A Memory Away by Melinda Curtis

Author:Melinda Curtis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-12-14T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE CLOUDS WERE SPARSE, but large, and blocked the sun for several minutes as they walked out of the vet’s.

The most recent cloud to pass overhead made everything in the clinic’s parking lot seem gloomy. Jess shivered and shoved her hands in her jacket pockets. Duffy hadn’t argued with anything Jess had said about who he was or what he wanted from life. She hadn’t realized how much she’d wanted him to want her until he’d stood there as distant as the clouds. Sadness sat like a lump in her throat. She should have been excited that Duffy’s parents wanted to meet her. Today. Without delay. But she couldn’t shake the sense that she’d already lost something, something she wouldn’t gain by meeting them.

“What now?” Duffy asked, sounding irritated, as he pulled into his driveway.

Agnes stood in front of a dated green Buick parked at the curb. Rose and Mildred waved from behind foggy windows. Eunice stood on Duffy’s front steps, a rain-slickered guard who still had a lopsided hairdo.

“We came to show Jessica the town.” Agnes was wearing the welcome-mat smile.

Jess took it at face value and smiled back.

“Why are you going to show her around?” Duffy the killjoy was back, ignoring the little dog bounding happily across the grass to greet Agnes.

“So she can grow to love it and open the bakery, of course.” If there was something that unsettled Agnes, Jess had yet to see it. She certainly wasn’t fazed by grumpy vineyard managers. “Wouldn’t it be lovely to have your niece or nephew close by? You could really help Jessica out with babysitting and running errands.”

“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.” Jessica came around the front of the truck in time to see Duffy’s lips compress, his arms cross.

Icicles gave off more warmth than Duffy did. “Don’t let me stop you.” But he looked at Goldie, not at Jess. He scowled at the well-behaved, sweet-tempered dog in need of a home. It didn’t matter that Goldie wouldn’t be much trouble. Duffy didn’t want any ties. He would have seen a caged bird in the same light.

It hit Jess then. The reality. In Duffy’s eyes, she was like a cat. Independent, but still in need of care and feeding. If she stayed in town she’d be a burden to him. Not financially. She thought they were past that. But he’d feel a need to check up on her, just as he did Rutgar. He’d see her as part of the excess baggage he had to carry.

The icicle that was Duffy prickled Jessica’s skin. It made her feel ornery and ready for a fight. Since she’d come to Harmony Valley, she’d tried to respect Duffy’s wishes, but that was useless. He wouldn’t feel better if she moved to Siberia. She couldn’t live her life trying to please him. Why not take a look around town?

“Okay. I’ll go,” Jess said.

That drew Duffy’s full attention, like a cold wind from the top of Parish Hill.

“You’re afraid.” She poked him in the chest.

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