Spilling the Tea

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

“G ood morning, Mama.”

Felicia Laverne looked up to find her sixth-born son standing in the patio’s doorway. A happy expression spread across her features. “Jonathan. Good seeing you. Is Marilyn with you? How’s the family?”

Jonathan Madaris crossed the room to give his mother a kiss on the cheek and an affectionate hug. That was the way with all her sons. They’d had a close relationship from the time all seven of them were born. She was proud of every one of them.

“No, Marilyn isn’t with me. She and Diana left early to go shopping,” he said, easing into the chair across from where she sat on the screened-in patio. “Knowing those two, it will be an all-day thing.”

Diana was her daughter-in-law who had been married to Robert. It didn’t matter that she was no longer a Madaris since she’d remarried a retired senator a few years ago. Diana, who’d given her a granddaughter named after her, would forever be a part of the Madaris family and a member of the Madaris Wives Club.

“And the family is doing fine, Mama,” Jonathan replied.

“That’s good. Do you want a cup of tea?” she asked while motioning to the teapot on the table in front of her. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing like a cup of Madaris tea—a secret tea recipe made of special herbs and spices—that had been in the Madaris family for generations.

“No, thanks. I’m fine. Marilyn and I had breakfast together before Diana arrived.”

“So, what brings you here this morning?” Although Jonathan visited her often, she knew something else had brought him here. She had a sixth sense where her sons were concerned. Her beloved Milton used to refer to it as “mother’s intuition.”

“I heard about the young lady who visited Chance the other day. I also heard she’s joining you for lunch later.”

A knot settled in Felicia Laverne’s stomach. “And?”

Jonathan’s thick brows drew together, but his expression gave nothing away otherwise. She figured it was something he’d perfected after years of being a teacher; and even more years as a principal and college professor. “And I understand she might be Arabella’s granddaughter,” he said.

Felicia Laverne nodded. “And what if she is?”

Jonathan didn’t say anything for a moment, but then continued. “Arabella Satterfield and I were best friends until she turned fifteen and was sent to that all-girls school in the East.”

Felicia Laverne smiled softly. She’d known at the time Jonathan had been sweet on Arabella. “I recall you would walk her home from school every day. She was a couple of years younger than you.”

“Yes, and back then, I was only allowed to walk her to the boundary of her family’s property. I think her parents would not have minded had I gone beyond that marker. However, her grandmother, Ms. Penny, didn’t like our family. Neither I nor Arabella knew why. I asked my older brothers, and they said they’d heard about some feud between the two families that happened before we were born, but they didn’t know any specifics about it. So, one day, I asked Dad.”

She took a long, deep breath. When it came to her husband, she knew him better than anyone. He’d always been close to his sons. If one of them asked him anything, he would have told them what he felt they needed to know and nothing more. But this particular son would have dug deeper, asked more questions. “And what did he tell you?”

Jonathan paused a moment and then, leaning slightly forward, said, “Dad told me that the two of you postponed your wedding for a while, and why.”

Felicia Laverne took a sip of her tea. So, he knew that part of it. The Madaris scandal. “Although our wedding was postponed, Milton and I did marry and had seven handsome sons.”

“Meeting with this young lady won’t bother you, knowing she is a Satterfield?” he asked.

“No, it won’t bother me. Waylon’s mother, Penny, deliberately kept the discord between the two families, as if the lies and deceit hadn’t started with her daughter.”

To this day, Felicia Laverne believed Penny Satterfield had been behind Waylon’s decision to send Arabella to that school in Alexandria after his wife, Deedra, died. Penny feared another Satterfield would fall in love with a Madaris.

“And then there was your grandfather Jantzen,” Felicia Laverne said, shaking her head. She, of all people, knew Madaris men could be bullheaded, stubborn, and unforgiving, all because of that blasted Madaris pride. “Pa Jantz died before you were born, Jonathan, but he was alive for my first four sons. When it came to protecting his family and the Madaris name, he was a force to be reckoned with.”

“Dad said he and Mr. Waylon never stopped being best friends. They just let Ms. Penny and Grampa Jantz think so.”

“They only fooled Penny. Pa Jantz knew the truth, and in his own way, I believed that he admired Milton for his loyalty to his best friend. After all, when it counted, Waylon had remained loyal to Milton.”

