Promise, Texas: A Bestselling Western Romance by Debbie Macomber

Author:Debbie Macomber
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Western, Contemporary, Small Town & Rural, General
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2017-10-16T05:11:27+00:00

“Mother, are you seeing someone?” Sylvia had arrived unannounced at lunchtime—highly unusual for the middle of the week.

Nessa had been expecting her daughter’s question. “Seeing someone, dear?” she repeated, keeping her voice low as she pierced a piece of lettuce with her fork. Sylvia had driven from her home in New Orleans for a “quick visit.” Nessa didn’t know what she’d said during their last phone call to raise her daughter’s suspicions, but whatever it was had Sylvia packed and on the road within twenty-four hours.

“Mother, please, either you’ve met someone or you haven’t.”

Her daughter was far too direct, Nessa mused. “What makes you ask?” Sylvia was a dear girl, but she did tend to be dictatorial.

“Well, for one thing, your phone’s busy for at least an hour every evening. For another, you’ve been acting strange all weekend.”

“Is the latter an observation or a criticism?” Nessa asked, rather enjoying this exchange. Unnerving her daughter wasn’t an everyday occurrence. After weeks of listening to Sylvia campaign for the idea of remarriage, Nessa had come to a rather startling conclusion. Her daughter did want her to see men, but only men she’d selected herself.

“Just answer the question, Mother.”

“Have I met someone?”

“Yes, Mother.” Sylvia’s sarcastic tone reminded Nessa of some rather difficult years when all three of her children had been teenagers at the same time. Back then, Sylvia had developed an obnoxiously superior attitude. By the time she was twenty, she’d gotten over that—well, mostly.

“Sylvia, sweetheart, I’ve met any number of people since moving back to Promise.”

“A man, Mother, I mean a man.”

“Several.” Nessa dug into her salad with gusto. It was either that or laugh out loud.

“Is there any particular man you’ve met? One you’re—” Sylvia’s mouth twisted as she said the word “—attracted to?”

Gordon. Oh, my, yes. Their telephone conversations continued on a nightly basis, sometimes lasting as long as two hours. If it wasn’t happening to her, Nessa wouldn’t have believed any couple could have this much to say on such brief acquaintance. They talked about their lives, their children, their marriages. There didn’t seem to be anything they couldn’t talk about. Nessa lived for his calls; her entire day was focused on hearing his voice. She felt young again, young and vibrant. In love.

The thought brought her up short. My goodness, it was true. She’d fallen in love with Gordon.

“Mother,” Sylvia insisted, louder this time. “My goodness, what’s come over you?”

“Nothing, dear,” Nessa said, although she was flustered. Her face felt warm and her hands cold. Her appetite unexpectedly deserted her. Carrying her plate, she got up from the table and walked into the kitchen.

Sylvia finally stopped the incessant questioning.

“I was thinking of doing a little shopping this afternoon,” she said.

“That’s nice, dear.” Nessa claimed her favorite chair and reached for her knitting. “Be sure to go see your aunt Dovie.”

“I will.” Sylvia’s expression was grave, and before long she left the house.

As soon as she did, Nessa sighed in relief. My goodness, Sylvia was a troublesome child.

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