by Vella, Wendy
“Really hard,” Bailey added.
“I like her too. She’s the anti-Princess Aurora May now,” Maggs said. “Her hair’s never brushed, her face never made up, and her clothes are worn. She’s like another person.”
“She’s got attitude, that’s for sure,” Joe added.
She certainly has, Jack thought. He was getting small insights into her life. Today he’d learned she’d stopped being a vet to care for her dad.
The conversation ebbed and flowed around him while he thought about her. What did he feel for Rory Haldane? It wasn’t lust... was it? She was nothing like the women he usually liked to spend time with. Was that the reason she intrigued him? Was he so shallow he was interested in a woman who wasn’t interested in him? Was she a challenge? Or was it because he wanted her land?
Jack shut down that train of thought because he didn’t like where it was heading. He was good at that, and always had been. Avoiding his feelings and emotions was something he’d majored in.
Chapter 15
Rory slept for twelve hours and woke up feeling much better. Digging around in one of the hall closets she hadn’t been brave enough to touch as yet, she found her grandmother’s sewing bag, pulled it out, and went to sit by the fire.
Made of thick fabric with flowers embroidered all over it in different colors, the bag brought back more memories. Inside was neat, as it always had been. Pulling out a set of needles, she found a pattern wrapped round them.
Her grandmother had been making a blue woolen hat. The tears started as she thought about the woman they’d left behind.
“I’m sorry for not visiting you, Nana.” She pressed the wool to her chest, and there it was, her scent. Putting the knitting back in the bag, she left it on a chair in the living area. Maybe... just maybe she would finish the hat.
Getting her father’s briefcase out of the room she’d put it in, Rory studied it. The sides were hard, so she couldn’t cut into them, and the lock she’d already tried to force with no luck. There had to be a way to get in; she just wasn’t sure as yet what that was. Maybe she needed to pay the hardware store a visit.
Her cell phone rang. Picking it up, Rory looked at the caller ID.
“Hey, Leo, how are you?”
“Good, but I’m not ringing to talk about me.”
“Why are you ringing then?” Rory said amused by her brother’s abruptness. He’d always hated conversing via a phone.
“Is that tone I hear in your voice, squirt?”
She exhaled.
“No, as always, you’re the one with tone, Leo.”
“Why are you angry?”
“I’m not. Look, Leo, I’ve had a cold, I’m still a bit off, so how about you tell me why you’re calling?”
“Can’t I call my little sister just to check on her?”
“Yes.”
“You doing okay, baby girl?”
Rory sniffed. This on top of her grandmother’s knitting was making her weepy.
“Give me a minute.”
Putting the phone down, Rory looked skyward, then inhaled and exhaled several times.
“Okay, shoot, I’m under control now.”
“Why weren’t you in control before?”
“Leo!”
“All right, calm down. I’m your brother. I love you, and if something is bothering you, I want to—”
“You have to be shitting me.”
“What?”
“I’m in Ryker Falls, Leo, of course I’m off-balance. People hate Haldanes here.”
“That’s why I’m ringing.” Her brother sounded angry now. “Bas messaged me on FB, and in loud shouty letters told me to call him. I did.”
“Oh, Bas.” Rory, sighed all the anger leaving her. “Did he call to say hi?”
“Don’t be an idiot, you know damn well why he called me, Aurora May, and I’m telling you right now you are leaving town... today!”
Her brother only called her Aurora May when he was angry.
“Not happening.”
“Jesus, Rory. Someone slashed your tires!”
At least he didn’t know about the note.
“I know, I saw it.”
“Do not give me cheek about this. Get out of that town now!”
“No. Now I have to go, Leo. Don’t worry, everything’s going okay, and I’ve kinda made friends.”
“What the hell does ‘kinda’ mean?”
“Gotta go, big brother. Talk soon.”
He was still roaring as she disconnected the call. Switching the phone to silent, Rory decided not to go outside today. She went through Nana’s books, picked one, then settled in a chair. It was dark when she heard a car pull up outside a few hours later.
Opening the door, she found the Robbins sisters and Mandy.
“Hello, dear. We don’t have long, so change your clothes, and we’ll be on our way.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s quiz night, and we may not have taught you in school, but both Sarah and I remember how smart you were. So hustle it along now, Rory.”
“Ah, thank you for inviting me, but no thanks. I’m just going to stay home tonight.” Her eyes shot to Mandy, who shrugged.
“They won’t leave without you.”
“Move it now.” Miss Marla stepped up to the door and forced Rory back inside. “It’s colder than a brass seat in Yukon out here, dear.”
Rory stood to one side to let them in, then closed the door and followed the Robbins sisters and Mandy into the living area.
“Oh now, this is cozy,” Miss Marla said, looking around the room. “I like what you’ve done, Rory. Before, one feared for their shins. God rest her soul, your grandmother liked to collect things.”
“She did.”
It did look nice now she’d removed some cabinets, rugs, and knickknacks. Homey, Rory thought, especially with the curtains drawn and the fire roaring.
“We had knitting club here once every four months,” Miss Sarah said. “We could only move about one at a time due to space constraints.”
“I didn’t know Nana went to a knitting club.”
