A Turn in the Road (Blossom Street #8)(37)

“You need to see the room,” Annie said, smiling broadly. “If you wait a minute, I’ll go up with you.”

“Is anyone hungry yet?” Ruth asked. She removed the receipt for her winnings and stuffed it inside her purse.

“I’m starving,” Annie said. “Lunch was hours ago. But let’s go to the room first.”

Bethanne couldn’t imagine why seeing their room was so important. Hotel rooms were pretty much alike. Beds, a television, sometimes a desk, and, of course, a small and generally cramped bathroom, and that was about it.

What awaited her was a large bouquet of red roses. Dozens of beautiful red buds in a crystal vase. “Roses?” Bethanne breathed as she stepped into the room.

Ruth and Annie looked positively delighted. “The card says they’re for you,” Annie crowed. Her eyes gleamed as if she was personally responsible.

“Me?”

“Well, all of us. Read the card and see.”

Bethanne unpinned the envelope from the pink ribbon and stared down at it for a moment while a strange thought went through her mind. Could they have come from Max? But that was impossible. He had no idea where she was. Or did he? Roses were extravagant. Special. She loved roses, always had. Max didn’t know that—but Grant did.

“Read the card, Mom,” Annie said a second time.

Bethanne ripped open the tiny envelope and removed the card. “For my three favorite women.” It was signed “Grant.”

“They’re from your father,” she said as a warm feeling settled over her. A feeling of being cherished.

“I told you Dad was trying,” Annie said. She seemed really pleased by the gesture.

“You father knows how much I love roses.” Bethanne glanced at the card again.

Ruth reached for the card and read it, too. “I’m sure Grant felt bad about your conversation last night and wants to clear the air.”

“I’m sure that’s it,” Bethanne agreed.

“Still, roses are pretty special.” That comment came from Annie.

“I’ll call your father and thank him.” And she would…later. It was a lovely thing to do and Bethanne did appreciate his effort. Grant was trying to win her back. Now it was up to her to decide if that was what she wanted.

“Shall we think about dinner?” Ruth asked.

It was still a bit early, but Annie was right; they’d eaten hours ago. Because they were so eager to get to Vegas, they’d had a skimpy lunch. Breakfast had consisted of coffee and the bottled orange juice Bethanne picked up at a filling station on the way out of Wells. After some discussion they had dinner at the hotel’s buffet.

Bethanne ate until she was stuffed. At only seven-thirty, it seemed a shame to go back to their room so early. They were planning to spend the next day exploring the Strip. For tonight, that left the slots.

“I’ve got forty dollars burning a hole in my purse.” Ruth was grinning like a five-year-old at her own birthday party. “Let me at those Wheel of Fortune machines.”

“I guess I’ll give that Texas oilman another chance to show me what he’s got,” Bethanne said.

“I don’t know what I want to do just yet,” Annie told them.

They set a time to reconvene and then split up. Two hours later, Bethanne arrived at the designated area. Ruth was already there.

“I’ll never think of Vanna White the same way again,” her mother-in-law muttered. “She took all my money.”

Bethanne laughed. She, on the other hand, had struck oil and was up more than a hundred dollars.

“Tell Annie good-night for me, will you?” Ruth asked. “I’m going to the room. I’ll read for a while and turn in for the night.”

“Okay. Good night. I’ll probably be joining you myself in an hour or so.”

Annie showed up a couple of minutes later with a young man in tow. “Mom, meet Jason. Jason, my mom. We’re going to hang for a while,” Annie announced, then kissed Bethanne’s cheek and was off.

Bethanne had barely managed a word. “Well,” she said with a sigh, “I suppose I’ll sit down with that oilman again.” She found the area where she’d been earlier and slid onto the stool. After inserting a twenty-dollar bill, she pushed the button and waited.

“Any luck?” a familiar voice asked.

Bethanne swiveled the chair around as Max claimed the empty seat beside her.

Twelve

Bethanne was speechless. As casually as could be, Max fed a twenty-dollar bill into the machine next to hers, glanced over and smiled.

A smile. He’d actually smiled. “Hi,” he said.

“Hi.” Her tongue felt as if it had twisted itself into knots. “How did you know where to find me?”

He spoke as he played the slot machine. “Rooster heard Annie and Grandma talking about Vegas. I figured if I was Annie’s age I’d head for the Hard Rock Casino, so I took a chance you’d be here.”

Out of all the casinos in Vegas, he’d found the one she was in, although it was Friday night and the city was crammed with people and cars. The clang of the slots, music, laughter—the sounds of excitement were all around. Even if he’d guessed the right hotel, it was pure luck that he’d happened upon her.

“I’ve been winning,” she said, imitating his casual tone.