Blossom Street Brides (Blossom Street #10)(45)

“I enjoyed the citrus flavor.”

“I did, too. The taste reminds me of grapefruit.”

“Me, too.” The small talk wasn’t distracting her from the fact that she might not see him again for several weeks.

“A number of vineyard owners have invited large distributors from around the world to visit their facilities.”

“And you’re one of them?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a wonderful opportunity.” She forced enthusiasm into her voice, although she wasn’t able to hide her disappointment.

“It is,” he agreed.

“Then how come I feel like crying?” she whispered, and tried to pass off the comment with a choppy laugh as if she were joking.

“I’d been looking forward to this trip for months, and all at once I’m thinking I’d rather get back on my bike and head straight north instead of this all-expenses-paid trip down under.”

“You aren’t thinking clearly, remember? You’re tired and saddle sore.”

“That’s the problem. My mind might be too tired to think straight, but my heart is wide awake. I’d rather be wherever you are.”

He sounded so sincere, so earnest, that Lauren felt like she could break into sobs. “You say the most beautiful things.”

“Don’t let Max know; he’ll razz me.”

“What’s happening with us?” she asked, thinking out loud. This was a new experience for her. She wasn’t like other women who had a lot of relationships, intense or casual. She didn’t fall in and out of love easily. She held on to her heart, and yet within a few days she felt like her head was in the clouds over Rooster. The attraction between them was so intense it felt as if she could barely recognize herself.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but whatever it is, I don’t want it to change. Do you?”

“No,” she agreed quickly. “Not for anything. In a matter of days my entire perspective has turned around. I’ve been attracted to men before, but nothing like this.”

“And you claim I say beautiful things?” he asked, chuckling.

“Is it the same with you?” she asked, needing to know.

“In spades.”

Lauren was almost giddy to hear it. “Has anything like this happened to you before?”

Rooster hesitated. “Only once, but that was when I was really young. Too long ago to remember. Besides, this is different, way different.”

“But not so long to forget.”

“Something like that.”

“Will you be able to keep in touch while you’re in New Zealand?”

“It isn’t the end of the earth, Lauren, but I suspect I’ll be able to see it from there. I’ll be in touch, don’t worry.”

They spoke for several minutes longer, until they were both ready to fall asleep on the phone.

“Time for bed,” she whispered. “Night, Rooster. Dream of me.” She was fairly certain he would occupy her dreams.

“Good night, my beautiful, sweet Lauren.”

She reluctantly ended their conversation. Although it’d been late, she’d been relieved when Rooster’s call came through. He’d told her he’d phone and she’d waited all day, though not anxiously, because instinctively she knew Rooster Wayne was a man of his word. All was well; he was home and safe now.

Tuesday morning, when Lauren arrived at work, Elisa was there. Lauren’s employer had spent the weekend with her daughter and Katie’s boyfriend in Pullman, Washington.

“You’re back,” Lauren greeted as she removed her raincoat and hung it in the back room. “How did everything go with Katie and Dietrich?”

“Not good,” Elisa responded. “In fact, it went about as bad as it could, and I’m afraid it’s all my fault.”

“Oh, Elisa, I’m so sorry,” Lauren sympathized as she helped her friend set out the window displays.

“Garry didn’t want me to go, and he was right. It would’ve been better if I’d stayed home. It’s just the thought of my daughter, so young and pregnant, makes me a little crazy.”

“How is Katie?”

Elisa shrugged. “Physically, she seems to be doing fine. Emotionally, she’s better off than me. Well, I guess she is, but then it’s hard to tell because she’s no longer speaking to me.”

Mother and daughter generally spoke every day, so this must be devastating to Elisa. Lauren glanced toward her employer, unsure of what to say or how to comfort her friend. A tear rolled down Elisa’s cheek, and she quickly brushed it aside as though to hide the fact that she was crying.

“I wish I knew what to say.” Lauren felt Elisa’s regret and disappointment over the disastrous weekend.

“I insisted on taking Katie to see a doctor,” Elisa explained. “Dietrich wanted to come along, but I refused to let him. That set Katie off, but you know how stubborn I can get, and I insisted it was just me and Katie. Now I wish Dietrich had been with us; everything would have gone much better if I hadn’t been so stubborn.”

“You saw an obstetrician … not a clinic, right?” She left the question about forcing Katie into considering an abortion unasked.

Elisa nodded. “I promised Garry I wouldn’t pressure her to end the pregnancy. It wasn’t easy, but I kept my word.” She pulled a tissue from her pocket and blew her nose.