Chapter 13
PENNY
“Afarmer’s market? Really?” Penny leaned into Royce with a laugh.
Their hands were intertwined as they wandered the street in the middle of Colorado Springs.
“I would have thought you’d want to do something you’re not familiar with.
Isn’t this like an NFL player going to a football game as a spectator? ”
Royce shot her a boyish grin. “Just because I work on a farm doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a farmer’s market.
It’s nice to see what other people bring to the table.
Besides, at our farm, we don’t work with bees.
We don’t have fruit trees. And none of us is any good with baking—not even my sisters.
Where else am I supposed to find good sourdough? ”
She laughed again.
Every day she spent with this man only made her love him more. He was so genuine it made her wonder frequently if he was even real. How many times had she told herself that at some point the glamour would fade and she’d have to face the hard reality that it wouldn’t work out?
Countless.
However, those moments were becoming fewer and farther between.
Royce had worked out several ways to slip out of the house and sleep at her place.
Most of the time, it was as simple as not coming home after hanging out with “friends” all night.
His brothers didn’t ask as long as he was back for work bright and early.
He didn’t have to lie to their faces about where he was going because in his own words, he’d called her his best friend.
When she made a face at that statement, he’d silenced any argument with one of his leg-weakening kisses, then reminded her that he was glad he’d been able to marry his best friend.
Royce was the ultimate romantic.
And he’d taken it upon himself to court her.
It sounded crazy even to Penny herself when she’d let it slip to Shelly that she was married. Her secretary had caught her looking at her wedding ring before hiding it away in her desk and had demanded to know everything.
After swearing her to secrecy, Penny spilled the whole story.
A day later, a delivery guy had arrived and told her she had to sign for something.
Her heart had officially stopped when two men brought in the cowboy painting she’d admired with Royce on their first date together. They were also the men hired to hang it on the wall in her office. She’d called Royce immediately to thank him, but the call had gone to voicemail.
That night, she showed him just how much she appreciated his thoughtfulness.
They made plans to head to the city so they wouldn’t be caught by anyone, and so far, it was coming close to topping their first date where he’d promised to help her fall in love with her life again.
And maybe with him too.
Penny rested her head against his shoulder and sighed happily. He pulled her to a stop at the sourdough bread booth where he purchased two sliced loaves.
“I don’t think we can eat all of that before it goes bad,” she insisted.
He kissed her temple and whispered, “You have a freezer, sweetheart. I’m sure we can make room for it there. And if not, I’ll give it to my family.”
“And when they ask you where you got it?”
Royce made a goofy show of being worried. “You’re right. I guess we’ll just have to gorge ourselves on it when we get home.”
Home.
It was strange to hear him call her place his, but that was what it was becoming.
They were married. They were essentially living together.
And yet it still all felt so surreal. She loved the happy little bubble they’d managed to find themselves in.
It was beautiful and full of sunshine, and she didn’t want to share it with anyone yet.
Her smile faltered, but Royce never missed anything. He squeezed her hand, and she looked up at him.
“What is it?” he asked.
Penny chewed on her lip thoughtfully. “Have you mentioned anything to your family? About us?”
She could have sworn his skin paled slightly. His reaction should concern her. She should want to get everything out in the open.
But doing so could set them up for failure. It would pop their little bubble of happiness.
And that was the last thing she wanted.
He must have misunderstood her reason for asking because he pulled her close to offer comfort. “I will. I promise. I was just waiting—”
Pulling back, she placed a finger on his lips. “We’ll do it when it feels right. Okay? I can’t explain it, but right now, I just…” She pressed her lips together firmly. “I just want it to be you and me for a little longer. Does that make sense?”
Relief flickered in his eyes. “Yeah, it makes perfect sense.”
They were already on their way back to Copper Creek when she got a phone call. It was a familiar number, but she couldn’t place it. Tossing Royce a reassuring smile, she brought the phone to her ear to answer. “This is Penny Klein.”
Royce mouthed the word, “Meyers,” with a flash of heat in his eyes, and she grinned. She hadn’t changed her name officially, but he’d been calling her Mrs. Meyers when they were alone.
“Penny? Oh good. I’m so glad you answered. It’s about your mother.”
She straightened in her seat, spine stiff and anxiety pooling in her stomach. Already, the nausea was threatening her self-control. “What’s happened?”
The conversation was short and only made her feel sicker. She hung up with shaking, clammy hands.
“What’s wrong, beautiful?” Royce asked, a cautious edge to his voice.
Penny closed her eyes briefly. She hadn’t told him that her mother was struggling with her memory. She hadn’t wanted the real world to encroach on the happiness they’d found. But he was her husband, and he deserved to know.
“My mother was found by the neighbors,” she said, her voice barely steady. “Wandering the street in her nightgown.”
