Need You Now (16 page)

“Meg is timid. You can't get very close to her.” Ansley tossed some seed toward the brown hen in the corner, but kept an arm out to keep Cara back. “Just throw some food on the ground near her.”

Cara did as Ansley instructed, smiling the whole time.

“Now we have to fill up their little trough here.” Ansley reached for the water hose. “Here, Cara. Do you want to give them some water? Just pull the trigger and point it at their water bowl, like this.” Ansley demonstrated, and Cara took the hose and filled the metal bowl like she'd done it a hundred times.

“They were thirsty.” Cara spoke slowly and clearly.

Darlene glanced at Dave. He didn't even look like the same man, his mouth now curled into a full smile. Most of the time, the two lines between his eyebrows were deep, which made him look angry. The result of too much frowning, she assumed. But the lines were faint now.

“That's amazing,” he whispered to Darlene without taking his eyes off his daughter. “She's just like . . .”

He didn't have to finish. Darlene knew what he was thinking. “She's a beautiful girl, Dave.”

Dave turned to face her. “Well, Ansley is wonderful,” he said. “Look how good she is with Cara.” He smiled again. “It must run in the family.”

Darlene felt her cheeks warm. “Ansley's never met a stranger.” She could feel Dave's eyes on her, but she kept her gaze on the girls until she heard tires rolling onto their dirt driveway. “Oh, good. You'll both get to meet Brad. He's early.” She glanced at her watch, then lifted her hand to her forehead to block the sun. In the distance, she could still see Layla riding in the far pasture.

Cara and Ansley were tossing more feed to the chickens when Brad walked up. Darlene walked to meet him, then kissed him. “Hey. You're early.” They turned and walked toward Dave. “This is Dave Schroeder. He's Cara's father.”

Both men exchanged pleasantries as they shook hands.

Her husband towered over Dave, who was still considerably taller than Darlene. Brad's hair was dark, his eyes brown, and her husband had managed to retain his boyish good looks even as his forty-first birthday approached. He had the body of the high school quarterback she'd fallen in love with, and he had classically handsome features. She smiled to herself. Sometimes he still acted like that high school boy. Brad liked everything to balance out at home and at work, but he had a playful side that made him seem much younger than he was.

Darlene figured Dave to be about Brad's age. Cara had his green eyes, which flecked in the sunlight as he talked with Brad. His olive skin stretched over high cheekbones, and one side of his mouth lifted higher than the other on the rare occasion when he smiled. He always stood straight like a towering spruce, and his massive shoulders filled the green polo shirt he wore. He was a nice-looking man, but . . . uptight. That was the word that came to her mind. She'd been hoping Brad could meet someone here in Round Top to maybe hang out with or play some golf with, but she doubted Dave was going to be that person.

But when she tuned back into their conversation, she was surprised to hear Brad suggesting a round of golf.

“I appreciate the offer,” Dave said before he glanced at Cara. “But it's . . . well, hard for me to get away.”

“Mom can watch Cara,” Ansley said as she and Cara locked up the chicken coop. “She was always the neighborhood babysitter in Houston.”

“It's true,” Darlene said as she smiled. “And I don't mind watching Cara if you and Brad want to go play golf one day.”

Dave immediately shook his head. “You watch Cara all day long during the week. I don't want to be a—”

“Dad.” Cara tugged on Dave's arm as she pointed back at the bird cage. “Chickens.” A smile came to Dave's face. He might be uptight, but it was clear that he loved his daughter.

“I see.” He put an arm around her, and Cara nestled against him. He turned to Brad and extended his hand. “It was nice to meet you. I'm going to let you get back to your family.” Then he turned to Darlene. “And thank you for letting Cara come see the chickens.”

“You are very welcome.” Darlene waved. “Bye, Cara. See you tomorrow.”

Brad put an arm around Darlene's shoulder and whispered, “Seems like a nice guy.” He held up a hand and yelled, “And let me know about that game of golf.”

“I will.” Dave and Cara got in the car and left.

Thirty minutes later, Darlene had some pork chops baking in the oven, and Brad joined her on the porch. He'd changed out of his work clothes and into a pair of long tan shorts and a gray T-shirt with a NASA emblem on the front. They'd taken the kids to NASA in Houston a couple of years ago. Brad was big into the stars and could rattle on about things Darlene didn't understand. But she enjoyed the time they spent stargazing together, and out here in the country, it was quite a show on some nights.

Tonight, as they settled onto the porch swing, it was way too early for any space shows. The sun was descending on the horizon, and Layla looked like the movie star she once was, her silhouette on the horse pasted against an orange ball behind her.

Brad shook his head as they both watched her cross the field speckled with bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes. “I still can't believe Layla Jager lives next door to us.”

Darlene nudged him with her elbow. “Try not to swoon so much the next time you see her.”

Brad pulled her close. “You're the only one who makes me swoon, baby. Only you.” He leaned down and kissed her in a way that made her feel like a teenager again.

Thank You, God, for Brad and for blessing our marriage all these years
.

As Dave pulled out of the driveway, Cara stared out the passenger window, smiling. He thought about Brad's offer to play golf sometime, and Darlene's offer to watch Cara. He wasn't ready to leave Cara just yet. Maybe as they got to know Darlene better, he'd feel more comfortable about it, but Dave knew Cara was a handful, and he didn't want to discourage a potential friendship with Brad and Darlene. He'd been particularly impressed with Ansley and suspected their other children were equally as pleasant to be around.

