Should've Said No (22 page)

Tansy looked at her expectantly, presenting the platter of chicken so Lindsey could select a piece. “Have you found something?”

Lightning flashed outside. Thunder shook the restaurant, rattling the bay window.

Lindsey winced. As soon as everything settled, she took a fat chicken leg from the platter. “Thank you.”

“Have two pieces,” Tansy said, her tone calm and cheerful despite the driving rain blowing against the window.

Lindsey took a thigh off the top of the stack and waited for Oscar and Tansy to serve themselves. “I wish I had found something. I’m still looking. Still asking questions.” She lowered her voice to nearly a whisper. “Still scrutinizing every donation to see if there’s something that might vindicate the Karlssons.”

Tansy and Oscar’s expressions soured.

Oscar stabbed a serving spoon into the bowl of mashed potatoes. “Dammit,” he said, and plopped a heap of potatoes onto his plate with a
splat.
He shoved the bowl toward Tansy.

Lindsey’s stomach twisted. She’d rather be outside in the storm than sitting here right now. “I’m using all of my resources. Aunt Tansy, you’re a museum volunteer. You’ve seen what’s been donated, and we’ve found nothing new related to the dispute.”

Tansy wasn’t much gentler with the mashed potatoes. “So has Stella Crenshaw.” She held the bowl and Lindsey took a dollop of potatoes. “She probably found some evidence of the Crenshaw’s thievery and stole it, too.”

“Once a thief, always a thief,” Oscar muttered.

Lindsey felt bad for them. They were nice people when they didn’t allow themselves to be consumed by the missing details of a land deal that had happened more than a century ago. No doubt Oscar—and generations of Karlssons before him—had been raised believing their family had been wronged, despite the lack of evidence. But worrying about how the history would be documented in the museum had really sent them into a spin.

“Nothing I’ve seen would lead me to believe that.” Lindsey held her breath. Maybe she could broker some kind of peace agreement between the two families.

“Then you might need to look harder.” Oscar tossed back a swallow of his Jameson on the rocks.

Lindsey nodded. “Is there any possibility we’ve overlooked something tangible in the Karlsson family history that proves our position?”

Oscar cut a sharp glance at her. “Like I told you when you were here last, someone else has it.”

And Lindsey was back where she’d started. Discouraged, she took a bite of the tender, juicy chicken. Beyond delicious. One bite proved why they didn’t need other entrées on The Canary’s menu.

“I’ve got a detailed exhibit proposal due to the board on Friday,” she said. “Both of your profiles will be in the Movers and Shakers section, along with other prominent Karlssons. The Canary will be represented a couple of times, so I’m really excited about that.” She decided not to mention the one-hundredth engagement item that would be in the Memories and Milestones section, featuring Travis Crenshaw’s engagement to Emily Parker.

“The one-hundredth engagement?” Tansy pursed her lips.

Lindsey gave her a small nod as another roll of thunder rumbled.

“That sneaky Travis Crenshaw,” Tansy said. “He ruined what could’ve been a perfect moment in history for The Canary.”

Lindsey took a bite of her fluffy homemade biscuit.

“His brother, Carden, is worse,” Oscar said. “Strutting around. Always doing something to get attention with the land that should’ve been ours.”

Lindsey’s heart hiccuped. That wasn’t at all the Carden she knew. She chewed casually, ignoring the heat creeping up her neck and into her face. “I’m just really happy the Karlssons and The Canary will have plenty of representation in the museum.” Her cellphone pinged with a text message. “Excuse me a moment. Darlene is helping me prepare the proposal. I asked her to text me if she had questions.” She reached into her purse and tipped her phone so she could see the message.

Carden.

Got a surprise for you when I get home.

Lindsey’s pulse pounded. She didn’t even have to look up to feel the weight of Tansy and Oscar’s gazes on her, questioning, as if they’d read Carden’s message themselves.

“Everything okay?” Tansy asked.

Lindsey nodded, thrilled that Carden was thinking of her, although his timing couldn’t have been worse. They’d video chatted every evening since he’d been gone, giving her something to look forward to after her long days at work. For now, she was still stuck in the middle of a hell of a mess with her great-aunt and -uncle. She owed them a lot, despite their loose grip on reality. If it wasn’t for them, she wouldn’t have a job, or even be in Thistle Bend. If it wasn’t for them, she wouldn’t have met Carden. Could she leave a question mark in her exhibit proposal and hope something materialized between now and the museum opening?