Mortification didn’t begin to cover the way she felt when Royce didn’t say anything. She was used to dealing with people who needed the assistance of someone in her specialty. But when she was the one dealing with it—when it was her mother—it was harder.
“I’m sorry to cut our day short, but I need to—”
“Penny.” Royce’s words were calm, collected, and held an edge of determination that had her turning her focus to him. His jaw was set, but he didn’t look angry. If she had to describe him, she would have said he looked ready to help. “You don’t have to handle this on your own.”
He flicked his eyes to her for a beat, then returned them to the road. “If you want me there, put her address into the GPS and we’ll go together.”
The sureness in his voice took the fight right out of her.
She nodded and did as he asked. But it was when he took her hand in his that she finally let herself feel the weight of it. A single tear escaped, and she brushed it away with the back of her hand.
He didn’t comment on her emotions.
He didn’t have to.
Royce was here. He was present. And that was more than she’d realized she needed.
“Mom?” Penny pushed the door open to her parents’ home.
It was dark. The shades had been drawn, and no lights were on. The neighbor had reassured her she’d help her mother to bed and keep an eye on the house until they arrived.
Thankfully, Penny hadn’t gotten any more calls.
Royce came in behind her and shut the door. He found the light switch and thus illuminated the living room.
It wasn’t filthy, but it was in disarray. Penny flushed and dropped down to pick up a discarded book from the floor.
Her husband put a hand over hers. “Go make sure she’s okay. I’ll start straightening up.”
When she shook her head and reached for a jacket nearby, Royce grabbed her hand. He then framed her face in his hands and pressed his forehead to hers. Then he kissed it, turned her gently toward the entry to the hallway, and rested a hand at her back.
“I’ve got this, Penny.”
Penny’s throat thickened as she nodded and went to find her mother.
Her mother was in her room seated on a chair looking out the window facing the backyard. She glanced up when Penny entered, and her face brightened. Her eyes were clear and free from any clouds that indicated she might not be feeling herself. She was also dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater.
“Penny, what a pleasant surprise.”
“Mom? You didn’t hear me call for you?”
She frowned. “No, I’m sorry. I guess I was lost in my own thoughts. Did we have something planned today?”
Penny shook her head. “No, I just…”
She couldn’t bring herself to tell her what had happened. Not right now. Not when her mother looked present and pleased and like herself again.
“I brought someone here to meet you.”
The look that stole over her mother’s face could only be described as glee. “You never bring guests. Is this a male someone?”
Penny blushed, crossing the room to crouch in front of her mother. “He is. And he’s really important to me.” She reached for her mother’s hands. “Are you up for visiting?”
“Of course, dear.”
They left her room and entered the living room, but it was empty.
And straightened up.
Then she heard it.
The sound of food being chopped.
Penny exchanged a look with her mother, and they moved into the kitchen to find Royce at the counter with a knife and an onion.
“Hungry?” he asked, lifting his head so his eyes locked with hers.
Penny’s mother’s hand reached out and squeezed Penny’s forearm. “He’s gorgeous.” She said it far too loudly for Royce not to hear, and Penny gasped.
“Mom!”
“What? You two are going to make some beautiful babies together.”
She gasped again, but Royce only laughed. And he made everything worse.
“If they look anything like their mother, I’d have to agree.”
The blush Penny was sure flooded her face was unbearable. And yet, over the next couple of hours while Royce prepared sloppy joes, she couldn’t help but notice how well he fit in.
On several occasions, he made her mother laugh. It was almost too easy to forget their reason for checking on her.
Her eyes locked with his over the table during dinner, and each time, she fell a little more in love with him. Royce had a knack for making people feel comfortable, it seemed, and he’d picked her to share his life with.
How had she become so lucky?
As it got later, Penny helped her mother prepare for bed and promised to check in on her the following day. They left the house, and she immediately reached for Royce. She held on to him like she finally had somewhere safe to put the weight of the day.
“You were…” Her voice cracked. “You were so good with her.”
Royce pulled back so she could see him clearly. “I’m not perfect, Penny. I’m just head over heels for a certain someone, and I’d do anything to see her smile.”
This time, a sob did break through, and he held her tighter. When she calmed, he asked the one question she wasn’t ready to answer but knew she’d have to figure out.
“Do your brothers know?”
She hesitated, gathering her thoughts. “They’re aware she’s declining. But I don’t think they know it has gotten this bad. We’re going to have to consider putting her in a home or hiring someone to be here for her.”
“Let me know what I can do to help.” His voice stayed gentle. “I can be there when you have that conversation, or I can stay out of the way if that’s easier. Whatever you need.”
Penny shook her head. “I can’t tell them. Not yet. Jason’s wedding is just around the corner. They’ve already postponed once. I don’t want them to have to do that again.”
She stared up at him then, pleading but for what, she didn’t know. “After the wedding. We can figure it out after Jason’s wedding. One thing at a time.”
“Whatever you need,” Royce murmured.
And she believed him.