The tension filled the room in an almost tangible miasma. Caleb hovered next to Snow on Miss Hattie’s bright orange settee, his jaw tight and his eyes on the cat painting on the opposite wall. Snow considered sharing her knowledge of the three furry subjects, but discussing how the home owner liked to immortalize her felines was a topic for another day.
After a night spent making love as if it were their first time together, Snow woke to find a determined Caleb standing in their kitchen fully dressed and making waffles. Without having to ask, she knew that today was the day they would deal with his mother. The woman had spent the night at a hotel in Nashville, certain that she and Caleb would be flying out together by Monday.
When Caleb made the call, he’d kept the details to a minimum. Snow had listened to the conversation, knowing the exact moments he’d dodged a direct question. Would Snow be present? Was he finally seeing the light?
Though she knew that Vivien would not leave the meeting happy, Snow didn’t know for sure what Caleb intended to say. As much as they were a team, this was a battle he needed to handle for himself. She would be by his side for support, but she’d remain as silent as possible.
“A long black sedan just pulled up,” Miss Hattie said, then disappeared from the room entrance. Ever since Caleb had paid her a visit that morning, the older woman had been a live wire. Snow assumed Caleb had simply asked her to provide some neutral ground where he could meet his mother, but Hattie acted as if she’d been granted a role in a Scorsese film.
Caleb’s grip tightened on Snow’s knee. “You good?” he asked.
She rubbed his arm. “I’m good. How about you?”
“I feel like I’m about to fight a dragon.”
Snow couldn’t help but chuckle. “The good news is that this one doesn’t really breathe fire. She tries, but it’s all for show.”
They heard the front door open, and Caleb shot to his feet. Snow considered doing the same, but this wasn’t some royal call. She remained on the settee, ready to tag in if necessary.
“They’re right in here.” Hattie’s voice carried from the entry hall, as did Vivien’s.
“They? So she’s with him?”
To her credit, Hattie maintained her sociable smile as she escorted the elder Mrs. McGraw into the room, ignoring the question and the tone with which it was posed.
“Thank you for coming, Mother,” Caleb said. “Have a seat.”
She held her ground near the doorway as if waiting for her son to come to her. “Aren’t you going to come hug your mother?”
“Please,” he said, gesturing toward a wing-back chair opposite the settee. “Sit down.”
A bit of the hoity went out of her toity at the brush-off. Snow held her grin in check. Barely.
“I’d hoped we could have this visit alone,” Vivien said, glancing from Snow to Hattie, who stayed in the room, but kept a safe distance near the exit. “Surely you’ve had time to come to grips with the situation and what must be done.”
“Yes, I have.” Caleb waited until Vivien settled in the chair before sitting. “I want you to know this will be the last time we see each other.”
Cutting her eyes his way, she said, “Surely that line is intended for your wife.”
Snow looked to Hattie for a reaction and caught a wink. Caleb must have confessed the truth during his earlier visit.
As if she hadn’t spoken, Caleb continued. “You’ve done everything possible to destroy my marriage, including lie about Snow leaving with another man.”
“But I saw—”
“I spoke to Father yesterday,” Caleb interrupted. “He happened to be in his study the night that Snow left.” He hadn’t told her that part. Snow was clearly the worst sneaker-outer ever. “He watched her get into her car and leave. Alone.”
Vivien didn’t have an answer for that one. She was searching for one, if the suffocating fish impersonation was any indication, but no defense came.
Leaning back and dropping his arm around Snow’s shoulders, Caleb said, “Snow is my wife, and she’s going to remain so until death do us part. Soon, we’ll renew our vows here in Ardent Springs, with our new friends in attendance. You are not invited.”
Her mother-in-law’s blue eyes reflected confusion that quickly turned to rage. Shifting her gaze to Snow, she said, “This is your doing.”
“None of this had to happen,” Caleb said. “You made me choose, and I have. Now you get to live with it.” Rising to his feet, Caleb said, “Don’t expect a Christmas card.”
“But ...” Vivien stayed in her chair, her usual haughty glare replaced with panic and desperation. “Your father won’t allow this.”
“My father has no say in what I do with my life.”