“Did Maisie have to go to the shelter?”
He swallowed. “No. I don’t want to get into it right now. Can you pick me up anyway?”
“Yeah,” Finn said, sounding confused. But he didn’t press him, and he didn’t ask the dozens of questions that were probably lining up to leave his mouth. “Of course. I’m on my way.”
When they hung up, Jack sent him his location but continued walking, planning to intercept Finn on the way.
About ten minutes later, Finn’s Range Rover appeared around a curve, and he pulled to the side of the road when he saw Jack.
Jack climbed into the passenger seat. “Thanks, Finn, I really appreciate it.” He grimaced. “Sorry if I came across as rude or abrupt on the phone.”
“No problem,” Finn said, making a U-turn and heading back toward their neighborhood.
They rode in silence for a few minutes, Finn squirming in his seat before he finally said, “I love Maisie to death, but she’s not always an easy person to get along with.”
“Was she in love with you too?” Jack scoffed, then instantly regretted it.
“Ah…” Finn said with a sigh. “She told you?”
“No, I overheard her conversation with her sister.”
And wasn’t that the worst of it? If it really wasn’t a big deal, like she’d said, wouldn’t she have told him herself? She’d apparently told everyone else.
A little voice inside him insisted that she hadn’t had much of a chance. The last couple of days had been consumed with his family drama, and before that…well, neither of them had really been sure of what they wanted, had they? But those tangled-up emotions he’d tried to push away weren’t so easily dismissed.
He turned to face Finn. “You knew we were seeing each other. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It wasn’t my place to tell, Jack.”
“So you let me fall in love with her, knowing I was her River surrogate.”
Finn looked startled. “You’re in love with her.” But he shook it off, recovering, and said, “Never mind. And you’re not River’s surrogate.”
“Apparently, one of her sisters gives her a hard time for always dating men who are similar to River. And I can see that. We have similar hair and eye coloring. We both come from messed-up families. Seems to me she just went for me because she can’t have who she really wants.”
Finn was quiet for a few moments. “I’ve known Maisie for six years. As you probably know, she and River have been friends since they were in middle school. They’re close, but I’ve never seen her as happy with River as she is when she’s with you.”
“Yeah, that’s because he didn’t reciprocate her feelings. Of course she wasn’t happy.”
“I know it probably seems that way, but I’ve had some time to think about it, and while I know she loves him, I don’t think she was ever really in love with him. Not like I think she’s falling for you.” He took a breath. “Maisie’s one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known, but she has a hard time letting go of things. River was there when her parents died, and she clings to anything having to do with her parents.”
“Is this supposed to make me feel better?”
“I’m getting to that part,” Finn said. “The thing is, she’s changing. We’ve all noticed it. She’s clearing some of the old things out of her house and letting Iris take point at the shelter. Maybe it was River falling for Georgie that spurred her to change, but it didn’t really start until you two started spending time together. I’ve seen her with other guys, Jack, and she never liked them the way she likes you.”
Jack’s heart warmed at the thought of that ratty old Santa beard at the shelter and the updates he’d noticed at her house. She’d even gotten a new set of plates in the kitchen to replace the cracked and chipped set she’d probably eaten on as a child. Then there was the fact that she’d invited him and Iris to help her decorate and put up the tree. Judging from the dust on the boxes of ornaments, no one had taken them out in years.
Maybe Finn had a point, but still, Jack had to wonder if she’d only moved on because she didn’t have a choice. If they stayed together, was he going to freak out every time she went out for one of her Bro Club dinners with River and Finn? Every time he noticed her looking at River? It was something he needed to settle in himself before he talked to her.
Finn pulled up in front of the Buchanan house, and Jack frowned. “Is Addy here or at your house? I need to talk to her and Georgie.”
Finn’s face paled. “You’re not going to tell Georgie that Maisie was in love with River, are you?”
“She already knows,” he ground out, feeling another wave of annoyance that he’d apparently been the last to know, or close enough. “But no, it’s not about Maisie. I need to talk to Georgie before the party. If she still wants to have a party.”
“Then whatever it is, do not tell me,” Finn said, holding up a hand. “I suck at keeping secrets.”
“Have you or Addy heard from Lee today?”
“No, but Addy said Victoria is fit to be tied. She keeps calling her and Georgie every half hour or so, accusing them of hiding him from her.”
“Lee doesn’t need any help hiding from her.” He glanced toward the house, preparing himself to go in and do Lee’s dirty work.
“Addy isn’t home,” Finn said. “She and Georgie decided to go out for a spa day to recover from yesterday. They took Iris with them.”
“What spa is open on Christmas Eve?” he asked in disbelief.
“The owner is a friend of Dottie’s. She set it up.”
Of course she did. She’d probably arranged it to give them some relaxation before the series of bombshells she knew was coming.
“I guess I’ll call them then.” He didn’t want to tell them over the phone, but he could let them know he needed to talk to them ASAP.
Finn shook his head. “No cell phones. The spa takes them as soon as they walk in the door and keeps them until they leave.”
