Whiskey Kiss: A Small-town Romance

by V McFarlane

  I subtly shake my head at Helen, begging her not to say anything. Thankfully, she doesn’t, “Oh you know how Carla is.”

  Taron grunts and then turns to me, “You’d tell me, right? If she said something?”

  I nod, swallowing the lie.

  He narrows his eyes but doesn’t press. If he picked me up on the lie, he keeps it hidden and I’m thankful for that.

  “They have a nice little friendship group, huh?” Helen chuckles, crossing her arms and watching the three of them play hopscotch.

  My heart warms as I watch them, playing with no judgement between any of them. At least Carla hasn’t managed to whisper in Ethan’s ear yet. It’s harsh, but it happens far too often for my liking.

  “Lifelong, I reckon,” Taron agrees.

  “That’ll be nice,” Helen agrees.

  The bell rings and the classroom door swings open.

  “It was nice meeting you,” Taron says to Helen.

  “You too, Mr Cain.” She smiles, handing Ethan’s belongings down to him so he can go and queue, ready to go to school.

  I hug Ava and Ripley and then send them on their way, watching them walk in the room, Ripley following Ava.

  Taron throws his arm over my shoulder and kisses my cheek, “Ready?”

  I pretend I don’t notice the stares and the whispers being thrown our way. I tell myself it doesn’t matter. Let them talk.

  Being paranoid that someone will look into me is just ridiculous. I’m no one special to anyone, just the girl who’s managed to get the attention of the town’s most eligible bachelor. It’s no big deal.

  With my internal pep talk completed, I climb in the truck and we head back towards the distillery to start finalising the plan for the space behind the building.

  Thirty-seven

  Penny

  “Hey, Pen,” Grace says over the phone, the sound of an engine and tyres on the road in the background, “What’s your address? I’m sending something to you.”

  With the girls swimming in the pool and me lounging on the deck, I frown, “What are you sending?”

  “Oh,” She sounds breathless, “Just some things. What is it? It can be there in an hour.”

  “Okay, but I’m not home right now,” confusion has my brows pulling down, “I got a job remember.”

  “Oh, of course, you’re a nanny, now right?”

  What the hell is going on? “Yeah, Grace. Are you okay? You’re being weird.”

  “I’m always weird,” She scoffs, “Anyway, what’s the address you’re at now?”

  I rattle it off, “What is it?”

  “Don’t worry, it’ll be there soon!”

  She hangs up before I can say anything else.

  The meeting at the distillery this morning went well, Taron, Rhett and me all sat down and I helped them work out exactly what they would need. They were adamant on getting my own suggestions on the look and feel of the place and by the time it was time to leave, they had the bones of a business plan. It was amazing watching Taron work, seeing the concentration that made his brows furrow and lips purse, even the way he held a pen in those big hands of his.

  Every so often his eyes would lift from the paper in front of him and he’d meet my eyes and grin before getting back to the nitty gritty of it all. I helped by making coffees.

  Rhett’s a strange one. He’s friendly, confident, talkative but there’s something dark about him. I can’t quite put my finger on it. He cares deeply for Taron, they’re like brothers but with others he’s closed, stony.

  I don’t know how to take him. I’m wary, I supposed.

  I watch as Ripley does a run and jump into the pool, sinking beneath the water before bobbing back to the surface, her dark hair plastered to her forehead and covering her eyes.

  “Did you see?” She yells with a laugh.

  “Very good!” I praise.

  The buzzer for the gate sounds in the house and I head through, pressing the button to open the gate and let them in. It’ll just be the courier that Grace has arranged, whatever it is. How do you even get delivery that quickly?

  I head back out to the pool, so the girls aren’t alone and wait to hear the bell at the door, when it comes, I shout for them to come to the back.

  “Hi,” I open the gate, “Just leave whatever it is–” My mouth drops open as Grace steps into view, Logan clinging to her leg. “Grace!?”

  “Hi!” She squeals, throwing herself at me to wrap me in a tight embrace. I hug her back, still shocked.

  “Holy sh – sugar,” I gasp, “What are you doing here?”

  She grins at me, her dark hair pulled into a messy bun, her vibrant blue eyes wide and amused, “Surprise! I wanted to come see you. I missed you.”

  Tears spring to my eyes, “I missed you too!” I hug her again because I can’t not and then drop down into a crouch to see Logan. God, he’s grown. His blue eyes are wide but happy and then he squeals and throws himself at me, knocking me back until I fall on my ass.

  “Auntie Pen-Pen!”

  “Hey buddy!”

  “Grace!” Ava climbs from the pool, running over to greet my best friend.

  “Ah no, kiddo!” Grace steps back, “You’re dripping!”

