Kitabı oku: «Circle of Family»

Chapter One

“What in the world?”

Up to her elbows in pink ribbons and last-minute wedding favors, Marianne Weston looked around the decorated yard to find the source of a persistent drone that was getting louder by the second. When she realized it was coming from overhead, she glanced up at the cloudless sky. The sound seemed to be racing the midmorning sun, and she shaded her eyes to look toward the east. Squinting against the sunlight, she saw a blue-and-yellow biplane barreling toward the Sawyer family farm.

So low it had to be clipping the trees, she thought for sure the plane was going to crash in the front hayfield. As she watched in amazement, it soared no more than six feet over the large white farmhouse, rocking its wings as if the maneuver was an everyday occurrence. It made a graceful loop before coming in to land in a fallow cornfield.

After that, nothing. She wasn’t close enough to see what the pilot was doing, but she knew he had to be her brother Matt’s best man. She’d never met Ridge Collins, and something told her this wouldn’t be your run-of-the-mill introduction.

Marianne put out the last of the ribbon-tied candy bags and headed up to welcome him. Several chickadees chattered at her from their home in one of the eaves as she passed by the flower-draped front porch. She strolled up the gentle slope, assessing the situation as she went. Life had taught her to be cautious, but the man’s unusual appearance had definitely piqued her curiosity.

Just as she topped the rise, the pilot popped up from his seat like a jack-in-the-box, his boots clanging as he descended the ladder attached to the side of the plane. Bracing his hand on the side, he looked underneath, then stepped back and folded his arms. After a few seconds, he was apparently satisfied.

“Thanks for a quick ride, girl,” he said, patting the plane as if it were a horse who’d just given him a good run. “I’m late, so your rubdown will have to wait.”

The man talked to his plane, Marianne thought with a smile. No wonder Matt had never introduced him to the family.

As she approached, she wasn’t sure how to greet him, so she went with something light. “That was quite a landing.”

When he turned to face her, her heart skipped a couple of beats. When it started up again, she had to remind herself to breathe.

He looked like he’d just stepped out of Pearl Harbor, one of her favorite movies. His battered leather jacket had a faded animal on the front, and his threadbare jeans had seen much better days. Mirrored aviator sunglasses completed the image. She could almost hear sweeping orchestra music welcoming the hero home.

A friend from Matt’s wilder days, Ridge held himself with relaxed confidence. Rugged and independent, he was handsome in a rough-and-tumble kind of way. While they stood looking at each other, Marianne wondered how many women had lost their hearts to this man.

Fortunately, logic returned and set her back on her usual even keel. Intriguing as this man might be, she wasn’t one to blindly follow her heart anymore. Her ex-husband had cured her of her romantic streak a long time ago.

* * *

It wasn’t exactly the reception he’d expected.

According to Matt, his tiny North Carolina hometown was full of gossips and busybodies but was the sort of place that greeted everyone with open arms. Even during the years he’d avoided his sad memories of home, Matt had told him how friendly and open his family was.

So Ridge felt a little awkward standing there while this very pretty woman studied him like a specimen on a tray. The breeze ruffled her honey-gold hair, and her icy-blue eyes stared him down like a gunfighter’s. Then he realized he was still wearing his sunglasses.

He dropped them to hang from their braided cord and smiled as he offered his hand. “Ridge Collins.”

She took his hand without hesitation, but he got the feeling her smile was a bit forced. “Marianne Weston. Welcome to Harland.”

It was the kind of tone people reserved for annoying salesmen, but Ridge did his best to ignore it. He was later than he’d promised, after all, and he hadn’t called. In his experience, women hated it when he made excuses.

“Sorry I’m late. The weather got kinda nasty west of here.”

“You put on quite a show coming in that way,” she said as a screen door slammed.

Ridge glanced at the house to find two kids headed their way. The boy was in a gray suit, complete with navy tie. Wearing a pouf of a pink dress, the little girl made him think of a sugarplum fairy. Freshly scrubbed and polished, they looked ready for a wedding. Too bad he didn’t, he chided himself. Then Marianne might have been a little happier to see him.

“A big part of my business is aerial tours,” he explained. “Folks love to see what the old girl can do.”

“Do they?”

Her brittle tone sent up a red flag, and he backpedaled like a center fielder at Yankee Stadium. “Some of ’em.”

