Finding Promise (The Promise Series, A Small Town Romance) (25 page)

He grinned at her, placing the steaks on the table to rest.
“There’s more.” He walked to the seat and showed her a long, slim jewelry box.
“I got one for each of you. All three of you mean a lot to me. Rachel is like a
sister and Faith, well, as irritating as she can be at times, she is my sister.
And I just plain love you. I’m giving them their gifts tomorrow but I wanted to
give you yours tonight. I’m very proud of all of you and I couldn’t resist.” He
gave her the box and urged, “Go ahead, open it.”

A gold charm bracelet lay on the bed of white satin lining
the box. “Oh, wow. It’s beautiful, thank you.” Caroline took it out of the box
and looked at the attached charms. There were only three of them, a cupcake, a
frame and a dollar sign. Laughing at the significance of the charms, she threw
her arms around him and rewarded him well with a smoldering kiss.

“I’ll buy you a charm every day if you promise to kiss me
like that.” He sat down next to her, favoring her warm proximity to the
opposite bench. “I thought that the charms suited each of you perfectly,
cupcake. Now eat up, the steaks are getting cold and I know we’ve got one of
Faith’s lists to get through still tonight.”

“What do you mean, ‘we’?” She attacked the food, realising
that she’d skipped lunch.

“I’m going to help you. I won’t be able to sleep anyway with
you in the kitchen.” Seeing the smirk on her face, he offered, “I know I can’t
bake or cook in that kitchen of yours but if you tell me what to do, I could
help out.”

“That’s very sweet of you. I appreciate it.” Caroline didn’t
know how to let him down without hurting him. It was critical that the food tasted
good and he’s cooking skills were not up to scratch. He was trying to help
though, she acknowledged and if he started to make a mess of things, she’d just
sit him down with a mug of something and he could keep her company. It should
be an interesting night. 

Caroline took a big gulp of coffee, needing the caffeine to
shock her system into a state of wakefulness. She’d stayed up until two that
morning, finalizing her baking so that she could focus on finishing the petite savories.
After that she was joining Rachel and Faith at Serendipity to set up for their
grand opening tonight. After the event she promised herself a long, fragrant
bubble bath with a glass of wine and a good romance. She’ll even throw in
candles for ambience. Then Luke would collect on the debt she owed him, she
smiled in anticipation at the thought.

Loud knocking jolted her from her fantasies. That would be
Rachel and Faith. She looked at the clock, surprised at the early hour. It was
barely after six. Maybe, like her, they’d had trouble sleeping too. Going to
investigate, she saw that Luke was awake and yanking the door open, and what
she saw jolted her awake like no amount of caffeine would be capable of.

“Mother? Father?” She took a deep breath and reassembled
herself. “Hello. What a pleasant surprise? Please come in?” What an unpleasant
shock. The timing couldn’t have been more off. She knew that she was not
presentable and this was confirmed by her mother’s look of distaste. And good
Lord, Luke stood behind her in nothing but a pair of boxers and from the look
of things, he hadn’t been to the bathroom yet, giving her parents an eyeful.

Her parents stood before her, making no move to enter the
house. Her mother was a beautiful woman in her late fifties and looked at least
a decade younger. She was perfectly groomed in a light grey pants suit.
Caroline had inherited her looks from her mother but had her father’s eyes. Her
father was also dressed in a suit, his dark eyes disdainfully aimed at her and
Luke. He was a handsome man for his age with silver streaking his dark brown
hair. Presentation was of the utmost importance to him and he looked more
suitable for the boardroom than for a visit with his daughter. She saw the car
in the background, parked in front of her house. The classic black Lincoln
stood out against the rural charm of the garden in front of it. Claus, the
driver was leaning against the car and the look he gave her was sympathetic.
Obviously he’d overheard what the purpose of the visit was and this set the
scene for Caroline. She knew better than to expect that her parents would visit
her because they wanted to see her. Her father would never waste time on
something as frivolous as that.

