Stealing Her Best Friend's Heart
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Tara Randel
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PROLOGUE
PERCHED IN A high-back armchair located in the formal living room of Masterson House, Gayle Ann Masterson crossed her legs. The comforting scents of lemon furniture polish and peach pie filled the air, along with the creaks and groans that came with the century-old dwelling.
Gayle Ann loved this house. Loved the stories encompassing the generations of Mastersons who had lived in the large two-story Greek revival-style home. She’d become a wife and mother under this roof, learning about love, sharing happiness and mourning loss. Grew into a strong woman, who knew her mind but never compromised her compassion for others. This was the homestead of her family, even if she had married into the lot. If the walls could talk, she wondered what they’d say. Especially once she finished with the upcoming conversation.
She smoothed a wrinkle from her pink suit skirt, and said, “Welcome to the first meeting of the Golden Matchmakers Club.”
The only other person in the room snorted.
“Really, Alveda. Is that necessary?”
Alveda Richards sent Gayle Ann a dubious glance. “It’s just the two of us in here.”
“We have to start somewhere, don’t we? Besides, I’m sure I can get Bunny Wright to join us for the next meeting. She’s running out of patience with her nephews for taking their sweet time to settle down.”
“Next meeting? Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself?”
“No. And you should be looking for others to recruit if we want to get this club up and running.”
Alveda crossed thin, aged arms over her chest. “I’m not even sure I’m in.”
Gayle Ann’s voice softened. “Remember, we’re doing this for Heidi. She’s such a lovely young lady, but she’s so hesitant to get involved with anyone. I hate to see her living life all alone.”
“So do I.” Alveda pulled a tissue from the pocket of her worn apron and worried it in her fingers. “We’ve had plenty of conversations about this, but she’s as stubborn as they come.”
“But not opposed?”
Alveda tilted her head, thinking through her answer before speaking. “No. Deep down, I believe she wants a lasting relationship and a family of her own.”
“She did have a chaotic childhood. It wasn’t until after you took her in that she finally found a place where she was safe.”
“She’s got moxie for sure.” Pride shone in Alveda’s eyes. “The way she grew up has a hold on her no matter how much she’s overcome. But she’s an amazing young woman.”
“And,” Gayle Ann said, unable to contain a grin, “I think she’d make a certain young man a wonderful partner.”
Alveda rolled her eyes. “Your younger grandson?”
“Reid should be with someone too, even if he steadfastly insists on remaining single.”
“I don’t know.” Alveda shook her head, doubt tingeing her words. “You’re asking a lot by meddling in these two young’uns’ lives, no matter how well-meaning.”
“If we don’t, who will?”
A pleading expression crossed Alveda’s lined face. “We could always leave their futures to themselves.”
This time it was Gayle Ann’s turn to snort. “Since they’ve been doing a bang-up job on their own?”
Alveda chuckled. “There is that.”
A montage of images of years past formed in Gayle Ann’s mind. “Remember how Heidi tried to run off every gal I flung in Reid’s way during cotillion season until there was no one left but her? They were supposedly in on besting me together, but maybe subconsciously she wanted Reid for herself.”
“Sounds like a convoluted excuse for interfering.”
“Who better than the women who love Heidi and Reid to get them together?”
“Just because you inadvertently helped match Logan with Serena, don’t let it go to your head.”
Gayle Ann waved off the compliment, because she did consider her...dating assistance...a personal victory. After all, her older grandson was engaged.
“It worked,” she boasted as a gentle breeze drifted into the room. The strong scent of hair spray lifted in the current, tickling her nose. She’d been to the salon this morning for her weekly wash and curl, keeping her white hair from getting out of control. Gayle Ann liked everything in its proper place, from her hair to her grandsons.
She turned serious. “Alveda, consider it. Heidi and Reid are already friends, which is a solid way to start a relationship. Under the right circumstances, if we get them to see the possibilities in each other, they might want to date. And from there...who knows?” She shrugged her shoulders and hoped she at least sounded innocent.
Alveda scratched her head. Strands of wavy gray hair escaped her bun. “That’s an idea, all right,” came her dry reply.
Gayle Ann frowned. “Are you always going to throw the brakes on my ideas?”
“Woman, if it wasn’t for my firm hand, there’s no telling what kind of hot water you’d get yourself into on a daily basis.”
True.
Gayle Ann stared Alveda down. “We’ve known each other going on fifty years. I was an unsure newlywed when I hired you as cook at Masterson House. What did I know about hiring staff? But from the moment we met, we became fast friends.”
Gayle Ann had appreciated Alveda’s tell-it-like-it-is attitude. Alveda was surprised and pleased by Gayle Ann’s loyalty. They’d been through it all together; from watching the Masterson children and grandchildren grow, to sharing the pain of losing their spouses, to navigating the twilight years with dignity, but never without lots of fun.
“Say I want in,” Alveda said, a cagey sparkle in her eyes. “What’s my position?”
“Technically, you’re a cofounder.”
“From one conversation over coffee when we lamented the fact that our loved ones were still single?”
“That title is as good as it gets.”
“Fine,” Alveda huffed.
The two had sat at the round table in the remodeled kitchen at Masterson House, wondering out loud what would become of Golden, Georgia, if more tourists didn’t visit the area and those who’d been born here didn’t stay. For years the Chamber of Commerce had been working to make this pristine location a premier vacation destination. In the past few years, there had been events, parades, new businesses launched and rental properties updated, all with the intent to draw vacationers and their hard-earned dollars to this beautiful part of the northern Georgia mountains.
As it happened, in one of their daily conversations, Alveda had mentioned a project Heidi was involved in while Gayle Ann had been worrying over Reid walking away from Masterson Enterprises, the family business. He needed someone to share his life with, she’d said. Someone to give him focus. Direction. Teach him that while life may not be fair, love conquered all. Gayle Ann believed Heidi was that person.
“Look,” Gayle Ann went on. “If we don’t try, this club will never get going. Besides, you were on board when I first came up with the idea.”
“I was, but knowing Heidi, she won’t be happy if we interfere in her life. You know how closed off she can be. No child should have to grow up how she did.” Alveda paused. “Heidi has loosened up over the years, but if pushed?” She frowned. “It won’t end well.”
“Reid won’t be happy either, so we have to be stealthy. We have to—” Gayle Ann waved her hand as she searched for the right explanation “—guide them...without them catching on to what we’re doing.”
Alveda raised an eyebrow. “Reid’s not going to notice?”
“Of course, he is.”
Exasperation crossed Alveda’s face. “Then what’s the point?”
A smile that always meant trouble ahead curved Gayle Ann’s lips upward. “We just have to be sneaky, that’s all.”
Silence fell over the stately living room as the two sat contemplating the match. A gust of fresh air ruffled the sheer curtains hanging over the open windows. The scent of colorful flowers blooming so brightly this spring wafted into the room.
Suddenly, Gayle Ann snapped her fingers. “Logan and Serena’s engagement party is coming up. Since Reid is already suspicious about me trying to marry him off, why don’t I suggest he bring a date? Prepare a list of single women? That won’t seem suspicious because he’ll already expect it.” Her mind turned and she smiled at her next thought. “Heidi has her math tutoring group at the community center and Reid is teaching woodworking there. I heard the groups meet on the same night. All we have to do is nudge him in her direction.”
“I don’t know.” Alveda didn’t look convinced. “They’ve always been friends. Do you think they’ll fall for each other after all this time?”
Gayle Ann sat up straight, confident in her answer. “With the right motivation, I believe they will.”
