Mandy couldn’t have been more surprised by the question. At first, she didn’t know how to answer it. She watched Preston’s profile as he stared straight ahead. What kind of answer did he want? Had he hoped for a houseful of kids some day? If so, being married to her was pretty much putting a stop to that dream. A pang of guilt hit her, and she swallowed. “I thought about it a couple of times. I always figured it was safer to avoid the whole issue. I’d rather do that than risk repeating the past.”
His head turned, and even with the sunglasses on, there was no missing the serious look on his face. “You are nothing like your parents, Mandy. If there’s one thing I’m one hundred percent sure of in this life, that’s it.”
Those words immediately brought tears to her eyes. Granny had said as much several times before. But to hear it from Preston—She took a steadying breath and blinked them away. “Thanks,” she whispered. She should probably ask him the same question. At least that’s what was expected in polite conversation like this, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to do it.
Preston must’ve sensed her unease, because he answered it anyway. “I’d like to have two or three kids.” They stopped at a red light and he reached over for her hand. “But you are enough for me, Mandy. Don’t ever doubt that.”
He spoke the truth, of that she was sure. But it didn’t help alleviate the guilt she alone stood between him and the dream he had for a family.
Chapter Sixteen
Preston opened the back door and found Mandy sitting in one of the wicker chairs. Rain pelted the porch roof and brought some much-needed moisture to the grass and plants. Best of all, the hot air had cooled and smelled clean. He took in a lungful as the screen door closed behind him. He motioned to the chair near Mandy. “Mind if I join you?”
“Of course not.” She lifted her legs and tucked them under her. “I had to come out here for a while. I’ve been hoping it’d rain, although I’m glad it waited until after Tricia’s baby shower.” She watched the rain fall until a grin slowly lit up her face. “Do you remember when Papa sent us out to gather wood for a bonfire?”
Preston chuckled. “Yep. We wandered so far away that when it rained, we didn’t have a prayer of getting the wood back before it got soaked. We had to dump it all and make a run for it.”
“Which was pointless, considering we were already soaked to the bone.”
It’d been funny even then. And Mandy, all of twelve years old and a skinny little thing, had looked like a drowned mouse. She shook like a leaf by the time they got back to the house. Mrs. Hudson met them at the door with warm towels and later, a cup of hot chocolate.
Things were much simpler back then.
“I’ve been thinking.” Mandy’s voice brought Preston out of his reverie. “Trying to keep the B&B is a losing battle. I realized that before, but I guess I didn’t want to admit it.” She frowned. “It’s time to cut my losses. I’ll let Jade and Elise go tomorrow, cancel the few remaining reservations we have, and focus on the web stuff.” She turned her head to look at him. “What do you think?”
That she was asking for his opinion was big. She said nothing he hadn’t thought through himself, but he’d hesitated to suggest such a big change. “I know that was a hard decision to make, but I agree that it’s a wise one.” He smiled at her. “You’re talented. The website for Yarrow Woodworking looks awesome. Did you see the sales from today?” She shook her head. He moved his chair closer to her, took his phone out of his pocket, and showed her the numbers.
Her eyes widened. “Wow, this is amazing. You’re turning the business into a success.”
“No. We are. I couldn’t have done it without your help. Without your grandfather’s help.” Would he ever convince her that Yarrow Woodworking was a family business—their family business? He watched as the rain collecting on the roof above them cascaded over the side like a small-scale waterfall. An idea came to him and he grinned. “You want to go out in the rain?”
“What? I don’t think so.” She crossed her arms in front of herself and shook her head. But it was the hint of humor in her eyes that made Preston stand, put his phone on the chair, and hold a hand out to her.
“Come on. For old time’s sake.”
She looked like she’d object, but a smile lit up her face. She finally stood, set her phone down, and reached for his hand. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Yep.” Crazy for you. “I’m perfectly fine with it.” He tugged her out from under the protective covering of the porch and into the cool rain. It’d slowed down a little, but it didn’t take long before his skin was wet.
Mandy giggled as she shivered once and hunched her shoulders. “Now that’ll wake you up. That’s some cold rain.” She lifted her chin, closed her eyes, and let the rain fall on her face.
Preston watched her, memorizing the way she looked with no visible cares in the world as she simply enjoyed the moment. When she opened her eyes again, he stepped forward and cupped her face with his hands. “You, Mandy Yarrow, are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Before she had the chance to speak, he covered her lips with his, caressing them with all the love he had to offer.
The rain fell harder, and the drops almost stung as they hit skin. Preston and Mandy broke the kiss at the same time and ran for the porch.
He shivered. “Okay, I’ll admit it, you’re right. That rain is cold.”
“Told you.” She tossed him a saucy look.
He wasn’t about to let that one slide. He put his arms around her again and held her close. Just when she relaxed in his arms, he let his fingers dance along her ribs.
Mandy squealed and tried to squirm out of reach as he tickled her. It only lasted a few moments, but by the time he stopped, they were both out of breath from laughing. She smacked him playfully on the arm and stepped back. “Not fair.”
“Maybe not, but it was fun.”
