“Well, you can’t really blame her, can you?” Jared spoke first. “If anything, she’s being rational. You kind of have to be when you’re in this town and got kids.”
Damon nodded. “Georgia May may not be with us anymore, but there are plenty of vultures left in the sea.”
“So?” Toby blurted. “What bad thing could they possibly say about her partnering up with Calla and Willa?”
Jared jerked a wide shoulder. “Whatever her reasons are, I really don’t see the harm in her request, especially if Willa and Calla are okay with it.”
Feeling about two inches tall, Toby stared hard at the space between his boots. “I don’t like the idea of anyone looking down on my family.”
“I don’t think she was looking down on us, Tob,” Damon said quietly. “It’s common knowledge that we have a track record for stirring up town controversy. This family has had more excitement happen to it in the last thirty-six years than anyone I know. That’s enough to make anyone gun shy, especially if they really do want to protect their privacy.”
“And she’s got kids,” Jared piped in. “As a parent, I get it.”
Damon straightened. “Anyway, let’s get lunch before Uncle Sloan comes back and beats our asses for sitting around.”
He waited for no one as he started around the house. Jared started to follow. Then stopped to glance back at Toby, who hadn’t moved.
“You coming?”
Toby waved him off. “Yeah, I just need a minute.”
With a nod, Jared set off.
No sooner had he rounded the corner when Calla and Uncle Sloan appeared once more, plastic bags stuffed full of bagged pastries in tow. They marched to Jared’s truck and organized everything on the backseat floor. Uncle Sloan glanced at him, but said nothing as he stalked past. Calla stopped.
“You okay?”
Toby shrugged. “Can I ask you something?”
Dusting her hands on her form fitting jeans, she nodded. “Of course. What’s up?”
He used the remains of the railing to heave himself up to his feet. “Did Addy tell you why she didn’t want to be part of the catering job?”
Delicate eyebrows folded together in contemplation. “She didn’t say she didn’t want to be part of it. She just didn’t want her name put out there.”
“She didn’t say why?”
Rather than answer, Calla eyed him. “Why are you interested?”
He shrugged again. “Just curious.”
Light glimmered to life behind her eyes, a twinkle of amused realization. “Ah! I see.” She folded her arms and thrust out a hip. “You’ve got a thing for our lovely little cookie maker.”
Toby grimaced. “I haven’t got a thing for her. I’m not thirteen.”
“Right.” She grinned. “I like her. I know Willa and Mom do too.”
“Fantastic,” he muttered. “Now that I’ve got three out of four of the McClain women’s vote of approval on the matter…”
She swatted at him. “Don’t be smart. I’m just saying, she’s a good choice.”
“Calla?” Uncle Sloan was back, weighed down with even more bags. “There’s still plenty of bags left inside.”
“Sorry, Uncle. I’ll be right there.” She turned back to Toby. “Look, as someone who has had her share of demons in the past, I respect her decision. Whatever her reasons are for not wanting her name out there is her business. If you really want to know, then maybe you should ask her.”
She gave his arm a comforting squeeze and left.
Toby grabbed his cane and made his way along the side of the house in the direction of the stairway leading up onto the porch. He’d made it partially there when Uncle Sloan caught up to him.
“How’s the leg?”
“Still attached,” he said with a grin. “How’s the back?”
Uncle Sloan grunted, but did as he always did when the matter of his back pains were brought up—he ignored the question.
“Your mom asked me to remind you about your appointment.”
Toby rolled his eyes. “I’m the one who told her about the appointment and it’s not for another three days.”
“Hey, she worries. We all do.”
“I’m fine,” he promised, fighting like hell to keep the tightness out of his tone. “I won’t be tap dancing any time soon, but I’m fine.”
Uncle Sloan drew to a stop and pulled Toby along with him. He rubbed a hand over his jaw and peered in the direction of the door with narrowed eyes.
