He saw his father’s complexion turn ashen as he watched Walter heading for the door.
“You come back here this minute!” Marshall shouted, slamming his fist down on the desk, sending papers and a coffee cup flying.
“Sorry, Dad. I’m done dancing to your tune.” Walter let that sink in, then added, “When I get back here—if I come back here—things are going to have to change. You’re going to have to show some respect for me or I will leave, and next time it will be for good.”
He walked out before his father could respond, shutting the door emphatically behind him.
Not until he was outside in the fresh air and on his way to Serenity did he think about the ramifications of what he’d done. It had felt too good to finally say all the things that had been building up ever since he’d come home with the girl he loved only to be sucked into a life he didn’t want.
Unfortunately, he knew there’d be hell to pay on Monday. Marshall Price didn’t take disrespect lightly. For all Walter knew he’d come back and find the locks on the mill had been changed and his house slapped with a foreclosure sign by the bank. His dad and the bank’s chairman were golfing buddies. He wouldn’t hesitate to do Marshall a favor, legalities be damned.
But for one glorious moment on Thursday afternoon, Walter felt like his old self, a man worthy of respect. Maybe even worthy of love. Probably not Sarah’s, of course. There was too much water under that bridge. It would have to be someone else who could make him feel the way she once had…as if he’d hung the moon.
On Saturday morning Travis looked around his new radio station with satisfaction. Bill Roberts, the prior owner of the station, had been in here for the past week checking out all the new equipment, setting up the studio so it was ready to go on the air, advising Travis on a million details. Roberts was the kind of man who was meant to mentor. Endlessly patient, he was generous with his time and expertise. He had a wicked sense of humor, as well, something Travis could definitely appreciate.
Bill walked into the little foyer, plucked an ice-cold Coke from the cooler and settled his lanky frame into one of the two chairs. “You ready to make your big announcement?”
Travis grinned. “I should be asking you that question. Am I?”
“Seems to me everything’s in place. What time’s the press conference?”
Calling a press conference in Serenity wasn’t exactly the same as calling one in Charleston or up in Boston, where the sports reporters had lined up to get a glimpse of him after his signing with the Red Sox. Here, there was only the local weekly to worry about, so Travis had actually opted for inviting the entire town to the formal unveiling of the radio station. It would be another two weeks before they officially went on the air, but it was time to let the cat out of the bag. Past time, according to Grace. Given all the wild speculation lately, he was counting on a large crowd.
“Ten o’clock,” Travis told Bill. “But there’s one thing I need to do before we get started.”
Bill regarded him approvingly. “You’re going to invite Grace Wharton over for a private tour, aren’t you?”
“I think she’s entitled,” Travis said. “She’s practically worried herself sick over this. At least she’ll have a fighting chance of telling a few people the news before I do.”
“Smart move,” Bill said. “She’s definitely a woman you want on your side.”
“I wonder how she’s going to feel when I tell her I want to steal Sarah away from her?”
Bill chuckled. “I predict that one’s not going to go over so well. You might want to call over to the military base in Sumter and see if they have a spare suit of body armor you can borrow.”
“You’re not half as funny as you think you are,” Travis said. “This could get very dicey.”
“Then better to get it over with so we can patch you up before the big official announcement,” Bill told him. “I think I have some kind of superhero bandages in the car from my last outing with the grandkids.”
Travis gave him a friendly, one-fingered salute, then walked out the door. He figured the next half hour or so could mean the difference between kicking his new venture off with a bang or being pilloried around town. He’d spent most of his life charming women, but all of a sudden he discovered it had never mattered more. Who knew the biggest challenge he’d ever faced would be a round, older woman who looked a lot like Santa’s wife?
Wharton’s was packed with customers, something Travis hadn’t considered when he’d come up with this plan to steal Grace away. In fact, the upcoming press conference had apparently drawn even more people than usual into town.
Still, he managed to corner Sarah by the counter. “I need to borrow Grace for maybe fifteen minutes. Can you manage on your own?”
She regarded him with alarm. “Are you out of your mind? Look at this place. Thanks to this big whoop-de-do announcement you’re planning, we’re packed.”
“Okay, how about five minutes? It’s really important.” When she shook her head again, he looked around and spotted Ronnie Sullivan. He’d heard from Tom that Ronnie helped out from time to time at Sullivan’s. He walked over to the counter.
“Hey, Ronnie.”
Ronnie gave him a slap on the back. “You ready for your big day?”
“I think so, but I’m in a bind. I need to take Grace over to my place. Unfortunately, Sarah says she can’t handle this crowd on her own. Would you mind pitching in? I just need a few minutes.”
“You want Grace to have a preview of what’s going to happen this morning, don’t you?” Ronnie guessed.
At Travis’s nod, Ronnie left his coffee on the counter and grabbed an apron from behind it. “Sarah, I’m going to pinch-hit for Grace for a bit. I’ll try to keep up.”
Sarah’s gaze narrowed as she turned back to Travis. “How’d you pull that off?”
“Don’t ask questions. Just be grateful. I’ll have Grace back in a jiffy.”
He found her in the kitchen with a tray loaded down with meals. Fortunately Ronnie had followed him. He took the tray from Grace’s hands before she had time to object.
“What the devil?” she muttered irritably as Ronnie left.
“I’m stealing you away,” Travis told her. “You’re going to get a sneak peek at my new venture.”
All signs of annoyance immediately vanished. “Now?”
“Right this minute, before anyone else.”
Her face immediately lit up with excitement. “Well, it’s about time you showed some respect for me, young man!”
She hurried along beside him, looking triumphant as she walked with him across the green. Bill was waiting for them outside. Her gaze narrowed when she saw him.
“Don’t I know you?” she asked, looking as if her brain were clicking through some mental photo album. She snapped her fingers. “Of course, I do. Didn’t you have that radio station over in the next county? Played nothing but oldies and had a signal that wasn’t worth spit.”
Bill grinned. “I did indeed.”
“You’ve been off the air for a month or so now, though.”
“True.”
She looked from him to Travis. Understanding started to dawn on her face. When Travis opened the door and she stepped inside the studio, her eyes lit up. “Would you look at this,” she exclaimed, her tone awestruck. “You’re bringing a radio station