by Cindy Kirk
“Don’t let your grandmother see that sack,” Cassie warned. “We don’t want her feelings to be hurt the minute she walks in.”
For today’s meeting, Krew wore dark pants and a gray cashmere sweater instead of jeans. He looked handsome, successful and good enough to eat.
The thought had warmth spreading across Cassie’s cheeks.
“Are we ready to do this?” he asked.
“You better be ready.” Braxton munched on a doughnut and pulled the curtain back from the window. “Because she and Len just drove up.”
“Len is with her?” Cassie wasn’t sure how she felt about one more person. Then she reminded herself that Len was important to her mother. Not only was he a nice guy, he was a stabilizing force in Anita’s life.
“Show time.” Dakota moved to the door and opened it before her grandmother had a chance to knock. “You’re looking pretty this morning.”
Knowing how important appearances were to her grandmother, Cassie wondered if Dakota might have offered the compliment to put Anita at ease. But when her mother stepped inside, Cassie realized it was the truth.
Anita’s sage-green sweater dress brought out the green in her hazel eyes, which widened when she saw Krew. “I didn’t realize he would be here.”
Cassie smiled. “I didn’t realize you were bringing Len. I’m glad you did.”
She crossed the room and gave the retired sheriff a hug.
The boys brought in folding chairs from the kitchen, providing just enough seats for everyone. After a few minutes of talking about the weather and the clean driveway, they all sat down.
“I’m not sure why I’m here.” Anita had chosen a spot beside Len on one of the folding chairs. “It’s a busy time of year, and I—”
“This won’t take long,” Cassie assured her. “There’s something we want to tell you.”
Anita’s sharp-eyed gaze shifted between Cassie and Krew. “You’re moving in with him.”
“No. I’m not moving in with anyone.” Cassie kept her voice even. For Dakota’s sake, she would not let her mother goad her into losing her temper.
“Thank God for that.” Anita heaved an audible sigh.
“I’m Dakota’s father.” Krew spoke in a calm, matter-of-fact tone, apparently deciding there was no reason to delay the announcement.
“What?” Anita’s gaze whipped to his. “What did you say?”
“He’s my dad.” Dakota, who was seated between Cassie and Krew on the sofa, smiled. “We did the DNA thing, and the test confirmed it.”
Silence filled the room for several long seconds.
“Well.” Anita huffed out a breath. “Thank goodness it’s you and not that bastard Mitch.”
Cassie and Dakota exchanged startled glances.
“Mitch?” Dakota mouthed.
“Not important,” Cassie mouthed back, then turned her attention to her mom. “You—you don’t seem upset.”
“What did you expect me to do, rant and rave?” Anita looked at Len and gave a little laugh.
“Yes,” Cassie and Dakota said in unison.
“I even thought you might throw something.” K.T. looked around the room. “Not that there’s much to throw.”
Anita waved a hand and chuckled as if she thought the boy was joking. But her expression sobered when she turned to Cassie. “That was a difficult time for you. I wasn’t there for you, not the way I should have been. I’m sorry. I hope when you’re ready, we can talk about it. I’d like to hear everything you went through, when you’re ready to share.”
Tears stung the backs of Cassie’s eyes. “I’d like that.”
Anita nodded, then the softness faded, and she was a fierce mama bear who pinned Krew with her gaze. “As for you, if you think you can treat my daughter like she’s disposable and spend nineteen years hiding from your responsibilities, you have another thing coming. You have a lot of atoning to do to prove you were worthy of Cassie then and worthy of Dakota now.”
“I agree.” Krew’s gaze locked with Anita’s, and whatever the older woman saw there had the tightness around her mouth easing.
“Well, then.” Anita’s searching hand found Len’s, and when his strong fingers closed around hers, she appeared to steady. “Will you be in Good Hope long?”
“Until after the holidays,” Krew said.
Though the words brought a pang to Cassie’s heart, it was a good reminder that his stay was only temporary. She couldn’t let herself get too attached.
Cassie would have to keep an eye on Dakota after he left to make sure she was coping okay. She knew it was going to be hard for her daughter to let him go.
