“We’ll talk about her finding her own place,” Elliott had promised.
“Don’t do anything right away,” Jill had answered. “Let’s just see how things go.”
Breaking into her thoughts now, Elliott said, “There it is.”
The quiet pride in his voice warmed Jill. His love of home and family was one of his greatest attractions for her, a quality that had shone through even on their first meeting. Remembering that Saturday in January made Jill forget her reservations and smile again.
Elliott had come into the small gallery where Jill’s paintings were sold and where she worked several afternoons a week and most weekends. He was looking for a birthday present for his daughter, he said. Jill had immediately liked him: his kind blue eyes, the warmth of his smile and the attentive way he listened as she explained the merits of the different pieces that interested him.
He’d settled on one of her favorite paintings—a delicate watercolor of one of the old missions near her aunt’s home in San Marcos.
“I hope your daughter likes this,” she’d said as she wrapped the painting.
“I’m sure she will,” he said. “All of your paintings are beautiful.”
Just then Jordan had burst through the front door. On the days she worked there, she’d arranged for him to get a ride to the gallery after school, not only because hiring a babysitter to watch him until Jill got home would have strained her budget to a frightening point, but because Jill liked having him there.
He sat in the small office in the back and did his homework while having a snack; Jill’s friend and employer, Nora O’Malley, always kept fruit and drinks in the refrigerator for him. When he finished, Jill would allow him to turn on the small TV back there, but she never let him watch more than an hour’s worth of Animal Planet, his favorite channel. Instead she encouraged him to read.
Thinking about how Elliott had immediately shown interest in Jordan, and Jordan in him, Jill felt blessed. It seemed like a miracle that she’d found this man, who not only loved her but also loved her son.
Even so, she hadn’t been sure about marrying him. When he’d first asked her, a month ago, she hadn’t immediately said yes. Instead she’d told him how honored she was that he wanted her for his wife, but that she’d need some time to think about it. “There are so many things to consider,” she’d said.
“I understand,” he’d answered before she’d had the chance to say anything more. “Take all the time you need.”
That was another of his wonderful qualities. He had true empathy for people and seemed able to always place himself in their shoes. This was a rare trait in anyone, and Jill knew it. But still she’d hesitated. Marrying Elliott would bring about monumental changes in her life and in Jordan’s. She would have to give up her teaching post as a traveling art teacher between several Austin schools as well as her job at the gallery, and she would be leaving everything familiar—her friends, her church, her career—and going into the unknown.
“I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute,” Nora had said. “He’s a catch, Jill. In fact, if you don’t want him, I’m going after him!”
She’d laughed when she said it, but Jill knew Nora was more than halfway serious.
“Besides,” Nora had added, “you can paint anywhere. And I’ll always be happy to sell your work, you know that.”
But the deciding factor in Jill’s accepting Elliott’s proposal came from Jordan. He’d been delighted when Jill told him she might marry Elliott, that they might move to Elliott’s ranch.
“Cool!” he’d said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “Maybe Elliott’ll get me a horse!”
When she’d told Elliott her decision, he’d said she made him the happiest man on earth and that she would never be sorry. With those words, her last lingering doubts slipped away.
I am very lucky, she thought now, so no matter what it takes, no matter how hard I have to work at it, I will do everything in my power to win over both Caroline and his brother. Because Elliott and Jordan deserve no less.
Caroline Lawrence Conway paced the living room of her father’s ranch house. Her heels hammered against the hardwood floors. If her father had been there, he’d have frowned. He didn’t like her wearing spike heels when walking on his precious wood, and normally Caroline wanted nothing more than to please her father. But right then, she didn’t care what he would think if he saw her.
How could he call from out of the blue and tell her he was engaged? To a woman they didn’t know and that he’d never mentioned? One who was even younger than Caroline herself? It was horrible. Sickening. Disgusting. Why, her mother had only been dead fourteen months! She was barely cold in her grave. Their friends would be scandalized. They’d think her father, who’d always been so sensible, had lost his mind.
Furious tears filled Caroline’s eyes. She couldn’t believe this had happened. Once again, she replayed the conversation with her father.
“Hello, princess,” he’d said. “Just wanted you to know I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”
Caroline had smiled. She missed her father when he wasn’t there. “What would you like for dinner? Want me to thaw out some steaks? And I’ll ask Marisol to make that potato and cheese casserole you like so much.”
“That sounds perfect,” he’d said. “But take out an extra steak or two. I’m bringing a couple of people with me.”
“Oh?” She still hadn’t suspected a thing. She’d thought he meant business associates—a new contact, perhaps.
“I wanted you to be the first to know, Caroline. I’m…engaged to be married.”
Caroline had been so shocked, she’d been unable to speak. Then she’d thought she’d misunderstood him. “Wh-what did you say?”
He’d laughed. “I said, I’m engaged. Her name is Jill. And she has a ten-year-old son named Jordan. They’re both coming home with me tomorrow. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
After that, Caroline wasn’t sure what she’d said. She’d been shaking and very upset. She hadn’t even tried to hide it. And her father, who was normally the kindest of men, had acted as if he were oblivious. He’d just said, “I know you’re going to love Jill, Caroline. I think you’ll be the best of friends.”
Finally she’d recovered enough to ask questions, which he’d reluctantly answered. That was when she’d found out how young his new fiancée was.
Thinking about that now, Caroline knew he’d hoped to wait until he got home before he’d have to admit that he planned to marry a woman younger than his own daughter. That the woman, this Jill person, was a gold digger was a given.
Yes, Caroline knew her father was handsome, but he was fifty-seven years old, for crying out loud! Maybe fifty-seven-year-old movie stars married thirty-year-old women, but in the real world, that didn’t happen unless the man was wealthy. And ever since oil had been discovered on their land, Elliott Tyler Lawrence had become extremely wealthy.
Oh, this woman was after his money, no doubt about it. She’d taken one look at Caroline’s father and seen a permanent meal ticket. Honestly, men were such fools, Caroline thought bitterly.
She could just imagine what this Jill looked like. She was probably a big-breasted, blond, Pamela Anderson type. Friends! Was her father serious? There was no way on God’s green earth that Caroline would ever become friends with some slut who was trying to usurp Caroline’s mother’s rightful place in her father’s heart.
And mine.
Frightened tears welled in Caroline’s eyes. How could he?
“Miss