by Abbi Glines
I would have to be careful about that. I’d only cared for one other boy and I had loved him. There had been no other boyfriends or dates. Just Will.
Until now… and I wasn’t sure how to do this. Any of it. I just knew I wanted to.
Saul tugged my arms free from their crossed position over my chest and then with both hands took my hips and pulled me against him. When his lips touched mine, I was ready. This kiss was different. It was deeper and there was more emotion attached to it. I slid my hands into his hair and savored the taste of him. Everything about Saul was sexy and my body was reacting to that fact.
When his lips left mine and began to brush along my jawline, I shivered. He lifted me up then and sat me on the counter. His hands moved down to my bare thighs and he looked me in the eyes, but he didn’t move any closer. I wanted him to. My entire body wanted him to.
“You’re special. It’s the main reason I tried to stay away from you,” he whispered then pressed a kiss to my cheek. “But I’m a man and if we keep doing this, I’m gonna want more.”
I didn’t see a problem with that. Right now my entire being wanted more. “Okay,” I replied.
He chuckled. “Don’t look at me like that, Henley. I’m being good here. It’s a rare thing. Let me succeed at it.”
A lot happened today. He was beyond weary. I could see that in his eyes. He was also right. I had stuff to process and sleep would be nice. Sighing in defeat, I nodded. “We could both use some sleep.”
“Yeah, we could,” he agreed then stepped away from me and I felt instantly cold. I wanted him to come back and for us not to care what was right. For once I wanted to just act on how I felt.
He glanced at the door then back at me. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.
I wanted him to stay but that was again too much, too soon. “Okay,” I managed a small smile.
We stayed just like that for another moment, staring at each other. I wasn’t sure if he was about to change his mind. A large part of me hoped he did. Finally, his shoulders dropped and he stuck his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “I’m gonna go.”
I nodded but said nothing.
He looked torn as he finally broke our locked gazes and walked toward the door. I jumped down off the counter, thinking I should follow him to the door and at least say goodnight. However, he was already walking out. He didn’t glance back as he closed the door firmly behind him.
I stood there until his truck lights came on and he backed out onto the street. Then I went and locked the door, turned and looked at the letters from my mom’s box before turning off the lights and walking past them on my way to the bedroom.
The next thing I knew I was reaching for my phone to shut the alarm off. Groaning I stretched and wished I could just go back to sleep. It felt as if I had just laid down. Getting up at four every morning was getting old. Maybe I would try and figure out my recipes in order to write them down for someone else.
My feet hit the pink fluffy shag rug by the bed and I stood up. Yesterday had been a lot. Now, that I faced going into work and seeing Hillya again, I was brought back to Rebel and who he was and who he could be to me and Rio. Thinking of how I would even bring up the subject of Rebel with her was an obstacle I wasn’t ready for today. I didn’t know when I would feel prepared for that and if I even should. It was very likely she already knew.
Saul had said he would see me today. I didn’t know how or when that would happen but the thought of seeing him made me smile. It helped get the heavier things off my mind or at least push them back and not dwell on them so much.
Twenty
It was right after the breakfast crowd and just before the lunch rush when Saul came walking into Signed Sips. I hadn’t looked up when the bell signaled that the door had opened because I was busy writing the new lunch acai bowls on the daily specials’ board.
“Hello! What can I get for you?” Emily asked in her flirty voice and that got my attention. I took a quick glance to see who had made her switch from her regular voice to the one she used for cute guys only. Saul’s gaze was fixed on me and the bubble of excitement that came with seeing him there should have concerned me; it didn’t.
“Hey,” I said to him, putting the chalk down and walking over to the counter.
“Oh, you know each other?” Emily asked with curiosity.
I gave her a smile and replied, “Yes. I’ll help him.”
She simply nodded, but the twinkle in her eyes told me I was going to be questioned the moment he left. “Okay, I’ll go to the back and get those… uh… things we need,” she said, then backed away a few steps watching us before turning and hurrying through the kitchen door.
“Did I come at a bad time?” he asked me when I looked back at him from the swinging door Emily had just went through.
“Not at all. Perfect timing,” I assured him. His eyes still looked weary and the dark circles weren’t gone. “How’s Lily?” I asked.
He sighed before answering, “Better, I think. I stopped by this morning to check on her. They’re going to let her out later today, but the doctor strongly suggested I get her in a rehab facility again.”
“How long has it been since she was in the last one?” I asked.
“A year,” he replied, looking grim. “There are things that set her off. Honey passing was only a matter of time before this happened.” He said that part slowly, as if he were unsure if bringing up Gran’s death was a good idea.
I dealt with Gran’s death daily living in her house. It didn’t sting to be reminded. Waking up here every morning was making it easier.
“Are you going to send her to rehab?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Fuck if I know. She’s adamant she doesn’t want or need to go. She cried on me this morning, promising she wouldn’t run off again. I just, don’t know.”
