Beyond the Cherry Trees: The Cook Brothers Series

by Heather D'Agostino

  “I already ate at home.” She looked surprised by my invitation.

  “Then what are you doing out here?” I waved my arms at the blustery weather outside.

  “I needed an escape. I was going to the studio,” she mumbled as she turned away from me.

  “You can’t dance. What did you think you were going to get done there?” I started to reach for her, but when she pulled away from me, I thought better of it. She wasn’t mine, and it seemed that she was trying to subtly remind me of that.

  “I don’t know what I was thinking. I picked you up, didn’t I?” she snapped and there it was, the sting after the sweet. Mia had two sides, a sweet side and sour side. They went hand and hand with her personality. Whenever you saw one, the other wasn’t too far behind.

  “How about coffee then?” I pushed open the door and climbed out. I stood there, one arm on top of the car, the other holding the door as I leaned in and waited for her answer.

  “I could do coffee.” She gave me a sad smile. “I’m a mess though, Ty. Look at me,” she waved her hand down the front of her chest.

  “I am,” I smirked.

  “Stop,” she hissed as her cheeks reddened once again.

  “No one’s going to be out today unless they’re nuts. The diner is probably half empty. Just come on,” I waved my arm, hoping she’d give in. I missed this. I missed her, and with everything that had been going on in my life lately, it felt nice to have something normal back. We might not be together, but I could pretend that Mia and I were something, friends maybe?

  “Fine,” she huffed as she turned off the car. I watched her dig around in the purse she had in the back seat until she produced a brush. She yanked it through her hair a few time before tossing it back in her purse and twisting her hair in a knot at the base of her neck. There was the Mia I recognized. A bun was her signature hairstyle, and the way she’s worn it for most of the time I’ve known her.

  She rolled her eyes as she peered at her reflection in the rearview mirror before tossing her keys in her purse, shoving the door open, and fumbling to get herself along with her crutches upright.

  It took me a minute to jump into action, but as she fought with the door, I raced around to her side. “Sorry.” I chastised myself for not helping as I reached for her arm. She shook me off and scowled.

  “I’m not helpless.” She tugged away from my grasp as she moved the crutches forward and began hopping toward the diner.

  “Let me tell Tay about the truck, and then I’ll be right over. Get us a table, K?” I shouted at her back. She nodded and shook her head like she was mad at me before I sighed and turned to enter the hardware store.

  “WHAT THE HELL took you so long?” Taylor’s head popped up from around a corner as I tugged my hat from my head once again. “I was ready to send Trev out looking for you.”

  “Very funny,” I grumbled. “You might need to call Mike,” I cringed as the words fell from my lips.

  “Why? What’d you do?” Taylor stared at me as he narrowed his eyes. Now I knew why CJ spilled his guts to his dad so easily. Taylor had this look down, and he was one scary dude when he wanted to be.

  “Well,” I started, backing up as I shrugged, “your truck might be in a ditch out near the Callahan place.” I placed my hand on the door to the store, ready to bolt like I did as a kid.

  “Damn you Ty!” Taylor growled as he threw his head back in exasperation. “How old are you, sixteen?”

  “Very funny. It’s bad out there.” I exaggerated by waving my arms around. Taylor came walking down the aisle with his arms loaded down with boxes of Christmas lights. “I can help with that,” I started to reach for them but thought differently when he growled at me.

  “You’ve done enough.” He shook his head.

  “Oh come on, Tay.” I dropped my arms at my side. “I’m not a little kid anymore. I’m sorry. Geez,” I shook my head before glancing back outside where Mia’s car was still parked. I didn’t think she’d leave, but I wouldn’t put it past her to sneak away when I wasn’t looking.

  “Got a hot date or something?” Taylor teased.

  “Something,” I mumbled as my eyes drifted toward the diner again.

  “Did you walk all the way back here?” He put the boxes down on the counter by the register.

  “No, I got a ride.” I glanced back at the diner again. It was like I could feel her staring at me.

  “Ride from who?” Taylor crossed his arms over his chest as he appraised me. “You’re nervous. You don’t get nervous,” he muttered.

