A Match Made In Bliss

Lauren curled her feet beneath her on the sofa. “So tell me about your girls. How do they feel about living in a bed-and-breakfast?”

He looked relieved that Lauren had changed the subject. He returned to his place beside her, but she didn’t miss the fact that he sat farther away this time. “I think they’re okay with it. Sometimes I think it infringes on their privacy, but they’ve adjusted pretty well.”

“And how are they since they’ve lost their mother?” Lauren asked in almost a whisper. Not that it was any of her business, but she had noticed a little friction between Macy and her dad.

A shadow touched his face. “As well as can be expected, I guess.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Macy’s the hard one. I think she blames me.”

Lauren’s heart squeezed. “Oh, I’m sure that’s not true.”

He blew out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know. When Susie died, Macy changed.”

“It would be hard on a girl to lose her mother.”

“That’s true enough. But Molly’s adjusted. She has her moments, but she doesn’t pick at me all the time.”

“I know plenty of girls who pick at their parents. It’s an age thing, I think. I’m sure I did.” She laughed.

Garrett lifted a hopeful expression to Lauren. “Maybe you’re right. I just know the sooner we get past it, the better.” They heard a car door close. “That must be them.”

Before they could get up, Macy and the others swished through the front door and stepped into the front room.

Garrett rose from the couch and turned to greet them.

Gracie locked eyes with Lauren. “Well, looky here. Ain’t this just so cozy?” She walked across the room and looked from Lauren to Garrett, her words dripping with insincerity. She glanced down at the coffee tray and turned to the other contestants. “I guess while we’ve been sightseeing, Lucy here has been having a good time of her own.”

Shock kept Lauren silent.

“I don’t know what you mean by that, Gracie, but I invited Lauren to sit down with me for coffee. Is there a problem with that?” Garrett’s eyes pinned her.

She lifted her face with a look of total innocence. “Why, no, Garrett, not at all. Anything you want, you get.” She flashed her pearly-white teeth.

“Hey, would you ladies want some hot chocolate?” Molly offered, clearly trying to defuse the situation.

“Great idea. I’ll go put my things upstairs and be back,” Billie Gibbons said, making her way up the stairs.

“Yeah, me, too.” Nikki Spartan tossed them her Elvis smile. Lauren could almost hear strains of “You Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog.”

Ellen Little followed along behind them, hands clenched together, mouth tightly sealed. She looked so fragile Lauren feared that if someone blew on her, she would break into a thousand pieces.

Garrett went to help Molly and Macy get hot chocolate for the guests, leaving Lauren and Gracie alone in the room.

Gracie lifted an arched brow and glared at Lauren. “Don’t think I’m not onto you, honey. You might as well know right here and now, I am winning this contest.” With that, she turned and walked from the room, allowing her chin to lead the way.

Little did Gracie know that if Lauren had had any doubts about being a contestant before, she didn’t now. She knew a challenge when she heard one.

Suddenly the idea of being a contestant in this game suited her just fine.

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