She laughed.
Cart slapped the table hard with the flat of his hand. “There’s not a single thing funny about this.”
He wanted to drag her out of that booth and shake her until her teeth rattled. Until that tight bun fell out and her blond hair swung free like it had when she was a kid. Until her golden eyes flashed and she admitted there was nothing funny about any of this.
“This isn’t my home, Cart.” She waved a perfectly manicured hand at him like he and the inn were pesky flies she didn’t want near her. “It hasn’t been for a long time. I’ve got a career in California. I shouldn’t even be here, now. I’ve got an upcoming board meeting that’s vital to—”
“Don’t give me vital,” Cart cut her off. He fought to control his anger. “In Los Angeles you’re doing a job a thousand people could do.”
Angel flinched. Cart wondered what he’d said. Then he saw the fire in Mandy’s eyes. He didn’t want a fight; he just wanted her to do exactly what he asked and not give him any grief about it.
He had to make her understand. “I’m not saying you’re not great at your job; it’s clear you are.”
How often had her dad told him about promotions and raises? In the four years since she’d graduated from college and taken the job with Halston, she’d worked her way up until she was knocking on the door of jobs that were a pathway to the executive suite. Lou was so proud of her he never shut up about how well she was doing. And here she was, dressed like the world’s most delicious caramel sundae, designer labels so famous even Cart recognized them. Perfect makeup on a beautiful face that he’d almost never seen with anything more than lip gloss. Why bother when her lashes were so lush and her golden eyes so shining, her skin so flawless and her hair so richly blond? Cart didn’t know much about valuable jewelry, but he’d bet she had real gold in her watch and in the beautiful ring she wore—not on any important finger. Her small hoop earrings and her delicate chain necklace were the same shining gold, and she wore it all with such ease it proved every word her dad said.
“And I’m not surprised you’re a big success at Halston. You’re a natural for the hospitality industry, born and raised in it. Trained by two of the very best. But Halston can replace you”—he snapped his fingers—“like that.”
Angel flinched again.
As if she was being any help.
Finally, Angel talked. “What he means is here at the Star you are irreplaceable.”
Of course that’s what he’d meant. That was exactly what he’d said. He glowered at Angel, who didn’t give him a single glance.
“There’s only one Mandy Star. There’s only one member of the Star family left who understands the traditions and open arms that are part of sharing this home with the public. Your great-grandparents bought it, standing empty, abandoned for years by the old lumber titan who built it.”
“I know my home’s history, Angel.” Mandy rolled her eyes.
“If you do, then why isn’t it important to you, your parents’ only child?”
She didn’t answer.
“Your grandparents took over when your great-grandfather died. Then your dad took over for his folks, and now it’s yours to love and preserve. It’s your heritage and it can be a blessing to you as much as you can be to it. The Star Inn needs you to love it and carry on the traditions begun here.”
Angel was kind, gentle. Loving. Okay, maybe he should’ve gone with that instead of yelling.
He clamped his mouth shut to let Angel handle this.
She laid both her hands over one of Mandy’s clenched fists. “And we’ve missed you, Mandy. I know you’ve done well and the future could be bright for you at Halston. Your dad was so proud of you he glowed as bright as the star on top of this house. And he never, ever wanted to hold you back. But in recent years, he’s needed you. We’ve all needed you. He always thought you’d go out and see the world and have a wonderful time, and then you’d come back.”
“No he didn’t. He never wanted me to come back here.”
That cooled Cart down like a bucket of ice water dashed in his face. “Yes he did.”
“No, he was adamant that I get out of Heywood, make something of myself. He said the inn would be like an anchor holding me back.”
A deep silence froze the table until they could hear the clock ticking in the kitchen, and that was pretty crazy quiet since the clock was battery operated.
Finally, Angel asked, “When did he say that?”
Mandy shrugged. “All the time. He started when I was close to college graduation. I’d planned to come back.”
“And your dad said what?” Angel sounded skeptical, but Cart saw by Mandy’s hurt expression she was telling the absolute truth. It made no sense, but Lou Star had really told his daughter there was no job here for her.
“He said there was no room at the inn?” Angel asked.
Mandy flinched; then a smile snuck onto her face. Her fists relaxed back into hands. “I can’t believe you said that.”
Angel laughed just for a second; then she said, “Could he have just said that because he thought that was what you wanted? Because I felt a longing in him for you to come back. I guess he never said so, but I always thought that was his dearest wish.” Angel looked at Cart. “Didn’t you think that?”
“Yes, I wondered how long you’d wait. Your dad wasn’t all that old, seventy-two isn’t that old these days, but he was long past retirement age. I figured he was keeping things going until you came back.”
“I think he kept working because the inn was his link to Mom.”
“And to you, Mandy.” Cart leaned forward, the table kept them apart, but he wanted her to hear him. “And this is your link to them.”
