by Leah Atwood
But I had to check on the restaurant. She pursed her lips. No, she didn’t have to go to Bayou Bits after the reception last night, but she went anyway.
That’s why she’d hired Angela as an assistant chef, and she was more than capable. Retired from full-time work, Angela had spent many years as a sous chef for an upscale restaurant in New Orleans. She knew the ins and outs and even had the formal training that Dani had never received. There was absolutely no reason to doubt her ability to handle the dinner crowd last night.
Except that Dani was a control freak when it came to the restaurant. It was her life, her dream, and she wanted to oversee every detail. Relinquishing responsibility didn’t come easy to her.
Be honest with yourself.
The alarm sounded again, interrupting her conscience’s recrimination. Good, she didn’t want to deal with it this morning, not while running on a couple hours of sleep. She tossed the pillow off her head, threw back her comforter decorated with an orange and yellow poppies print and sat up on the edge of the mattress.
She scowled and turned off her alarm clock then grabbed the elastic band off the nightstand. She reached behind her head, gathered her hair, and secured it into a ponytail. Still fighting against sleepiness, she shuffled her way into the kitchen. She stared at the coffeemaker, decided coffee wasn’t going to be sufficient, opened the fridge, and grabbed an energy drink.
Mom would have a fit if she knew. Robyn Trahan had been a stay-at-home mom and happy homemaker throughout Dani’s formative years, not returning to the workforce until Dani’s senior year of high school. She prided herself on always having a hot breakfast for her husband and only child.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, she would say. Dani smiled, remembering all the times she’d heard it. Unable to have more children, her parents had always doted on her, and her childhood had been idyllic, a real Leave it to Beaver type experience. She had many fond memories of helping her mom in the kitchen, and it was those times that cultivated her love for cooking and subsequently, her dream of opening a restaurant.
She downed her fruit flavored drink, vowing to eat a healthier, more substantial lunch. Sunday school and church didn’t start for three hours. Strongly tempted to go back to bed for a few hours, she returned to her bedroom.
No, you set your alarm early for a reason.
Goodness, she hated when her conscience told her the opposite of what she wanted. Her mind and body didn’t have the energy for a run this morning, yet she knew it would be good for her. The run was her Sunday morning ritual, her time for prayer and meditation to start her week on the right path.
Forgoing her bed, which still looked inviting, she walked to her dresser and pulled out a pair of pink sweat pants and a white T-shirt. Once she’d changed, she grabbed her phone and earbuds from her nightstand and left the room.
Her teal and gray Nike running shoes were in the mudroom. She went to put them on, leaning over to tie the laces. A warm, brown nose rubbed against her arm.
“Good morning, Pip.” She sat up, bringing her orange and white striped tabby with her.
Secure in her arms, Pip curled into a ball and looked at her with adoring golden eyes.
“Guess you finally wanted some attention.” She stroked his soft fur, from his head down to his back, then tickled him under his jaw. Pip meowed, then jumped down and ran into the kitchen, stopping in front of his food bowl. Dani laughed. “Should have known.”
Pip was a cute, but anti-social cat, only seeking out attention on his terms and usually when he wanted something. Other than that, he kept to himself, hiding in corners of the house, especially if Dani had visitors. But, he was her cat, and she loved him. His low maintenance attitude made him a great match for her hectic schedule.
Dani went to the pantry and opened a new bag of cat food. She dumped a scoop of cat chow into Pip’s bowl, giving him a final rub between his pointed ears. Once outside, she stuck her earbuds in and set her phone’s MP3 player to an upbeat mix of praise music.
Green grass glistened under a blanket of dew. A thin layer of smoky fog hovered several inches above the ground, extending upward a few feet. Temperatures were below average for the end of May, dipping down into the fifties. Dani sucked in a long breath and rubbed her hands up and down her arms to ward off the chill.
