The Chesapeake Diaries Series 7-Book Bundle: Coming HOme, Home Again, Almost Home, Hometown Girl, Home for the Summer, The Long Way Home, At the River's Edge (95 page)

“Would you like me to drive you?” Wade asked.

“Why on earth would I want you to do that?”

“I just thought maybe you’d like the company.” He couldn’t bring himself to say the words, that he was concerned about her. This morning had been the first time since he’d been home that Berry’s memory had seemed a bit short-circuited. He’d have to ask Dallas if she’d noticed anything similar since she moved back.

“Dear, these days, I have all the company I need.” Berry stood and stretched her back, then called Ally back from the dock. “Besides, one would almost get the impression that you think I might not be capable of driving myself.” Her eyes narrowed. “I may get distracted from time to time, Wade, but I am not getting senile. Please feel free to ask Dr. Harmon, who keeps a close eye on such things. It may be hard to believe, but I have a number of things on my mind right now, any one of which would distract—dare I say it?—even someone
your
age.”

“I’m sorry that the kids and I—”

“Oh, pooh on that.” She shot him The Look again. “I’m talking about real distractions. For one thing, I’m preparing to return to the screen in my first film in … well, in more years than I like to think about.”

“
Pretty Maids
. The film Dallas is going to make.”

Berry nodded. “There’s going to be a tremendous
amount of pressure on me. Everyone in Hollywood will be looking to see if I screw it up.”

“You won’t screw it up, Berry.”

“Well, of course I won’t, but it takes a lot of focus to get into a character like Rosemarie.” She rested her arms on the back of her chair and looked toward the Bay. “I don’t want to let Dallas down.”

“You won’t.”

“And we’re having a huge party here for Dallas’s birthday, and then I suppose we’ll be planning a wedding at some undisclosed future date. And there are … other things. Things I don’t need to be discussing with you here in the backyard.” She tried to smile. “At least, not yet.”

“Are you okay? You’re not sick or anything …?”

“No, no. Nothing like that. Just … things I have to work out for myself. Decisions to make.” She turned to the dock. “Ally, leave those poor geese alone. Come along, pup. It’s time to go in.”

The dog flew to her side, the geese apparently forgotten, and Berry bent over to stroke her head.

“You are such a good girl, Ally. Such a good and obedient girl. Let’s go inside and see if we can find a treat with your name on it.”

She tapped Wade on the head before starting toward the house. “And you’re a good boy. A bit misguided at times, but a good boy all the same. Perhaps we’ll find a treat for you in the kitchen as well.”

Wade laughed in spite of himself, and set off for the carriage house to fix the ladder.

“Oh, and Wade?” Berry called to him. “Please don’t make dinner plans for tomorrow night. We’re having a guest. Someone I’d like you to meet.”

“Sure. Who’s coming for dinner?”

“My beau.” Berry smiled and continued on to the house.

“Your
beau
?” Wade repeated, then called to her retreating form, “Did you say, your beau?”

Whether Berry had not heard him, or had heard and was ignoring him, he wasn’t sure, but she never acknowledged his question.

“Berry has a beau,” he muttered as he picked up the hose. “Does anyone even say ‘beau’ anymore …?”

Berry was still on Wade’s mind when Dallas came into the kitchen while he and Austin were eating lunch.

“What’s this about Berry having a beau?” Wade asked.

Dallas grinned. “Oh, so she told you about Archer.”

“Who’s Archer?”

“Archer Callahan, who, I suspect, was the great love of Berry’s life.”

“How come I never heard of him?”

“I hadn’t heard about him until this summer. I think she kept that part of her life to herself, but once he retired—he’d been a judge and then went back to practicing law and then I believe his wife died—anyway, he and Berry have gotten back together.”

“You’ve met him?”

“Oh, sure. He comes for dinner every week, spends a day or two, then goes—”

“Spends a day or two where?” Wade frowned.

“Well, here, of course.”

“Where does he sleep?”