She nailed him with a glare. “You scared me half to death, skimming over my house like that.”

“I apologize. I left a big buffer, but it must’ve looked closer from the ground.”

Based on her peeved look, he’d expected more of a lashing. Something apparently changed her mind, though, and her disapproval melted into a beautiful smile. The difference was striking, and he wished he knew which button he’d just pushed. He wouldn’t mind seeing that smile again.

“No harm done, I guess. I’m just glad you got here safely.” She motioned toward the boy standing a respectful couple of feet away. “This is my son, Kyle, and this—” she held an arm out to the adorable princess “—is Emily. Kids, this is Mr. Collins.”

“Ridge is fine.” Reaching out, he shook Kyle’s hand before hunkering down in front of Emily to avoid towering over her. Offering his hand, he grinned. “Your Uncle Matt’s told me a lot about you. It’s nice to finally meet you guys.”

Emily was a miniature version of her mother, and she assessed him with a curious look as she shook his hand. “Ridge is kind of a funny name.”

Marianne clicked her tongue, but Ridge chuckled. “Actually, it’s worse than that. My mom named me for Breckenridge, Colorado, the town we were living in when I was born.” He saw Kyle edging closer, and he glanced up at him. “Good thing we weren’t living in Albuquerque, huh?” he added with a wink.

The kid responded with a gap-toothed grin, then looked pointedly at the plane. “How come your plane has Betsy written on it?”

“She’s named for my grandmother.”

“Why?”

“Well, it was kind of a wreck when Grandpa brought it home. He named it after her so she wouldn’t kill him.”

“What’s this?” Emily asked, pointing at the front of his jacket.

“A wolf.” He shifted to show her the full-size version on the back. “My great-grandfather flew in the Wolf Pack in World War Two.”

“Is this his plane?” Kyle asked, eyes wide with amazement.

“No, but it’s the same kind he trained in.”

Kyle opened his mouth for another question, but his mother cut him off. “I’m sure Mr. Collins is tired from his trip. Why don’t we bring him inside and get him something to eat?”

The mother-hen comment made him remember something. “That sounds great, but I have to make a call first.” He swept a hand in Betsy’s general direction. “Go ahead and have a look.”

The kids didn’t have to be asked twice, and he enjoyed watching them gawk at his pride and joy. When he caught Marianne frowning at the plane, he assumed she was angry with him for landing at the farm. With the wedding only a couple of hours away, he understood.

“Matt said it was okay to fly in here,” he said. “But I can head to the airstrip outside of town if you’d rather.”

“No, it’s fine.” Sighing, she shook her head. “When your response card said you were bringing Betsy, I thought she was your date.”

At first, he didn’t get it. When the significance of the misunderstanding hit him, he felt terrible. “And you ordered her a meal.”

“There was no food preference, so I went with the chicken.”

A laugh was threatening, but she seemed like the serious type, and he didn’t want to insult her. “Sorry about that. I figured Matt would know I was flying out here.”

After a second, humor warmed her eyes to the color of a flawless summer sky. “I guess I should’ve chosen high-test.”

They both laughed, and he was relieved that their awkward first meeting had turned into something more positive.

“Excuse me a minute.” He took his cell phone from the pocket of his jeans. When Marianne started to move away, he waved her back. “No need to leave. Mom was worried about the weather, so I promised to call her when I landed.”

He punched up her number and waited for the call to connect.

“Your mother is number one on your speed dial?” Marianne asked.

He chuckled. “She wouldn’t have it any other way. Hey, there. Yeah, I’m fine.” He paused, then chuckled again. “Yes, I’m telling the truth. Okay, hang on.”

Holding up the phone, he snapped a picture of himself in front of Betsy and hit Send. While he waited for the picture message to go through, he sighed. He loved his mom to pieces, but she worried about him way too much. For her birthday, he’d gotten her a cute fox terrier to dote on, but it hadn’t changed anything. He still flew, and she still worried. It was kind of comforting, in a way. No matter how old he got, he’d always be her boy.

“Believe me now? Good. Give your little ankle biter a treat for me.” He grinned. “Love you more. See you in a couple weeks.”

He hit the off button and noticed Marianne’s expression. Since he’d just met her, he couldn’t be sure about it, but she seemed to like what she’d heard. “Moms. What can you do?”

“We are what we are.”

