by SJ McCoy
Seymour put his arm around her shoulders. “It’s true. I thought I’d had my turn at happiness. I didn’t believe I’d get another chance.”
“I always hoped you would,” said Jean. She smiled at Chris. “I knew it would take a special lady. And here you are.”
Chris looked around the table. “I thought I was happy. I lead a full life. I have my kids and my grandkids.” She smiled at Seymour. “I had no idea how much happier I could be.”
“Aww. I’d guess that we’ll be receiving another wedding invitation before too long,” said Jean.
Seymour’s arm tightened around her shoulders. She felt bad for him. She’d made clear to him that she wasn’t sure that was what she wanted, and now he was being put on the spot—something she knew he didn’t like.
Before she could say something that would diffuse the moment, Clay nodded at them. “That’s right. And you know once we each marry a Benson sister, every one of us sitting at this table will all be family.”
Chris cocked her head to one side. It was true. They’d all be brothers and sisters-in-law in some way. That gave her the warm and fuzzies.
Marianne gave her a worried look. She knew that marriage wasn’t necessarily high on her priority list. Chris wanted to reassure her that it was okay, but more than that, she wanted to reassure Seymour.
She smiled at Clay. “I get you as a brother-in-law soon, anyway, but you’re right.” She looked at Jean and Johnny. “It’d be nice to be able to call these two family, too.”
She felt Seymour tense beside her and looked up at him. He questioned her with his eyes but didn’t speak. She nodded. It really wasn’t such a terrible idea.
The rest of the evening went by in a blur. She chatted with what seemed like hundreds of people. Many of the women seemed less than friendly, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t here to get to know them. She was here to get to know Seymour better, and watching him in this environment, she did. He was more like the man she’d seen on TV. He was charming, outgoing, and now that she knew him better, she could tell he really didn’t want to be there.
She got up from the table, and when he rose, she caught hold of his hand. It was fun spending time with the others, but she wanted him to herself for a while. They walked through the hotel and out into the cool night air on the terrace bar.
She leaned on the stone balustrade and he leaned beside her, looking out at the pool and the waterfall.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked.
“I’d guess more than you are.”
He laughed. “And I thought I hid it so well.”
“You do, but not from me.”
He put his arm around her. “Are you claiming that you know me better than anyone else does?”
She nodded seriously. “I am, maybe better even than you know yourself.”
He met her gaze. “Maybe you do. I’ve managed to avoid myself for long enough.”
“I wish you wouldn’t do that anymore.”
“I don’t have to now. I like the man I’m becoming. And I love you for making me want to be him.”
“I love you, Seymour.”
He stood up straight and drew her to him, closing his arms around her waist and holding her against him so he could look down into her eyes. “And I love you, Chris. I’m sorry about the way conversation turned earlier. I don’t want you to feel any kind of pressure.”
She knew what he meant, but she wanted to make him talk about it. “What kind of pressure?”
“You know. When they talked about all of us being related.”
“When they talked about us getting married?”
He nodded, looking wary. “That’s what I don’t want you to feel pressured about. I hope maybe someday you’ll want to. But I understand if you don’t. I’ve already told you. I want to be with you in whatever way suits you.”
She smiled and reached up to plant a kiss on his lips. “But it’s important to you, isn’t it?”
“You know it is, but I can learn to see it differently if that’s what you want.”
“But in your mind, marriage is two people committing to be a team?”
He nodded.
“I think we make a pretty good team.”
His lips quirked up in that cocky little smile. “I know we do. We’re like two pillars standing side by side. Two strong individuals that can work together as partners—not mesh into one indistinct mess that’s only known as a couple.”
She laughed. “That’s it. That’s what I don’t want to be. I don’t want to lose me. I don’t want you to lose you.”
“And we wouldn’t have to. That’s not what I want from you, Chris. I want you as you are. I don’t want to dilute you.”
“You won’t be able to.”
He smiled. “I know.”
She waited, wondering if he understood what she meant.
“Wait. Do you say I wouldn’t be able to or won’t?”
“Won’t.”
“Does that mean that you’re open to the idea? That I won’t be able to dilute you when we are married?”
She smiled and shrugged. “I’m not going to ask you to ask me.”
He nodded and hugged her tighter. “But I am going to take my chances.”
Chapter Twenty
Seymour looked up from his computer when Ivan tapped on his office door. “Come on in; what’s up?”
“You have a visitor.”
Seymour frowned. “Who?” He wasn’t expecting anyone. Hope and Chance were coming into town this evening, but …
“It’s Hope.”
“Send her in.” He checked his watch, afraid that he must be falling back into his old ways and that he might have worked through the whole afternoon without noticing the time go by. But no. It was only two-thirty.
Hope peeked her head around the door. “Are you disturbable?”
He chuckled and got to his feet. “Always, for you. Come on in.”
