Jace knew she worked hard to make the Kendall a going concern. And she was starting from scratch. He’d heard some of the comments today from people who knew the Kendall. They spoke of its transformation. Of what Kelly had done over the past two years to make this the showplace of the county. She had done it proud, according to one of the locals.
She’d even had the people from her former job come to visit. Jace wondered what their purpose was here. What had they discussed while cloistered in her office? And what would happen now? There was a major complication Kelly didn’t know about. Yes, he’d taken Ari to the doctor this morning. But after that appointment, he’d spoken with Doug Thurston, who’d given Jace the news he wanted to hear. There was a loophole in the contract of sale.
Jace could get his home back.
* * *
THE LETTER SAT on the dresser. It had been there for three days. Sheldon hadn’t mentioned it to Audrey. The return address was the Kendall and it was in Jason’s handwriting. Sheldon could hardly believe it. How could Jason be living there? Sheldon was too afraid to read the letter. Strange because he’d never been afraid of anything his brother once said or did.
But now he understood Jason. In many ways, he walked in his brother’s shoes and they hurt. He knew what it was to be looked down on.
He was curious to know what Jason had to say, though. The Kendall logo on the envelope was different, but it was definitely the Kendall. Had Jason found some way to...what? He couldn’t own the place. Sheldon knew it was sold to a woman. Had she and Jason somehow gotten together? Many women in Windsor Heights were interested in Jason. Laura had told him. Jason was good-looking and had that strong image of the bad boy. Women loved that, she’d said. It made the guy more virile in their eyes. And women loved the challenge of taming all that strength. Well, some women.
Sheldon could possibly find all the answers to these questions if he’d just open the envelope. He would, he told himself. But not today.
Leaving the letter on the dresser, he headed out to work. He’d continue scraping hulls. Soon he would have to tell Audrey about Jason’s letter. She would find a way to ask if he’d heard anything if he didn’t volunteer the information.
Sheldon smiled. He liked Audrey. She was real. He could tell the difference now. Laura had been real, too. But he and Laura had lived in a different world. A world that isolated them and distorted how they should treat other people. Meanwhile, Audrey had had few privileges and when her daughter died, she took in her grandson and she was doing everything she could to fill in as a parent. But what struck Sheldon most about them is they appeared happy. They truly loved and respected each other, he thought. That’s what made all the difference. That and sacrifice.
When Jason had come to stay at the Kendall after his mother died, they looked on him as a burden. How could they have been so cruel?
And how could he ever do or say anything to make up for his past actions? Maybe sending that letter had been a mistake. And the reply could be just as much a slap in the face as he deserved.
* * *
THE DOORBELL RANG as Kelly was headed to the kitchen for a second cup of coffee. She tried to limit herself to two cups a day, but in the past month she found herself wearing a path in the hall leading to the caffeine station.
Glancing at the grandfather clock sitting near the staircase, she reversed direction and went to the door. She wondered who could be seeking her out at this time. Through the heavy glass, Kelly saw the figure of a man. She opened the door to find Perry Streeter standing there. “I figured if I came in person you couldn’t refuse.”
“I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”
He was impeccably dressed. Even though the temperature in Maryland was several degrees higher than it was in New York, Perry would never allow a drop of sweat to stain his wardrobe or his personality. He was in control, managing everything, refusing to let anyone think he wasn’t the master of his fate.
Kelly knew it was a facade. He’d spent a lifetime hiding behind it. So she didn’t understand why he wanted to see her. She had X-ray vision where he was concerned. And he knew it.
“Aren’t you going to invite me in. I hear they do that in the South.”
Kelly stood back. “Of course, come in.”
She led him to her office. Just as she went through the door, she saw Jace enter the hall. Perry closed the door and turned to her.
“Why are you here?” she asked for the second time.
“No ulterior motive. I wanted to see you. It’s nearly lunchtime. I thought you’d go out with me.”
“Why?”
“You have to eat.”
“I mean why would I go anywhere with you? There’s nothing for you to gain by being with me. You told me that.”