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“Hello?” Shirley called out.
Miranda responded immediately. “Shirley, come over here. We need your opinion.”
Great. Now she was going to be drawn into this argument, too. She walked toward them and glanced at the painting that seemed to be the subject of their disagreement. “Are you ready for the movie, Miranda?” she asked, hoping to avoid taking sides.
“Look at this,” Miranda insisted, gesturing at the watercolor.
The piece was stunning, the color choices vibrant and inviting. It portrayed a young girl in a blue cotton summer dress, biking past a white picket fence in a seashore town. A wide variety of flowers bloomed along the fence line. The girl’s innocence was in subtle contrast to her unconscious feminine appeal. In style, it was naturalistic but its shimmering colors were influenced by classic Impressionism. “This is a lovely work.”
“I agree,” Will said, speaking for the first time. “And I want it displayed in the way that will benefit it the most.”
“I think it should be on this wall and Will says—quite irrationally, I believe—that it should be there.” Miranda indicated the opposite side of the gallery.
“Irrational,” Will repeated from between clenched teeth. “If anyone’s irrational, it’s you. If we hang the painting on the wall I suggest, it’ll be the first thing people see when they enter the gallery.”
“This wall reveals it in the best light,” Miranda countered.
“You both have valid points,” Shirley said when they turned to her. “Why don’t you compromise?”
“No.” Will shook his head. “This is my gallery, despite what Miranda seems to think, and we’ll do this my way because—” he paused “—I’m the boss.” This was said in a challenging voice, as if he expected Miranda to resign. As if he wanted her to.
“Fine. Hang it wherever you like,” Miranda said, brushing her hands in exasperation.
“That’s exactly what I intend to do.”
Miranda sighed and, ignoring Will, said, “Have you ever noticed how important it is to the fragile male ego to have the last word?”
Shirley tried to disguise a smile, but Will obviously wasn’t amused.
He bristled. “That is categorically untrue.”
Motioning with her head, Miranda seemed to imply that his statement only proved her point.
“Are you ready to go now?” Shirley asked.
“Be right with you.” Miranda disappeared around the corner and returned an instant later with her purse and raincoat.
“Which movie are you going to?” Will asked Shirley conversationally.
“Not sure yet.”
“Well, have fun.”
“We will,” Miranda muttered.
He walked them to the door. “I’ve got you on the schedule for Monday,” he said.
“Monday?” Miranda frowned. “I thought I only worked Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.”
“Would you mind filling in for me? I’m meeting with the insurance people on behalf of my mother and Ben.”
“No, of course I don’t mind, but I would’ve appreciated knowing about it sooner.”
“Sorry. I forgot to mention it.”
They stared at each other and then Miranda nodded. “I’ll be here at ten.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem,” she said brusquely.
As they made their way to her car, Shirley considered Tanni’s observation about Miranda’s feelings for Will. She also suspected that, despite their bickering, he was actually fond of her—and maybe he respected her more than he let on. He’d certainly come to rely on her.
“Did you choose a movie?” Miranda asked. “What about the latest Matt Damon picture?”
“Sure.”
“I have the entertainment section of the paper and—” Miranda paused to look at her watch. “This is perfect. The next show starts in less than thirty minutes, which gives us time to drive there, buy our tickets and get our popcorn.”
“Sounds good.”
“Did you talk to Larry this afternoon?” Miranda asked as they got into Shirley’s car. Her own would stay at the art gallery, and Shirley would drop her off there after the movie.
“For two hours.”
“Two hours!”
Shirley laughed. Neither of them had wanted to end the conversation. “Long-distance relationships are difficult,” she said. “So, this is how we stay in touch.”
“Why don’t you just get married? I don’t know any two people better suited to each other.”
“I wish it was that easy, but I can’t uproot Tanni when she still has a year of high school.”
“Who said you had to move right away?” Miranda said.
“Well, as I told my daughter, there’s one small detail. Larry hasn’t asked and at this stage I’d be shocked if he did. I wish everyone would remember we only met a few months ago.”
“What was your phone bill last month? And his?”
Shirley rolled her eyes.
