CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A New Commitment.

Veronica took a bite of the gumbo to prove she was okay, to show her heart wasn’t being torn apart by losing one man and now feeling an awakening for another. “Oh, this is so good,” she said, meaning it. “Trudy, you’ve been hiding your down-home cooking talents.”

“I took cooking classes,” Trudy replied with a triumphant smile. “Of course, I learned to really cook at my grandmother’s knee.”

Hillman dipped a toasted chunk of bread into the rich, dark roux. “Nourishment for the soul.” Then he gave Trudy an approving gaze. “Thank you, Trudy.”

“Well, now we know both Cullen and Trudy can put on a good meal,” Bethany said. “I search Pinterest for recipes and wind up making grilled cheese sandwiches.”

Trudy shook her head and held up her wine goblet. “No, ma’am. You need to eat good food to help that baby grow. Make yourself some chicken or beef for protein and add a lot of colorful vegetables. You can do that and eat leftovers the next day. Promise me you’ll do that, Bethany.”

“I promise,” Bethany said. “Because I’m taking some of this food home for tomorrow.”

They all laughed at that, but Cullen’s laughter seemed hollow, as if he were more sad than glad. She’d been harsh with him earlier but now, Veronica felt the mellow coming over her—the wine, the fire across the archway in the big den, the rich gumbo full of shrimp and sausage—all of this made her feel safe and . . . loved.

“I haven’t felt like this in a long time,” she said. They were all watching and waiting. “Look, I’m okay. I know I’m sarcastic and snarky, but that’s how I hide the pain. This food shook me when I first walked in . . . because my husband and I visited New Orleans several times. We had gumbo, we ate king cake, we shared muffulettas. Commander’s Palace, Brennan’s, beignets at Café du Monde, and the best burgers at the Pontchartrain Hotel. I could name more, but . . . I don’t want to. We had wonderful excursions, some with our children.” She stopped, took a breath. “Sometimes only the two of us, to restaurants off the beaten paths.”

Cullen again got that look, a lost expression that made him one of those people who remained lonely, even in a room full of people.

“You two were so in love,” Bethany said, her declaration so strong it hurt to look at her.

“We were,” she said, thinking she had not planned on telling them any of the intimate details of her life. She glanced at Cullen, and his gaze held hers. She continued, “I loved him with all my soul, and he loved me, in spite of the odds being so against us. We didn’t have a perfect life, but it was good, and when that life ended, I thought my own life had ended too.”

Then she raised her glass and sent Cullen a smile. “But this . . . this is like a miracle. A rebirth of everything I’ve missed—the sound of laughter, the taste of good food, the touch of someone’s hand on mine.” She inhaled and Lulu came up to the table and put her head on Veronica’s leg, her dark soulful eyes on her human.

“If Lulu could talk, she’d tell you how bad it’s been,” Veronica said, wiping at her eyes. “The poor girl loves all of you because she gets to visit with someone besides me.”

Hillman cleared his throat. “What you told us reminded me of my own marriage. I miss all of those things too. And I messed up so bad with the second wife. I’d rather be alone than ever go through that again. She was nothing like my Maggie.”

Bethany stood up. “I need to call Troy. We need to talk.”

Trudy touched her hand. “Honey, give it some time and think about what you’ve heard. Don’t say the wrong thing.”

Bethany let out a hiss of air and sat back down. “You’re right. I’d gush that I love him and then he’d think I’m needy and pull away even more. I learned so much from all of you, and I want to talk to him with strength and restraint, instead of whining and acting selfish. I know he’s working for us, for our future.”

Cullen stood and went to stare out the window. Did these confessions bother him?

Veronica forced down more food, wishing she hadn’t been so open and raw. Vulnerable. She didn’t like being vulnerable. But now, they knew her deepest grief. What more could they ask of her? What should she say to Bethany?

“You should call him tomorrow,” she said. “Talk to him about anything but this. My memories can’t trigger the issues in your marriage. Only you and Troy being honest with each other can fix things.”

Bethany nodded and touched her stomach. “I’m going to tell him about the baby, but in person. I can’t blurt this out over the phone.”

Cullen turned back around. “You’re right. He needs to hear this from you when he’s with you.”

“I think you’ve had good advice,” Hillman said to Bethany. “We’ve all made mistakes that you can learn from. I have a good feeling about you and Troy.”

Bethany smiled. “I’m beginning to feel that way myself. But I’ll wait and talk to him later. I’m learning patience too.”

Hillman stood. “Amen to that, but right now, I’m impatient for dessert. Let’s move to the den and make our plans for our last week, doing whatever this is we’re doing.” Then he smiled and glanced at Trudy. “Frankly, I hope we continue this for a long time.”

“Me too,” Bethany said. “I don’t feel judged with all of you.” She lowered her head. “And you’re all older and wiser than me. Just what I needed.”

“You need alone time with your husband.” Trudy put her hands on the table. “I like our little group too. I needed this. Just this.”

Cullen glanced around the room, then looked at Veronica. “How do you feel about keeping this up even after the holidays?”

“I hadn’t thought past Christmas,” she admitted, that spot in her heart burning with hope. “But yes, Trudy and Bethany and I have talked about staying close.” She glanced around the room. “I’d like to keep this going.”

Hillman looked across the table at Trudy and then Cullen. “I’d like that. What about you, Cullen?”

“I’m all for it,” he said.

“So, have you decided to stick around?” Hillman asked, his heavy eyebrows lifting together.

