Harlequin Historical May 2021--Box Set 2 of 2

by Elizabeth Rolls

  Anger, not at her, but at the home in Albany, made his jaw go tight. That place needed to be closed down. He hadn’t been able to get that out of his mind the past week, either. “Something has to be done.”

  “Yes, it does. Sooner than later.”

  She met his gaze, eye to eye. She looked so fragile, sitting there on his sofa, but in truth, she had more guts than a mobster. It couldn’t have been easy for her to come here today. He respected that. He also respected her resiliency, compassion and commitment. She put others before herself in a way he’d never really encountered, and it made him want to help those girls even more. “You’ve changed, Jenny.”

  “Becoming a mother will do that to a person,” she said.

  A soft glow had entered her eyes, and he knew why. “You have a lot to be proud of. I enjoyed meeting Emily, very much. Did you hear that I visited the school yesterday? Showed them telephones.” He grinned, recalling the bear sitting on the teacher’s desk. “I saw Emily’s bear there.”

  She cleared her throat quietly. “Yes, I heard, and Emily was very excited about seeing the telephones. She doesn’t go anywhere without her bear, and has the book memorized.” A true smile formed. “I believe William may even have the story memorized with the amount of times she’s made him sit and listen to her retell it to him.”

  He chuckled. “I’m glad she’s getting so much use out of it.”

  “She is.”

  “She’s also beautiful, just like her mother.”

  Her cheeks pinkened as she bit her lips together. Her lashes fluttered before she lifted her chin again. “Thank you, but about the home. If you’re still willing—”

  “Yes, I’m still willing,” he interjected. “I’ll help you with the senator. Do whatever you need, for as long as it takes, to come to a conclusion, but I would like to ask a favor from you in exchange.”

  Her brows tugged together beneath the brim of her hat. “What sort of favor?”

  “My brother is getting married today, in a couple of hours, I’d like you to attend the wedding with me.”

  Her eyes widened and she pressed a gloved hand against the base of her neck. “Oh, I couldn’t. I—I couldn’t impose like that. I—Alice will be back to get me in an hour and—”

  “We don’t have to leave until after that, we’ll tell her—”

  “No. Uh. Um. She’s giving me a ride home.”

  “I’ll give you a ride home.” His family would expect him to have a woman on his arm—because Connor McCormick always had a woman on his arm. He had thought about calling one of the dolls he knew who would readily agree to go to the wedding, but his heart hadn’t been in it. His heart hadn’t been in anything recently. Or for years. He’d gone through all the motions of being a happy-go-lucky bachelor with a different woman on his arm every night for years, but had never truly enjoyed it. Seeing Jenny again had made him understand just how much he’d been faking over the years. Everything from aloofness to happiness.

  “Connor, I don’t—”

  “It will only be a few hours,” he said. “The wedding is at Mick’s house—he inherited it when my father died and my mother still lives there with him. That’s when I bought this place.”

  Nibbling on her bottom lip, she nodded. “It’s a nice house.”

  “Thanks,” he said, never taking his eyes off her. “Will you go with me?”

  “Who—” She swallowed visibly. “Who is Mick marrying?”

  “No one you know,” he answered. “I barely know her. Mick brought her home from Missouri about six weeks ago to see her father. Her name is Lisa Walters—she’s a really nice person. My mother adores her. So does Mick.” He didn’t know all the particulars because he’d been too busy chasing after Jenny the past few weeks, but had never heard Mick sound so happy as when he’d called home and his brother had told him about the upcoming wedding. More than that, he’d felt Mick’s happiness, and knew deep inside that Mick was making the right choice. One that would make him happy for years to come.

  He couldn’t say the same for himself, but right now, he had to put on a happy face for his brother. Back to acting. It wouldn’t be hard. He’d been doing it for years. “I’d really appreciate you going with me, Jenny.”

  She squeezed the handles of the purse so hard it tipped over on her lap.

  Knowing she seldomly left the flower farm, he said, “There won’t be many guests. Just family and a few close friends. Afterward we can lay out our plan for the senator.”

  “We could do it now,” she said quickly, “before Alice returns.”

  Not about to let her off the hook that easy, he shook his head, then realized exactly what he was doing. Was he truly so desperate that he’d coerce her into something she didn’t want to do?

  That wasn’t like him and it wasn’t what she needed, now or ever. “Sorry. I still have to finish getting dressed and go buy a wedding gift.” He stood. “But, it’s fine. You don’t have to go. Sorry I asked. You can wait here until Alice returns.” Using a thumb, he gestured over his shoulder, toward the stairs. “I’m going to go finish getting dressed and head out.” He walked away, saying, “I’ll stop at your place tomorrow and we can formulate a plan.”

  “Connor, wait.”

  He turned. She’d stood. “It’s all right. You can just lock the door when you leave.”

  A hint of a smile formed as she shook her head.

  He felt the shift in her attitude, in the tension between them and it made him grin. More than grin.

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “I know I don’t have to.” Her smile grew. “I want to.”

  His smile grew too, so did the size of his heart. “You want to go to Mick’s wedding with me?”

  “Yes, and I want to help you buy a wedding present.”

