~~
They didn't talk much in the car. Claire was surprised Jared left Newt with Dottie but maybe she’s babysat him before. The silence was personable, comfortable. There were small breaks of chatter. Not a lot, mostly Claire asking Jared where they were going and him giving this devilish grin and refusing to tell her. The grin sent a little zing through her body. Mischievous did wonders for that man's face. It was something she hadn't seen in the time they spent together but she wanted to see more of.
They ended up winding through a small portion of Lantern Lake then through a lot of what she assumed was Bunny Ridge, based on the signs, and pulled into the restaurant parking lot of a building that looked like a 1950s diner. It looked as if the snow had been shoveled away as much as possible and piled up in the corner parking spots. The parking lot was roughly a third full, but it was lunch time on a weekday so for all Claire knew this was more of a weekend spot.
As they walked up to the building, Claire noticed Jared sneaking glances at her to see what she thought of the place he picked for lunch and she couldn't help the grin on her face. There'd been a place similar to this in Seattle when she was growing up, but it'd closed. She could see the inside was decorated in a retro style that made her excited to see the menu.
Jared open the door, which had a ringer above and he stepped aside so she could enter first. The sandwich board in the entryway instructed customers to ‘seat yourself’ so after a quick scan, Claire moved left and sat in the nearest open booth, facing the window. It had not snowed so far today, but considering the amount of snow Lantern Lake had this week Claire figured it was best if they kept one eye on the sky as they ate.
The menus were already on the table with the condiments and before she could do anything beyond a cursory scan, their server walked up and cleared her throat.
She was a young woman, maybe twenty, her dyed blonde hair up in a high ponytail and she had a huge grin on her face. "Hey, Mr. McAllister. I see you’ve come to join us instead of being walled up in your cabin like usual; this is a nice treat."
Claire swung her gaze to see how Jared took the young girl's good-natured ribbing. Jared was shaking his head with a lopsided smile.
“Uh huh, good to see you too, Katie.” He turned his attention to Claire. “Katie here lives two houses down from my parents. When she and her two big sisters were growing up, my youngest brother Max would babysit them. As he was the most reliable kid on the block that meant she spent a lot of time at our house."
The younger woman, Katie, pointed the pen she was writing with at Jared. "That's right and don't you forget it. If he starts telling any kind of interesting stories about me, let me know. I have a few of my own about him and I'm a much better storyteller than he is. What can I get you all to drink?"
Claire couldn't hide the amusement she felt at their exchange. It was very clear Katie was like an adopted sister to Jared. Shaking her head, Claire ordered a Cherry Coke and Jared did the same. Once they were alone again, after the two locals exchanged a few off the cuff insults, Jared brought his attention back to her, smiling.
"What do you think? I know we haven't had the food yet but any of the burgers are a pretty safe bet. I know it's kinda kitschy, but the food is good and it's a fun atmosphere. Plus, it doesn't have the biggest lunch crowd which means we won't have to wait too long for food."
Nodding along with his words, Claire put more attention into reading the menu. The two of them sat in silence until Katie came back with their drinks and took their food orders. They lapsed into a comfortable conversation, some of their favorite books, which surprisingly they had a good number in common. They were elbow deep in discussing a wizard detective when their food arrived. There was a short break while they ate their meals. Jared had been right, Claire really enjoyed the mushroom burger she ordered. Every aspect of the flavor was fantastic. But then so far, she had not eaten any bad food during her stay at Lantern Lake.
Once their eating slowed down, the conversation continued, this time to movies. That subject kept them going until way after they finished eating and it was clear they were lingering so they could keep talking. When Jared brought his empty glass to his mouth for the second time, he rolled his eyes.
“Why don’t we go for a stroll around the block? Not a long one, in case it snows again, or they haven't fully plowed the sidewalks. Enough to stretch our legs before we head back, and I drop you off at the inn?" His smile was a combination of the mischievous smirk and the lopsided grin she had seen earlier.