“We’re having our family Thanksgiving dinner this year at Lindsay’s home.” Anita glanced at Dakota briefly before her gaze resettled on Krew. “I hope you’ll join us.”
“You’re inviting me to Thanksgiving dinner,” Krew repeated.
“You’re Dakota’s father. That makes you family.”
After firming up the time and place—Lindsay’s house at one p.m. Thursday, Anita and Len left.
“Did that really happen?” Cassie tapped her lips with a finger. “Or was it a dream?”
K.T. shook his head. “Not a single firework.”
“You got off easy, man,” Braxton told Krew. “Trust me. Grandma is a barracuda with sharp teeth.”
“In the past, Brax. But I’ve spent a lot of time with her lately. Grandma is more mellow. She’s definitely not a marshmallow, but she’s not a barracuda anymore.” Dakota met Cassie’s gaze. “I hope the two of you can find a way past your differences and be close again. I know she feels bad about letting you down. Hopefully, like she said, you two can talk and work things out. I think a mom and daughter should be close. Sometimes that isn’t possible, I know.”
Her mother’s heartfelt apology had touched Cassie’s heart. Anita had extended the olive branch. “She and I will talk.”
“Will you forgive her?”
Will you forgive me? Cassie wondered.
But this wasn’t about the rift between her and Dakota. This was about her and her mother.
“Dr. Gallagher once told me that if we live long enough, someone we love will disappoint us.” Cassie expelled a breath. “I can’t hope for forgiveness for myself if I can’t forgive others who’ve hurt or disappointed me. So, yes, I will forgive your grandmother. In fact, I already have.”
Chapter Sixteen
Though not as large or modern as the house Krew rented, Owen and Lindsay’s single-story Craftsman home, with its gray exterior and red door, exuded charm. Each time Cassie walked through her sister’s front door, a feeling of warmth wrapped around her.
Maybe it was the comfortable mission-style furniture or the beamed ceiling. It could be the fireplace, with its decorative tiles and cheery blaze in the hearth. In her heart, Cassie knew at the core it was the love found between these walls.
“I wonder when Krew will get here.” Dakota pushed back the lace curtains to gaze out the front window. “I can’t wait to see what he thinks of my pie.”
Tradition in the Lohmeier family dictated there be two pies at Thanksgiving. The first was homemade pumpkin—no store-bought or frozen variety for this family. The second was the one Dakota had been in charge of baking.
“He probably doesn’t like golden-raisin pie.” Dakota glanced back at her mother, and Cassie saw the request for reassurance in her daughter’s eyes.
“What’s not to like?” Cassie moved to stand beside her, realizing they were now the same height. “I caught a glimpse when you were taking it out of the oven, and that lattice crust is a work of art.”
Dakota flushed. “Grandma said it was top-notch.”
“That’s high praise.”
“What did I say?” Anita strolled into the living room, looking chic in navy pants, a silk shirt and heels.
Cassie glanced down at her leggings and turkey tunic. At least Axl loved her shirt. “Mommy, pretty,” he’d said over and over, stroking the red velvety watt
le beneath the turkey’s beak.
The never-worn sweater had been another of her consignment shop finds, undoubtedly a gag gift someone had gotten for Christmas the previous year. The sweater might not be haute couture, but it was quirky, fun and today was Thanksgiving. “We were discussing Dakota’s awesome pie-making skills.”
Anita bestowed an approving smile on her eldest grandchild. “You could have a successful career as a baker.”
“Thanks, Grandma.” Dakota shot another quick look out the window. “I love baking, but I’m not sure I’d like to do it full time.”
“You have lots of time to decide.” Anita shifted her gaze to Cassie. “Dakota mentioned Krew will be covering her college expenses.”
Before Cassie could speak, Dakota piped up. “He said Mom had to handle all the expense of raising me, now it’s his turn to help.”
“Sounds like a smart man.” Len strolled into the room and looped an arm around Anita’s shoulders. “Everything smells delicious.”
