Every single building invited Tansy to step into the past. Exploring the empty stores turned into a walk down memory lane. As she and Quinlyn checked off the pros and cons of each, Tansy realized it was wasted time.
She already knew what she wanted.
Pops Elliot’s house.
Sherman’s March to the Sea couldn’t have stirred up more dust than her decision would.
Could she do this to Beck?
Yes, their thing had happened long enough ago to be the past. She winced. Her sense of justice wouldn’t allow her to trivialize what they’d had by calling it a thing. They’d been in love. Deeply.
One look at him in that second before he shuttered his eyes and blocked her out was all it took to realize he still harbored feelings for her. Not love anymore. No. She’d killed that, and she’d be forever sorry. He’d behaved well in front of Kitty and Gracie, but he didn’t fool her. It was anger she read in his eyes now, anger and hurt.
Yet Pops’s house had a for-sale sign in the front yard, and she was in the market for a house. Her money was every bit as good as anyone else’s. Wouldn’t it be better if she bought it, because no other buyer could possibly love the house as much as she did? Nobody would take better care of it.
Quinlyn, who’d been in the same class as her and Jenni Beth, locked the door on the once-affluent men’s clothing store. She bounced the keys in her hand and looked cool as a cucumber, her hair pulled up in a loose twist, her makeup expertly applied. Jewel-toned rings winked on every perfectly manicured finger.
Beside her, Tansy felt frazzled and disheveled.
“This building didn’t do it either, did it?”
“No, it didn’t. Sorry.” She started to dig in her bag for a Tums.
“Don’t be sorry. This is what I do. Real estate is a big investment, and it’s important to get it right.” Quinlyn tapped a suicidally high-heeled shoe on the uneven brick sidewalk. “So, what next? You want to take a peek at the Elliot place?” She fished another set of keys from the pocket of her crisp cotton dress and dangled them in front of Tansy. “I’ve got the keys right here.”
Tansy tried to hide the shiver of delight mixed with apprehension that ran through her. Quinlyn was more than aware of the stumbling block, though, of Tansy’s history with Beck.
Clasping her hands beneath her chin, Tansy said, “You know I do. Everything else aside, the house is a perfect fit for Gracie and me. That yard is simply crying out for a young child to play in it. We can live upstairs, and I can work down. One mortgage. Although…” She hesitated. “I’m almost afraid to ask the price.”
Quinlyn threw out a figure.
Tansy nodded thoughtfully. “More than I’d hoped, but not as much as I’d feared. I think I can swing that.” She laughed. “Thankfully, Gracie likes mac and cheese. We might be eatin’ a whole lot of it while I get the business off the ground.”
“I thought your husband—”
“Ex-husband,” Tansy inserted. “And, no, he’s not helpin’. I’m doin’ this on my own, and you don’t need to spread that around.” She knew only too well how tongues wagged in a small town, and as she spoke and her stress grew, so did her drawl.
Her friend made a zipping gesture across her blush-pink lips. “I won’t tell a soul.”
Tansy knew better than to believe that; sooner or later it would come out anyway. But she wanted that house. She’d go through the motions of looking it over and having a building inspector check it out, but as far as she was concerned, the place was hers.
She’d already talked over the phone to the new manager of Coastal Plains Savings and Trust about a loan, but she would need to stop in today.
On the ride to the Elliot house in Quinlyn’s pink MINI Cooper convertible, Tansy tried really, really hard to squelch the quick spurt of envy at her friend’s carefree life. She loved her daughter, but the responsibility of being a mom never went away. Now that she was a single mom, the load felt far heavier.
Quinlyn’s younger sister lived with her, though. So maybe her friend’s life wasn’t quite as carefree as it seemed.
When they pulled up in front of the house, the two sat in almost reverent silence.
Finally, Quinlyn cleared her throat. “This house means a lot to you, doesn’t it?”
Tansy nodded. “I spent a lot of time here with Beck and his family.”
“Have you seen Beck?”
“He was at Tommy’s when I stopped for gas. Then he showed up while Gracie and I were at the bakery.”
