Easter Blessings (9 page)

“W
ell, the house is still standing,” Dutch said under his breath to Heath early the next morning as they headed toward the nursery. “That’s a good sign.”

Heath glanced up at the imposing white house, his gaze automatically going to the tower room—the room that had always been Mariel’s, according to Sadie. “Do you think Evelyn will cause trouble?”

“Evelyn is trouble,” Dutch said, shaking his head. “Bless her heart, she’s just got a chip on her shoulder and nobody can knock it off. Nearly broke Sadie’s heart when she took Mariel away from here all them years ago.”

Craving more information, Heath stopped on the path. “Why did Evelyn move away?”

“Wanted to distance herself from the pain—the divorce was hard on her and the child.” He took his faded cap off to scratch his head. “Vincent Evans was a charmer. But he never grew up. Thought he could charm his way through life. Evelyn loved him—too much. She never got over him.”

“And Mariel? She never talks about her father. Were they close?”

“Mariel loved him, too. But Vincent just considered Mariel like a baby doll—something to play with then tuck away. Vincent never had sticking power.”

Heath watched as Dutch ambled toward the first greenhouse, where the trucks were already lined up to move out another shipment of lilies—a rare weekend shipment since they’d had extra orders this week.

“Sticking power,” he said to himself. Mariel had questioned him about his own sticking power. That certainly explained a few things.

Maybe she thought all men were just like her father.

Heath thought he’d just have to prove her wrong. But his time was running out. Tomorrow was Palm Sunday. One more week until Easter. How could he prove himself in a week?

Heath stared out into the distant lily field. Budding flowers sprouted like teardrops from the tall swaying stalks.

Flowers.

Heath smiled. He decided it was about time he started wooing Mariel. He would romance her into accepting him.

And somehow, he would convince her that together they could both be happy here at White Hill.

It was a good place to put down roots.

“So, that’s everybody,” Sadie said, turning from the phone to smile at Mariel and Evelyn. “The whole gang is coming out tonight for a cookout and crawfish boil.”

“And Dutch will be cooking the crawfish?” Evelyn asked from her spot at the kitchen table. She sat wearing a frilly white cotton blouse and jeans, sipping her coffee as she skimmed the
Shreveport Times.
But Mariel noticed her mother’s eyes looked red-rimmed, as if she hadn’t slept very well.

“You better believe it,” Sadie said, bringing the coffeepot to Evelyn for a refill. “That old coot won’t let anybody else near the crawfish pot. I’ll go down and talk to him and Heath—send them into town later to get supplies.” Then she added, “And I could use you two in the gift shop. It’ll be packed today.”

“I’ll be there, Granny.” Mariel leaned over the sink, staring out the window. She’d seen Dutch and Heath headed toward the nurseries and greenhouses. They had one large order to fill this morning and then they’d give a few tours this afternoon when the crowds started pouring in. It was that time of year, a holiday season. Even though all the Easter lilies weren’t in full bloom yet, most of the other foliage was bursting with color. Happy families would parade around the lily farm, taking pictures in front of the azaleas and daylilies, the Japanese magnolias and the dogwood trees.

Mariel stood there thinking this wasn’t such a bad way of life. Especially if she could see Heath coming up that path every morning.

“Where are you, girl?” Evelyn asked from beside her.

“Oh, just thinking,” Mariel said, smiling over at her mother. It was odd, having Evelyn here. Odd, but comforting. So far, things were calm and peaceful between her mother and grandmother. So far.

“About that tall, good-looking man out there with Dutch?”

Mariel jumped as if her mother had tickled her. “Oh, him?”

“Yes, him.” Evelyn gave her a knowing look. “Sadie and I had a long talk last night after you went up to bed.”

“Did you now?”

“Uh-huh. Heath Whitaker, is it? Just about your age, maybe a little older. Handsome, hardworking. My mother is up to her usual tricks.”

“I heard that,” Sadie said from behind them. “Doesn’t hurt to introduce Mariel to a fine young man.”

“What if Mariel isn’t interested?” Evelyn asked, a touch of the old rebellion in her words, her eyes on Mariel. “Of course, I think I see some interest in her eyes. She can’t seem to peel them away from Dutch and Heath. And I don’t think she’s looking at Dutch.”

