When Love Returns

by Lorana Hoopes

  “So, my whole career is just because of you.” Brandon shook his head at her, not believing she could stoop so low.

  “Not your whole career. You still did the work; I just got the connections in front of you.”

  He ran his hand through his hair as he rolled his eyes. “It’s the same thing, Morgan. I can’t believe you thought this would work.”

  He turned to leave, but her claws reached out and snagged his arm. “You can’t leave now. If you quit Bling, Inc, your reputation will be ruined.”

  Slowly, Brandon turned to face her again. “I don’t really care, Morgan. My heart isn’t here anyway. It’s back in Star Lake. With Presley.” The truth of his words hit like an anvil over the head. How could he have been so stupid?

  After prying her nails off, he left Morgan, face gaping in her doorway, and headed back to his apartment.

  “Joy, how would you feel about getting out of here?”

  “Like to the park?” she asked, looking up from her puzzle.

  “No,” he shook his head, smiling, “I mean home. To Star Lake.”

  She scrambled up and ran to him, throwing her arms around his legs. “Do you mean it, Daddy?”

  He crouched down to wrap his arms around her. “I do, bug. Let’s go home.”

  As she began packing up her things, Brandon jumped on the phone. First to Stewart.

  “I’m sorry Stewart, but I can’t take the job after all.”

  “I don’t understand. What happened?” His voice was utterly confused on the other end.

  “Morgan did, and it’s not your fault, but I went down that road once, and I’m not doing it again. Can you give me the name of the moving company, so I can call them to get them to turn around? I’ll pay the return trip.”

  Brandon jotted the number down as he rattled it off and thanked him before hanging up. The moving company was the next call, and he reached the manager on the second ring.

  “I know this is unusual, but I need the drivers to turn around. I need them to go to 812 Cooper Street, Star Lake Texas.”

  The woman on the other end chuckled. “You’d be surprised. This happens more often than you think. I’ll let the driver know right away, but can I ask you one question?”

  “Sure.” Brandon had no idea what she wanted, but the fact that she was so willing to accommodate him made him more comfortable answering her question.

  “Is it for love?”

  A smile broke out on his face, and though he knew she couldn’t see it, he was sure she could hear it in his voice. When Brandon first started sales, that was one of the tricks they taught him. Always smile on the phone because people could hear it in your voice. “Yeah, it is.”

  “I knew it. It’s almost always for love. Good luck.”

  He thanked her and hung up. One more call. After looking up the number on his phone, Brandon dialed the airport.

  “Customer service, how can I help you?”

  “I need to get tickets for the first flight you have to East Texas Regional Airport, and please say it’s soon.”

  “One moment, sir, let me check.” He could hear the tapping of keys through the phone. “It looks like there are only two flights a day sir. I can get you on a late flight tonight that leaves at eight pm and would get you into East Texas at eight am. There are two stops, but you won’t have to de-plane. Or there is a flight first thing tomorrow at five am that will get you there at four pm. You’d have to change planes once.”

  Brandon looked down at his watch. It was just past noon. There should be plenty of time for them to pack and get to the airport, although there was one more stop he wanted to make. “I’ll take tonight. Two tickets please.” He tried not to cringe at the price she read off, and rattled off his credit card. He would have to find a job quickly in Star Lake, but it would be worth it.

  “Okay, you’ll need to pick them up at the check in gate, but here’s your confirmation number.”

  After jotting down the number, Brandon ended the call and helped Joy finish packing. They filled up the suitcases they had brought and managed to squeeze in the presents from Presley, but as he looked over at the tree, Brandon realized all those presents wouldn’t fit.

  “We’ll have to mail them back, Bug. Is that okay?”

  “Of course, daddy. None of those hold what I really wanted for Christmas anyway.”

  “What did you want for Christmas, bug?” He had gotten her the set of books she asked for and a new Barbie.

  “I wanted to spend Christmas in Star Lake with Nana and Poppy and Presley.”