“You talked?”
“A little. Mostly, he talked to Kitty and Gracie.” She turned to look at Quin. “Is he happy?”
“He seems okay, keeps busy. He’s dated quite a bit, but if anything starts to look long-term, it ends. His choice, not the women’s.”
“I’m sorry about that.” Even as she spoke the words, Tansy wondered at the truth in them. She wanted Beck happy. She really did. But it would kill her to see him with someone else, and wasn’t that hypocritical?
“You want to go in?”
“Absolutely.” She opened her car door and slipped out.
As the front door swung open, Tansy stepped across the threshold and smiled. Exactly as she remembered, minus the furniture. The big front room with its massive fireplace and white, carved mantel took up the front of the house. She wandered into the dining room with its ornate crystal chandelier. Beck’s grandma had told her it was original to the house, which had transitioned from gas lighting to electricity somewhere in the early 1900s. Reaching up, she ran a fingertip along a sparkling crystal.
The living room and dining room could be used to seat customers. And the library? She wandered into it, her grin growing. This would be where she could let her love of all things girly run free. While she’d work hard to keep the other areas gender neutral, she’d set this room aside for the ladies. For their showers, luncheons, and get-away times.
The kitchen? She studied it with a critical eye. She’d need to take down one wall and open it for counter and display cases. If she could find them, she’d replace the appliances with retro fixtures, preferably colored ones. Maybe red. Or pink. Cole might be able to help her with that.
She’d like to redo the bathroom, too. Take it back a few decades. She understood why Pops and NeeNee had updated everything, but for what she wanted, older was better.
The room behind the kitchen would make a phenomenal office and keep everything work related on this floor. None of it would have to travel to their living quarters.
This was a huge step. Once she decided on this, there’d be no turning back. It would take money for the remodeling, for the furnishings and supplies to start her fledgling business. It would also take a lot of hard work. She was up for that. In fact, she couldn’t wait to roll up her sleeves and jump in.
With her mother’s help, Gracie Bella would be fine, too. The two of them had discussed this during long, late-night phone chats. The money would be her biggest problem.
And then there was Beck. If she bought this house, he’d no doubt see it as another betrayal. Could she live with that?
Did she have a choice?
Both her heartburn and her headache returned.
She climbed the curved staircase, her hand trailing along the smooth, worn banister. This she’d leave just as it was, nicks and all. That assurance the house had been well lived in added a special touch to the ambience.
Five rooms and two baths made up the second floor. She’d turn one into an eat-in family kitchen and the largest into their living area. The others she’d use for bedrooms.
At the bottom of the second narrow flight of stairs, she pulled a string to light a bare bulb and gripped the simple railing. When she reached the top, she stared at the empty third-floor attic, dusty and long unused. Maybe she’d finish it off as a playroom for Gracie. It would make a fun place for her and her friends to watch TV or talk and eat pizza. This home was perfect in every way—except, of course, for the matter of Beck.
“Can I bring Kitty over after she closes today?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’d like her take on the business aspect of it. But I want it, Quin. I really want this house.”
“It’s been on the market for a month now, and no one’s made an offer. It’s a bit more than most Misty Bottomers want to spend, so I don’t see anyone coming along and nudging you out.”
“You sure?” Tansy chewed her bottom lip. “Maybe I should put in an offer right now. Sign a paper. Give you some earnest money.”
Quinlyn laughed. “I’ve got the listing for it, Tanz. If anyone makes an offer, I’ll let you know. My goal is to sell the house, but this is a huge decision. I’d feel a whole lot better if you talked to Kitty first. Maybe bring your mom to see it. Sleep on it.”
“Okay.” Tansy nodded hesitantly. “If you’re positive.”
“I am.”
Tansy called Kitty, feeling like a kid on Christmas Eve. Waiting for Kitty to close for the day proved excruciating. Tansy went to the post office to check on her change of address, then to the bank to open a new account. The clock dragged, and she swore time had ground to a halt.