You can’t just leave it as a question mark. That would make you appear indecisive and call into question the extent to which you’d done your due diligence regarding the subject.

Lindsey could practically hear Holly speaking in her lawyer voice.

“Back to your exhibit proposal that’s due Friday,” Oscar said, holding a forkful of creamed corn in front of his mouth. “What do you plan to put in there about the land deal?”

Chapter 21

Carden ducked into the tiny anteroom just off the church’s vestibule, tugging his finger between his neck and his shirt collar. If he could only take off his black bow tie. Weddings made him sweat, in general, and the temperature in the historic little church wasn’t helping. Its antiquated air conditioner was no match for Savannah’s July heat, the air so humid he could practically drink it.

Despite the wedding chaos, at least every other thought he had was of Lindsey. Visions of her naked in his bed, breathlessly calling his name, only increased the heat. He couldn’t get back to her fast enough. Video chatting with her was no substitute for having her in his arms.

Along with the other groomsmen, Carden had been seating wedding guests for the last half hour. Organ playing. Candles burning. Flowers cascading from windowsills and pews.

“The wedding coordinator said it’ll be time for you two in a second,” he told his mom and Gran, who waited in the anteroom.

His mom looked as lovely as he’d ever seen her. She wore her dark hair in a simple updo—at least that’s what he’d heard women call it—and a shimmery sheath dress that he’d guess was peridot, if he was asked the color. Gran looked radiant in amethyst. It wasn’t long after the Crenshaws had gotten into the lapis business that Carden began associating colors with gemstones.

“Prettiest ladies I’ll walk down the aisle today,” he said.

“Thank you, son.” His mom clutched his biceps. “You look so handsome. Let me get a picture of you and Gran real quick.” She pulled her phone out of her clutch.

The photographer had already snapped a few of Carden and Gran together, but he wasn’t about to disappoint his mom. He stepped over next to Gran and put his arm around her narrow shoulders.

She patted his back. “That tuxedo suits you.”

“Don’t get used to it.” He winked.

“Hush while I take the picture,” his mom said lightly. “Smile.”

Carden smiled for what had to be the hundredth time today, and his mom snapped a photo.

“Now one by yourself,” she said to him.

Gran happily stepped aside. “One less I have to pose for.”

Carden gave his mom a smaller smile this time, uncomfortable in front of a camera when with others, and even more uneasy alone. He dreaded next week’s photo shoot with
Colorado Living
magazine. The interview would be no problem—good publicity for the Crenshaw Family Trust and for nature conservancy—but the photo shoot would be painful.

His mom clicked the photo and checked it out. “Lovely,” she said, her fingers busy tapping the screen of her phone. “I’m sending the pictures to both of you.”

Someone knocked on the door and opened it. The middle-aged wedding coordinator peeked in, looking a little pink-cheeked. The heat must be getting to her, too.

“We’re ready for you, ladies…and gentleman.” She smiled, nodded at Carden, and was gone.

“Let’s go get Travis hitched.” Carden held the door for his mom, who stepped into the vestibule, then offered his arm to Gran.

“Pay attention, because you’re next,” Gran said as she linked her arm in his. He knew better than to argue. If he did, she’d still be giving him grief about it as he walked her down the aisle.

Carden seated Gran and came back for his mom. He kissed her cheek and whispered, “Love you, Mom.”

She smiled, clutched his arm, and leaned her head against his shoulder. “I love you too, son.”

Carden’s heart hitched just like it did every time she said that to him. He’d never get tired of hearing it.

“Got your tissues handy?” he asked.

She nodded, her eyes already teary as they got the signal from the wedding coordinator to head down the aisle. Carden kissed her cheek again before she was seated, then joined Travis, his dad, and the rest of the groomsmen in the vestibule near the altar.

“I can’t believe it’s finally time,” Travis said to Carden. Travis looked cooler in his tux since he’d had the luxury of standing still instead of working up a sweat seating guests—a fringe benefit of being the groom.

