Celia being alone,’ said Billie, ‘Does that mean her husband is dead?’
‘No, they divorced years ago. Celia only wishes he was dead. Philip Charles was a wild one. Handsome as Lucifer and twice as dangerous. He married Celia for her money, which she figured out quick enough after the wedding. You could almost feel sorry for her. Almost.’ Maude’s gaze grew heavy with concern. ‘You let her get to you today and what’s worse you let her see it. You’re not very good at hiding your feelings for Adam, are you?’
‘Apparently not.’ Billie sat on Cal’s stool, ran her hands through her hair and took a deep breath. ‘We stayed at Adam’s place last night, Maude.’
‘Well now, that’s as good a start as any.’
‘He was waiting for us at the cottage when we got home. Waiting to take us back to his place and he was so gentle and careful with us he nearly broke my heart.’
‘I’m hearing a
but
,’ said Maude.
‘He’s got some issues he hasn’t dealt with yet. Issues concerning his late wife and son. Sometimes he pulls back from us so fast it makes my head spin.’
‘Every man has his demons,’ said Maude. ‘Adam more so than most. Don’t let anyone tell you his marriage was made in heaven, because it wasn’t. Celia never let go of that daughter of hers, not even after Caroline married. She never once missed an opportunity to point out Adam’s shortcomings as a husband and a father, and frankly, Caroline took far more notice of her mother than she should have. It was Celia who urged Caroline to drive into town that night, make no mistake about that. Not that she ever wore any of the guilt; she let Adam have it all.’
‘Adam wants us to stay with him until the vandal is caught. For safety’s sake.’ Billie looked at Maude and saw wisdom there, and understanding. ‘I don’t know if I want to. I don’t know if we
should
. What would you do?’
‘I think I’d take the opportunity to show him what sharing his life with a generous and loving person would be like. Couldn’t hurt.’
‘
Will
hurt,’ corrected Billie.
‘Maybe,’ said Maude. ‘And maybe it’s worth the risk.’
Adam was in his office updating accounts that didn’t need updating when he heard Billie’s car finally pull up outside. It was after nine-thirty in the evening, she should have been home half an hour ago, and he’d been starting to wonder whether she’d changed her mind about staying at the homestead another night and heading for the cottage after all. He wouldn’t blame her. Couldn’t stop her.
So he feigned a nonchalance he was far from feeling as he opened the screen door and let them in.
‘Thanks,’ she said, her smile a shade tentative. She was carrying a boxful of clothes and toiletries. Cal’s box contained milk, cheese, bread and other perishables. ‘We stopped off at the cottage and picked up a few supplies.’
‘So I see.’
‘You don’t mind, do you? We also had an offer to stay with Maude, Roly’s got the pub locked up tight so we could have stayed there, we could have stayed at a motel come to think of it, and Arthur thinks he’s finally found us a rental house in town. It comes vacant just after new year. All we’re waiting on is permission to have Henry there. Meanwhile…’ Billie set her box down on the bench and sent him a rueful smile. ‘We decided, upon much reflection, that where we really wanted to bed down tonight was with Henry, and Blue.’
‘And you,’ said Cal and Billie smiled.
‘We aim to be helpful,’ she said smoothly.
‘And quiet,’ said Cal.
‘Good company,’ said Billie.
‘If you want company,’ said Cal.
‘And,’ said Billie, with the air of one bestowing a great favour. ‘We come bearing pies.’
‘Bribery,’ he murmured. ‘That’s the spirit.’
‘We have raspberry and apple, blackberry, chunky beef in gravy – that one’s new, and plain Angus beef. Two of each and all for you.’ There was a smile in Billie’s eyes
‘No, they divorced years ago. Celia only wishes he was dead. Philip Charles was a wild one. Handsome as Lucifer and twice as dangerous. He married Celia for her money, which she figured out quick enough after the wedding. You could almost feel sorry for her. Almost.’ Maude’s gaze grew heavy with concern. ‘You let her get to you today and what’s worse you let her see it. You’re not very good at hiding your feelings for Adam, are you?’
‘Apparently not.’ Billie sat on Cal’s stool, ran her hands through her hair and took a deep breath. ‘We stayed at Adam’s place last night, Maude.’
‘Well now, that’s as good a start as any.’
‘He was waiting for us at the cottage when we got home. Waiting to take us back to his place and he was so gentle and careful with us he nearly broke my heart.’
‘I’m hearing a
but
,’ said Maude.
‘He’s got some issues he hasn’t dealt with yet. Issues concerning his late wife and son. Sometimes he pulls back from us so fast it makes my head spin.’
‘Every man has his demons,’ said Maude. ‘Adam more so than most. Don’t let anyone tell you his marriage was made in heaven, because it wasn’t. Celia never let go of that daughter of hers, not even after Caroline married. She never once missed an opportunity to point out Adam’s shortcomings as a husband and a father, and frankly, Caroline took far more notice of her mother than she should have. It was Celia who urged Caroline to drive into town that night, make no mistake about that. Not that she ever wore any of the guilt; she let Adam have it all.’
‘Adam wants us to stay with him until the vandal is caught. For safety’s sake.’ Billie looked at Maude and saw wisdom there, and understanding. ‘I don’t know if I want to. I don’t know if we
should
. What would you do?’
‘I think I’d take the opportunity to show him what sharing his life with a generous and loving person would be like. Couldn’t hurt.’
‘
Will
hurt,’ corrected Billie.
‘Maybe,’ said Maude. ‘And maybe it’s worth the risk.’
Adam was in his office updating accounts that didn’t need updating when he heard Billie’s car finally pull up outside. It was after nine-thirty in the evening, she should have been home half an hour ago, and he’d been starting to wonder whether she’d changed her mind about staying at the homestead another night and heading for the cottage after all. He wouldn’t blame her. Couldn’t stop her.
So he feigned a nonchalance he was far from feeling as he opened the screen door and let them in.
‘Thanks,’ she said, her smile a shade tentative. She was carrying a boxful of clothes and toiletries. Cal’s box contained milk, cheese, bread and other perishables. ‘We stopped off at the cottage and picked up a few supplies.’
‘So I see.’
‘You don’t mind, do you? We also had an offer to stay with Maude, Roly’s got the pub locked up tight so we could have stayed there, we could have stayed at a motel come to think of it, and Arthur thinks he’s finally found us a rental house in town. It comes vacant just after new year. All we’re waiting on is permission to have Henry there. Meanwhile…’ Billie set her box down on the bench and sent him a rueful smile. ‘We decided, upon much reflection, that where we really wanted to bed down tonight was with Henry, and Blue.’
‘And you,’ said Cal and Billie smiled.
‘We aim to be helpful,’ she said smoothly.
‘And quiet,’ said Cal.
‘Good company,’ said Billie.
‘If you want company,’ said Cal.
‘And,’ said Billie, with the air of one bestowing a great favour. ‘We come bearing pies.’
‘Bribery,’ he murmured. ‘That’s the spirit.’
‘We have raspberry and apple, blackberry, chunky beef in gravy – that one’s new, and plain Angus beef. Two of each and all for you.’ There was a smile in Billie’s eyes
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