She checked her watch. One o’clock. A quick call ensured everything was well with her mom and Gracie. Her stomach grumbled. A trip to the Dairy Queen would fix that, and she’d still have time for a consult with Jenni Beth at Magnolia House.
An hour later, ensconced in Jenni Beth’s wonderful carriage house office, Tansy slipped her sketchbook from her bag and flipped it open to the first of her drawings, the sweet-sixteen cake.
A squeal erupted as Jenni Beth pulled it toward her. “Olivia will love this!”
“She wanted something fun, and I think this should do it.”
“Oh yeah.”
“Since it’s coed, I didn’t figure girlie pink or frilly froufrou would work, so I went with neon—pink, green, and yellow. I thought I’d cover the bottom layer in white, then stripe it in the other colors. The middle layer? Neon green with a deeper green fondant bow. The top layer will be white with fondant polka dots in the pink, green, and yellow.”
“Outstanding. And I love the little guitars and musical notes. She loves that guitar of hers—and she’s got an outstanding voice.” Jenni Beth leaned toward Tansy and hugged her. “This is good. So, so good! I can’t wait till she sees it.”
“So it’s a go? I can move ahead on this one?”
“Absolutely. The layers are a little tipsy looking. On purpose?”
Tansy nodded. “I thought I’d cut them at angles to give them kind of an edgy look, then bead the colors around where the layers meet.”
“What else do you have?” Eyes shining, Jenni Beth slid her chair closer.
Tansy flipped to another drawing, grinning when her friend clapped. “The vintage cake. Soft green for the bottom layer and soft lavender for the top. The middle layer I’ll leave in ivory. I’ll have fondant lace spilling over the sides of the first layer, then add sugar-paste violets to the middle. The top layer I’ll cover in lace fondant. Since they’re not using a topper, I’ll do more sugar-paste violets and some old-fashioned roses there. A few strands of fondant pearls draped here and there, and it should be good to go.”
“You can do this?”
“I can.”
“Oh, Tansy, have I told you how happy I am you’re here? For this, yes, but I’ve missed you so much.”
Tansy blinked hard and fast to hold the tears at bay. “Don’t make me cry, Jenni Beth. I’m not sure I’ll ever stop if I give in to it.”
“Okay.” Jenni Beth breathed deeply. “Back to business. A groom’s cake?”
“They don’t want one, but I thought I’d make some cute little cupcakes incorporating the same colors. I’ll put flowers on some, bows on others, pearls, whatever. I’ll do them all a little differently. It should look good.”
“It will look spectacular.” Jenni Beth leaned back in her chair. “And the last? Betsy wanted Vegas but pretty. I’m thinkin’ if you can pull that off, you’re Wonder Woman.”
Tansy laughed. “I’ll show you what I have in mind. Then you can let me know whether or not I’ve earned my indestructible bracelets.”
“The bride and groom both love Elvis, too.”
“I saw that on the notes Kitty passed to me—with glee, I might add. I was concerned about stepping on her toes. Not the case. She’s more than ready to pass the baton.” She made to turn the page, then stopped. “Close your eyes.”
Jenni Beth did.
“Remember, they want a groom’s cake. So…” She laid two drawings on the table. “What do you think?”
The sides of the round groom’s cake were decorated to look like piano keys. The top was a replica of Elvis’s “Love Me Tender” vinyl, RCA Victor logo and all.
“This wasn’t a Sun Records song?” Jenni Beth asked.
“Nope. RCA bought Elvis’s contract from Sun for $35,000. Can you imagine? I’m kind of glad. It’ll be fun doing the Nipper and gramophone logo.”
“Nipper?”
“The dog on the logo. He liked to bite the back of visitors’ legs. My grandma had a dog just like that called Baby.”
“How do you know this stuff?”
Tansy simply smiled and tapped the side of her head. “Mind like a steel trap.”
“Right.”
They both laughed, knowing her words for the fish story they were.
“And this.” Jenni Beth rested a finger on the three-layer, square wedding cake done in red, white, and black. “Very Las Vegas. Very pretty. You did it.”
