“That’s good of you. She needs you, Jarred.”
He blinked. “Needs me?”
“Sure. She’s always been good to you. She’s a girl you can trust. And she needs to trust you, too…” With a yawn, his father’s eyes fluttered shut. “I think that doctor gave me a bit too much to think about today. I’m going to take a little nap.” One eye opened. “Don’t tell nobody, now.”
“No, sir. You’re on the couch. No one will think you’re sleeping.” He was going to say more, but his father’s eyes were already shut.
As quietly as he could, he stood and padded out.
Virginia was there waiting. Before she could get a chance to worry, Jarred slipped an arm around her shoulders. “It’s all done raining. What do you say we go have our talk now?”
“I’d rather go riding.”
“Me, too. But someone’s got to talk to you about hitting poor Billy. It might as well be me.”
Walking as if she was going to the gallows, she shuffled her steps. “I’m gonna be nicer. One of these days,” she grumbled.
He placed a hand on her shoulder. “One of these days needs to come pretty soon, don’tcha think?” But as they walked down the hall, he felt his mind drift.
Back to his father’s doctor’s report. And his mom.
Of rain and umbrellas and being a little boy.
And thinking that his father was invincible.
Though that time was just yesterday, he was already missing that feeling something fierce.
Chapter Ten
“Serena, you hear about Calvin Riddell?” Hannah asked. “I just was on the phone with my daughter. Cal was in the hospital.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Bella said he almost had a heart attack yesterday.”
“That’s horrible.” Concern for the patriarch of the Riddell family hit her hard. Cal Sr. had never been one for libraries, but he’d always had a kind word for her. She sure hoped he was going to be okay. “Well, what happened? Where are they?”
“I don’t know too many details other than they’re home now.”
Immediately, Serena felt better. Home wasn’t the hospital, which meant Cal Sr.’s episode hadn’t been life threatening. Hoping to get her composure again, she exhaled. “Well, thanks so much for letting me know. We’ll send a get-well card to his house.”
Hannah nodded. “Cal Sr. is a tough old bird, but he’s a sweetie, too. I sure wouldn’t want anything to happen to him.”
Her voice turned dreamy as she continued. “I’ve known him for years. His wife was darling.”
“I remember her some. She was a good woman.”
Hannah looked out the window at the parking lot. “I might see if I can bring a casserole by. Gwen cooks some, and Jarred does, too, but they might appreciate it.”
Thinking about casseroles made her think of Jarred looking at those cookbooks. “I’ll give them a call, too.” Serena wondered how Jarred was doing. She knew he loved his father dearly, in spite of the older man’s notorious crankiness.
“I think you should, dear,” Hannah murmured before walking over to a couple who needed help at a computer terminal.
Just as Veronica Snow flew in through the door. As usual, she was dressed to kill. Today, she wore a beautiful strapless silk sundress and fancy red high-heeled sandals.
But what was really catching Serena’s eye was the look of determination on Veronica’s face. She was a woman on a mission.
When she practically skidded to a stop in front of the reception counter, Serena smiled a welcome. “Hi, Veronica. May I help you?”
“Maybe. Actually, I’m hoping for some advice.”
Serena was glad she’d had practice covering up her emotions. At the moment, she couldn’t have been more surprised. Veronica Snow was the most put-together woman she’d ever met. Serena couldn’t imagine what she could offer the socialite. “I’ll be glad to help you if I can.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Picking up a worn copy of an Agatha Christie mystery, Veronica scanned the back of it before looking at Serena again. “Serena, people say you and Jarred Riddell are real good friends.”
“We have known each other for ages,” she allowed.
“Well, I hope this doesn’t sound conceited, but I think he likes me. Really likes me.”
Though the words were hard to hear, Serena forced herself to be supportive. “I know he does.”
“He’s not really my type. But now that I’m here, I mean stuck here in Electra for some time, I’m thinking maybe I should give him a chance. After all, he is very well-off. And attractive.” She bit her lip. “In his own way.”
Funny how all of a sudden Serena felt so protective of Jarred. He was much more than Veronica was saying. Much more than she probably had ever imagined. But if she said too much, all she’d get for it was a big wad of embarrassment. “He is all that,” she said just as Hannah came back their way and joined in.
“He’s a good man,” Hannah said. “And handsome.”
“Jarred is really good-looking. And all his attention and smiles have grown on me. At first he drove me crazy, but now it’s kind of cute.”
Hannah chuckled. “Now isn’t that something. You two might be starting something special and you don’t even know it!”
“So, anyway. Since you know him well and all…I just wanted to make sure he was, you know…a decent sort of person, right?”
“He is.” Her answer felt choked out of her, especially since she’d spent most of her life doing her best not to even think about Jarred Riddell in any way other than as a good friend.
“And there’s not anything between the two of you, is there?”
“Not at all. We’re just friends.”
“I heard he’s been hanging out around here lately…”
“He’s been doing that forever,” Serena lied. “He’s a big reader.”
“So if we did date, you wouldn’t care?”