“I’m real sorry I didn’t call to tell you about my change in plans,” Ridge apologized again.

She waved it away as she took Emily’s hand and turned toward the house. “We’re used to it.”

As he followed Marianne and the kids inside—carrying his duffel bag and suit carrier—Ridge admired the setting for his best friend’s wedding. The garden out front was magazine-perfect, with a rose-covered trellis and round tables scattered around the expansive side yard. Each one was draped in linen and held a vase overflowing with flowers. There were several racks covered in tarps. He assumed they were for the folding chairs, and he made a mental note to help put them away later.

With the kind of efficiency that came from lots of practice, Marianne pulled out snacks and juice boxes, then set glasses and a pitcher of sweet tea on the table. Ridge decided it was best to get out what he wanted to say.

“Matt told me about your father passing last year. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you,” she said as she’d probably done a million times since his sudden death. Her eyes went to the empty chair at the head of the table. “We really miss him.”

Ridge wished he could say the same about his own father. Unfortunately, when the abusive drunk who’d made his childhood a living nightmare died a few years ago, it took every ounce of compassion he had not to celebrate.

While she sliced up some great-smelling banana bread, he filled glasses with ice and tea for both of them. After a long swallow, he grinned his appreciation. “I’ve been out west the last month. I really missed this stuff.”

That got him a gracious smile. “There’s always plenty, so help yourself.”

“Southern hospitality,” he complimented her as he refilled his glass. “Gotta love it.”

“Don’t get used to it, city boy.”

Ridge glanced over to find Matt Sawyer filling the doorway. Dressed in a gray suit with a buttoned-up white shirt and burgundy tie, Matt looked a lot different from the last time Ridge had seen him. Of course, that had been a trip to Vegas he suspected Matt’s family knew nothing about.

Laughing, Ridge shook his old buddy’s hand. “I won’t, believe me. Betsy and I don’t fare well if we’re in one place too long.”

Matt took the sweet tea Marianne handed him and drained it in three gulps. “Thanks, Mare.”

“When did you finish up the haying last night?”

Matt squinted at the schoolhouse clock on the wall. “Two, I think. There’s a lot more to do, but I’ve done all I can.”

“We need some more help around here,” she commented with a worried frown.

“Can’t afford it. Speaking of help, that reminds me,” he said to Ridge. “I rustled up some dusting contracts for you. Starting with us Monday morning. Did you talk to John?”

“Your little brother said I can stay with him while I’m in town. He was really cool about it.”

“Not much bothers John.” Matt glanced at his sister and apparently read the very obvious disdain on her face. “What?”

She didn’t respond, just stood there with her arms folded and giving him The Look. After a few seconds, understanding dawned, and he chuckled. Ridge didn’t remember Matt having much of a sense of humor, and he suspected the bride had something to do with his buddy’s new lighthearted view of things.

“Forgot to tell you Ridge was staying here, didn’t I?” Matt asked his sister.

“Yes.”

“Sorry.”

He leaned in to kiss her cheek, and she swatted him away with a laugh. “Since you’re getting married today, I’ll let it slide.”

“Come on.” Matt motioned Ridge toward the stairs. “I’ll show you where to get ready.”

As they went up the creaky wooden steps, Ridge said, “So, should I guess from what you were saying to Marianne that things are still pretty tight around here?”

“Tight ain’t the word. We’re better off than some, but not as good as I’d like.”

Ridge knew Matt wouldn’t accept anything more than free labor, but he resolved to find a way to help the Sawyers out a little. He wasn’t exactly swimming in money himself, but maybe he could come up with something.

In the meantime, he could manufacture a pleasant distraction. “I flew over your new house on my way through town. It looks great.”

“Yeah?” Matt opened the door at the end of the upstairs hallway. “I’ve been working so much, I haven’t seen it in daylight since last week.”

“The roof was going on.” Ridge laid his suit carrier across the foot of the bed. “I like the siding. Who decided on light green?”

“We both did. Caty wanted yellow, I wanted blue, so we settled on green.”

Just saying her name eased the tension from his voice, and Ridge congratulated himself on breaking Matt out of his funk.

“You’re really happy, aren’t you?” Ridge asked, even though he knew the answer. It was written all over the guy’s face.

“Yeah.” He added a wry grin. “Me and a lawyer. Who’d’ve figured on that?”

