and a martini. We should join them.”
“I could use a beer.”
She took his hand again. “Let’s go get you one.”
After drinks, a light lunch, Cate went in with Lily to give father and son some time.
“You can keep me company while I unpack. I’ve pined for your company more than I pined for the emerald earring I lost last month.”
When they walked into the master suite, Lily aimed straight for the dressing room. Stopped, shook her head.
No suitcases in sight, and her makeup case along with her signature perfume already on the dressing table.
“I should’ve known. I told Consuela not to bother with this.”
“Bothering’s her religion.”
“Well, I’m not going to complain.” She shifted directions to the sitting area, took one corner of the couch, pointed Cate to the other. She gestured to the forest of lilies set around the room. “You?”
Cate sent her an arch look. “Your lover.”
Her eyes softened. “Knock me cold if I ever so much as think about taking a job that pulls me away for four months again.”
“I actually think I would. We did fine, and I enjoyed having Grandpa to myself for a while. But you leave a hole, G-Lil. A really big hole.”
“I’m selfish enough to like hearing that. And now that it’s just us girls.” Leaning forward, Lily rubbed her hands together. “Tell me all.”
“Where do you want me to start?”
“Girls.” Lily pointed to herself, then Cate. “With your lover, of course. Is he coming to the welcome-home dinner I know Consuela’s planning tonight?”
“We’ll feast on your favorite honey-baked ham with the brown sugar glaze—but don’t let on I told you.”
Lily copied Consuela’s locked lips gesture. “And Dillon?”
“I couldn’t budge him for dinner because he felt Grandpa and I should have that with you. And he added weight saying he should have dinner with his ladies and Red. But he’ll come by about nine. He doesn’t want me alone in the house until . . . well, until.”
“I know I feel better with him there. It’s just an extra precaution—with benefits.” With a heartfelt sigh, Lily toed off her shoes. “I know he makes you happy because I can see it. And with him staying with you at night, you’re taking him for a nice test drive.”
“G-Lil.” Cate lowered her head, shook it. “No wonder I’ve missed you.”
“And how’s the rest of the family? I need to get over there, have a gossip session with Maggie. There’s nothing like sitting around a farmhouse table drinking homemade wine and dishing the dirt.”
“They’re all great. Really busy. They hire people on, take on students—I guess you know that. Still, there’s so much work, all day, every day. It’s a really full life, and one of them’s always coming up with a way to add to it. Gram’s spinning wool. Yarn. Wool into yarn. On a spinning wheel.”
“I must’ve known that’s how it was done, but I can’t see it. I’m going to have to get her to show me. And Red’s fully recovered?”
“Back to surfing, fixing engines, making butter and cheese and whatever else Gram points him at.”
“No break, then, in the who, what, why, how of it all?”
“Not that I’ve heard, and I think they’d tell me. Dillon’s half—more than half convinced me Sparks stabbed himself to give his lawyer another angle on early release. If you take that out, consider Red was the police and somebody could’ve had a grudge, and the same could be said about the lawyer, that Denby made enemies in prison, the whole connected thing gets weaker.”
Lily rubbed Cate’s leg with her foot. “Who are you trying to convince, sweets? Me or yourself?”
“Both, maybe,” Cate admitted. “I know I have to live my life, be Cate and live it. That’s a lesson I’ve had to learn a few times, but I’ve got it solid now.”
“It’s a good lesson, but I’m not sorry Dillon’s tucked up with you at night.”
“I can’t be sorry about that either. You’re tired. You need to stretch out, take a nap.”
“I could use one. A nice little couch nap, right here.”
“Then I’ll see you for dinner.” She got up, took the light throw to spread over Lily, kissed her cheek. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Oh, Catey, me, too.”
Cate went out, back to the bridge. She saw her grandfather showing off his little vineyard to her father.
Leaving them to it, and to each other, she started back to the cottage. She’d live her life, she thought, and get a little work done before she changed for