To Be With You

by Daphne Abbott

I laughed. “Is that what you do for Jake? What Logan does for you both?”

  Callum just laughed softly and grabbed the book from my lap. “Oh, come on, Liv. You’re not reading this, are you?”

  “What’s wrong with that? It’s a popular book, and it’s going to be made into a movie soon.” I raised my chin and looked down my nose at him, even though I knew it wouldn’t intimidate Cal. He always knew when I was putting on a character, trying out a role instead of being my actual self. But, unlike my boyfriend, Peter, Cal didn’t seem to mind my theatrics.

  “Yeah, Mein Kampf’s popular with a certain type of people, too. Doesn’t make it worth reading.”

  I laughed and tugged my book back. “You can’t compare YA novels to Nazi propaganda.”

  “Haven’t you heard of Godwin’s Law? Any argument will involve Nazis if it goes on long enough,” Cal replied in a deadpan tone.

  I burst out laughing and couldn’t control myself for several long seconds while Cal had a tiny grin on his face. We’d been friends as children, then academic rivals in high school. It felt nice to share a joke with him once again.

  “I heard you got a late acceptance to Rhode Island School of Design,” I said once I could talk again. “Are you going to change from UW Madison to RISD?”

  Callum shrugged, and he looked out the window when a loud boom came from outside. “They’ve got fireworks now. This can only end in trouble.”

  I leaned forward to look. It was Peter and his friends with packages of Silver Salute fireworks, throwing the small noisemakers in the bonfire they’d started in the empty carcass of my great-aunt’s prized fountain. Anger churned in my stomach, and once again, I had to admit it would be nice if my older brother wasn’t off in some foreign desert with the United States Army.

  “I should go stop them,” I whispered and moved to get off the chair.

  “Don’t.” Callum stopped me with a gentle hand on my knee. “They’re already wasted on the Blue UV shit. They won’t listen to you.”

  “They’re gonna ruin the house or worse, get hurt. I should do something.” I could feel my anxiety rising. I was concerned not just for the house and people’s safety, but for me and what would happen if dad found out.

  “They’ll run out of booze soon. Let’s wait them out here. If things don’t look better in an hour, we’ll call in reinforcements.”

  His soft smile changed his normally serious face into something beautiful. That look had sensations rolling through me I shouldn’t be feeling. Especially because my boyfriend was just outside. But Cal’s charm was impossible to ignore. I smiled. “Okay. But if it gets worse, you’re calling Logan to help kick these people out.”

  Callum laughed. “Deal. Now, why don’t you tell me which of the sparkly vampires is your favorite.”

  Chapter 6

  Callum

  She looked like she’d seen a ghost.

  The years had stripped Olivia’s face of the baby softness of youth and replaced it with the high cheekbones, a full mouth, and intelligent hazel eyes of a woman. Dressed in a pair of bright pink sneakers, black leggings, and a soft-looking long sleeve shirt in the palest pink she looked like she was ready for a jog, but she held in her hands two small boxes with a potted fern resting on top like she was on her way somewhere else.

  “Hello, Olivia,” I said around the lump that had formed in my throat.

  Several uncomfortable seconds passed before Olivia put the boxes down at her feet and walked down the porch steps to stand in front of me. Her expression was unreadable, and I worried my decision to meet her in person with the paperwork was a bad one.

  “Callum.” Her voice sounded huskier than I remembered it, and there were lines at the corners of her eyes. But up close, I could see the remnants of the girl in the woman that stood before me. “I didn’t know you were in Wisconsin already.”

  I shrugged and fought the urge to fidget. “Fabián, my cinematographer, was eager to scout the location.”

  “Well, I didn’t get the paperwork yet. I’d prefer to wait until I signed before we do anything.” Her voice was firm and uncompromising, but not rude. It was no wonder she’d been doing well for herself as realtor, if this was how she conducted her business.

