CHAPTER TEN
WHITNEY
When Whitney went to answer the doorbell and saw Dani standing there, she let out a soft groan. She opened the door and said, “I gather Taylor talked to you.”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, she did,” said Dani, stepping inside. “Have time for a glass of iced tea and some talk?”
Whitney smiled. “I guess ‘no’ wouldn’t be the right answer. C’mon in. It’s nice to see you.”
Dani returned her smile pleased they shared an easy friendship. She reached down and gave Mindy a pat on the head. “Hey, little girl. Pirate needs to come over one day for a play date.”
“How is Pirate? I heard him running around the yard the other day but didn’t want to intrude on your space. Having you and Brad living next door is nice, but I know how you feel about having your privacy.”
“You and Taylor are welcome anytime. But yes, we’re both excited about the possibility of having our own larger home at The Meadows. That will make it easier on Brad, especially, because memories of his life with Patti in his house can sometimes intrude.”
“Understandable,” said Whitney.
After fixing glasses of iced tea for them, extra lemon for her, Whitney led Dani outside to the patio. “Okay, sis, what is the visit really about?”
Dani sighed. “I had to get the news from Taylor about possible threats to you from that crazy group of Zane’s fans who can’t seem to understand what happened to him, how drugs took him down and finally ended his life. They still blame you. I understand they got riled up again after seeing a photo of you and Ross together.”
Tears welled in Whitney’s eyes, but she couldn’t stop them. “It’s all so messed up. I don’t know why I’m the one they want to blame. Somebody says something that may or may not be true, and people cling to it even when it doesn’t make sense.”
“I know you may be irritated with Taylor and me, but I’ve told Nick about the situation, and he’ll keep an eye on things. In fact, I’ve invited him to dinner at Brad’s house tomorrow night and I want you to join us. We can talk more sensibly about the situation when we’re together.”
Whitney let out a long sigh. “I’m not mad at you for doing that. I simply don’t want to be a bother to Nick. As Chief of Police of Lilac Lake, he’s busy enough with real problems.”
“I think he was delighted to be asked. He’s always had a thing for you, and it makes him happy to think he’s helping,” said Dani.
“He’s a sweetheart,” admitted Whitney. She stopped and waved away Dani’s grin. “And a good friend. Emphasis on friend.”
Dani shook her head. “I’m not pressing the issue, just saying.”
“Thanks for your concern. Now tell me about the progress on your house. Your goal is to have it done by Christmas in time for your wedding. Right?”
“Right. And I was going to ask you about helping me with the décor. You did such a nice job with the cottage. And I know you’re helping Ross. Can you do something different for Brad and me?”
Whitney felt her wide grin. “I’d love to help. That will keep my mind off troubling issues with the play the dance group is putting on over the Labor Day Weekend.”
“Troubles?” Dani frowned at her. “I thought it was going to be short and simple.”
“Oh, it is,” said Whitney, unable to hide her enthusiasm. “The kids are really enjoying it. Jamie Thompkins, a darling boy and dancer I’ve spoken about before, is working on the scenery for the play. But his father wants Jamie to concentrate on sports. Thank goodness, he doesn’t know about Jamie taking dance lessons because he was upset about Jamie working on the play. He’s not a nice man.”
“I don’t get why some parents are like that,” said Dani. “If a child of mine were talented, I’d want him or her to continue with it. Like Mom and Dad did for you.”
“I agree, but some guys are stuck in the past where thinking about special roles for genders still exists. Ben and Ross call him a hothead.”
“Is this another thing to worry about?” asked Dani.
Whitney shook her head. “I can’t go there. And I won’t give up on presenting opportunities for Jamie. But I don’t want to do anything to anger his father. Jamie is afraid of him.”
“Well, one step at a time. Get through the play and sit tight to see what happens after that. His mother has already permitted him dance lessons. Right?”
“Yes, but like I said, his father doesn’t know about them. It’s pure defiance on her part, I guess, because I suspect she’s a little afraid of Jamie’s father too.”
“Brad and I talk about having children. But the more I hear about other people’s children, the more I want to wait a while after we’re married until we’ve settled into our routines in our new house. Brad’s mother, MaryLou, will have to be content with his sister, Amy’s, new baby next winter. In the meantime, her little Will is one of the cutest baby boys I’ve ever seen. It makes me wonder what babies Brad and I make will look like.”
“Mmm. Seems you’ve been doing a lot of thinking about it,” said Whitney amused. Once Dani made up her mind about something it was all but a done deal. Hearing her now, Whitney thought she might become an aunt sooner rather than later.
They chatted a while longer, then Dani rose. “I’ve got to meet with a client out at The Meadows. I’d better go, but I’m glad we’ve had this talk. It’s important for us to keep in touch. In fact, I’m sorry I’ve been so absent lately.”
“No problem,” said Whitney. “I know you and Brad have been working together on The Meadows and then cooking together in the evening. It’s really sweet.”
Dani’s grin lit her blue eyes as she pushed a lock of brown hair behind her ear. “It’s better than sweet. It’s hot.”
Whitney’s laugh rang out and they hugged one another.
“You go, girl,” Whitney said and walked her to the front door.
Whitney decided Dani was right. The family hadn’t kept as close as they had in the past. She picked up her car keys and drove to The Woodlands, where GG lived. A talk with her grandmother always helped her perspective on things.
