“I know this sounds kind of corny, but have you ever heard of a bucket list?” he asked, and my heart fluttered with glee.
There was bacon wrapped asparagus and corn on the cob roasting on the grill outside, and inside I had a platter of barbeque chicken wings with a honey sesame glaze. A batch of homemade sorbet was in the freezer, and a bunch of appetizers were spread out on the kitchen counter to get us to dinner. I was a girl who liked to make sure there was enough to eat when guests were over.
“This blueberry salad is delicious,” Tessa said, poking around the bowl.
“No double sporking, and if you keep at it, there won’t be any left.”
“There’s no such thing as sporking.”
“There is when you have a spork in your hand.”
Tessa examined the metal contraption before setting it back down while she fumbled with the term a bit.
“I can’t believe you haven’t heard of a spork.” I shook my head. “And you call yourself an educator.”
Tessa chuckled as Bethany pulled into the driveway. Gabby had texted she’d be a few minutes late because she missed the ferry. She had to wait for her friend, who she wanted to introduce to me. I knew she had two best friends and one happened to be Mason’s sister.
I had no reason to be nervous.
Absolutely none.
Yet, I was a hot mess. I’m sure Gabby only wanted to enlarge my circle of friends while I was here, but nonetheless, I was a nervous wreck. She didn’t mention specifically that it was Mason’s sister, but my hunch told me it might be.
“Knock, knock,” Bethany hummed, as she walked through the front door. She looked really cute in a pair of cut-offs and a loose, pink camisole. Her platform sandals showed off her already long legs.
“For tonight. Thought you might need extra backup.” She shoved a bottle of pinot noir in my hand and laughed.
Tessa eyed Bethany and her brow quirked as she grabbed a chip and dipped it into the guacamole. “Why’s that?”
“She didn’t tell you?” Bethany asked, reaching in for a chip.
“Tell me what?” Tessa asked, folding her arms.
“It’s nothing.” I shook my hands at them. “Just a few girls getting together for a girls’ night out, in.”
“Mason’s sister might be coming over,” Bethany informed Tessa with a half-wicked giggle.
I groaned. “Only because she happens to be one of Gabby’s best friends and she’s bringing one of them over.”
“Why didn’t you just ask which one was tagging along?”
“That would be too easy.”
“Do I notice a recent glow?” Tessa asked, circling me like I was prey.
“I’ve gotten a lot of sun out in the garden.”
“That’s not it,” Bethany said, eyeing me up and down. “That’s definitely not it. She’s right. You look lighter, brighter somehow. Maybe being back here isn’t such a bad thing after all.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Personally, I think it has to do with the fine-ass contractor who happens to be helping her on this home,” Tessa teased.
I couldn’t hide my grin.
“He is a great friend,” I agreed. “And that is it. Please, don’t embarrass me tonight. I would be mortified if it got back to Mason.”
“Friend? After this many weeks… a friend?” Bethany’s eyes narrowed.
“Actually, I think we’re officially past weeks. We’re into the first month,” Tessa corrected.
“We aren’t into anything,” I laughed, opening the bottle of wine. “You know, I don’t think I need this wine because of Mason’s sister. I think I need it because of you two. You’re relentless.”
“How often do you see him?” Bethany asked.
I glanced around the almost-new house. “Can’t you tell by how much work has been done around here? A lot.”
“Almost daily by my calculations,” Tessa responded.
I scowled at her and heard Gabby and another woman laughing as they walked down the driveway toward the house. I quickly washed and dried my hands before getting to the door.
“I think someone’s nervous,” Bethany hummed.
“Not even.” I opened the door and there Gabby stood with a pastry box in one hand and a plastic bag in the other.
“Lemon biscuits to serve with the raspberry sorbet. The bag has heavy cream for whipping too. Wow. It smells great in here.” She stepped inside, and I quickly observed the very friendly face right behind her. She had auburn hair piled on top of her head in a loose bun and was dressed in a pair of capri leggings and a loose, gauze shirt. To say she was beautiful was an understatement. I didn’t see any resemblance between her and Mason, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything.