“Look, I know your mom’s been on your case since the accident, but you need to remember that no mother wants a call from the hospital saying her son has been injured in combat. I was there when she got that call. It wasn’t a pretty picture. So, just … give her a break, okay? Let her fuss and worry. She only does it because she loves you.”
Feeling properly chastised, Toby sighed. “I know. You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Uncle Sloan patted him on the arm. “Nothing to be sorry about. Now, come on. Let’s get lunch before Jared and Damon eat it all.”
Addy wasn’t there when they arrived. Hers was the first face he looked for when he walked through the door. Damon and Jared were at the table, now clear of the pastries. There were several freezer baggies on the island filled with muffins and tarts, but the rest were gone. Calla was gathering up what was left into a plastic bag when he stepped inside.
“They ate your carrot sticks,” she told him.
Sure enough, one of the plates on the table was only a thick, meaty sandwich with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. The other one had a ring of carrots and celery, which he guessed was Uncle Sloan’s plate. Clearly, Damon and Jared hadn’t touched that one.
“You assholes!” he muttered.
“You snooze, you lose,” Damon tossed back around a mouthful of sandwich.
He was about to respond when a movement by the door grabbed his attention. He turned his head as Hanna staggered her way into the room, clutching a floppy, tattered bunny to her chest. The left side of her face was etched in deep pillow lines and she barely had both eyes open, but she blinked at the unfamiliar faces around her kitchen and frowned.
“Where’s my mommy?” she demanded, like they were singlehandedly responsible for Addy’s disappearance.
“Hey sweetie,” Calla said. “I think your mom’s in the other room.”
“I’ll go with you,” Toby volunteered. “We’ll find her together.”
Hanna eyed the others with a wariness that was actually comical before accepting the hand Toby offered her. She stumbled along next to him as they ventured out of the kitchen and followed the glossy hardwood to the parlor. They found her sitting cross legged on the floor with several piles of magazines stacked around her. She glanced up when they entered the room. Her brown eyes met his and just as quickly dropped away to focus on the girl.
“Hey you.” She offered her daughter a smile. “I was beginning to wonder when you would be joining us.”
“What are you doing?” Hanna asked.
“Just tossing out old magazines no one wants to read.” She set aside the pile in her lap and rose to her feet. “How about we get you some lunch?”
“Mr. McClain helped me find you,” Hanna declared as Addy joined them at the door.
“Did you thank him?”
Hanna’s head dropped way back. “Thank you.”
He offered her a grin. “Welcome, kid.”
“Come on.”
Addy settled a hand on Hanna’s shoulder and ushered her back into the hallway. They passed Toby.
“Addy, Please wait.”
He caught her delicate wrist with his free hand. Her pulse jumped beneath his fingers. He expected her to pull away, to tell him to get his hands off her. Instead, she stopped. Her shoulders lifted in a deep inhale and stayed there as she held it for two heartbeats.
Then she smiled at Hanna and said, “Why don’t you wait for me in the kitchen, okay? I’ll be right there.”
Hanna skipped away without com
plaint and disappeared from sight into the kitchen. Addy waited until she was gone before turning to Toby.
“I’m sorry about what I said this morning,” he said. “I have no excuse, except that I misunderstood—”
“You didn’t,” she interrupted. “You didn’t misunderstand. You were right. A lot of the reason I don’t want people to know that I’m working with your sister and cousin is because they’re McClain’s, but!” she said quickly when he opened his mouth. “Let me explain. Please.” At his nod, she continued. “I meant what I said about loving your family. I love everything about them. I envy them and you, and would give anything in the world to have people like them in my life. But I live out here in the middle of nowhere, away from the prying eyes of town for a reason. It’s not something I want to share, but I have to do this. I can’t have people poking around me, wanting to get to know who I am and where I’m from and what I’ve done and who I’m with. Everyone is curious about the McClain family. You guys are celebrities. The Taylor Swift of Willow Creek.” She offered him a rueful little smile. “You guys can’t do or go anywhere without people needing to know your business, and that scares me. A lot.”