The sooner she began running, the sooner she’d warm up. She exhaled and took off down her driveway. Making a right, she passed by her black metal mailbox with its little red flag erected, and along the cane fields that bordered her home. The farther she ran, the more her goal changed. She didn’t want to think about the week ahead. She didn’t want to think about anything. Her focus shifted on running, nothing more. The song playing barely registered, its current purpose only to provide background noise to block out all thoughts.
One foot in front of the other, she ran, her arms swinging in opposite sync of her legs. She pushed herself, running faster, harder than her usual jog—past her turn-around point and beyond her normal allotted time. Burning sensations spread over her calves.
Still she kept going, trying to outrun the startling thought she couldn’t clear from her mind. The thought, feeling, she didn’t want to have, nor admit. Her lungs were on fire. She had to stop.
Her arms flew upward in surrender. “I admit it—I like Rob—I don’t want to, but I do and now I’m angry and humiliated at the way he ditched me last night.”
As if to answer, a wind gust swayed the tall stalks of cane on either side of her.
Breaths came out ragged and heavy. She hunched over, taking air in as she could. The stalks of cane returned to their rigid positions. They stared at her, waiting for elaboration, an explanation to why one person could make her lose her cool.
“He’s all wrong for me.” Using the back of her arm, she swiped at the beads of sweat on her forehead then stood upright. “There’s nothing about him that makes my list of qualities to look for in a man, not to mention, I’m not even interested in looking for someone.”
She bent her arms and rested her laced hands on top of her head. “I didn’t want to feel any attraction to him. All week I fought it, and then what? He humiliated me, left me standing alone in the middle of a song.”
He’d played her, all right—it had been a game all along. Why had she let Gram and Gina’s words play tricks with her mind? Because she’d wanted to believe it. Something sparked in the limousine, but she couldn’t explain it. Energy arced between them, and she’d felt his eyes follow her many times after that.
Then he’d asked her to dance. Their verbal sparring kept an invisible barrier between them, but she couldn’t deny the security his arms provided and how right it felt to be there. So right, that an unwelcome sigh of contentment had risen from her chest.
And then he bailed.
He’d gotten what he wanted, he’d attracted her. His mission was over.
At least he’d had the decency to avoid her after that. No more secret glances, no more flirting, no more eye contact. He’d disappeared outside for twenty minutes and when he’d finally returned, he wouldn’t even look at her.
If only she had someone to talk to, but whom? It was too mortifying, and anyone she confessed to would call her ridiculous for getting worked up over something so trivial, except it wasn’t insignificant to her.
For someone so focused on goals, who kept her heart guarded as to not distract from those objectives, feeling that bond with Rob had shaken her world. She didn’t know what to do with it or what it even meant. Was there anything to do? Rob had made his intentions clear.
Did you pray?
This time she didn’t ignore her conscience. She hadn’t bothered praying at all last night, or since Rob had shown up wreaking havoc in her life. Instead, she’d run off to the restaurant, throwing herself into work. Conviction weighed on her heart. There was no time like the present to make things right. Her return trip home was a slower pace, which she spent praying for guidance on how to deal with her attraction to Rob.
/> TWO HOURS LATER, she pulled into the church’s parking lot. After having put the situation into perspective, composure was her friend again. So, she’d allowed herself to fall a little for Rob’s charm. Big deal. It wasn’t like she had given her heart to him. Worse things had happened. A bruised ego was the sole cause of her dramatic indignation.
Nothing more, nothing less.
In a few days, she’d be over it.
Besides, Rob was leaving today, along with Bryce’s other friends from Nashville. They should be on the road already. When she considered that up until the wedding festivities the last few days she’d only met Rob twice, she felt confident she wouldn’t see him again for a long while. By the time she did have to see him again, all would be forgotten.
She stepped out of her Ford Explorer. Her hair was still damp from a shower, she hadn’t had time to dry it completely, and it curled more than its usual natural wave. She smoothed down her yellow cotton sundress and adjusted the short-sleeve white shrug she wore over her shoulders. The purple nail polish on her fingers and toes contrasted with the dress, but she doubted anyone would take notice. Besides, the purple was pretty, and she wasn’t ready to take it off yet.