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I do. Okay, we spend a lot of time on the phone. Today wasn’t an exception.” Whenever he called her, whenever she called him, Shirley felt like a teenager again. Her heart would leap with joy at the sound of his voice.
They’d reached the movie complex, and Shirley parked. They purchased their tickets and popcorn and were about to enter the theater when her cell phone rang.
It was Larry, which struck her as odd, since they’d already talked that day.
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” he asked excitedly.
“No. Miranda and I are just walking into the theater.” She was juggling her popcorn, purse, drink and the cell phone, afraid of dropping one, when Miranda helped by taking the large soda out of her hands. “What’s up?”
“Are you busy next weekend?”
“Next weekend?” She momentarily closed her eyes, trying to remember if anything was written on the kitchen calendar. “I don’t think so … Why?”
“I want you to fly down to California.”
“California? Aren’t you supposed to be in Nashville next weekend?”
“Yes, but the lecture was postponed.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I want you to meet me at my home in California. I know it’s last-minute and I apologize, but I only just heard about this. Tell me you’ll be able to come.”
“Yes, I think so.”
“What about Tanni and Nick?”
“I’m pretty sure they’re available. I’ll have to check.”
“Wonderful. I want all of you to meet my children.”
“Your children,” she repeated.
“Yes, I feel they should meet the woman I intend to marry.”
Shirley froze. The bag of popcorn she held fell from her hand and spilled its contents on the floor.
Six
Linc Wyse stepped outside the Wyse Man Garage and leaned against the building. Staying inside that office a moment longer would’ve been intolerable. The bills were piling up and he had nothing to pay them with. His bank account, which had been substantial and was supposed to carry him for six months, was nearly empty.
The frustration was killing him. Marrying Lori and keeping it a secret from her family, which hadn’t been his choice but hers, had created a fierce enemy in Lori’s father. Linc had tried but he’d been unable to convince Leonard Bellamy that he loved Lori, that he hadn’t married his daughter for her money. Not that Lori had any money now, except what she earned herself. But Linc didn’t care; he never had.
Despite that, Bellamy was out to ruin him and he was close to succeeding.
As Linc stared out at the street, a familiar truck passed, slowed down and then came to a stop in front of the garage. His brother-in-law. Linc straightened when Mack McAfee rolled down the driver’s window and called out, “Hey, Linc, how’s it going?”
Linc managed a grimace that he hoped would pass for a grin. “It’s going.”
“You don’t look that busy. Do you want to join me?”
“Where are you headed?”
“Mary Jo’s working late, Noelle’s at day care and I just finished helping a friend move. A beer sounds good to me.”
“It does to me, too, but I’d better stay here in case a job comes in.” The mid-September sunshine made for a warm afternoon, not that Linc noticed the weather much. With no work, he’d sent the men home. No point in paying for idle hands—but it would be just his luck to have two or three people show up and find no one there. That was a chance he couldn’t afford to take.
“Tell you what. I’ll pick us up a six-pack and be right back.”
Mack returned within fifteen minutes, got out of his truck and handed Linc a can. They sat in the office. Leaning back in his chair, Linc pulled the tab off the cold beer and took a long swallow, enjoying the taste. “Thanks,” he said to Mack, saluting him with the beer.
Mack nodded. “Haven’t seen much of you lately,” he commented.
Linc hadn’t been getting out. He didn’t have the inclination or, these days, the extra cash. But rather than respond, he shrugged.
“You look like a man who’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.” Mack leaned back, too. “Trouble?”
Once more he answered with a shrug. He was tired of holding everything inside and yet he was used to keeping his own counsel. Fixing his own problems. But this time he couldn’t. Bellamy was blackballing him—no other word for it—and the business was sinking fast. Not even Lori knew the extent of what her father had done, nor did she fully understand their financial situation. For that he had only himself to blame. Linc had told her next to nothing about any of this. Lori was angry enough with her father. Foolish and unrealistic though it seemed now, Linc had hoped to bring father and daughter together. It’d never been his intention to drive a wedge into their already strained relationship.
“Everyone’s got trouble,” Linc replied when he realized Mack was waiting for a response.
“True, but not all trouble is created equal, if you know what I mean.”
“Right,” Linc agreed.
