Feels Like Home

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  Putting the phone to his ear, he prepared himself for an account of Harlan’s exact ETA and his instructions for meeting at baggage claim. Rafe loved his anal father, but sometimes he had to shake his head at the minutia involved in Harlan’s every move. Still, that attention to detail was probably one of the factors that had made his father a wealthy man.

  Harlan’s message had to do with his flight, but in a totally uncharacteristic move, he’d decided to change his schedule and come in a day early. Rafe was still adjusting to that news, which blew a hole in his plans with Meg for today and tonight, when his father dropped the bombshell.

  “I’m switching my flight because your mother is coming to the wedding. She’ll arrive on Friday, and I expect pandemonium when she gets there. I’d like an extra day to acquaint myself with Wyatt’s bride before Diana blows everything apart.”

  Sinking to the edge of the bed, Rafe stared at his phone. So much for his happy little vision of spending the next few days getting to know Meg better. His father was arriving at noon today, and his mother would descend on them two days later. All hell was about to break loose.

  He sent his dad a quick text promising to be at the airport at the appointed hour. Maybe he should ask Meg to come along. Nah, probably a bad idea.

  Instinctively he knew that Meg and his father wouldn’t get each other. She was full of optimism and enthusiasm for this event, while his dad planned to stoically endure the experience. Conversation might be strained on the ride home.

  After pocketing his phone, he took a long, calming breath, put on his borrowed hat and left his room. Nothing had changed, really. He and Meg wouldn’t have the same opportunities to be together, but after what they’d shared last night, she wouldn’t give up on him because of that. They’d adjust.

  He walked into the kitchen to find Meg sitting huddled at the table with Mary Lou and Sarah. Meg wasn’t wearing her necklace, but that made sense if she thought they’d go riding later. The mood at the table was somber, though, and he had to believe they’d heard the news about Diana. All of them clutched their coffee mugs like life preservers.

  Sarah glanced up the minute he walked in. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Diana—”

  “Is coming to the wedding. My dad left me a message. Has anyone told Wyatt?”

  “Yes.” Sarah met his gaze. “Diana did. She called Wyatt late last night, but he’d turned off his phone, so he didn’t get the message until this morning. He called me a few minutes ago.”

  “But she won’t be here until Friday,” Rafe said, as if that made it more palatable.

  “I don’t know if that’s good or bad.” Sarah heaved a sigh. “She won’t be here to cause problems with the advance preparations, but she’ll show up when the festivities are in full swing. I won’t have as much time to…to…” She spread her hands. “Come to think of it, I don’t know what I’d do if I had more time. I guess we’ll see what happens.”

  “She won’t cause any problems,” Mary Lou said. It sounded more like Mary Lou’s personal threat than a considered opinion.

  “I hope not.” Rafe took off his hat, ran his fingers through his hair and repositioned the hat. “If it’s any consolation, I’ll do my best to keep her under control. I’m not saying I’ll succeed, but I’ll do my best.”

  Sarah nodded. “I appreciate that, Rafe. And just so you know, Wyatt seemed happy that she was coming. He’s a sensitive guy, so he realized I might not be overjoyed, but…actually, I am glad. It’s time.”

  Rafe thought about Wyatt, who of course wanted his mother to attend his wedding. The guy had a heart the size of Wyoming and hoped everyone would join hands and sing “Kumbaya” around a campfire. Then Rafe remembered the other player in this drama. He looked at Sarah. “Has Wyatt called Jack?”

  She shook her head. “He hadn’t when he contacted me, so I volunteered to do it. I called over to Jack’s house, and Josie said he was on his way here to consult with Emmett about one of the new foals. I suppose he’ll go straight to the barn.”

  “I’ll go down there and tell him,” Rafe said.

  Sarah looked relieved. “Thank you. I think that’s a good idea. He may have some questions I can’t answer.”

  “There’s one other thing. My dad is coming in today at noon instead of tomorrow.” From the corner of his eye he saw Meg blink in surprise. “Now that my mother’s arriving on Friday, my dad wants to meet Olivia before everything gets too…”

  “That’s fine.” Sarah put down her mug. “I’ll make sure his room’s ready. Are you still picking him up, or is Wyatt?”

  “I am.” Initially he’d wanted to help ease his father’s entry into country life by using the Lexus. Wyatt would have picked him up in his truck with the camper shell, or Olivia might have driven her Jeep. Neither one would have suited his dad. But maybe Rafe shouldn’t be so concerned about whether his dad would feel comfortable with his transportation.

  “I’ll go with you,” Meg said.

  He hesitated. Not ten minutes ago he’d decided that wasn’t a good idea.

  “Unless you’d rather I didn’t,” Meg said.

  In that instant he realized he wanted her there. If his dad had a problem with her sunny attitude, too bad. Rafe’s loyalties were shifting. “I’d love for you to go,” he said. “I wasn’t sure you’d want to.”

  “He’ll be curious about Olivia. I’m her best friend, so I can tell him lots of great stories about her.”

