Addie took a quick shower and then dressed in a pair of comfortably worn jeans and a fitted yellow cotton tee before going downstairs. Aunt Janie had told her to sleep in as long as she liked and had promised to save a couple of cinnamon rolls for her. Glancing at the clock, Addie bit her lip. It was already noon. But then she remembered the two hour time difference and felt better. Technically—if she went by Idaho time zone—it was only ten o’clock.
The lingering scent of baking bread made her stomach rumble as she descended the stairs. She rounded the corner and entered the kitchen. Warmth and security filled her when she saw Aunt Janie sitting at the table, her head bent down as she read a magazine. Her aunt’s trendy short hairstyle, tinted a few shades darker than her natural color, made her appear much younger than her seventy plus years.
She glanced up and grinned. “Good mornin’, sugar. Did you sleep okay?”
Addie laughed. “Don’t you mean good afternoon?” She slid into a seat next to her aunt. “I’m sorry I slept in so late.”
Janie’s warm hand covered her own. “Baby girl, you needed the sleep.” She stood up and moved to the kitchen counter. “I saved you a couple of cinnamon rolls. Do you want hot chocolate or milk to go with them?”
“Cold milk sounds wonderful. Thank you.”
While her aunt poured the milk, Addie bit into the bun. The warm icing dripped down her fingers. “Mmm. This is so good.”
Her aunt chuckled and placed the glass of milk on the table. “I’m glad you like them.” Aunt Janie sat back down. “Now, let me tell you about my plans today.”
“Okay.” Addie licked the icing from her fingers. “But remember I don’t want you worrying about me. Honestly, if I get to sleep in, eat cinnamon buns and go exploring today, I will be a happy camper.”
A smile lit up Janie’s face. “Well, sugar, I think that sounds like the perfect vacation. I’ll make sure you get fresh cinnamon buns every day.”
Addie took a small bite. “Yes, but by the time I leave I’ll have to pay the airline for my extra weight.” And start an exercise program, she thought cynically.
Her aunt eyed her critically. “You could use some extra weight. You’re too skinny as it is.”
Addie smiled, but didn’t take it too seriously. According to her aunt, anyone without a double chin was too skinny. “So, what are your plans for the day?” Addie asked as she reached for the glass of milk.
“The church my friend Hazel attends is in need of a new sound system. I volunteered to help make pies today. They’re being auctioned off, along with other baked goods for a fundraiser later on this evening.” Janie glanced at her watch. “And I’m late. I don’t expect I’ll be home until around seven. You can come with me if you want, or you can just hang around here for the day.”
Addie was anxious to explore her aunt’s yard. The gorgeous landscape would be fun to photograph, and hopefully there would be a shot good enough for the contest. “I think I’ll stick around and play with my camera. Your yard looks so incredible.”
“Thank you.” Janie studied her for a few seconds. “I feel badly about leaving you all alone. Why don’t you let me call Chase to come over and visit with you.”
“No way.” Addie shook her finger at her aunt. “In all the excitement of arriving last night, I didn’t get a chance to scold you for being so sneaky. Your car was not giving you trouble. Chase told me you’d asked him to pick me up a couple days earlier.”
A spark of mischief lit Janie’s eyes. “I wasn’t being sneaky, just clever.”
“Ha! All your cleverness was for nothing. I told Chase I’m not into dating right now and we both agreed to be friends.”
“Maybe he’s just not your type. There are plenty of nice young men I could introduce you to.”
“Not interested.”
“Addison, stop being so difficult. Our new youth pastor is a very eligible bachelor and I’ve been telling him all about you.”
Addie started to laugh. “If you knew my history with eligible clergy you wouldn’t be so eager to introduce me.”
“What happened?”
“I’m not telling you, but if you try to set me up with him I’ll have to confess how I single handedly trashed a spiritual retreat by making one simple mistake.”
Aunt Janie narrowed her eyes. “I see you’re just as stubborn as you used to be.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Well, sugar, that is just fine by me.” She stood up and kissed Addie on the head. “I’ll just call Chase and let him know he can stop by as a friend.”
