“Hey!” She gave him a quick sidelong glance before making introductions. “Ricky, this is Annabeth King. Annabeth, this is Ricky.”
“Nice to meet you, Annabeth.” His teeth gleamed white against his finely tanned skin. After tipping his hat toward the women, he led them up to the gate.
“I roped off a little VIP seating area for y’all right here. If you were any closer you’d be in the ring.”
Always the showman, Vi thought with no small measure of pride.
“I got us some tickets to the concert after the competition. Chuck said Joy could help with the horses in the stables. Give you a break.”
Ricky’s thoughtfulness left her aching. As much as she hated to ask for help, she couldn’t really say no to an offer like that, especially when he was dressed in full regalia. He could ask her to run away with him right then and there, and she might actually consider it. The skin-tight jeans alone made her want to take him out behind the stables. Like the good old days, she thought as she bit her lip.
The three of them sat down in the front row with Joy on the end. Annabeth leaned in and whispered, “Details. I’m going to need details.”
Vi elbowed her in the ribs. She hadn’t thought through having to explain the complicated nature of her relationship with Ricky.
“Seriously, Vi, he’s hot!”
Vi ignored her comment and just watched Ricky whispering to his bull. His strong, broad shoulders flexed and his strong thighs hugged the bull. It was about to begin.
The announcer started into his spiel, but Vi didn’t hear a word. Her eyes and ears were trained on Ricky. She watched as he waited in the chute.
He wrapped his hand in the rope and looked up at her, tipping his hat yet again. She held her breath as he nodded to the gate hand. The chute opened and out they went like a shot. The crowd cheered all around her, but she sat there holding her breath for the longest eight seconds of her life. Not until she saw that he was okay did she breathe again. She craned her neck to see past the mounted men who escorted him toward the exit gate.
“That was amazing!” Annabeth exclaimed.
“He did good Vi-Vi. Did you see him? He did good. He’ll do even better the next round.” Joy announced matter-of-factly.
But Vi couldn’t answer, not yet. There were still two rounds to go. She knew she wouldn’t be able to relax until she knew he had come out unscathed.
When the second and third rounds had been completed, Joy and Annabeth were on the edges of their seats, waiting for the final score. The enthusiastic MC announced that he had placed first with a score of 90 out of 100. The crowd leapt to their feet and cheered for their hometown boy.
Ricky finally made his way through the well-wishers to sweep Vi off the ground and spin her around. Before her feet even touched the ground, his lips captured hers and she welcomed the invasion.
Dear God, why did I ever stop kissing him?
The awkwardness of Joy and Annabeth waiting beside them broke the spell and he let her go.
“You did such a good job, Ricky.” Joy stood stiffly and spoke in a monotone voice.
“I need a victory hug.” Ricky scooped her up into his arms.
Annabeth tugged on Joy’s arm. “C’mon, Joy. Chuck is going to show us the stables.”
Joy squealed. “Yay! I love horses!”
“All right, then. Lead the way.” Annabeth followed a very happy Joy toward the stables where Chuck and the stable hands stood waiting.
Without a moment's hesitation, Ricky took one of Vi’s hands in his, using the other to tug her hard up against him.
The familiar earthy smell of the rodeo mingled with his own natural musk, and when he leaned down to kiss her, all her objections melted away.
Sense memories from their early days played out in her mind: their first kiss on the Ferris wheel at the county fair, the night he’d gifted her the pearl necklace, the final kiss before...
No, this isn’t right.
She pulled away with a shy giggle.
Ricky slung his arm over her shoulders and guided her toward the stage where the bands were playing. “I couldn't believe it when I saw that Marmalade Sunshine was playing this year at the rodeo. I just had to get tickets.”
“Our first date,” she acknowledged, even though it pained her to think of their early days.
The band had already begun to play the first song of their set by the time they made it through the entrance. Ricky didn’t waste a second pulling Vi into a soft, swaying dance.
