“You will mind your own business, Mom.” Roman’s deep blue eyes, so much like his father’s, bore into hers.
She exhaled hard. “What’s so wrong with giving support to people you love?”
Charlotte crossed the room and placed a hand on Raina’s arm. “Listen. I’ve spoken with Kendall and from what I can figure Rick had his hands full with keeping her in town, and that was before someone put her on display for everyone to see. He’s going to need your support but not your meddling. You’re going to have to trust me on this one.”
“I wish someone would trust me,” Rick said.
Raina gasped and everyone turned at the unexpected sound of Rick’s voice.
“I’m not sure whether to be more insulted that you’re all here discussing my life or that you’ve been keeping secrets.” He stepped into the kitchen, arms folded across his chest and a scowl on his face.
Raina hadn’t heard him enter the house and from the shocked expressions around her, neither had anyone else. He leaned against the door frame, looking exhausted and distraught. Defeat wasn’t in a Chandler’s vocabulary, but it was obvious that whatever had happened between him and Kendall hadn’t gone well.
And judging by his obvious displeasure now, things here wouldn’t go much better. “How long have you been standing there?” Raina asked. But the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach had already provided the answer.
“Oh I arrived somewhere around the time you mentioned your fake heart condition.” His jaw clenched in unmistakable anger while his eyes flashed with betrayal and hurt.
“Rick . . .”
“Not now, okay? I’ve been through enough tonight. I don’t need to deal with this too. I’m glad you’re healthy. Thrilled in fact.” Shaking his head in disbelief, he turned to leave.
“Rick.” Roman stepped toward his brother.
Rick didn’t glance back. “Unless you’re going to tell me you had no idea she was faking, we have nothing to discuss either.”
“Charlotte, I’m taking my brother out for a drink. Eric will make sure you get home okay.” Roman glanced at the other man who nodded in silent assent.
“I’d rather drink alone,” Rick muttered.
“Don’t worry about me. You two need to talk.” Charlotte’s blue eyes flashed with compassion and concern for her still-new family. “Rick, you know we love you.”
“You all have a funny way of showing it.”
“You’re right. And there’s no excuse but . . .” Raina’s voice trailed off.
“I’ll handle it, Mom. Just relax and get some sleep, okay?” Roman laid a hand on her shoulder. She appreciated his concern.
Though he’d never condoned her charade, he wasn’t turning on her now and she appreciated the loyalty. She loved her sons, too much if causing them pain was the end result of her good intentions.
“Where’s Kendall?” Charlotte asked the unspoken question Raina was certain lay on everyone’s mind.
“Home. Probably packing,” Rick muttered.
Raina winced. “If it would help I could take a ride over and talk to her.” Even as she offered, even as Roman gestured for her to zip her mouth shut, she knew what her son’s answer would be.
“Don’t you think you’ve done enough?” Rick asked.
His disappointment shot straight through to her heart, the organ she’d used to manipulate him. Poetic justice, Raina realized, the thought bringing no consolation and an extreme amount of pain.
Rick was suffering too, from a combination of Kendall’s withdrawal and Raina’s revelation. Her own predicament and feelings now paled in comparison to the agony her middle son must be feeling.
Whether or not Rick forgave her, Raina needed to help him and Kendall find their way back to each other. Unfortunately she had no idea where to begin.
Somehow Kendall survived the night with two teenagers, a new dog, and her own heartache. The girls helped give Happy a bath and the activity helped keep Kendall’s mind busy and off the humiliation she’d suffered—at whose hands, she wondered, for the millionth time.
Though Rick insinuated he had a hunch regarding the culprit, Kendall had no idea who hated her enough to post her nearly naked picture on a billboard-sized screen. The only person who overtly disliked Kendall was Lisa Burton and Kendall couldn’t see the schoolteacher risking her job or her own reputation to pull such a juvenile stunt.
By the time the girls’ giggling subsided and they’d fallen asleep, oblivious to what had happened at the slide show, Kendall came to the conclusion it didn’t matter who’d set her up. The fact was, the person had done her a favor. They’d shown her proof of why daydreams could never be reality and why Kendall Sutton didn’t belong living in a small town with a good, decent man like Rick Chandler.
By the time daylight streamed through her still-open shades, the slide show and the photograph had replayed itself over and over in Kendall’s mind. She wasn’t ashamed of her past career or even the particular picture displayed. No matter how badly she needed the money, Kendall would never have agreed to an assignment she felt would devalue her own self worth or that of her family. But the fact remained that she’d been plastered half naked for the town to see, for people who’d been good to her to be affected.
And the Chandlers deserved better. From Charlotte who ran her own business, to Raina who had class and morals and a heart condition that couldn’t handle stress, to Rick, whose reputation as a good cop was unsurpassed and untarnished. Until he’d hooked up with Kendall.
She shook her head and walked to the windowsill, looking out at the dew-soaked grass.
For the first time in her adult life she’d let herself believe in possibilities. She’d wondered if she should stay, if she could become a part of Rick’s town, Rick’s family. Rick’s life.
Last night she’d been given her answer. Shown it in living color and those possibilities had been taken away from her. Just as she’d been taught as a child, she’d learned again last night, family and stability existed for other people, not her.
Thank God Hannah had missed the display. Kendall would have to break the news to her before Hannah heard it from someone else. Nothing would be more embarrassing to a teenager and Kendall wished she could spare her sister completely, but she couldn’t. The most she could do now was soften the blow when Kendall explained that she had been a poster girl at the town’s historical display.