by Tara Randel
Carrie’s voice broke into her conflicted thoughts.
“Thanks, Heidi.” Carrie perused the notes, then closed the laptop. “So, have you gotten a gift for Serena and Logan?”
Relieved by the reprieve, Heidi pulled herself together. “No. Though the party is next weekend, and I’m running out of time.”
“Me too. Serena doesn’t want anything but we can’t show up empty-handed.”
Heidi tapped a finger against her chin. “I keep thinking a fancy picture frame, but that’s boring.”
“It’s more than I’ve got.” Carrie grimaced. “But one perk of the party is that I finally get inside Masterson House.”
Heidi grinned. “Curious?”
“Like everyone else in town who hasn’t been there.”
“It is a pretty amazing house.”
“That’s right—you grew up there.”
This was when things got tricky, since she didn’t talk about her childhood. “Kind of.”
“So, it’s no big deal to you. Going to a party there, I mean.”
Glad Carrie hadn’t asked about the past, Heidi replied, “It will be. Usually when I visit these days, it’s to see Alveda.”
“Serena is thrilled about having the party there, and Logan seems happy to agree to anything she wants, so it should be a great time.”
“And the Masterson family is happy Logan is staying in town, so they’re on board with the wedding plans.”
“How about Reid?” Carrie asked. “I haven’t seen him around.”
The last time they’d all hung out together was last fall when they’d volunteered during Oktoberfest. “He’s flipping houses.”
“Huh. I thought he liked working in an office.”
So did Heidi, especially since his new profession had messed up her plans. It bothered her that he’d walked away from a job he loved, and that his expression closed when mention of Masterson Enterprises came up. She didn’t want to pry, even though he kept his feelings closer to the vest than she did. The fun-loving Reid of their youth seemed to have disappeared, replaced by a more serious man. Still, he’d agreed to her sweat equity proposition and it still gave her a chance to fulfill her dream.
Hanover Lane, here I come.
Soon Serena returned to get ready for her calligraphy class. It meant Heidi had time to stop by a client’s business to check her facts for a tax prep job. She’d just reached her car when her phone rang.
“Hello,” she said, holding the cell phone between her cheek and shoulder as she juggled her belongings.
“Heidi, can you hear me?”
“Yes, Alveda.”
The woman had difficulty figuring out her phone.
“Can you stop by? I need to discuss something with you.”
“Sure. What time?”
“I’m right in the middle of preparing dinner. How about seven.”
“I’ll be there.” Heidi took a breath. “Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” came Alveda’s pat answer, reassuring Heidi. “Nothing’s wrong with me.”
“I didn’t...” Heidi knew better than to question the older woman. If possible, Alveda was more stubborn than Heidi. She worried about Alveda just like she would her own grandmother, if she had one.
“I’ll save you some pie.”
“Then you know I’ll be there.”
Alveda laughed and ended the call.
Heidi had just enough time to get home and finish the accounting job she’d started yesterday, make dinner, feed Mr. Whiskers and change before heading to Masterson House. For someone who generally kept to herself, she wondered when she’d become such a social butterfly.
Her mind shifted to Reid and she wondered if they’d run into each other at the House. He’d moved out, but Alveda had mentioned that he still stopped by from time to time. As she got into the car, anticipation bubbled through her. “Get moving,” she muttered to herself, unsuccessfully pushing aside the hope of running into Reid. Seeing him in this new light was definitely going to be a challenge.
* * *
REID CHECKED TO make sure there was no classic Cadillac in the vicinity before parking on the gravel drive beside Masterson House. When his grandmother asked him to come over, she’d assured him that his father would be gone, but plans could change. One thing about his grandmother, she never set up “chance” meetings between him and his father. She knew that was a relationship breaker for Reid and would never cross that line. She loved him enough to respect his wishes, unlike the man he’d once looked up to.
He leaped up the steps to the wide veranda, his shoes pounding on the old pinewood. How many times had he raced across this space when he was a kid, laughing and playing without a care in the world? Too many to count. There were lots of good memories of getting into mischief with Logan. Heidi too, when they were older, as long as she wasn’t poking into his business. He’d loved growing up in this place.
A night bird cried out from a nearby tree, interrupting his thoughts. It was a warm night, serenely quiet this far away from town. He reached for the ornate handle of the hand-carved front door, disillusionment and resentment washing over him. Instead of ringing the bell, which would have been customary since he didn’t live here anymore, he let himself in, coming face-to-face with his grandmother in the foyer.
“I thought I heard a car.”
“Hello, Grandmother,” he said, closing the door behind him and kissing her soft cheek. Her floral perfume, the same scent she’d worn for as long as he could remember, made him feel at home.
She reached up to cup his face in her weathered fingers. “You’re okay?”
“I’m good.”
