“So my genes aren’t all bad, is that it?” he said, unable to prevent a smile.
“Something like that,” she said with a brief flash of a smile. “I thought maybe you’d look at me and see just what kind of strength and staying power you truly have.”
“I’ve known that all along,” he told her. “Because you’ve always been there to make me believe it. It never had anything to do with blood.”
She shrugged that off. “My mistake. Sue me.”
“How could I?” he asked wryly. “How could I possibly sue my own grandmother?”
Kevin had vanished, simply disappeared. Gracie had watched for him each day, had expected him to drop off Delia at the very least, but there’d been no sign of him. Helen brought Delia with her every morning and took her home every evening.
As for Delia, she was looking more distraught with each day that passed. She evaded all of Gracie’s questions with pat, tight-lipped answers that revealed nothing. She had just done it again, then left the house to go next door to visit Mrs. Johnson, leaving Gracie staring after her. She turned to Helen.
“Do you know what’s going on?”
“I have no idea.”
“Have you seen Kevin?”
“Not a sign of him.”
“Have you asked?”
“Well, of course I have,” Helen snapped impatiently. “Don’t you think I’m as worried about this as you are.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you weren’t,” Gracie apologized. “I just don’t get it, though. One minute everything was fine, the next Kevin’s gone and Delia’s walking around looking miserable. Has there been some crisis with one of the cousins?”
“None that I know of,” Helen said. “For once, no one’s pestering Kevin. Bobby Ray’s too busy trying to convince Marianne to give him another chance. It’s summertime and Uncle Bo’s out on his fishing boat every day. That pretty much keeps him out of trouble until fall. As far as I know, all of his boys are out of jail and gainfully employed for once.”
“Could Kevin have gone to Richmond on business? Is there a court case involving some estate he’s handling?”
Helen shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.” She eyed Gracie knowingly. “You seem awfully worked up over his absence. Does this mean what I think it means?”
“It means I’m worried about him. Don’t go trying to make anything out of that.”
“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m no more in love with Kevin than you are with Max,” she said, and watched the color bloom in Helen’s cheeks. “Ah, I see I struck a nerve. Could it be that I’m wrong about you and Max?”
“Don’t you dare try to change the subject by turning the tables on me. We are not discussing my relationship with Max Devereaux.”
“We are now,” Gracie said. “After all, I introduced the two of you. I think I have a right to know what’s going on.”
“And I’m Kevin’s cousin. I think I have a right to know how you really feel about him.”
Gracie sighed. “Either we both talk or we both remain in the dark. Is that the way it’s going to be?”
“I suppose so,” Helen said with a touch of defiance. “Besides, I already know how you feel. It’s plain as day.”
“No plainer than your feelings for Max,” Gracie countered. “I couldn’t be happier about that.”
Helen grinned. “And I couldn’t be happier about you and Kevin.”
“Things are not serious between Kevin and me,” Gracie repeated, knowing as she spoke that the denial was futile. Helen’s opinion wasn’t going to be swayed. For that matter, neither was her own regarding Helen and Max.
From what she’d gathered the two of them had raised the use of e-mail, faxes, and international calling rates to new heights. She’d tried to get through to Max herself on several occasions lately, only to be told by the hotel staff that Monsieur Devereaux was not to be disturbed, that he was on an important call to the States.
“We assumed he was talking to you,” André had revealed only the day before. “It is not?”
“No, it is definitely not me,” Gracie had told him. “How is everything there?”
“Running smoothly enough,” André conceded.
“No trouble in the kitchen?”
“Not recently.”
“Or with the vendors?”
“None.”
“The asparagus is being delivered on schedule?”
“Every day.”
Even though she’d been relieved by the news, she hadn’t been able to help feeling a little tug of dismay. Max no longer needed her, not for the hotel, not in his personal life. The tie appeared to be severed…just as she’d wanted.
Maybe that was why she’d been so anxious to see Kevin the past few days. Even with all the renovation work, she was feeling emotionally adrift. When she was with him, she felt grounded, centered.
Of course, the very last thing Kevin needed in his life was somebody else leaning on him. She would never in a million years want to add to the burden he already carried.
“Gracie, is everything okay with you?” Helen asked.
“Fine,” she said, forcing a smile. “Everything is fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Now let’s get busy on these floors while Delia’s not around to criticize everything we do.”
“Maybe we should take the day off, do something outrageous.”
Gracie paused and stared. “Outrageous? Such as?”
“I don’t know. Go shopping.”
“I suppose I could look at fabric for curtains.”
“No, no, I meant for clothes, lingerie, perfume, whatever.”
“Clothes are the last thing on my mind these days.”
“But a shopping spree can be every bit as good for stress as a session with a shrink. I ought to know. I’ve tried both.”
“Chocolate works better for me,” Gracie said.
“Then we can wind up the shopping spree with hot fudge sundaes.” She grinned at Gracie. “You’re tempted, aren’t you?”
“A little,” Gracie admitted.
“Come on, then. Let’s do it. We’ll work ten times as hard when we get back.”
“Okay. Shall we take Delia along? She may need cheering