“Tori, this is Lily. Lily, Tori.”
Oh, thank goodness. I was off the hook tonight. It wasn’t Mason’s sister, Brandy.
“Thanks for allowing me to tag along with Gabby,” Lily said, coming in for a quick hug.
“Anytime,” I responded, taking the biscuits from Gabby. “It’s wonderful to have you.”
We walked into the kitchen and Gabby stopped in her tracks, taking in the dining and family rooms. Both had been completely remodeled since she was here last.
“I thought the entry way looked amazing, but this… This is beyond anything I could have imagined.”
“Thank you.” I beamed. “Mason has a real talent. His ideas have raised this home to something I never imagined. I almost want to dream up more projects to see what he can come up with.”
“He really is a special guy.” Gabby grinned, glancing at Lily, who smiled in return.
“Now, Lily,” Bethany began. “Are you related to Mason?”
My cheeks ignited with the question, even though I knew the answer was no. Brandy was his sister, not Lily, but Bethany didn’t know the names yet. I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.
Lily laughed and shook her head. “Not yet.”
I looked at Gabby for clarification. “She’s dating Mason’s brother, Ayden.”
“You’re dating his twin, huh?” I asked, unsure of whether that was better or worse than having his sister here. Either could report back to him.
“I sure am.” Her eyes twinkled with the same love I saw in Gabby’s when she talked about Jason. I didn’t think I ever had that look when I was engaged to Tanner. Actually, I knew I didn’t. It was more like indignant resignation to the fate I chose for myself.
“It seems like it’s almost done,” Gabby said, glancing at the kitchen.
I shook my head. “The kitchen and back deck are the final two things he’s got on the schedule. He’s doing the kitchen last so I can continue to feed him.”
“Sounds about right,” Lily confirmed, smiling.
“I better go check on the veggies on the grill. Mason promised me the deck is sturdy enough for me to grill on, but if I go down, please call fire and rescue.”
“If he thinks it’s sturdy, it should hold you. He’s a good guy and I don’t think he wants anything to happen to you,” she added.
I picked up an empty platter and smiled. “I get that sense.”
Walking out onto the deck, I felt the fresh air blast into my lungs as if it had some sort of mystical healing power. I opened the lid on the grill and removed the corn and asparagus. I glanced behind me and saw all the girls talking and laughing, and a part of me suddenly didn’t want to leave this place. I never had this sensation of comfort or belonging in Skaneateles. What I did have was a one-bedroom apartment on the first floor of an 1815 mansion that was filled with dated wallpaper and a kitchen with only one working appliance and it wasn’t the fridge. But it was cheap, and on a teacher’s salary, that was the only way to survive.
The town itself was charming and had a great sense of community. In the winter, carriage rides and roasting chestnuts in the town square were the norm. In the spring and summer, the town was jam-packed with amazing farmers’ markets, and the fall was bursting with pumpkin-
carving contests and hayrides. Unfortunately, I wasn’t part of the community and Tanner and his family ensured that would never be the case once I called off the engagement. I tried, but it never quite worked. I often felt like I was stuck inside my apartment, and the world was busily going by on the outside.
But here—inside the home I tried so desperately to forget—it felt as if an entire world existed with me as a central part of it. I was in the action, not watching it from a one-bedroom apartment.
I flipped off the grill and went back inside as everyone began setting the dining table. It was as if we’d done this many times before and it was just another summer night. I set the platter on the table and went into the kitchen where Bethany grabbed me. The others started seating themselves around the table, laughter and chatter echoing through the air.
“Not to freak you out, but Lily says Mason is talking nonstop to Ayden about you.”
I laughed. “Well, I guess that’s a good thing as long as nobody gets hurt.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m still planning on leaving at the end of the summer,” I reminded her.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head, pushing me into the dining room. It was moments like these when I felt like we were back in high school, but I loved Bethany regardless of her voracious need to be in the know.