A line of people came out of the church doors, probably those who left after Sunday school, which she’d missed because of her excessive run. After the service, she would ask someone from class for the notes. The singles class she went to was large, relative to the church’s smaller size, but was rapidly diminishing as its members found mates and moved on.
Inside, she scanned the sanctuary for her parents and grandparents, stopping her gaze at their usual pew. The bench was full and not with her family.
“No, no, no.” This was not happening. She ran a hand through her hair until her fingers caught on the end of a curl.
What were Jay, Caroline, Adam, Elle, and Rob doing in her pew? Well, not her pew by definition, but…
She’d convinced herself she’d be fine because she wouldn’t have to see him again, at least not so soon.
“Good morning, Dani.” Her mom appeared by her side and gave her a shoulder hug. “When I didn’t see you earlier, I wondered if you would show. I thought something might have come up at the restaurant.”
“No, I got involved in something and lost track of time. Angela’s in control for the afternoon.” She nodded toward the pew. “What are they doing here?” The attempt at keeping her voice neutral was a failure.
“They wanted to attend.”
“Even Rob?” She scrunched her nose. Despite all her prayers this morning, she had trouble finding graciousness toward him. “He doesn’t exactly strike me as the church type.”
“Danica Anne Trahan, you know better than to pass judgment on someone.”
“I wasn’t judging. They just took me by surprise. Weren’t they leaving this morning?”
Her mom’s furrowed eyebrows clearly indicated she didn’t accept her reply as truth. “Gram invited them to lunch after church, and they’ll leave from there.”
“Oh.”
“You’re also invited.” She may as well have said be there for the commandment in her tone.
Rarely did her mom put demands on her social calendar. There wasn’t a need because Dani was always a willing participant in family functions. On the occasions she couldn’t make an event, it was accepted that she was an adult who made her own decisions and had her own schedule.
This time was different, and Dani knew she was approaching it with a childish petulance. Taking a deep breath, she brought back her resolve to not let Rob affect her. She exhaled. “I’ll be there.”
“That’s my girl.” Her mom patted her arm in a placating manner. “Let’s go take our seats.”
She followed her mom to the half-empty pew behind their usual one, where her dad, Gramps and Gram were standing. Sliding into the narrow space, she gave Gramps a hug. “Good morning.”
“Same to you, Dani girl.” He took a long glance at her, sentimentality taking over his features. “You look more like your mother every day.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” She smiled, then frowned. Gramps’ gaze had drifted to a far off place, not in the present. “Are you okay, Gramps?”
He nodded and gave her a false smile. “Just an old man’s mind wandering.”
Something about the way he said it made Dani sad. Gramps was in his seventies, but she didn’t want to think about him growing old. “Mom said Gram is having a special lunch.” She nudged him with her shoulder. “Any chance she made her special peach cobbler?”
“Just for you, she did.” When he smiled at her again it was real, not forced as his previous one had been.
Pastor Glen stepped to the pulpit and Dani sat down. The congregation silenced as he welcomed everyone and offered a greeting. Several announcements were given, and then the worship leader took the pulpit. The opening song was a new one she wasn’t familiar with, and she tried to follow along with the words on the screen.
That song ended, then another one. Next would be a traditional hymn, but first a time of greeting. Dani tapped Caroline, Bryce’s manager and good friend, on the shoulder. “I’m glad you could make it today.”
“Thanks, me too. Bryce has such good things to say about this church. We all decided to leave a little later than planned so we could attend today.” Caroline smiled at Jay, who was her fiancé and another member of the band. “Plus when the guys heard Gram wanted to cook for them, there was no hope of leaving this morning.”
“They’ll be spoiled on home-cooking now.” Elle, Adam’s wife, leaned over the pew and gave Dani a hug. “The cooking gene skipped me. I can make a passable meal, but we order out more often than we should.”
