Coming Home (The Morgans)

by Savanna Grey

  Chapter Five

  Tori and Drue came into the dining room together still laughing. Everyone was so surprised at his and her playful demeanors all activity stopped.

  “What? Did I spill something on me?” Tori looked down at her blouse.

  “Oh, nothing dear.” Mrs. Morgan was the first to speak. “We were just wondering if we might get an early snow as you and Drue seem to be getting along is all.”

  “You have to admit it is an unusual sight to see the two of you laughing together.” she finished.

  “If that isn’t the understatement of the year.” Kevin chimed in.

  Tori popped Kevin on the back of his head playfully as she moved to sit down.

  “Should you tell them or should I?” Drue smirked.

  “Oh by all means, please do so.” Tori smirked back like a Cheshire cat with a secret.

  “Alright. Spill it. What are you two up two?” Kevin asked. “You are freaking me out.”

  “Victoria and I have agreed to a truce.”

  Tori guessed you could best describe everyone’s response as shock.

  “Well, I think that is wonderful news!” said Mrs. Morgan.

  “We just decided it was time to bury the proverbial hatchet and get to know the grown up versions of our adversarial selves.” Tori smiled.

  “We just haven’t set the terms yet.”

  “Terms?” Drue questioned warningly.

  “Gotcha!” Tori laughed playfully.

  Drue bowed his head in mock defeat.

  “Father what have I gotten myself into?”

  Mr. Morgan rolled his eyes. He wondered what the return of Victoria Winslow would bring. He could feel the unspoken tension in Drue. He knew his son. Something was up. Those two had always gone head to head. He wondered what would happen now that they were all grown up. Did his son remember that opposites had a tendency to attract? He imagined his son would learn soon enough.

  “You are on your own with this one, my boy.” stated Mr. Morgan.

  “Some lessons have to be learned on their own. This I believe is one of those times.”

  The rest of the meal passed amicably with no further reference or questions as to what Tori’s plans were.

  Mr. Morgan squeezed her hand in a supportive gesture. Tori just smiled and nodded her acknowledgement.

  When she sat back down at the table, Kevin gave her leg a squeeze in the same show of support.

  When Tori turned to Drue, he was smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He was looking at Kevin’s hand on Tori’s thigh with what some would say was disdain, but Tori didn’t recognize it.

  Others around the table picked up on it though. Drue’s parents shared a knowing smile with one another.

  “Hey, Tori” Kevin piped in. “You are just in time for the County Fair! It starts tomorrow.”

  “Oh my gosh! I haven’t been to that in years, not since our senior year I don’t think.” Tori bubbled.

  “Oh Yeah. I remember. That was the year you got sick on the buckets and lost it all over Jimmy Martin,” Kevin snickered.

  Tori covered her face and grimaced at the memory.

  “Thanks for reminding me of that, Kev. Appreciate that,” Tori pretended to sulk.

  “Well, we are all going Saturday, so you have to go with us,” Kevin stated unquestionably.

  “Sounds like fun as long as you don’t make me ride the buckets.” Tori teased.

  “We’ll just let Drue ride with you,” Kevin said laughingly.

  Drue had been listening to their playful banter.

  “This is one guy who likes to keep his feet on the ground.” was all Drue said in reply.

  “Fuddy duddy.” Tori threw back.

  “Scaredy cat.” Kevin chimed in.

  Drue contemplated and suddenly shocked the room by saying, “ All right. You’re on.”

  Together both Tori and Kevin gasped, “What?”

  “You heard me, Victoria. Unless you are chicken.” Drue goaded. “Buckets Saturday night, and I wouldn’t recommend eating corndogs before the ride either.”

  “You’re on!”

  Tori could not seem to calm the butterflies in her stomach. She didn’t know if it was nerves or excitement or maybe a little of both.