Stepping aside, she presented Luke, “Mother, father, meet
Luke Edwards. Luke, these are my parents, Robert and Elizabeth Watkins.” Her
parents barely nodded to Luke, her father pointedly ignoring his outstretched
hand.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll have to change.” Seeing Caroline
rooted to the spot, a numb look on her face, he gave her a gentle push towards
the lounge, “Why don’t you guys get seated? I’ll be right down.” Despite Luke
hurriedly pulled on his clothes and made his way downstairs again. He felt
tension coil around Caro he moment she laid eyes on her parents. Remembering
what she’d told him of their relationship, he didn’t want to leave her alone
with them too long, at least, until she started relaxing again. It was a big
day for her with the bakery’s opening later and she didn’t need the added
stress.

“Are you staying long? Of course you’re welcome to stay
here.” Caroline was wringing her hands. She didn’t know what to say or do; her
parents had hardly said a word since sitting down in the lounge. Their horrific
glances at her lounge, Luke and even her didn’t bode well for the conversation.

 “May I offer you something to eat or drink?” Caroline
tried again to engage her parents. “It’s still early so I could easily prepare
breakfast for you.”

Her father tersely replied, “No, thank you. We won’t be
staying that long.”

“Are you staying in town then?” Caroline didn’t know what to
do other than make polite conversation. Well, as polite as allowed with the
negativity streaming from her parents. What were they doing here then?

“No, we’re not staying in town.” Her mother’s reply was as
frosty as her gaze. Caroline felt herself start to cringe under the censure.
“Caroline, who is that man?” her mother asked disapproval evident in her tone.

“That’s Luke. He’s my…”

“I’m her friend and prospective fiancé.” She didn’t know how
Luke had changed so quickly but she was immensely relieved for him to be back.
She needed him here and grabbed his hand when he sat next to her on the couch.

Raking his eyes over Luke, an expression of distaste, he
commandeered their attention. I see that our visit was timeous. We wouldn’t
like to put you through the inconvenience of an engagement that will never lead
to matrimony, Mr Edwards.”

“I’m afraid that the choice of matrimony or not remains mine
and Caroline’s, of course.” Luke fisted his hands at his side, remaining
outwardly calm for Caro’s sake. Her parents were snobs as was evident. He
understood that they had neither spoken to nor seen her in months, yet they
neither touched her in greeting nor asked how she’d been. That seemed
exceptionally cold-hearted to Luke. Luke knew that he was being insulted by her
parents. The gaze her father sent him was meant to intimidate but it failed miserably.
He may not have been born with money and prestige but he was raised to be man
enough to stand up for what was his. Caroline was his, regardless of whether
they were married or not and while he didn’t care what her parents thought of
him, he cared that they were hurting her. 

The look her father sent Luke was venomous and Caroline
cringed against it. It was amazing how after everything that’s happened the
past few months, her parents’ generalised disapproval of her still hurt.

“Mr Edwards, I’m afraid that you are mistaken. My daughter
will not be marrying you.” Before Luke could offer a rebuttal, her father
turned towards her. “In fact, Caroline, we came to fetch you. Your mother and I
agree that you’ve had enough time to rebel. Your responsibility is to us and
the family and you’re sadly lacking in your duties as the daughter we’ve raised
you to be.  So, we’ll wait for you to pack your bags. The lawyers can deal
with anything else, like selling this house and making amends to Mr Edwards for
any inconvenience.” Her father’s demeanor indicated that he would not be open
to any further discussion on the topic.

Luke had an epiphany at that moment. Caroline had said that
her late husband and father were very similar; that she’d been coerced into her
first marriage. If the spectacle he was seeing was any indication of what she’d
been through, and he strongly felt that it was, then her refusal of marriage
made sense to him. He couldn’t imagine what a bloodless, emotionless life she’d
led before leaving New York. You could empathize with her fear of losing the
control over her life that she’d managed to build since coming to Promise.