For an instant, a knot of jealousy, tight and hard, settled in her stomach. Both Veronica and Jarred were getting everything she’d always wanted—a partner. A person who really appreciated them.
Unfortunately, neither seemed to understand how special that was.
But their love life was none of her business.
At the moment, manners were, and she needed to remember that. “I think if y’all started dating, it would make Jarred really happy.”
“Thanks for talking to me about this.” A winsome smile lit her face. “I guess I just didn’t want to make a mistake or anything.”
“Of course not.”
She stepped backward. “Well, I better get going. I hate to leave my mom alone for too long.”
“She’s still having a time of it?” Hannah asked.
Veronica nodded.
“Let us know if we can help in any way,” Hannah said kindly.
“I will,” Veronica replied. “Thanks so much. Thanks for the advice, and for listening to me, too.” Two lines formed on her forehead that only served to make her look even prettier, more approachable. “I don’t have a lot of friends here. I really do appreciate your kindness.”
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry, now.” Serena gave a smile and a little wave before watching her new friend leave—and felt like three times the heel.
Oh, what a fake she was! Here she was, supposedly doing her best to get Jarred and Veronica together, but most times, all she felt was jealous.
Remembering what one of the authors in the charm-school books she’d been reading had said, about how women shouldn’t divulge all their secrets, Serena felt her cheeks heat. After all, she had a very good feeling that if her secrets were known, why, she’d be going straight to hell.
“CAN YOU MAKE MY EGGS over easy?” Junior called out to Jarred from the kitchen table.
“Only if you want those over-easy eggs scrambled,” Jarred replied as he poured the rest of his egg batter into the pan. After sitting with the rest of his family near his father’s bedsid
e for most of the evening, he’d volunteered to make a simple meal of eggs, biscuits and bacon.
His brother, of course, didn’t know how to accept a good thing and seemed to be doing his best to rile him up. “What about gravy? It’s hardly right to have biscuits without gravy to go on top. Are you making any?”
“Nope.”
“What kind of meal is this, anyway?”
“The only kind you’re getting.”
“Fine.”
Jarred would have slugged Junior for being such a twit, but he noticed a slump to his younger brother’s shoulders and a definite lack of pepper in his tone.
Actually, Junior sounded fairly deflated.
Kind of how he felt. “Go sit down. Food’s almost ready.”
“’Bout time.”
“Oh, leave him alone, Junior,” Trent said. “Me and Ginny are just glad he’s cooking, aren’t we, honey?”
Ginny nodded solemnly…just as a tear traipsed down her face. “I’ve got a sad. I’m worried about Daddy.”
As Trent scooped up their baby sister and pulled out a handkerchief—a handkerchief?—to wipe her tears, and Junior murmured all kinds of sweet things, Jarred hung his head.
He was worried, too.
Truth was, the last visit with the doctor hadn’t been too good. Their father needed surgery, but it would be a risky one, thanks to his lifelong habit of smoking cigars and the fact that he was holding on to about fifty extra pounds.
Calvin Barrett Riddell Sr. had always been invincible. Hardworking, optimistic, and raising his three boys with an iron will. He’d watched over them like a hawk in high school. There had never been a kegger that he hadn’t known about or a date he hadn’t seen coming.
Even when the days were so dark after their mother died, Cal Sr. had stayed strong for their sakes.
But during the past twenty-four hours, he’d seemed a shadow of his former self.
Weak. So, so weak.
It was troublesome.
Carefully spooning the eggs onto an oval platter, Jarred added bacon and carried it out to the table. Then he pulled the full tray of carefully cut biscuits into a basket and made sure there was strawberry jam on the table, too.
“Jarred, you made circle biscuits!” Ginny exclaimed.
“Just for you, sugar,” he said with a smile. Until Ginny had made her preferences known, they’d always been a drop-biscuit kind of family.
His brothers didn’t say much, but Jarred felt the deep sense of satisfaction that came from watching his siblings dig into his simple meal, even if it was breakfast for dinner.
Once again, he was glad he’d learned to cook at least a few things real well. He enjoyed the challenge of making something tasty out of a few simple ingredients. In addition, it gave him something to do during difficult times like this. Sitting around and worrying would have driven him to drink.
’Course, times were so tough, he figured he could probably manage to drink and cook at the same time.
He’d just cleaned his plate when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Ginny said, sliding off her chair.
“And I’ll help you,” Trent called out to her, just as she scampered out of sight. “Virginia, don’t you open the door without me there.”
Jarred traded a glance with Junior. “Trent’s good with her. Patient.”
“We’re all good with that little rabbit. Well, until she needs to be disciplined. Then, I’m pretty much no good.”
Thinking of Ginny’s penchant for fighting, Cal grinned. “That’s why she has Dad.”
“Dad’s good with her, though not hardly tough enough.”
Maybe it was his dad’s surgery or maybe it was just seeing Ginny’s smile, but for a moment Jarred turned nostalgic. “Dad was over the moon when he found out Carolyn was having a girl. Remember the way he went out and bought all that pink and lace?”
“He practically bought out the store,” Trent said with a smile.
