by Savanna Grey
He was animated with them and gave them his full attention. Two things stood out to Tori that warmed her heart. It was obvious Drue loved farming as he shared with the girls, and secondly he was great with kids. He would make a wonderful father someday.
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, a mental image of what Drue and her children would look like followed.
Dark auburn or chesnut hair, brown or green eyes with stubbornness guaranteed.
“Whoa!” Tori thought. “Where did that come from?” She shook her head at herself. “Nothing like putting the cart before the horse, girl. Get a grip.”
Just then applause erupted indicating Drue had finished his lesson on growing pumpkins. The adult leaders, Kevin and Drue led the girls over to Tori where they helped them get situated at the paint tables to begin decorating their pumpkins.
Trash bags were placed over their heads where holes had been made to accommodate them to protect their clothing while they painted.
Plates with all different colors of paint had been laid out across the tables with multiple paint brushes along with sponges and other applicators.
The girls squealed with excitement as they became miniature Van Gogh’s, each one excited to express themselves through art.
All but one it seemed. She was a curly-haired blonde cutie on the end. She looked to be about five-years-old, and her bottom lip was poked out in the cutest pout Tori had ever seen.
She walked over to the little girl. “Hi, My name is Tori. What’s yours?” she asked.
The little girl looked up at Tori sadly. “Megan.” she barely whispered.
Tori squatted down so that she was eye-level with Megan.
“Well, Megan. You don’t seem to be very excited to paint your pumpkin.” she stated matter-of-factly. “Is something wrong?”
“My little brother wants to paint, and Lisa said he can’t.” Megan answered.
“Oh. I see.” Tori said softly. “Where is your brother?”
Megan pointed to a smaller blonde-haired version of herself hugging a woman’s left leg with tears staining his face. He looked to be around two-years-old.
“How about if we get your brother a pumpkin and let him sit right here beside you to paint his own?” Tori offered. “Would you help him do that?” Tori asked.
Megan’s little face lit up with pleasure. “Oh yes, I would.” she answered cheerfully.
“Alright then. Let’s go get him.” Tori took Megan’s hand, and they walked together to collect her brother, Tommy.
Drue had watched Tori as she had approached a little blonde girl at the end of the table. He was just close enough to catch bits of their conversation to get the gist of what was going on. Something twisted in his chest as he thought about how kind-hearted and intuitive Tori had been to the little girl Megan. She would make an amazing mother some day. The thought of Tori pregnant didn’t scare him as much as he thought it should. In fact he kind of liked the idea. He liked the idea even more when he thought about what had to happen for her to become pregnant. Unfortunately his body started to react to those thoughts in ways that were not appropriate when you were helping little girls paint pumpkins. “Cool it.” he told himself. There was a time and place for everything he reminded himself.
As Tori came back to the table with Tommy and Megan in tow with Tommy’s pumpkin, Drue smiled at her. He walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder from behind and gave her a gentle squeeze.
“Nice thing you did there.” he whispered in her ear as he moved on to help the others finish decorating.
Goosebumps. Every time he touched her he made her tingle, and she loved it.
She smiled back at him and nodded. She looked around at Kevin, Drue, his Mom and Dad with the people in this community, and it all just felt so much a part of her she almost felt like she had never left. It would be so easy to want to stay here if only… She would just have faith in Drue that the next few weeks showed him she was what his heart desired.
They all waved good-bye to girls as the vans that had brought them drove away.
“I had forgotten how much fun that is.” Tori said cheerfully as she turned to help finish cleaning up.
Drue came up beside her and placed his arm around her shoulders as they walked.
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan fell in step behind them. They exchanged glances of surprise at Drue’s open gesture of affection. Obviously something had changed. They knew something had been set in motion at dinner last night when Tori had sat beside Drue and not Kevin, but nothing had been said. Now Drue was affectionately walking beside Tori in plain view of them and Kevin. Kevin. Mrs. Morgan glanced in his direction. If something had finally transpired between Drue and Tori, how did Kevin really feel about it?
