Courted by Fall: A Courting Romance (In Hyacinth Book 2)

by Bree Cariad

  “I know.”

  Slowly her father rubbed his chin between two of his fingers. “Xander and I will discuss this and figure out if there’s a legal way around that. If not, you’ll have to refuse their financial aid.”

  Her head came up in surprise. “You’d let me go to school?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Of course I would. Though I don’t think the school you chose is quite right for you and I would have preferred you share with your mother and me your desire to go to college, I support you if this is what you wish to do.”

  Gnawing on her lip, she figured she might as well get the rest of it off her chest. “I forged my recommendations, too.”

  There was a slight pause before her father’s mouth formed unspoken words. He was counting. When he was angry, he counted until he lost some of it so that he wouldn’t take it out on his family. As his counting continued, she figured his anger was really up there. Before he finished, Xander spoke.

  “You’ll need to refuse the school, Cami.”

  “But—”

  “They’ll find out you forged the recommendations. Does being kicked out sound better to you?” Wincing at his clipped tone, she shook her head. He was right. That didn’t make it easy to hear. “So we know you will not be going to school this year. Maybe if you work on it and apply the right way, you can attend next year.”

  “In the meantime,” Alex spoke, having calmed himself down, “you’ll be under strict guidance, young lady. I know that much of this was built upon Damian’s mistakes, but that doesn’t make it right. You will show us you can be trusted again and you’ll do a lot of volunteer work to make up for it. Now, can you answer this for me?”

  She glanced up into his serious eyes and waited.

  “Is it that you do not wish to marry? Or that you’re too afraid to trust after what Damian did to you?”

  “I don’t know what I want,” she admitted.

  “That’s the most honest thing I’ve heard yet. So maybe it’s time you learned.” He stood up. “You’ll be staying down here where we can keep an eye on you. Until you prove that you’re worthy of having your privacy returned to you, your bedroom and bathroom are off-limits unless someone else goes in there with you. And yes, that means that when you need to use the bathroom that you must tell one of us. Once your body is up to it, you’ll have chores to do every day and Charlotte will find volunteer opportunities. We’ll need a list of the forged recommendations as you will make that up to each person whose name you signed.” Sniffling as the enormity of what she would need to do to get out of this mess seemed too big, she was surprised as he lifted her up, sat down and pulled her onto his lap, holding her close. “And you won’t be doing it alone. We missed all the cues you’ve been giving us. And looking back, you were sending up warning flags all over the place. As such, we’ll work with you on all of it.” He kissed her forehead and hugged her tight. “Don’t worry, dearest daughter. Things will look better on the other side.” A sense of relief hit her and she leaned against him.

  Her parents nor her brother hated her. It felt like most of the weight lifted.

  “And you will be punished for it once your body recovers,” Xan warned her. “You won’t be getting out of that.”

  Strangely enough, that was comforting as well.

  * * * * *

  “They have you on house arrest,” Kathy snickered on her third day home.

  “House arrest?”

  “Yeah, you can’t leave, can’t even move without their okay. Dad did that a couple times to me. I hated it.”

  Kathy was probably right. House arrest fit the situation. The problem was that Cami felt both comforted and infuriated by the fact. She was watched over by her parents and her elder brother. Kathy at least seemed to just take it all with ease. If the two were left alone together, she would just lean back and talk if Cami wanted to or just sit and not talk if she didn’t. The other three didn’t do not talking. They insisted she open up about things she would prefer not to. The only member of the family she hadn’t seen much of was Drake. While he was with them at meal times, he never looked at her and left quickly afterward.

  “Does Drake hate me?” she said, finally asking the question.

  Before Kathy could answer, her husband walked into the room. “Kath, can you help Mom with lunch? I want to go for a walk with my sister.” That was both an ominous and welcome statement. A walk meant she could finally get out of the house. But it also meant Xan would insist she talk. Wasn’t she done talking yet?

  The sun was hot as they stepped outside. Summer was two-thirds over, not that she supposed it mattered. Once summer was gone, there wasn’t anything left to mark the time. No school, no courting, no nothing. Just fall and its ability to turn the world brown.

  Placing his hand on her lower back, her brother guided her into the treeline that sat on one part of their property. The trees helped cut the heat and she knew where they were headed. One of their favorite spots, a copse of trees almost completely circular with a couple large boulders in the middle.

  After she hopped up onto one of the stones, he sat on the other one facing her. “Talk to me,” was all he said.

  Xan and Cami had always had a close relationship, which was strange due to the fact they were a decade apart in age. Not being able to tell him the truth had really hurt.

  “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

  His usually bright blue eyes turned to a slate gray, which always expressed strong emotion. “I don’t expect anything except for you to talk to me, Cami. Tell me anything. You’ve always been able to before. Why not this time?”

  It was true. Even when he lived away during college and when he first got his job in Chicago, she would call and tell him everything she couldn’t tell her folks. “I wanted to,” she finally admitted.

  “What was different?”

  Huffing angrily, she glared at him. “You and Kathy were in the last few months of your courting. You were busy and—” Her lips trembled and she bit her cheek so as not to cry again.

