But she still remembered how she’d felt on discovering her sons had employed a coin toss. Loser would give up his bachelorhood and freedom to marry and give their sick mother a grandchild. Roman lost—and ended up the winner. She didn’t think he’d appreciate the reminder. “So you don’t want to give me credit. Then why not tell Rick or Chase?” she asked again, certain her youngest was dodging the issue and she couldn’t imagine why.
“I have my reasons.” He didn’t meet her gaze.
“Now who’s hiding something,” she asked, but decided not to force things. She hadn’t earned his trust or the reprieve he’d given her by keeping her secret. “Why tell me you know the truth now?” she asked instead.
“Because of Rick. When you called to say he wanted to gather family and friends and you asked if we could make a beeline home, I figured he’d found the right woman. And I wanted to make sure you didn’t meddle in his life the way you did in mine.” This time he did lock his eyes with hers. “Let Rick and Kendall make their own way. Or else.”
“Or else you’ll tell. Roman, sweetheart, you should know I was planning on giving up anyway. Rick found Kendall on his own and it’s getting hard to keep up the charade.
Even Eric—”
“No.” Roman spoke in a firm, no-nonsense voice. “You will not tell Rick or Chase now.”
She blinked, utterly and completely shocked. “Why not? I thought that’s what you’d want.”
“I considered that option, believe me.” He leaned an arm over her, propping his hand on the sofa and leaning close enough to press a kiss on her cheek. “I love you and I’ve been observing your relationship with Dr. Fallon. I realize you’re having a hell of a time mixing a personal life with your charade.”
She sighed. Her youngest had always been astute.
“Eric’s a good man and I couldn’t be happier you’re finally moving on with your life.”
She nodded, knowing Roman’s past inability to stay home in Yorkshire Falls or commit to a woman had a lot to do with that very issue. “But?”
“But if you admit your scheme now, just when Rick’s found a woman he obviously cares about, you’ll give him a reason to back off. With his past and after Jillian, it’s a miracle he’s looking at Kendall Sutton the way he is. And if you turn around now and show him women can say one thing and do another, if he sees your manipulation, he might decide women aren’t worth the effort.” Roman shook his head. “Much as I wouldn’t mind you confessing and suffering the consequences, Rick deserves the chance to be happy. Like you said,” Roman muttered, obviously disgusted at giving her notions any credit whatsoever.
Raina didn’t like it but Roman was right. Rick probably was on shaky emotional ground and didn’t need an excuse to give in to his fears and push him away from Kendall. “I’ll keep quiet.”
Even though her silence assured her relationship with Eric would continue to be rather difficult and strained, she deserved the trials she suffered now. Roman rewarded her with a huge hug and she squeezed her youngest back. Raina had made her bed, so to speak.
She smoothed the heavy covers over her legs. She’d just have to lie in it.
Kendall decided to spend the hours after breakfast with Charlotte cleaning out the closets in the guest house as another way of insuring a sale. Make the storage room look big and enticing, she thought.
She’d no sooner changed into her cleaning outfit than the doorbell rang and the front door swung open wide and Pearl entered without invitation.
“Why you’re just like a native, leaving your door open to the neighbors.” The older woman walked inside, a foil-wrapped package in her hand.
“Hi, Pearl.” Though she should feel imposed upon, instead Kendall realized she was genuinely happy to have company. Another odd sensation for someone who’d always lived alone. “Come on in and sit down.” She waved inside.
Kendall had already taken the slipcovers and drop cloths off the furniture and Rick had finished the walls in the entry and living area. The smell of fresh paint added to the cleanliness and appeal.
Pearl joined her in the family room. “Take this. My special brownies for a special girl.
You remind me so much of your aunt.” She smiled and the weathered lines in her cheeks seemed much less apparent.
“That’s such a sweet compliment.” Kendall accepted the home-baked treat, the smell of chocolate making her stomach rumble.
“Get us something to drink and we can indulge, women-style,” Pearl said, shamelessly taking over and telling Kendall what to do.
Kendall blushed, knowing she didn’t have much to offer. “I’ve got water,” she said and shrugged. Filtered water had always been her drink of choice. Easy and healthy, she’d always thought but the fact that she had nothing to serve Pearl shamed her a bit.
Pearl waved a hand in the air, obviously dismissing the idea too. “That’s what I was afraid of.” She dug into her purse and came out with a jar of iced-tea mix. “You can’t live in the suburbs and not have some good old-fashioned iced tea or lemonade with your dessert. Eldin hates lemons, so I buy iced tea for the man. Gotta keep ’em happy, but you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, what with a virile man like Rick around?” She walked to the kitchen as she spoke, making herself at home and chattering the entire way.
“So what’s with all the painting going on here?” Pearl asked.
“Well . . .”
“Don’t tell me. You and Rick are planning on moving in here after all. I told Eldin so, but he said no, you’d stayed at Rick’s apartment last night and this old guest house wasn’t your style, with you coming from the city and all.”
Kendall blinked. She didn’t know what shocked her more, Pearl’s pronouncement that apparently everyone seemed to know where she’d spent the night or the speed and consistency with which she spoke. With Pearl and her mouth in residence, Kendall didn’t have to worry about taking part in the conversation.
Still, she needed to make sure anything repeated was either accurate or helpful to Rick and his cause. “I’m sure you realize by now Rick and I aren’t married.”
“Yet.” Pearl popped a chocolate piece of brownie into her mouth, then washed it down with the iced tea she’d made, sliding Kendall’s glass toward her at the same time.