“So, you’ll be coming to the barbeque, right?” Lily asked as I took a seat.
“I think so. As long as Mason still wants me there,” I laughed, unfolding my napkin.
Lily beamed. “My dear, I swear, you’ll be the guest of honor. We’ve all heard so much about you. His parents are dying to meet the one who—”
I saw Gabby’s entire body move at the moment Lily abruptly stopped speaking.
“You kicked her,” I laughed. “You totally kicked her.”
“That’s a horrible way to behave, isn’t it?” Lily laughed, feigning pain in her ankle. “I’ll be bruised for days.”
“I just didn’t want you to either make Tori go running off or cancel on us. We need another female there since Brandy won’t be at the get together.”
“Brandy won’t be there?” I asked.
“Nope. She’s in Paris with her boyfriend, also known as my brother. He’s got some huge gallery opening at the end of summer so she’s there while he’s preparing,” Gabby informed me.
“And to get away from the trial mess,” Lily muttered.
“Trial?” Bethany asked. She was addicted to all Dateline shows and imagined every court encounter to be full of mystery and intrigue, which was anything but the truth. Most court cases were nothing but paper shuffling with the hopes of never making it to trial.
Lily and Gabby traded somber glances.
“It’s a long story, but it’s better if she’s there,” Lily concluded with Gabby nodding.
“Wow. I’m so sorry to hear that.”
I started thinking about how much I knew about Mason, truly knew. He’d told me his parents were hopeless romantics. I gathered he had a very close family, but he never talked specifics. My mind flashed to his reference to guilt and I wondered what in the world he felt guilty about. We’d gotten so sidetracked with my whole life’s history, that I really didn’t feel I’d gotten his. I let him in, but I wasn’t sure he’d totally let me in.
“This is amazing. You’re cooking puts mine to shame,” Tessa said, scooping more asparagus onto her plate.
“Thanks. I enjoy it.” I looked down at my plate, realizing I’d barely touched anything.
“You okay?” Bethany whispered.
“Totally.” I nodded, taking a bite of the corn.
A huge squirt shot across the table and hit Lily in the center of her forehead and Gabby burst into laughter.
“She’s definitely one of us,” Gabby said, between wiping tears and laughing.
“Sorry. I couldn’t have made that shot if I’d tried,” I giggled.
The Skaneateles me would have been mortified. The Fireweed me laughed about it. I liked the Fireweed me more.
And that was when it hit me what had been missing from my relationship with Tanner. We never laughed. We went to bed together. We woke up together. We commuted. We ate together. We never laughed together.
I glanced around the table and saw something I hadn’t seen in a really long time, happy people, who relished one another’s company. What I left in Skaneateles was a group of people who were active in their community because it looked good on paper, not because they truly enjoyed helping others. My mind wandered to the countless fundraisers Tanner brought me too, his family mostly badmouthing everyone who was expected to be there while on our ride to the function, and his family badmouthing everyone who’d attended on the way from the function. I made myself believe I enjoyed the parties and the people, but I didn’t. I think my father saw that long before I did. Shaking myself out of it, I raised my glass.
“I’d like to do a toast to Gabby for recommending Mason. He’s worked wonders on this house and has made it beyond presentable to put on the market.”
“I second that,” Bethany said, raising her glass. “He’s certainly kept Tori in a better mood since he’s been around too.”
All the girls started laughing and I nodded in agreement. She was right. There was no arguing the fact, but it didn’t mean anything.
“Well, he’s worked so hard to meet and exceed deadlines that I think I’ll actually be able to meet my own and make it back to Skaneateles before the start of the new school year.”
“So you really are planning on moving back?” Gabby asked.
“I am. I have my apartment back there, all my things, my job…”
“I haven’t heard you mention a significant other,” Lily stated.