She knew it wasn’t the fourth of July, but she thought this change of events could create a chain reaction from her youngest son. She would have to keep an eye out for any sign of trouble. She wanted both her sons to be happy and Tori as well.
“Thanks for all the help this morning everyone.” Mrs. Morgan told the group. “I know you have things to get done before we leave for the fair, so you better get to it.” she commanded lovingly. “What time are we planning on heading out, dear?” she looked to Mr. Morgan.
“Planning on pulling out at around four o’clock.” He answered.
“I’m driving, and Tori’s riding with me.” Drue threw over his shoulder. He leaned down close to her ear and whispered, “I hope.”
Drue turned to Kevin before he could say whatever he was about to say and said, “And you’re not, little brother.”
“I guess that means you’re stuck with me, Mom.” Kevin playfully pouted. “It’s a sad day when your best friend chooses your brother over you.” he jested at Tori and winked at her.
They finished cleaning up, and as Tori prepared to head back home to fix lunch and check emails from work, Drue grasped her elbow stopping her.
She looked up at him questioningly.
“I’ll pick you up at four.” Drue said. “Don’t eat any hotdogs for lunch. We still have a bet to resolve and a date with the twirling buckets.” He laughed and so did Tori, but all laughter ceased as he brushed his lips to hers.
“See you at four.” he finished and left her standing with her mouth gaped open.
“Good thing it’s October or you would draw flies with that mouth gaped open like that.” Kevin said from beside her.
She jumped. “Jeez, Kev. Quit sneaking up on me!” she laughed away her embarrassment.
“Hope you know what you are doing, Sprite.” he said to her seriously. “I don’t want to see either one of you hurt, and I sure don’t want to lose my best friend.” he said sincerely.
“No matter the outcome of whatever this is, Kevin, Drue and I are not going to let it have any kind of negative impact on your family.” she told him seriously. “I promise.”
She hugged her best friend. She truly did love him like a brother. “And thanks for caring.” She finished and kissed him on the cheek.
“I hope you are right, Sprite.” Kevin said. “for everyone’s sake, because I’d hate to have to disown a brother. Makes living in the same house a little uncomfortable I would imagine.” He teased to lighten the mood.
“I’ll see you at the fair.” Tori called over her shoulder. “Water pistols at dusk.” she challenged and headed across the field home.
Just as she was coming to the front porch steps, she heard a vehicle coming up her drive. She wasn’t expecting anyone, so she had no clue who it could be. Probably someone from town coming to visit.
She stood on the front porch waiting as the vehicle drove closer. As the vehicle stopped in the drive beside the house, Tori couldn’t believe her eyes.
As the car door opened, Tori was already flying down the steps.
“Katy!” Tori hollered. “What in the world are you doing here?” she asked happily.
“I would say I was coming as a friend to check on you and see how you were managing out here in Stick
sville, USA, which is part of the reason, but mainly I am here on official business.” her friend and co-worker stated seriously.
Chapter Eleven
Tori stepped back with both hands holding onto Katy and looked at her face to glean whether her friend was serious or not.
Tori had met Katy Martin at the publishing house in Chicago on the first day she had started working there. They had become fast friends and each other’s sidekicks ever since.
“Is something wrong at work, Katy?” Tori asked concerned. “What is it?”
Her friend couldn’t keep a straight face. She grinned from ear to ear. “Oh!” she shrieked in excitement. “I couldn’t tell you this over the phone.” Katy rushed out. “You did it!” she shouted. “You really did it!” Katy was jumping up and down in her excitement.
“What?” Tori asked startled and laughed. “What did I do?”
Her friend just stared at her with that knowing smirk on her face as if she were willing Tori to guess.
Then it hit Tori. “Wait.” Tori sucked in a breath. “You don’t mean – they…I…my book?” Tori sputtered out in astonishment.