  She couldn’t deny the effect Drue still had over her. Her body wouldn’t let her, but it was more than that. She was drawn to him like a magnet. There was so much of him that he did not let people see, but she knew it was there lying dormant just under the surface.

  She wondered if she would be playing with fire, as he had said, by awakening those sleeping emotions within him?

  A shiver ran down her spine at the thought. Now that she’d had first hand knowledge of the passion inside the man, she could only imagine what he would be like completely uninhibited.

  Would she be woman enough to get through to him and could her heart handle the repercussions?

  It was too late to back out now. She was no coward. Tori just prayed that this would be one time where she could hold on to some reserve of her own without making a complete and utter fool of herself a second time around.

  Laughter brought Tori’s attention back to the table. Kevin had said something to amuse everyone apparently.

  She sighed in contentment. It was so peaceful and relaxing here.

  Drue stood, thanked his mother for dinner and carried his plates into the kitchen.

  Tori came into the kitchen with an armload of dishes.

  She grinned at Drue.

  He narrowed his eyes. “Why are you smiling like that?”

  “Oh, no reason. Since you seem to be in such a rambunctious mood, and Kevin went out to make the nightly rounds, and your mom and dad went for a walk, I volunteered you to help me do the dishes.” Tori finished smugly.

  Drue groaned. “Great. Thanks.”

  “I’ll run the water. You get the rest of the dishes from the table.” Tori directed.

  “Yes, Ma'am.” He continued to grumble and walked off.

  Drue almost dropped the dishes as he came back into the kitchen.

  To his dismay Tori was standing at the kitchen sink already washing dishes, but that wasn’t what stopped Drue in his tracks. It was the sight of Tori humming and swaying her hips to the music in her head. It was almost hypnotic to watch.

  “There you are,” Tori teased. “I thought you had run out and left the dirty work for me.”

  Tori glanced at Drue as he set the rest of the dishes down for her to wash.

  He didn’t look any too pleased to be there. His forehead had the familiar creases Tori had seen a million times when he was dissatisfied or about to lecture her and Kevin.

  She tossed the dishtowel at him playfully.

  “Here you go, mate.”

  Tori continued to hum and sway while she washed.

  Drue continued to look stern while drying.

  They established a good rhythm. They made a good team Tori thought as they worked in silence. If only he weren’t so stubborn and hardheaded!

  “Wonder what’s taking Kevin so long?” Tori asked.

  “Not to worry,” Drue stated flatly. “Your other half hasn’t left you. He never leaves you alone for long.”

  “Other half?” Tori looked at Drue confused.

  “You know there is nothing more than a lifelong genuine friendship between your brother and me.”

  “Uh huh, sure. And the moon is made out of cheese.” Drue said sarcastically.

  “Ugh!” Tori growled. “Why does everyone always assume just because we are such close friends there should eventually be romantic ties as well?”

  “Kevin is like a brother to me and vice versa. To think there is anything else is just gross!”

  Tori took all her frustration out on the plate she was scrubbing. If she wasn’t careful the enamel was going to come off.

  “Really?” Drue pushed back. “If that is so, then why isn’t there a Mr. Right involved in your life? Where is he, Victoria?”

  She took
a deep breath and considered how to answer that. She couldn’t tell him that being back home had dusted off feelings that had been dormant for the past six years but never gone, as she had convinced herself.

  “He’s out there, Drue. Fate just hasn’t brought us together yet, but it will happen when the time is right.” Tori replied quietly.

  “You and your romantic notions. Always with your head in the clouds,” Drue said disgusted.

  “It might do you some good to stick your head in the clouds once in a while.” she told him.

  “Let go a little. It wouldn’t kill you.”

  “I am just fine with the way I am.”

  She didn’t give up.

  “Well, maybe you are, but I think you would be amazed at how good it feels to let go sometimes. Unwind.”

  “Is that so?” he asked with raised eyebrows.

  “Are you volunteering to show me how to, Victoria?”

