“Who are your relations?” one of them asked him.
“When did you get here?” was the query from another.
“Are you going to stay?”
At that last query, Peggy sat back in her chair and folded her arms across her bosom. “He’s staying,” she said firmly, “if I have anything to do with it. He’s perfect for our Blake.”
And, as if they’d forgotten he was sitting right there among them, the women took off with a heated discussion on how they could guarantee his union with Blake.
Ryder didn’t say a word. He just kept his mouth shut and let them have their fun.
But when the topic of the conversation changed he knew he was in trouble, at least as far as these ladies’ plan was concerned.
“What kind of babies do you think they’ll have?” Beth asked.
“I don’t know and I don’t care,” Peggy declared. “All I know is, they'd better have lots of them.”
***
Blake was up early next morning, intent on dealing with her problem immediately. If Jerome Slater thought he could get away with slander he’d better think again.
When she walked into the kitchen her mother was already there. “Hi, Mom. Whatcha doin’?” She went over and gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Morning, honey. I guessed you’d be up early. I’m making you some warm cereal. Oatmeal.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Blake went over and flopped down on the closest chair then propped her elbows on the kitchen table. She watched as her mother turned back to the stove to stir the stuff she was preparing and it was when she found herself staring at the back of her mother’s head that she realized that a lot more gray hairs had sprung up since the last time she’d seen her.
Life had never been easy for Rosie. A single mother for much of her adult life, Rosie had married Blake’s father after graduate school, just as she hit the quarter century mark. She’d been working three years as a business analyst in an accounting firm when she got pregnant, which would not have been a problem if she’d been in a happy marriage. As it was, she’d been contemplating asking her husband for a divorce when it happened.
Instead of giving new life to the marriage, with the pregnancy things deteriorated. Ernest Beaumont had always been a controlling husband, domineering and overly possessive. With the expected arrival of their child he became even more so, demanding that she give up her position at the accounting firm.
After much resistance she finally gave in, quit her job and dedicated herself to preparing for the arrival of their first child. She figured she could always enter the workforce again, once the baby entered a daycare program. As she’d told Blake many years later, she’d thought that was the perfect plan. Ernest shot it down cold, telling her that once she became a mother he expected her to remain at home to care for their child.
It was the last straw. The divorce came through before Blake was even born and when Ernest refused to support their child Rosie didn’t even bother to take him to court. He made no effort to be a part of his daughter’s life even though Rosie emailed him photos of each of Blake’s little milestones – her first tooth, her graduation from nursery school, her first day at kindergarten. No amount of arguing or pleading would make the man bend his rigid stance. He was divorced from Rosie and anything…or anyone…to do with her.
Because Ernest’s parents had both passed away the only contact Rosie had with his family was a great uncle who still lived in the remote community of Pequoia. Desperate to maintain even one small link with Blake’s Beaumont roots, Rosie took to sending occasional photos to this great uncle and he seemed to take great pleasure from them because he always wrote back and thanked her.
When Blake was eleven her mother remarried but that relationship was just as short-lived as the first. Within a couple of years Rosie was single again and this time she had two mouths to feed in addition to her own. This time around she was not so generous and made sure that Rebecca’s father made his contribution to his child's welfare. Thankfully, he remained a part of his daughter’s life and would have frequent conversations with her on Skype even though he now lived in Europe.
Blake knew very well how stressful life had been for her mother and she did everything in her power to make things easier for her. That was why she had chosen business management as her major. She’d been determined to become a super-successful businesswoman so she could provide for her mother.
And that plan had been working out fine…until Jerome Slater came into the picture. Why she’d given in to his pleas and made him a partner in her business, she would never know.
But actually, she did know. The problem was, she’d succumbed to his silky charm. He’d been such a seducer that she hadn’t just given him access to her business. She’d even given him access to her heart.
And then he’d gone and used it against her.
“Here you go, sweetheart.” Rosie brought a steaming bowl of oatmeal porridge and placed it in front of Blake, who drew in a deep breath.
“Mmm. Smells so good. Just like home.” She dipped the spoon into the creamy porridge, took a taste then closed her eyes as she savored the cinnamon flavor. “I miss your cooking. You’re the best, Mom.”
Rosie chuckled. “And if you keep the compliments coming you know I’ll be cooking for you till I take my last breath.”
When Blake was halfway through her cereal Becky walked in, dressed in shorts and a Jonas Brothers T-Shirt. She looked surprised to see Blake at the breakfast table. “How come you’re up so early? Who gets up at this hour when they're on vacation?” She dropped onto the chair beside her sister. “Morning, Mom.” She gave their mother a wave.
“Got lots to do, Squirt. This isn’t a vacation.” She dipped up another spoonful of oatmeal.
“What do you have to do?” Becky asked, looking curious. “I thought your business was only in Pequoia now.”
Blake’s hand stilled and the spoon that was on its way to her mouth froze midway. She lowered it back into the bowl.
“My business is in Dallas,” she said gravely. “Today I’m going to exterminate a rodent.”
CHAPTER SIX
If there was one thing Peggy Thatcher loved it was her plants. And they didn’t have to be flowers, either. Ferns, Ficus trees, vines and creepers – anything would do. When she wasn’t busy mayoring her little town she was outdoors digging in her vegetable garden or turning the soil at the roots of her fruit trees. Sun, sky and dirt – that was her heaven.