“On paper, anyway. Now I’ve got to translate all this into cake.” She poured more iced tea for herself, then held the pitcher up toward Jenni Beth who shook her head. “Let me tell you what else I’ve decided today.”
* * *
Beck turned into Magnolia House’s oak-lined drive. Damn, this place was fantastic. It never got old. His eyes drifted down the lane, and he hit his brakes. What the hell?
Tansy’s SUV sat parked crookedly in front of Jenni Beth’s office. With his thumb and forefinger, he rubbed his eyes beneath his dark glasses. The temptation to back out of the drive and come back later prodded him to put his truck in reverse.
No, that would be stupid. Charlotte, the Beaumonts’ housekeeper, had called him about repairing the back door screen. Zeke, their old yellow Lab, had run through it. His eyesight was going, and he hadn’t realized it was shut.
After all Ms. Charlotte had done for him over the years, he owed it to her to take care of it quickly. The temperature had mellowed some, but the kitchen would still heat up with the oven on.
He pulled up to the big house, hopped out of his truck, and grabbed the roll of screen and the tools he’d need. Even though he and Cole and Wes, Jenni Beth’s brother who’d been killed in the war, had run wild here when they’d been kids, he knocked on the front screen door.
“Ms. Charlotte? It’s Beck.”
“Come on in.” She stuck her head around the kitchen door, gesturing to him. “I’m puttin’ the finishing touches on a big bowl of potato salad. I’ll dish up some for you to take home.”
Practically salivating at the idea of it, he grinned. “I’d appreciate that.” Striding toward the door, he said, “Let’s take a look at the screen.” Kneeling, he studied the damage. “This is a straight-line cut. What was Zeke doin’? Carrying his Boy Scout knife?”
“Stranger things have happened.” With that, she went back to her salad.
What kind of an answer was that? He studied the tear a little closer. Damned if it didn’t look like a cut. Whatever. If she intended to pay him with potato salad for tonight’s dinner, he didn’t care how it got there. Besides, he needed to finish this and disappear before Jenni Beth and Tansy took it in their heads to come inside the main house.
The less he saw of Tansy Forbes, the better.
In no time, he had a new screen installed. “There you go. Good as new.”
“Thank you. You’re a good boy, and you can tell your mama I said so.”
“You can be sure I will. Let me take this stuff out to the truck, then I’ll come back for that potato salad.”
Whistling Tim McGraw’s “Real Good Man,” he laid the rest of the roll of screen in the bed of his truck and set his tools in beside it. Despite himself, he glanced toward the carriage house. Tansy was still there. Didn’t matter. It had nothing to do with him.
He did want that potato salad, though, so he headed back inside.
Charlotte stood at the counter, the plastic container in hand. “The girls are out at the office workin’ hard, and my guess is they could use a snack about now. You won’t mind runnin’ it out to them, will you?”
“Ah, Ms. Charlotte…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve got a couple more stops to make.”
“This won’t take but a minute.”
Before he could blink, he held his potato salad in one hand and a tray of cheese and crackers in the other. Seriously? She wanted him to play waiter to Tansy?
Charlotte limped across the kitchen for napkins. Had she been limping before? Huffing out a huge breath, he met her halfway, took the napkins, and headed for the door.
“Thank you, honey. Like I said before, you’re a good boy.”
“Right. Have a nice day, Ms. Charlotte. Tell Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont hello for me.”
“I surely will.”
“You might want to get off that leg for a bit.”
“I’m gonna take a few minutes right now.”
The front screen door slammed shut behind him as he crossed the porch. He hustled down the stairs and across the lawn. He’d dump these damn things inside and leave. Nothing said he had to talk to Tansy. He’d played nice at Kitty’s. That was enough.
He gave a quick knock at the door, opened it, and peeked in. “Everybody decent?”
Jenni Beth laughed. “We’re dressed. Decent? Probably.”
“Charlotte sent me with fuel for you. She said you were workin’ hard.” He pointedly ignored Tansy. He was still PO’ed that she’d come back. He’d been doing just fine; he didn’t need or want her here.