She paused, thinking of the words Pa Jantz had spoken on his deathbed and how, in the end, he had made things right. “Even if Milton and Waylon had become enemies, I would have no ill feelings toward Waylon Satterfield’s great--granddaughter. Why would I?”

Jonathan shrugged. “I thought her visit would dredge up unpleasant memories, Mama. I’m sure postponing your wedding was a difficult time for you.”

“Yes, but I look back at that period as a test of Milton’s and my love, trust, and devotion to each other. We made it through. But like I said, Ms. Penny was determined to keep the feud going. There were days I honestly thought hatred for this family would consume her soul. But then Pa Jantz had a problem with forgiving, forgetting, and moving on, all because of that Madaris pride.”

Jonathan stood. “Trust me, I know all about that blasted Madaris pride. I almost lost Marilyn because of it.”

Felicia Laverne remembered that time. Jonathan wasn’t the only Madaris man who almost lost a good woman because of it. “Did you ever tell your brothers about your conversation with your father regarding the Satterfields?”

“Nope,” Jonathan replied. “Like you said, you and Dad did get married in the end, so it was water under the bridge.”

He grinned and added, “Besides, my four older brothers would have found any excuse to get rowdy.”

“That’s the truth,” Felicia Laverne agreed. Although her four oldest sons had settled down by then, it would not have taken much to rouse them back into their hell-raising ways. That was the main reason she and Milton had agreed to cover up the full details of his sister Victoria’s death. Had her sons known everything about their favorite aunt’s death, they would have taken the law into their own hands.

“Alright, Mama,” Jonathan said, interrupting her thoughts. Leaning down, he placed another kiss on her cheek. “I’ll leave so you can return to your knitting. What are you making, by the way?”

Not wanting to say just yet, she replied. “Umm, just a little something to keep my hands moving so my joints won’t get stiff.”

Jonathan nodded. “I appreciate how you take care of yourself. We all do, Mama.”

Felicia Laverne smiled at her son. “I have no choice. I intend to be around to see my great-grands get married. At least those on my list.”

“I understand some of them call it your ‘hit’ list,” Jonathan said, grinning again.

“Nolan the third started that foolishness and Corbin is keeping that nonsense going.” She sighed. “Thanks for dropping by and expressing your concerns, Jonathan. I’m fine with Waylon Satterfield’s great-granddaughter’s visit.”

As Felicia Laverne said the words, more than anything, she wished they were true.

***

Zoey saw Corbin the moment she stepped off the elevator the next morning. He stood by a bevy of flowers and plants in the atrium and smiled when he saw her. She smiled back.

She had chosen to wear a sundress that wasn’t too long or too short. Living with Aunt Paulina had taught her that older people would assess your clothing as part of your character. She didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with Corbin and Chance’s great-grandmother.

He moved toward her. Whereas Chance was a cowboy through and through, Corbin was the ultimate businessman in expensive suits. He was tall, handsome, and professional. She loved how his thick, neatly coiled dreadlocks flowed around his shoulders. Yesterday, he told her that he was the CEO of the Madaris Foundation and that he enjoyed what he did. She could see him in the boardroom more than on a horse riding the range.

Corbin continued walking toward her, and although he and Chance favored each other, it was Chance’s face that had invaded her dreams every night since they’d met. Chance who had that turn-you-on swag in his walk. Chance made her blood hot just by looking at her. Chance could light a fire in every part of her body whenever she saw him.

She knew that she needed to let it go since he belonged to another. Besides, she couldn’t forget that her sole purpose for being in Texas was to try to regain her memory, not to cultivate a romance with anyone.

Corbin stopped in front of her. “Zoey,” he greeted cheerfully. “You look terrific.”

“Thanks. I wanted to look nice. This meeting with your great-grandmother is important to me, and I want to make a good impression.”

Placing her arm in the crook of his, he led her out of the hotel. “And you will.”

She wasn’t surprised to see his car was a two-seater sports car. It suited him. They had driven a few blocks when he said, “I understand you’re into photography.”

“Yes, and I love it, although I’m sure Chance told you how my camera and equipment made him think I was a reporter.”

A wide grin appeared on Corbin’s face. “Yes, he told me.”

“I didn’t understand then, but I do now after talking to my best friend last night. A relative of yours is married to a movie star,” she said.

“Yes. My uncle Jake. He’s my great-grandmother’s youngest son. He and Diamond have been married for over fourteen years. Chance and I were surprised you didn’t know that.”