Good parents. Good people. At least it seemed that way so far.

He eased back into his seat and stroked his chin. Cara was watching a group of Longhorns resting beneath an oak tree on the side of the road, so Dave slowed down. He watched Cara's face light up, knowing he was a lucky man to have been blessed with someone as special as Cara. “God chooses special couples for special children,” Jules used to say.

Lord, I miss her so much
.

He missed the laughter of family. Jules used to laugh a lot, even when times were hard. They'd started out with virtually nothing and lived in a small duplex in Dallas in the beginning. But they'd worked together to build their real estate business, then Cara came. She was their everything from day one, and Julie was a good mother.

Darlene reminded him of Julie today.

Brad is a lucky man
.

Chapter Eight

“How do I look?” Darlene walked into the den dressed in the royal-blue Versace gown she'd borrowed from Layla. Brad and all the kids were munching on popcorn and glued to the television.

“Wow.” Brad sat taller, raising an eyebrow. “I think you better just stay home tonight. This little town isn't ready for you, Dar.”

Darlene spun around, showing off her backless dress and hair pulled into a French twist, feeling more elegant than she surely was with her long drop rhinestone earrings. “So I look okay?”

“Uh, yeah.” Brad's eyes were fixed on her. “You look gorgeous.”

Chad handed the popcorn bowl to Grace. “Mom. That's just
wrong
. Moms shouldn't look like that.”

“Be quiet, Chad.” Ansley walked up to her mother to have a better look, then whispered, “I think you look like a princess.”

Grace joined Ansley beside them. “Mom, you look beautiful.”

“That settles it,” Brad said with a mouthful. “You're staying home.”

“Ha, ha.” Darlene picked up the small evening purse she'd found on sale last week. “Now, listen. There's a chicken casserole on the stove. You might need to warm it up. And there's a salad in the fridge.”

Brad stood up. “We'll be fine.” He kissed her lightly on the cheek, knowing he'd mess up her lipstick if he kissed her on the mouth. “Just go and have a good time.” He leaned closer to her ear. “You do look hot, baby.”

“No mushy talk,” Chad yelled from his spot on the far end of the couch. Then he jumped up and went to the window. “Uh, Mom . . . there's a limo pulling up.”

“What?” Darlene's heart leapt as she went to the window. She'd only been in a limo twice. Senior prom and after her wedding. “I can't believe it.”

Everyone gathered around the window.

“I can believe it,” Brad said before he snickered. Darlene glared at him. They'd agreed not to mention Layla's fame to the kids. Not yet, anyway.

Darlene took a deep breath, said bye again, and made her way carefully down the porch steps, walking on her toes so her heels didn't dig into the rugged terrain between the house and the car. A short man with gray hair, dressed in a tux, was holding the door open. She climbed in across from Layla in the back.

“Champagne?” Layla handed her a glass as soon as she sat down. “My, don't you clean up well.”

Darlene accepted the fluted glass, suddenly feeling quite inferior. She'd seen Layla in the gown before, but now, with her hair done, full makeup, and accessories—she definitely looked like someone famous. “As do you,” Darlene said, wondering why the need for a limo and champagne when they were only going ten minutes down the road.

“I'm not thrilled about these types of events, but this one is for a good cause.” Layla took a sip of champagne.

Darlene nodded. “Yes, it is for a good cause.” She carefully leaned back against the seat, taking great care with the Versace gown. “Why the limo?”

Layla shrugged. “I figured you don't get out much and might enjoy it.” She grinned.

“Well, I guess you used to travel this way quite often.” Darlene smiled as she lifted her glass.

Layla frowned. “I wondered how long it would take for you to figure it out.”

“I didn't. But my husband is a huge fan of yours. It was embarrassing the way he acted during Grace's birthday dinner.” She sighed and shook her head before grinning. “He's been looking for Layla Jager movies on cable ever since.”

“You're not going to act all weird now, are you?” Layla scowled before she tipped back her glass. “I don't go out seeking friends, but I thought you might be a prospect.” She winked at Darlene.

“Well, if you don't like calling attention to who you are, why the limo?”

“I told you—for you.”

“Right,” Darlene said dryly. “You must miss it all sometimes. The fame, riding in limos, and whatever else goes along with stardom.”

Layla turned toward the window and stared out into the sunset. “There's a price for it all, believe me.”

They were quiet for a few moments. “Well, thank you for inviting me. And for loaning me a dress. I would have never suspected that any organization out here would have such a lavish event.”

“Well, there are a couple of people from Houston who organize this event, and they go all out. This is only the second one to benefit the school. It will be a chance for you to meet a lot of the people who live here, ones you might not run into at the grocery store, if you know what I mean.”

The comment sounded a bit snobbish, but Darlene let it go. She'd only taken a couple of sips of her champagne when the driver pulled up to Festival Hill. It was a beautiful campus of at least two hundred acres, all dedicated to the performing arts. Darlene, Brad, and the kids had visited the world-renowned Festival Concert Hall and couldn't believe the ornate woodwork inside. It still amazed her that Round Top was home to such a facility. Surrounding it were architectural and horticultural wonders, including the Herzstein Plaza, the outdoor gathering area where the gala was being held.