Chapter Three
“My, that Paxton Farraday sure did grow up nicely.” Sandra’s mom pulled the cookie sheet out of the oven.
Sandra also thought the man had filled out quite nicely. Those eyes were the same, but now they seemed to hold wisdom and some humor. What had those eyes seen since they were kids? When she’d recognized him, she’d been tempted to ask why had his family stopped coming to visit all those years ago. The first couple of summers without the Oklahoma Farradays had felt off. Nothing seemed right without him and his brothers. Yes, she still played with Grace and went gigging frogs in the creek with the other Farraday boys, but she’d missed laughing and joking with her friend. Eventually, like everything else in the world, life moved on and change became the new normal.
Setting the shopping bags on the table, Sandra unpacked her purchases while David ran around, flying his new plane in the backyard. She was going to have to get used to letting him have more freedom to roam, but for now, she could keep an eye on him through the large window above the sink.
Her mother puttered around the kitchen. “He’s a good boy. You know he’s on television.”
“Television?” Her gaze darted to David outside. “What are you talking about?”
“Paxton. He has a TV show.”
Paxton was an actor? Though the image didn’t fit, how had her mother not mentioned that before? Or maybe she had, and Sandra had let it go in one ear and out the other. Sometimes her mother rambled on about people Sandra had never met, or who had moved to town after she’d left. Then again, she would have been interested in what Paxton was up to. All the Farradays were nice. Her childhood had been a blast playing with the massive family. She’d always wished she could have come from a large family. Had hoped to someday have a large one of her own. So much for dreams. But of all the Farraday boys, Paxton was the one she’d connected with, the one who always made her smile. They’d been playing together since she was David’s age. When the older boys were off tipping cows or some other silly thing, they’d be fishing in the creek. It had taken her a while not to find the worms icky, but she’d loved the quiet of the fishing hole more than Grace or Hannah so she’d become Paxton’s fishing buddy. She’d really missed their time together when they’d stop visiting from Oklahoma.
“He’s on a show called Construction Cousins with most of his brothers. I’ve seen every episode. The show is really popular. They’re renovating the old ghost town, Sadieville. Remember it?”
Somewhere in the back of her mind she seemed to remember her dad taking her by some old buildings that looked like a TV western, but she couldn’t swear where it was.
“Anyhow, they’re building housing out there as well, and it’s helping put Tuckers Bluff on the map.” The pride in her mother’s voice was unmistakable.
Sandra nodded. “I’m going to clean up here, then bring our bags and things up to my room. I figure we’ll put David in the bedroom next to mine.”
Her mother averted her eyes and made a muttering noise, “Well, about that.”
Sandra turned to look at her. “About what?”
“About your room.”
This wasn’t the first time she’d seen that expression on her mother’s face. Whenever her mom looked like that, Sandra knew her mom was about to say something she would not like.
“Well, your room isn’t available right now.”
“Oh.” It was silly of her to think her mom would have preserved her room as it was. “I guess David and I can share the other room.”
“Well.” Her mom’s gaze dropped. “I sort of had to rent them both out.”
Sandra blinked. “What?”
Her mom wiped her hands on her apron. “I had to.”
Someone else was sleeping in her room? A stranger? “Why? I thought you and dad were set after selling the ranch house and moving into a more affordable home in town.”
Her mother frowned and leaned against the counter behind her. “Yes and no. Yes, it’s more affordable, but we didn’t get as much for the ranch as we may have led you to believe. This house has a hefty mortgage and without Dad’s income, and the only thing I’ve ever known how to do is keep house. I just couldn’t keep up. New roofs aren’t cheap and we need one, then there’s the ordinary expenses and repairs. It costs a lot to heat and cool this big old house.”
“Oh, Mom.” Her mother had never mentioned her financial troubles. Even though she never really had much while married to Ed, she still would have tried to help, but now her finances were tighter than ever and her first paycheck wasn’t going to be much help. “Why didn’t you say something to me?”
“I didn’t see the point in worrying you at first, then when you decided to divorce Ed and talked of coming home for a while, I was afraid if I said anything you might not come back.”
“Mom. I’m sorry. You should have said something.”