  “Oh for fuck’s sake,” I growled. “Mia picked me up. She was coming into town.”

  “Watch your mouth,” Tay scolded just as CJ bounded inside from the back door.

  “Hey Dad?” he called as he beat his boots on the rug near the back. “Can I go sledding with Ken? He and Mikey are going to Devil’s Hill.”

  “You’re interrupting,” Taylor sighed.

  “Oh,” he grinned when he saw me. “Hey Uncle Ty.”

  “Hey buddy,” I waved as I started inching toward the door. I knew I could escape Taylor if he was busy dealing with his son. “I’ll see you later, Tay.” I waved as I pushed the door open and began stepping out onto the sidewalk.

  “I’m not finished talking to you.” He pointed at me as I waved again grinning before racing across the street.

  I needed to see her. I wasn’t sure what any of this meant, but she was talking to me, and I’d take that. I’d take any piece she offered. I wasn’t sure if that made me desperate or stupid, but Mia Callahan was already taking up residence in my thoughts, and I had no plan to let her go. She didn’t know it yet, but walking away from me had been her biggest mistake, and I was going to use these next two weeks to prove it.

  WHEN I PUSHED open the door to the diner, I saw her sitting in a booth near the back corner. She had her leg stuck out in the aisle propped up on a chair and was sipping coffee as she tore the napkin in front of her into tiny little pieces. The coat that had been wrapped tightly around her was now shoved in the corner, and the shirt she was wearing was hanging off of one small shoulder.

  I blew out a breath as I started moving in her direction. What the hell was I doing? I had so much going on right now that no one really knew about. I’d told Tay, sort of, but even he didn’t know all the details. My family only knew about the exploits I shared with them, and here I was thinking it was a good idea to try and lure Mia back into my life. What was it about this town that made you forget the outside world? Morgan used to tell me every time she’d visit it was like stepping into someone else’s life. I never really got it until I moved away. Now, coming back here and seeing what I used to be… feeling those things again, it’s like a weight sitting on my shoulders forcing me to hold it up.

  “I’m glad you stayed,” I mumbled as I slid in the booth across from her.

  “I didn’t really have anywhere else I needed to be.” She shrugged as she tore another piece of napkin, refusing to look up at me.

  “Still...” I lifted a shoulder as I began tugging at my coat, trying to get it off. “Thanks for the ride too.”

  “Sure,” she mumbled. I had hoped that I’d actually get her to talk to me, but it was like the last ten minutes hadn’t happened, and now here we were back at the awkward phase.

  Just as I started to push her, the waitress appeared. “Tyler Cook,” she grinned and my head snapped up. “I thought that was you.” She placed her hands on her hips and continued to smile at me as I racked my brain trying to remember who she was. I hadn’t really been back too much, and most of my school friends had moved on to bigger things. Very few people stayed to become townies. She rolled her eyes as she swatted me with the order pad. “Carrie.”

  “Carrie,” I mumbled slowly before the light bulb came on in my fogged up head. “Caroline Peters.” The light bulb went off and I smiled as I let my eyes scan her form. She was a skinny thing back in school, but time had been good to her.

  “You haven�
��t changed a bit,” she groaned as she rolled her eyes. “What are you doing back here?”

  “Came to visit my brothers,” I picked up the menu in front of me and pretended to read it. “What do you recommend?”

  “Now there’s a loaded a question,” she giggled as she stared at us. “You two still together?” She pointed her finger between Mia and me.

  “Hardly,” Mia rolled eyes before going back to sipping her coffee.

  “Oh,” Carrie’s mouth formed a little o shape before I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. My head turned toward it before I saw her grin. “Guess who this is?” She motioned at Mia and me as she smiled at the face that looked familiar but I couldn’t place.

  “Tyler Cook,” the deep voice chuckled. “You don’t know who I am do ya?” I stared at him a few more beats before Mia sighed, bringing my attention back to her. “Mike Clark.” He puffed out his chest.

  “Holy shit!” I laughed as I leaned back. “Did you know that?” I stared at Mia.

