My One and Only (Ardent Springs Book 3) (25 page)

Mollified, he let her off the hook. “I appreciate you saying so.”

“Um . . .” She looked around as if making sure no one could overhear. “Spencer told me what you said last week. About Haleigh being your Lorelei. Did you mean that?”

“Haleigh means a lot to me, yeah.”

“No, I mean, do you really see me as a good thing for Spencer? I know that you get annoyed with me tagging along and butting into your guy stuff.”

Why did Spencer have to be the most honest guy on the planet?

“I was mad that day Spencer tore into me. I didn’t mean the stuff I said. You’re fun to have around, Lorelei.” Tilting his head from side to side, he added, “I do think you should let Spence watch football instead of going shopping, but the rest I don’t mind.”

With a sly smile, she said, “I guess I can find another shopping buddy in the fall.”

“I appreciate your willingness to compromise.”

Lorelei laughed. “Anyway, I’m happy for you. It’s about time Haleigh Rae came around to what a great guy you are.”

“She took some convincing, but I finally won her over.”

“I never doubted you for a minute.” Lorelei leaned his way. “If you want, I could pack some cookies up to go. My treat.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice.” No way would he turn down Lorelei’s cookies. “I’ll pay for a few extra for Ian or he’ll eat all of mine.”

“That reminds me. Your cousin and that Jessi girl were in here over the weekend.”

“I’m not surprised. They’re practically connected at the hip.”

“Have you noticed that she looks a lot like Becky Winkle did in high school?”

Cooper tried to picture it. “Maybe a little.”

Lorelei dropped half a dozen cookies into a Lulu’s Home Bakery bag. “I didn’t see it at the cookout, probably because Jessi doesn’t have her nose in the air like Becky does, but when she looked at me over this counter, I almost did a double take. The hair is different, obviously, but they could be long-lost cousins or something.”

It had been a full month since Jessi had come to town on that rainy Monday night, and though she continued to believe that she would someday find her father, they’d all agreed that if he’d ever lived in Ardent Springs, he hadn’t been there long. Ian had joined the hunt with the rest of them, asking extended family if they’d ever heard of a J.T. and going so far as to check county records, but with no luck.

Considering Lorelei’s observation, he asked, “Jebediah has a brother, doesn’t he?”

“He does, but as far as I know he hasn’t lived in this area for years.” Lorelei filled another bag. “I don’t know how much alike they are, but I can’t imagine having more than one disapproving Winkle driving us all nuts.”

After so much digging, Cooper’s first instinct was to dismiss Lorelei’s claim. Two women looking somewhat alike didn’t mean they were related. And the possibility of Jessi being a Winkle was not good news. He highly doubted they’d welcome her with open arms.

Even so, he asked, “Do you remember the brother’s name?”

Handing over the cookies, she said, “I’m thinking Samuel, but I’d have to ask Granny to be sure.”

So much for the lead.

“How much do I owe you?”

She waved the question away. “Consider it payment for all those football games you had to endure alone.”

“Fair enough,” Cooper said. “Let me know if you have any trouble with those vendors.”

Lorelei gave him a thumbs-up as she turned to deal with another customer. Strolling through the store, he speculated on the Winkle connection. Maybe Lorelei had been wrong about the brother’s name. Or maybe Jebediah had another relative to consider. Though for Jessi to look as much like Becky as Lorelei claimed, the connection would have to be close.

Or maybe Lorelei was seeing things and Jessi wasn’t a Winkle at all. Cooper hadn’t noticed a resemblance between the two women, and he wasn’t about to get Jessi’s hopes up on such a slim chance. The girl had been through enough already.

He’d share Lorelei’s observation with Haleigh, do a little research on the Winkle family, and see what turned up. If they found concrete proof that Jessi really was a long-lost cousin, they’d fill her in. But not before.

Chapter 26

“Why are we here?” Haleigh’s mother asked as the Mamacita’s hostess showed them to their table.

“We’re here for lunch, Mother,” she answered, preferring to keep the real reason to herself until the time was right. After rehearsing her speech all weekend long, Haleigh had opted to have this conversation in a public place in the hopes of saving them both a painful scene. Telling Meredith Mitchner that her money train would no longer be making regular deposits required tact and diplomacy.

And a potential audience to minimize the blowup.

Dusting off the booth seat, Meredith scowled. “You know I don’t like ethnic food.”

“Your favorite dish is lasagna.”

“Oh, please,” the older woman replied. “That’s as American as meatloaf and potatoes.”

Placing her napkin in her lap, Haleigh said, “Actually, it isn’t, Mom. Not even close.”

Holding the menu with the tips of her fingers, she said, “What am I supposed to eat?”

“You could be adventurous and try the fajitas. They’re really good. Or you can order a steak. They have those, too.”

Her mother closed the menu. “I don’t like the description of the fajitas. The steak will be fine.” Linking her hands on the table, she asked, “Why aren’t you at work?”

“I’m working nights this week. Doctors don’t really keep business hours, remember?”

