by Claire Adams
“Austin is the local boy who did good. Of course, they’re proud of him. I think his parents get special treatment because he’s their son.”
I stopped at a light. “I still see him as the kid who grew up here. I guess since I’ve never seen him in his element, I can’t imagine Austin as anything other than the boy I knew in school.” I shrugged and continued to her house.
“Just better looking, right?” Kim asked.
I glared at her. “You just can’t let that go, can you? Sure, he is, but looks aren’t everything. I think a lot of people seem too focused on everything but the real Austin inside, and I am not one of them.” I parked in the driveway and turned the engine off.
Kim ran to her door to unlock it, and we got inside quickly. “It’s so cold!” she told me.
I laughed. “It’s December, silly.” I teased her. She hung her coat up and went to build a fire. “Want me to cook something for us?”
“I have some chicken defrosted,” she said. “We can make that up, and I think I have some veggies. We can have some wine with it.”
I nodded and headed for the kitchen. I pulled everything out of the fridge, and she came in to help me, quickly agreeing with me that we’d fry the chicken and steam the vegetables.
“You do realize that Austin is the entire package, don’t you?” she asked. “That’s why women are throwing themselves at him. He’s gorgeous, wealthy, and smart. That’s what girls in New York probably try to latch onto all the time. Some of my friends here want that!”
“New York Austin is an arrogant ass. I saw the old version of him today. It was nice.” I shook my head. “It was nice, but it was just a glimmer of the guy who I miss.”
“I knew you missed him,” Kim told me as she heated oil in a pan.
“I am not going all blank space over him or anything,” I assured her, referring to the video that she couldn’t get enough of when it first came out.
“I hope not. It wouldn’t be a good look for you.” She grinned. “Think he’d like to be a sugar daddy to your little sister? He could save the library and not miss the money.” Kim joked, but her voice faded at the end.
I gave her a shocked look but could tell she wasn’t serious. We’d never do that to one another, and as much as she talked about Austin, I knew that it was more about me than it was her.
“How is that going?” I asked her.
She pressed her lips together. “Not good. Mark told me today that major budget cuts all over the city are coming up, and we probably don’t stand a chance of staying open.” She prepared the chicken for cooking and gently placed the pieces in the hot oil. “He’s going to give me a good recommendation letter and has been asking around for me. Mark can retire, but I have a lot of time left.” She glanced at me. “San Angelo has a library that is thriving, and they need some help. It’s the closest, and I went to school for so long to be a librarian, Rebecca. It seems a waste to start something new.”
San Angelo was two hours away. I knew it wasn’t impossible to see Kim if she moved there, not like Mom and Dad. It was just too far to pop over to her house anytime I wanted to. I felt the tears in my eyes.
She wrapped an arm around me.
“It will be okay, Rebecca. Don’t give up yet, okay?” Kim sniffled as she turned the chicken again.
I set up the pot to steam the vegetables and distracted myself with that so I wouldn’t turn into a blubbering idiot before dinner. It was hard enough admitting to Austin what I wanted from him eleven years ago, but the idea of Kim moving away would break me. I loved North Reed, but it would be nothing without my sister.
We finished dinner and poured generous glasses of wine before settling on the couch.
Kim found a show. I found myself thinking about the situation as we ate. Kim told me that her boss Mark was looking into every possibility to stay open, and I knew that to be true. His family built the library, and he was as passionate about keeping it open as anybody else was. The budget was just a mess.
“Maybe something good will happen for Christmas,” I said. “A miracle, like everyone always talks about. It’s the time of year to feel hopeful about that stuff, isn’t it?”
She smiled at me. “Yes, it is,” she agreed, and we toasted, clinking our glasses together.
Our parents were planning to come see us, knowing that we both had jobs to worry about. Dad liked to check on the house and his girls, anyway. I knew that he couldn’t single-handedly save the library, but it would be nice to be together as a family again.
We talked about their arrival two days before Christmas and what needed to be done. Mom loved a fresh tree, and we planned to go out for one that we could all decorate together.
“Would Austin help us?” Kim teased me.
I shook my head and shot her a dark look. “Ask Brad to help,” I told her. We both laughed.
“I don’t want to start over in a new place,” Kim said softly. “I’m scared, Rebecca.”
“I know. I am, too,” I admitted.
Yesterday, I wasn’t worried about any of this stuff. We snuggled together to watch the season finale of one of our favorite shows, crying because of the show, as well as our own fears. Kim asked me if I wanted more wine, knowing that I’d stay the night if I agreed. We were both lightweights when it came to wine, and I nodded with a sniffle as I grabbed the box of tissues. “Yeah. I want another bottle after that show.”
We cleaned up together and grabbed some cookies from the pantry before we finished off the bottle of wine in the fridge. I didn’t work the following day and could sleep in her guest room. I’d be here to take her to work if Brad didn’t get the new battery.
I might not get that chance in another few months.
We finished a movie and headed to bed, which was when I checked my phone. It had been in my purse the entire time since the person who contacted me most was by my side. I washed my face and brushed my teeth with a new toothbrush she left, in the hallway bathroom before checking my phone in the dark room. I frowned when I saw that Austin’s mom called me two hours ago.
