Page 37 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance
Chapter Eight
“ARE YOU GOING TO THEranch again today?”
On the terrace enjoying the breathtaking view, Skylar looked up at her grandmother from her breakfast plate the next day, her mouth agape. Her fork clattered to the blue metal bistro table, bounced, and would have hit the bright patio stones if she hadn’t caught it. “Why... why would I do that?” She wasn’t looking for excuses to see Dallas. Absolutely not!
Breeze, stretched on the sun-warmed patio stones, lifted her head as if also confused.
“To discuss the wedding reception at their barn. Why else?” Grandma blinked, her expression harmless.
Right. Skylar’s brain must be as scrambled as these eggs. “But... but... but, Grandma, how about I dropyouoff there? Andyoudiscuss the reception and decorations foryourwedding?” Wasn’tthatlogical? And Skylar was all about logic these days.
She must’ve raised her voice because Breeze leaped to her feet, gave out a bark, and pressed in close. “It’s okay, sweetie.” Skylar reached to calm the dog and rub her smooth, gorgeous fur.
Breeze sat near her chair, vigilant.
“Nah.” Grandma waved her off. “I trustyourjudgment.”
The issue was Skylar didn’t trust herself anywhere near Dallas. Her heart fluttered. She didn’t even need to benearhim to feel all these palpitations. She didn’t trust herself with him—period.
Concentrate on the things at hand.
She went over her mental list of wedding preparations. Yesterday, she’d taken Grandma to the local florist where Mom once used to work to choose the bridal bouquet and one for the maid of honor. The flowery aromas seemed as unattainable and fleeting as her memories. Grandma had chosen the bouquet with pink hibiscus, reminding Skylar of the days she’d called her friendship with her cousins “The Hibiscus Sisterhood.” “Okay, I’m glad you’re happy with your bridal bouquet order. And I’m happy with mine. But we still need to decide on the table centerpieces and wall decorations. Chair decorations, too.”
Breeze gave up her watch and trudged after some insect on a jade-painted stone. Skylar tensed, then relaxed at the sight of a ladybug. Not a spider.
Grandma smiled like a Cheshire cat. “Hence, your visit to the ranch.”
Well, two could play this game. Skylar pressed her feet against the smooth stones beneath her, grounding herself as she leaned across the indigo-blue metal table. “You meanourvisit to the ranch? I want everything to be toyourliking.”
After a pause, Grandma nodded. “Okay. Good point. While we want to get married only once, the reality is we never know. But I’m sure there’s going to be only one wedding in the time left for me. I don’t need it to be perfect. But yeah, it needs to be to my liking.”
Skylar’s heart contracted as she gulped a sip of her morning tea. Would there ever be a fairy-tale wedding in her life? Well, she’d stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago. And a beautiful wedding and a happy marriage weren’t an entitlement or a right but a privilege.
Then she realized something was off in Grandma’s expression. Most of her scrambled eggs remained uneaten, and even her cup of tea was full. Grandmaneverleft her teacup untouched.
“What’s wrong?” Skylar asked. Oh no. Grandma didn’t suggest picking up her fiancé to go with them. “Earl is still on a trip, right?”
Grandma’s gnarled fingers tightened around her cup. “He was supposed to be back by now. But he’s not. And he’s not answering his phone. I guess the business trip is taking longer than expected. And if he’s in a no-coverage zone, I understand he doesn’t get my calls. But wouldn’t he get some way to let me know?”
Skylar’s heart dropped onto the patio stones, and she pushed the plate away. “Do you have any other ways to contact him?” Sometimes places without cell coverage had internet reception or at least landlines. “A work phone number or social media, maybe?”
Her grandmother shook her head.
Okay, okay. No need to worry yet. Skylar touched the necklace over the smooth fabric of her blouse that happened to match the table. Despite the hurt of the breakup, Dallas’s necklace had brought her comfort throughout the years. “You said he works with antique cars. What is his business’s name? We can look it up on the internet.”
“I don’t know the name.” Grandma scrunched up her nose and blinked damp eyes behind her glasses.
Not good.
Breeze barked as if to confirm it.
“How about his family? You said you met his son, right?” Skylar spread out her hands. She should’ve interfered a long time ago. What if someone was trying to take advantage of Grandma? Her grandmother wasn’t rich by any means, and the tiny cottage was willed to Skylar already. But one never knew.
“Well, we sort of met via videoconference. I have his son’s phone number.” Grandma grimaced. “But that guy, um, isn’t exactly fond of me.”