Rayne frowned as he considered the implications behind what she’d said. He was offended that Emilio would assume he would come in and try to turn the playhouse into something completely different when Emilio knew he had strong, good memories of it, but he put that aside to focus on her last statement.
“What do you mean, he was willing to give up Holiday Pines?” he asked. “I never asked him to do that.”
Isabel drew in a breath, and a flash of dismay crossed her features before she shook her head. “Forgive an old woman’s ramblings. It was a long time ago, wasn’t it?”
Rayne suspected she wasn’t telling him the whole truth, but he didn’t pry. He didn’t want to alienate her or risk pissing off Emilio even more, and besides, he didn’t have the right to nose around in Emilio’s business.
“It was,” he said, sliding his hands into his pockets and rocking back on his heels. “We’ve both grown and changed since then, but I haven’t changed so much that I want to turn the playhouse into something it isn’t. I still love it. I still love Holiday Pines.”
And there was a piece of his heart that still loved Emilio as well.
“I know.” Isabel patted his arm. “I’ve told Emilio he needs to talk to you, so he can resolve the baggage he’s been carrying around. He believes he was toosmall townfor you, and he’s afraid you’re going to throw your success in his face.”
Rayne rubbed the bridge of his nose in hopes of staving off the headache he felt coming on. “In that case, I wish hewouldtalk to me,” he said. “I came here to help restore the playhouse, not to gloat. If me being here is bothering him so much that he can barely be civil, I’ll ask Steve to be a go-between so he doesn’t have to deal with me directly.”
“He will talk to you. He promised me.” Isabel paused. “Part of the reason I wanted to talk to you was to make certain youweren’tgoing to rub his nose in anything. I didn’t think so because the Rayne I remember was a kind, gentle boy. Yet so many years can change a man. I know this because Emilio is not the boy he once was.”
“I’m not either,” Rayne said. “That doesn’t mean I’d do anything to hurt Emilio deliberately. I don’t have any reason or desire to do that.”
“You haven’t changed all that much, Rayne. Please forgive a mother for wanting to protect her son.”
“I understand.” Rayne offered a reassuring smile. He didn’t want to make the situation unnecessarily difficult for Emilio, so he’d wait until Emilio approached him. He wanted to have that conversation and see if they could at least forge a truce. They’d have to coexist in peace at least through the end of the year, and maybe longer, because the idea of remaining in Holiday Pines had a definite appeal. “I can’t change the past, but that doesn’t mean I want to repeat my mistakes.”
Isabel looked thoughtful, and then she patted his arm again. “Just be yourself, Rayne. If Emilio gets dramatic, tell him it wasn’t all about him. I think it would do him good to hear it. I’m glad you came back—and I hope you find what you’re looking for. Now, if you will excuse me, I should head home.”
Rayne frowned slightly at her cryptic remark; he didn’t think he’d given her any reason to believe he was looking for anything, but maybe she’d seen something he wasn’t aware of.
“I hope I’ll see you again soon,” he said, and then he headed for the refreshment table.
While he was spearing a couple of cubes of cheese, he noticed Steve approaching, looking apologetic.
“I’m sorry for getting snippy with Emilio in front of everyone,” Steve said. “It’s not the first time we’ve butted heads over this project, so I shouldn’t have been surprised. He’s been trying to throw up roadblocks ever since we announced you agreed to spearhead the restoration.”
“Ohreally.” Rayne shot an exasperated look at Emilio’s back. “He’s a good choice as the performance consultant, but you appointed him, so you’re going to have to deal with him.”
Even though Steve didn’t look enthused about his role as Emilio’s wrangler, he nodded. “That’s fair. If it’s any consolation, everyone else I’ve spoken to is happy with your ideas.”
“Good to know.” Rayne checked his phone, which showed he still had another twenty minutes left at the reception. “I suppose I should mingle.”
“It wouldn’t hurt,” Steve said, and then he snagged a plastic cup of sweet tea before leaving Rayne alone once more.
The reception was nearly over and people were beginning to make their goodbyes when Rayne found himself face-to-face with Emilio, whose dark brown eyes widened at the unexpected encounter. After a moment of awkward silence, Emilio spoke, voice deep and husky.
“Rayne.”
Emilio looked wary rather than hostile, and Rayne tried to appear as open and friendly as possible to help smooth away some of the awkwardness. “Hey, Emilio.”
After another moment of silence, Emilio ran his fingers through his hair, a gesture Rayne remembered well. Then Emilio seemed to realize what he was doing because he frowned and lowered his hand. “I was surprised you took this job,” he said finally.
“Why is that?” Rayne was pretty sure he knew the answer already, but he wondered if Emilio would say it to his face.
“You left everything here behind, like you couldn’t wait to shake the dust of this place off your shoes,” Emilio replied. Rayne didn’t miss the flash of hurt in Emilio’s eyes, even as Emilio shrugged as if he didn’t care. “Why come back now?”
“I’ve always wanted to work on a historical restoration,” Rayne said. “Plus I have many fond memories of the playhouse, and I consider getting to work on it a wonderful opportunity.” He paused and regarded Emilio intently, debating how much more about his motives he should reveal. Then again, why shouldn’t he be honest? Emilio already distrusted him, so he had nothing to lose by telling the truth. “I was ready to get out of Atlanta for a while, too. I was starting to feel closed in.”
Emilio stared at him in disbelief and then let out a bark of laughter that held no trace of humor. “Didn’t you go to Atlanta because you feltclosed inhere? That’s rich, Rayne.”
“I don’t get to change my mind?” Rayne raised one eyebrow. “I don’t get to realize that what I thought I wanted wasn’t right for me after all?”