  “Yeah,” she mumbled as she looked out the window. “I’ve been in here already a few times.”

  “Well,” Mike lifted his hand in a wave, “I’ll let you guys get back to your meal.” He walked off leaving us there as he swatted Carrie on the ass.

  “You two seem comfy,” I mused as she giggled.

  “We should,” she grinned. “He’s been my husband for the last three years.”

  “No shit,” my eyes widened.

  “Yep,” she nodded quickly. “I know you two didn’t get along back in the day, but he’s a nice guy.” Her eyes went all soft as she glanced back at where Mike had disappeared. “So, you ready to order?”

  I nodded before sliding the menu in her direction. “I’ll take a short stack and a coffee, black.”

  “Coming right up,” she grinned. “Did you want anything other than the coffee?” She tipped her head in Mia’s direction.

  “I’m fine, thanks,” Mia offered her a smile before turning back to the window.

  After Carrie left to place our order, I reached across the table and touched Mia’s arm to grab her attention. “What’s going on with you?”

  “I’m stuck here for four more weeks, and then I have therapy before I can dance. What do you think is going on?” she snapped as she released a deep breath and collapsed against the back of the booth.

  “I’m sorry.” I knew my words probably didn’t mean shit to her, but I did feel bad. I knew that dancing was as much a part of Mia’s life as breathing. She lived in the studio, and I’d never seen her look so lost.

  “Whatever,” she muttered. “It’s not like you care.”

  My head snapped back. “I do care,” I scoffed. “I’ve always cared. You walked away from me,” I pointed at my chest. “Remember? You left to dance. I was the one sitting in our apartment trying to figure out my next move. You pulled the rug out from under me with nothing but a ‘sorry’.”

  Her face reddened as her eyes welled up. I couldn’t tell if she was upset over what happened, or over the fact that I brought it up. “Listen.” I grabbed her hand, and when she tried to pull away from me, I tightened my grip. “I don’t care anymore why you did it. I know you had your reasons. I know it was a chance of a lifetime. We were kids. I’d like to think that we’ve grown since then.” I smiled at her as my eyes roamed her face. It was blank, and for the life of me I couldn’t get a read on her. “I’d like to try and be friends. You remember what that was like, right?” I grinned at her and begged her with my eyes to smile at me. “I think we used to be pretty good at the friends thing.”

  I waited for a few beats and soon her lips began to twitch. “I remember,” she murmured. “We were pretty good at being friends.” She nibbled her lip as she blushed. “Hey Ty,” she tugged at where I was still gripping her hand, and tried to loosen it from my grasp. “Friends don’t hold hands like this,” she teased.

  “Right. Sorry,” I grimaced as I released her. Right then Carrie reappeared with my food and the coffee that I thought she’d forgotten.

  “Good to see things never change,” she teased as Mia tucked her hands in her lap.

  “Oh, we’re not,” Mia stumbled over the words her face getting redder by the second.

  “We’re friends,” I grinned as the words slipped out.

  “Sure,” Carrie teased. “Ok,” she giggled slightly as she turned and disappeared once again.

  We sat and talked in comfortable conversation as the minutes turned into hours, and before I knew it the morning had turned into afternoon. Mia had had so many coffees that I stopped counting after four, and when my stomach growled signaling that I’d failed to eat lunch I wondered how she could go all day without eating anything.

  “No wonder you’re built like a twig. Want some lunch?” I attempted to flag Carrie down. We’d been the only ones in the diner for the last two hours, and it seemed she was taking a break. The place closed before dinner, and it saddened me to know that I was going to have to come up with another reason to continue to spend time with Mia.

  “No thanks,” she shrugged, and her sweatshirt slipped off her shoulder again. She tugged it up, and began slipping into her coat. “I need to get going anyway. I’m sure my parents are freaked out that they haven’t heard from me all day. I kinda left and didn’t really tell them where I was going.”

  “Oh, ok,” I glanced around begging my muddled brain to come up with something. We were finally talking, like really talking, and I was desperate to keep the connection with her. I hadn’t felt this at ease with anyone in years. When I peered out the window an idea hit. “Hey! Are you planning to come to the tree lighting tomorrow night?” I grinned at her as she froze in the middle of putting on her jacket.