###
Whitney studied the complex as she drove into the parking lot. The structure spread across a fresh green lawn in front of a pretty, wooded area. The one-story building was handsome with gray-stained clapboards and stone accents. The building was a point of pride for the entire family because with GG’s help, Brad and his brother Aaron had been the contractors for it.
Inside, the smell of fresh bread permeated the air, giving it a pleasing odor not usually found in assisted-living facilities. But The Woodlands was an exceptionally nice place. Whitney was pleased that her grandmother had arranged to stay there following a financial disaster and the sale of the inn. But then, after running the Lilac Lake Inn for so long, her grandmother deserved such a comfortable setting for her last years. Not that GG was about to die. Far from it. She still had a lot of energy and made friends as easily here as she had at the inn.
When Whitney reached the apartment, she found the door cracked open. A sign of friendliness. She knocked and peered inside. GG was on the sofa napping with a book in her hand.
“GG?” Whitney called softly, then wondered if she should come back another time.
Her grandmother sat up with a start and when she saw Whitney, she smiled and waved her inside. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“I hope I’m not disturbing you. It looked like you were having a nice nap.”
“I’d much rather be talking to you. I was going to call you. I understand you and Ross Roberts are seeing each other now.”
Frowning, Whitney leaned down and kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “Where did you get that idea?”
“Oh, ever since you started your acting career, I’m addicted to those Hollywood news programs. I saw it there.”
Whitney sat down and took hold of GG’s hand. “If I get serious with someone new, you’ll be among the first to find out. Like always.”
“Oh, good. I like knowing what you girls are up to. With Taylor and Dani’s futures more-or-less settled, I’m anxious about you.”
“No need to worry about me,” Whitney said, forcing a nonchalance. The last thing she wanted to do was cause her grandmother to be upset.
“Good,” said GG, getting to her feet. She checked her watch. “You’re in time for tea, if you choose.”
Whitney heard the hope in GG’s voice. “Sure. That sounds like fun.” She turned as a knock sounded at the door.
JoEllen Daniels poked her head inside. “I heard you had company Mrs. Wittner and had to see who it was.” She smiled at Whitney. “Heard you might be dating Ross.”
“We’re just friends. That’s all,” said Whitney. JoEllen’s nosiness bothered her.
“Oh, that’s good because I’ve been trying to get him to meet me at Jake’s. Maybe now he can.”
After JoEllen left, Whitney let out a sigh. Had she been too quick to end any thought of a relationship with Ross? No, she reminded herself. She had no desire to have a fling, and she thought that’s all it might have turned out to be between the two of them.
“That young woman is a bother,” said GG.
“I agree. Come on. I’ll walk you down to the tearoom and we can catch up with what everyone in the family is doing. You probably know more than I do about them.”
GG laughed. “Maybe not. We’ll see. I just love hearing about my family.”
After she got settled in her chair, her grandmother smiled at the waitress hovering nearby. “Alice, this is my granddaughter, Whitney.”
GG’s pride in her touched Whitney. She smiled. “Nice to meet you, Alice. Are you new here?”
“Yes,” said Alice. “I love Genie and meeting you and everyone else in the family.”
“I’m lucky to have them,” said GG, giving Whitney a wink.
Whitney grinned. GG loved the attention she was getting. But then, she’d always had a lot of friends, The move to an assisted-living facility was a big change for her. Whitney was glad to see her so happy.
As they sipped their tea and nibbled on cookies, Whitney told GG about the baseball clinic Ross and his friends had held.
“What a superb opportunity for the kids. I’m sorry to hear that one of the fathers is a troublemaker. I believe a child is given a talent for a reason. What if your parents hadn’t allowed you to dance or sing? What a disappointment that would have been for so many people.”
“I was very lucky to have their support and yours. I guess that’s why I feel so strongly about Jamie.”
“Be careful about being too outspoken about it. His parents have the right to raise him as they see fit, as long as it’s not destructive to him or anyone else.”
“But I sense that Jamie is afraid of his father. I’m going to keep an eye on him. In a couple more weeks, the play will be over, and he’ll be back in school. By then, I hope to have a better schedule for moving into the cottage and creating a new life for myself.”
“One day at a time, my darling,” said GG. “Now, how about passing that plate of cookies over to me?”
Whitney chuckled, took one for herself, and handed her grandmother the plate.
###
The next afternoon, Whitney waited anxiously for Jamie to appear at the storage shed at the Beckman Lumber company where play rehearsal was scheduled. She’d given up hope that he was coming when at last his father drove up to it. Jamie climbed out of the truck wearing a harried look.
Whitney went to greet him and gave a wave to Jamie’s father, who stared at her and didn’t return her greeting.
“Are you okay?” she asked Jamie gently.
He nodded and hurried into the building.
Whitney decided to heed GG’s warning and not say anything more to Jamie about being comfortable there. But she noticed the more Jamie got into the job of painting the backdrop, the more relaxed he became. Better yet, another boy had joined the production team and was chatting with Jamie about the baseball clinic.
After the practice was over and the kids had once again done well with their lines and were adding movements to their roles, Whitney was ready to go home and relax before dinner at Brad’s.
She waited outside the shed for parents to pick up their children with a sense of accomplishment that things were going so well. Bud, Jamie’s dad, was the last to arrive.
Trying to be cordial, Whitney said, “Jamie’s a big help.”
He grunted something unintelligible and then said to Jamie, “Get in.”
Whitney waved goodbye and stood back as the truck roared out of the driveway. Staring at it, she decided she didn’t like that man and never would.