“No need to talk to me like I’m a child.”

The waitress saved Haleigh from having to respond to that quip. Once their orders had been taken and the waitress departed, they fell into an awkward silence. Any effort to butter her mother up with small talk would be a waste, so Haleigh breeched the subject at hand.

“Have you thought any more about selling the house?”

With a pained expression, Meredith said, “I’ve told you before, I’m not selling my house.”

“Do you know how much is left on the mortgage?”

Narrow shoulders shrugged. “Not off the top of my head.”

“How about the second mortgage?”

“Haleigh Rae, what is this about?”

Time to rip off the Band-Aid. “Mom, I can’t afford to pay your bills anymore.”

“Did they cut your hours?” she asked.

“No. I simply need to get my own place, and I can’t do that and keep paying your bills. So we need to figure out something with the house. Maybe you could refinance to a lower payment.”

“Is that why you dragged me out here?” she hissed. “So you could pull the rug out from under me where I wouldn’t make a scene?”

The woman was astute, Haleigh had to give her that. Shrewd and astute.

“No one is pulling anything. We’re both adults and there’s no reason we can’t find a solution that works for both of us.”

“You mean one that gets me off your back.” Lips pursed, her mother said, “After all I’ve done for you. I gave up my whole life to raise you kids. And this is what I get in return.”

Prepared for the old standby, Haleigh said, “I never asked you to give up anything, and I can’t spend the rest of my life paying you back for raising me. At least not monetarily.”

“So what? You’ll drive me to my doctor appointments when I can’t see anymore? And come visit me in the home you seem determined to put me in?”

That one she hadn’t expected. “Who said anything about a home?”

“Why else would you want me to sell the house?”

“I want you to sell the house so you can buy something smaller that you can afford. Don’t you get tired of having to clean that huge place?”

“Now I’m supposed to live in a hovel.”

This was going nowhere. Reverting to plan B, Haleigh asked, “Have you ever considered getting a job?”

“Ha!” her mother chirped, followed by an unladylike snort. “Who is going to hire a fifty-four-year-old woman who hasn’t held a job in thirty years?”

A valid question. “What did you do before you had kids?”

“I have a degree in social work.” To Haleigh’s surprised stare, she added, “Contrary to what your father would have people believe, you aren’t the only intelligent female in this family.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me that?”

“Why would I?” Slender hands toyed with her silverware. “You never asked until now.”

Recognizing insecurity in her mother’s expression, Haleigh ignored the insinuation that her ignorance about her mother’s past was entirely her fault.

“Social workers are hard to find,” she said. “Especially in rural areas. I’m sure you could find a position.”

Clearing her throat, Meredith’s eyes darted around the room. “I’ve tried. No one wants me.”

This lunch was one revelation after the next. “There has to be something.”

For the first time in her life, Haleigh witnessed her mother truly humble. Regardless of how she’d treated her, Meredith was still the only mother Haleigh would ever have. Which spurred an idea.

“I could hire you.”

Familiar brown eyes glanced up in surprise. “What?”

“The shelter,” Haleigh said. “Someone will need to run the place, and I can’t do it while fulfilling my duties at the hospital.”

Still defiant, Meredith said, “You’d do that? Wouldn’t it have to be approved by someone?”

Haleigh laughed. “I have no idea. I haven’t gotten that far yet. But if you’re involved from the very beginning, I don’t see why you couldn’t step into the role when the time comes.” For the sake of full disclosure, she added, “
If
the time comes. Right now there’s an issue concerning the shelter location, but I’m hoping we can overcome that.”

“What’s the problem?” her mother asked.

“We’re looking at the old band camp, but it’s currently owned by JW Properties and I doubt we could meet their current asking price.” Tapping the table, she said, “I also doubt the place is worth the price they’ve put on it.”

“That’s Jebediah’s business.”

“Yes, it is. And according to . . .” Haleigh had yet to tell her mother about the new man in her life, and considering how far they’d come today, this was not the time to broach the subject. “According to a friend, the mayor is unlikely to negotiate.”

Crossing her arms, Meredith said, “I’ll handle Jebediah.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said I’ll handle him.” She flashed the arriving waitress an uncharacteristically friendly smile. “Now let’s eat.”

“She said she’d handle him?” Cooper asked from the pantry.

Since Haleigh had worked the night shift, they were having this conversation over breakfast.

“That’s exactly what she said. She even smiled at the waitress.” Haleigh blew across the top of her coffee. “It was creepy.”

“Let me get this straight,” he said, pouring cereal into a bowl. “Your mother is now going to be involved in launching this women’s shelter, and you’re good with that?”

“Crazy as it sounds, it was my idea,” she admitted. “Turns out she has a degree in social work. She hasn’t used it in thirty years, and I didn’t even know she had it, but she admitted that she’s tried to find a job and no one will hire her.”

Cooper was unaccustomed to hearing about positive encounters between Haleigh and her mom. The change gave him hope that his potential mother-in-law might actually stop torturing the woman he planned to marry.

