The phone rang. Startled, Beck threw back the blanket and sat up. Sunlight streamed in through the open drapes. For the space of about thirty seconds, he couldn’t remember where he was. Then it hit him.
He’d spent the night with Tansy.
Well, not with Tansy, but…
The phone rang again.
All rumpled and sleepy, Tansy stumbled up the hall, ready to pounce on the offending instrument.
He beat her to it, grinning at her openmouthed expression.
“You can’t answer my phone,” she hissed.
“Fine.” He handed her the receiver.
“Hello?” She sent Beck a warning look. “Hi, Mom. Yes, everything’s fine.” She listened. “Uh-huh. Yes, I was with Beck. Thanks for watching Gracie. What did we do? We, uh, had dinner and talked for a while.”
“Tell her what happened,” Beck said.
“Shhh!”
He realized she regretted the sound instantly.
“Yes, Mom. He’s here, but—yes, I’ll put him on.” She held the receiver to her chest. “Do not get cute. Tell her the truth.”
“All of it?”
“Yes! No! Don’t tell her about—” She shrugged. “You know.”
“Hello, Mrs. Calhoun. How are you this mornin’?”
“Do either of you need me over there?” Rexanna asked. “Either of you need an ambulance? The EMT?”
“No, ma’am, we’re both fine.”
“It’s early, very early, so the question needs to be asked. Did you spend the night with my daughter?”
“I did, but Tansy slept in her room, and I spent the night on the couch.”
“Why?”
He almost swallowed his tongue. “Why?”
“A simple question.”
He rubbed at his cheek and realized he badly needed a shave. “Why did I spend the night, or why did I sleep on the couch?”
Tansy groaned and stomped her foot. Then she waved her hand across her throat in the “cut” motion. “Give me the phone.”
He shook his head.
“I’m guessin’ the answer to the second question is that my daughter wouldn’t have it any other way. So why did you spend the night?”
“You and your daughter need to have a long talk. That jerk she was married to called last night.”
“What did he want?” The genteel Southern woman disappeared, and a mama bear reared her ferocious head.
Beck took note and decided Rexanna Calhoun wasn’t anyone he’d want to tangle with. “That’s something the two of you need to discuss. In person. I’m leavin’ for work now. You won’t be long?”
“No. An hour at most. Tell Tansy I have a change of clothes for Gracie. I’ll feed her and drop her off at preschool and still be there in plenty of time to help with the opening.”
“I will. Listen, when you drop Gracie off, you might want to remind Lucinda to only let her go with you or Tansy.”
“This is about Emerson’s call.”
“Yes. You have a good day.”
“Not so fast, Beck. I’m only going to say this once, so listen carefully. My daughter has been through a lot. Don’t you add to her hurt.”
“No, ma’am. That’s not my intention.” He hung up and turned to face an upset Tansy.
“Out.” She pointed to the stairway. “Now.”
“Don’t I even get a cup of coffee?”
She arched one brow.
“Hey, it’s not my fault she knew I was here. You’re the one who shushed me.”
With a sigh, she dropped onto the sofa, automatically folding one of the blankets he’d used.
“Tansy, you’re not a little girl anymore. For heaven’s sake, you were married. You have a child. Your mother isn’t harboring the idea that you’re still a virgin.”
“It doesn’t matter. She’ll think we slept together.”
“I told her we didn’t.”
“That doesn’t mean she believed you.”
Was there even a shred of logic in that? Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair. He needed a trim almost as bad as he needed that shave.
“And you shouldn’t have mentioned Emerson’s call.”
“She needs to know. Look—”
“No, you look. Today’s a big day for me. It’s my grand opening. My dream! This matters. A lot! I still have no idea why you felt you needed to stay over because Emerson isn’t the type to come banging on my door in the middle of the night, insisting I let him in.” She held his gaze. “He doesn’t care enough to do that.”
“You were too upset to be alone. Emerson might not care, but I do.”
With that, he picked up his work boots and his keys. Ignoring Tansy’s startled expression, he walked downstairs and let himself out.
* * *
“Why did Beck really stay the night?” Her mother slapped herself on the forehead. “Never mind. Don’t answer that. I think the answer falls under TMI.”
“No, it doesn’t. He did sleep on the couch, Mom.”
“That’s what he told me, but—”
“Why?” Kitty stuck her head into the dining room.
Oh, jeez. Maybe she should just text the whole town. “Why?”
“You heard me. You have that beautiful man here overnight while Gracie is gone, and you make him sleep on the couch? What’s wrong with you?”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.”
“It’s complicated.” She raised a hand to her forehead. “And that’s exactly what I said to Beck last night and offended him. Emerson called.”
“And that’s another thing. What did he want?”