  “Ah, Cami. I’m sorry. I guess my mind was on so many other things I didn’t take the time to notice my own sister was unhappy.” Standing up, he moved over so he was seated next to her. Putting an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her close against his side. “Talk to me.”

  “I don’t know what to do, anymore,” she admitted. “All my life I was preparing to be courted by Damian and that went down the drain. I grasped onto college as a way out, but now that’s shot. And I don’t want to be seen in town.”

  “Why not?”

  “For the girls to lord it over me,” she admitted. “They know what they’re doing. I don’t.”

  He rocked her from side to side for a few minutes and it was so peaceful in the small glen that she felt herself relax a little. “Then I agree with Dad and Kathy. It’s time for you to figure out what you want. Not what anyone else expects you to want.”

  “Kathy?”

  He chuckled. “Yes, my little spitfire is a little annoyed at the whole town right now. She says they put too much pressure on this whole courting and spending the rest of your life doing what everyone else is doing thing. I agree with her, Cami. You’ve always just gone along with what’s expected of you without really looking beyond it to what you wanted.” A kiss dropped on top of her head. “If you decide to marry at some point, I want you to give him who you really are. Because that’s the only way for any relationship to work. Dad knew Mom was an independent woman who chose to submit to him when he married her and encouraged her to build her business. I was attracted to Kathy because she was both independent and dependent. The right man for you will be attracted to who you are. Don’t try to act in a way to attract someone. You’ll just get more Gregory Knills,” he said with a slight cough.

  Quickly, she jabbed him in the stomach making him laugh. “Can you believe it? My first suitor was a poop peddler.”

  Laughing loudly, he hugged her again. “Then stop acting like someone a man
ure handler would want.” There was a long time that they just sat there as a soft breeze brushed against the leaves. It was music she had always enjoyed and she hummed softly as they rustled. “What’s your favorite thing to do?” he asked quietly.

  Without thinking about it, she said what came naturally to her lips, “Take care of the home and—Ow!” Xander landed a strong swat on her backend and she looked up at him startled.

  “Not what you’ve been trained to say. What is your favorite thing to do?”

  She gaped at him for a full minute as she tried to process the words. Everyone expected her to want to take care of the home. And she did enjoy it. But… “In what context?”

  “Any.”

  He wasn’t helping. Narrowing her eyes, she looked over at the trees. What was her favorite thing to do? “I like clothes,” she said slowly, darting a glance at him, half expecting a snort or another swat, but he just watched her and waited. “Not so much making them, as putting together outfits and stuff. I helped Kathy pick stuff out for your dates.”

  A grin spread across his face. “She told me after we got married and her choices were… different. I asked her why and she admitted that you had coordinated her closet while we went out. What else do you enjoy?”

  Relaxing completely as this kind of game felt familiar, she began to talk and for over an hour, she brought up all the tiny things she enjoyed doing, none of which were going to get her anywhere. When she was done, he gave her another hug. “Cami, you have a wealth of skills and an incredible passion for fashion and helping people. Have you ever considered being a personal shopper?”

  “A what?”

  “People pay you to pick out their outfits.”

  “Get out!” It was an axiom she had never heard until Kathy moved into town but it was an incredibly expressive phrase. Unfortunately, it wasn’t one she could use with her own father. His response the one time she tried was, “Get the paddle.”

  Xan burst out laughing. “It’s true. The firm I work for employs them. All of my suits and work attire are chosen for me. Which Kathy says is a good thing. She thinks I have no fashion sense. But then she seems to be lacking there as well, so we match,” he added in amusement. “Think about it.”

  “How would I… if I decided to try something like that, get into it?”

  “Some of the higher scale department stores hire them, but I think most personal shoppers run their own businesses. It’s a word-of-mouth thing.”

  Nodding, she leaned against him. She didn’t see how she could do such a tremendously huge thing as run her own business, but it was fun to dream about.

  “Now I had best get you back to the house before Mom begins to fret. She still thinks you should be in bed ninety-nine percent of the time.”

  “And what do you think?” she teased, hopping off the boulder and grinning up at him, feeling a little lighter.

  “I think Dad should wallop you until you get your head on straight.”

  “Don’t suggest it, he just might,” she responded wryly and he burst out laughing, picking her up and swinging her around before setting her back down.

  “Ah, Cami, that’s the first time I’ve heard you in months. It’s about time my feisty sister made an appearance.”

  Feeling a little happy, she put her hand in his and they walked back to the house.

  She figured things would return to normal and she would be left wondering what she was going to do now when Xan brought their conversation up at dinner. He and Kathy were headed back to Tennessee the next day and she was sad they were leaving, but knew they had to go.

  “Cami, have you told Mom and Dad what we talked about today?” he asked as they passed the dinner platters around. Startled she looked up at him, seeing everyone looking at her, including Drake.

  “Uh, no?” Caught unawares, Cami knew it came out as a question. She was partially sure the whole personal shopper thing wasn’t a possibility, just a dream. Why bring it up? Besides, she was sure that wouldn’t be acceptable in Hyacinth.

  Xan raised an eyebrow even as Drake said, “What did you talk about?”