Sadie actually laughed.

Mariel gave her mirth-filled grandmother a sharp look, then turned to her mother. “Heath and I are just friends. He’s showing me the ropes—everything there is to know about growing lilies.”

“Why on earth do you need to know how to grow lilies?” Evelyn asked as she pushed a hand through her short, clipped hair.

Mariel looked at Sadie. Her grandmother sent her a raised-eyebrow warning. “We didn’t discuss that part last night.”

“What part?” Evelyn asked, frowning. “Is there something I need to know?”

Mariel could see the nice, peaceful morning about to evaporate right along with the dew. “Granny wants me to consider taking over the farm.”

Evelyn slumped back against the counter. “What?”

Sadie drummed her fingers on the table. “I’ve asked Mariel to come home to run the farm. The boys want to sell it and put me in a fancy retirement home closer to them. I don’t want to sell and they don’t want the responsibility of running the farm. So I asked Mariel.”

Evelyn’s round dark eyes flashed as she blinked. “Mariel, how do you feel about this?”

“I’m still debating,” Mariel said, trying to be honest with her mother. “I’ll be here through Easter.”

“And after that?”

“I don’t know yet, Mom. I was getting restless with my
job in Dallas. And Simon and I broke up. It seemed like a good time for a change.”

“And you call coming back to this place a change? I mean, a change for the better?”

“It could be,” Mariel said, trying not to sound defensive. “Besides, this is all speculation. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do. But I don’t want Granny to lose this farm.”

The silence in the room seemed to echo through the house like a ticking clock. Mariel waited for the outburst, for the accusations, for the harsh words she knew her mother must be thinking. But Evelyn surprised her by just standing there, her arms wrapped against her chest, her gaze downcast.

Then Evelyn turned to Sadie. “I don’t want to sell this place, either.”

“You don’t?” Sadie asked, her hand going to her throat.

“Of course not.” Evelyn shrugged. “I mean, I know I haven’t exactly been in on the day-to-day operations, and I’ve never asked you for one dime of the profits, but…this place is home.”

“It is home,” Sadie said. “And I won’t sell it unless it’s a last resort.” Then she looked up at her daughter. “But, Evelyn, I would have thought you’d be the first to want to get rid of it.”

“You thought wrong,” Evelyn said, her eyes bright with tears. “And I can’t blame you. I haven’t been back to visit very often and I certainly haven’t offered you support.”

“No, you haven’t. But you’re here now,” Sadie said as she got up to come and stand in front of her daughter. “And I’m grateful for that.”

Mariel watched in amazement as the two women she loved most in the world stood just a foot apart, staring at each other. She knew her grandmother wanted to hug Eve
lyn close, but Sadie refrained from that. And Evelyn held her body tightly against the counter.

“But, Mother,” Evelyn finally said, “is it right to place such a responsibility on Mariel?”

“I’m splitting the farm stock and holdings four ways, with Mariel getting the majority if she decides to take over,” Sadie said. Then she calmly explained her plan. “I hope you are agreeable to this.”

Evelyn’s eye grew wide. “You’re talking about a will.”

“Why, yes. I’m getting old, in case you haven’t noticed.”

Evelyn’s expression changed as her eyes grew wild and dark. Then she turned to Mariel. “She’s not just sick. She’s talking as if she’s going to die.”

“I know,” Mariel said. “You get used to it.”

“Don’t make fun,” Evelyn said, the words a whisper. Then she burst into tears and ran out the back door.

Sadie lifted her brows in confusion, then turned back to Mariel. “That went better than I had expected.”

Mariel found her mother down by the pond, where the water lilies and daylilies rivaled each other for attention underneath the clumps of moss-draped bald cypress trees. This had always been her mother’s favorite spot.

Evelyn was sitting on a bench, one of many placed around the property for family and tourists alike to enjoy at random.

“Are you all right?” Mariel asked as she sat down beside her mother on the long willow-bark bench.

“I’m fine. Hormones, I suppose.”

“Hormones?”

“I’m getting older myself, Mariel.”

“Yes, I guess we all are.”

