Back to Texas (9 page)

Adam wasn’t sure how Bridgett would feel about a birthday party this year because of all the lies she’d been told about her birth. “Bridgett’s mom and sister aren’t coming?”

“I didn’t invite them.” Mazie shrugged. “There’s a celebration planned at Slater’s Mill later for the two of them but Bridgett has no intention of going, so I think she’d rather steer clear of her family tonight. I don’t know how she will react to the party, but I figured if she wanted to celebrate with anyone, it would be you.”

Adam smiled at the unexpected compliment. He hadn’t been certain how much he’d come to mean to Bridgett until Mazie confirmed it. “I have no idea what to give her.” Bridgett had seemed uncomfortable when he’d paid for her scarf and candied apple at the Harvest Festival. “Any suggestions?”

“Bridgett doesn’t own much,” Mazie said. “She moved in here with a couple of suitcases. Those cowboy boots she wears all the time are the one pair she owns. Outside of her work sneakers, she has maybe two pairs of heels. She doesn’t even own a computer. She either uses mine or heads to the library. She has her car and it’s amazing it hasn’t fallen apart in the parking lot already. Bottom line, she isn’t very materialistic so there’s nothing you can buy her that she would appreciate more than just having you around.”

Adam hadn’t taken the time to think about what Bridgett did or didn’t have. He knew she had moved into the Bed & Biscuit after leaving her mother’s house, but the prospect of her owning nothing else hadn’t crossed his mind. All the women he knew in Los Angeles acquired more junk than they had room for...especially when it came to clothes and shoes.

“She does have pierced ears though.” Adam remembered seeing a jewelry store on Main Street.

Mazie nodded. “I don’t think she wants you to buy her a gift, Adam. Between the situation with her mother and just meeting you, it might make her feel awkward. But I can already see you’re not going to listen to me, so if you do buy her something don’t spend too much. She’s not that type of girl.”

“Thank you for the advice.” Adam tried to think of something related to cooking, but he hadn’t seen any kitchen stores in town. Not that Bridgett had a kitchen of her own. “Can I help you with anything this morning?”

“No, but thank you for asking.” The hint of a smile told Adam that Mazie was beginning to warm up to him. “I’m sure you have your own plans before starting your new job tomorrow.”

“A few.” Adam had to fill Lizzy in on what to expect when the truth came out. She was his only way of reaching his parents and the more he thought about it, the more he was convinced it would be better for them to be far from home when the news broke. But his father would never abandon his ranch, not even with a full security detail on the grounds. “What time’s the party tonight?”

“Lexi and Shane will be here around six.” Mazie checked her watch. “I’ll need you to keep her occupied elsewhere this afternoon so I can set up—I want tonight to be a surprise. I don’t want her to come here after her shift at The Magpie and start cleaning this place. That’s out of the question on her birthday. But Bridgett’s stubborn. It will take some doing on your part to keep her away.”

“Sure. What won’t make her suspicious though?”

“Take her pumpkin picking.”

“Take her what?” Adam laughed.

Mazie ducked into the kitchen and returned with her purse. “Tell her I asked you to get them today because by the weekend the patch will be picked over. I always decorate the front of the inn with pumpkins, and if time permits I’ll hand-paint some of them. Bridgett will know what sizes I need. It should keep you two occupied for a few hours.” Mazie removed some bills from her wallet and handed them to him. “This should cover it. And don’t let anyone talk you out of paying for them, either. I need too many pumpkins to keep getting them for free. It makes me feel guilty.”

“Then pumpkin picking it is.” Adam couldn’t remember the last pumpkin he’d picked or carved. It must have been with his mother and sister when they were kids. Dad would have been too busy to join them. One year they grew their own. They hadn’t gotten very large, but it had been fun for two little kids to turn the pumpkins every day so they wouldn’t rot. “Do they have any corn field mazes nearby?”

“My family’s farm, that’s where you’ll get the pumpkins, has one the night before Halloween. It’s enough to scare the bejesus out of you. It’s open for one night only and my brother’s in charge of it. The way he has it rigged, I guarantee it will take ten years off your life. I won’t go through it anymore.”

“I hadn’t realized you were raised on a farm.” For some odd reason Adam had difficulty envisioning Mazie working in the fields. She seemed more of a city-bred girl.

