but he’ll do okay. He has to.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ruby
Not bothering to open the menu sitting next to her, Ruby lets her thoughts drift to Tara and James. Her pastry chef might not be the right woman for son after all and, while disappointing, there’s not a darn thing she can do about it.
Helena, one of the servers, brings her a cup of coffee just the way she likes it, one packet of raw sugar and a just a touch of half-and-half.
“Can I bring you anything else, Mrs. Cavanaugh?” she asks.
“No, thank you, dear, I’m good.” Then she asks, “How are your folks doing?” Helena moved back to Spartan to lend assistance after her dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. If that isn’t the sign of a quality person, Ruby doesn’t know what is. She briefly wonders if Helena might be the right girl for her to set up with Geoffrey.
“Some days are tougher than others,” the young woman replies. “I’m just thankful to have such a good job here. It takes a lot of pressure off at home that I’m able to contribute to the household now that my dad can’t work anymore.”
“You let me know if you need anything,” Ruby tells her. “Do you think your parents might like to join us for Thanksgiving here at the lodge this year?”
Helena’s eyes brighten. “I think they’d really like that, Mrs. Cavanaugh, thank you.”
While Thanksgiving will still be so hard without Tom, Ruby knows she has so much to be thankful for.
James
Tara and I practiced our lines again last night. She seems happy with them, but I’m not convinced anyone will believe she and I are really a couple. For that reason, I’ve decided to up my game.
I’m going to wear my suit instead of jeans so I can make a really good first impression. I conclude nothing says fashionable man-about-town like a nice suit.
Being that we’re meeting down at the stables, I wear my boots instead of loafers, and at the last minute, I add my Stetson cowboy hat to finish off the look. I feel like John Wayne in one of those old-time cowboy movies.
I already met Rachel Perry at my farm, so she knows how I look on a normal day, but today is no normal day. Today, Tara and I are going to be the subject of photos the whole world is going to see. The thought totally freaks me out.
I head over to the lodge half an hour early so I can take stock of my surroundings before the charade starts. Jeet, the stable manager, calls out, “You’re looking pretty fancy today, boy. What’s the occasion?”
I inhale slowly before entering the fray. “My new girlfriend, Tara, and I are meeting someone here.”
“New girlfriend? Boy howdy, what do you know about that? Who’s this Tara anyway? Is she a local gal?”
“She’s the new pastry chef here at the lodge. She’s from Los Angeles.”
Jeet smacks the thigh of his black jeans. “Congratulations, son! I haven’t met your lady yet, but I know what a great baker she is. Her pumpkin muffins are enough to get me to spill government secrets.”
“You’ve got government secrets?” I joke.
“Go get me a pumpkin muffin and we’ll see.” He winks conspiratorially.
I don’t reply because I see Tara coming my way. She’s wearing the jeans and flannel shirt I was supposed to be wearing and damn, she looks good. The jeans are snug, hugging everyone one of her gorgeous curves. The shirt is rolled up at the sleeves and tied at the waist.
She looks more than a little surprised when she sees me, but she doesn’t have a chance to comment because the reporter drives up and parks next to the barn near where Jeet and I are standing. So much for getting here early.
Rachel Perry gets out of her car and waves. “What a beautiful morning,” she greets.
Tara reaches me and answers, “It sure is.” Then she offers her hand to Rachel. “I’m Tara.” Looking at me, she adds, “And I hear you met James the other day out at his farm.” She gives me the side eye leading me to believe she’s not pleased by my choice of wardrobe.
“I sure did,” Rachel says before asking me, “What are you all dressed up for?”
I laugh this sort of forced bark that sounds like I’m coughing up something from deep in my lungs. “I’m not dressed up. This is just one of my everyday suits.” I say this like I have more than one and