She briskly nodded. “Then let’s get down to business.” She pivoted on her heel and strode to the living room. Resigned to whatever his grandmother’s business entailed, Reid followed.
“Take a seat, young man.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Grandmother chose her favorite armchair to settle in. He took the couch. Getting comfortable, he said, “Lay it on me, Grandmother.”
“You’re awfully cheeky tonight.”
He shrugged, mentally preparing for this meeting. His grandmother was transparent when it came to what she wanted.
“First of all, I’d like to thank you for the azalea bush you gave me for my birthday. I had it planted by the steps and it’s starting to bloom.”
“I know how much you enjoy your flowers.”
All his life, Grandmother had been busy tending to plants on the grounds. She’d enlisted his help often, letting him dig up the soil to plant new bulbs or paying him well to weed her precious flower beds.
“I do.” She folded her hands in her lap. “Just one way to make Masterson House less daunting to visitors. Homier.”
He crossed one leg over the other. After work, he’d changed into khakis and a button-down shirt. “I don’t think homey fits this place.”
“Grand? Majestic? Severe?” Grandmother waved her hand. “It’s home to me.”
“And you’ve always made it a remarkable place for everyone else.”
She smiled, her lined skin glowing in the soft lighting. The evening sky might have faded from streaks of pink to purple and finally black, but the glow of his grandmother’s love enveloped him.
“Tell me what you’ve been up to?” Grandmother asked.
“I bought that house I told you about. The one on Hanover Lane.” He paused, an image of Heidi filling his mind. Her big smile had made him rethink working on the project alone. It was like she was a magical fairy, tricking him into going along with her scheme. But she was certainly a flesh and blood woman and there really were no tricks.
All afternoon he’d thought about her motivation for wanting the house. Bits and pieces he’d heard over the years about her unconventional upbringing had to be the
reason why she was so adamant about buying the house. Otherwise, why bring up the night that had caused him so much pain? Heidi wasn’t cruel, but he understood how past events could shape a person. Wasn’t he still dealing with those issues himself? So, yeah, he’d give her a chance at her dream. Maybe along the way he could figure out what to do about his.
He cleared his throat. “This job will be a little different than the others.”
Interest glowed in Grandmother’s eyes. “In what way?”
“I have an intern.”
Grandmother frowned. “I don’t understand.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t either until it was foisted upon me.”
“Is it anyone I know? Ernie Keene’s grandson?”
“No. It’s Heidi.”
Grandmother blinked. “Our Heidi?”
“Yes. It seems she missed out on buying this house, so she talked me into letting her help with the renovation and in exchange I’ll sell it to her after I make the upgrades.”
His grandmother beamed. “Reid, that’s wonderful.”
“I kind of think it’ll be added work.”
“How can that be?” Grandmother huffed away his concerns. “I’m sure she’ll be a valuable intern.”
“Really? Have you ever seen her build anything?”
“Well, no,” Grandmother conceded.
“How can I say this nicely?” He shook his head. “She doesn’t know the first thing about construction.”
“She’ll learn.”
“Which will cost me more time and money.”
Grandmother leaned forward. “This must be important to her. After all, she doesn’t get involved in any projects she isn’t sure she can handle.”
Part of that sense of self-preservation they seemed to share.
“Exactly.” He rubbed his temple. “We haven’t started working together yet and I already have a headache.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“Am I?”
“Remember the time you two helped Carl, our handyman at the time, to fix up the old barn on the property?”
He’d forgotten about that. And it cemented his conviction that Heidi wasn’t going to be of much use. Proving his point, he rolled up the sleeve of his shirt. “I still have the scar to prove Heidi isn’t a builder.”
“Just give her a chance, Reid.”
He stared at the scar on his forearm, hopefully not a harbinger of things to come. “We have a deal and I always keep my word.”
It had been one of the things he’d been most proud of while working at Masterson Enterprises. Everyone knew his word was good, even his father. While he’d debated the pros and cons of having Heidi on-site, the possibility of her slowing the progress of the project with her suggestions never swayed him to go back on his promise to her.
Grandmother sighed. “I’m sure you’re making this out to be worse than it will be.”
He jerked the sleeve down. “You’ll be the first I call if I need stitches.”
She laughed, a merry tinkle that never got old. “You’ve always had a good heart.”
Maybe. He’d soon discover how this supposed altruism worked for him, but the joy on Heidi’s face had been worth it. He also hadn’t missed how she’d grown prettier every time he ran into her.
When they’d worked together during the Oktoberfest celebration last fall, he’d been surprised that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Sure, they hadn’t really hung out in a few years, so he’d attributed his reaction as interest in catching up with his friend. There’d been something about her that caught his fancy. Perhaps because they were adults? She wasn’t a teen anymore, but a grown woman, whose face had become more lovely over the years. The sparkle in her eyes had touched his soul, and her laugh had made his heart pick up a beat. After the town celebration they’d all returned to their regular routines, and he hadn’t given it another thought. Until today.
