Throughout the day she’d handled question after question about everything from the china and wall coverings, to when the house had central heating installed—the answer to that one, the 1920s.
She was relieved when five o’clock arrived and the last guests left the gift shop and returned to the parking lot.
Curious to know how the conversation between Jace and Sheldon was going, she went in search of the two brothers. It wasn’t long before Kelly heard male voices on the back porch. She couldn’t help herself, she went to the kitchen and gathered a tray and added iced tea, a couple of sandwiches and several tea cakes that were becoming a specialty of the Kendall. At the screen door, she listened for any sign that Jace and Sheldon might be arguing. Instead of a fight, she could hear laughing. Balancing the tray with one hand, she pressed on the door and stepped outside.
Jace twisted around in his chair and looked at her. Immediately, he was on his feet and coming forward to take the tray. Sheldon made room on the table at which they were sitting and Jace placed it there.
“You’ve been here so long, I thought you both might need some food.” She tested the atmosphere for tension and found it only slightly charged. She tried to figure out what was going on. Were they agreeing to a plan for the Kendall?
Kelly had a sip of her iced tea. “Jace, I hope it’s all right, I told Ari we could go for a ride before dinner.”
“Dinner?” Jace checked his watch. “I didn’t realize it was so late.”
“You’re all welcome to stay.” She included both men in her gaze and they nodded. It was the hospitable thing to do, but that wasn’t the only reason Kelly invited them. She missed seeing Ari and Jace. And she wanted to know what the brothers were discussing and what Jace was going to do about the Kendall’s sale.
Now that the Kendalls were reunited, however precariously, they could pose a united front and push her out. They’d been together for more than two hours. What had they talked about? Was any of their discussion related to the Kendall and wrestling it back due to a technicality in the paperwork?
Kelly was determined to find out.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE FORMAL DINING room had a table and chairs to serve twenty. With only five of them for dinner, it was much too large for tonight’s meal. Rather, a smaller and more intimate room lay off the kitchen. It looked out on the western side of the house, across the porch and into the far woods. The sun had not yet set, but it was on its way down. Flowers had been added to the room, giving it a subtle fragrance. Kelly placed folded napkins and china on the table. She used the good silver and crystal glasses.
The members assembled, a little awkwardly, and took seats. Ari had eaten earlier and was playing video games on a handheld device.
“Sheldon, why don’t you sit there instead?” She pointed to a seat opposite the one Jace was standing behind. She sat next to Jace.
Kelly hoped they’d be able to break the ice at dinner. She had a purpose for wanting to speak with the brothers. She wondered if they had an offer to present to her. Drew and Mira were there for moral support.
“Sheldon, did you have time to see the house?” Drew began. “Kelly has done a wonderful job restoring it.”
Sheldon smiled at her. She thought how opposite the two brothers looked, even with different mothers. “Jace took me on a tour before dinner. Kelly, you’ve done a lot.”
She nodded toward him, acknowledging his sincere words. “I found some old photographs of the rooms and used them as a basis for some of the restoration.”
Earlier, she’d offered a member of the kitchen staff extra wages if she’d prepare a simple dinner for the group. Fortunately, Grace had agreed, and they now began to pass the serving dishes around the table. The main meal consisted of a salad, seared fish with fresh asparagus and glazed sweet potatoes. Sheldon refused the wine, but accepted a glass of water.
Kelly took the opportunity to switch subjects. “How do you like living in North Carolina?”
“It’s warmer. We rarely get snow and the sunsets are amazing.”
“What do you do there?” Mira asked.
“I work at a boat yard. I clean the hulls. Do repairs.”
“Do you plan to stay there, settle for the long run?” Kelly asked. It was the perfect opening for her to find out his agenda. Why had he shown up at the Kendall out of the blue?
“I think so,” he said.
She nearly closed her eyes in relief.
“I have a job. I don’t plan to keep it for the rest of my life.”
“What do you plan to do?” Mira asked.
“I’m thinking of becoming an electrician.” He went on to explain his reasons and that he’d already begun to learn about it.