He hadn’t risen to his current position by luck. He’d gotten here through a whole lot of dogged, stubborn effort.
At this point, he needed to respond with patience and strategy. He needed to give her a reason to say yes.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The sunshine on this mid-October Saturday was behaving like a teacher’s pet, making an unabashed bid for Leah’s favor as it slid through the front window of Sugar Maple Kitchen to burnish Tess, Rudy, and their breakfast table.
Tess continued updating Leah on her son. “Trey and Carla have their bags packed and plan to start driving as soon as they hear that Sasha’s in labor so they can arrive in time for their grandchild’s birth.”
“So exciting.”
“I have a photo.”
Leah chewed her waffle, and Rudy poured extra syrup on his pancakes while Tess fussed with her phone. After a moment, she showed Leah the picture of Trey’s very pregnant daughter and her husband.
“Sasha looks both adorable and uncomfortable,” Leah commented.
“She really does look very uncomfortable,” Rudy seconded. “Poor thing!”
“This will be your third great-grand, right?” Leah asked.
“Our fourth,” Rudy answered.
Tess jabbed him with an elbow. “Our third.”
Rudy bobbled his fork. It clattered onto the floor. “Oops.”
“Rudy,” Tess scolded.
He scooped up the errant fork and held it out in front of him like a flower as he approached the coffee bar to ask for a replacement.
Tess gave a long-suffering sigh.
Leah told herself to eat her waffle and her two strips of crisp bacon more slowly. Breakfasts at Sugar Maple Kitchen were meant to be savored.
Tess took a ladylike sip of coffee. “Update me, please, on Dylan’s college applications.”
“He’s decided to pursue a degree in art, but so far he’s only submitted one college application. One!” She could bemoan Dylan to Tess and Rudy because she was certain of their adoration of her brother.
“Even I know that he ought to have a portfolio of applications, so to speak,” Tess said. “Some schools that are aspirational, some practical, some you can be sure he’ll get into.”
“Precisely.”
“Don’t lose heart. Everything is going to turn out beautifully for him.”
“It’s hard to see how, with him so . . . recalcitrant.”
“The main thing is to find a school that suits him, a place where he’ll be appreciated and inspired to learn.”
“I agree, of course. It’s just . . .” She blew a tendril of hair out of her way. “He’s maddening!”
“Leah,” Tess said.
Leah met the older woman’s eyes.
“It will work out. You’re doing an excellent job.” The force of Tess’s will was not to be quibbled with. “It will work out.”
Rudy sank into his chair. “I’m just going to keep this here from now on.” He stuck the new fork behind his ear. He grinned at Leah, and she smiled back. He looked both ridiculous and cute.
“Rudy,” Tess warned.
Cowed, Rudy held the fork properly, then regarded his plate with awe. “I’d love some chocolate sauce to top this off.”
“Absolutely not,” Tess replied. “You’re borderline diabetic.”
Leah spotted a familiar face leaving the to-go line. “Connor!”
His expression brightened when he saw her. He neared, carrying a drink holder with two coffees in one hand and a bag of pastries in the other.
“Bringing breakfast home to your mom?” Leah asked.
“You guessed it.”
She introduced Connor to Tess and Rudy, who both sized him up with ill-concealed interest.
“Connor grew up here,” she told the older couple, “then went to college in California and stayed on the West Coast for several years.”
“I love Disneyland,” Rudy announced. “So much fun!”
“He started teaching art at the high school,” Leah explained, “the semester after I started there.”
“What brought you back to Misty River?” Tess asked.
“I came back to help my mom after she was diagnosed with ALS.”
“Ah.” Rudy’s demeanor radiated empathy.
“How’s your mom doing?” Tess asked.
“She has some mobility issues, but overall, as well as I could hope.” He asked Tess and Rudy questions about their history with the town. Tess provided answers before Rudy could.
Both Ben’s and Connor’s friendship had greatly enriched her work life. She was closer with Ben because she spent more time with him. But Connor was great, too. His mellow nature immediately put everyone at ease. He was the same age as Leah but more mature than most of the other men she knew in their late twenties. Simply put, he was good, through and through.
Connor’s kind gaze settled on Leah. “I’m glad I ran into you today.”
“Likewise.”
“I’ll see you Monday.” Then, to Tess and Rudy, “Really nice to have met you.” He threaded toward the exit.
“Leah,” Rudy stage-whispered loudly. “Have you been on any dates with that young man?”
“Rudy!” Tess rushed to say. “Of all the inappropriate questions.”
“Sorry.” Impishness sparked behind his glasses. “Well? Have you?”
“No, nor will I. We’re just friends.”
“Friendship can lead to love,” Rudy said.
“Connor’s interested in someone else, a woman he’s liked since middle school.”
“Oh?” Rudy asked. “That’s a long time to like someone.”
“A very long time.” So long that Leah had a hard time imagining it. She’d formed zero attachments to the boys at her middle school. “Connor’s steadfast.”
“Has the woman he likes given him a chance?”
“She’s had a boyfriend for years. They recently broke up, so she’s currently in mourning over that. I’m hopeful that once she comes out of mourning, she’ll give Connor a chance.”
“Have you been on any dates with any young men recently?” Rudy pressed.
“It’s not nice to pry,” Tess said.
“I went on one date back in August, and I was asked out on another date two days ago. However, nothing came of the date in August, and nothing will come of the offer from two days ago.” An image of Sebastian arriving in his office the day of the hospital tour, with disordered dark hair and a tragic past, coalesced in her memory—
She shook herself. She’d always pitied man-crazy women. She had no intention of becoming one of them.
Rudy’s shoulders slumped.
“Sorry to disappoint,” Leah said.
“You’ve never disappointed us.” Tess spoke staunchly. “Not in any way.”
“That’s very true,” Rudy told her. “You’re perfect.”
“I’m not the slightest bit perfect!”
“So perfect,” Rudy insisted, “that I want you to end up with a man who appreciates you.”
“And I want to end up with a PhD that I can appreciate.”