Nora Roberts - Black Hills

“It’s not?”

“No,” Lucy said in reasonable tones. “It’s like saving on them. So look at it that way: you only bought two pairs. And one of them’s for the wedding. Those you were obligated to buy. Really, you only bought one pair.”

“Your logic is wise. And confusing.”

In the backseat Lil listened to the old friends enjoy each other’s company, and smiled.

She hadn’t taken enough time for this, she admitted. Time to just sit and listen to her mother talk, to be with her, with Lucy. She had let that bastard steal that from her too, those little moments of pleasure.

That would stop.

“Let’s have a spa day.”

Jenna flicked a glance in the rearview. “A what?”

“A spa day. I haven’t had a facial or a manicure since before I left for South America. Let’s figure out when we can all take a day off and book a bunch of decadent treatments at the day spa.”

“Lucy, there’s someone in the backseat pretending to be Lil.”

Lil leaned up, poked her mother’s shoulder. “I’m going to have Mary call and book us as soon as I check my schedule and Tansy’s, so you’d better let her know if you’ve got any day next week that doesn’t work. Otherwise, too bad for you.”

“Somehow I believe I can clear my schedule. How about you, Lucy.”

“I may have to shuffle a few things, but I think I can clear the decks. Won’t that be fun.” She shifted to smile back at Lil.

“Yes. It’ll be fun.” And long overdue.

Lil got out when they reached Lucy’s to stretch her legs and switch to the front seat. “Let me help you in with those.”

“I bought them, I can carry them,” Lucy replied.

At the back of the SUV, the three of them pawed through bags.

“That’s mine,” Lucy said. “That one’s your mother’s. This one, yes, that’s mine. That one there. And, oh, my, I did go a little overboard.”

With a laugh, Lucy kissed Jenna on the cheek. “I don’t know the last time I had so much fun. ’Night, sweetheart,” she said with a kiss for Lil. “I’m going to listen to Sam ask me why I needed another pair of shoes when I’ve only got two feet, then I’m putting these old bones in the tub.”

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Jenna called out, and waited until Lucy was in the house before heading down the farm road.

“What about you? Are you looking to soak or eat?”

“I’m thinking shoes off, feet up, and a big fat sandwich.”

“You had a good day, and you’re going to be a beautiful maid of honor.”

“It’s a great dress.” Sighing, Lil let her head tip back. “I haven’t done a shopping marathon like that in years. Literally years.”

“I know it wasn’t easy for you to take a full day away like this. And now you’re planning a spa day. You’re a good friend.”

“She’d do the same for me. Plus, great dress, fabulous shoes, and assorted other items I really had no need for.”

“It’s more fun when you don’t need them.”

“Too true.” Lil toyed with the new earrings she’d bought, and-like her mother and the shoes-had worn out of the store. “Why is that?”

“Buying what you need’s the result of hard work. Buying what you don’t need’s the reward for hard work. You work hard, honey. I’m glad you took the time away. It was nice, wasn’t it, seeing how happy and excited Sueanne is? She can’t say enough about Farley.”

“It makes you proud.”

“It really does. It’s so satisfying when other people tell you what a good person your child is. I feel so good about it, about knowing how welcome he’s going to be in that family. You’ll be happy, too, having her living so close.”

“You want to bet Dad and Farley ditched the chess game and spent all evening playing with plans for the house?”

“No question. They’ll probably be sorry to see me home.”

When they got to the gate, Jenna stopped so Lil could swipe her card, and key in her code.

“I can’t tell you how much better I feel knowing you’ve got this security in. Almost as good as I feel knowing you’re not going home to an empty house.”

“It’s an odd situation, having Coop here. I want him here, but at the same time I’m trying not to get used to having him here.”

“You’re gun-shy.”

“I really am. Part of me feels that I might be punishing him for something he did, or didn’t do, said or didn’t say, when I was twenty. I don’t want to do that. Another part of me wonders if we’re together here because of the situation, because I’m in trouble and he needs to help.”

“Do you doubt he loves you?”

“No. No, I don’t.”

“But?”

“But if I don’t hold something back, and he leaves again, I don’t know if I’d get through it.”

“I can’t tell you what to do. Well, I could, but I won’t. I’ll just say nothing in this world comes with a guarantee. With people, with love, a promise has to be enough. When it’s enough for you, you’ll let go.”

“It’s hard to think straight or feel straight with this cloud over my head. I don’t want to make a decision or take a step like that when everything around me is in such upheaval.”

“That’s very sensible.”

She narrowed her eyes at her mother as Jenna set the brake in front of the cabin. “And wrong?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Yes you did. Just not out loud.”

“Lil, you’re my daughter. My shining star.” Reaching out, she lifted a lock of Lil’s hair, let it slide through her fingers. “I want you safe and happy. I’m not content until I know you’re both, as much of both as is possible. I love Cooper, so I’d be thrilled if you decide he’s a part of making you safe and happy. But the safe and happy’s what I want most for you, however you decide. For now? I like seeing his truck there, and the lights on in your cabin. And… I like seeing him stepping out on the porch to welcome you home.”

Jenna slid out of the car. “Hi, Coop.”

“Ladies.” He walked down. “How’d it go?”

“You can judge that by the amount of bags still in the back. We considered renting a U-Haul for the loot, but we managed to stuff it and everyone in for the ride back. Barely.”

She opened the back, began to pass him bags.

“Did you leave anything for the rest of the state?”

“Not if we could help it. There. The rest is mine, all mine.” She turned, gave Lil a hug. “We don’t do this often enough.”

“I’d have to give myself a raise to do it more often.”

“You call me tomorrow.”

“I will.”

“Take care of my girl, Cooper.”

“Top of the list.”

Lil waved her off, watched the tailgate fade. “Is everything all right here?”

“Fine.”

“I should check, see if anyone left me any messages.”

“Matt and Lucius were still here when I got home. They said to tell you things ran okay without you. Even though you wouldn’t like to hear it.”

“Of course I like to hear it.”

“Then why are you frowning? I’m taking all this stuff inside.”

“I’m just not used to being away all day.” And now that she was back she wondered what had possessed her to suggest another day away.

“You were in Peru for six months.”

“That’s different. I don’t care if it’s illogical, it is different. I should do a circuit around the habitats.”

“I already did.” He dumped the bags at the base of the stairs. “Baby made do with me.”

“Oh. That’s good, too. I guess there’s no word on Ethan, or anything in that area.”

“I’d tell you if there were.” He leaned down, kissed her. “Why don’t you relax? Isn’t stripping stores of all their stock supposed to relax the female?”