Chapter 6
“Before we get to the reason Belle called this meeting,” Cloe said. “I just want to make it clear I don’t think it’s right that Liberty’s not here.”
Belle was feeling guilty about it too. This was the first meeting of the Holiday Secret Sisterhood Liberty hadn’t attended. Belle was the reason she wasn’t there. She had asked her sisters to keep the meeting a secret from Liberty. She felt like she was stabbing her sister in the back, but sometimes you had to exclude a sister to save a sister.
Something Hallie had no trouble pointing out.
“We met without Sweetie when we worried about her being depressed about not making it as a country singer.” Her voice blared through the speaker of Cloe’s laptop. Hallie and Noelle were on Zoom while Sweetie, Belle, and Cloe were sitting in the kitchen at the Remington Ranch.
“And I was extremely hurt about that.” Sweetie took a big bite of the coffee cake Cloe had served them. Pregnancy had greatly improved her appetite. She had taken “eating for two” to a whole new level. She waved her fork at the laptop screen Hallie and Noelle peered from. “And I still am.”
“Well, don’t point at me,” Noelle said. “It wasn’t my idea. I don’t call the meetings. I just show up for them—even when I don’t have the time. So, Belly, get to the point of this one so I can get back to studying for my pastry exam.” Noelle took cooking seriously and was one of the top students at her culinary school in Dallas. She had big plans to open up her own bakery one day and be a major social media influencer. Since she had as much tenacity and drive as Liberty, Belle knew she would succeed . . . if she didn’t get mixed up with some guy and lose her ability to think clearly.
“I’m worried Liberty is making a big mistake marrying Jesse,” Belle said. “And we need to do something to stop it.”
She expected her sisters to jump in and agree and was surprised when they didn’t. Cloe and Sweetie exchanged looks, but didn’t say a word. Neither did Noelle and Hallie.
Belle swept her gaze around. “Don’t tell me no one else thinks it’s crazy that Liberty is planning on marrying a man she’s only known for a couple months in just a little over a month.”
“I didn’t really know Rome,” Cloe said.
“Yes, you did. He’s been our neighbor all our lives.”
Hallie spoke up. “A neighbor we never hung out with because his daddy was our daddy’s archenemy. And still is.”
“Would you keep it down?” Cloe glanced around. “And Sam and Daddy aren’t archenemies now that Rome and I are married.”
Hallie snorted. “You keep believin’ that, sis. But I saw the way they were looking at each other at y’all’s wedding. If they had been carrying guns, it would have been gunfight at the OK Corral all over again.”
Noelle, who had always had an ongoing feud with the youngest Remington, jumped in. “I would certainly have drawn a gun on Casey if I’d had one when he pushed me into Sweetie’s wedding cake.”
“Casey pushed you into Sweetie’s cake?” Cloe said. “I thought you tripped.”
“I didn’t want to tell you the truth when you married that jerk’s brother. But I don’t know how you live in the same house with Casey.”
Cloe smiled. “Casey is a sweetheart, Elle. You just haven’t gotten a chance to know him. He built me the cutest cradle. I can’t wait to see how it looks in the baby’s room.”
Belle couldn’t help wondering why Cloe hadn’t shown her the cradle or the baby’s room. But they were getting off topic.
“We can’t let Liberty get her heart broken and I know that’s what’s going to happen. Even Corbin said Jesse is a rolling stone and will be ready to move on soon.”
Sweetie stopped eating and stared at her. “Corbin said that?”
“Not in so many words, but he agreed he didn’t think Jesse would go through with the marriage. After he intimated that Liberty would be the one to break Jesse’s heart.”
“I can see how he’d think that after Liberty broke the date with him,” Cloe said.
This would probably be a good time to tell her sisters about the twin switch she’d pulled, but she didn’t want to get the conversation off track. Nor did she want them letting it slip to Liberty. Her and her sister’s relationship was already on shaky ground.
“Yes, Liberty broke a date with Corbin, but they weren’t in a relationship. We all know Liberty is loyal to a fault. Once she loves you, she loves you for life. Which means if any hearts are going to be broken, it will be hers.”
