Finding Bliss (Bliss #1)

by Cassie Strickland

  I laughed as I picked up a steaming mug. “They aren’t all that bad.”

  “Yes, they are.” He shook his head sadly.

  “They’ve seemed to have quieted down,” I mused, wondering if Galen picked up the same vibes I had.

  He harrumphed under his breath, but didn’t say anything else.

  I left it alone as I headed up the stairs with Clara’s coffee. I got an eyeful of pretty, sudsy skin when I entered the bathroom, but I just sat her coffee down and left.

  A shower with Clara was in order somewhere in the near future. Actually, it was on the top of the to-do list once we had some alone time.

  ♥♥♥

  It was my mother’s idea to have Mrs. Birdie make a goodbye breakfast at the B&B. We were lucky that a family called in a last minute cancelation or the Montgomery’s would have been driving back and forth from the city. Teresa had gone on and on about how much she loved it there and couldn’t wait to come back in the summer. I was hoping she’d be doing it alone.

  After the short ride, I pulled into my normal spot and turned off the ignition. I glanced at my house, making a mental note check on it soon. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been there. I figured it was time to talk to Clara about moving in together.

  Was it too soon?

  Nah.

  I was at her house all the time as it was, and I already knew I wanted Clara for much longer than we’d had. She was it for me. There was no way I could love another as I loved her. And I knew that she loved me. With every glance, every caress, every…well, everything, she loved me. I just needed her to admit that.

  “What are you thinking about?” Galen asked as we were climbing out of my Tahoe. “You’ve got a dreamy look on your face.”

  “Shut it, old man,” I grumbled playfully.

  He laughed in response, saying, “God, it’s cold. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it.” I watched him rub his arms on the other side of the Tahoe and shut the door.

  “Stop being a sissy,” I called out.

  “Watch yourself,” he called back. “I’m not too old to kick your ass.”

  Chuckling, I opened the back door for Clara and found her tucking the blanket around Bella, wanting to keep out the chill. She draped another blanket over the top of the car seat, just to be safe. The morning air was wickedly cold, and there was almost a foot of snow on the ground, thanks to the nasty storm we had the night before last.

  “Climb on out, darlin’,” I instructed her. “I’ll get Bella for you.”

  “Thanks, honey,” she replied as she stepped out. Her foot slipped slightly, but I caught her.

  “It’s icy out here. Be careful,” I warned, helping her steady herself.

  “No kidding. It’s like a winter wonderland out here.” She grinned, loving it.

  I reached in and disengaged Bella’s car seat from its base. I tucked Clara against my free side as we slowly made our way to the kitchen door. Galen was holding it open for us when we approached, the sound of Mrs. Birdie banging pots and pans already reaching us.

  When Mrs. Birdie saw us, she beamed and abandoned her task to rush to me. “Let me have her,” she demanded. “It’s been forever since I’ve seen the little munchkin.”

  I laughed at her, knowing she saw Bella yesterday. Our little princess had people already falling at her feet.

  I placed the car seat on the kitchen table and tugged the blankets off of Bella, saying, “Hello, Mrs. Birdie. It’s nice to see you, too.”

  “Hush, you. I see you every day.” Mrs. Birdie pushed me aside and started unstrapping Bella. “Oh, there she is,” she chirped. “How’s that little angel, huh?”

  Bella smiled up at Mrs. Birdie and leaned forward, opening her mouth as she tried to give her a kiss.

  Bella had just started doing this. She was giving everyone that paid any attention to her kisses. Once you got past the slobber, it was quite endearing.

  Mrs. Birdie wiped off her cheek, gushing, “Those were some good smooches, Miss Bella.”

  “You’re gonna spoil her rotten,” I advised, watching them.

  “That’s what Grandma is for. The parents are the ones that teach them right from wrong, but us…we get to give them whatever they want. Makes them love us more,” she teased, winking at me.

  “Okay…” I drawled, amused. “How are things lookin’ this mornin’?”

  “All the other guests have already eaten. I made sure they knew the dinin’ room was unavailable. I put name cards at the table so that the two evil siblings are at the end. You’ll have to deal with the father, but I figured he was the lesser evil.”

