by Alison Mello
I turn back to her. “I’m sorry, what was that you said?”
“Really? What is with you? One minute we’re supposed to be getting together for a game night, and the next I’ve heard nothing more from you about it and then you come in looking exhausted.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” I look down at the salad in front of me, and as delicious as it looks, I’m losing my appetite. “I’m not sure how much I should tell you, but I’ll tell you this. It appears Vaughn has some issues settling back in after his last tour.” The look on Vaughn’s face flashes through my mind.
I’m so deep in thought when Courtney talks I’m not hearing her. “Hey! I said is there something I can do to help?”
“Sorry.” I shake my head. “I don’t know. I haven’t figured out what to do myself. I feel so bad and I need to figure out how to fix it.”
“What do you have to feel bad about? You didn’t send him over there.” Her brows are furrowed.
I swallow a bite of my salad, trying to fight my loss of appetite. “I walked out on him after one of his flashbacks. He scared me and I didn’t know what to do. I told him I needed space and he would see me at dinner. Now he’ll never trust me to open up.”
“Oh Brooke, don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s not an easy situation to deal with. You need to apologize and explain to him that you didn’t know what to do. He’ll understand.”
“I don’t know. He showed up at my mom’s for dinner and sat with my brother the entire night. I know the dinner was for my brother and future sister-in-law, but it felt like he was ignoring me.” I lean my head in my hands. “I think I’ve fallen for him.” I let out a slow breath. “I’ve liked him for so long now it didn’t take much once we started connecting, and now I fear I’m going to lose him.”
“Have you told him?”
I shake my head no. “What am I supposed to say? ‘Hey, I’ve had a secret crush on you since the first time we met years ago and I now I think I love you.’” I close my eyes. “God, I sound stupid.”
“No, you don’t, and I wouldn’t be so sure he doesn’t feel the same.”
“I have to get back to work. My next patient will be here soon.” I get up, toss my salad, and storm out of the kitchen to the bathroom.
***
Work has dragged by today. I couldn’t help but keep an eye on the clock because I’m really excited to go see this house I’m hoping to rent. I hurry on my way to meet Remy, Keaton, and the landlord. This was his grandparents’ house, and now that they’ve moved on, he wants to rent it until he decides if he’s going to sell it or move into it himself. He’s promised me the house is mine for at least a year, maybe longer if I so choose. The location is perfect. It’s about fifteen minutes from Mama, fifteen minutes from work, and twenty minutes from Vaughn. Now I just have to pray the house is in good condition.
I pull into the driveway to see Keaton’s truck already here. He and Remy must have driven together because they’re standing on the lawn talking to the landlord and Remy’s car is nowhere to be found. I jump out of my car and hurry over to introduce myself. “Hi guys.” My brothers each hug me and I hold out my hand to the gentleman. “Hi, I’m Brooke.”
“Hi, Brooke, it’s good to meet you. Your brothers were just introducing themselves and asking a little about the house.”
I smile up at my brothers. “Thanks, guys.”
Remy puts his arm around me. “We were just explaining that we want to make sure our baby sister is well taken care of.” Good Lord, I blush. They act like I’m a kid and not a grown woman.
Mr. Daily comes to my rescue. “Come on, let me show you around.” He opens the door to the house and we step inside. “I updated the furniture in the living room and the dining room table is new.” Both sets are nice. The living room has dark furniture, not really my style, but seeing how it requires me to only furnish my bedroom, I’ll take it. The dining room table is small but seats four. The kitchen is an eat-in kitchen, it doesn’t leave room for a table much bigger than that. I’m looking around the kitchen when I hear Keaton ask him to see the attic space. Mr. Daily walks off with him and Remy stays with me.
He leans on the counter next to me. “What do you think?”
“It’s cute. I love how open the living room and kitchen are. The small snack bar separating them are perfect for extra seating, and yet I can talk to guests while I cook.”