“Gram’s the best cook around, taught me everything I know.” Dani realized she was going to miss Elle and Caroline. Their lives were vastly different from hers, but they’d become good friends in the last week.
“Maybe she can pass on some recipes.” Elle’s suggestion met with approval from Adam and Jay.
Dani glanced toward Gram and saw her deep in conversation with another church elder. “I’m sure she can, but if not I’ll be happy to. I’ll even gather some tonight and email them to you.”
“That’d be great. Thanks,” Elle said.
The music’s volume increased, bringing the greeting time to a close. Dani quickly went down the aisle, shaking hands with Adam and Jay. When she reached Rob, she stiffened. Saved by the worship leader’s return to the pulpit, she gave him a curt nod and returned to her spot.
Chapter 4
“You’re welcome back anytime.” Bryce’s grandmother engulfed Rob in a hug, the likes of which he hadn’t experienced since before he moved to Nashville.
He returned the embrace, fighting off nostalgia of his own Nana. “I’d be honored to visit you again, Mrs. Landry.”
“Drop that Mrs. Landry business. Any friend of Bryce is family, so you just call me Gram.”
“Okay, Gram.” The last one to leave, he backed up and grabbed the box of cookies that Gram was sending home with him. How did she know that peanut butter cookies were his one sweet indulgence? “Thank you again for your hospitality.”
“You’re welcome. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and your friends. It’s a shame you can’t stay longer.”
Gracie came running into the room. “You’re leaving too, Mr. Rob?”
Crouching down, he put himself at eye level with her. “Yes, but I’ll see you in a few weeks when you’re in Nashville. You’re going to have fun with Gram and Gramps while your daddy and Miss Sophie take a trip.”
“It’s called a honeymoon,” she told him with complete authority.
He chuckled. “Yes, it is.”
“I’m going to miss you.” She threw her arms around him.
His balance faltered, and he shot a hand down to the ground to steady himself. Her words caught him off guard, struck him right in the heart. “I’ll miss you also, but I’ll see you soon.”
“Let him go
now.” Gram placed a hand on Gracie’s shoulder and pried her away with gentleness. “This is for you. Read it when you stop to fill up on your way out.” She slipped a folded piece of paper into his free hand when he stood.
He placed it in his pants pocket. A final wave goodbye and he was out the door. His Jeep Wrangler waited for him, ready to take him home. He got into the driver’s seat, adjusted the radio, turned the key switch, and drove away.
In rhythm to the music blaring, his fingers tapped against the steering wheel. A small green sign popped into view a few miles from Gram’s house. Oden Bridge, Pop. 5348.
“Not much more than home.” His fingers stilled. What had made him say that? Sand River hadn’t been home in a long time—that title was reserved for Nashville.
Glancing down at the dash, he saw the fuel tank was half full. He could stop now, or further down the road. Oden Bridge was rural, but not so much that it was a hundred miles away from any other gas stations. Curiosity about the paper Gram had handed him got the better of him, and he navigated into the only convenience store with pumps that he remembered seeing in town.
There was no pay-at-the-pump feature, so he went inside. Coolers of beverages lined the rear wall of the store. Rob slid open a door and pulled out a bottle of iced tea then grabbed a pack of gum off the top row of a shelving unit. After paying for his purchases and fuel, he returned outside to fill the Jeep.
The pump cut off, and he replaced the nozzle on its holder. No one waited for his spot, so he leaned against the Jeep’s door and pulled the note from his pocket. He unfolded the single crease and held it to his line of sight.
Don’t leave without saying bye to her, was written in a soft, flowing manuscript, followed by an address. He half laughed, half groaned. Man, Gram didn’t miss a thing. He knew exactly to whom “her” referred.
Dani had left Gram’s house about an hour after the meal ended. Conveniently—purposefully, he was certain—while he’d excused himself to take a phone call. At the time, he’d been relieved. She was ticked at him for last night. All the feigned politeness in the world couldn’t cover the narrow glint every time she looked at him.
