Okay, she’d take what they had right now and be grateful for that.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Willie’s graduation ceremony was slated for the second Saturday in June at the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium. He’d gotten tickets for all the family members and an extra one for Cass in case she wanted to bring Dot.
But Dot had called her early Saturday morning and said in a croaky voice, “I’m going to have to bail on you, kiddo. I feel like shit.”
“You sound like shit.” And that meant...
“Sorry. I know you didn’t want to go stag.”
She sure hadn’t. It was hard enough to host her ex and his trophy wife and their stupid little dog and perfect little daughter at Christmas (the fact that this had become a tradition proved that God had a sense of humor), but, somehow, going alone to her son’s graduation ceremony felt like the ultimate in loserhood. Yep, there’s the mom. Still by herself. Dad remarried but nobody wanted her. Ugh.
Well, she’d have to brave it alone. Drive to the big city on her own, figure out parking. The kids were staying at Mason’s house. He’d invited her, too—he and she had finally signed a peace treaty when Dani got married—but she’d turned down the offer. Being stuck with them every year at Christmas was more than enough.
And she’d been fine with getting up early and driving over the mountains, been looking forward to spending time with Dot, seeing her boy graduate.
She was still looking forward to seeing Willie graduate. Going solo to the party at Mason’s afterward, not so much. She’d actually lost eight pounds for the occasion, taking such extreme measures as eating nothing but cabbage soup for three days in a row, tossing the last of the chocolate zucchini cake she’d made for Grant (not that she’d had any appetite for it after the tragedy on the river), and staying out of the ice cream in her freezer. She’d even squeezed in a couple of brisk walks during the wee hours before going to work. She was looking pretty darned good, if she did say so herself. And all for nothing. No matter how much poundage she lost, she’d still be alone. Mom the love failure. If only she had a date.
A certain George Clooney look-alike sprang to mind. If she showed up with Grant, it would be like armor for her pride. And heaven knew Mason had dealt that a blow when he married Babette the trophy wife.
Except Grant was avoiding her.
Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained. She called his cell and got a sleepy hello. “I need a really big favor.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong at the house, but Willie’s graduation ceremony is today. In Seattle. Dot Morrison was going to go with me, but she’s sick.”
“You need an escort.”
Although he didn’t exactly sound excited, she pressed on. “I need to not look like a discard. I know that sounds stupid to a gorgeous hunk like you, but it’s different for women. If a man’s alone, everyone figures it’s because he wants to be. If a woman is, people figure it’s because she has to be. My husband’s remarried. His wife is gorgeous. Their kid is gorgeous.” Okay, this did sound stupid and immature. “I know it’s ridiculous and I shouldn’t feel like this,” she admitted. How old was she, anyway? Sixteen? She should never have called him. “You know what? This was dumb. Forget I called and go back to sleep.”
“I’ll go. What time do we need to leave?”
“No, seriously. I should never have called you. I was having a midlife crisis or something. Reverting to being a teenager.” What had she been thinking? This was ten times more humiliating than it would’ve been to go the graduation alone. She should have sucked it up. It wasn’t like her family didn’t know she had nobody, so what was the big deal, anyway?
The answer to that was easy. The party after. Friends, neighbors, people she hadn’t met. Having Dot along would’ve helped her cope with that.
“Like I said, what time do I need to pick you up?”
Okay, he was willing. She was saved. She let go of her guilt and embarrassment. “You’re my hero. We need to leave by ten.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Thank you,” she said humbly.
* * *
“I owe you for this,” she said to him later when she climbed into his truck.
“No, you don’t.”
“I’m being stupid, really. It’s not like me being single is a big surprise to anyone.”
“It is to me,” Grant said. “How come you never remarried?”
“At first? Too bitter, too busy.” She looked out the window as they whizzed by forest and river. It felt as if the years had gone by that fast. “Then I got in the habit of being on my own. I suppose if I’d wanted to avoid this, I could’ve stayed married.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I got tired of being ignored. Mason was in the navy, gone more than he was home. Then, after he got out, he was busy getting a degree. Everything seemed to take precedence over us. He was already an absent husband and father. I simply made it legal. We actually talked everything out a few years ago, and we get along now. They come up for Christmas and we all spend the holiday together.”
“You have Christmas with your ex.”
“Does that sound like something out of a bad movie?”
“Kind of.”
“What can I say? The kids are there, too, and I do it for them. To give him credit, he’s become a much better father to them now than he was when they were little. So we’re all one big, happy, dysfunctional family.”
“Not quite happy enough for you to want to show up at something alone.”
Cass shrugged. “Maybe because this is in Seattle. His turf, not mine. I don’t know. All I know is I’m grateful you’re coming with me.”
He smiled at her. “My pleasure.”
Pleasure. The word coupled with that killer smile was enough to make her go weak in the knees. Good thing she was already sitting down.
She reminded herself that he was only doing her a favor. This wasn’t a date. Nothing was happening here.
Darn.