“Aunt Janie!” Addie sat up straight. “Don’t you dare call him.”
Her aunt slung her purse over her shoulder. “Oh, all right. I won’t call him.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart,” Janie said, making an X with her finger over her chest. “You have fun and call me if you need anything. I’ll have my cell phone tucked in my apron.” She turned to leave but looked back over her shoulder. “By the way, the pulled pork from last night is in the fridge. I made fresh rolls this morning so you can make yourself a sandwich whenever you’re hungry.”
“Mmm. I can’t wait.”
Janie grinned. “I’ll see you later.”
Addie waved good-bye and enjoyed every single bite of her early lunch. The sugar rushed through her blood stream, energizing her to get moving and outdoors. One glance out the window told her it was a beautiful day.
Before she went outside, she quickly jogged up the stairs to fix her hair. Since she had already slept away the morning, Addie didn’t want to take the time to straighten her hair. She parted her hair in half and made two thick braids. To avoid looking like she was twelve, she quickly put on a little makeup.
With one last look in the mirror, Addie grabbed her camera case and headed downstairs. The screen door on the back porch creaked as Addie pushed it open and stepped outside. A warm breeze slid over her skin, the fragrant scent of the flower blossoms tickled her nose. The big yard stretched out before her, encompassing nearly two acres. It was incredibly beautiful and she wasn’t sure where to start.
She followed a narrow brick pathway that wound through the yard and spied part of the white gazebo in the corner of the yard. As a child, she had dreamed about having her wedding reception in this very gazebo. The weeping willow trees, silhouetted in the background, created a perfect romantic setting. Roses and azaleas surrounded the structure, their vibrant blossoms contrasting against the white paint.
When she saw the purple wisteria cascading from the lattice, she stumbled to a stop. All at once the familiar pang of sadness assaulted her and she felt her eyes burn with emotion. No! She was not going to think about Brandon. Not today. There was no way she would wallow in her self-pity any longer. Besides, why ruin perfectly good make-up over her idiotic ex-fiancé?
Addie’s gaze returned to the gazebo and, despite her best efforts, she conjured up a vision of herself wearing a white wedding dress, holding a bouquet of flowers picked from her aunt’s gardens. Getting married and having children had always been one of her dreams. But in order to have children, she needed to have a husband. And in order to find a husband, she needed to date. Men. But who?
The image of Chase Nichols and his beautiful green eyes flashed in her mind, bringing a smile to her lips. Just the thought of him caused warmth to spread through her as if the sun had just broken through the clouds.
Yeah, he was cute, but riding home with a guy from the airport did not constitute as dating. Plus, there was the whole he-lives-in-Georgia-and-I-live-in-Idaho obstacle. All this deliberation about dating was giving her a headache. So, in true Scarlet O’Hara fashion, she decided not to think about it right now.
Determined to enjoy her day, she continued forward, past blossoming sweet alyssum, brilliantly colored tulips and purple and yellow pansies that grew in the many flowerbeds placed strategically around the yard.
The gazebo came into full view and Addie stopped, raising the camera to her e
ye. Branches from one of the weeping willow trees brushed against the white gabled roof of the structure. It was easy to visualize what it would have looked like in another era.
As she captured the image, Addie could envision the grounds swarming with women dressed in rich, colored silk gowns and matching parasols, their billowing hooped skirts swaying as they glided across the expanse, sipping sweet tea. While men, wearing new Confederate uniforms, clustered together, optimistically discussing the war as they prepared to go and fight against the North.
The Caldwell house had never been invaded by the North, but the family had still suffered along with everyone else in the South. Addie remembered her aunt telling her about her husband’s family. With their men off fighting, the fear of an invasion had made the Caldwell women bury all of their valuables for protection. Although they claimed to have unearthed all the buried riches, it was rumored that one of the wooden boxes had never been recovered. Every time she came to visit her aunt, Addie had dreamed of discovering the lost treasure. If only she knew where to look.
