Chapter 17
Leo stood statue still, staring at Constance, his mouth pressed into a thin line. Via had never seen him so ice cold.
Constance rose. “Leo?”
“What are you doing here?” His tone was empty.
“I came to see Earl,” she said.
“He’s dead.”
Via flinched at his callous response. So did Constance.
“I just found out—”
“You wasted your time.” He turned toward the front door.
“Leo, wait.”
But he was already gone.
“He’ll be back.” Via moved to stand next to her. Although from what she just witnessed, she wasn’t sure he would.
Constance’s hard expression mirrored her son’s. “Why is he here? How did he find out about Earl?”
Via didn’t know how to respond. There was something going on between Leo and his mother, and from his cold reaction and how
quickly he left, it seemed more than just complicated. “You’ll have to ask him,” she said.
Constance lifted her chin. “You see how he is. He won’t talk to me. He’s always been stubborn. He obviously knows you—are you his girlfriend?”
“No. Just a . . . friend.”
“Thank you for telling me about Earl.” She went to the table and swung her expensive bag over her shoulder.
But there was no warmth in her words or her expression. Just frosty politeness. She exited Pawsitive Vibes with the same urgency
as Leo.
Dumbstruck, Via wasn’t sure what to do. Go after her? Go after Leo? Should she have told Constance why he was here? How could
this woman be related to Earl? He was never like this, even when they first met. Crochety, yes. Imperious and frigid, no.
“Meow?”
She glanced down. For once it wasn’t Sir Meow at her feet but Squeaks. She picked her up and cuddled her soft body. “I don’t
know what just happened either.”
Leo stood outside Second Chapter, one hand inside the pocket of his jeans, pretending to check his fingernails on the other.
To any passerby, they would see a calm, almost bored man waiting on something. Or someone. Leo was definitely waiting, but
he was anything but calm on the inside.
Long ago he’d learned how to mask every negative feeling, including anger and weakness. He couldn’t show either or he would
reap the repercussions—no visits or interaction with his mother. Sometimes for days, other times for weeks. The silent treatment
was real, and he managed to figure out how to avoid it.
Internally he was raging.
Why was she here? Then it hit him the moment the question formed in his mind. Somehow she found out. His mother had ears everywhere. She was even more business savvy and ruthless than his father had been. There was no reason she would deign to step foot in Pecan Corner unless money was involved.
The Pawsitive Vibes door opened and Constance walked out. They both stilled, staring at each other. Of course she looked polished.
She always did. She had the best plastic surgeon money could buy and had been getting injections, fillers, dermaplaning, and
other procedures since he was a teenager.
She took a step forward, giving him a haughty once-over. “What on earth are you wearing?”
They hadn’t seen each other in eight years and she was focused on his outfit? “I’ll stop you,” he said, using every singular
molecule of self-restraint he had to keep his tone unaffected.
“Stop me from what?”
To her credit, she seemed genuinely confused. Then again, she would never reveal her hand. “Getting your hands on Earl’s will.”
“He had a will?”
“Don’t be coy, Constance. We both know that’s why you’re here.”
Her cold expression returned. “Leo, I just found out my brother died. That girl in there told me.”
That girl. How derogatory. “Her name is Via.”
“Via, whatever. If you’ll just let me explain—”
“What’s to explain? I already know how you feel. Your last words to me made that crystal clear when you fired me from Father’s
company.” A bit of mocking slipped in. Very slight, but she picked up on it.
“We’ve been over this—it was a business decision. You were too immature to run a real estate conglomerate.”
“Father didn’t think so.”
“Your father thought he would be around longer than he was.”
For the first time ever, he saw a flicker of grief in his mother’s eyes. After his father died, they had mourned separately.
She had been so calm and business focused, he thought she never had a moment of grief. He wasn’t sure it was real now—he wouldn’t
put it past her to fake it to manipulate him.
“You were too young, too focused on proving yourself that you were making terrible decisions,” she continued. “If we must
rehash the past, you weren’t capable of being president.” Her bottom lip quivered ever so slightly. “But with time and training,
you would have been.”
He stilled. She’d inherited a majority share of the company and a seat on the board and had used her influence to demote him
to basically a trainee, taking what was rightfully his. “You never told me that.”
“Because you took off for California and refused my calls in a juvenile fit of pique.”
That was rich. “The silent treatment works both ways. Nothing like getting a taste of your own medicine, right?”
“Don’t be rude. You will treat me with respect. We are family.”
“Just because we’re blood doesn’t mean we’re family.” He calmly pulled out his phone, despite the heavy, painful weight in
his chest. Found Bennett’s number. Voicemail. It would do. “Leo Brewster here. If Constance Brewster tries to contact you
in any way, let me know.”
She glared at him.
“She’s also not allowed to go near Second Chapter. Consider her a trespasser if she does.”
“How dare you, Leonardo. I am your mother.”
He hung up. He’d contact Bennett again on Monday and explain. But from her reaction, she got the message. “Go back to New York, Constance. There’s nothing for you here.”
She hesitated, and he thought for a moment she would continue to challenge him. But he had time, distance, and success on
him. He was no longer the immature child she thought he was. And she must have sensed that she couldn’t win this time, because
she strode over to a Mercedes he hadn’t noticed when he pulled the Turismo in front of Second Chapter.
