Where Azaleas Bloom Read online

  “Or how old his fiancée is? Maybe she’s even younger than he is and wants to finish college. They could be planning on a long engagement.”

  “Or he could have told me this just so I’d let the girl sleep in his room,” Mitch added dryly, reaching a conclusion he should have formed early on. “I’d just blown that idea out of the water right before he made his big announcement.”

  Lynn looked startled. “You don’t think he’d lie just to get your approval for sleeping with her, do you?”

  Mitch considered the question, which he thought was fair, but eventually shook his head. “Nah. Nate’s not like that. He’s always been pretty open with us, or at least with his mother. He figured out early on that we appreciated honesty more than evasions.”

  “A lesson more kids should learn,” Lynn said. “I constantly tell Jeremy and Lexie that the truth will get them in a lot less trouble than a lie. They’re still working on believing that, since I punish them either way.”

  Mitch chuckled. “Yeah, that’s a hard one for kids to figure out. Maybe you need to tell them in advance, here’s what’s going to happen if you tell me the truth and this is the much harsher punishment if I catch you in a lie. Sometimes it takes that kind of clarity to get through to them.”

  “Good plan, but they usually don’t think they’re going to get caught in the lie.”

  “But they always do, don’t they? They’ll catch on eventually. My boys did.” He met her gaze. “And I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. Nate and Luke are terrific young men. Amy saw to that.”

  “I imagine you were a big influence, too,” Lynn told him. “How could you not be? You’re an admirable man.”

  Mitch couldn’t help being flattered and a little startled by her open declaration. “You sound as if you mean that.”

  “I do. I told you before that I’ve never heard a bad word about you around town, but I’ve seen it for myself recently. You’ve taken me under your wing, given me a job.” She flushed as if she felt she’d said too much. “And speaking of that, we should probably get to work. I’m sure you’re anxious to get home and have dinner. You didn’t plan on staying to have dinner at Raylene’s tonight, did you?”

  He shook his head. “Nah, I figured they deserved a night off from having me underfoot. I wasn’t such good company anyway.”

  “Your company’s just fine,” Lynn said.

  Mitch hesitated. “But I am starving,” he said. “How about I order some food from Rosalina’s? We can eat while we go over these bills.”

  She looked as if she were about to refuse, so he held her gaze. “You have anything against pepperoni or jalapeños on your pizza?”

  Her eyes widened. “Jalapeños?”

  “Trust me. It’s worth staying awake half the night for that combination. You’ll never want a plain old cheese pizza again.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Is that a yes? I can give Rosalina’s a call?”

  “Sure, why not?” she said.

  “I’ll order a salad, too. We can pretend we’re being healthy. How about soda? You want a bottle of soda to go with that?” he asked, already hitting speed dial on his cell phone.

  “You have their number programmed into your phone?” she teased.

  “And the entire menu memorized,” he said unrepentantly. “Now, about that soda?”

  “Sure. Diet soda, if that’s okay.”

  “Suits me.” He placed the order, then sat back and took a good long look at the woman seated across the table. She looked different somehow.

  “Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked, squirming uncomfortably.

  “You look different.”

  “Different how?”

  “More rested, I guess. Did you take a nap this afternoon?”

  She shook her head, but there was an odd smile tugging at her lips.

  “Well, your eyes are brighter. It looks good.”

  To his surprise, she actually laughed the way he’d remembered. “What?” he demanded.

  “It’s eye makeup. Raylene swore to me that men never noticed things like that, so I put some on for the first time in ages.”

  Mitch could see it, then, the thin stroke of liner on her lids, the hint of pale blue shadow, the darkened lashes.

  “Was that for my benefit?” he asked, oddly pleased to think it might be.

  She blushed furiously at the question. “Maybe it was just a test. Maybe I was trying to prove her wrong, to show her that some men are observant.”

  He grinned at the deliberate evasion. So she wasn’t totally immune, after all. Now he just needed to figure out what he wanted to do with that information.

  6

  When Lynn saw the enormous amount of food Mitch had ordered, she blinked. “Were you planning on feeding an army?”

  “What can I say? I like pizza and salad, and leftovers are always good, right? The kids will gobble this right up.”

  She saw the ploy for what it was, a face-saving way to put a little extra food on her table. Before she could call him on it, he frowned at her.

  “Do not make a fuss over this, Lynnie,” he said, resorting to the nickname only he had ever dared to use. “It’s pizza. I’m not having steaks and champagne delivered, along with boxes of fresh produce.”

  “You should take the leftovers home with you,” she insisted with a touch of defiance. She wasn’t about to tolerate his pity.

  “Nate’s coming home this weekend. We’ll be going out to eat, more than likely.”

  “But did you ever know a college kid who couldn’t eat his weight in pizza?” she countered just as stubbornly.

  “How about we wait and see how many leftovers there are?” he suggested. “I have a big appetite. And the kids might turn up and want their share.”

