Practically Married

by Karin Beery

  Her gaze never left Ashley’s face. The people behind them chattered as Carrie took a seat at the table. She maintained eye contact, which gave Ashley time to notice the puffy circles under her eyes.

  Ashley reached over and squeezed her hand. “It’s an easy mistake to make. I’m actually a friend of Tom’s. Russ was kind enough to escort me in. Can I get you anything?”

  Carrie cocked her head to the side, then smiled. “Thank you, I’m fine. I think you’ll fit right in.”

  If only.

  “Has anyone seen Mom?” A trendy, young brunette walked up to the table with a well-dressed, well-groomed man by her side. “She walked off with Kristy almost half an hour ago.”

  Carrie pointed a thumb at the young couple. “This is our baby sister and her husband.”

  All of Tom’s cousins present and accounted for. “I’m Ashley. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “I’m Elizabeth. Listen, if anyone sees Mom before I do, will you tell her I need to get going? If we leave soon, Kristy will fall asleep in the car.”

  “I don’t see Mom, but I see your baby,” Rachel said. Ashley’s eyes followed Rachel’s finger until she spotted a woman cuddling a smiling baby girl.

  “Perfect. We really should get home. I’ll see you guys Sunday?”

  The sisters chattered simultaneously as they took turns hugging Elizabeth. The men shook hands. Someone mentioned a potluck and a birthday cake. Their voices mingled together, a harmony of femininity accented by deep bursts of masculinity.

  Ashley’s heart ached. She’d be singing solo for a while longer.

  Russ leaned forward. “Have you met Tom’s sisters yet?”

  More family. The ache deepened. “I don’t think I can handle that right now.”

  “You should meet them eventually.”

  “Later, I promise.” Maybe.

  Without Tom there to bind her to his family, meeting them all seemed pointless. Living in his house didn’t make her one of them, but she could watch and see what it was like. At least arriving with Russ gave her an excuse to sit with his siblings. Love radiated among them. They weren’t simply family. They were friends. And they had no idea how close she’d come to joining them.

  Russ nudged his plate toward her. “Tell me when you’re ready to go.”

  *******

  Russ glanced at Ashley sitting gracefully beside him, her legs crossed as she leaned toward Rachel and looked at pictures on a phone. After she passed Carrie’s inquisition, his sisters seemed ready to adopt Ashley. Their conversations would occupy Ashley’s time for another hour or so, but then everyone would head home. What was he supposed to do with her then?

  Ashley’s laugh drew his attention. Her face glowed, all signs of her earlier stress gone. Phin had returned to sit on her lap, where he drove cars across the table as she talked with Rachel. Most of the guests had gone, leaving the family to mill around the church hall. The nephews came and went, interrupting the adults and creating a mess. Ashley took it all in stride, talking baseball with one boy and giving another tips on texting with girls. Everyone welcomed her, and she didn’t shy away from anyone. If Russ didn’t know better, he’d think she’d met the family before.

  “How long are you staying?” Rachel asked, tucking away her phone. “Do you have to get on the road soon?”

  Russ tuned in.

  “I haven’t figured that out yet,” Ashley said. “I have a few things to take care of in town.”

  “Where are you staying? If you don’t have a room yet, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a place. This town is silent between golf and ski seasons.”

  Ashley scratched the side of her neck, glancing around without making eye contact. Time for Russ to step in. “She’s actually been staying with me.”

  Every conversation stopped. All eyes turned toward him, including the stink eye Ashley shot his way.

  “At your house?” Rachel asked.

  Chad placed a hand on her back. “I didn’t realize you knew each other that well.”

  “We don’t. But she didn’t know about Tom until she got here, so—”

  Both sisters gasped as Phin smashed two cars together. Ashley looked like she wanted to send Russ to meet Tom in the afterlife.

  “No one told you about the accident?” Rachel pressed her hand to her chest. Her lips trembled.

  Oh no. Russ had two minutes to calm her down before she started crying, and no matter how tough Carrie pretended to be, she’d shed sympathy tears in no time. No more tears. He needed a distraction, fast. “Ashley’s thinking about relocating here. Anybody know of anything for sale?”

