He opened his mouth to protest, but she turned away, skipping up the stairs, opening the door and ending the moment.
He quickly trapped the door with his hand before it could swing shut. Music chimed from the sound system, while chattering voices spilled from the deck into the great room. All the staff members were working, impeccably dressed and serving drinks or circulating with appetizers.
Zach knew the kitchen would be a hive of activity. He also knew Ginny would be in her element, visiting with guests into the evening until she gave in to exhaustion. He saw Kaitlin heading toward Lindsay on the deck and started after her.
“Zach,” came David’s booming voice. “Great to see you at home, son.”
“Welcome back, sir.” Zach shook his hand.
“You remember Kevin O’Connor.” David gestured to a fiftyish gentleman with a three-olive martini in his hand.
“Swiss International Bank,” Zach acknowledged, shaking again, checking for Kaitlin out the corner of his eye.
“Kevin has a client,” David began. “He’s out of Hong Kong, and he’s got mining interests in Canada and South America.”
“I see,” Zach said, dutifully focusing his attention. Mining companies were massive shippers; ore was both heavy and voluminous. And a Hong Kong client likely had access to the mainland China market. Zach’s personal life would have to go on hold for a moment.
The moment turned into half an hour. A drink was put into Zach’s hand, and a third man joined them, a friend of Kevin’s with an interest in manufacturing.
By the time the conversation wound down, Kaitlin was nowhere to be found. Neither was Lindsay.
He managed to track down Dylan, who was with Ginny, then he was rewarded when he heard Kaitlin’s voice from behind him.
“You must be enjoying the party,” she offered breezily to Ginny, who was decked out in chiffon and diamonds, a folded, lace fan in her hand and her dogs at her feet in rhinestone collars.
“And who is this young lady?” Ginny asked in an imperious tone. She leaned toward Kaitlin. “Are you here with my grandson? He’s a catch, you know.”
Zach turned in time to see Kaitlin’s surprise morph into obvious disappointment.
“I’d stay away from this one,” said Ginny, tapping Zach’s arm with the fan. “He’s a reprobate and a heartbreaker.”
Kaitlin’s eyes clouded to jade.
“Auntie—” Dylan stepped in “—this is Kaitlin Saville and Lindsay Rubin.”
“Pretty,” Ginny acknowledged with a gracious sweep of her fan.
“Kaitlin is my architect,” said Zach.
Ginny looked at him, eyes clouding with puzzlement. “Are you changing the castle? Does Sadie know?”
There was an instant and awkward silence.
Zack had been through this before, about a dozen times so far, but it never got any easier.
He gently took Ginny’s hand and lowered his tone. “Aunt Ginny, do you remember that Sadie passed away?”
Ginny drew back warily. Then she gave herself a little shake. “Of course I remember. I meant…” Her voice trailed off.
Dylan stepped in again. “Auntie, would you like to dance?”
Ginny snapped him with her fan, seeming to recover. “I’m too old to dance. People my age are dropping like flies.” Her attention turned to Lindsay. “You should dance with my grandson. He has a lot of money.”
Darcie joined the circle, and Zach took the opportunity to whisk Kaitlin away.
“You okay?” he asked as they made their way out onto the deck. The sun had set, and the lights were coming on all over the grounds. The music seemed to swell louder, and the conversation grew more animated as the guests consumed martinis, wine and single malt.
“She didn’t remember me at all.” Sadness was clear in Kaitlin’s tone as they came to the rail.
“She will,” Zach promised, not sure if he was lying or not. Ginny’s early memories were her best. Recent events often escaped her.
“She taught me to bake pie.” Kaitlin’s voice was stilted. She leaned her arms on the railing and stared out at the ocean. “Nobody ever taught me to bake before. I was starting to think…” She paused, then tried a lukewarm smile. “I’m being silly. She’s old. Of course she forgets things. You were great.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“How many times have you had to tell her about your grandmother?”
“A few,” Zach admitted. And he was sure that previous one wouldn’t be the last. He stared at the lights at his place, wishing they were down there right now.
“Kaitlin?” Ginny’s voice surprised Zach. “There you are, dear.” She sidled up to Kaitlin, glancing warily around them, her voice becoming conspiratorial. “I’ve changed my mind.”