She greeted people she knew and introduced herself to those she didn’t. She was exhausted, but determined to represent Lillian as gracefully as possible. An hour stretched into two. She was starting to feel faint when Mason appeared at her side.
“If you’ll excuse us,” he said to two nuns Lillian had known. “Robyn’s needed.”
He ushered her toward the back of the house. Bypassing the kitchen, he pulled her into the breakfast room, where he guided her to a chair.
“You need to sit,” he told her, his voice filled with concern. “You haven’t slept, you won’t eat, and I doubt you’ve had anything to drink.”
“Trying to liquor me up?” she asked, hoping she could summon a little teasing tone for her voice.
He handed her a glass of water. “Let’s start with this.”
She sipped gratefully, the cool liquid helping her dry throat. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now stay there until I’m back.”
She did as he requested, doing her best to clear her mind and simply be in the moment. Less than five minutes later, Mason returned with a plate of tiny sandwiches and a green salad.
“There isn’t any real food in the house,” he grumbled, putting the plate in front of her.
She managed a smile. “What do you consider real food? Bacon?”
He grinned and sat next to her. “It would be a start.”
She nibbled on one of the sandwiches and picked at the salad, but had no appetite.
“I can’t,” she said, pushing away the plate. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey, you tried.” He took her hand and rubbed his fingers against her knuckles. “Tell me what you need.”
Lillian not to be dead. Only she couldn’t say that. He was hurting just as much, and he was only trying to take care of her.
“Why are you so good to me?” she asked.
He hesitated, as if weighing his words. Unusual for Mason.
One of the caterers stuck her head into the breakfast room. “I’m sorry to bother you, but someone just came in the back. She’s not here for the wake. Her name is Zafina, and she’s looking for someone named Cord.”
thirty
ZAFINA? ROBYN TRIED to take that in as she stared at the young woman standing in the breakfast room doorway. Her ex-husband’s pregnant girlfriend? The ridiculousness of the moment combined with exhaustion and her soul-stealing grief. She looked at the pretty, dark-haired woman, saw the resemblance to Kip, remembered that Zafina was also her daughter’s fiancé’s twin sister, and started to laugh. The laughter burst out of her and grew until she couldn’t control herself. She gasped for breath and laughed and laughed until suddenly she was sobbing, covering her face with her hands and not knowing if she would ever feel whole again.
Mason pulled her to her feet, then wrapped his arms around her. Then he looked past her and spoke.
“Hi, Zafina. You caught us at a bad time. Robyn’s great-aunt passed away, and today was the funeral.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I saw all the cars but didn’t know why they were here.”
“You couldn’t.”
Robyn managed to collect herself enough to wipe her face, then say to Zafina, “I’ll get Cord.”
Zafina looked confused, tired and wary. Robyn couldn’t blame her.
She pulled her phone out of her dress pocket and quickly texted Harlow.
Please bring your dad to the breakfast room. It’s important.
She put her phone away and smiled at Zafina. “He’ll be right down. You can wait in here.” She paused. “Would you like something to drink? Water? Herbal tea? We have plenty of food if you’re hungry.” She thought about the ingredients in high tea and figured they would probably be all right for a pregnant woman.
“I’m fine,” Zafina said with a tight smile. “You’re being very gracious. We haven’t met, but I know who you are.”
“Likewise,” Robyn said. “You’re right. We haven’t met. You weren’t at my dinner with your parents.”
Zafina dropped her gaze. “I thought it would be awkward.”
“What with you dating my ex-husband? I suppose, but I can get over it if you can.”
Zafina looked her. She had lovely eyes, Robyn thought. Big and brown. She was a beautiful woman—just Cord’s type.
“You’re not angry with me?” Zafina asked.
“I don’t care that you’re dating Cord. That was over years ago. But I do worry about you dating the father of your brother’s fiancé. Still, we can figure it out.”
“Where are you taking me?”
They all turned at the sound of Cord’s voice. He and Harlow entered the breakfast room, and he saw Zafina. In that split second, his expression was unguarded, his feelings exposed. Robyn was pleased to see genuine affection in his eyes, longing and a bit of hope alongside his surprise. At least he cared about the woman he’d knocked up. That was a start.
“Zafina? What are you doing here?”
Zafina glared at him. “Where else would I be? You took off without saying anything. I had no idea where you were until Kip told me. You scared me.” Her lower lip trembled. “Cord, I thought you loved me.”
“I do.” He glanced at Robyn, then back at Zafina. “I do,” he repeated. “But you surprised me when you said…” His gaze dropped to her belly. “I didn’t know what to think.”
“I want to have your child,” she said defiantly. “I want us to be a family.” She tossed her head. “What are you so scared about? That I’m trapping you? I’m not. You don’t have to marry me, you just have to love me.”
Harlow was wide-eyed, as if unable to grasp what was happening. Robyn thought it might be a bit uncomfortable to watch one’s parent in the middle of a declaration like this one. She circled the still-talking couple and stopped by her daughter.
“Let’s give them privacy.”
Harlow nodded and walked out with her, Mason trailing behind. When they were through the kitchen and out in the hallway, Harlow stopped.
“That was weird.”
“I know.”
“She really loves him.”
Robyn smiled. “There’s someone for everyone.”
Harlow’s mouth twisted. “Dad’s sure been doing his share of sampling. I hope they work it out. He’s going to have to be there for her. Do you think he’s capable of doing the right thing?”
“Maybe. We’re kind of due for a miracle. Maybe it’ll come from your father.”
Harlow shook her head. “I think that’s unlikely, but let’s hope for the best.”
* * *
Harlow woke up an hour before dawn. Her sleep had been restless, and more than once, Kip had pulled her into his arms to comfort her. But she hadn’t been able to settle, and after pulling on yoga pants and a T-shirt, she crept downstairs to start coffee.
The house was quiet, and there was a sense of emptiness. Funny how one person could make such a difference, she thought as she scooped coffee into the machine. Lillian had been the true heart of this home. Without her it was just a ridiculously large, sprawling oddity that would never be anyone’s idea of a place to live. Better to let the historical society have it, she thought, grateful Mason was committed to making that happen.