It’s where I raised my family and all my friends live—” She broke off and blinked back tears. “I wish I could make him understand, but he truly believes I will be better off with him in California than Montana.”

Amanda frowned. Bette was one of the sunniest, most cheerful women she knew, and it was hard to see her like this. “It’s going to be okay,” she said, covering Bette’s hand with hers. “He isn’t even here yet, and when he does arrive, you’ll just have to show him why you love Marietta so much so that he understands why you’re happy here.”

“I am torn, though. I would love to be closer to my grandson. He reminds me so much of my son. And I suppose that’s both good and bad, because Tyler’s father, Patrick, was really my heart. I had such difficulty conceiving, and had five miscarriages. Patrick was really my miracle baby. We’d given up thinking I could have a child, and then I was pregnant and he somehow made it all the way through, and so of course I was protective of him. Don, my husband, thought I spoiled him, but how could I not? Patrick was a joy… smart, busy, gregarious. He had the most delightful sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. Unfortunately, Don didn’t have a sense of humor and, from the beginning, he and Patrick butted heads. It didn’t help that Patrick was extremely independent, and he wanted to do things his way.”

“But isn’t that normal? Kids rebel. It’s part of growing up.”

“They do, yes, absolutely, but my late husband was a former military man, and he expected his son to follow orders. Only Patrick didn’t follow anyone’s orders, not unless they made sense to him, and the more Donald tried to discipline Patrick, the more Patrick resented his father. And then they had a huge fight over a girl Patrick was dating. Donald didn’t approve of her, and Patrick was told that we wouldn’t help him with college if he didn’t stop seeing her. Patrick didn’t, and Donald threw him out, a month before his high school graduation.”

“What happened then?”

“Patrick graduated, and left for the West Coast, where he went to school on an ROTC scholarship, and he came home only one more time, and then never again.”

Bette sighed. “It was a mess, and heartbreaking.”

“Especially if he was your only child.”

“I was constantly in the middle of those two, and so it was something of a relief when Patrick went away to school, but in some ways it was even worse when he never returned after that first visit.”

“Did you not see him then?”

“I’d go see him in California, but Don wouldn’t go with me.”

“So you were always in the middle.”

Bette’s eyes filled with tears. “Patrick died a year after Don in a skiing accident. It was just one of those freaks accidents.”

“I remember that.”

Bette nodded. “And now I have this chance with my grandson, and while I don’t want to leave Marietta, I don’t want to risk losing out on this chance to know him better, and have him in my life.”

“I completely understand that.”

“He doesn’t understand Montana, though. He thinks our winters are too long and harsh. He worries about me being here all alone.”

“You can’t blame him, not if he’s a Californian. But you’re also far from alone.”

“I know, and that’s why I want you to help me when he comes to visit this weekend. I want you to show him around Marietta. Give him a tour of the area… let him see the Marietta we know and love.”

“Me?”

“You’re young and pretty—”

“This is a very bad idea.”

“He’ll love you.”

“I don’t want him to love me. I want him to love you. And I want him to support your desire to remain in Marietta for as long as you wish to be here.” Amanda’s gaze met Bette’s. “You do want to still be here, don’t you? Or, are you maybe ready for a move to Northern California?”

“Marietta is home,” Bette answered firmly.