  “I don’t know. I really haven’t thought that much about it,” she shrugged.

  “You should come. Taylor’s having some friends over to the house. Cider, coffee, hot chocolate, a real kegger,” I chuckled and she smiled. “I could pick you up? We could go together? Hang out at Tay’s after?” I wagged my brows as she rolled her eyes at me.

  “That sounds like a date, Ty,” she narrowed her eyes on me.

  “Not a date,” I shook my head at her as she wiggled out of the booth and hopped on one foot adjusting her crutches. “We’re just two friends hanging out.”

  “Ok,” she sighed. “But I’ll meet you at the tree lighting.” She tipped her head to the side as she waited for me to answer.

  “You are so stubborn,” I teased.

  “I’ve always been stubborn. You know that,” she grinned as she turned. She hopped toward the door before turning and attempting to wave.

  “See you tomorrow,” I smirked.

  “Friends, Ty,” she scolded before slipping out the door.

  I watched as she hopped across the street. The roads still looked like shit, and I worried about her making it home, but I knew she’d never let me take her. She jerked open the door and grabbed a snow brush as she wrestled with the crutches while trying to clear the snow that had gathered on her windshield. Just as I was ready to rush out to help her, Taylor came walking by the front of the store. He scolded her as he shook his head before taking the brush from her grasp and finishing the job. She climbed in as her head bobbed a few times, and then the car came to life. Taylor handed the brush through the window before waving to her as she pulled out of the spot.

  I sat there staring as her tail lights grew smaller and smaller. As she disappeared in the direction we’d come, I felt a piece of me thaw. I’d kept the part of my heart that knew love frozen from anyone’s touch. Mia had been the only woman to ever see that part of me. When she’d walked away, she taken the key that opened that lock. Now, after spending the afternoon with her, she’d opened it back up. She’d let me feel bits and pieces of what we’d had all those years ago. I’d promised that I could be friends. I wanted anything she’d give me. That might sound desperate, by this was Mia we were talking about.

  Friends. I could do friends. No, who t
he fuck was I kidding? I could never be just friends. Mia would always be more, I just needed to make her remember. I needed her feel what I was feeling.

  “All set?” Carrie smiled as she placed the check on the end of the table.

  “Yeah,” I smiled as I tossed a few bills on top of it.

  “See ya, Ty.” She waved as I stood, grabbed my coat, and began walking back to the hardware store. I needed to think about how I was going to do this. She was keeping me at bay, and if I were smart, I would follow her lead.

  Just as I stepped onto the sidewalk and the cold hit me across the face, my phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket, expecting Gavin’s name to flash on the caller ID, instead ‘Chrissi” came up. “Fuck!” I hissed as I hit reject. The hopeful feeling I’d had not five seconds ago evaporated as Chrissi dumped ice water on me, bringing me back to my current situation. How was I ever going to tell Mia about the mess I was in now?

  I WAS NUTS pure and simple. I don’t know what possessed me to stop and help him. “You still love him, you idiot,” I muttered as I slowly made my way home. The snow had stopped coming down a while ago, but the roads were still pretty bad out near my parent’s house. The plows only made it out here about twice a day, so on days like today, when the snow fell constantly, it was easy for the roads to pile up.

  When I finally pulled in the driveway, I could see my dad pushing the snow blower along the sidewalk in front of our house. He’d cleared the driveway, and as he blew the sidewalk out, Daniel shoveled the steps. I couldn’t help but laugh as I parked and climbed out of the car. Dan looked pissed, and my father didn’t seem to care. I’m sure he was angry that I couldn’t help and all the work was falling on him, but honestly, if I weren’t hurt, I wouldn’t even be here.

  “Where have you been?” he grumbled as I hobbled up the steps past him.

  “Out,” I shrugged a shoulder as I maneuvered the best I could around him pausing only to open the door.

  “Doc called while you were out. Mom said something about you getting fitted for a boot,” he said. “I think they were talking about you not needing the crutches anymore.”