Her fingers were curled around his palm. They were both nervous. His brother’s sports car was parked in the driveway, bright yellow like a beacon in the night. Not over compensating in the least, he thought. His sister’s was another story. Beat up and from the eighties, it was the same one she’d had since high school. How she kept it running was a mixture of luck and her attraction to mechanics.
“Last chance,” he said as he threw his truck into park.
“If you don’t want to do this, you can take me home.”
“Oh, I want to do this,” he said as his stomach curled into a knot. “How do you want me to introduce you?”
“Her Royal Holiness Queen of the Floured Rolling Pin, Merryn the first.”
Austin smirked as his gut released a bit.
“Austin, I’m your woman, as long as you see me that way, I don’t care.”
Entering the house an unfamiliar boisterous voice was regaling the house with the tale of engine block repair. Obviously, he wasn’t the only one with a plus one this holiday.
As he walked into the living room with his fingers intertwined with Merryn’s, he took in the vision of Gretchen. The strawberry blonde hair of his sister was pulled up into some sort of bun. Wearing an ill fitting sweater dress that was too short for her age, leggings and boots. All of which would of put his father into an early grave. Next to her was her latest boyfriend, a big guy with a full dark beard that came to the middle of his chest and hair long enough to be pulled back into a binder at his neck. Although he was wearing a mock turtleneck, his tattoos were clearly visible, especially since his sleeves were pushed up to his elbows.
Brad was his normal three piece suited self with the fake plastered smile he always had around family. It never quite made it to his eyes, which were judging this new interloper to the family. Now, Austin felt better about his choice. Merryn was wearing a beautiful red button down shirt and black skintight jeans. Her boots, unlike his sister’s, were flats that came to her knee. His sister’s had a sharp heel that must be at least five inches.
“Austin,” Gretchen squealed finally catching sight of him. She jumped from the couch and embraced him. He was her big brother and had protected her, even when she didn’t want him to. “You have to meet Nash.”
The large, Austin assumed mechanic, stood. At least Austin’s height with about a hundred pounds extra, more in muscle than fat, Nash extended his hand and Austin shook.
“Merryn?” Brad said as he stood and gave her a long lingering look. “You look different out of the bakery uniform.”
“Yet, you look exactly the same,” she said with a fake smile. “You’re Austin’s brother?”
“If I would have known you two were so close, I would’ve led with that tidbit.” He continued to gawk at Merryn.
Austin couldn’t help wrapping his arm around her waist.
“Where’s Trinity tonight?” Brad asked.
“You hashed out the custody agreement, you should know she’s with her mother.”
“I did what my client wanted.”
Disgusted, Austin turned to Merryn. “You’ve met my brother?”
“I guess so,” she said. “But I haven’t met your sister yet.” Merryn extended her hand only to be pulled into Gretchen’s arms. Instead of pulling back, Merryn returned the hug.
“I’m so glad to meet you, what’s your name again?”
“Merryn,” Brad said before Austin could speak up. “She owns the bakery up the street.”
“Oh, I’ve been in there once before. Great food.”
“Thank you,” Merryn said graciously, keeping her back to Brad and her attention fully focused on Gretchen.
“We’ll have to stop there on the way out of town,” Gretchen said. “We’re staying upstairs with mom for a few days.”
“Come in, just don’t order egg salad.”
“What’s wrong with your egg salad?” Gretchen blanched.
“Nothing, it’s a joke.”
“Oh, I don’t get it,” Gretchen turned her head to the side.
Austin waved her off.
“Hello family,” Wendy, one of the care nurses, said as she wheeled his mother into the room.
His mom’s hair was done and she was wearing a red and green dress. Her eyes scanned the room to see it fully decorated. A tree, garland and stockings were up along with trinkets and a crèche.
Austin let Gretchen introduce Nash first to his mother.
She blinked a few times and Nash took her hand in his. Kneeling by her side, he shared a nice moment. Maybe his sister finally found a good guy.
