by Kimi Flores
I laughed to myself as I finally understood what he was talking about regarding people creating your story for you in this small town. I finally snapped out of it and asked, “Is there anything I can help with?”
Using a large wooden spoon, she pointed to the serving bowl sitting next to the stove. “Sure, would you mind taking the soup to the table?”
Potholders in hand, I picked up the ceramic dish and automatically brought it up to my face, just close enough that I could savor the anticipation of devouring it very soon. Salivating, I asked as I placed the bowl on the table, “I’ve never smelled anything like this. What kind of soup is it?”
“Creamy turkey and vegetable, gnocchi soup. I try to use up all our leftovers in a new way each year. Food should never be boring or routine. Thanksgiving leftovers provide a great foundation to experiment and create my own recipes.” She placed a small platter on the table. “And these are fried stuffing balls drizzled with a cranberry, pesto sauce.”
I grew hungrier by the second and, by the time all the food sat on the table, I was ready to pounce.
Pulling out my chair, Elliott offered, “Have a seat. Would you like a glass of wine?”
I wanted to be a smartass and ask if they’d harvested the grapes themselves, but decided that would sound much ruder than intended. “Sure, I’d love one.” It filled my heart when I noticed Elliott placing cloth napkins on the table and I had to wonder if they normally used them or if he’d pulled them out to make Cass’s dinner as special as could be.
Once our wine glasses were filled, Cassandra asked, “So what took you guys so long to get here? Did Dad have to bribe you?”
Elliott and I looked at each other, then busted up. God, it felt so good to let go. “Actually, I had a little mishap and the fire department showed up.”
Cass laid her napkin on her lap, then placed her elbows on the edge of the table. “The fire department? Everything okay?”
I relaxed into the chair and felt the muscles in my cheek begin to tighten as I gave Elliott a thankful smile. “Yeah, your dad took care of everything, but apparently now we're waiting to see what the rumors are.”
She chuckled and motioned for me to give her my bowl so she could fill it. “That won’t take long, but it’s always fun to hear what they come up with.”
“That’s what your dad said, too.”
“You know, once you hear what the latest theory is about your life, you need to switch it up and do something that’ll discount their ideas.” With a perky belly laugh, she continued, “The thrill of keeping the blue hair society off kilter is priceless.”
With our dinners in front of us, we began to dig in.
After taking a sip of the burgundy liquid in her glass, Cass asked, “So what brought you to Hope Falls?”
I’d just taken my first bite and waited a moment to savor the flavors before answering. “It was time for a change, so when I saw the for-sale sign in front of the house, I contacted the real estate agents.”
“You saw the sign?” Elliott looked surprised as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.
Before I could answer, the silence was broken by the chorus of a song I recognized. Cassandra glanced down at her phone and started to swipe the screen. “Excuse me.” She got up and looked at Elliott. “This is about that property on Cherry Ridge Road I've been waiting to hear about. Please start eating.” She raised the phone to her ear as she walked out of the room.
Elliott answered my questioning look. “We own a real estate agency and have to jump on prime properties when they come up.” I watched as he buttered his hot roll with such enthusiasm and doubted that he’d even bother putting the knife down before he took his first bite. “So, when did you see the sign in front of the house?”
I wondered if this was going to be an ‘I shared, now you share’ kind of conversation, but I was enjoying getting to know them, so I was game. “My father and Gus were friends, so when he passed, we came to his funeral.” It had been the first time I’d seen my Dad in years and the time reflected on his face. The creases I'd once thought of as laugh lines had unmistakingly deepened and joined several other wrinkles.
Startling me when he snapped his fingers, Elliott said, “I knew you looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen you before.”
I blinked. “You were there?”
“Yeah, I got quite close with Gus when I moved here a few years ago.” A sudden sadness came over him, making me curious about what it was like to have lived next door to an elderly man filled with the wisdom that only older people had.
