She merely rolled her eyes. “Do you really need me to spell it out for you? You’ve been manufacturing all sorts of excuses to avoid her, yet every time I turn around you’re right there with her. I think I know a man who’s struggling with his emotions when I see one.”
“You saw Abby after that meeting last night,” he said. “She was totally down. She needed support.”
“I was there. So was Jack. You could have come on back here and left us to cheer her up,” she said reasonably, then gave him a sly look. “Or didn’t you trust us to be suitably supportive?”
“I’m sure you would have done an outstanding job,” he said, flushing under her scrutiny. “I just figured I could hang out and help, too.”
“Any special distractions you used once you got her home?” she asked.
There was no mistaking the knowing glint in her eyes.
“Of course not,” he said with indignation, well aware of what she was really asking. “I don’t take advantage of vulnerable women.”
She had the audacity to laugh at that. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
“I am not having this conversation with you of all people. If you think you get to dig around in my personal business, then it really is time for me to get my own place. With Kelsey and Jeff due home later today, it’s past time, anyway.”
She waved off the threat. “Oh, settle down. I’m just saying you and Abby are two adults who might have a whole lot to offer each other. Seems a crying shame not to take advantage of the opportunity.”
“Would you be so eager for this if you weren’t worried about her having designs on Luke?”
She faltered a little at that. “Okay, maybe that was a consideration at first, but I don’t see the same sparks flying between those two that I do between you and Abby. That’s reassured me I don’t have anything to fear for Hannah’s marriage.”
“I’m glad you recognize that,” he said, thinking it would keep things around here on a more even keel, especially if she could convince Hannah of the same thing.
She gave him a pointed look. “Now I can focus on you,” she told him cheerfully.
The remark sent a shiver of dread down Seth’s spine.
“You need a woman in your life,” she continued. “I’ve been saying that since you got to town. Now fate seems to have brought one and plunked her down in front of you. The way I see it you shouldn’t spit in destiny’s eye.”
Despite his discomfort, Seth couldn’t help laughing. “A very persuasive argument,” he said. “I’ll take it under consideration. I surely wouldn’t want to ignore all this sage advice.”
She gave a little nod of satisfaction. “Good enough, but I’ll have more to say if I don’t see signs of progress.”
“Oh, I can believe that,” Seth said.
Heaven help him!
* * *
“Knock, knock!”
Hannah heard her daughter’s voice and immediately abandoned her computer and headed downstairs. Of all the interruptions she’d had recently, this was the most welcome.
“Kelsey, you’re back!” she called out excitedly. “Do you have my precious grandbaby with you?”
“Do you think I’d dare come by without her?” Kelsey replied, a grin on her face as Hannah reached the bottom of the staircase.
The baby held out her arms toward Hannah, a grin splitting her face. “Ga’ma,” she said, straining toward her.
Hannah reached for Isabella and held her close. “How are you, my sweet little angel? I’ve missed you.” She glanced at Kelsey, saw the color in her cheeks and the shine in her eyes. She looked rested and relaxed. “Looks as if the vacation did you a world of good. No problems with the in-laws?”
Kelsey made a face. “Jeff’s folks were so gaga over their granddaughter, they didn’t have time to make a fuss with us for dropping out of school. Of course, that didn’t stop them from making at least one valiant pitch for us to return to Stanford to finish. Frankly, I think that was more about getting Isabella closer to them than it was about college.”
“Still, it is something you should think about at some point,” Hannah said, drawing a frown. “Okay, okay. I know you’re perfectly content running Seaview Inn, but what about Jeff?”
“Jeff has sold two more software programs since he’s been here. He doesn’t need a degree from Stanford to make his mark in the tech world. We’re both doing what we love, Mom. Give it a rest.”
Hannah immediately backed off. She should know by now that her strong-willed daughter and doting son-in-law had worked through how they wanted to spend their future. She should be grateful they wanted to be right here, especially with her first grandchild. No matter what she said, she’d be brokenhearted if they went back to California.
“Have you had lunch? Can I fix you something?”
“Just some iced tea,” Kelsey replied. “Then I need to get the baby down for a nap. Between all the excitement of new people and new places and jet lag from the red-eye flight last night, Bella’s schedule is totally out of whack.”
When they were in the kitchen and the baby was in the portable playpen Hannah kept on hand along with several toys, Kelsey looked over the rim of her glass and inquired casually, “So what’s this I hear about Luke’s old flame being back in town?”
Hannah frowned. What had her grandmother been thinking when she’d told Kelsey about that? “It’s no big deal,” she assured her daughter. “Abby and I were best friends back then. I’m hoping we can be again. She’s actually been very supportive. She’s assured me she has no designs on Luke, and I have no reason not to believe her.”
“Well, you’ll have to excuse me if I keep a close eye on her. I need to see that for myself,” Kelsey said protectively.
“I don’t suppose your grandmother also mentioned that Abby might have something going on with Seth,” Hannah said.
Kelsey looked surprised. “But isn’t he a lot younger?”
“A
