Silence filled the room and tension mounted.
He knew what he wanted to do, but he also knew what he couldn’t do.
“That, dear brother, is the million-dollar question.”
Chapter Six
Serena grinned as she looked at her full calendar. In spite of Tom and Lacey’s unconventional end to their vow renewal, the event had proved a raving success. Compliments were still coming in a week later, and she’d fully booked her services for a year out.
Her smile slipped into a frown. The event had kickstarted her business in Louisiana, but what would it cost? She couldn’t hide her daughter forever.
Cecily knocked on the office door. “Is it okay if I walk to the corner store for a pack of gum?”
“Take your phone and don’t talk to strangers.”
“I’m not six, Mom.” Cecily rolled her eyes. “I’ll be thirteen next month.”
“Maybe so, but you’ll always be my baby.” She pulled a few dollars from the change she kept in the desk drawer. “Will you bring me back a cappuccino? Pumpkin spice if they still have it in the machine, but if not, French vanilla is fine.”
“Should I bring Pawpaw home a drink?”
Her thoughtfulness pleased Serena, affirmed she’d done something right as a mom. She reached into the drawer again and pulled out another bill. “No, you know how he is about his coffee, but here, take an extra dollar and get him a candy bar.”
“Any particular kind?”
“One that has peanuts. He was craving a sweet snack earlier.”
Cecily tucked the money in her pants pocket. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
“Be careful.”
Serena watched her walk down the sidewalk as far as the office window allowed. After she couldn’t see Cecily anymore, she returned to her work. Pawpaw promised to take them Christmas tree shopping this afternoon, which meant she had two hours to finish three days’ worth of work.
The busy schedule came with a two-edged sword. She needed the money the contracts would bring, but since most events occurred on the weekends, she’d lose that time with Cecily. When they’d talked on Sunday about the phone incident Cecily had confided that she often felt alone, and that Serena spent too much time working.
It won’t be like this forever, she’d promised Cecily. She hadn’t realized until confronted how much time she’d spent marketing in an effort to jumpstart her business. Once aware, she’d made a pact with her daughter that if she didn’t have physical work commitments on a weekend, then she’d leave her work alone for those two days.
She didn’t know how well that would work, but she was determined to maintain a solid relationship with Cecily. Though at an age when many girls started rebelling and catching attitudes, Cecily rarely gave so much as an eye roll. She was a good child, and Serena needed to remember that the few time Cecily broke the rules.
The doorbell rang, and she waited to see if Pawpaw would answer. Last she’d seen him, he’d taken a break from pressure washing the house to watch his gameshow. When the bell rang again, she figured he’d resumed his work in the back yard, and she went to the front door.
Her blood froze in her veins when she saw Lucas through the peephole. Why on earth had he come to her home? How did he know where she lived? That was easy enough knowledge to find, she supposed, but she went back to asking why.
Was it too late to hide?
A cold, clammy sweat broke out on her palms and forehead. She slid her hands down the front of her pants, but perspiration took over the second she dried them.
“I know you’re in there, Serena. I see you through the window.”
Not good. He sounded angry. Really angry.
She didn’t have to ask to know why he was there.
Somehow, some way, he’d found out.
She took a deep breath to brace herself, but there really was no way to prepare for what might come. She had to get him out of there before Cecily came home.Think, Serena, think.
In robotic motions, she opened the door.
