Samantha greatly disliked this part of running a store. If she had her way, she would sew for free and give everyone all the dresses. But she couldn’t live on benevolence. She had dog food to buy.
She handed the invoice she had already prepared for Margaret. Ian’s mother looked at it, then shook her head. “That little? That can’t be right. Even with the horrible exchange rate, that’s a steal.”
“That’s my rate, Margaret. Take it or leave it,” she said, then suddenly remembered something she had been trying hard to forget. “Oh. I’m sorry. I suppose I should have been calling you Lady Margaret all this time.”
Margaret raised a finely arched eyebrow. “That is a closely guarded secret here in Haven Point. More closely guarded than Barbara Serrano’s red sauce recipe, and believe me, I’ve tried to get it out of her since I’ve been here. Did Ian tell you?”
She shook her head, embarrassed. “I overheard you and Gemma talking the night of the shower. I wasn’t eavesdropping on purpose, I promise. It just happened. I’m sorry I invaded your privacy.”
Margaret gave a dismissive gesture. “I think it’s silly for Gemma to be concerned about people finding out the truth. Who cares about that here? But she has her reason.”
“That’s what Ian told me. Lord Ian, I suppose I should say.”
She was afraid some of her misery must have filtered through her voice, especially when Margaret gave her a close look. “Yes. Lord Ian. Every time I hear that, I’m still shaken a little. None of us expected him to become Viscount Summersby, you know. His brother was always supposed to be the heir.”
“That’s what he told me. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Margaret’s mouth tightened. “No parent should have to endure the loss of a child. It is against the natural order of things, pain beyond measure.”
Sympathy welled up for the other woman and she couldn’t help reaching out and squeezing Margaret’s hand. The other woman surprised her by turning her hand over and gripping Samantha’s hand in hers.
“All of us have been impacted in various ways. I’m not sure Henry will ever recover, to be honest. He misses David fiercely. Gemma suffered greatly, physically and emotionally, since she was driving and blamed herself, though it was no fault of her own. But Ian. He and David were very close. He not only lost his best friend but his way of life, really. His whole profession. He has to give up so much.”
“Why does he have to? Can’t Lord Henry find someone else to handle his business concerns and leave Ian to pursue what he loves?”
Margaret sighed. “I wish it were that easy. I truly do. His father has given him as much time as possible during Susan’s illness, even extending that for a year to help the children through their grief. But I’m afraid time is running out.”
She gave Samantha a careful look. “What has Ian told you about his wife?”
She wasn’t sure how to answer that question. Did his parents know the truth?
“He told me they were in the process of divorcing when she was diagnosed with cancer,” she said carefully.
“I tried to love her, for Ian’s sake and for the children. I truly did. She had her good points, though as time goes on it is becoming harder and harder for me to remember those. But I could never forgive her for hurting my son and my grandchildren. Even as she was dying, I couldn’t forgive her. Does that make me a terrible person?”
“I think it makes you human,” Samantha said. “I’m not sure I could, either.”
Margaret was quiet for a moment, then finally released Sam’s hand, leaving her feeling a little bereft.
“I don’t know what your relationship with Ian is. I’m not going to pry, as he would be the first to tell me it’s none of my business. But I must tell you that since he’s been here, my son seems happier than I’ve seen him in years. He smiles more, he laughs, he even teases his sister. Something tells me that’s down to you.”
“Maybe he’s just enjoying being here in Haven Point, working on his research.”
“That could be part of it. The rest, I think, is you.”
Samantha didn’t know how to answer that. Couldn’t Margaret see how impossible anything was between Sam and her son?
She supposed it didn’t matter what Margaret saw or didn’t see. Samantha knew they could never be together. No matter how much she might wish otherwise.
THE SATURDAY OF Gemma’s wedding looked as if it was going to be one of those absolutely perfect Haven Point June days.
The temperatures were mild, the lake breeze sweet and the sky was a pure, gorgeous blue, with only a few puffy white clouds passing across for contrast.
Sam spent the morning at the store, finishing a dress she was making for a bride from Shelter Springs, then left everything in the capable hands of Rachel Muñoz after lunch so she could go home and dress for the ceremony.
When she arrived, she found the puppies had somehow opened one of the drawers of her mother’s sewing machine and pulled out all the spools of thread. They were now tangled in a brightly colored mess.
“Oh, no! You rascals,” she exclaimed, and hurried for her scissors to cut them free.
The puppies were becoming so active it was hard to keep them contained in one room. They were completely weaned now and Betsey was spending more and more time away from them.
They were ready for their forever homes, but was she ready to say goodbye? That was the question, she thought as Coco snuggled against her leg while Sam cut away at green thread wrapped around her paws.
She didn’t worry about their futures. Charlene Bailey was taking Oscar, Lindy-Grace Keegan wanted Coco for her boys and little Calvin was going to Ben McKenzie’s mother, Lydia.
She knew they would all be loved and cared for in their new homes but it didn’t make the idea of parting from
