Protective, Raina thought, and though Rick had that streak by nature, this time she sensed his defense of Kendall had a more personal side. A sense of satisfaction pulled at Raina as she watched her son.
“Rick, I don’t mind explaining. Most people don’t understand my lifestyle. Truthfully, if I didn’t live it, I probably wouldn’t understand.” She smiled at Raina. “Considering what an obviously warm, loving family you have, I’m sure my family’s life seems strange to you.”
“Nonsense. Well maybe,” Raina admitted, opting for honesty. People could change, she thought, given the right incentive. “I want you to consider yourself a part of our family.
Crystal would want that and so do I.” More than Kendall knew.
From what Raina had seen so far, Kendall Sutton wasn’t only beautiful, she was warm, compassionate, and intelligent. She also had a mind of her own. And Raina assumed her independence held the most allure for her son who’d been bombarded with more domestic-minded women. Raina had only herself to blame for that, but things had changed now.
Rick obviously had fallen for Kendall even if he didn’t know it yet. Maybe if shown love and tenderness, Kendall would learn to love the stability she’d missed out on as a child.
And who better to teach her the value of family than the Chandlers? Rick especially.
“That’s so sweet. I don’t know what to say.” Kendall’s eyes held a bright sheen.
“I do. You’ve been conned. By the best in the business,” Rick said wryly.
Raina scowled at her son.
“What business?” Kendall asked.
“The marriage business.”
“Ah, yes.” Kendall leaned forward in her seat and grinned. “I heard all about your matchmaking tendencies, Mrs. Chandler.”
“And I heard all about your auspicious arrival. Now tell me how you ended up on the side of the road in a wedding gown of all things?”
“Mother—”
“It’s a fair question, Rick.” Kendall’s cheeks turned a shiny pink, but she carried on like a trooper. “I was supposed to get married this morning,” she said, embarrassed at admitting she’d been an hour away from saying “I do,” when things had luckily fallen apart. “But we both realized marriage would have been a mistake and my fiancé and I parted ways.”
Raina had been happily married for almost twenty years before John died. She couldn’t imagine agreeing to marry someone she didn’t love or ending things so abruptly. “To call off a wedding so suddenly. Did he cheat on you?” Raina asked, appalled and affronted on Kendall’s behalf.
Rick kicked her lightly under the table.
Kendall shook her head. “No, but we were more good friends than anything else. He’d done me some favors, bailed me out by getting me some modeling jobs to help pay for Aunt Crystal’s nursing home, and I felt I owed him. Things just got carried away from there, but we realized it in time, thank goodness. I was so relieved I didn’t really think. I just walked out, got in the car, and drove.”
The impulsive act shocked Raina, who’d spent her whole life in the same house doing the expected things in life. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
Raina blinked, stunned. But since she’d gotten this much information, she might as well get it all. “And the pink hair was for a modeling job?”
Kendall raised a hand to the pink strands. “I wish. Actually it was an impulse.”
“Another one?” Rick asked, devouring Kendall with his gaze.
Raina wanted to clap for joy.
“Last night I panicked. I stood in front of my bathroom mirror and I just . . .” Her eyes seemed to glaze. “Panicked. I couldn’t imagine marrying Brian. I love him as a friend, but I’ve never been tied down to anyone or anything in my life. I saw my reflection and I was afraid I couldn’t go through with the wedding.” Her voice dropped. “But I’d given my word, I’d promised, and he’d been so good to me. I thought maybe if I didn’t look like me, the new me could take on this new life.”
“So you bought pink dye?”
She laughed. “No. I had red dye in the closet at home. Cherry Cola actually, but I’ve got pale blond hair and the color just didn’t take the way I thought it would. Instead of cola-colored red, I got pink.” She shrugged. “There are worse things.”
“I should have known you were really a blonde,” Rick said, his voice deep and husky.
“Because of my impulsive, ditzy behavior today?” Kendall asked, laughing.
“Because he has a thing for blondes,” Raina offered helpfully. “And if you ever want to change back, I could take you into town and introduce you to Luanne and her daughter Pam. They own Luanne’s Locks. The only hair salon in town.”
“You’re supposed to stay off your feet,” Rick said sharply.
Dammit, Raina thought. This fake heart condition would be the death of her yet. She hated putting her boys through the charade, hated the crimp it put in her social life, but it was necessary. She’d concocted the idea after she’d been rushed to Emergency a few months before with a diagnosis no more dire than indigestion. But her boys didn’t know the truth and Raina had used the situation to help her show them the error in their bachelor ways.
She’d allowed them to think she was seriously ill and in return, they’d grouped together to give her her fondest wish. Roman had been the son designated as the one to give her a grandchild. Raina still held out hope he and Charlotte would do just that, though Roman insisted he and his new bride needed time alone before starting a family.
But grandchildren weren’t all Raina desired. She wanted her sons settled, living happily ever after with the woman of their dreams and families of their own. She didn’t want them living lonely lives. She was one-third of the way there. Chase and Rick were next.
“Are you sick?” Kendall asked, concern in her voice.
Raina drew a deep breath and covered her heart with one hand. “I had an episode a little while ago.”
“A weak heart,” Rick explained. “She’s got to watch her routine and her diet and that’s just a start.”
“So Norman’s been delivering meals and the boys hired a housekeeper.” While Raina had been keeping a bank account to pay her sons back when this charade was over. She hated their stubborn refusal to let her pay for her own care. And she was growing to dislike their hovering more and more.