Evelyn sniffed, wiped her eyes. “It’s just that it all hit me—how I’ve been so selfish. Jeffrey’s tried to tell me I
needed to mend some fences. I guess I finally saw what he’s been talking about. I mean, I’ve never actually thought about how I’d feel if my mother died. Especially if we left things so…unsettled between us.”

Mariel didn’t say anything. She knew her mother didn’t need platitudes right now. After a while, she asked, “Jeffrey? Jeff—he’s helped you?”

Evelyn looked around at her. “Jeff is a Christian. He goes to church every Sunday, serves on church committees. It scared me at first—I thought he’d act like Mama and push me to follow the straight and narrow. But Jeff’s…different. He’s gentle and understanding, and he’s so kind. But he’s also handsome and distinguished. He just has everything together.”

Mariel understood now. Jeffrey sounded a lot like Heath. “And that scares you?”

“Very much. Scared me into running back here.”

“Yes, I guess you’d have to be pretty scared to make this trip.”

Evelyn smiled at that. “I’ve wanted to come home, but I was always afraid Mama and I’d just get into another fight.”

“She loves you.”

“I know that. And I love her. I just feel as if…I’ve disappointed her so much.”

“Because of me?”

Evelyn lifted a hand to her mouth, her eyes going wide. “Oh, baby, is that what you think?”

“You did have to get married because of me.”

Evelyn shook her head. “I got married because I loved your father so much, I would have done anything to be with him.” It was a bitter statement reminiscent of so many of the conversations they’d had over the years.

Mariel didn’t respond to that. She still had to wonder if her mother regretted having her so young. But she wasn’t
going to push that issue. “I’m glad you came home, Mom.”

Evelyn took Mariel’s hand. “Me, too.” She looked out over the little pond, her gaze following a mother duck and her four baby ducklings as they trailed across the water on the other side. “I have to decide…about marrying Jeff.”

“Seems we’ve all got some decisions to make.”

Evelyn glanced away from the ducks, then shifted her head around to stare behind Mariel. “Seems that way. Your lily man is coming.”

“My lily man?” Mariel lifted her chin.

“Heath Whitaker,” Evelyn whispered. “He’s walking toward us. And from where I’m sitting, it appears he only has eyes for you.”

H
eath looked down at the two women perched on the aged bench like pretty birds, chatting in the morning sun. “Morning, ladies.”

“Hi.” Mariel’s expression bordered between bemused and aggravated. Maybe he should just leave them alone. But Sadie had insisted he come and find them, check on them.

“Am I interrupting?” he asked for manner’s sake, his gaze still intent on Mariel. “Sadie was worried.”

“No need to worry, and no, you aren’t interrupting,” Evelyn said, rising from the bench with a sidelong glance at her daughter. “I’m going back to help Mother open the gift shop. I’ll see you in a bit, Mariel.”

“Okay.” Mariel watched her mother leave, her eyes pensive and full of wonder.

Heath sat down next to her. “Sadie sent me. Honestly.”

“I believe you. Honestly. She was probably afraid we’d get into a brawl.”

“Didn’t look like you two were fighting.”

She brought her head around, her eyes watchful, cau
tious. “No, we weren’t. My mother has changed, I think. She seems softer around the edges, more gentle and calm. I think she’s in love.”

He smiled at that. “Love can do that to a person.”

She looked away, out at the pond. “We need to get back. We’ve got a busy day.”

Heath wished he could make her trust him. But then, he was beginning to understand all the many reasons why she didn’t trust anyone. “Yep. And I hear we’re having a big to-do tonight.”

She nodded. “The whole family. Granny is thrilled, of course. First Easter, and now a Saturday-night get-together.”

“And what about you?”

“I’m handling everything in bits and pieces, just waiting for the next surprise.”

Or the next disappointment, Heath reasoned.

“How about we get away for a little while? Say tomorrow night?”

“You’re asking me on a date?”

“I think I am.”

“No surprises?”

He grinned. “Well, maybe a couple.”

She got up, picked up a rock to skip across the still water. “You know, Heath, I like things civilized and orderly. Simon used to call me a stick-in-the-mud. But that’s just the way I am.”

Heath came to stand beside her, to still her upraised hand. “If you’re trying to warn me, or scare me away, or if you’re trying to tell me you can’t change for me, well, that’s okay. I don’t want you to change.”