“Well, I didn’t.” She then told him why.

“I dated a couple of women who were hooked on Korean movies,” Corbin said. “What about when you left home for college?” he asked, turning the corner to join bumper-to-bumper traffic. “Your preference for movies didn’t change?”

“No. I rarely watched television in college. I was too busy trying to get good grades for medical school. However, since I attended NYU, I took a break from studying once in a while to see a few Broadway plays.” She smiled over at him. “So, Corbin Madaris, you can say I led a boring life.”

“And now you’re trying to find the missing pieces of that life.”

She nodded. “Yes, I am. So, tell me about yourself.”

He shrugged. “There’s not much to tell. Within the Madaris family, I’m part of the Lover Boyz Pack.”

“The what?” she asked, amused.

He grinned as well. “Let me explain. My generation of cousins were born close together. At the time, sixteen of us were grandkids from the first four sons my great-grandmother had birthed. Milton Jr., Lee, Nolan, and Lucas. Those four produced fourteen boys and two girls in less than eight years.”

“Wow. That’s a lot of pregnancies,” Zoey said, shaking her head.

Corbin chuckled. “You’re right about that. While growing up, we somehow shifted into groups. My great-grandmother likened the groupings to wolf packs. That’s how the idea came about. There are four male cousins in my group, and we were born within eighteen months of each other.”

“You said there were two girls in your generational group. Tell me about them.”

When he stopped at a traffic light, he said, “Both Victoria and Lindsay are my sisters. Victoria is twenty-eight and Lindsay is twenty-three. Vic, as we mostly call her, always did her own thing, and she hung out with Christy, one of our older cousins from the prior generation. Vic considered Christy a big sister instead of an older cousin. However, some figured they bonded so well because of their names and looks.”

Zoey lifted a brow. “Names and looks?”

“Yes, both were named after important women in our family. Christy, whose real name is Christina, was named after the first Madaris wife, who settled on our family land in the eighteen hundreds. And Vic was named after our great-grandfather Milton’s sister, Victoria Madaris. She was also Mama Laverne’s best friend. Aunt Victoria introduced Mama Laverne to her brother, Milton Madaris. Milton married Felicia Laverne, and they had seven sons who produced a slew of kids, grandkids, great-grands, and now even great-great-grands.”

He rounded a corner to enter a community of stately--looking Victorian-style homes on massive lots. “Regarding their looks, Christy and Vic also favor each other. They look more like sisters than cousins. If it wasn’t for the red hair, it would be hard to tell them apart.”

“Red hair?” she asked curiously.

“Yes. The original Christina Madaris had natural red hair, and so does Christy. I’m told my grandaunt Victoria had red hair as well. They claim Christy is the spitting image of Victoria. Vic inherited the looks but not the hair color.”

Zoey nodded. “Is your aunt Victoria still living?”

“No, she died before I was born. To my great-grandmother’s seven sons, she was their favorite aunt, and I understand that they took her death hard.”

“How did she die?”

“A robbery. She lived in town and worked as a nurse at a Houston hospital. She was planning to catch the bus to work one morning because her car was in the shop when she was robbed and killed.”

“How tragic and senseless,” Zoey said softly.

“Yes, it was.”

“Did she have any kids?”

“No. Aunt Victoria never married.”

Zoey enjoyed what he shared about his family. It certainly made her feel less nervous. “What about your other sister?”

“Lindsay is attending law school at Harvard with plans to one day become a corporate attorney. She gets annoyed whenever her brothers and cousins remind her that she’s the baby in the group and gives us hell about it when we do.”

Corbin pulled into the driveway of an attractive home with an immaculately landscaped yard. “We are here,” he said, stopping the car.

She scanned her surroundings. “What a nice yard, and those flowers are so pretty.”

“They are my grandparents’ pride and joy. All their grandsons take turns and keep the grass mowed, but Grampa Nolan and Gramma Bessie won’t let you touch their flower gardens.”

He exited the car and came around to open the door for her. “I can’t wait to introduce you to my great-grandmother, Mama Laverne.”

“And I can’t wait to meet her.”

***

Felicia Laverne heard the car outside and drew a deep breath to prepare herself for the young woman she was about to meet. Hopefully, Miss Pritchard only wanted to know about her grandmother, Arabella Martin.

“Mama Laverne?”