“We should be ready to eat within the hour.” Anita frowned. “I hope we’ll be able to tear Owen and the boys away from the foosball table.”
Lindsay came up from the basement. “I gave them the thirty- minute warning.”
“Is Axl behaving himself?” Cassie knew the boys had promised to watch their brother, but it would be easy to forget about him while they were engaged in a game.
“He’s fine.” Lindsay grinned. “Owen set out some of Mindy’s old toys. They’re new to him, so he’s in hog heaven.”
Cassie frowned. “Are you sure Owen doesn’t mind Axl playing with her things?”
Losing his daughter to cancer had knocked Owen to his knees. Her death had been hard on everyone in the community. Mindy’s irresistible smile and personality had won her hearts all over town.
“Owen says watching Axl play with the toys brings happy memories of Mindy, so it’s all good.” Lindsay shifted her attention to the dining room, visible through an archway, as if reassuring herself the table was ready.
“I love the centerpiece.” Cassie wondered where her sister had gotten her creative bent. As far as Cassie was concerned, Lindsay had outdone herself this year. She’d piled fruits, flowers and foliage into one arrangement.
“I went for unique. It’s designed to reflect the bounties of the season.” Lindsay studied the arrangement thoughtfully. “Next year I think I’ll do baby pumpkins on candlestick holders.”
“That sounds…interesting.” Though Cassie couldn’t quite picture it, she had no doubt it would be both stylish and striking. She cocked her head. “Are the colored markers on the table?”
“Ohmigoodness.” Lindsay started toward the kitchen. “Mom and I put down the butcher paper, but I forgot all about the markers.”
“You stay right here. You’ve been running around all morning.” Len put a hand on Lindsay’s shoulder. “Tell me where I can find these markers. I’ll put them out.”
“They’re in a plastic box in the drawer under the Keurig.” Lindsay gestured as she spoke. “There needs to be one at each place setting.”
“What are we doing with them?” Len asked.
Lindsay shot him a wink. “You’ll see.”
“I can’t wait.” Len headed to the kitchen.
“He’s such a nice man, and it’s obvious he’s crazy about you.” Lindsay studied her mother. “When’s the wedding?”
Anita’s eyes widened. It wasn’t the kind of direct question one would expect from Lindsay.
“Don’t tell me he hasn’t asked, because I won’t believe you,” Lindsay added.
“Len asked you to marry him?” Dakota’s voice grew loud.
“Shh. Keep your voice down.” Anita took a breath. “Yes, he asked. I declined.”
Cassie told herself to stay out of this conversation, but she couldn’t stop herself. “Why would you do that?”
“Len and I have a perfectly nice relationship just the way it is.” Apparently seeing the skepticism on her daughters’ and granddaughter’s faces, Anita added in a low tone, “I don’t want to be hurt again.”
“You can’t think that Len is like Bernie.” Cassie had never given much thought to her mother’s love life, but now she worried her mom could miss out on something truly special with Len. She didn’t understand how the woman dubbed I-Need-a-Man by the Bloom sisters, who’d finally found The One, would want to keep the relationship at friendship.
“Of course I don’t think—”
The doorbell rang, and relief crossed Anita’s face. “I’ll get it.”
It had to be Krew, or at least Cassie hoped it was him. Dakota had been worried he wouldn’t show, though he hadn’t disappointed her yet.
“Krew, we wondered when you’d get here.”
“I thought we were eating at one.”
“We are,” Lindsay, the hostess, slipped in front of her mother to give him a hug. “Welcome.”
Krew handed her a bottle of red wine. “For you.”
Lindsay inspected the label. “Ooh, I love Pinot. Too bad I can’t have a glass, but I’m sure everyone else will enjoy it. Thank you, Krew.”
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Dakota.” Krew gave his daughter a hug, then studied Cassie’s sweater. “I’d give you a hug, but that turkey looks like it might bite.”
Cassie laughed, relieved when he only gave her arm a squeeze. She wanted to hug him, but with everyone around, it might be apparent to those with eagle eyes—namely, her mother and Dakota—that she enjoyed his arms around her a little too much.
