by Ava Miles
“Oh, you’re all so wonderful! I love it. Annie’s going to love it too.” They could actually have sex in a house! Although it would probably be better not to blurt that out.
“We’re going to leave you now,” Aunt Clara said, kissing his cheek. “Everyone is expecting us at the farm. Take your time, Flynn. I’ll mention Caitlyn surprised you by arriving.”
“I wondered, sir, if you wanted to have a family dinner over here tonight with Ms. Loudermilk and her family. The kitchen is stocked for such an event.”
“That sounds wonderful, Hargreaves,” he said, rocking back on his heels. “Our first family dinner here. Plus, it’ll give Caitlyn a chance to meet Annie and her girls.”
“Can’t wait!” She hugged him.
Aunt Clara kissed her on the cheek as well, followed by Uncle Arthur, who turned to Flynn and said, “Did you ever imagine living in a farmhouse in Ohio?”
He studied his surroundings, pleased to see the Italian leather couch and chairs. “Not in a million years. I’ll see you guys soon.”
When they left, he grabbed his sister and lifted her off the floor. “You are so the best!”
“I know! Also, I ordered you giant blow-up snowmen for outside. They’re adorable. You’re going to love them.”
Yeah, they’d joked about how his neighbors would react in Manhattan if he went all out with Christmas decorations. “Awesome!”
“I’m going to take your room at the B&B,” she told him, her green eyes dancing when he set her down. “Beau is held up with some business with his manager in Nashville, so I’m not sure he’ll make it. Either way, I’m here to face Dad with you.”
He grabbed her hand and swung it like he used to when they were kids. “I waited until the others were gone to tell you… Caitlyn, you have no idea how happy I am to have my own place here. Last night, Annie and I had to resort to having sex in the back of my Rover.”
“Get out!” She guffawed, falling back and resting against the newel post. “Desperate times and desperate measures.”
“Yes, desperate,” he said, laughing with her. “Oh, Caitlyn, I’m so glad you’re here. My life has changed so much in the last couple of weeks, and I wanted you to be a part of it.”
She wrapped her arms around him. “I know. Now, let me show you your digs.”
The bottom floor was mostly the living room, a dining room, and a kitchen with a half bath. Upstairs were four bedrooms with one full bath, the shower and tub dating back to the fifties in a pink shade. He didn’t care at all. It was private. Oddly, he didn’t mind the hominess.
“I know the house isn’t your style, but I furnished it the best I could on short notice. Gertie thought you might like the remoteness of the farmhouse. No neighbors close by to gossip about your comings and goings. I love her, by the way. She’s the best.”
“Oh, did you meet?” God, he must have been really lost in his own world not to have sensed anything was up. “Yeah, she’s great. So are June’s other friends.”
“They all baked you casseroles and brought loads of holiday treats,” she said, patting him on the chest. “Appears they think Annie’s struck gold with you. I couldn’t agree more.”
“I’ve struck gold too,” he said, stopping her at the top of the stairs. “It’s like my whole life has clicked into place.”
She grinned at him as she fingered her engagement ring. “That’s how I felt when I met Beau. Let me grab the presents I brought for Annie and her girls, and then we can head over there. I’m not just here for moral support with Dad. I expect to be put to work.”
On the drive, he ran her through their remaining schedule. Most of the items had been finished, thanks to their additional volunteers, but they still had to assemble baskets for the second shipment, and Annie hadn’t yet finished the lotion and conditioner. Hargreaves was helping with that, and he’d been training Gertie and Tilly to make it too. Meanwhile, the first shipment was going out ahead of schedule. Even though it was only December 12, shipping finished products had made sense not only to give them more space but to maintain their efficiency.
“This is going to be so much fun,” she said as they arrived at the Loudermilk farm.
They parked the car, and it was like déjà vu as Amelia ran out to meet them with Carrot racing behind her, his unicorn horn glittering in the sunlight.
“Oh, aren’t you two adorable?” Caitlyn said, exiting the cab and patting the pony’s head in response to his nudging. “Are you Amelia? Golly, Flynn’s told me so much about you and your pony. I’m Caitlyn, his older sister! Come here, sweet thang.”
