Chapter Thirty

“Okay, what’s so all-fired important that you couldn’t tell me in front of the others?” Nell followed her friend into a small office.

Brenda kept her voice low. Nell propped against the desk. “Why are you whispering, Brenda? The office door is closed.”

“Because the walls are thin. I don’t want anyone else to hear this, just in case I’m wrong.” Brenda paused. “I’ve been wracking my brain over who would bid five hundred dollars on Wade. This morning a youngish woman was standing outside the café. She stood there peering in the window like she was trying to make up her mind whether or not to come inside.”

Nell gave an impatient snort. “Lots of tourists look inside store windows trying to make up their minds. What’s this got to do with the bachelor bidding?”

Brenda leaned closer, her voice even lower. “You have to swear not to tell anyone. I could be wrong. In fact, I hope I’m wrong, but I-I’m almost certain the woman was Gracie Howard.”

Nell released a shocked gasp. “Brenda Brown, are you sure you haven’t been knocking back a few too many spiked eggnogs?”

Brenda glared at Nell. “I knew I should’ve kept my mouth shut. Still, I have a niggling feeling it was her.”

Nell paced about the office’s small space. She tapped a finger against her lips. “Don’t, and I repeat, whatever you do, do not tell anyone else. Especially Addison. It’s as clear as the rouge on her face that she’s falling really hard for Wade, and every time he looks at her he goes all moonified.” She reached over and placed her hands on Brenda’s shoulders and gave a little shake. “Promise on your grandmother’s grave not to say anything until we’re absolutely, positively sure it’s her.”

Brenda shook her head vigorously. “On my grandmother’s grave…I promise.”

“Good. May she come back and haunt you if you break your promise. I gotta go. It’s getting dark out, and I don’t like being on the road at night even if Emmett is driving.”

Brenda walked Nell to the café’s front door. “What are we going to do if it is her?”

Nell shivered when she opened the door. “Nothing. It’s none of our business.” She closed the door and rushed to the car.

****

Ava hugged her brother and father as her mother set out sandwiches of leftover turkey and cranberry sauce, along with slices of pumpkin pie. Ava filled four cups with coffee.

Wade and his father exchanged smiles. “I guess we’re special, huh, Pop.”

Ward Grey chewed thoughtfully on a bite of sandwich. “Yep. Your mother often brought me supper when I was working late.” He winked. “I always enjoyed her company. Still do.”

Small talk shifted back and forth. Silence fell. Wade expected his sister and mother to pack up the dishes and leave, but they didn’t.

Wade slid his eyebrows up. “Out with it! You both look like you’re ready to explode.”

Ave huffed out, “Something unexpected has come up.”

Lucy shrugged. “Maybe it’s something. We’re not sure.”

Wade squinted as he searched their faces. “If you’re concerned about my relationship with Addison, don’t be. She’s been hurt as badly as I was. Right now she’s vulnerable. We’ll take it one day at a time.”

He thought of Addison and how she’d felt in his arms. He also felt guilty for letting Gracie’s name slip from his lips while indulging in the most sensual kiss he’d experienced in a long time.

“We’re not concerned about Addison. Oh, that didn’t come out right,” Ava cried. “The truth is we are concerned about her and you. Because…because Mom and I are certain we saw Gracie.” She rushed on, twisting her hands together. “And we know how deeply she hurt you and how long it’s taken you to get over that hurt, and—ˮ

“Whoa! You’re talking about my ex…Gracie Howard?”

His sister and mother nodded.

Anger welled inside Wade. “That’s crazy. Her parents moved to South Carolina fifteen years ago. After what happened, there’s no one and no reason to draw Gracie back to Meadow Creek.”

Ava tilted her head and expelled a long, fretful sigh. “There’s you.”

Lucy slammed the lid on the picnic basket. She placed her hands on her hips as she faced Wade. “Son, we like Addison very much, and I for one would love to see the relationship grow beyond friendship and into forever happiness…and grandchildren. If you haven’t told her about Gracie, then I encourage you to do so sooner rather than later. That is unless some part of you still loves that witch of a woman.”

Wade struggled with how to put his mother at ease. Still he had doubts about his feelings for Gracie. He had loved her from the time he’d yanked her pigtails in first grade. But now? How could she have put him through hell and then, when it was all over, walk away like it was no big deal?

Apprehension filled Ava’s voice. “You wouldn’t consider getting back with her, would you?”

He honestly didn’t know how to answer that question. He found it difficult to mention Gracie’s name, let alone think about seeing her again.

He heard the plea in his sister’s voice. “Wade, she almost destroyed you. How could you ever trust her integrity…her love?”

He turned the coffee cup in circles. “It’s true I don’t want to repeat the emotional wringer she put me through. Maybe she’s changed. Maybe she deserves a second chance.”

He raked his hands through his thick hair. “As far as I’m concerned, this is all private—between Gracie and me. And we don’t actually know that she’s back in town. It could be someone who resembles her.”

Ward had sat quietly, taking in all the facial expressions, the exchange of words. Now he sat forward in his chair. “You’re wrong, son. It isn’t private. What that little bitch did to you she did to all of us, including the town. Why in hell do you think her parents sold their house and moved all the way across to the other side of the United States? They were embarrassed and ashamed. You’re a grown man. Responsible.” The timbre of his voice increased. “Last time, your mother and sister nearly made themselves sick watching you fall apart. Keep that in mind while you’re making your decision about how to handle this.”

Ward stood up and hobbled to the door. He scowled back at his son. “This has got my stomach in knots. Consider me off duty. I need a beer. Maybe two.”

Lucy wrapped her arms around Wade. She hugged him tight. “Make the best decision for your well-being, son. And whether it’s Gracie or not, tell Addison, all of it, and don’t put it off.”

Ava brushed tears from her eyes. “You’re my brother. My twin. When you hurt—I hurt, too.”

His family bundled up to brave the cold. Hours after they left, he sat watching the fish swim back and forth in the aquarium. “Right now I’d like to trade places with you and not have a care in the world.”

One large goldfish turned to stare out from the tank. Its mouth moved up and down as if it were speaking.

Wade unfolded his six-foot frame from the chair and ambled to the coffeemaker to refill his cup. He returned to the chair and stared at the generous slice of pumpkin pie his mother had left, then pulled it toward him. He forked a large piece into his mouth and chewed.

He pointed the fork at the tank. “You know, fish, you and your buddies are pretty lucky. All you do is swim, eat, and poop. Me, on the other hand—ˮ He shoved another bite of pie into his mouth. He tried to enjoy the dessert, but he knew if Gracie had truly returned to Meadow Creek it was because she had an ulterior motive and not because she loved him.

He decided that chances were slim he would see her before Wednesday. Relaxing a little, he would dress in his best suit, enjoy a fine dinner with Addison at Le Chalet, perhaps order champagne, even enjoy a sleigh ride around the lake. After a few hours, he’d drive her back to his place and over coffee fill her in on his disastrous love affair.

The thought of reliving a past he’d rather forget and possibly losing Addison caused the pie to sour on his stomach.