“It’s Heidi—it’ll be fine,” his grandmother said in a positive tone.
Would it? Add in his new fascination for Heidi and he’d painted himself into a corner. If this project went south, what would that mean for their friendship?
“Now, on to other business.” Grandmother got that shifty look in her eyes. “Logan’s engagement party is fast upon us.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll bring a gift.”
“It’s not a gift I’m worried about. It’s about a date. For you.”
He closed his eyes and rubbed his eyelids. Took a breath and steadfastly met her gaze.
“Are you worried that I don’t have a date? Or that I do and it’s not who you want it to be?”
She pursed her lips in disapproval, then said, “Reid, I only want the best for you.”
“And that means a woman in my life?”
“Look how besotted your brother is.”
“I’m happy for Logan, but I’m not looking.”
“Exactly. That’s why I took the liberty of printing out a list of potential dates.”
His eyes went wide and he choked. “You did what?” He hadn’t thought she’d go that far, but Logan had warned him.
“I can’t leave something this important up to you,” she said in an annoyed tone.
“Grandmother, I’m more than capable of asking a woman to the party.”
“Have you asked anyone?”
He uncrossed his leg. Shifted in his seat. “Not yet.”
“The party is just over a week away.”
“I still have time.”
“Not if you want said woman to have time to prepare.” His grandmother took a piece of paper from the end table beside her and passed it over.
When he took it, a list of names in very neat rows met his gaze. This can’t be happening.
“It is, indeed, young man.”
He’d said that out loud? “Grandmother, this is crossing the line, not to mention insulting.”
“Didn’t I just have a birthday?”
He frowned. “Yes, but what’s that got to do with anything?”
“I’m not getting any younger. I want to see you happy. Married. Preferably with a great-grandchild I can hug before I’m ancient.”
He blew out a breath and dropped the paper on the cushion beside him. “I’ll find my own date.”
Grandmother pointed at the page. “But those women are friends of the family.”
Exactly why he wouldn’t date them. They were part of the family history and therefore a reminder of what he’d lost by leaving Masterson Enterprises.
She continued to sell the idea. “They are kind, well-educated and have good jobs.”
Still wasn’t happening.
“Can you come up with a better list of candidates?”
He cringed. “Candidates?”
“Dates. I mean dates.”
Sure, she did.
He rose. “I promise to bring a date to Logan’s party,” he said, ready to hightail it out of there before his head began to throb.
“Now, Reid, just think—”
The echo of footsteps came from the direction of the kitchen. Alveda entered, her face lighting up when she spotted him. “Reid, I didn’t know you were stopping by.”
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I smell peaches.”
“You always had a good nose.” Alveda grinned. “There’s a fresh peach pie in the kitchen with your name on it.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.”
He started to leave when his grandmother said, “Young man, we aren’t finished.”
“We are.” He stopped, placed his hand on Grandmother’s shoulder and squeezed. “I love you, but I can find my own date.”
She opened her mouth to argue, he was sure, but he squeezed again and then strode down the hallway.
* * *
<
br /> SILENCE FELL OVER the room.
“Well?” Alveda whispered.
“Our plan worked. He’s headed to Heidi, or rather, his destiny now.” Gayle Ann gave a firm nod.
Alveda shook her head, a worried expression crossing her face. “I’m not sure I like these sneaky tactics.”
“I know my grandson. He doesn’t want to be told who to date. He’ll ask someone simply to bait me or prove he’s in control of his own future.”
Alveda narrowed her eyes. “Isn’t he?”
Gayle Ann crossed her arms. “Not if I have any say in the matter.”
“What if this backfires? What if by pushing Reid and Heidi together we damage their friendship?”
“Or we make it stronger.”
Alveda sighed, a clear sign she was done arguing. “You’re sure about this?”
Leaning back in her chair, Gayle Ann grinned. “What could possibly go wrong?”
CHAPTER FOUR
HEIDI HAD JUST cut a large wedge of Alveda’s amazing peach pie, inhaling the fruity goodness, when the swinging door to the kitchen opened. She nearly dropped the pie server. Reid’s tall figure appeared in the doorway. He stopped for a split second, then resumed his trek illuminated only by the light over the sink.
“Wow. Twice in one day,” she said, placing her piece of pie on a dessert plate.
“Who said Golden isn’t a small town?”
Be cool, she ordered herself. “You’re here for pie too?”
“Just stopped by to visit my grandmother, but Alveda caught me before I left and sent me in here.” He opened the cabinet door above her head to remove another plate. He was so close she could feel his body heat. She held her breath, waiting for him to move away so he wouldn’t catch on to her inner panic.