“No. I no longer have one of those. He didn’t realize that most people appreciate monogamy when engaged. I found him sleeping with my best friend.”
A group gasp erupted around the table and I smiled, rather feebly. I really hadn’t wanted to get into it. But with a group of women and a statement like that, it was impossible to ignore the details.
“We were on his parents’ boat he’d borrowed for a weeklong cruise when I found them. I was literally trapped at sea in a frozen state of hell.”
“Oh, my. God. That is beyond horrible,” Gabby’s eyes were as wide as saucers.
“That’s pretty much how I felt. We were on a sixty-seven foot, two-bedroom cruiser. Tanner and I shared one bedroom and my best friend, Laurie, had the other bedroom.”
“Seems logical,” Tessa replied.
“Yeah. It seemed like a good layout until I walked into Laurie’s bedroom and found Tanner on top of her and she was enjoying every second of it. I screamed and the crew came running to the rescue, not realizing what was actually going on. Before I knew it I’d marched up the stairs and thrown my engagement ring over the bow.”
“It was a huge ring too,” Bethany chipped in.
“It was. I wasn’t in my right mind.”
“Who would be?” Gabby asked, shaking her head.
“I called my dad from the satellite phone and told him everything. He was wonderfully supportive, but I knew he was relieved. He’d never met Tanner, but I could tell he wasn’t impressed. Once he found out he didn’t know how to change oil or stop a leaky faucet, he wrote him off.”
Bethany shook her head. “That wasn’t why he wrote off Tanner. He just didn’t like him.”
“True.” I grinned. “And I don’t think I did either. Needless to say, I was seasick for the next two days straight before we got back to port. It was a nasty experience all the way around. I definitely left my mark on their boat.”
“Ugh. Men can be such jerks,” Lily said. She folded her napkin and sat back in the seat. “But I do know there are still good ones out there. And often they come around when you’re least expecting them too.”
“You know what I find interesting? You’re not wanting to get back to friends or a boyfriend…just your apartment, things
inside the apartment, and a job,” Bethany pointed out.
I looked down at the empty plate in front of me, unwilling to admit she had a valid point. Why was I determined to stay in a place I didn’t really consider home?
Because it was safe.
“Food for thought,” she added.
We’d all managed to clear our plates and devoured the food on the platters. If nothing else, this group could eat and that I appreciated. There was nothing more annoying than going to all the trouble to cook for someone and they leave three-quarters of it on their plate.
“I’m completely stuffed and that couch is calling my name,” Bethany said.
“I second that,” Lily said.
One by one we cleared off the table and walked our plates into the kitchen. After a little bit of back and forth, I convinced them to let me handle the dishes when they left. We all refilled our drinks and wandered into the family room.
I noticed a pile of wood in an ornate cast-iron log holder next to the fireplace, and placed on top was a box of matches. I knew I hadn’t hauled those in, but with the chill in the air it was nice to have. I grabbed a few pieces of newspaper and walked over to the fireplace, kneeling on the Flokati rug Mason had purchased to pull the room together. I silently chuckled as I saw the logs already arranged in the fireplace, ready to go. I swiped the match and worked on igniting the logs, which didn’t take long at all.
“Perfect. Now I don’t need to get my sweatshirt from the car,” Tessa said, collapsing into one of the oversized chairs.
I sat in the other one and still pulled a blanket over me in case the heat didn’t reach me.
“I hope we can convince you to stay in Washington,” Gabby said, and Lily nodded in agreement.
“That’s very sweet of you.”
“Hopefully, the barbeque will change your mind.”
“Let’s hope,” Lily agreed with Gabby.
“So is there anything I should or shouldn’t do?” I teased.
“Just be your cute little self and you’ll have a blast. I know his mom will love you.” Lily propped a pillow behind her, and I realized no matter what Mason implied about this barbeque, there was something more going on.
Finding Love in Forgotten Cove (Island County Series Book 1) Page 10
