The Bluebird Bet Read online

  Elaine fought the urge to pull him closer, to hold on to their connection. She stared at him until she remembered he’d asked her a question.

  “Not yet. I’m practicing so the next time I go, they’ll be amazed at my progress and assume I’ve got the touch.” She held up the zigzag swatch that was supposed to be a neat rectangle of regular stitches. There were no holes, but she’d somehow knit three knots in. “I have a long way to go, as you can see.”

  “What would happen if you weren’t the best knitter in town, but you went anyway just for fun?”

  Elaine tried to come up with a good answer. There wasn’t one. “If I can’t get the hang of this, I won’t go. Of course not.” What a crazy suggestion. Why spend time and, in this case, money, doing something she was no good at? If she didn’t get the hang of it this week, she’d toss in the needles. Maybe buy a camera. She almost asked him for a recommendation.

  They might not be friends after Robert returned. Worse, Dean might not even be here anymore.

  That thought was what kept her on edge, the fear of watching him walk away when he lost. The needles slipped from her fingers, and she scrambled to keep the yarn from escaping.

  “You know, I’m not the best fisherman. Neither is my dad. I fall so often when I hike that every pair of jeans I own has a rip.” He shrugged. “That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy almost every minute.”

  “But you could be doing things you’re really good at.” Like kissing. “Wouldn’t that be a better use of your time?”

  “To improve the world? Maybe. To enjoy this life, I really don’t believe so. It’s good to make mistakes. Sometimes they’re a lot of fun.” He winked. “Besides that, most mere mortals need practice to be proficient. You might not be a world-class knitter, but you could have a hobby you love if you can put up with being bad at it for a while.” He leaned forward. “Did I blow your mind?”

  Her lips were twitching, but she fought off the smile. He was so cute sometimes. It was unfair. And honestly, this was why she needed him.

  Maybe enough to actually hope she lost this competition.

  “I’m headed into town to meet up with Edna for some homestretch fine tuning.” He grimaced. “Why does that sound painful?”

  “I have a meeting with Nick to talk about the final estimates. Then it’s all over but the judging. And I’m ready.” She shrugged. “More time for my knitting.”

  He trotted down the steps to stop in the shady yard. “Consider your plan B, Doc. I know I’m going to win just like I know your plan is solid and would work against anyone other than me.” He looked at the keys in his hand. “That doesn’t mean I want you to lose. I sure don’t want it to mean we’re friendly enemies.” He looked up again. “I want to believe I could still call you when the night gets bad. More than that, I think we can get over winners and losers and just be us, two people who love this place and who have a lot in common.”

  He pointed his finger at her. “Plus, we kiss really well.”

  Before she could answer—and say what, exactly—he was gone, bumping down the track to town.

  And she was sitting on the porch with only her bad knitting to keep her company.

  There were worse places to be.

  Before the kiss, she might have been happy to see the last of him. Now her single chair creaking sounded lonelier than ever.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  A WEEK LATER, Elaine sat across from the contractor, Nick, and Jackie, the drawings and budget spread out across her desk.

  “Thanks for coming by after the office closed. During the day we’d never have enough time.” She ran a finger down the figures on the budget, hoping any holes would jump out at her. Unfortunately, her heart wasn’t in it, and her brain had followed her heart.

  This is it, Elaine. You can win this. Pay attention.

  “I checked with King. The bathroom tiles you picked online can be ordered and delivered, no problem.” Nick pointed at the sketch he’d made of the thoroughly modernized kitchen. “And we’ll have the flooring in less than a week after we order, so when we finish demo, we should be ready to start with the floor.”

  She smiled at him. “Thanks for all your help, Nick. I’m sure I’ve made things complicated.”

  He waved away her thanks. “Nah, it’s all part of the job. Some people just won’t accept a professional opinion. You had to search out your own sources, and I can’t blame you.”