“Krew, good to see you.” Len strode over and gave his hand a shake. “Your team isn’t playing today, but we plan to watch some football later this afternoon.”
“Sounds good to me.” Krew glanced around. “Where’s Owen and the boys?”
“Downstairs playing foosball.” Lindsay smiled sweetly. “Would you mind terribly going down and telling them they need to get washed up? We’re going to start putting the food on the table.”
Krew did as she asked, but instead of staying downstairs as Cassie expected, he returned to help carry food to the table.
“Would you mind carving, Krew?” Lindsay asked. “It’s not Owen’s or Len’s strength.”
Cassie didn’t like seeing Krew put on the spot. He hadn’t grown up in a home where carving a turkey was part of his education. “Krew’s a guest and—”
Krew’s hand closed over the one she’d raised, and when he lowered their hands, he kept hold of hers as he talked. “I admit I’d have declined the offer five years ago. But my friend Earl is one mean turkey carver. I spent the last few holidays with him, his family and a mammoth bird. Not to brag, but I have mad skills with a carving knife.”
“Fabulous news. Let me show you the way to the turkey.” Lindsay grabbed his arm.
Krew reluctantly released Cassie’s hand, but only after giving it a squeeze.
“I’ll fill the water glasses.” Cassie lifted the crystal pitcher, and when she turned, she found Dakota studying her with a curious expression. “Something wrong?”
“No.” Dakota’s eyes were hooded. “I better see what’s left to do.”
Soon, they were all seated, platters of food filling every square inch of the table.
“Before we begin passing around this amazing food, I need to remind everyone of our family traditions.” Lindsay lifted the marker next to her plate. “Everyone must write one thing—though we encourage you to write more—for which you are grateful. You can write these anywhere on the butcher paper.”
K.T., who’d been drawing a scene, put down his marker.
“If any of you want to draw, that’s fine. Just make sure you write one gratitude.” Lindsay smiled at K.T. “At the end of the meal, we’ll go around the table, and everyone can share one thing. The next tradition—”
“Sweetheart,” Owen’s fingers curved around Lindsay’s hand, “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I’d like to say one thing about the power of gratitud
e.”
“Certainly.” Lindsay ceded center stage to her husband.
“Mindy kept a gratitude jar. Every night, she’d write down one thing she was grateful for.” Owen’s voice wobbled, but he quickly steadied it. “I read some of them after she passed away. She always found something to be grateful for, even during her darkest days. So if you’re having trouble thinking of something, remember it doesn’t have to be big. A sunny day. A hug from someone you love. A good night’s sleep, which for Lindsay and me, will probably be in short supply once our baby arrives.”
Laughter rippled around the table.
Lindsay laughed along with the rest of her family and resumed her instructions. “The next tradition is, if you get the turkey wishbone in your serving of meat, you get to choose who you crack it with. That’s all.”
Cassie lifted her fork, ready to dig in when Len cleared his throat.
“Lindsay and Owen asked me to say grace. If you could join hands and bow your head, I’ll begin.”
Krew had settled himself between Dakota and Axl, with Cassie on the other side of Axl.
Apparently realizing Axl wasn’t big on holding hands, Krew reached around him to take Cassie’s hand. He caressed her palm with his thumb as he lowered his head, a tiny smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Cassie fought to steady her breath as Len began.
“In a country where so many go hungry, we give thanks for the bounty you have bestowed on this family. In a time where loneliness is prevalent, we thank you for the gift of family and friends. May you impress upon our hearts the desire to bless others as we have been blessed. Amen.”
“I’m hungry,” Axl called out.
“Bon appétit.” Lindsay waved a hand as if she held a starting flag, and the passing of food began.
Dakota had Krew engaged in conversation during most of the meal, but Cassie noticed Krew kept his eye on Axl.
He cut up the child’s turkey before Cassie had a chance and stopped the boy from slinging a bun at Anita.
Every so often, Krew’s gaze would flick to her, and their eyes would lock. Each time that happened, Cassie’s heart skipped a beat.
