Blossom Street Brides (Blossom Street #10)(29)

“I’ll think on it,” she promised.

“Thank you,” Max returned, with a grateful smile that told her he understood how difficult this was for her. “I appreciate that you’re willing to consider the possibility.”

Bethanne’s stomach knotted. “Would you consider selling your business?” she asked, thinking of all she would need to relinquish with such a move. “Don’t you think Rooster would be interested in buying out your shares?”

“I don’t think that’s an option.”

“Why not?”

“He’s pretty much got his finances tied up in the company. We’re partners, and this is a decision we’d need to make jointly. I know Rooster is tired of California and would like to live in the Pacific Northwest.” He paused when he saw her stricken look. “What’s wrong?”

For a moment Bethanne thought she might be sick. “You mean to tell me that Rooster is considering moving to Washington State and you’re not?”

Max didn’t answer. “It isn’t like that. Rooster knows as well as I do that such a move now would wipe us out financially.”

“I was hoping you’d consider making an investment in me and my children,” she said softly, unable to hide her disappointment. “But because you asked, I’ll give the matter of moving serious consideration.”

“If you’re concerned about selling, then you might want to consider taking the party business to California with you.”

“My customer base is here … it would be like starting over, but you’re right, I could uproot the company.” There didn’t appear to be any easy answers for either of them, she realized.

Max left shortly afterward for the hardware store. Bethanne waited until he was out of the house before she contacted Annie. Her daughter answered sounding groggy and sleepy.

“Annie, it’s Mom.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you still sleeping?”

“It’s Saturday.”

“Can you answer a quick question?” Bethanne asked, doing her best to keep her voice level and unemotional.

“Something come up with one of the parties scheduled for today?” Annie asked.

“No, this is something else. I need to know if you gave your father a key to the house … my house,” she said, determined to get to the end of this matter.

“Yeah. You sound upset. What’s the big deal?”

Bethanne ignored the question. “What possible reason would you have to hand over the house key to my ex-husband?”

“He might be your ex-husband,” Annie said defiantly, sounding wide awake now, “but he’s still my dad.”

“Then give him the key to your apartment.”

“Mom, you’re overreacting. Dad told me he’d left his sunglasses at the house. He said he tried to reach you and couldn’t, and—”

“Did he return the key?”

“Well, no. I was out last night, and it’s still early—”

“It’s after ten,” Bethanne interrupted.

“Is that some kind of commentary about me still being in bed?” Annie snapped.

“No, this is about you giving your father something he had no right to have.”

“Fine. I’ll get it from him this morning and personally return it to you, if that’s what you want.”

“Don’t bother.”

“Then why are you being so ugly about this? Are you afraid Dad was going to rob you?”

“He invaded my privacy, and you let him.”

“I said I’d get the key back.”

“Don’t. Max is changing the locks.”

Annie groaned. “I suppose this means I won’t be getting a key to my own home.”

“You have an apartment. This is my home.”

“And I’m no longer welcome. Thanks a lot, Mom.” With that, Annie abruptly ended the call.

Bethanne was fuming to the point that it was impossible to stand still. She paced the kitchen in an attempt to put order to her thoughts. Annie had stepped way over the line. Still, Bethanne realized there’d been a better way of dealing with the situation. Grant was a smooth talker and capable of talking a hermit crab out of its shell. Annie and her father had always been close, and Annie would be willing to do anything her father asked of her.

Still frustrated, Bethanne vacuumed the entire upstairs and then stuffed a load of laundry into the washing machine. When she heard the front door open, Bethanne assumed it was Max. She swallowed down her regrets over her conversation with Annie and pasted on a smile.

“Is that you, Max?” she asked, coming down the stairs.

“It’s me,” Andrew called from the kitchen. “I rang the doorbell, but no one answered.”

“This is a welcome surprise,” Bethanne said, bouncing down the last three steps and standing on her tiptoes to kiss her son’s cheek.

“I wanted to check to be sure you were still on for dinner tonight.”

“Of course, and Max will be joining us.”

“Great.”

“How’s Courtney feeling?” she asked, and led the way into the kitchen.

Andrew followed her. “The morning sickness is pretty bad just yet, but it’s getting better. First thing I do is bring her a couple of saltines, which seem to help.”