Heartache Falls Part 23

"Are you referring to his Grizzly Adams impersonation?"

"Who?"

Charles shook his head. "It was a television show long before your time."

"Whatever. Do you think he'll resign from the bench? Mom says no, that this is a temporary brain cramp and that he'll be back to work just as soon as he's had time to forget about Desai and Sandberg."

Charles thought about it for a moment. "I tend to agree with your mother. She knows him better than anyone. That said, I've always thought there was something beyond ambition to your father's desire for the bench. That may be the missing puzzle piece here."

"Hmm." Chase didn't say any more because the game resumed and Colorado put together a great scoring drive on the nationally ranked Longhorns. Following the touchdown and after exchanging high fives with his granddad, he settled back into his seat fairly happy with his world. During halftime, however, when his mother wasn't around to serve homemade sandwiches and snacks like usual during family game-watching gatherings, his thoughts returned to his parents. "I do understand why they'd want to live in the mountains. I can't imagine living anywhere else. Ever since I was a kid, I've wanted to work in a field that would allow me to live in the mountains. It's weird, Granddad. I always felt like I was letting Dad down because I didn't want to be a lawyer like Stephen does. Now it's like Dad has come over to the dark side."

"Your father always understood that your dreams and desires went in a different direction than his. Who knows? Maybe you, rather than your brother, are the son who most takes after his father. It'll be interesting to watch and see what Mac decides."

"Or what Mom decides for him," Chase said with a rueful snort. "She's gone just as crazy as Dad. She might throw down an ultimatum. It's like they've got some weird role reversal thing going on."

"Alison reminds me more and more of her mother every day."

The resumption of football interrupted further observation about Chase's parents. To Chase's amazement, the Buffs did make a game of it, and they entered the fourth quarter down by a field goal. With less than a minute left in the game, the score tied, and the Buffs driving, Chase and his granddad were so intent on the game that they almost didn't hear the doorbell. When Chase did hear it, he ignored it.

"Go answer that," his grandfather said.

"Not now! Whoever it is can wait."

Just then, the Longhorns called a time-out, so Chase made a rush for the door. In a hurry, he didn't bother to check the peephole before yanking the door open. He didn't recognize the woman standing on his parents' front porch. "Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Mackenzie Timberlake."

Hearing the crowd noise swell, Chase glanced back over his shoulder. "Come on in. Follow me."

He dashed back to the theater room, all but dismissing the visitor from his thoughts as he arrived just in time to see Colorado let fly a pa.s.s toward the end zone as time on the clock ran out. An orange jersey and a white jersey went up, and two pairs of hands reached for the ball. Someone caught it, but at first Chase couldn't tell who.

Then he saw the referee's hands signal a touchdown, and he shouted, "Woo-hoo!"

Charles Cavanaugh pushed to his feet and yelled, "Touchdown!"

"Game over! We did it, Granddad! We won!" Chase and his grandfather exchanged more high fives and hoots and cheers. Eventually both men noticed the woman who had joined them.

"May we help you?" Charles said.

"Oops." Chase winced. "Sorry, I forgot."

"That's okay," the woman said, a touch of the South in her voice. "I obviously came at an inopportune moment." Glancing at the television, she added, "I'm always glad to see the Longhorns get beat. I'm an Oklahoma fan myself."

"I'm really sorry I abandoned you, ma'am," Chase said. "You're looking for my father?"

"Mackenzie Timberlake is your father?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She smiled and met Charles's gaze. "And he called you Granddad. Isn't that handy!"

"Pardon me?" Charles asked, his tone suddenly suspicious.

The woman made a sweeping gesture toward Charles and Chase. "You're family."

Next she put her palm against her chest. "I'm family. I'm Mackenzie's aunt Sally. I need to speak with him about his mother."

Ali sat in a rocking chair in Nic Callahan's house, cuddling one of the sleeping twins against her breast. She, Sage, Sarah, and Celeste had volunteered to babysit for Nic and Gabe and their guests from Texas, Gabe's brother Luke and his wife and three children, so that the two couples could enjoy a meal at the Bristlecone. At this moment in time, after a relatively wild couple of hours, all five children were asleep, thank G.o.d.

"That's another problem with the new Bristlecone," she said. "It's not a family restaurant, and Eternity Springs is a family kind of place."

"Aren't you just Little Ali Suns.h.i.+ne tonight," Sage observed, snuggling Nic's other daughter in a second rocking chair.

"I'm sorry. I know I'm grumpy, but Mac is driving me crackers. He told me today that his leave of absence is over in less than two weeks, and nothing I say can convince him that resigning is the wrong thing to do."

Celeste looked up from the embroidery she was doing on a quilt square. "In that case, have you considered that perhaps it is not the wrong thing to do?"

Ali went quiet for a long minute, then said, "That's just about all I think about. My problem is that I know my husband very, very well. I know how hard he worked and all that he sacrificed to earn this job. He talks a good game when it comes to walking away from it, but I don't trust it. I learned the hard way that buried resentment is terribly destructive for a marriage."