  As all eyes were on her, Cami glared at her elder brother and put her fork down rather sharply. “Fine. Xan and I were talking about stuff and as it turns out, he thinks I’ve got the skills to be a personal shopper.”

  Charlotte’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s a wonderful idea.” Startled by her mother’s reaction, Cami stared at her in shock.

  “What’s a personal shopper?” Alex asked, looking between the two of them.

  “Personal shoppers understand fashion,” Xander explained, “and they’re paid to choose clothing for people.”

  “And not just clothes,” Charlotte added. “Personal items, gifts… Oh, Camille, what a great idea. And I agree with Alexander. You do have the know-how, the skills, and the natural intuition for it.”

  Alex turned and looked at her. “And this is something you would enjoy doing?”

  “I don’t know.” Sure she loved to coordinate her mother and Kathy’s clothes and her closet was always coordinated, but doing it for others? That sounded complicated.

  “Then find out,” her father suggested. “There are quite a few people we know who wouldn’t know fashion if it smacked them in the face. I’m one. So, how about you sort me out and figure out if you like it.”

  Charlotte laughed. “Only if you promise not to grumble when she throws out your plaid.”

  “I like plaid.”

  “Oh!” Kathy said, sitting up straight. “Mom was saying she needed to get Dad some new clothes. For a doctor, he dresses dreadfully. I bet she would love your help.”

  It seemed a bit surreal that her life took a direct change in that moment. All the things she had thought were expected of her took a backseat to the dawning realization her family just wanted her to be happy. And whereas she used to think that meant doing what a Hyacinth girl was supposed to do, now it was becoming something different. Over the next few weeks, she completely re-outfitted her father, Dr. Bretherton, and was even surprised when her own mother asked for her assistance in changing her own look.

  But picking out clothes for family was a lot different than choosing clothes for someone outside of her inner circle. She hedged and managed not to make calls her mother suggested she make as the idea of calling someone to ask if they would like help with their wardrobe was terrifying and quite frankly made her want to throw up. However, it seemed as though the word got out.

  “Camille, phone!” her mother called up the stairs and as Cami had finally been allowed back in her room by herself in the last week, she had been going through her closet. Her parents had cut her cell phone off. She was only allowed to take it with her when she left the house, but as usually one of them was with her, it wasn’t needed even then.

  She took the phone from Charlotte. “Hello?”

  “Camille Covington?” The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it.

  “Yes?”

  “Camille. This is Jerod Kinsley. We spoke a couple months ago.”

  Chapter 3

  Grimacing as she now remembered where she had heard the voice before, she nodded. “Oh, yes, Dr. Kinsley, I remember you.” She had been sick and lying in a hospital bed listed as being suicidal. Surely that was as bad a memory for him as it was for her.

  A warm chuckle came over the line. “I’m not a doctor, Camille, and this isn’t a professional call. You can call me Jerod if you’d like. The reason I’m calling is I was talking to Gerald Bretherton as his clothing has taken a major turn for the better lately and he said you were the magician who pulled it off.”

  She gaped a little, unsure of how to respond. “Uh, yeah. I helped him with his wardrobe.”

  “Well, I guess my call has a bit of a professional twist to it, though yours, not mine. I’m hoping I can hire you to help me with my own wardrobe. If you remember what I was wearing that day, my clothing is a bit abysmal.”

  “You… want to hire me as your personal shoppe
r?”

  “Is that your title? Yes, I would.”

  Her heart beat a little faster and she realized she was sweating. “I’m just starting out, Dr, um, Jerod. I don’t know how good I am at… I mean, I know I’m good at fashion stuff, but you need to know I’m just starting.”

  That warm chuckle crossed the line again making her fidget. “I’m game. You can’t do worse than I do and like I said, I’ve seen the difference in Gerald’s outfits.”

  “Okay,” she said, beginning to gnaw on a fingernail. “Um, probably the first thing is we would need to get together so I can see your current wardrobe. Some people just need new pieces while others can use an entire overhaul.”

  He laughed again. “I have the feeling mine will be the latter. Would a day this week work for you? I have Tuesday afternoon open and Friday morning. Or the weekend is completely free.”

  “I’ll have to check. Where do you live?” She wasn’t allowed to drive herself right now and if he lived too far away this might not work. Driving up with her parents for a job would be as unprofessional as it got.

  “In Hins Creek. About ten minutes from Hyacinth. Though, if that’s too far, I can bring my wardrobe to you. Believe me. It will fit in one suitcase with room to spare,” he added dryly making her laugh.

  “Can you hold on a moment? Let me look at my calendar.” She hoped that sounded professional rather than what was really happening. I’m panicking – but in a good way – and need time to breathe.

  “Of course.”

  Placing the phone down, she hopped up and down on the balls of her feet for a few seconds. A client. She had an actual client. Turning around she darted into the kitchen where her mother raised an eyebrow at her.

  “He wants me to pick his wardrobe,” she said in an excited whisper. “A client. He wants to be my client!”

  Charlotte smiled. “Good. Who is he?”

  “Jerod Kinsley. He was the first therapist at the hospital.”

  “Oh. Well, that’s wonderful, Camille. What do you need?”