  “I have them with me. You can look them over and sign now, or take them and fax or email a copy later.” I reached into my bag and pulled out the contract, then handed it to her before turning to study the stained glass inserts in the windows of the front door. “Are you coming or going from this place?”

  “Going,” she said. “You caught me on moving day.”

  “The Edwards family used to live here, didn’t they?” I asked as I looked in the front windows. “They had a son in Jake’s class.”

  “Yes, I bought the house from them five years ago when they retired to Florida.”

  It surprised me how easy it was to be in her company after such a long absence. The initial shock of seeing Olivia had worn off quickly. I no longer felt the lump in my throat or the tightening of my skin. I’d come here for closure, and to say my piece about the night of our graduation. But now, it felt petty to have ambushed Olivia in her home, intending to read her the riot act.

  “This contract seems in order,” Olivia said after long minutes of silence. “Once I sign, how soon will you get started on the Van Ess House?”

  I turned from the door and saw Olivia was diligently reading the document. “I started on some drawings as soon as I got the application. I used the plans Nick drew up for you plus some from my collection.”

  Olivia stopped and looked up with a frown marring her smooth face. “I thought we agreed you’d do nothing without my okay.”

  “Nothing’s set in stone.” I held up my hands in surrender and came closer to where she stood. “I just had some ideas and wanted to get them on paper. Obviously, this will all be subject to change based on what you think and the state the house is in.”

  Olivia bent over and tucked the contract into the box on top. “I’m about to meet my friends at the house now. Do you want to join me?”

  I wondered what friends she meant. Was there a boyfriend too, or just platonic friends? Were they new in town, or were they people I knew in the past?

  It probably wasn’t wise to push her for details after my surprise appearance. Instead, I said, “Nah, I’ll get out of your hair. You have moving to finish, and I have a family dinner at my parents’.”

  Olivia grimaced. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather come help me move? It has gotta be better than dinner with the family.”

  I grinned. “You’re probably right. But I’m bringing Fabián with me. He’ll be a good buffer. No way Ma will give me the third degree when she’s entertaining a guest.”

  “Okay, how about you come by tomorrow afternoon? I have appointments until 3. I could meet you there around 4:30. I’ll just have my lawyer take a quick spin through the contract tomorrow, and if she signs off, I’ll bring it with me. Either way, we can tour the house, and I can give you some more information about the endowment.”

  “All right, I’ll see you then.”

  “Perfect,” she smiled, and for the first time, I saw a glimpse of the old Liv in her expression. “I can’t wait to start.”

  * * *

  It took all of five minutes in my parent’s home for me to wish I’d taken Olivia up on her invitation. At least if I’d gone to the Van Ess House, I could have gotten some work done. Instead, I sat in my parent’s living room, sipping a brandy old-fashioned while Fabián charmed my mother with stories of the road.

  “Are you sure you can finish the reno by October?” Dad asked. “Nick said there’s a lot that needs complete replacement after all these years of sitting empty.”

  “I haven’t gotten to see the house yet, but we’re meeting Olivia there tomorrow. If the structure is solid, there’s no reason we can’t keep to her schedule,
” I said and took another sip of my drink.

  “She told me about her plans the other night at the bar. That place is going to be a popular wedding spot when she’s done,” Jake said. “And the nursery’s a nice touch.”

  “Ida told me she hired some fancy gardener from Minneapolis to run the place,” Mom added with some derision in her voice. I felt for the poor, unknown gardener, especially if he was already on my mom’s nasty side.

  “Gavin’s a nice guy,” Logan said. My older brother was always the peacemaker of the family. Laidback and liked by everyone. Logan could always diffuse a situation, especially my mother, who was high-strung and prone to spreading rumors. “I did some work for him in the cabin he bought over in Garrett. Nice place on the water, big place for just one guy.”

  “Isn’t that odd?” Mom said. “A single man buying up a huge old cabin like that?”

  “Maybe he likes space,” Fabián said, and looked at me with confusion in his eyes.