  He didn’t have anything to compare to the bout of happiness that struck right then. “I still have to go finish getting dressed.”

  Nodding, she gave him a slow appraisal. “Make sure you change your socks.”

  “I just put these socks on.”

  “So you planned on wearing one black one and one blue one to the wedding?”

  He glanced at his feet. In his rush to get dressed, he’d merely grabbed two socks out of the drawer. Twisting, he gave her a wink. “I guess I needed your help more than I thought.”

  She laughed and he soaked in the sound of it as he hurried up the stairway. He wasn’t going to have to pretend today. The woman who would be on his arm was the one he’d wanted to be there for years.

  Once in his bedroom, he told himself to slow down. There was a wall of barriers between him and Jenny. A brick wall. A tall, wide and thick brick wall, but right now, he was willing to take whatever crumbling pieces he could because he was tired of the way he’d been living.

  Jenny had changed, and so had he. He was no longer searching for his father’s approval. He’d built a flourishing phone company, and it was time he focused on his life, what he wanted. Jenny showing up on his steps this morning had been nothing shy of a miracle.

  And the kick in the butt he’d needed to make lasting changes.

  * * *

  Jenny’s heart hadn’t slowed down since she’d seen Connor standing shirtless and barefoot in his doorway, and she highly doubted it would slow down any time soon. He was fully dressed now, and looked dashingly handsome in his black pinstriped suit—with matching black socks inside his black-and-white wingtip oxford shoes. He’d made a point of showing her that his socks matched before they left his house.

  At which point she’d had to laugh, and that had felt good. Very good.

  She could have said no, that she wouldn’t go to the wedding with him, but she wanted to go. Not as a favor because he’d agreed to help her—again—but because she simply, truly wanted to go with him.

 
Alice didn’t appear to be surprised by the news that Connor would give her a ride home this evening, and had waved happily as she’d driven away.

  They then climbed in Connor’s car and stopped at an expensive department store. Her mother had shopped at that very store often when they’d lived in Rochester, but Connor’s jubilance didn’t give her time to dwell on any memories that popped up.

  She didn’t let him dawdle, either, as he had near a display of stuffed toys. Along with a bear exactly like the one he’d given Emily, there had been a donkey, tiger, pig and kangaroo. Jenny had shaken her head, silently sticking to her guns about no more gifts for Emily. Even though he’d stuck his lip out in an overly charming pout, she steered him away from the children’s section.

  Eventually, they purchased a camera, film and a lovely gold filigree photo frame for Mick and his bride-to-be. The store clerk took it all into a back room to wrap, and then met them at the checkout counter. Before she could stop him, Connor snatched up a small wooden black-and-red car and paid for it along with the gifts.

  Stuffing the toy in his pocket as they walked out of the store, he said, “It’s for a little boy who will be at the wedding.”

  Jenny met that little boy moments after entering the house. She and Connor had entered through the back door, and had barely said hello to Mick, when a little boy with tight red curls came flying in the house, shouting Mick’s name and then leaped into his arms.

  It turned out the boy was Riley and he had been staying next door with his grandparents for several months, until last week, when his father had returned from his out-of-town job. Riley and his father, Matt, lived in Albany, but had made the drive to Rochester for the wedding because Riley and Mick, and Lisa, had become very close friends.

  Riley was also friends with Connor. As soon as he had the opportunity, Riley asked Connor a plethora of questions about how many telephones he’d sold. Jenny had to wonder if she’d been wrong about being upset over Connor buying toys for Emily and the other children at Gretchen’s. It appeared that was just something he did.

  He didn’t give Riley the toy car until right before the ceremony began and it gave the child something to hold his attention as the adults concentrated their attention on the couple getting married.

  The large living room had been set up with several chairs, and the brick fireplace had been decorated with sheer white lace and flowers, which was where the couple met and stood in front of the clergyman to exchange their vows.

  The bride was stunningly beautiful in a gown of embroidered gold silk, but it was her face, the way it literally shined as she looked at Mick that made Jenny’s heart melt. Jenny had long ago given up the dream of falling in love, marrying a man and having a real family, but watching the ceremony revived that dream, causing her to blink back tears.

  Connor touched her hand, and needing something to keep her grounded, she wrapped her fingers around his and held on tight.

  The ceremony was short, but the way the groom and bride pledged their vows with such dedication and love was very poignant.

  Once again, Jenny had to close her eyes and tell herself not to dream. She and Emily were a family, the only family they’d ever need.

  Jenny kept that thought close, but amongst the gaiety that followed the ceremony, it was difficult to keep it in focus. A meal had been prepared and served, and used to taking care of all that needed to be done, Jenny jumped in to help in any way she could. Connor’s mother, Barbara, was a very sweet woman who had greeted her with a warm hug when they’d arrived, and now gushed her appreciation for the extra set of hands.

  Guilt formed a knot in Jenny’s stomach. She hadn’t minded helping, but in truth, had done it more to steer clear and not have to talk to anyone.

  Once the meal was over, the bride and groom prepared to leave on their honeymoon, and as they said goodbye, Jenny couldn’t help but compare Mick and Connor as they stood side by side.

