Odelia immediately brightened at that reminder. Trading looks with Magnolia, she smiled. “So he is. Well, well. I had forgotten all about that.”
Hypatia lifted her eyebrows, and Odelia knew that the sisters were all thinking the same thing: whenever anyone came to stay at Chatam House, a romance inevitably followed. But Ellie and Asher?
“Who’d have thought it?” Odelia chirped happily, distracted for the moment from her own problems.
“Who’d have thought what?” Ellie asked.
Hypatia shrugged. “I suppose it was inevitable.”
“What was inevitable?”
“That a romance would be brewing,” Magnolia declared jovially.
Smiling over the rim of her cup, Dallas leaned back into the corner of the armchair and crossed her long, slender legs.
Ellie glanced at Odelia, smiling slightly. “O-kaay. And the ‘brewing romance’ that we are discussing is…”
“Why, yours, dear,” Odelia answered brightly.
“Mine?” Ellie yelped, sitting forward. “Whatever gave you the idea that I’m having a romance?”
“Oh, just the facts,” Dallas said nonchalantly. “First, you were alone out in the greenhouse with Ash the other evening—”
“
You
arranged that!”
“So? I was told by someone who would know that it was a lengthy tryst.”
Ellie glanced from Dallas to Odelia and back. “Who would that be?”
“Garrett Willows, as it happens.” She slid a look at Odelia from beneath her lashes, adding, “In fact, I heard there was quite a bit of traffic in the greenhouse that night.”
Odelia felt hot spots blossom high on her cheekbones. They had been spotted, she and Kent! Oh, no, no. It couldn’t be.
“I don’t care what you heard,” Ellie said emphatically. “There was no ‘tryst,’ as you put it.” Odelia allowed herself the tiniest bit of relief.
“No?” Dallas scoffed. “And I suppose it’s just a coincidence that you’ve now gone from client to coach in my brother’s soccer association?”
“Yes! That’s exactly what it is, a coincidence.”
“Oh, my dear,” Hypatia said with an indulgent shake of her head. “There are no coincidences for God’s children.”
“It’s a concept young people seem not to grasp anymore,” Magnolia said, tsking.
“Wow,” Dallas exclaimed, sitting up straight as if an idea had struck her. “A twofer.”
Odelia blinked at that, horrified. “A what?”
“A twofer. You know, it means two for the price of one.”
“I’m sorry, dear. I don’t understand,” Hypatia said.
“If there are no coincidences,” Dallas explained, “then it can’t be a coincidence that Mr. Monroe is in residence here at Chatam House, either.”
Hypatia shrugged in confusion, while Odelia’s face flamed hot. “I suppose.”
“Well, then,” Dallas went on, nodding at Odelia as if encouraging her to confess all.
Odelia felt the color drain from her face. “Y-you can’t possibly mean…”
Dallas glanced around the gathering. “Oh, come now,” she said with some exasperation. “Ellie isn’t the only Monroe staying here.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Hypatia demanded.
“All I’m saying is that if Ash can fall in love, anyone can, even…” She looked pointedly to Odelia.
Gasping—squeaking, really—Odelia lurched to her feet. Only belatedly, as she was juggling them, did she realize that she still held her teacup and saucer. Somehow, she managed to get them safely onto the tray, but by that time, everyone was gaping at her.
“Excuse me,” she said, lifting her chin. “I have to…”
The thought trailed off. She couldn’t think of a single thing that she had to do just then. Except escape. Which was exactly what she did. She quite literally turned tail and ran, and she didn’t stop until she was locked safely in her room in the suite that she shared with her sisters.
Whatever could Dallas be thinking? she wondered, wringing her hands as she paced the floor. Obviously, Garrett had seen Kent follow her to the greenhouse that night, or perhaps Asher had mentioned something about their discussion afterward. No, no, she couldn’t accept that. Ash was the soul of discretion. Yet, what Dallas had said could not be entirely dismissed.
“No coincidence,” she muttered. “No coincidence.”
But no romance, either.
Not for her.
Not for a foolish old lady who had missed her chance long ago.
G
lancing at her sister’s rapidly retreating back, Magnolia frowned at her niece. “Whatever has gotten into you, Dallas Chatam?”