She turned her face toward the entrance to the screened patio and met the gazes of her great-grandson and the beautiful woman by his side. Chance had been right. She bore a striking resemblance to not only her mother and grandmother, but she also favored her great-grandmother, Deedra. She looked simply beautiful in the sundress she was wearing, a floral dress of giant yellow daffodils.

Holding the woman’s arm in the crook of his, Corbin crossed the room to kiss his great-grandmother’s cheek before making an introduction. “Mama Laverne, I’d like you to meet Zoey Pritchard. Chance set up a meeting with the two of you.”

“He most certainly did,” Felicia Laverne said, smiling at the woman and extending her hand. She tried not to show any reaction when she saw the necklace the young woman was wearing. She forced the thoughts from her mind about the importance of that jewelry. “It’s nice to meet you, dear.”

“And it’s nice meeting you as well.”

While holding the woman’s hand, Felicia Laverne realized she was feeling good and not at all threatened by her presence. At that moment, she knew she could not lose sight of Waylon Satterfield’s blood flowing through Zoey Pritchard’s veins. And Waylon had been an honorable man.

Releasing Zoey’s hand, she said, “I hope you didn’t mind my invitation to lunch, but I wanted to meet and speak with you in person. Although I didn’t see much of Arabella once she moved away, I remember her well. Chance told me you were in a car accident that killed your parents. I was sorry to hear that. It was a blessing that you survived.”

“Yes, but one of the prices I had to pay, in addition to all my physical injuries, was the loss of my memory.”

Felicia Laverne raised a brow. “What do you mean?”

“I have no memory of anything or anyone before I woke up in that hospital and was told I had lost my parents. Every single thing before that day has been wiped from my mind.”

“You remember nothing?”

“That’s right. Other than the few vague flashes of memory at Chance’s ranch this week, I remember nothing. Not even my parents or anything about them.”

Lordy. Chance hadn’t told her that part, Felicia Laverne thought. She couldn’t imagine how it would be not to remember things that were precious to you. Shifting her gaze to Corbin, she said, “I’m sure you have other things to do, Corbin. Please leave Zoey with me. We’ll enjoy a nice lunch here on the patio while we chat. On your way out, please let your Gramma Bessie know we’re ready to eat.”

“Will you let me know when I can return for her?” Corbin said, chuckling.

“I’ll call you. Now, scat,” Felicia Laverne said, shooing him out.

Corbin grinned and gave her another kiss on the cheek. After telling them goodbye, he left.

***

“Mama didn’t tell me you were in town when I talked to her yesterday, Luke,” Chance said to his oldest brother.

He had checked out of the hotel and arrived at his parents’ home to find his older brother and his family—namely his wife, MacKenzie, and their three kids—were in town for a week. Also joining the family for breakfast had been his second--oldest brother, Reese, his wife, Kenna, and their twins, as well as his brother Emerson, who never missed a free meal, regardless of whether it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Just as long as it was cooked by their mother, Sarah Madaris.

He was also glad to see his grandparents were there. That saved him a trip since Chance planned to check on them before returning to Teakwood Ridge. After breakfast, Emerson and Reese left for work. MacKenzie and Kenna had gathered all the kids for a swim in his parents’ pool.

“Mom didn’t know I was coming,” Luke said. “We surprised her, arriving late yesterday evening. Grampa and Gramma were already here since they’d spent the night. Mom loves having all of us together under one roof whenever she can.”

His parents’ home was on fifteen acres of land, and they had taken a couple of horses to ride out by the huge pond they played around as kids. Chance had always admired his oldest brother, who for years had been a rodeo star. Now he was a family man and rancher living in Oklahoma. Because of that huge rodeo school Luke had opened a few years back, he was teaching young kids, including his own, how to perfect their riding techniques. Also, under Luke’s expertise, the older students who had dreams of joining the rodeo circuit as bull or bronco riders, or who were interested in calf roping or barrel racing, were getting Luke’s expert training.

They came to a stop by the pond, dismounted, and tied the horses to a nearby post. Chance felt he was being scrutinized by his brother when Luke said, “I was somewhat surprised when Mom mentioned you had planned to drop in for breakfast. I’m glad to see you getting off the ranch more.”

Chance shrugged. “I leave my ranch when I need to.”

He figured that’s all he needed to say. There was no doubt in his mind Luke knew what he meant. And because he knew news traveled fast in the Madaris family, and although no one had brought anything up during breakfast, he added, “I ran into Ravena last night at Vance’s Tavern.”

