“You didn’t see him today.”
“I didn’t have to. I’ve seen this in my practice and I can assure you that this all comes down to communication. You just need to talk and really listen to one another. You took him by surprise at lunch, but he’ll have had time to digest it all by now. He’ll see that you weren’t trying to end things, you were just trying to get some space.”
Speaking of digestion…I would never drink whiskey again. Ever. Next time I’d drown my sorrows in a chocolate milkshake. Extra whipped cream and sprinkles.
“I hope you’re right. We were both pretty upset at the end of lunch.”
“Have some faith. Normally you’re the most optimistic person I know.”
“My optimism is a little battered today, but I’ll try. Any advice when I talk to Gran?”
Shelby nodded. “Be honest. Be calm. Be firm. Don’t give into emotional pleas and for heaven’s sake don’t let her make you feel guilty.”
“See? I don’t need your book. I have you. But just for fun, what would your book have said?”
“That exact statement.”
“I should have read it.”
“Yes, you should have. There’s still time.”
First, I had to talk to Gran, and then I had to make up with Kyle.
This wasn’t going to be easy or pleasant. But it would be worth it. I was finally seeing the forest and the trees. Gran had issues…but they didn’t have to be my issues.
* * *
Kyle
“Can you watch Sam for me?”
I threw a pair of jeans and a couple of shirts into the suitcase open on my bed. Sam was sniffing at the luggage and pawing at it every now and then. He had to be realizing that something was up. I reached out and ruffled his fur and got a wet lick on the cheek in return. He’d be fine with George for a couple of days.
I was catching a flight out of O’Hare tonight heading for Seattle. My little sister was in labor and I was determined to see the newest addition to our ever-growing family in person. And that meant that this situation with Ashlyn was going to have to wait. I’d deal with it when I returned. It might give Roslyn Caldwell a chance to leave town.
Or turn her granddaughter completely against me. It could go either way.
“I will. Are you going to let Ashlyn know you’re leaving town for a few days?”
I’d thought about it and I was tempted. But…
“If we’re on a break, I doubt she’ll notice I’m gone. She asked for a little time and this will make it much easier for me to give it to her. If I were in town I doubt I’d be able to stay away. Kathy going into labor might just be a blessing in disguise.”
“I’ve always wondered about that saying. If I were a blessing I wouldn’t wear a disguise.”
I tossed in my shaving kit and an extra sweatshirt. “You want to talk philosophy? You just want to divert my attention from telling you not to feed Sam pizza.”
“It was only the cheese.”
“Do not feed my dog pizza. Or cheeseburgers. Or anything that comes in Styrofoam. He has food and treats. Tons of them. Please use those.”
Sam’s ears perked up. He knew the word treat.
“See? He thinks he’s going to get a treat.”
And now I’d said it twice.
“I’ll get him one,” George offered. “You’re a real hard ass about cheese. Dogs love cheese and hamburger.”
My friend disappeared for a moment and then came back with a handful of dog treats. I’d better not stay in Seattle very long or I’d come back to a dog that waddled.
“Go easy on those. That bag is supposed to be a month’s supply.”
“They’re small.”
“So is he. Don’t feed him like a grown man.”
“I won’t. I promise. It’s just that he’s so cute when he begs.”
“You’re going to need to learn to turn down those big brown eyes.”
“So you’re not going to call her? Or send a text?”
I closed and zipped my bag shut. “I said no. She asked for space. I may not have been happy about giving it to her, but I did agree to do it. I won’t go back on that.”
“Maybe she doesn’t really want it.”
“Maybe she does.” I was getting irritated, but it wasn’t really George’s fault. I was predisposed to be unhappy. “Listen, when I get back I’ll call her. I’ll be gone forty-eight hours. Tops. Unless of course Kathy takes days to deliver this baby. In the meantime, you have your assignment. Find me the best firm in the world to restore those homes. We’re not moving the campus after all.”
It didn’t matter whether Ashlyn and I were together. They did have historic value to Arborville and if this town was going to be my new home, it seemed like the right thing to do to save them. My hope was to incorporate them in some way to the campus, but I’d leave that to the experts.
“The town council is going to be surprised.”
“Everyone will but that’s the fun part. Hopefully they’ll think it’s a good surprise and not a bad one. Either way they get the jobs they wanted.”
“And Ashlyn gets to keep her houses.”
“This isn’t about her. This is about the community.”
“It’s going to cost more,” George said in a warning tone. “A lot more. And it’s going to take longer. We won’t break ground this spring.”
“But look what we’ll have achieved when it’s done. Like I’ve always said, let’s do the hard things. The things no one else wants to do. That’s what you’ll look back on and be proud of. Those will be the accomplishments they’ll talk about after we’re gone.”
“I doubt they’ll talk about me when I’m gone. They may talk about you, though. Mostly they’ll say you’re a pain in the ass.”
“Back at you, buddy.”
I could hear the sound of car horn from outside. “The limo is here to take me to the airport. You know what you need to do, right?”
“Don’t feed the dog junk food and make a historic monument out of two homes. Sound good?”
