The Loner's Thanksgiving Wish

“When did you do all of this?”

“After your grandfather’s funeral in July.” Lisette shrugged. “Some of my investments have been doing quite well, so I thought I’d do a few upgrades.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Do you mind what I’ve done?” Lisette’s expression turned pensive. “I’ve kept the rest of the house the same since your father died.”

Remembering how distant and sad Lisette had been since Dad’s car accident, Mei smiled. “You deserve a home that makes you happy, Mom.”

“I don’t suppose Lucas will care either way.” Lisette’s voice still held a hint of bitterness at the mention of her son’s name, even after all this time.

Mei was already a college sophomore when Lucas hit his high school senior year, so she hadn’t been around for the rebellious phase that had put him and their parents at constant odds. As far as she knew, he hadn’t been home since their father’s funeral.

Lisette started a pot of hot water and set a basket of assorted teas on the counter. “Did you have car trouble?”

“No. I stopped to walk on one of the trails and came upon an accident. I lent a helping hand and it took longer than expected. So … what did Arabella make us?” Mei added with a bright smile, hoping to shift the topic away from a side of the family her mother had detested for years.

Lisette studied her closely. “What happened? Anyone we know?”

Mei held back a sigh. “Jasmine Turner. And … um, her fiancé, Cade.”

“Cade. Cade Clayton?” Lisette’s nostrils flared. “I heard about their so-called engagement over the summer and couldn’t believe such foolishness.”

Mei just shook her head slightly, knowing it would do no good to argue.

“Couldn’t Arabella go to the hospital and deal with them?”

“She left for Denver, remember?”

Lisette snorted. “If you ask me, your cousin needs a tighter rein on that girl.”

Mei closed her eyes briefly, wishing she hadn’t mentioned the accident up on the trail. When would she ever learn? She should’ve known it would set her mother off. “Jasmine is of legal age and Arabella has no say, really. It’s not like she’s her mom.”

“Well, Jasmine ought to respect the woman who took her in and kept a roof over her head these past few years. And of all people—letting her marry a son of Charley Clayton is just unbelievable.”

“I—” Mei faltered to a stop, unable to find any words to defend her infamous uncle Charley. He was widely known as a lazy, disagreeable man who had claimed to have “back injuries” for years to collect disability. If he’d ever had a long-term job, no one in town could remember it.

“Your great-uncle Samuel spawned a family of troublemakers, and his son Charley is one of the worst.”

Apparently the animosity between the two sides of the family hadn’t changed in all the years Mei had been away. “Cade and his half brother Jack aren’t anything like the others. Jack isn’t even a blood relation to the Claytons.”

“Blood relation or not, those boys are associated with Samuel’s side of the family.” Lisette’s voice turned to ice. “Jack was one of the boys who tried to ruin your brother’s reputation in high school, remember? Imagine, him daring to say Lucas got some lowlife girl pregnant.”

“I always figured Vincent was behind the rumors.”

“You can be very sure it wasn’t just him who spread those lies.” Lisette’s mouth twisted with distaste. “I shudder when I remember that you had a crush on Jack in high school. Of course, you were young and very foolish back then.”

Mei flinched. “You need to let go of the past, Mom. Whatever anyone did or didn’t do, it was a long time ago. High school–aged kids sometimes do stupid and thoughtless things.”

“Young or old, that family is wicked, from Samuel on down.” Lisette gave an unladylike snort. “Cade’s ridiculous wedding to that girl is just another case in point. Poor judgment, impetuous behavior. It just doesn’t end.”

“Jasmine says Arabella, Brooke and Vivienne were against it at first, but now they’ve come around and plan to help out with the wedding.”

“So none of your cousins are thinking straight, either.” Lisette offered a thin smile. “That’s one wedding I’ll be sure to miss.”

Probably a good thing, for all concerned.

His coat clipped in his usual fluffy puppy cut, Albert looked harmless, but he automatically bared his teeth when Mei inadvertently got a little too close. She darted back a step.

“Silly puppy,” Lisette crooned, giving the grumpy little furball an affectionate hug. “Albert doesn’t like company.”

“Or family members.” After attacking Grandpa George’s ankle during an Easter dinner, Albert had been dubbed “The Grandpa Bitin’ Dog.” With good reason. “Has he bitten anyone lately?”

“Only my last cleaning woman,” Lisette said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “And Albert was right about her because she certainly wasn’t very dedicated. She quit that very day.”

Mei smothered a laugh at her umbrage. “You’re just lucky the woman didn’t sue.”

“She’s lucky that I gave her a good reference.” Lisette ruffled her companion’s soft ears. “You’re welcome to your old room upstairs, or you could use one of the cottages. Aspen has already been winterized for the season, but Silver Bells has a better furnace.”

Mei’s heart lifted at the offer. “A cottage would be wonderful, Mom.”

The pretty little rental cottages were set in a stand of pines at the far end of the property along Silver Creek, barely visible from the main house. They’d been part of the quaint resort run by the previous owners, though the other cottages had been torn down long ago.

“You can have it for the year you’ll be here, if you like.”

Mei’s reason for coming early was to be supportive during her brother’s troubles, and being close by without sharing the same roof would be perfect. “I’ll be happy to pay the full lease.”

“I can’t take your money, dear,” Lisette protested. “You’re my daughter.”

“But you’ll be losing income from tourist rentals.”

Lisette fluttered her fingertips. “I hardly depend on that, as you must know. It’s mostly just a bit of a hobby for me.”

“At least let me pay half then.”

“Even that’s too much.” She frowned. “Do you even have a job? There aren’t many opportunities around here.”

“I called the principal here before I left San Francisco. I’ll be substitute teaching at the high school.”

“Really.” Lisette gave her a long, assessing look. “I can’t imagine that pays well.”

Mei sighed. Both of her parents had pushed so hard, wanting her to try for medical or dental school or even law school. That she’d followed her heart into teaching had been just one more disappointment for them … one more failed expectation. “I’ll be fine, really.”

“Okay, if you must—a hundred dollars a month. I’ll start a little savings account with it, and you can have it all back later.”

From the glint in her eye Mei knew it would do no good to argue, even though the cottages rented for more than that for a single night. “Deal. That’s awesome, Mom.”

“Stay here tonight, and tomorrow you can move into the cottage. One of your cousins called this morning and said she’d stop by to help you settle in.”