Come to Me Free

by Leah Atwood

  “Oh, Gram, I’m sorry.” Dani was also guilty of treating her grandmother with kid gloves. “I can only speak for myself, but we were trying to make this transition as easy as possible for you.”

  Placing a hand on Dani’s cheek, Gram sighed. “My dear child, there is no way of making this easy. Gene is gone and the sooner I find my new normal, the better it will be for me.”

  “In that case,” Dani covered Gram’s hand with hers, “would you like to make several of your famous pecan pies?”

  “I would love to.” Gram lowered her hand and pulled an apron from her purse, causing Dani to giggle, to which Gram flashed a smile. “Haven’t I always told you to be prepared for anything?”

  “You’re too much, but I’m glad you’re here.” She pointed her grandmother in the direction of supplies.

  Dani started on a roux while Gram mixed a pastry crust.

  “We haven’t baked or cooked together in a long time,” Dani said, dumping flour into a pot over high heat.

  “That is a sad fact we should reverse.” As Gram’s aged hands worked the pastry dough, a sliver of a sparkle returned to her eyes.

  An idea occurred to Dani—one she hadn’t considered before because she’d never thought Gram needed more on her plate, but now it seemed a perfect solution. “A majority of the desserts I serve are pre-made and specially ordered, but I’ve always wanted to make everything.” Grabbing a spoon, she stirred the oil and flour mixture. “Wouldn’t it be fun if you came in one or two days a week and made some of your specialties?”

  “It would get me out of the house and fill my days.” Gram smiled. “And I would love to spend more time with you.”

  “We’ll do it then. We can work out all the details later.”

  Gram began rolling out the dough. “Your young man is leaving today.”

  “Jeff? Where’s he going? He didn’t mention anything.” Dani feigned ignorance, playing the cat and mouse game that Gram was obviously going to win.

  “Tsk, tsk. Jeff is not the man for you and you know he’s not whom I am calling your young man.” Gram’s head shook. “He’ll make someone a fine husband one day, but not you.”

  To avert Gram’s gaze, Dani looked down in the pot, assuming extreme concentration over her roux. “I know. To be honest, I’ve known since our first date it wouldn’t escalate to more.”

  “Then why prolong the inevitable?” Gram formed the dough into three different pie plates.

  “Because I couldn’t have what I wanted, so I thought I could convince myself to feel more for Jeff.” Her cheeks burned, from embarrassment and the heat from the stove. The flawed logic sounded even worse when she said it out loud.

  A tray of eggs was opened in front of Gram. She reached for one and cracked it into a bowl. “Love can never be forced, only given and accepted freely.”

  “What time is Rob leaving?” Dani asked.

  “Bryce is taking him to the airport at three, along with Sophie and Gracie.” Gram continued breaking eggs. “I like Rob. In a lot of ways he reminds me of your grandfather at that age.”

  “Really?” The two men seemed as opposite as two men could be.

  An amused grin eased over Gram’s face. “All the girls in town wanted Gene back in those days. He had quite the reputation as a ladies’ man, you know.”

  “Gramps? No way.” Intrigued, she stopped what she was doing to listen.

  Laughing, Gram beat the eggs. “He was a ladies’ man until I caught his eye. The first time I saw him in his uniform, I was a goner. He was shipping out in a few weeks and the day he left, I promised to wait for him. It sounded so romantic at the time.” She clucked her tongue. “How young and foolish we were.”

  “It couldn’t have been too bad since you were married fifty years.”

  “Our marriage was wonderful, but the first years were hard. We married immediately after his return home, but Gene, he was a changed man.” Using her forearm, she pushed strands of white hair from her eyes. “Images of what he’d seen would haunt him for years. After a weekend honeymoon to Galveston, he returned to his base, and I stayed home with my parents.”

  “I had no idea.”

  “We didn’t talk about those years often, but we never forgot them.” Gram turned to her. “A lot of hard lessons were learned during those times, but they gave us a strong foundation upon which we built our marriage. I don’t believe he ever forgot the nightmares he’d witnessed, but he eventually found a way to cope.” She cast a pointed look her way. “As I suspect is the case with a certain man who is leaving today.”