Pouring the milk, he said, “I can’t imagine trying to find work after thirty years out of a field.”

“I have no doubt she’s brilliant,” Haleigh assured him. “With Meredith Mitchner at the helm, we’d have the most efficient and well-run shelter in the state.”

The sudden praise seemed misplaced. Or at the least, unearned.

“Playing devil’s advocate here,” he said, “wouldn’t working with her drive you crazy?”

“Oh, I have no intention of working with her.”

“You just said she’s going to help you start the shelter. How is that not working together?”

Lifting one delicate brow, she said, “You underestimate me, my hunky boy toy. Once Mother gets her hooks in, I’m out and she’s all Carrie’s problem.”

“That’s just mean,” he laughed. Poor Carrie. She had no idea what was coming. “But how does this solve the money issue?”

“Right.” Haleigh dropped into a kitchen chair. “I didn’t quite resolve that one. We made more progress during this lunch than has been accomplished in the last fifteen years. Riding the high of unexpected approval, I decided not to push my luck.”

Secretly relieved there would be no immediate apartment hunting, Cooper said, “Half your clothes are here already. I could have the rest moved in before you get off work tomorrow morning.”

Setting the coffee mug on the table, she sighed. “You know that I love you. And we both know I’ll move in here eventually. However, I need to stand on my own. At least for a while. If for nothing else, to prove to myself that I can do it.”

Not completely what he wanted to hear, but the
eventually
part helped.

“Okay, darling. Let me know when you figure it out, and I’ll have the truck ready and standing by.” After dropping a kiss on the top of her head, he asked, “Do you want me to go with you the next time? When she amps the manipulation, you might want backup.”

“No,” Haleigh said a little too quickly. “I mean, no, thank you. Sweet of you to offer, though.”

Sweet had not been his intention. The woman was the source of nearly all Haleigh’s triggers. She shouldn’t be charging into that battle on her own. Plus, at some point, they needed to have an official meet-the-parent dinner. Not that he and Mrs. Mitchner didn’t know each other, but they’d certainly never met as potential relatives.

“I’m here if you need me. You know that, right?”

“I do.” She nodded. “Which is a big reason I’m able to do this now.”

Amazed at the turn his life had taken, Cooper couldn’t help but smile at the beautiful woman sitting in his kitchen. That she was his boggled the mind.

“My cereal is getting soggy, and you need to sleep.” He bent to give her a quick kiss, lingering longer than intended. Pressing his forehead to hers, he said, “I love you, Haleigh Rae.”

“I love you, too, Cooper.”

In all his days, he would never get tired of hearing that.

“Oh,” he said around the bite of Cheerios in his mouth. “Hold on.” Swallowing the cereal, he said, “This is a weird question, but do you think Jessi looks anything like Becky Winkle?”

Haleigh frowned. “I’m not sure. Why?”

Cooper shook his head. “Lorelei said she looks like Becky did in high school and made the comment that they could be long-lost cousins.”

The implication wasn’t lost on Haleigh. “Jebediah could be the J in J.T.”

“I highly doubt it. Winkle is a self-righteous jerk, but I can’t imagine him crossing the line into infidelity. Lorelei says he has a brother, but thinks his name is Samuel.”

“Well, crap,” she muttered. “I thought we had a clue there for a minute.” Running a finger around the rim of her mug, she said, “Whoever her father is, he either lied about his name or he never lived here.”

Sitting down at the table, Cooper said, “I really wanted to help her find this guy. At least her coming here wasn’t a complete bust. She might not have found her father, but she found Ian. He talks about her constantly at work.”

“She’s also found a job,” Haleigh informed him. “Started at the bookstore yesterday. Your mom got her boyfriend to give her part-time work. Against my medical advice, I might add. She needs to wait two more weeks, but she was so excited I didn’t put up too much of a fuss. Though I did insist on no lifting anything over ten pounds. Not even that if she can avoid it.”

He’d stopped listening at the word
boyfriend
. “Do we have to call him Mom’s boyfriend? Really?”

Stealing a Cheerio, she said, “That’s what he is. You might as well get used to it.”

Cooper didn’t want to get used to anything where his mom and Bruce Clemens were concerned. “Who’s watching Emma?”

“Linda. I think she got Jessi the job with the sole purpose of having Emma all to herself several hours a week.” Haleigh unfolded out of her chair. “In spite of this coffee, I’m struggling to keep my eyes open.” She placed a kiss on his cheek and said, “Have a good day. I’m off to la-la land.”

“Sweet dreams,” he said, watching her walk away. She gave a wave before disappearing up the stairs, leaving Cooper alone with his soggy breakfast. He considered following her. What was the point of being your own boss if you couldn’t play hooky whenever you wanted?

Then again, she wouldn’t get that much-needed sleep if he stayed home. Carrying the bowl to the sink, he dumped what was left down the disposal. At least now he had an excuse to stop for doughnuts on the way to the garage.