Chapter Twelve
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Leann’s mother had drilled it into her daughter’s head almost from birth that one never showed up at the home of a bereaved friend empty-handed. Therefore, Leann was standing in Jenna’s dining room holding a tray of meats and cheeses she’d had made up at the grocery store along with a large bowl of homemade chocolate pudding. Homemade by Dizzy, actually. That girl had a way with desserts that defied logic. Leann had thought Jenna’s kids might want some old-fashioned “comfort” food and Dizzy had been happy to have someone to cook for.
Jenna and Drew had two children, a boy and a girl. Every year at Christmas time, like clockwork, Leann received a photo card from the family featuring them all smiling and wearing matching holiday sweaters. There wouldn’t be any more of those – at least not with Drew.
Those poor kids.
Having grown up in a happy but busy family, Leann couldn’t begin to imagine what those children were going through, having lost their father. It was times like this life reminded everyone that it wasn’t fair.
The house was full of people, most of whom Leann recognized but a few she didn’t. Jenna sat in the living room surrounded by family and friends. The two children were nowhere in sight but Leann vividly remembered being a pre-teenager. They were probably holed up in their room with their friends. Adults were not cool.
“Leann, can I take those for you and put them on the table?”
Whirling around, Leann was face to face with her mother. Eileen Anderson wore the gentlest expression as if afraid to spook her only daughter, and for good reason. Leann had been actively avoiding her parents since she’d hit town Thursday morning. She didn’t want to walk the usual question gauntlet. Was she seeing anyone? If not, would she consider moving back and joining one of the family businesses? She simply wasn’t ready to discuss her possible plans to return to Tremont. If Leann had her way, she’d simply show up at Sunday dinner one day and announce she’d bought a house and moved in under the cover of darkness.
Relinquishing the tray to her mother, Leann followed and placed the pudding bowl down on the table that was already laden with food. Apparently, everyone in Tremont knew the adage about showing up empty-handed.
“The pudding looks good. Did you make it?” Eileen smiled at her daughter’s rueful expression as she gave her a hug. “Dizzy made it, didn’t she? She’s certainly an excellent cook so I bet it’s wonderful.”
“She offered and it was her kitchen, so…”
“You could have come home and made it,” her mother reminded her gently.
Leann could have but that would have meant dealing with her parents. “I didn’t want to bother you.”
Eileen swept a strand of Leann’s hair away from her face. Her mother had the same red hair, although it was streaked with gray now. The boys had inherited their father’s dark hair.
“You’re no bother, sweetheart. We would have been happy to have you stay with us.”
Nervously, Leann smoothed down her emerald green shift dress. It gave her hands something to do. “Dizzy’s is in town and she lets me use her car.”
“We have several vehicles on the ranch but I suppose you have a point. The ranch is a much longer drive into town.”
Slowly but surely, Eileen was boxing Leann in, pushing her to say the great unsaid. A change in subject was imperative. “So, is Dad here too?”
Her mother nodded. “Along with your cousins Noah and Easton. I have no idea what the others are doing but expect they’ll make an appearance at some point.” Eileen’s gaze darted around the room. “Did Dizzy come with you?”
“She’s giving a painting class for seniors at the community center this afternoon.”
Eileen beamed as she rearranged the food on the table to make more room. “I know that she does that as a volunteer and doesn’t get paid a dime. She’s a sweet one. I can’t believe some lucky young man hasn’t swept her off her feet.”
Talking about someone else took the heat off of Leann, although she was only delaying the inevitable. She and her parents had the exact same conversation every time she came home and this time she might have different answers, but strangely enough it didn’t make it any easier. If anything, it made it more difficult because that’s when the torrent of questions would come about when she was moving and where she would live. Would she work for the family?
Seemingly out of nowhere, Easton reached over his aunt’s back and snagged a piece of cheese. “Who’s a sweet one? It can’t be Leann. Not with that sourpuss.”
Nothing had changed since they were children. They still loved to give each other a hard time and insults were at the top of the list. Easton needed to be careful because Leann knew a hell of a lot more about him than he knew about her.
