Green Calder Grass (Calder Saga 6)

“Poor Audrey,” Cat murmured in sympathy.

“Let’s hope it isn’t true that bad news comes in threes.” Logan stood by the large stone fireplace, where a cheery fire blazed.

“Why?” Chase joined the group in the living room.

“The word reached Blue Moon yesterday that E.J. Dyson had passed away. He had a massive heart attack and died within seconds.”

His announcement was met by a heavy silence. It was Cat who finally broke it. “I can’t help thinking what a terrible blow this has to be to Tara. You know how extremely close she was to her father, Ty.”

“I know.” It had been a source of contention during his marriage to Tara. But this did not seem like the time to recall that. “I suppose it would be appropriate to send flowers.”

“I don’t know why not,” Cat retorted, flashing her father a look that dared him to dispute it. “The funeral services will be held on Wednesday. Weather permitting, I plan to fly to Fort Worth on Tuesday and attend the services on behalf of the family.”

Ty doubted that his father liked the idea any better than he did. But it was useless to argue with Cat when she had her mind set on something. Her decision didn’t really surprise Ty. Right or wrong, Cat had always thought a lot of Tara. More than that, she wasn’t asking permission from either of them.

“I imagine Tara would appreciate your being there,” Ty re

marked instead. Although, knowing Tara, he wasn’t sure whether she would care or not. But it was important to Cat to make this gesture.

“I think she will.” There was almost a defensive tilt to her head as if Cat knew what he was thinking.

For several long seconds, no one said anything. Then Sally spoke into the silence, “Not all the news has been bad. I have some good news.”

Jessy was quick to pick up on her statement, eager to turn the conversation away from the Dysons. “What’s that?”

“I accepted an offer for the restaurant on Friday.”

No one was more stunned than Chase. “You did what? From whom?”

“The buyers are a retired couple, Harry and Agnes Weldon. They’ll take possession on the first.” After she had related the essential bits of information to the group, Sally’s glance finally strayed to Chase, a hint of uncertainty for the first time clouding the glow of pleasure that had been in her eyes.

“What are you going to do after you sell it?” Jessy held her breath, half hoping.

“I don’t know,” Sally admitted. “But I’ll have to think of something soon, won’t I?”

Jessy didn’t hesitate. Their need was too great. “What are the chances that we could talk you into coming to work for us? It would be an answer to our prayers with Audrey gone and no idea when she can come back— assuming that Bob gets well enough so that she can return to work at all.”

“Work here?” Sally’s face lit up for a second. Then she hesitated, glancing at Chase. “Are you sure?” As usual, his expression provided little insight into the privacy of his thoughts.

The line of his mouth softened into something close to a smile. “I can’t think of a better candidate for the position. And I’ve eaten enough of your cooking over the years to know you’re a better cook than I am. As far as I’m concerned, the job is yours if you want it.”

“Want it? There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” Tears shone in her eyes, and she released a short laugh to cover them. “After the restaurant, can you imagine how easy it will seem here cooking for one family, keeping house and helping Jessy look after these two little treasures.” Sally glanced down at the baby boy hungrily sucking on his bottle. “Whether Jessy wants to admit it or not, she’s going to need help with you two for a while.”

“Oh, I admit it,” Jessy readily agreed. “It’s taken only one day for me to realize that—especially when it comes to this little gal.” She ran a caressing finger over the pale hair of the baby in Cat’s arm.

“With that hair of hers, it’s obvious she is going to take after you, Jessy.” It seemed fitting to Sally that little Laura would favor her mother.

“And it’s just as obvious,” Chase inserted with a nod toward the baby Sally held, “that this little trey-spot is a Calder.”

“The dark hair definitely marks him as a Calder,” Sally acknowledged. “Just the same, I’m glad one of the twins is a girl. The outfits they have for little girls these days are absolutely precious.”

“If little Laura takes after her mother, precious will not be one of the adjectives used to describe her.” Ty cast an affectionate smile at his wife. “Strong and beautiful, maybe. But definitely not precious.”

His comment drew amused looks from everyone, including Jessy. But the intruding ring of the telephone prevented anyone from responding. Chase was closest to the phone.

“I’ll get it,” he said and picked up the living room extension. “Triple C.” A fraction of a second later, he shot a glance at Ty, all expression vanishing. “Yes, he’s here.” After another brief pause, he said, “Just a minute.” He extended the receiver in Ty’s direction. “It’s for you. It’s Tara.”

Without a word, Ty rose from the sofa and walked over to take the phone from his father. The instant he identified himself, Tara’s emotion-choked voice rushed through the line to him.