“I meant what I said at church. I want to be done with all this. I want to settle down and start a family with a good woman. I'd like that woman to be you, Violeta.”
“No...Ricky—”
But he cut her off with a long, luxuriant kiss that left her trembling. “I knew you were going to put up a fight.” He chuckled. “Just hear me out, would ya? The ranch that wants to take me on as a manager can't put me on payroll until the new year. Thankfully, Chuck was able to book me all the way up until Christmas. But then I’m done with bull riding for good.”
Vi squeezed Ricky a little tighter.
He’s leaving.
Even though she knew it was only for a few months, she would still miss him. And so would Joy. It always took them a couple of weeks to adjust to him being gone.
His nose brushed against hers before he kissed her again. He certainly wasn’t going to make this easy.
Vi broke the kiss and laid her head against his firm chest for the last time.
“I'm giving you an ultimatum, Violeta. We’re not getting any younger. I love being with you but I can’t keep waiting for you to come around. I'm tired of being alone. I want you, but I can't force you to choose me. When I get back at Christmas, I need you to know for certain if you want me to stay or go. Okay? If you tell me to go, that will be it. No more of this limbo nonsense.” Ricky’s intense eyes sought hers out.
I can’t look at him. If I do, I’ll say yes.
Instead of meeting his gaze, she listened to the rhythmic beat of his heart. He was right. She needed to cut ties with him completely. This half-together, half-not was killing them both. It certainly wasn't fair to Ricky, who deserved so much better than this.
I need to let him go, even if it kills me.
“Violeta?”
She lifted her head off of his chest and kissed him. It was a kiss goodbye. She didn't need time to think it over. She had made up her mind years ago.
“Goodbye, Ricky.”
Without another word she turned on her boot and walked away. Ricky called out after her but he didn't follow. She had a feeling that he was done chasing after her.
When she made her way over to Annabeth and Joy at the stable, she was sobbing. The grief of letting him go was more than she’d anticipated.
I did the right thing. She said it over and over again in her mind like a mantra. Maybe if I say it enough times, I’ll believe it, too.
Annabeth came running when she saw Vi. “What's wrong?”
She choked back a heaving sob. “We broke up. For good.”
Annabeth’s jaw dropped. “What? I don't understand.”
“It's better this way. He wants a wife and children, and I can't give him that.”
Annabeth followed Vi’s eyes to Joy and a look of sudden understanding dawned on her petite features.
“You’re afraid you might have a child like Joy.”
Vi looked away as a rush of shame washed over her; her terrible secret had come to light. Even though she loved Joy the best she could, Vi just couldn’t fathom adding to her burden.
“I just can’t go through that again. I won’t. It’s already cost me too much.”
“Sissy. This one is called Pinky. I’m hungry Vi. I need to eat now.” Joy’s hands flapped and her eyes darted around. She was winding up for a meltdown.
Vi wiped away her tears and bit her bottom lip. Annabeth’s comforting touch helped ground her. She closed her eyes and tried to come up with something to be joyful about, b
ut came up empty.
This is what the rest of my life is going to be...
For better or worse she was married to being Joy’s caregiver.
“All right Joy-Joy. Let’s go eat.”
Chapter Eighteen
Brooke
Everything is shaping up perfectly. The Book Cellar is a great venue, Brooke typed into her phone. She held back on adding Just like I said it would be.
Kimberly’s reply came back almost immediately.
Do they do full catering or allow outside food?
Where was the gratitude? Brooke had to work extra hard to keep her response upbeat and friendly.
Yes, they have a full-scale catering service AND they also allow outside vendors. Mitsy Grazier volunteered just this morning to do her famous desserts. We are all set!
Brooke had to bite her tongue earlier this morning too when talking to Mitsy. She couldn’t accuse her of serving expired banana nut muffins then beg for a favor, after all. She’d died a little inside needing to go to her biggest rival for help, but ultimately the success or failure of the gala would fall firmly on Brooke’s shoulders and no one else’s.