Not that he still had a thing for her.
Tansy, however, wasn’t having it. She jumped up. “Are you following me?”
“Am I—hell, no, I’m not followin’ you. Why would I want to do that?”
Hand on her hip, Tansy said, “You tell me.”
“I don’t have a reason because I’m not followin’ you. I came to fix the back screen door for Charlotte. Zeke ran through it.”
Jenni Beth’s forehead creased. “When?”
“A little bit ago. Charlotte said the kitchen gets hot and asked if I could fix it before dinner.”
“But Zeke’s been gone all day. My dad took him to the groomer.”
Beck threw his hands in the air. “I don’t know. I don’t care. She asked me to fix it, and I fixed it. End of story. I’m leavin’.”
Jenni Beth held the tray out to him. “Have a few.”
“No thanks.” Without another word, he left.
The whole damn town was going crazy.
* * *
Tansy pulled up in front of the bakery. A quick check of her watch showed she was only ten minutes early. Not too bad, considering she’d wanted to come an hour ago.
She’d nearly died when Beck had walked in on her and Jenni Beth. Her guilt-ometer had spiked into the red zone. She’d been certain he’d found out about Quinlyn showing her the house and had come to tell her he’d yanked it off the market.
So she’d gone on the defense. Still, it was darned strange how he kept showing up. Well, she’d worry about that later. Right now, she had a date with Kitty to walk through the Elliot house again. She’d wondered if some of her initial excitement might wane, but it hadn’t. If anything, she was more certain than ever she’d found her new home.
Hers and Gracie Bella’s.
The bell tinkled overhead as she pushed open the door. “It’s me,” she said.
“I’m almost done here, sweetie,” Kitty called from the back room. “Want coffee or iced tea?”
“Nope. I don’t want anything to slow us down.”
Kitty chuckled. “Understood.”
A few pans banged, a drawer opened and closed, then Kitty stepped out from the back room, untying her apron. Tossing it in the laundry basket, she ran both hands through her short hair. “I look okay?”
“Yes, you do.”
“Then we’re out of here.”
Tansy practically danced to the door. Kitty flipped the sign to read “Sorry, we’re closed” and locked the door behind her. They’d both drive, so Kitty could leave for home from there.
Quinlyn waved from the steps of the Elliot house when they pulled up.
Kitty, hands behind her back, walked slowly through the first floor. Waiting for her verdict, Tansy could barely breathe. Like a puppy, she followed the older woman into the kitchen and outlined her idea for removing the wall.
“So you’d do all your bakin’ right here in front of folks? Sell directly from here?” She stood in the middle of the kitchen, arms outstretched.
“That’s what I thought, yes.”
“Ask me, that’s not a good idea. I mean, where you gonna wash your dishes and pans? You don’t want to be doin’ that in front of customers while they’re enjoying their baked goods.”
“Hmmm. Good point.” She turned to the older woman. “What would you do?”
“I’d use the kitchen for exactly that. This is where I’d do my work. That beautiful dining room with the huge window lookin’ out onto the backyard and the gardens? Half of it would make a perfect salesroom. That’s where the display cases and racks should go. Set it up to look like a kitchen if you want, but do the real work right here. Use the rest of the space for tables.”
Eyes narrowed, Tansy imagined that plan and had to admit it worked. It worked very well, in fact. “You’re right.”
“Of course I am.” Kitty grinned. “Been doin’ this a couple years now. It’s always best, honey, to separate the spaces. Nobody wants to see the actual work that goes into the treats they’re eatin’. Takes away all the magic.”
They walked through the rest of the space and then wandered upstairs. “I know this doesn’t have anything to do with the business, but I’d appreciate any advice you can give me. I really need this to work.”
“You young girls are puttin’ us all to shame.” Kitty rested her hands on her hips. “Quinlyn here builds her own real estate business. Jenni Beth rips into Magnolia House and practically rebuilds it, then turns it into one of the most beautiful wedding destinations imaginable. Then Cricket shows up and completely transforms the flower business in town.” She turned to Tansy. “And now you’ve come home to start your own bakery and tea shop. I’m proud of you girls. Misty Bottoms is back on the map, thanks to y’all.”
