Back Where She Belongs(55)

Their mother stared at Faye. “But it’s not,” her mother said. “It was a hit-and-run. The police might arrest me. I could go to jail.”

Faye’s eyes widened. “No. I’ll...tell them no.”

“She won’t be arrested,” Tara said. “It will likely be probation. Don’t scare her, Mom. You told her what happened. That’s enough.”

“We go from here,” Faye said. “We are...a f-fam’ly.” Faye held out her arms, but her mother shook her head, clearly not feeling worthy of an embrace.

“Go to her, Mom,” Tara said.

Her mother dropped to her knees beside Faye’s chair. Faye put her thin arms around her mother’s narrow shape. Tara looked away to give them some privacy, her throat tight.

After that, Faye sampled the food Judith had sent, and they talked about Faye’s therapy, her upcoming release, and Tara told her about what her father had given them—the bottled ships, the library and the shotgun.

“He thought of us,” Faye said. “In...his...way.”

“I wish I’d talked to him,” Tara said. “Straightened things out.”

“He knew.” Faye tapped the side of her head. “He has your...in...stincts.”

“You think so?”

“Of course,” her mother said with her usual archness. “You’re your father’s daughter. Smart and bullheaded.”

Tara smiled, touched by the comparison.

“So...glad...you’re...here,” Faye said to Tara, reaching to pat her hand. “For me...and for Wharton.”

“I’m glad, too,” Tara said. She would consult as long as she was needed, then visit often. Depending on what she and Dylan decided to do, maybe every weekend. “You think Dad would want me working at Wharton?” Tara asked.

Before Faye could answer, her mother said. “Certainly. He waved around your business card at his Kiwanis meeting.”

Tara felt the sting of tears, but fought them back. He was proud of her.

She wished Dylan were here to hear that.

At that moment, he walked through the door, as if conjured by her heart, his father behind him.

Tara stood. So did her mother.

Sean stepped forward and held out a wilted-looking bouquet wrapped in plastic.

“Oh. There’s no place to put them,” her mother said looking around at the clusters of baskets and bouquets.

“They’re for you, Rachel,” Sean said. “Water’s in the bag so they’ll last until you get them home.”

Tara’s mother flushed. “Why, thank you.” She took the flowers, which quivered in her hands, the paper crackling.

“I came in case you wanted me to speak up or explain or whatnot,” he said gravely, watching her closely. “Dylan said you were telling the tale today.”

“Thank you, but we...talked. That’s all for now. Later on...?”

“You tell me where and when and I’ll be there.”

“I will,” her mother said.

Sean stared at Faye, who was watching the exchange with a puzzled expression on her face. “You’re doing better, I can see,” he said. “All of us at Ryland are glad. I always said you were the best of the bunch over there.”

“Thank you,” Faye said.

“It’s good to see you, Faye,” Dylan said, squeezing the hand Faye held out in both of his. “Your sister’s been pretty anxious for you to wake up and give her hell.”

“I will...if you will.” Faye smiled up at him.

Dylan laughed. “It’s a deal.”

“Just what I need—you two ganging up on me,” Tara said, hoping they’d both give her hell until the day she died.

“If it’s all right with you, I’d like to talk to Tara for a bit,” Dylan said to Rachel. “I’ll drive her home, if you could give my dad a lift.”

“Certainly,” Tara’s mother said, startled by the idea. She glanced at Sean, who ducked his head. Tara had never seen him so subdued. Before the settlement meeting, she’d gone into his office and apologized for accusing him of putting the faulty device on her father’s car.

He’d lectured her, as she’d expected, about rudeness and temper tantrums, but when he told her that he missed her father like a brother, tears in his eyes, she was moved.

He’d also told her not to judge her mother too harshly. Not unless you walk a mile in her moccasins.

“Okay with you?” Dylan said to Tara, giving her a look that sent electricity pouring through her.

“Sounds great.” She grinned, not caring how goofy she looked.

He grinned back just as goofily.

Before long they were flying down the highway toward home, neither of them saying much. Dylan had a plan, so she would let it unfold. She felt good beside him. She felt safe, she felt content, she felt right. And when she glanced at him and their eyes met, she felt wanted. So wanted it made her breathless.

When he turned off the highway toward the river, she peered at him. “Don’t tell me your plan includes paintball?”

“Not this time, no.” He parked below the caves and they walked up to the ridge. Dylan sat on top of a picnic table near a wall draped in bougainvillea, the blossoms bright magenta. The fall sun warmed her shoulders; the breeze lifted her hair and sent the earthy smell of the river to her nose. “What’s up?” she asked him.

“I have a business proposition for you,” he said, his smile wide, though he was trying to sound serious.

“Business? Really?” She’d assumed they’d be talking about their relationship. She felt a twinge of disappointment, but she knew better than to assume the worst. She would wait and see, trust the man she loved with all her heart.

“Yes. Ryland Engineering will be restructuring soon. The plan is to break off a research and development division my father will run. That’s where his heart is. He’s happiest behind a drafting table. Victor Lansing will take over for me with full authority over manufacturing.”

“Wow. That is big.”

“I’ll serve as an adviser, but intend to focus on my work with Wharton. So, we could use some help with the transition. Are you interested?”

“It’s intriguing,” she said. “I have to admit. I’ll be working at Wharton Electronics for a while, too. I’d have to do some juggling, but...”

“So, you’ll do it? I should warn you I won’t take no for an answer.”

She loved the look on his face, like he wanted her and her alone. She felt the same about him.

“Just to seal the deal,” he continued, “I’d like to take you on a little Chamber of Commerce tour, give you a fresh look at the town.”

“Okay.”

“Here you can see the natural beauty of this area. It’s a bird sanctuary, a protected river region, popular for paintball wars, rock hopping or making love, depending on your mood.”

“And whether you’ve got vinegar chips and German chocolate cake?”

“Exactly.” He explained that he wanted to add new hiking trails, camping spots and guided tours with an ecological bent.

They returned to Dylan’s car, then drove toward town. He described where new business might be located, possible housing developments, an amphitheater for concerts, more shopping and office parks. Along the way, he pointed out places they’d spent time together—the Egyptian theater, Ruby’s, the bowling alley, the park, the high school.

When he reached the intersection where he would turn toward her house, he said, “That’s it then. I could take you home...unless there’s anything else you’d like to see?” He looked at her, eyes twinkling.

“Actually I heard there’s a golden retriever who does tricks. And a computer-guided telescope for stargazing and a kitchen full of gourmet cookware.”

“I know exactly where you mean. There might even be clean sheets on the bed.”

“Sounds perfect,” she said.

He hadn’t said a word, but she knew that Dylan wanted what she wanted—to be together, to make it work. Her whole body was alive to him, and her heart sang. New confidence filled her. This was right.

She wasn’t walking away. She would work at it and so would he.

They drove to Dylan’s place and went inside. “Golden retriever,” Dylan announced. Tara crouched for European greeting.

“The telescope’s out back, so you’ll have to stick around until the stars come out.”

“I think I can handle that. As long as the sheets are as advertised?”

“If they’re not, I’ll make them so.”

“Then I’m in,” she said, sexy and teasing, but serious, too.

“Me, too. All in.” He pulled her close. “What do you think of the new Wharton?”