He watched Constance get in the rental and drive away. He was sure he’d never see her again, and that was the goal. He’d been
just fine going without contact for the past eight years. He’d be fine after this too. Now to go back into Pawsitive Vibes
and pretend nothing happened. Eventually the pounding in his head and his battering pulse would go away.
When Constance disappeared completely from Pecan Corner, he finally took a huge breath, the crisp air filling his lungs. Then
another. There. Completely under control again.
Via was shutting down the coffee machines when he walked inside. She hurried over to him. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” His temple throbbed.
She tilted her head and studied him. “You don’t look okay.”
“I’m fine.” His tone was snappish. He probably should have waited a few more minutes to shove down every emotion possible
before coming in here. Time for a complete mood and subject shift. “Ready to go camping?”
“Wait, you still want to go?”
“I said I would—”
“But you don’t have to—”
“I’m going. Final answer.”
She stilled, then folded the cat-themed dish towel she was holding and placed it on the counter. “I’ll meet you by my car in twenty minutes.”
“I’ll drive—”
“I’m driving.” She turned and went back behind the coffee counter.
Discussion closed, not that there would be any discussion anyway. She was just responding to his mood in kind. He thought
about apologizing, but he hadn’t done anything wrong. He’d made it perfectly clear he wasn’t going to let her be alone in
the woods. Even if he hadn’t agreed to her bucket list, he couldn’t tolerate her camping alone.
Leo bounded up the stairs and quickly packed, shoving clothes inside one of Earl’s old duffel bags—he had a collection of
those too—then grabbed his glasses and contact lens stuff and added it to the bag. One quick zip—or it would have been if
the old zipper hadn’t gotten caught halfway—and he headed downstairs, stopping right outside the door to pat himself down
and make sure he had his apartment key. He found it in his left jeans pocket.
Leo swiftly navigated the now familiar staircase, slowing his steps when he reached the bottom. Via wasn’t happy with him
right now and she’d probably want an explanation about his mother, one he wasn’t going to give. Not a great start to another
bucket list item that Via was looking forward to.
At least Constance was gone. Mission accomplished.
The ride to the campsite was silent. Sir Meow was in the back seat sleeping in his catpack, ready for another adventure.
Unlike the quiet times she and Leo had experienced before—coming back from the pumpkin patch, working in the shop together, or walking around Pecan Corner—this one was tense.
Leo sat stiffly in the Subaru passenger seat, staring straight ahead, tension coming off him in waves.
He was angry. Very angry. Sure, his expression was neutral, his body relaxed.
He looked the same as always. Except for his eyes.
She immediately saw the fury in them when he returned from whatever happened between him and Constance outside.
She knew not to ask him about it. Not unless she wanted him to snap like a twig.
But if they were going to spend time under the stars, she didn’t want to spend it walking on eggshells. “I gave you plenty
of chances to back out of this, Leo. I can turn around and drop you off if you don’t want to be here.”
“I told you I keep my word—”
“And I appreciate it. But this is supposed to be fun.”
“I’m having fun,” he said flatly.
“Right. You’re the life of the party right now.”
He sighed, his broad shoulders lowering a little. “Sorry,” he mumbled. He cast a side glance at her. “You’re very perceptive.”
“I know.”
His dimple deepened with his small smile. “All right, I’ll be a brighter penny from now on.”
“Interesting choice of words.” She adjusted the vent on the dashboard.
“Found it in one of Earl’s books,” he said.
“You’ve been reading some of them?” Whew, this was better than the sullen silence. “Which one?”
“Something on wedding etiquette from the 1900s.” He shrugged. “Why would Earl keep a book like—never mind, I already know.
He never throws anything away.”
“I’m more curious why you’re reading an etiquette book.” She glanced at him, grinning. “Not exactly macho material, Harvard Boy.”
“Well, Smitten Kitten, I am a man of many interests.” He settled back against the seat. “Actually, I found it in a box with
another book shoved inside. When I pulled it out, I skimmed the first page.” He cleared his throat, sounding like a British
voiceover actor with his next words. “Ladies, make sure you’re a bright penny on your wedding day. Men do not want to marry
a dreary daisy.”
Her hands gripped the steering wheel. He’d hit her biggest sore spot.
After her silence, he said, “Was it the accent? I bet it was the accent. I’m not very posh.”
“You were plenty posh. It’s just . . .”
“Oh.” He face-palmed. “Geez, Via. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
Fingers relaxing, she said, “I can’t avoid the subject of weddings forever.” She also shouldn’t have reacted so sharply to
his innocent comment. He was just reciting words from a silly book and she should have responded appropriately.
“I won’t bring it up again. Promise.”He looked sincerely pained that he’d forgotten about her canceled wedding.
Without thinking, she reached for his hand. “Really, it’s okay.”
He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze before letting go. “Thanks.”
She turned left into a residential neighborhood. “We’re almost to the camping site.”
“Taking a shortcut?” he asked, looking around at the middle-class houses and manicured lawns they passed by.
“No.” She hid her grin, relieved that they were back on an even keel again. Boy was he in for a surprise.
A few minutes later, she pulled into her parents’ driveway. “Can you get Sir for me while I get my supplies?” she said, opening
her door.
“This is where we’re camping?”
“Gayla and Kyle’s backyard. Otherwise known as my parents.” She’d called them earlier after Leo insisted on coming with her.
Dad had answered, and fortunately he didn’t pepper her with questions.
Leo shook his head in disbelief. “This is why you said you’ll be fine.”
“Told you. It’s the safest camping site around.”