Ridge made a show of thinking that one over, and they both burst out laughing. It was a good start to the day.

* * *

The morning flew by in a blink and before Marianne knew it, she and Lisa were standing in their places waiting for Caty to come down the aisle. Refusing to choose between them, the bride had cleverly solved the problem by making them her “sisters of honor.” Unconventional, but Marianne appreciated her coming up with a solution that wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.

Angling a glance to her right, Marianne decided her little sister looked like a rosebud. They were wearing the same pink dress, but Lisa’s chandelier earrings sparkled in the sunlight, and the tiny roses and baby’s breath she’d eased into her French braid were the perfect touch.

After Emily skipped down the aisle and joined them, Marianne rested a hand on the bouncing flower girl’s shoulder to keep her in one spot. The guitarist strummed the first chords of the wedding march, prompting everyone to stand and look expectantly toward the front porch.

There, beneath swags of roses and hibiscus, the bride smiled up at the father she hadn’t even known a year ago. As they made their way toward the flower-draped arbor, Ridge tapped Matt’s shoulder and leaned in to say something. Whatever it was made her brother grin like an idiot, and Marianne sent up a desperate plea for divine intervention in getting them to behave themselves for just ten more minutes. Since Matt was the oldest Sawyer, she’d never had much luck being a mother hen to him in the past. Still, miracles happened every day.

Like the one that had brought Matt and Caty together in the first place.

In the past year, they’d navigated a long, rough road. Now they stood in the same spot where her parents, Ethan and Jan Sawyer, were married thirty-five years ago. The couple repeated their vows back to Pastor Charles in clear, confident voices. Despite their obvious differences, Marianne believed with all her heart that they really were meant for each other.

She wished their parents had lived long enough to see Matt so happy.

A warm breeze rustled through the roses climbing over the archway, releasing the sweet scent of the pink-and-white blossoms to mix with the hyacinth and jasmine in the garden surrounding them. Fifty-three guests were there, smiling and snapping pictures from every angle. Today really was perfect, she thought with a smile. She couldn’t have asked for anything more.

When Matt turned to Ridge for Caty’s ring, Marianne’s sunny mood took a sudden dive. The best man’s crazy—and unexpected—arrival had put her more on edge than she needed to be. As if she didn’t have enough to worry about, now she’d have a stranger wandering around the farm for the next two weeks until he headed back to Colorado. She’d get Matt for that one, she promised herself.

After less than a minute with Ridge, she’d pegged him as disorganized and cocky. Although she had to admit the phone call to his mom had netted him some points. A grown man who so obviously loved his mother couldn’t be all bad.

And no woman with a pulse could help noticing that his tall, solid frame looked as good in his crisp gray suit as it had in jeans and a leather bomber jacket. Or that his hazel eyes had little flecks of gold in them that sparkled in the sunlight.

Unfortunately, Peter Weston had taught her that looks could be crushingly deceiving. And despite all of Ridge’s good points, Marianne couldn’t get past the aggravation he’d already caused her. Coming in late with a crazy flying display that nearly gave her a heart attack was just the start. Then there was the mock RSVP that caused her to waste money on a catered meal for his plane. No doubt about it, Marianne decided as the ceremony wound down.

Ridge Collins was walking trouble.

While Matt and Caty sealed their vows with a long kiss, everyone stood to applaud and cheer. Caty turned, and Marianne dutifully handed over her bouquet of pink-and-white roses.

“We’ve been friends forever, and now we’re sisters!” Caty exclaimed, embracing first Marianne and then Lisa. “How cool is that?”

“Very cool,” Lisa agreed as the two of them exchanged a very unladylike high five.

“Excuse me.” Matt stepped in and tapped his new bride on the shoulder.

When he motioned down the aisle, she laughed and took his arm to make their ceremonial first walk as man and wife. After they rounded the corner of the house, he swept her up in a hug, giving her a kiss that seemed to go on forever.

When she realized she was spying on them, Marianne turned away to give them some privacy.

And straight into the best man.

Ridge offered her his arm. Still agitated by her conflicting impressions of him, she quickly invented an excuse for not taking it. “The kids are saving you a seat, so go ahead and sit down. I’ll join you after I see if the caterers need anything.”

“Sure. Let me know if I can help.”