"You think that's what would happen?" Sarah asked.

"Maybe not right away, but eventually, yes. If he does this, there's no going back when he changes his mind. Unfortunately, a federal judges.h.i.+p isn't something a person can walk into and out of at will. So one day he'll wake up from this midlife crisis, look around, and blame me. We'll be worse off than before because he'll be the one stewing instead of me, and I can deal with it better."

Sarah, who was also working on a quilt square, accidentally jabbed her thumb with a needle and winced. "So what are you going to do? Tie him up and deliver him to the courthouse to resume his job?"

"I don't know what I'm going to do."

"I know what you should do," Celeste said. "You should have faith in your husband. Trust in him and in his love for you."

"I do," Ali protested. When Celeste looked over the top of her cheaters at her, she amended, "I try."

Celeste shook her head. "That lack of faith is what is holding you back from full happiness. You do realize that, don't you?"

"Can we change the subject, please?"

Sage grinned and let her off the hook. "Tell us what's happening at the New Place. I understand Mac has been a regular worker bee in the restaurant."

Ali rolled her eyes. "He's a wild man. He's remodeling the place top to bottom. When he's not working on the remodel, he's poring over house plan magazines and pestering Gabe for ideas. He wants to start building a house up near Heartache Falls next spring."

"Gee," Sage said, a gleam of amus.e.m.e.nt in her eyes. "I'm disappointed for you. I understand that life in a yurt can be very romantic. By the way, I've been meaning to ask-how did that harem costume you borrowed go over?"

"Harem costume?" Sarah and Celeste said simultaneously. Celeste added, "Well, she does live in a tent."

Sarah shot Sage a curious look and asked, "What were you doing with a harem costume?"

"That's another story for another time," Sage answered, smiling smugly. "On that note, if you guys think you have it handled here okay, I need to be going. I have a date tonight."

"Oh, yeah? Who with?" Ali asked.

"A paintbrush and canvas," Sage replied with a sigh. "My next show will be here before I know it."

Shortly after Sage departed, the Callahans returned, quietly raving about their meal, but wondering how long a menu that pricey would last in Eternity Springs. The babysitters donned their coats, hats, and gloves, then left the Callahan home.

Sarah needed to pick up her mom from her visit with Reverend Hart and his wife, so she headed in the opposite direction from Ali and Celeste. Fat snowflakes swirled around Ali and Celeste as they walked together toward Angel's Rest. "I wonder if the snow will stay around this time. We're getting to that part of the year."

"Not if the weather forecast is correct," Celeste said. "It's supposed to be lovely tomorrow-a good day for a bicycle ride."

"Not your motorcycle?"

"I like to diversify," the older woman replied with a grin. Slipping her arm through Ali's, she changed the subject. "I hope I didn't get too personal in front of the others, dear."

"Not at all. I'm grateful for your advice anytime, anyplace, Celeste. It hasn't missed my notice that you are one of the most intelligent, intuitive people I've ever met."

"In that case, I'd like to say one more thing. Don't let your past get in the way of your future."

"What does that mean?"

"You need to make a leap of faith, but something is holding you back. Be watchful. It is my belief that lasting happiness is within your and Mac's grasp if you-both of you-take advantage of the opportunity coming your way."

Ali gave her friend a hug. "You'd better be glad you're living now instead of the 1700s. They'd have burned you for a witch."

"Oh, darling. If you only knew."

At that point, Ali's cell phone began to ring.

"My wife is up to something," Mac muttered to Gus as they walked along the sh.o.r.eline of Hummingbird Lake early Sunday afternoon. First she'd dragged him down the mountain for the early church service, then she declared her intention to christen the new appliances at the New Place and told him to make himself scarce for a while as she rustled up a special meal. "What do you think she has up her sleeve, boy?"

Gus was too busy tromping and sniffing his way through the brittle brown leaves beneath a cottonwood tree to respond with either a bark or a whine, which left Mac to decide the question for himself. "It's payback for my surprise dinner, and I'll bet it's the kids. I bet the kids are coming. She's probably concocted some sort of intervention scene. She's into those, you know."

He could picture it now. She'd tie him to a chair with a dinner napkin, then stuff his face with ... hmm, what would she be cooking today? Italian? If she felt guilty about siccing the kids on him, then yeah. She'd stuff his face with spaghetti until his face turned green, then turn the kids loose on him. Stephen would display stoic disappointment. Chase would rant and rave. Caitlin would turn on her puppy-dog eyes and emote at him. Yeah, he'd bet his bottom dollar that Ali was bringing in the big guns.

"Well, Gus, I'm always happy to see the kids, but they're going to leave here considering this to be a wasted trip." Mac had complete confidence in his decision. Very little in his life had ever felt as right as did walking away from the bench.

"h.e.l.lo, you two," called a voice to his right.

Mac turned his head to see Celeste pedaling toward him on a bicycle, and he grinned. That woman never failed to surprise him. "Good afternoon, Celeste."