“Born and raised. My entire family—aunts, uncles, cousins—all live out there. We have a petting zoo, a country store complete with a country kitchen. Lawson’s Farm is the local tourist attraction for people coming off the interstate. You would have passed it on the way in. I guess it was only fitting I opened up a bed-and-breakfast.”

Adam regarded Mazie. She and Lexi couldn’t have been more different. While Lexi was a tall thin brunette who looked as if she was completely at home working in a barn, Mazie’s softer silhouette and reddish-blond hair enhanced her more sophisticated appearance. He couldn’t picture Mazie digging in the dirt, but definitely could envision her at the helm of a five-star restaurant.

“I know my staying here was unexpected and probably against your better judgment,” Adam said. “I wanted to thank you. I appreciate you renting me the room you reserve for your family. I’ll be out of your hair by the end of the week once I settle in at Bridle Dance.”

“You’re welcome. I will admit I was uncertain about your relationship with Bridgett. I’m less so now. You seem to be a fairly decent guy and as long as you don’t break her heart, I think we’ll get along fine.”

If that hadn’t made Adam feel guiltier than a puppy standing next to a puddle, he didn’t know what would. “I understand why you’re protective of her.”

“I think Ruby meant well by keeping her secret about Abby and Bridgett. But the way she dealt with it afterward left a lot to be desired. Ruby did an awful lot of fawning and bragging that her newfound daughter is a physical therapist. She rambled on and on about Abby’s accomplishments to anyone who’d listen. You could see Bridgett shut down when Ruby carried on. Bridgett won’t say anything because she doesn’t want to appear petty or jealous. But between Darren’s three kids and Abby, Bridgett feels left behind when it comes to education.”

“What does she want?” Adam asked. “Apart from opening a restaurant. Is there anything else?”

“Somewhere she can call her own. Bridgett can stay here as long as she pleases, but for her own sake, I hope she gets an apartment. It would give her a sense of accomplishment. Has she told you she’s looking for a job outside of town?”

Adam stared at Mazie. Bridgett had said no one else knew of her plans and Adam wondered if Mazie had set a trap for him to divulge her secret. “Plans?”

“Bridgett forgot to clear the browser’s history the other day. I saw every job she’d applied for online.” Mazie sighed. “She has told you, hasn’t she?”

“Yes.” Adam hesitated, measuring how much he should say. “If it’s any consolation, she hasn’t heard back from any of them. I’ve tried to talk her out of leaving, but she’s determined to do it.”

Mazie clasped her hands over Adam’s. “Please continue to try. And don’t forget about tonight.”

“Leave it to me to get Bridgett here on time and I will see you later.”

Adam stepped onto the front porch full of uncertainty. Here he had accomplished so much in his life and regretted the majority of it and Bridgett wanted to accomplish something...anything. The difference was Bridgett’s future accomplishments would be honest.

Not that any of Adam’s music was a farce. They were all legitimate musicians, wrote their own songs and performed live without the aid of any pre-recorded tracks. But the angrier he’d gotten, the angrier their music had become. Sales had begun to dwindle and where they’d once headlined their own tours, they’d had to co-headline in order to sell tickets during this last run.

At the end of the day, Adam still loved music. It was his passion, but he wanted to use it to guide people, especially kids, down the right path. If he had to be the poster boy for what not to do in the music industry, so be it. He wanted people to learn from his mistakes. He wondered if he should write a book about the things he’d gone through, lessons he’d learned. Maybe he could donate the proceeds to a worthy cause.

When he’d originally sketched his music school, he had assumed it would be in LA. The potential for success was high and he’d done a substantial amount of preliminary research. Now he pictured the school in Texas, allowing those who didn’t have access to the recording metropolises to learn and grow with their music. He wasn’t sure if it would be Katy, Ramblewood or somewhere in between, but he’d decided Texas was best.

He wanted desperately to share his ideas with Bridgett and wondered if it were possible without her linking the pieces together. His biggest fear would be if she asked him to play something for her at the music store next to The Magpie. Too risky. She would be sure to recognize his voice then. It would have to wait.