Carden put his arm around Travis and squeezed his shoulder, pleased to see him so thrilled. “No more countdown calendar.”

The organist finished
Canon in D
and transitioned to Clarke’s
Trumpet Voluntary.
Their mom loved classical music and had played it in the house while he and Travis had been growing up, teaching them to identify each piece. Carden preferred country, or classic rock, but sometimes when he was lonely, he’d listen to classical music. Hearing it was like getting a hug from his mom.

“That’s our signal,” Travis said.

“Good luck, man.” Carden shook Travis’s hand and pulled him in for a man-hug. “Ready for this?” he asked his dad, who blotted his forehead with a handkerchief. Still slender and sinewy, with a bit of a receding hairline, he sometimes was mistaken for Travis when people saw him only from behind.

His dad smiled. “It’s high time we added another beautiful lady to the family.” He hugged Travis, patting him on the back. “Wishing the best for you, son.”

They filed out along with the groomsmen and took their places at the altar. Carden stood between Travis and their dad, shoulders back, honored to be his brother’s best man. The bridesmaids walked down the aisle one by one, wearing mint-colored dresses and carrying bouquets of calla lilies.

After the maid of honor took her place at the altar, the organist transitioned to “The Bridal Chorus.” Carden caught Travis’s gaze and nodded once. This was the moment Travis had been waiting for.

Emily and her father stepped into the doorway at the back of the church, and even Carden welled with emotion. He could only imagine how his brother was feeling—seeing his beautiful bride. Knowing she was committed to a lifetime of love with him. Carden swallowed hard.

His sister-in-law-to-be looked stunning in a strapless gown, simple and elegant, with a veil that trailed the length of her short train. She glided down the aisle, her focus entirely on Travis, her love for him apparent. At the altar, Em’s father lifted her veil and kissed her cheek. Carden’s breath hitched as she joined hands with Travis.

“Dearly beloved,” the minister began.

Carden’s heart surged and heat radiated through him in waves. He gazed at Emily and Travis standing there, eager to get married, ready to take their vows. Reaching into his pocket, Carden pulled out Emily’s wedding ring, and handed it over when it was time.

Yes, weddings made him sweat, in general, but this one was affecting him like no other. For the first time in his life, he caught himself longing for something similar.

The beautiful bride.

The constant companionship.

The lasting love.

Could he possibly find that with Lindsey?

“You may kiss the bride,” the minister said, tearing Carden away from his thoughts.

Travis kissed Emily sweetly, and Carden missed Lindsey more.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the minister said. “I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Travis Crenshaw.”

Everyone applauded as the organist played “The Wedding March.” Travis and Em waited a polite moment, then headed up the aisle—their first walk together as husband and wife.

Carden bowed his head, took a deep breath of thick air, and collected himself, feeling light-headed from the heat and emotion. His dad patted him on the back and whispered, “Your turn’s coming.” The guy had always had a sixth sense about what Carden was thinking.

Carden nodded at his dad, escorted the maid of honor up the aisle, and excused himself as soon as politely possible. He ducked into the little anteroom where he’d been earlier with his mom and Gran, sat down, and took his phone out of his pocket. Tapping the screen, he pulled up the picture his mom had taken of him before the ceremony. Eager to connect with Lindsey, he attached it to a text message and typed.

What’s missing?

He pressed send and waited, feeling the pressure to get back to the wedding festivities, during which he wouldn’t be checking his phone. Special times like Travis and Em’s wedding deserved his full attention.

His phone pinged, and so did his heart.

Nothing. Lucky tux!

Lindsey had added a smiley-face emoji with hearts for eyes. He smiled too, recalling a similar flirty remark he’d made about the Rockies T-shirt she hoped to get.

You’re missing. Wish you were here.

Carden pressed send, stood, and slipped the phone into his pocket. Time to get ready for his big toast to the bride and groom.

Here’s to true love,
he’d say at the end, lifting his glass high. He was beginning to believe it might be possible for him to find it, too.

—

Lindsey had never looked forward to a Monday as much as this one. Carden would be back, and he’d promised to stop by tonight and “pick up his paint supplies.” She sat at her desk at the museum, her excitement barely allowing her to concentrate. Only two more hours until five o’clock.