Sweet Laurel Falls by RaeAnne Thayne

Sage told him, “but I’m
not sure my stomach can handle it today. I’d better go for tea.”
    As if on cue, Dermot Caine headed toward their booth and did an
almost comical double take when he saw Maura and Sage sitting with him. Jack
wondered at it, until he remembered his comment about waiting for his family, in
a manner of speaking.
    Well, if the word wasn’t out around town that he was Sage’s
father after the scene at the bookstore the night before, he imagined it
wouldn’t take long for the Hope’s Crossing grapevine to start humming.
    “Sage, my darlin’. Home for the holidays, are you?”
    “That’s the plan, Mr. C.” She beamed at the older man, who
plainly adored her.
    “And how is school going for you?”
    Sage made a face. “Meh. I had a chemistry and biology class in the same semester. I don’t know what I was
thinking.”
    “Well, you’re such a smarty, I’m sure you’ll do fine.” He
turned to face Maura. Somehow Jack wasn’t surprised when he reached out and
covered her hand with his. “And how are you, my dear?”
    “I’m fine, Dermot. Thanks.” She gave him a smile, but Jack
didn’t miss the way she moved her hand back to her lap as soon as Dermot lifted
his away, as if she couldn’t bear to hold even a trace of sympathy.
    “I’m guessing you’ll be wanting water for tea.”
    “Yes. Thank you.”
    “Make that two,” Sage said.
    “Sure thing. And what else can I bring you? Have you had time
to decide?”
    They all settled on French toast, which seemed to delight
Dermot Caine to no end. “I’ll add an extra dollop of fresh cream on the side for
you. No charge,” he promised.
    After he left, awkwardness returned to the booth. What strange
dynamics between the three of them, he thought. Twenty years ago, Maura had been
his best friend. They could never seem to stop talking—about politics, about
religion, about their hopes and dreams for the future.
    Over the past few days, he had seen Sage several times, and
their conversation had been easy and wide-changing. He had years of her life to
catch up on, and she seemed fascinated with his career, asking him questions
nonstop about his life since he’d left Hope’s Crossing and about some of the
projects he had designed.
    Maura and Sage seemed very close as mother and daughter, and he
would have expected them to have plenty to talk about.
    So why did these jerky silences seem to strangle the
conversation when the three of them were together?
    “I guess you found a hotel room,” Sage finally said after
Dermot returned with cups of hot water and the two women busied themselves
selecting their tea bags.
    “It wasn’t easy,” he admitted. “I ended up stopping at a couple
different places and finally found a room at the Blue Columbine.”
    “That’s a really nice place,” Sage said. “My mom’s friend Lucy
owns it.”
    Good to know. He would have to take a careful look at the
basket of muffins that had been left outside his door that morning to make sure
nobody had slipped rat poison into it. “The bed was comfortable. That’s usually
what matters most to me.”
    “You didn’t want to stay up at the Silver Strike?” Maura asked
with a sharp smile that seemed at odds with her lovely features. “I’ve never
seen the rooms there, but I’ve heard they’re spectacular. Fodor’s gives the
place a glowing review.”
    His mouth tightened. She really thought she had the right to
taunt him about that damn ski resort, after everything? Did she not understand
she was on shaky ground here? He wasn’t sure he would ever be able to forgive
her for keeping Sage from him all these years. He certainly wasn’t in the mood
to deal with her prickly mood or veiled taunts about his father’s ski
resort.
    “I’ll pass. A B and B in town is fine with me for now.”
    “For now? How long are you planning to stay in Hope’s
Crossing?” she asked bluntly.
    Sage sat forward, eyes focused on him with bright intensity as
she awaited