Sweet Tea At Sunrise

Chapter Four

Walter cursed himself every which way for mentioning to his father that Sarah had gotten a job and that the kids were spending time with a sitter. He was still struggling to make peace with it himself, and his father had finally called him on his distracted mood. Walter had told him about the situation, which was turning out to be yet another of his huge mistakes.

“You’re letting a woman like that, a woman who’s obviously not a good mother, get away with stealing your son!” Marshall Price accused Walter, his expression filled with disdain. “What kind of man does that?”

“Sarah hasn’t stolen Tommy,” Walter replied wearily. He was sick to death of the recriminations that were tossed at him every damn day since the divorce was finalized. “The custody arrangement guarantees I can see him every other weekend. Sarah doesn’t object if I come more often.”

“You have to see him in South Carolina,” Marshall said with a sneer, as if that were akin to Timbuktu. “How’s the boy supposed to learn about his legacy when he doesn’t spend a minute with his family here in Alabama?”

“He’s barely four. He doesn’t need to learn how to run a cotton mill just yet,” Walter replied for about the hundredth time. “Let it go, Dad. Maybe if you and mom hadn’t been so mean and spiteful to Sarah, she wouldn’t have taken Tommy and Libby and left town. I offered to buy her a house here in town, any house she wanted, but she said she could hardly wait to get away from the two of you.”

Not that he didn’t bear his own share of the blame. There were times when Walter felt as if he’d let his parents brainwash him about Sarah. It was interesting that she’d called him on just that last weekend when he’d been over to Serenity for a visit. He hadn’t wanted to hear it, of course, but he could see now that she’d been right. His view of Sarah had started changing the minute he’d brought her home to Alabama to live.

How many times had he heard that she wasn’t good enough? How many times had his mother criticized her housekeeping, her social skills, her desire to teach? And, of course, the worst sin of all was that she’d gotten pregnant before they were married. They acted as if she’d done that all on her own, then treated the wedding as if it were an occasion for shame.

The real shame, of course, was that he’d let them get away with it. No, it was worse than that. It was that he’d taken up the same rallying cries. Sometimes when he looked back on his marriage, he wondered who the hell he’d been. Certainly not the man Sarah had met at college, a man so crazy about her he’d known almost instantly that she was the one he wanted to marry. He’d let his parents’ nonstop criticisms erode not just the passion, but also the respect he’d always felt for Sarah.

Sadly, none of these things had occurred to him before it was too late. It was only after Sarah had gone, after the divorce was in motion, that he began to see the strong woman he’d fallen for in college. When he stopped to analyze it, which he didn’t very often, he knew that was why he continued to lash out at her, like the other day when he’d criticized her taking a job in that diner. He’d heard those critical words coming out of his mouth, known how arrogant and superior he sounded, but he hadn’t been able to shut up.

As frustrating as it had been at the time, a part of him admired Sarah for standing up to him, defending her decision to work and defending Wharton’s. He wished she’d done more of that when they’d been married. Things might have turned out differently.

“I suppose you’re going over there again tomorrow with your tail between your legs,” Marshall said disparagingly.

Fed up in a way he’d never expected to be, Walter stood and threw down the pen in his hand. “No,” he said, drawing yet another disappointed look from his father. “As a matter of fact, I’m going over there right now.”

His father seemed to take that as a good sign. “If I were you, I’d just pick Tommy up and bring him straight back here. Nobody around here would dare to take that boy away from his daddy. They’d have to answer to me.”

Walter shook his head. “I’m not surprised you’d want to go that route, and you know what? It makes me glad Tommy’s with his mama, because the last thing I want for any son of mine is for him to grow up to be anything like his granddaddy, thinking the whole world needs to bow and scrape to him.”

The veins in his father’s forehead pulsed, and his complexion turned an interesting shade of purple. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that, boy! My whole life’s been about you and making sure you had a legacy to be proud of. I’d think twice before mouthing off to me and throwing it all away.”