He pulls away from the counter. “Let’s go check out the bedrooms. There are two of them back there.” I follow Remy to the back of the house where, sure enough, there are two bedrooms and two bathrooms. One bathroom is in the hallway and it’s a full bath with a shower tub combo. It’s not big, but it’s nice. There’s a shower curtain already hung up with a liner.
“You can change that if you would like, I thought it showed nicer with a curtain hung.” I jump, not realizing Mr. Daily was behind me.
“It’s fine. I’ll leave it up to you. If you want to take it down to save it, you can. I don’t mind buying one.” He smiles but says nothing.
The guest bedroom is small, but would work as an office or kid’s room. I chuckle at my thoughts. Vaughn and I are barely talking and kids come into my brain. Yikes. I sigh, saddened by the thought that I miss him. I move onto the master, which is a bit bigger than the second room. It has a walk-in closet and its own bathroom. Again nothing overly huge, but it will work until I decide to buy or build a house. This is a cute starter house, but not where I would want to stay…not unless Keaton could do some serious adding on.
Keaton comes walking into the room. “Mr. Daily, will you give us a few minutes.”
“Certainly. I’ll be in the kitchen.” He walks out of the room and Keaton closes the door.
He turns back to me. “The house is in good shape. The windows are outdated, as well as some of the flooring, but I don’t see anything that would say don’t rent from him. I wouldn’t recommend you buy the house without planning on doing renovations, but to rent I think you’re fine.”
I sigh. “The location is great and the price is right. It’s not the house of my dreams, but I think I could make it home. The question is, do I keep looking, or do I take it, because I haven’t seen much else out there to rent.”
“Listen, sis, there’s no rush for you to get out of Mom and Dad’s house. I mean, I get you’re a grown woman and you want to be on your own, but it’s not like you have to be out by a certain time.” Remy leans on the door. “Why don’t you tell him you’re going to take the weekend to think it over and you’ll get back to him on Monday?”
“Good idea. Then it will give me a chance to browse around a bit more too to see if anything new has popped up. If it were a bit bigger and a little less outdated I would be all over it, but I don’t want to be locked in here for a year and be miserable.”
“Exactly.” Remy pulls the door open and the three of us walk out to the kitchen where we find Mr. Daily sitting at the kitchen table on his phone.
He looks up when we approach. “Thank you so much for your time. The house is lovely, but before I make any decisions I’d like to sleep on it. Can I get back to you on Monday?”
He stands up holding his hand out. “You can, but I’m not holding it for any one person. I’ve had others look at the place too and the first person to say they want it and pass the background check gets it.”
“I understand. I’ll be in touch. Thank you again for your time.” We all shake hands with the guy and start to head out the door.
Mr. Daily stops Keaton. “Can I ask, did you find anything I should be concerned with?”
He sighs. “Not really. The floors in the kitchen and the windows are outdated. The windows especially will need replacing soon. They’re getting drafty and need new insulation. The attic seemed to be dry and well insulated, that’s always a good thing. It’s a fine home. I’m just not sure Brooke feels it’s the home for her.”
“I understand. Thank you for your input and for coming to see the house.”
I hug
my brothers goodbye and head home for dinner with my parents.
Chapter 14
Brooke
We have a busy few days ahead of us. Everyone in the bridal party will be here shortly for the rehearsal dinner and I have to say my body is racked with both nerves and excitement. I’m really excited for Remy and Kenzie’s big day tomorrow, but I haven’t seen or spoken to Vaughn much, and I know he’ll be here tonight. We’ve managed a few text messages throughout the week, but that’s it. I can’t help but feel like he’s avoiding me. We really need to talk or I need to move on, and that will crush me. I’m hoping he at least gives me the chance to tell him how I feel about him.
“Hey, sis.” Keaton walks in the door and for once he’s early. Actually, now that I think about it, he hasn’t been late since that family dinner when Mama yelled at him and smacked him hard on the back of the head. I guess she’s finally gotten through to him.
“Hey, Keaton.” He kisses me on the cheek and hugs me.