“Why?” He stared into her face, baffled and intrigued by the plea he could see reflecting in her eyes. “Why are you hiding?”
“I’m not…” She trailed off and lowered her chin. “I can’t … please don’t ask. I don’t want to lie to you.”
Toby shifted. His voice lowered. “Addy, are you in trouble?”
She said nothing for so long that he was beginning to think she wouldn’t. Then she lifted her face and the turmoil in her eyes nearly broke him.
“I’m asking you to please respect my decision, Toby.”
With that, she turned and left him.
Chapter 8 ~ Addy
What the hell had she been thinking telling Toby her darkest secrets? What had she been hoping would happen? That he would simply accept her request to back off? It was human nature to dig and solve a mystery and she’d given him a Nancy Drew worthy one. But she couldn’t lie to him either. She’d meant it when she’d told him she loved his family. They’d been nothing but good to her. And she’d meant it when she said she envied them. Growing up, her life was like one of those black and white photos of the mom and dad standing sullen and tense over a small, meek child in frilly clothes. There had been no room for love or mistakes. There had only ever been consequences and misery. But ten minutes with the McClain’s and she wanted so desperately to have what they had, unfaltering love, devotion and respect, except that wasn’t how her life worked.
“Knock, knock!” sang a female voice from the open backdoor.
The men had been going in and out of the house all morning, forcing Addy to leave the door propped open. Plus, it was the first nice day in weeks and she liked having the smell of sunshine, baked dirt and pine surround her while she worked. She hadn’t been expecting company.
“Hello, Mrs. Donnelly. Mrs. Clout!” She hurriedly wiped her hands on a rag and skirted the island to join them as they stepped over the threshold. “It’s been so long.”
Three years. That was how long it had been since the two busybodies had darkened the doorway. Addy hadn’t seen hide nor hair of them since before Macy had left. She didn’t believe for a second it was coincidence them showing up unexpectedly.
“What brings you all the way out here?”
The pair used to drop in every Sunday after church to have tea and gossip about everything from the sermon to how so and so was dressed. After Macy left, they stopped coming around. A blessing, really.
“Why, to see you!” rasped shriveled little Mrs. Donnelly with her floral sunhat and straw purse. She clasped her gloved hands together delicately in front of her and peered at Addy with watery gray eyes from a face stubbornly absent of a single blemish or wrinkle, despite being well into her seventies. “It has been so long.”
In contrast, small and poised, Mrs. Clout bobbed her head rigorously, making the feather in her cloche hats nod with her.
The two could have been fraternal twins. Both barely came to five feet, but where Mrs. Clout was rail thin with a horse face, Mrs. Donnelly was round with thin lips that never seemed to close all the way around her large teeth. They always reminded Addy of cartoon characters.
“It has been a long time,” Addy insisted, smiling like she had never been so delighted to see anyone. “Will you stay for tea?”
Mrs. Donnelly beamed. “Why, we would love to!”
“We’ll take it in the parlor,” Mrs. Clout piped in, to which, Mrs. Donnelly nodded in agreement.
“Oh, of course! Please.” Addy motioned them to follow her out of the kitchen, down the hall and straight into the parlor. She waited until they were properly seated before asking, “Cream and sugar?”
“Yes dear,” Mrs. Donnelly said, picking at each finger in turn and fluidly removing her gloves.
Nodding, Addy left the room and hurried back into the kitchen. She set the kettle on the stove and set a plate of cakes and cookies while she waited for the water to boil. Her foot tapped anxiously with every second that passed and the water didn’t boil. Her gaze shifted towards the backdoor and she wondered if it was too late to sneak out and sit with the horses until the two women got the hint and left.
Unfortunately, that was something she would never do. Not because she didn’t have it in her, but because it would only draw more vultures. Pamela Donnelly and Susan Clout may have been the worst, but once they got their flock together, it would be unbearable. So, she would play the gracious hostess and pray they left quickly.