Belle wasn’t about to let that happen, but it looked like her sisters didn’t agree.
“I don’t think Jesse is going to break her heart,” Cloe said. “Have you seen him with Liberty? He dotes on her.”
“I’m sure he’s doted on a lot of women. That’s all part of his rodeo cowboy charm.”
“There’s something to that,” Hallie said. “I’ve dated a few rodeo cowboys and it’s like they have a book they share on how to make women drop their panties.”
Noelle crinkled her nose. “Ooo, that’s gross, Hal.”
“Just speaking the truth.”
“Speaking of the truth.” Cloe looked at Belle with concerned eyes. “Are you sure your dislike of Jesse isn’t based on . . . something else?”
“I think she’s trying to ask you if you’re jealous of Jesse and Liberty’s relationship, Belly,” Hallie clarified.
“I’m not going to deny I feel a little slighted by Liberty’s infatuation with Jesse, but if I thought Jesse would make her happy, y’all know I wouldn’t have called this meeting. I’m seriously concerned. Liberty isn’t acting at all like herself.”
Sweetie reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “She’s in love, Belle. Love changes things.”
But it shouldn’t. It shouldn’t change things. Especially between sisters. But the looks on Sweetie’s and Cloe’s faces kept Belle from saying that. They thought she was just jealous. And she was. But she was also concerned.
“Y’all know Liberty. When she wants something, she goes after it with both guns blazing. That’s fine in business, but it’s not fine in love. She needs to slow down and think about what she’s doing—and who she’s doing it with—before she ends up getting hurt.”
Sweetie sighed. “Okay, Belly. I’ll talk with her. But I’m not going to bad mouth Jesse. I like him.”
“I do too,” Cloe said. “I think you will too, Belly, once you get to know him.”
Belle disagreed, but again she kept her mouth shut. Obviously, Jesse had charmed her sisters as well as Liberty. But he wasn’t going to charm her.
“I get that you’re worried, Belly,” Noelle said. “But if anyone can take care of herself, it’s Libby.”
“Elle does have a good point.” Hallie hopped in. “Liberty is one tough nut. I’m sure she’ll be fine. Now how are things going at convincing that no-account ranch thief to sell the ranch to Rome? Liberty acted like she had some kind of a plan, but wouldn’t tell me what it was. Did she tell you?”
Belle bristled. “A plan? She didn’t tell me anything about a plan. But she doesn’t seem to tell me anything these days. And if she has a plan, she’s certainly not implementing it. She’s too busy with Jesse’s harebrained idea of turning Mrs. Fields’ into a bed-and-breakfast.”
“I don’t think that’s a harebrained idea,” Sweetie said. “The town needs a place for visitors to stay. Especially if y’all are moving your event business here. And Mimi mentioned a plan for saving the ranch too, but wouldn’t go into detail.”
“She seems to think that befriending Corbin will make him change his mind,” Belle said. “But that isn’t going to work. Corbin wants the ranch for Sunny and he loves his sister as much as we love each other.”
“Then let the thieving asshole buy another ranch,” Hallie fumed.
“He doesn’t want another ranch. He has some image in his head of the Holiday Ranch being the perfect home for Sunny.”
“For Sunny? Isn’t he planning on living there too?” Cloe asked.
The stab of sympathy Belle had felt yesterday hit her again. I’ve learned it’s best not to want too much. That way you’re never disappointed when you don’t get it. They had been such hopeless words that she’d had the overwhelming urge to pull Corbin into her arms and hug him. Which was silly. He didn’t want hugs. Especially from a Holiday.
“I don’t think he cares where he lives,” she said. “Maybe because he’s lived in so many places.”
“It sounds like you’ve become friends with the enemy, Belly,” Noelle said.
Hallie jumped in before Belle could answer. “It sure does. And maybe Mimi’s idea isn’t just a bad thing. You’ve always had a talent for getting people to open up and talk to you. Maybe you can get Corbin to confide in you and we can find the chink in his armor. Besides, it will give you something else to worry about besides you and Liberty not being joined at the hip anymore.”
Belle scowled. “I don’t expect Liberty to be joined at my hip. We spent the last month without each other and I did just fine.”
