Bring Me Back

by Jessie Gussman

  “But the woman’s over thirty years old!”

  “She doesn’t have to listen to him. She just has to respect him,” Miss Beulah said.

  Ben leaned forward, resting his forearms on his legs. They had dragged him over and picked the story out of him with their incessant but well-meaning questions. “I wouldn’t want her to disrespect her dad. I don’t want to disrespect her dad.”

  “So you get her dad to like you.” Miss Beulah poked her needle into the fabric a little harder than necessary.

  “Hardly. I’ve been his top mechanic for twenty years.”

  “Ben’s right. There are just some people you can’t impress. And you can’t force someone to like you. Riley is going to need to make a decision about who she wants to be with.” Miss Alda was just as forceful as Miss Beulah. Ben was kind of glad to have her in his corner.

  “Or whether she wants love over prestige,” Angelina said thoughtfully.

  “Yes. That’s the choice. It’s not even money. It’s prestige.” Miss Beulah nodded emphatically.

  “But she’s been working for this job all her life. It’s probably not as much about prestige as it is about the satisfaction of finally working her way to the top.” Ben couldn’t stop himself from defending her even now. What was wrong with him?

  It wouldn’t have anything to do with that kiss. Just thinking about it made his hands tighten under the old ladies’ gentle patting at the idea of holding Riley. The ladies weren’t helping, but they seemed to love fussing over him, and Torque didn’t need his help, so he stayed where he was.

  “I think love will conquer all,” Miss Beulah said, with a dreamy quality in her voice.

  No one had said anything about love. He didn’t love Riley. He just enjoyed being around her. Loved watching the sunrise with her. Missed her when she wasn’t with him. Like tonight. And hurt like heck when she acted like he was worthless in front of her dad.

  “I’m not asking her to defy her dad. And I’m not asking her to choose me over him. I just want...” His voice trailed off as Torque came around the side of the truck, the blown airbag in hand.

  “She doesn’t know how you feel.” Torque’s eyes were serious. “I know guys don’t talk about that stuff.”

  Torque had spent time in prison. He’d really know how guys weren’t in touch with their feminine sides.

  “But our women need it sometimes.” One corner of his mouth kicked up. “I’d take Tough’s advice.”

  Ben stared at him. Had Tough told him that he’d given Ben advice? Torque’s face held no answers. Ben wasn’t asking. Whether he knew it or not, the implication was that Tough would know what to do.

  Since he’d already been told... But wait.

  “She just ditched me today for her dad and the billionaire investors. Treated me like I’m a worthless piece of dirt, and yet I’m supposed to go home and tell her I love her?”

  Torque twisted the blown airbag, studying it like he’d never seen one before. Finally he looked up. “If you love her, you should tell her. I don’t think what she does should affect what you do.”

  “That’s how you live?”

  “Didn’t say that. Not saying it’s easy. Just saying it’s what you should do.”

  Torque and his ladies didn’t know the history. They didn’t know how he’d already suffered under Riley’s hand and how she’d already rejected him and chose her dad and his company over him. He’d already been through that.

  But he’d never told her he loved her.