“Perfect. I’ll text you when I get to Seattle.”
“A hundred bucks says it’s another girl. You Lewises don’t make boys in this generation.”
So far, all the grandchildren had turned out to be female.
“I’ll take that action. We’re due for a boy.”
George grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “This will be the easiest money I’ve made. Have a safe flight and I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
Would Ashlyn even know I’d been gone? Would she miss me?
I was going to miss her.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Ashlyn
When I got home after the long, awful day Gran was sitting in the living room and talking on the phone. My heart pounding, I walked past her and into the kitchen to grab a water. I was parched and re-hydrating was a priority. Speaking to Gran was also a priority but it wasn’t going to be easy.
Despite our vow to be honest with one another, it wasn’t our way to bring sticky issues out into the open. We were more of a sweep them under the rug kind of family. Ignore it all and it would go away. But I’d come to realize that the issues didn’t go away. They were always there just waiting to rear their ugly little heads.
Like today.
After a long pep talk from Shelby I was as ready as I would ever be to deal with my grandmother.
I settled onto a chair across from Gran and waited for her call to be over. After a few minutes, she hung up.
“You look like hell. Are you sick?”
“I’ve been better.” I took a deep fortifying breath. Into the breech. Just do it. “Gran, I think it’s time for you to go back to Washington.”
There. I said it. The world hadn’t crumbled into dust either.
“I’m still working on organizing the rally.”
I shook my head and kept my voice firm and level. “There isn’t going to be a rally. You’re going to let this issue go and so am I.”
Gran di
dn’t get upset, which I think I would have preferred. Instead she studied me intently as if I was a creature she’d never seen before. In a way, I suppose I was. I was a new me.
“We don’t have to give up. We can win this.”
“I’m not giving up. If Kyle thought the houses could be saved, he would do that. There’s no question. If they can’t then we’re only spinning our wheels. It’s time to let this go.” I paused for a moment and then rushed in. Like a fool. “Are you here for me, Gran, or for your career?”
“I came here to help my granddaughter, although now I’m beginning to wonder why. Your ingratitude is stunning.”
Gratitude. That was a whole subject right there.
“I’m supposed to be grateful? For you taking me in after Mom died. For everything. The funny thing is, Gran, that I am grateful. But that doesn’t mean you get to come in to town a couple of times a year and make a mess out of my life. It can’t work like that any longer.”
“A mess?” Gran sounded outraged and red was beginning to show in her cheeks. “I’ve done everything in my power to make sure that your life is wonderful, Ashlyn Rose. Who encouraged you to go into business for yourself when you didn’t have the confidence?”
“You,” I answered promptly. “I’m not saying that you’re a terrible person, Gran. You’re wonderful. Most of the time. But sometimes you’ve allowed your own issues to cloud your judgment.”
“This is about Kyle Lewis.”
“It’s about a lot more than Kyle. This is about your issues with Granddad. And Mom. I don’t know what happened–”
Gran stood and turned her back to me, staring out the window. “Stop right there. All I’ve been saying to you is that you need to think about what you’re doing. Women always think they need a man, but they really don’t. They just mess everything up and keep you from doing what you want to do. Then you end up not being the person you wanted to be. It may have happened to your mother, but I won’t let it happen to you. When I took you in I promised myself that you’d have everything. Everything, Ashlyn. And I meant it.”
She truly believed what she was saying. I could hear it in her voice.
“I have more than I ever believed was possible.”
Gran turned and I could see her eyes shining with tears. I couldn’t remember the last time – or if ever – I’d seen her even close to crying.
“Everything. You should have everything.”
I shook my head. “No one should have everything. They’d be spoiled and they wouldn’t have the space anyway. I have so much and you’re the reason for a lot of it. My solid upbringing, for one thing. And you instilled a strong work ethic in me. Made sure that I valued education and helping my community and the world at large. You made me care about others because I saw how tirelessly you worked for the underdog, first in your law practice and then in the government. You were the example that I looked to so many times in my life. But I’m not you, Gran. I’m not Mom, either. Your choices aren’t mine. I’ll say it again. I don’t know what happened to you with Granddad and I don’t know what happened to Mom with my dad, but I am a different person. I’m living my own life. Can’t you see that?”
“Your mother wouldn’t listen, either. I warned her that she was giving it all up to marry your father.”
“Kyle and I aren’t even close to getting married. But I don’t think I’d be giving anything up. Yes, he’s famous and I don’t want to be. I don’t want the spotlight. He’s welcome to it and if I’m just the girl on his arm, that’s fine with me. Let me ask you this, Gran, what is it that you want for me? What do you think I should be doing with my life?”
From the expression on Gran’s face I wasn’t going to like the answer.
“More.”
“More,” I echoed. “You want me to do more.”
A stab to my heart. My grandmother wasn’t as proud of me as I’d thought. Ouch.
“You can be so much more. You’re a local business owner, Ashlyn. You could parlay that into running for town council, and then maybe the state legislature. Then later run for senator when I’m ready to retire. I could turn my entire political operation over to you. But you have to dedicate yourself to it, and a man will just get in the way.”
