AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As she was eating another piece of cake, he returned to the table and sat down. Lines bracketed his mouth, and his shoulders were still tense.
“Any luck?” she asked.
“I haven’t been able to get my mother alone yet. I don’t want to wait until after the reception because she could very well leave for the airport right away. If she—”
“Grant, guess what?” Joanna sailed toward them, dragging Edward behind her. “I finally convinced your father to take a vacation.”
“Convincedis not the right word.” Edward’s features settled into a heavy frown.
“That’s great, Mom. Listen, I—”
“I’ve decided that since Nathan and Alice are going to Indonesia, this would be a perfect opportunity for your father and I to tag along!” Joanna held up a hand with a laugh. “I know, I know. It’s their honeymoon. But as I explained to Nathan, we’re not going to monopolize all their time. I’ve found a few activities we can do together, like elephant riding and Balinese massages, and perhaps some visits to the temples. But, of course, Nathan and Alice will want to spend time alone, so—”
“Mom.” Grant stood so fast that his chair almost tipped over backward. “Nathan and Alice want to spendalltheir time alone on their honeymoon. You and Dad need to go somewhere else. Like Hawaii.”
“Exactly what I said,” Edward muttered.
“I’ve been to Hawaii a million times.” Joanna sighed and lifted her hands. “Neither your father nor I have been to Bali and, honestly, it’s not as if we’re going to be stayinginthe honeymoon suite. We’ll just be next door. Rory understands, don’t you, dear? Oh, by the way, I do hope you’ll join us for breakfast tomorrow morning in the hotel restaurant.”
Grant closed his hand on Rory’s shoulder in a silent signal. She picked up her beaded pocketbook and stood.
“Sorry, Mom, but we’re going to hit the road early.” He put his hand on Rory’s back, steering her toward the coat check. “We both have to get back to work.”
“Well, that’s disappointing.” Her face falling for an instant, Joanna hurried to catch up with them. “How long of a drive is it to…what’s it called?”
“Bliss Cove.”
“Oh, yes. I looked it up when you first moved there, didn’t I, Edward?” Joanna beamed at her husband, who was still beside her like a massive stone statue. “I suggested that we drive to Los Angeles and stop in Bliss Cove on the way, but of course your father insisted on flying. Anyway, I wanted to let you know about our trip to Bali in case you need to reach us.”
“Mom, you cannot join Nathan and Alice on their honeymoon.” Grant stopped and faced his mother again. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Besides, I’m sure Dad can’t take the time off.”
“Nonsense. He’s long overdue for a vacation, and my women’s club is closed for restoration this coming week. We’re going to think of it as our second honeymoon. The timing is perfect.”
“Then go somewhere else.” Grant’s voice hardened. “You havegotto stop interfering in people’s lives like this. Nathan and Alice deserve the time alone. There are countless other places you and Dad can go.”
“I don’t want to go to Europe again.” Joanna rolled her eyes, making it sound as if Europe were the vacation equivalent of watching paint dry. “I’d love to spend a week relaxing by the beach…oh! I just had a thought. I suppose wecouldcome and visit you and Rory in Bliss Cove instead.”
Grant looked up sharply. Rory’s heart stuttered. She’d thought yesterday that maybe if Edward and Joanna actually saw where Grant lived and worked, they might ease up on him. But she hadn’t expected Joanna to make the suggestion herself. And right now?
“This week isn’t a good time, Mom.” Grant sounded as if he were speaking through clenched teeth.
“Nonsense.” His mother waved a dismissive hand. “You just told me we need to gosomewhere else. Well, what bettersomewhere elseis there than where you and Rory live? We do see Nathan and Alice all the time, and of course we rarely see you. It’s a wonderful solution.”
“There’s not much going on in town this coming week,” Rory said quickly. “You should come around Christmas time. Bliss Cove goes nuts over the holidays. Winter Carnival, Gingerbread House contest, Polar Bear Swim, you name it. Super fun stuff. Well worth waiting for.”
“Wait a moment.” Joanna furrowed her brow and took her phone from her purse. “Didn’t I read something about a Harvest Festival in Bliss Cove this coming weekend? It sounded quite charming.”
Rory forced a weak smile. “I almost forgot about that.”
“We are not going to Bliss Cove,” Edward snapped, his frown slashing lines on either side of his mouth.
“Oh, excuse me.” Joanna bristled and shot her husband an icicle-cold glare. “May I speak to you alone for a moment?”
“You may.” Straightening his shoulders, he led the way to a nearby column, where Joanna stretched to all of her five-foot-three-with-heels height and began berating him in a low voice.
Grant rubbed his head, as if he were fighting a painful ache. “Rory, I—”
“Edward, how dare you?” Joanna’s angry whisper carried to them with crystal-clear acoustics. “You must be under the impression that you have a say in this matter when, after your unpleasant little innuendos for which you still owe both of your sons and me an apology, you have none whatsoever.”
