Page 20 of A Mile of Ocean

“She’s absolutely gorgeous. It’d be a bonus if she could cook. Don’t you think?” Dolly reasoned, scooping up ice cream and slapping it on the cobbler. “Savannah for you. Blake for Tate. Get you two married off and maybe grandkids later.”

“Got it all figured out, have you? For your information, Tate isn’t in love with Blake.”

“Not yet. That man is gold. He’d do anything for her.”

“Trust me, they’ve had plenty of time to fall in love. If it hasn’t happened by now, it isn’t happening.” Trent shook his head. “If only you lived in reality instead of fantasy. Maybe stop reading those romance novels you get at Hidden Moon Books and return to earth occasionally.”

“You love to read. I love to read. We just have different interests. You’re almost thirty. It’s time to settle down.”

“You’re the reason I love to read. Don’t you remember all those books you read to us before bedtime? Treasure Island, King Arthur, Hardy Boys, even Nancy Drew. Besides, I am settled. I like my life just fine.”

He pushed back from the table and got to his feet. “Thanks for the grub,” he said as he planted a kiss on Dolly’s white head of hair.

“And the marital advice was free,” Dolly joked. She playfully hit him on the shoulder with her best wooden spoon. “Now go look for your grandmother.”

“Bossy as ever. Okay. I’m going. I’m headed out to saddle up Phoenix.”

“Text me when you find her, so I’ll stop worrying.”

The ten-minute ride to Turtle Ridge gave him a brief respite and time to reflect. He thought of his grandfather’s words, the wisdom and pain etched on each page. He felt a renewed sense of purpose and vowed to honor the Callum name with every ounce of his being.

He found his grandmother walking her horse, Confetti Queen, along the ridge, her ponytail bouncing with each step. “Dolly sent me to look for you.”

“Dolly is a worrywart. Did you know your granddad wants to be buried out here?”

“I knew. Kinsey told me. Didn’t you? You have a problem with it?”

“It’s not exactly the location I would’ve picked. The family cemetery is elsewhere, the spot where we buried your parents. We talked about a family plot under that grove of trees next to the rolling hills when we first bought the place. It’s beautiful and peaceful there. We already have headstones in place there—” Her voice trailed off, and she couldn’t finish.

“Yeah. It’s where we buried Mom and Dad. I get it.”

“It makes no sense. I don’t know why Barrett chose here.”

“This is where you guys watched beautiful sunsets after dinner. You rode your horses here. It’s a great spot. Maybe he changed his mind. Maybe it was a sentimental reason.”

“And didn’t tell me? Barrett could be stubborn sometimes, but he always included me in major decisions. This is major.”

“If it bothers you, maybe you should tell Kinsey about your original plans and go with where Mom and Dad are.”

“I drew up plans for the grove of trees where each plot would go. We paid for headstones twenty-two years ago. We placed benches there. It looks like a cemetery because that’s where Travis and Linley are, where our son is buried. Our planned resting place was under that grove of trees. Why would hechange that after our trouble designating that spot as the family burial ground?”

This sounded serious to Trent. “I don’t know, but you should probably stick to the family plot. I didn’t even consider what it meant when Kinsey brought it up. I had a lot going on. It was early. I hadn’t slept. I assumed he had a sentimental side. It seems weird now that he didn’t pick the same spot where Mom and Dad were buried. ”

“This isn’t your fault. It’s Barrett’s fault. I’m out here trying to work off the head of steam I’m building. But it isn’t working. I’m angry. I need to talk to Kinsey Wyatt and get this straightened out.”

“Yeah. The sooner, the better. The funeral isn’t until Tuesday. The coroner hasn’t released the body yet to Barton Pearson. There’s still time to get this right.”

Duchess took out her cell phone. “I’ll make the call.”

“Before you do that. Do you still have those plans you drew up for the family plot?”

“Yes, I do. They’re in the safe.”

“Then you have proof that you and Barrett planned to make that a designated spot for burial forty years ago. And when Mom and Dad died, you made it a reality.”

“Good thinking,” Duchess said. “I’ll go back to the house and have those plans in hand before dealing with the lawyer.”

In the quiet,rare moments of solitude, Trent felt the reality of his grandfather’s death when it hit him with a force that left him breathless.

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