“Look here,” Mama calls out, picking up her camera and taking a photo of my brother and I. Mama has become quite the photographer. I heard her telling my father she wants to take some photography classes when she retires to give her something to do. I can’t really see her giving up teaching, she loves her kids, but I can tell she’d also make a great photographer, so maybe she can combine her loves and photograph children. “Keaton, can you go help your father with the chairs around the yard?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m just going to drop my stuff upstairs first.” She nods at him and he runs off.
I point over my shoulder with my thumb. “What’s up with him?”
“Whatever do you mean?” I give Mama a look. “To make up for scaring me, he promised to help with the setup today. He apologized, and now he’s trying to be better about being on time.”
I nod. “Good. What’s with the bag?”
“It’s hot, dear. The man will need a shower before the party starts later.”
“I’m glad he’s here to help.”
“Me too. Now come here and help me with this mac and cheese. I’m surprising Kenzie with it as part of dinner.”
My eyes go wide. “Is that her mama’s famous recipe?”
Mama smiles. “It is. I managed to get it from Aunt Kenderly.”
“Oh, you sneaky woman, you. You love this dish. Did you do it for Kenzie or so you could have it too?”
Mama gives me a side grin. “Brooke Leah Bennett, I did this for Kenzie. Now if that happens to mean I have the recipe for future use, well, I guess I’m a lucky woman, but I will always give credit where credit is due.” She gives me a stern look.
“Yes, ma’am.” I nudge her jokingly with my shoulder and she giggles, but we both get busy following the directions for the recipe, hoping to do it justice. I have no doubt it will be delicious, Mama is an amazing cook, and the recipe isn’t hard to follow.
Keaton comes running through the kitchen and out the back door to help my father get the backyard set up. We aren’t doing any decorations because people will be here early tomorrow to set the yard up for the wedding, and we don’t want a ton of cleanup at the end of the night. Mama is having some of today’s food catered to make life a bit easier. She’s ordered pulled pork, fried chicken, shrimp, and a vegetarian dish. We’re busy making the sides to go with it all. I made potato salad yesterday and Mama is boiling eggs for deviled eggs. As always, she’s over doing it, but that’s the way Mama is. I keep trying to remind her that the caterer will have tons more food tomorrow, but she won’t hear it.
Everyone is due here in a couple of hours and Keaton just ran up to shower. That means I’ll need to go next. I throw the green bean casserole into the top oven to get it going. “I’m heading upstairs to get my stuff ready.”
“Okay, dear. Thanks for your help.” I kiss Mama on the cheek and run upstairs to get ready.
I pass Keaton in the hallway. He’s walking toward his room wearing nothing but a towel. I shake my head. He’s always doing that and it used to annoy the hell out of me. Of course, he’s lived alone for a while now, so he probably thinks nothing of it. I grab my clothes and run to the bathroom to begin the process of getting ready. I’m making quick work of it. I want to be back downstairs when Vaughn gets here. I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve seen him and I’m hoping to spend some time with him today.
I make it back down before any of our guests arrive, but Kenzie and Remy are here, along with her aunt and uncle. I quickly say hello and go back to the kitchen to see what I can help Mama with. When she tells me she’s all set, it leaves me feeling antsy and lost. I need to keep myself occupied or I’ll go crazy waiting for him to get here. I begin wiping down the island in the kitchen where Mama and I had been working earlier. “I already did that, dear, but thank you.” I nod my head and dry it off. I’m starting to wish I took longer to get ready when Dawson comes in carrying Becky, and Kayla has Beau.
“Hey guys.” I take Becky from my brother. “Hey pretty girl.” She giggles and squirms from me tickling her.
“Dad’s out back. I’m going to go take her into the yard.” I walk out back with her and put her down in the grass. She runs to the bin my parents have with her yard toys in them. When I get back inside, Remy is holding Beau, playing with him.
“We should all go outside. People are going to be arriving soon.” We all step back outside, and sure enough Lilly is walking into the backyard.
We’re now waiting on Vaughn and the priest to get here to go through the rehearsal. The caterer is talking to my mom about the food they have to set up and where she wants it. While she’s handling that, Keaton is playing with Becky in the grass and my father sits enjoying a beer. “Are you excited, Kenzie?”