She dropped the rock she had been about to throw. “You
do
continue to surprise me. It seems my whole life everyone’s wanted me to change—except Granny. She is so accepting of people.”

“So am I.”

“That’s probably why she wanted you and me to—”

“Fall in love?”

“Are we—falling in love?”

He pulled her close, then pushed at the ruffle of hair moving across her face. “We might be. It’s happening fast at times, but other times, it can’t happen fast enough.”

Mariel looked up at him, her eyes full of questions and secrets. “I don’t understand—”

He cut off her doubts with a kiss. He didn’t hurry it or confuse the issue. He just enjoyed the touch of her lips to his, warm and inviting and soft as a sigh. Then he lifted his head and stared down at her. “Sometimes we don’t need to understand. We just need to let nature take its course.”

“Like growing lilies?”

He nodded.

“But sometimes we have to force the lilies to bloom.”

“Yes, and then, sometimes we just sit back and watch them bloom, like in Sadie’s field. There’s something simple and beautiful in just letting nature take its course.”

“That takes patience.”

Heath put his arm around her as they started back toward the house. “I’m a very patient man.”

But he was fast losing his patience, Heath thought later that night.

The family was gathered around several picnic tables in the sloping backyard. The night was warm with a springtime tinge of a breeze, the perfumed scents of all the flowers lifting up to merge with the spicy smell of cooked crawfish and freshly baked apple pie.

Heath had been following the undercurrents of this family reunion. The two brothers were jovial enough, but clammed up whenever their sister, Evelyn, approached. Sa
die tried to keep everyone laughing as she joked with Dutch, but Heath could tell this happy occasion was taking its toll on her.

At least the other grandchildren were enjoying helping Dutch cook the mudbugs, when the boys weren’t chasing the girls with the still-alive critters just before the crawfish met their fate in the boiling pot.

Aunt Delores was pleasant and helpful, while Aunt Bree seemed to be pouting and begging for attention. Heath had noticed Bree’s hostile looks and saccharine smiles each time she and Evelyn crossed paths. Bree seemed to resent Mariel’s mother.

Heath sat apart from the rest, his eyes following Mariel. She’d been a bit standoffish since he’d kissed her this morning. She was being civilized, but he could tell in the way she tried to avoid any eye contact with him, that she was very much aware of him.

As was her observant mother.

Evelyn came over to him, handing him a piece of pie. “You shouldn’t eat alone.”

“I’m just allowing Sadie some time with her family.”

“According to my mother, you’re like a member of the family.”

“Do you mind that?”

Her eyes held a trace of daring. “I don’t mind at all. I really have no say in the matter. But I don’t want to see my daughter hurt.”

Heath thought that an odd statement, considering Evelyn had been absent for most of Mariel’s life—at least emotionally anyway. “I don’t intend to hurt Mariel. I think she’s been through enough from what I’ve heard.”

Evelyn raised a dark winged eyebrow. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

Heath didn’t want to cause a scene with Mariel’s mother, so he said, “It means that whatever happens be
tween Mariel and I should stay that way—between the two of us.”

Evelyn nodded, but the look she gave him reminded him of the mother duckling protecting her babies down on the pond. It brooked no arguments. “I guess I deserved that. I don’t have the right to interfere, but…there’s a lot of water under the bridge.”

“So I see,” Heath replied, indicating his head toward the group. Then he added, “Mariel is strong. Give her some credit.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

Evelyn sauntered away, not quite smiling, only to be replaced by Aunt Bree, her smile as fake as her eyelashes. “Hello, Heath. Want some coffee with that pie?”

“No, thanks.” He studied Mariel’s aunt with an amused eye. Dressed in bright pink capri pants and a white short-sleeved sweater, Bree Hillsboro looked like any high-society woman. But there was something about her Heath didn’t trust. He immediately had his radar on.

Her jewels flashed as she waved her hand in the air.

“I don’t get you,” Bree said with unabashed frankness. “Why are you sitting over here staring holes through Mariel when everyone knows you have a thing for her?”

That brought Evelyn, who’d been listening from a few feet away, back. With that same matronly, overprotective look. “Bree, why don’t you mind your own business?”