“Is that what you did? Dedicate yourself?”
Gran nodded. “I did. I wanted to run for local office, but your grandfather discouraged me. Said that we had a young child and that I needed to be home more. He wanted me to have more children.”
It was so clear now. She’d never told me these details before. Ever. But then what would I have done with them?
“You wanted Mom to follow in your footsteps, too?”
Gran threw up her hands in frustration. “I tried telling her that he was no good, but she was in love. She couldn’t be swayed and she ran off with him. They were miserable practically from the beginning and then she got pregnant with you. It all went downhill from there. He ruined her life.”
Because of me.
“So you decided that I would have the life you’d hoped for?”
“You could have more if you wanted it.”
“This is so messed up. So you took me in and raised me to be…you?”
“Not at all. I simply wanted you to have all the options that I didn’t. I wanted you to have choices, Ashlyn. Is that such a crime?”
No, it wasn’t. It was actually kind of nice and sweet. Two words I’d never thought to describe Gran.
“It isn’t a crime. But it’s annoying when you’re still pushing your choices down my throat when I’ve already made mine. I’ve made my choices, Gran, and I’m really pretty darn happy about them. I have a great life, with wonderful friends, and a terrific store. I even have a grandmother who makes journalists shake in their shoes. I’m good. Really.”
She smiled then and chuckled. “I do that, don’t I? They’re terrified of me. It’s so fun.”
“And you help people,” I went on. “People that really need you. I think maybe you’ve lost sight of that part lately.”
“I just don’t want you to have any regrets. Your grandfather and I fought like cats and dogs because we didn’t see the world the same way. That’s how it was with your parents, too. I want to save you from that.”
I wondered if I would be the same with my children, wanting to save them from their questionable decisions. Probably. Some lessons, however, had to be learned the old-fashioned way. Firsthand.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that, Gran. If I was jumping off a cliff, yes, please stop me. If I’m falling in love, you have to let me do it. Especially if the guy isn’t a felon or a bad person in general. I think you and Kyle actually have a lot in common.”
Gran walked up to me and placed her hands on my shoulders. She looked much older in that moment than I’d ever seen her, every line of worry on her face. “When I saw you together I was so scared for you. He’s bigger than life, Ashlyn. He’ll completely eclipse you.”
“I’m okay with that.” I placed my own hands on hers and gave them a squeeze. “I don’t want the spotlight. I never have. But if I ever do want it, I guarantee you that he wouldn’t stand in my way. Would it make you feel better if I asked him that?”
“It would make me feel better if he signed a paper and we had it notarized.”
“I’ll see what I can do about that. Now are we okay? Can you give me the space to make my own decisions even if you don’t like them?”
For a moment I thought she was going to say no but them she nodded. “I can but it won’t be easy.”
Honesty. That’s what I loved about Gran.
“We’ll work on it together. I’m going to start now. There’s something I need to tell you, Gran. Something I should have a long time ago.”
She looked a little scared but lifted her chin as if to take the punch. “Just tell me.”
“I hate those drapes.”
“What?”
I pointed to the living room curtains. “I hate those drapes. You overruled my choic
e and pushed me into picking these. They’re ugly. I hate flowers. I wanted the stripes.”
Turning to study the hated draperies, she shook her head. “Well, you’re wrong but on your own head be it. Flowers are better, but this is your house.”
“That’s progress, Gran. I’m proud of you.”
We had a long way to go, but it was a start. Now I needed to see Kyle.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Ashlyn
I drove as fast as the law allowed to Kyle’s house, happy to still see lights on despite the later hour. There was so much I wanted to say to him but mostly I wanted to tell him that I loved him. Although new, our relationship was important. I wouldn’t run again when it wasn’t smooth sailing. I’d stick around and we’d face it. Together.
I could hear Sam barking when I rang the doorbell and my heart skipped a beat in my chest as the door swung open, only to plunge to my feet when I saw that it wasn’t Kyle but George. As the designated best friend, he had to know what was going on between Kyle and I, but he didn’t look shocked to see me there.
“Kyle’s not here but you’re welcome to come in. Sam and I ordered pizza and I’m not allowed to give the poor guy any of it. Do you like extra cheese?”
I hadn’t come to eat but suddenly my stomach growled, reminding me that I’d had a rough day…digestively speaking. Maybe I could hang out and wait for Kyle to come back. Perhaps he had gone out for a late-night run. It was freezing outside but he didn’t seem to mind the cold all that much.
“Your stomach answered for you,” George said, stepping back as I gave Sam a scratch behind the ears. “Come on in. It’s cold as hell out there.”
“Nothing like a prairie wind,” I replied, shrugging off my heavy coat and scarf. The smells wafting from the kitchen were making my mouth water. “I could eat a little. Will Kyle be back soon?”
George retrieved a plate from a cabinet near the sink. “I don’t think so. He went to see his sister Kathy. She’s in labor. Did he mention that she was pregnant?”
He had, although it had been a brief mention as we’d talked about our families. I’d had no idea she was this close to actually having the baby.
Tease Him (ManTrap Book 2) Page 19
