“My pleasure, dear. Rest well.”
Dylan followed his aunt into the kitchen, poured her a glass of wine, and pulled a beer from the fridge for himself. They sat at the kitchen table across from one another.
“I’m so glad you and Uncle Bob, and the girls were able to join us for Thanksgiving. And thanks for taking care of the venison today. That was a big help.”
“I’m happy to do it. I just wish we lived closer to you and the boys so I could help you out more. Not that you need it though. I see you have everything under control here. And for the record, I meant what I said in the living room a moment ago. You are doing a wonderful job with the boys.” She took a sip of her wine and leaned back in her chair. “And I see you even found some time to take on a little bit extra.”
He knew by her sly smile what she meant. How did she always know him so well? It's like she had a sixth sense when it came to him. “Well, I needed a nanny and someone to help with the household duties, and Marissa happened to need a place to live, so it worked out for both of us, all of us.”
“The boys seem to like her.”
“They do, especially the younger ones. They’ve really taken to her.”
His aunt slowly raised her wine glass to her lips while keeping her gaze fixed on him. A tinge of sass lit up her light brown eyes. She swished the liquid around in her mouth before swallowing, buying more time to conjure up her next statement he presumed. He also presumed she was on to him and was about to call him on it, no doubt.
“I have a feeling the eldest Jacobs brother may have taken to her as well, and she to him.”
A series of lies ran through his head but he knew it was of no use to use any of them to deny his feelings for Marissa, his aunt would see through him, she always did. His gaze landed on the floor.
His aunt’s warm hand covered his as it rested on the tabletop.
“Look at me, Dylan.”
He drew in a slow deep breath and met his aunt’s sweet, loving gaze.
“She’s not Tracy. Not every woman is going to feel the same way Tracy did, or this Lora, Marissa told me about. I understand that not every woman is cut out for this kind of life, both the farming and the large, ready-made family. But I see how Marissa looks at you. She’s a woman in love, and as for your brothers, she thinks the world of them as well.”
Dylan struggled for words. Deep down he hoped his aunt was right. He felt she was, yet apprehension still haunted him. His silence urged her to continue.
“She’s a nice girl, Dylan Jacobs, you may not want to be so quick to assume it won’t work out and toss this one back.” His aunt leaned back in her chair and took another sip of her wine. “So, what’s the real problem here?”
Her penetrating gaze stayed on him as she waited for some sort of response. He was tired of holding everything inside and he wanted to tell her, yet he didn’t. He had shared his feelings with his grandfather, and though the man couldn’t speak, Dylan knew what he thought, and he had a feeling he was going to get the same advice from his aunt, only this time verbally. But why should that surprise him, they were father and daughter.
He cleared his throat. “Part of it is that she’s so young, and I really don’t know if someone her age fully understands what they’d be getting into, entering a situation such as mine. I’m afraid after a while she'll come to realize how difficult it can be, and she’ll…” Dylan paused and kept his gaze on his aunt.
“Leave because it’s not really her family, her responsibility.”
He nodded. “It would be one thing to leave me, but to leave them, especially Luke, Nate and Braden. It would kill me for them to suffer another loss.” Dylan swallowed hard. “Or what would be even worse, is that she’d stay and grow to resent me and them.”
His aunt nodded. “I understand your concerns, but have you considered that maybe her love for you and your brothers is so strong she would welcome with open arms the challenges that come with a large, ready-made family? Actually, I believe she’s already made her choice. And just for the record, every family has its challenges, even those that may seem perfect to others.”
“I know, it’s just that I want so much for her to enjoy these years, finish college, and have the carefree life people do at that age.”
“You know, if memory serves me, your mother was a freshman in college when she met your father who at the time was a senior. They fell in love and married the summer your dad graduated from college, which fell between her freshman and sophomore year. Hmm, then she had you in September of her senior year. I guess one could say she had it all. Marriage, family, and a college education.” She paused and took a sip of her wine. “I, myself, was only twenty when I met your Uncle Bob, and I knew from the first moment I laid eyes on him he was my soul mate. We married when I was twenty-three and that was twenty-one years ago.”
