Black Rose - NRoberts - G2 Black Rose

ROZ LOVED HAVINGcoffee on the patio with the awakening gardens spread out around her. She could hear Stella’s boys playing with the dog, and the sounds turned back her memory clock to when those shouts would have been from her own sons.

It was pleasant to sit out like this in the early evening, with the light soft and blue and the smell of growing things quiet on the air. Pleasant, too, since she was in the mood to have company. She drank her coffee while Logan and Stella, David and Mitch talked around her.

She’d wanted Harper there, too, and Hayley. But Harper wasn’t answering his phone—not a rare occurrence—and she hadn’t been able to find Hayley or the baby.

“She said he was so happy with the way everything looked, he took her out so she could buy new patio furniture.” Stella drained her glass of iced tea. “I’ve rarely seen a more satisfied customer—or a landscape design done and executed so quickly. Logan better keep his eye on you, Roz.”

“Knew the yard, and the woman—and both well enough to be sure Cissy would love the changes. And hire Logan to keep it looking good.”

“I’d hate to be that unhappy and intimidated by my mother-in-law.” Stella smiled at Logan. “I’m getting a jewel.”

“She feels the same, which is going to make my life a hell of a lot easier.” He tipped his beer toward Stella. “Your days are numbered, Red.”

“Two weeks, and counting. There’s still so much to do. Every time I think I’ve got it all under control, something else pops into my head. Planning a small, simple wedding’s full of complications.”

“You say ‘I do,’ then you eat cake,” Logan said, and earned a bland stare from his future bride.

“Jolene’s been an enormous help,” she went on. “So have Logan’s mother and sister, by long-distance. And I just don’t know what I’d do without you, David.”

“Throw me the bouquet, and we’re even.”

“Speaking of your stepmama,” Roz put in, “I spoke with Jolene today.”

“You did?”

“If there’s anyone who knows everybody in Shelby County, it’s Jolene Dooley. And I recalled she had a friend who runs a nice little gallery and gift shop downtown. Jane’s got a job interview next Wednesday afternoon.”

“You work fast,” Mitch said.

“That girl needed a break. Now we’ll see what she does with it. Jolene also has a friend whose sister works at a rental management company. Turns out there’s a one-bedroom apartment downtown, about six blocks from that gallery. Its current tenants are moving out in a couple weeks, and the lease fell through on the people who were going to move in.”

“I should’ve said you work miracles.”

“Oh, I just put in the request for them.”

“Do you think she’ll move on it?” Logan wondered. “Move out, and bring you the diaries? The way you described her, she didn’t seem to have much spine.”

“Some of us don’t. And some of us find out we’ve got one, but misplaced it. She’s young, and she doesn’t have what you’d call a lot of spirit. And though I made it clear there were no strings, I’m fairly sure she’ll feel obligated if she takes this job, and this apartment. Now whether she has the gumption to act on that obligation’s another matter.”

“If she doesn’t?” Mitch asked.

“Then I expect Cousin Rissy and I are due for a come-to-Jesus talk. I have a few cards up my sleeve, and I’ll play them if I have to.”

David’s eyes brightened as he leaned closer. “Dirt? Such as?”

“Family peccadilloes that she wouldn’t care to have come to light, and that I’ll assure her I will light up like Christmas unless she returns what belongs to Harper House.” She tapped David on the chin. “But for now, they’re my little secrets.”

“Spoilsport.”

She turned, as did everyone else, when Hayley shouted. Her face glowing, she rushed breathlessly to the table. “She walked. She walked right to Harper. Three steps!”

Nothing would do but that Lily demonstrate her new skill again. But she just buckled at the knees each time Hayley tried to nudge her into a step. And preferred crawling on the patio or trying to climb up Roz’s chair.

“I swear she walked. You can ask Harper.”

“I believe you.” Roz hauled Lily up to nuzzle. “Teasing your mama, aren’t you?” She pushed back, rose with Lily in her arms, then picked up a cracker, held it out to Hayley. “You might as well start early using one of the primary parenting tools. Bribery. Scoot down there, hold that cracker out.”

As Hayley obeyed, Roz crouched, steadied Lily on her feet. “Harper held out a flower.”

“That boy knows how to charm the girls. Go on, baby. Go get it.”

To enthusiastic applause, Lily performed. Then she plopped down on her butt and ate the cracker.

When the others went inside, Roz sat with Mitch in the twilight.

“Would you be insulted if I said you make a beautiful honorary grandmother.”

“The term grandmother is a bit of a jolt yet, but since I couldn’t love that baby more if she were my own blood, no. She took her first steps to my boy. To Harper. It’s hard for me not to focus on that, on the significance of it.”

“She’s not seeing anyone? Hayley?”

“Her life’s centered on Lily right now. But she’s young and full of passion. There’ll be someone sooner or later. As for Harper, I can’t keep up with the females who come and go. Still, he doesn’t bring them home to meet me. There’s significance in that, too.”

“Well, speaking of sons, mine’s seeing a new young lady. A local girl. And it happens her parents are members of your club. He’ll be at the dinner dance tomorrow night. I’m looking forward to introducing you.”

“I’d love to meet him. Who’s the girl?”

“Her name’s Shelby—after the county, I’m guessing. Shelby Forrester.”

“It’s a small and crowded world. Yes, I know Jan and Quill, Shelby’s parents. I know her, too—and she’s a lovely girl. Her parents and I are currently on . . . tenuous terms. Quill is doing business of some sort with Bryce, and it makes things a bit sticky between us. But that won’t touch on anyone else.”

“No one does complex connections and tenuous terms like the South.”

“I suppose not, and I only mention it so that if you sense any awkwardness, you’ll know why. But I’m prepared to be excruciatingly polite, so you needn’t worry.”

“I’m not, whether you decide to be polite or otherwise. Why don’t we take a walk? That way I can hold your hand and find some shadowy and fragrant corner of the garden where I can kiss you.”

“Sounds like a fine idea.”

“You’re doing a fine thing for Jane Paulson.”

“Maybe, but my motivations are murky.”

He laughed and brought her hand to his lips. “If your motivations were always pure, I doubt I’d find you as fascinating as I do.”

“I do love astute flattery. Let’s walk around to the stables. I’ll show you Spot’s marker.”

“I’d like to see it. It might be a good place for me to broach another theory. One I’ve been chewing on for a while now.”

As they walked down the path, she gauged the progress of her flowers and kept out an eagle eye for weeds.

“I’d as soon you spit it out as chew on it.”

“I’m not entirely sure how you’re going to feel about this one. I’m looking at dates, at events, at key moments and people, attempting to draw lines from those dates, events, moments, and people to Amelia.”

“Mmm-hmm. I’ve always enjoyed having these stables here, leaving them be. As a kind of ruin.”

Head cocked, hands fisted on hips now, she studied the crumbling stones, the weather-scarred wood. “I suppose I could have them restored. Maybe I will if I get those grandchildren and they develop an interest in horses. None of my boys did, particularly. It’s girls, I think, who go through that equine adoration period.”