  Brandon scooped her up in a hug and twirled her around the room. “This is going to be the best Christmas ever.”

  She giggled and squealed as they turned in circles.

  “Okay, let me see if I can get a box and have someone take this to the post office. Should we take the ornaments we bought?” They hadn’t found many original ones, so they were mainly the colorful balls and a few that looked like icicles.

  Her face scrunched, and she shook her head. “Nah, we can get new ones with Presley.”

  Brandon sighed. “Bug, we’re going back to Star Lake, but I can’t guarantee Presley will take me back. You have to be prepared for that.”

  Joy shook her head, a knowing smile on her face. She looked so much older than her almost six years. “Daddy, she loves you, and she brought us these presents. She’ll take you back.”

  In his heart, he hoped she was right. When he explained what Morgan did, surely Presley would forgive him. “Okay, let me get these presents taken care of then, and we’ll head to the airport. We’ll have to sleep on the flight, but we’ll make it home in time for Christmas.”

  She smiled and sat on the couch, reading one of her books while he contacted Mark and asked him to bring up a box. The knock sounded a moment later. Mark stood on the other side of the door with a large cardboard box in hand.

  “Ah, thank you Mark. Can you come in for a minute while I box these up?”

  “Of course.” He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He stood with his hands behind his back as Brandon packed up the few presents under the sparsely decorated tree. “You’re going somewhere for Christmas?”

  “We’re leaving for good, actually. Going back home.”

  He blinked in surprise. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Have we done something wrong?”

  “Oh, no, it’s not you. We’re going home for love.”

  A smile broke Mark’s normally stoic face. “Well, in that case, let me know how I can help.”

  “Can you drop this at the post office for us when I’m done and call us a cab for the airport?”

  “Absolutely,” Mark nodded. “It would be my pleasure to.”

  Brandon smiled up at him as he finished packing the box. When it was done, he took the roll of tape and Sharpe marker that Mark produced and held out. Brandon didn’t know how he had known, but he had come prepared. He was like a male Mary Poppins, only he was pulling things out of his jacket instead of a purse.

  After the box was packed, Mark tucked it under his arm and Brandon checked his watch. It was only two pm, but with traffic in New York, he would rather be safe than sorry. “Ready, Joy?”

  She slammed her book shut and tucked it in her suitcase. “Ready.”

  Mark opened the door and led the way to the elevator. As they waited for it to open, Brandon heard Morgan’s door open.

  “What are you doing?” Her heels clomped so hard as she stomped toward them that he could hear the sound even through the soft plush carpet.

  “We’re leaving, Morgan, and there’s nothing you can do to stop us. You shouldn’t have tried to control me.” He placed his hands on Joy’s shoulder, pulling her closer.

  Morgan saw the gesture and smiled. It was a vicious predatory smile that sent a chill down his spine. “I’ll tell her who her mother is.”

  Brandon was about to respond when Joy piped up. “I don’t care who my birth mother is because she left me. Mothers don’t do that. Presley
is what a mother should be. She hugs me and reads me stories and plays with me.”

  Morgan’s mouth dropped open, but before she could reply, the elevator dinged and they stepped inside, leaving Morgan standing in the hall catching flies.

  “That was awesome, Miss Joy,” Mark said softly, a smile tugging at his lips. “No one speaks to Miss Warner like that, but they should.”

  Brandon’s own smile played across his lips. Evidently Joy got more than just his hair. In the lobby, Mark gave Joy a high five and wished Brandon luck. After thanking him, they stepped outside. A yellow cab waited at the curb.

  Brandon held tight to Joy’s hand as they marched through the current of people to the edge of the sidewalk. Within minutes, their luggage was in the trunk, and they climbed inside.

  “Where to?” The man was foreign with a long scraggly beard, and his accent was hard to understand.

  “The airport, please. American Airlines.”

  “You bet,” he said, and the car pulled into traffic.

