Runaway Heir

by Cardello, Ruth

  “She might change her mind when this place is booming.”

  Paisley’s smile widened. “I hope she does.”

  The door opened. Bruce entered with a dark-haired woman and his daughter. Tera scooted into the seat next to Nicolette. The brunette took the open spot next to Paisley, and Bruce pulled up a chair at the end of the booth.

  “Well, hello, Nicolette Westerly.” Holding out a hand for a friendly shake, the woman continued, “I’m LeAnne, Bruce’s wife.”

  “My mom,” Tera said, thumbing her chest. “That’s the important part.”

  A general chuckle came from more than one at the table, Nicolette included. She said, “Nice to meet you, Tera’s mother.”

  “Nice to meet you as well,” LeAnne answered. “Where’s your man today? I heard he was a real looker.” Bruce frowned. She kissed his cheek and added, “Not as handsome as my guy, of course.”

  He shrugged as if he hadn’t been bothered, but pleasure lingered in his eyes.

  “He left last night,” Paisley said, then stopped as her eyes widened. “He came to see Nicolette, not the old factories.”

  “That’s a shame,” Bruce said.

  “What an asshole,” Tera said, and all adult eyes flew to her.

  In a loud whisper, LeAnne said, “We don’t swear, Tera.”

  Tera shot a conspiratorial look at Nicolette. “She means me. Dad swears all the time. You should hear him when he gets stuck behind a tractor.”

  Bruce smiled and wisely changed the subject. “So, Nicolette, how did you like the tour of the cemetery? The Nelsons thought you were great.”

  “It was amazing. That cemetery could be a real tourist draw. Iowa is considered one of those flyover states, but—”

  Paisley made a disgusted sound. “I hate that term. It’s right up there with the hollowed-out middle of the country. I don’t go to Florida and call it the country’s penis just because it looks like one.” She looked at Tera. “Block your ears. I’m venting.”

  Tera rolled her eyes like the teenager she would one day be, and said, “See what I mean? If I said that, I’d have to go to church twice that week.”

  Nicolette bent down so she was eye level with the child. “You should try being raised with the grandmother I had.” In a mimic of Delinda’s voice, she said, “Sit up straight, Tera. A lady shouldn’t have the posture of a drooping flower. Elbows off the table. We don’t want people to think you’ve never been to a restaurant.”

  Tera belly-laughed.

  Nicolette continued with her impression of her grandmother. “Tera, a lady’s laughter is never heard across a room.”

  Paisley nodded at Bruce. “She sounds like Grandma Perry. Remember how she had the reflexes of a ninja if we tried to steal a snack before supper? Ouch. I can still feel the smack of her hand across the back of mine.”

  Bruce rubbed the back of his hand in memory but smiled. “I miss her.”

  “Me too,” Paisley said with a sigh. “She made the best rhubarb pie.”

  “Did I ever meet Grandma Perry?” Tera asked her mother.

  LeAnne took her daughter’s hand. “She died when you were almost two, but she adored you.” A memory misted her eyes. “No matter how sick she was, she wanted you on her lap when you visited. You even had this little hand move you made just for her.” She held her hands out in front of her like a child begging to be picked up. “The night she passed, you stood up in your crib and made that motion in the air. I swear she visited you. Do you remember that, Bruce?”

  Bruce leaned over and kissed his wife’s hair. “My family always was nicer than yours.”

  She laughed and swatted at him. “Jerk.”

  Paisley chuckled, but a brief sadness flashed in her eyes. “Bruce and I lost our parents, Nicolette. Car accident. Grandma Perry took us in. We didn’t make it easy for her, did we, Bruce?”

  He shook his head, seeming to follow the same trail in his memories. “We sure didn’t. Don’t know if I ever thanked her for not giving up on us. Even at the end, I thought she couldn’t die. She was larger than life.” He cleared his throat. “I like to think she’s watching over us. Smacking the hand of anyone who’d mess with us.”

  A quiet fell over the group. Nicolette realized then that she had the same view of Delinda. Even though she was in her early eighties, she was invincible. If news came that Delinda had died, Nicolette’s last memory of her would be slamming a door in her face.

