The Secret Storm

by Peggy Trotter

  “I’m okay. God knows best.”

  She turned from him to find both Hoge and Joni staring. For once, hate didn’t mar Hoge’s handsome face. Stormi lowered her eyes. He may despise her, but she cared for Ake, and it didn’t matter to her who saw it.

  Pop rose and shuffled to the living room. Both brothers’ eyes followed him.

  “Is he going to understand any of this?” Ake uttered.

  Hoge shook his head. “I don’t know. More importantly, what are we going to do with him?”

  “I’ll stay with him.”

  “Ake, you can’t be here twenty-four seven. Don’t be stup—” Hoge’s voice came to an abrupt halt, and he sent a flick of his gaze at Stormi.

  She tilted her head and glared at him.

  The elder cleared his throat. “We’ll need someone to stay. Maybe you can help at night.”

  Ake nodded. “Maybe.”

  Hoge continued to throw out options, and Stormi detached from the emotions and rose. She collected the dirty bowls and saucers and started the dishes in the sink. Ake’s mom had been a dedicated homemaker. No dishwasher graced the kitchen. Merely liquid dishwashing soap in a bottle, dressed in a tiny homemade knitted pink dress that had seen better days. It perched cheerfully by the black sprayer.

  The concentrated liquid bubbled up into a hot froth, and Stormi dove in and started scrubbing. At the table, the Pearsons bandied about names of possible caretakers. As she rinsed the last dish, Joni stood and grabbed her coat.

  “We need to get the kids, Hoge.”

  He cleared his throat and rose a bit more leisurely, yanking at the waistband of his khaki pants. Stormi felt the burn of his glare before she connected with his gaze. She fixed her eyes on the bubbles and reached for the drain plug.

  Joni handed Hoge his coat and nudged him toward the back door. “I’ll get ahold of Angus Mirrek from church. He said he’d be glad to sit with him until we get someone in here permanently. That way you can at least sleep in your own bed tonight, Ake.”

  Stormi dried her hands on a hand towel and drifted toward the counter, still careful to keep a healthy distance from Hoge.

  “Honey, go start the car, would you? It’s freezing.”

  Another guttural mumble came from Ake’s brother before he hiked out the back door. Joni gave a small, perhaps apologetic smile and shrugged. She turned her attention to Ake and laid a hand on his arm.

  “I’m really sorry, Ake. I know your brother is hurting too, even though he doesn’t express it.”

  Ake nodded and inserted his hands into his jean pockets. After Joni gave him a quick hug, she headed for the door and disappeared through, leaving nothing but a cold draft in the room. Ake held out his hand to her, and she stepped forward to take it.

  “Will you stay a while?”

  She squeezed his big hand while the sadness in his huge brown eyes squeezed her heart. “Yes. For as long as you need.”

  A shadow of a smile rippled across his face until his dad shuffled to the door.

  “Mom, Mom?”

  He closed his eyes for a moment and then released her hand. Ake spun, soothing words coming softly from him as he wrapped his arms around his father. Stormi stiffened her lips into a firm line to stem the emotions thundering in her heart. Hoge might not be able to talk to Ake about the pain, but she sure could. And she would.

  ***

  Angus nodded his white head as Ake showed him the code once more on the security system. It was hard to leave Pop with a man the same age. Yet, the man from his church had a sharp mind, and he seemed quite comfortable arming the alarm. It was just a matter of pushing himself out the door.

  Ake fixated his stare on Stormi’s charming multicolored blue/green/gray eyes and pushed his concerns of his father from his mind. But the softness of her gaze made him wonder if he, himself, would be safer here bunched up on his old twin bed.

  He turned his attention to the older man. “Thanks, Angus. I’m just down the hill if you need something.”

  “Why don’t you leave your cell number?” Stormi’s practical advice contained a touch of huskiness.

  Ake nodded. “Yeah, good idea.”

  He found a pad and scratched the digits down and then meandered toward the door. “He gets up a lot. He’s been hollering for her—”

  His speech halted at the gentle expression on Stormi’s face. He rubbed the back of his neck. That was at least the third time he’d gone over that information. He cleared his throat and followed her to the back door. Angus lifted a hand as they slipped through the door, and Ake hesitated until he heard the lock slide into place with the faint beep of the alarm code.