His heart was a big ball of emotion as he watched Caitlyn wrap up Amelia in a huge hug and turn her about in a circle. The sound of their laughter warmed his heart.
“Are you from that Big Apple place too?” she asked.
“Sometimes,” Caitlyn said. “Other times I live on a farm kinda like yours, but we have flowers everywhere instead of animals.”
“Oh, I bet it smells so pretty,” Amelia said. “Do you have pictures?”
“Yes, and I have a present for you. Come, let’s get it.”
The little girl’s cheers put a smile on his face, and he decided to leave them to it because he spotted Annie making her way toward them from the lab.
“My sister arrived,” he said, grinning. “Totally surprised me.”
“Your aunt mentioned it when they got here,” Annie said, putting her arms around him and kissing him lightly on the lips. “You look so happy.”
She would be too once she saw the present his family had given him—them. But he wasn’t going to say anything until she and the girls arrived for dinner tonight. He’d have to give her a cryptic invitation like Hargreaves had done for him. “Come, beautiful.”
“Annie!” Caitlyn cried, handing Amelia a small bag as Carrot nuzzled the orange paper. “I’m this mug’s sister! It’s so great to meet you.”
It didn’t surprise him when Caitlyn immediately embraced her, or when Annie hugged her back like they were old friends, but oh, man, it choked him up.
“Need a handkerchief?” he heard his uncle ask.
He looked over his shoulder.
Uncle Arthur rested against the front cab of the Rover, dishing out a red hot. He gestured to the women before tossing Flynn a candy. “They’ve taken to each other like long-lost friends, haven’t they?”
Catching the candy, he realized his uncle was right. They were already talking animatedly, as if they had some serious catching up to do.
Amelia brought over her bag and held it up. “I have a present.”
“So I see,” Flynn said, tapping her on her cold nose. “Do you want to open it?”
“I can wait for my mom,” she said, laughing when Carrot nuzzled her neck. “But not for Iris and Eloise. That’s way too long. Mr. Hale, are we still interviewing Flynn’s brother?”
He looked over at his uncle. “What’s she talking about?”
The older man winked at Amelia. “We’re doing a story on twins, and since your brothers are twins, we’re interviewing one of them. Right, sweetie?”
“It’s an important source of information, right, Mr. Hale?” Amelia beamed as he handed her a red hot. “Thanks!”
He knew the bare bones of this story they’d been working on, but he hadn’t known the Merriams would be part of it. “Who are you interviewing?”
“J.T. for starters,” his uncle said. “I think we’ll get what we need from him, but I can bring Trevor in if we need more information.”
More information? For a story by a four-year-old? But this was his Pulitzer prize-winning uncle, he reminded himself. Even retired, he didn’t do things by halves. “Amelia, you’ll have to tell me what my brothers say.” He wondered if they had a different take on growing up than he did.
“You got it, Flynn. Mom! Caitlyn brought us presents!”
He looked over as Annie rushed to him and hugged him with so much enthusiasm that he took a few steps backward. “She got you a house fo
r Christmas?”
He clutched her to him, but shot Caitlyn a look over her shoulder. “I was going to surprise her with it for dinner.”
“Sorry!” Caitlyn said with a what can you do? shrug. “I couldn’t keep it in anymore. I’ve been bursting with the news for days.”
“What house?” Amelia asked.
Uncle Arthur leaned down and whispered something to her. She instantly started jumping up and down and yelling, “Flynn has a house. Now he can stay here forever.”
As he set Annie down, he spotted Tom coming out of the barn. Caitlyn must have sensed it because suddenly she was walking toward the man, something the rest of them had been steadfastly avoiding for days.
“Your sister is just like you,” Annie said in an undertone. “Open. Fun. Welcoming. Flynn, I hope Tom isn’t rude to her.”
He watched as Caitlyn held out her hand, talking while she did so. Tom took it, and then he was nodding and striding away.