“Yes! They are picking up your book!” Katy shouted as she handed Tori the company’s acceptance letter.
The two friends danced up and down and shrieked around the front yard.
“Oh Em Gee!” Tori said gleefully. “I have to tell Drue and Kevin! Come on.”
Tori grabbed the letter from her friend’s hand and started running across the yard to the Morgan’s house. She could see Drue and Kevin out by the barn.
“Guys!” she hollered as she came into their yard. “You’ll never guess what has happened.”
Drue and Kevin both looked up startled, thinking something was wrong.
Kevin got to Tori first. He held her arms to stop her from jumping up and down.
“Are you alright?” he asked concerned. “What’s happened?”
“They’re publishing my book!” she shouted still jumping for joy even as Kevin still had hold of her arms.
Hearing the news Kevin whooped and hollered right along with her, picking Tori up and twirling her around in a circle.
“That’s fantastic, Tori!” Kevin told her ecstatic for his friend.
She turned to Drue who was walking toward her with a smile. She didn’t hesitate. She ran to him and jumped into his arms, her legs circling his waist.
“Can you believe it, Drue?” she said excitedly. “It’s really going to happen. Victoria Winslow, published author.”
“Congratulations, Victoria.” Drue cupped her bottom in both hands as she hugged him tightly. Tori drew back planted a firm kiss to Drue’s mouth.
“I’m so excited.” Tori said.
“We couldn’t tell by the way you ran like a banshee across the yard.” Katy said as she caught up and tried to catch her breath.
Both brothers turned in surprise at Katy’s arrival into the yard.
“Katy!” Kevin said in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“Hi!” Katy greeted Kevin. “I was the special messenger of that letter, and there was no way I wasn’t going to deliver it personally.” she finished with a smile.
Kevin gave Katy a hug. The two had met on the several visits Kevin had made to Chicago to see Tori. They had hit it off instantly, and the three of them always had a good time together. In fact, Tori knew Katy had a little crush on Kevin, and she wasn’t too sure that he wasn’t attracted to Katy.
Drue let Tori unwind and slide down his form until her feet hit the ground. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead affectionately as he frequently did and said for their ears only “The next time you have those legs wrapped around me like that, we better be alone.”
She smiled up at him at the same time she felt the effect she had on him.
She mouthed the word “Sorry” to him and kissed his cheek.
“Okay, I couldn’t wait to tell you both, but I know you are working, so Katy and I will go back to the house and catch up.” Tori told the group. She turned to Katy.
“Are you staying for the weekend I hope?” she asked Katy.
“Yes, if you’ve got a bed for me.” Katy teased.
“If she doesn’t, I do.” Kevin couldn’t resist.
Tori smacked Kevin’s arm. “I'll bet you do.”
“Great!” Tori continued. “This will be so much fun. We are all going to the fair this afternoon. You’ll love it Katy.”
The girls headed back to Tori’s house while Drue and Kevin finished up around the farm.
It waited as long as Katy getting her bag out of her car and both of them going into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.
“I thought I was coming here with big news, but apparently you have some of your own, so spill it.” was out of Katy’s mouth before she could take a seat at the kitchen table.
Tori laughed. “What?” she played ignorant. “You mean Drue?” she asked.
“No, I’m talking about the chickens, you pumpkin head.” Katy said sarcastically. “Of course I’m talking about Drue. What gives?”
Tori set the pod in the coffee maker and hit the brew button. She was grateful to her grandmother that she had accepted the pod coffee maker as much coffee as she drank.
“You’ve been gone barely a week, and you’re already locking lips with the boy next door?” Katy teased.
Tori sighed as she handed her friend a cup of coffee and joined her at the kitchen table.
“I’m just as surprised as you are, my friend.” Tori told Katy shaking her head. “One minute I think I’m goosing my best friend, the next I’m being kissed by his brother, who I have had an antagonistic relationship with since I was five-years-old.” She sighed.