  They were obviously twins, but there was no mistaking the differences. Connor’s face was fuller, his features more perfect and his eyes, they were the tell-tale for her. They were a crisp, cornflower blue that twinkled with an undeniable charm.

  Just looking at him made her heart feel as if it was too big to fit inside her chest. That’s how it had been years ago, and how it was again.

  Mick had his arm around his bride, and Connor stood on his other side, holding a suitcase in each hand so he could carry them to their car once the newlyweds had said a final goodbye to Riley and his father. As soon as that happened, Connor turned and winked at her.

  Then, he asked Riley to help him carry the suitcases out to the car. The little boy was excited to help, and Connor walked slowly, so the boy could keep his hands on the handle and believe he was carrying the suitcase.

  Though she was around children all the time, her life was such that she rarely saw men interact with children. She’d seen that today, from both Connor and Mick, as well as Riley’s father, Matt. It made her wonder exactly what Emily was missing by not having a father. Those thoughts were instantly recounted with her own experience of having a stepfather. No father would have been better. From the moment her stepfather had entered her life, she had gone from a happy child, to a very lonely one.

  When Connor and Riley entered the house again, Connor was carrying Riley on his shoulders, and had to duck low so the child didn’t bump his head on the door frame.

  Jenny laughed at the sight as she shut the door behind them. “Goodness, Riley, you certainly became tall all of a sudden. You barely fit through the door.”

  Laughing, Riley shook his head. “That’s ’cause I’m on Connor’s shoulders.”

  “Are you sure?” she teased.

  Riley’s hands were locked under Connor’s chin and while looking down, he tugged Connor’s head backward, so he could look at his face. “Yep, it’s Connor.”

  She had to ask, “How do you know for sure?”

  In total seriousness, Riley replied, “His head is bigger than Mick’s.”

  Jenny slapped a hand over her mouth, but couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped. “Is that so.”

  “Yep,” Riley said. “See, right here.” He pulled back the locks of hair that angled across Connor’s forehead. “This part’s bigger and—” He poked at one of Connor’s eyebrows. “He has more hair here.”

  “Riley,” Matt said with a warning tone.

  There was no mistaking the two were father and son. They both had curly red hair, a splattering of freckles and bright green eyes.

  “Oh, please,” Jenny said in defense of the child. “I asked, and Riley is right. Connor’s head is bigger.”

  The teasing gleam in Connor’s eyes sent the blood rushing through her veins in a fun and delightful way. Happiness filled her as she lifted her brows in her own teasing way and shrugged at him.

  Matt lifted his son off Connor’s shoulders, and after visiting for a few minutes, insisted it was time to leave so they could get back to Albany before dark.

  Their departure left just her and Connor, his mother and Lisa’s father, Tony, who lived at the house as well and had already excused himself to go lie down, and Dr. George Bolton, a friend of the family’s.

  Barbara took Jenny’s hand as Connor closed the door behind Matt and Riley. “Come,” Barbara said. “The only time you’ve sat down is during the ceremony. I can’t thank you enough for all your help, but I can make sure you sit down and enjoy some punch before Connor drags you out of here.”

  The doctor, a gray-haired man with permanent smile wrinkles filling his face, said, “I’ll get punch for both of you.” With a twinkle in his eye, he asked, “Would you like me to add a drop of sherry to it?”

  Barbara laughed as she nodded. “Or two.”

  The extra chairs had been put away and Jenny sat down on the sofa that Barbara led her to. Connor handed her a cup and then sat down next to her wh
ile Barbara took a cup from the doctor and the two of them each sat in the armchairs on the other side of the coffee table.

  “Oh, goodness, that was a lovely service, wasn’t it?” Barbara asked.

  “Yes, Mother, you truly outdid yourself,” Connor replied.

  “No, I didn’t. Lisa took care of most everything, and Jenny had most of the cleaning up done from the meal before I even entered the kitchen.” Her face softened as she said, “Thank you again, dear.”

  “You’re very welcome,” Jenny said. “I just hope you’ll be able to find everything that I put away.”

  Barbara waved a hand. “Of course, I will. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. Tell me, how are you doing? Where are you living now?”

  The sip of punch Jenny had just taken got caught in the back of her throat.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “Jenny is a midwife and she lives over by Syracuse,” Connor said while laying his hand over the top of Jenny’s. Feeling the way she trembled, he continued, “We ran into each other while I was selling telephones.”

  “A midwife?” Dr. George asked.

  George had been their family doctor for years, but ever since Mick had brought Tony Walters here for their mother to nurse, George had become a regular fixture. Connor sensed his mother and the good doctor might be growing into more than friends. That didn’t bother him in the least. His mother wasn’t yet fifty and deserved to find happiness, love, again. He couldn’t think of a better man for her to do that with than George.

  “Yes,” Jenny answered quietly as she set her cup on the coffee table and glanced at him.

  Connor winked at her. He was proud of her for being a midwife and wanted her to receive recognition for all she did for others. And herself.

  “Are you happy there?” George asked.

  “Yes,” Jenny answered, looking perplexed.