“I heard.”

Chance nodded as they began walking around the pond. “Then I’m also sure you heard how things went.”

“I didn’t have to hear that part. There’s no doubt that if Ravena’s return to Houston is due to her wishful thinking that the two of you will get back together, then that’s all it is. Wishful thinking on her part.”

He was glad to hear that at least someone in his family thought that, but still… “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know you, Chance. You’ve always been easy to get along with, but you’ve become a lot like Dex over the years.”

Dex Madaris was one of their older cousins and Clayton’s brother. Dex had always been serious as a heart attack; he said what he meant and meant what he said and could hold a grudge longer than anyone they knew. He took what Mama Laverne referred to as the “Madaris pride” to a different level. If you got on his shit list, chances were you stayed there. However, when it came to the family, he was loyal to a fault.

“Dex was born with his attitude. Yours was acquired,” Luke added.

“Whatever.”

“And what about this woman I heard about?”

Chance didn’t have to ask but did so anyway. “What woman?”

“The one who showed up at your ranch. She must not have gotten the memo that nobody shows up at your ranch uninvited other than family,” Luke said, chuckling.

“She had a reason for showing up the way she did.”

“Well, you’re lucky Clayton didn’t have her investigated when he heard about her showing up like that. You recalled what happened with Skye.”

Yes, Chance remembered. Skye Barclay had shown up at Clayton’s oldest brother Justin’s home one day, claiming she was the long-lost sister of their sixteen-year-old adopted son, Vincent. Clayton found her claim farfetched and immediately investigated her, believing Skye had an ulterior motive for wanting to attach herself to Vincent. Not only did the investigation prove Clayton’s suspicions wrong, but their cousin Slade fell in love with Skye the moment he saw her, and within a year, he married her.

“Well, when he called last night, I assured Clayton that I could handle my business and would prefer to do so. And, like I said, Zoey had a reason for showing up at my place the way she did. That’s why she’s having lunch with Mama Laverne as we speak.”

“So, I heard. Aunt Bessie didn’t waste any time calling Gramma Carrie, giving her the scoop when she arrived at her house. According to Aunt Bessie, Zoey Pritchard is a very striking woman. Aunt Bessie is hoping she catches Corbin’s eye.”

“Like hell,” Chance all but growled. He stopped walking and stared at his brother.

Luke stopped as well, threw up his hands with palms out in surrender and said, “Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I just told you what she’s hoping.”

Dropping his hands, Luke folded his arms across his chest and stared at him. “You want me to believe that the thought of Corbin and Zoey Pritchard hooking up doesn’t bother you?”

“It doesn’t bother me.”

“Yes, it does.”

Dammit, Luke was right; it did bother him. Chance rubbed a frustrated hand down his face. He shared a close relationship with all three of his brothers. However, since Luke was the oldest and Chance was the youngest, the two of them shared a special bond. He knew he could talk to his older cousins, Justin, Dex, and Clayton, about anything; the same was true with Luke.

“I don’t know what’s happening to me, Luke.”

Luke lowered his hands to his sides with a concerned look. “What do you mean?”

“For the first time since I broke up with Ravena, I’m interested in a woman for more than just a one-night stand.”

Luke relaxed his stance. “It was bound to happen, Chance.”

“Not to me,” he snapped.

“And why not to you?” Luke snapped back. “Because the woman you loved couldn’t handle the fact you might not be able to walk again? I’m going to say now what I maybe should have said then: good damn riddance.”

Luke leaned over, picked up a stick, and threw it into the pond. Chance could tell his brother was riled and had more to say when he looked back at him. “At some point, Chance, you need to accept that Ravena Boyle wasn’t the woman meant for you to marry. If a woman can’t stand by her man when the going gets tough, or a man can’t stand by his woman for the same reason, they don’t deserve each other. Ravena never deserved you.”

“I know that, Luke.” They began walking around the pond again.

Luke pushed back the Stetson on his head and asked, “You know what exactly, Chance?”

“Everything you just said. I’ve known it for years. That’s why I don’t understand how any family member could think I would take back up with her when she returned to town.”

“I’ll tell you why. Because for five years, you’ve given Ravena power over you, whether you realize it or not.”

“Power?”