“He seemed like a really nice guy, but I hadn’t seen him since I was a teenager.” Something had bothered me ever since escrow started and I wondered what Elliott’s opinion was. “Whoever inherited the house didn’t waste any time selling it.”
As quickly as I had asked, I witnessed his face transform from the man who was relaxed and having a pleasant dinner, into a person who was filled with resentment. With a clenched jaw and lips so stiff the only shape they could make was a straight line, he slowly blinked several times as if trying to erase the memory he was about to share with me. “Yeah, that’s a sore subject. Gus was in the hospital the last month of his life when his greedy grandkids ransacked the house and took everything they could.”
“That’s awful.” Wait, now his question about me being related to Gus made sense. Did he initially think I was part of that clan? I hoped not, because the more I got to know him, the greater respect he earned from me. Elliott not only held Gus in high esteem, but he cared for the old man and wanted to protect him from the insensitivity of his family.
“When I’d visit him, I didn’t have the heart to tell him what was going on. He knew his grandkids were entitled little assholes, but he figured his daughter would keep them in line. That definitely wasn’t the case. I think deep down he knew what they were doing, but didn’t want to admit it. It broke my heart and I wanted to do everything I could to help him pass in peace. I’d like to say I was surprised when I spotted the for sale sign the day of his funeral, but I wasn’t. That was one of the reasons I tried to buy it. I wanted to make sure the home he loved so much was taken care of the way he’d want it to be.”
Hearing this about Gus confirmed that small voice that had guided me to buy the house. He’d provided it to us as my childhood summer home, but now it was becoming my safe place to start over just when I needed it most. I couldn’t help but still be a little bitter about having to pay more, but it wasn’t as intense now that I understood why he was so determined to outbid me. Cassandra rejoined us as I placed my hand on top of his. “I promise to take good care of it. That home means a lot to me as well.”
With a pleased smile, Cassandra took her seat and began to eat.
Attempting to make amends for my earlier attitude, I openly shared, “My younger sister and I used to sit on the porch swing at night and we’d take turns telling funny stories about each other’s future careers, husbands and children. Then amend the parts we didn’t agree with about ourselves.”
“Any of those dreams come true?” Elliott’s relaxed demeanor returned and it was the first time I’d noticed how sexy that looked on him.
“A few. But I never did manage to marry Mark-Paul Gosselaar,” I joked.
“As in Zack Morris?” He scooped up another bite of soup and I watched his mouth move from side to side as he savored the flavors.
“Sure, what teenage girl didn’t dream about marrying a famous heartthrob?” I added with a teasing sass to my voice.
“Yeah, I guess no teen girl would want to miss out on that part of her life.” A somber expression came over his face as he turned his attention to Cassandra to compliment her. “By the way, this is delicious as usual, sweetheart.” He took another bite as his daughter gave him a sympathetic look.
That was an odd reaction to my comment, but I had to agree with him about the food. “Yes, it is. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed soup so much before.”
Uncomforta
ble silence filled the room as we continued to eat. I hadn’t realized how deafening tension-filled quiet could be. Gone was the happy-go-lucky fun we’d just been having, and I had no idea what part of my statement had caused the mood to change so abruptly.
I peeked at Elliott, who’d just opened his mouth to say something, when a very loud fart came from the other room and we all burst into laughter.
Tears rolled down the corners of my eyes when Elliott said, “Nothing like the sound of flatulence to clear the awkwardness in a room, huh?”
“As long as the smell doesn’t come this way,” Cassandra said, grimacing like the scent had hit her. We went through another round of the giggles before moving on.
Taking this chance to reclaim the nice conversation I apparently had ruined a bit ago, I tried to learn more about them. “So you guys are in business together?”
Cassandra took the lead. “Yep. Dad’s been in real estate and flipping houses since I was little. When I was in junior high, each time he’d take me to one of his open houses, I’d always tell him the rooms were too empty. So I started mapping their floorplans in my head. Eventually, I’d draw out my ideas and show potential buyers.”