  Jackie cleared his throat, so Elaine turned to him. “These figures are good,” she said. “It’ll help to know how many visitors came to the area when the Bluebird was open.”

  He put both elbows on the chair’s armrests. “I thought so, too. And don’t forget the list of fishing guides. Good idea to show that with your plan, we can have a place women and men will enjoy. Can’t see how we can lose, Doc.” His superior glance in Nick’s direction might have made her laugh, but she was sure Jackie would not appreciate that.

  She hoped Jackie was right, but if there was ever a competition she was less certain of winning, she couldn’t remember it.

  “I’ve seen what Edna and Dean came up with so we’ve got some stiff competition, but you’ve been a big help.” She offered both men her hand and managed not to wince when Jackie squeezed it tightly. “Thank you for your help, Jackie.”

  He popped up from the chair, ready to march off. A lot of people thought Jackie was a busybody, a man who was far too quick to file a lawsuit. Working with him proved to Elaine that he also had a shrewd brain and a vested interest in the success of businesses in Tall Pines. Jackie made a much better friend than enemy.

  “Remember our deal. When you win, no meals at the inn but plenty of Country Kitchen menus scattered around.” Before she could agree or say a polite goodbye, he’d opened the door and disappeared.

  The corners of Nick’s mouth turned up as he accepted her handshake. “Jackie is an interesting little man.” His bright blue eyes and lopsided smile made it impossible not to smile, no matter what was on the line. The jeans with small paint splotches and his too-long hair reminded her of Dean. “No matter who wins this, I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on that beautiful old building. The designs you chose bring enough modern updates to satisfy the choosiest guests but still fit the inn’s style. You’re good at this.”

  “You’ve been a big help,” Elaine said.

  “I hope we continue working together.” Nick left, and she could hear him tell Nina goodbye as he walked out the front door. There was no doubt in her mind that he would do a fine job. But still...

  How sad was it that this massive, satisfying project felt so hollow without Dean as her partner?

  No time to worry about that now.

  “Guess I better have everything I need.” She picked up all the papers, carefully arranged them in the binder and closed it to stare at the photo of the newly painted inn. She’d borrowed a camera from Dean in a painfully polite exchange, snapped the photo and had Nina help her print it out.

  In a move she tried to consider prudent instead of cowardly, she’d spent last night in her tiny apartment. The closer the deadline got, the harder it was to trust herself. She had to win. Every daydream she had about her future featured the Bluebird.

  But watching Dean leave and wondering if he was safe would make enjoying that future difficult.

  And the silly voice that whispered, “What if you can have it all?” scared her. Real life was never perfect. Winning and having Dean settle in Tall Pines were mutually exclusive outcomes.

  And hoping to lose was so wrong, it gave her headaches.

  She put her head on the binder and whispered a quick prayer that her efforts would be good enough. The weeks she’d spent at the bed-and-breakfast had proven to be some of the happiest she could remember. Even in the state it was in and with all the hard work. And even with Dean
Collins around.

  The Bluebird was where she was meant to be.

  “Sleeping on the job, Dr. Watson?”

  Elaine blinked as she straightened slowly. “Mom? What are you doing here?” She got a quick glimpse of pale pink linen, her mother’s sleek blond bob and immaculately applied lipstick before her mother wrapped her arms around her neck in a hug. Instead of warning her about germs or asking any more questions, Elaine closed her arms around her mother and held on tight.

  Nothing else mattered.

  Her mom was here.

  When she needed her most, her mother was here.

  The sting of tears surprised her, and her mother stepped back, obviously taken off guard at the welcome. “Tears, Elaine?” Her mother knelt in front of her and wrapped both of Elaine’s hands in hers. “What’s happened? Did you lose?”

  “Not yet, but I’m afraid I’m going to.” She cleared her throat and forced a laugh. “Silly. A grown woman crying about a competition for the right to pour money into a run-down old building. I haven’t even lost yet!”

