I take a few steps down the hall when I see my Lee come rushing down the hall. Oh Lord, surely not. Maybe it’s a coincidence. Nah, he looks just as rumbled as she did, and if I was guessing I would say they both had a very good time last night. Well, looks like I won’t have to try too hard to get the two of them together.
“Lee, what are you doing up so early?” I ask with a smirk. I know he’s looking for Hannah, but I wonder if he will ask about her. If he confesses I may tell him I saw her, if not, oh well.
“Oh, MaCee, um, well I’m just, well I am …” He looks down at the bag of muffins I’m carrying, and it’s as if a light bulb goes off. “Yeah, I’m going to get some breakfast before I pack up to leave. You haven’t seen anyone this morning, have you?”
I act like I’m thinking about his question for a moment before I respond.
“I did see Hannah a few minutes ago. I didn’t know her room was on this floor. She got on the elevator. Is that who you’re looking for?”
He looks somewhat anxious at my mentioning of Hannah but decides to play it cool. I love torturing my brother.
“Yeah, I didn’t know she was on this floor either. Okay well, I’ll see you in about an hour to drive home.” He rushes by me to get on the elevator. I wave to him as the doors close.
I’m grinning like the cat who ate the canary when I enter the condo. Tyler is up and making coffee, he turns around and catches my smirk.
“What have you been up to?”
“I just caught Hannah performing the walk of shame and then my brother came running down the hall looking for someone. He wouldn’t tell me who, but they both had the ‘I’ve had wild sex’ bedhead going on.”
Tyler cracks up and reaches for the bag of muffins I’m carrying.
“Thank sweet baby Jesus, they finally made a move. Justin and I have a bet on which one is going to explode from sexual frustration first. Damn, I wonder how we’re going to find out who made the first move.”
“Whoa, wait a minute. Justin knows about Hannah’s crush and you know? You haven’t said a word. If we’re going to be married I require full disclosure buddy. Your secrets are now my secrets.”
He looks at me as if I’ve said something stupid.
“MaCee, anyone who is around the two of them for five minutes knows they want each other. I think the only ones who don’t know are Lee and Hannah. He watches her constantly when she’s around, and she has this look of pure need whenever she looks at him. And who are you to talk about keeping secrets? What about the fact you knew about Maggie’s pregnancy a month before I did and she’s having my nephew.”
I scowl up at him and he scowls right back, only to cause me to look down somewhat guiltily. He may have a point. We’ve been engaged for two months and his sister-in-law called me with questions about her pregnancy two weeks after we announced our engagement. She was nervous something was wrong because she was so nauseated and needed reassurance. She also swore me to secrecy.
We visited Tyler’s grandfather, whom I adore, a few weeks later and his brother told him he was going to be an uncle to a boy around mid-October, a month or so after Cam is due to have her baby. Tyler was over the moon and figured out I knew almost immediately upon telling me. I’m really not a good outright liar, sneaky as shit, but if confronted I fold like a bad poker hand. He’s been a tad bit prickly about it since.
“That was different. It was patient confidentiality and she swore me to secrecy.” He continues to scowl, and I believe a change of subject is in order. “What about Conrad? Surely he doesn’t know or he would probably whip my brother’s ass.” Conrad is very protective of his baby sister. Always has been.
“I don’t know Conrad well enough to ask, but I’d be willing to bet he has an inkling or he’s just choosing to ignore what’s right in front of him.”
I would go with denial. I don’t imagine Conrad doesn’t care. I seem to be in the same boat considering I didn’t realize Lee had a thing for Hannah. Don’t know how I could have missed that one.
“What do you and Justin do? Sit around like two old ladies and gossip?” This earns me a glare.
“No, I’d already picked up on Hannah’s feelings and the night of Conrad and Rachel’s engagement party after you left with Cam, I was sitting with Justin at the bar and we noticed how the two were acting around each other. Justin bet me fifty bucks Hannah would blow her top and attack Lee first. I took him up on it because I figured Hannah was too shy to make the first move.”
“I can’t believe you haven’t said anything.”
“Darlin’, when I’m with you, you’re the only woman I think about.”