“She was my secret weapon. I mean, who can say no to an adorable little girl?” They shared an adoring look and I almost felt like an intruder watching their sweet moment.
“Her mom and I both worked full time and when we couldn’t get a babysitter, we’d take turns bringing her with us to our jobs.”
“So how does that work with you living in Hope Falls? I can’t imagine there are a lot of real estate transactions here.”
“Well, since Dad’s moved out here, he’s become more of the ‘behind the scenes’ guy. He researches everything for the agency and takes care of all the paperwork and accounting.” I was impressed as I listened to Cass explain and watched Elliott look on in a way that told me he thought of her as an equal partner in their business. It seemed like they put the same amount of effort into their agency, and I was really glad that he recognized that. Cass pointed out, “Plus there’s that app you created.”
Surprised, my eyes widened. “Oh, you make apps, too?”
“Just the one,” he said, proud but also a little sheepish. “It’s designed to make a real estate agent’s life easier. As you can imagine, there are many unscrupulous people in this business, and it’s not always easy to find reliable contractors you can count on to take care of construction and handyman needs once the home inspection is done. It also helps our clients so they don’t get stuck with things like faulty electric equipment.” He offered me a sympathetic smile.
“Well, I wish my seller's agent had that app,” I mumbled loud enough for them to hear.
“It’s available to all agents who want it.”
Duke trotted into the room, sat at Elliott’s feet and began to whine. Reaching down, Elliott patted his head. “I have a feeling you need to go outside, little guy.”
Cass stood and started taking dishes to the counter. “I figured he wasn’t feeling good when he didn't come to the table and beg for food,” she said as she flashed her baby blues to her father. “Would you mind taking him out for a walk?”
Elliott got up, grabbed the leash hanging from a hook by the light switch and attached it to Duke’s collar. The puppy with huge paws took off and pulled Elliott toward the front door. “We’ll be right back. But leave those dishes for me. You’ve worked hard enough today.”
At the sound of the door latching, Cass started rinsing the dishes. I attempted to stop her. “Aren't you supposed to leave those?” I grabbed the rest from the table and placed them on the counter. “As a matter of fact, let me do them. Your dad was nice enough to invite me over here and you prepared everything, it’s the least I can do.”
She rinsed her hands, then turned off the water and stepped aside. “Only because I can tell him you did them. I don’t want him to have to clean up the kitchen. He does enough for me.”
I moved into her place, squirted soap onto a sponge and began to clean. “You two seem really close.”
Cass leaned her hip against the counter as she dried her hands. “We are. While we love our parents equally, my sisters are closer to my mom. They live out in Washington near her. Dad and I just always shared this special bond. He was the caregiver in the family; always concerned about everyone's well-being. Don't get me wrong, my mom cares, too, but Dad was just the glue that kept us all together.”
She glanced toward the living room, then added, “You could always see something in my mom's eyes that said she wasn’t completely content; like she was looking out into the distance for something else. Dad, on the other hand, thrives just being around people, helping out wherever he can. I worry about people taking advantage of him, but this is a really good town for someone with a caring soul like him.”
Hearing his daughter talk about him with such tenderness infiltrated my own heart, creating a new desire to spend more time with him, to get to know someone who was so kind. How had I become so drawn to him this soon? Maybe this small town made people realize they need to protect and cherish those who possess such qualities because they are rare these days.
“So listen, I have to go to the office and check out a few things before the holidays. Will you promise me you’ll keep an eye out for him? I’ll be gone until probably Christmas Eve.”
Did she see my thoughts written on my face? I hoped she wasn’t reading too much into it. “Of course, but like you said, this is a good town. I doubt anyone will take advantage of him.”