After the rest of the family went to make their plates, Austin brought Merryn to his mother. He too, knelt by his mother’s side and he could see her eyes light up. “Merry Christmas mama, I wanted you to meet someone very special to me.”
Her eyes cut to where Merryn was standing.
“This is Merryn Sota—my—well, she’s my…”
“I’m the woman lucky enough to be spoiled by your son,” Merryn said as she took his mother’s hand in hers. “You’ve raised an amazing man and I’m so humbled to meet you.”
His mother smiled with her eyes and tried to speak.
“It’s okay mom,” he said. “Merryn runs the bakery where I get your sandwiches from. She’s keeping you with me.”
A tear formed at the edges of his mother’s eyes.
Pushing up, he gave her a big hug. If it had been a few years earlier, she would of patted his hand with hers. Now, that wasn’t possible. Their only communication came from the eyes, but that was enough. “I’ll get us all food, sit Merryn.”
She did and stayed next to his mother.
Gretchen was soon at her side on the couch with a mound of egg salad on her plate.
He watched as Merryn settled in with most of his family as if she’d been a part of it for years.
“You and the baker huh?” Brad said while dipping a carrot into ranch dressing and snapping it between his teeth. “Strange, she never mentioned me to you.”
“We don’t talk about over compensating customers that annoy her.”
“Nothing about the mistletoe,” he goaded as he continued to scan the counter where the food was laid out. “Hmm…why is it your women always find there way to me when they need a real man?”
Shoving Brad up against the refrigerator had a nice feel to it. Out if his mother’s vision Brad’s plate tinked and rattled as it hit the floor. With his forearm pressed hard against Brad’s windpipe, he watched as his brother’s face slowly filled with a bright red blush.
He struggled to pull against Austin’s arm. “You ever wonder why Trinity does so good at school,” he choked out. “Why I was so willing to help Rae out with the divorce.”
“Because you’re a slimy piece of shit that’s been a burr under my heel since you were born.”
“Austin,” Gretchen spat as she tried to pull him away. “Don’t do this today.”
“She’s mine,” Brad growled. “Everyone knows it.”
“Bullshit,” Austin said.
Gretchen pulled him from Brad and he bent over to gasp in hard breaths of air. “Rae’s like any woman, going for the strongest in the gene pool. In this family, hell in this town everyone knows who that is.”
“Not you. And don’t slander her name or try to claim my daughter as yours. The longest relationship you ever had was with Ms. February two thousand and two. I swear if mom didn’t want you to come around, I’d pay you to stay away. God knows you’d do anything for a dollar.” He turned and ran smack into Merryn who was standing with her hands wringing.
The look on her face killed him. She’d lost respect for him.
Sure, she didn’t know the whole story, the history between his brother and him. The way he’d always been touted as something bigger and better than the world. You’d think the moron would have figured out he’d been adopted and his parents wanted to treat him with kid gloves, afraid he’d realize he was their nephew and not their son. They were bloo
d, but a bitter nasty relation.
“Do we need to leave?” Merryn asked softly.
Austin looked over at his brother reloading a plate and his sister cleaning up the mess and shook his head. Them having a dust up was par for the course. When his mom had been healthy, Brad kept their fights away from the house. Now, as she neared death, he must be waiting for her to pass to get what ever he could from a nonexistent estate. Maybe there was something. Brad was the executor of her will, he should know.
“No, I think we’ve straightened everything out,” Austin said as he waited for Brad to leave the kitchen before Merryn and he got a plate.
Of course, when Brad left, he smirked at Merryn and her face reddened.
“Wanna tell me how you met my brother?” he asked.
“He wanted a sandwich, how else would I meet a Larsen man,” she retorted with a bit of sting to her voice. “I nicknamed him the suit in my head.”
“What was my nickname?” Austin asked.
“Haven’t come up with one yet. Guess you were important enough for me to remember your name.”
