“Jealous?” He laughed as though that was ridiculous. Pride demanded he keep his cool. He was doing his best to downplay his feelings. He’d never dreamed it would be this hard.

The delivery guy chose that moment to ring the doorbell. Sam had never been happier to have an excuse to end a conversation. He would have gladly paid double for their pizza. He gave the delivery boy a healthy tip.

Beth cleared off the table and they sat down with the open box supported by the back of the sewing machine.

Beth ate her first slice and was reaching for a second when her phone rang. She had it on the table and glanced over and read the caller ID. Her eyes grew wide and she swallowed hard.

“Who is it?” Sam asked, although he wanted to grab back the words. If it was another guy wanting to take her out, then he was leaving. No way was he sitting here and listening to that.

“I don’t believe this,” Beth cried.

“Someone is bothering you?” Sam would answer and deal with it, if that was the case.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered. “Yes, someone’s bothering me. It’s my mother.”

Chapter 26

Beth

“Beth,” Sam said, concerned for her. “I thought you and your mother had an understanding.”

“I thought we did.” She wasn’t happy to see her mother’s name turn up on caller ID.

“You said your piece. You’re an adult. You have your own life now and the only way she can take that away from you is if you let her.”

Sam was right. “I’m not answering the phone, and if she does decide the only way to talk to me is to fly to Portland, that doesn’t mean I have any obligation to see her.” What perturbed her was the fact that Beth had made herself clear. She wouldn’t put up with any further interference in her life.

“Babe, are you afraid of her?”

He called her babe, and while her heart reacted instantly, she didn’t want to show it. “Mom has a strong personality; I’m more like my dad.”

“You’ve only mentioned him in passing. Tell me about him,” Sam said, easing back into the chair, comfortable now when he hadn’t been earlier.

Beth smiled, thinking about her father, whom she dearly loved. Often in the evenings he would have her play for him when he returned from work. He sat in his favorite chair and listened to her while he read the evening newspaper. Her music soothed him from the stresses of the day. He encouraged her talent and her love of music.

“My dad’s name is Phillip and he’s a geophysicist.”

Sam lifted his eyebrows. “Sorry, but what exactly does a geophysicist do?”

She could remember asking him that herself at one point in her youth and was disappointed when she learned he wasn’t a fireman. “He’s mostly involved in research. He studies the structure and dynamics of the earth and the solar system. He’s quiet and intense and something of a mathematical genius. I never understood how my parents got together. They have opposite personalities. Dad is a loner and Mom needs to be around people, especially those she wants to impress.”

Beth appeared to be a nice blend of both personalities.

“If it wasn’t for my dad’s intervention,” she continued, “I might never have been able to break away from Chicago.”

“How’s that?”

Beth’s heart warmed as she remembered the way her father had stepped forward to help her. Phillip Prudhomme was deeply involved in his work and had been emotionally and physically absent for most of Beth’s life. He gave his wife free rein when it came to raising their only child. She suspected he had no clue what kind of control his wife had over Beth.

“I managed to save some money,” she began, “because heaven forbid that I should actually have a real job. I played the organ for the church and was given a small stipend, which I hoarded away along with Christmas and birthday money.”

“You were going to run away?”

“Ridiculous when you think about it, isn’t it? I’m twenty-five, Sam, twenty-five, and had yet to have a life, a real life where I stand on my own, support myself, or have a chance to share my passion for music with others.”

He reached for her hand and held it in his own. The warmth she felt from his touch raced up her arm. She’d missed him dreadfully this past week but was afraid to mention how empty her days had felt without him.

“You have a life now,” he said, his voice gentle. “And look how far you’ve come in just a few months.”

“Thanks to my aunt. I contacted her and asked if I could come live with her for a time.”

“And she agreed?”

“Sunshine told me she’d been waiting years for this phone call. I was determined to leave but felt I needed to tell my dad. I was afraid my mother would make him think my aunt had somehow manipulated me into moving. Sort of an emotional kidnapping.”

“The conversation went well?”

Beth nodded. “It was the first heartfelt conversation I’d ever had with my father. All the frustration over the last year when Mom had attempted to marry me off poured out of me. I wanted to teach music, share the classics with young hearts and minds and take on a few piano students of my own. Mom would never approve of that. I poured it all out, and when I finished, I saw tears in my father’s eyes.”

“I’m going to like your father,” Sam said.

His comment produced a smile from Beth. “I know you will. Dad said I didn’t need to sneak out in the middle of the night. He would make it so I could leave with my head held high.”

“Which you did.”

“Because of Dad. I’m not entirely sure what he said to my mother but when he finished talking she’d agreed to stay completely out of my life for six months. He would have made sure she kept away if not for that stupid car accident.” Forgetting herself, she added, “That accident was one of the worst days of my life and one of the very best.”

“The best?” Sam asked, surprised.

“Well, yes, I wouldn’t have gotten to know you if it hadn’t been for the accident.”

Sam grinned and, seeming to have forgotten himself, he drew her into his arms for a hug. Beth laid her head upon his shoulders and all but sighed at the comfort she felt in his embrace. Neither of them seemed eager to break apart. After several minutes, they awkwardly eased away from each other and didn’t make eye contact.

Beth continued with her story. “I suspect Dad was in touch with Sunshine, although she never mentioned it.”

“When are the six months up?”

“December.”

Sam looked forward to the time he could meet Beth’s father and then realized he was counting on the fact the two of them would still be together over the holidays. The thought jarred him, and at the same time the tension eased from between his shoulder blades as he realized that was exactly what he wanted.

Beth connected with her aunt early the following afternoon. As expected, she found Sunshine busy at work in her studio. Her aunt glanced up when Beth arrived. One look and she set aside her brush and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Am I that easy to read?”

“Like an open book, Sweet Pea.” Sunshine reached for a rag, wiped her hands, and pulled out a stool for Beth to sit down. “Sam stopped by Friday evening and we shared a pizza.”

Sunshine looked more than pleased. Beth had shared with her their conversation from the Friday before. “I didn’t think he’d be able to stay away.”

Beth felt worlds better after his visit. “He asked me not to tell him about any other men I was dating.”

Unable to resist, Sunshine laughed. “He regrets it already.”

“Maybe.” Beth wasn’t willing to believe it yet. “While he was there, Mom phoned.”

“No!”

“I don’t know what I need to do to get her to leave me alone.”

“Did you answer?”

“No way.”

Sunshine approved. “Good girl.”

“Can you please tell me what happened between you and my mom? Why is your relationship so awkward?” Even as a toddler, Beth was aware of the strain between the two sisters. Never understanding what had happened, she simply accepted it as something all sisters shared. She remembered she was grateful as a young girl that she didn’t have a sister, because she never wanted to feel the same way toward her sibling as her mother felt toward Sunshine.