She pulled up beside him and stopped. Unfastening the chin strap on her helmet, she removed the head protection and finger-combed her hair. "I am so glad to see you. I was hoping for the opportunity to speak with you before I make my trek up to Sinner's Prayer Pa.s.s."

"That's a tough ride."

"I'm a tough woman. Besides, I can't think of a more spiritual place to be on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, can you?"

Mac thought of the building site up at Heartache Falls. "A person doesn't have to look hard to find a spiritual locale in Colorado. Especially not around Eternity Springs."

Celeste put her hand on Mac's shoulder. "Our town has worked its magic on you, hasn't it, young man?"

Young man? Mac's lips quirked at the thought. When he moved past his amus.e.m.e.nt at the older woman's phrasing, her question registered and words bubbled up from deep inside of him. "Ali's decision to come here has proven to be the best thing that could have happened to us both. I feel reborn, Celeste. My marriage is reborn."

He paused, surveyed the silhouette of Eternity Springs before him, and added, "This little burg is balm for wounded souls. You picked the right spot to build Angel's Rest, Celeste."

"Yes, the energy here is special." She gave his shoulder a friendly little pat, then added, "Speaking of special, I have something I'd like to give you."

She unzipped her f.a.n.n.y pack and withdrew a silver chain and pendant. "This is the official Angel's Rest blazon, awarded to those who have embraced healing's grace. Wear it next to your heart, Mac Timberlake. Carry the grace you found here with you upon whatever life path you travel. Call upon it when you require a reminder of the peace and joy you have found here in Eternity Springs."

That almost felt like a blessing, Mac thought as he accepted her gift. He'd never worn a necklace in his life, but since this place was all about newness, and the medal was rather cool-Sage's design, he'd bet-he slipped it over his head. Then he leaned over and kissed Celeste Blessing on the cheek. "I'm honored. Thank you, Celeste."

"You're very welcome," Celeste replied as she fastened her helmet's chin strap. "Now, don't forget, Mac. New lives face challenges, too."

Was that a hint? "Do you know what Ali is cooking up in her kitchen today?"

Celeste responded with only a wave as she pedaled away from him. Watching her go, Mac said, "Why do I have a feeling it's trouble?"

Ali pulled the lasagna from the oven and set it on the warming tray. Glancing at the clock, she noted that she was right on schedule. Good. She expected her guests to arrive any minute now.

She really hoped she was doing the right thing. This morning when she awoke, the prospect of surprise delighted her. Then about an hour ago, she started getting b.u.t.terflies in her tummy. Now, with the family due to arrive at any moment, her b.u.t.terflies had b.u.t.terflies.

The cloud of foreboding hovering above her warned her that she'd screwed up. Royally.

What had she been thinking? She could count on one hand the times Mac had referred to his family without prodding from her in all the years they'd been married. She shouldn't have sprung this surprise on him, no matter what her father said or how much Mac's aunt begged. Mac had never been one to be overly enthused about surprises, anyway.

"What have I done?" she asked as she heard the restaurant's front door open. She shot a panicked glance at her cell phone, recognizing she'd waited too long. Sucking in a deep breath, she wiped her hands on a dishtowel, pasted on a smile, and exited the kitchen.

Ali's gaze skidded over her father and Chase before settling on the stranger. The woman didn't look a generation older than Mac, but then a good surgeon could be responsible for that. She was attractive-bleached blonde and fit. Ali could see something of Mac in her smile.

Ali extended her hand. "h.e.l.lo, I'm Alison Timberlake."

"Sally Sutherland. It's lovely to meet you, Alison." She glanced around curiously. "And where is my dear nephew?"

"He'll be here shortly," Ali said, then turned to greet her father and son. "Can I get you something to drink while we wait?"

She expected Mac's aunt to ask for iced tea or water, and she was taken aback when the woman requested a martini. "I'm sorry. The restaurant has been in the midst of remodeling, and we haven't stocked the bar. I do have wine I intend to serve with dinner. Would you care for a gla.s.s of that?"

"Is it white zin? I can't stand anything else."

"Um, no, it's an Italian Chianti. It's one of Mac's favorites."

"In that case, I'll try it." She flashed a smile.

Ali's stomach churned. She served the wine, then asked Chase to a.s.sist her in the kitchen for a moment. Once they were alone, she asked, "So? What do you think?"

Her son grimaced. "I don't know, Mom. At first I thought she was cool. She acted friendly and seemed interested in Dad. But coming up here, she and Granddad rode together, so I had time alone to think." He rubbed the back of his neck and frowned. "There's something off about her. I can't tell what. What do you think this legacy for Dad from his mother is all about?"

"I don't know, honey. I just don't know."

She did know that she feared she'd made a very bad mistake. Yesterday when her father and Chase called, their enthusiasm about Sally Sutherland had been infectious. Mac's aunt had a legacy from his mother to deliver to Mac, and she wanted to surprise her nephew.

Ali had known better. After all, look at how she'd reacted to the surprise he'd concocted for her. Why had she gone along with it? Was she subconsciously trying to administer a little payback to her husband? If so, then she deserved whatever grief he sent her way.