Obviously, Zander didn’t agree with his mother’s decision either since he’d shown up at Ferguson’s Folly the next day. Essie hadn’t been allowed to talk to him. She’d watched from a window in the upstairs hall as he walked back to his car with rounded shoulders. To her despair, he’d never tried again. He’d moved on. After that, Essie had stayed inside when visiting, escaping into reading. That habit had continued when she returned to take care of Aunt Esther.
Essie stared at the empty plate. Over the years, the friendship Zander and Essie had shared disappeared. Silly kid stuff. Now was a good time to stop regretting the past and move on. Ferguson’s Folly was what mattered. She shivered at a sudden chilly breeze that wafted past her.
“Edmund?” she asked, looking around.No, of course not. He wasn’t there either.
Chapter Five
After several weeks of construction, making design selections, and talking to anyone who would share their experience and knowledge, Essie leaned back in her chair and stared hard at the circled date on the big desk calendar in front of her. Tomorrow was the first day of the rest of her life. She crossed her fingers at that thought.
“Essie. Sara asked if you would come to lunch,” Zander asked from the doorway.
Without thinking, she leapt to her feet and started forward. “Why aren’t you herding cows or counting bedbug screams?” she asked, hearing the sharpness in her voice.
“I don’t need another mother, Essie,” Zander said, before muttering under his breath. “The one I had already screwed up the best thing I ever had.”
“What are you talking about? Your mom was the sweetest. Well, other than deciding she hated me.”
“My mother made mistakes like all of us. Are you coming?”
“Sure. I need to speak to Sara about the menu tomorrow, anyway.”
They walked down the hallway for a short distance beforeEssie stopped, blocking him from advancing. “No. Tell me what you meant.”
“This isn’t the time, Essie. You’re busy. The events start tomorrow. You’ve got a thousand worries on your mind. Just forget I said anything,” Zander said and tried to go around her.
“Not going to happen, Zander,” Essie told him and held her hands out to each side, blocking his path.
Over the last two weeks, she’d enjoyed having Zander in the mansion. He didn’t cause any trouble. He made sure she ate when everything was hectic and lent his muscle to moving the supplies dropped off willy-nilly at the door. A half-dozen toilets waiting to be installed lined up on the front porch would not have made the impression she wanted when a client walked up the stairs to book an elegant wedding venue.
“I couldn’t ever talk to you about us because your mom and aunt wouldn’t let me through the door. I didn’t agree to not see you anymore. You were my best friend. I didn’t plan to lose you over Genevieve and Pedro.”
“Do you mean Jennifer and Pete?” Essie asked, struggling to follow him. Did he just mix up their names to show her how little they mattered to him?
“Yes. Them. That’s why I sent Tux to you. I didn’t want us both to be lonely.”
“Aunt Esther gave me Tux.” Essie stared hard at him in disbelief. “Why would you try to take credit for giving me a stuffie?”
“She sent him for me. I knew your mom wouldn’t let you keep him if he came from me. I visited your aunt every afternoon until she agreed.”
Essie’s mouth opened and closed several times as she tried to find something to say. He hadn’t turned his back on her. Zander had missed her as well. Knowing this rattled everything inside her like the world spun in the opposite direction. “Why didn’t you say anything when I came back?”
“You were so mad at me. I figured whatever I’d say wouldmake everything worse. I hoped Tux would make you remember me in a positive light. Did you throw him away?” Zander looked crushed at that possibility.
“No. I love him. I sleep with him every night.” Essie rushed to reassure him and then realized what she’d revealed. “You know, like as a pillow.”
“A pillow, huh?” Zander smiled at her.
That grin did things to her inside. He was so damn handsome. Even as a kid, she’d noticed how attractive he was. Why was he still a bachelor?
“Are you two coming for lunch?” Sara asked, popping up at the end of the hallway.
“Yes. Of course. We were on our way and stopped to chat,” Essie said.
She turned and led the way into the kitchen, steeling herself not to peek over her shoulder at him. Essie’s mind whirled. He’d wanted to see her, but their mothers had interfered. A desire to rant at her mother kindled inside her. And her aunt! Not telling her Tux was from Zander. Esther had sent the stuffie to her. Had her aunt felt bad about keeping them separated?
This time, her emotions shifted as she sat across from Zander. Maybe he wasn’t the awful person who simply moved on when their families had interfered. He hadn’t trashed their friendship at the first hurdle they’d faced. She wished they were alone to talk through this.
A thought popped into her mind. Sara had to have known. Essie shot a hard look at Sara. To hell with being polite!