A light wind rustled the canopy of leaves above her. The sun created a lacy pattern of shadows on the grass as it penetrated the large trees. Shielding her eyes, Addie gazed up, admiring the way the new leaves shimmered in the light. Wanting to capture the amazing beauty, she found a shaded area on the grass and lay down, angling her lens up at the sky and lost herself in getting just the right shot.
* * *
Chase snapped his helmet on and guided his bicycle out of the garage just as his cell phone started vibrating in his pocket. One look at the caller ID made him wish he’d left his phone inside. It was his secretary which could only mean one thing: Mr. Barclay was looking for him.
“Hey, Shanna. What’s up?”
“The boss man is looking for you and naturally he called me.”
Chase could hear the irritation in his normally easy-going secretary’s voice. “Sorry, do you know what he wants?”
“No. I’m at the mall with my sister. All he said is have Chase call me immediately.”
“I really am sorry. I know he has my cell number.”
“It’s not your fault. For whatever reason I’m the one on his speed dial.”
Chase apologized again and ended the call. Wondering what his boss wanted, he scrolled through his contacts. Whit Barclay’s number was right below his daughters. Dating the boss’s daughter and then breaking up with her hadn’t been the smartest career move. At least Chase had allowed Hayden to make the claim that she’d broken up with him. He supposed—aside from being a talented graphic arts designer—that is why he still had a job.
He pressed Whit’s number and waited for the man to answer.
“Chase, thanks for calling me back so quickly.” Chase heard voices in the background. He had no doubt Mr. Barclay was on the golf course. “Listen, I’m having a few clients over to the house this evening and want you to be there. Five o’clock for cocktails. Dinner will be at six. Hang on, Son.”
Chase could hear him tell someone to hold the phone for him. Then he heard the distinct whack of a golf club hitting a ball. Whit cursed and angrily asked for his phone back. Whatever excuse Chase was going to use to try and get out of this party died on his lips. Mr. Barclay liked winning at everything—especially golf. He would be in no mood for Chase to decline the invitation.
“You still there?” Whit asked in an irritated voice.
“Yes, sir.”
“This is a formal event so wear a tux. By the way, you’ll be escorting Hayden.”
The phone went silent. Mr. Barclay had given his order and hung up.
Chase slipped the phone back in his pocket. Hayden is back home? He’d been relieved when she moved to California the year before to pursue an acting career. Hopefully this was just a visit. He wasn’t in the mood to play any of her games, and somehow he knew Hayden was behind the invitation.
Feeling aggravated, Chase straddled his bike. Why couldn’t Hayden just let go? It’s not like she really loved Chase. She just didn’t like to lose any more than her father.
He pulled out his phone again to access his music, but before he got a chance his phone chimed an incoming text. If it was work related, he better answer it so Shanna didn’t have to track him down again. At least one of them should enjoy their weekend.
There were actually two messages. One from Miss Janie and the other from Lexie. He opened the one from Lexie first.
Hey, my roomies and I are making homemade pizza tonight if you want to stop by for supper. Try to come because I miss you. Love Lexie.
Love? Obviously Lexie hadn’t taken him seriously when he’d told her a couple of weeks ago they needed to see other people. Lexi was pretty and sweet and he’d sure liked kissing her, but he wasn’t in love with her.
When they’d first started dating, Lexie told him upfront she wasn’t looking to get married for a long time. It had been exactly what Chase needed to hear because he wasn’t in the market for a wife either.
He wasn’t ready to make a commitment to her or any other girl right now. Before he decided to settle down for good, he wanted to see if he could really give his music career a chance. Once he married, he knew he might never have the opportunity again. Drew was increasingly adamant that they cut back on performances because of his growing family. Even Jackson seemed less enthusiastic since he’d married Sydney.
Despite what Lexi told him, after they’d been dating for a little over a month, she’d started dropping hints about them being completely exclusive. Chase flat out asked her what she’d meant by that and Lexie confessed she’d like to see if they could make their relationship more permanent. She’d even suggested moving in together.