She came to him and gave him a hug. “You really have changed, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
She gave him another squeeze before stepping back. “I remember when I wouldn’t have dared come to your office at anything other than the appointed time.”
“I’m sorry, Hopey. Those days are behind us. I want to make it up to you.”
She smiled. “You don’t need to. Seeing you happy is all I want. It’s all I ever wanted. Well, that and having you in my life. Now I get all of that.” Her smile faded. “Don’t I?”
“Of course, you do. Why would you even ask?”
“Because you’re living here now. And I love that for you. My only concern is how much time you’ll spend up in Montana with us in the future.”
“As much as I can.”
“But how much can you?”
He knew what she meant. It had taken many years before he’d been able to make himself stay at the house that he and Kate had built in Paradise Valley. Since Hope had moved back up there, he’d gotten over it, but she wanted to know, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about taking Chris up there.
“I think it’ll be fine. We should come one of these weekends and see. I think it’s just the thought of it. Once we get there, it’ll be okay. You know what Chris is like. She fills every place she goes with life and laughter. I’ll always miss your mom, but …”
“Don’t look like that, Dad. That’s what I wanted to tell you. I’ve been thinking about you a lot—worrying about how you’d deal with being happy again. I know how you are, and I want you to know that it’s okay to be happy.”
He nodded, wishing he could have back all the years he’d wasted with this wonderful daughter of his.
“I remember that Mom always used to tell me that you guys named me Hope because that was what I represented for you. That hope is what makes life worth living, and that even in the dark times, we should hold onto hope. That you guys wanted a bright future, and I was part of that.”
Seymour swallowed—hard. He remembered all too well all the reasons K
ate had given him for the name she wanted to give their daughter. He nodded. Not trusting himself to speak.
Hope’s eyes shone with tears. “Well, I think I inherited some of Mom’s wisdom, and I wanted to get you by yourself to tell you. She’d want you to have a bright future still. She’d want you to have new hope and new happiness. I do, too.”
He held his arms out to her, and she flung herself into them, hugging him tightly. “I hope you’ll bring Chris up there. I want you both to be part of our lives. But until you’re ready, Chance and I will spend more time here. I don’t want you to miss out on Dylan—and I don’t want to miss out on you.” She stood back and smiled at him. “Especially not on this new, chill, laid-back version of you.”
He chuckled at that. “You like it?”
“I do. I mean, look at you. You’re in the office, in jeans. The office is bright and casual. You’re relaxed. I love it.”
“I do, too.” He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I appreciate your support, I really do. There’s something I need to tell you. I hope you’re going to be happy about it.”
Hope grinned. “Are you guys getting married?”
He laughed. “So much for my big surprise. I haven’t asked her yet, but I think there’s a good chance she’ll say yes.”
Hope clasped her hands together and bounced up and down on her toes. “I’m not just happy about it. I’m thrilled! She’ll say yes. I know she will.”
Seymour nodded. He hadn’t known how long it would take for Chris to be open to the idea of getting married. She’d surprised him at the fundraiser dinner when she’d told him, in a roundabout way, that she was. He’d second guessed himself in the weeks since and had checked with her in every way he could think—without coming out and asking her—that it really was what she wanted. She’d reassured him each time. When they’d been at dinner with her boys the other night, she’d even dropped a hint about getting impatient.
“I hope so because I don’t want to wait any longer. I hope you and Chance are going to come over to the house tomorrow evening.”
Hope’s eyes widened. “Are you going to …?”
He nodded.
“We wouldn’t miss it.”
~ ~ ~
Chris looked around and smiled. The bar was busier than usual this afternoon. She waved at Abbie, who was sitting at a corner booth with Michael’s wife, Megan. They’d offered her the job as his new receptionist, and Chris guessed that Abbie and Megan would become friends. Although she’d wanted Abbie to leave town and go and make a new life for herself somewhere else, she was starting to see things differently after their last conversation. Abbie had made her realize that just as parents wanted the best for their grown children, their children wanted the best for them, too.
Hers certainly did. She knew that much. She smiled when she saw Jack and Dan come in through the doors side by side. She was so proud of them. They were such good-looking men, if she did say so herself. They were different in many ways—Jack was the outgoing one; Dan was quieter. Jack brought people together. Dan preferred his own company. But they both spread goodness in the world. They’d both found their perfect partner and were getting on with building their lives.
“Hey, Mom.” Dan leaned in to kiss her cheek.
Jack did the same. When he straightened up, he gave her a stern look. “We deliberately came early so that you wouldn’t sit around at the bar by yourself. You know my thoughts on you doing that.”
She laughed. “You can think whatever you like. I’m not going to stop it. I told Seymour the same thing.”
Jack chuckled. “And he has to accept it. I know you won’t take it from him. I know you won’t listen to me either, but I’m not going to stop telling you.”
She shrugged. “You do what you need to, but I will, too.”