  “Wait, can we make one stop first?” Brandon gave him the name of where he wanted to go, and the cabbie smiled in the mirror and nodded.

  Though his watch still showed plenty of time, the nerves had started taking root in Brandon’s stomach, twisting and turning into a tightly coiled knot. His head was focused on Presley and what he was going to say to her.

  The car stopped, and he glanced around. They were stuck in the middle of traffic. He realized he hated traffic, yet another reason to get out of this city.

  “Are we going to make it, Daddy?” Joy’s face was pressed against the glass, and her voice was full of worry.

  “We left early for a reason. We’ll have plenty of time,” he reassured her, but his own nerves balled even tighter at the delay.

  Chapter 26

  “Thanks for coming with us, Mom.” Presley gave her mother a hug before they threw on their coats to make the short trek to Brandon’s parents’ house.

  “I’m just glad I could get the day off to spend with you guys,” she said, returning the hug. There were tears in her tired eyes and more wrinkles than Presley remembered on her face. Even her hair was grayer than it had been six years ago. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to spend more time with you children when you were younger.”

  “Don’t be sorry, Mother. Yes, we would have loved to have you around more, but we understood the sacrifices that you made for us, and we love you even more because of it. I hope one day I’ll get to be as great a mom as you were to us.”

  Ryan nodded his agreement.

  Her mother smiled. “I have no doubt that you will my dear. If not Brandon, then some man will come along and make you a very happy woman.”

  Presley had her doubts in this small town, but she didn’t want to ruin the mood. Yesterday had been lonely as her mother had to work. She had kept the bakery open but only had two or three visitors all day. The evening was spent watching sappy romantic Christmas movies on the screen with Ryan and wishing her life could be like theirs. She was looking forward to some festivities and people today.

  They didn’t speak much on the short walk there, each lost in their own thoughts, but Anna made up for it as they were ushered into the house.

  “Here let me get your coats. Mom made gingerbread cookies, and they are delicious. Plus, she has a ham with all the fixings baking for lunch.”

  Presley’s smile was genuine as she handed over her coat. Part of it was based on Anna’s verbal outpouring and part of it was based on the food. She remembered missing that aspect in Paris. Though they had amazing food, it was often small portions and delicate dimensions, nothing like ‘all the fixings’ in Texas, which usually meant bread, potatoes, green bean casseroles, sweet potato pies, and more.

  They followed Anna into the living room where Bruce was situated in the recliner in front of the television. The Cowboys were playing the Eagles today, and as he was a diehard fan, he would be parked in front of the set until the game was over. For his sake, Presley hoped the Cowboys won. She remembered a few rough Christmases spent with Brandon when they lost, and everyone was in a sour mood for the rest of the night.

  “Helena, Ryan, we’re so glad you could join us,” Beverly said, addressing Presley’s mother and brother as she entered the living room. The two women hugged like long lost friends while Ryan waved and then planted himself on the couch to watch the game with Bruce.

  “Thank you for inviting me. It seems I miss more of these gatherings every year, but now that Ryan has graduated, and I’ve started to pay down debts, I think I’ll be taking more breaks.”

  “You’ll have to promise to stop working so hard.”

  “You won’t have to tell me twice. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  The two women headed into the kitchen leaving Presley staring at Bruce and Ryan and wondering what she should do.

  “Presley, come help me finish wrapping some gifts,” Anna called from the family room.

  Glad to have something to do, Presley joined her. She was wrapping a large black box on the floor.

  “Who is this for?”

  “Dad,” she answered, looking up just a second before returning her concentration to the paper that kept falling off one side while she held the other. Her sigh of exasperation sent her bangs flying into the hair before falling back to her forehead. “It’s a tool box.”

  “Isn’t it a little early for that?” Presley wasn’t trying to be rude, but Bruce was still using the walker to get around. She couldn’t see him picking up this tool box anytime soon, but she dropped to her knees and held the side for Anna.

