Pelican Court (Cedar Cove #3)(93)

“I’ll be sure to tell Cliff you’re feeling better,” she said, bending over to stroke her dog’s silky ears. She’d given Buttercup lots of attention during the last few weeks, pampering her in an effort to make up for the neglect.

By the time she walked outside, it’d started to drizzle. Typical March weather. The windshield wipers made lazy swishes as Grace drove the twenty minutes to Olalla and Cliff’s ranch.

Although Grace had often visited his ranch, she hadn’t been there in at least six months. Turning into his long driveway she was immediately surprised by the number of apparent changes. A dozen horses grazed in the pasture, far more than she recalled from her last visit. A freshly painted white fence bordered the drive; it made for a striking entrance to the ranch. A large two-story red barn had replaced the smaller one.

When she pulled into the yard and parked near the barn, a man she didn’t recognize walked out. Raising the hood of her raincoat, she left her car.

“Hello,” she said, smiling. “I’m Grace Sherman. Is Cliff available?”

The dark-haired man hesitated, then nodded. “C-Cal Washburn,” he said with a slight stutter. He was attractive—solid and squarely built, with an aura of competence. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, but it was always difficult for Grace to judge age. His eyes, an intense shade of blue, seemed to look straight through her. It made Grace wonder if Cliff had mentioned her name—and whether or not Cal was going to answer her question.

The front door opened and Cliff stepped out.

“Cliff!” Grace hurried across the yard. Cliff moved aside and held the door for her.

“I hope you don’t mind my coming by like this,” she said. The warmth in the house enveloped her.

“Of course I don’t mind.” Cliff took her coat from her shoulders and hung it in the foyer.

Grace rubbed her arms. “It’s colder than I expected.”

“Why don’t I get us a cup of coffee,” Cliff suggested.

This was going well and Grace began to relax. She followed him into the kitchen, noting improvements in the house as well as the yard.

“How long has Cal been around?” she asked.

“Couple months now,” Cliff said as he stood in front of the cupboard and selected two mugs. He seemed pleased to see her, cordial and polite, but…reserved. She had the impression that her visit had prompted mixed feelings. Which was only natural under the circumstances, she acknowledged.

Cliff poured them each a cup and set hers on the kitchen counter. Grace slipped onto a stool, while he stood across from her, on the other side of the counter.

“How’s Buttercup?” he asked.

“Much better. I was terrified when they discovered the tumors. For a while, I thought I might lose her.”

Cliff nodded. “I’m glad to hear she’s on the mend.”

“You and me both.”

The silence that followed was uncomfortable. Cliff didn’t make any effort to fill it, so Grace forged ahead. “I know my visit must be something of a surprise,” she said. She gestured around. “You’ve done a lot of work since I was last here.”

“Yes,” he murmured. But he offered no further comment.

Grace stared down at her coffee, wishing she’d thought about what she wanted to say. She stared out the window at the expansive structure. “When did you build the barn?”

“The contractor started construction the beginning of December.”

“I didn’t realize you intended to make such major improvements to the property.”

Now it was Cliff who stared down at his coffee. “I mentioned a new barn a couple of times.”

“Oh, yes. That’s right, you did.” Of course he’d talked about it. She had a vague recollection of it. Anytime they were together she’d been preoccupied, wondering when she could get back home and onto the computer. Grace could only guess how much else she’d missed.

“I mentioned hiring Cal, too.”

“I do remember that.” What she recalled was Cliff’s saying he might hire a full-time trainer. She’d obviously been mentally absent during subsequent conversations.

He glanced at his watch—an unmistakable signal that her time was almost up.

“I came because I wanted to apologize, Cliff,” she said quickly. This was difficult. Painful. Embarrassing. But she had to do it. “You were right—I was involved with someone else.”

His eyes narrowed. “Married?”

Her face was flushed as she nodded. “He lives out of state—we only spoke online.”

Cliff sipped his coffee and didn’t comment.

She nodded again. “It’s over. Thank God I came to my senses before…before anything happened.” She didn’t mention how close it had been. Or that it was only by chance she’d learned the truth about Will. If it hadn’t been for Olivia, Grace would have sunk deeper and deeper until she’d been completely swallowed up in the deception. She blinked back tears as she thought about the people she’d deceived—Cliff, first of all, and Georgia. Olivia. Her own daughters. Herself…

“I misled you,” Grace murmured, struggling with remorse. “You’ve been nothing but kind, and I abused that. Oh, Cliff, can you ever forgive me?”

“Of course I can,” he said without emotion. After a moment, he added, “But, unfortunately, I can’t undo the past.”