“She said yes,” Aaron interrupted.
“Good for you,” Shelby said, then looked pointedly at Brett.
“Where are my manners?” Brett introduced Dani to Meghan and Aaron. While they greeted each other, he tried to steady his racing heart.
“We don’t want to interrupt your dinner,” Meghan said hesitantly. “But I wanted to thank each of you for Jonah’s birthday presents.”
She took a deep breath as she faced Brett. “I can’t be sure, but it seems Jonah rests easier when he’s listening to the music you loaded into the little monkey. It was a nice thing for you to do.”
“If there’s anything . . .” He swallowed as his voice caught. “Anything he needs, that you need. All you have to do is say so.”
“There is one thing.” Meghan turned to Shelby. “Like I said, Dawn is here for this conference. There are all kinds of displays and presentations. She’d like me to go with her on Saturday. I know it’s an imposition, but would you be able to stay with Jonah for a little while? I wouldn’t be gone too long.”
“I’d love to,” Shelby said. She glanced at AJ, who seemed to quickly take the hint.
“I’ve been promising to take the girls fishing,” he said. “We’ll do that while you’re gone.”
“It’s settled then.”
Meghan looked hesitantly at Aaron, then turned to Brett. “If you’d like, you could stop in. While Shelby is there.”
Hope surged through Brett’s heart. “You mean it?”
“I’ll take your name off the ‘not allowed’ list tomorrow.”
The back of his eyes burned as he tried to formulate a response. He cleared his throat and looked around the room before meeting her gaze. “Thank you, Meghan.”
She didn’t answer but looked up at Aaron. Unshed tears glistened in her eyes.
“I promised Meghan I wouldn’t keep her out too long. Good to see you all.” He held out his hand to Brett again. “See you later, buddy.”
“Later.” Brett took his seat as Aaron escorted Meghan from the restaurant. When they were out of sight, he let out a low breath. “I heard her right, didn’t I?”
Shelby beamed. “You did. Oh, Brett, I’m so glad.”
“I wonder what made her change her mind?” AJ said.
“I don’t care,” Brett responded. “I’m just glad she did.”
Without thinking about it, he reached for Dani. She clasped his hand between both of hers as he leaned his temple against hers. “I get to see my son,” he said quietly.
“I heard,” she whispered. “That’s great news.”
“I get to see my son,” he said again, a little louder, then whooped. “I get to see my son.”
– 34 –
Early the next afternoon, Dani drove to Misty Willow to meet with Shelby. Outside the rain came down in sheets, chilling the late summer day. The surly weather reflected her own mood. After Meghan had left their table last night, Dani had to fight the bitterness rising within her as Brett’s renewed good spirits washed over all of them.
She was glad Meghan had relented. Glad Brett could see Jonah.
But had there ever been any doubt? The man lived a charmed life. Eventually he got anything he wanted.
In his excitement to see Jonah, he seemed to have forgotten their plans to go to Bicentennial Park on Saturday. He hadn’t mentioned it again, not even when he took her back to the cottage. In fact, he’d appeared eager to get away, probably so he could race to the hospital and stare at his son’s window.
Dani tried to clear the bitter thoughts, but they were as incessant as the pouring rain. If only she had windshield wipers for her mind. She didn’t like the jealous pettiness that held her in its grip, especially not for a man who was only biding his time until someone new came along to catch his attention. Because she couldn’t kid herself that he cared enough about her to be thinking about forever.
The question reared again—why was she thinking of forever? Somehow the dream of spending the rest of her life with Brett, of being part of his family, had taken hold of her heart. She tried to squash it as a ridiculous fantasy, but deep within her soul, she yearned for her future to be entwined with his.
She pulled into the graveled drive, then parked behind Shelby’s Camry. An umbrella was useless against the downpour, so she pulled the hood of her jacket over her head, grabbed her tote, then raced through the rain toward the house.
The screen door opened as she ran up the steps of the concrete patio.
“Come on in,” Shelby urged as she stepped back from the door. “Can you believe this rain?”
Dani scurried inside and removed the jacket. “Cats and dogs.”
“I’ll say. Would you like coffee? Tea?”
“Tea would be nice.”
“Coming right up.”
Dani set her tote on the kitchen table, then stooped to pat Lila. The retriever’s long pink tongue caught Dani’s chin before she could turn away. “Hello to you too, girl.”
She straightened before Lila got in another lick. “She’s such a nice dog.”
“The best. We joke that AJ had to marry me if he wanted to get her back. She and the girls became inseparable over the summer.”
“Speaking of, where is Miss Tabby?”
“In her room for quiet time. She’ll be out before too long though.”
As they talked, Shelby put together a tea tray, then nodded toward the door leading to the hall. “Let’s set up in the dining room. I’ll be there in a sec.”
Dani crossed the short hall and entered the square room. A long oak table stood in front of a mantel and what had at one time been a fireplace. Apparently one of Shelby’s ancestors had closed all but two or three of the fireplaces. Shelby had once mentioned that reopening them was on her restoration list, but now the work wouldn’t be done until after the wedding.