“Surely you’ve noticed—” Dallas began, only to break off at the sound of the door knocker.
“Who might that be?” Hypatia murmured, casting a curious look over one shoulder.
“Whoever it is,” Magnolia said, setting aside her teacup with a huff, “you’ll have to entertain without me. I don’t have time for any more nonsense today. Spring will not wait for my repotting.” Casting a frown at Dallas, she rose and hurried away, leaving Hypatia to reluctantly answer the door.
Ellie seized the moment to hiss at her friend. “I agree with Magnolia. What is wrong with you?”
“Just stating the obvious,” Dallas retorted defensively.
“The obvious, my foot! Making them believe there’s something between your brother and me.”
“Well, isn’t there?”
“No! Besides,” Ellie went on, realizing that she ought
not to dwell on the subject of her own nonexistent romance, “you practically had Odelia in tears.”
“Oh, please,” Dallas protested in a harsh whisper. “Auntie Od in tears? I may have embarrassed her a little, but—”
“A little? You think that was
a little
embarrassing? Sometimes I think you’re certifiably insane.”
“That’s harsh,” Dallas muttered with a frown.
“Not harsh enough,” Ellie scolded hotly, “not if you—” She broke off as Hypatia reentered the room. Hypatia, however, was not alone.
Behind her strode an attractive, boyish-looking fellow with neatly groomed nut-brown hair. Dressed in a dark blue button-up shirt with a somehow familiar logo embroidered in white above the breast pocket, he smiled benignly, his sharp gaze tracking from Dallas to Ellie and back again. Not much taller than Hypatia, he carried a simple dark blue folder in his left hand. In other words, he seemed utterly harmless—until Hypatia pointedly said, “Ellie, dear, this gentleman would like to speak to you and your grandfather.”
Ellie stared hard at that logo and gulped. “I…h-he…”
“I’ve explained that Mr. Monroe is taking a much-needed nap,” Hypatia went on helpfully.
At that point, the fellow dodged around Hypatia and went straight to Ellie, putting out his right hand. “Jared Lawrence, Miss Monroe, with Insurance Nation.”
“In-insurance. I see.”
He seemed unconcerned when she failed to immediately take his hand. “I have some questions about the fire at 1001 Charter. But first…” He plucked a sheet of paper from the folder. “I’ll need you to sign this interview document. It’s just to fix the time and date
of our conversation and attest to the validity of your stateme—”
“Y-you’ve caught me at an in-inconvenient moment,” Ellie interrupted, sliding sideways out of her chair. “Please excuse me.” Her gaze followed his as he looked down at the crushed, winged cap that she had left behind on the seat of her chair. “While I change,” she improvised quickly, snatching up the thing and tucking it beneath one arm.
With a sharp nod, she bolted for the door. Behind her, she heard Hypatia stiltedly offer Jared Lawrence a cup of tea. Ellie didn’t catch his reply as she hurried across the foyer to the gear bag that she’d left on the floor. Dropping down onto her haunches, she reached into the bag for her cell phone before darting up the stairs.
By the time she’d made the turn in the broad, sweeping staircase, she’d located Asher’s phone number and hit Send. She hurried into the small apartment that the Chatam sisters referred to as the East Suite. Seeing that her grandfather’s bedroom door was closed, she crossed the sitting room to stand before the fireplace.
“Answer. Answer,” she pleaded as the phone rang on the other end.
Just when she thought all hope was lost, she heard a click, then a cautious, “Hello, Ellie.”
She didn’t bother with a greeting, just blurted, “You said not to talk to anyone unless you were here, but he’s downstairs in the parlor right now!”
“Who?”
“Jared Lawrence. From Insurance Nation. He wants me to sign a paper and talk to him.”
“Sign nothing, say nothing,” Asher instructed sternly. “I’ll be right there.”
He ended the call before he could hear her say, “Thank God!”
Glancing gratefully toward her grandfather’s closed door, she hurried toward her own bedroom at the opposite end of the suite. Without waiting for the water to heat, she quickly rinsed off beneath a cold shower, managing to keep her head mostly dry in the process, then changed into jeans and a sweater. After stepping barefoot into leather clogs, she dragged a brush through her unruly hair and headed back downstairs. Asher was shaking hands with Lawrence when she reached the parlor.
