Page 38 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

Skylar got up and placed a kiss on her grandmother’s cheek. “How can anyone not be fond of you?”

Grandma just spread her hands. “In other circumstances, I’d say some people have no taste. But we’re talking about the son of the man I love. I want us to get along. I mean, Grant wasn’t rude or anything. I just got that vibe. But I’d better call him, anyway.” She sighed and gestured at her plate and cup. “I’m sorry. I have no appetite today.”

“It’s okay, Grandma. I understand. I’ll take care of the cleanup.” Skylar whistled for Breeze to follow her, then carried utensils, cups, and plates inside through the green-framed French doors. She washed and dried the dishes as the fragrance of peach-scented dishwashing liquid spread through the small room. Then she gave Breeze fresh water and filled the kibble bowl by the time Grandma came into the kitchen.

Skylar’s fingers pinched around the spoon she was drying as she took in her grandmother’s worried expression and the glasses sitting a bit crooked now. Grandma fidgeted with her seashell bracelet, which usually wasn’t a good sign, either.

Whatever it was, they’d have to figure it out together. Skylar dropped the spoon in the drawer and pulled out a chair at the breakfast nook for her grandmother. “What did he say?”

The scent of wildflowers from the table reached her nostrils to tease her with memories of running beside Dallas in the fields. Oh how carefree they’d been then! How naïve. How very much in love. Her heart shifted, but she needed to concentrate.

Grandma lowered herself onto the chair. “His son says he can’t reach his father, either. Grant called Earl’s work but couldn’t get much. He has no clue where the business trip must’ve been. He’s flying here. That’s not all. He said his sister was already supposed to be here.” Grandma grabbed a paper napkin and started tearing it into tiny pieces.

Breeze finished her breakfast, then trudged to the nearby living room, and stretched out on the colorful sea-toned rug spread across the floor as if the bay had been brought inside.

Putting two and two together, Skylar frowned. “But his daughter didn’t contact you.”

“No. I got a feeling neither of his children like me much, though his daughter’s never met me.”

“I’m sorry.” Skylar reached for her grandmother’s wrinkled hands. “I’m sure they’ll love you when they get to know you.”

Then Grandma lifted her chin and placed the rest of the poor napkin aside. “I understand they didn’t expect a stepmom at this age. Not that I’m trying to become their mother. The family dynamics might be weird, too. I didn’t mean to impose on them.”

“You didn’t impose on them.” Skylar squeezed her grandmother’s hands before letting them go. Then she took a deep breath, and it filled her lungs with the scent of wildflowers again and her mind with memories of Dallas. She cleared her mind with an effort.

It was best not to mention another delicate nuance. Inheritance.

Skylar resisted the urge to tear apart the rest of the napkin. From what she understood, Grandma’s fiancé was well-off. If he got married without a will and something happened to him, everything would go to the wife. His children might’ve been upset for reasons other than the new family dynamics.

The image of the woman in sunglasses and a straw hat at Auntie’s restaurant floated in Skylar’s memory. Could it be...?

Her mind whirled for what other options they had. “How about we stop by Earl’s place if you like? You said he stayed at the hotel at first and then rented a cottage, right? We can go by the cottage.”

A deep sigh left Grandma’s lungs. “I don’t have keys to his place. I... I’ve never even been there. He invited me a couple of times, but I always found an excuse not to go.”

Skylar’s eyes widened. Something didn’t add up. “Why?”

Grandma looked away and snagged another napkin, folded it, and unfolded it again. “He rentedthatcottage. You know.”

Uh-oh. Skylar shuddered. Not because she worried about the things that had happened inside the house, though the trauma Dallas and his family had gone through had weighed on her. But because she carried snippets of memories of crawling inside the porch, hiding, and shivering from cold and fear. “Th–thatcottage? How come the town grapevine doesn’t know about it?”

“He said he’d asked the owner to keep it under wraps. The owner, glad to finally rent it out, agreed.” Grandma paused as if seeking a plausible explanation. “See, my fiancé is a very private person. Besides, he only rented it a few days ago.”

A very private person? Hmm.

Guilt clenched Skylar’s stomach. She was letting her grandmother marry a stranger. She should’ve been here a long time ago. “Wouldn’t someone have seen him when he went in or out of the house?”

Grandma shrugged those bony shoulders wrapped in a tawny-hued shawl she’d crocheted herself. “Earl said he left early and returned late, mostly after dark. Besides, you know the locals avoid the place.”

Which could be why he’d rented it. Skylar took the half napkin and tore off a piece. Their coastal town offered plenty of great accommodations. Why would he choose a run-down place with a bad reputation?

Was it because it was secluded? Was Grandma’s fiancé hiding from someone?

Skylar needed to talk to someone about this, and she’d always turned to Dallas. Her heart contracted. She couldn’t turn to him any longer. Probably not ever. And she only had herself to blame. Things were getting more and more complicated. And here she’d thought her biggest issues would be avoiding him or not getting the right centerpieces for Grandma’s wedding.

Skylar leaned toward her grandmother. “What would you like to do first? Do you want to go to the police station and file a missing person report?”

Grandma hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. I think we should.”

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