What was going on?
Chapter Eleven
Austin
Mom set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of me. I thanked her and turned my attention back to an email Preston had forwarded to me. My brow furrowed. Things were getting complicated with the Singapore deal. They were pushing for a meeting with our lawyers to hammer out the details. Preston had been working his ass off, but sometimes I had to drop everything and get personally involved with a deal.
That time might be coming soon.
Mom sat down across from me with her own plate, looking worriedly into my face. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine, Mom.”
I switched over to read some of the texts from early this morning between Preston and me, trying to see what he thought about all of this. He leaned toward the same option. I set the phone down and reached for my mug of strong coffee. I needed a pot of this. I hadn’t been sleeping well. Thoughts about Rebecca and this deal whirled through my brain, not letting me rest.
I forced myself to focus on the present. It was just Mom and I at the table. Mom’s face was lined with worry. “What about you?” I asked. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, sweetie.” She sipped her own coffee with a thoughtful look on her face.
“Is Dad okay?”
She frowned. My already small appetite faded away. I pushed back from the table to get another cup of coffee.
“I’m worried about him, Austin. I try to feed him the best way I know how and get him out for walks, but he doesn’t want to take the medicine that George keeps pushing on him. You know how stubborn your father can be. He thinks he can take care of this on his own. If he doesn’t take care of himself, I’m scared he might have another heart attack. There aren’t a lot of options in this town. We have the clinic, but the medical technology hasn’t made its way here like it has other places. The nearest hospital is an hour away, and if he needs surgery, we’
d have to go up to Dallas.”
I hated to hear how worried she was about something worse happening. Anger rose in me, and I took a slow breath to calm myself. If Dad had a serious enough heart attack, he might not make it long enough to get help. And once I was back in New York, I was powerless to help them.
“It’s so nice to have you here to talk to,” Mom said. “It’s just not the same on the phone.”
“Mom, come to New York. There are plenty of places outside the city for you to live, and that way, I could be around to help you. I could find a great doctor for him. One of the best in the country.”
Medical options were limited in North Reed, but in New York, he could get the most up-to-date care. Whatever he needed. My parents would be happy in the end. I’d be more than happy to come over and help out if they were nearby, but flying out here every time something happened was not an option. I hadn’t even been able to come home when he had his heart attack. I’d been out of the country. I would have come back anyway, but Mom stressed that Dad was fine. I realized now it was just to keep me from worrying about him.
“You know it makes sense,” I said. “I can find you something amazing out there with less work for both of you than this house requires.” The acreage was great when I was growing up and learning about life, but now, the four acres seemed daunting to me.
My mother shook her head. “Your father won’t move. There’s too much to leave behind, Austin. We’ve been over this.” Mom sipped her coffee again. “I’ll figure this out, but we’re not leaving North Reed. I’ll just talk to your dad. He’ll come around.”
I sensed the conversation was over. I was only trying to help, but I couldn’t do anything living in New York. I also couldn’t move back. Having them move closer to me was the best solution. I looked down at my plate and nibbled on a piece of bacon. Mom was obviously worried about the situation. Why wouldn’t she listen?
“You know, I’m so busy these days that I don’t see anyone from town too often.” I looked at her in surprise. She always saw her friends. “I think that we should invite Rebecca over for dinner. Wouldn’t that be fun? We haven’t done anything like that since you left.”
I choked on my coffee at the suggestion.
“What?” I asked in disbelief.
She smiled and shrugged. “I heard you two had lunch together at Bunny’s. You’re not avoiding her, so why not? She’s a nice girl.” Mom looked out of the window. I didn’t want to sit in here with Rebecca and make conversation, not after the last one.
“Mom, that was lunch. I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She smiled innocently. “What are you trying to do?”
“I’m not trying to do anything, Austin. I just know it would be nice for the two of you to catch up. She’s such a sweetheart. I haven’t seen her outside of Grayson’s in so long. Your dad misses her as well. He always liked Rebecca.”
I paused. Was she trying to guilt trip me into seeing Rebecca? “I just don’t think… I don’t think she’ll agree. She’s got her own life, Mom.”
She smiled brightly at me. “Don’t be silly, Austin. It’s a great idea. We’ll have fun. I am going to plan the meal and have you stop by the store after you pick her up later, if that’s okay?” She looked so happy that I kept quiet. It would make Dad happy as well. That was the key, wasn’t it?
I finished the bacon in front of me and took my plate to the kitchen to wash it. Mom had been so busy since I’d come home, taking care of everything for Dad. The house was smaller than mine, but it was still a lot to clean for her, and she refused to ask for help. I knew their life was different now because of Dad’s heart issue. He got out to meet friends on a regular basis, but he wasn’t able to be as active as he wanted to be. I knew that Mom pressured him to take his medicine and that he was being stubborn about it, just as I was in life.
Like father, like son.