Though his aunt hadn’t told him anything new just now, he had never really put that much thought into how young his parents were when they married and started their family. “I guess I hadn’t really thought about how young you all were when you married.”
“We sure were, and sometimes it seems like just yesterday and other times I realize just how long ago it was. I’m really reminded when I look at you and Cole. Your parents raised some fine young men.”
His eyes watered as he drained his beer bottle and glanced back at the kind woman sitting across from him. “And then there’s the time issue.”
“What do you mean?”
“I just don’t know if I can carve out enough time to give anyone right now. The time she deserves in a relationship.”
“Ah, another reason not to take a chance,” she commented with a slight nod of her head before the soft, reassuring smile she often flashed him, consumed her face. “I know you, and I’m sure once you decide you’re in, you’ll find the time. You always seem to manage. And you know, my dear nephew, it’s okay for you to want, and allow yourself some of the pleasures of life. Your existence is not solely to cater to your brothers.” She rose from her chair. “I guess I’ll let you get some sleep since you have to get up early to go hunting. Bob and I, and the girls are going to visit Grandpa in the morning, then we’ll come back, pack up, and get out of your hair.”
“You’re welcome here anytime, I know you know that. We’ll come in after the morning hunt and see you off.”
His aunt rose from her chair, and he stood in response as she stepped toward him and placed her warm hand on his cheek. Her motherly touch catapulted him into a sea of painstaking warm memories of his own mother. God, how he missed her. He’d give anything for just one more touch from his mother. No, he’d give anything for his brothers to feel just one more touch of their mother’s loving hand, one more chance at hearing her soft voice tell them she loved them. His brothers deserved that, she was taken from them way too early and it wasn’t fair.
By the time Dylan refocused on his aunt, her eyes swam with tears.
“You’re just like your father: kind, loyal, and loving. When you’re ready to open your heart, the woman you let in will be one heck of a lucky woman.” She kissed him on the cheek, and embraced him tightly, reassuringly. How did she always seem to know what he needed?
Chapter Eleven
Dylan paced the floor in the kitchen, looking out the window every five minutes, hoping to see Cole and Marissa pulling onto the driveway. What was taking them so long? Marissa had phoned when Cole arrived at school to pick her up, yet nearly an hour and a half had passed by since then. The forty mile drive shouldn’t take that long. His chest squeezed his heart to the point it was hardly able to beat as he imagined the worst. Had they been in an accident?
“Oh, would you calm down already,” Aric stated as he stepped into the kitchen. “They probably just stopped off somewhere to get a bite to eat or something.”
Why would they do that when they were so close to home? Why weren’t they answering his calls?
He glanced out the window again, willing Cole's car into the driv
eway. Nothing. They had been home a mere three weeks ago for Thanksgiving break, yet, he felt like it had been an eternity since he’d last seen Marissa. And ever since his heart-to-heart with his Aunt Mitzi, all he could think about was Marissa. He hadn’t known it was possible to think of any one person that much, or more than he already had before his deep conversation with his aunt, but now he knew it was possible. Maybe it was time, time to put himself out there to her but he still wasn’t fully sure he was ready. All this time, he’d made it about making sure Marissa was ready but his aunt had made him come to realize he was the one who was not ready and willing.
The landline rang. Dylan’s gaze shot to the phone. Fearing the worst, he hesitated to make a move for the phone.
Aric shot him an odd look and snatched up the receiver.
“Yep … okay … see ya soon.”
His brother hung up the phone and made a move for the refrigerator. Why wouldn’t he, it had to have been at least an hour since they ate lunch.
“Well?” Dylan asked.
“What?”
“Was that Cole on the phone?”
“No, Marissa,” Aric replied before leaning back into the refrigerator.
Dylan blew out a calming breath as he counted to ten. “What did she have to say?”