Jarred was about to bring up the moment they’d all spied Ginny’s ten tiny toes and fallen in love—when he heard the unmistakable voice of Serena Higgens floating down the hall.
What in the heck was she doing there? He stood abruptly and went to the front hall.
Trent had just leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Serena, it’s good to see you,” he drawled. “You’re lookin’ good.”
“I look all right. Nothing like a rodeo star. You’re doing us all real proud, Trent.”
To Jarred’s dismay, his youngest brother blushed. “I’ve gotten lucky, that’s all.”
“It takes more than luck to show a bull who’s boss.” She turned to Jarred. “Don’t you think?”
“Maybe.” Unable to stand the suspense, he said, “Why are you here?”
“Oh. Well, Hannah told me about your dad. I came over to see if y’all needed anything.”
“We’re good. You didn’t need to go to no trouble.”
Trent winked. “But I’m glad you did. Come on in and take a load off.”
Serena stepped forward and took Trent’s proffered arm, as if they were center stage at a debutant ball. As they walked away, Jarred watched them for a moment.
And wondered why he had an insane urge to pull the two of them apart. Surely she hadn’t ever had feelings for Trent…had she?
’Cause she should know that he was nothing but a good-time guy. He was never going to stick around for anyone. Ever.
“They look real cute together,” Junior sassed, coming up beside him.
“You know Serena. She’s just friends with all of us. That’s it.”
A slow, sly smile lit his brother’s face. “No, she’s been your buddy. The rest of us just looked at her and pined.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I think you know.”
He didn’t. But he didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, neither.
If Jarred moved slightly to the side, he could just see Trent’s left shoulder as he gestured at something out the window. Trent’s shoulder and a good portion of Serena’s backside. And her swath of long hair.
“You going out to join them?”
“Hell, yeah.” But as he walked through the kitchen to get his hat, he spied a whole mess of dishes still waiting to be cleaned up. The remains left on them getting harder to scrub off by the second.
From the other room, he heard Trent tease Serena, and she laughed. He heard Virginia call out for Junior to play ball outside.
Either he could corral the lot of them into the kitchen or he could roll up his sleeves and do the work himself.
There was really only one choice. With a sigh, he turned the water on hot and pulled out the dish soap.
Chapter Eleven
“Jarred, why don’t we postpone our next meeting?” Serena said into the receiver the moment he picked up her call. “You’ve got a lot going on.”
“Oh, not so much. We have a meeting planned, and I want to honor that. I don’t want to cancel on you, Serena.”
For a moment, she almost smiled. Jarred probably didn’t realize it, but he was being incredibly gentlemanly toward her. Without skipping a beat he was putting her needs in front of his. It was very thoughtful. And, to her way of thinking, a difficult thing for most men to do.
Perhaps all her lessons were making a difference.
But what also struck her was the tone in his voice. His usual lazy twang sounded stretched impossibly thin. He was worn-out and stressed…and she didn’t want to add to it.
“Listen, I know your dad’s feeling poorly. And you’ve got a lot of responsibilities. I noticed that when I stopped by.”
“I still can’t believe you did stop by.”
“You sound upset. Are you?”
“Of course not.”
“All right, then, so I guess you understand why I don’t want to interfere.”
“Me going about my day won’t make him any worse. Shoot, chances are, if I just sit in his room staring at him some more, he’s going to get e
ven more irritable.”
“More irritable? Has your dad been grumpy?”
“As a bear.”
Serena gripped her receiver hard. Boy, did she wish she was sitting across from him instead of on the phone. All his usual sayings sounded flat and depressed.
He sounded as though he could really use a friend. She tried to think if he looked different at all when she’d stopped by their house. But he hadn’t been around all that much.
Actually, he’d been in the kitchen most of the time, doing dishes. “How…how is your father doing, health-wise?”
“Better. Well, as good as a guy who almost had a heart attack can be.”
“I really am sorry about everything.”
“Me, too.” He sighed. “I wish he was a better patient, though. At the moment, nothing’s making him happy. Right now, we’re trying to convince Dad to take it easy. He’s supposed to nap and relax. Watch television. Read books.”
“Those sound like good things.”
“They are, but I don’t think he knows how to do any of that. He’s always been a list-making type A guy. Lolling around the house don’t come naturally.”
“I’m sorry.” And she was. So sorry that she didn’t even bother trying to fix his grammar.
“I’m sorry, too.” A hint of wistfulness colored his tone before he cleared his throat. “See, that’s why as far as our lesson goes, I don’t think postponing it would be a good idea. We’ve got a lot to cover. We both know I’m almost a lost cause.”
“You’re not a lost cause.”
“I’m pretty darn close. At least, I feel that way.”
Serena didn’t know if she was more surprised about him admitting that he was willing to be helped, or that he was still so determined to do the auction.
All of a sudden, she worried that she’d been too hard on him. That she’d made him think that he wasn’t worthy of some snooty society girl. “Jarred, you know…there’s nothing wrong with you the way you are. In the ways that count, you’re pretty perfect.”
“The hell you say.”
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