  Did he love her?

  ~~~

  Ben’s pickup was not in the drive when Riley pulled into the house. She’d pleaded a headache and didn’t go to the dinner. First time in her life that her dad had lined something up for her to do in the business and she’d not done it. His glowering look would have stopped a freight train, but Riley had left anyway.

  The headache was real, but she would have fought through that. Ben was the reason she left. She couldn’t stand that he might think that she was choosing her dad over him. She had, but she hadn’t wanted to. His work would go down the drain along with hers though. And he knew how much those investors meant to their company. So it wasn’t just her dad but the company as well.

  When had Ben become more important to her than her dad and the company?

  She opened the door and stepped into the quiet house. So much different than walking in with Ben, laughing and talking about their day. Kicking her heels off by the door and walking barefoot into the kitchen to help him start supper before running up and changing.

  The old house creaked and settled. She stood in the entryway, looking around fondly. She stayed at this house, not because it was the closest, and not even because it was usually empty. She loved it. Even more now that she had memories here with Ben and Eve and Eden. If she walked away from her dad and his company—if she chose Ben—she’d be giving up this house, too, not that it was even an issue. People were always more important than things.

  Her appetite had fled, and she didn’t bother going to the kitchen but rather walked slowly up the stairs, stopping at the top and looking toward Ben’s room. She’d not been in it since he moved in, respecting his privacy, but the door was cracked, and she stood in the doorway, pushing the door open a little and looking around. His room was taken care of with the same meticulous care he gave his tools and workspace. The bed made. His Bible on the nightstand beside his bed. No clothes on the floor. The dresser bare...except for a folded white piece of paper. The only thing in the whole room that didn’t seem like it was tucked in place. It just lay there.

  The temptation to walk over and read it was almost overwhelming. Her foot actually picked up off the floor like she was going to walk over. But she forced it back to the ground. Only allowed herself one last deep breath of his scent. Careful to close the door, leaving it cracked like it had been, she jumped when her phone buzzed.

  “Hello?” She walked across the hall and flopped down over her bed.

  “Riley, it’s Eve. Have you seen Ben?”

  “He was at work today. But there were people there, and I didn’t leave with him.”

  “He’s not answering his phone, and he always takes our calls.”

  Visions of his pickup mangled in a car accident flew through her head. She shoved them aside. “Is there a problem?” That would be Ben’s first question. He’d want to know if the twins were in trouble.

  “No. We were just checking in.”

  “I can call around to his family and see if anyone has seen him.”

  “If you don’t mind? Maybe we’re overreacting.” There was a beat of silence on the line. “Ben won’t talk to us about you and him, but when he does say something about you, his voice gets all soft...we’ve been thinking that maybe you and he might get together for real?”

  Eden’s voice came on the line. “Ben deserves a good woman.”

  “I agree with that,” Riley said, her forehead pressed into her blanket. Unfortunately, she had never treated him the way he deserved.

  What if she did?

  What if she went today, right now, and did what she should have done all those years ago? But her dad was dining with the investors. She couldn’t interrupt their meeting... There she went again. Putting the company ahead of Ben.

  Eden spoke again, “I just called Torque on my phone, and he said that Ben was back in the corner of his garage that doesn’t have very good service. He’s fine. Actually, Torque said he was just leaving to go home, so he should be there any minute.”

  “Okay. Good to hear.” Riley got up off the bed and straightened her suit jacket. “I just remembered something I need to do. I need to go.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Eve sounded a little surprised at her abrupt tone, but they quickly said goodbye.

  Riley would have to explain later where she needed to go in such a hurry. She’d be able to tell them how it ended, too.

  Grabbing her purse and keys, she ran out to her car and headed in the direction of the nice restauran
t her dad always took his guests to. She’d been there a hundred times.

  As she turned onto the interstate, she thought she saw Ben’s truck. She craned her neck, fairly certain it was him, but she wasn’t stopping. She’d talk to him in a bit. It didn’t even matter if he didn’t want her. She had some things she needed to say to her dad, and they’d waited long enough.

