Page 64 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
Why hadn’t she simply said she went out for a walk? She hated being dishonest. ‘I didn’t eat much,’ Fee murmured. ‘I’m rather tired so if you don’t mind I’m going upstairs to rest for a while.’
‘No problem, but…’ He shuffled from one footto the other and couldn’t quite look at her. ‘If you could be downstairs again by ten I’d appreciate it.’ Allain hurried to explain that his doctor was coming to do the DNA test and would have the results back before she left. She hated that he felt awkward about asking her to do something which made complete sense. If Lisette hadn’t demanded it Fee would’ve suggested the test herself.
She touched his arm. ‘That’s fine. We both need this.’ Fee wanted him to know this wasn’t only for his sake. ‘I’ll see you in a while.’
Before he could say anything else she left him alone and retreated to her bedroom.
She wouldn’t be able to lay all of this to rest until she visited her mother.What about Tom? Are you going to pretend he means nothing to you?Fee wasn’t clear whatelse she’d do when she returned to Black Cherry but meeting Tom’s grandmother would top the list. She’d never been a person to put things off and had soon tracked down Betty Mae Chambers’ phone number. As soon as she said her name and what she wanted Fee could sense the older woman’s satisfaction. Within minutes she received an open invitation to visit. Mission accomplished.
We have nothingin common, Tom, be real. Do you really picture us living happily ever after?
If she thought he’d give up easily she was way off base. He’d do whatever it took to prove he loved her.
Tom’s head spun as his family all tried to speak at the same time. He’d landed back in Pine Ridge in time for Sunday supper and dropped his bombshell in the middle of eating chicken pot pie.
‘Sell? You’ve spent ten years restoring the goddamn place,’ Sandy exploded. Thankfully the older kids were outside playing so his brother only received a stern glare from their mother instead of a swat around the head for his bad language. ‘Why’re you doing this?’
‘A woman. Always is.’ Mikey’s dry comment cut through the roundabout argument that’d been going on ever since he’d announcedhis intention to give up Black Cherry.
‘Are you doing this for Fee Winter?’ Sandy spat out her name.
‘Yes and no.’ He held up his hand to stop them questioning him any more. ‘I only went to Iraq because if I’d have stayed I’d have gone mad with grief. Leaving now is different.’
His father touched Tom’s shoulder. ‘I’m not convinced you’re making this choice for the rightreasons.’
‘Maybe I need to see if I can survive outside of this comfortable little bubble we’ve got here. Did you ever think of that?’ Tom pulled away. He meant every word. He thought he’d become too cosy in his quiet life where there were no demands on him and few challenges. Fee had opened his eyes to wanting more.
‘What if she turns you down?’ Chloe chimed in, hoisting her youngestchild on her shoulder.
‘Then I’ll simply do it for me.’ The room went quiet and Tom stared around at them all, waiting for the next smart remark, but no one said a word.
‘I’ve got an idea that would give you a break without cutting your ties completely.’ Billy broke the silence. ‘Rayna’s enjoying being at Black Cherry and nobody wants to see the land go out of the family so howabout we manage it for you until you’re sure you want to sell?’
Tom’s mind raced. Although the land belonged to him because of the way his grandfather’s estate was shared up he hadn’t cared for the idea of it going to strangers. ‘But how would you manage? Your job’s in Knoxville.’
Billy grinned. ‘You’d have to agree to getting phones and internet access put in. I can’t do my accountingwork by sending smoke signals. Rayna’s tired of teaching and would be happy to combine looking after the baby with doing the domestic stuff around Black Cherry. I’d fit in the rest and only take on as much work as I needed to.’
Tom’s father chuckled. ‘Called your bluff, hasn’t he? You’ve got no excuse now.’
The hollow in his stomach deepened and Tom put on a cocky smile. ‘Of coursenot. Sounds perfect.’ Everyone joined in the conversation again but he didn’t have much more to say. What if he was making the biggest mistake of his life?