  It seemed like I wasn’t the only one getting a negative vibe from them.

  I kissed Mrs. Birdie’s cheek and grinned. “You’re a life saver. Thank you.”

  She reached up and patted my cheek. “Anythin’ for Clara and you.”

  “Are Mom and Dad here yet?”

  “They are in the office with Sam.”

  I frowned, wondering if something was wrong. “Everythin’ okay?”

  She patted my cheek again. “Don’t worry yourself, dearie. It’s fine.”

  “Let’s go find your parents,” Clara cut in, taking my hand in hers. “The sooner we start, the sooner it will be over with and life can go back to normal.”

  “Not soon enough,” Galen whispered under his breath. Clara glared at him, but he held up his hands in surrender. “What?”

  I chuckled and shook my head. “Ok-” Mom, Dad, and Sam ambled into the kitchen, cutting off my words.

  “Great! You’re here,” Mom cheered when she saw us. She saw Bella and immediately honed in on her. “There’s that sweet girl. Let me have her.”

  Mrs. Birdie turned to the side and scowled at Mom. “I just got her. You get to spend all the time in the world with her.”

  Mom lifted a brow and suppressed a laugh. “Really?”

  Mrs. Birdie huffed. “Yes, really.” She stomped behind the island, softly talking to Bella. “Come with Mrs. Birdie, dear. We’ve got to check on the food.”

  Mom rolled her eyes and turned to Clara. “Ready for this?”

  “As I’ll ever be,” she stated, shrugging slightly.

  “That woman needs an ass-”

  “Morning all,” Teresa called out as she meandered into the kitchen, cutting off whatever Sam was about to say. Sam put on her best fake smile, hoping she hadn’t been caught. By Teresa’s glittering eyes, I think she was, but Teresa was too polite to say anything about it.

  “Morning, Teresa,” Clara said and gave her a hug.

  When Clara stepped back, Teresa saw Bella with Mrs. Birdie and beamed. She zeroed in, as well, and strode to Mrs. Birdie. “I’m going to miss her so much. Can I hold her for a bit? I want to get my fix before we leave.” Her eyes misted over, but she blinked it back and took Bella from a reluctant Mrs. Birdie.

  “We’ll see each other soon,” Clara comforted her. “I promise.”

  Gretchen leaned against the doorframe and folded her arms over her chest. “Is the food ready? We need to get on the road soon.” She was haughty, turning up her nose at us.

  If only I could hit a woman.

  “Food is ready.” Mrs. Birdie gave Gretchen a blistering look, but became cheerful when she glanced at the rest of us. “Y’all go on and take your seats. I’ll bring the food out shortly. Juice and coffee are on the table.” She shooed us out of the kitchen.

  “Let’s get this over with,” Sam muttered to me. “What is it about them? I just…” She squinted at me, speculative. “I don’t like them.”

  “Leave it alone,” I advised. “We have to get through this, then they’re gone.”

  “Whatever,” she grumbled and stomped away.

  When we walked into the dining room, I was happy to see the name cards. Thank God for Mrs. Birdie and her calculating mind. I would rather enjoy myself than deal with the Montgomery’s anymore.

  I found my name next to the head of the table and Clara’s next to mine
. I pulled out Clara’s chair for her and gestured toward it.

  “Thanks, honey,” she whispered as she sat.

  As I took my chair, Gretchen came around the table and looked at the card next to Clara’s. She grinned a Cheshire smile. “Well lookie there. I get to sit next to you, Clara.” She pulled out her chair and planted her butt in it, reeking of victory.

  I groaned internally, realizing she’d been in here and rigged this.

  Mom and Dad found their names and sat at the opposite end, frowning. Sam sat next to them, ready to burst. I gave her a look that told her to shut her mouth.

  As everyone else took their place, Clara and I were swathed in Montgomery’s. They surrounded us, leaving everyone else toward the end. Gretchen had even put Al at the head of the table.

  Clara gave me a guarded look, understanding what had happened. We’d been setup. For what, I had no idea.