“It’s not that.” She pursed her lips to the side like she was trying to figure out how much to share. “This time of year can be tough for him. He’s spent most of his life surrounded by family and since the divorce, it’s usually just him and me. I worry about him being out here by himself. I’m not asking you to go out of your way, this isn’t an attempt at matchmaking, just, you know, check in on him, make sure he isn’t lonely.”
I had to wonder about the whole matchmaking comment, but I wouldn’t mind striking up a friendship with him. We could keep each other company, as long as he didn't expect me to cook. After eating Cass’s food, he’d be really disappointed in anything I’d make.
Chapter Four
Tess
I stared at the flames dancing up, as if they were just as proud that I’d figured out how to light the fire without smoking up the house. The shadows from the flames that filled the room with a soft glow were even more relaxing than I’d thought they'd be. Between the house’s gas heater blasting and the burning wood in front of me, I was starting to get too toasty.
As I pushed the cozy blanket off my lap, a soft knock called my attention.
He’s finally here.
In a rush to get to the door, my toes slammed against the coffee table leg as I scrambled to get up. “Shit!” was my first response as I shoved my knee into my chest and held onto my foot. I jumped around in circles until I stopped seeing stars. Grumbling, I hobbled to the front door, yanked it open, then rubbed between my sock-covered toes.
Tilting his head, Elliott took in a quick assessment of my situation, his eyebrows drawn together inquisitively. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just stubbed my toes.” I put my foot down, leaned my hip against the door’s edge and zeroed in on the large thermos and bag of marshmallows in his hands.
Lifting the items, he said, “Cass made some hot chocolate before she left and made me promise to share with you.” His eyes teased as he waved the drink in front of me, and I had to question again what Cass’s intentions were with all these promises she’d had us make.
I smirked. “She stopped by about an hour ago and said you’d be over with it.” I’d never admit this to him, but I’d been counting down the minutes and wondered what had taken him so long.
“Did she now? If I’d known you were waiting for me, I’d have come sooner.” He snickered and glanced over to the fireplace. “Oh good, you got it going.”
“Yeah, i
t’s amazing what you can find on the internet.” I lifted my phone off the side table, giving it a slight wave, indicating I had all the knowledge I needed in this little device.
“Well, I’m proud of you.” He reached out to pass me the bag and container. “I’m sure you’ll love this. It’s her own secret recipe.”
My chest warmed. He was proud of me? Besides my parents, I didn’t think I’d ever heard someone say that to me before. If I hadn’t already planned on asking him to stay, after that compliment, he now had an open invitation. “Is there enough in there for two?”
With the thermos held up to his ear, he swirled it around. “Sounds like it.”
“Then come on in.” My smile faded when I thought about the fact that he may have a whole life here that he hadn’t shared with his daughter. Or worse, what if he had a lady friend Cass knew nothing about. “Unless—you have other plans.”
“Nope.” He stepped in and my shoulders relaxed as I closed the door. “Cass took care of everything before she left and took Duke with her, so I don’t have to worry about him smelling up the house while I’m gone.”
“I feel sorry for her being stuck in a car with a gassy dog.” Personally, I wasn’t sure how long his cuteness would excuse his smelliness if I had to live with him.
He chuckled. “I don’t feel bad. She's the one who spoils him and gives him all that food. She’s gotta learn someday.” With his stance firmly in place, I could see right through his pretense. He loved that dog as much as his daughter did.
“Oh, so tough love, huh? And here I thought you were a softie.” I fluttered my eyes, imitating the women I’d seen in old black and white movies who would soon declare what a manly man the gentleman was.
With a wink and a smile, he said, “Maybe I’m a bit of both.”
I shook my head impishly and directed him to the couch. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll get some mugs.”
He handed me the thermos and marshmallows, and I darted into the kitchen and turned on the small table lamp I’d hooked up to the extension cord last night. As I gave my hands a quick wash, I took an inventory of the desserts that had slowly made their way onto my counter. “Hey, you want some pie? I have like—” I counted the containers as I dried my hands. “—four pies, a cake and a tray of cookies.”
