Authors: Victoria Smith
Sydney’s heart broke for her sister who had been through so much already. Now to find out the woman who abandoned her as a young child hadn’t even birthed her would be a blow almost too big to deal with.
Over Daisy’s head, Jace caught her eye and shook his head in a sad gesture of commiseration.
Daisy sniffed. “I’m okay. Really. This is actually good news. It means I don’t have that terrible woman’s blood in my veins. I always knew something was wrong there. Now I know what.” Daisy smiled, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.
“Good girl. You’re going to be okay.” Al hugged Daisy. “When you’re ready I’ll go over some of your options.”
“I’m ready now. Tell me what I need to know.” Daisy squeezed Sydney before seating herself back at her desk and facing Al with a bright smile.
Jace’s phone rang and he turned to answer the call. Sydney felt the information press down on her. Sure, she and Jace weren’t related, but that still didn’t mean he really wanted her now.
Sydney opened the front door and slipped out, heading for the pond via the trail behind the office. She listened for the sounds that would indicate Jace followed. Instead, a ghostly figure passed, oblivious to Sydney’s pain or presence. The soft noises of the woods soon covered the sounds of the real world and she dropped onto a bench, staring at the pond without really seeing the ducks that glided on the smooth surface.
“Mind if I join you?”
Sydney jumped, turning to Jace’s handsome face.
“It’s a free country.” It didn’t come out as sarcastic as she’d intended. Dang. She wanted him to know how much he’d hurt her the last time he’d had anything to say to her.
“So you’re mad at me?” Jace didn’t sound mocking so she turned to him and poked him in the chest.
“How dare you? How could you believe that I would run right into Marshal’s arms after finding out that we could never be together?” She couldn’t help the anger.
“I didn’t mean that. You have to know I didn’t mean that.” Jace put his hands up.
“How? You make snide comments and then disappear until today. How was I supposed to know?”
“I’m sorry. I guess you wouldn’t. I was angry, as angry as you were. I followed you so I could talk to you and then found you and Marshal hugging. I was jealous, even though I knew there was nothing between you two.” Sydney wanted to launch herself into his arms, but she forced herself to wait. “Being related to you was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and couldn’t stop thinking about you even though I knew I had to let you go. I just couldn’t. I was angry with the world for the blood that supposedly ran through our veins. Every time I closed my eyes I saw you. Every time I slept I dreamt of you.” Jace reached out and grabbed her hand and she finally eased against him.
“I know. I think I went a little bit crazy there for a while. I just kept thinking about how unfair it was that after all we’ve been through that there was no way we could even be friends. I not only lost the love of my heart, I lost my best friend.” Sydney let the tears fall.
“I love you, Sydney. I think I have since the first time you yelled at me when you thought I was in cahoots with Grandmother.”
“What did Gramps leave you in his will?”
“His fishing gear and the cabin on the river.” Jace wiped her tears away.
Only they fell harder. Gramps leaving Jace his beloved fishing equipment only cemented what she already knew. If Gramps felt Jace was worthy of them, he’d also felt he could be trusted with her heart. She shook her head, the long ago conversation she’d had with Gramps about the right man for her replaying in vivid detail. Gramps had said any man who loved her had better be worthy of his fishing gear.
“I love you, too.” She kissed him, loving the way it felt to be close to him again. “You really going to be okay with me being able to see and talk to the spirits around here?”
She wasn’t going to lose him by not telling him everything.
“Gramps tried to hide it from me, too, but he managed about as well as you do. Yes. I love you, weird supernatural abilities and all. Nothing is ever going to change that.” He hugged her tight and her worries dissipated.
Well, all but one.
“What’s your grandmother going to say about us?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t care, but I can’t be like that. Her opinion isn’t going to change how I feel and I’m never going to let her hurt you.” Jace held her close, and the planets finally aligned for Sydney.
She wasn’t going to be a crazy old cat collector after all.
Now she had the cats and the man.
CHAPTER 26
Fourteen weeks later . . .
Sydney smiled as Daisy hung the sign officially closing the campground for the season. “As fun as this summer was, I’m glad it’s over.”
“You and me both. We did good. People are already booking next season. I think Gramps would be proud.” Sydney hugged her before they went to the office.
“And you are getting married in the morning. I’m so happy.” Sydney knew that Daisy was sincere but it still made her sad. Daisy’s happily-ever-after hadn’t happened yet.
Tucker hadn’t come around or called all summer. He’d sent his crews to do the maintenance, but never showed himself. Sydney had even bitched him out on a cell phone message for the way he tramped on her sister’s heart and left her alone when she really needed a friend.
Graham’s mother had passed away the day after he left. Marshal said he was in a deep abyss, but was writing again while helping his sister’s clear out the house and settle the estate.
Daisy’s search for her true parents continued. Nadine insisted Daisy was her daughter, even though further DNA testing proved that as a lie. She vehemently denied taking her as a newborn. Nadine would never bother her again. The doctors had deemed her unfit for trial and she would spend the rest of her days in a maximum security mental hospital.
Sydney fought with what had compelled Nadine to steal someone’s child. She could only imagine what Daisy went through. Daisy didn’t speak of it though, except in matter-of-fact terms and Internet searches. When her search found no kidnapped or abandoned babies, Daisy ended up starting from scratch.
What bothered Sydney the most was the fact that Daisy seemed changed by everything. Most of the changes were good. She’d matured much since they started this renovation and reopened the campground. Though Daisy seemed oblivious to men now. Several times she’d been asked out or flirted with by guests and contractors and from Sydney’s standpoint she’d never even acted like she’d noticed. That couldn’t be good.