People were settling in for their meal, and she watched the new Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer make their way through the garden, stopping at each table to talk with their guests. Tears stung her eyes, and she took a deep breath to calm her churning emotions. She was happy for them. Thrilled, actually. She wouldn’t let her baffling reaction to the best man or memories of her own failed marriage ruin this day for two people she loved so much.

She’d had her chance, and it hadn’t worked out. That didn’t mean Matt and Caty were destined for heartache.

Please, God, she prayed silently. Bless them with a long, happy life together.

* * *

Late that afternoon, Matt and Caty said goodbye to their last wedding guest. Marianne expected them to be as exhausted as she was, but they seemed to have caught a second wind. After hugs and thank-you’s for everyone, they climbed into Matt’s enormous blue pickup. Streamers and cans flying along behind them, they drove around the circular drive, waving out the windows before heading toward the main road in a cloud of dust.

The silence they left behind was deafening.

The family just stood there, watching the truck go down the highway until it disappeared over a hill. For fifteen years, they’d waited and prayed for Matt to come back from wherever his wanderlust had taken him. Their father’s unexpected death had finally brought him home, and Caty’s love had kept him there.

But now he was gone. Oh, he’d still be in Harland, but he’d be living with Caty in their new house. The family would see him while he was working at the farm, maybe for a meal now and then. But his heart belonged to Caty, and he wanted to be with her—should be with her. The rest of them would have to adjust, but Marianne knew it wouldn’t be easy.

“They’ll be back,” she said out loud, as much to herself as to anyone else. “Two weeks isn’t that long.”

“It’s forever,” Emily moaned, her chin trembling while she stared down at her wilting bouquet.

Marianne swept her up for a comforting embrace. “They’ll be back before you know it. Everything will be just fine.”

“You’re set if I go, right?” Lisa asked. “I’m beat.”

“The servers are handling the cleanup,” Marianne replied, giving her a quick hug. “Thanks for all your help.”

“No problem. Ridge, it was nice to meet you.” Shaking his hand, she added her usual dazzling smile. “If you get hungry, I work at Ruthy’s Place on Main Street. We’ll fix you up with some honest-to-goodness home cooking.”

“Do I look like I need it?” he asked.

“Every man does,” she retorted.

“Ruthy, as in Ruth Benton, the amazing chef who catered the wedding?”

“The very same. You come in, I’ll set you up.” Flashing him another smile, she sauntered over to her car and gracefully slid into the driver’s seat.

After her sister’s flirtatious exit, Marianne snuck a look at Ridge, fully expecting to find him watching Lisa go. Pretty and carefree, Lisa was a starry-eyed dreamer who adored people, men especially. Males of all ages were drawn to her sunny personality. They just couldn’t help it.

Not this one, though. To Marianne’s amazement, he was engrossed in a discussion with Kyle about the faulty motor on his remote control helicopter. Something about servos was all she understood.

“I’m done, too,” John announced, stooping to kiss Marianne’s cheek. “You sure do throw a great wedding.”

As he strolled down the lane toward the converted carriage house he lived in, she shook her head. A ratty pair of sneakers had replaced his good shoes, and he’d shed his jacket and tie sometime during the day.

Because their mother had died when he was only five, Marianne had mothered him since childhood, and he still counted on her to look after him. Later, she’d find his missing clothes and get them cleaned, but this time she’d give him the bill. He was almost thirty, and it was time for him to start doing more on his own.

Right now, she had company. Still holding Emily, she turned to Ridge. “Come on inside. I’ll fix us a snack.”

“I had enough from that buffet to last me a week,” he replied, patting his stomach. “I’d love some more of that lemonade, though.”

They headed up the back porch steps with the kids, and he stepped in front of her to pull open the screen door. Thanking him, she set Emily down in the kitchen.

“Emily, where are your pretty new shoes?” she asked as Kyle snagged some chocolate chip cookies from the jar in the middle of the table. He thought he was being sneaky, but he’d been so good all day, she let it go.

Innocent blue eyes looked up at her. “In the pond.”

“Why?”

“They were hurting my feet.”

While she was counting to ten, Marianne noticed the red streak on her daughter’s dress. “What’s this?”

Emily glanced down like the spill was news to her. “Punch.”

She really didn’t have the energy for this, Marianne thought, swallowing a sigh that would only make matters worse. “Go take it off and bring it down for me. If we soak it, we might be able to get the stain out.”