AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The man in the doorway raised his nose a bit higher, but Sheila sensed kindliness in his sparkling hazel eyes. “Would you kindly state your name and business?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Sheila Lindstrom,” she replied rapidly. Thank God Noah was safe. Her breath released slowly. “I’m . . . a friend of Noah’s. Is . . . is he in?”
“Yes, of course, Miss Lindstrom. This way please.” The butler seemed pleased that he had finally made sense of her appearance. He turned on a well-polished heel and escorted her into a formal living room.
It was a cold room, not at all like the warm den where she had met Noah. It was decorated in flat tones of silver and white, with only a sprinkling of blue pillows on the expensive, modern furniture. White walls, icy gray carpet and tall, unadorned windows. In the middle of it all, sitting near the unlit flagstone fireplace, was a man Sheila guessed to be Ben Wilder. He didn’t bother to rise when she entered the room, and his smile looked forced, as cold as the early morning fog that settled upon Lake Washington.
“Miss Lindstrom,” the butler announced quietly. “She’s here to see your son.”
At the mention of her name, Ben’s interest surfaced. His faded eyes looked over her appraisingly, as if she were a thoroughbred at auction. Sheila felt an uncomfortable chill.
“Pleased to meet you, Miss·Lindstrom. I’m Noah’s father.
“I thought so. I think I met you once, years ago . . .”
Ben was thoughtful for a moment. “I suppose you did. I came to the winery to see Oliver—by the way, please accept my condolences.”
“Thank you.” Sheila anxiously fingered the clasp on her purse. Where was Noah? The man sitting in the snowy chair was not anything she had expected. When she had met Ben Wilder he was robust and bursting with energy. Though it had only been nine years, Ben Wilder had aged nearly thirty. The pallor of his skin was gray, and his·hair had thinned. He still appeared tall, but there was a gauntness to his flesh that added years to his body. Ben Wilder was gravely ill.
“Did I hear someone at the door?” a female voice asked. Sheila turned to see a woman, younger than Ben by several years, walk into the room. She was graceful, and the smile that warmed her face seemed sincere. “This is Sheila Lindstrom,” Ben said. “My wife, Katharine.”
Katharine’s smile wavered slightly. “Noah’s mentioned you,” she stated vaguely. “Would you care to have a seat?”
“Thank you, but I really did come to see Noah.”
“Of course you did. He was outside with Sean. I think George has gone to find him.”
Thank God, Sheila thought to herself as she settled onto the uncomfortable white couch. Katharine attempted to make conversation. “I was sorry to hear about your father, Sheila.” Sheila nodded a polite response. “But I hear from Noah that you’ve made marvelous strides toward rebuilding the entire operation.”
“We’re getting there,” Sheila replied uncomfortably.
“A big job for a young woman,” Ben observed dryly.
Sheila managed a brave smile and turned the course of the conversation away from Cascade Valley. “I didn’t know that you had come back from Mexico,” she explained. “I should have called and let Noah know that I was planning to visit him here.”
The silence was awkward, and Katharine fidgeted with the circle of diamonds around her thin neck while she studied the young woman in whom her son had shown such an avid interest. An interest that had taken him away from his duties of managing the business. Sheila Lindstrom was pretty, she thought to herself with amusement, but beautiful women had held no interest for her only son. What was so special about this one? She heard herself responding hollowly to Sheila’s vague apology. “Don’t worry about that,” Katharine stated with a dismissive wave of her slim, fine-boned hand. “Noah’s fond of you. Therefore, you’re welcome anytime. No invitation is necessary.”
“Did Noah tell you all the details that Anthony Simmons dug up on the fire?” Ben asked, bored with social amenities. It was time to get down to business. He reached for a cigar and rotated it gently in his fleshless hand.
Sheila felt her spine stiffen. “Only that the report was inconclusive,” she replied, meeting his gaze squarely.
Ben smiled, still watching her over the cigar. He reached for a match, but was halted by his wife’s warning glare. “I figured as much.”
“Pardon me?” Sheila inquired, pressing the issue.
“I didn’t think he told you everything “
“Ben!” Katharine’s smooth voice held a steely note of caution. She lowered it slightly. “Let’s not bore Miss Lindstrom with all this talk about business. Sheila, would you like to stay for dinner? It really would be no imposition. . . .”
Her voice faded as the sound of heavy, quick footsteps caught her attention. A wavering smile broadened her lips. “Noah, guess who dropped by?” she asked.
“What are you doing here?” Noah asked fiercely. Sheila turned to see if his question was intended for her. It was. His face was hard, set in rigid lines. A muscle near his jaw pulsed.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“You did!”
Sheila felt something wither inside her under his uncomfortable stare. He appeared more gaunt than the last time she had been with him. The circles under his blue eyes gave his face a harsh, angular appearance. His inflamed gaze moved from her face to that of his father’s. Ben’s old lips twisted with private irony. “What have you been telling her?” he demanded, advancing upon his father.