“You weren’t fine. Every time I called, you sounded like a lost calf that couldn’t find her mama. Damn, Belly, you didn’t think you and Libby were going to live together forever, did you?”
“Of course not.” But she had thought they would live close to each other with husbands who never came between them. She had never imagined herself feeling like an outsider.
“Well, I wish I could say this has been a productive meeting,” Noelle said. “But all I’ve gotten out of it is that Belly is jealous of Jesse and Corbin has no intentions of selling Rome back the ranch. So if that’s all, I’m out.” She waved before her side of the screen went blank. Hallie soon followed, leaving Cloe and Sweetie sitting there giving Belle a sympathetic look.
Before she could reiterate that she wasn’t jealous of Jesse, just concerned for Liberty, Rome came in with an armload of skinny shipping boxes.
“I hate to interrupt, Lucky, but I think the wallpaper you ordered is here.” He set the multiple boxes on the island and smiled at Cloe. “And I think you got plenty to cover, not only the baby’s room, but also the entire house. Although Casey might throw a fit when he comes home and finds his room done in prancing ponies with pink bows.”
Cloe laughed. “I bet he won’t. He’s as excited about the baby as your daddy is.” She got up and walked into Rome’s waiting arms. They kissed like Sweetie and Belle weren’t there. When they drew back, Rome looked starry eyed and lovestruck.
“I’ll paper the entire house in pink ponies for kisses like that. When do you want me to start putting it up in the baby’s room?” Cloe must have sent Rome some kind of nonverbal message because he glanced over at Belle. “Oh, right. There’s no hurry then. I’ll just let you ladies get back to your meeting.” He gave her another kiss before he left.
Belle didn’t put two and two together until she’d left the Remington Ranch and was headed into town. The room Belle was staying in was going to be the baby’s room. Which made sense when it was right next door to Cloe and Rome’s room. That’s why Cloe hadn’t shown Belle the cradle and the baby’s room. They couldn’t start decorating it with Belle staying in it.
Talk about feeling like the odd person out. When she arrived at Mrs. Fields’ Boardinghouse and found Jesse and Liberty kissing in front of the carriage house, the feeling only grew. But instead of staying in her car and giving them a few minutes of privacy, she got out and loudly slammed her door.
Jesse pulled away, but Liberty continued to cling to him like the wisteria vines that grew on the side of the carriage house.
“Hey, Belly!” Jesse sent her a big, toothy smile.
She scowled. “Only close family call me that.”
Her rudeness caused Liberty to untangle herself from Jesse in a hurry. “Belly!”
Jesse didn’t seem to be at all offended. “Now, Libby Lou, I remember when you didn’t like me using your nickname either.” He winked at Belle. “You’re right. We need to get to know each other before we start using nicknames. How about if I give you a tour of your new office? Liberty has been chomping at the bit to see it. But since it’s your office too, Belle, I made her wait until you could see it together.”
Belle didn’t want a tour from Jesse, but to decline really would be rude. Especially when Jesse was the one renting them the carriage house and at a low price. Which is why they had decided to move their business to Wilder. That, and they both wanted to be closer to their family. Belle hadn’t realized Liberty pushing to move home also had to do with Jesse moving there. If she had known, she wouldn’t have agreed.
But it was too late to do anything about it now. Their Houston office’s lease was up and so was their apartment’s. The moving van with all their furniture and office equipment would be there any day.
Although as it turned out, they wouldn’t need any of their office furniture or equipment. It looked like Jesse had not only renovated the carriage house, but also decorated the loft that would serve as their office. An expensive-looking beige leather couch and chairs were in the waiting area, along with an antique credenza that held a coffee bar. In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows was a round white oak conference table with six cowhide chairs. The rest of the loft was dedicated to two office spaces with desks, new laptops, phones, and high-tech office chairs. The room to the left of the stairs led to a bathroom and the room at the back looked like it held a printer and small kitchenette.
“Surprise!” Jesse said with his big goofy grin.