  A shiver ran down her spine. Oh boy would she. Then an impish thought crossed her mind. She looked at the water hose on the sink. Should she?

  “I could teach you a few things,” was her suggestive reply.

  “And just what did you have in mind?” Drue returned the challenging question.

  Was he really playing this game with her?

  Before he had any idea of what she was doing, Tori grabbed the hose and sprayed Drue straight in the face, lukewarm water soaking him.

  “You could cool off for starters and not get so irritated about the little things.” She said laughing whole-heartedly watching water drip from his face.

  Drue went very still.

  In a controlled tone he said, “Victoria I am warning you…”

  He didn’t get any further. Tori proceeded to spray the front of his shirt down to the crotch of his jeans laughing all the while.

  Just as she turned to put the hose down Drue grabbed for her and pulled her against him, the hand and the hose pinned between them.

  Her laughter died in her throat when she looked into Drue’s stormy green eyes. Turbulent and intense she knew she was in trouble.

  “You’re playing with fire, Victoria.” he ground out. “I told you this afternoon you should remember what happens when you strike a match.”

  He brought his lips to hers then with a demanding, penetrating kiss. Tori dropped the hose and her arms snaked around his neck and sifted through his hair.

  She felt such a need ignite inside her it couldn’t be ignored. She needed to be closer to him to feel his body against hers.

  Tori returned his kiss with a passion she didn’t even know she possessed. Never had she experienced such exploding desire. She was on fire from the inside out.

  His tongue probed the inside of her mouth touching and tasting in wild abandon. Tori felt the counter behind her as Drue pushed her back against it. She felt too his response to her against her leg through the restraining material of his jeans.

  His hands moved down her sides to cup her bottom in his hands and lift her against him as his quest continued.

  He lifted her to the countertop where she wrapped her legs around him holding him tighter to her.

  As if of their own accord her hips were grinding into his erection. God but he made her wet.

  A moan escaped Tori at the sensations spreading through her. Never had any man made her feel the way Drue did. She was sure she was one of the few twenty-four-year-old virgins left in the world and didn’t have much experience to draw from, but his touch was exquisite. She loved the feel of his mouth on her and his hands trailing her body. She returned his passionate kisses with fevered need.

  Just as quickly as he had started, Drue stopped just as suddenly.

  He stared down at Victoria incredulously, his eyes dark with desire.

  Off-balance and wanting his lips back where they had been, she tried to pull him back.

  He pulled away and took a step back.

  “Drue?” she questioned as she gently brushed his cheek.

  He started at her touch as if she had burned him and released her from his hold.

  He might as well have slapped her. The pain would not have been nearly as bad as being rejected like this.

  She turned her back to him facing the kitchen sink and stared out the window as tears welled in her eyes.

  I will NOT cry. I won’t, she lectured herself.

  “Victoria, I am so sorry.” Drue started very solemnly.

  She couldn’t take it. Why had he stopped? Why had he even started something?

  She knew he had felt what she was feeling. She had felt his reaction to her. They hadn’t done anything wrong. It had been amazing as far as she was concerned. She couldn’t be reading him wrong, could she? What was he so afraid of? What was holding him back?

  Anger grew and welled up inside her chest.

  “What are you sorry for, Drue?” she asked quite seriously.

  “That you did kiss me or that you stopped?”

  “That I kissed you of course.” He replied in disgust.

  Drue scrubbed his face with his hands as if to clear his head. He drew a deep settling breath.

  “We both know I never should have done that.” He stated matter-of-factly, which irritated Tori even further.

  “And it will not happen again,” he said, emphasizing the word not.

  “You have my word on that for whatever it’s worth at this point.”

  “Chalk it up to provocation? Is that it Drue?” she asked.

  “I just pushed one too many buttons, and you just reacted. Does that about cover it in your mind, Drue, or did I leave anything out?” she couldn’t keep the sarcasm nor the hurtful edge from ebbing out.