He’s so sweet. I guess I forgive him. I lean forward and kiss him. My sweet kiss quickly turns heated, and Tyler lifts me up onto the counter as he moves to stand between my legs when there’s a knock at the door.
“Damn, who could that be?”
Justin’s voice is suddenly heard from the hallway. “Stop whatever you’re doing! It’s time to go!” He follows this with more knocking.
I start laughing, and Tyler helps me down from the counter and walks over to let Justin in. A couple of seconds later, and we wouldn’t have been able to open the door. He comes in carrying his bags, only to leave them by the door as he helps himself to a muffin.
“So, Justin, what’s up with you and my man Tyler here keeping it a secret about Lee wanting Hannah? Who I just saw performing the walk of shame, I might add.” I might say that a tad bit smugly, and Justin gives me the reaction I’m looking for. He turns to Tyler for confirmation.
“Damn, man, how are we going to find out who made the first move? We have fifty bucks riding on this.” They both turn to me, and I throw my hands up as if to ward them off.
“Oh no, I’m not doing your dirty work for you. I’m not going to get in the middle of Hannah and my brother’s affair.”
Justin gives me a look that says this isn’t over.
I rush into the bedroom to get my things together. Time to head back home and begin planning our own wedding. It won’t be a beach or Vegas ceremony because Mama would have a stroke, but it will be ours, and I can hardly wait to become Tyler’s wife.
Chapter Twenty-six
Mama
I’m relaxing by the pool in a lounge chair with Will, who has been such a pleasant surprise. I never dreamed I would find love again after Richard and truly wasn’t looking, but I have and am happier than I’ve been since my husband died. The love I felt for Richard was true, wonderful and all-consuming, but what I feel for Will is just as deep, only different. I know my children are happy for me and I’m glad. It makes family dinners easier to get through.
“What are you thinking about Evie?”
I look over at Will and smile. He’s such a handsome man and I’m so lucky to have bumped into him that day on the sidewalk. I mean I literally bumped into him by nearly knocking him on his backside. We’ve laughed about it many times, but I’m so thankful for my inattention that day. I reach over to squeeze his hand.
“I’m thinking how lucky I am to have run you over that day on Main Street. And now that I have MaCee in line, I just need to whip Lee into shape.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “Do you think you need to interfere with Lee and his love life? I believe MaCee did just fine on her own.” Silly man, little does he know. He still has much to learn.
“Oh, darlin’, you have no idea. Tyler may not remember our first meeting, but I do. I thought he would be just right for my girl. Why do you think I worked so hard to get her to that cotillion? Honestly, I hate those things, but a little birdie told me he would be there, and I knew that would be a perfect time for their first meeting. Those things are so boring I knew they would gravitate to each other. Then I just let nature take its course.”
He truly looks surprised, and I don’t know why. I mean he was
in on my little deception about losing my mind. He was a major contributor to convincing MaCee I was as ill as I pretended to be.
“Damn, Evie, you’re something else. I’m just glad you are using your talent for good and not evil.”
I laugh at this, happy he understands at least this much.
“After I get Lee on the right path, we need to look at what we can do for your children. I believe they may be in serious need of my help.”
Will has three children and I met them last weekend. They’re adorable, and I believe we will have a wonderful relationship.
“Hopefully, we can keep Liam from doing anything stupid with that girl he’s dating. I’ll agree one hundred percent on helping you to get rid of her. I can’t figure out what he’s thinking with that one.” I agree with Will’s assessment of his son Liam’s girlfriend. Hopefully, he will see the light where that one is concerned. If he doesn’t, I’m afraid we may have to step in.
Will has two daughters, one is slightly younger than MaCee and the other is seventeen. They live with their mother, who I don’t mind saying is off her rocker. Will swears she hasn’t always been this way. They were high school sweethearts, and the older they got the stranger she got. I just hope the girls don’t take on her idiosyncrasies. I really don’t want to speak ill of his ex-wife and don’t want there to be hard feelings, but damn, what was he thinking? She’s talking about going off the grid and moving into a commune. Allie, the youngest is begging her to wait until she at least can graduate. She only has six months of school left. I can’t help but feel sorry for the poor darlings having a mother who wishes to shed her responsibilities like that. I believe the only reason Sydney, the older daughter, is still living with her is for Allie’s sake. Hopefully, Will can convince them to move here after graduation.