Elbowing her cousin, Leann made a show of clearing her throat. “I’ll have you know that I am very sweet. Now be nice to your aunt and stop crowding her.” She peered around Easton. “Where’s your annoying twin?”
Noah was six minutes older than Easton.
“He had to take a call so he stepped outside.”
Eileen slapped at Easton’s hand as he reached across her again. “Have some manners and get a plate. As for who we were talking about, it was Dizzy, of course. She’s one of the sweetest girls in Tremont. I can’t believe she’s still single.”
“I can,” Easton declared. “She’s strange as hell. It was raining the other day and I was driving down Maple Street and I saw her walking so I stopped to offer her a ride, which I thought was the gentlemanly thing to do. She refused my kind offer and said that rain was – and I quote – cleansing her soul. Whatever the hell that means. So I drove on and she got soaked. Then there was that time–”
Eileen held up her hand. “We get the idea. Dizzy is one of a kind, a truly unique individual, and she does some things that might seem a little out there to other people. She does, however, have a heart of gold and she is quite talented. Creative types don’t always conform to social norms.”
Easton snorted. “She’s looking at social norms in the rearview mirror, Auntie. But you’re right, she is a good person. I know she does a lot of volunteer work for the community. Now if you will excuse me I need to get back to the office. Anderson Industries won’t run itself, you know. Anytime you want to join us and do some real work, Leann, let me know. We could use a corporate psychologist in the HR department.”
More of this. She should have expected it. “Then you should hire one.”
Easton dropped a kiss on Leann’s cheek. “You won’t be able to hold out forever.”
“Watch me.”
Leann watched as Easton bounded out of the front door, hurrying to get back to the office.
“I think the more we push you, the more you push back,” Eileen observed shrewdly. “Maybe if we stop asking, you’ll come home on your own.”
Feeling the heat suffuse her cheeks, Leann wasn’t sure how to respond. All of those expectations. What it meant to be an Anderson. It didn’t help that she was the only female of this generation. It was a shit-ton of baggage to be carrying around and she was completely free from it in her adopted state of Florida.
“Maybe. That’s a big decision.”
Her mother nodded. “It is and don’t think that we don’t realize it. You have a friends and a career down there and it would be hard to leave, but we do miss you, sweetheart. I hope you’re planning to come to Sunday dinner. Bring Zach with you, too.”
Sunday dinner at the Anderson house was legendary and a child didn’t miss it unless they had a damn good reason. Leann had always planned to attend.
“I’ll be there and I think I have to bring him. He’s my bodyguard.”
Eileen gifted her with a wide smile. “We can have a nice long visit. You can tell me about you and your Zach.”
Huh?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mom. Zach is just doing his job. There’s nothing going on between us.”
Eileen fussed with a stack of napkins at the end of the table. “You’ve spent a lot of time with him lately.”
The speed of light had nothing on the speed of gossip in Tremont. “I did but I would hardly call him my Zach. We danced and talked. As of now, there are no wedding plans. He was my escort so he could question the reunion guests without spooking them, plus as I said he’s protecting me. Although he isn’t at the moment. I’m being followed around by a deputy who is sitting outside in his cruiser intimidating everyone.”
It had been beyond embarrassing being driven to the wake by the police.
“Don’t wait too long, sweetheart. Zach is what we called a stone fox back in my day.”
Pressing her hand to her warm cheeks, Leann couldn’t suppress a giggle. “Mother, please. He’s my brother-in-law. Sort of.”
Eileen nudged her daughter. “Looks like there’s a break in the crowd around Jenna. Now might be a good time to go over and pay your respects. I’ll be in the kitchen so come by before you leave.”
“I will, Mom.” Leann began to turn away but stopped, emotion swelling inside of her as she gazed at Jenna’s tearstained face. Somehow, some way she needed to heal the rift she’d caused by leaving. She and her parents were too wary and scared, always waiting for the next strike. The toxic pattern had to be stopped in its tracks and it started now. Today. “And Mom…I love you.”
Eileen smiled and patted Leann on the cheek. “I never doubted that. I love you, too. So very much. We all do.”
It was a start.