They got to Husky Stadium in plenty of time and, thanks to Cass’s cell phone, were able to find the rest of the family in the multitude. Her daughters were standing with Mason. Dani was holding Emma, and Amber had Mason’s three-year-old, Julia. Mason’s wife, Babette, looked svelte and put together in a beautiful sundress, a coral sweater and heels. She was carrying a Kate Spade purse. Cass suddenly felt frumpy in her white pants and butt-covering navy top. And flats. Why had she worn flats?
Because she didn’t do heels.
She should have done heels.
“I should’ve dressed up more,” she muttered.
“You look fine.” Grant put a hand on the small of her back as they moved forward. Whether for moral support or to help with her illusion that she could do as well in the love department as her ex, she didn’t know. But she appreciated it.
“Cass, you look lovely,” Babette greeted her as she gawked at Grant.
“Thanks. Stunning dress,” Cass said as they hugged. “And look how Julia’s growing.” She was a beautiful child with big eyes and lashes a yard long. She was going to grow up to be just as lovely as her mother.
More hugs and hellos followed, along with introductions.
“At first I thought you were—” Babette stopped midsentence and blushed.
“Don’t worry—I’m not,” Grant said.
“He gets that a lot,” Cass said. She noticed that Mason wasn’t smiling and she took perverse delight in it. See. I’m fine without you. Of course, like it had with Cinderella, the spell would end, and at Christmas she’d be welcoming them alone. Oh, well. For now she’d enjoy the magic.
As they joined the throng searching for seats, Grant got plenty of curious stares, but no one accosted him and they finally got settled. Th
ey were some distance up. Cass hoped she’d be able to zoom in and get a good picture of Willie as he walked up to receive his diploma.
“I knew we should have gotten here earlier,” Mason said irritably.
“I guess I should’ve had you save us seats,” Cass said.
“That would have been a lot of seats to save.”
Two? She frowned at him and he frowned back. “What is your problem?” she hissed.
“This is supposed to be for family.”
“I am family, in case you forgot.”
“Well, he’s not,” Mason hissed back.
Grant sat on the other side of her, pretending deafness.
“Not yet,” she said and hoped she wasn’t taking her little deception too far. “Just deal with it, Mason.”
Mason practically growled, but Babette put Julia on his lap and the distraction worked. She winked at Cass, and Cass couldn’t help smiling. Sometimes she thought that if they’d met under different circumstances, she and Babette could actually have become close friends.
The day was warm and the ceremony was long, lasting for three hours. Hardly surprising, since there were eighteen hundred graduates. Families cheered and applauded their graduate, and the afternoon had the same air of excitement as a Huskies football game.
Afterward there were pictures to be taken with Willie in his cap and gown, and then it was on to Mason’s big, fancy house for the party. Cass had offered to help, but Babette had assured her she had it covered.
She did, indeed. White-coated caterers made their way through the crowd, passing out everything from canapés to champagne. Platters of shrimp, barbecued chicken wings, sliders, bruschetta, skewered fruit, chips, dip. And that was just for openers. Tables had been set out on the lawn for dinner, which featured prime rib and salmon, roasted potatoes with rosemary and salads. Babette had ordered a cake for dessert—a gigantic sheet cake frosted in the university’s colors of gold and purple, with Congratulations, Willie scrawled across it.
Presents abounded, and Willie received everything from gift cards to fancy pen sets. Cass had gotten him a set of binoculars and a compass, figuring he could use them tramping around in the forest, and he was delighted with them.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said, hugging her. “This is great.”
She was feeling very pleased with herself until Willie opened the little box from Mason and Babette. Car keys to a shiny new Mustang. “Wow! Sweet. Thanks, Dad.”
Yeah. Thanks, Dad. Where had he been when his son was sick during the night or having a bad dream? Could material things make up for all those years he’d been an absent father?
Cass found it difficult to smile until she reminded herself that past mistakes were water under the bridge, and this day was not about her. It was a wonderful gift for her son, and he deserved it. Anyway, wasn’t it a good thing that Mason was finally getting it right as a father?
Her smile got bigger and, more important, became genuine.
“That was some party,” Grant said when they started back over the mountains that evening.
“Yes, it was. Thanks again for coming with me.”
“My pleasure.”
There was that word again. Sigh. “I doubt it was all that pleasurable.”
“I had a good time. Talked to some guy about fishing in Mexico. I think he was a neighbor.”
“Probably.” Everyone in Mason’s neighborhood could easily afford fishing trips to Mexico.
“And I enjoyed talking with your kids. You’ve got great kids, Cass. You did a good job raising them.”
She had. It was something to be proud of.
“Your son liked what you gave him. Perfect choice for a graduation gift.”
“It’s hardly a car.”
“Yeah, getting a car for graduation is a sweet deal. In the end, I don’t think it really gives you that many bonus points, though.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “I’m happy to see Mason stepping up to the plate.”
