“Just what I need,” she murmured as she saw her mother standing there. “Another emotional beating.”

But there was no way to hide, not with her car parked in the driveway, she so braced herself for the forthcoming lecture and opened the door.

“Hi, Mom,” she said with a cheerfulness she didn’t feel. “How’s it going?”

“Okay.” Her mother stepped into the house. “Not great.”

Gracie drew in a deep breath. “I’m sorry to hear that. Honestly, I didn’t come back here to make trouble, but that seems to be what’s happening. Apparently, there are forces at work I can’t control. In truth, while I appreciate your concern, I can’t handle one more lecture. I don’t want to talk about my relationship with Riley, my past, my issues or any of that.”

“That’s not why I’m here.”

“Okay.” Great. More wedding talk. Had Vivian’s plan of nakedness worked?

Gracie led the way into the small living room and motioned to the sofa. “You want anything?”

“No. I’m fine.”

Her mother settled on a sofa and waited until Gracie took a club chair before speaking.

“I’m sorry,” her mother said. “I’m more sorry than I can ever say. I’ve been a horrible mother and a worse person. I’m disgusted with myself.” Tears filled her eyes.

Gracie figured that was four-for-four on the Landon women sobbing in the past couple of weeks. It had to be a record.

“Mom, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I know.” More prepared than Gracie had been during her meltdown, her mother withdrew a small package of tissues from her purse. “I’ve tried to ignore it all, but I can’t. It’s just like it was all those years ago. I know what I did and I refuse to do it again. Those bitches can just go to hell.”

Gracie blinked. She wasn’t sure she’d ever heard her mother swear before. “I’m all in favor of bitches in hell. Really. But who are we talking about and what did they do?”

“It’s not them. It’s me.” Her mother drew in a deep breath. “Oh, Gracie, you were always such a bright, happy child. Then your father died and your world collapsed. You were his favorite.” She gave a shaky smile. “Parents aren’t supposed to have favorites, or if we do, we aren’t supposed to say, but everyone knew your father loved you best. And when he died, you were so lost.”

Gracie swallowed. She remembered her father. How he’d always made time for her, how they’d done things together. “I missed him a lot.”

“I know you did. I was worried, but I thought you’d be fine. Then that Riley boy moved in next door and you fixated on him. I knew it had to do with you losing your father and needing a man in your life. I thought it would blow over. But it didn’t.”

Gracie’s warm fuzzy feelings faded. “We’ve been over this, Mom.”

“I know. Here’s my point. Things got out of hand so quickly and soon everyone knew you had a crush on him. People talked. There were those stories in the paper. You became legend. A lot of people thought it was sweet, but some women around town weren’t so kind. You were so creative and they were cruel. They laughed at you and at me. I felt exposed and humiliated. As if I couldn’t control my own daughter. Every week there was a new Gracie story.”

Gracie felt her cheeks get hot. She’d never considered her actions from her mother’s point of view. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t be. You were young and it was your first crush. I should have been able to handle it. I should have told them you were my daughter and I would stand by you. Instead I tried to make you stop, which didn’t work. Then Pam turned up pregnant and there was the quickie wedding. I knew I had to get you out of town so nothing happened.”

Gracie nodded as she remembered the pain of being sent away.

“But it didn’t matter,” her mother continued. “At Pam and Riley’s wedding, you were all anyone talked about. They placed bets on whether or not you would show up. They recounted their favorite Gracie story and talked about how you loved that boy with your whole heart. Some people admired that, but others were less kind.”

Gracie winced. “I didn’t know that.”

“I’m not telling you now to be cruel, just to explain. The fault is mine. I didn’t think I could face the ridicule anymore. When my sister offered to take you, I let you go because I was selfish and weak. And I’m sorry.”

Her mother started to cry again. “I missed you so much. Every day I reached for the phone to tell you to come home. But then someone would say something and it all came back to me. In time the talk died down and it was such a relief to me. But on the inside I felt so guilty for being a coward. I let my so-called friends influence me and because of that, I lost a daughter.”

Gracie didn’t know what to think. She was numb. “You didn’t lose me.”

“Yes, I did. You and I aren’t close. You’re angry with me for what I did, and I deserve that. I have no excuse. I was spineless and foolish. I’m sorry, Gracie. I’m so sorry.” She pressed a hand to her mouth. “And I’m a bad mother because of my three girls, you’re the one who turned out the best. Vivian is spoiled and selfish and Alexis is a drama queen. I think I did that. I think it’s my fault.”

