Sheldon stepped inside his old bedroom and the rest of the world receded.
“I’ll get you something to eat,” Kelly said. “Is there something in particular you’d like?”
“Anything would be fine. Thank you.”
She smiled and closed the door.
Nothing had changed and everything had changed. The paint was different. Curtains replaced the heavy drapes that used to hang at the windows. The bed was the same, although the covers were new. The whole room was brighter. There was a small table sitting in front of the fireplace. He remembered it well. In fact, he could recall the dates of all the antique furniture. He knew when renovations had been done prior to his leaving. Obviously, from what he’d seen from the foyer to this bedroom, other changes had also been completed.
Sheldon’s room was huge and looked out one side of the house. In all the years he’d lived here, he’d never moved to the master bedroom, but preferred to remain in the room where he’d grown up. It had been redecorated. Laura had done that once, but her changes were gone now. The bed, a giant four-poster, sat between the windows. The fireplace was on the left with a sitting area in front of it.
This was once Sheldon’s home. But nothing about him remained in it today. He didn’t own the Kendall. Jason didn’t own it. Jason wasn’t even here. And he had a son.
What did Sheldon have other than regrets?
* * *
KELLY HAD TO stop and think. Her jaws were clenched so tight, her back teeth ached. Sheldon’s arrival was the last thing she needed today.
With so many people all over the house, his being here only added to the confusion, when a clear mind was essential to deal with the guests and staff.
What was he doing here, showing up unannounced? Had Jace asked him to come?
Forcing herself to relax, Kelly walked slowly down the back stairs, leading to the kitchen. She clutched the handrail due to her wobbly legs. Were the brothers joining together against her? Jace told her he wanted the property for him and Ari. Was Sheldon here to support that goal?
“What’s wrong?” Mira asked.
Her voice drew Kelly’s attention.
“You look like a ghost.”
“Sheldon Kendall is here,” Kelly said.
“Why?”
“I have no idea. I literally found him on the doorstep.”
“What did he say?” Mira asked.
“So far, nothing significant. He wants to talk to Jace.”
“Where is Jace?”
“I don’t know.”
That was her problem. She had no answers for the questions that crowded in on her.
“Where is Sheldon now?”
“Upstairs, in one of the bedrooms. I came to get him something to drink.”
Mira reached for a pitcher of water and a glass. “What happens next?”
Kelly shook her head. “I suppose I’m going to have to ask him and Jace what’s going on.”
* * *
JACE AND ARI came out of the day-care center and Jace strapped his son into his car seat. Whistling, Jace pulled his tie loose and laid his suit jacket on the cab’s seat. He had good news for the boy. He decided to take him to the ice-cream shop to celebrate while he told him.
Walking around Drew and Mira’s truck, he jumped as he recognized Emmett Cruz’s SUV coming straight at him. Emmett drove wildly across the road, roaring to a stop as he blocked him in. The short man jumped out of the vehicle clearly looking for someone.
Jace had heard that Emmett was working at the Kendall. “Emmett, there could be kids out here. Be careful.”
“Sorry,” Emmett said. “I’ve been searching for you for the past half hour.”
Immediately Jace’s mind went to Kelly.
“What’s up?” Jace asked. He stood beside the truck, blocking the door, protecting his son from whatever might be happening.
“Kelly sent me to find you.”
“Why? Is she all right?”
“It’s not her exactly. But she does need you to return to the Kendall as fast as possible.”
“Why?” Jace asked.
“Just come.”
Emmett was a man of few words. He preferred horses to people. He got back in his SUV and pulled away. He drove slowly until he was out of the parking lot, then the truck zoomed up the road as if it was late for something important.
Jace got in his truck and headed in the same direction. What could Kelly want? First, she asked him to leave, now she sent Emmett looking for him and wouldn’t say why. When Jace eventually turned into the Kendall’s long driveway, Ari let out a shout.
“We’re home!” the boy said, with obvious happiness. Jace didn’t have the heart to say a thing.
Out front was a sign for visitors’ parking and the procession of cars told him the open house was well under way. He parked by the stables, away from the flow of visitors and next to Emmett’s SUV. The moment he released Ari from his car seat, the boy took off running for the house and calling Kelly’s name. Jace took a slower route, entering through the garden he’d built under her office window.