Love Finds the One (Sully Point Book 2) (21 page)

"Okay then. Frankly, I doubt she'll get here until
later in the day. I think I'll go wander around and then be back in a
while."

"Sounds good. Thanks Dad, for being here."

"Not a problem," he said smiling at her fondly.

* * * *

Frank finished ringing up a sale on the cash register and
noticed the man who had just walked into the store. He was dressed in what had
to be an expensive suit and silk tie. It would be interesting to see just what
hardware a type like this would want.

"Can I help you, sir?"

The man came over to the checkout counter. "Yes, at
least, I hope so. I noticed this place is named Grainger Hardware. Are you Mr.
Grainger?"

"Yes, I am Frank Grainger," he said feeling
perplexed.

The man smiled and stuck out his hand. "I'm Robert Tremaine,
Julia's father."

"Ah," Frank said and shook his hand. "Very
nice to meet you, Mr. Tremaine."

"Call me Rob, since from what I hear, we're going to be
family."

Frank smiled at him. "Yes indeed. You must have been
over at Julia's Place. My son, Cody, thinks she's the best thing that's ever
happened to him. And, I do too, for that matter. They seem to be very much in
love."

"I'm glad to hear that. I want Julia to be happy, and
if your son is the one for her, then I'm all for it. Tell me, where can I find Cody?"

"He'll be at his store, the Bait and Tackle Shop down
at the docks." Frank proceeded to draw quick directions on a piece of
paper. "Going to check him out?"

Rob chuckled. "Perhaps that's part of it. But I also
want to warn him to make time to be at Julia's later today. I'm almost positive
her mother, my wife Abby, is going to show up. I expect all hell to break loose
when she does."

Frank frowned. "This sounds bad. I've heard about Julia's
mother, and pardon my saying it, but she sounds like a major pain in the--well,
a pretty bad sort."

"Yes, she is. I've only recently decided it's time to
get her out of my life. I know Julia has to stand up to her mother, but I also
think she needs supportive people around her. I plan to be there."

"I think I could manage to close up and hang around
over there later this afternoon. It's good to meet you, Rob. Welcome to the
family."

Rob nodded and took the paper with directions. "I think
I'll go speak to Cody now. I'll see you later."

Frank decided to call Holly. He wanted to know everything he
could about Julia's mother.

* * * *

Cody answered a customer's question about a fishing rod and
then turned to face the man left standing at the counter. "How can I help
you, sir?"

Rob stuck out his hand. "I'm Rob Tremaine, Julia's father."

Cody knew he looked startled as he gripped the man's hand.
"It's great to meet you, Mr. Tremaine. I know how much your recent phone
call with Julia meant to her."

"I've just come from her new business. She told me
about the engagement. She seems very happy. I wanted to ask you to plan on
being at Julia's this afternoon, later on." He proceeded to tell Cody
about his suspicions regarding Mrs. Tremaine. Cody was appalled.

"I can't believe she plans on disrupting Julia's big
day," he said.

Rob had a look of deep concern on his face. "I wish it
weren't true, but I know my wife. She's determined to get Julia back to the
city and under her thumb again. It won't be pleasant."

"I'll definitely plan on being with Julia. She doesn't
have to be alone."

The other man smiled. "Good to know. Now why don't you
show me around your store. A long time ago I did some sport fishing and had a
blast. Maybe it's time I returned to my old hobbies."

Cody was a little nervous taking Mr. Tremaine around to see
the place, but he was also proud of what he had made. Halfway through the tour they'd
made plans to go out on the charter boat once the weather was a bit warmer.

Mr. Tremaine was a polite, quiet-spoken man who was very
self-assured. Cody knew he'd made his money on Wall Street. As they talked of
fishing and other outdoor sports, Cody relaxed. He liked the man, and was very
glad her father appeared to be coming back into Julia's life.

Rob Tremaine left soon after, and Cody smiled to himself thinking
about the time he'd taken Julia out on the boat. She was a disaster as a
fisherman and had somehow managed to completely tangle up two lines from
different fishing rods. Then, as the waves had become choppy she'd become sea
sick. It had not been a pleasant afternoon. Now, she was facing more
unpleasantness and Cody couldn't think of any way to protect her from it. All
he could do was to be there for her. He got on the phone to call in an extra
worker to take over for him.