Dan shook his head. “You two will never change, will you?”
“If you mean I’ll never meekly do as my son tells me, then no.”
Jack laughed. “And if you mean will I give up on looking out for Mom, then that’s a no from me, too.”
“At least, I got you both to agree on something.”
“Are we going to get a table?” asked Jack.
Once they were seated in one of the booths, Chris looked at them both. “So, what’s going on with you?”
“Business as usual,” said Jack. “We’re getting ready to start on Phase Three over at Four Mile Creek.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “There are going to be some custom homes up on the ridge if you’re interested.”
“Why would I be interested? I love my house.”
“What about Seymour?”
“He loves my house, too.”
“Does he really?” asked Dan.
“Yes, he does. Don’t you two go thinking that things are going to change now that he’s living with me. He’s enjoying my place. He has other big fancy houses he can visit whenever he wants.”
Dan nodded. “As long as you’re happy.”
“I am. We are. I don’t plan on making any big changes.”
Jack and Dan exchanged a look she didn’t understand.
“What?” she asked. “If you’ve got something to say, then say it.”
The server came to take their order, and once she’d gone, Jack met Chris’s gaze.
“I guess all I really want to say is that if you do want to make any changes, we’re on board with it.”
She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” Dan shot a look at Jack.
She knew there was something going on with them, but she didn’t know what. “Would one of you please tell me?”
“There’s nothing to tell,” said Dan. “We just want you to know that we’re happy for you.”
“That’s right.”
She shook her head. “Thank you. But that doesn’t feel like news to me. You’ve both been over to the house. Seymour and I have been out with all of you. Everyone seems to get along. So, why are you making a big deal out of it all of a sudden?”
Dan smirked and jerked his head at Jack. “You know what he’s like, sometimes he just gets a bee in his bonnet.”
Chris laughed. “I suppose. Anyway, if we’re done with that, tell me what else is going on with you both.”
She enjoyed their company. It had been a while since they’d done this. The three of them came out to eat every so often. Most of the time, she saw one of them and their wives or their kids, but these dinners that they had were special.
Chris put her fork down and sat back with a smile.
“Hey, there’s Laura,” said Jack.
Chris turned and waved at her niece, who was standing by the bar. Laura came over and grinned at them. “What’s this, a Benson family reunion? Why wasn’t I invited?”
Chris smiled. “It’s just the boys and me this time, but we should do it again soon with your mom and you.”
“It’ll have to be very soon, or we’ll have to invite Clay—he’ll be family, too, in a couple of weeks. And then—”
She stopped short when Jack scowled at her.
“Is everything ready for the wedding?” asked Dan.
It wasn’t like him to ask about wedding plans. Chris could tell there was some undercurrent between the three of them, but she didn’t know what it was about. Jack stopped scowling, and Laura started chattering on about Marianne and the wedding arrangements.
After Laura excused herself, Chris looked at the boys. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me what’s going on?”
Jack shrugged, and Dan laughed. “Are you sure you don’t know what’s going on?”
“I have no idea.”
Jack shook his head. “I wasn’t sure if you were just playing along. You really don’t know?”
“I don’t, but one of you had better tell me.”
“Sorry, no can do,” said Jack.
Dan smiled at her. “Don’t get frustrated. You’ll know soon enough.”
“Well, if it’s a surprise, it’d better
be a good one.”
“The best,” said Jack. He looked at his watch. “I should get going.”
“Aren’t we going to hang out for a while?”
Dan smiled at her. “We’ll see you again soon. Very soon. But we need to get going. You should, too. Seymour’s probably home by now.”
She frowned. “So? He knows I’m having dinner with you two.”
Jack smiled. “And I’m sure he’s looking forward to seeing you.”
Chris laughed. “You’ve changed your tune about him.”
“I have. He’s a good man. I trust him to make you happy.”
“I do, too,” added Dan.
“Aww, thanks, boys.” Her chest filled with warmth, and her eyes pricked with tears. Maybe this was what the undercurrent had been about. They were letting her know that they approved of Seymour. “You know, I’m old enough and wise and enough to make my own decisions, but it means a lot.”
Dan smiled at her. “We also know that you’ve always factored us into your decisions. So, when you have to make another one, we want you to know where we stand.”
She cocked her head to one side. “Thank you.” She didn’t always understand the way he said things, but she knew it was just his way of saying he supported her.
“Come on,” said Jack. “Time to go.”
Chris pulled up in the driveway, still a little surprised to be home this early. She got out of the car with a smile. Maybe Seymour would want to go for a walk.
She let herself in and called for him. There was no reply.
“Seymour? Are you here?” That was strange. His car was outside. She ran upstairs to see if he was in the shower. Nope. Oh well. Hope and Chance were in town. Maybe he was with them. He wasn’t expecting her home yet.
She went back down to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine then went to fetch her Kindle from the living room. She could sit outside and read.
