Harlequin Heartwarming May 2016 Box Set: Through the StormHome for KeepsThe Firefighter's RefrainTo Catch a Wife

by Rula Sinara

  “Well, of course, I love you, Grace. But being CEO of the business is the best person you can be.”

  “No, it isn’t. I hate board meetings.”

  “It isn’t just board meetings.”

  “I hate pretty much everything else that goes along with being a CEO.”

  “This is a fine time to decide that.”

  “I always thought that I’d hate being a CEO. I’ve even indicated that while trying not to hurt your feelings. You don’t listen.”

  “Well, what am I supposed to do? Just abandon my plans? I can’t work forever.”

  “It sounds to me like you’re nowhere ready to retire, but if you really are, then give the job to someone else. You have several people, one vice president that I know of, who would probably jump at the chance to run this company.”

  He started to pace, hands behind his back. “I can’t do that right now. It will take time.”

  “You’ll have to do it or keep on working,” she insisted. “I’m not going to step in today. That would make it even more difficult to get out later.”

  “Grace, I don’t know what’s going on with you.” He stopped pacing, taking a deep breath. “You were fine until you started dating that man and trying to help his delinquent daughter.”

  “Don’t blame other people.”

  He ignored her. “If you want to get married, you can find plenty of suitable men who would support your career.”

  “That’s pretty cold.” Was that how he’d thought of her mother? Suitable?

  “Marriage should be practical, not just a love match.”

  The mention of marriage made her wonder if she was thinking of Caleb so seriously. Maybe she was. Their relationship had definitely made an impact on her. The idea of leaving him and going back to Milwaukee made her feel empty inside.

  “Thinking about what you want, right now, is petty,” Dad continued. “It will pass. You have to look at the big picture.”

  “I am looking at the big picture, and it’s obviously very different from what you see. I don’t want to be CEO of the company. I don’t want my life revolving around business every moment.”

  “Then you certainly aren’t the daughter I raised.”

  “You don’t know the daughter you raised.”

  He stood still, just gazing at her. His face was drained of color and she thought she saw his mouth twitch.

  Finally, he said, “Well, I know enough to disown you if you don’t come around. And you’re not starting another green community, Grace, or finishing this one with Huber resources.” Then he picked up his briefcase and strode for the door. “If you come to your senses, you can find me in Chicago.”

  Grace watched him leave, deeply upset. Her father had never talked about disowning her before. She might have her freedom but she guessed she could kiss Phase 2 of Green Meadows goodbye. Not to mention her only familial relationship.

  She burst into tears.

  * * *

  GRACE WAS IN no mood to see anyone, but she and Caleb had made plans to have pizza for dinner at a place in town, so she went ahead and met him there. Maybe she would feel better being with him. When she arrived, he didn’t ask her how her day had gone, and he seemed distracted.

  After they’d ordered, she said, “You look like you’ve had the same kind of day I have.”

  “Sorry, I’m just concerned that Angela didn’t go to her grandmother’s place right after school like she told me she was going to.”

  “Do you think she took off with Kiki again?”

  “I don’t know. Kiki has been hiding out ever since we visited her foster home.” He slid his phone out of his pocket and sighed. “Of course, Angela doesn’t answer my calls.” He looked at her, his brow creasing as he finally noticed her subdued expression. “Did you talk to the police about the attack at the condo complex?”

  “I spoke with Alex Novak. He’s looking for Kiki, too.”

  “I don’t think Angela had anything to do with it.” He glanced at the phone as if willing it to ring. “Unless she sneaked out of the house at night.”

  “I already assured Alex he could rule her out.”

  Though she still wasn’t sure of Angela or the effect her behavior would have on her and Caleb. Given her own father’s attitude about Caleb and her potential future with him, it seemed the fates were against them.

  The food arrived and Caleb helped himself. Not that hungry, Grace just sat looking at her plate until he put a helping of salad and a slice of pizza on it.

  “You need to eat,” he told her.

  She nibbled at the tasteless food. Caleb still didn’t seem to realize anything was wrong with her, so she decided to tell him about her horrible afternoon.

  “I had a huge fight with my dad about the company and his retirement.”

  “Oh? I hope you took a stand for what you want.”

  “I sure did. And, guess what? He talked about disowning me if I didn’t take over the company for him.”

  “Come on, he’s just throwing a tantrum.”

  “It didn’t sound like it. He’s cutting off funds for Green Meadows. Now that we have interest from new customers, I was ready to move to Phase 2.”

  “You’ll just have to change his mind.”

  “What makes you think I didn’t try?” And why was Caleb telling her what to do yet again? “You don’t know him.”

  “You’ve gone through this before. Doesn’t your dad find a way to make up, but not lose face?”

  “Usually.”

  Grace couldn’t believe he was just dismissing the matter.

  He started talking about Angela again, where she could be.

  “It’s not just Green Meadows, Caleb,” she interrupted. “He actually told me he only got me out of trouble when I was a girl so he could mold me into a super executive. I’ve never heard Dad speak that way before.” She couldn’t stand the thought of a rift between them. “If I don’t do what he wants, I’ll lose him.”