“I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
Linc regarded the man his sister had married. He’d liked Mack from the start, although he’d initially had doubts about their living arrangement. He’d gotten over those doubts pretty fast. A firefighter and paramedic, Mack had helped deliver Noelle, Mary Jo’s baby girl. While it had bothered him that Mary Jo didn’t live close to her family, he’d felt better knowing Mack was nearby. They’d shared a duplex, he on one side and she on the other. They’d married earlier in the year and Linc was happy for his sister.
“You might have noticed I’m not exactly overwhelmed with work here,” Linc began, finally giving in to the relief of divulging his problems to a sympathetic listener. “I’m not inexperienced in this business and I did my homework. By my calculations, I should have more repairs than I can handle.”
Mack gestured with his beer can. “Leonard Bellamy?”
Linc nodded. “Well, it’s not like you didn’t warn me.”
Mack sat up straight, his eyes slightly narrowed. “Yeah, but I don’t think I knew Bellamy wields that much power in Cedar Cove.”
“And Bremerton and all the surrounding areas, too, apparently. I couldn’t even guess what rumor he’s floating about me, but whatever it is, people in this community are buying it.”
“I suppose that’s causing problems between you and Lori.”
Linc glanced away, avoiding his brother-in-law’s eyes.
Mack nudged him. “Are you telling me she doesn’t know?”
“No one does.”
“So Lori’s in the dark about all this?”
“About almost everything.”
Mack stared at him as if he found that hard to believe. “You’ve got to be kidding, man! This is your wife. I know if I held anything back from Mary Jo, she’d be furious. That, in case you’re interested, is a lesson I learned the hard way.”
Linc gave him a brief smile. Being well-acquainted with his sister’s temper, he pitied Mack the wrath of Mary Jo.
“The Bellamys are her family,” Linc said, defending his silence. “I’m only trying to protect her.”
“Does she want to be protected?”
“Isn’t that a husband’s responsibility?”
Mack shook his head. “Not if it means keeping her ignorant of things she should know. And,” he added, “Bellamy might be her father but you’re her husband. You two are in this together—for better or worse. Remember?”
Linc would think about that, but for now he was saying nothing to Lori. They finished their beers, chatting about the football season and the Seahawks’ chances. Mack tossed his empty can in the recycling bin, then slapped Linc on the back and strolled out the door.
“Thanks for the beer,” Linc said, following him outside.
“My pleasure.” He raised his hand in farewell, climbed into the truck cab and was off.
Linc left work early and by the time he arrived home, Lori was already there. Just seeing her warm, loving smile dissolved the tension that had been with him all day—dissolved it for that night at least. Without a word she hurried across the room, slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him with enough enthusiasm to weaken his knees.
“Was that for anything special?” he asked as he spread nibbling kisses down the side of her neck.
“Yup. We’re celebrating.”
“Hmm … celebrating what?”
“The fact that it’s Monday.”
Each and every Monday was special when he was with Lori. She’d changed his world, brought him joy, made him laugh. Before he’d met her, Linc had seen life as a series of obligations. He’d run the family auto repair business in Seattle with his two younger brothers. After their parents were killed in a car accident, Linc had assumed responsibility for holding the family together. He’d taken his role as the oldest seriously and was determined to keep his brothers and his sister safe, to maintain a cohesive unit. That hadn’t allowed time for anything frivolous like falling in love. Until he actually fell in love—with Lori—and his whole life went through a seismic shift.
“I bought you a present today,” she whispered seductively in his ear.
Shivers of awareness raced down his spine. They could barely afford groceries, let alone gifts. “Oh?”
“Do you want to see it?”
He released her and slowly walked away.
“Linc, don’t you want to see what I got you?”
“Lori, we’re in a bit of a … a financial bind at the moment. It would be best if you didn’t buy me anything for a while. I’m sorry, but I’d rather you didn’t make any unnecessary purchases. Okay?”
She blinked, then nodded reluctantly. “Of course. I’ll take it back. I still have the receipt.”
“Thank you.” He felt bad asking her to return the item. Whatever it was would be superfluous. He had everything he needed.
“I’d like to show it to you first, though. Okay?”