  Carrie and Rachel whipped out their phones.

  “My receptionist’s husband is a realtor—”

  “I passed a few houses on the way here—”

  They twittered and surfed. Ashley poked his side, leaning toward him, teeth clenched. “What are you doing?”

  “Finding you a place to live.”

  “I have a place to live.”

  “They don’t know that.”

  “I don’t want to lie to them.”

  “You didn’t lie to them. I asked if they knew of a place for sale. They don’t need to know it’s for me.”

  Ashley’s pink lips parted as she leaned back. “You’re not really giving up on your family’s home, are you? You said to wait a year. You said—”

  “I know. We’ll figure this out together. In the meantime”—he nodded toward his sisters—“it keeps them busy, and they stop asking questions.”

  The frown eased from Ashley’s face. She looked around the table, then smiled at Russ. “You’re brilliant.”

  “I know.”

  “Oh! Here’s a house near Boyne.” Carrie moved closer, holding her phone out for Ashley. With Rachel sitting on Ashley’s left side, Russ relinquished the seat on her right.

  Someone smacked him on the back, nearly sending Russ toppling over Carrie. “That was a great service.” Rob Kraft stepped up alongside him.

  Russ considered hitting him back, but someone had to set a good example for the nephews. He clamped a hand around the back of Rob’s neck, guiding him to another table, away from the women and children. “I’m glad you were able to make it. I thought about locking you out after the thing with Tom’s will.”

  “Tom left a will?” Chad fell into step with them.

  “He did.” Rob slipped out of Russ’ grip and faced him. “But it’s not the will we need to talk about. It’s the letter.”

  Russ rolled his eyes. “I know. I’m figuring it out.”

  “Well, there’s more to figure out.”

  Perfect, because life wasn’t complicated enough. “Chad, can you give us a minute?”

  “He might as well stay,” Rob said. “This affects both of you.”

  “How?” But as he said it, the lightbulb went off. “The farm. Tom willed away his share, didn’t he?”

  Rob nodded.

  Russ wanted to hit someone.

  “What do you mean he willed away the farm?” Chad crossed his arms over his chest. “When did he write a will?”

  “It’s not the will,” Russ said. “It’s the letter.”

  “Ashley emailed me a copy,” Rob said. “I reviewed it more carefully at the office.”

  “What letter?” Chad looked between Rob and Russ.

  Blood rushed to Russ’ ears, running through his veins like fire and ice. Tom was lucky he was already in the ground, because Russ wanted to hit him.

  Chad grabbed Russ’ arm. “What am I missing?” His mountain of a brother-in-law stepped closer. “What happened?”

  Russ scrubbed a hand over his face. “Tom left the farm to Ashley.”

  CHAPTER 14

  The rushing heat from the dashboard slapped at Ashley’s face. Russ sat behind the steering wheel, his eyes unwavering from the road ahead. “What do you mean, he left me the farm?” she asked.

  “I don’t have all of the details yet. Rob’ll come by the house Monday.”

 
; “Good Lord.” She shook her head, trying to straighten out the mess of information. “This is a disaster.”

  “Let’s not worry about it until we have more facts.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  Colorful two-story buildings zipped past the window as they drove through Boyne Heights. Vibrant storefronts and historic office buildings filled the downtown area, which quickly gave way to quaint cottages and small, midcentury homes. Once they passed the town limits, acres of open land greeted them, dotted with taller, wider, and older farmhouses. Soon the trees outnumbered the buildings.

  The setting sun cast long shadows across the road. Had they left the memorial that late? Russ and his sisters had sent Tom’s family home, then stayed to help clean the hall. When Kathleen volunteered to escort Tom’s parents home, Russ offered to drive Ashley, but now she wasn’t ready to go home.

  “Can we go someplace else?” she asked.

  “Like where?”

  “Anywhere. The hilltop maybe?”