  I should have warned him about Mom’s chatter. But after the emotional upheaval and talking to Olivia Van Ess for the first time in fifteen years, I’d forgotten to prepare Fab for Pam Waite’s style of Midwestern-veiled criticism. A single man in a cabin would appear suspicious to Mom and others like her in town. Unless they determined he was dateable and then he’d be a hot commodity.

  “I’d love a big empty place all to myself,” Jake said.

  “I would, too, if I’d just moved back into my childhood bedroom,” Logan said with an evil grin. “How’s the twin bed treating you, Jakey?”

  “Fuck you,” Jake said, as his face turned pink with embarrassment.

  “Language, Jake!” Mom said, and glared at the three of us. “We have a guest.”

  The room went silent for a few long moments. I tried to think of something else to discuss besides the projects that brought me home, but nothing came to mind. Ever since I’d refused to move home after college, my relationship with my parents and brothers felt worse with every interaction. Maybe Olivia wasn’t the only uncomfortable talk I’d have to have.

  “So, why did this old woman leave the town this much money?” Fabián said, finally breaking through the silence. “I mean five million, that’s a lot of money to just give away.”

  “Rose never married,” Mom said. “She inherited the family lumber company in the seventies, then turned around and sold it in the eighties for a massive profit. Then spent the rest of her life investing in the town.”

  “The Van Ess family was one of the first white families in the area,” added Dad. “They’ve always acted like caretakers for the community.”

  “Seems a little pretentious of them,” Fabián said.

  Dad laughed. “Yeah, some of them were blowhards, but Rose was one of the best of the bunch. She genuinely wanted to see the town prosper and did whatever she could with her connections and money to see it through.”

  “Okay then, why not leave the money and tell the town to build a park or a library? Why leave it for them to fight over?” Fabián asked. All of us who’d known Rose laughed. “What? What am I missing here?”

  “Rose was a bit of a mischief maker,” I said through my laughter. “She loved antagonizing those in town who are unkind.”

  “Rose didn’t tolerate bullshit,” Dad added. “And she championed the less fortunate. She hated people that were jerks.”

  “So, what? She wants the town to tear each other apart?” Fab asked, as he looked around the room. “How does that make any sense?”

  “I don’t think any of us will ever know for sure what her intention was,” said Logan. “But my guess is, she tired of a certain group of people in this town. And this was the best way she could think of to give the rest of us a leg up.”

  “Do you own a shop downtown?” Fab asked him.

  “Nah, but I do handy-man jobs for a lot of them. Not to mention, I subcontract for Nick. All of this will mean I’ll pick up some extra work.” Logan looked a little uncomfortable, and I wondered if he wasn’t doing well, even though Mom claimed he was always working.

  “I’m going to apply for funds as soon as Olivia gets the process going,” Jake said. “We got the renovations on the bar done, but now I’m hoping I can start on my second part of the plan.”

  I frowned. “Second part?”

  “Yeah, have you not been reading my emails?” At my embarrassed shrug, Jake rolled his eyes and said, “I’m going to put up tiny home cabins along the lake and rent them out.”

  “That’s an awesome idea, Jake,” I said, and leaned forward. “I have a friend back in New York that’s been making tiny homes on trailers and selling them to people looking to live off-grid. If you get the cash, I could ask him for some help or advice.”

  “You’re going to be on the board, aren’t you?” Mom said. “Why can’t you get your brother the money he needs?”

  I felt the back of my neck prickle in awareness. Mom spoke in an off-handed manner. But something in the way everyone, save Fab, had turned their attention to me, made me think there was more to this statement.

  “We haven’t had a meeting yet,” I said. “But as far as I understand from what Olivia has said, I’m just here as an architectural advisor. I have nothing to do with the dispersals.”