“Your son’s very proud of you. He informed me that you’re the best mom on the planet. He also happened to mention that he wouldn’t want to see you hurt.”
“Oh, Lord,” she groaned. “He really said that?”
“Yes, he did.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That we’re friends.”
Bleh. The f-word.
“And that I have no intention of hurting you.”
He might as well have added “Or getting involved with you.”
She nodded. “I know.” Well, that settled that.
When they pulled up in front of her place, she didn’t bother to ask him in. She did thank him one more time, though. “I really do owe you for this.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“Yeah, I do. It’s not easy to boost the old self-esteem, but today did.” She smiled at him. “You’re a good man, Grant Masters. Your wife was a lucky woman.” Then, before he could stop her, she leaned across the seat and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Poor impulse control, but who could blame her? She quickly scooted out the door. “Good night.”
There was no “Wow, what was that?” No “Come back here.” No nothing. Instead he simply said, “Good night,” and rumbled off in his big truck.
She sighed and went inside the house. Her cat came running to greet her. “Yes, it was a lovely day,” she said. And darn, she’d have liked it to continue. If only Grant had grabbed her and kissed her. Then she’d have invited him in. Clean sheets on the bed. She was ready.
She frowned. “I think I’m in heat,” she told her cat. “And I let him get away.”
Lady Gray meowed her sympathy.
* * *
Grant drove back to Gerhardt’s on autopilot, his mind obsessed with that simple little kiss on the cheek. Cass had left him feeling as horny as a teenager. If she’d lingered so much as one more minute in that truck, he’d have lost it and had his hands all over her. And that would’ve been a very bad idea. Her ex might have been comfortable with marrying a woman half his age, but Grant thought that was pathetic. It wasn’t hard to see that the guy was trying to hang on to his youth.
Well, and what was so wrong with that?
Grant frowned and reminded himself that he had no intention of doing the same thing. It wasn’t fair to the woman.
Too bad, though. He’d enjoyed himself with both Cass and her family. He hadn’t been shining her on when he said she had good kids. She did. They were personable and friendly. And loyal.
He shook his head and smiled over the son’s protective attitude toward his mom, a sure sign that she’d raised him right. The daughters were as good-natured and clever as their mother, and the youngest had shown no qualms about matching up her mom, subtly trying to find out what Grant thought of her.
He thought a lot of her. Thought about her, too. A lot. She was laid-back and fun to be around. And she was nice-looking. Okay, maybe not stunning like her ex’s second wife, but still very pretty with a great smile. Hard to imagine the guy taking her for granted.
He hoped she’d find someone. She deserved to be happy.
He could almost hear Lou saying, “So do you.”
Yeah, but not with Cass. It wouldn’t work, not with the age difference between them. Maybe nothing was ever going to work.
Damn it all, he wished he’d never moved to Icicle Falls.
* * *
Nenita had an open house scheduled for Griffin’s place on Sunday, and Griffin was under orders to make herself scarce.
“Come to Seattle and hang out with me,” Matt had suggested. “I’ll put you up in the extra bedroom like a true gentleman.”
She’d be leaving soon. What was the point?
The point was that she’d get to spend more time with Matt.
“Okay.”
So while her Realtor worked on selling her house, she went to the city to play. She and Matt went to the EMP Museum and experienced music. They rode the monorail, ate lunch at P.F. Chang’s in Westlake and explored the waterfront. There they took selfies with Sylvester, the famous mummy in Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.
You’re here and you didn’t let me know? texted one of her old college friends.
Next time, she promised.
Yeah, I can see you’re busy. Hope this one’s a keeper.
So did Griffin. Although how she was going to keep him when he was here and she was in New York, she had no idea.
She pushed aside the negative thought and focused on seeing Puget Sound from the dizzying height of the waterfront Ferris wheel.
“That was fun,” she said later as he drove them up the freeway back toward his place.
“It was. You’re fun,” he added, smiling at her. “It’s nice to have someone to do things with.”
“It’s nice to be with someone who wants to do things,” she said, thinking of Steve the couch spud.
“Lexie and I used to do stuff together.” He shook his head. “Everything unraveled after we were married and had to live on a budget.”
Hmm. How did you spell shallow? L-e-x-i-e.
“She lost her job,” he went on. “That didn’t help. I used to think that if our life had been a little easier she would have stayed.”
“Or maybe you weren’t meant to be together,” said Griffin.
“That, too. Anyway, things have a way of working out,” he added with another smile. “So I’m not complaining.”
Neither was she. She especially wasn’t complaining later that night when they sat out on his back deck, bundled in blankets, watching the stars. This was what she’d wanted with Steve.
Come to New York and stargaze with me.
She kept the words tethered to the tip of her tongue. It wasn’t fair to ask him to leave his job and his life and follow her clear across the country. What if things didn’t work out? His ex-wife had already hurt him enough. She didn’t need to add to that.
“Hey, there’s a shooting star,” he said, pointing. “Make a wish.”
Starting Over on Blackberry Lane--A Romance Novel Page 26