  If she told her mother she was even more afraid of winning, her mom would suspect an imposter. Neither one of them knew what to do with a confused Elaine. Setting goals and surpassing them was who she was, and that certainty was so much better than the confused cloud she’d been under for a week. Only seeing patients gave her any relief.

  And she hadn’t been on the verge of tears until her mother showed up. Maybe they were actually about something else, but it was easier to blame the Bluebird.

  Her mother frowned and for a second Elaine thought she was going to ask a question or force the issue. Instead, she sighed. “You never have handled losing well. Remember the eighth-grade science fair?”

  “My display on how light travels through air versus water should have won over Derek Parker’s dumb rock identification display.” Relieved to have a distraction, Elaine jumped into the old familiar conversation.

  “You loved Derek Parker and rocks. He was the only boy who would have been impressed by your leaf collection, but you were probably mad you didn’t think of doing rocks first.” Her mother brushed the curls out of Elaine’s eyes.

  “Yes, but I did the leaf collection for fun. The science fair was about experimentation and growth.” Elaine’s lips twitched as she met her mother’s amused stare. “Never mind about that. I’m so happy you’re here.” She hugged her mother again and her perfume, the faint scent of roses, was a comfort.

  “This is a busy time for Bake and Take, so they need advance notice for any vacation. But I had to get some time off.” Her mother grimaced as she stood up and held out a hand to stall Elaine’s list of questions about her symptoms. “It’s just old age combined with standing on my feet. Rest is all I need.”

  Biting her tongue on the offer to run a blood test to check for inflammation or arthritic markers, Elaine nodded and handed her the binder she’d worked so hard on. “Here. This is what I have.”

  Elaine tapped a pen on her legal pad and waited while her mother flipped slowly through the drawings and murmured what sounded like vaguely positive words now and then. “Fishing guides. Not a terrible idea. Your father never could find a fish.”

  Not that he’d been looking very hard. Elaine didn’t even consider saying it out loud. Whatever new path her mother was on was promising.

  Eventually, she closed the binder. “Nice shot. This is how I remember the Bluebird.”

  “Took some work to get it there.” Elaine picked up the binder and shoved it in her tote. “And I took that shot. I’m dabbling with photography.”

  “The doctor taking her own advice,” her mother said. “What will the world come to?”

  Elaine grinned. “As of now, you and I are out of here. It’s time to show off the Bluebird.” They left the office, pausing to wave at Nina, who was just finishing up. “Follow me?” Elaine said.

  Her mother nodded and slid behind the wheel of her old Mercedes. It was a gift from a boyfriend before Jerry that he’d never talked her into dumping. Her mother had good taste and a strong backbone when it came right down to it.

  Elaine darted a few glances in the rearview mirror to make sure her mother stuck close all the way through town. Getting lost in Tall Pines wouldn’t be easy, but it could be done, especially on a day like today where unwary tourists could wander out in the road.

  As she passed Purl’s Place, she saw the normal crowd seated in the window. She’d been looking forward to showing off her improved knitting, but she’d forgotten it was the first Saturday of the month. The office had long waiting lists for those special days, so she couldn’t get out of it.

  Next week she’d be able to really wow them. If she had time, she’d try some pre-study, maybe learn to purl all on her own.

  Once she made the turn onto the dirt road, she could see that Dean had been busy again. Instead of ruts that threatened to make her car tumble nose-first into oblivion, there was a smooth surface with fresh gravel and neatly mown grass. The road looked like something out of a bucolic old postcard.

  “Work a few shifts, sleep in your tiny apartment a night or two and the man makes miracles happen,” she muttered and then rounded the curve in the road to see a giant RV blocking the view. “And Robert is home.”

  A shot of adrenaline boosted her heart rate. “You knew the clock was running out, Elaine. Relax. Do the best you can. Whatever happens will work out.” Her calming lecture didn’t make it easier to breathe, but parking sedately in her usual spot probably made it seem that she had everything under control.