“What he said about Trinity.” Austin ran his hand over his face as if it would wipe it clean. “I don’t believe it.”
“Having seen her pictures I see why. She’s got your eyes and smile.”
“He’d always been free to do what he wanted in life, I shouldn’t hate him for it, and I probably wouldn’t, if he didn’t rub it in my face all the time.”
“On the fabulous scale, I’d say you were winning.”
“Don’t, I’m a farmer that hates his job, but doesn’t know how to do anything else.”
“Then learn to do something else. It’s better than being a man faking every part of his life. I’ve known high powered lawyers and they never acted like him. At least you are, who you are.”
Chapter Seven
By New Years Eve, Merryn was bracing herself for the second round of family fun, this time they were keeping it low key. Trinity would be in town by noon. Austin was going to break the news about his new relationship to her as they drove up from Cedar Rapids. Rae refused to come near Braden. Her parents had moved away once they no longer had to care for her. Merryn had overheard Austin’s side of the conversation, it seemed Rae felt if he wanted to be a father, he needed to come to his daughter. She wouldn’t even meet him halfway.
Buddy’s would have the whole block rocking which would help make Merryn’s apartment a fun spot for a party. She hoped. Her small tree was still up and she spent the afternoon making appetizers and bought sparkling grape juice. Austin said they usually watched movies to ring in the New Year, so Merryn made a special request to Alicia to get a few unreleased films. She could have made it directly to Erik, but she wasn’t ready to make that phone call. Part of her feared hearing his voice again. There was enough news coming from Hollywood she could keep up with his life without being a cyber stalker, but talking to him may cut short a relationship, she was falling into nicely.
Erik had been more than a husband, he’d been a best friend. Austin was becoming her confidant and lover, but a part of her feared she’d never get over her feelings for Erik. There was no reason to poke a dragon. Erik didn’t seek her out and she wasn’t going looking for trouble.
Right as she was setting out the pizza fixings, her phone buzzed with a message from Austin. They were downstairs. Wiping her hands clean, she checked over her display and decided it had to be good enough. The bell rang above her door as she opened it to see Austin with a nervous look on his face.
Next to him, stood a teenage girl that could have been a twin to Daisy. Her hair was the beautiful golden blonde, only she had two streaks of pink in the front framing her face. Thick black eyeliner outlined her eyes in a cat like fashion. With brown and gold eye shadow, making her deep brown eyes stand out more.
“Hello, you must be Trinity,” Merryn said as she extended her hand, sure she was going to get it bitten off.
The little scowl on Trinity’s face relaxed as she took Merryn’s hand and shook.
“Your father has told me so much about you.”
“Like what?” she challenged.
“Trinity,” Austin warned.
“What?” she asked as they both came in from the cold. “It’s a legitimate question. You spring some new woman on me—” Trinity looked at Merryn. “He hasn’t told me anything about you.”
The tone of her voice confused Merryn. Most teens would have had the scowl tone of you aren’t important enough to talk about it, instead Trinity seemed really irritated by her father for not bringing Merryn up.
“I swear he thinks I’m ten or something. I’m almost fifteen, I know you probably date. Especially with mom so far away. It’s not like I’m there to block you.”
“You’re blocking your mother?”
“No.” She sighed. “She just doesn’t date.”
“Okay,” Merryn said praying to change the subject. “I have stuff to make pizzas upstairs and some food. I also have copies of Wonderblat, The Cornell Keeper, and Treasure Game.”
“What? Those movies aren’t even out,” Trinity exclaimed. “How did you get copies of those?”
“I used to live in California,” Merryn said keeping her sister a secret. No reason to pull that card out unless she really needed to score points. “I have friends in the movie business.”
“I loved Treasure Game. I read all the books in the series over a weekend.”
“I’ve heard it’s pretty good.” Merryn caught the smile and thumbs up from Austin. “One rule, you can’t take pictures or put any part of them up on social media. Is that a deal?”
“Kirk Reynolds takes his shirt off right?” she asked.