“Do you honestly think I want to be trapped here in this one-horse town running a cotton mill?” Walter demanded before he could stop himself. “I had my own dream, and, believe me, this wasn’t it. But I came back here because it was what you expected.”

Facing down his father was something he should have done years ago, but he hadn’t. Only recently had he realized why. “I figured I owed you because of all you’d done for me,” he said now. “And even you can’t deny that I’ve done a damn good job for you. I even gave you the grandson you were so anxious to have, so the Price legacy would be assured. Well, you know what? I’m done worrying about you and what you want. I’m going to start trying to figure out what I want, and then I’m going after it.”

He saw his father’s complexion turn ashen as he watched Walter heading for the door.

“You come back here this minute!” Marshall shouted, slamming his fist down on the desk, sending papers and a coffee cup flying.

“Sorry, Dad. I’m done dancing to your tune.” Walter let that sink in, then added, “When I get back here—if I come back here—things are going to have to change. You’re going to have to show some respect for me or I will leave, and next time it will be for good.”

He walked out before his father could respond, shutting the door emphatically behind him.

Not until he was outside in the fresh air and on his way to Serenity did he think about the ramifications of what he’d done. It had felt too good to finally say all the things that had been building up ever since he’d come home with the girl he loved only to be sucked into a life he didn’t want.

Unfortunately, he knew there’d be hell to pay on Monday. Marshall Price didn’t take disrespect lightly. For all Walter knew he’d come back and find the locks on the mill had been changed and his house slapped with a foreclosure sign by the bank. His dad and the bank’s chairman were golfing buddies. He wouldn’t hesitate to do Marshall a favor, legalities be damned.

But for one glorious moment on Thursday afternoon, Walter felt like his old self, a man worthy of respect. Maybe even worthy of love. Probably not Sarah’s, of course. There was too much water under that bridge. It would have to be someone else who could make him feel the way she once had…as if he’d hung the moon.

On Saturday morning Travis looked around his new radio station with satisfaction. Bill Roberts, the prior owner of the station, had been in here for the past week checking out all the new equipment, setting up the studio so it was ready to go on the air, advising Travis on a million details. Roberts was the kind of man who was meant to mentor. Endlessly patient, he was generous with his time and expertise. He had a wicked sense of humor, as well, something Travis could definitely appreciate.

Bill walked into the little foyer, plucked an ice-cold Coke from the cooler and settled his lanky frame into one of the two chairs. “You ready to make your big announcement?”

Travis grinned. “I should be asking you that question. Am I?”

“Seems to me everything’s in place. What time’s the press conference?”

Calling a press conference in Serenity wasn’t exactly the same as calling one in Charleston or up in Boston, where the sports reporters had lined up to get a glimpse of him after his signing with the Red Sox. Here, there was only the local weekly to worry about, so Travis had actually opted for inviting the entire town to the formal unveiling of the radio station. It would be another two weeks before they officially went on the air, but it was time to let the cat out of the bag. Past time, according to Grace. Given all the wild speculation lately, he was counting on a large crowd.

“Ten o’clock,” Travis told Bill. “But there’s one thing I need to do before we get started.”

Bill regarded him approvingly. “You’re going to invite Grace Wharton over for a private tour, aren’t you?”

“I think she’s entitled,” Travis said. “She’s practically worried herself sick over this. At least she’ll have a fighting chance of telling a few people the news before I do.”

“Smart move,” Bill said. “She’s definitely a woman you want on your side.”

“I wonder how she’s going to feel when I tell her I want to steal Sarah away from her?”

Bill chuckled. “I predict that one’s not going to go over so well. You might want to call over to the military base in Sumter and see if they have a spare suit of body armor you can borrow.”

“You’re not half as funny as you think you are,” Travis said. “This could get very dicey.”

“Then better to get it over with so we can patch you up before the big official announcement,” Bill told him. “I think I have some kind of superhero bandages in the car from my last outing with the grandkids.”

