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“Probably not.”
“Where would we go?”
“Leave it to me.”
Liam laughed, a shriek that got both their attention. Rebecca couldn’t help but smile when she spied her son practically standing on his head in an effort to prove some point to John.
“You know John thinks we’re involved again.” She spoke quietly now.
“No one ever accused my old man of being dumb.”
“He called me yesterday and threatened to come get me himself if Liam and I didn’t show for his welcome home dinner. I didn’t think this was a good idea.”
“But you came.”
She turned back to him, her soft lips parted, those big blue eyes of hers luminescent. “I did,” she whispered.
“Come away with me.” He pressed forward, so close to her now, he could feel her.
A heartbeat passed. Then another. She leaned forward and whispered close to his ear, “I’ll think about it.”
I’ll think about it.
After that parting shot, Rebecca had left him in the kitchen. She’d kissed his father good night, thanked Darlene for a wonderful meal, and then she and Liam had gone home. She’d put Hudson through three torturous days and nights without a word, and then finally, Wednesday evening, she’d sent him a simple text.
Okay.
It was now Friday afternoon, and he was ready to head out. He’d just come from a meeting with Mackenzie Draper. Rebecca’s brother was donating his skills and company and would be drawing up the plans for the development. Once they were up to snuff, they’d be presented to the town council for approval. They were hoping to have everything in place for a spring start.
The meeting had gone well, and Mackenzie had been easy to work with and professional. Other than a warning not to dick around with his sister, Hudson was going to call it a success.
He left his father’s office and headed back across town to catch River Road to the other side of Crystal Lake. Rebecca’s car was in the shop, and she would have had to wait until five for a ride home, so he’d been more than happy to get her from work. Of course she’d told him to get there at four thirty. On the dot. Not one minute before. And then she’d proceeded to tell him not to bother coming inside because she’d meet him in the parking lot.
He smiled as he parked his truck. He was early, and damned if he was going to wait in the parking lot. Sure, there was going to be hell to pay for violating the terms of her agreeing to go away with him, but he was fine with that. He was curious about how she spent her days. He wanted to know everything.
Hudson strode across the lot just as an elderly woman reached the door. A large red-plaid coat nearly dwarfed her small frame, while a fluffy, saucy white hat sat on her head. Golden-white curls peeked from underneath the fluff, and her overly pink lips smiled up at him. Shiny black rubber boots made squishy noises as she trudged along, and a long red scarf billowed in the breeze. She gingerly held on to a small carrier with both hands, and he was going to assume the hisses and growls belonged to a cat.
“Would you like me to carry that in for you?”
“Oh, would you, dear?” She sounded winded. “My husband was too sick to come with me but I’m afraid I’ve not the strength I used to.”
“Not at all.” Hudson grabbed the carrier and held the door open for her. She looked familiar, and it hit him as he as followed her inside. “Mrs. Anderson?”
The woman turned around and a slow smile spread across her face as recognition hit. “Hudson Blackwell. Bless your heart. Harry told us what you’re fixing to do in town. He’s been so excited.” She came at him and hugged him. “You don’t know what this means to our grandson. His parents are thrilled. It’s been a long, hard road for all of them.”
“I think I do.” He spoke a bit gruffly and set the carrier up on the counter. A large tank took up the entire middle of the waiting room, and it was filled with colorful fish. A cage in the far corner held four kittens up for adoption. And behind the counter was a lady who regarded him closely.
Mrs. Anderson shuffled past him. “Hello, Kimberly. I’ve got Bootsie here for her shots.”
“I see that.” The woman smiled, but her curious gaze fell back to Hudson. “I’ll let Doctor Burke know you’re here.”
It was a few more minutes before Kimberly returned, and while Hudson waited, he wandered back to the cage. He’d never been into cats. As a kid, he would have killed for a dog, but as an adult, he’d never had the time to devote to a pet. Or a kid. Or, as it turned out, to a wife.
It was saying something that his head was thinking things. Things he’d never considered before. He stuck his finger in the cage, wiggling it like an idiot at the smallest bundle of fur. A light golden tabby with big blue eyes. It wandered over and took a swipe at him.
“Little shit,” he murmured. He kind of liked his spunk.
He heard Rebecca’s voice just then and straightened, his smile fading a bit when he spied her chatting with Ethan. She turned, as if sensing his presence, and he walked toward them, liking the way her cheeks darkened, the way her eyes widened.