Tansy wrapped an arm around Kitty’s waist. “I’m kind of riding on the others’ coattails…and yours.”
“Nonsense.”
Quinlyn nodded. “This is big, Tansy, and a whole lot riskier than what I did.”
Tansy popped an antacid.
Kitty looked out at the street and noticed the day had grown long. “I’ve got to be goin’, girls. Time to fix dinner for Harvey and me, then put these old feet up for a bit. That alarm goes off awful early.” She eyed Tansy. “You ready for that? In order for the bread to rise, you have to, too. Early.”
“I’ve always been an early riser.”
They stepped onto the front porch just as Tansy’s mom pulled up out front with Gracie.
Tansy ran down the front porch steps to meet them.
Rexanna and Kitty spoke for a few minutes, then Kitty left.
Tansy’s mom stood in the front yard studying the house while Gracie hopscotched up and down the walk.
“I’ve got to say this feels rather strange, honey,” Rexanna said. “Your dad and Beck’s were friends from first grade on. Judy and I were friends, too. So I’ve been in this house too many times to count. Still, looking at it as an investment and a business rather than as a friend’s home puts everything in a new light, doesn’t it?”
Tansy nodded.
“You have your heart set on this, don’t you?”
She nodded again.
“You have a lot of memories here, too. You and Beck.”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t Gracie and I go out back while you two take a tour and talk about this?” Quinlyn suggested. “I’ve got my sister’s soccer ball in the trunk of the car along with a pair of old sneakers. We can kick it around.”
“Can we, Mama?”
“Of course! Thank you, Quin. I appreciate it.”
Her friend smiled. “Always easier to concentrate without—” She tipped her head toward the child.
“Yes, it is.”
“You said Gracie would be a soccer star. Guess it’s started, huh?” Her mother watched Quinlyn walk away, the little girl’s hand in hers.
Rexanna and Tansy stepped inside and closed the door behind them. Their footsteps echoed in the big, empty space.
“What do you think, Mom?”
Her mom moved to the center of the living room, turned a slow three-sixty, and breathed deeply. “I think this place is amazing. Always have.” Her eyes sparkled when she faced Tansy. “Walk through it with me.” She took her daughter’s hand as Quin had taken her granddaughter’s.
“Let me tell you what I’m thinkin’ about doing here. Kitty gave me some great ideas.”
They spent the better part of an hour exploring and inspecting, stopping to study a room, discussing how it might be used and changes that needed to be made.
Tansy dropped onto the top step of the second-floor landing. “I love it, Mom.”
Her mother sat beside her, looping an arm around her daughter’s waist, and drew her close. “So why are you hesitatin’?”
She leaned into her mom’s warmth and dropped her head to her shoulder. “A couple reasons, really.”
“Let me guess. Would the first be Beck?”
Wordlessly, she nodded.
“Honey, what happened between the two of you is an old story. Beck wants you to be happy.”
“I wonder.”
“Tansy Elizabeth!” Rexanna swiveled to look her daughter in the eye. “Beck’s too good a man to hold a grudge.”
Tansy turned slightly, rested her back against the railing. “Not where I’m concerned. The truth? I deserve it, Mom. He loved me, and I cut him to the core. You know what they say about that line between love and hate. It’s a very fine one. I shoved him—hard—and pushed him to the other side.”
When her mom opened her mouth to speak, Tansy shook her head.
“No. Don’t say anything. Beck is a good man, but not around me, and I can’t blame him one bit. At best, he’s coolly indifferent.”
“Coolly indifferent?” Her mother studied her for a moment, tapping a finger on her chin. “Okay, let’s table that for now. What else is keeping you from making an offer tonight? You said you had a couple reasons.”
Uneasy, Tansy ran the toe of her shoe along the grain in the oak stair tread.
“Honey, what else?”
Running her fingers through her already-tousled hair, she sighed. “Money.”