  “Wow. This place is almost as beautiful as I remember it.” Her mother slung her purse over her shoulder and dragged a small suitcase behind her. Her voice wasn’t as cheerful as it had been, but she forced a smile. “Well, except for the truly impressive travel rig blocking the view.”

  “Yeah, you got here just in time. Robert’s home.” Elaine shut the car door calmly and jumped when her mother wrapped her hand around Elaine’s arm.

  “Not to worry. As long as you’ve done your best, it will all work out.” Her mother peered at her over the top of her sunglasses. “Trust your mother.”

  Like a flash, Elaine realized that she’d been living entirely too long with the cautious doubt that made her trust no one but herself. It was safer. Other people let her down but she’d never failed at something that was important.

  If she didn’t win and she couldn’t take a chance on another person, who would she believe in?

  She wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck again. “I don’t know how you knew I needed you, but I won’t ever forget this.”

  Her mother whispered, “Always so strong. I’m happy to help.” When her mom eased back, she looked more grimly determined than joyful.

  “Well, hello there! I was beginning to think you’d come to your senses,” Robert Collins yelled from the shady front porch. Dean stood by his side, his arms crossed over a T-shirt covered in white and blue paint, the obvious advertisement for how he’d spent his free time the past few weeks.

  Glad to have part of her own team for support, Elaine tucked her arm through her mother’s, and they both walked slowly over the grass to the steps.

  “No way, Mr. Collins. You know me. I never give up, not even with stubborn patients.” Elaine glanced at Dean and then added, “This is my mother, Catherine Stillman. Mom, this is Robert Collins and his son, Dean.”

  Elaine eased back and watched her mother shake hands with both men. “What a lovely home you have here.”

  Robert nodded. “When I left, it was a wreck. I was certain Dean’s plan to open a fish camp was the only option, but now I’m not so sure. Seems Dean and Elaine have been busy. Painting was a huge improvement.” He leaned forward. “And they didn’t even draw blood.”

  “Dr. Watson and I have done a decent job of getting along,
Dad,” Dean said quietly, his eyes meeting hers again.

  “I never would have believed it, Doc. You did something to light the fire under him, no doubt. When I left, he was working his way up to a full day of sitting on the dock.” Robert clapped his hand on his son’s shoulder, but the teasing missed the mark for Dean. He frowned, a muscle twitching in his clenched jaw.

  “Well, I’ve been impressed with how hard he’s worked, Mr. Collins. This paint job... I could never have managed that.” Somehow she couldn’t avoid the truth even when it would be better to pile on more doubts.

  “And she’s been an effective prod, especially after she hung most of the cabinets by herself.” Dean had one shoulder propped against the bright blue post.

  “You did what?” her mother asked with a scandalized gasp. “What would make you think you should try a man’s job, Elaine Watson?”

  “Well, I’d already finished mowing the grass so...” She watched her mother’s mouth open and close without making a sound.

  Then she looked at Robert. “And a friend asked me to do him a favor, so I had to get along. No drawing blood. Imagine my shock when I realized how nice it was to work beside my opponent.” Dean frowned at his father, who might have whistled an innocent tune except her mother interrupted. “A doctor. Doing manual labor. You always did have the strangest interests.”

  Robert clapped his hands in the tense silence. “Well, it’s all worked out. Tomorrow we’ll know who’s going to lead the next phase of renovations. Can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with.”

  “I’ll call Jackie, see if we can meet at the Country Kitchen for dinner or something,” Dean said, watching her closely.

  Her first thought was that it was perfect. If she lost, she didn’t have to come back to the Bluebird in defeat. She could go right on home to her tiny apartment and lick her wounds in private.

  Well, with her mother watching.

  And that would mean she’d have to soldier through.

  But if all the judges were here, they could see how much beauty was left at Spring Lake. Maybe they’d be less willing to change it all.