  “Good. Let’s leave about ten-thirty.”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  Now that she was going with him, he was grateful she’d asked. The drive to Jackson would give them a chance to be alone before his father arrived. He wasn’t thinking of it in sexual terms, because they’d need to keep close track of the time. But that drive might be their last opportunity to really talk.

  “Rafe,” Mary Lou said, “after you speak with Jack, I want you here in this kitchen for a decent breakfast. I’m not in favor of grabbing a cup of coffee and leaving, like you did yesterday. A body can’t survive on that.”

  Rafe grinned at Meg. “You ratted on me, didn’t you?”

  “I might have said something.” She did her best to look innocent and failed.

  “That’s fine.” He discovered he rather liked having her look after his welfare. “I nearly starved to death yesterday after skipping breakfast. I promise to come back and eat whatever you put in front of me, Mary Lou.”

  She winked at him. “That’s a deal, cowboy. And by the way, nice duds.”

  “Yes, they are,” Sarah agreed. “Sorry I was so distracted that I didn’t say anything. Meg, did you help him pick out those clothes?”

  “Uh-huh.” Her cheeks turned a becoming shade of pink.

  He’d bet good money she was remembering the scene in the dressing room. And after all that, he hadn’t modeled the leather vest for her last night. Now it was too late.

  Or maybe not. Upstairs might not be their sanctuary anymore, but the ranch was a big place. He’d probably have to get creative, but it seemed a shame to waste the potential of that leather vest.

  He touched the brim of his hat the way he’d seen other cowboys do. “Be back soon, ladies.” He left the kitchen.

  “Thanks, Rafe,” Sarah called after him.

  Walking quickly through the house and out the front door, he paused on the porch to take in the view of the Tetons. He still couldn’t understand how his mother could have looked upon that view every day and yet failed
to mention it as a feature of ranch life.

  She must have been blinded by unhappiness. Rafe couldn’t imagine being that unhappy, but then again, he wasn’t convinced he knew his mother all that well. As he walked down to the barn, he tried to put himself in Jack’s place. If he were Jack, how would he take this news?

  Jack’s outward behavior indicated that nothing would faze him. He projected strength and control. But Rafe knew through Wyatt that Jack wasn’t as invincible as he seemed. His fear of abandonment, created by Diana, had taken years to overcome.

  Rafe’s allegiance was also shifting toward Jack, the man who had taught him to dance without making fun of him, the man who’d been willing to look like a fool while the two of them navigated through a Texas Two-Step. And yet, Diana was Rafe’s mother. He couldn’t turn his back on her, even if she deserved it.

  What a mess she’d made for her three sons. Jack might want to hold himself aloof from her, while Wyatt would be campaigning for a group hug. And Rafe…Rafe would be in the middle, trying to keep the drama from ruining what should be a perfectly good wedding and whatever chance he had at a relationship with Meg.

  Jack’s red truck was parked down by the barn. Judging from the advance billing he’d been given, Rafe would have expected Jack to drive a badass black truck. Instead he had picked out a truck that was, as he phrased it, whorehouse-red. Now that Rafe knew the guy a little better, he could see Jack gravitating toward a flashy truck.

  Rafe wished he was headed down there to tease Jack about their dancing gig the night before instead of bringing the news about Diana. But he felt good about offering to do it. Sarah had enough to deal with.

  She had been given the job of cleaning up the mess Diana had made more than thirty years ago. No telling what conflicting emotions were going through Sarah’s mind right now. But she was one of the most gracious women Rafe had ever met, so he knew when the time came, she would act with dignity. He couldn’t be so sure about his mother.

  When he reached the open barn doors, he stopped to pet both dogs. The scent of horses, leather and hay stirred memories of his ride yesterday with Meg. Maybe if they came home from the airport early enough, they could take a quick ride before dinner. He wasn’t sore, and he credited all the good sex for keeping his muscles warmed up most of the night.

  Inside the barn he followed the sound of voices to a large stall where a mare and foal were stabled. Emmett and Jack leaned over the side of the stall watching mom and baby as they talked business.

  Rafe couldn’t help contrasting this business setting with his office back in San Francisco. He’d never expected to call the skyscraper where he worked cold and sterile, but in comparison to a barn full of beautiful horses, it was. He was a financial advisor, though, not a cowboy. He’d do well to remember how he earned a living.

  Jack glanced up. “Hey, there, twinkle toes. I’ve never met a man who picked up the Texas Two-Step that fast. I’d say you cheated if I hadn’t seen the way you stumbled through the Electric Slide when we first got started.”

  “Guess you’re just an excellent teacher, Jack.”

  “Don’t give me that. It was like a dance switch got flipped in your brain.”

  “Actually it was the karate switch.”

  Jack stared at him. “Come again?”

  “I was into martial arts for quite a few years. At some point last night I called up the intense focus I once used for karate.”

  “Huh.” Jack nodded. “That makes sense, then. You’re like a Texas Two-Step ninja.” He turned toward Emmett. “You should try dancing with this guy. He’s good.”

  Emmett grinned. “No, thanks. But I’m sure sorry I missed the performance last night.”

