Second Chance Match. Arlene James

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СКАЧАТЬ his bowtie before smoothing the hang of his tweedy sport coat over his prodigious belly and clearing his throat. “My apologies, ma’am, concerning the situation on Charter Street.”

       Jessa nodded and offered him a strained smile, her gaze again flitting to Garrett.

       “Well, it will all be sorted soon enough,” Magnolia said, “once Ellie and Asher have a moment to get together with everyone.”

       After seeing the boy, Garrett figured he knew just how it would all sort out.

       “Bad timing,” Odelia opined, smiling at Jessa, “with the weddings and all.”

       Garrett could almost see Jessa Pagett’s ears perk up at that.

       “Weddings?” she echoed.

       “Oh, my, yes,” Kent said with a chuckle. “First Asher and Ellie’s. Then ours.” Reaching down, he took Odelia’s hand in his and bent over it, so far as his prodigious belly would allow, to press a kiss to her knuckles. She chirped like a tree full of magpies. This, in turn, set her earrings aquiver, huge clumps of yellow beads to complement the layers of lemony gauze that she wore belted at her waist with a twist of gold rope.

       Garrett smiled in sheer delight. They were just so happy, and why shouldn’t they be? At their ages, they had put aside the mundane cares that burdened most marriages and looked forward simply to spending the rest of their days together. Odelia was in alt over being a June bride, and Kent was in alt over her, his lost love restored to him after fifty years. Garrett envied them, but at least he enjoyed watching them make calf’s eyes at each other. He could hardly bear to be in the same room with Ellie Monroe and Asher. The two of them together made him feel…lonely. For some reason, his gaze went to Jessa Lynn Pagett, who stood staring at the toes of her shoes.

       The sisters traded looks, then Magnolia said, “Well, we won’t keep you. Garrett, would you mind showing Jessa and Hunter to their rooms? Chester’s already taken their luggage up to the small suite.”

       “My pleasure,” he murmured, moving toward the door.

       The boy reached for the reassurance of his mother’s small hand, shrinking back as if literally frightened of Garrett. Garrett had seen that reaction before, and he did not like what it implied. Carefully, he signaled for mother and son to precede him toward the stairs.

       They climbed the wide, tall spiral of gold marble and mahogany with all the enthusiasm of condemned prisoners. Following behind them, Garrett felt a bit offended on behalf of the Chatam sisters, who were the most generous Christian women he had ever met. If he could never quite bring himself to impose upon their kindness more than he must, well, that was to be expected. He was hired help around here, after all, and his gratitude for that fact would not allow him to forget it, even if his sister had married into the family.

       Soon, he vowed, he would not even be a Chatam employee. One way or another, he would start his business. However, after seeing Hunter Pagett, Garrett could not in good conscience deny that boy a home.

       So be it. If God meant the Monroe place for the Pagetts, then He would surely have another place for Garrett.

       But when?

       “Seriously?” Jessa muttered, emerging from the second bedroom to look around the sitting room. She’d expected a single bedroom with a trundle for Hunter, maybe two connected bedrooms with a bath nearby. This suite of rooms was twice the size of Abby’s apartment! If it had a kitchen, it would equal the house in which she’d grown up. She wouldn’t think of the house that Wayne had insisted on taking in the divorce. It had always meant more to him than to her.

       “I beg your pardon?” Garrett Willows said.

       Jessa turned, smiled wanly and waved a hand. “I—I didn’t expect this.” She glanced around once more, taking in the tasteful cream-and-cocoa décor. The furnishings were a mixture of antiques and modern comfort. A flat-screen TV hung above the fireplace, and Hunter was even now standing in front of it with his mouth hanging open. “It’s too much, frankly.”

       “Yeah, I know what you mean,” Garrett conceded with a crooked smile. “And this is the small suite, meaning that it’s the smallest in the house. You have to admit, it’s much smaller than the Monroe place.”

       Jessa couldn’t argue with that. “I guess I’m just a bit…bewildered.”

       “Well, that makes two of us,” Garrett returned. “It’s been quite a day, frankly.”

       “You can say that again,” Jessa muttered, glancing around once more.

       “It’s been quite a day,” Garrett repeated a shade louder than the first time. That elicited a reluctant smile from her.

       “I didn’t mean that you should literally repeat it.”

       “I know.” He gave her a cheeky grin. “Couldn’t resist, though.”

       A chuckle escaped her, and he gave her a genuine smile, obviously pleased to have lightened the mood.

      Oh, this could be dangerous, she thought, forcing the delight from her face.

       “Make yourselves comfortable,” he advised, pretending not to notice, “and don’t hesitate to ask for anything you need.”

       “We’ll be fine,” she said blandly. “Thanks for the help, but don’t let us keep you.”

       Apparently, he was in no mood to be dismissed, however. He narrowed his eyes and folded his arms.

       “If you decide you’d like a little bedtime snack, the kitchen is downstairs at the back of the house,” he informed her. “Hilda keeps the pantry well stocked. Oh, and there’s a dumbwaiter down the hall so you don’t have to carry heavy trays up and down the stairs.”

       “A dumbwaiter,” she echoed.

       “I can show you how to operate it, if you want,” he offered.

       “That won’t be necessary,” she replied tersely.

       He shrugged. “See you in the morning, then.”

       “Y-you’re staying here?” she asked. She’d been dismayed to find him in the living room with the Chatams. Clearly, he was close to them somehow, but she’d hoped that he wouldn’t be staying. She couldn’t very well plead her case in front of him, after all. It was bad enough that she’d wasted her best outfit, but now to find that she wasn’t about to be rid of him, well, it was enough to make a girl testy.

       “Not here here,” he said, pointing at the floor. “I live in the carriage house.” Great. So, was he renting? Family? Freeloading? She was dying to know.

       He turned to go, then abruptly spun back to face her. “Oh, um, I should point out that there is some construction going on across the landing. Odelia and Kent are reconfiguring some single rooms into a private suite of their own, but you know how it is with old houses. It takes forever to make changes. Shouldn’t disturb you too much.”

       “About those weddings,” Jessa ventured quickly, stepping forward. “I’m a little confused.”

       “It’s very simple,” Garrett said with a grin. “Asher Chatam СКАЧАТЬ