Her mother waved a hand. “It’s all fine. I’m handling it.”
“Still, maybe I could have done something.”
“You had your own troubles.”
Talk about an understatement. If she hadn’t been too proud to face it, she would have known from the start that marrying Ed had been a mistake. At least now she was home under her mom’s roof again. They could work this out. “Where are David and I sleeping?”
“I’ve already put a rollaway for David in my room. You and I will share the king bed.”
“Well, looks like we’ll be roomies.” Things could be a lot worse. At least she had a family she loved, a roof over her head, and, tapping the card in her pocket, a new old friend. Maybe.
Paxton was beyond frustrated with his brother. Owen had finished up with Jamison and returned early to the ranch. The drive into town to track his brother down had been a waste of time. Except for bumping into Sandra Lynn, but right now, he was mostly annoyed at Owen’s leaving the rest of the family out of the loop. “You do remember how to use a cell phone?”
“I know, but Mom was blowing up my phone. You know how much she wants us home in Oklahoma. She thinks if she wears me down that I’ll wear the rest of you down. I’m sorry, it slipped my mind.”
Quinn squinted at their brother. The man didn’t say a word, but his eyes said a whole lot.
“Slipped your mind?” Paxton glared at his twin.
“Now, now.” Aunt Eileen waved a spatula at the three nephews wandering around the kitchen helping set up for supper. “Everyone’s allowed to make a little mistake here and there.”
“Little? It’s not like he forgot to pick up eggs at the grocery store.” Paxton sighed. His aunt had a point, sort of. It was unlike his brother to spring something this big on them without warning. Owen knew better than anyone how backed up they were with projects off camera and on since the show had made them more popular than ever. “At least if we’d gotten an email about it I would have been better prepared when Valerie brought it up.”
Quinn shook his head. “You’re no better at reading emails than memos no matter who sends them.”
Paxton shrugged. “Maybe not, but it would have been something to stop us from looking like idiots.”
“No one thinks any of you are idiots.” Aunt Eileen shook her head and smiled at them. “Handsome yes, idiots no.”
“Is he still upset about the new house project?” Morgan came into the kitchen and kissed his aunt on the cheek.
“You heard?” Paxton shifted his attention from Owen to his other brother.
“The whole family knows by now.” Morgan’s wife came in behind her husband. “Next time I’ll make sure to follow up with everyone when we do major changes to scheduling.”
She smiled so sweetly at Paxton before glancing adoringly at her husband. It was impossible for Paxton to stay angry with anyone who made his brother so happy.
“City council is thrilled as well,” Valerie explained. “Most of the time these houses go to single parents or injured vets. It’s all for a really good cause.”
His sister-in-law didn’t have to drive that home. He got it. His family had driven home that philosophy since childhood, to those who much is given much is expected. Heck, even when things were tight with the ranch back home failing, they still made time to give of their time and talents if nothing else.
Aunt Eileen shooed everyone into the dining room, handing each person a dish to carry. “Did you hear that Sandra Lynn Baker is back in town?”
“As a matter of fact,” Paxton held out the chair for his aunt to sit, “I gave her a ride home earlier today.”
“Really?” His aunt looked up at him with curiosity in her eyes.
“She was downtown. Her car wouldn’t start. Had to call Ned to help. I didn’t make the connection at first.”
“Her mother lives in that massive Victorian at the edge of town.” Uncle Sean volunteered.
“Yes. That’s where I dropped her off. I was surprised. She used to live out this way.”
His aunt nodded. “They sold it and moved to town when Sandra Lynn started high school. Something about easier for her to be in town than isolated out here. But I always thought there was something more to it. When her dad died and Alice started taking in boarders, I was a bit sad to find out my suspicions had been spot on.”
“So,” Quinn scooped out his favorite mashed potatoes and handed the plate to his right, “what have you gotten us into?”
Morgan and Owen proceeded to explain about the lot near the edge of town and how they were going to build on the old pier and beam foundation making things easier and less expensive, but most of what his brothers said was rolling past him. His mind was stuck on Sandra Lynn, her broken-down car, her sad eyes, and wondering where was her husband?