  “The Jolly Green Giant doesn’t have a big enough appetite to go through this much food,” she insisted. “And the kids are eating with friends.”

  “You realize while we’re debating this, the pizza’s getting cold,” he said, reaching for a slice.

  She started to argue some more, but finally relented. It was clearly futile, at least for now. “Okay,” she said, then warned, “but the discussion’s not over.”

  He grinned. “We’ll see about that.”

  Regarding him with frustration, she asked, “Do you have to win every argument?”

  “Only when I’m right,” he said. “And, just so you know, I’ve never been afraid to admit when I’m wrong, either.”

  “Now that I can hardly wait to see,” Lynn told him, taking her first bite of pizza and nearly choking at the heat that burst in her mouth. It was true that the slice had cooled, but the jalapeños hadn’t.

  “Come on, wimp. It’s not that hot,” Mitch teased as she began picking off the jalapeños.

  “Are you kidding me? I could heat the house from the fire in these things.”

  “So, no more jalapeños for you,” he said, looking disappointed.

  “No, no, I left one piece on here,” she said, pointing out a tiny sliver. “Just enough for a hint of spice.”

  Mitch studied her for a minute. “Is that the way you want to live your life these days, Lynn? Being safe, with barely enough spice to keep things interesting?”

  She thought she detected a hint of criticism in there, but it was a legitimate question. “For now, yes,” she told him. “For the kids’ sake I have to be cautious. Things are topsy-turvy enough around here with
out my rushing into things.”

  He nodded. “Fair enough.”

  “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? I thought you weren’t looking for anything more right now, either,” she said, puzzled by his reaction.

  “I wasn’t,” he said, then added more firmly, “I’m not.”

  “But?”

  “I seem to be a lot more open to the possibilities than I was a few days ago.” He looked into her eyes. “And just so you know, I’m probably no crazier about that than you are.”

  Lynn was rattled by his candor. She couldn’t think of a single thing to say in response.

  They continued eating in silence. To her surprise, it didn’t feel the least bit strained. It felt…comfortable.

  “Maybe we should pretend we never had this conversation,” she suggested eventually. “We could just go on working together, be friends, no complications.”

  “A nice theory,” he agreed, still holding her gaze. “I just think maybe it’s too late.”

  “It’s not too late,” she said a little urgently. “It can’t be. That’s all I can handle, Mitch. Seriously.”

  He smiled at her reaction. “No need to panic. We’re not impulsive kids. We don’t have to rush into anything. I just figured you deserved to know where my head is.”

  “Are you sure your head has anything to do with it?”

  A grin broke across his face at the question, and then his booming laugh filled the kitchen. “Now that, my friend, is something I imagine I’ll be puzzling over for most of the night.”

  Lynn couldn’t bear seeing him out on that limb all by himself for another second. She finally allowed herself to relax and grinned back at him. “Since we’re being honest, me, too.”

  Mitch’s expression sobered at once. “Now that is the best news I’ve heard in a very long while.”

  He sounded so sure of that, Lynn thought, while she thought maybe it was the scariest bit of news ever.

  * * *

  When her doorbell rang the next morning a little after nine, Lynn glanced up gratefully from the computer. What had seemed so simple last night with Mitch’s coaxing was proving completely bewildering this morning.

  When she opened the front door, though, and found Raylene on her doorstep with a coffee cake and a smug expression, she had second thoughts.

  “I thought maybe you’d have time for a cup of coffee before I leave for the store,” Raylene said, then added hurriedly, “The coffee cake stays, even if you want me to leave.”

  Since the aroma of the apparently still-warm cinnamon pecan coffee cake was too tempting to ignore, Lynn stepped aside. “Come on in. I just made a fresh pot of coffee. I figure I’m going to need it if I’m going to figure out this billing system of Mitch’s.”

  Raylene looked momentarily chagrined. “You were working. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine. I’m not on a rigid timetable. I think Mitch finally realized there’s going to be a learning curve with me. I’ll get the bills out today, but his payroll system is going to take a lot longer. He’ll pick up the computer later and deal with that himself this week.”

  Raylene joined her in the kitchen. “A knife? Forks? Plates?” she asked, glancing around.

  Lynn realized then that this was one of the few times in the years they’d known each other that Raylene had been in her kitchen. She pointed to the drawers and cabinet. “I’ll get napkins.”

  “I’ll cut the coffee cake while you pour the coffee.”

  As soon as they were settled at the table, Lynn gave her friend—and boss, she reminded herself—an amused look over the rim of her cup. “I assume there’s a price for this neighborly gesture.”

  Raylene looked momentarily taken aback, then chuckled. “Okay, I want information. I know Mitch was here till late last night. Lexie called Mandy the second she got home to report that. As if I needed confirmation,” she scoffed. “His truck was right there in the driveway in plain view. I saw Tony from Rosalina’s deliver food, too.”