“I’ve never admitted this to anyone, but I have secretly been in love with Drue Morgan for as long as I could remember, first as an adolescent crush and then with raging pubescent hormones.” Tori continued.
“I even attempted to show him once how I felt.” Tori’s face scalded red with remembered embarrassment. “It didn’t end well.”
She took a sip of her coffee as memories flooded her.
“And?” prompted Katy. “How’d it get to you wrapping yourself around him in the back yard a few minutes ago?”
“God, Katy. It’s all happened so quickly, but it feels comfortable, so right, like it’s never been any other way.” Tori said almost amazed. “There is no awkwardness around each other, because we’ve known each other forever. What’s exciting and new is being close to him intimately and spending time intentionally alone together for the first time ever.” Tori laughed.
“It’s always been Kevin and me.” she continued. “He’s been my best friend since Kindergarten. Drue was always in the background chiding us for goofing off too much or not working hard enough, but I’ve always been drawn to him.”
“When I was little I used to follow him around the farm like a shadow.” Tori chuckled. “He used to get so frustrated with me, he would march me home himself just to get me out from under him, but he was never mean. In fact I always felt safe with Drue around. I just wanted to be near him.”
“So what happened?” Katy asked. “You haven’t said anything about him in the two years I’ve known you, only in reference to Kevin.”
“I threw myself at him during Kevin and my graduation party.” Tori told Katy. “It was humiliating.”
“What?” Katy asked. “I knew there had to be a good part. Go on.” Katy encouraged.
“You’re terrible, you know that?” Tori teased. “Not a lot to tell. I made a pass at Drue. He turned me down flat. I went away to college, he finished school as well, and we’ve gone on with our lives.”
“That’s it?” Katy said disappointed.
“It was until I came home this time.” Tori continued. Tori explained how she mistakenly grabbed Drue’s backside instead of Kevin’s, and how it had led to Drue kissing her.
“Talk about an instant flame, Katy.” Tori told her friend. “Every time he touch
es me, I come unglued. I’ve never wanted anyone more, and it scares me.”
“Scares you?” Katy asked. “Why? It sounds wonderful! Wish I had someone that looked at me the way he looks at you, like you are a three-course meal and he’s skipping right to dessert.”
“He makes me tingle, Katy.” Tori said quietly.
“Uh oh.” Katy replied. “You’ve got it that bad, huh?”
Tori nodded her head in affirmation.
“What am I going to do, Katy?” she asked with desperation in her voice? “The reality is I live in Chicago. I now have my first book to be published, I’ve got to figure out what to do about this place which is 200 miles away from Chicago, and Drue’s place is here.” Tori stared into her coffee.
“There’s more at stake here than just us. I love his family more than anything, and Kev is a solid part of my foundation. I couldn’t lose him if things go badly between Drue and I. What if it doesn’t work out?”
Katy stared at her friend and said, “But what if it does?”
Tori stared at Katy as if she’d smacked her upside the head and laughed out loud.
“You always know how to make me feel better, Katy.” She hugged her friend and said, “Come on. Let’s get you settled upstairs and then it’ll be time to act like kids again.”
“When did we stop being kids?” asked Katy grinning wickedly.
“You sound just like Kevin.” was Tori’s only comment.
Chapter Twelve
Tori heard the knock at the front door, and then heard it open as she headed down the stairs.
“Hello!” hollered Drue as he came through the door. Kevin was directly behind him.
She smiled at them both. “Are we ready to ride?” she asked both brothers.
“That depends.” Kevin said. “What have you eaten today?” he teased.
Katy came down the stairs and greeted Drue and Kevin.
“What’s the game plan?” asked Katy.
“Well, I’m glad you asked.” Kevin jumped in with mock seriousness. “Since my brother is so desperate to be alone with my best friend, I thought it only fair that I steal you away from Tori.” he continued. “How about you ride with me and let these two knuckleheads have some alone time.” Kevin finished drawing out the last two words.
