“As a matter of fact, I do. I’d like to suggest the country club. We’re badly in need of a renovation to the dining room.”
“I can do that.” He was willing, although he had the feeling Maisy wouldn’t be pleased.
“Thank you, darling. A donation would be wonderful.”
Chase reminded himself once more that although Astrid would make him the perfect wife, they would need to own up to the fact that they really needed to part as good friends. By misleading their families, they were only delaying the inevitable.
“I thought I’d hear from you once you returned from your trip,” she said without censure.
“It was late.”
“Did everything go okay?”
Rather than rehash the hassles he’d experienced, he said, “It went as well as can be expected.”
“I’m happy you’re back.”
“Me, too.” More than happy to put to bed this nonexistent relationship with his mother.
“I am sorry,” she said sympathetically. “I know this wasn’t easy for you.”
“Dealing with her death was an unwelcome interruption. Frankly, I’m happy to put the unpleasantness behind me,” hesaid tiredly, unwilling to continue any discussion having to do with Michelle. He didn’t want to talk about his mother.
Changing the subject, he asked, “Are you free for dinner tonight?”
“As it happens, I am.”
“Great. I’ll have a check for you. Should I make it out to the country club?”
“Please, and add a note about the renovation.”
“You got it.”
“Thank you, love.”
Chase had looked forward to dinner alone, but it wasn’t to be. Relationships came with expectations, and Astrid deserved his attention.
Chapter Five
Wednesday afternoon Maisy left the jewelry store early to drive her grandmother to buy groceries and do any other errands she had in mind. What might seem like an inconvenient task to others was the opposite for Maisy. She enjoyed spending time with her Grams. They’d always been close. Besides, driving her grandmother wherever she needed to go was one small way of showing her appreciation for gifting Maisy her little Fiesta. Sean had his truck, old and beat-up as it was, and their mom had the family car, which left Maisy without a vehicle until Grams insisted Maisy take hers. Grams didn’t need it nearly as much as Maisy did. The car was a leftover from when Maisy’s youngest uncle was in college.
When Maisy arrived at the senior complex, she found her grandmother ready and eager to head out. Maisy noticed that the stack of pennies outside her door had become a small tower.It seemed Grams’s admirer hadn’t let her lack of enthusiasm discourage him. She hoped Lloyd’s persistence would soon wear her grandmother down. In her opinion, no one was ever too old for a bit of romance.
Her grandmother withdrew the shopping list from her purse and then glanced up. She frowned slightly. “Is there something you wanted to ask me?” she asked, holding Maisy’s gaze.
Her Grams had always been able to read her, so the question shouldn’t have surprised Maisy. Despite her best efforts, she hadn’t been able to put Chase Furst out of her mind. She couldn’t help wondering if he had followed through with her request to pay the kindness forward. If that wasn’t enough, his complete disregard for his mother continued to trouble her. She hated the thought of this woman’s life and death being ignored by her family.
“It’s that man I met at the airport,” Maisy admitted. “I can’t stop thinking about his claim that his mother meant nothing to him. I don’t believe it, I just don’t.”
“Of course she did,” Grams agreed. “Think about it. He could easily have made any burial arrangements from Chicago, and yet he chose to fly to Seattle to attend to the details personally.”
Her grandmother was right.
“If Chase had no feelings whatsoever for her, why was he so upset? He tried to hide it behind his frustration and bad mood, but I suspect there was far more to his feelings than he was willing to acknowledge.”
“I agree,” her Grams said.
“But he refused to even attend her services. From what he said, it’s likely no one will be there.”
