“Lydia asked for time to get used to the place and us, first.” Chance recapped their conversation for him, and by the time his brother was done he felt like a heel. He should have been showing up with his brother every step of the way.
“I owe you and her an apology.”
Chance sounded surprised. “Why?”
“For not believing. I figured she had other plans and that she’d never go for it. She could make good money in a big city.”
“That’s not what she wants. She told me so. She wants to be in a small town.”
That was just one more way he’d misjudged her. “Anything I can do on this end?”
“She’s taking over the care of the whole house. I told her we’d get her some help.”
“I can make some calls.”
“Okay. I think she may be planning to do an overhaul, judging by the gleam in her eye, so make sure whoever you get is willing to work.”
“I’ll call the employment place in town.”
“Grace or Summer may know of someone, too. Hey, you’re not going to believe who her brothers are.”
“Locals?” That might throw a monkey wrench into their plans.
“Yep. But you can’t say anything to them because she hasn’t heard their big news yet. She needs to hear it from them.”
“Who is it?”
“Ace Webster and Kemp Whittier.”
“Oh shit. We’re dead. They don’t know she’s coming to town yet? She’s their baby sister, isn’t she?”
“Nope and yep. She says it’s been about a month since the last time she talked to them. She says they’re very overprotective.”
Chance didn’t seem all that worried about it, but Clayton was clenching at the thought. “I hope she talks to them soon.”
“Me, too. I think it makes her a little nervous being in the same town with them so I haven’t pushed her. The last thing I want is for her to feel rushed by either of us. If she stays at the house it should be fine if she wants to take a few days and get situated.”
That was a bad plan, and Clayton had a feeling he was going to regret it down the road. But he agreed about not wanting Lydia to feel rushed. He had time to make up for and didn’t want to be the one pushing her to do what she’d probably do in her own time anyway.
* * * *
Lydia, LuAnn, and Simone made sure that they had each other’s contact information. “If you girls ever get lonely and you want to come visit me, you know you can.”
LuAnn giggled and said, “Lydia, if there are cowboys just running loose and unaccounted for out there on that ranch, I can guarantee you I’ll hop on a Greyhound bus at the first hint of loneliness.”
LuAnn’s on-again, off-again biker boyfriend had left the night before on another trip with some friends, and there was no telling how long he’d be gone or if he’d return. Lydia kind of hoped her pretty, blonde friend came to Divine and did more than visit. She hoped she stayed.
Simone hugged her for the second time, and Lydia wished she could just take her with her now. Simone had a gift for making people laugh, and Lydia would miss her and LuAnn both.
LaMont was busy fiddling with the clips on the carousel the order tickets were hung on. He seemed very busy and very serious all of a sudden.
“LaMont?”
He pursed his lips and turned to her, and she thought she detected a faint wobble in the big, burly cook’s chin. “You taking off now, Lydia?”
She smiled in commiseration and felt her own chin wobble a bit. “Yeah. Got to go. Tell your mama good-bye for me.” She put her arms around as much of him as she could and said, “I’m going to miss you, LaMont.”
LaMont’s voice cracked as he said, “Oh, hell. Now I’m gonna start blubberin’.”
“Oh! Don’t do that!”
Soon all four of them were in a group hug, blubbering, crying, and carrying on. LuAnn handed her a tissue, and she was still snuffling when Chance poked his head in the back door. His sparkling eyes turned serious as he laid the bag containing all her waitress uniforms on the counter by the door.
“Baby? You okay?”
Lydia smiled through her tears and nodded. “Uh-huh. Just saying good-bye.”
“For now. That’s all,” Simone said as she dabbed her cheeks and handed Lydia a fresh tissue. “Just saying good-bye for now.”
Chance smiled and closed his arms around her when she went to him. “Folks, if you ever want to come and visit there’s plenty of space at our ranch and an open invitation. Thanks again for watching out for her the way all of you did.” Lydia’s heart lurched with happiness for his willingness to extend the invitation to her friends.