“That depends,” Cullen said. “On a lot of things.”

He looked around the room, and then his gaze stopped on Veronica. Had he made a commitment?

Dessert—bread pudding with praline bourbon sauce.

Veronica thought about how food brought people together. Good food could win over anyone. Cullen sure had used his culinary charm on her.

“I’m going to gain ten pounds,” she told him as they sat next to each other on the couch. “And . . . I think Hillman has a crush on Trudy.”

“You think?” He laughed and made her melt even more than Trudy’s bread pudding had melted in her mouth. “Is she even aware?”

“She hasn’t mentioned it,” Veronica replied while they listened to Trudy and Hillman laughing and chatting while they cleaned the kitchen. “But I’ve seen the smiles between them. And if I know Trudy, she’s on top of this, and Hillman won’t even know what hit him. In a good way. They make a cute match.”

“A cute match?” He gave her one of those lingering stares. “I wonder what they think about us—a cute match doesn’t seem to hit the mark.”

“How about a hot mess, a train wreck, fire and water? Want me to keep going?”

He shook his head. “You never cease to amaze me.”

“I’m trying to warn you off,” she said. “Before I can figure out what’s brewing between us, I have to fix me, and while you’ve been a part of that epiphany, you can’t be the one who comes charging in to save me. I have to take control, or I’ll lose my daughter and what little self-respect I still have.”

“Understood, but Veronica—”

Bethany came back from the powder room near the entryway, then stopped in front of them. Looking pale, she said, “I ate too much. I might go home.”

Veronica forgot about a discussion with Cullen and pointed to a side chair. “I’ll drive you home. You shouldn’t leave by yourself.”

“I drove here,” Bethany said, shrugging. “I’m used to it.”

“I can bring your car home tomorrow morning,” Cullen offered. “And next week, someone will pick you up.”

“I’m not helpless,” Bethany said. “Troy does call to check on me. We talk every night.”

“We want to help,” Veronica said. “You can catch a ride with either me or Trudy. Just call, okay?”

Bethany finally nodded. “Thank you. I won’t be alone if I can get my husband home.”

Cullen tugged at a tuft of his hair and shot Veronica a glance, then focused on Bethany. “I can find out for you—when he might be home. I’ll ask around.”

Bethany sank back on her chair. “Can you do that?”

“What’s the company again? And what’s his title?”

“Piedmont Industries,” Bethany said, now leaning forward. “He’s a real estate scout, but he’s also in research and development, so he has to travel a lot. He scouts out vast properties for industrial companies and for private development.” She touched at her stomach, her face going pale. “Don’t get him in trouble, Cullen.”

Cullen glanced toward Hillman and then back to her, his expression a blank screen. “I would never do that.”

Veronica had to admit, Cullen had a certain power that he could exalt to get things done. He obviously had some wealth to be able to buy this property, which, while rundown and outdated, was still prime real estate. Someone like Cullen could easily hire a whole department to keep his private life private. He’d probably swept his online footprints clean long ago. The reporter in her had to know, however, before she took things any further with him.

Veronica rarely used the internet, except to order food or clothes. But she knew people who could find out things that went deeper than her shallow diggings. Josh had used investigators all the time to build cases against criminals. Veronica still kept in touch with her friend at the paper. A small-town paper, but capable of researching people.

Cullen gave her a curious glance. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

“Nothing,” she said. “Christmas is coming, and I need to do some shopping. I need to find something for Elle, of course. And . . . I might want to buy something for each of you.”

Bethany beamed at that. “We can exchange gifts next week.”

“Are we talking about Christmas?” Trudy asked as she and Hillman walked in with a fresh pot of coffee. “I haven’t shopped much this year.” Then she put her hands on her hips. “I think we should all do our project together next week. I have a list for the children’s home over in Concord.”

Cullen’s intake of breath caused Veronica to turn toward him. “You don’t want to contribute?”

“No. I mean, yes, I want to do my part.” He shrugged. “I don’t like thinking about orphaned children.”

“No one does,” Trudy replied. “I regret not having children, so I’m going to do my best for those who need some love. I might foster some children.”

Hillman smiled big. “Trudy, that’s nice to hear.”

Cullen’s expression darkened. He got up to pour himself a cup of coffee and took it to stare at the fire.

Veronica could feel him pulling away. “What’s wrong?” she asked after moving to stand by him.

“Nothing. Everything is fine.”

“I know you well enough to see that something about our choice for next week bothered you.”

He sipped his coffee. “It’s hard, hearing about orphans. I became one, and if it hadn’t been for my grandmother, I would have grown up in a children’s home like Concord Place. I was fifteen when she died, so I missed a lot of years with her.”

She touched his arm. “All the more reason to pay it forward, don’t you think?”

He laughed. “Now, you’re issuing pointers to me.”

“Yes, isn’t that why you brought us here, so we’d come out of our bubbles of privilege and pity to help other people?”

“Yes, that was the plan, wasn’t it?” He turned to the room. “I think going to the orphanage is a great idea.”

Then he turned and walked out to the kitchen.

Veronica shot Trudy a shrug. Something about that children’s home had thrown Cullen. She’d never seen him so ruffled. He always stayed calm and cool. He always had a comeback to her snide and sarcastic remarks. But this had shut him down. Yet . . . he’d tossed her a big hint. His grandmother had died when he was fifteen—still not an adult. Had he been forced to live at Concord Place for a while?