  Stormi leaned against him as she pulled on her mittens. The brisk night wind stirred her bangs into her eyes, and he reached up a hand to brush them away.

  “Let’s hurry, Ake. It’s freezing.”

  She linked her arm through his, holding her hood with the other hand, and began to jog. He loped along in long strides, not breaking a brisk walk. As they approached the lower end of the slope, she didn’t dart off toward her car as he expected, but rather tugged him to the front door. She had yanked it open before he could even touch the doorknob, pulled him through in a rush, and slammed the door.

  He took a deep breath and did what he always did. Removed his heavy canvas coat and hung it on the tree near the door. His eyes flicked to the microwave over the stove. Just short of ten o’clock. Stormi shrugged out of her coat, and it joined his on the tree.

  “Now, how are you? I mean really? With your father in the same room, we haven’t had a chance to chat this out.”

  Ake shrugged and rubbed his hands together. Her hands caught his in mid motion, and then her eyes, deep with raw emotion sought his.

  “Ake?”

  The collar on his shirt suddenly felt very tight. “I don’t know. Fine, I guess.”

  She shook her head. “Let’s sit on the couch.”

  He trailed her, and she coerced him into the corner of the couch, nearly sitting on top of him, her face peering intensely into his. She placed her hands on either side of his face.

  “I know this is hard on you. Your brother doesn’t help much, either. But I’m here for you.”

  “What?” He blinked.

  Stormi stroked his beard, and his thought pattern clamped on the lovely swirls of black ink on her slender arms. His eyes dropped to see if any of the lace portion peeked above her neckline. Her small fingers pressed his chin up. Their gazes met once more.

  “You don’t have to stuff all your grief down. I can make some hot tea and warm up a piece of pie if it will make you feel better.”

  When he didn’t reply, she threw her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him.

  “Oh, Ake. You’re breaking my heart.”

  His arms came around her. It did feel nice to have her here even though it grew late. He inhaled the tangerine scent of her hair and pulled her on his lap. She snuggled against his neck and pressed her face against his skin. Her small body burrowed against him. Except she exuded heat. Lots of heat. He rubbed his sideburns against the rebellious lock of hair that dropped to her forehead.

  Her fingers worked magic on the back of his neck, and her comfort wrapped around him like new cotton socks to icy feet. Her other hand rubbed his chest, and he cleared his throat against the rising awareness she ignited.

  “It’s going to be all right, Ake. We can just sit here and when you’re ready, we’ll talk. I don’t care if it takes all night.”

  With a groan, he rose, Stormi filling his arms. She gave a gasp and stared at him with her mouth agape as he set her down and stepped away.

  “You won’t be staying all night, Stormi.”

  Her brows drew together. “Of course I will. You said you wanted me to stay.”

  He sucked fresh air into his lungs. “Not overnight.”

  “Why?”

  Her expression cut him. But he straightened. “It’s not a good idea.”

  Stormi rushed forwa
rd and grabbed his biceps. “I don’t care what other people think, Ake. I’m here for you.”

  He shook his head, forcing himself to ignore her grasp on his arms. After a long moment, he clenched his jaw and set her from him. The hurt in her face made him wish he didn’t have to disappoint her. My, did he wish he didn’t have to disappoint her.

  “We aren’t married, Stormi. I won’t let a woman stay with me until marriage. It’s not right.”

  “But you need me.”

  In the worst way, and it shamed him to admit that to himself. Especially with his mother’s body cooling a few blocks over at the funeral home. He closed his eyes for a moment and grabbed ahold of all the moral pluck he could summon.

  “True. But I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Stormi’s brows gathered thunder like her namesake. “Everyone does it, Ake. It’s commonplace nowadays.”

  “Yep, I reckon so. But it’s not God’s way. It’s people in a hurry. People avoiding a commitment.” He couldn’t resist running a finger down her delicate cheek. “Only my wife will stay the night with me.”