“Ahhh.”
“Yes, ahhh. Everybody in town thinks I’m practically swimmin’ in it.”
“But we know better.”
She nodded.
“I still say you need to take that jackass to court.” Rexanna’s face flushed. “I know he has no money now, but in time, he will. And he has a trust fund. How you allowed him to talk his way out of payin’ any alimony or child support is beyond me.”
“I wanted out, Mom.”
“Understood, but practicalities still need to be considered. The law would have been behind you.”
“And the divorce would have dragged out for months, years even.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I couldn’t have stood that.”
Her mom patted her knee. “You always were headstrong. Another reason your marriage to Emerson never made sense to me.”
An unexpected tear plopped onto Tansy’s pant leg. “I can’t explain it.” She sniffed. “I don’t understand it, either. I loved Beck and wanted more than anything to marry him. Then Daddy died and… I don’t know. Timing, I guess. Emerson showed up, and before I could surface for a deep breath, I was pregnant.” She swiped at her eyes.
“And it’s in the past.” Her mom squeezed her tightly. “Here we sit.” She waved her other arm, indicating the house. “In your future.”
“Maybe.”
“Nonsense. Will this house work for you?”
“Yes.”
“Then go tell Quinlyn you want it.”
“But—”
“No buts.” Putting both hands on her daughter’s shoulders, she turned her. “Look at me, baby. The day you were born—” Her voice caught, and she drew in a deep breath, let it out. “Oh, I do miss your daddy, sugar.”
“I know, Mom. So do I.” Tears burned Tansy’s eyes, and she blinked them away. “I wish he were here with us right now.”
“Me too. He always wanted what was best for his little girl. From the day you were born, he doted on you.” Her lips trembled. “So this house is a gift from him.”
“What?” Tansy’s brows drew together.
Rexanna cleared her throat and took her daughter’s hand. “The day you were born, your daddy went down to see old Mr. Carson. Remember him?”
“I do. Gosh, I haven’t thought about him in years.”
“Yes, well, he passed on quite some time ago. Anyway, Mr. Carson ran a small investment firm. Financial advising, that sort of thing.” She flicked a hand in the air. “Daddy, God bless him, invested some money with Mr. Carson that very first day you drew breath. Over the years, your father’s picks did well, and he found he enjoyed playin’ the market.” She wet her lips and gripped Tansy’s hand a little tighter. “He asked me to wait till the time was right to tell you all this. I think that time has come.”
“What are you sayin’, Mom?”
“I’m sayin’ you have the money to pay cash for this house if it’s what you want, darlin’ girl.”
Ignoring Tansy’s silence and, Tansy was sure, her slack-jawed expression, her mom continued. “Of course, you’ll need to borrow some money for the remodeling, the equipment you need and such, but I think you can manage that, don’t you?”
Still, she could find no words.
Her mother snapped her fingers in front of Tansy’s face, and she flinched.
“Mom, I can’t take that money. You need it.”
She shook her head adamantly. “It’s not my money. It’s yours and always has been. I’ve just been sittin’ on it, waitin’ for you to leave Mr. High-and-Mighty. I didn’t want him to have a nickel of it to throw away on the horses or whatever.”
The look on Tansy’s face stopped her.
“Sorry, but I’m not goin’ to pretend to ever have liked that man. And me? I don’t need the money, Tanz. Your dad was a little bit of a wizard when it came to the stock market. He left me with everything I’ll ever need—except him.”
“Oh, Mom.”
They sat at the top of the stairs and watched the sun settle low in the sky outside.
Finally her mother said, “You think it’s time we save Quin? My guess is that Gracie has her worn to the bone by now.”
“Yeah.” She knuckled away a stray tear. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Thanks will do.”
“Then, thanks, Mom.” Lower lip quivering, she raised her eyes heavenward. “And Daddy, thank you, too.” Walking down the steps, she said, “Even with the changed circumstances, I think I’ll take Quin’s advice and sleep on it. And tomorrow? I’ll give Beck another reason to hate me.”