Her lower lip trembled despite her best intention. “He’s taking me back to court. He wants custody of Gracie.”
“Over my dead body,” her mother said.
“Mine, too.” Kitty stepped into the front area. “The man has caused enough hurt. What would he do with that child?”
“I don’t know.” Hot tears burned at the back of Tansy’s eyes, and she blinked them away.
“You listen to me.” Her mother put her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “You’re not alone anymore. You have family and friends to stand with you.”
She nodded. “Kemper Dobson is already working on it.”
“There you go.” Kitty applauded with flour-covered hands. “Now put that away for now. Don’t let that jerk spoil today for you…and that’s an order.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She snapped a sharp salute.
* * *
Even though Emerson’s call nagged at the back of her mind, the grand opening went better than she could have imagined. In her wildest dreams, she hadn’t expected the outpouring of love and good wishes showered on her…and she’d never needed it more.
From the time they opened the doors, people—singly, in couples, and in groups—filed through. They ate, drank coffee and tea, talked, and laughed. Tansy didn’t fool herself into believing this kind of traffic would continue. Right now she was a bit of a novelty. People wanted to check out the new shop, take a peek at the Elliot residence after the remodel, and catch a glimpse of the girl who’d left town, married rich, and came crawling back.
She understood all that.
Still, her pastries were darned good. So was her tea and coffee. And the house? She hugged herself. 321 Main Street looked magnificent.
Jenni Beth and Cole dropped by with both sets of parents.
“This place is crazy.” Cole laughed. “It reminds me a little bit of the bar scene in Star Wars. A little bit of everything. Looks like your aunt Coralee and the new Baptist minister are havin’ themselves a heated discussion.”
Tansy nodded. Her aunt had outdone herself today. Her red hair, as untamed as ever, clashed with the pink peasant blouse worn over black-and-white plaid pants. Black Converse tennis shoes completed her outfit.
“Where do you think she finds her clothes?” Jenni Beth asked.
“I have no idea, but the place should be shut down.” Tansy topped off their coffee. “I had a nibble on an engagement party at Magnolia House this morning. Eugenie Pryce came in sporting a brand-new engagement ring. Blake proposed last night. She’s going to give you a call.”
“She’ll make a beautiful bride,” Jenni Beth said. “I’ll see if we can’t talk her into having the wedding there, too.”
Tansy crossed to her aunt. “More coffee?”
“I think I’ve had enough.” She took Tansy’s hand. “Your father would be so proud of you, honey. I wish he were here today.”
“Me too.”
“I love you, sweetheart.” Her aunt kissed her cheek. “Now go take care of your other customers.”
Cricket closed the Enchanted Florist for lunch, and she and Sam stopped in. Ms. Hattie and Tansy’s second-grade teacher wandered in around two for a spot of tea.
Friends from school asked about the class reunion they had planned for next month. Since they hadn’t met for their five year and didn’t want to wait till ten, their always-unique class had decided to throw a seven-and-a-half-year reunion.
When Sawyer Liddell, the sole reporter for the Bottoms’ Daily, came in to take a few photos and do a quick interview, she noticed Sam giving him the stink eye. She caught, too, the little swat Cricket landed on her fiancé’s arm. There was some kind of history there, she thought, as Sam slipped his hand over Cricket’s, making it very clear that Cricket was his. Interesting. She’d have to talk her friend into spilling the beans.
Beck’s mom and dad, along with his grandfather, stopped in for doughnuts and coffee, and Tansy gave them a quick tour of the upstairs and down. When Judy Elliot gave her a huge hug, Tansy wondered if she knew where her son had spent the night.
Probably not.
But then, it didn’t really matter, did it? It had been totally innocent. Just another case of Sir Galahad protecting the damsel in distress.
“You’ve done a good thing here, honey. I’m proud of you.” Judy hugged her again.
Judy’s son, however, was a no-show. But he did send flowers—a huge, happy bouquet of sunflowers, soft yellow roses, and lavender sweet pea.
At one, he sent a text asking if she’d seen the lawyer.
Appointment at four, she texted back.
* * *
For the next few days, Tansy kept so busy she didn’t know which end was up. With the lawyer’s help, she prayed her problem with Emerson was under control. As far as the shop went, her mother and Kitty both pitched in when they could. Still, the responsibility rested on her shoulders, and she worked harder than the others put together.
A glance at the clock showed it was closing time. At last. She flipped the sign in the window to “Closed,” turned off the coffee machine, and breathed a sigh of relief. After the lunch rush, she’d sent her helpers home.
Right now, she wanted to soak both her feet and her body in a nice, hot bath.
First, though, her daughter, who sat at the kitchen table coloring, needed food.
While she was deciding what to fix for dinner, the phone rang.
Emerson.