“Mr Watkins, I can stand your insults to me but I will not
tolerate you insulting Caroline. She’s the most wonderful woman I’ve met and
I’ve come to realise, since meeting you, that she’s achieved that on her own,
despite how you’ve tried to raise her. I’m glad you feel that she’s a
disappointment to you because if she was anything like you, she wouldn’t be the
woman I love.” Luke didn’t know how he’d managed to stay calm enough to resist
the urge to toss Caro’s father out the door with her mother following closely
behind.

It was like a poor medieval farce; Caroline had had enough
of it. Through all of this, she’d forgotten how far she’d come since she’d been
under their control. She was her own woman now. She was independent and didn’t
need them anymore. She had her home, her friends, the town, her business and
most of all, she had Luke. Luke’s words shook her back to reality and reminded
her of this. She was truly happy for the first time in her life and she was not
going to allow anything to jeopardize that anymore. She thought back to her
discussion with Laurel and how she’d acknowledged that she’d chosen to live the
life the way she had before Promise. She’d chosen to live in fear of her
parent’s rejection, doing anything and everything she could to gain their love
and regard. She had honestly done all that she could and yet had never met with
their unrealistic expectations. She had no intention of going back but had kept
quiet thus far in the conversation, hoping that if she was amicable, that they
may eventually come to some sort of understanding. Belatedly she realised that
that was as much a fantasy for her as her becoming the exact daughter they
wanted was for them.

So, this is it, Caroline thought. Everything came back to
this. Not just James, for he had been an extension of them. It came down to her
sticking up for herself and fighting for what she wanted. Steadying herself,
she took a deep breath. This was not going to be an easy battle. Her
relationship with her parents may be the resultant casualty but she had to
acknowledge that the relationship had always been dysfunctional anyway.

Luke’s hands were fisted at his sides. Gently, she opened
the one between them and grasped it, taking strength from the connection. “I’m
afraid, mother, father,” she inclined her head at them, “that that is not going
to happen. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m no longer a child and you don’t
have that kind of influence over me anymore.”

“Your behaviour, Caroline, has illustrated that you are
indeed a child.” Her father was angry now, his eyes spitting fire yet he held
himself as still as a statue. “You’ve proven that you are incapable of caring
for yourself. Buying a house at a whim, opening up a business that you know
nothing of and fornicating with the locals, is not the way a Watkins behaves.”

Blinking back the tears, she tightened her grip on Luke’s
hand. She would not give them the satisfaction of crying. Forcing her voice to
be firm and unemotional, she continued, “I do believe, Mother and Father that
it is customary to ask after someone when you come into their house. It is also
customary not to insult that individual or guests they may have. You’re showing
very poor form with your behavior. If that is indeed the standard that a
Watkins aspires to then I find it sadly lacking.” Luke squeezed her hand in
recognition and encouragement.

“Our behaviour,” Her mother looked furious, though she
didn’t shout. God forbid they show any emotion. “Your behaviour has been
atrocious. I had to hear from friends that you’ve sold your jewelry, like some
pauper pawning goods for cash. It’s vile and common.” Her mother visibly shuddered.
“Tell me Caroline, do you find it satisfactory to trade your baked goods, to
stoop so far beneath your upbringing that you’d open a shop? Your place is not
here. Your place is within our society. Your father is right. We’ve given you
enough time to get this rebelliousness out of your system. It is time you come
home and start acting in a manner befitting to your station in life. Perhaps if
you comply with my direction, we can save your ruined reputation and still find
a suitable husband for you. You are, after all, a Watkins and it is my hope
that our good name can help repair the damage you’ve caused.” 

Caroline was aghast. At the back of her mind, she wondered
why because they’d always been like that. She assumed that she’d become
accustomed to a different approach to life since finding Promise and all that
it offered her and her parents’ behaviour seemed ridiculous to her now. “My
station in life! What are we, nineteenth century aristocracy?”  Caroline
was furious.

Luke proudly noticed her anger pour out of her. She needed
this. She needed to tell them how she felt. He also saw her parent’s
expressions of shock. They didn’t expect that. His Caro had grown some claws.
Luke had to struggle not to smirk.