Page 47 of It’s Your Love
Vivie laughed. “No.” She took the bags from Beth and placed them into the freezer. “You’ve always been the person everyone else relies on. Often in the background. Sometimes with the thankless tasks.” She closed the freezer door. “But whatever you do, you make a difference to everyone around you. We want you to know—no matter what size part you’re playing, we’re always going to be here for you. God is always here for you. Nothing surprises Him. Not the small parts or the big parts that come your way.”
“I wish He’d let me in on His plans.”
“He brought Grayson into Deep Haven right when you needed him. Who would have thought?”
Beth carried the cutting board to the sink and turned on the water. “He said he’s selling his parents’ lot. He’s buying a place in Oregon.”
Vivien tilted her head. “Interesting. The lot doesn’t have a For Sale sign yet.”
“I’m sure it isn’t easy,” Beth said. “But I’m grateful he’s here to keep the camp running.” She swiped the vegetable cuttings into the disposal. “One of the horses he brought for Noah is this incredible sorrel gelding—and he’s beautiful. Coppery-red. That horse has a story.” She flipped on the disposal. “He’s got a brand, but it’s hard to tell exactly what it is. I’m going to see if I can find out any information on him.”
“A story? Like, he’s famous? Secretariat?”
“He was a thoroughbred—who’s buried in Kentucky. No, he looks like a quarter horse. Like Grayson said, not a horse you’d find in a camp string because he’s sensitive to subtle cues. Not a horse to have kids flopping around on.”
Vivien paced the kitchen. “Hmm…I didn’t imagine anyone could get you on a horse again. You were very adamant on Friday. Now you’re chasing down horse histories? Riding? He must have been very convincing.” Vivie waggled her brows. “If he isn’t staying, who knows? Maybe you could head west.”
“It isn’t like that.” Beth scrubbed the cutting board. “The hardest part was actually getting on. Asking Rex for that first step—and taking it. The mechanics of riding and the feel of it all came back to me.”
“That’s amazing,” Vivien said. “But let’s not forget how many times I’ve suggested it, and you never got on a horse for me.”
“I knew you’d say that.” Beth rinsed the cutting board and set it on the towel. “I’m kind of sorry I waited so long.”
“See? God knew what you needed.”
Beth dried her hands. “He could have provided it sooner.”
“Maybe,” Vivie answered.
Beth’s phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. Grayson.
Vivien smirked. “Oh, look who it is.”
“You know what? I’m not going to answer that.” The last thing Beth needed was Vivie eavesdropping on a conversation with Grayson.
“Why not?”
“Because we’re going shopping in Duluth.”
seven
“Dowe have to talk about this right now?” Robin opened the bakery oven door and pulled a cake pan from the rack with potholders.
Grayson could almost taste the amaretto. But he wasn’t here for sweets, treats, or mouth-watering tarts.
He hadn’t wanted to corner her in the bakery after closing Monday night, but he’d come to realize there wasn’t going to be a “best time” for their talk. There’d been one thing after another since he’d arrived in town, and he couldn’t leave Vincent and Rose waiting for his answer.
Grayson stepped out of Robin’s way when she scrambled past him, hot pan in hand. When it came down to it, he didn’t want to talk about it right now either. Actually, he didn’t want to talk about it at all—but he had an appointment with a real estate agent, and he needed Robin’s blessing before he felt right about putting the lot on the market.
If he wasn’t going to buy the Tuckers’ place, then they had to get it ready for listing. But he’d never find a more suitable location or a better price.
“I don’t know how to have this conversation either. Trust me, I didn’t know how to bring it up again.”
She leaned down, scanning the surface of the sheet cake.
“Perfect.”
“I get it—it isn’t a great time. You don’t have to be sarcastic.”