  Squinting one eye, Dani sized up Gram’s supposition. “How much do you know?”

  “Until last night, I only had my own ideas from recognized behavior, but last night we had a nice talk on the porch while everyone else was asleep.” A wrinkled hand reached out and rested on Dani’s, and Gram winked. “Like when I met Sophie, I can picture him as part of the family one day.”

  Coughing and sputtering, Dani reeled from Gram’s implied intent. “That’s quite a jump.”

  Finishing the last of the work for the pies, Gram wore a sly smile. “All I’m saying, is that I can see it happening and wouldn’t be opposed.”

  Gram appeared genuinely happy for the moment, and Dani determined she wasn’t going to be the one to wipe the smile from her face, especially when she wanted that also—at least beginning on a smaller scale. “There are issues that have to be resolved first.”

  Namely, breaking up with Jeff, and she was hesitant to rush into another relationship. And to think, three months ago she hadn’t been interested in dating. Life had a funny way of changing one’s thoughts.

  An hour later, the oven timer beeped. Gram pulled the pies out and set them on a cooling rack with a satisfied smile. “Golden perfection.”

  “They look great, Gram. Thanks for helping.” Leaning over, she gave Gram an appreciative peck on the cheek.

  “Who was really helping who?” Sighing, Gram looked to the door. “I should go home. I can’t hide here forever, and I do need to tell the girls bye before they leave.”

  “Anytime you need an escape, you’re welcome. You don’t even need a reason.” She gave her grandmother a hug. “If you’re serious about helping out a few days, we’ll work out the details soon.”

  “That sounds delightful. Enjoy the rest of your day, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  When Gram was gone, Dani grabbed her phone. She tapped her fingers on the edges a few times, deliberating. She and Rob hadn’t talked much since the day of the viewing, and never found themselves alone, a purposeful decision. However, letting him leave without saying bye didn’t seem right, but she was afraid anything she could say would come across too personal. Maybe that was her guilty conscience speaking. She really needed to take care of things with Jeff.

  She bit her bottom lip and made a decision— a quick, objective text. Have a safe trip.

  ON TUESDAY MORNING, Dani prepared to leave her house early for a lunch date with Jeff before work.

  “What do I say?” she asked Pip, the unintentional outlet for many one-sided conversations of late. “Jeff and I have been friends for a long time, and I’d hate to lose that.”

  Meow. Pip gave her a bored look.

  “Wish me luck.” Dani scratched him behind his ears before she left.

  She practiced what to say for the entire drive to town. Even after she’d pulled into a front spot at the deli, she still didn’t have her exact words chosen. Jeff’s car wasn’t in the parking lot, so she made the decision to go in and order their lunch. He was a creature of habit, and ninety percent of the time ordered the same sandwich. Since she didn’t want to do the breakup in public, she planned to suggest eating at the park, which was only a half-mile walk.

  “One turkey on wheat with lettuce, tomato, and light mayo,” she told a teen boy behind the counter. She recognized him as a newer member of church who’d recently moved to Oden Bridge with his family and was attending community college.
r />   “Any cheese?” The boy was already pulling out thick slices of bread from a warming unit.

  “Not on that one, but I’ll also need a roast beef with pepper jack, add only mustard.”

  “You know me well.”

  She startled at the sound of Jeff’s voice. “You scared me. I didn’t see you come in.”

  “You were busy being beautiful as usual.” He smiled the smile that most other woman would find charming, but she hid a grimace.

  “It’s such a nice day, I thought I’d order while I waited and we can walk to the park and eat.” The steadiness of her voice pleased her, considering that her insides were so jittery.

  “That’s a great idea.” Jeff pulled his wallet from a pocket and withdrew money. “I’ve got lunch.”

  “I’ll get mine.” If he had known what was about to happen, he probably wouldn’t have offered. Actually, he would have, because despite his few flaws—mainly his addiction to work—he was a complete gentleman.