~
It was late Monday morning and Mandy was already exhausted. Talking to Jade and Elise and telling them she wouldn’t need their services anymore was hard enough, but then she had to cancel the two remaining reservations. Thankfully, both people were understanding and even thanked her for the hotel referrals.
The Hudson Bed and Breakfast was no more.
She had a lot of guilt about putting an end to the business Papa and Granny had built up for so many years. Would they have been disappointed in her inability to keep it running if they could see it now? At the same time, things had gotten so bad and stressful, there was a measure of relief knowing she wouldn’t be fighting to keep it continuing when all odds were against it. Goodness knew she’d tried almost everything she could think of.
It was one thing to drag the B&B down. But Preston had given up a lot to marry Mandy. She didn’t want anything to jeopardize the business he was building. While the B&B had been struggling financially, Yarrow Woodworking had seen more success than either of them hoped for. Mandy couldn’t be happier for Preston. He deserved this.
Hopefully she could get a few more web clients and make enough to continue paying for the second mortgage Papa had taken take out a few years ago, much less the other bills. If things would stabilize…
She tried to distract herself by focusing on her laptop and making some headway with work. Twenty minutes later, she gave up and headed upstairs. Ever since Granny’s passing, Mandy had avoided going into her room. She’d even let Elise be the one to dust and water the plants Granny loved. But today, something drew her into the room. Maybe it was a need to be near Granny, she didn’t know. Instead of the overwhelming pain of grief, crossing the threshold also brought a level of peace.
Everything in the room spoke of Granny. The faint lilac smell of her favorite perfume. The macramé plant hangers on either side of the large window. Granny once told Mandy she made those back in her creative years. Even the photo of her and Papa that rested on the table by the bed brought a smile to Mandy’s face.
She went farther into the room and reached up to f
inger the delicate leaves of the fern growing from a pot in one hanger. Most of the fronds grew on the side of the pot closest to the window, but a few reached as far as the wall and had climbed over the curtain rod.
The other pot and hanger held a spider plant. The spiderlings, which could be clipped and soaked to create a new plant, flourished.
“I miss you, Granny. It’s not the same here without you.”
Her own voice sounded loud in the silence of the room. She wandered to the dresser and opened the wooden jewelry box. The top lifted to reveal spaces for rings and bracelets. Below that, two drawers held everything else.
As a girl, Mandy would sit on the bed and go through the jewelry box with Granny. Mandy would admire the pretty rings, shiny bracelets, and dainty earrings. Granny always let her try some of them on and said she’d give them all to her one day.
The silver ring with a turquoise flower stood out among the rest. It’d always been one of Mandy’s favorites. Tentatively, she lifted it from its resting place and slipped it onto the ring finger of her right hand. It fit perfectly. She decided she would wear the ring always in memory of her grandparents.
She perused the jewelry, and Granny’s voice whispered from memory as she told Mandy how she’d gotten each piece.
The floor creaked from the doorway, and Mandy turned to find Preston watching her. He looked uncertain. “I wanted to see if you were ready for lunch. I’m sorry if I interrupted.”
“No, it’s fine.” Mandy carefully closed the lid of the jewelry box. “I figured it was time to travel down memory lane a little.” She shrugged. “Lunch sounds great. I’ll be right there.”
“Okay.” He gave her an understanding smile.
She took in the peace of the room one more time before retrieving the picture of her grandparents. She placed it on the side table in her room next to the picture of her and Preston before going downstairs to find him.
He noticed the turquoise ring on her right hand and pointed to it. “That’s really pretty.”
“Thanks.” She smiled as she looked at the dainty flower. “Papa gave it to Granny on their second anniversary. I can’t remember where he bought it, but Granny wore this ring for years until it no longer fit. It’s always been one of my favorites.”
“It looks good on your hand. I’m sure your grandparents would like that you’re wearing it.”
“I think so, too.” She took a bite of her reheated fried chicken. “How’s work going?”
“Really well. The circular saw was giving me trouble, but I got it to see things my way.” He winked at her.
“I’ll bet you did. You’re pretty persistent.” The corners of Mandy’s mouth lifted with mischief.
“Funny.” He leaned back in his chair and pierced her with a mock serious glare, humor glittering in his eyes. “You’ve got a more than healthy dose of persistence yourself, missy.”
She shrugged and focused on her chicken, but she couldn’t keep her smile from growing. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
~
That night, Mandy yawned as she crawled into bed, welcoming the smooth, cool sheets against her skin. It would be nice not having to worry about guests anymore. She’d been helping Granny and Jade make huge breakfasts for years. The idea of waking up and eating a bowl of cereal sounded like a vacation.
Mandy wasn’t sure how long she’d been asleep when there was a knock on her bedroom door. It sounded again before she woke up enough to sit up in bed and blink at the darkness. “Preston?”
The door opened a little. “Hey, sorry to wake you. My mom just called and they took Dad by ambulance to the hospital. He’s having trouble breathing and Mom couldn’t get him into the car.”
She jumped out of bed and pulled the door open the rest of the way. “Oh, no!”
