My bed is full of a combination of dried leaves, wet leaves, pinecones, pine needles, and any assorted organic matter that was attached to them. I’m not amused.
After getting out of bed, I turn on a lamp to witness the sheer amount of nature that’s piled on my mattress. Shaking my head, I open the window and begin the process of returning it to where it belongs. If Addie did this, she’s acting like a real child and while I get her being angry about the past, this is taking things a little too far.
Once my bed is cleared, I put my clothes back on before crawling back in. I close my eyes and try to fall asleep, but my sheets smell funky, like there might have been something else mixed into that pile. Gross.
Grabbing my pillow and blanket, I decide to sleep on the couch, which I know will only be marginally more comfortable than lying on the hard ground. Needless to say, it isn’t the most restful night.
I wake up with a stiff back and crick in my neck from sleeping with my head propped up on the arm of the sofa. It was that or have my feet stick so far over the edge that I hyper-extend my knees. It seems I was slated for discomfort no matter what.
I snap, crackle, and pop like that breakfast cereal from my childhood as I begin the slow process of unfolding myself and stretching out. After taking three ibuprofen, I put on an extra-large pot of coffee, then I sit down to think about what I’m going to do regarding Addie.
Should I go up and confront her about last night’s pranks, or should I let her enjoy the feeling of getting even? I’m still not sure which direction I’ll go while I walk down the path to her place.
All seems quiet as I step into the clearing by Addie’s cabin. I hear some rustling coming from the tent she set up and am shocked to see Billy emerge as though he just woke up.
“Sleeping in?” I call to him.
“What time is it?” he looks concerned.
“Eight fifteen,” I tell him.
He shakes his head. “That girl went and bought me an air mattress. It’s the most comfortable thing I’ve slept on in my whole life.”
“She’s turning you soft, huh?”
“I guess so. Thought I was content the way I was, but I’m worried it’s gonna be hard to go back to my camp.”
“Why don’t you just move down here then?” I ask him.
He doesn’t answer. Instead he heads toward the outhouse. I wait for him to emerge before asking, “Did Addie tell you what happened last night?”
“No, sir.”
I’m not surprised she didn’t say anything. I decide to change the subject and ask, “What do you make of a bathtub in the middle of the woods?”
“I hate to admit it, but I think it’s a fine addition. I took a bath just last night.”
“Addison Cooper is having a surprising effect on you, old man,” I tell him teasingly.
“I’m not the only one she’s having an effect on,” he replies smugly.
“There’s something about that woman that’s starting to get to me. But just when I think things are about to get interesting, she wraps my toilet in plastic and dumps a load of leaves on my mattress.”
Billy starts to laugh. “Boy, if that isn’t life coming full circle, I don’t know what is.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m getting mine. What I can’t figure out is how she’s managed to do it without me noticing.”
Billy shrugs. “Women are mysterious creatures.”
“Were you ever married?” I ask. It seems that Billy has been opening himself up to Addie quite a bit and I wonder if he might do the same with me now that the pump has been primed.
“You want some coffee?” he asks, totally ignoring my question.
“Sure.” I follow him into Addie’s cabin.
He puts his finger to his mouth to keep me quiet as he points. Addison is sound asleep on the king-size bed in the living room. She looks delectable all snug under the covers with a frilly sleep mask covering her eyes. She doesn’t at all look like somebody up to no good.
I finally peel my gaze away from her to see that she’s made a number of other changes to the cabin. There’s a nature scene hanging over the mantel as well as candle sconces on either side of it. She’s even hung curtains from the windows.
I shake my head at all the things she thinks are necessary for glamping. This place is starting to look more like a home than a campsite. I walk closer to the bed to watch her sleep. Darn, she’s sweet looking when that brain of hers is at rest. I make a note to tell her that when a scream pierces the air that nearly has me hitting the ceiling.
Chapter Forty-Five
The Mothers
Libby: Remember that Ken doll that Addie used to have?
Ruby: The one she renamed Brogan and used to string up from the tree so she could hit it with tennis balls?
Libby: That’s the one.
Ruby: What about it?
Libby: I dreamed about it last night. It made me worry for Brogan.
Ruby: Do you think Addie’s going to beat him up or something?
Libby: Not necessarily, but it still might be a good idea to check on them today.
Addison:
I open my eyes to find a large shadow looming over me, so I do what any normal person would do in the same situation. I scream.
The shadow doesn’t retreat like you’d expect, though. It moves toward me, menacingly. I reach over and grab my pepper spray from the nightstand, then I point it and let it loose.
“What in the hell are you doing?” it shouts. Uh-oh, it’s Brogan.
“What am I doing? What are you doing? You shouldn’t stand over someone while they’re sleeping. That’s creepy.”
Billy comes running in from the kitchen with a bowl of water. “Splash this in your eyes,” he says.
Brogan does as he’s told before asking, “Does she have any milk in there? If so, can you bring that next? It’ll decrease the burning.”
“Been hit with pepper spray before have you?” I ask somewhat worriedly, seeing how much pain he is in.