  A myriad of emotions chased their way across her features, warring with one another for dominance until finally she burst out, “Marry me, then.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Ake ceased breathing for a moment. Stormi seemed as shocked as he was when her mouth popped open. Only, instead of retracting the statement, a small smile flitted across her face.

  His brows descended. “Now, Stormi—”

  Her face cleared into a complete smile, her eyes asparkle. “That’s perfect, Ake. We could hurry and apply tomorrow. We could even be married before the funeral. Then I wouldn’t have to leave you at all.”

  She leaped into his arms and clutched the lapels of his flannel shirt. He firmly set her from him once more and gave her a stern look. “You know that wouldn’t make sense.”

  Her fist parked on her suggestive hips, and she leaned forward with a scowl. “Why ever not? You said you loved me. You need me. It seems perfectly black and white to me.”

  He eyed her. She appeared a packet of fury. And suddenly it dawned on him that he was refusing to marry the woman he loved. After she proposed.

  “Stormi—”

  She stepped forward and pressed two soft fingers to his lips. “Hush. Let me do this for you.”

  His hands, weighted with resistance, fisted and unfisted while his eyes studied her expression, her fickle-colored eyes, and the beauty of her face. It was all he could do not to crush her to his chest.

  “Please?”

  A dimple appeared in the corner of her mouth, and the tilt of her head fell the final bit of his resolve. “Yes.”

  She jumped up and down and gave mini-claps under her chin. Then she dove into his waiting arms.

  “You won’t regret this. You won’t. I’ll be the best wife ever.”

  Ake lowered his head and reveled in her softness. Had she said something? He shrugged it off. Did it matter? She was his.

  ***

  The moon happened to be lined up in perfect conjunction with Stormi’s only window facing the road. It filled the small apartment with a bright ethereal light. She chewed the skin from her bottom lip and glared at the red digits. Past two and she still wore a groove pacing the concrete from her bed to the fireplace.

  And why? Marrying Ake felt right. It was right. She could make up for everything she’d done to him in one fell swoop. She’d enticed him to fall in love with her, and now, she would give herself to him as penance. It was perfect.

  Yet something nagged at the back of her head. Maybe it was Hoge. Or Joni. Envisioning their reaction stabbed her like Goliath’s spear. Sure, it wasn’t a conventional marriage, but it could still be operational. He was flat-out gorgeous so there was no problem there. He constantly did kind deeds and had the purest heart she’d ever known. It would be like living with a good, good friend. With a few added bonuses. With a pause and a smile, she realized one thing was certain. She would take him on one wild ride.

  The grin slipped from her face. Still, his brother would not be happy. No way to deny it. Could she face Hoge’s rage? Could Ake? She took a deep cooling breath through her nostrils. Of course Ake would survive. He seemed the only one who could weather his brother’s moods without coming away psychologically nicked. Or was it just her?

  She stared at the walls around her and gave a sigh. She wouldn’t have to live alone anymore. Ake would be there to shoulder the more physical aspects of life. The snow, the lawn. Just having someone to partner up with brightened her outlook. She could put this place up for sale or rent it out. Either way, it would help with the finances.

  The schedule for her podcasts grabbed her eye. She wrinkled her nose. Why had she taken on an extra class? She didn’t need it now. All would be right when she said “I do” to Ake.

  She rubbed her hands down her bare skin, the spaghetti straps of her tank exposing the permanent lace, obvious even by the light of the moon. At least Ake didn’t seem to mind her sin marks. She climbed in bed and flung a blanket over her to hide the tattooed transgressions. Time to relax and get a few hours of sleep. Then, she’d do her podcasts. Once that was accomplished, she’d fetch her fiancé and make good on her promise.

  ***

  The woman at the courthouse obviously knew Ake. When they’d asked for a marriage license, though, her shock had bled through her professional filter. The young blond seemed to know Ake quite well, and dare Stormi think she’d even flirted a bit with him?

  “Hi, Avery.”

  Was the girl seriously batting her eyes at him? Stormi snugged up to Ake, and his arm came around her back.

  “You’re…getting married?”