  She remembered something else Bryant had said. After his mother died, he’d become the person his father had accused him of being.

  I’ve said some ugly things to my family. They’ve said some ugly things to me. Is that how I became someone I don’t recognize? Did I let what I’m afraid they think of me . . . become me?

  Looking around the table, Nicolette was overcome with gratitude. She’d never been one to believe in fate, but she found herself saying, “I was meant to come here.”

  Tera clapped her hands. “So I can finally meet Water Bear Man.”

  “Oh Lord,” LeAnne said with a laugh. “Here we go again. Nicolette, I tried to tell her that your brother is a huge movie star. Someone like that would never come to MacAuley.”

  “He would if you asked him.” Tera turned pleading eyes on Nicolette.

  What would the old me have said? The truth—without the shame attached to it. “I honestly don’t know if he would, Tera. We’re not close.”

  “How are you not close to your brother?” Tera asked, as if Nicolette had just claimed she didn’t require oxygen to breathe.

  LeAnne intervened. “Tera, it’s none of our business.”

  Putting her hands on both hips, Tera countered, “It’s my business. I should know what kind of family I’ll be marrying into.”

  Bruce mussed his daughter’s hair. “This is our darling at five. Will we survive her teen years?”

  Paisley winked at her niece. “You just keep being you, Tera.”

  Tera beamed.

  Would Eric come if I asked him? I won’t know unless I try.

  And I’m going to start making changes in my life right now, today. “I’m going to apply for a waitressing position at this restaurant,” Nicolette blurted out. She held her breath and waited for how Bruce and LeAnne would respond.

  Bruce frowned, then called out, “Lily! You back there?”

  The woman Nicolette had gotten only a glimpse of earlier came out of the kitchen. She was older than Nicolette had expected—short of stature but muscular of build. Her short bob of curls was gray. Her apron had turned a similar gray from flour, like she’d been pulled away from baking. She smiled and said, “I’m making bread. What do you need, Bruce?”

  “This is Nicolette Westerly. You know, the one Paisley asked to come and promote our town. She’s looking for a job. You need a waitress?”

  Lily walked closer, wiping her hands on a dishrag as she did. She looked Nicolette over with a critical eye. “You got any experience?”

  “I do,” Nicolette said. She’d had some sort of job for as long as she could remember.

  “I thought you was rich,” Lily said. “You Westerlys are always in People magazine.”

  “It’s complicated, but I do need a job,” Nicolette answered.

  “I don’t have time for complicated. I promised a batch of biscuits to the Nelsons. You want a job—you’re hired. You annoy me, you’re fired. Any questions?”

  Nicolette pressed her lips together to hold back a smile. Was there anyone in the town she wouldn’t instantly fall in love with? “Should I start tomorrow? What hours will you want me for?”

  “You come when you want. I don’t have time to babysit you. Are we done? Because if I burn those biscuits, I’m not going to be happy.”

  “Oh yes. Go. Sorry. And thank you.”

  Lily walked away grumbling that Nicolette was welcome.

  Paisley was the first to speak after she left. “She likes you.”

  “I hope I don’t annoy her,” Nicolette joked. She looked
around the mostly empty restaurant. Only two other tables were full, and one of them was cleaning off their own plates in the sink and stacking them in a dishwasher. Now that she thought about it, she remembered seeing them take their own sandwiches from beneath a glass dome on the counter. She watched a man open the register and put a few bills inside. He looked up, waved to their table, and walked out. “Is it always like that? Do people get their own food, clear their own tables, and then pay out their checks themselves?”

  LeAnne nodded. “Lily’s husband used to do all that, but after he died, we all just started helping out. It’s not like we don’t know everyone who comes in here. If you put in your order the day before, she’ll have it ready for you. If you want something special, you make it yourself.”

  “Doesn’t sound like she needs a waitress,” Nicolette said. Or like any restaurant she’d ever been to. She looked around again, feeling like she might be taking advantage of Lily if she took the job. “I’m sure I can find something else.”