My chest ached for him. I wanted to help, but I didn’t know how. I wasn’t my gran. She knew how to handle everything. I felt clueless. Glancing at the bakery shelf, I saw the fresh praline cake donuts that Hillya had brought out just ten minutes ago.
“Want a donut?” I asked him. “They’re fresh.”
He grinned then. “Did you make them?”
“Nope. They are full of dairy and gluten. They even have pecans. Completely delicious.”
He looked as if he were going to say yes, but he did a quick survey of the display case then replied, “I think I’ll have the gluten and dairy-free chocolate chip muffin.”
It was the only item I had in the case. Everything else had sold out. “Are you sure? You don’t have to order something I made. It won’t hurt my feelings if you want a donut,” I told him.
“I’ve been wanting a chocolate chip muffin all morning,” he replied with a serious face that made me laugh.
“Sure you have,” I said, knowing that was a lie. I went over and took out the muffin then put it and a donut in a paper bag. “Just in case the muffin isn’t enough.”
“An Americano too please,” he added.
I went to make his drink and wished I could go sit with him while he ate. The lunch crowd would be in soon enough and I knew that wasn’t possible. But everything had changed so quickly with Saul. Getting to spend more time with him was something I was anxious to do. In the middle of my life being flipped open like a book because of Gran’s list, I found thoughts of Saul made me happy.
When I handed him the items, his hand brushed mine longer than necessary. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” I replied.
We stood there silently for a few moments then he placed a twenty on the counter. “I’ll see you after you get off work.”
I picked up the money. “This is too much.”
He smirked. “The rest is the tip.”
I started to argue when he opened the door and walked outside.
A twelve-dollar tip was ridicul
ous, but we split the tip jar daily, and Emily would be thrilled with this extra bonus. I rang up his items and put the change in the jar all the while smiling.
I got off work a little after two and headed home. I didn’t know when I would be seeing Saul, but I wanted to shower and get ready so when he showed up, I didn’t smell of coffee and baked goods. It didn’t take long to get myself cleaned up and when I was finished, I found myself back at the coffee table with the letters.
Not every letter was informative. Unless I wanted to know what color dress my mom had been planning on wearing to prom or if she had skipped study hall. But there had been three letters in the box that I read several times, each of them mentioning Rebel.
One had mentioned Rio’s mother. I was certain now that my mother and Rebel had been secretly seeing each other behind Rio’s mom’s back. They were cheaters. It made me view my existence in a whole new light and it wasn’t pretty. Mom had claimed she loved Rebel in one of the letters, but there were no letters from Rebel to her, confirming how he had felt about her. It was clear with his abandonment of both my mom and Rio’s mom that he hadn’t been in love with either girl.
I put the letters and photos together that I had found proof in that my mother and Rebel were together. The rest I tucked away back in the attic where they belonged. I sent Rio a text to let him know I found some information and when he had time I would tell him. I didn’t say anything about Hillya though. I would but just not yet. I wasn’t sure if I should talk to her or tell him first.
Saul hadn’t texted or called since I got home. He could be dealing with Lily getting released from the hospital and I didn’t want to bother him. This was all very new and kissing and attraction didn’t clarify how to handle things with him. I would wait until he contacted me. Sitting here doing nothing was pointless though.
I had the next item on Gran’s list and it seemed simple enough. That of course didn’t mean it was. I wasn’t sure I wanted anymore revelations right now. Taking a hat box filled with my gran’s scarfs, some costume jewelry, and a beaded purse that I had never seen her carry to a Miss Keerly Evans didn’t seem like it could lead to anything. Unless I was going to find out that Keerly Evans was my long-lost cousin or sister or even that I was adopted and this was my real mother.
I seriously doubted all those things and put the address Gran had left into my GPS then took the hat box to my car. The house was only ten miles away. I could get this done and marked off the list. That would leave me with only two more things to do before it was complete.
The address was located in a nice subdivision just out of town. The homes were newer and all large. The driveways had bikes, basketball goals, and other items that said kids lived there. The back yards had tall privacy fences and I imagined pools. When I pulled into the driveway of Miss Keerly Evans’ home, there was a three-car garage tucked off to the back left of the house and one of the garage doors was up. I could see a new Mercedes SUV parked inside.
This looked harmless enough, but thanks to Gran’s previous request, I was still a little nervous as I walked up the sidewalk with the hat box in my hands. “Please, Gran, just let this be simple. No relations I didn’t know about or life-changing events,” I whispered before I reached the front porch.
The two large wooden doors looked like elaborate barn doors. I pressed the doorbell and waited. This was one of the larger homes in the subdivision and I wondered why someone who lived here would want Gran’s old scarves and fake jewelry.
When the door on the right opened, a lady with long pale blonde hair draped over one bare tanned shoulder stood there smiling at me. She wore a pair of white shorts and a hot pink tank top. Her feet were bare and her toenails were painted the same color as her shirt.
“Hello,” she said then looked from me to the hat box. It took only a moment for her to recognize the box. I could see her eyes widen before they shifted back up to meet mine. “You’re Honey’s granddaughter.”
