“You see Lisa Burton fly outta here?” Herb asked.
“Was that the woman who shrieked earlier?” Kendall wondered.
“Yep. Dropped her basket and took off, leaving me to clean up the broken eggs and everything.”
“You never know what will set a woman off, Herb.” Rick grabbed Kendall’s elbow in a gentlemanly gesture. “It was good seeing you.” Rick shook the man’s hand.
“Likewise.”
“Nice meeting you,” Kendall said as she helped Rick gather the packages.
“I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around. There’s lots of things an old house needs to make it livable for two and—”
“Sure is. That’s why we gotta be going now.” Rick cut Herb off and herded Kendall out the door before another round of post-wedding discussion could begin.
A good thing, since Kendall figured they were probably in for enough questioning from Rick’s matchmaking mother.
* * *
Rick looked like he’d been hit by a meteor, Raina thought, immensely pleased. She hadn’t seen that lovestruck, glazed look in one of her boys’ eyes since . . . well since Roman had seen Charlotte at the Saint Patrick’s Day dance. It must have something to do with all that skin these women bared today. Or maybe it was the navel. Raina noticed that Rick couldn’t tear his gaze from Kendall’s bare stomach and belly button.
Watching the two young people together enabled her to find a measure of peace and happiness. With the return of Crystal’s bright-eyed niece, Raina sensed her friend’s presence. She wondered if Crystal had sent Kendall here to impact everyone’s life in some way. If so, Raina intended to help.
“So what do you plan on doing with the house?” Raina asked Kendall. “Lord knows Pearl and Eldin would be happy to stay on.”
The young girl laid down her fork. “Really? That’s wonderful.”
Raina nodded. “I’m glad you agree, seeing as how they live on a fixed income. The arrangement they had with your aunt was the only one they could afford.”
“Speaking of their arrangement, I need to find out the details of their rental agreement,” Kendall said.
“Oh, there is none.” Raina waved a hand in the air. “What do you mean?”
“In this town, people who’ve known each other for ages still do things with a handshake. Silly I know. But that’s how it is. When your aunt got sick, Pearl and Eldin were able to give up their apartments that cost money and move in as caretakers. To keep up the place in her absence.”
Kendall choked on a sip of water. “Excuse me. I didn’t realize they don’t pay rent.” She coughed again, then blotted her lips with a paper napkin.
Rick, Raina noticed, watched the action in earnest.
“You call what they’ve been doing upkeep?” Kendall asked when she’d recovered.
“Eldin paints in his spare time, which he has a lot of since he’s on disability,” Rick said. “If you looked carefully, you might have noticed the odd splotches on the walls of the main house.”
“Touch-ups,” Raina explained.
“I still don’t believe they didn’t pay Aunt Crystal rent.”
“Oh, Crystal didn’t see any reason. She owned that house free and clear for years. She knew things were tight for Eldin and Pearl and asked them to move in when she went to the home.” Raina reached over and patted Kendall’s hand. “Your aunt was a good woman.”
“One of the best,” Kendall said, her voice dropping as the reminder of grief set in.
She smiled right after, showing inner strength, something Raina admired.
“But I’ll still need to fix the place up,” Kendall said. “And then I can decide what to do with it—” She cut herself off. She met Rick’s gaze and something unspoken passed between them.
Oh, Raina remembered those days well. Little looks, glances only a couple in the beginning stages of a relationship understood.
“I mean I’m—”
“She’s not sure what to do with the house,” Rick interrupted, finishing Kendall’s sentence.
“Well, you can’t mean to sell your aunt’s house. It’s your heritage!” Raina didn’t understand all the undercurrents going on, but she couldn’t believe Crystal’s niece would give up her inheritance.
“It’s none of your business what Kendall does with her property, Mom,” Rick said.
Kendall sighed. “It’s hard to even think of having a heritage when I spent my life moving from place to place.”
“Oh, yes. Are your parents still abroad? Crystal used to tell me about their travels.” Raina tapped the table with her fingertips, thinking. Transience wasn’t a helpful trait but perhaps Kendall wasn’t like her wayward parents.
“They’re archaeologists. Somewhere in Africa now.”
“And your sister? How is she?”
“Hannah’s in boarding school in Vermont. She’s okay. I’ve gotten a call or two leading me to believe she’s a bit of a troublemaker, but she’s always been spirited. I plan to go on up there and have a talk with her myself once things settle here.”
Raina shook her head. “Sad when a family doesn’t live like a family.”
“Mother.” Rick reprimanded her with his tone. “Kendall just lost her aunt. She doesn’t need you hassling her. Her life and what she chooses to do with it is none of your business.”
Protective, Raina thought, and though Rick had that streak by nature, this time she sensed his defense of Kendall had a more personal side. A sense of satisfaction pulled at Raina as she watched her son.
“Rick, I don’t mind explaining. Most people don’t understand my lifestyle. Truthfully, if I didn’t live it, I probably wouldn’t understand.” She smiled at Raina. “Considering what an obviously warm, loving family you have, I’m sure my family’s life seems strange to you.”
“Nonsense. Well maybe,” Raina admitted, opting for honesty. People could change, she thought, given the right incentive. “I want you to consider yourself a part of our family. Crystal would want that and so do I.” More than Kendall knew.
From what Raina had seen so far, Kendall Sutton wasn’t only beautiful, she was warm, compassionate, and intelligent. She also had a mind of her own. And Raina assumed her independence held the most allure for her son who’d been bombarded with more domestic-minded women. Raina had only herself to blame for that, but things had changed now.
Rick obviously had fallen for Kendall even if he didn’t know it yet. Maybe if shown love and tenderness, Kendall would learn to love the stability she’d missed out on as a child. And who better to teach her the value of family than the Chandlers? Rick especially.
“That’s so sweet. I don’t know what to say.” Kendall’s eyes held a bright sheen.
“I do. You’ve been conned. By the best in the business,” Rick said wryly.
Raina scowled at her son.
“What business?” Kendall asked.
“The marriage business.”
“Ah, yes.” Kendall leaned forward in her seat and grinned. “I heard all about your matchmaking tendencies, Mrs. Chandler.”