Daisy wasn’t healing.
“Your house is finished. Mine is, too.” Daisy grabbed her arm and pointed to the new house next door to Gramps house. The house Daisy insisted she build because she didn’t want to live with newlyweds. She said she and Jace would gross her out on a daily basis and she didn’t think she could handle that kind of stuff. The whole thing had been discussed as a joke, but there was a lot of truth behind Daisy’s statements.
“Where are my cats?”
“
Our
cats are at
my
house. I will think about loaning you a few after the honeymoon.” Daisy stepped out of arm’s reach. “You know for someone who was so dead set against these cats you sure are possessive.”
“Those cats helped me see that I was trying too hard. They saved me from being a lonely, bitter woman.” It was true. She only wished they’d do the same for Daisy.
“I heard from Marshal. He’ll be here for the wedding. He said he wouldn’t miss it for anything and he’s bringing a woman.” Daisy wiggled her eyebrows and Sydney felt nothing but pleased that Marshal had moved on. “And . . .”
“And what?”
“Tucker is coming as my date.” Daisy picked a flower.
“That’s good, right?”
“Yes. I think it’s very good. Very good.” Daisy winked.
“What happened?”
“I called him and told him to quit acting like a jerk. Told him if he felt anything at all for me, he at least owed me a few conversations. He’s obliging. Neither of us know what we want in the future. Even though Nadine isn’t my mother, I don’t know if I’m cut out for motherhood. Tucker is still reasonably certain he wants children. At least we’re talking.” Daisy shrugged.
“Good. I’m really glad.” Sydney hugged her, wishing for her sister’s happy ending.
“Your man is so romantic it’s sickening.” Daisy waved at Jace.
Jace stood on the stoop of their house, a bouquet of roses in his arms, a goofy smile on his face, and a cheesy welcome mat now under his feet.
Sure, their house had finished a month off schedule. She knew they were getting close, but preparing for the end of season had taken up all of her time lately and she hadn’t had the energy to find out the progress. Running, she launched herself into Jace’s arms.
“It’s really done?” she managed in-between kissing him.
“Yep. All ours.” His lips trailed up her neck and she was lucky he held her up or else she’d be a puddle at his feet.
“Hey you two. No one wants to see that. Wait until your honeymoon. In fact, I’m not even sure you are supposed to see each other. Mom will have a cow.” Daisy laughed from the bottom steps.
“How are we supposed to have our rehearsal if we can’t see each other? I think that’s for after the dinner tonight.” Sydney motioned her forward, determined to keep her sister involved and away from work and her search for her true parents for the next twenty-four hours.
“Oh. Yeah. I knew that. Kiss your man and let’s go. Mom is waiting for us at the bridal shop. We have a list a mile long. You can fool around with Jace on your honeymoon.” Daisy hugged them both.
“Fool around with Jace on your honeymoon. I like that.” Jace kissed her, bringing her as close to him as she could get without losing her clothing.
“Me, too. Two weeks at the beach. With a sexy man by my side. With my sexy husband by my side. I don’t think it could get any better.” She spoke against his mouth, wondering if they could sneak inside and christen the master bedroom before Daisy reminded her of what time it was.
A horn honked and she had to dismiss that idea.
“You’re taking your boyfriend and your husband to the beach? Wow. That’s bold.” Jace kissed her again.
“You are such a fruitcake. But I love you anyway. You said you wanted to tell me something? Do it quick before Daisy has a coronary.”
“I had a long talk with Grandmother. She’s been faithfully taking her medication and seeing her therapist. Her prognosis is good though she’ll need support for the rest of her life. Support she should have had ages ago. I think she’s finally come to terms with us and is starting to put her own life into perspective. She’s going to come to the wedding.”
Nervousness spread through her. Violet had tried to cause many problems over the past few months. She’d restated her claim that she and Jace were related, coming up with a totally new and twisted story that threatened their foundation and Gramps’ character. Though they knew the story was false, the resulting cleanup had taken a while to wade through. For the past month, she’d tried nothing. Jace might believe her, but Sydney had her doubts.
“It’ll be okay. Al has promised to keep her in line. She’s only coming to the ceremony, not the reception. Her doctor doesn’t want her having to face her alcohol problem. He doesn’t think she’s far enough along to be able to make the right decision. She is apologizing for everything now.”
“Okay. I trust your judgment.” She kissed him.
How no one had known about Violet’s alcohol abuse still baffled them. The woman had spent the past few years constantly drunk. No wonder she’d done some crazy things. She hadn’t truly dried up until after Al found her passed out in the front seat of her car and called an ambulance. Sydney’s heart broke for Gramps. He’d tried so hard to help her.
Sydney was doing everything she could to keep her emotions soft toward the woman. That task was difficult at times, but she owed Jace and Gramps that much. Both had seen the good in Violet and the least she could do was try, despite what she’d put them through.
More horn honking and Sydney finally broke the promising kiss. “We’ll continue this when I’m your wife.”
“My wife. I like the sound of that. Are you really okay with Grandmother coming to the wedding?” He kissed her neck and made it hard for her to think. “I know she hasn’t exactly been easy for you the whole time you’ve known her.”
“I am. She needs to make her peace with us. Al won’t let her cause trouble. It’s all good. We’ll sit her with the ghosts and the cats. I’m kidding.” She kissed his nose and wiggled out of his arms. “Be here at six for rehearsal. Don’t be late.”
“Eleven for rehearsal. Be late. Got it.” Jace laughed.
“I love you.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “Even though you are a butthead.”
“You called me that the first time we talked.” He laughed. “I love you too. I always will. Don’t ever forget that.”
“I don’t intend to.”