in front of the fire turned to look at him. The Normands. What were they doing here?
Rory ran to greet him. “Mac. Come play. Granddaddy and Grandmother are gonna eat dinner with us, and I want to teach them concentration.” She grabbed his hand and tugged him across the room.
Before he’d reached the sitting area, Ursula popped out of the kitchen, carrying a tray. “Oh, hi Mac. I’m glad you made it.”
Mac stopped to take the tray from her. She smiled her thanks and hurried over to clear a space on the coffee table. Mac set the tray down and looked at the Normands. Drake gave him a friendly smile. “Good to see you again, Mac. You remember my wife, Crystal?”
Ursula flashed a questioning look at him, probably wondering why he and Drake were on a first-name basis. He hadn’t told her about their conversation, just in case it didn’t pan out. “Of course I remember.” Mac turned a polite smile toward Mrs. Normand. “Hello.”
Her return greeting seemed congenial enough. Ursula poured glasses of wine and distributed small plates. “Salmon dip to tide you over until dinner’s ready.”
Drake dished up some and handed the plate to his wife before filling his own plate. Crystal tasted it and opened her eyes wide. “This is excellent.”
“Thank you. I smoked it myself.”
Mac hid a smile, remembering how he’d turned down his first chance at Ursula’s salmon dip and threatened to have her arrested for trespassing. They’d come a long way since then.
Rory ran to the kitchen and returned with a pack of cards. She frowned at the tray taking up the table space. “I was gonna show them how to play concentration on the table.”
“Then why don’t you move to one of the dining tables?” Ursula suggested. For the first time, Mac noticed the round table in the dining area was set for five. “I need to check on dinner.”
Rory ran to one of the other tables. “First, you have to shuffle.” She separated the deck into two parts and tried to shuffle, but dropped several cards. “Here, Mac, you do it. Mac showed me how to play this game, but I usually win.”
“It’s true,” Mac said, as he shuffled the deck and began laying out the cards in rows. “Rory has an amazing memory.”
Rory explained the concept to her grandparents, and they cheerfully entered into the spirit of the game. To Mac’s surprise, Crystal seemed to enjoy playing. At the end of the game, she and Rory were tied with eight books each. “We’re twins,” Rory declared.
Her grandmother laughed. “I think we are. Shall we play again?”
* * *
URSULA OPENED THE oven door, filling the kitchen with the scent of cinnamon from the apple pie she’d been keeping warm. Dinner had gone well. The Normands seemed to be enjoying Rory’s company, and she was certainly enjoying entertaining them.
When her lawyer had called with the news they were dropping the custody suit, Ursula suspected there would be strings attached, but the lawyer assured her their only request was to see Rory once more before they left Alaska. How could Ursula refuse them?
She’d immediately called to invite them to dinner, and she was glad she did. The people who had seemed so menacing in the lawyer’s conference room had somehow morphed into doting grandparents. Ursula wasn’t sure why they had changed their minds about fighting for custody, but Drake’s attitude when Mac showed up made her suspect Mac had somehow influenced their decision. She couldn’t imagine how he’d done it, but then Mac was a man of many talents.
She dished up the pie and carried it to the dining room, where Rory was entertaining everyone with tales of the playground. “And Ian said boys were faster than girls, so I challenged him to a race, and I won. He said his snow boot came off and made him trip, so it didn’t count. So I said I’d race him again.”
“And did you win?” Drake asked.
Rory shrugged. “He said it wasn’t fair because he couldn’t run good in boots, and then the bell rang. But tomorrow when we go to gym, I’m gonna see if Mr. Todd will let us race inside.”
Crystal laughed. “I predict Ian will have another excuse. But he probably won’t be bragging about running faster than girls anymore.”
Ursula set a slice of pie in front of Rory. “Did you remember to bring home your spelling word list?”
“It’s in my backpack.” Rory took a bite of pie. “Yummy.”
“It is yummy,” Mac said. “In fact the whole dinner was delicious. Thank you, Ursula.”
The Normands murmured their agreement. Once they’d all finished dessert, Drake mentioned they should be getting back to their hotel.
“Don’t go yet,” Rory urged. “I want to play another game of concentration.”
“You need to practice your spelling words first.” Ursula stood and began to clear the dessert plates. “Maybe your grandfather could quiz you while I make coffee. Any takers?”
“I wouldn’t mind a cup of decaf,” Mac said, helping her stack the dishes on a tray.
“I’ll get my spelling list.” Rory shot off toward the kitchen. Blossom jumped up and ran after her.
“She never slows down, does she?” Crystal chuckled. “Here. Let me help you with the dishes.”