  “Okay.” Russ took the next right, driving them down a tree-lined, two-lane path and away from the main road. Between the setting sun and the thickening trees, darkness closed in around them. How appropriate. Ashley gave up looking out the passenger window and focused on whatever she could see in the glowing beams of the headlights.

  Within minutes the truck inclined, pulling them back up the country hill. Ashley looked out the window and sighed. “I don’t suppose there’s much to see in the darkness.”

  “Sure there is.” Russ killed the lights. A dozen stars instantly appeared ahead of them. “Wait until the sun finishes setting. You can see galaxies from here.” The truck took a few familiar turns before Russ parked and shut off the engine. He opened his door, and the heat rushed out into the crisp night air.

  Ashley shivered as realization dawned. “We’re sitting outside?”

  “We can stay in the truck, but the windows will fog up in a few minutes. If you want to see the stars, the view’s better out here.”

  She pulled her sweater close. “It’s cold out there.”

  Russ rolled his eyes as he reached into the back seat. He tossed her a rumpled sweatshirt. “It’s clean, I promise.”

  “Thank you.” She stuffed her arms inside as Russ closed his door. He lowered the tailgate, which rocked the truck. Ashley slipped the sweatshirt over her head, settling its mass around her, wrapping her in warmth as well as the scent of woodchips and grass clippings. Burying her nose in the cotton, she inhaled.

  It wasn’t just a scent—it was Russ. The unexpected familiarity of it soothed her. The earthy tones had tickled her nostrils when he showed her around the farmhouse, and again at the memorial when she sat beside him. Drawing in another slow breath, she filled her lungs with the scent that comforted her achy heart and muddled mind. She didn’t have any of those memories of Tom, but Russ had already crept into her life.

  Opening her door, Ashley let the night air bite at her exposed legs as she walked to the back of the truck. The extra seat cushion waited for her. Beside it sat a pair of gloves, a stocking hat, and a thick gray blanket.

  “Tom always told me you were the best guy that he knew.” She pulled the hat over her hair. “Now I know why.”

  “I told you, I like to be prepared.”

  “You don’t have to share.” Ashley slid her hands into the gloves. “You could keep these for yourself.”

  His lips twisted. “What kind of man would let a woman in a dress freeze while he used the only blanket?”

  She pushed her cushion toward him. When she hopped onto the truck, their legs brushed against each other. Ignoring the comfort of it, she unfolded the blanket and stretched it over both of their legs.

  His fingers wrapped around her wrist. “What are you doing?”

  When Ashley looked up, Russ’ face hovered inches above hers. Woodchips and grass. She cleared her throat. “Sharing?”

  “That’s very kind of you, but I’ll be fine.” He took the blanket from her hand and draped it over her lap, tucking it under her leg.

  Ashley’s breath hitched at the intimacy of the simple gesture. Russ either heard her or felt the same thing because his hand froze, his fingers resting gently against her thigh. As if stung by a bee, he yanked his hand away and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

  She forced her attention upward, watching as stars popped out against the ever-darkening sky. Crickets chirped. Branches popped. Russ breathed deeply. She mimicked him, releasing the tension of their awkward moment.

  Not awkward. Unexpected. As strange as their new relationship was, nothing between Ashley and Russ felt awkward. If anything, the familiarity of his presence surprised her. She nudged his shoulder. “Thanks for today.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The playground. The memorial. After the memorial. You didn’t have to drag me in or escort me through everything, but I appreciate it.”

  He shrugged. “It was nothing.”

  “No, it was everything. You went out of your way to make sure I was comfortable. Thank you.”

  Russ glanced at her before turning back to the night sky. “You’re welcome.”

  “Why did you do it?”

  He shrugged again.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “What would you like me to say?”

  “You could be honest.”

  Russ shook his head, but his lips curved slightly. “I didn’t think I could be, but you changed that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You were right about me not grieving after my dad died. There was too much to worry about—my mom, my sisters, the farm. When Tom died …” Russ swallowed. “He was a brother to me and …” He cleared his throat, but Ashley heard the pain he tried to cover.