Travis gave him a friendly, one-fingered salute, then walked out the door. He figured the next half hour or so could mean the difference between kicking his new venture off with a bang or being pilloried around town. He’d spent most of his life charming women, but all of a sudden he discovered it had never mattered more. Who knew the biggest challenge he’d ever faced would be a round, older woman who looked a lot like Santa’s wife?

Wharton’s was packed with customers, something Travis hadn’t considered when he’d come up with this plan to steal Grace away. In fact, the upcoming press conference had apparently drawn even more people than usual into town.

Still, he managed to corner Sarah by the counter. “I need to borrow Grace for maybe fifteen minutes. Can you manage on your own?”

She regarded him with alarm. “Are you out of your mind? Look at this place. Thanks to this big whoop-de-do announcement you’re planning, we’re packed.”

“Okay, how about five minutes? It’s really important.” When she shook her head again, he looked around and spotted Ronnie Sullivan. He’d heard from Tom that Ronnie helped out from time to time at Sullivan’s. He walked over to the counter.

“Hey, Ronnie.”

Ronnie gave him a slap on the back. “You ready for your big day?”

“I think so, but I’m in a bind. I need to take Grace over to my place. Unfortunately, Sarah says she can’t handle this crowd on her own. Would you mind pitching in? I just need a few minutes.”

“You want Grace to have a preview of what’s going to happen this morning, don’t you?” Ronnie guessed.

At Travis’s nod, Ronnie left his coffee on the counter and grabbed an apron from behind it. “Sarah, I’m going to pinch-hit for Grace for a bit. I’ll try to keep up.”

Sarah’s gaze narrowed as she turned back to Travis. “How’d you pull that off?”

“Don’t ask questions. Just be grateful. I’ll have Grace back in a jiffy.”

He found her in the kitchen with a tray loaded down with meals. Fortunately Ronnie had followed him. He took the tray from Grace’s hands before she had time to object.

“What the devil?” she muttered irritably as Ronnie left.

“I’m stealing you away,” Travis told her. “You’re going to get a sneak peek at my new venture.”

All signs of annoyance immediately vanished. “Now?”

“Right this minute, before anyone else.”

Her face immediately lit up with excitement. “Well, it’s about time you showed some respect for me, young man!”

She hurried along beside him, looking triumphant as she walked with him across the green. Bill was waiting for them outside. Her gaze narrowed when she saw him.

“Don’t I know you?” she asked, looking as if her brain were clicking through some mental photo album. She snapped her fingers. “Of course, I do. Didn’t you have that radio station over in the next county? Played nothing but oldies and had a signal that wasn’t worth spit.”

Bill grinned. “I did indeed.”

“You’ve been off the air for a month or so now, though.”

“True.”

She looked from him to Travis. Understanding started to dawn on her face. When Travis opened the door and she stepped inside the studio, her eyes lit up. “Would you look at this,” she exclaimed, her tone awestruck. “You’re bringing a radio station to Serenity!”

“I am,” Travis confirmed. He studied her worriedly. “What do you think? It’s not quite up there with sex toys and porno.”

“And a darn good thing it’s not,” she said, sitting down in front of one of the microphones. “You going on the air today?”

“Not for another couple of weeks.”

“What kind of music?”

“Country.”

Gesturing to the two microphones. “You planning to invite folks in to talk?”

“Absolutely.”

She nodded. “I might want to give that a try one day,” she admitted, clearly trying not to sound too eager. “Seems like fun.”

“I think you’d be the perfect guest. You could talk about all the changes in downtown Serenity and why Wharton’s has made it through all the economic ups and downs.”

“Or I could tell who’s been misbehaving around town,” she said, her expression mischievous.

Travis laughed. “As long as you don’t land me in a pile of you-know-what and get me slapped with a slander suit.”