* * * *

By the time late afternoon rolled around, Julia was feeling
close to exhausted. It had been a long busy day, but she felt optimistic about
the future. Everyone she talked to seemed thrilled to know someone would be in
town who could handle their computer needs. Prejudice against 'those dweebs at
the mall store' ran high. Mostly, Julia figured, because of the outrageous
pricing structure.

Cody walked in, and Julia found herself smiling at him.
"You look beat but good," he said to her. He gave her a long hug and
asked, "Was it a good day?"

"It was a great day," she replied with
satisfaction. "Lots of potential business and already some jobs lined
up."

"That's great, babe. You're a hit."

"By the way, I think the whole town expects an
invitation to the wedding. We may have to hold it at the high school football
stadium."

He laughed. "I met your father today."

She pulled back and looked in his eyes. "You look okay.
It went well?"

"Yes, he's a really nice guy."

"Funny. He's known as a barracuda down on Wall
Street."

Cody's eyebrows rose in surprise. "I would not have guessed
that from talking with him."

"Did he tell you, Mother may be showing up?"

"Yes. I'm staying here until you're ready to go home
tonight. You won't have to face her alone."

They turned as the door opened. Mr. Tremaine and Frank
walked in together. "Thought we'd arrive early for our little party,"
Frank said. "Rob and I were talking about whether you could provide
internet service for the community from here, rather than our using the old
dial-up service we currently have."

Julia frowned. "I'm not sure I want to jump into
something that big right away."

Her father said, "This is just speculation for the
future."

Frank headed back to the kitchen. "Come with me, Rob,
and we'll see if there's any coffee left."

Cody and Julia turned to watch the two men walk past. Julia
said, "They seem to be getting along quite well."

Cody nodded. "They also turned up at an opportune time,
don't you think?"

Julia smiled at him. "I'm surrounded by
protectors."

"That's good. You'll need them," a woman's voice
said from the doorway. Julia's mother had arrived.

Chapter 10

"Mother! You startled me," Julia said, moving a
step away from Cody.

"Come now. Surely, you knew I'd find out about your
little hobby."

"Hobby?"

Abby Tremaine walked further into the room. "This
computer thing," she said, waving an arm at the space. "It was a
teenage hobby, Julia, not something a grown woman does for a living."

"It was what I loved doing, Mother."

"Yes, well, I know you thought so. If you can believe
it, I actually had to pay off your guidance counselor to get the school to push
you away from computers and into business courses."

Julia straightened her shoulders and stared with squinted
eyes at her mother. "You did what? All that time, I thought I didn't
really have an aptitude for it because of what they said--you did that?"

"Of course, dear. I was always looking out for your
best interests."

Cody took a step toward Julia, then stopped as Mrs. Tremaine
said, "Who do we have here? Is this the young man I've heard about?
Your...betrothed?"

Julia felt her cheeks blush. Her mother could always make
her feel awkward. "Yes, this is Cody Grainger. Cody, my mother, Abby Tremaine."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am."

"'Ma'am,' listen to his down home accent. What on earth
are you thinking Julia? He's not at your level socially or financially. He
sells worms for pity's sake!"

"I love him, and he loves me, and we're going to be
married. You're just going to have to accept that." Julia took Cody's hand
in hers and he gave a little squeeze of support.

"He loves you, does he? Don't you find that just the
tiniest bit convenient?"

"What are you talking about?" Julia knew she
shouldn't get sucked into this, but she was completely baffled.

"Do you honestly think a guy from a town like this
isn't out for what he can get? I did my research before coming here. How many
women has he been with? And, suddenly, he wants to 'settle down' and marry you?
No, of course, it couldn't be your millions now, could it," she said,
dripping sarcasm in her voice.

"Abigail, stop this," Rob Tremaine said as he
advanced into the room from the kitchen.

Shaken, Julia said, "Mother, Cody and I love each
other. Money doesn't enter into it."