It’s going to be the event of the year. We’re going to make up the Book Cellar with all our decorations! It will be fabulous!!!
Maybe if she included enough exclamation marks, Kimberly would finally get the point.
How do you plan on letting people know to go to the Book Cellar? Everyone’s expecting it to be at the Gables.
Okay, one last response, then Kimberly was going to have to find someone else to bother for a while. Brian would arrive for their big night out at any moment, and they’d both promised to put work aside for the evening.
Everyone on the list has been personally notified of the changes and I've put an article in the Herald. You’ll get sympathy donations out of it. Just you wait and see. Try and relax and have a good evening. I've got this in the bag!!!!!!!!!!!
She’d fill the entire screen with exclamations if it meant Kim would finally shut up and listen for a change.
The waiter came by with a bottle of house Merlot—not her favorite Chianti, of course, but it would do in a pinch—and topped up Brooke’s glass.
“Thank you,” she said, then flipped over her phone to glance at the time: 7:20.
Brian was already twenty minutes late, and he had promised to be on time. Made a huge deal of how they’d both been working too hard lately, that he missed her. She scrolled through her call history and dipped a piece of bread in Genova’s famous herb and oil blend. Nothing.
Couldn’t he at least call to say he was running late?
She shot a text off to Brian.
I’m at Genova’s. Where are you?
Then added a heart emoji to show she was in good spirits. The wine was helping with that.
Another text came in from Kimberly, and she forced herself to ignore it.
“More bread?” the waiter asked returning to her side.
“Oh, no, I’ve got plen...ty.” Crap, she’d actually managed her way through an entire mini loaf without any help from her garbage disposal of a husband. She shrugged and offered a goofy smile so the waiter would leave her alone.
Seven-forty rolled around, and still no word from Brian. What the hell? This whole night out had been his idea. He said he wanted to apologize for that thing that had happened the other night—his unfounded jealousy over Marcus, she assumed.
Well, she wasn’t going to beg for his attention, thank you very much. She’d already been waiting for nearly an hour. More than enough by her standards.
A fifty should do it, she thought, plunking a single bill down onto the table to help cover the wine, the bread, and the time she’d held onto the table. Her head spun from standing too quickly, and she had to grip onto the chair to balance herself.
“Everything okay, Ma’am?” the perky-breasted hostess asked.
Ma’am? When the heck did I become ma’am?
Before Brooke could stop it, her eyes squinted tight of their own accord, her mouth spread out into a straight, flat line. She’d done enough playing nice today. Now she was angry. Really angry. Like she wanted to smash a few plates or something... Preferably up against Brian’s head.
Vi. That’s who she needed. Vi annoyed her sometimes, sure, but she never made Brooke angry. Not like this. Vi would know what to do to help re-center Brooke, get her to focus on other things.
She drove quickly from one end of town to the other, making it back to their neighborhood in record time. When she pulled up to the curb outside of Vi’s house though, everything was dark.
The clock’s dash read 7:52. Too early for bed. Then what...? A fog had settled over her brain, which made finding thoughts much more difficult than they otherwise should be. At last she remembered…
The rodeo. Shoot.
Of course Vi’s one social outing would fall on a night when Brooke desperately needed her guidance. What was she supposed to do now?
Well, she wasn’t going home, not if she could help it. Brian’s excuses would have to wait for a new day or at least a few more glasses of wine. She thrust the car into park, then turned off the ignition. She’d walk the long way through the neighborhood, clear her head. Maybe she could find a way to slip into her house and grab Tiara without Brian noticing, if he’d even made it home yet, that was. For all Brooke knew, he was in bed with some perky-breasted paralegal or even that same hostess who had so casually referred to Brooke as an old lady.
“Ma’am, my butt,” she grumbled.
“What about your butt?”