She frowned at his joking tone. “Don’t you know by now that I never repeat anything that isn’t gospel truth?”

“Does the mention of sex toys and porno in connection to this place ring any bells?” he inquired.

She waved off his remark. “I only said that because you wouldn’t say what you were doing. When there’s a vacuum, gossip will usually fill it.”

He nodded. “Glad to know how your mind works.”

“Has nothing to do with my mind,” she said huffily. “It’s a fact.”

Travis regarded her with wonder. “Grace, you really are a town treasure.”

“Hush. You make me sound like some statue on the green. I need to get back over to Wharton’s before Sarah goes crazy. Everybody and their brother decided to come in for breakfast this morning before the big announcement.” She grinned at him. “I hate to steal your thunder, but I might have to mention a thing or two about it when I get back there.”

He feigned dismay. “You’d do that to me?”

“No more than you deserve after keeping me in the dark for so long,” she told him. “Don’t fret, though. There will be plenty more who won’t have a clue when they show up this morning.”

“I don’t suppose you could try to keep it quiet around Sarah, could you? I’d kind of like her to hear about this from me.”

Grace nodded slowly. “So that’s the way it is. I’d wondered. You’re sweet on her, aren’t you?”

“No, it’s nothing like that,” he said quickly, if not entirely truthfully.

“Then what is it like?” she asked suspiciously.

He hesitated, then said, “Okay, I owe it to you to tell you what I have in mind since Sarah works for you. I’m thinking of asking her to go on the air in the mornings. She’s great with all your customers. She shows a real interest in their lives and they all talk a mile a minute when she’s around.”

Once again, Grace’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “You don’t have to sell me. That’s a wonderful idea. She’d be perfect hosting a talk show right here in town.”

“You aren’t furious that I want to steal her?”

“Heavens, no! I love having her there, but her working for me was always temporary.”

Travis was surprised to hear that. “Why? She isn’t planning to leave town, is she?” He certainly hadn’t heard any rumors to that effect.

“No, but she’s put in her application to teach in the fall. I think she’s really looking forward to it.”

“Then I’ll just have to make her see that this opportunity is too good to miss,” Travis said.

“When are you planning on talking to her?”

“I wanted to speak to you first, and now that I have, I thought maybe I’d sit down with her right after I make the announcement about the station going on the air. Will that work with her schedule at Wharton’s today?”

“She’s all yours right after lunch,” Grace assured him. “We should be slowing down by one o’clock today, since so many people came in this morning and the rest will be over the minute you finish announcing your news. They’ll want to come in and chew it over, right along with their grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.”

“Then I’ll be by around one,” Travis told her. Impulsively, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“Being supportive and understanding, not just about the radio station, but about Sarah.”

“Not a problem,” she said, then gave him a dark look. “But you show one sign of hurting that girl, and you won’t know what hit you.”

“Warning duly noted,” he said solemnly. He had the distinct feeling she was talking about a whole lot more than Sarah’s future in radio.

After an insanely busy morning, Sarah was relieved when everyone disappeared precisely at 10:00 a.m. to await Travis’s big announcement at the unveiling of his new business.

“Why don’t you go on over there and see what he’s up to,” Grace suggested. “I can handle things here. Nobody’s going to be setting foot in here until he’s finished talking, anyway.”

Sarah studied her suspiciously. “You already know, don’t you? That’s why he took you out of here this morning, so you could give this whole thing your blessing.”

Grace beamed. “Something like that.”

“And did you give him your blessing?”

“I did.” She shooed Sarah toward the door. “Go on. You know you’re dying of curiosity.”

“You could tell me yourself and I could stay right here and help you with setups for lunch.”

“Nope,” Grace said adamantly. “You need to hear this straight from the horse’s mouth.”

“Okay, fine,” she conceded eventually, stripping off her apron and going outside.