“She did, and told us you knitted too. We’re hoping to convince you to come along now,” Miss Marla said.
“Oh no, I don’t think that’s a good idea, considering everything going on.”
“We do, but there’s no time for that now. Go and get ready, Rory.”
“I don’t want to come.” She went for the direct approach.
“We don’t have a lot of time.” Miss Sarah tapped her watch.
Both women wore long black overcoats, and underneath she saw high-heeled black leather boots. Scarves in red and blue, and leather gloves. Elegant and immaculate as always. Mandy wore a thick coat and woolen hat in navy.
“Help me out here, Mandy.”
“I want you to come,” she said.
And those softly spoken words were enough to have Rory’s feet heading toward the bedroom. She’d treated that woman terribly in school. Tormented and bullied her. If in some small way she could make amends for that, maybe she’d leave Ryker Falls happier, with one regret crossed off.
“And put on some makeup, Rory. You’re too pale, dear!”
Reaching her room, she stripped out of her old comfortable sweatpants and shirt, then looked in the closet. While she’d cleaned the room, the closet still held her grandmother’s things, and six items of hers, which was all she’d brought to Ryker for her supposedly brief stay.
Black jeans were her best and newest option. She shimmied into them, and thought again about yelling out she wasn’t coming.
“Those fit you well, but what are you putting on the top?”
Rory wore a tank, so at least she wasn’t standing there in her bra when the Robbins sisters walked in.
“Ah... a sweater?” Rory said hopefully.
Miss Marla poked around in the closet.
“That’s Nana’s stuff.”
“I remember her buying this smart little faux fur jacket. We were in
Rummer, and I told her to get it. She only wore it a handful of times, and cursed me constantly every time for making her waste money on it.”
It was gray, and Rory had seen models wearing this kind of thing on runways.
“I can’t see Nana in that.”
“Hence she rarely wore it.” Miss Marla sighed. “I tried many times to change her style.”
“But it will look fabulous on you, dear.”
“What? No way,” Rory backed away.
“Put this on with it.” Miss Sarah held up a long-sleeved fitted white T-shirt.
“Is there any point in protesting?”
“It’s futile,” Miss Marla said.
Rory lifted her arms. It was shock, she told herself, and nothing to do with the fact someone was showing interest in her. For so many years she’d had only her father for company.
“Oh that’s great,” Mandy said, wandering in with her grandmother’s knitting in her hands. “We’ll get this finished, Rory. I’m just getting in a few rows for you.”
“Thanks,” she said, having no problem with this gentle woman helping her finish the hat.
“What about this in her hair?” Miss Sarah held up an ice-blue scarf.
“It’s a scarf,” Rory said as her arms were stuffed into the faux fur jacket. “And meant to go around my neck.”
“Really, Rory, for a young, attractive woman you have no clue,” Miss Sarah said.
“Come on... really? A scarf?”
“Sit on the chair, dear.”
She was forced down with a firm hand.
“I’m sorry about your favorite teacup and saucer going missing from Tea Total.”
“So are we, dear, but as there’s little we can do about it, we’ve moved on,” Miss Marla said.
“I don’t really go in for the girly-girl stuff anymore.”
“Don’t fight it,” Mandy said, still knitting.
She’d taken off her jacket, and looked nice in jeans and a soft peach-colored cardigan. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and her face made up. On her feet were heeled boots.
“You look lovely, Mandy.”
“They dressed me tonight. I’ve learned to just go with it now.”
“But I’m not even related,” Rory said, grimacing as her large-toothed comb was pulled through her hair.
“Get my bag, Mandy dear.”
She was back in a minute, handing over said bag. Rory sat and let them do what they wanted, and then lifted her face for whatever they were doing to that.
“Not too much, please. I don’t really wear makeup now.”
“That’s weird, considering at twelve you wore more than most adults,” Mandy said, needles clacking.
“God, did I look terrible?”
“A bit.” Mandy giggled.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s done. Don’t apologize anymore, Rory... really, it’s okay now.”
“Right, you’re done. Let’s go, or we’ll miss out on a table in the front row. Joe wouldn’t let me book one, which I told him was mean. Put on any heels you have, Rory.”
“It’s a bar, Aunty Sarah. Bookings are for the restaurant,” Mandy said.
“Do I get to look in the mirror, in case I’m walking out the door looking like a clown?” Rory said, stomping her feet into the only pair of heels she had. Black ankle boots.
“As if we would do that to you!” Miss Marla sounded scandalized. “You look like you should, pretty, with a bit of color. I’ve barely put any makeup on you. Now hustle along, Rory.”
“Yes, Miss Marla.”
Rory caught a quick glance in the hallway mirror as they passed. It wasn’t too bad, and her face looked normal. She wasn’t sure about the jacket or the headscarf, but hey, it wasn’t like she cared what people thought about her, right?
A vision of Jack Trainer came into her head and she shoved it right back out. That man was nothing to her, and never would be. No way could she compete with his legion of admirers... even if she wanted to. Which she didn’t!
Chapter 16
Jack walked to the bar with a few empty glasses. He’d arrived early and helped his brother set up for the quiz night.