“I’m so excited. It’s funny because I thought I would be nervous, but I’m really not. I can’t wait to get the ceremony over with and have some fun.”
“You may be nervous in the morning.” Aunt Kenderly nudges her shoulder.
“Maybe, but I don’t think so.” She smiles at her aunt.
Remy comes over and kisses her on the cheek. “She’ll be fine. She’s such a strong, confident woman, I have no doubt she’ll get through it no problem.”
“Awww, what did you do wrong that you have to kiss up, Rem?” I bust my brother’s balls.
He puts me in a headlock and starts to noogie me. “I didn’t do anything, brat.”
“Hey, stop. You’ll mess my hair.”
“Don’t mess her hair, dude. You’ll never hear the end of it.” I hear Vaughn’s voice and instantly smile. He lets go of me and shakes hands with his boy. “What’s up, man? Sorry I’m a bit late. Things are really crazy at work.”
“Don’t stress it, man, just glad you can be here.”
I smile shyly at him. It’s weird being with him with my family around. We haven’t spent much time together in front of them and the last time we were together at my parents’ we actually didn’t spend much time together, he hung with my brother more. He gives me a small smile, but I can tell he’s still keeping his distance. The smile looks slightly forced and it breaks me a bit. I need to hold it together through the wedding tomorrow and then I can discuss our relationship and where it’s going, if anywhere. It may even be time that I’m honest and tell him how I feel about him.
The priest shows up and he pulls Kenzie and Remy aside to go over the details of the wedding. When they are ready, he makes a quick announcement, and in no time we’ve managed to practice walking down the fake aisle that will be set up in the morning. The archway is already in place but it hasn’t been decorated yet. Mom had it delivered today, that way we could see where it would be and have an idea on how we would be walking through the yard.
As soon as we’re done, Mom announces that dinner is ready. Everyone walks over to the buffet that is set up on the deck to make our plates. I’m sweating and my stomach doesn’t feel well from the tension rolling off of Vaughn. We have to walk down the aisle together, and I know it was set up that
way because we’re dating, but now I wish it weren’t. His touch lights my skin on fire, and right now I’m not sure I affect him the same way he does me.
I make a small plate and make my way down to the table to sit with Mom, Dad, Aunt Kenderly, and Uncle Jasper. I take a seat and Aunt Kenderly smiles at me. “How’s the new job?”
“It’s amazing. I absolutely love what I do.” I smile at the easy question.
“It has to be hard some days,” Uncle Jasper says.
“Of course. There are days when I’m on-call and I have to go in for emergencies, or we have to put a pet down, but I think the hardest part for me is when someone doesn’t pay attention to their animal and they end up eating something that can seriously hurt them. One woman told me she watched her cat eat something because she was afraid to reach into the cat’s mouth and take it out. We had to operate to remove a piece of her kid’s toy from its stomach.” I shake my head. “It’s hard to not let my emotions and my personal feelings get in the way.”
“That’s awful.”
“I know, and we had to give the cat back to her. Lord only knows what she’ll let the cat eat next.” I shake my head. The conversation continues on with crazy stories my father and I have experienced, he in the human medical field and I in my pet world, and before I know it, we’ve been talking for well over an hour.
I excuse myself to throw my plate away, and that’s when I notice Vaughn is no longer in the yard. He’d been sitting with Remy, Kenzie, Lilly, and Keaton. I can’t help but wonder where he’s gone. I’m standing by the food table, scanning the yard, when Remy walks over. “Hey, have you seen Vaughn? I’m a little worried. He disappeared about twenty minutes ago.”
“I’ll find him.” Dropping my plate in the trash, I head into the house to use the bathroom. The downstairs bathroom is empty, but I run to the upstairs one to leave it open for guests. When I get there, I see him.
“You’ve been avoiding me.” I stand behind Vaughn, checking out his muscular body through the fitted t-shirt he’s wearing.