I nodded. “Yes. Are you Keerly Evans?” I asked.
Her bright smile widened and her perfect white teeth made you wonder if there was any flaw on this woman. “Oh no, I’m Isla Evans. Please come inside,” she said, stepping back. “It’s blazing out there today.”
I came inside the house and it smelled of coconut. It was as if the house had been bathed in suntan oil. Isla closed the door behind me and walked over to the wide curved staircase and called out, “Keerly!” Then she turned back to me. “She’s going to be so excited.”
“Great,” I replied unsure what else to say.
“Would you like something to drink? I just made a pitcher of fresh lemonade. Keerly likes to help me squeeze the lemons. It takes entirely too long, but it entertains her so that’s how we do it,” Isla said, just as small footsteps caught her attention. We both turned to look up the stairs at the railing and a little girl with dark brown curls and big brown eyes stared down at us.
“What Momma?” she asked and I understood then. They must go to Gran’s church. Gran loved to keep the nursery and preschool at church. Keerly must have been one of her little friends.
“Honey sent you something.” Isla glanced back at me. “Her granddaughter brought it to you.”
The little girl’s small chubby hands grabbed the rails as she peeked through them down at me. She looked to be about three maybe. “But you said Honey went to live with Jesus.” Her voice sounded sad and unsure.
“She did, but Honey wanted you to have something of hers,” Isla explained.
Keerly studied me a moment then she noticed the hat box. Her eyes lit up. “Oh! It’s Honey’s scarves and jewelry!” she exclaimed and turned to run down the stairs.
“Careful! Hold onto the rail!” Isla told her, walking over to meet her daughter as she reached the bottom.
Keerly ran right past her mother and came to me with her hands held up anxious for the box. I placed it in her little hands and she sat it down immediately and took the top off. “It’s all of them, Momma!” she said and began to pull out the scarves and drape them over herself.
Isla looked up at me. “Honey babysat for us when my husband and I had a business dinner or just needed a night out. She always brought this box and she would dress herself and Keerly up in the scarves and jewelry. She made dresses with the scarves and-”
“The purse! She gave me the purse!” Keerly said with pure joy, jumping up with the beaded purse and clutching it to her chest as if it were the most precious thing on earth.
“She sure did,” Isla replied and patted Keerly on the head affectionately.
Isla looked back at me. “Thank you for doing this. She’s missed Honey and well, this is just really special.”
“I’m glad Gran sent me,” I told her honestly. Seeing how my Gran had impacted yet another life felt good.
“Come have some lemonade,” Isla said again. When I hesitated, she said, “Or at least take some to go.”
Keerly looked up at me then, her face suddenly very serious. “When is Honey coming back from staying with Jesus?”
Isla bent down then and took her hand. “Sweetheart, remember I told you she can’t come back.”
Keerly’s little shoulders fell and with them, the lump in my throat rose. I understood all too well what it felt like to miss my gran. “I wish she had stayed here,” Keerly said.
Isla hugged her and looked up at me apologetically. “I know,” she soothed.
“When I start missing her, I talk to her. I think that even though I can’t see her that she can hear me,” I said then.
Keerly studied me a moment. “Does it make you not sad anymore?” she asked.
“Not completely. It’s okay to be sad and miss her. But she would want to know you’re happy and enjoying the things she left you. So, I try to think about the good times I had with her and smile.”
The little girl sighed and then put a scarf covered in pink hydrangea
s up to her chin and inhaled. “These smell like her,” she said, then smiled up at me. “She made good cookies.”
I nodded. “Yes, she did. The very best cookies.”
“She smelled like cookies,” Keerly added.
I laughed. “She did!”
Isla stood back up and I could see the unshed tears in her eyes. “Thank you,” she said.
“Gran would love to see how happy these things made her. I’m glad she sent me, so I could witness it.”
Isla nodded and sniffled. I could tell she was struggling with not crying. It was time I left.
“It was so nice to meet you both. I need to get going. I have some other things to get done,” I told her and she nodded again, reaching up to wipe at a tear that had escaped.
I looked back down at Keerly. “Bye bye, Keerly. I am so glad my gran’s scarves are safely with you now.”
The little girl nodded then waved her small hand at me.
When I was back in the car, I let out a deep sigh of relief. There was no big revelation. Nothing new for me to figure out. It had been a simple task that Gran had wanted done. Nothing more. Thank Goodness.
Twenty-One
When I pulled into the driveway, the grass was freshly cut and a sweaty, dirty Saul was sitting on the top of the front porch steps. I climbed out of the car and made my way up to him. “You cut the rest of the grass,” I stated the obvious.
He smirked. “Looks that way.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I told him.
He cocked one eyebrow. “Because you were going to?”
I bit my bottom lip to keep from smiling. How was he even more attractive all dirty and sweaty? I had never been a fan of guys in tanks, but when one had arms like Saul, they worked. Seriously worked.