Adam wanted to make Bridgett’s birthday special without overwhelming her. He’d love to write her a song, knowing she’d appreciate the sentiment, but he’d have to save that idea for next year.
Next year
. The thought of a future with Bridgett easily slipped into his thoughts. Adam snipped a rose from the side of the Bed & Biscuit, and decided to drop by the The Magpie to wish Bridgett a happy birthday. An idea for a present came to mind, one he was positive she’d love. He tabled any thought of telling Bridgett the truth today. This was her day and it deserved to be special.

* * *

“H
APPY
BIRTHDAY
!”

Maggie, Bert and Lark startled Bridgett with a mini celebration when she entered the luncheonette’s kitchen. They gathered around a chocolate ganache cake—her favorite—a single lit candle glowing in its center.

“Before you say anything, I know you wanted a low-key birthday,” Maggie began. “But we refuse to let this day go by without acknowledging how much we love you and how important you are to us. Besides, I only make this cake for special occasions and I can’t think of a more perfect reason than your birthday.”

Tears welled in Bridgett’s eyes, and her breath hitched in her throat, rendering her unable to speak. She managed a nod and hugged her dear friend.

“Happy birthday, kiddo.” Bert cut in and wrapped his arms around her. “I may never have had any children of my own, but if I had a daughter, I’d want her to be just like you. I love you as if you were my own.”

Oh, that did it.
Bring on the ugly-cry face.

“Look what you two have done to her.” Lark passed Bridgett a wad of paper towels. “We don’t know each other very well, but since the day I arrived, you have been nothing but nice to me. Thank you for being one of my first friends in town. Happy birthday.”

“Thank you.” Lark’s non-sappy diversion allowed Bridgett an opportunity to compose herself. “Thank you all. This was sweet of you. I normally don’t have chocolate cake for breakfast, but today I am definitely making an exception. Who’s up for a slice?”

“Blow out your candle before it burns the cake,” Maggie said. “Make a wish and don’t give me any arguments.”

Bridgett knew birthday wishes were a frivolous superstition, but she’d thought that about love at first sight, too, and now she questioned the possibility. Bridgett wished for the only thing she really wanted. Happiness—hopefully with Adam—somewhere drama free, and blew out the candles. Despite wanting to leave town and start over, Bridgett loved the people she worked with. Possibly too much to ever be able to leave them.

The four of them gathered in the kitchen, eating, while Bert and Maggie shared embarrassing stories about Bridgett’s childhood.

“Lark, you should’ve heard her.” Maggie waved her fork. “She couldn’t have been much more than five at the time. She burst into the luncheonette, climbed on a chair and belted out the song ‘9 to 5’ at the top of her lungs.” Maggie imitated a young Bridgett standing with her legs apart, hands on hips and her chest puffed out. “I have no idea how she got it in her head to come over here on her own, but she sure made a grand entrance.”

Lark stared at Bridgett. “Did you want to be a singer?”

“At that age, I thought I could be the next Dolly Parton,” Bridgett snickered. “My boobs didn’t quite measure up. But I can carry a tune—in the car with the windows rolled up.”

The front bell jangled. Maggie peered through the pass-through window, smiling. “Our first customer of the morning. Bridgett, dear, would you mind?”

“Um, yeah.” Bridgett rested her plate on the stainless steel counter and exited the kitchen. “Welcome to—”

Adam stood near the luncheonette’s entrance holding a single pink rose.

“Happy birthday! Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” Adam crossed the narrow dining area and gave Bridgett a chaste kiss on the cheek. “I’ll give you a better one later when we don’t have an audience,” Adam whispered, handing Bridgett the rose. “This is for you, but don’t tell Mazie I raided her rosebush. The florist isn’t open yet.”

“Thank you and I purposely hadn’t mentioned it because I don’t want you to fuss over me. It’s not—”

Bridgett stopped mid-sentence. Adam stared past her, clearly not listening to a single word she said. Bridgett spun around and caught Lark, Bert and Maggie waving from the kitchen pass-through.

“Okay, what’s going on?” Bridgett tapped her foot. “And don’t lie. Your smirks and giggles gave you away. What are you trying to rope Adam into?”

“Isn’t she paranoid?” Bert shook his head and disappeared from view.

“Are you in on some surprise with them?” Bridgett poked Adam’s chest. “Because if you are—”

Adam cut her off with a kiss, breaking it once Bridgett finally relented. “Sorry. I did warn you another kiss was coming. You taste like chocolate.”