Linc agreed and sat in the recliner while Lori disappeared into the bedroom. His heart was heavy. He felt her disappointment but they couldn’t spend money indiscriminately, especially money they didn’t have.
His wife reappeared dressed in a see-through chiffon piece of nothing. Linc’s mouth sagged open. “That’s … the gift you got me?” Her tempting body was all but revealed, and Linc swallowed hard. “I … I think we might find room in our budget for that.” He got the words out, but with some difficulty.
“No, you’re right. I should know better than to buy—”
“Lori,” he said, closing his eyes. “I’m nearly broke. The business is failing. I don’t even know if I’ll last the month. I haven’t wanted to tell you, but I can’t hide it anymore.”
She placed her hand over her mouth and stared at him, wide-eyed with shock.
“I realize I was wrong to keep this from you, but I. have my reasons.”
Lori continued to stare at him as if she didn’t know what to say.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. Leaning forward, he rubbed his hand across his face. “I’m so sorry.”
She came to him then, climbing onto his lap and wrapping her arms around him. “I married you because I love you. I don’t need anything but you.”
Linc buried his face in her neck and pulled her close. She lifted his head and he kissed her. Then she abruptly broke off the kiss, sliding off his lap and standing directly in front of him, her eyes flashing. “Don’t you ever do that to me again. Do you understand?”
“Kiss you?” he asked in bewilderment.
“Of course not! I’m talking about keeping the truth from me.” Whirling around, she went into their bedroom, returning a few minutes later, fully dressed. “Okay. What happened?” Her voice was brisk, all seductiveness gone.
“Happened?”
“To cause this financial shortfall. You’re …” She paused as though everything had started to come together in her mind. “My father.” She spoke in a low voice, then repeated the two words more loudly and with more conviction. “My father’s done something, hasn’t he?”
Linc didn’t reply.
“Hasn’t he?” she demanded again.
“I … can’t say for sure, but it seems that way.”
She began to pace, five steps in one direction, five in the other, making quick, precise turns.
Linc found her movements almost hypnotic. “Now, Lori,” he began, “there’s no need to get upset. I have everything under control.”
“That’s low, even for him.” Either she hadn’t heard a word he’d said or she recognized his statement for the lie it was. “This is going to change and it’s going to change right now.” She reached for her purse and yanked out her cell phone, punching a single button.
“Lori,” he asked, “who are you phoning?”
“Who do you think?” she muttered.
Linc stood and circled her waist with his arms. “Lori,” he said again, drawing her close. “Tell me what you’re doing.”
She moved the cell away from her ear. “I’m calling Daddy. And I’m having it out with him.”
Linc had seen that look in her eyes only once before and that, too, had been an instance involving her father.
“Hello, Helen, this is Lori Wyse. Is my father still in?”
He started to tell Lori that maybe they should discuss this first, but one sharp glance from his wife told him to forget it. She was furious—and determined.
A minute later Bellamy got on the phone. “Hi, Daddy,” she said, all sweetness.
“Hi, baby girl. If you’re calling, I figure that means you’ve come to your senses and dumped that useless husband of yours.”
Linc stood close enough to hear Bellamy’s half of the conversation. At his father-in-law’s comment, his back stiffened. He released Lori, automatically clenching his fists.
“No, Daddy, it’s the Bellamys I’m—as you so delicately put it—dumping. For most of my life I’ve cowered in front of you, caving in to your wishes. No more. You’ve gone too far this time. You want to hurt the man I love, the man I married. I won’t stand for that. I won’t! In fact … I never want to hear your name or see you again. You have tried to manipulate me my entire life. Well, I chose to marry Linc. He is my husband and you will stop meddling in our lives. Is that clear?”
Leonard Bellamy seemed amused. “You’re talking mighty big for a girl living in an apartment her father owns.”
“That’s another thing. Linc and I will be out of here just as soon as we can find another place.”
For once Bellamy didn’t seem quite so sure. “Don’t be hasty….”
“No, just the opposite. It’s taken me too long. You’ve done everything you can to ruin my husband, but you don’t know what kind of man he is. He’s going to make it, regardless of what you say or what you do. And as of this minute I am finished with this family.”
“What about your mother?”
