Cadence of Cranberries - Valerie Comer Page 0,49

far more time at the apartment than at Winnie’s house. She’d enjoy time with her niece when she got it.

“Pretty well, when the kids loosen up enough to enjoy the movement.”

“Ava’s suffering a broken heart, too,” quipped Brittany, laying down her card. “And trump takes all, thanks.”

“I do not have a broken heart. We went out twice and parted as friends.”

“She’s waiting for heart palpitations.” Brittany patted her palm against her chest.

“And why not? Seems like I should feel something if I’m going to keep dating a guy. Right, Aunt Winnie?”

“I’m not an expert. Your uncle and I dated all through college. There wasn’t really ever anyone else for me.” Until recently.

“That’s what I’m talking about. Just knowing he’s the right guy. Duncan’s nice, but that’s not enough for me. He’s too... tame. Bland like vanilla.”

“Ooh, you’re looking for a bad boy,” teased Gabby.

“Vanilla isn’t bland,” protested Brittany. “It happens to be my favorite flavor. It can be rich. Robust. And it goes with anything.”

“Well, you date Duncan then.” Ava dealt the cards. “As for bad boy, not hardly. I want a guy who loves the Lord and who’s not afraid to live life. Someone with an imagination. Duncan thinks creativity is an Excel spreadsheet with some, but not all, of the columns left-aligned.”

Winnie laughed in spite of herself.

“Poor, misunderstood Duncan.” Brittany feigned a swoon. “If only someone could teach him about font choices and fill colors, he could really live on the edge.”

“Nothing wrong with spreadsheets.” Gabriella looked at her cards. “I happen to like them, and cousin Alex has done pretty well for himself in accounting.”

“God got even with Alex and sent him an absentminded, messy artist for a girlfriend, though.” Britt darted a glance at Ava. “Maybe you’re the wild, creative one just right to balance out Duncan.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “As if. You want a project, Britt? Take him on.”

A few minutes of not thinking about Charlie, Dominic, or Katri. That’s what Winnie needed. Why hadn’t Charlie called? And if Dominic and Katri had talked to each other, no one had told Winnie.

Maybe the kids were right. Maybe her interest in Katri’s dad was a really bad idea. Wouldn’t it always be awkward, whether the kids patched things up or not? In ten, twenty, even thirty years, would Dominic or Michael still hold it against her? Was her happiness worth more than that of her sons?

But... wasn’t it equal, at least? Why should she sacrifice everything for them?

Because she was the mom, and that’s what moms did. Her own mother had given up her career to nurture young Winnie. Marietta had poured everything into her sons and grandchildren after Sal’s death.

Maybe Winnie was just selfish. She liked how Charlie made her feel. Appreciated. Special. Desired.

Until he dropped her and their plans for his daughter and didn’t contact her for over thirty hours to let her know what was going on.

She was too old, too fragile, to be strung out like this. And it was a bad time. Maybe in five years when Michael was through high school, she’d meet some great man to live out her sunset years with. Someone who wasn’t connected with any of her children’s interests.

Winnie could thank Charlie for awakening her to the possibilities of finding love again, but it wasn’t the right time, and he wasn’t the right man.

Regardless of what her heart told her.

Chapter Nineteen

Charlie pulled up to the curb beside the dark house, though a sliver of light came from between curtains in a basement window. He turned to Katri. “Are you sure it’s not too late?”

Her fingers flew over the keyboard on her phone as she nodded. “Dominic’s awake.”

“Want me to wait for you?” They’d been over this, but he needed to be sure. He’d hoped to see a gleam of light from Winnie’s room, too, but there was none. Why hadn’t she responded to his text yesterday? Why hadn’t she called him?

Why hadn’t he called her? The cranberries in the Fireweed restaurant’s buffet had reminded him of Winnie, like everything did. Her cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving had awakened his taste buds like none ever had before, and the Fireweed’s version seemed bland by comparison.

She’d done the same to his life. He missed her.

“I won’t be long.” Katri slipped out of his car and around the side of the house to the basement entrance, leaving Charlie in the rapidly cooling vehicle. He didn’t dare leave the engine running for long, so he exited and paced down the block