She sighed, her heart full with more happiness than any one person had a right to in this lifetime. And she’d found it twice. “I love you too. Now let your daughter and her family off the front porch.”
He rose from his knees, grimacing.
“Don’t worry, darling. I’ll keep you young.”
He chuckled, then snatched the velvet box out of her hands. “And I’ll keep this until you’re ready to divulge our little secret.” He slipped it into his pocket. “Added incentive for you to up the time frame.” He winked and strode for the door.
“I don’t even know if it fits,” she thought aloud and allowed herself a moment to pout. But she knew she’d given him no choice. Having seen the ring and the love in Eric’s eyes, she wanted so badly to wear it and let the world know she was fortunate enough to have this man love her.
A tremor of awareness rippled through her along with an idea. He wanted her to up the time frame and she would. By pushing Rick and Kendall in the right direction.
* * *
Kendall ripped the real estate broker’s card in shreds and let the tiny pieces cascade into the trash. She wasn’t moving, wasn’t leaving Yorkshire Falls, wasn’t going to run. Arizona would just be running away and her future was here. For the first time in her life she was facing her fears and reaching for her unspoken dreams. And though the idea scared her to death, she’d never been more sure of any decision.
Her cell phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. “Hello?”
“Hi, Kendall. It’s Raina. I don’t have long to talk, so just listen.”
Kendall chuckled. She loved Rick’s mother and her unobtrusive way of handling things. “Is everything okay?” Kendall asked.
“It’s not like me to meddle,” Raina said, then quickly retracted. “Okay, it is like me to meddle, so forgive me for doing it again. Even if you’re leaving town, I have some information I think you’ll want to hear.”
Kendall drew a deep breath. “Raina, I’m not selling Aunt Crystal’s house.”
Only Rick didn’t know that yet and neither did her sister. She hadn’t seen Hannah, who’d opted to sleep at Jeannie’s instead of being in Kendall’s company. And she hadn’t yet faced Rick. She had no way of knowing how badly she’d hurt him. She’d taken a man who’d been betrayed, one who’d reached out to her anyway, and trampled on his heart.
Kendall shook her head. She didn’t deserve his forgiveness or his love, though she desired both. But even if Rick rejected her, Yorkshire Falls was her home and had been since Aunt Crystal had taken her in. Too bad she’d taken so long to acknowledge the truth. She might have saved everyone a lot of grief.
“Kendall, did you hear me? I said it’s wonderful news that you aren’t selling! Your aunt would be so pleased,” Raina said, her exuberance and honest emotion traveling through the phone lines.
“Thank you.” Kendall exhaled, grateful for the older woman’s warmth and compassion. “But can you please let me be the one to tell Rick?”
“Of course. And now that I know, my information seems more important than ever.”
Raina’s words piqued Kendall’s interest, as the older woman no doubt intended. “What do you know, Raina?”
“I know who switched the photos at the slide show the other night. Who set you up. Hang on. I’m in the hallway at Norman’s and I don’t want anyone to overhear.”
As Raina paused, Kendall’s anticipation grew. Now that she planned to build a life for herself, beginning with the decision to remain here, she had decisions to make about how to move forward. Confronting the person who so obviously wanted to run her out of town would be a tremendous start. Then she’d face Rick.
“It was Lisa,” Raina whispered.
Kendall shook her head. Rick had hinted at the same thing but Kendall still had a hard time imagining a school-teacher resorting to such extremes over any man. Then again, it would make more sense and give Kendall more comfort if it was Lisa, someone who didn’t hide her contempt, than someone in the shadows with no reason to hate her. Lisa’s jealousy had been apparent from the start.
“That seems absurd though,” Kendall said, voicing her uncertainty to Raina. “I’m not doubting you mean well, but I can’t confront someone without proof.”
“Well, how’s this for evidence? Mildred down at the post office has been putting—how can I say it delicately? She’s been putting erotic lingerie catalogues in Lisa’s box for years.”
Kendall inhaled deeply. “Did Mildred mention any one in particular?”
Raina laughed. “I knew you’d ask me that, so of course I questioned Mildred further. It seems Lisa gets everything from Victoria’s Secret to Feminine and Flirty to Risqué Business. Any of those ring a bell?”
“Yes.” The photo at the show had come straight from Risqué Business. Kendall cleared her throat, acceptance settling in. At least the enemy had a face and a reason. “Thanks, Raina. You’re so sweet to tell me about this.”
The other woman sighed. “Well, I wasn’t sure whether you’d be better off not knowing but when I walked into Norman’s and saw Lisa acting all haughty, like she was so perfect . . . well, I decided she didn’t deserve to get away with it. And I’m embarrassed that I encouraged her to go after my son at all. I needed to make amends. Now I have to go join Eric’s family.”
“Thanks again, Raina.”
“You’re welcome, Kendall. You know your aunt was like family to me. So are you. Bye, bye.”
Seconds later the connection severed, Kendall lowered the phone from her ear. She glanced down and realized she was shaking, not in fear but in anger. Anger at herself and at Lisa.
Kendall had caused the rift with Rick on her own. She couldn’t blame anyone else. Lisa Burton couldn’t have come between them if Kendall hadn’t been running scared and she had a hunch that if Lisa hadn’t plastered Kendall’s half-naked body on a screen for the town to see, Kendall would have found another excuse to run. That had been her M.O., after all. But no more, Kendall thought, proud of herself at last.
Still, Lisa ought to be held responsible for her actions and she’d had no right to sabotage the town’s annual slide show any more than she had the right to publicly humiliate or harass Kendall in the name of jealousy. Kendall might not have current rights over Rick Chandler’s body but he’d made himself clear to Lisa. She had none either. And she never would.
If Kendall was going to stay in town, it was time she asserted herself as a person with rights, feelings, and personal goals—one of which included Rick Chandler.
Which meant she had to tell Lisa Burton to back off.
* * *
Rick walked into Norman’s. When his mother called him at the station a few minutes ago and asked him to come and join her and Eric’s family after work, he couldn’t refuse despite the fact that he was still damned angry she’d faked a heart condition.
But knowing she had his best interest at heart, no matter her warped way of showing it, he wasn’t about to turn around and hurt her in return. She was his mother and he loved her.
No sooner had he stepped inside the restaurant and met up with his mother than she grabbed him in a huge hug, her gratitude and relief evident. “I’m so glad you came. Thank you.”