  “Very observant,” Lynn noted, more entertained than annoyed.

  “I’m the best asset the neighborhood crime watch has,” Raylene said. “It comes from all that time I spent hunkered down inside the house. Not much gets past me.”

  “And here I thought it was just my social life you were finding fascinating,” Lynn teased.

  “Well, seeing that you have one is a definite bonus,” Raylene admitted. “So how’d it go? Any progress?”

  “As I said, I understand the billing system,” Lynn replied, being deliberately obtuse.

  “That is so not what I was asking,” Raylene said, her exasperation plain. “Come on. Spill. Were there sparks?”

  Lynn thought of the way Mitch had looked at her a few times the night before, the way her pulse had scrambled under the scrutiny. “Maybe one or two,” she admitted. “And that is absolutely all I’m saying.”

  Raylene grinned. “Good enough,” she said. “At least for now. By the way, I didn’t come over this morning just to pry information out of you. I wanted to invite you over next week. We’re having a Sweet Magnolias get-together on Tuesday. It used to be we had them spur of the moment, but it’s getting harder and harder to coordinate everyone’s schedule, so now we plan.”

  Lynn regarded her with surprise. “You’re having one of those infamous margarita nights and you want me to come?” Though the Sweet Magnolias were not a formal organization, there was a certain exclusivity to being invited to join the group of longtime friends.

  “We do,” Raylene confirmed. “I know you probably have your own friends, but I also know that when life’s offering challenges, you can never have too many women on your side. Will you come?”

  Lynn thought about how much she’d been longing for the kind of support system she knew Raylene had. Now, thanks to her neighbor, it was being offered. “I’d love to come, if you’re sure the others won’t mind an interloper.”

  “First, you have to stop thinking of yourself as any sort of outsider or interloper,” Raylene scolded. “And this wasn’t even my idea. Sarah and Helen both suggested it, and the whole group agreed we want you there.”

  “That’s very kind of everyone. What can I bring?” she asked automatically, because she knew all the women contributed something. It would be a stretch to provide much, but she couldn’t go empty-handed.

  “Just your presence will do this time,” Raylene said. “We rotate who brings the various things, and this time it’s all taken care of. Your turn will come, though, never fear.”

  “I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this,” Lynn confessed.

  “Let’s see if you still feel that way after the traditional Sweet Magnolias inquisition,” Raylene taunted. “These women make my intrusive questions look like child’s play.”

  Lynn stared at her. “You’re kidding!”

  “Not so much,” Raylene said, standing up, evidently satisfied at planting the prospect of more questions in Lynn’s head. “Now I’d better be off to work. With the success you and Adelia are having making these gigantic sales, I’m starting to feel like a slacker. Today’s my day to catch up. And, also thanks to you two, I need to order more spring inventory or our racks will be bare.”

  “I’m glad you stopped by,” Lynn said, meaning it.

  She’d forgotten what it was like to have a real friend. And now, thanks to Raylene, she had not only one, but several more on the horizon. Even if their questions were likely to make her squi
rm.

  * * *

  Mitch left Raylene’s at four on Friday, determined to run the vacuum at home and take a serious stab at straightening up the house. He’d had a housekeeper come in a few times, but she’d constantly moved things around. Not knowing where his paperwork might turn up had driven him crazy, so he’d let her go after a couple of months.

  Since he wasn’t entirely sure what time Nate and this fiancée of his would arrive, he’d gone to the grocery store and filled the refrigerator with a few of his son’s favorites. He’d bought a rotisserie chicken, some prepared potato salad, coleslaw and a cherry pie, in case they wanted dinner. Nothing would be as good as what Amy would have made, but he’d discovered that the store’s offerings weren’t half bad.

  It was nearly eight by the time he heard his son’s car in the driveway. Mitch walked outside to greet the couple, pulling Nate into a bear hug, then turning to meet the young woman with him. He had to fight to keep his mouth from dropping open. She looked no more than sixteen. Surely Nate was smarter than that, though. If not, they needed to have a serious talk in a big hurry. And he could forget about sharing a bedroom with this innocent-looking young thing!

  “Dad, this is Jo. She’ll be graduating this May, too. She’s getting a master’s in chemistry.”

  Mitch blinked, trying to wrap his mind around that.

  Nate grinned, clearly having expected exactly that reaction. “She doesn’t look twenty-three, does she?”

  “She certainly doesn’t,” Mitch said, breathing a sigh of relief. “Chemistry, huh. That’s a tough field.”

  “I’m going for an engineering degree after this,” she told him. “My dad’s a chemical engineer, too, and I’ve been hanging around his lab since I could climb up onto a stool next to him.”

  “I’m impressed,” Mitch said candidly. He gave his son a long look. “Is she motivating you to think about some postgraduate work?”

  Nate shook his head. “Nah. I think one brain in the family will be plenty.”