“Yes, power, by acting like she is the only woman who could mean anything to you. I could understand you not wanting to dive back into a serious relationship with a woman initially, but it’s been five years. While living a miserable life on your ranch, you might let the woman who could mean something to you slip away.”

Living a miserable life. Last night, Ravena had accused him of that very same thing. He denied it then and would deny it now. “I’m not living a miserable life, Luke.”

Luke shrugged. “You sure about that? I think engaging in one-night stands will get old at some point. Especially for you.”

Chance lifted a brow. “Why, especially for me?”

“Of Lucas Jr. and Sarah Madaris’s four sons, you were the one who wanted it all. You knew exactly what you wanted. You’d clarified that you wanted a career in the army, love, marriage, and children. You always talked about owning a ranch after your career with Uncle Sam ended. You might not have gotten the twenty-year career in the military that you wanted, but you got a college degree while enlisted. And you got your ranch, Chance. Love, marriage, and children are possibilities if you let them be.”

Chance’s jaw tightened. “I will never fall in love again, Luke. Until you experience the pain of heartbreak, you will never understand. And don’t get anything twisted about my interest in Zoey Pritchard. It’s nothing more than a strong attraction and intense desire. It’s all purely sexual. Love has nothing to do with it.”

“So you say, Lil Brother.”

“So I know, Luke.”

“I thought the same thing about Mac. If you recall, I refused to accept I had fallen in love with her. The same thing with Reese and Kenna.”

Chance held his brother’s gaze. “That’s you and Reese. Neither of you experienced heartbreak before falling in love. It’s something you wouldn’t risk happening again.” He then checked his watch. “It’s time for me to get on the road if I want to reach Teakwood Ridge before dark.”

***

“There you have it, Ms. Felicia Laverne. I remember nothing of that time. Not even the accident. I recall waking up in a hospital room in excruciating pain. Although several doctors have told me there’s a fifty percent chance I won’t ever remember that period of my life again, I want to believe that I will get my memory back.”

Felicia Laverne didn’t say anything. Hearing what this beautiful woman sitting beside her had gone through as a child nearly broke her heart. And then for her not to recall the years before that car accident that had taken away her parents? That was eight years wiped away from such a precious little mind.

While Zoey was talking, Felicia Laverne remained silent and focused. She had heard her pain and anguish. She couldn’t imagine what she’d gone through after waking up in a hospital in critical condition and without her parents. A part of her wished she would have done a better job of keeping up with Arabella’s child after Arabella died. When she’d talked to Michelle that day at her parents’ funeral, she had told her of her plans to keep the ranch. When she’d heard it had been sold, she assumed Michelle had changed her mind.

Felicia Laverne didn’t know it hadn’t been Michelle who’d sold the ranch but Zoey’s grandaunt. There was something about that entire situation that just didn’t sit right with her. Why wouldn’t the woman want Zoey to know about her maternal relatives? As far as Felicia Laverne was concerned, that was heartless, especially if confirming the ranch’s existence might have helped restore her memory.

Reaching out, she took Zoey’s hand in hers. For the second time that day, she felt good and honest vibes. She felt strength in the young woman, yet there was also a vulnerability that touched Felicia Laverne deeply. Zoey had suffered so much sadness and pain in her young life. She had gone through all her trials and tribulations without a family—she still didn’t have one.

Suddenly, she heard Milton say, “ Take care of Waylon’s great-grandbaby, Fee. She’s suffered enough and needs you. ”

Her beloved husband’s words removed her inhibitions, and although there were some things she could not share with the young woman, Felicia Laverne felt more at ease. “I will tell you everything you need to know, Zoey,” she spoke up to say. “However, I can’t do it all in one day. How long will you be in Houston?”

“For as long as I need to be here. I told you about how I got flashes of my memory just from standing in front of Chance’s barn. I believe it’s returning and will do so completely if I hang around here for a while.”

After a short silence, she added, “This might sound crazy, Ms. Felicia Laverne, but I feel there is a reason I started having those dreams about the ranch. I want to believe my parents are reaching out to me. They want me to know them and remember them. They want me to know just how much I was loved.”

Felicia Laverne felt Zoey’s hand tighten in hers and could see tears misting her eyes. A lump formed again deep in Felicia Laverne’s throat. Her heart went out to the child who never got the chance to grieve her parents because she didn’t remember them. She knew then she would do all she could to help Zoey regain her memory. Instead of only telling Zoey about the Martins, as she’d first intended to do, she would start where it should be. With the Satterfields.