  Her face had a dewy freshness to it. Probably a former head cheerleader at her high school.

  “Yep.” Ake nodded glancing at the form.

  “I’ll never forget that day outside study hall. Remember?”

  A dark flush suffused Ake’s face, and he kept his eyes glued to the paper in front of him. He merely nodded.

  “I’m Stormi Zobroski, by the way. Soon to be Stormi Pearson. And you are…”

  The cheerleader smirked at her and shifted her thick blond hair behind her shoulders. “Avery Guttleman. Used to be Avery Coleson. Ake and I graduated together. Sort of.”

  “Sort of?” Despite her resolve to keep this convo centered on the certificate, a slice of cattiness entered Stormi’s tone. “How can you sort of graduate?”

  Miss Rah-rah shut her eyes a moment with a seductive shrug. “Well, you know. He had some Special Ed classes.”

  Ake cleared his throat, and the volume of it stemmed the snip that Stormi longed to let loose. “Let’s fill this out on that table.”

  Her future husband pointed to a table against the wall while nudging her away from the window. Stormi lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes at the queen of the counter. How dare she flirt with him then pull the pegs from beneath his feet?

  “She’s rude.” Stormi whispered furiously to Ake.

  He shrugged. “Always was.”

  “What happened that day? The study hall day?”

  The point of Ake’s pen hovered above the form as he scanned the document. “Later.”

  She motioned to the line where he should sign before exhaling with dissatisfaction. “Ake.”

  With a flick of his hand, he caressed the peach fuzz at the nape of her neck, radiating sweet shivers of bliss that squelched the hair-raising ire that had clutched at her. How could he completely change her mood with one touch? Did he know how sensitive the nape of her neck was?

  She lifted her eyes and perused his whiskered face. Again, it struck her how handsome he was with his jet black beard and hair, dark eyes, and dusky skin. She admired the breadth of his shoulders and the muscled chest.

  He raised his eyes and then his brows in a question.

  She smirked. “Just thinking how hot you are.”

  A quirk started in the corner of his mouth, but a twang of pain la
y in his eyes.

  Her brows drew together. “Was she unkind?”

  What kind of question was that? Was she an ignoramus herself? How many people treated Ake with kindness and respect? Very few. She glanced over at the blond who pretended not to be openly staring at them.

  “Kiss me.”

  His head came up. “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  “I don’t think—”

  But she silenced him with her mouth. It thrilled her to feel his instant response to her lips. She leaned into him because she knew he’d bend her over. VJ kiss. He didn’t disappoint. When he let her go, he hovered over her as if reluctant to move away. She stayed arched against him and returned his heated gaze. But he seemed to suddenly become aware of his surroundings and drew back. She flicked a glance at the blond. Bingo. Direct hit.

  Ake stepped over to the counter. Stormi fondled the hank of bangs over her left eye and leaned into the table, maintaining her “I rule the world” stance. If the pompom girl wanted to tango, she’d stomp her beneath her boots’ four-inch heels.

  She threaded her arm through Ake’s as he returned the form.

  Avery took it with an odd smile. “Sorry to hear about your mom, Ake.”

  He nodded and headed Stormi toward the door. All she could do was shoot a cutting glance back to the courthouse Barbie. Once they exited the office into the sunshine, they climbed into the truck. Once the doors were closed, she pounced on him.

  “Study hall?”

  He stretched his neck and shrugged. “Not much to tell. I proclaimed my undying love for her in the hallway between classes. She laughed and told the whole school body.”

  Boy, it was a good thing they were out of that clerk’s office. Death by fingernails was too good for Miss Guttlebag.

  The fury that escalated into her eyeballs stymied when she locked eyes with his gentle, long-suffering gaze. He reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “It was a long time ago. Don’t give it another thought. Besides,” he snapped the belt over his body, “her husband’s not a nice guy. I’m sure she has her own problems.”

  Stormi took a deep breath. He was right. But forgiveness seemed a dodging dream right now. She sent up a quick prayer that she might grab hold of it. “Right. Say. Let’s go celebrate. How ’bout a burger at the grill?”