There was quite a crowd assembled on the green. She wondered if Walter had brought the kids into town for this. When he’d shown up on Thursday and announced he was staying through the weekend, she’d been startled, but not displeased. She’d never wanted to deny the kids a chance to spend time with their daddy, as long as they were here and not over in Alabama where the Prices could try to influence them against her. Though there were plenty of kids running around with balloons, she didn’t spot her two or Walter.

A platform had been set up on the sidewalk in front of the new business and an older man she didn’t recognize was tapping a microphone, sending ear-splitting screeches into the air. He gave the crowd a chagrined smile.

“Sorry,” he apologized when he had the controls adjusted. “Nice to see so many of you here this morning.”

As he spoke, Sarah heard some murmurs in the crowd. Apparently quite a few people recognized him.

He gave them a disarming grin as the murmurs spread. “I gather that those of you who didn’t recognize me at first are familiar with the sound of my voice. I’m Bill Roberts, longtime host of Top of the Morning, and previous owner of the oldies station over in the next county.”

A cheer erupted as he confirmed the guess that had been spreading through the crowd.

“Now did y’all listen real close to what I said?” he asked. “That’s previous owner.” He paused to let that sink in, then said, “And now I’d like to introduce you to the man who’s helping me to retire to a life of fishing, Mr. Travis McDonald, the brand-new owner of Serenity’s own radio station, WSER.”

Sarah gasped right along with everyone else. That’s what Travis had been up to in that building across the green? He’d been turning the building into a radio studio? No wonder Grace had sounded so excited just now.

She turned her attention to Travis, who was standing at the microphone as if he were a born public speaker. She envied him that confidence. She doubted she could have said two words without getting all tongue-tied. He just stood there calmly until the murmurs died down. Then it seemed as if his gaze sought her out. It was as if he were addressing his remarks straight to her.

“How y’all doing?” he asked. “I hope you’re as excited about the idea of having a radio station here in town as I am about putting one on the air.”

“What kind of music?” someone called out.

“Country,” Travis said at once. “Is there any other kind in this neck of the woods?”

The news was greeted with another cheer.

“What else are you putting on the air?” a new voice asked.

“Oh, there will be plenty of local talk about what’s going on around town,” he assured them. Again, his gaze seemed to lock directly on Sarah.

Listening to him and feeling the way his eyes held hers, Sarah got the oddest feeling there was something significant in what he was saying, something she ought to take note of, but she couldn’t imagine what it could be.

“Now here’s the thing,” Travis said, when the crowd had quieted. “This is Serenity’s radio station as much as it is mine. If there’s something you think ought to be on the air, I’m counting on you to tell me. I’m not a local, but I have ties here. You all know my cousin Tom, your town manager.”

That created another buzz as people made the connection.

“Well, you can be sure I’m not going to do anything to shame him,” Travis said. “For one thing, he’s taller than I am, and a whole lot meaner. I try not to tangle with him.”

Sarah grinned at the self-deprecating comment. She had a feeling Travis and his cousin would be an even match.

“The bottom line,” he continued, “is if I’m doing something on the air you don’t like, I want to hear about it. Of course, if there’s something you do like, I wouldn’t mind hearing about that, too.” He paused, then said. “Y’all ready to see our studio?”

The question was greeted with an affirmative shout. At some indiscernible signal from Travis, the brown paper covering the window came down offering a view of a small but obviously well-equipped studio. The best part, in Sarah’s opinion, was that passers-by would be able to look right in and see what was happening. And the host, of course, would be able to keep an eye on the town square where so much happened in Serenity, including the town’s beloved Christmas festival, its upcoming Fourth of July celebration and so much more. It was an ideal setting for a station that hoped to be part of the community.

As Travis offered to let folks walk through for a tour of the station, Sarah walked back to Wharton’s where Grace was waiting impatiently.

“So, what did you think?” Grace demanded.

“I think it’s amazing,” Sarah said.

“Good,” Grace said, smiling a secretive little smile before walking away, leaving Sarah to stare after her in puzzlement.