  It wasn’t ten minutes later that she strode with purpose into the restaurant. No one questioned her as she walked back to their regular table.

  Her father sat facing her. His brows twitched, but he kept talking.

  She stopped beside the table, her stomach feeling like it was filled with live electric wires. Maybe she shouldn’t have waited. Maybe she shouldn’t have made such an impulsive decision. But she was here now. And she needed to say what she should have said years ago.

  The men started to rise, but she held her hand up. “It’s okay. Don’t get up. Dad, I have something I need to say to you.”

  “Unless it pertains to this business meeting and the investors’ interests, it will have to wait.” Her father dabbed his mouth with a pristine white linen napkin, barely sparing her a glance.

  Again, she almost walked away, trained since birth to respect the business and put her own wants and needs aside. But she wouldn’t. Not this time.

  Her dad glanced up again when she didn’t move, and she plunged in. “I love Ben. I’ve loved him since I met him. All the years we’ve worked together, he’s been a man of integrity and honest compassion. I don’t know how he feels, but I’m not putting your interests or the company interests ahead of his feelings anymore. I love you, Dad, and I’ve been a good, loyal daughter, but I’m not hurting anyone for you ever again.”

  A fork clanged. The three men at the table with her dad stirred uneasily, but she didn’t back down.

  Her dad set his napkin down deliberately. “He put you up to this.”

  She felt a hand come around her waist. Her head jerked around. Ben stared down into her eyes. “I didn’t. I never would have.”

  Her eyes blinked slowly. “How did you know I was here?”

  “I saw you getting on the interstate. I turned and followed you.” His brows lowered. “You were driving too fast.”

  She leaned into him, a smile on her face.

  She swallowed. “That’s part of the reason I...”

  He put a finger over her lips. “I love you. I love you more than I care about who you work for or what you do for your dad or his company. And if you choose him, I’ll stay where I’m at as long as you’re there too.”

  She shook her head, and his finger fell. “I love you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry that I allowed other things to come before you. I hurt you with my words and most especially with my actions, and I can see that now. Please forgive me.”

  “Forgiven.” He pulled her tight against him and looked across the table at her dad. “I owe you an apology.”

  Her dad’s mouth flattened while his eyes narrowed.

  Before he could open his mouth, she said, “We’re married, Dad.” Riley couldn’t believe how good those words tasted coming out of her mouth. “We’ve been married since I came to Pennsylvania. I’d like for you to be happy for us, but I understand why you wouldn’t be.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get permission,” Ben added.

  “I would never have given it, Baxter,” her dad snarled, his lips curling up.

  Ben nodded. “I’m asking for forgiveness now.”

  Her dad opened his mouth to say something. Something unkind from the look on his face, and she cringed. Ben had been through enough. He didn’t need to stand here and take the abuse from her dad.

  “Baxter?” The investor sitting to the right of her father tilted his head. “You said he was a mechanic for your company, and his name was Baxter?”

  Ben nodded. “Ben Baxter.”

  The investor stood and held his hand out. “We hadn’t gotten to that point in our meeting, but,” he tapped the folder sitting beside his place, “I made some notes about you in my report. Your name kept coming up, both at the shop in Maine and then here.”

  Riley’s face broke out into a huge grin, and her heart raced.

  “According to these papers, you’ve been instrumental in turning this terminal here in Pennsylvania around. I have some more things I want to check out, but you are the main reason for our visit today.”

  “What?” Her dad half rose from his chair. “I thought we were discussing investments in the company.”

  “We’ll do that. We said next month. But we’ve got a company in Mexico that could use a man like Ben.”

  “And one in China,” the older, white-haired man said.

  “Another in Germany.”

  “Basically, we want Ben Baxter. With the amount of money that he’s on track to save your company, we’d be fools to not take advantage of his skills.”

  “Any deal we make with your company will include Ben’s services in the bargain.”

  “You guys can talk about that. I’ve said what I needed to say, and I’ve gotten the person I came for, so I’ll see ya all later.” He looked down at Riley. “You coming with me?”

  “I am.”

