A tear trickled down Jasmine’s cheek. “We were supposed to get married next month on Christmas Eve.”
The doctor smiled gently. “Don’t worry. Give him a few weeks to heal and you’ll never guess that he’d had such a close call.”
Mei freshened up in the ladies’ room at the hospital, then drove to her mother’s home on Bluebird Lane, at the northwest edge of town, and parked out in front. Lisette Clayton stepped onto the wide porch of the two-story brick house before Mei could reach the front door.
“Hi, Mom.”
Widowed for years now, she still wore her silver hair in a short, perfectly coiffed style, and always dressed elegantly. Today, her gold necklace and hoop earrings picked up the subtle tones of her champagne cashmere sweater set and matching slacks. As usual, her French manicure was flawless.
She hugged Mei briefly, then scooped up Albert, the fluffy white Maltese dog at her feet. “I was surprised to hear you’d decided to come now instead of waiting until Christmas.”
“Change of plans,” Mei said, choosing her words carefully.
“Well, do come on in. I can’t believe it’s this cold already, and it’s only the first of November.” A wry smile briefly touched Lisette’s mouth. “I thought you’d arrive much earlier, so I had your cousin cater our lunch today. She dropped it off before she left for Denver.”
“Arabella?” Mei felt her stomach rumble in anticipation. “The pies she brought to Grandpa’s funeral luncheon were incredible.”
“I’m glad she opened a business that matches her talents.
I had her bring pastries for our breakfast, too. I’m not much of a cook anymore.”
“It’s a lot of bother when you’re on your own.” Mei shouldered out of her crimson down jacket as she stepped into the marble-floored entryway and tossed it onto the fanciful Victorian settee she’d loved as a child. She took off her shoes, and followed her mother down the central hall leading past the formal living room, parlor and dining room to the spacious kitchen. “I—oh, wow.” Nothing seemed familiar as she stepped into the room and surveyed the rich, dark cherry cabinets and granite countertops. French doors now opened up to a snow-covered patio and, beyond, a charming, snowy view of Silver Creek.
“When did you do all of this?”
“After your grandfather’s funeral in July.” Lisette shrugged. “Some of my investments have been doing quite well, so I thought I’d do a few upgrades.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Do you mind what I’ve done?” Lisette’s expression turned pensive. “I’ve kept the rest of the house the same since your father died.”
Remembering how distant and sad Lisette had been since Dad’s car accident, Mei smiled. “You deserve a home that makes you happy, Mom.”
“I don’t suppose Lucas will care either way.” Lisette’s voice still held a hint of bitterness at the mention of her son’s name, even after all this time.
Mei was already a college sophomore when Lucas hit his high school senior year, so she hadn’t been around for the rebellious phase that had put him and their parents at constant odds. As far as she knew, he hadn’t been home since their father’s funeral.
Lisette started a pot of hot water and set a basket of assorted teas on the counter. “Did you have car trouble?”
“No. I stopped to walk on one of the trails and came upon an accident. I lent a helping hand and it took longer than expected. So … what did Arabella make us?” Mei added with a bright smile, hoping to shift the topic away from a side of the family her mother had detested for years.
Lisette studied her closely. “What happened? Anyone we know?”
Mei held back a sigh. “Jasmine Turner. And … um, her fiancé, Cade.”
“Cade. Cade Clayton?” Lisette’s nostrils flared. “I heard about their so-called engagement over the summer and couldn’t believe such foolishness.”
Mei just shook her head slightly, knowing it would do no good to argue.
“Couldn’t Arabella go to the hospital and deal with them?”
“She left for Denver, remember?”
Lisette snorted. “If you ask me, your cousin needs a tighter rein on that girl.”
Mei closed her eyes briefly, wishing she hadn’t mentioned the accident up on the trail. When would she ever learn? She should’ve known it would set her mother off. “Jasmine is of legal age and Arabella has no say, really. It’s not like she’s her mom.”
“Well, Jasmine ought to respect the woman who took her in and kept a roof over her head these past few years. And of all people—letting her marry a son of Charley Clayton is just unbelievable.”
“I—” Mei faltered to a stop, unable to find any words to defend her infamous uncle Charley. He was widely known as a lazy, disagreeable man who had claimed to have “back injuries” for years to collect disability. If he’d ever had a long-term job, no one in town could remember it.
“Your great-uncle Samuel spawned a family of troublemakers, and his son Charley is one of the worst.”
Apparently the animosity between the two sides of the family hadn’t changed in all the years Mei had been away. “Cade and his half brother Jack aren’t anything like the others. Jack isn’t even a blood relation to the Claytons.”
“Blood relation or not, those boys are associated with Samuel’s side of the family.” Lisette’s voice turned to ice. “Jack was one of the boys who tried to ruin your brother’s reputation in high school, remember? Imagine, him daring to say Lucas got some lowlife girl pregnant.”
“I always figured Vincent was behind the rumors.”
“You can be very sure it wasn’t just him who spread those lies.” Lisette’s mouth twisted with distaste. “I shudder when I remember that you had a crush on Jack in high school. Of course, you were young and very foolish back then.”
Mei flinched. “You need to let go of the past, Mom. Whatever anyone did or didn’t do, it was a long time ago. High school–aged kids sometimes do stupid and thoughtless things.”
“Young or old, that family is wicked, from Samuel on down.” Lisette gave an unladylike snort. “Cade’s ridiculous wedding to that girl is just another case in point. Poor judgment, impetuous behavior. It just doesn’t end.”
“Jasmine says Arabella, Brooke and Vivienne were against it at first, but now they’ve come around and plan to help out with the wedding.”
“So none of your cousins are thinking straight, either.” Lisette offered a thin smile. “That’s one wedding I’ll be sure to miss.”
Probably a good thing, for all concerned.
His coat clipped in his usual fluffy puppy cut, Albert looked harmless, but he automatically bared his teeth when Mei inadvertently got a little too close. She darted back a step.
“Silly puppy,” Lisette crooned, giving the grumpy little furball an affectionate hug. “Albert doesn’t like company.”
“Or family members.” After attacking Grandpa George’s ankle during an Easter dinner, Albert had been dubbed “The Grandpa Bitin’ Dog.” With good reason. “Has he bitten anyone lately?”
“Only my last cleaning woman,” Lisette said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “And Albert was right about her because she certainly wasn’t very dedicated. She quit that very