“Cole got a flat tire. He changed it and now they’re on the road again.”
Relief rippled through him. But still, having to change a tire in thirty degree temperatures was not good.
A short time later, Cole pulled into the driveway. All was well, and Dylan couldn’t be happier to have the whole family together again for another holiday. He yelled up the stairs for Braden and Nate, letting them know Cole and Marissa were home. The boys nearly flew down the stairs, and Luke bounded into the kitchen from the living room, and directly into Marissa’s arms. He’d give his right arm to be Luke right now.
Dylan shifted his gaze to Cole and hardened it. "Why didn't you guys return my calls? I thought something had happened to you."
Cole scowled back at him. "We did return your calls when we got back into the car after changing the tire and noticed that you had called our cells."
"Oh, I guess … never mind. Sorry. I'm glad everything is okay." Now he felt like an irrational idiot. Cole's look confirmed he was right about his self-assessment. It was probably best to just stop talking for now.
Cole disappeared upstairs and returned a moment later. “Chop, chop, you guys, the movie starts in thirty minutes, and it’s going to be busy today so we may be in line for a while. Those butts not in the car in two minutes are going to be left behind.”
Boys scattered for their jackets. Thank goodness Cole was taking them to the movies, Dylan was looking forward to the peace and quiet, though he’d likely be scrambling to get all the presents wrapped before they returned.
The door slammed shut and there was silence. But better yet, he now had time alone with Marissa, a rare event, especially since she went off to college.
Marissa eyed him from across the kitchen. Concern seeped from her bright blue gaze. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why do you ask?”
“You look tired. I’ve never seen you look so beat, are you feeling okay. Are you ill?” She lowered her gaze. "And you kind of jumped all over Cole just now for nothing."
Did he really look that bad and sound that on edge? Judging from the look in her eyes, he must. He straightened his stance and pulled a smile, hoping to alleviate her concern. “I’m good, just a little tired. Thomas hurt his back a couple of weeks ago so I’ve been working his shifts in the barn. And with the holidays … well, you know how it is.”
Her worried gaze deepened. Shoot, wrong direction. “No need to worry, now that Cole is back for the next ten days, and Aric is on Christmas break, I can work them into the schedule a bit.”
“I’ll do whatever I can in here for you, too. We’ll give you a break. Perhaps I should cancel my January interim class and stay longer to help you out until Thomas is back to work…”
“No, absolutely not. Your education comes first.”
The startled look in Marissa’s eyes let him know just how abruptly he interrupted her, and, though he meant his words, he wished he hadn’t snapped them out the way he did.
“When is Thomas coming back to work?”
“Should be in a week or two. Will and Juan have altered their schedules to help out more as well. It’s all good.”
“Of course it is, you have everything under control as usual, and don’t need help from anyone.”
Was that a smidge of sarcasm in her tone? Yes, ouch. And where did that remark come from, why now? She’d never said anything like that before, or used that type of tone with him.
“So, Cole said it was his job to get the boys out of your hair so you could wrap gifts this afternoon.”
“Yes, that was the plan, and I’d better get started.”
“I know you don’t need my help, but I love wrapping gifts, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to help. Consider it as doing me a favor,” she said in that same tone.
Double ouch.
“I’d love your help. Can you put the leaves in the kitchen table while I start hauling the presents from my room?”
She nodded.
“Good Lord, Dylan, did you buy out the whole store?” Marissa asked as he set the fourth load of gifts on the floor by the kitchen table.
“It almost feels like it. There’s just a couple more loads.”
“A couple more,” she repeated in a whisper.
After the gifts were piled near the table, he managed to haul the wrapping paper, bows, and gift labels in one trip.
He glanced at Marissa who was staring at the mounds of presents. “Each pile is already sorted by brother so all we have to do is wrap and label.”
“How do you want them labeled?”
“What do you mean?”
“The ‘from’ part.”