“Which will be when?”
“Four-ish? It’s an all-day thing.” He paused. “Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”
“No, it really can’t, but I’m not going to bust into a spa either.” He gave Finn a dark look. “I’ll let Lee take care of it.” He reached for the door handle. “Thanks for the ride. I guess I’ll see you at the party unless you hear otherwise.
“Shit,” Finn said. “Now I really don’t want to know what’s going on.”
After Jack went inside, he tried calling Lee several times, but all of his calls went straight to voicemail. The first two times he didn’t leave a message, but after he’d put off heading to the brewery for as long as he feasibly could, he finally said, “Lee, I realize this is all a huge shock, but your sister is about to have an engagement party with your father and your presumably ex-girlfriend in attendance. Georgie and Addy are having a spa day, so I can’t reach them to tell them what’s going on, but I feel like it should come from you anyway. Until I hear otherwise, I’m going to set up for this party, but call me as soon as you get everything sorted out.”
Damn, he hoped Lee stepped up.
It occurred to him that he should call River and give him a heads-up that something was going on with Georgie’s father and brother, but he couldn’t bring himself to make the call. If that made him a bastard, so be it.
Thinking about River turned his mind, again, to Maisie. The two of them on the sofa this morning, with the dogs lounging around them. He’d had a fleeting moment of complete peace, of understanding what it felt like to have someone who truly cared about you. A partner, an equal. Someone to share his life with. He’d liked it. No, he’d reveled in it. But the sickening thought of being Maisie’s second choice had poisoned the memory, and he wondered if it had been real at all.
The afternoon wore on, and he still hadn’t heard anything from Lee or any of his sisters. He hoped Iris was having a good time, but he was worried about her reaction once she found out about this fight with Maisie. Would she blame him? Should he suc
k it up and call River?
Should he suck it up and call Maisie?
He didn’t have much time to think about it because problems began cropping up. Someone had misplaced the centerpieces for the high top tables, and the boxes of wine he’d ordered from a local winery had never shown up. He’d decided to offer both wine and Buchanan brews at the party, and it had inspired him to strike up a conversation with the owner of Blush Winery. From his bartending experience, he’d learned people liked choices. Wine would be a welcome addition for certain events, like engagement parties, and they were in the process of working out a partnership.
He made a quick call to the winery, relieved when he got a hold of the owner, who quickly realized they’d never sent the cases. She didn’t have time to run them over, but she offered to stick around until Jack showed up.
By the time he got back to the brewery, it was nearly five. He still hadn’t heard from Iris, Addy, or Georgie, despite the fact that he’d sent all three a group text, telling them he needed to talk to them as soon as possible. The party started at six.
At ten past five, after Jack had called Lee again and left a more insistent voicemail, Dottie showed up. Her hair was freshly dyed a festive red, presumably for the holidays. She was wearing a flowing, gold lamé dress with a short train that flowed behind her and a green velvet hat with a large sprig of evergreen with red berries attached. She looked like a life-sized present.
“It’s lovely, Jack,” she gushed when she walked into the room.
Despite the stress of wondering if the party was happening, he was proud of how it turned out. The high top tables were covered in crisp white tablecloths, and the evergreen and candle centerpieces had finally been found and were arranged on the tables. The appetizers still needed to be placed on the serving tables, but the bartender had nearly finished setting up the bar in the corner. Georgie had given him the go-ahead to take care of everything, and he intended to do just that. He wanted her to be able to enjoy herself, to be happy, but he couldn’t help thinking his responsibility for her happiness included making sure she knew about the situation with her father.
“Thanks,” he said. “Have you talked to Lee today?”
She frowned. “No, but I presume you gave him the terrible news.”
“Yeah, he didn’t take it very well.”
She nodded. “That’s to be expected. That boy has been on a tight leash, and he’s just discovered the man holding it is dragging him toward the gallows.”
Jack grimaced. “Is it really that bad?”
“Oh, my precious boy,” she said, her forehead creasing. “It’s so much worse.”
“Georgie and Addy don’t know what’s going on. I think Lee should tell them, but he’s gone AWOL, and I haven’t been able to get a hold of my sisters all day.”
“That’s because they’re at the spa, dear.”
“I know, but Finn thought they’d be done by four.”
She shook her head. “No, the issue with the ostrich and the marbles put them behind schedule. The girls will be here shortly before six.”
Ostrich and marbles? Jack knew there was a story there, but now didn’t seem like the time to ask. “And Prescott?”
Her lips pressed together. “I would hope the man would have the decency to stay away, but no one ever accused him of possessing decency, so I suppose he’ll show up around six-ten.”
That sounded about right.
“If you need help, River should be here shortly. Since Georgie is running late, Adalia said she would bring her and Iris.”
River was the second to the last person he wanted to see, Prescott being the first.
“Where’s Maisie?” Dottie asked, glancing around.
“Good question,” Jack said, walking over to the table that would hold the appetizers. He straightened the perfectly aligned chafing dishes.
“Isn’t she coming?”