“Your grandmother was born Arabella Satterfield. Her parents were Waylon and Deedra Satterfield. Deedra died when Arabella was twelve. When Arabella turned fifteen, Waylon sent her to an all-girls finishing school in Alexandria, Virginia.”

Zoey nodded. “What did my great-grandmother Deedra die of?”

“Pneumonia. I understand Waylon did not want to send Arabella away to school, but Waylon’s mother, Penny, felt a ranch wasn’t a place for a young girl growing into womanhood. I heard she could ride, shoot, and hunt just as well as any boy her age. She and her father, Waylon, were extremely close.”

Felicia Laverne released Zoey’s hand to sip her tea and continued, “Arabella would come home for the holidays and the summers when school was out. Whenever I saw her, I thought she was blossoming into a lovely young lady with a heart like her mother. Deedra was a good and godly woman.

“Waylon always anticipated the days Arabella would come back home. Waylon’s father, Kurt, died years before Waylon’s wife, Deedra, and Ms. Penny died some years later. Waylon lived on the ranch alone after his mother’s death, and then he died. It was right after Arabella finished high school at eighteen.”

“What happened to my great-grandfather Waylon?”

A knot formed in Felicia Laverne’s throat. “One stormy night on his way home from town, he lost control of his truck. It went into a ravine, and he was killed instantly.”

“Oh, how sad.”

“Yes, it was a sad time. Arabella took her father’s death hard. She decided to remain in Virginia to attend college. I understand she met a guy there, and after college, they got married and made their home in Virginia.”

“Why didn’t she sell the ranch?”

“She couldn’t. Waylon’s father, Kurt, decreed in his will that the Satterfield ranch, and all the land it sat on, could not be sold for three generations after his death,” Felicia Laverne explained.

“That meant the ranch could not be sold until my generation,” Zoey said softly. “Since I inherited the ranch from my mother, as my legal guardian, my aunt was able to sell it on my behalf.”

It was presented as a statement, and Felicia Laverne took it that way. “Yes. Since Arabella could not sell the ranch, she hired workers to look after it. I doubted Arabella would have ever sold the ranch anyway. She loved it there and said it would always be her happy place. I recall how she would return during the holidays to check on things. During the summer months, she stayed the entire time. After she married, her husband, Joshua, would come with her.”

Felicia Laverne had carefully worded everything she’d said, purposely leaving some things out. Like the other stipulation Kurt Satterfield had placed in his will. Zoey didn’t need to know about that.

“Was my great-grandfather Waylon an only child?”

Felicia Laverne’s hand trembled slightly as she lifted her cup to take another sip of her tea. A part of her wished Zoey hadn’t asked that. She didn’t want to say the woman’s name from her lips, but she had no choice. “No. Waylon had a sister named Charlotte.”

“What happened to her?”

Felicia Laverne worded her response carefully again. “She died less than a year before her mother, Ms. Penny.” Placing her teacup down, she quickly said, “I’ve told you all I can for today. It’s nap time for me. I would love to visit with you again and tell you more the next time. Will you be available after today?”

Zoey beamed happily. “I will make myself available.”

Felicia Laverne nodded. “Good,” she said, patting Zoey’s hand. “When will you be revisiting Chancellor’s ranch?”

Zoey sighed deeply. “I believe I wore out my welcome the last time I was there. I probably won’t get another invitation to come back.”

“Poppycock. The key to your returning memory is that ranch and all the surrounding land. I recall your mother, Michelle, as a young woman. Like Arabella, she was such a pretty girl. She would join her parents here during the summers while in college. I recall how much she enjoyed riding horses. Your father did as well. Chancellor should give you a tour of his property on horseback.”

“I rode on my own to the lake the other day. I was grateful to him for letting me borrow one of his horses. Although I felt something while there, I didn’t remember anything, which was frustrating.”

“Don’t get frustrated, Zoey. Give your memory time. I believe it will return. You should return to the lake since it was in your dreams.”

Suddenly, Felicia Laverne remembered something. “Maybe that wasn’t the lake. There is another lake with a cabin on the property toward the east side.” Forcing to the back of her mind who that cabin had been built for, she added, “I recall it was where your parents often stayed whenever they came to visit Michelle’s parents. I guess as a young married couple, they preferred their privacy.”