  Paisley, LeAnne, and Bruce exchanged a look. Paisley said, “Lily doesn’t pay a salary. You’d work for tips only.”

  “Oh.” Well, that would be interesting. There was only one other full table in the restaurant. It wouldn’t be the most profitable gig she’d ever taken on, but even a little inflow of cash was better than nothing. “I feel better about it, then.”

  The door of the restaurant opened, and Paisley whistled. “Another boyfriend, Nicolette?”

  Nicolette swung around. Her hand went to her chest when she recognized the tall man in a light-gray suit who started waving as soon as he spotted her. What was he doing there? “No, Jordan’s a friend.”

  “He’s cute,” Paisley said in a dreamy voice.

  To Nicolette he was a piece of life outside MacAuley arriving before she was ready to face it. She didn’t want to start doubting herself or hear about how everyone was disappointed in her. Like a butterfly hiding in a cocoon, she wanted to transform and emerge only when she was ready.

  Jordan walked over to the table; his open, friendly smile bloomed. She couldn’t resent his arrival. “Hey, Nicolette.”

  “Hi, Jordan. Everyone, this is my brother’s best friend. Jordan, this is . . .” She introduced Bruce, who stood up to shake his hand. Then LeAnne, her daughter, and finally Paisley.

  Jordan pulled up a chair and planted himself beside Bruce. “So this is where you’re hiding out. I went to the bed-and-breakfast first and was going to wait there, but . . .” He shrugged.

  “How did you know we were here?”

  “I tracked your phone,” Jordan admitted with a sheepish smile.

  “That’s a real thing?” Paisley exclaimed. “I thought that was just in the movies.”

  Never one to miss a chance to share technology, Jordan whipped out his own and leaned in to show Paisley how easy it actually was. “If you have physical access to the other person’s device, it’s super simple. If not, it’s a little trickier and a lot less legal, but I can send instant downloadable code that opens a person’s phone.” He handed his to Nicolette to pass on to Paisley. “Check it out. I can now track you.”

  Great, Jordan, creep out my new friends.

  “But you don’t even know my number,” Paisley said.

  “Don’t have to. You’re running apps that allow my phone to recognize, then access, yours. People don’t read the fine print on most of what they download. Those apps are collecting data. All I do is tap in to the stream.”

  Paisley exclaimed, “That’s the coolest thing I ever heard. So you’re a programmer?” She handed the phone back via Nicolette.

  Jordan’s chest puffed with pride. “I am. Would you like to see one of my other projects?”

  No, Jordan. No. “Jordan, I don’t think that’s a good—”

  “I’d love to,” Paisley said, with enough enthusiasm that there was no use trying to stop this insanity.

  Jordan went to kneel in the booth behind Paisley. He nodded toward Tera. “Some aren’t appropriate for all ages, but this one is.” He shook his shaggy head of hair. “At least I think it is. No one is naked.”

  Nicolette covered her face with her hands. Things had been going too well.

  “That’s hilarious,” Paisley said with a laugh. “And it looks like me. Do Bruce. I’ve always wanted to see him in a pink bikini.”

  Nicolette lowered her hand when Paisley burst out in another round of laughter. She turned the phone toward Tera. “That’s your father, Tera, in a string bikini.”

  Tera laughed, too, and said, “Oh my God.”

  LeAnne was laughing so hard that tears were rolling down her cheeks. “This is the best app ever. How does it know you have love handles, hon?”

  Bruce rolled his eyes and sucked in his gut.

  Jordan went on a wordy explanation of the coding required to accurately represent a person’s body. To Nicolette’s surprise, Paisley seemed genuinely interested and amused.

  The feeling appeared mutual. She’d never seen Jordan glow before, but as he huddled with Paisley, he did. So did she.

  Huh.

  With eyes huge with admiration, Paisley said, “What an amazing app. I bet it could be used in forensics as well. Or fashion. Most apps just put a person’s head on someone else’s body, but this would show a woman how she’d actually look in a dress. It would make online purchasing so much easier.”

