Page 4 of For Always
“That’s great. I mean, you’re happy right? You and Parker wanted to have kids?”
Gabriella’s throat was suddenly dry as she balled her other hand into a fist and pounded lightly between her eyes.
“We’re ecstatic! We haven’t told anyone yet. I wanted to call you before I called Mom and Dad because I know sometime during the course of that conversation they’re going to ask if I’ve spoken to you,” Adriana told her.
Gabriella shook her head. “Not with the news of another grandchild,” she said dryly.
Renny and his wife Bree had two-year old triplets—Delia, Desirae, and Daniel. Those three currently held the hearts of Marvin and Beatriz Bennett. Adriana’s baby would capture them next. And Gabriella was just going to have to accept that.
No matter how much it hurt.
Chapter 2
Hobbs Creek hadn’t changed much in the eighteen years Tyler had been away. The last time he’d been in his hometown had been five years ago when his mother had begged him to come home for Christmas. That thought didn’t help Tyler’s melancholy mood.
Main Street still looked like a flash out of that old Andy Griffith television show his grandmother used to love, with the police station on one corner, a barber shop on the other and across the street a general store and post office. He’d parked his truck in front of City Hall and walked to Clyde Gwynn’s office, a block and a half away. The fact that he hadn’t called first was a stark contrast to the lifestyle Tyler was used to in L.A. Nothing happened there without a phone call. But being back amidst the small town, slower and more laid back pace, Tyler had forgotten that courtesy. Therefore, he wasn’t too upset to find that Clyde wasn’t in his office.
The change in plan didn’t bother Tyler much. In fact, it allowed more time for him to pick up the things he needed from the store and to walk through the town where he’d spent his early years. He chose to walk the two additional blocks, stopping in the small shops that featured homemade goods he had forgotten while he was away and the new ones that had arrived. Tyler never did this in L.A. Shopping wasn’t one of his favorite pastimes and he had assistants that would take care of that kind of stuff for him. There was staff at the ranch, but most of them were new. They were getting to know Tyler, the same as he was with them. It was weird because even though George was gone, Tyler still felt like Westwind was his father’s domain and that he didn’t belong there. That meant, asking the staff to do things for him personally was out of the question.
Inviting the designer to dinner was a calculated move. One Tyler hadn’t been so sure of in the moments right after he’d done it yesterday. But during the hours that followed he had to thank his conscience for having the forethought. Sitting at a table with her would give him the opportunity to find out just what plans she thought were in the works. Whereas, Tyler wasn’t sure Clyde was going to be totally honest with him. His father’s friend was, of course, going to carry out George’s wishes to the end. But what if Tyler didn’t want the things his father had? He never had before. The vision George had for the land and the livestock never seemed to match what Tyler thought his future would hold.
“Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? Tyler Walker West live and in the flesh.”
To emphasize her words she’d walked right up to him, running her hand over his left pectoral and straight beneath the opening of the blue chambray shirt Tyler wore.
“Hannah Lynn Palmer,” Tyler said, lifting a hand to slowly clamp his fingers around her wrist.
She arched one thick eyebrow and watched as he slowly, but purposefully, moved her hand from his chest and dropped it at her side.
“I’ve left you several messages,” she said and brought that same hand up to fluff the tapered edges of her golden blonde hair. “But you probably aren’t getting them. I know how hard it can be to hire good staff.”
Tyler didn’t immediately respond. As he recalled, Hannah loved to hear herself talk. Her father owned P&P Steakhouse, a few miles out from town. It was a premiere restaurant in the area and had been for as long as Tyler could remember. Ted Palmer often bought cattle from Westwind, and Hannah had gone to school with Tyler and Jagger. So it was safe to say Tyler and Hannah had a lot of history, even if he excluded the three and a half years he’d spent professing his love to her.
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re out and about. I can understand the grieving process taking a while though,” she continued. “When my momma died, I wanted to jump in that grave before they tossed the first shovel of dirt on her coffin.”
She chuckled.
Tyler did not.
“So next Friday’s the kickoff to the 4thof July celebrations. I thought it’d be great if we rode in the parade together. You know, like we did that year you won first place in 4H for that horse you loved to distraction. That was so much fun. Of course, I have no idea where my Junior Hobbs Creek Pageant crown is now, but I still know the wave.”
She demonstrated. Right there on the sidewalk where cars and trucks drove by and people walked past them, Hannah waved as if she were riding along happily in a parade. If old feelings didn’t still cut raw with him, Tyler might have laughed at how silly she looked. Instead, he tipped the brim of the chocolate felt Stetson he wore back and gave her the best smile he could manage.
“No thanks, Hannah. I won’t be attending the parade.”
He made the mistake of thinking that would end the conversation, but when he attempted to walk around her, he felt her hand on his arm pulling him back.
“We haven’t had any time together since you’ve been back. How about you come over to the restaurant tonight and we’ll have a nice steak dinner.”
His reply was quick and probably not what Hannah expected to hear. “I already have dinner plans for tonight.”
“Oh.” Her lips pursed. “Well, I hope you find some time to spend with an old friend while you’re here. I mean, after all, our families are connected and have been for a very long time. I’m sure my father would like to speak to you about future business transactions.”
Ted Palmer was the son of Judson Palmer, who had been the mayor of Hobbs Creek for thirty years before finally retiring. Judson had also played a big part in contributing financially to the rebuilding of a good portion of Main Street twenty-five years ago when a fire started at the church and burned from one building to the next until a three block stretch was destroyed. Because of this, Hannah knew the weight of what she’d just said, which only irritated Tyler more.
He moved so that he was out of her reach, being careful to keep his voice level and low. The one thing he hadn’t forgotten while he was away from Hobbs Creek was how fast gossip traveled in small towns.
“When your father is ready to talk business he knows the number to the ranch office. As for any other connections, there are none. Good evening, Hannah.”