  Ava pouts, disappointed just as Ripley sidles up next to me, hiding behind my back, “Ripley, honey,” I say, “This is my best friend, Grace.”

  “Hi sweetie,” Grace smiles down at her, “Penny here has told me so much about you!”

  “She has?”

  “Mm-hmm,” Grace rolls her lips, “Feels like we’re the best of friends already.”

  Ripley grins wide and then the two of them start speaking with Logan and I give my attention back to my best friend.

  “So, this is where you work?” Her eyes take in the large ranch house and pool and she whistles, “Nice, how’s your boss?”

  I can’t help but blush, “He’s uh fine.”

  Her eyes widen, “Penny! You’re sleeping with him!” she accuses.

  “Well, actually, we’re kind of dating I think.” I shrug like it’s not a big deal.

  “Shit!” Grace exclaims, “I’m so happy for you!”

  “It’s early,” I tell her, playing down the intensity of our relationship because it is early. I really shouldn’t have all these emotions for a man I barely know and if I say it out loud it become real and if it becomes real there’s a chance, I could lose it all.

  “So, where is he?”

  “At work,” I tell her, “I still have a job to do after all.”

  “So you’re still his nanny even though, you know,” She mimics sex by creating a hole with one hand, joining her thumb and forefinger and then repeatedly pushing the finger on the other hand in and out of the hole.

  “Grace!” I scold, checking over my shoulder to make sure the kids aren’t paying attention.

  “What!? They have no idea.” She shrugs, walking passed me to throw herself down onto one of the sun loungers. “You hit it big with this one.”

  “Grace, it isn’t like that.”

  “I know honey,” her face softens, “You deserve happiness.”

  “How long are you staying?” I ask her.

  “A few days, we’ve booked the hotel in town,” Grace smiles, “I needed to get out of that town.”

  “Hm,” I sigh, “Still bad?”

  She nods sympathetically, “They keep asking where you are. Like people who have no business knowing anything about you. But that’s not the only reason I came.”

  Grace suddenly turns sombre, her shoulders squaring. Oh no.

  “What is it?”

  “Penny,” She starts just as Taron steps from the patio doors, eyes first falling to the additional kid playing around the pool then to Grace taking up one of the loungers.

  “Uh, hi?” He frowns at me in question.

  “Taron!” I jump up, “Sorry, uh this is Grace, my best friend.”

  That just further furrows his brows, “I thought you didn’t know many people here.�
�

  Grace stands now and smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes, “I’m from before. It’s nice to meet you.”

  He takes her hand and shakes it, “Likewise.”

  “So, what did you want to tell me?” I ask Grace.

  Her eyes dart between me and Taron, “Maybe somewhere else?”

  “It’s okay,” Taron touches my shoulder, “I’ll watch the kids, what’s your son’s name?”

  “Logan,” Grace says gratefully, and I guide her into the kitchen.

  “Do you want a drink?” I offer.

  “Water.”

  I grab us both a bottle from the fridge and sit at the kitchen island.

  “It’s about Ric,” She starts.

  Hearing my exes name just brings memories I’d rather forget but I listen, urging her to continue. Despite my feelings for him, he is still Ava’s father and when he comes out of prison he’ll likely want to be a part of her life and I have to allow that, even if I don’t want him anywhere near her. He was a good dad to start with, it just went downhill from there.

  “Well,” she spins the bottle of water, “Something happened at the prison.”

  She’s stalling.

  “Spit it out, Grace,” I tell her, “What is it?”

  “There was a fight, he was stabbed.”

  “Okay,” I frown, “I don’t understand?”

  “He didn’t make it, Pen, he died.”

  Thirty-eight

  Taron

  Penny and her friend Grace step out from the house but something’s wrong. Really wrong judging by the tears streaming down Penny’s face and the sombre look on her friends face. I jump up from my spot where I’ve been playing with the kids and rush over.

  Grace puts a hand on my arm and just shakes her head, “Give her time.”

  “What happened?” I demand.

  “That’s for her to tell you, not me.”

  “Ava,” She calls.

  The crack in her voice is killing me. The pain so evidently portrayed on her face is tearing me up. I want to go to her. I need to go to her.

  Ignoring Grace, I cross the space between us, say nothing and just wrap her into me as if I can absorb whatever it is she’s going through. She buries her face into my chest. I don’t care about the wetness seeping through my shirt, I just need to hold together the woman falling apart in my arms.

  Huge, gut wrenching sobs burst from her chest and her knees buckle. I go down with her, pulling her onto my lap and cradling her gently, smoothing one hand down the back of her hair.

  My heart is breaking for her.

