He did his best not to disappoint. Tilting forward he pressed her back against the car, never breaking the kiss, one hand sliding up to cradle her head while the other gently stroked her hip.
When he finally pulled his lips from hers she hid her face against his shoulder, her breath escaping in shallow pants as her body trembled against his.
She was a passionate one, this girl, so endearing in her eager innocence.
Reed almost groaned as he held her close. More than anything, he wanted to make sure never to hurt her.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“I’m sorry, Claire. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
“For what? What nonsense are you blabbing about now, child?” Claire popped a grape into her mouth and when she bit down a tiny spray shot from between her lips. She laughed and dabbed at her mouth with a tissue. “These dentures. Make sure you take good care of your teeth. These things will embarrass you every time.”
“Claire, I’m serious.” Golden was almost pouting. Claire could be so difficult when she wanted to be. Her friend knew exactly what she was talking about but, for some reason, she’d decided to play dumb. As she sat across from Claire in the ground-floor canteen she pushed her salad plate away and folded her arms. “You know exactly what I mean. I won’t be a busybody anymore. I promise.” Then her face fell. “I didn’t mean for you to get sick. Honest.”
“Golden,” Claire said, her face suddenly serious, “I’m going to say this one more time and this time I want you to listen. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in years. And what you did last week, getting Marjorie to come visit, could not have happened at a better time.”
If Claire had slapped her on the cheek Golden could not have been more surprised. “You’re not angry about that?”
“No, I’m not. On the contrary, I’m proud of you. You knew I was being an old fool and you took steps to correct that.”
“But...but you got upset. You threw the brownies at Marjorie. You got a stroke.”
“I know, I know.” Claire waved her hands dismissively. “So I’m an old tyrant. That’s how I’ve always been. And I have a hot temper. That’s just me. You should know that by now.”
“But how do you go from being upset to this? You’re so...mellow.” Golden shook her head in confusion. “I thought you’d hate me for causing your stroke.”
“Now you stop that. You did not cause that stroke. I brought it on myself, eating those brownies all at once. My body can’t take all that sugar.”
“What brownies? Not the ones Marjorie brought? You threw them at her. They fell on the floor.”
“Only a couple of them fell out. I ate all the rest and boy, were they good.” Her eyes sparkled and she licked her lips like she was devouring the brownies all over again. “I think it was the sugar shock that did me in. Ten brownies at one go was too much for this old body to handle.” She shook her head. “I was never strong in the self-control department.”
Leaning forward, Claire put her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her palm. “Do you know what, though? That stroke served a good purpose. It was like a smack to the forehead. A wake-up call, as they say.”
Golden leaned forward, too. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying if I hadn’t looked death in the eyes I wouldn’t have faced up to the fact that I’ll be gone soon and when you’re dead, you’re dead. No more chances to make things right.” She lifted her head then leaned back in her chair but although her body looked relaxed her eyes were intense. “All these years I’ve been the worst fool, carrying my ex-husband in my heart, hating him, punishing Marjorie for loving him. I was hurt by both of them. Her father, I still don’t like, but Marjorie...I’ve been holding a grudge against my own daughter.”
Claire’s eyes grew misty as she spoke. “I was in shock when I saw her last week and I guess that’s why I reacted the way I did. I’d been holding on to my anger so long it exploded as soon as the fuse was lit. But it was the stroke that made me realize I’m nothing but an ass. I could be dead now and I wouldn’t have told Marjorie how I really feel about her.”
“And...how is that?”
“I love her, Golden. You know that. That’s why you got her to come here to see me. Except that I made shambles of that experiment,” she gave Golden a rueful smile, “because of my pride.” She reached out to take Golden’s hands. “Can you help me? Get her to come back and see me.”
Golden clasped the withered hands. “Are you sure?” She stared at her friend and as she did, a worrying thought entered her mind. Was Claire showing signs of senility? How could she move from explosive rage, throwing things at her daughter, chasing her away, and not a week later ask to see her again? “Do you know what you’re saying, Claire?” she pressed.
Claire tightened her lips then pushed them out in a pout. She pulled her hand from Golden’s grasp. “Don’t patronize me, child. I know exactly what I’m saying. Now go and convince Marjorie to come back. Tell her I’m ready to see her.”
“I’ll try.” Golden gave her a slow nod, knowing she would do that and more but wondering if, now that Claire was ready, Marjorie would be willing to forgive.
***
The day after Golden had given Reed a copy of the will he called her into his office. Slowly, she got up from her desk, steeling herself for bad news.
It had been a task, getting her mother to make her a copy. It had taken three days of pleading before Eugenia got the original from the safety deposit box and had a copy made. Immediately, Golden handed it over to Reed and he must have shown it to his lawyer right away because here he was, a little over twenty-four hours later, calling her to discuss the document in question.
As soon as she pushed the door and stepped into his office he waved her toward the chair across from him. Quickly, she slid onto the seat and looked at him, her heart pounding in anticipation of his next words. Had the lawyer found a way to rescue her from impending imprisonment, marriage to a man who was more than twice her age? She couldn’t read a thing in Reed’s expression.