The little girl excitement made Merryn smile. “It’s rumored. I haven’t watched them yet.”
“I cross my heart.”
Merryn led them upstairs and they prepared personal sized pizzas.
While they cooked, Austin started up the first movie and Trinity settled in. He came into the kitchen and loaded a plate full of treats.
“Did I go too far?” Merryn asked. “I want her to like me for me.”
“I think she’s more annoyed with me for keeping you a secret.”
“It was wrong of you,” Merryn teased.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and placed a small peck on her forehead.
“Impressionable teenager less than twenty feet away,” Trinity called, not taking her eyes from the screen.
“Has Kirk taken off his shirt yet?”
“Nope,” she said then turned her head sharply. “Continue on, I’m not that impressionable.”
Merryn laughed and laid her head on Austin’s chest.
Soon, all three were enjoying their pizzas. Trinity moved to the chair and stretched out her long legs on the ottoman while Austin and Merryn snuggled on the couch. Outside, the street was getting louder as the party flowed out of Buddy’s.
At midnight, Austin gave Trinity a kiss on her forehead as she lay snoozing, not as impressed with the last movie as Merryn had been. When he came back to the couch, he cradled her head in his hands before lightly kissing her lips. Her tongue licked at his lips and he happily opened to let her in as the sweet taste of sparkling grape juice filled her mouth once again.
A loud bang made Trinity come alive again, and groan as she caught them making out. “Is it after midnight?” she asked as she jumped to the window to check out the cause of the noise.
“Yes,” Austin said. “I suppose we better get home.”
“You probably should drive Lane and Ty,” she said as she glanced back at them. “I think they want you.”
“Want me?” Austin said as he stood and went to the window.
Another loud bang came from a snowball smashing against Merryn’s window.
“They break that window…” she warned.
“Hey Austin,” one of the dynamic duo called. “Austin, we know you’re up there. Put your pants on, we need a ride home.”
“Yeah, we need a ride. Buddy stole our keys,” another one yelled.
“I swear three years here and I never had anyone use my window as a form of communication.”
“See what happens when you mix with the locals,” Austin said with a wink. The old window creaked as he forced it up right as a third snowball flew through and smashed against his forehead.
“Oops, shit man you nailed him,” the first one laughed clearly blitzed.
“My bad. Um—Buddy took my keys.”
“Shocking,” Austin called back.
“Oh shit, oh shit. Fuck that hurt.”
“Do I want to know?” Merryn asked.
“Lane just fell on his ass—butt,” Trinity chuckled.
“Hey Trin, you’re in town?”
“Yes, Ty,” she replied with a bit of a dreamy tone.
Merryn knew that tone.
“You old enough to date me yet?” he teased back.
“No,” Austin spat. “I think a walk home might do you both good.”
“Help me up,” Lane whined. “My ass is freezing. Wow, the stars are really bright tonight.”
“That’s the street light moron,” Austin yelled. “My truck is around back, I’ll meet you there.”
“Thank you man, you could just get the keys from Buddy and we’ll drive,” Ty said.
“We’ll get ‘em in the morning when I bring Trinity in to hang out at Allison’s.”
“It was nice meeting you Trinity,” Merryn said and was surprised to get a hug from her.
Although Trinity was trying to have the tough look, she just couldn’t pull it off. She was still the girl from the small town. Even though she’d been away for a few years, Braden was still in her heart. “You too.” She gathered her things and headed to the door.
Austin leaned in and gave Merryn a goodbye kiss. “Happy New Year, baby,” he whispered. “I love you. For the first time in years, I’m looking to the future.”
Merryn gripped his biceps so hard she was afraid he’d yelp in pain, but she couldn’t help herself. She couldn’t feel her legs, they were complete mush underneath her. When she ran from California, she went until she hit a wall. It was hard and unforgiving. Although the people of Braden were warm and welcoming, she was too hurt to be healed fully.
Triple B. Baking Co. Page 9