The light from Preston’s room and the bathroom filled the hallway and spilled through the doorway. He was dressed although his hair still looked mussed from sleep and he didn’t have shoes or socks on yet. His eyes brimmed with worry. “I’m going to drive in and check on them.”
“Of course.” Mandy flipped her light on. “If you’ll give me a minute to get dressed, I’ll come with you.”
“Are you sure? You don’t have to. It’s two in the morning.”
“Absolutely.”
Relief replaced some of the concern on his face. “Thanks. I’ll meet you downstairs?”
“I’ll be quick.”
He nodded and left, closing the door behind him.
Twenty minutes later, they pulled into the hospital parking lot and found a spot as close to the emergency room as they could. Mandy flinched as frigid air hit them when they went through the revolving doors. She reached for Preston’s hand. Please, God. Watch over Stanley and guide the hands of the doctors. Help him to be okay.
They checked with admissions and were directed to one of the ER rooms. Once there, they found Ellen pacing the room, her hands clasped in front of her. The moment she saw them, she embraced them both. “Oh, I’m glad you two are here.”
“Where’s Dad?”
“They took him down for an X-ray. They think he’s got pneumonia.” Ellen held onto Preston’s arm. “The last time this happened, he was in the hospital for a week.”
Mandy had done a little reading about kidney transplants and the dangers that could arise in the weeks and years afterward. She understood getting sick might be worse for Stanley than someone who had a stronger immune system. She reached out and rubbed Ellen’s back. “We’re praying for him. Hopefully it won’t be as bad this time.”
“I hope you’re right.” Ellen’s chin quivered, and she gave Mandy another hug.
They waited until a nurse brought Stanley back into the room. He was already on an IV and they got him set up with a nose cannula to give him some extra oxygen. “Someone will be with you as soon as the doctor goes over those X-rays.”
Stanley gave her a half wave. The bright eyes and smile Mandy was used to seeing were missing from his face. He looked at her and for a moment, Mandy was worried he might not want her to be there. After all, it was bad enough being sick without having extra people in the room. She was seconds away from saying something about how she could go to the waiting room when he reached a hand out to her. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course.” She took his hand, and he gave it a squeeze before releasing it again.
As she watched Preston interact with his parents, she wondered what it would’ve been like to have caring parents of her own. Would she be visiting them for dinner nearly every week? Would they be happy if she came to help out at the hospital?
And then a thought hit her hard enough to take her breath. She’d had that with her grandparents. Maybe their titles were different, but the love and care they showed her wasn’t. A smile lifted one corner of her mouth. She couldn’t have asked for better parents than Papa and Granny. They’d stood in the gap for her and made a difference in her life. A huge one at that.
“You okay?” Preston’s voice was low and right next to her ear.
“I am.” His arm came around her, and she leaned into him, absorbing his warmth.
Two hours later, the doctor informed them Stanley had a touch of pneumonia, but it looked like they had caught it early. They wanted to keep Stanley overnight, and if he responded well to the breathing treatments, might even send him home by tomorrow evening.
Ellen’s face lit up as she looked at her husband. She leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss before turning her attention to the doctor. “Wonderful. Thank you so much!”
Mandy saw Preston visibly relax as his shoulders lowered a little, and he smiled. “Great news, Dad. Remember not to push yourself. If you don’t feel well enough to go home, you tell them.”
“I will, son.”
Ellen turned toward Preston and Mandy. “You two go on home and get some sleep. I’ll call you if anything changes. There’s no sense in you sitting around here.”
“You sure, Mom?” Preston reac
hed for her and gave her a hug.
“Absolutely.” She hugged Mandy, too. “Thank you both. We sure appreciate you.”
A few minutes later, they were on their way out of the hospital and back to the truck in the parking lot. It was after five in the morning, and the sun would be up soon.
Mandy hadn’t felt tired the whole time they were at the hospital, but now a yawn claimed her as she settled into the seat.
“Sleepy?”
“A little,” she admitted. “You?”
“Yeah. I’ll be better once Dad’s home, but I’m relieved it wasn’t any worse.” He gave her a little smile. “Thanks for coming with me tonight. It meant a lot to have you there.” His eyes revealed his sincerity.
“Of course. Your parents are great and I’m glad your dad’s going to be okay.” Mandy placed her hand on his arm. “Your parents are lucky to have you for a son. I…I’m lucky to have you in my life, too.”
His face transformed into a grin. “Right back at ya.” He put the keys in the ignition and started the engine. “What do you say we go home?”
“I think that sounds like a great idea.” She yawned again and settled into her seat. Thank you, God, for watching over Stanley tonight. Please continue to help him improve. She glanced at Preston’s profile. Thanks for bringing Preston into my life. I don’t know what I would’ve done all these years without his friendship. I guess You knew exactly what I needed, didn’t You?
Chapter Seventeen
Mandy finished scrubbing the potatoes in the sink and had just turned the water off when Preston came in through the back door. “Hey,” she said over her shoulder. “I need to get this going before I can take a break for lunch.”
“It smells good in here. What are you making?” Preston peeked into the frying pan on the stove where beef was simmering.
Marrying Mandy (Brides of Clearwater Book 1) Page 13