A streak of lightning flashed past the long double windows as Shelby came into the room and placed the tray at one end of the table.
“Will they still play football tonight?” Dani asked. Not that she cared. Brett had suggested they go to the game, but apparently he’d forgotten all about that too. From the look in his eyes, when he talked about their anniversary, she thought he might have something else planned. Perhaps even a romantic candlelight dinner. But one word from Meghan, and thoughts of Dani had gone right out of his head.
“Oh yeah. Nothing cancels a game,” Shelby said. “But I already canceled on AJ. I don’t want to take the girls out in this.”
“You don’t think it’ll let up?”
“Not according to the forecast. What about you and Brett? Any plans for tonight?”
“I’m not sure.”
“If not, why don’t you hang out here? We’ll pop popcorn and watch movies.”
“Thanks, but—” Her phone beeped, and she glanced at the screen. “Talk about timing. Do you mind if I take this?”
“Go ahead.”
Dani took a deep breath, then tapped the button as she wandered into the kitchen. “Hi, Brett.”
“Staying dry?”
“Trying to. How about you?”
“The storm gives me an amazing view out of my office windows.”
“I can imagine.”
“Any leaks in the cottage?”
“None that I know of.”
“That’s good.”
A moment’s awkward silence followed, but Dani didn’t know how to fill it.
Brett cleared his throat. “Amy called me a few minutes ago.”
“Oh?”
“She wants me to come over later. I know we talked about going to the football game tonight, but, well, with the weather this bad, I thought maybe we could go another time.”
“Sure. If you really want to.”
“I do. And I’m sorry about canceling on such short notice. Especially considering what day it is.”
Their four-week anniversary. As if that really mattered.
“In fact,” he continued, “I was going to surprise y
ou with dinner reservations at M Restaurant. You can see the Scioto River from the terrace. But now . . .”
But now his sister needed him. And tomorrow he’d be with Jonah.
Not that he needed any excuses. He had gotten too involved with her, made too many plans. Now he wanted out. Maybe he was angrier about the amethyst ring than he let on. Or maybe he was just tired of being with Miss Nice.
“You still there?”
“Yeah, sorry.” She forced lightness into her voice. “I hope everything is okay with Amy.”
“If it had been anyone else . . .”
“Don’t worry about it. I understand.”
“You’re a gem, you know that?”
“Actually, this works out. Something came up for me too.”
“Not a date with someone else, I hope.”
She lightly laughed but didn’t answer.
“Is it?”
“Not really. Just plans with a friend.” Which wasn’t a lie if she hung out with Shelby.
“I didn’t realize you knew anyone else from around here.”
“There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”
“But I want to.” A voice sounded in the background, probably his assistant. “Listen, I need to go. Talk to you later, okay?”
“Okay. Bye.” She hung up the phone and gazed out the kitchen window. Rain obscured the fence on the far side of the driveway, but a variety of flowers and plants grew there thanks to Shelby’s green thumb and hard work.
Shelby loved Misty Willow because her ancestors had cleared the land and built this house. They had hidden slaves, protected them, and helped them on their journeys.
Dani had been here only a few weeks, but she loved it too. Somehow she connected with the peace of this place. So different than the upheaval of her childhood, the squalor of her stepdad’s home. She’d worked and studied hard to escape that turmoil.
But the claws reached for her, threatening to pull her back into a life of struggle, with little sunlight or nourishment for growth.
She wouldn’t let them. She couldn’t.
Brett was right. If she wanted to pursue her dreams, she needed to go where that dream could be pursued.
New York. LA.
But the thought of venturing to such bustling cities made her shiver. Deep in her heart, she wasn’t sure that’s what she wanted. Not really.
At the banquet, Brett had said he’d rather be a big fish in a small pond than a minnow in the sea. She understood that. In the movie meccas, she’d be a tiny voice amidst thousands of other tiny voices. Her chances of success weren’t great.
There had to be a different way. Somewhere she belonged. A place that belonged to her.
Maybe Boise was that place. She could call her friend Jeanie, see if the position was still open. And even if it wasn’t, she could take Jeanie up on her invitation to come out for a visit. Send out more résumés and begin a new life away from this place. Away from Brett.
Sighing, she pocketed the phone, composed her features, and returned to the dining room. Shelby had stacked several photo albums and scrapbooks on the table. She looked up as Dani entered, but her smile quickly faded.
“What’s wrong?”
Dani mustn’t have been as composed as she thought. “Nothing really. That was Brett.”
“And?”
“Amy wants to see him this evening. He couldn’t very well say no.”
“Is she okay?”
“He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. He doesn’t really like to talk about her.”
“Then spend the evening with us. It’ll be fun.”
“Maybe I will. Right now, though, I want to look through your albums. Hear more stories.”
For a couple of hours, and with only minor interruptions from Tabby, Dani took notes and asked questions as Shelby talked about Isaac Wyatt, a long-ago ancestor who fought in the American Revolution. When Ohio land was set aside for veterans as part of the Virginia Military District, he claimed his homestead. In 1842, Isaac’s great-grandson James cleared out a site a few hundred yards from the original house and built this brick one. The original wooden house was eventually torn down and its wood used for the outbuildings.