  Teresa was the last to sit, keeping Bella on her lap. She glanced around, stunned. I wondered if she was the one that put Mrs. Birdie up to this, because she obviously knew about it and that it had been sabotaged.

  This was just great.

  When Mrs. Birdie came out with the food, she almost dropped her load. She glared at the Montgomery siblings and placed everything on the table. When she stormed back into the kitchen, I scooted out my chair. “I’ll go help her. There’s a lot of food.”

  I rushed into the kitchen and fumed. “What the hell?”

  “Those connivin’ little…” Her face was beet-red. “I did not do that, Grey. They changed it all up!”

  “Shhh. Keep your voice down.” My mind was spinning.

  What are they planning?

  “They are cornerin’ her, Grey,” she informed me. I could practically see steam coming out of her ears. “If it weren't for Bella, I’d dump the food in each of their laps and tell them to go to hell. And to think that those are sweet Teresa’s kids.”

  I threw my hands up, stopping her. “Let’s get the food and get back out. I need to be with Clara.” It was probably a bad choice to follow Mrs. Birdie to prove my suspicions.

  She growled, actually growled, and then handed me platters of food. I found Clara and Teresa talking quietly, but they were the only ones speaking. Waves of hostility were pumping from the room. I knew my family was pissed. Galen’s face had shut down as he watched the Montgomery’s like a hawk.

  As the platters were passed around and cutlery clinked, Clyde started. “How long have you two been dating?” he asked, seemingly sincere.

  “A while,” I answered vaguely, needing to keep my answers short.

  “Hmm,” Gretchen remarked. “It seems like it’s been longer. You two are so close.”

  “What can I say?” I looked down at Clara, letting everyone see my feelings for her. “When you know it’s right, you don’t waste time.”

  Clara’s blush was immediate. She whispered, “Grey…”

  “That’s sweet,” Teresa sang, attempting to add light to the conversation. I could tell she was having a hard time keeping her composure.

  “It is sweet,” Gretchen agreed with a kind smile.

  “Gretchen and I have been talking,” Clyde announced. “Our first impression wasn’t all that great, and we wanted to apologize again. We shouldn’t have acted like that. Abby’s passing has been tough.”

  Were they trying to kiss ass to make up for it? I had a feeling it was something else entirely.

  Clara wiped her mouth with her napkin and smiled a bit. “It’s okay. I can understand that. Really.”

  “We want to be close.” Gretchen took Clara’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “For Bella’s sake, we want to get along with everyone.” Gretchen glanced at Teresa. Teresa seemed contemplative, wary, as she held Gretchen’s gaze. “We know how much Bella means to this family, and we all need to be supportive of one another if this is going to work seamlessly.”

  “I agree,” Al voiced, nodding at his children proudly. “I’m glad you’ve come to that conclusion.”

  Why did this feel staged, choreographed?

  “Uh…” Teresa trailed, uneasy. “Yes. It’s wonderful.”

  Gretchen beamed at Clara. “Next time we come, I’ll bring the kids. Bella is going to love her cousins.”

  Clara stared at Gretchen for a second and then returned the smile. “Yes. I’m happy that Bella’s a part of a large family.”

  Fishing, Al asked, “How long does the will say you need to live here, Clara? Surely not forever.”

  Galen interjected, “Until Bella’s eighteen.”

  “So you can’t be closer to us?” Gretchen pouted. “If that were possible, it would be so much better. Easier.”

  Maybe for you, I wanted to say.

  “I’ve found a great life here,” Clara stated softly and gazed at me. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

  I grinned, liking what I saw shining from her.

  “It’s small,” Gretchen voiced, breaking the moment.

  “That’s why I like it, though.” Clara’s face was gentle and dreamy. “It’s so different than what I’ve known. It’s breathtaking in a lot of ways.”

  “We are proud of our town,” Sam stated, eyeing Gretchen with hostility.

  Gretchen laughed and covered her mouth reticently. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. We live in somewhat of a small town, too.”

  It was fake. Really, really fake.

  “We do,” Teresa added. “And I understand why you like it so much. Bliss is a beautiful town.”

  “You’ve never lived anywhere else, Mom,” Clyde disclosed, satirically.