"Oh? Really? Then I have to wonder, Julia, just how
that is. He must know you'll have access to millions of dollars. You think the
money never crosses his mind?"

Julia glanced over to see Cody turn white around the mouth
as his lips tightened. He looked furious--but also confused, which confused
Julia since she'd told him about the trust fund.

Her mother continued. "Here's a guy selling worms to
fishermen. Do you honestly think he wants to be doing that for the rest of his
life? Wake up! He doesn't love you, he loves what you'll have--all that lovely
money."

"Stop it! You're wrong. You're--" Julia suddenly
stopped talking as Cody dropped her hand. She looked at him and saw his face looked
shocked. "Cody--"

"Millions?" Cody asked in a stunned voice.
"You never said--"

"Cody, I told you about the trust fund."

"But not that it would be millions. My God, Julia, you
should have told me."

Her mother said, "Sure, act like you didn't know about
her money. Right."

Julia ignored her mother and turned to face Cody. He was
scaring her with that look on his face, like he'd been doomed or something.

"Cody, I didn't bother telling you because it doesn't
matter!"

"You're wrong, Julia. That much money does matter. It
makes a difference."

She was utterly confused by his statement, and then shocked
when she saw Cody walk out the door. He'd left!

"Aha," Abby said. "You see, that's the kind
of man you hooked up with, the kind who will walk away and leave you."

"Shut up, Mother, just shut the hell up!" Julia
said loudly. She needed to think. She needed to go find Cody to see what was
wrong. She needed to know he wasn't leaving her.

"You belong back in the city, back in your job. I've
decided to promote you to vice-president. You'll come with me, away from this
backwater of a town, and everything will be normal again."

"Nothing is normal with you," Julia said tersely.
"You've tried to control me since I was five years old and you're still
trying to do it now. I hate the advertising business! I'm going to work at what
I love, what I'm good at. You can leave now. Our relationship is
finished."

"Look here, Julia, I won't have you speaking to me in
that manner." She began to march toward her daughter, only to be stopped
as Rob stepped up to her and took hold of her arm.

"That's enough, Abigail. No more. I've let this go on
far too long. Julia has made it clear she doesn't want you here, doesn't want
you in her life. Leave here now."

"You can't--"

"Yes, Abby, I can. And, by the way, I'm divorcing
you."

She stood looking at him in shock. He took her by the elbow
and turned her away from Julia, saying, "Time to go Abby, and stay the
hell away from my daughter."

As she watched her father march her mother out the door, she
felt Frank come up beside her. She whirled to him and burst into tears as he
put his arms around her. He patted her on the back, but said nothing.

* * * *

The party didn't happen. Sam and Anna showed up and heard
the story, along with Mrs. Gilchrest. Rob and Frank were the ones who told
them, while Julia sat in one of the chairs staring at her folded hands on her
lap. She couldn't figure out what had just happened. It shouldn't feel like
this, she thought. She'd finally stood up to her mother and instead of feeling
good she felt awful. Something about the way Cody had left, with such an air of
finality, had her scared to death.

"Julia, honey, do you want to come out to the beach
house with us tonight?" Anna asked softly.

"No, no, I'll go back to the loft. Sorry I'm such a
party pooper everyone. This has been--"

"Don't worry about it, Julia. Let's clean things up
here and get you home," Frank said.

Between them, they cleaned up the small kitchen and set the
large room to rights. Julia was the last one out the door, locking it.

Frank, and then her father, both offered to stay at the loft
with her, but she told them she wanted to be alone. The two men finally left
together to go to Frank's house.

Julia sat in her car for a while, before finally driving to
the loft. Suddenly, she was sure Cody would be calling her any minute or
showing up to explain. She settled into the loft with a sense of expectation.
But, nothing happened. No phone call, no visit, no Cody.

She knew she shouldn't jump to conclusions, especially after
what had happened that time with Holly. Cody had said he loved her and wanted
to marry her. But, what was she supposed to think when he had walked out on her?
Was he regretting asking her to marry him? Surely the money couldn't make a
difference in their relationship. And what did it say about him if it did?