When Elizabeth arrived home from school, Shelby declared snack time. “I’m done for the day,” she said. “How about you, Dani?”
“I think I’ll go . . .” She paused, stumbling over the word home. “I’ll go back to the cottage and review my notes while everything’s still fresh in my mind.”
“Will you come back later? We’d really love for you to.”
“Maybe I will.” Though I’d have so much more fun curled up in a chair feeling sorry for myself.
She gathered her things and slipped into her jacket. At least the downpour had lessened into a light rain.
“I know I’ve said it before, but I’m so thankful you’re here,” Shelby said as they walked to the door. “I can’t imagine trying to pull all this information and research together without your help.”
“I love doing it.”
“There’s another reason I’m glad you’re here.”
“What’s that?”
“Because of Brett. He needs you.”
“I’m not sure Brett needs anyone.”
“But he does. I wonder if you don’t need him too.”
Shelby’s soft voice cut through the heaviness of Dani’s thoughts and whirled inside her heart. Could that be true? Did she and Brett need each other?
“We’re just friends.”
“AJ tells me Brett has never spent as much time with any ‘friend’ as he has with you.”
“Only because he’s lonely.”
“He may be. But believe me, he has whatever today’s equivalent of a little black book is that would put Don Juan to shame.” Shelby touched Dani’s arm. “If he’s spending this much time with you, it’s because he wants to. You mean more to him than you know. Probably more than he knows.”
Twenty-four hours ago, Dani would have grabbed Shelby’s words and hugged them to her heart. She might not have truly believed them, but she would have hoped in them.
But not now.
Meghan had come back into Brett’s life, dangling a visit with Jonah like a brass ring on a carousel. Brett had grasped for it with both hands. And rightly so. Seeing Jonah was his deepest wish. One she had wished she could make happen for him.
How could she blame him for forgetting about their Saturday plans? For breaking the anniversary date he’d made so much of?
Unless . . . what if he wasn’t really seeing Amy tonight? What if he was seeing Meghan instead?
That made so much more sense. Last she knew, Amy wasn’t returning his phone calls and wanted him to stay out of her business. But all of a sudden, she’d called and Brett was running to her side? It didn’t seem likely.
“I’ve got to go,” she said suddenly, forcing a smile.
“The invitation is still open. Come for supper if you want. Nothing fancy, but it’ll be fun.”
“Thanks, I’ll let you know.” With a quick good-bye to the girls, Dani pulled the jacket over her head and raced to the car. When she got inside, she wiped the rain from her face.
But not the tears.
There was no way to stop their aching sting.
Brett himself had said she reminded him of Meghan. She’d been the second fiddle all along, the poor substitute. The one he hung around with while he waited for Meghan to come back to him.
Of course she would. Despite their history, he was the father of their child. Handsome. Wealthy.
Money could buy a lot of forgiveness.
And Brett was willing to give Meghan anything she wanted for the chance to be with his son.
Dani didn’t have a chance.
Again, she asked herself—when had she wanted one?
– 35 –
Perched on a stool at the restaurant’s bar, Brett glanced at his watch and quietly fumed. He should have expected Tracie to keep him waiting. But fifteen minutes?
He’d rather be with Dani. Not only was that not happening, he’d even lied to her about getting a phone call from Amy. He should have insisted on meeting with Tracie earlier. Then he and Dani still could have gotten together. But Tracie, a come-hither purr in her voice, named the time and the place. Whether from guilt or because he didn’t want her to back out, he’d agreed. Now he only wanted to get this over with and go home.
As he sipped his soda, his attention was drawn to the foyer.
Tracie. Making her grand entrance. Looking like she’d just stepped from the pages of an upscale fashion magazine.
He stood, momentarily unable to curb his admiration for her luscious beauty or the pride swelling in his chest that this gorgeous blonde was here to meet him. The jealous stares of the other men in the place created a palpable energy.
“Darling,” she whispered in his ear as she kissed his cheek. Her intoxicating perfume swirled around him. “I’ve missed you.”
“Then why didn’t you call?” he said, then wished he hadn’t. He needed to say what he came to say then leave. He swiveled the stool so she could join him at the bar.
“Because then I would have lost.”
“Lost?”
“I know how you are with your little games.” She shifted slightly, purposefully, displaying her gorgeous cleavage. “But I have a few games of my own.”
“First one to call . . .”
“Loses.”
“So that makes you the winner?”
“I guess we’ll see.”
Strange how empty and vacuous she suddenly appeared to him. The beauty faded into an overly made-up mask. The body that had once enchanted him no longer held any appeal. It had no heart.
Though neither did he. At least not where Tracie was concerned.
“I’m not here to play games.”
“Oh.” She drew out the word, then gazed at him beneath her heavily mascaraed lashes. “Why are you here?”
“I thought we should talk.”
“My ears are all yours. And anything else you want.”
He ignored the obvious double entendre and heavily exhaled. “You’re not going to believe this.”
“Try me.”
When Love Arrives Page 24