“I believe we spoke on the phone not long ago,” Asher said, looking as if he, too, had just stepped out of a shower, his chestnut-and-champagne hair plastered sleekly to his head.
“I believe we did,” Lawrence confirmed genially.
“And I thought it was understood that I would serve as point of contact for the Monroes,” Asher went on.
“Ah,” was the noncommittal reply.
“I don’t appreciate the end run,” Asher stated flatly.
Jared Lawrence just smiled. “Noted.” Taking an ink pen from his shirt pocket, he flipped open the folder in his hand and asked, “So when and where exactly would you like me to conduct the interviews?”
Obviously, this man was not going to be put off indefinitely. Ellie chewed her lip and caught Asher’s eye as he glanced in her direction.
“Perhaps,” Asher said slowly, “it would best serve everyone’s purpose if the interviews were to take place at the Monroe house.”
Jared Lawrence nodded his agreement. “Very well. Visuals are always appreciated.”
“I’ll arrange to have the house opened and let you know when we can meet.”
Lawrence closed his folder and pocketed his pen, saying, “I look forward to hearing from you soon.” Lawrence smiled at Ellie. “Give my best to your grandfather when he wakes.”
“Yes. Thank you,” she returned softly.
Nodding deeply to Hypatia, he said, “I appreciate the hospitality.”
“Our pleasure,” Hypatia murmured.
Dallas, who had observed all in silence, rose then. “I’ll see you out.”
Still smiling, Lawrence followed her from the room.
Ellie immediately crossed to her customary chair and collapsed upon it with a gusty sigh.
“Not so fast, my girl,” Asher said, pulling her up by the arm again. “I’d like a word with you in private.”
“Use the library, why don’t you, dear?” Hypatia suggested, sounding weary.
“Excellent idea,” Asher said, striding off in that direction with Ellie in tow. Dallas turned from the door just as they crossed the foyer. Her eyes widened, a speculative gleam lighting them.
Ellie groaned, but Asher did not slow down until he’d closed the library door behind them.
“We are out of time,” he stated flatly. “I need straight answers.”
Ellie glanced away. “I’ve given you straight answers.” To those questions he had asked, anyway.
“Do not be fooled by that man’s mild manner! He may be young and all smiles, but he knows exactly what he’s doing, and today’s little stunt tells me that he’s clever. Beyond that, if I were a betting man, I’d lay
odds that he knows something that I do not. So spill it, Ellie!”
“Spill what?”
“You’re holding something back.”
She threw up her hands. “I’ve given you the facts exactly as I know them!”
He stared at her for several moments, one hand moving agitatedly against his thigh until he clapped it to the back of his neck. “Something is missing from this picture, and if you can’t supply it, then I need to speak to your grandfather.” He looked up suddenly. “Is your grandfather having financial difficulties?”
“No! We may not be wealthy, but the Monroes have always been solvent. I don’t make much money, of course, and I do have student loans, but to my knowledge, Grandpa has no major debts.”
“What about a mortgage?”
“The house was inherited. I don’t think it has ever carried a mortgage. The drugstore is free and clear and brings in a steady income.”
“How were you paying for the renovations?”
Ellie shrugged. “Grandpa said there was money. I suppose it has to do with the drugstore. He took in a young partner a few years ago and recently struck a deal to sell. Not immediately, but over time. I assume there was a substantial down payment, and there had to be savings, too. Of course, it’s all gone now. Grandpa paid off the contractor after the fire.”
“That may have been a mistake,” Asher mused. “It’s possible the contractor or subcontractor was negligent.”
Sighing, Ellie felt tears well up. It was all such a mess. She was tired and hungry and overwhelmed with worries about Dallas and Odelia and, especially just
then, her grandfather. She had tried so hard to take the burden from him and protect Dallas in the process, but nothing was going as she’d hoped. The more immediate concern, however, was one she’d pushed to the back of her mind.
“We’re never going to get back into our house, are we? But where are we going to go?”
“Hey,” Asher said, “it’s not like you’re going to be out on the street.”
“But we can’t stay here indefinitely, and if we can’t get the house back into shape…” She sniffed and tried to swallow back the lump thickening in her throat, but she could not keep the tears from falling. “G-Grandpa should be r-retiring and t-taking it easy, but I don’t know if that will be p-possible now.”