Bree whirled, a glass of soda sloshing in her hand. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Evelyn said, her dark eyes smoldering. “All evening long, you’ve been teasing Mariel about Heath, implying certain things about their relationship. And now, you’ve come to harass Heath, too? You never were very subtle.”

Bree pushed at her teased blond hair. “Honestly, I have no idea what you’re talking about. And you are certainly
a fine one to talk, considering how you’ve never lifted a finger to help this family.”

“Me? Me?” Evelyn advanced, a finger jabbing at her chest with each word. “You have no idea about me, Bree. You’re too wrapped up in your own life to care about anyone else.”

“Well, that’s a fine thing to say,” Bree replied, her voice becoming shrill. “At least I’ve been here, helping Granny out, while you…what exactly have you been doing the past ten years, Evelyn?”

Sadie came hurrying to them. “Okay, ladies, that’s enough. Bree, we’re very glad to have Evelyn home again. No questions asked.”

“Oh, really?” Bree blinked, a hand on her skinny hip. “And just why is it, pray tell, that she suddenly shows back up right after you’ve announced the proposed contents of your will? Did anyone else stop to think about that, or is it just me?”

Mariel stepped forward. “It’s just you, Aunt Bree. Mother is here because I invited her. She didn’t even know about the will until Granny told her.”

Bree shot a doubtful look toward Evelyn. “You expect me to believe that?”

Evelyn looked down at the ground. Heath could tell she was struggling for control. “I’ve never taken any money from Mother before. Why would I be worried about it now?”

“Why, indeed?” Bree spun around like a top, waving her hands. “Look at this place. You could have a nice retirement here, with your daughter in charge. Seems mighty convenient to me.”

“Bree, why don’t you go get some more ice, and try to cool down?” Adam said, taking his wife by the arm. “We don’t want to upset Mama.”

But Bree wasn’t ready to give up center stage. “Of
course we don’t want to do that. I just want some answers. After all, this involves my children and their future, too.”

Heath noticed her children and their cousins had become quiet. The four teenagers looked embarrassed, but rolled their eyes with a typical show of disinterest when Aunt Delores tried to comfort them.

“Your children will have a part of this place,” Sadie said. “I’ve made sure no one gets left out.”

“That was considerate,” Bree replied sweetly. “Except you’re making very sure Mariel gets just a bit more than the rest. That kinda stings.”

“Does it now?” Sadie replied, her eyes sparking fire. “Since Mariel is the oldest, and since Mariel is the only grandchild who’s ever showed an interest in this place, I think I’ve been fair. I love all of my grandchildren, but I had to make a decision. This is what I’ve decided. No one will go hungry around here, and no one will be left out, regardless.”

Bree chuckled. “You mean, regardless of how we’ve neglected you?”

Evelyn touched on Bree’s arm. “That’s enough. We’ve all neglected Mother. And yet, she continues to forgive us. That’s why I’m here, Bree. I’ve met a man who made me see that I needed to…make a few changes in my attitude.”

Bree pushed at her. “And just in time, too, I might add.”

“You’re hopeless,” Evelyn said, whirling to stomp away.

“Not as hopeless as you,” Bree shouted.

The silence that followed that shout seemed to ring through the trees and echo out over the fields and woods.

Heath saw the pain on Mariel’s face as she looked from her grandmother to her mother. Then she glanced over her shoulder at her aunt Bree. “I’m sorry about that, Granny.”

“No need to apologize,” Sadie replied softly. “Bree’s
had a burr in her bonnet for a long time. Now I think I understand why.”

Heath watched as Sadie seemed to go pale. She turned, reaching for Mariel’s arm.

Alarm coloring her face, Mariel caught her grandmother. “Granny?”

Heath saw the fear on Mariel’s face, then looked at Sadie. She didn’t look well. She stumbled against Mariel.

“Help me,” Mariel said. “Help me get her to a chair.”

Heath rushed forward, along with the brothers and Dutch, who’d been watching the whole scene.

“Better get her to town,” Dutch shouted. “To the hospital. And don’t wait for an ambulance to come way out here.”

“Granny?” Mariel asked, as she and Heath held Sadie. “Do you want one of those pills the doctor gave you?”

Sadie shook her head. “Too late,” she said on a weak whisper. “I think…I’m having a heart attack.”