“Anywhere he wants,” she replied playfully, and poked her brother in the ribs.

“Seriously. Does he stay in the guest room?”

“Of course not. He stays with her.”

“With Cody in the house? You think that’s okay?”

Dallas stared at him. “Excuse me while I go into the basement and check for pods.”

“Dallas …”

“Ha!” She snapped her fingers. “They’re in the carriage house, aren’t they?”

“Stop fooling around,” he said. “You think it’s okay for her to have a man sleeping over and staying in her room? With her?”

“Don’t try to change the subject, Pod Person. Somehow you’ve changed my wild child brother into a prude.”

“I’m not a prude, I just think she—”

“Should do exactly as she pleases because (a) she is an adult”—Dallas held up one finger—“and (b) this is her home. I don’t comment one way or another because of
a
and
b
, and because it’s none of my business.”

“All good points.” He nodded. “Still, what do eighty-year-old people …” He paused. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

Dallas laughed and went to the sink to fill the teapot with water.

“I did want to talk to you about Berry, though,” he said. “She’s going to be eighty-two on her next birthday, right?”

“Right.” Dallas grinned. “Good luck getting her to admit it, though. Why do you ask?”

Wade related the conversation that he’d had with their great-aunt earlier that morning.

“You’re saying that she had a problem following the conversation?” Dallas proceeded to make herself a cup of tea.

“You’ve been here much longer than I have this year. Have you noticed her having any memory lapses or forgetting things, that sort of thing?”

Dallas shook her head. “Well, nothing out of the usual.”

“What’s the usual?”

“You know, coming into a room and forgetting what she came in for, but I do that myself.”

“Does she do it often?”

“Just occasionally.” Dallas took the chair across from Wade at the table. “I haven’t noticed anything that gave me pause, though. Nothing that’s been a red flag.”

“Do you think maybe we should have her make an appointment with her doctor, have him check to see if she has any other symptoms.”

“Symptoms of …?”

“Well, you know. Forgetfulness. Confusion.”

“Oh, for crying out loud, Wade. Don’t you think you’re overreacting just a wee bit?”

“I don’t remember her being forgetful like that before.”

“You haven’t really been around her very much these past few years,” she reminded him.

“True enough. But she is past eighty, whether she wants to admit it or not.”

“Are you sure it’s really a problem? Maybe you’ve just forgotten that the elderly sometimes do things
like that if they’re not focused on the conversation. Did you call her on it this morning?”

“She said she was just distracted, that she has a lot on her mind.”

“Of course, she has a lot on her mind, Wade. She’s planning on making a film—a film in which she will be the big star name—for the first time in decades. She and I have been rehearsing lines every afternoon, she’s so determined to give the exact right performance.” Dallas went to the fridge and took out some cheese and an apple. “Sweetie, you have no idea how difficult it is to give a great performance—and Berry has always prided herself on being great. ‘Good enough’ has never been good enough for her, understand?”

Wade nodded.

“And she probably is distracted,” Dallas continued, “with the kids and you and me here. She’s used to a quiet life, she’s lived alone for years. I know that she says she loves having us—and I’m sure she does—but maybe it’s too much for her,” Dallas said. “But of course, that won’t be a problem in another few months. Grant and I will be getting married, so Cody and I will be moving into his house.”

“So he’s really the one? No more Mr. Hollywood?”

Dallas made a face. “I can’t believe how lucky we are to get a second chance. When I think of all the years we’ve wasted …”

“So now you can make up for lost time.” Wade patted her hand. “Grant’s a terrific guy. I couldn’t be happier.”

“Me either.” She opened the flatware drawer and searched for the cheese slicer and a paring knife.
Finding both, she returned to the table. “I feel like the luckiest person in the world right now. I really am the woman who has everything. A great guy, a great kid, a great opportunity to make films of my choosing right here in St. Dennis.”

“You forgot to add, a great brother.”

“You are a great brother. I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am that you are here with us, you and Austin.”