A large blue SUV had slowed to a crawl beside her. Jesse hung from its open driver-side window.
“Because anything that involves your butt, I surely need to be hearing about.”
Brooke laughed despite herself.
Jesse frowned. “Tough night?”
“Something like that.”
“Hop in, toots.” He put the vehicle into park then reached over to unlock the passenger door for Brooke. “It sticks sometimes,” he said with a twisted up smile.
Brooke sank back into the leather bucket seats. She exhaled, letting out all the anger one molecule at a time as she took in the gentle presence of her oldest friend in the neighborhood. Because of his swimming habit, Jesse always smelled faintly of chlorine—just enough to make him smell extra clean. That, mixed with the scent of grape jelly and whole wheat bread, made the smell quite nice, and—although she’d never tell him—quite domestic.
She hated being a housewife, and she only did it part-time. She couldn’t imagine how emasculating and suffocating it must be for Jesse to do the whole stay-at-home parent thing all day every day.
“Better?” he asked, his eyes planted firmly on her, the car still idling at the curb.
“Loads. Thanks.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not especially. Anyway it’s no big deal. Just lots going on with the last minute changes for the gala, and Brian......” She let her voice trail off. How had she intended to finish that sentence?
Brian has been extra angry lately. He scares me. I think he may hurt me.
It was ridiculous. Besides, what could Jesse do?
“...has been working a lot lately,” she finally finished.
Jesse’s face fell. “I can relate. I spend more quality time with the stupid cat than my wife. Sometimes I wonder if we’d still be together were it not for the girls, you know?” His knuckles tightened on the steering wheel, turning a splotchy mix of red and white from the uneven pressure.
Jesse slapped the wheel, startling Brooke, but when she looked over at him his smile had returned, the one that had a way of filling up whatever room he stood in. “But enough about that. Hearing about my problems isn’t going to fix yours, is it? How about instead you let me take you back to the house and fix you up some liquid happiness à la Jesse Abrahamson?”
A shiver ran up Brooke’s arm. “That sounds perfect. Thank you.”
Back at Jess
e’s, he set her up on the sofa with an afghan, then headed over to the kitchen to work on the snacks he’d promised.
A rich, spicy smell filled the sprawling ranch, winning out even over the girls’ finger paints, glue sticks, and glitter that were spread out over every square inch of the nearby kitchen table.
Brooke’s mouth watered. “Mmm. What is that?”
“An Abrahamson family secret. They brought it over from the old country. A very big deal.”
Hardly any time passed before Jesse was back at her side, sitting close and pulling the afghan over to cover himself, too. He handed her a glass of steaming red liquid.
“Hey, are you coming down with something? It’s like a billion degrees out. You shouldn’t feel this cold. Maybe you’ve caught that same bug Vi had.”
She waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Hey, where are the girls tonight?” She inhaled the rich, pungent aroma and let it clear out her sinuses.
“Sleepover, thank God. I love my daughters, but, man, is it good to have a break sometimes.”
She chuckled.
“C’mon, try it already.” He leaned into her chest and pushed her wine glass up toward her mouth.
Brooke shivered again despite the warmth that surrounded her. She tittered, awkward in the moment, then let the hot liquid flood her mouth. It was heaven in a glass.
He watched her carefully the whole time. “Well?”
“Oh, Jesse. It’s delicious. Please tell me how to make it.”
He laughed and stretched out like a cat happy in the sun. “No can do. But I can make it for you any time you want. Just come on over, and I’ll whip up a batch. Deal?”
At that same moment, Heather burst through the door, her arms over-encumbered with a heaping stack of manila folders. “Jesse?” she called into the house without looking up from her phone. “A little help?”
Jesse leapt up and raced to his wife’s side. “Hi, honey.” He pecked her on the cheek and took the files from her. “Bad day?”
Walker Texas Wife (The Book Cellar Mysteries 1) Page 11
