Santa's Sweetheart (The Christmas Tree Ranch #4)(57)
“So that’s the way it is,” he said.
“Sam, it’s not you—”
“Don’t bother to explain. At least I know where I stand. I laid my cards on the table and came up short. But we can deal with this like civilized adults, can’t we?”
“I need to go.” She took her coat off the back of the couch.
“Don’t worry about getting Maggie to school tomorrow,” he said. “If I can’t drive, I’ll walk with her.”
Grace could feel tears welling. Before they could betray her, she fled out the door and down the walk to her car. This time she knew that Sam wouldn’t be coming after her.
*
Ten minutes later she arrived home. Jess’s car was parked in the driveway. Grace found her roommate in the kitchen, brewing a cup of the Earl Grey tea she enjoyed. She glanced up as Grace walked in.
“Would you like a cup? I can brew you a different kind. I know you don’t care for Earl Grey.” She stared at Grace. “My word, girl, you look like you’ve been through the wringer. Did something happen to you?”
Grace put her purse on the table and sank onto a chair. “Oh, Jess, it’s been a long day. And it isn’t over.”
“I’m always willing to listen if you want to tell me about it.” Jess poured steaming water into another mug and added a bag of the herbal tea Grace preferred. “Did your weekend with Maggie go all right?”
“Oh, yes. Maggie was delightful. It’s just . . .” Grace sighed. “Sam and I just broke up—if you can call it that. Not that there was much between us to break. We just agreed not to see each other.”
“That’s too bad. You and Sam would make a great couple. What was the problem? Was it that he’s still mourning his wife?”
“No, the problem was me. He wanted to move ahead with our relationship. But I got cold feet. I couldn’t handle the thought of another breakup, especially knowing that Maggie would be hurt if it happened.”
“So, you’re afraid of commitment?” This was Jess, the counselor, talking.
“Afraid? I’m terrified. That’s how I came to leave a trail of wrecked relationships behind me. I love Sam and Maggie too much to risk ruining their lives.”
“You’ve tried therapy?”
“I have. I understand that I’m afraid to trust because my father cheated on my mother and left us. But that doesn’t fix my problem.”
Jess passed Grace the mug of brewed tea. “I want you to think about something, Grace. Who made the decision that you were going to have this issue with trust? Was it your father? Was it maybe your mother? Or was it you? And who has power over that decision?”
“You make it sound so simple.” Grace sipped her tea.
“In a way, it is. Just take your time and think about it.”
“Thanks, I will. But it won’t change things with Sam. That bridge has been crossed and burned.”
“I’m sorry. I really am. Especially since Wynette has been walking on air the past few days. She’s out-of-her-mind in love with Sam’s deputy, Buck Winston. And evidently, he feels the same about her. You won’t see her till later tonight. She mentioned they were going out after work.”
“That’s great news. I’m happy for them.” Grace’s smile was real. “Buck seems like a good guy, and any man would be lucky to have Wynette. Oh—one more thing.” She fumbled in her blazer pocket for the cassette recorder. After the devastation of her breakup with Sam, she’d almost forgotten today’s victory over Ed Judkins.
“It worked.” She laid the recorder on the table. “I got him dead to rights, and he knows it. He’ll never bother me again. I just hope he’s learned his lesson. I hate to think he’d try this with another woman, but if he does, I’ll have this recording to back her up.” Grace popped the cassette out of the small machine. “Here’s your recorder. I’ll be glad to replace this cassette with a new one.”
“Don’t bother. I have plenty of spares.”
“I can’t thank you enough, Jess.”
“You already have.” Jess finished her tea and stood. “Now, what sounds good for dinner?”
*
When Maggie came back from the neighbors’ house, Sam was alone. He gave her a smile, but his eyes were sad. Maggie knew that look. She’d seen it in the weeks and months after her mother died. Maybe she was seeing it now because Miss Chapman wasn’t here.
Maggie wanted to ask him why Miss Chapman had left so soon. But something told her this might not be a good time.
“Are you all right, Daddy?” she asked him, taking off her coat.
“Fine. Just a little tired. But I’m happy to be home with my best girl.”
“Are you hungry? I could warm up some lasagna or bring you some cookies and milk.”
“Later maybe. Right now, why don’t you sit down here and tell me about your weekend?”
“Can I plug in the Christmas tree lights first?”
“Sure. That would be nice.”
Maggie squeezed into the corner behind the tree, found the plug, and pushed it into the wall outlet. The colored tree lights came on, casting a rainbow glow that made the room feel more like Christmas. Maggie could only hope it would make her father feel more like Christmas, too. But something was clearly wrong.