Lone Star Holiday Proposal

“Hi, Raina!”

She looked up and greeted her students as they came in through the workroom’s exterior door. In no time the workbenches were full. She’d had to restrict numbers on this class, as well as her Thursday night stained-glass classes purely because people needed to be able to spread their tools and supplies out while working. It was something she needed to consider when she came up with costing out her next cycle of classes in the New Year. While this first cycle had been a short one, geared mainly toward making gifts in time for Christmas, for her to maximize earnings and rebuild that little nest egg she’d had to withdraw for Jeb, she might need to have two evenings with large classes focused on smaller crafts and only one evening devoted to the larger projects.

“Okay, ladies,” she said once everyone was there. “You all know where your projects are stored. I’ve already set out all your tools and the pots of glue and scrapers, so let’s get to it!”

The noise in the workroom steadily built and conversation began to flow between the women. As Raina did her rounds, checking to make sure that everyone had what she needed and offering advice where necessary, she was startled to overhear Nolan’s name being mentioned. She hated eavesdroppers but in this case she couldn’t help it; she hovered near the women talking about him.

“I have to say it was a surprise to see him back in town,” one of the older women said. “Apparently even his own mother didn’t know he was coming back.”

“Do you know why he’s here? I know he’s not staying with his parents. They’re neighbors of mine and I’ve barely even seen Nolan there,” replied another.

Raina interrupted them both. “He’s with Samson Oil. He’s the legal counsel for their land grabbing.”

Her words were laced with bitterness and more than one pair of eyes swiveled to watch her as she spoke.

“Really? Oh, that’s a pity. He was such a nice boy and he grew up into a fine young man.”

Raina was hard pressed not to snort at the woman’s remark. Fine? Sure, physically maybe. Certainly not as far as his integrity went.

The woman continued. “It was such a shame about his wife and son. A thing like that is bound to change a man. Makes him harder.”

A general murmur of assent rose around her and, as if by silent mutual agreement, the women turned their conversation in a different direction. Numbing shock overwhelmed Raina, holding her paralyzed in its grip. Buzzing filled her ears. She felt herself sway a little, as if she was losing her balance, and she put out a hand to a chair to steady herself. Breathe, she told herself. Breathe. After a few seconds, she felt as if she was regaining control. Had anyone noticed how she’d completely zoned out?

She looked around the workroom. Apparently not. Her students seemed intent on their tasks and were happily chatting among themselves while they worked. Raina drew in another breath and walked slowly to the back of the workroom where she leaned against the wall. The buzzing in her ears began to subside, but as it did, questions began circling in her mind.

A wife and son?

Nolan had never so much as mentioned his parents, let alone anyone else. Sure, he’d made vague reference to visiting family in town, but that had been it. So who was she, this wife of his? Could she have been a customer of hers, or maybe Raina had passed her in the street somewhere? And his son—how old was he?

Suddenly it all became very clear to her why Nolan was so good with her little boy. Why he hadn’t been grossed out by JJ’s snotty nose on the day they’d met. Why he’d so competently cleaned JJ’s hands at the dinner table that night. Why he’d so easily fallen into conversation with JJ about his Spider-Man obsession.

So, were he and his wife amicably separated or bitterly estranged? Which one was it? The latter would certainly explain him staying away from Royal for so long and probably would also explain him not bringing them up in conversation. Raina clenched her hands into tight fists of frustration, digging, her fingernails into her palms. She welcomed the pain. It was a distraction from the pain of the betrayal she’d felt on learning he was working for Samson Oil—and realizing she’d let herself begin to fall for him. Hard. Physical pain she could deal with. It healed. It was the emotional pain and the toll it took that were harder to recover from.

A new thought bloomed in Raina’s mind. Maybe his wife had cheated on him. Would that have been the catalyst that sent Nolan to another state? Had he sought to escape the pain of a relationship breakdown by moving away? Was that why he’d never said anything to her about a wife and child?