“My parents came by today to see Grace and have dinner,” he remarked, switching his attention to her other foot. “Mom made her famous lasagna. There’s leftovers if you’re interested.”
“As much as I’ve been dying to try your mom’s lasagna,” Lark said. “I’m way too comfortable to move at the moment.”
The sound of her cell phone came from her bedroom. Keaton recognized the caller because Lark had set Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” as her mother’s ring tone. There was little love lost between mother and daughter, yet Lark remained unwilling to make waves with her parents.
“She’s been calling me for the last three days.” Lark’s huge sigh spoke volumes. “I’m guessing she or my dad heard that you and I showed up at the Richardson party together and she wants to tell me how stupid I am for associating with you.”
“You haven’t spoken with her yet?”
“Why bother when I know what she’s going to say?”
The support Keaton wanted to offer would only cause Lark more grief with her parents. This was a battle she had to face on her own, and that frustrated him.
“My parents found a condo they like on the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and put in an offer. It’s on the tenth floor and has great views.” Keaton couldn’t imagine his active father settling into beach life, but his mother had been thrilled by the four bedrooms. “I guess each floor is a single unit, and there are three-hundred-and-sixty-degree views.”
The conversation was mundane enough to allow Lark to relax. “Sounds fantastic, but it’s a long way from here.”
“My mother has always been fond of the beach.”
“What about your dad?”
“He likes making my mom happy. Says he’s going to work harder on his golf game.” In the years since Keaton took over supervision of the ranch business, David Holt had begun playing a round or two a week. “And they have friends that bought in the same building several years ago.”
“Is this a full-time move?”
“At this point I don’t think so.” Keaton recalled his mother’s glowing descriptions of the town and the unit. “But I think they were leaning that way before the tornado hit.”
Of course, that was before Skye had shown up and Grace had been born. Lark picked up his train of thought.
“We don’t know that anything has changed really. Jake hasn’t shown up yet and there’s no reason to believe Skye has any intention of staying in Royal.”
“My mother is afraid that she’s never going to see Grace again after Jake and Skye take over as parents.”
Lark looked worried. “Surely the fact that Skye was coming back to Royal is a good indication that she was ending four years of silence.”
“Is that what you think?”
“Why else?”
“It still bothers me that she was alone.” Keaton turned his attention toward the baby monitor set up on the sink. A faint cry rose from the speaker. “That she didn’t contact anyone and let them know she was coming.”
They both stopped speaking when they heard another cry. Sometimes Grace made noises in her sleep and then subsided. In silence they waited to determine what would happen next. It was quiet for several seconds, so Keaton spoke again.
“You’d think she’d want Jake with her when she came to tell everyone she was pregnant.”
“Or maybe that would have made things so much worse?” Lark sighed. They’d speculated on every sort of scenario and hadn’t settled on a single one.
Another cry pierced the silence. This time both adults jumped into action. Keaton waved Lark back into the water as he stood and grabbed a towel.
“I’ll get her. Stay and relax.”
She shook her head. “I’m already feeling like a prune. Besides, I should probably call my mother back.”
Water ran down her body as she stood. Soap bubbles clung to her nipples and dotted her midsection and thighs. Keaton stared at her in absolute fascination, only half-aware that Grace’s unhappiness was escalating.
“Keaton?” Lark caught him staring at her as she turned from releasing the tub drain.
“Have I mentioned how gorgeous you are?”
Her face, already flushed from the hot water, grew even rosier. “Several times today.” She let her gaze rake down his body in slow deliberation. “And right back at you. I’m not sure I’d ever get tired of looking at you.”
“We should institute naked Sundays.”
Seeing he was completely serious, she laughed. “It’s January.”
“True.”