Tielle heard the glee loud and clear, but she had no energy to stifle it then. “Goodbye, Faro.” She disconnected without waiting for a farewell from his end.
* * *
Back in Portland, Oregon, Faro Clegg’s smile mirrored his inner glee. That emotion, however, was short-lived when a knock hit the door and his brother walked into the office without waiting on permission to enter.
“Got all your RSVPs in place?” Grae asked, giving Faro’s desk an assessing bronzed stare.
“As usual, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Right.” Grae waved the invite to the retreat he’d received and watched Faro’s tired smirk transform to one of knowing.
“All RSVPs received, but one,” Faro admitted, nodding toward the one his brother waved. “Thanks for coming to reply in person.”
“Tell me more about it,” Grae urged.
Faro pushed his chair back a little from his desk. “Just a family get-together. Thought we could use it, and who better than the two biggest troublemakers to set it all in motion?”
“So you expect me to be there, why? Because of Tielle?”
“I thought she’d be the best motivator, yes, but no one, no place is better at giving folks what they need to fix their issues than Tielle and her people there.”
“Is she helping you with this?” Grae’s voice had taken on a leaden quality. One that sent more menace into his bottomless voice.
“No.” Again, honesty shone in Faro’s dark face. “I’ll be lucky if I can even get her to stick around for it.”
Grae’s stirring eyes fell to the invite. “Did she say she wouldn’t?”
Faro scooted his chair back toward the desk and made a pretense of shuffling papers there. “I think she’ll try.”
A glimmer of intrigue sharpened Grae’s expression when he regarded the invite again.
“So? Do you think you’ll try to make it?” Faro was still feigning interest in the contents of his desk.
“Don’t try to con me, Faro.” Grae’s steely demeanor instantly redefined itself.
“It’s no con.” Faro reared back in his chair and made eye contact with his brother. “I only want the family strong—united.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re family!”
“Bullshit.” A muscle flexed devilishly along Grae’s jaw so powerfully that the movement was visible beneath the sleek whiskers shading his face. “Tielle isn’t family.”
“Please, Grae, you haven’t believed that since you let her go.”
Graedon pushed a hand into the pocket of his dark trousers in order to hide a fist he’d clenched. “You want to fix our family yet you pick my ex-wife’s place as the venue to do it?”
“Ex-wife? Is that what she is to you?” Faro smiled when Grae staggered back. Quickly, he moved from his desk and left his brother alone in the office.
Located just outside Vancouver, Turner Estates and Gardens was a remote spread of property that had once been a successful dairy farm until the farm’s owners decided to live out their days relaxing instead of working.
When Avery Turner and his wife, Danielle, proposed purchasing the farm from the elderly growers, there was, of course, great concern. The Turners, after all, were a young black couple, and such business arrangements, especially in those days, were rare. Still, the aged farmers obviously saw something they liked in the couple, for they ordered their sons to sell to Avery Turner and give him what he needed to succeed.
What Avery needed most was his best friend, Lucas Mayes. When Lucas arrived with his wife, Tina, in tow, the foursome ran the farm in a manner no one could fault. The couples eventually decided to sell off the cattle and make their profit opening the breathtaking and expansive gardens to tourists.
Vancouver and neighboring Victoria were often visited by artists, musicians and hosts of academics. Such venues as the Turner and Mayes Gardens were especially popular. In later years, wedding bells resounded between the Turners’ son, Aaron, and the Mayeses’ Vanessa. The older generation entrusted their life’s work to the new, and Turner Estates and Gardens was born.
When both Avery Turner and Lucas Mayes passed on, their wives embarked on a new venture—inviting small groups to meditate in the gardens for extended periods. During that time, Tina Mayes and Danielle Turner held time for fellowship and scripture reading. The women found they had a love for it upon witnessing the transformation it made among their guests.
When the family business fell to her to control, Tielle decided to move things to a larger scale. Turner Estates and Gardens became an exclusive retreat for families, executives, social groups...the list was long, diverse and distinguished. Tielle’s therapists were respected for their abilities as well as their discretion.
The business venture had been a smart and lucrative one. Tielle had never regretted continuing what her grandmothers had started. During the last year, however, the picture perfection of her business had shown signs of wear around the edges. Every room, every tree or garden path, it seemed, held a memory that reminded her of Graedon Clegg.
They’d been married there. Spent part of their honeymoon there. The place had always been a magical one for her. In spite of what had happened between her and Grae, it was still a magical place. Nevertheless, memories definitely took their toll.
How was she to function when the most potent aspect of those memories was there in the flesh? Faro could forget it, she decided. Tielle stared out from the corner of her office that looked toward the hill that led in from the dirt road and would transport guests on or off the property. The Clegg clan would be arriving at any time. What to do, what to do...
“Still time to make a run for it...” Laura must have been reading Tielle’s mind when she arrived in the office singing the possibility.
“Don’t think it hasn’t occurred to me...” Tielle sang back, toying with the paisley-print tie of her wrap shirt.
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, you know.”
Tielle puffed out a thoughtful breath. “I know that, too...”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning...” Tielle turned to sit on the windowsill. “I’m out of here the minute those people have visions of gumdrops dancing in their sleepy heads.”
Laura leaned against the doorjamb, folded her arms over her middle. “What about Grae?”
“Humph.” Tielle leaned back against the window. “I doubt he’ll miss me.”
Silently, she recalled what he’d said about her not being his business anymore. Looking out the window again, she noticed two SUVs coming down the hill and leaving clouds of dust in their wake.
She smiled. “And the drama begins.”
Laura joined Tielle at the window to observe the procession. “Why don’t you let me greet the gang? You can receive your guests in the sunroom.”
Tielle squeezed the hand Laura had clasped over her forearm. “Thanks, girl.”
A serious look stole across Laura’s honey-toned face. “You don’t owe these people anything.”
With that reminder, Laura left the office.
Alone, Tielle turned her gaze beyond the window, watching as the two SUVs