“Evangeline Agatha Burkett! I need to speak to you this very moment!” Liza is marching—yes, marching—toward me. She does not look happy, but I didn’t expect her to be once she read the email I sent.
“Liza, now calm down.”
“Don’t you calm down me, Evie Burkett! I cannot believe you would do this behind my back!”
Will looks away because I confessed what I’d done to him and he tried to stop me, but it was too late, so no help there. I notice MaCee and Tyler have just arrived on the scene. I really need to get Liza away from everyone so I can explain my actions. Once she calms down I know she will see things my way.
“Liza, let’s go over here and talk about this.”
She shakes her head at me. “Oh no, you don’t. I want everyone to know what you’ve done. You’ve gone too far this time, missy!”
This pisses me off. I only want what’s best for her, and it’s time she stepped out of her comfort zone. I look over at Jefferson, who followed her out to the pool, and he nods encouragingly to me. I informed Liza’s husband what I had planned, and he thought it was a great idea. We’ve both been trying for years to get her to put her work out there and she’s been too afraid. Well, it’s long past time. Hell, she wouldn’t have taken any online creative writing courses if I hadn’t signed her up on the sly and forced her hand.
“Okay, you want to have it out in front of everyone, then fine. I sent one of your books to an editor and had it formatted for publishing. The editor loved it, by the way.” I reach out and grab my friend’s hands to squeeze them. I can see the fear in her eyes, but I also see the hope. She wants this. “Liza, you’re so talented and it’s only yourself that’s holding you back. I’ve seen your potential since we were kids and you allowed prejudices and your own preconceived notions to stop you from doing what should have been your life work. I couldn’t stand it any longer and decided to take matters into my own hands.”
I see a tear trailing down her cheek and can’t stand seeing my friend cry. I reach out and pull her into a hug. I know this is a big step for her, but I’m also through coddling and enabling her to put this off. She’s publishing a book if I have to hold a gun to her and make it happen.
“The editor really liked it?” she asks in a small voice, and I know I’ve won.
“No, darlin’, she loved it. I have all the information on how to market your books and what we need to do. I’ve decided to embark on a new career myself. I’m going to be your PA and do all the grunt work so you’re not alone in this endeavor. As always, we’re in this together. If you fail, I fail. I love you Liza and know you need to move forward. Now let’s get back to our relaxing by the pool. We’ll work on this Monday, the editor is supposed to send me the final draft then.”
Liza smiles up at me, and I know things are good now. It’s a new adventure for the both of us, and I’m excited to see where it will lead. She takes a seat on a lounge chair beside Jefferson, and I turn to get us a couple margaritas from the pitcher I made earlier. MaCee sidles up beside me.
“I guess you’re going to lecture me on going behind her back.” I wait for her to begin the lecture I know is coming.
“No, I believe you did exactly what you should have. If I know Liza, she never would have taken that step if it wasn’t forced upon her.”
I’m shocked MaCee is agreeing with something slightly sneaky I’ve done. It’s a red-letter day.
“I may not always agree with your methods, but I do know your heart is in the right place.”
I reach over and pat her cheek. “You’re learning, MaCee girl, you’re learning. Mama knows best.”
About the Author
Throughout her life, Reece has always been an avid listener to people’s stories and has loved telling stories of her own. When she became a young teenager, her grandmother gave her a romance novel (very G-rated) and this began her love of reading. She has dabbled with writing for years and never committed to just doing it. Finally, she made up her mind and decided to try due to the fact there were so many stories in her mind that wanted out. Hopefully, you will enjoy the stories as much as she is enjoying writing them. She lives at the beach with her husband and dog, her college age son also lives with her but stays so busy she barely knows he’s there. Her daughter lives nearby with her two children and she enjoys spending time playing with them. Life is full of going to the beach and grandbaby time and now writing.
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Reece Taylor
Twin Oaks Series
Mama Knows Best (Book 1)
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