“The real reason I didn’t make it back in time for the meeting is I was in the hospital. I’m on the short list for a heart attack if I don’t get rid of the stress in my life. I’m moving to Port Clara, opening a small accounting practice, and if all goes well I’ll get married and give you some more grandchildren, and I’ll live long enough to see my own grandchildren.”
All the color drained from Archie’s face. “You’re quitting? Leaving the family business just like that?”
“I’ve given it a lot of thought.”
“You can’t leave,” Archie declared. “I won’t let you make the biggest mistake of your life. Cooper and Max lost their minds when they quit and moved to that backwater town, but I thought you had more brains than that.”
“It’s the smartest thing I can do for myself,” Reece said with utter certainty. He felt bad, knowing he was disappointing his father. But he would feel worse if he knuckled under to Archie’s demands.
“You do understand what you’re giving up? That I just offered you a
“It wouldn’t mean much if I had a heart attack and died.”
Finally Reece’s arguments seemed to get through to Archie. The older man pressed his lips together and gazed off into space.
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
“Well…” Archie sighed. “When you put it like that…God knows your mother would never forgive me if I gave you a heart attack.” He rose and walked to the window, staring out at the Manhattan skyline, and Reece gave him a few moments to absorb the news.
Finally Archie turned back to face his son, and he was smiling again, though not quite as convincingly. “So when do we meet Sara? I presume she has something to do with your decision.”
“She has a lot to do with my decision-but she doesn’t know it yet.” He could only hope she would welcome his change of plans.
Chapter Fifteen
Sara had a bad feeling about this meeting Miss Greer had called. The two of them and Valerie sat in the kitchen, drinking tea and eating some cookies Valerie had baked. But despite the informality, Sara knew Miss Greer was going to tell her something she wasn’t ready to hear.
“Miss Greer, you aren’t sick, are you?” Sara blurted out.
“Oh, no, dear, I didn’t mean to worry you. My hip is healing up just fine. But I’m not as young as I used to be, and keeping up with the bed-and-breakfast is getting to be too much for me. I’ve depended on you far too much lately, and you might not always be here if a certain young man has his way.”
“Who, Reece?”
“Who, Reece, she says.” Miss Greer shared a conspiratorial smile with Valerie. “So, anyway, I’ve decided to sell the Sunsetter.”
“Oh, no!”
“Now, Sara, don’t take it that way. My daughter wants me to come live with her, and it would be crazy to say no. Imagine, after all these years with no family, I suddenly have a daughter and grandchildren who want to get to know me.”
Sara struggled not to be selfish. “Of course I understand. But are you sure? You’ve lived here almost your whole life.”
“I’ve run this business for sixty-odd years. I’d like to retire and enjoy whatever time I have left.”
Sara could have argued that it would be cold in Michigan, that Miss Greer would miss Port Clara’s balmy weather. But if Miss Greer wanted to be with her newfound family, who was Sara to argue?
“Then I’ll wish you the best of luck in your new life. Can I come visit? I’ve never been to Michigan.”
Miss Greer finally smiled. “I’m counting on it. You’ll bring Reece, and the grandchildren, too.”
“Grandchildren?” Sara squeaked. Did Miss Greer know something? Was Sara’s pregnancy oozing from her pores?
But Miss Greer moved on. “There’s something else we need to discuss.”
What now? Sara didn’t know if she could take any more bad news.
“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather see own the Sunsetter than you. Would you be interested in buying it? I would sell it to you on very friendly terms.”
“Oh! Gee, I never thought of myself owning real estate.” Owning a home seemed so permanent. Yet she had called this place home for more than ten years. And now that she had another life to think about-a child who would require space and a yard to play in, maybe a dog…
“I don’t know that I could swing it,” she admitted. “I don’t have any money for a down payment, and if I did… well, I really need a new car.” She had no idea how much the B and B was worth, but she imagined it to be far out of her reach.
“Why don’t we talk to my banker?”
“I’ll think about it.” But she was pretty sure she already knew her answer. She loved the Sunsetter. She knew every nook and cranny, every cabbage rose on the living-room curtains, every squeaky floorboard, every inch of the oak molding. But now that she’d lived here with Reece, shared meals with him in the kitchen and dining room, made love to him in his room and hers, she couldn’t stay here.
She still half expected to run into him every time she rounded a corner. And though she had eradicated every scrap of his existence from his room, the smell of the soap they’d used here for years now reminded her of him.
The entire B and B had become a painful reminder of the fact he’d chosen his work over her. She’d been toying with the idea of leaving, starting something new. Only Miss Greer’s dependence on her had stopped her. Now that she knew Valerie and her mother would be taking care of Miss Greer, Sara could make her own plans.
Sara tidied up the kitchen, then stepped out to the front porch to pick up the mail. There was a strange envelope addressed to her, from the Princess Cruise Line.
She almost tossed it, thinking it was junk mail. But then she remembered that she had applied for a chef’s job there months ago. She tore it open and read the letter.
Holy cow. They wanted her. The job was probably low on the galley totem pole-she had nothing prestigious in her references. But on a cruise ship! It was something she’d always wanted to try.
Besides, anything beat waiting around here, thinking about Reece. The salary wasn’t half-bad, and she would have health insurance. Maybe a job on a cruise ship was only a stopgap measure, but it would give her some time to think and plan.
She called the personnel director and told them she would accept the position. He instructed her to report for work the following Monday.
REECE’S PALMS FELT clammy as he boarded a plane at LaGuardia. He would fly to Dallas, where he would catch another plane to Corpus Christi. Max would meet him there and drive him to Port Clara. Then he would freshen up at Max’s condo and head for the Sunsetter.
His damp hands had nothing to do with the engagement ring in his pocket. He’d never been more sure of a decision in his life. As crazy at it was, he and Sara were meant to be together. Their life together would not be without adjustments, to be sure, but it would certainly never be boring.
No, his nervousness had more to do with the fact that he hated airplanes almost as much as he hated boats.
The first flight was fine, but the short hop across Texas was a nightmare, with the plane alternately bucking and swooping until Reece’s head swam. He’d never been so grateful to be on solid ground as when they finally landed in Corpus.
Until he discovered the airline had lost his luggage.
“I never check luggage for this very reason,” said Max, who’d met him at the baggage claim. “Come on, let’s go get something to eat. They’ll send your luggage along when they find it.”
“I’m too nervous to eat. Damn, I really want to change clothes before I see Sara.”
“You look fine,” Max said unconvincingly.