  “Yeah, we were damned impressive.” Jack looked over at Rafe. “Judging from your expression, you’re a man on a mission. What’s up?”

  Rafe decided not to sugarcoat it. “Diana’s coming to the wedding.” He used her name instead of saying “my mother” or “our mother.” He didn’t know if Jack claimed her as his.

  Shock registered for a split second in Jack’s eyes before a mask of indifference obscured the emotion. “Okay.”

  “She called Wyatt this morning. She’s flying in on Friday.”

  “Good to know.” Jack’s expression was unreadable. “Where’s she staying?”

  “She’s… I don’t know. I didn’t think to ask.”

  “Your dad’s staying here at the ranch, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, and that’s the other thing. Dad’s coming in today at noon instead of waiting until tomorrow. He’s decided to get acquainted with Olivia before my…before Diana arrives.”

  “Smart man,” Jack said.

  Emmett stepped forward. “Look, it’s none of my business, but I wonder if maybe we should ask Pam to put Diana up at the B and B. Pam runs a nice place, and it might be better all the way around.”

  “Depends on whether she has transportation,” Jack said. “Do you know if she’s planning to rent a car? Because I can tell you right now, I’m not hauling her ass around.” He glanced away from Rafe and tugged on the brim of his hat. “Sorry. I keep forgetting she’s your mother.”

  And yours. But Rafe had a feeling Jack didn’t think of her that way and might never think of her that way. Sarah was his mother in every sense except biologically.

  “I’ll find out if she’s planning to provide her own transportation.” The Lexus would hold both of his parents, but Rafe didn’t want to be the one chauffeuring them in the same car if he could possibly help it. “If she’s not, maybe I’ll suggest it, along with the B and B option. I’ve forgotten the name of the place. What’s it called?”

  “The Bunk and Grub,” Emmett said.

  “Perfect.” Rafe imagined his mother’s reaction to staying in a place named The Bunk and Grub. As Wyatt had said, their father was somewhat of a snob, but Diana took snobbery to a whole new level. The next few days would be a real circus. Unfortunately, he felt like the ringmaster trying to control the inevitable chaos.

  16

  TO MEG’S SURPRISE, RAFE spent a good part of the drive to Jackson asking questions about her job. He wanted to know things she never expected anybody but another engineer to care about, and he seemed interested as she described the traffic flow challenges when cities like Pittsburgh grew in unexpected ways.

  As they talked, she wondered if Rafe was focusing on traffic in Pittsburgh because it beat thinking about his parents’ imminent arrival in Jackson Hole. If he needed a distraction, she was happy to provide it. And it was fun for her. Most men she’d dated had avoided mentioning her work.

  Rafe didn’t bring up his parents until they stood side by side in baggage claim waiting for Harlan Locke to deplane. “Wyatt takes after my dad,” he said. “Dad has some gray mixed in with his sandy hair, but his eyes are the exact same gray as Wyatt’s. Temperamentally, though, they’re nothing alike.”

  She glanced over at him. “I don’t know if you remember saying the same thing about you and Wyatt the day we met.”

  “Did I?”

  “You did, but personally I think you and your brother are more alike than different.”

  “It’s the outfit making you say that. Underneath this Western shirt beats the heart of a big-city guy who loves to wheel and deal in the market. Wyatt hates that kind of thing. He’d rather climb a mountain.”

  “But you both crave a challenge, even if they’re different challenges. I’ll stick to my opinion.”

 
He smiled. “You do that. But when it comes to my dad and Wyatt, they really are different. He— Never mind. Here he comes. You can see for yourself.”

  Harlan Locke strode toward them looking like a Ralph Lauren model, trim and sophisticated in an open-throated white silk shirt and tan slacks that—defying the logic of plane travel—remained crisp. He’d slung a leather computer case over one shoulder and he held a cell phone to his ear. Lifting a hand in greeting, he continued to talk to whoever was on the phone as he walked in their direction.

  Meg told herself the phone call might be important, and Harlan had seen his son recently. It wasn’t as if they’d been apart for months. But surely Harlan had noticed that Rafe had brought a friend. She thought he should get off the phone soon and greet those who had come to fetch him.

  She hung back a little, though, wanting to give father and son a moment together before Rafe introduced her. The man continued to talk on the damned phone while Rafe stared at the floor and waited for his father to finish the call. Meg fumed on Rafe’s behalf.

  He’d been telling the truth when he’d said his father and Wyatt were completely different. Wyatt would never have put a phone call, any phone call, ahead of greeting someone who’d come to meet him. She had to believe Rafe wouldn’t, either.

  Finally Rafe turned and beckoned her to come over. Might as well. She wouldn’t be interrupting a warm moment between father and son.

  More time passed in which Harlan glanced at them, rolled his eyes, but kept talking. Finally he took the phone from his ear and disconnected the call. “Sorry about that. A client’s favorite stock just tanked and I had to talk him off the ledge. I tried to warn him to pull out weeks ago, but he wanted to hang on.”

  Rafe put a hand against the small of Meg’s back. “Dad, I’d like you to meet the maid of honor, Meg Seymour.”