When he disappeared around the side of the barn, Caitlyn ran back through the snow. “Well, that was like a shot of Novocain, but it’s early days yet. I plan on winning him over.”
Flynn chucked her under the chin like he’d done when they were kids. “I believe you just might.”
Caitlyn flew back to the Rover and drew out another gift bag, presenting it to Annie. “A little something from my farm in Provence.”
“Can I open my present too, Mom?” Amelia asked, lifting it in the air.
Annie nodded. “You bet!”
Both of his girls pushed back the yellow paper and looked inside. Their gasps echoed across the yard.
“It’s a bottle, Mom!” Amelia cried out in excitement. “A pretty bottle.” She ran to Uncle Arthur. “What is it, Mr. Hale?”
“Perfume, sweetie,” he said, showing her how to uncap it. “Lift your chin, Amelia. You have way too many clothes on for this, but I expect I can find a spot.”
She breathed in deeply and then said, “Oh, it smells so nice! I love it. Thanks, Caitlyn. Oh, what’s this?” Uncle Arthur helped her draw out a pink mermaid costume with a sequined tail. “I get to be like Ariel now. Oh, Carrot, come look! Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome.” Caitlyn blew her a kiss.
The pony neighed as Amelia trailed the mermaid costume over his back. “Carrot is a mermaid,” she sang.
Annie drew out her own bottle and sprayed her wrist, inhaling with her eyes closed. “I can smell orange blossoms. And lavender. And something else,” she said, her tone dreamy.
“A little Damask rose, plus a bunch of other gentle scents,” Caitlyn said. “When I told my perfume maker, Ibrahim, everything Flynn had shared with me about you, he thought you would like this blend. He’s incredibly good at matching scent with people’s true selves. He says hello, Flynn.”
Annie drew out another bottle and uncapped it. “Lavender hydrosol!”
“From my farm in Provence. I figured since you make lotions and such, you might like it.”
“Thank you! Oh, thank you.” She hugged Caitlyn, the gift bag crunching between them. “This is so wonderful.”
“I have some gifts for Iris and Eloise too,” Caitlyn said, sending Flynn a wink. “But I hear we still have some Merriam holiday baskets to make. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and help. Put me to work. Flynn, I plan to remind Quinn about all of this when I ask for a budget increase for my company next month, so thanks.”
He laughed. “It always helps to have points with him before one of those discussions. Speaking of… Annie, Quinn texted me this morning to say my dad is arriving tomorrow to look at your company since things have been going so well.”
She gulped. “Okay. I’ll be ready.”
Rubbing her back, he said, “Of course you will be.”
He would be right beside her. It was his father, after all. What could possibly go wrong?
Chapter 25
Annie was up before the rooster crowed the next morning.
She wanted everything to be perfect for Mr. Merriam’s arrival today. Last night’s dinner at Flynn’s new rental house had been filled with laughter and a surprise Christmas display, complete with three giant blow-up snowmen. Even the twins had smiled when Flynn had gone over and hugged the trio, singing “Frosty the Snowman” at the top of his lungs. Caitlyn’s attention had thrilled the girls, and they couldn’t stop talking about their signature perfume and the nail polish glitter set she’d also given them.
The girls knew it was a big day, and they all gave her a special hug and kiss after breakfast. The twins went to school, and Annie settled Amelia with one of her favorite books in the lab as she went around a second time to make sure everything was ready.
Flynn and his family showed up as she was brushing out a tiny streak on the stainless steel counter.
“Howdy, Annie!” Caitlyn said, pulling off her coat and her pink stocking hat. “Wow! You look fabulous!”
She’d put her hair into a simple bun and wore a blue shirt with a simple black skirt and jacket. This was as professional as she could look with her current wardrobe. The lip gloss she’d made had come in handy, but she was looking forward to her ingredients arriving so she could make a more advanced one with real pigment. “Thank you, Caitlyn.”
“Yeah, babe, you look great,” Flynn said, sending her a wink. “Executive stylish.”