I decided to go for a walk around their property after I was done. I called Preston to talk about what was going on. He was still succeeding at keeping me here in Texas, but I told him to contact me immediately if anything changed. I ended the call and went towards the pond, thinking about sitting at the table with Rebecca later tonight. She would be happy and talkative with my parents, even if she didn’t want to see me. She always loved them like they were her own family, back when we were together. My dad was particularly close to her since he didn’t have a daughter. Mom treated her the same way. I knew that everyone had high hopes for us to get married and settle down in Texas, though I didn’t think Rebecca felt that way.
I just thought it was everyone else who thought I would stay here. I thought her and I knew what was going to happen. I was going to leave town, and she would come with me. I was so blind back then. She never wanted to join me when I left.
I looked over the pond and remembered the summers spent with her and our friends here. It was so fun. We spent a lot of time all over the place here, and the memories were great, but I always looked ahead to living in New York. I never saw this place for what it was. Now, I looked over the empty grounds, unsure of what would happen when I left for home.
I returned to the house to find Mom sitting at the table. “She agreed to dinner. You’ll be picking her up at five o’clock and running by the store for what we’re making. Can you two get that?”
“Are you sure that this won’t be bringing up the past, Mom? It’s been years.”
She looked at me. “I still live here and see Rebecca when I get my hair done. That’s only every other month, and I’d like to spend some time with her here. I haven’t talked closely with her in a long time. This isn’t the past for me. You’ve seen her, and things are fine. Go take a shower and freshen up from your walk. I’m working on a small list.”
“Sure,” I replied and left the room. I walked to my room to get some clothes and glanced at the bed. I remembered the nights I spent in here with Rebecca. Dad used to take Mom out for dates twice a week when we were in high school. Rebecca and I took full advantage of that and spent hours in here together. I loved worshiping her body back then. I’d had her all over the house when I could, but that was so rare when we were in high school. School took a lot of time.
I blinked as I came back to reality.
I wondered what my mom was thinking by inviting her over tonight. I grabbed my jeans and a shirt to bring into the bathroom. I showered, thinking about the investment and the rumors about me in New York regarding Mia.
We were together for a while, and it ended. That was it. I never treated her badly. I never treated any woman that way. I just didn’t feel anything real for any of them, and they knew that. That was the only thing wrong with any of my relationships.
Mia just wanted me back. She was being a bitch about it to keep her face in the media spotlight, but my business was successful, and I’d rise above this. It was just media gossip. Something new always came along.
I washed my hair and thought about how none of that touched me here, at least not so far. The media seemed to be all over the Bahamas lie, and since that was a private getaway when someone wanted one, it was perfect. I could easily be there and nobody would know the difference. I told very few people where I was going for the holidays, playing off that I had a few business trips planned and then the Bahamas. I gave no details or dates, and since everyone there probably missed my money more than me, it was not a big deal. Mia was just being an idiot by dragging our dead relationship through the news. She liked having all the attention on her since in her mind it kept her career going. She was hot in the acting and modeling world right now.
I always believed that hard work brought me success, not gossip. I dated but not because it would get my name in the news. So many beautiful women lived in the city, and becoming wealthy at a fast pace made for an exciting life. I partied through school, and then once business was good, I was seen at all the hot places. Coming from a small Texas town like this, it was new to a guy like me. Weekends used to be about drinking with buddies by the pond or just
being with Rebecca somewhere quiet.
I suppose at some point, I missed those times, once I realized how fake some of the people were.
I finished my shower and dried off in the modest bathroom. Looking around, I realized that Mom didn’t change a lot in here. It was like she was keeping it like this for me to come home, something I didn’t have any desire to do. I dried my hair with the towel and let it dry while I shaved. I had no idea why I cared about my appearance. This was not a date like the old days, just a friend coming over for dinner. It was no different than Seth and his dad coming.
So, why was I shaving?
Chapter Twelve
Rebecca
I looked at my red dress in the mirror, smoothing it with my hands. It was cute for a family dinner and not anything I would wear on a date. This wasn’t a date, but the sentimental part of my heart looked at it as though it was.
I went to dinners at Austin’s all the time when we were a couple. It was a regular Sunday thing, and I still loved his parents. We saw each other in town, though it was mostly his mom when she came in for her appointments. That was often shared with some of the other women in town, and the short time we had together revolved around town gossip and whatever was going on at that moment. We didn’t really get to talk about Austin, though I think she sensed that I didn’t want to.
I decided that the loose skirt and sweetheart neckline was perfect with the low heels that I chose for the night. I added a diamond necklace to the ensemble, remembering the night that Austin gave it to me. It was our one-year anniversary, and while the diamond was small and delicate, I’d been thrilled about the gift.
This wasn’t a date, and we weren’t rekindling our romance. I leaned in to check the light makeup I was wearing, pressing my matte nude lips together. I was just having fun getting a little dressed up. I ran a hand through my hair, clipped back from my face tonight.
Austin was going back to New York in a few short weeks. I knew that his life was there, and he knew that my life was here. It was that simple. I’d never entertain a long-distance relationship, but he also didn’t offer that.