  Teresa’s brows lowered, and her eyes narrowed. “That’s correct, but I still know that I love it.” She turned her attention to Clara. “I understand the feeling. Small towns have a way of working themselves into your soul.”

  “That description fits perfectly,” Clara replied, smiling brightly.

  When Al cleared his throat, I knew their hidden agenda would soon be unveiled. “Can you tell us more about your brother?” Al asked, his interest coming off as genuine.

  Yeah, right. Genuine, my ass.

  Clara’s expression dissolved into a stony mask. “What would you like to know?”

  “You said that he had an infatuation with you? What does that mean?”

  “I think that’s all you need to know,” Dad advised, glowering at Al.

  Go, Dad!

  “I think it’s an understandable question,” Gretchen said as she tilted her head innocently. “We just want to know what’s going on…what happened to Abby. Our sister meant the world to us.”

  Oliver snorted, then ducked his head.

  Clyde sent Oliver a scathing look before wiping his face clean. “We want to understand because Abby killed herself over it. If it were you, wouldn’t you want to know?”

  Clara’s eyes shifted between each Montgomery. “I can see that. Still, you aren’t getting details. I’m sorry if you don’t like this, but it’s deeply troubling for me to recount.” She forced a smile, hoping to placate them.

  Al nodded his acceptance, but I could see the look in his eyes – he didn’t like it.

  “It’s fine, Clara,” Teresa said, her expression tender. “You don’t have to say anything that makes you uncomfortable. That’s not what we want. Right, Al?” She gave him a look that meant she was serious and he better not push it.

  “Of course. We don’t want to bring up any painful memories for you…just wanted to see if you’d explain. It’s okay that you can’t.” He emphasized the last bit in a way that was demeaning.

  “What time is your flight?” I asked. My gaze landed on Al, and I let him know that I didn’t appreciate their questions. If they pushed it, I was calling the whole breakfast off and taking Clara away from here.

  “We have some time yet,” he answered.

  He wasn’t going to back down.

  My jaw hardened as I glared at him.

  “Mom mentioned that your brother and my sister set up a
trust fund for Bella,” Gretchen searched. “How is that possible? If he was a pastor…I don’t see them making very much money.” Quickly, she went on. “Not that that’s bad or anything. I’m happy my niece will have that when she’s older. Not everyone is that fortunate. I’m only wondering how it’s possible.”

  “You don’t have to answer that, Clara,” I interjected.

  “I happen to agree with you, Grey,” Galen offered, scowling at Gretchen. “Bella’s trust fund is not up for discussion.”

  “But you said you were independently wealthy, Clara,” Al stated, pleased with the topic. “Did your parents leave everything to you and your brother when they passed away?”

  “This conversation is over.” I threw my napkin on the table, ready to leave.

  Gretchen clasped Clara’s arm before I could drag Clara out of here. “I’m sorry to hear about your parents. You’ve lost a lot. That’s gotta be so hard for you.”

  Clara stared up at me, begging me not to make a big deal out of this. My gut was screaming at me, though. I nodded and gave Gretchen, Clyde, and Al another warning stare.

  After pasting on a fake smile again, Clara explained, “It was a long time ago. I’m okay”

  “How did they pass?” Al asked.

  “I think that’s enough about her parents,” I told them, my tone cutting.

  “I have to agree,” Sam added from her end of the table.

  “Why can’t we ask questions? There’s no harm in it?” Clyde played sincere, but it was a sham.

  All of this was bogus.

  “Seriously?” Dad questioned, incredulous. “Askin’ questions is one thing…but this is a blatant interrogation. What are you lookin’ for?”

  Al huffed, “I never-”

  “You never, what?” Sam was boiling. “You didn’t answer Dad’s question.”

  Mom tried to intervene. “I think everyone needs to calm down.”

  I glanced at Teresa and found her staring down at Bella, tears streaming down her face. She wasn’t going to offer any help.

  “My daughter killed herself and her husband over whatever answers Clara’s hiding from us,” Al seethed as he waved in Clara’s direction. “I want to know what happened to my daughter! I want to know why and how she got involved with this sick man!”