  “Make them meals, please,” he told the girl running the register and handed her two ten dollar bills, ignoring Dani’s offer.

  Dani took the plastic bag holding the sandwiches and pulled two bags of chips off a shelf. “What drink do you want?”

  “Water is fine.” Jeff put the change into his wallet then returned it to his pocket.

  The bottles of water were cold against her hands, but they felt good after being in the deli. Since they baked their bread fresh every day, the building was always hot inside, no matter what the outside temperature was.

  “How is Gram?” Jeff walked in step beside her on the path to the park.

  “Really good for what she’s going through.” The bag was heavy around her wrist and she slid it down to grip it with her fingers.

  “You’re looking better.” He winked at her, alluding to the mess she was the last time he’d seen her, which has been the day after Gramps’ death.

  “I had to pull myself together—wouldn’t want to scare the world off with my monster impersonation.” Self-conscious and still embarrassed she’d been seen in such a pitiful state, she smoothed her hair. Rob hadn’t seemed to mind though.

  “You weren’t quite monster level. Maybe troll.” A wide grin appeared, and he laughed.

  She pretended to growl at him and elbowed his ribs. “Gee, thanks.”

  Jeff took her retaliation in stride, never losing his smile. “Is your family still here?”

  “Uncle Trent and his wife left Sunday evening, and Gramps’ family from the north part of the state did as well.” She moved the bag to the other hand. It had to be the weight of the water bottles digging into her. “Bryce is staying another few days.”

  “Is his wife still here? Maybe we could work in a double date before they leave.” Jeff’s suggestion was casual, but it threw her off balance.

  Literally.

  She stumbled over a twig in her path. Jeff caught her arm and kept her from falling.

  “Thank you.”

  “What do you think?” he asked.

  “About what?” Her brain was still catching up from her near fall and she couldn’t remember what they’d been discussing.

  “A double date.”

  “Oh.” That was right—he’d initiated a perfect opportunity to tell him. “Sophie left yesterday. She and Gracie had to get back to school.”

  “Too bad. Maybe next time.” He shrugged, unperturbed.

  Evasion of the truth didn’t sit well with her and the nerves twisting in her stomach multiplied. They hadn’t reached the park, but she didn’t want to prolong the inevitable. She stopped in her tracks. “We need to talk.”

  Jeff also stopped and faced her. “What about?”

  “I can’t date you anymore,” she said. It came out as one long, run-together word.

  He blinked once and frowned. “Can I ask why?”

  “You’re a really great guy, Jeff, but I don’t feel anything more than friendship for you. I tried. Trust me I did.”

  “There goes a man’s ego,” he spoke in a low tone.

  “I’m sorry.”

  A small smile reappeared. “Don’t be. You can’t force what’s not there, and I appreciate you telling me now instead of waiting it out.”

  Guilt pricked her. If only he knew she’d felt like this from the beginning, knowing she couldn’t care for him in any other way. She didn’t see what good it would do to tell him that part. “I don’t want to lose your friendship.”

  “Ah, the old, can-we-still-be-friends card.” He looked up to the sky before answering. Finally, he looked back at her. “Of course we’ll still be friends. I’m not going to let a few months of failed dating ruin a friendship that goes back two decades.”

  “Good,” was all she could say, and she took a deep breath now that the burden was lifted.

  He gestured toward the park, a few hundred feet ahead. “Did you still want to eat? I’ll understand if you don’t.”

  “Friends can have lunch together, right? Let’s go.”

  Chapter 15

  Bryce entered Caroline’s office, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. “Good morning.”

  “Same to you.” Rob stared at him, his brows creased. “What’s gotten into you?”

  “Nothing.” Arms crossed behind his head, Bryce stretched to the right. “Can’t I be happy to get back to work?”

  “Maybe if I didn’t know you so well.”

  After stretching to his left, Bryce dropped his arms to his sides. “I’m definitely glad to be done driving.”

  “What time did you finally get in?” Last night, Bryce had called him, bored and stuck in a standstill traffic jam on his way home from Louisiana.