  “Grace, you are an adult,” he said calmly. “You just have to take a stand and stop backing down.”

  She insisted, “I don’t want to lose my father.”

  “You’re not losing anything. If anyone is losing, it’s him...intentionally, through his own doing.”

  Grace stared at the man who had made her think about a future with him. If Caleb truly cared about her, he would find a way to help her work through this. Instead, he was criticizing her for being reluctant to put a rift between her and her dad.

  “It doesn’t matter who is at fault,” she said. “The result is the same.”

  “So you’re going to buckle down to your father’s will because otherwise he’ll kick you out of his company?” He gestured with his fork. “You could work for someone else. Or start your own company.”

  “Making such a drastic change without a significant amount of forethought and planning is not that easy.” She stared at her pizza, which was growing cold on her plate. “Maybe there’s another way I could have handled it. Could handle it.” The fact she couldn’t come up with a solution really troubled her.

  “Your father has to realize that you’re an adult with dreams of your own. If you don’t tell him, how is he supposed to understand what you want?”

  He finally got to her. “You know, Caleb, I’m tired of you just giving me directives, as if you know the way everything should be handled.”

  His eyes widened in surprise. “You’ve been asking my opinion.”

  “And you’ve been giving me that opinion even when I don’t ask for it.”

  “I didn’t mean to put you in a bad mood.”

  “Being threatened with losing the relationship that means the most to a person tends to do that.”

  “Your relationship with your father means the most
to you? What about a relationship with someone else, someone you can share the rest of your life with?” He glanced down at his phone again when it rang. “Nope, not Angela.”

  She couldn’t believe it. Why couldn’t he listen to her rather than tell her to ignore her father’s orders, as if it were easy, while giving her yet more orders? Angela seemed to be the center of Caleb’s world and business was the center of her father’s. Where did she, Grace, fit in?

  Disgusted, she threw her unused napkin on the table and rose. “I’ve heard enough for today. I only wish life were as simple as you seem to think it should be.”

  “Grace?”

  Ignoring him, she headed for the door. “I’m making tonight simple. I’m leaving.”

  “What? Wait a minute, please!”

  Which was all she heard before stalking out to her car. Pulling away, she saw Caleb standing in the doorway of the restaurant, but she just stomped harder on the accelerator.

  * * *

  GRACE DROVE AND DROVE, not even thinking about where she was going. The highway unfurled before her, a wide silver path leading somewhere, anywhere. Finally, noticing a large road sign, she realized that she was headed for Milwaukee. That was okay. She had an apartment there and could rest up, think about what she wanted to do next. She wouldn’t let her father know and would lie low. She had to take care of herself, since nobody else seemed interested in the job.

  The phone in her purse rang yet again. And she ignored it yet again. It was probably Caleb and she had no desire to talk to him.

  Disappointment made her stomach whirl and her throat tighten. Caleb might be a responsible parent and a generally good man, but was he the one for her? Right now, overwhelmed by the day, she couldn’t say for sure.

  Once in the city, she barely had to pay attention to where she was going. Taking the correct exit, she made her way down familiar streets until they ended at the shores of Lake Michigan. There she entered the garage for the large condo building perched beside the lake, and parked. Then she took the elevator upstairs.

  When she opened the door to her quiet abode, she immediately went to the French doors in the living room, opening them wide to the terrace outside. She took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh lake air, then threw herself down on a chaise lounge. Below, she could hear the gentle lapping of waves and, in the distance, the gentle hum of night traffic. A moon glowed overhead. She would simply shut the phones off entirely and relax. Tomorrow and thoughts of the future—both professional and personal—would come soon enough. About to turn off her cell, she realized she’d left her purse with her phone in the car.

  Well, it could just stay there. As soon as she felt like moving from where she sat, she’d also tear out the jack for the apartment phone. There was no one she wanted to talk to tonight.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “SHE HAS TO be somewhere nearby, Caleb,” his mother said. “I don’t think she’s in physical danger.”

  “We can’t be sure about that.”

  It had been hours since Angela had been due at her grandmother’s. Caleb and his mother had driven all over town looking for the girl but hadn’t caught a glimpse of her. Now they were taking a break in Caleb’s kitchen for some coffee, since they seemed to be headed for an all-nighter.

  “She could be up to her old ways,” said Mom.

  “Why? There’s no reason. She hasn’t been so angry lately. She has an idea, a good one, for the mural at Green Meadows.” Which made him think of Grace with a pang. “She’s almost done with school. She’s been meeting with Lily.”

  “And, unfortunately, we don’t know what has been said in those meetings.” Mom frowned. “I wish we could trust that woman, but she isn’t even answering her phone now.”

  “Should we go to the police? Report her as being missing?”

  “That would be a good idea.”

  Which scared him. When Mom encouraged him to take the most extreme step in a situation, he knew she thought it was serious.

  “Did you phone Grace?” his mother asked.