  She threw the dishtowel on the counter and turned to go. She stopped at the back door. She didn’t want to leave things like this.

  “Look, Drue. I admit I was trying to draw you out and have a little fun.” Tori started.

  “And maybe I went too far, but ask yourself this question.”

  “Why is it that not once but twice today you have reacted in this manner? Just an off day or is it something more?”

  With that Victoria Winslow held her head high and walked out of the Morgan home.

  She didn’t take a breath until she was back on Winslow property. When she finally slowed her step, the chill of the night broke through her endless berating thoughts.

  Jeez, Victoria! When will you ever learn, her conscience scolded her.

  “Not once but twice you give in to Drue Morgan, making a complete and utter fool of yourself. You might as well have asked him to take you to bed!”

  “Oh Em Gee!” she growled.

  She trudged up the front porch steps and made her way upstairs to prepare for bed.

  Like she was going to be getting any sleep tonight. Even if she could, she didn’t think she wanted to. She had an uneasy feeling that her dreams would haunt her by replaying the scene in the Morgan’s kitchen.

  One thing she was certain of. Drue was not indifferent to her. Far from it if his reaction to her tonight was any indication. The question is what kept pulling him back?

  Secondly, did she really want to explore if there really could be anything between them?

  She had her life in Chicago and the hope that her first book was about to be published. Drue’s life was here on the farm.

  No good would become of pursuing Drue yet again.

  Chapter Six

  Okay. I know that box has to be up here somewhere.” Tori said to herself. “ Grandma never threw anything away.”

  She circled the house-length attic, looking at stacks of boxes, furniture and even toys she recognized from her childhood.

  Porcelain dolls sat neatly in a row on a shelf. Shelby, Cassie, Polly and Anna smiled down at her in their faded checkered red and blue dresses.

  Below that sat a wooden rocking horse whose faux mane was matted, the seat was worn from the many hours it had been ridden, and his painted black nose was partially missing.

  “This place is like
a time capsule.” Tori smiled. Every part of her life up until college was in this house, including the attic. There wasn’t a place she didn’t feel her grandparents presence.

  She went to a corner of boxes that were labeled “School Years”.

  She scooped the top box down to the floor and sat Indian-style. When she opened the box she found every school annual for each year of school she had been in.

  Good Lord! We need to make sure these never leave the attic she thought to herself.

  Dusting her hands off on her jeans, she started flipping through the first book.

  It was her sophomore high school year. There was Kevin with his cheesy smile. There she was with her poofed-out hair, a perm that had gone sadly wrong. Hard to believe we intentionally styled our hair that way. Laughing she turned to the senior portraits.

  Drue was just as serious then as he was now. His clean-cut short brown spikey hair and warm smile seemed to highlight his maturity even then. His quote said it all for him. “Work hard. Play later.”

  Just then she heard the front door open and close.

  Probably Kevin.

  “I’m up here in the attic.” she called.

  She heard heavy boot steps come down the entry hall to the attic steps. One. Two. Three steps. Then a familiar brown-haired hot as hell boy- no man- popped into the attic.

  Drue’s eyes searched the attic and stopped when they landed on Tori.

  He stopped his ascent and stared at her as if he was unsure of his next move.

  “Uh, Hi.”

  “Uh, Hi, yourself.” “What brings you my way this morning?”

  “Mom wanted me to come by and help you get the extra lights out for the festival dance.” “Looks like you beat me to it.”

  “I haven’t found that box yet.” Tori replied. “I did find all of my old school annuals.” “Pretty good morning’s entertainment. I can’t believe my hair actually looked like that!” she finished with mock disgust.

  Drue chuckled. “I don’t remember your hair being that bad.”

  “That bad?” Tori asked. “Gee thanks. That’s in the park with ‘No that dress doesn’t really make you look fat.’. Guys always look better in these things than we do anyway.” She closed the book and placed it back inside the box.