“Thanks. We’re happy to be here, aren’t we, ace?” Austin grinned through a mouthful of mac and cheese.

“Well, as far as Berry is concerned, I do think you’re overreacting. I believe her when she says she’s distracted, but if it makes you feel better, how ’bout if we both keep an eye on her.” Dallas cut the apple into wedges and offered a piece to Wade, who declined. “But keep in mind that on top of everything else, she’s excited about the big party we’re having for my birthday—she’s gotten involved with the planning and she’s looking forward to seeing everyone who’s coming from the West coast. She knows we’re going to be planning a wedding soon, so she’s looking forward to that. You know how she loves social events. Let’s see how things are when everything dies down.”

“Dallas, you know that I’m leaving in two weeks for Connecticut.”

“You’re still planning on going to work for that other guy?”

He nodded.

“Well, I don’t understand why you couldn’t start your own company here,” she pointed out. “You
don’t have to go to Connecticut to make beer for someone else.”

“Have you been talking to Berry?” He eyed her suspiciously.

Dallas shook her head. “Not about this. Why?”

“Because she and I just had this conversation this morning.”

“Well, that proves my point,” she said smugly. “There’s obviously nothing wrong with the way Berry’s thinking if she recognizes that you’d be better off here in St. Dennis.”

“Look, like I told Berry, there’s a lot involved. It’s a little more complicated than merely deciding to do it. I don’t have any equipment and I don’t have any capital nor do I have any collateral to obtain credit,” he said. “What I do have is a really good job offer from an up-and-coming brewery. All I have to do is show up every day and make beer. I don’t have to run the business, I don’t have to deal with the problems, and I get to leave at the end of the workday. All pretty appealing to a single parent.”

“Well, let’s think this through.” She sliced off a thin rectangle of cheese and took a bite. “Say you go to work for this other guy, and you make your beer for him.” She paused. “Did he make you sign a noncompete clause? And if you leave there, do all of your recipes stay with him? Can you open another brewery and use those same recipes elsewhere?”

“I haven’t signed anything yet. It was a verbal offer and accept.” He thought it over for a moment. “Though a contract was mentioned.”

“Get a copy of that now, before you leave St. Dennis.”

“I did request it. But I’ll call him again and remind him that I’m still waiting for it.”

“So say you go to work for him, and in three or six months you decide you hate working for someone else. If you’ve already signed away your brewing secrets, you’re screwed, Wade.”

“True enough. Though Ted didn’t mention that that would be part of the deal, that whatever I bring with me has to stay with him if I leave.”

“It will be in there, once his lawyers get their hands on it.” She cut another paper-thin slice of cheese. “So let’s talk alternatives. You mentioned the expense. I could loan you the start-up money.”

Wade watched Austin drop a handful of macaroni onto the floor.

“Thanks, Dallas, but I don’t know that I have the mental energy to start another business from the ground up. Ted’s offer is appealing because everything will be set up by the time I get there, and I won’t have to invest anything except my talent for brewing beer.” He smiled. “Which I admit is considerable.”

“Oops.” Austin leaned over the side of high chair to point at the mess. Wade cleaned it up with a napkin, which he tossed into the trash.

“Besides, I’d feel like I’m taking advantage of you.”

“Please. You’re my brother. Only one I have. And note I said ‘loan,’ not ‘give.’ Then again, maybe I’d rather be a silent partner.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Please do that.”

“I’d think you’d have your hands full with starting up your own business.”

Her eyes danced. “My own production company.
My own creative team, my own films. I do believe I have died and am on my way to heaven. But I digress. Why not draw up some figures for me and we’ll talk about it?”

“That’s very generous of you.” He sliced a piece off her apple and handed it to Austin. “But I’ve already pretty much committed.”

“Oh, like you’d be the first person ever to change your mind about a job.” She rolled her eyes. “Besides, you haven’t seen the contract yet, so you couldn’t have agreed to all the terms. Wait and see what kind of commitment he’s talking about.”