  The room was silent enough I could hear the ticking of the ancient mantle clock behind me. Mom, Dad, Jake, and Logan exchanged glances that made me feel like a conversation was happening in front of me without a word ever being said. Frustration rushed hot through my blood, and it reminded me of many other conversations between the four of them that seemed to sail right above my head.

  I hated when the four of them did this. It felt like they saw me as less a part of the family just because I lived in a different state, had different life experiences, and had a more creative career. I did not miss these types of encounters, and frankly, they were probably why I kept living in Brooklyn despite the pressure to move back.

  “Is that why you asked me back here? To make sure that Olivia gave Logan work and Jake an endowment?” I watched them all closely, trying to gauge their reactions.

  Mom laughed. “Of course not. I asked you to come because you’re an expert, and you can help the town.”

  “I don’t know about Jake, but I’m doing well enough on my own. I don’t need handouts,” Logan said in a voice that had gone gruff.

  “Well, I could use the money,” Jake said, and glared at Logan. “I just bought the bar six months ago, and the renovation of the main building was expensive.”

  “And spending more money on cabins will solve that?” Logan raised an eyebrow. “How does that work exactly?”

  “It’s another revenue stream. Like Mom and Dad have done for years,” Jake shot back.

  “And I told you not to over-extend yourself your first year in business,” added Dad.

  There was a backstory to some of this tension, but I’d misinterpreted it as anger toward me. Apparently, all was not well among the Waites in Eagle Creek. I slice a side-eye glance to Fab at my side and saw he was watching the exchange with a rapt expression. He thrived on drama and intrigue, so this little drama had to be better than dessert for Fabián.

  I cleared my throat to get his attention. When he looked my way, I subtly tilted my head toward the door. It was our agreed-upon exit strategy. I’d signal I was ready to go, and Fab would use his charm to get us out the door with minimal arguments. We’d been friends for a long time. We had this process down to a science.

  Fabián suddenly popped up from his seat and made a show of stretching his arms high above his head as he yawned, comically loud. “Oh my, I am just beat to hell,” he said, and grinned at my mother. “As my Grandmere would say, it’s time to get home before I turn into a pumpkin.”

  Mom popped up from her chair. “Oh no, it’s barely after seven. Please stay longer. We could make up Logan’s old room for you to ta
ke a nap, or you could stay the night.”

  I stood as well. “Ma, we agreed. Fab and I are staying in the red cabin on Dorset, so we have space to work.”

  I saw Mom wanted to argue further, but Fab distracted her with praise for her food and the house. In a move that looked like an intricate dance, he kept her talking, all while he headed toward the front door. Then he made a production of giving her a hug and a kiss before grabbing his jacket from the hook by the door and exiting.

  I took advantage of how stunned Mom was by Fabián’s maneuver, said my goodbyes to the men, and slipped out the door behind him. We were in the car and on the road in under five minutes.

  “Well, that was fun,” Fab said, as he drove us back to the other side of town. “Your little brother seems to be up to something and using your mom to get it.”

  I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the seat. “That’s nothing new. Jake’s the baby and has no qualms about using that status to get what he wants.”

  “He’s what, twenty-five?” I nodded. “Isn’t that a little old to be playing such childish games?”

  I shrugged and cracked an eye to look at Fab. “Jake’s never seen the allure in growing up. It shocked me when he bought the bar last winter. It’s the most adult thing he’s done since dropping out of college.”

  “Well, people can change.”

  I grunted. “They can. But the way those four were looking at each other tonight, rang alarm bells. I’m going to remain open but cautious.”

  Chapter 7

  Callum

  “It doesn’t look like they’re slowing down.”

  I glanced at Olivia standing next to me at the edge of the party. She looked more annoyed than anything. Good. I felt the same way.

  The small party she’d been talking about for a week had exploded into a massive event, all thanks to her boyfriend, Peter. I’d heard the asshole in the crowd after graduation, telling everyone that would listen to come to the Van Ess House tonight. Peter was a selfish bully that loved using Olivia’s status as the mayor’s daughter to elevate his own social status.