Bailey’s favorite Christmas music was on repeat, the crooner softly singing in the background on A. S.’s sound system, complementing the laid-back décor. Wooden floors, soft lighting, and neutral colors until you reached the wall that was a vivid jade. Black-and-white prints of actors hung in different sizes and shapes on it.
The place was decorated for the festive season in greens, reds, and golds; the tree went from floor to ceiling and dominated the space. Hundreds of fairy lights twinkled.
“The crowd’s coming in,” Jack said to Joe as he moved behind the bar to load his glasses in the washer. “You want me to unload those?” He pointed to a tray.
“Thanks.” Joe was in his element, talking and serving. Plus, he was making money at the same time. Tonight everyone was paying an entry fee, and all the money went to the kids’ travel fund.
“Hey, handsome.”
Jack smiled at Cindy, who was blonde and curvy. They’d never dated, and he wasn’t entirely sure why. Maybe because he saw a lot of himself in this woman, which wasn’t a comfortable thought. She had that look suggesting she’d seen it all and wasn’t impressed by much these days. Jack was fairly sure it was mirrored in his eyes.
“Developed any new disease cures lately?” Cindy was a biochemist.
“I’m working on it.”
She had killer legs in heels high enough to give him a nose bleed.
“I’m winning you at the bachelor auction, Jack. You’d better sleep well the night before, because I’ll be keeping you up—” She blew him a kiss. “—all night.”
“I’m sure the temperature in here just climbed,” Joe drawled.
Jack grunted, which caused Joe to stop what he was doing and look at him.
“No smartass comeback? You usually love that shit, bud. What’s up?” His brother came to stand at his side.
“Nothing, I’m good.”
“No, good is what you’re not.”
“I am... really. It’s just this auction.”
“I’ll tell Bailey you’re not doing it then, Jack. She won’t want you to if it makes you unhappy.”
“No. Don’t do that. Can I ask you something, Joe?”
“Shoot.”
“Do I seem shallow to you?”
“No.”
“I mean there’s this perception I have a different woman every night—”
“I know that’s a facade, Jack, as do the others. We play along with it, but it’s not true.”
“Maybe, but lately I’m not so sure. I mean, I’ve never really had a girlfriend... not the take home to Mom kind, anyway.”
“We have no idea where our mother is or what she looks like, so that rules her out.”
“It was a figure of speech, Joe.”
“What’s the problem here? Your reputation doesn’t usually bother you. In fact, you like it. What’s changed?”
What indeed.
“Do you want to know what I think?”
“As I asked you, I guess so.”
“You never let people, especially women, see the Jack we, your family and friends, see. I’ve often wondered why that is?”
Jack could tell with just a look his brother was worried about him, and that hadn’t been his plan. He’d just... what? Hell, he was confused. It was like something had shifted inside him lately, and he couldn’t move it back
“Okay, so this is getting way too heavy,” Jack said.
“It’s probably not the place, but you come and see me tomorrow, and we’ll find time to talk.”
Jack nodded. Joe knew him better than anyone, so it made sense he was the right person to talk to.
“Here are your drinks. Now sit and warm up that brain of yours for the questions.”
“Thanks, bro.”
“Always.”
He nodded, heading back to the table. H
e smiled and acknowledged people and tried not to notice how women looked at him, when before he’d loved it.
“I wonder how they got her to come? Mind you, it is the Robbins sisters, and we’ve always said they could sell a cape to Superman.”
“Who?” Jack asked Fin.
“Your Princess Aurora May has arrived.”
His eyes found the Robbins sisters, then Mandy, and finally Rory. The air sucked right out of his lungs.
“It’s good though, people need to get used to seeing her, and this shit might eventually stop,” Luke said.
Jack tried to drag air into his lungs.
“Yeah, it’s a nasty business, this tire slashing,” Dylan added.
He heard them talking, registered the content, but he couldn’t take his eyes from Rory. She wore a blue scarf in her blonde curls, a short fur jacket, and tight black jeans. She was smiling at something Mandy said, and his eyes found her lips. They were painted pink and glossy.
“Hopefully it will all die down,” Pip said.
He looked at the men at his table. Had none of them noticed what Rory looked like? She was cute anyway, but tonight she looked gorgeous.
“You gonna pass those beers around or stand there looking like a Greek god all night, showing off your best side,” Ted said, joining them.
“Get lost, Hosking,” Jack made himself say as he dragged his eyes from Rory. “And who invited you to the table?”
“You need my brains.”
The Robbins party moved to the empty table beside theirs.
“Hello,” Miss Marla and Miss Sarah cried in unison. “I love a quiz night.”
Everyone at Jack’s table groaned.
“It hardly seems fair you have the two hottest and most intelligent women at one table, Miss Sarah,” Luke said.
The sisters giggled like teenagers. Mandy rolled her eyes, and Rory looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there.
“But you’re right. Jack, you and Ted come over here, and Sarah, you join them,” Miss Marla said. “We’ll take Fin too, then you can have Maggs when she arrives.”
No one argued with a Robbins sister and came out on top, so they all moved into place. Jack took the closest seat, which just happened to be beside Rory.