  “Come on,” I hear Grace say to the three kids, “Let’s go get some icecream.”

  “In the freezer,” I call out, thankful she’s taking the kids away from the scene.

  We sit like that for a long time, her crying into my chest, me soothing as best I can.

  “What happened?” I ask quietly.

  She just shakes her head, “I need to talk to Ava.”

  “Penny,” I tilt her face up to mine, meeting her watery eyes. The green is neon, the whites red rimmed, lashes damp and clumping together, “What do you need?”

  “I j-just thought she would have more time!” She hiccups, “She hasn’t had enough time.”

  “Who?”

  “Ava.”

  I’m so confused.

  “Her dad died, Taron. Ava’s dad died.”

  Oh. Oh shit.

  “She didn’t get to spend enough time with him,” she cries, “She deserved that at least. He may have been a difficult man, but he was her dad.”

  She’s rambling now.

  “She’s going to grow up without a dad!”

  I have no idea how to deal with this. I stay silent, letting her rant and cry. Penny’s never mentioned the man who got her pregnant, so I don’t believe this is about her. I don’t think there’s any lingering feelings for whoever this person is. I think she’s sad that Ava won’t have her father.

  But she’ll have you…

  I push the thought away. Too soon. Not the right time.

  “It’s okay,” I tell Penny, “It’ll all be fine, darlin’.”

  “How can you know that?”

  “Ava’s young,” I say, “She won’t understand right now but she will eventually. You just have to be there.”

  “I have to tell her,” she whispers, “How do I tell her?”

  I sigh knowing this is something she has to do alone. “You take her home, you sit her down and you tell her. You comfort her when she cries, and you tell her you love her.”

  She nods, “I need to go, Taron.”

  “I know, baby,” I cup her face and gently kiss her, “and I’m here when you’re ready.”

  I watch Penny leave with Ava a short time later, followed by Grace and her son leaving Ripley and I alone.

  It’s too silent.

  Ripley grips my hand, her little brows furrowed in confusion at everything that’s gone on and I can feel how low the mood is. I squeeze her hand and take her through to the living room, cuddling up with her on the sofa to watch a movie.

  My mind keeps turning back to Penny and hating that she’s alone right now. What can I do?

  There’s not enough about her past that I know about, I was shocked to find her friend here earlier, but it makes sense for her to come and deliver that kind of news. I wonder what had her leaving her old town to move somewhere no one knew her. She has no family here. No local ties.

  It’s a mystery.

  I have to solve it.

  Ripley falls asleep curled up against my side and I just sit there for a while, holding her and appreciating the time. With how busy everything has been, with the distillery, even Penny, I haven’t spent nearly enough time with my daughter. She’s settled in well and I think that’s partly because of Penny and Ava. She’s got stability and routine, she’s thriving at school. She’s an exceptionally well-behaved kid, polite, kind and I know it has a lot to do with those few years Anna raised her.

  I wonder about Ava’s father. What kind of man he was. What was it that Penny said? He was difficult. That was it.

  What made him difficult? Why wasn’t he more involved with Ava?

  Ava’s a sweet girl, I couldn’t imagine why someone wouldn’t be putting all their effort into her.

  I knock at the door causes me to jump on the sofa, disturbing Ripley who squints through sleepy eyes and yawns.

  “Sorry, sweetheart,” I soothe, “Go on up to bed, I’ll be up in a minute.”

  I don’t have to answer the door, instead, Rhett just lets himself in and heads through to meet me in the hallway.

  “Night princess!” Rhett calls over my shoulder, spotting Ripley heading up the stairs.

  “Night Uncle Rhett!”

  “What’s up?” I run a hand down my face and scrub it across my stubble, feeling tired.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Rhett frowns, “I came here to celebrate!”

  “What for?”

  “The plan, it’s final, we have a meeting next week!”

  “That’s good,” I agree, “Thanks for your help.”

  “It was all Penny,” Rhett beams, “Where is she anyway?”

  I shake my head, “It’s a long story.”

  “Is she okay?”

  I shake my head, “No, man. Actually, as you’re here, mind watching Ripley for a few?”

  “Sure,” Rhett frowns.

  “Great,” I quickly go up to tuck her into bed and read her a story, letting her know that I’m popping out, but Rhett is downstairs and then I’m climbing in my car and heading towards Penny’s house.

  Thirty-nine

  Penny

  Ava’s eyes fill with tears, her bottom lip dropping and trembling as the news settles in. It’s been a year since she last saw her dad, but she still remembers him, she still looks at their pictures and smiles. She tells me often how much she misses him.

  How exactly do you tell a six-year-old about death when they’ve barely lived t
hemselves and have never had to deal with it before?