Gracie moved to the sofa and hugged her mother.

“It’s okay,” she said.

“No, it’s not. I lost you and I only have myself to blame. I’m so sorry.”

Gracie held on. “I’m sorry, too. I never meant to embarrass you.”

“That was me, not you. You were a little girl in a lot of pain. I should have seen that.”

Gracie supposed it was true, but she still felt self-conscious about it all. “Remind me to never have a crush on a guy again,” she said.

Her mother gave a strangled laugh. “I think you’re over all that now.”

Gracie pulled back and eyed her suspiciously. “That’s not what you were saying a couple of weeks ago.”

“True, but I know better now. If Riley Whitefield makes you happy, then you go on seeing him.” Gracie half expected the earth’s crust to open and gnomes in pointy hats to appear. “Really?”

Her mother nodded. “I don’t want to lose you again, Gracie. I know we can’t recover what’s lost, but I want us to try to be close again. I’m willing to be patient and earn your trust.”

Gracie felt her heart opening and stretching. “Oh, Mom. It’s okay.”

“It’s not now, but I want it to be.” They hugged again.

“What changed your mind?” Gracie asked.

“Alexis and Vivian were over the other night and I realized that part of our family was missing. I felt so sad, I couldn’t stop crying. I want us to be together again. I hope you can want that, too.”

Gracie nodded. It might take her a little while to shift her thinking, but she was willing to make the effort.

Her mother squeezed her tight, then let go. “All right, now that I’ve dumped all over you with my problems, how are you? How’s the cake business?”

“There are a few bumps in the road.”

“Like what?”

She hesitated for a second, not sure if she wanted to say anything, then drew in a deep breath.

“I had an interview with a reporter from a bride magazine a few days ago.”

“That’s great.”

“Not exactly.”

Gracie told her what had happened.

When she’d finished, her mother looked stunned. “Who on earth would have planted those cake boxes?”

“I haven’t a clue. No one really knew about the interview. Just me, Riley, Jill and Pam.”

Her mother’s lips curled. “Pam’s a bitch. How did you get messed up with her?”

Gracie couldn’t help laughing. “Talk about a snap judgment.”

Her mother dismissed the comment with a flick of her wrist. “I never liked Pam. No one does. She’s only out for herself. But why would she want to set you up?”

“That’s the question of the hour.”

“I’ll ask around,” her mother said. “Maybe someone has heard something. Too bad Vivian didn’t plan the wedding at Pam’s little B &B. I would enjoy constantly canceling and upsetting her plans.”

Gracie winced. “About the wedding…”

“Not your problem,” her mother said. “And except for making the phone calls, it’s not mine, either. I’m tired of running interference for Viv. She needs to grow up and accept the consequences of her actions.”

“Really?”

“Cross my heart.” Her mother hugged her again. “Any leftover cake?”

“Absolutely. Come on.”

RILEY READ through the detective’s report again. Nothing. No sign of a mystery reporter, no hint that the mayor was up to anything. Riley had even asked the man to keep tabs on Pam for a few days and so far she’d been a model citizen.

It was all frustrating, he thought as he drove through Los Lobos. He was no closer to figuring out what was going on than he had been before he’d hired the detective. Worse, he had no motive for anyone to set up Gracie.

As he couldn’t fix that problem, he’d decided to deal with another one. Which was why he parked in front of Zeke’s insurance office just before closing and strolled inside.

“Is he in?” Riley asked the woman at the front desk.

“Yes. May I say who’s…Oh. Mr. Whitefield. I’ll announce you.”

Riley gave her a quick smile. “Not necessary. I’ll find my way back.”

He walked down the short hallway and opened Zeke’s door without knocking.

Zeke looked up. “Hey, boss. What are you doing here?” He glanced at his calendar. “Did we have a meeting I missed?”

“Nope.” Riley walked to Zeke’s desk and perched on the corner. “Did you know that when I left Los Lobos I headed north?”

Zeke frowned. “No. Should I have?”

Riley shrugged. “Not really. I crewed on fishing boats in Alaska. It’s hard work. Long hours. I was a kid from a small town. I didn’t know shit about the world. But I learned fast. Got into a lot of fights with guys bigger and older. After getting the crap beat out of me, I learned to hold my own.”