“My dear, it looks like you did some spring cleaning in the lab,” Clara said, crossing and kissing her on the cheek. “Hargreaves would be proud. He’s at the portable with June and her friends. Now, take a few breaths. You do look lovely, my dear, but you’re also a little green.”
She felt a little green.
Flynn kissed her and stayed the hand holding the cleaning towel. “We’re going to be working here anyway. It’s clean. You’re fine. Everything is great.”
Yet her stomach remained in knots—big green ones apparently. “I know. This is a big day is all.” Her company’s future was riding on it. No big deal. “Also, he’s your father.”
“Yes, he is,” Flynn said. “For that reason alone, I trust he’s going to treat you extra nice. Let’s get you focused. Lotion first or conditioner?”
“Lotion.”
“I’ll grab your ingredients,” he said, kissing her again on the cheek. “Like the good helper I am.”
Arthur whispered something to Amelia, and then her daughter popped up and took his hand. “We’re going back to the house, Mom! See you later. Have a great meeting. You’re going to rock this.”
How many times had she told her girls that? Oh, how she loved them. Seeing the three of them come back together had been one of the greatest blessings of her life.
“Have fun with Mr. Hale, honey.”
After setting Caitlyn and Clara up to make more of the aftershave serum, she turned to Flynn. “I’ll make the shaving soap,” he said, rubbing his clean-shaven cheeks. “It’s one of my favorite Bilberry & Co. products.”
She gave a weak smile and turned to focus on her lotion making. The familiar weighing of the oil and water phases focused her, but it was that magically transformative process of mixing the oils and water together into smooth, silky lotion that calmed her on the inside. Her first batch came together beautifully with her mixer, and she found herself falling into the moment, all of them working companionably as classical music played in the background. Of course, Caitlyn made the occasional joke, which all of them usually laughed at in response. Flynn was a steady presence beside her.
Hargreaves texted her his morning update. Goodness, he was turning out to be a capable manager and leader. She texted back to him: Hargreaves, I wish I could hire you. Thank you!
He liked her comment but didn’t reply, not that she’d expected him to. He didn’t seem the sort to send emojis.
“How is it at the portable, dear?” Clara asked. “I expect everything is on schedule.”
“Yes,” she said, adding her goat milk lotion to the gallon container so it could cool. “He’s a marvel, Clara.”
<
br /> “We all love him,” Caitlyn said. “Oh, Annie! I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to do my makeup for my wedding. Beau and I set it for May, so it’s a long ways off. But I figured it would be nice to have someone in the family do it instead of a stranger, you know?”
Annie stared at her in shock. “Your makeup? For your wedding? Oh, I couldn’t. Caitlyn, I’ve been out of it for so long.”
Caitlyn waved a hand. “We have plenty of time to practice. I don’t like much makeup anyway.”
“You don’t need much makeup,” Flynn said, smiling at his sister. “None of you do. You’re all beautiful.”
“Oh, he’s the charmer.” Clara rolled her eyes. “And with me almost eighty. I’ve never worn much because it always made me feel like I had an extra layer on my face that didn’t belong to me.”
“Then your makeup was too heavy,” Annie found herself saying.
Clara’s elegant brow rose. “Continue.”
Annie studied Clara’s complexion. “The foundation you have on now is of good quality, but you could use less yellow and a little more green, I think. You have some redness in your complexion, and the green would balance that.”
“Green, you say?” Clara said. “How intriguing. It doesn’t sound like you’ve been out of it too long, does it, Caitlyn?”
They shared a look. Had she just been set up?
Caitlyn turned to her, grinning. “Annie, please tell me you’re going to start doing makeup again. With an understanding of color like that, you’re going to knock things out of the ballpark. Right, Flynn?”
He nudged Annie gently. “I think so.”
“But you’re biased.”
“Guilty as charged. But that doesn’t mean it’s not true.”
She started making the next batch of lotion, but her eyes kept tracking back to Clara and Caitlyn’s faces. They both had good bone structure. Lovely cheekbones. Elegant brow bones. With a little tweaking to their eyebrows, she could open up their eyes more. She started to imagine the colors she’d want to use: rose, emerald, pearl.