Asher patted her shoulder awkwardly. “Don’t cry. That won’t help.”
“D-don’t you understand? I can’t p-pay rent for the two of us, but it’s not fair for him to have to c-continue to work. He deserves better than this!”
Against his better judgment, Asher reached out and pulled her into his arms. “It’s going to be okay.”
She sniffed and closed her eyes, her head upon his shoulder. “You don’t know that.”
“I promise you.” Pushing her away a little, he framed her face with his hands, tilting it upward. “Just work with me, sweetheart. We can’t be at odds here. We have to be a team. Okay?”
“Okay,” she echoed, smiling softly as she gazed into his amber eyes. “A team.”
“That’s my girl,” he said, and then he set his lips to hers.
It was a completely natural gesture, a light, comforting kiss, but it quite literally curled Ellie’s toes.
Suddenly, Asher wrenched away, leaping back so far that he bumped up against the door. Her hand lifted to her lips in wonder. He abruptly spun about, wrenched open the door and strode through it without a word.
Ellie ran forward, intending to call him back, but before she could get out a word, Dallas appeared. Ellie jerked to the side to look over her friend’s shoulder, only to see Asher pulling the front door closed behind him. Deflated, she glowered at her friend.
Squealing like a teenager, Dallas grabbed Ellie by the shoulders and walked her backward into the room. “He called you ‘sweetheart’! I heard it!”
“You were eavesdropping,” Ellie accused.
“Duh. Did he kiss you? It sounded to me like he kissed you.”
Oh, he had kissed her, and it hadn’t been a brotherly affair this time, either. Ellie felt a smile tugging at her lips, but the memory of what had followed changed everything. That kiss had been an accident. Obviously, he hadn’t intended to do it. There had been nothing romantic about it, not on Asher’s end, anyway. He’d simply meant to comfort her and gotten carried away.
The thought brought fresh tears to her eyes. Suddenly, she couldn’t help feeling that Dallas was very likely responsible for the train wreck that her life had become. If not for that fire, she’d never have been thrown into Asher’s path. She’d never have let her girlish crush burgeon into something so desperate, and her grandfather and Odelia wouldn’t be tiptoeing around the house like scalded cats. No matter how lofty Dallas’s motives might have been, Ellie just could not feel in charity with her best friend at that moment.
“I am not listening to your nonsense, Dallas Chatam,
not now. I’m facing a major problem here, in case you’ve forgotten.”
In typical fashion, Dallas waved that away with the flop of her wrist. “Ash will take care of that.”
“He’s not a magician, Dallas. I have no doubt that he’ll do what he can, but even he can’t predict what the insurance company will do.”
“Oh, come on. They’ll pay. Besides,” she said, waggling her eyebrows, “I’m less interested in how Ash is handling the insurance company than how he’s handling you.”
“Stop it!” Ellie hissed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“So tell me.”
“There is nothing
to
tell. And I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
Huffing, Dallas parked her hands at her waist. “Well, that’s no fun. You always tell me everything.”
“What part of
nothing
do you not get?”
Dallas rolled her eyes. “Fine. So let’s talk about your grandfather and my aunt Odelia.”
Ellie wasn’t much in the mood for their usual confab, but she parked herself on the edge of the large, rectangular table in the center of the floor. “I’m not sure there’s anything to discuss there, either.”
“Are you kidding? After the way she behaved earlier? No, I’m telling you, this is working. Getting them together under the same roof is the smartest thing we’ve ever done.”
“We?” Ellie shook her head. “This wasn’t my idea, Dallas. I’d never have thought of moving in here.”
“Too true,” Dallas admitted. Winking, she added, “I take every bit of credit for that particular stroke of genius.” She reached around and patted herself on the
back, grinning widely. “I cannot wait to tell my know-it-all big brother that I was right about Odelia and Kent!” With that, she whirled away and made for the door, saying, “Gotta run. I have a PTA meeting tonight. We’ll talk more later.” She paused to wag a finger at Ellie, adding, “And don’t think you can spare the details indefinitely just because he’s my brother.”
She all but skipped through the door, leaving Ellie to wonder glumly just how far her friend would go to achieve her ends—and just how much longer she could go without asking Dallas for the truth.