“I can manage.”
“Nonsense. Here, I’ll carry these.” Crystal picked up some of the wineglasses and followed Ursula into the kitchen. “Where do you want them?”
“There, beside the sink is fine.” Ursula set her tray beside the dishwasher and reached for the coffee. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Crystal picked up one of the wineglasses as though to inspect the etched pattern, and then set it down again and turned toward Ursula. “You’ve been exceptionally gracious, inviting us into your home to spend time with Rory. I doubt if our positions were reversed, I would have done the same.”
“I just want what’s best for Rory.”
“That’s what Drake said about you. We had a long talk this weekend.” She gave a wry smile. “A very long talk. Not just about Rory but about Kendall, and about our marriage. Looking back, there are things I could have done differently. Should have done differently.”
No kidding. Ursula busied herself setting out the cups to keep her sarcasm to herself. Instead, she kept her voice neutral. “Like what?”
“Drake pointed out to me that I kept him and Kendall from bonding. I didn’t intend for that to happen, but she was busy with lessons and training, and he was working so hard. It was just easier for me to manage her life while he did his job. Drake resents the time they lost.”
“Kendall missed him.” Kendall had always sounded wistful when she spoke of her father to Ursula. It sounded as though they’d never spent much time together, but enjoyed each other when they did. “She could never understand why he didn’t even try to get in touch with her after her marriage.”
Crystal raised her chin. “I suppose Kendall told you I was a wicked witch who kept her locked in a gilded cage and then threw her out to starve.”
“Nothing so melodramatic. Kendall was aware of how you’d worked and sacrificed for her ski career, and she was grateful. She had some wonderful experiences that wouldn’t have been possible without you. But she felt she was never good enough for you. She always had to do better, to be better.”
Crystal’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t argue the point. Ursula filled a cream pitcher and set it on the tray before she continued. “She’d fallen in love with a good man who loved her, unconditionally. They were going to have a baby. She chose to marry him and move to his hometown where they could raise the baby without pressure. Was it so unreasonable for her to expect her parents to support her decision?”
The back door flew open. Rory and Blossom raced in and Rory skidded to a stop in front of Crystal waving a crumpled piece of paper. “I finally found it. It was in the very bottom, under my hat. Do you want to go over my words with me, too?”
Crystal smiled at her. “You bet. You go show them to Granddaddy and I’ll be there in just a minute to help.”
“Mac will help, too.”
“Of course.”
The door swung shut behind the girl and the dog just as the coffee finished brewing. Ursula added the carafe to the tray and turned. “Are you ready to go in?”
“Not yet. I need to make you understand.”
“Understand what?”
“I loved her. Kendall was my daughter. I loved her so much sometimes I felt like my chest would explode. That’s why I drove her. That’s why I made her train when she didn’t feel like training. That’s why I never let her settle for good enough, only the very best. Because I loved her. Nobody did that for me. I was never good enough to even compete at those levels. But Kendall was. She did.”
“And she won silver.” Ursula remembered watching the competition on television and witnessing the pure joy on Kendall’s face when she realized her scores had moved her into medal contention.
“I wanted gold for her.”
“I do understand.” Ursula laid a hand on Crystal’s arm. “You wanted her to have a gold medal because that was what you’d wanted for yourself more than anything in the world. But it wasn’t Kendall’s highest goal. She wanted a happy family. And she got it. She, Coby and Rory were one of the happiest families I’ve ever met.”
“I’m glad.” Crystal toyed with one of the spoons on the tray. “I just wish...”
“What?”
“I wish I hadn’t been so hardheaded. I thought if I stood my ground, Kendall would return to her training after she had the baby. Once it became obvious that wasn’t going to happen, I still wouldn’t give in. It was stupid.” She met Ursula’s eyes. “So what now? I know you don’t approve of the way I raised Kendall. Are you going to punish me by denying me access to my only granddaughter?”
Ursula hesitated. “You understand I will honor Kendall and Coby’s plan to give Rory a childhood as normal and carefree as possible? You’re not allowed to pressure her. This isn’t negotiable.”
“I understand, and I respect that.”
“Then it seems to me that it could only be beneficial to Rory to have loving grandparents in her life. Maybe we can set up a regular video chat so she can keep you up to date on her activities. In fact...” Ursula paused.
“What?”
“Rory and I were planning to visit my mother in Wyoming early this summer. If you like, I could bring her to visit you, as well.”
“You’d do that for us?” Crystal seemed truly shocked.
“Not for you, but for Rory. There’s not a lot I wouldn’t do for Rory.”