The thought of seeing her unleashed butterflies of anticipation in his stomach, but their wings were quickly crushed. “I’m sure she is, considering she’s River’s best woman.”
“Oh dear,” Dottie said, disappointment and then acceptance filling her eyes. “You know.”
He turned around to face her. “That Maisie’s been in love with River for half her life? Yeah, I got that bit of news this morning.”
Dottie grabbed his arm and pulled him over to one of the few tables with chairs. “Sit.”
“Dottie, I don’t really have—”
“Sit.”
Since Dottie rarely gave orders, let alone in a stern voice, Jack knew better than to refuse.
She lowered into the chair next to him and held his gaze.
“Our Maisie likes to put on a tough front, but she’s more vulnerable than most people realize.”
“I know all about the situation with her parents, Dottie.”
She gave him a look of reprimand, and he regretted interrupting.
“Maisie was there for River when his mother dropped him off in Asheville. She was his friend and defended him when some of the children made fun of him for being behind in school. She helped him catch up too. They were best friends all through school and then past graduation. River struggled to find his way, and she stood by him when others didn’t. In turn, he was there for her after her parents died.”
“I know most of this, Dottie.”
“Maybe so, but I’m not sure you understand it all. Maisie lost her way after her parents died, and it was River who helped keep her afloat.”
He closed his eyes. He really didn’t want to hear how much River meant to her.
“Jack.”
He gave her his attention.
“River and Maisie will always share a special bond. If you can’t accept that, then you’re not the man I thought you were. Georgie knew if she wanted her relationship with River to work, she’d have to accept it.”
“She knew how Maisie felt from the beginning?”
“Of course she did. Women know these things. But she also realized it wasn’t a threat to her relationship with River.”
“I’m sure it was much easier considering River wasn’t in love with Maisie. She was in love with him.”
“Relationships are more complicated than that, my dear. At one time, there could have been more between them—on both sides—but that time has long since passed, and it’s for the best that it did. For both of them. When Maisie’s with River, she can live in her past. She can pretend her parents are on a trip instead of being buried at Riverside Cemetery. She can be the girl she was in high school. And River could do the same. While they both accepted each other for who they were, they didn’t challenge each other to grow. Or more specifically, River never challenged Maisie to grow. She’s been stuck in her tracks for nearly ten years.” She reached over and covered his hand with her own. “Until you.”
He thought about what Finn had said, how he’d claimed Maisie had only started changing things after she began spending time with him, but was that true, or did he just want to believe it?
“Because River moved on,” he offered, mostly to see how she’d respond.
“Maybe,” Dottie said, “or you could look at it another way: River set her free to realize he wasn’t really what she needed. What she needs is a man who would make her want more than what she has. Who encourages her to leave her past behind.”
He didn’t say anything.
“She’s falling for you, Jack, and she’s very good for you too. All I ask is that you not hold her past against her, especially since she’s trying so hard to break free from it.”
He nodded. Talking about Maisie and River was eating out his insides, but he could see the truth in her words. Maisie had looked so raw and vulnerable when he’d confronted her, even as she snapped at him, and if he was being honest with himself, he realized part of that pain had stemmed from her fear of losing him. He didn’t want to lose her either. He just needed to let all of these new revelations settle.
“You’re a very wise woman, D
ottie Hendrickson.”
She graced him with a beaming smile. “Thank you for acknowledging my truth.”
He laughed. “We still have to deal with Prescott and the party.”
“Fate has a way of working these things out.”
“Why do I think this will be an engagement party most people will never forget?”
She patted his cheek and winked. “Because you are a very wise man.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Spending time with the dogs had always calmed her. They didn’t ask for anything but love, and she’d always had plenty of that to give. Ruby licked her face, and Jackie Daytona, a small mix with a flattish face that spoke of her part-bulldog heritage, kept insisting on being picked up, not that Maisie minded. She hugged and petted all of them until her clothes were covered in fur, and then left the kennel and started stuffing the stockings in the playroom. Iris had gone above and beyond, like always, and for Ruby’s stocking, she’d included a sweater with Jack’s picture on it. Before, Maisie had laughed at the sight of it, but now it felt like a knife to her chest. Jack wasn’t going to adopt Ruby. He already lived in a house with a big dog and dictatorial cat. It didn’t matter how much Ruby loved Jack, how much she’d chosen him as her soul companion—she was going to be taken home by someone else eventually. Would she still pine for Jack?
Would Maisie?
The thought ripped a bitter laugh from her. Of course she would. And she knew a thing or two about pining. Except something told her this would be much, much worse than the pain she’d felt over River.
“Knock, knock,” Dustin said, unnecessarily, as he pounded on the partially open door, swinging it toward her.
The look on his face was one he usually reserved for frightened or aggressive dogs, which told her a lot about the vibe she was giving off, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.
“Would you like some help?” he asked for what had to be the third time. “Or maybe a Danish? I knew you were coming in to do the stockings at some point, but I figured you might bring Jack and Iris. I was actually expecting you all to come in much earlier.”
Getting Lucky Page 30