  She slid the glove off her right hand and reached into his left coat pocket, then pulled his hand out, threading her fingers with his. Everyone had expected her to cry when her parents died. They expected her to fall apart and need help. But Russ? A grown man, business owner, head of the family. What did people expect from him?

  Covering their entwined fingers with her gloved hand, she leaned against him and waited. For whatever reason things had turned out the way they had, she was glad to sit on the back of a truck with Russ when he needed it.

  *******

  The gentle weight of Ashley’s head pressed against Russ’ shoulder as he choked back the pain. The warmth of her soft fingers radiated through him, comforting the ache he’d tried to ignore. When he finally regained control of his breath, he cleared his throat again.

  She pulled away and looked up at him. “Okay?”

  He nodded, wishing he could see her more clearly. “I’m sorry about that.”

  “Don’t ever apologize for your grief.” Her tone reminded him of his mother’s many scoldings.

  Russ’ muscles relaxed. “My mom and sisters have been trying to help since Tom died, but I’ve never been able to be honest with them. Why is it so easy with you?”

  “Maybe because we’re strangers. You’re not trying to be the strong son or big brother with me. We don’t have any expectations of each other.”

  “Maybe.” Regardless of the reason, Russ silently gave thanks for it.

  “Is that why you want me to stay?”

  The sudden change in topic startled Russ. Why did he want her to stay? “I told you, it’s nice having someone around.”

  “You have a lot of family here. You could probably have someone at your house every day of the week.”

  He groaned. “Don’t give them any ideas. I don’t mind most of the time, but it can be exhausting.”

  “How so?”

  “They like having a protective older brother, but they don’t want to feel pushed around, so I let them think they can manipulate me. Truth is, if I didn’t want my mom staying with me this week, she wouldn’t be. Sometimes I put up a fight to make them think they’re winning, but no one’s ever made me do anything I didn’t want to do.”

/>   “And you don’t have to play that game with me.” Ashley’s fingers wiggled between his. He squeezed without thinking, and her hand settled back into his.

  “I didn’t realize how tiring pretending was until I didn’t have to do it.” Another layer of guilt rolled off his back. “It’s … nice.”

  Ashley relaxed against him even more. For the first time in weeks, Russ felt like he could do the same.

  CHAPTER 15

  On Monday morning, Ashley again found herself in Tom’s kitchen with Rob, Russ, and Tom’s letter. Nothing made any more sense than it had the week before. She couldn’t remember where in the letter Tom had mentioned any land. “How did I end up with Tom’s share of the farm?”

  “It’s not that simple.” Russ banged his coffee mug on the counter, animosity having replaced the gentleness she’d seen over the weekend. “It’s a farm. It’s been in the family for generations. We don’t own stock like a company. We can’t give Ashley the east acres or the MacIntosh trees.” He glared at Rob. “Why would Tom leave anything to her, and without telling me?”

  And how? Ashley sat a little taller. “The letter never said I could have the farm.”

  Rob waved the paper in his hand. “It’s not as clear-cut as the house, but he did mention it. He talks about teaching you the business, working the land together. It’s not as direct, but I looked at some case law. Depending on the judge, there’s a real possibility that Ashley could inherit Tom’s share of the farm. It’s not absolute, but it’s possible.”

  Russ scrubbed a hand over his face. “How would you determine what part of the farm is Tom’s?”

  “Did you buy the property from your parents?” Rob asked. “If we can show that he didn’t have a legal right to give it away without your consent, we can save it.”

  “Tom kept track of that stuff.”

  Rob sighed. “Do you have anything in writing?”

  “Tom made me sign things all the time. He was always asking for money and having me sign papers. Rental agreements, employee documents, something about an LLC and a scorp.”

  “You mean an S corp?”

  Russ snapped his fingers and pointed at Rob. “Yes!”

  “If he filed either of those with the state, I can look it up. I can also check at the courthouse to see who they have named as the legal property owner, but it will certainly help your case if you can find anything with your signature on it. It will definitely help if Ashley doesn’t contest it.” Rob winked at her.