“Hey.” Toby stepped into the kitchen, Hanna glued to his side with Mr. Tinkles clutched to her chest. “We came for juice.”
Abandoning her spot, Addy moved to the fridge as Toby and Hanna took the stools. She set a bottle of water down in front of him and a juice box in front of her and stepped back.
“How’s the job coming along?”
“Good,” Hanna declared as she tore the wrapper off her straw. “We’re making good progress.”
Toby chuckled. “What she said.”
Addy smiled. “I’m glad to hear that.” She peered over at Toby. “She’s not bothering you guys, is she?”
“Are you kidding?” He scoffed. “My dad is ready to take her home with him.”
It was her turn to snort. “He says that now. He hasn’t seen her first thing in the morning.”
“True!” Toby confirmed with wide eyed agreement. His face sobered. “How are you?”
Blowing out a breath, Addy rolled her eyes. “I’m all right. Mrs. Donnelly and Mrs. Clout dropped in—”
“I know!” he grumbled. “Trust me. They were outside for an hour grilling us.”
“Oh God! I’m so sorry!”
He waved her apology aside. “We’re used to it.” He glanced around the kitchen. “You didn’t kill them and dump them in the basement, did you?”
Addy laughed. “We don’t have a basement, and no. They’re in the parlor … waiting for tea.”
Toby grimaced. “I do not envy you.” He turned to Hanna. “Ready to get back to work?”
Straw still in her mouth, Hanna hopped off her stool. “Yes sir!”
Toby saluted Addy. “Good luck.”
With that, the two disappeared through the door just as the kettle whistled. Addy fixed the tea, set everything on a tray and made her way slowly to join her company.
The two were chattering on to each other … at the exact same time. It was beyond her how they were having a conversation when each was talking about something completely different, but they didn’t seem to mind.
“Tea!” Addy announced as she made her way into the room.
She placed the tray on the coffee table and set out pouring.
“How have you been, Adelaide dear?” Mrs. Donnelly asked as her teacup was offered to her.
“I’ve been good,” she said, passing Mrs. Clout her cup. “How about you?”
“Oh, never g
et an old woman talking about her health,” Mrs. Donnelly mumbled. “We’d be here all day.”
“How are the children?” Mrs. Clout chimed in, dunking a cookie into her drink and nibbling at it.
“Good! Sean’s at school and Hanna’s outside.”
“We saw!” Mrs. Clout cooed. “She has gotten so big!”
Mrs. Donnelly nodded. “She was barely walking the last time we were here.”
“She’s four now,” Addy supplied. “Almost five.”
“Four!” Mrs. Clout pressed a palm to her chest. “Precious. They grow too fast.”
“They do.”
“And your boy?”
“Sean’s ten.”
The two gasped and murmured rapidly about how time flies. Addy just smiled and nodded.
“We were just talking to Wendy Lockwood this morning and she mentioned that she heard from Martha over at the hardware store that you were putting in a new porch,” Mrs. Donnelly said.
Mrs. Clout nodded. “And Pam said how tragic it was that we hadn’t come out this way in so long.”
“So of course, we drove straight up,” Mrs. Donnelly finished.
“I really appreciate that,” she lied. “It’s wonderful to see you both again. Macy thought very highly of you.”
“Macy!” Mrs. Donnelly gasped like that just reminded her of something. “How is Macy?”
“Good. She sent a postcard from Nebraska only last month. She seems to really be enjoying herself.”
“Well, good for her!” Mrs. Clout cheered. “She’s been going on about traveling for ages.”
“None of us actually believed she would.” Mrs. Donnelly chortled.
“Why?” Addy asked.
“Oh, well, because this town does that,” Mrs. Donnelly said. “Either you leave straight away or you never leave.”
“Kind of like your mother,” Mrs. Clout added. “What was her name, Pam?”
“Francine,” Addy supplied quietly.
“Yes, Francine.” Mrs. Donnelly sighed heavily. “I barely remember her. It’s been, what?”
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