  “Fashion.” Jordan snapped his fingers in the air. “I hadn’t thought of that. You’re a genius.”

  Paisley blushed. “There aren’t too many stores around here, so I buy online. I hate returning something when it doesn’t fit me the way it did on the model.”

  “I can’t imagine anything not looking good on you,” Jordan said, then went deep red.

  Jordan and Paisley?

  Yeah, I can see it.

  Tera broke in. “Are you really Water Bear Man’s best friend?”

  Jordan looked momentarily confused, then shook his head. “No, I’m a friend of Nicolette’s other brother, Spencer.”

  Tera frowned. “I’m never going to meet him, am I?”

  With a smile, Paisley clarified, “My niece wants to marry a superhero.”

  “Not any superhero—Water Bear Man.”

  “He’s married,” Jordan said.

  “She’s hoping to outlive his first choice,” Paisley added.

  Jordan chuckled and wagged a finger at Tera. “I like the way you think. Anything is possible.”

  Tera wagged a finger right back at him. “It’s not polite to point, you know.”

  “Are you married?” Paisley asked, then looked mortified that she had.

  Eyes glued to hers, Jordan shook his head. “Totally single.”

  LeAnne picked up her purse. “Tera, why don’t we see if Kimmie is home? You could ride your bikes for a while.”

  “Kimmie went to see her grandma with her mom.”

  “Well, then, let’s go see if any of your other friends are around.” LeAnne stood. “Ready, Bruce?”

  “Go on ahead. I’ll be one minute,” Bruce said without moving.

  LeAnne waved to everyone, promised to call Paisley later, told Nicolette it was great to meet her, and led Tera out of the restaurant. Bruce cleared his throat. “Hey, Jordan?”

  Jordan looked up from his conversation with Paisley. “Yes?”

  “The sheriff is our second cousin. If anything ever happened to Paisley and I were to . . . let’s just say . . . break every one of your bones . . . he’d help me hide your body.”

  Jordan nodded once.

  Bruce stood, clapped Jordan on the back, and walked out without another word.

  Looking embarrassed, Paisley said, “Don’t listen to him. My brother’s just being an idiot.”

  Jordan slid into the seat beside her. “No, he’s being a good brother. If I had a sister, I’d like to think I’d be the same way.”

  Paisley batted her eyelashes at him. “Will you be in town long?”

  Jordan blinked a few times. “I
hadn’t planned to, but I don’t need to rush back.”

  Paisley smiled.

  Jordan smiled.

  Seated across from the lovebirds, Nicolette smiled, too, because she’d always hoped Jordan would find someone nice. Paisley was the kindest soul Nicolette had ever met. She felt like she should give them time alone, but first she had to ask, “Jordan, what are you doing here?”

  Jordan glanced at Paisley, then at Nicolette, as if unsure if he could speak freely in front of her.

  “It’s okay,” Nicolette said.

  Jordan let out a sigh. “Your family is worried about you, and you know how they can be. I thought I should come here first and scope things out.”

  Nicolette sighed and slumped. “I told them I’m okay. I just need a little time on my own to think some things through.”

  “The whole ‘Is he really my dad’ thing?” he asked.

  Jordan would never be accused of being subtle. “Yeah, and some other things.”

  “You probably don’t want me to hear this,” Paisley broke in gently. “Why don’t I give the two of you some time to talk?”

  Right then Nicolette realized she wanted Paisley to know. “No, Paisley, stay. You’ve been so kind to me. You have a right to know which Westerly you’re dealing with—if I even am one.” The last part still stung. She gave her the abbreviated version of how her family had become fragmented and the decision it had left her with. “I can’t bring myself to get a blood test. Isn’t that crazy? I mean, I want answers, and that’s how to get them. I just haven’t been able to do it yet.”

  “You’re scared,” Paisley said.

  Tears filled Nicolette’s eyes. “I love him. He’d probably be relieved to learn I’m not his, but as long as I don’t get the blood test, there is still—”

  “Hope,” Paisley finished for her. She placed her hand over Nicolette’s. “No wonder you needed time away to think. Your heart must be being pulled in all different directions.”