“Chance didn’t mention there were two lakes.”

“He probably didn’t think about it. When the Johnstones bought the ranch, they did not need a cabin that far away from their ranch house. They sold that parcel of land. Since it was sold before Chance purchased the ranch, it’s not his property.”

“Oh,” Zoey said in a disappointed voice.

“But don’t worry, dear. I know the person who bought it. He’s a childhood friend of three of my grandsons and is an honorary member of the Madaris family. His name is Trevor Grant. He and his wife, Corinthians, live on the opposite outskirts of the city and use the cabin as a getaway to enjoy the lake.”

Felicia Laverne remembered the time Trevor had loaned the cabin to his friend Sir Drake Warren and his now-wife Tori, two former CIA agents, who were hiding out from an assassin. “Um, come to think of it, that cabin might be perfect.”

Zoey raised an arched brow. “Perfect?”

“Yes. This is my last week with my son Nolan and his wife, Bessie. I’ll return to my son Jake’s home at Whispering Pines next week. I’ll be there for the next six months. It will be closer for you.”

“Closer?” Zoey asked.

“Yes. You don’t need to stay in one of those pricey hotels and drive to Whispering Pines to chat with me. That particular property borders Whispering Pines. I can’t see why Trevor wouldn’t let you use the cabin while you’re here.”

A huge smile touched Zoey’s face. “You think that he would?”

“I don’t see why not. I’ll call him this weekend.”

“Thank you so much for everything. You’ve been most kind.”

At that moment, Corbin entered the patio. Felicia Laverne frowned. “I don’t recall sending word for you to come, Corbin.”

“You didn’t have to. Everybody knows when it’s your nap time.” He grinned.

Felicia Laverne knew that was true. “Make sure Zoey gets back to her hotel safely. She and I will talk again one day next week.” She turned to Zoey, smiled, and said, “I enjoyed our chat, dear, and I can’t wait to see you next week. And by the way, the Madaris family will host their annual family reunion in July. I hope you’ll attend, so I can introduce you to all my sons and their families.”

“Thank you, Ms. Felicia Laverne. It was kind of you to invite me, and I would love to attend.”

***

When Felicia Laverne awakened from her nap, she’d discovered Victoria, her first-born great-granddaughter, and her husband, Senator Roman Malone, had made a surprise visit from Washington, DC.

The couple happily announced to everyone they were expecting. Their news filled the entire house with overwhelming joy. Although Victoria and Roman had been married for only six months, they wanted to start a family immediately.

When Felicia Laverne showed the couple what she’d begun knitting weeks ago, letting them know that she’d known but had kept their secret, Victoria had thrown her head back and laughed before giving her a huge hug.

Later that night, Felicia Laverne placed her knitting aside. Sitting on the side of her bed, she gazed at her wedding picture and thought about that day and how happy she and Milton had been. It was a day some thought would not happen. But she and Milton had loved and trusted each other and had been determined to be together.

She closed her eyes at the thought of being unable to remember precious moments in her life…like Zoey Pritchard was unable to do. Just thinking of such a thing was disheartening. She’d watched Corbin and Zoey and hadn’t felt anything there. No chemistry. No attraction. The two had established a relationship built on friendship and nothing more. That made her wonder about Chance, who claimed he’d been too busy to bring Zoey to meet her, which was why Corbin had done so.

Had he been that busy, or was there another, more profound reason for his absence?

She seriously doubted it. Chance had deep-rooted issues that needed to be resolved before he could give his heart to another woman. During breakfast, Bessie shared what she’d heard about last night’s encounter between Chance and Ravena at Vance’s Tavern. Unlike some family members, Felicia wasn’t worried about Ravena getting back with Chance. She was confident he’d come to terms with it and concluded she hadn’t been worth his love.

Felicia Laverne then switched her thoughts to the words she believed her beloved Milton had spoken to her regarding Zoey. If it was the last thing she did, she would help the young woman restore as much of her memory as possible.

Pushing back the covers, Felicia Laverne eased between the sheets, shifted into a comfortable sleeping position, and then closed her eyes. Telling Zoey about the past had dredged up memories—memories that were still haunting her, refusing to let her slip into a peaceful sleep.

Memories of how the actions of one woman, who’d wanted something she was never meant to have, had caused a feud between two families, the Madarises and the Satterfields. Families who were destined to be united for life.