  “Yes. Though she doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

  And wasn’t reachable anyhow. They’d had a fight and then she’d just walked out on him before he’d even had a chance to smooth things over. If he could talk to her, he would apologize for upsetting her, but he couldn’t help feeling hurt and angry himself that she hadn’t stayed and talked it through.

  “I think Grace might make you feel better.”

  “She would.”

  Caleb had grown used to having Grace’s support and understanding. He really would appreciate her presence right now. His daughter was gone. And his woman was gone, too. He’d thought he was being supportive with Grace, but he’d simply managed to drive her away. It seemed as if he was doomed to have almost all the females he loved desert him.

  Wait. Did he love her?

  Caleb was considering the idea that he was in love with Grace Huber when the doorbell rang.

  Glancing at the kitchen clock, which announced two minutes past midnight, Caleb strode toward the front door. Outside, her wild hair sticking out in all directions, stood Kiki.

  “Mr. Blackthorne?” she asked, sounding a little uncertain.

  He immediately asked, “Do you know where Angela is?”

  “That’s why I’m here. I saw her get into an old pickup with her mother.”

  His heart plummeted. “When?”

  “About four. They drove off but I have no idea where they were going.” Kiki looked genuinely worried. “I’ve tried to text and call Angela over and over, but nothing. Not answering isn’t her style.”

  Mom came up behind him. “Let the poor girl in, Caleb.”

  He obligingly moved aside.

  “Are you hungry, dear?” Mom asked Kiki. “How about some cookies and milk?”

  Caleb couldn’t believe his mother was offering the girl food at a time like this. He said, “If neither Angela nor Lily is answering their phones still, this could be a kidnapping.”

  “True.” Mom sat Kiki down and poured her a big glass of milk, then set a plate of cookies in front of the girl. “We’ll have to let the police know.” She looked at her son. “Cookies for you?”

  “The last thing I want is food right now,” he said gruffly. “I have to find Angela!” He looked down at Kiki. “Thank you for coming to tell us you saw her with her mother. We appreciate your help.”

  Then, with Mom saying she’d stay at the house, in case Angela showed up or tried to call, Caleb left Kiki with her and headed for his truck. He drove straight to the police station to see Alex Novak. If the man was at work, that is. If he wasn’t awake, he soon would be. Caleb wouldn’t rest until a search was under way.

  Parking in the station’s lot, he made one last try to phone Grace. As he feared, it went to voice mail. He said, “Angela’s missing. There’s a chance she’s been kidnapped, Grace. I really miss you. I need you. I’m sorry that I upset you. I didn’t mean to, honestly. If you can find it in your heart to call me, please do. Anytime, night or day.”

  * * *

  “THIS TRUCK IS going to run out of gas,” Angela muttered under her breath when Lily turned down another dark country road lined with trees. They’d been driving for hours without stopping.

  “We’ll make it a little farther.”

  What in the world was her mother’s plan? Angela wondered. Her suspicions had been growing since the woman had thrown the cell phone out of the car.

  “We aren’t going to see that artist at all, are we?” she asked.

  “Not today.”

  “Then why are you bringing me here?”

  “What is wrong with a mother and daughter spending some time together?”

  “Out in the woods? In the middle of the night? And if everything’s cool, then why
can’t I tell my dad where I am?”

  Should she be afraid? Was her mother willing to do something desperate to get whatever it was she wanted? Angela was really getting jittery now.

  Lily said, “I know of a cabin around here.”

  “You still didn’t answer my question. Why are you doing this?”

  Lily simply asked a return question. “Think your dad will be worried? If so, I’ve accomplished my goal.”

  “You’re doing this to worry my dad? Unbelievable.” Angela was beginning to think she was lucky her mother had abandoned her all those years ago.

  The country road turned into mere tire tracks through the grass. The pickup bumped along, the springs squeaking and complaining.

  “You’re a kidnapper,” stated Angela.

  “I’m your mother. I can’t kidnap you.”

  “You don’t know the law then. A parent can kidnap a child.”

  “I don’t think your dad will want to go there. He’ll just pay up.”

  So that was it? Her mother had taken her to get money out of her father?

  “I hope he doesn’t give you a penny,” said Angela bitterly. “You don’t deserve it. And there’s no way I would ever want to live with you.”

  “I’m pretty sure I can get custody, at least partial custody anyway.”

  “A judge wouldn’t be that stupid.”

  In the feeble light of the old dashboard, Angela saw Lily turn to look at her. “You are not a very nice girl at times, Angela. I’m your mother and I love you. I will do what I have to in order to be with you.”

  “I think the child support money is more appealing to you than having me in your life.”

  It was only a short while longer until Lily brought the old pickup to a stop under a big oak tree. Nearby, in the moonlight, Angela could make out the dark shape of a building.

  Lily turned off the ignition with a roar and several chugging backfires. Finally, the truck gave a last wheeze and Lily removed the keys. “Let’s go inside and see what we can pull together as far as sleeping and eating. I came up here a few weeks ago and left some canned goods and blankets.”