  “A little after midnight.” Bryce plopped into a chair. “Man, I felt so bad. Sophie had a romantic dinner planned for us, but she had fallen asleep by the time I got in.”

  “That stinks.”

  “Tell me about it. Roadwork, can you believe it? I’m glad it wasn’t an accident after all, but that was ridiculous.” He jumped right back out of the chair.

  Amused by Bryce, who reminded him of a kid who’d consumed too much sugar, Rob laughed. “What gives? You’re way too keyed up for this early in the morning.”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” He grinned and looked at his watch. “When are the others coming?”

  “Adam should be here any minute. Jay’s with Caroline.”

  “And where are they?” Bryce looked around.

  “They went across the street for breakfast. I’m surprised you didn’t pass them on your way up.”

  “Good. That gives us a few seconds.” Standing in front of him, Bryce leaned against Caroline’s desk.

  “Whatever it is, spit it out or I’m going to knock that grin from your face myself.” He hadn’t seen Bryce this energetic in weeks.

  “Here goes... rumor has it, Dani broke up with Jeff.”

  A quick smiled formed—another hurdle done—but then Rob threw his hands up, palms forward. “Hold on, why are you telling me this?”

  With a hint of mischief, Bryce smirked. “I thought you’d want to know.”

  Mouth gaping, he ran his tongue along the edges of his teeth. “Forgive me if I’m a little confused, but are you forgetting the fight we had about Dani?”

  The grin on Bryce vanished, replaced by a frown. “Can we please forget about that? We both agreed we said things we regret.”

  He raised a shoulder. “It is done, but I’m still trying to figure out how we went from that, to you preening like a peacock to tell me Dani broke up with her boyfriend.”

  “Hey, even I am completely wrong sometimes.” The joke broke some of the tension.

  Rob rolled his eyes. “Sometimes?”

  “Not too often.” Bryce snickered. “But in this case I was. Anyone within a foot of you and Dani could see there was a chemistry between you.”

  “It takes more than chemistry to make a relationship.”

  “I’m pretty sure I know that.” Sarcasm laced Bryce’s reply, the
n he softened his tone. “But you also care for her and look out for her. I know what you did for her at the viewing. When I hadn’t seen her for a while, I went looking for her, and Uncle Gil told me you took her away to clear her head.”

  “I knew what she needed and did it, no big deal.” Which was a lie because it had been a huge deal to him. His heart beat harder just thinking about that day. That time together had drawn them closer and bridged the gap created when she’d started dating Jeff.

  “Are you really that dumb to deny what’s between the two of you?” Bryce sat back down and Rob sat on the chair beside his.

  “I’m not denying anything, but I’m also not going to discuss this with you.” He rolled his neck. “Whatever evolves between Dani and me will be between us. And yes, I want to see where a relationship with her could lead, but it’s not that simple. When she’s ready to tell me about Jeff, she will.” Bryce had no way of knowing Rob had left the ball in Dani’s court.

  “Fair enough.” The frown on Bryce’s face disappeared, but the smile didn’t return.

  Feeling bad for quelling his excitement when Bryce was only being a friend, Rob attempted amends and smiled. “Thanks for the info though. It’s good to know.”

  It worked. Bryce grinned again. “At least promise me you won’t hide it from me if something does come of you and her.”

  “If Dani agrees, you’ll be the first to know. How’s that.”

  Bryce plastered on a straight face. “Not good enough. I want a guarantee to be in the wedding and your firstborn named after me,” he deadpanned.

  Taking a sticky note off the pad on the desk, Rob crumbled the paper and threw it at Bryce. “Get over yourself.”

  “Boys, boys, boys.” Caroline clucked her tongue from behind them. “Do I have to put you in separate corners?”

  “No ma’am,” they answered in unison, each trying not to laugh.It was a unique friendship they all shared. Rob hoped it wouldn’t change after he made his announcement.

  “Breakfast is here.” Jay set a drink carrier down on the desk, along with a pink box with white lettering. He opened the box offering turnovers to everyone.