Our Now and Forever(80)

“I’m not running,” Spencer said. “Maybe someday, but not next year.”

His words put Lorelei at ease. “Thank God.”

“You don’t think Spencer would make a great mayor?” Pearl asked.

“He would,” Lorelei answered. “But you know as well as I do that once anybody gets into that office, they stay for years. Well, anyone other than Jebediah. And then the town acts like he belongs to them.” She took Spencer’s hand. “Call me selfish, but I want him to belong only to me for a while, before the town takes him.”

“I’ll always belong to you, Lor,” Spencer said, leaning in to give her a kiss.

“And I thought this pie was giving me a sugar high,” Pearl said, but the remark was accompanied by a wide smile.

Caleb gave Snow’s hand a gentle squeeze beneath the table. He’d floated the idea of the preservation society with positive results. Now if his second mission of the day went as well, this would be a Thanksgiving that neither of them would forget.



“I can’t believe he looks that good and he cooks. You are one lucky woman,” Lorelei said, as they watched Spencer and Mike do the dishes with Caleb as supervisor. Since the females had cooked, as Spencer had pointed out, the males got to clean. And Caleb’s pies had earned him a reprieve from getting his hands wet.

“Considering that sickeningly romantic display you and your fiancé put on during dessert, you have nothing to complain about.” Snow slid a finger along the rim of her wine glass, enjoying the view of Caleb putting away plates as Mike dried them. This wasn’t the country club set, and yet her husband fit right in. Much better than she would ever fit into his world.

“What are we talking about?” Carrie asked, returning from her fourth trip to the bathroom. Or was it five? The poor woman had reached the waddling stage.

“Nothing,” Lorelei said. “How is little Molly today? Did she like the meal?”

“She’s kicking up a storm, so she either hated it or wants more. I’m not sure which.” Carrie sank into the chair next to the sofa. She took several seconds to connect with the cushion. When Lorelei offered assistance, she said, “I can do it. Getting back up is when I’ll need a hand.”

“I hear you guys looked at a house,” Lorelei said to Snow. “Spencer and I have talked about buying, but neither of us want to leave Granny alone. And, of course, we can’t really afford it right now, with my business still small and his school stuff.”

Spencer was going to school online. Snow didn’t know what something like that cost, but it couldn’t be cheap.

“We looked,” Snow said. “But I don’t think we’re ready for that yet.” When everything blew up in her face—though Snow preferred to say if—she couldn’t afford to buy the house on her own. That meant no home buying until the Vivien issue was dealt with.

“It is a big commitment,” Lorelei said. “I don’t blame you for waiting until you guys are better off financially.”

Snow couldn’t help but laugh at the comment. As if money was the obstacle.

“What’s so funny?” Carrie asked.

Surprised by the question, Snow realized she’d never shared much about Caleb’s background with her friends. “Well . . .” she hedged. “Caleb is kind of . . . rich.”

Lorelei and Carrie looked at each other, then back at Snow. “How rich?” Lorelei asked.

“Like ‘trust fund baby in line to inherit a giant media conglomerate’ rich? But he doesn’t really want the business. I don’t think.” She knew that Caleb wanted to make his own way in the world, but would he really turn down running the company? Or would staying with him mean she’d someday be thrust into high society whether she liked it or not?

“Shut. Up.” Lorelei stared with wide eyes and mouth agape. “You tried to walk away from that?”

The question rang in Snow’s ears. Yes. She’d tried to walk away from that. Was still trying. She never wanted to leave Caleb. His money, upbringing, and impending inheritance were what scared her into running. Regardless of where they lived, he was still heir to the fortune. He still lived with enormous expectations, and if they stayed together, so would she.

Before Snow formed an answer for Lorelei, the men joined them.

“What’s that look about?” Spencer asked Lorelei as he sat down beside her with a beer in his hand. “You look like someone said Neiman Marcus is moving in downtown.”

“Close,” Lorelei said, her eyes shifting from Snow to Caleb and back.