Liberty released a squeal and dove into his arms while Belle just stood there in shock. This was nothing like their office in Houston. That office had been small with very few windows, stained carpeting, and a faulty air conditioner that worked only half of the time. This loft had plenty of windows, a rustic oak plank floor, and a constant flow of cool air that dried the sweat on the back of Belle’s neck.
“So what do you think, Belle?” Jesse asked as he tucked an arm around Liberty and pulled her close.
“It’s fine. Thank you.”
“Fine?” Liberty stared at her. “This is your dream office, Jelly Belly, and you know it.”
“I don’t think I dreamed about cowhide chairs.” She knew she was being petty, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself.
Liberty sighed. “You are really starting to annoy the crap out of me, Belle Holiday.”
Usually this was the point when Belle backed down. But she was too angry and hurt to back down today.
“Well, then we’re even because you have been annoying the crap out of me for weeks. You left me doing everything for the business while you were here kicking up your heels and signing us up to do numerous events for the folks of Wilder without even asking me. And to top everything off, your boyfriend decided to decorate our office without even considering my preferences.”
Jesse cleared his throat. “I had a decorator from Austin do it and she said she can change anything you don’t like. Just say the word.”
“You won’t change a thing!” Liberty glared at Belle. “It’s perfect.”
Belle glared back. “Oh, and if it’s perfect for you, then that’s all that matters. That’s all that ever matters. If you think we should move to Houston and start an event-planning business, we move to Houston and start an event-planning business. If you think we should leave Houston and come back to Wilder, we leave everything we’ve worked so hard for and come back to Wilder. Whatever Liberty wants, Liberty gets.”
Liberty’s face turned bright red and Belle knew she had pushed the wrong button. Jesse knew it too.
“Now, honey, I’m sure your sister didn’t—” He cut off when Liberty turned on him. He held up his hands. “I’ll just let you two talk it out.”
Once he was gone, Liberty looked back at Belle. “Do you know why I always make all the decisions, Belly? Because you’re the most indecisive person I have ever met in my life. You can’t decide what line to get in at the grocery store, you can’t decide what flavor of ice cream you want at Baskin-Robbins, you can’t decide what you want off a menu at a restaurant. And if you do finally decide, you’re never happy with your choice. And it makes me so damn frustrated, I decide for you. But I would damn well love it if you could think for yourself, Belly. Then I wouldn’t have had the added pressure of making you happy all my life!”
Belle fumed. “Making me happy? Tell that lie to someone else. All you think about is yourself, Libby. I wouldn’t be standing here in this office if it wasn’t for you. Now I know why you pushed so hard for us to move here. It had nothing to do with Jesse giving us a great deal on Mrs. Fields’ carriage house. Or being centrally located. Or using the barn as a wedding venue. Or being closer to our family. It had to do with you having the hots for an ex-rodeo bum. Because that’s all it is, Libby. No one falls in love after only a few weeks!”
“You’re wrong, Belly. I am in love. But you’re right about you not being here without me.” She waved a hand around. “This is your dream, Belly. It was never mine. Do you think I wanted to be an event planner? I chose it because I knew how much you loved celebrating with people. Like Mama, you enjoy decorating for every holiday and throwing people big parties. I thought Belly would love to do that for the rest of her life. And now you’re mad at me for trying to make your dream come true—for making the choice because you’re too scared of failing to choose anything for yourself? Well, screw you, Belly! Screw you!”
Belle felt like the designer rug under her feet had just been yanked out from beneath her. Not by some unseen force, but by her own sister. With tears blurring her eyes, she headed for the stairs. She didn’t know how she made it down them. Her legs felt like they had no bones and her hands were shaking so badly she dropped her car keys as soon as she pulled them out of her purse.
Before she could pick them up off the ground, Jesse did. When she straightened, his brown eyes were filled with sympathy and compassion.
“Maybe you need to take a few minutes before you get behind the wheel, Belle.”
“So she’s convinced you that I can’t think for myself.” She jerked the keys from him. “Well, I have news for both of you. I don’t need anyone telling me what to do. I can manage just fine on my own!” She got into her car and started it before peeling out in a spray of gravel.
But her words were all lies.
As she drove down the long driveway, she didn’t have a clue where she was going or what she was going to do.