“I’m a writer. I research all kinds of crazy things,” he says with his jaw clenched so tightly, the words come out sounding more like a growl than a conversation.
“I’m sorry I sprayed you,” I tell him truthfully. “But you shouldn’t sneak up on a person while they’re sleeping.”
“I wasn’t sneaking,” he says, sounding anguished.
Billy calls out, “Come in here, boy, and let’s rinse your eyes out good.”
I hear the splashing sounds coming from the kitchen when Billy walks in and says, “I was just going to make a pot of coffee, if that’s okay.”
“Go ahead,” I tell him. Then I get out of bed and put a robe on before joining them in the kitchen area. While Brogan flushes his eyes with milk, I demand, “Why were you standing over me? Up to your old tricks again, were you?”
“You mean like filling your bed with leaves?”
“I particularly hated that one,” I hiss. “Is that what you were going to do? Dump some in here with me?” The nerve of this man!
“You’re the one who put the leaves in my bed last night. Did you do that before or after you plastic wrapped the toilet?”
“I didn’t do either of those things! Why would I plastic wrap the toilet and then use it without removing the plastic first?”
“Woman, I have no idea why you do anything you do,” he says.
I chance a glance over at Billy to see if he might have been the responsible party, but he shrugs his shoulders innocently.
Brogan opens the cabinet in front of him and pulls out the clam juice. Guiltily, I admit, “Okay, I pulled one prank on you, but that’s it.”
“Clam-flavored blackberries with whipped cream.” His face contorts as though he’s vividly reliving the experience.
A tiny thrill of victory shoots through me and I ill-advisedly start to laugh. “I’ll never forget the way you ran out of here.”
“Why would you do that?” he asks incredulously.
“Why wouldn’t I?�
� I counter.
He shakes his head like a parent scolding a child. “You know you declared war when you did that, don’t you?”
“Don’t you dare do anything else to me! Do you hear me?”
“I’m supposed to let you execute all these stunts and just take it?”
“I only pulled one prank on you, so don’t go blaming me for your bad behavior. Even if I duct taped you to your bed, slathered you in honey, and then left the doors open so the bears could get you, we wouldn’t be even. Am I clear?”
His look softens and I’m afraid he might be about to make a grab for me, so I step back. He flirtatiously drawls, “I think you have a kinky side, Addison Cooper.”
“What?” Of course, he’d think that. I want to beat my fists against that thick skull of his and knock some sense into him. I want to stomp my feet and throw mud pies at him. I want to throw myself into his arms and see if they’re as strong as they look. Where did that come from?
Billy walks out the door like nothing heated is occurring. He says, “If you two stand closer to the pot, the water will boil quicker.”
Things are getting hot in here. “Please leave so I can get dressed,” I tell Brogan.
“Don’t do it on my account.” His gaze scorches over me. He makes no effort to leave.
“Go!” I yell at him. This time he offers a wink and saunters slowly toward the door. Before exiting, he says, “I’d be happy to call a truce, if you want.”
“You’re a big baby, do you know that?” I ask. “I pulled one prank on you compared to the dozens you’ve pulled on me and you can’t handle it.”
“Addison, I’ve already lived my past. I don’t need to repeat it. I’ve apologized to you again and again. If the only way you can heal your demons is to seek revenge, go for it. Just know that I’m not going to sit back and take it.”
“Are you threatening me?” I demand.
He shakes his head slowly before answering, “Not in the least. I’m just telling it like it is.”
“Okay, big man, if that’s how you want to play it, that’s how we’ll play it. But you can’t do anything to me if I don’t do anything to you. Am I clear?”
“So far you’ve attacked three times and I’ve taken it. I think I have some lost time to make up for,” he says with a smirk.
With my hands on my hips and what I hope is death lasers shooting out of my eyes, I correct, “I did one thing to you. ONE! Get it straight.”
He merely turns around, but not before getting in the last word. “Watch your back,” he says in such a way the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
Chapter Forty-Six
The Mothers
Ruby: I talked to Chris and she claims she didn’t do anything.
Libby: It sounds like you don’t believe her.
Ruby: I’ve known Chris a long time, and while I would guess she’s technically telling the truth, I think she may have asked somebody else to help.
Libby: Who?
Ruby: Her husband, her daughter, who knows? You’d better get in touch with her directly and call off whatever plans she has for the future.
Libby: I’ll do it right now. But you need to talk to James and nip that situation in the bud. ✂
Ruby: I’m on it.
Brogan
Does Addison think she can lie to my face and I’ll just buy it? She’s not that good of an actress.
My brain churns with ideas as I stomp through the forest toward the fishing cabin. I could do any number of things to her to get even, starting with taking the door off her outhouse. Then I could fill her ridiculous bathtub with worms, and crack eggs all over her sheets … I’m channeling all of my best adolescent pranks.
I enjoy each and every scenario before talking myself down. Maybe Addie needs this revenge to finally get over it and move on. Would it be so horrible to just suffer through and let her get it out of her system? In all honesty, I do have it coming to me.