“Just pick one from each stack and make it from me, and then mark the rest as from Santa. I don’t want them to think I didn’t get them anything. And use the Santa paper roll for the gifts from Santa and the snowman paper roll for the gifts from me.”
“You even want Braden’s, Aric’s and Cole’s labeled as if they’re from Santa?”
“Of course. We don’t want Luke and Nate to think the others were bad and didn’t get anything from Santa, do we? Or that I favor them, right?”
She giggled. “I guess that makes sense.”
Dylan blew out a sigh of relief, she seemed to be loosening up. No harsh sarcastic tone was evident.
They’d been wrapping gifts for nearly two hours and were near completion when it was time for Dylan to do chores. He quickly hauled the wrapped gifts back into his bedroom and stashed them in his closet and under his bed. Marissa offered to finish wrapping the remaining gifts and get them stowed before his brothers returned.
* * * *
Marissa watched as Dylan trekked through the light snow from the house to the barn. What the man did for light brown Carhartt bibs was insane. She wished she hadn’t been so snarky with him earlier, but she just couldn’t seem to control herself. She was doing everything he asked of her, enjoying her college experience away from home, but her patience was wearing thin as she waited for him to come around. During Thanksgiving break, Aunt Mitzi had left her the impression Dylan’s walls were slowly coming down, and with just a wee bit more time he would be ready, but she wanted him, and she didn’t want to wait any longer. She hoped the woman was right, Marissa wasn’t sure how much more time her lonely heart could bear.
Once Dylan disappeared out of her sightline she turned her attention back to the stack of unwrapped gifts. She was shocked by the amount of presents he’d purchased for his brothers. He had to be the kindest, sweetest man on earth, and she was sure a parents’ love could be no more than how much Dylan loved his brothers. Though it broke her heart the Jacobs brothers had lost their parents, she was sure Cole, Aric, Braden, Nate, and Luke could
not be more loved.
Using her shirtsleeve, Marissa patted her teary eyes before she wrapped the remaining gifts and carried them off to Dylan’s room. The second she stepped through the doorway his rugged woodsy scent flowed into her nostrils, sending a rush of desire straight to her core with such force it nearly knocked her to the floor. She’d passed through his room hundreds of times in the past to get to the bathroom they shared, but today it seemed to grab hold of her with the strength of a Vise-Grip.
After stashing the gifts in his closet, she glanced at Dylan’s bed. The sight drew her to it like a magnet. She sat and ran her hand over the soft quilt covering the sheets Dylan climbed between every night. She kicked off her shoes and curled into a ball on the bed, rubbing her hand over the cool fabric, back and forth, over and over again like some sort of obsessed, crazy woman. Her fingers tingled with delight. Needing more, she pressed her nose to the material and took in every bit of his intoxicating aroma her nostrils would allow. It still wasn’t enough, so she pulled his pillow from under the quilt, wrapped her arms around it and buried her face into its plushness. Her stomach swirled at the thought of what it might be like to have Dylan’s arms wrapped around her, warming her, stroking her, soothing her.
* * * *
Over the next few days, they all seemed to settle into a routine similar to what they had during the summer months, and Marissa couldn’t be happier. Though she loved college, what she loved more was being in this house full of noise, structured chaos, and testosterone. Deep in her heart she knew she belonged in the Jacobs house and with Dylan. Now if only she would actually get to see him while she was home for the holiday. He seemed to be in the barn, morning, noon, and night. She hoped Thomas would return to work soon so Dylan could get some rest. He looked tired all the time and even thinner than normal.
Marissa had spent the morning preparing food for the big Christmas dinner she planned on serving in the early afternoon. With the threat of Santa, she was able to get Nate, Luke, and Braden to do nearly anything she asked. They cleaned up their rooms and were now dusting and vacuuming the living room. She laughed to herself as she used the Santa leverage to its fullest. Now, certainly Braden was too old to be a real believer but she couldn’t tell for sure if Nate was still a true believer or not, but the excitement in Luke’s eyes let her know he knew Santa was real.
Family Forever Page 11
