“Not much. We’ve talked a couple of times. He’s standing firm. I just…” She swallowed and looked at Gracie. “I guess you were right. I should have been honest. It’s just I never have been. Not with a guy. I thought being mysterious and unpredictable was the way to keep them interested. Plus Mom, remember how you’d never tell Dad stuff. You’d buy us all new shoes, then make us promise not to say anything for a few weeks.”
Her mother looked at Vivian. “I didn’t want him angry because I’d spent too much money, but that has nothing to do with being honest. Is that what you remember?”
“I was only nine. I don’t remember very much at all.” Vivian turned to Alexis. “Do you tell Zeke everything?”
“Of course not, but that’s different. We’re married.”
Gracie did her best not to react to Alexis. “I wonder if your threatening to call off the wedding time after time made Tom feel that you didn’t love him enough.”
Vivian straightened. “Yes. That’s what he said. He wasn’t sure of my feelings. He was afraid I’d run off every time there was a problem. I wouldn’t. Once we were married, I’d be committed.”
“Maybe he needed proof of that
“I guess.”
“Things will get better,” their mother said. “If you two are meant to be together, you’ll find your way back to each other.”
“I hope so.” Tears filled Vivian’s eyes. “It’s just I miss him so much. Plus, I feel really horrible about everything that’s already paid for. I’m supposed to pick up the wedding dress on Friday. What on earth should I do with it?”
“Keep it,” Alexis said cheerfully. “I told you-he’ll come around.”
“I don’t think so. And even if he does, I don’t think we’d have the same wedding.” Vivian stared at her cake. “He was really angry about how much everything was costing. He said he was going to call you and talk about repaying you for the deposits.”
“He already did,” her mother said.
“You’re kidding. What did you say?”
“That I would handle it, but I appreciated the offer.”
Gracie found herself regretting that the wedding was off. Tom sounded like a great guy and someone who would treat her sister well.
“Keep the dress,” Gracie said. “If you don’t get back together, you can sell it on e-Bay.”
Vivian nodded. “I can. You’re right. I just have to…” She squared her shoulders. “Mom, have you canceled everything already? I mean, I can make some phone calls and stuff.”
“It’s all done, but thanks for asking.”
Vivian shook her head. “No. I need to do something. It’s not right that you had all the work and all the expense. I know I said I’d work to help pay for my wedding dress, but I wasn’t very responsible about it. I really want to commit to working in the store. We’ll come up with a schedule, okay? I’ll promise at least fifteen hours a week until I’ve paid you back.”
“Honey, you don’t have to do that.”
Vivian gave a shaky smile. “I think you’d better let me. It might be the only way I’ll ever grow up.”
“Good point,” her mother said.
Alexis rolled her eyes, but Gracie felt a tugging sensation around her heart. Maybe there was hope for Vivian after all. If she matured, she would certainly have a shot at winning back Tom.
Vivian turned to Gracie. “Maybe you could give me some pointers on getting over the only guy I’ve ever loved. How did you recover from Riley?”
Gracie opened her mouth, then closed it. A month ago, she would have said time and distance. Today, she wasn’t sure she was over Riley, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to be. He was everything she’d ever dreamed of finding in a man with a few bonuses thrown in for good measure.
She blinked. “I’m the wrong person to ask,” she said slowly. “I’m not over him. In fact, I’m in love with him.” She looked at her mother. “Sorry, Mom. I know this isn’t what you wanted.”
“Ha. I’m done caring about those vultures I’ve called friends. If you love him, then I want you two to be happy. Are you?”
“I don’t know. Right now I’m in shock.”
“It’s all because of me,” Alexis said smugly. “I’m the reason they got back together.”
“Is it a good thing?” Vivian asked. “Do you
“I don’t know,” Gracie said, feeling both shocked and more than a little bubbly. “I think he cares some, but…I don’t know.”
“You’re going to tell him, aren’t you?” her mother asked.
“Sure. Of course. After the election.”
“What?”
The other three Landon women spoke at once.
“I have to wait,” Gracie said. “He’s behind in the polls. I can’t distract him from the election.”
Although if she did and he lost, he couldn’t close the bank and the loans wouldn’t be called.
No! She refused to work like that, dealing behind his back. It was wrong.
“I’m so confused,” she admitted. “I will tell him, but not just yet.”
Vivian eyed her. “What size are you? Want to buy a beautiful but never worn wedding gown?”
Gracie gave a strangled laugh. “Let me get back to you on that one.”
“COME,” RILEY CALLED without looking up from his computer screen. Diane’s distinctive knock meant he always knew when it was her.
“We have been approached by the historical society ticket committee,” she said after she’d stepped into his office.
“They have a whole committee to sell tickets?”
“It’s really only two people, but they like to sound bigger than that.”
He pushed the save button and turned to face his secretary. “Fair enough. How many do they want me to buy?”
Diane pressed her lips together. “Obviously as many as you would like, but I informed them you were not interested in supporting local civic charities and that it was unlikely-”
“I’ll take fifty.”
He had the pleasure of watching Diane’s mouth drop open.
“Excuse me?”
“Fifty tickets,” he said, speaking slowly, as if not sure of her cognitive abilities. “Buy them and pass them out to the staff. I want one, as well. Leave the extras on a table for those interested to take them for family members.”
Her mouth closed and her eyes narrowed. “Why do you care about the historical society?”
“I don’t.”
“But you’re buying tickets. They’re ten dollars each.” He leaned back in his chair and grinned. Ruffling Diane’s prickly tweed-covered feathers was turning out to be a lot of fun. “Maybe your attempts to guilt me into doing things I don’t want to do have worked,” he said.
“I doubt that.”
“Then maybe I want to preserve our historical past.”
“Not even for money.”
He chuckled. If he were sticking around, he would want to give her a raise. “Gracie is baking the cake. Everyone who attends will try it and word will get out that she’s amazing.”
“I see.”
The words were obviously loaded but he couldn’t say with what. “Care to expand on that?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I’ll go call the committee?”
“Which half?” One corner of her mouth turned up in an almost smile. Then she excused herself and left his office.
Riley stared at the closed door. He liked Diane. At first she’d simply been efficient, but now she was someone
