Quot;No, says Blake," Canton replied softly, knowing Randi's panic was more about her son growing up than anything Canton had said or done.

Randi sighed, feeling like an ass. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."

"Don't worry about it, nothing to be sorry for."

"How do you feel about that, Canton? An eighteen year old boy moving into this beautiful place?"

"I see an eighteen year oldmanwho is trying to start out in life. Besides," she said with a shit-eating grin, "I already told him if he trashes it you and me will take it out of his ass."

Randi's bark of laughter was a welcome sound. "I'll have to talk to Shannon about it, but how is he going to pay you rent? After you finish here, he's out of a job."

"Not necessarily. I've asked him to essentially be the groundskeeper here, as well as he can keep an eye on things since I'll be bouncing back and forth between here and New York for a bit until I get things settled there and the new offices opened here."

Randi stared at her, slack-jawed. "You're moving back here permanently?"

Canton hid her smile as she turned to face Randi. "Yes. It's time for me to establish some roots back home."

Overjoyed, Randi dropped her roller in the paint pan and hurried over to Canton, taking her in an enthusiastic hug, which was returned fully. After one last tight squeeze Randi pulled away, grinning at Canton like a fool. "Glad to hear it."

Quot;So I gathered," Canton chuckled, turning back to her painting.

A moment later they could hear the sound of gravel crunching under tires as someone pulled up in front of the main house. Roller in hand, Canton stepped to the open window of the cottage to see who it was. She saw a black Ford Explorer parked and a man stepping up to the recently-rebuilt front porch.

Quot;Who is it?" Randi asked, stepping up beside Canton. Her stomach fell. "It's Shannon." Randi felt like she would vomit as she set her roller down in the paint pan and wiped her hands on a towel before heading out into the warm day.

Date: 2015-02-28; view: 660