I wrestle with my options and am so absorbed in them that I don’t realize there’s a golf cart heading straight for me until it’s nearly upon me. “Mom, what are you doing up here?” I ask before I see that the back of the cart is full of packages.
“Just making a delivery. How are you doing, honey?” she asks. Then looking closer she adds, “You don’t look so good. Have you been crying?”
I don’t mention the pepper spray, instead, I tell her, “I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Would you like a nice, big, king-size bed sent up to your cabin, too?” Her tone suggests I’m turning into Addie—too soft for my own good.
While I’d like nothing more than to stretch out in a big bed, I’m forced to reply, “I’m just fine the way I am, thank you.”
She eyes me like she just won a point against me. I start to wonder if I’m at war with every female in the area. “Do you want to have lunch today, Mom?” I ask, hoping that spending time with her will get her firmly back on my side. Or as much on my side as she can be with our current wager in place.
“Sorry, honey, I’ve got plans.”
“Are you even a little bit happy that I’m home?” I ask bluntly. I mean seriously, if she’s not, I could just leave.
She smiles at me fondly and answers, “I always love to see you, dear, but it’s our busy season. I promise to make time for you as soon as possible. In fact, I was thinking about inviting you and Addie to the lodge for supper, if you think you can break your rule for one meal.”
The thought of putting on some nice clothes and eating at a restaurant sounds wonderful right now. “When?”
“Let me check my book and get back to you,” she says before tooting her horn and driving off.
If Addie and I are both at the lodge, I can spend time with her without worrying she’s up to something. We’d have to be on our best behavior in front of my mom. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea. Maybe Addison and I just need a reboot and then all will be well.
Or so I think until I put my hand on the doorknob to my cabin and try to open it. It’s covered in vegetable shortening and my palm slides all over unable to get a grip. How did she manage to do this while she was sleeping? She must have someone else helping her. But who? Billy was up at her place the same time I was. Also, why would he plot against me? I’ve been nothing but nice to him.
I finally use my shirt to wipe the doorknob so that I can get some traction and open it. I walk in, thoroughly ignorant that the perpetrator also decided to grease the floor. When I put my foot down, I go shooting across the wooden planks like a bowling ball on its way to a strike. What in the fresh hell?
With the backache I already had from sleeping on the couch, this fall does nothing to ensure my comfort. I eventually run out of greased floor and roll over so I can bring myself to my knees. Ouch.
After scrubbing the mess as best I can, I sprinkle some salt on top to cover any lingering areas. Vegetable shortening does not wipe up easily. Once I’m done, I inspect the rest of the cabin to make sure there are no more unpleasant surprises lying in wait.
I once again feel bad about the things I put Addie through as a kid. But seriously, it’s one thing for a four-foot-tall, sixty-pound girl to slide and fall, and quite another for a six-foot three, two-hundred-pound man.
I decide to head into town to buy a degreaser to finish cleaning up the mess. I don’t want to call housekeeping on the chance that they’d tell my mom what happened. It’s best to keep her out of this as much as possible. Not because she’d be upset on my behalf, but because it might give her ideas about helping Addie win the bet.
Cheryl is working at the market today, and as soon as she sees me, she calls out, “You’re back. I don’t see you in months and then I get the privilege twice in the same week.”
“Cheryl,” I say rather curtly.
“You having a bad day?”
“You could say that.”
“Brogan Cavanaugh, what bug crawled up your butt and built itself a condo?”
I wasn�
��t planning to say anything to her about the clam juice, but I can’t make small talk with her without knowing why she told Addie about my aversion. I turn to my old friend and demand, “Why in the world did you tell Addison Cooper how much I hate clams?”
Instead of denying it or trying to act evasive, Cheryl laughs right in my face. “Well, gee, Brogan, I don’t know.” Then she says, “Remember those stories you used to tell us about Honey Bucket? You told them in such a way that made it sound like the girl had it coming. Then I meet her and she’s as sweet and lovely as they come. I figured it wouldn’t hurt you a bit to reap a little of what you’ve sown.”
She’s got her hands on her hips and her head is wobbling back and forth like I’d better not contradict her in any way. “What else have you helped her with?” I ask.
“I brought her some wine the other night.”
“That’s it?” I demand.
“Yup. Are you by chance telling me that she’s found some other ways to get even with you?” The look on her face is one of sheer delight.
“That’s what I’m telling you. Man, you’d think I was the devil or something.”
Cheryl softens her body language. “Sometimes you just have to accept the payback and move on.” Which is exactly what I had been thinking. She adds, “I can’t imagine Addie going anywhere near the lengths you used to.”
“You don’t know how mad she still is at me,” I tell her.
“Yes, I do. But I also know she’s a lovely woman.”
“Well, someone else is out there pranking me. Who would it be if not Addie?”
Cheryl shrugs her shoulders. “You got me. That’s a question you need to ask yourself.”
I walk to the cleaning aisle and do just that. I decide I have one more stop to make before I go back to the cabin.
Chapter Forty-Seven
The Mothers
Libby: Remember how we spent my birthday our first year at college?
Love is a Battlefield (Seven Brides for Seven Mothers Book 1) Page 20
