These Sheltering Walls: A Cane River Romance Read Online Free

what we’re here for.” He followed her down the hallway and out
into the foyer. “I’ll let Bernice know you’re coming back on Friday.”
                She
turned just as he opened the door. The heat and humidity hit like a wall. “You
won’t be here?”
                “No,
but if you have any problem, just leave me a note and I’ll do everything I can
to help.”
                An
emotion crossed her face that he didn’t quite catch. “Thank you, again.” She
held out a hand and he took it. A second later she was out the door, striding
across the parking lot.
                It
had been so many years since he’d felt regret that at first he didn’t recognize
the emotion. As he watched her get into her car and reverse out of the parking
space, it solidified in the pit of his stomach. If only he hadn’t sought
revenge. If only he had known the whole truth.
                “Well,
I never.”
                Bernice’s
voice brought him back to the present. The past was done. There was no wishing
it away for a life he couldn’t have.
                “I
wonder why Birdie never mentioned Henry coming back to town.” She peered past
him. “I get the impression she doesn’t get along with her family, ya know? Just
an inkling.”
                Gideon
nodded without commenting.  Family drama and gossip held no fascination for him
whatsoever. If he could make it back to his desk without hearing about every
person in Henry’s whole family tree, he’d be happy.
                “Sure
is pretty, though. I can see the resemblance in those green eyes, but it’s her
smile that really gives it away. Just like Kimberly Gray, that’s for sure.”
Bernice touched her hair, a self-conscious gesture.
                Fine,
he’d bite. “Who?”
                “The
actress. She was in some big movies, but I haven’t seen her as much lately. Yes,
sir, it’s probably hard to get a decent role when you’re over forty, even as
pretty as she is. Anyway, you know Birdie and Frank Pascal? Those are Kimberly
Gray’s parents. They don’t brag on her much, since she’s livin’ a worldly life
in Hollywood, and all. Lisette, their other daughter, is Henry’s mom. I heard
her daddy walked away when she was real little, something about a waitress in―”
                “I
see.” Gideon tried to cut off the litany of family issues. The only thing worse
than having an ugly family background and dealing with gossip must be also having
a famous relative. He felt a surge of sympathy for Henry Byrne. He knew what it
was like to navigate a small town with your past clinging to you, like toilet
paper stuck to the bottom of your shoe. “Well, she seems like she’s serious
about renovations over at Cane River and that’s the good news.”
                Bernice
adjusted her necklace. “I just hope Kimberly Gray comes to visit soon. The last
time she was here, I didn’t get to see her. My friend Margie texted me that she
was down in the Pastime Café, but by the time I got my hair done and got down
there, she was gone again.” She sighed. “Margie got her signature on her
pocketbook and she waves that thing at me every time we go out together. She’ll
never let me live it down.”
                Gideon
flashed back to how Henry had agreed with him on hero worship and the
distasteful habit of delving into personal details, how she hadn’t bothered to
research him at all, other than his professional papers. Fame and infamy were
two sides of the same coin. Henry probably dealt with invasion of her privacy
on a daily basis. Perhaps that’s why she didn’t like to go out.
                “Do
you need something?” Bernice was giving him a quizzical look.
                “No,”
he said, turning back toward his office. “Just thinking.”   
                Gideon
sat