A Scandal So Sweet

The sly, mischievous note in her grandmother’s tone sent a frisson of alarm through Summer.

“Oh.” She didn’t turn and smile because her cheeks were still burning.

“Zach always sits there.”

Summer stiffened.

“I can’t believe you allow him to come over, much less allow him to sit in my chair. What if someone tips off the press about his visits to see my grandmother and this causes another nasty story to be published about us? And why is he developing in Bonne Terre anyway? In all these years he’s never once come back, until now.”

“When his uncle died back in the fall he came to visit Nick. When he saw the land prices, he started talking to people. He already has a casino in Vegas. One thing led to another. The city fathers decided to court him….”

When Summer noticed the ice cubes in her glass tinkling, she set the glass down with a harsh clink.

”Careful, dear, that’s your mama’s best crystal.” They paused, as they both reflected on the sweetness of Anna, Summer’s dear, departed mother, whom they would miss forever. “Zach’s bought up all that land across from our place.”

“I still can’t believe that with his history, with so many in this town set against him, Zach would come back here.”

“He says it’s time to set the record straight. He’s certainly winning the town over.”

How exactly did he intend to set the record straight? Summer thought of the one secret she’d kept from him and trembled. “He’s made a fortune in Houston. Isn’t that vindication enough? Why would he care what the people here think of him?”

“They nearly sent him to prison.”

Because of me, Summer thought with genuine regret.

“Old wounds run deep sometimes … and need healin’. He’s got everybody around here excited. His casino’s going to be a fancy riverboat.”

“Gambling? It’s a vicious, addictive sport.”

“Gaming will bring jobs…. And jobs will buy a lot of forgiveness. Bonne Terre’s fallen on really hard times of late.”

“Gram, you sound brainwashed. It makes me wonder how often Zach comes by.”

“Well, he dropped by the first time because he wanted to see if I’d sell this place to him.”

Summer would watch the swamp freeze over before she let that happen.

“Zach’s been by about once a week ever since. We have coffee and cookies. Chocolate chip are his favorite.”

Summer took great pains to center her glass in its condensation ring on the coaster. “I hope you didn’t tell Zach you might sell or that I was coming to see you about all this.”

Her grandmother hesitated. “I’m afraid I might have told him he could make me an offer. And … You know how I can never resist bragging about you. I’ve shown him my scrap-books.”

Summer frowned. “I can’t imagine I’m his favorite subject.”

“Well, like I said, he’s always ever-so polite. He’s been especially interested in your romance with Hugh.” Gram smiled. “Asked me whom I thought was more fun—Hugh or himself?

I said Hugh was a rich movie star, who probably wouldn’t waste his time on an old lady. I told Zach he had nothing to worry about.”

Summer squeezed her eyes shut and counted to ten.

Kneading the knot between her eyes, she said, “Did you or didn’t you tell him I was coming home because I’m upset about Tuck’s job?”

“It’s hard for me to remember exactly what I do or say these days, but if I did tell him, what can it matter? You said that what happened between you two was over a long time ago.”

Summer frowned. Yes, of course, it was over. So, why was she obsessing about him?

“I think Thurman had Zach all wrong. I told your stepfather he was too hard on the boy at the time, that you were just youngsters in love. But Thurman doesn’t ever listen to anybody.”

He hadn’t listened when Summer and her mother had begged him to drop the charges against Zach, and the stress of that time had ended her mother’s remission. Her mother’s death was just one of the reasons Summer was estranged from him. The other had to do with a tiny grave in New Orleans.

But Summer didn’t want to think about that. “Okay, back to selling this place to Zach. That can’t happen.”

“I can’t help it if I’m not averse to moving into a modern condo, if Zach comes up with some favorable financin’.”

“But I love this house,” Summer protested. “I can’t believe you’ve actually gone this far with a deal without once mentioning it to me. What’s his next move?”

“He said he’d put an offer together, but so far he’s been too busy.”

“Maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll stay busy,” Summer muttered, squeezing her eyes shut.

Somehow she didn’t really think Zach, who could be relentless, would leave her grandmother alone until he got exactly what he wanted. Had he hired Tuck to win over Gram? So she’d sell him her home, which had been in the family for more than a hundred years?

“Word has it he closed on that tract across from us just yesterday. That’s where he’ll build the dock,” Gram said. “So he’d like to control this property. He definitely doesn’t want me selling to anybody else.”

Inspiration struck.

“Gram, I’ll buy the house from you. Then you can live here or in a condo. Your choice.”

“Oh?”

“I want you to call Zach and tell him you won’t sell. Hopefully, when he learns I’m here checking up on you, he’ll back off.”

Her grandmother watched her intently for a long moment. “You never looked at Edward the way you used to look at Zach. Fifteen years is a long time for you to still be bothered by a man,” said her grandmother wisely. “Have you ever asked yourself why?”

“No.” Summer yanked her scrunchy out of her hair and pulled her ponytail even tighter. “Because I’m perfectly happy with my life as it is. Can we quit talking about him and not start on your dissatisfaction with my single state?”

“Oh, all right, dear. I won’t bring him up again—or the fact that you’re an old maid—not unless you do.”

“Old maid? Gram, there’s no such thing anymore.”

“Maybe that’s so in Manhattan, but that’s definitely not so in Bonne Terre. Ask anybody.”

Gram’s set expression stung way more than it should have.

Tuck stuck his head out the door. “Zach called and needs me to come in, so I’ve got to get to work.”

“Hey, Tuck, your job is one of the reasons I came home. Can we talk?” Summer said.