  She shot a grateful look. “Yeah, that’s what Mom said too, but I know Dad, and he’s going to want to do something as soon as he feels normal again. This way it will be ready when he is.”

  “Sounds good.” With Presley’s help, Anna finished the job quickly, though the wrapping job itself left a lot to be desired. Some of that was caused by the odd shape of the box though. It took both of them to push it under the tree. As they did, Presley’s eyes landed on a present addressed to Brandon.

  “Is Brandon coming?” she asked Anna, hoping she would say yes, even though she knew the answer was probably no.

  “No, that was just one we forgot to give him before they left.”

  “Oh.”

  “If it’s any consolation,” she said, reading the emotion on Presley’s face, “Brandon can be pretty dumb sometimes, but he almost always comes around.”

  Presley flashed an appreciative smile, and then Beverly’s voice carried down the hallway. “Girls, lunch is ready.”

  As they gathered around the table, Beverly and Presley’s mother placed the food on the table. Anna hurried to the living room to help Bruce join everyone around the table, and Presley grabbed the cups and placed them at the settings.

  They had just sat down at the table when a knock sounded at the door.

  “Who could that be?” Beverly asked, looking up.

  “I’ll go see.” Anna bounded out of her chair to the front door.

  Beverly started the procession of food by scooping some potatoes onto her plate and then passing them to her right. She followed this with the ham and had just started the rolls when she gasped. Presley glanced up to see her wide eyes staring at something behind her. She twisted in her chair to see Brandon and Joy both smiling like loons. Anna stood beside them, as bewildered as her mother.

  “Merry Christmas everyone. We’re home.” Brandon threw out his arms as if he was expecting everyone to rush in for a hug.

  “Well, I’ll be,” Beverly said. She dropped the biscuit she had in her hand and rushed around the table to embrace them both. “What happened?”

  “It’s a long story,” Brandon said with a shake of his head, “but we have Presley to thank.”

  “Me?” What had I done?

  “Yes, if you hadn’t shown up and left those presents, we would never have known.”

  Presley stood and crossed to him. “I don’t understand. If
you saw them that day, why didn’t you call me to come back?”

  He shook his head. “We didn’t see them that day. Morgan hid them and didn’t tell us you stopped by. Joy found them just yesterday, and I confronted Morgan. It seems she set the whole thing up – the promotion and everything.”

  “Oh, Brandon, I’m so sorry.” As her words faded, she realized the rest of the family was watching in rapt silence. A blush spread across her face.

  “So, will you forgive us?” Joy asked.

  “Of course I will. I should have known better. I never trusted Morgan.”

  Joy dropped Brandon’s hand and ran into Presley’s arms. Then the commotion commenced. Beverly and Anna surrounded Brandon lavishing hugs and talking over each other. Even Bruce used his walker to stand from the table and give Brandon a hug. Ryan stood, though he seemed unsure what part to play – whether to be supportive or pull the brother card. Presley looked up at Brandon over Joy’s shoulder and smiled.

  After lunch, everyone gathered around the tree. Brandon nodded at the couch as he looked at Presley, the silent question evident in his raised eyebrow. Stifling a grin, she agreed, and the two parked on the couch, each taking one end. Joy climbed up between them, grabbing one of their hands with each of her own.

  “Who’s going to hand out?” Beverly asked. Anna finished helping Bruce to the recliner and then sat in a chair beside him.

  “I will.”

  Joy jumped up from the couch and pulled Presley’s hand so that she was forced to slide closer to Brandon. Laughing, he opened his arm, and she snuggled into it. His cologne wafted to her nose, woodsy and familiar. She had missed the smell of him and definitely the feeling of his arm around her. Her mother smiled from across the room where she was sitting and Presley smiled back.

  Joy delivered the first present to Bruce, who opened it to reveal a new necktie. Beverly was next. She opened her gift to find a new pair of gloves. Joy delivered a gift to Helena next.