  She took a last look at her dad. His face wasn’t quite as red as it had been. She really did love him. But she wasn’t going to push Ben aside again. Whatever they did with their relationship, her dad didn’t get to dictate her actions regarding it.

  That was going to be her first question to Ben. Where did they go from here? Were they going to stay married? He’d said he loved her. What, exactly, did that mean?

  But as they stepped out of the restaurant, Ben’s phone rang. From his expression and tone, it wasn’t good.

  He wasn’t on long. “Gram’s back in the hospital. It’s not looking good for her. I’m going straight there.” He paused, looking down into her eyes. “Are you with me?”

  “I am.” Like he even needed to ask after the scene in the restaurant.

  “You know, I need to confess to my family that you and I weren’t married as long as we said we were.”

  She almost said “why,” but she knew immediately what his answer would be. Because he wanted to be honest and not live a lie for the rest of his life.

  Especially if they were staying in Pennsylvania. The questions of what was going on with them and their relationship burned in her head, but she couldn’t ask with Ben’s mind so occupied with his gram.

  Maybe tonight when they got home.

  Chapter 23

  Gram never stabilized that evening, and Ben ended up staying at the hospital. He’d sent Riley home with Cassidy. He and his half brothers stayed. It made the room crowded, but Gram had been instrumental in all of their lives, and none of them wanted to walk away from her at this critical time. He’d called the twins, and they were coming down.

  Tough was still and quiet in the corner. Turbo paced. Torque and Ben sat in chairs on either side of the bed. None of them needed to say much. Either she’d live or she’d die. Either way, they were here for her. It’s all they could do.

  Ben spent a lot of that long night thinking about Riley and the chances he’d let slip away. Maybe he should have fought harder for her. Maybe he was too consumed with the twins and raising them. Maybe he’d allowed his hurt over her first rejection to keep him from pursuing her again.

  Whatever it was, whatever he could have done differently, he couldn’t change it. He could have regrets and wallow in that misery, or he could let it all go and start fresh.

  The nurse had just left after taking Gram’s vitals, and the clock said 2 a.m.

  Ben spoke in the stillness of the room. “Riley and I just got married this spring. It was basically a marriage of convenience because she needed me at the shop and because I needed a wife or I would have to admit to Gram that I lied about being married for years.”

  “Huh?” Turbo stopped pacing and stared at Ben.

  “Then you fell in love with her,” Torque said, ignoring Tur
bo.

  “She fell in love with you.” Tough spoke from the corner where he stood with his arms and one leg crossed.

  They all stared at him.

  “Did you tell her?” Tough asked.

  “Tell her what?” Turbo asked.

  “Just this evening,” Ben said, ignoring Turbo.

  “Maybe you two ought to take off work and go on a honeymoon,” Torque said.

  “You just suggested he take off work?” Turbo asked incredulously.

  “Wait until Gram stabilizes,” Tough said, ignoring Turbo.

  “Would you guys quit acting like I’m not here,” Turbo said.

  “Don’t wait on me,” Gram said, ignoring Turbo. “Not everyone gets even one chance at a lifetime love. It’s not something to take for granted.”

  Everyone looked at her in surprise. They hadn’t realized she was awake. Tough and Turbo moved to the foot of her bed. Torque stood up and leaned over. “Are you feeling better?”

  “I shouldn’t have tried to change the sheets on my bed. I think I pulled a muscle in my chest.” She tapped her chest.

  Ben blinked at Gram. “You were changing sheets?”

  “That’s why we’ve been staying with you. So that you don’t have to do stuff like that.” Torque covered Gram’s frail hand with his own.

  Gram’s tired eyes swept over Ben’s face. “I think they’re going to yell at me some. You go home and talk to your new wife. I think you have some things to work out.”

  Ben leaned over and kissed Gram’s cool cheek. “Thanks, Gram.”

  “Hey,” Turbo said. “Your woman left and took your wheels.”

  Ben’s chest caved. He’d forgotten. He’d have to ask her to come back and get him, and he couldn’t do that at 2 a.m.

  Turbo tossed him keys. “Take mine.”

  Ben snatched them out of the air. “Thanks, bro.”

  ~~~

  Riley couldn’t sleep. She should have stayed at the hospital. Worry about Gram was some of it, but thinking about Ben, and what he’d said at the restaurant, and how they were going to work things out kept spinning around in her head.

  Finally, she wrapped a blanket around herself and padded down to the porch. It would be several hours before the sun came up, but she felt closer to Ben, and with the uncertainty rolling around in her chest, it eased her mind to sit where they’d spent so many peaceful mornings.