“Well that’s true . . .”
“It’s a long story, Mr. . . .” She realized she didn’t know his last name. “It’s a long story, Herb.”
“And we’d like to explain it to you but we’re late for dinner at my mother’s.” Rick squeezed Kendall’s hand tighter.
Kendall tried to process the split-second conversation and realized Rick was playing the part already—spreading the news she was having dinner with his mother, holding her hand in public. Heated warmth emanated from his touch and she swallowed hard.
Herb laughed. “Raina’s gonna like having a daughter-in-law who actually lives in Yorkshire Falls.”
“I don’t . . .”
Rick elbowed Kendall softly, reminding her to go along. She might not be his bride, but from now on, she was definitely his girlfriend—in the eyes of the town, anyway.
Let the charade begin, she thought and handed Herb her credit card so he could ring the transaction. He glanced at her name on the card, looked back and forth between Rick and Kendall, then muttered something about women and their damn independent streaks, but minutes later finished the purchase and had bagged the items.
“You see Lisa Burton fly outta here?” Herb asked.
“Was that the woman who shrieked earlier?” Kendall wondered.
“Yep. Dropped her basket and took off, leaving me to clean up the broken eggs and everything.”
“You never know what will set a woman off, Herb.” Rick grabbed Kendall’s elbow in a gentlemanly gesture. “It was good seeing you.” Rick shook the man’s hand.
“Likewise.”
“Nice meeting you,” Kendall said as she helped Rick gather the packages.
“I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around. There’s lots of things an old house needs to make it livable for two and—”
“Sure is. That’s why we gotta be going now.” Rick cut Herb off and herded Kendall out the door before another round of post-wedding discussion could begin.
A good thing, since Kendall figured they were probably in for enough questioning from Rick’s matchmaking mother.
* * *
Rick looked like he’d been hit by a meteor, Raina thought, immensely pleased. She hadn’t seen that lovestruck, glazed look in one of her boys’ eyes since . . . well since Roman had seen Charlotte at the Saint Patrick’s Day dance. It must have something to do with all that skin these women bared today. Or maybe it was the navel. Raina noticed that Rick couldn’t tear his gaze from Kendall’s bare stomach and belly button.
Watching the two young people together enabled her to find a measure of peace and happiness. With the return of Crystal’s bright-eyed niece, Raina sensed her friend’s presence. She wondered if Crystal had sent Kendall here to impact everyone’s life in some way. If so, Raina intended to help.
“So what do you plan on doing with the house?” Raina asked Kendall. “Lord knows Pearl and Eldin would be happy to stay on.”
The young girl laid down her fork. “Really? That’s wonderful.”
Raina nodded. “I’m glad you agree, seeing as how they live on a fixed income. The arrangement they had with your aunt was the only one they could afford.”
“Speaking of their arrangement, I need to find out the details of their rental agreement,” Kendall said.
“Oh, there is none.” Raina waved a hand in the air. “What do you mean?”
“In this town, people who’ve known each other for ages still do things with a handshake. Silly I know. But that’s how it is. When your aunt got sick, Pearl and Eldin were able to give up their apartments that cost money and move in as caretakers. To keep up the place in her absence.”
Kendall choked on a sip of water. “Excuse me. I didn’t realize they don’t pay rent.” She coughed again, then blotted her lips with a paper napkin.
Rick, Raina noticed, watched the action in earnest.
“You call what they’ve been doing upkeep?” Kendall asked when she’d recovered.
“Eldin paints in his spare time, which he has a lot of since he’s on disability,” Rick said. “If you looked carefully, you might have noticed the odd splotches on the walls of the main house.”
“Touch-ups,” Raina explained.
“I still don’t believe they didn’t pay Aunt Crystal rent.”
“Oh, Crystal didn’t see any reason. She owned that house free and clear for years. She knew things were tight for Eldin and Pearl and asked them to move in when she went to the home.” Raina reached over and patted Kendall’s hand. “Your aunt was a good woman.”
“One of the best,” Kendall said, her voice dropping as the reminder of grief set in.
She smiled right after, showing inner strength, something Raina admired.
“But I’ll still need to fix the place up,” Kendall said. “And then I can decide what to do with it—” She cut herself off. She met Rick’s gaze and something unspoken passed between them.
Oh, Raina remembered those days well. Little looks, glances only a couple in the beginning stages of a relationship understood.