Chase had been shocked. He and Lexie met at a church retreat and the extent of their intimacy had been a few hot make out sessions. Without feeling too guilty, he’d ended the relationship amicably. It looked like he’d been too nice.
Rather than make a less than friendly reply, Chase simply deleted the message. If Lexie persisted in trying to start things up again, he’d have to be more direct.
Next he opened the message from his neighbor and smiled.
Chase, thank you again for picking up Addie. You’ve always been such a polite, considerate boy, and I knew I could count on you to get my niece to me safely. She’s a real sweetheart and I’ve missed her. I hated leaving her home all alone today. If you get time, maybe you could stop by and say hello. Hugs.
Shaking his head at her not-so-subtle attempt at matchmaking, he keyed in a response, telling her he’d try to stop by. Not wanting to get interrupted again, he hastily accessed his playlist, placed the ear buds in each ear and pocketed the phone. Then he pedaled off before anyone else attempted to get a hold of him.
Although Janie was considered his neighbor, there was still a good half a mile in between their houses. As he approached her driveway, he decided he wasn’t in the mood to talk with Addie right now. Maybe after a good long ride he’d feel less stressed.
The first mile, Chase concentrated on the music, especially the guitar solos Brad Paisley was so famous for. The gifted musician had been Chase’s idol for as long as he could remember. While Chase could never claim to be as good as the popular country music artist, he knew he was pretty talented. He was banking on Reggie getting the talent scout to one of his performances so he could prove he had what it took to be successful.
Before he knew it, Chase had come to the mini mart on the outskirts of town. Crossing the road, he brought his bike to a stop and climbed off. He took off his helmet and ran his fingers through his damp hair. He felt better already.
After locking one of the wheels to a bike rack, Chase went inside the gas station and purchased an electrolyte fortified water along with a Georgia chili dog. The weather was too nice to be cooped up inside so he took his purchases and found a spot at an empty picnic table outside.
Chase took a big bite of his chili dog and pulled out his phone. He was hoping to hear back from Reggie today
. Since Thursday, Chase had only gotten his voicemail. He’d left several messages with his agent, but hadn’t heard anything from the busy man. If he didn’t hear something soon, he’d take a trip into Macon to catch Reggie at his office.
There wasn’t any new texts but he had one missed call from Hayden. The hotdog lodged in his throat as he debated about listening to the message or just deleting it. Whatever she had to say, Chase was sure he’d hear about it at the party tonight. Unless maybe she was calling to say she wouldn’t be able to be there.
He took a long drink of water and finally decided to go ahead and listen to the message. Hayden’s sultry voice was familiar and sounded just as seductive as she had the last time they’d talked.
Hey, Chase. You need to call me right away. I promise you won’t regret it. Talk to ya later.
Not regret it? When it came to Hayden, Chase had too many regrets to count. He deleted the voicemail and took another bite of his hotdog.
Trying to ignore that part of him that wanted to find out what Hayden wanted, he opened his Facebook app and searched for Addie Heywood. There was only one result and it wasn’t the girl he’d met yesterday. He typed in her full name which still only came back with one result that definitely wasn’t her. He was surprised. Didn’t everyone have a Facebook account? Even his mother had joined the social media site.
He finished his chili dog while scrolling through the newsfeeds. A recent post by Hayden seemed innocuous enough so he clicked on it and read all about her supporting role in a new television drama that would start shooting the pilot in six weeks. Until that time, she was home for an extended visit and wanted to reconnect with old friends.
Yeah, Chase was pretty sure he wasn’t going to be one of the many guys who’d be lining up at her house to “reconnect.” If he knew Hayden—and he did—the invitation would mean much more than just a friendly little chat to catch up.
An alert sounded that he had a Facebook message. Fantastic. It was from Hayden. He wasn’t sure he liked that others could see he was currently logged in. Hopefully, Hayden didn’t know he’d actually been reading her latest post.
Under a Georgia Moon: Georgia Moon Romance Book 1 Page 6
