1105 Yakima Street - Debbie Macomber [113]
“Okay, let’s go.” Cliff said, coat on and car keys in hand.
Grace stood there, immobilized.
He waited at the door. “You coming?”
“Yes.” She forced herself to take one step and then another. Each step required effort and determination. The carrier was still on the floor. She’d have to reach down and pick it up… .
“Are you coming or not?” Cliff asked.
“I said I was.” Bending down, looking at Beau, with his dark eyes focused directly on her, she tried to reassure him and herself that this was for the best. “Katie and Drake are going to love you so much.”
Unblinking, Beau stared up at her.
“Grace.” Cliff’s voice was gentle. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”
She started to assure him it was and then realized she couldn’t. “No,” she whispered. “This isn’t what I want at all.” Just saying the words seemed to free her. “I do love Beau.”
“I know. You couldn’t help yourself any more than I could.” Cliff came over and put his arms around her, hugging her. “Does that mean we can keep him?”
“He isn’t Buttercup.”
“No, he’s not. He’s Beau. Our Beau.”
“Our Beau,” she agreed. She knelt down, opening the zipper to his carrier.
Beau leaped right into her arms.
Thirty-Five
“I don’t know about this,” Lori told Linc as she set a tray of decorated sugar cookies on the coffee table. She rubbed her hands nervously together.
Linc had his own reservations, but was unwilling to say so. “It’ll be fine,” he said confidently. “Don’t worry.”
Lori looked unconvinced. “If this is a disaster, then…”
“I’ll accept full responsibility.”
“No, you won’t,” she said, coming to stand at his side. “I went along with this idea of yours. So if everything goes down in flames, I’m going down with you.”
His wife didn’t seem to hold out much hope. Linc, on the other hand, believed there was at least a chance this would all work out.
“Dad might not even come,” Lori said, which was one objection she’d raised when Linc had first suggested setting up a meeting between her parents. Kate didn’t know her husband would be there, otherwise she’d never have agreed to visit.
“He’ll be here.”
“But you only talked to him that once. You said it hadn’t gone well.”
“Your father and I still have some ground to cover, but one thing came through loud and clear. He loves your mother.”
“But Mom’s already filed for divorce.”
“I’m fairly sure your father’s heard about that.” Linc’s biggest concern was that Kate would be upset with Lori. Still, they’d deal with that if they had to.
“Is the coffee ready?” Lori asked, glancing into the kitchen.
“It’s finished brewing.” So far they hadn’t done much entertaining, not counting Mary Jo, Mack and Noelle. They were family, though… . Well, so were Kate and Leonard, but that was different. They were estranged family, which made everything a lot more tense.
Lori had cleaned the duplex until Linc thought she’d scrub the paint off the walls. The kitchen floor shone so brightly he could almost see his reflection, and the furniture had been polished until it gleamed. They’d put up their small Christmas tree the day before and Lori had spent hours decorating it. She’d done a lovely job, too. Linc had tried to help but Lori wanted to do it her way and he was just as glad to let her.
At precisely two o’clock the doorbell chimed. Lori jumped as though it had caught her completely off guard. She grabbed Linc’s forearm. “You answer that, okay?”
He kissed her cheek. “Relax,” he whispered.
“Easy for you to say,” she muttered back.
Linc went to the door. Leonard stood on the other side, a frown darkening his face. “What’s all this about?”
Linc didn’t reply as he opened the screen door. “I see you’re right on time.”
“I didn’t get where I am in the world by showing up late.”
“Hi, Daddy.” Lori stood in the middle of the room, clenching her hands. “Welcome to our home.”
Leonard looked around and whether he approved or disapproved he didn’t say.
“Would you care to