“She’ll have to make her own decision. I’ve made mine, and while I hate to exclude her from my life, I won’t give you access to any part of me or my marriage. If that means never seeing Mom again, then so be it.”
Bellamy didn’t appear to believe her. “Like I said, you’re talking big now. But you’ll change your mind at the first sign of trouble.”
“Will I, Dad? When’s the last time I changed my mind about anything? When’s the last time you convinced me to back down?”
His hesitation was answer enough.
“Listen, Lori …”
“Goodbye, Daddy,” she said softly, and disconnected. With a hiccuping sigh, Lori dropped her cell phone back inside her purse. Then, as if she’d suddenly realized he was right behind her, she walked into Linc’s embrace and hugged him hard.
Linc hugged her back. “I wish you’d talked to me before you did that.” Linc knew what it was like to be without parents. He didn’t fully grasp how important a father and mother could be until he’d lost his own.
“You’re the only family I need now.”
“Oh, Lori …”
“We have to move,” she said. She straightened and rubbed her moist eyes.
“Yes, well, that could be a problem,” Linc felt compelled to tell her. He’d known a move was imminent after his last dreadful confrontation with his father-in-law. The problem was, they didn’t have enough funds to make a security deposit, plus the first and last month’s rent. Even with Lori’s salary from a high-end women’s clothing store in Silverdale, they didn’t have the amount they required. Or anything close to it. Her income covered groceries and daily necessities. And the apartment had been rent-free.
“Where do you suggest we find a new place when our bank account is hovering around zero?”
“What about moving back to Seattle?”
Linc had thought of that earlier but he hated the idea of bringing his wife into the same house as his two younger brothers. He enjoyed his privacy and feared Mel and Ned would see Lori as another Mary Jo, expecting her to take care of the cooking and cleaning the way their sister had. Not that he’d allow it to happen.
“The commute would be difficult for you.”
“I’ll change jobs,” Lori said.
“You love your job,” he reminded her.
She nodded. “I’d miss it, but I’ll do whatever I have to.”
They were both silent for a moment. “No matter what it costs, Linc, we have to leave this apartment.”
Lori was right, and he couldn’t dispute that. The sooner they found a new place, the better.
Seven
Rachel wasn’t sure that seeing Bruce was a good idea. He’d been persistent, however, and after several conversations about it, she’d finally given in. They’d agreed to meet at the Pancake Palace after work. When she arrived, a few minutes late, Bruce’s car was already parked out front; he’d probably shown up right at five. She wondered if he’d told Jolene where he was going, and doubted he had. Bruce liked to keep the peace. After all, he’d let his daughter take charge of his life and their marriage. Rachel was astonished that she’d stuck around as long as she had. The situation was emotionally unhealthy for all three of them.
Rachel parked several spots down from his car, hesitated for a moment, half tempted to flee, and then locked up. When she entered the restaurant she saw Bruce immediately. He’d chosen a booth facing the door. He smiled as he stood to greet her. Funny how a simple smile could affect her so strongly. She smiled back, accepted his kiss on the cheek and slid into the booth across from him.
“Hi,” he said eagerly, his eyes filled with longing. He stretched his arms across the table and clasped her hands as if he needed to touch her. “You look fantastic.” “Thanks.” She’d taken extra care with her hair and makeup, although she tried not to have high expectations about this meeting.
“You’re feeling better?” he asked. “No problems with the pregnancy?”
“None,” she assured him.
“Everything okay at work?”
She nodded. The past five days, following the fiasco at the salon, had been relatively calm. Jane hadn’t been happy with her afterward, and Rachel couldn’t blame her, but fortunately there’d been no further reference to it.
One night recently when she hadn’t been able to sleep, Rachel had gotten up for a glass of milk and found Nate in the kitchen. They’d talked for almost an hour. He’d been sympathetic, although never intrusive. During this conversation with Nate, she’d realized with greater clarity than ever why Bruce acted the way he did. He hated confrontation and would do anything to avoid it. He coped by ignoring conflicts and tension, by wishing them away. He didn’t want to be caught between his wife and his daughter. She couldn’t fault him for preferring to keep the peace, but his approach didn’t work.