Without thinking, he reached across and took her other hand. Now he and Angel both had her. “Your roots are here, and I remember when you were a kid, you loved this old house and you loved the folks that came to visit. You were a natural. I’m sure you’re wonderful at your job. How could you not be? But I always thought you liked the personal connection with visitors and with the staff.”
His voice faded when he realized by “staff” he meant himself. He’d thought she liked the personal connection with him.
Mandy looked at him, then suddenly pulled her hands free. “Go home, Cart or Anthony or whatever your name is now. Your family probably hates this place for keeping you busy late at night.”
Cart narrowed his eyes. “I live out at my ranch alone, Mandy. No one’s waiting for me.”
And the look on her face was nothing short of stunned.
“What do you mean? Dad said you’re married. Surely you have kids by now.”
Cart shook his head hard, like a wet dog, then slowly stood, maybe trying to get a little distance from what she’d said. “Your father told you I was married?”
Mandy opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again. Fish impersonation.
“You aren’t?”
“No.”
“Divorced?”
“Never married.” He’d come close once—well, not all that close as it turned out. The burn had left scars. He liked to think he was a lot wiser about women than he’d been then. But Tara had happened well after Mandy’s decision not to come home.
She sat, her golden hazel eyes locked on his, as if she was looking into his mind—or maybe into the past. Finally, the gaze broke and she looked down at the table, through the table.
“Mandy, he can’t have said—”
“Hang on a second.” She slashed a hand at him and cut him off. “I’m trying to remember what he said. He mentioned you often when we visited, but he told me . . . I-I remember that one time, right before I graduated from college, he said you were engaged. And at the same time he said there wasn’t enough money to support another person in the inn.”
That brought her head up. “Could that be it? I don’t really know anything about Dad’s finances. I’m his sole heir, but I don’t know what that amounts to. Is the Star struggling? That might explain why he-he didn’t . . . want me h-here.”
Cart heard the confused ache.
“The inn is doing well,” Cart said. No sense lying, was there? It might protect her feelings right now, but she was going to see the books pretty soon. “I helped your dad get things in order for taxes this year. I can write checks on the inn for repair parts and there’s plenty of money in the bank. Your dad has significant investments, too. In fact, he has part ownership of the strip mall that went in on the edge of town.”
Angel added, “Remember he donated enough to the new hospital that he got his name on a brass plaque they put up on the lobby. I think those were for donors who gave ten thousand dollars or more.”
Mandy gasped. Cart didn’t blame her.
“I’m on the board at church,” Cart added. “He was very generous there. There’s no debt on the inn and never has been. It was paid for even before your grandad inherited it. And your mom had a large life insurance policy that I know your dad set aside for you and has never touched.”
“Not even when he paid for my college?”
“Nope. That came out of profits from the inn. And structurally it’s in good shape. Well, the boiler’s the same old one, but we completely redid the plumbing and wiring two years back. He got a new roof last year. Your dad paid cash for all of that. I saw it because it shows in the depreciation schedule on his taxes. He had the money to do it.”
“You’re sure about this?” Angel spoke directly to Mandy, her voice so quiet Cart barely heard her. “You didn’t misunderstand, about Cart or about your dad not wanting you here or there being money troubles?”
Slowly, she shook her head. “I didn’t misunderstand. In fact, I’ve been dreading going over the details of the will, worried I’ve inherited so much debt, I’d be lucky to sell the inn and settle all I owe.”
She looked up, her eyes full of hurt. “It doesn’t make sense, but for some reason Dad didn’t want me here.”
Cart kinda wished she’d go back to laughing.
Her phone dinged with an incoming text and she pulled it out and studied the message; then, with her shoulder slumped, she held the phone tight enough her knuckles were white. “I’ve left too much undone back in LA, and the year-end is coming. It’s tons of work getting ready for that.” She paused, her slender hand gesturing absently. The gesture seemed so lost Cart wanted to scoop her up in a hug. “But I won’t call Benji tomorrow. I want to see how the old place is running. I want to spend a couple of days on this side of the hospitality business. It’s said that you can’t go home again; well, I think that’s true for me. If I came back I’d probably spend the rest of my life here trying to decide if my father really loved me.”
Angel wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Of course he loved you, Mandy.”
“Was he trying to keep me away out of some twisted notion rooted in love or did he just not want me around?”
“But you are going to give the Star Inn a chance?” Cart wanted more. A couple of days would keep her here for Christmas. It was a joyful, beautiful time in Heywood, and he wished she’d be a part of it. It might not help her decide to stay, but at least she wasn’t calling Benji yet.
Cart would have guessed Lou Star was one of his best friends. And Lou was a man who loved his daughter and missed her. Why lie to Mandy about a marriage? Why lie about money trouble? Why keep her away?
Lots of questions and, with Christmas a few days away, an inn full of guests and festivities around town nearly every night, they didn’t have much time to answer them.
“I’ll give the inn at least a few days.” She sounded determined, but her chin dropped and her eyes looked watery with unshed tears. “I’m afraid this year will be the same as every year since I graduated from college. I’m going to find out that there is no room for me at the inn.”