The combination wasn't something Claire wanted to say no to. Also, she could do with a short walk, even though she wasn't wearing the warmest of clothes. "Sure."
His smile grew as he slid out of the booth. Claire followed after him and they easily slipped into step with each other as they exited the diner. It took Claire a second to get used to the colder temperature again. She had known it would be cold since snow was still on the ground, but the shock between the diner and outside still got to her.
"Hey, Jared," came a male voice from an SUV as it drove past them when they turned the corner and exited the diner's parking lot.
Jared waved at what Claire assumed would've been the rearview mirror of the vehicle before jamming his hand back in his pocket.
"What is it like living in a city where you seem to know everybody?"
His initial response was a snort followed by a sigh. "Sometimes it's nice. People are more inclined to help you out because they have known you all your life. It makes a place seem like home. But it also means everybody's in your business and knows everything about you. It's very hard to have privacy when there's nothing else going on."
Claire hadn't thought of that. The privacy thing, she imagined if there wasn't a lot of hustle and bustle, aspects of people's daily lives probably would take prominent spots in conversation.
"Your aunt, Dottie, tells me you guys take in the occasional wayward person for Christmas dinner and actually invited me to come with her." She wasn't sure what reaction she was hoping to get from Jared. Claire wanted to feel it out, see what Jared's thoughts were on her attending his family's gathering. If he seemed uncomfortable or quiet, then she knew not to do it.
There was a moment of silence as they continued to walk. At first Claire wasn't sure he was going to respond but just as the silence was about to get awkward Jared responded.
"You should do it. We do take on the occasional stray, as my mom likes to put it, to our family Christmas. Sometimes multiple strays. You never know how many people are going to show up until you get there. My family is a friendly bunch, so you don't have to worry about feeling uncomfortable. Speaking as someone who prefers to spend their time alone, I get why you would decline, but even I wouldn't want to spend Christmas alone."
His tone reverberated with pain; Claire wanted to ask about it but didn't. With the pain came a standoffishness of his body language that made her wary. He didn't say anything after that, and she noticed they cut the corner to get back to the car faster. Somehow, she’d inadvertently upset him. Kicking herself, she wondered if she shouldn't show up for dinner tomorrow. The last thing she wanted was to cause this man more pain.
Chapter 8
Jared had been incredibly grateful when he’d gotten word that the roadways had finally been plowed back to his house yesterday afternoon. It had been nothing more than a text message that came through as he was picking up Newt from his aunt. Relieved, this meant he could go back to his natural hermit state, at least until today when he had to head to his parents’ house for Christmas dinner. He had needed the open road, fresh air, and to be alone with his own thoughts.
He was so used to being alone that being around his family that many days in a row was almost too much. Normally he'd stay one night and that would be it and now he remembered why. He loved his family but being around people, especially this time of year, was difficult for him. All it did was remind him of the few short years he had with Lilianna. At least when he was at home, in a house s
he never lived in, he was alone with his sullen thoughts and could get lost in his work.
He definitely needed to get lost yesterday after his time with Claire. He really enjoyed her company and if he wasn't mistaken, he felt a small, not-insignificant spark between them. Which was absolutely ludicrous since she lived in Seattle. Every time he thought about her, came the guilt that his heart would wake up and pay attention to anyone other than his wife. Lilianna had been perfect. She taught at the same school Reed did, so the two of them had been friends, meaning she blended into his family quite easily. She would laugh and make jokes. They had been a perfect fit right up until the end.
When he thought about how unfairly he lost her the anger and pain wasn't quite as strong as it used to be. It was still there. He was still furious at the drunk driver that hit her and angry at the universe for letting it happen and mourned the years they should've had together, the life they should've had together. But now it felt as if a salve were over that hurt; he was actually starting to heal.
What Jared needed was a night of distraction and his family would give him just that. He couldn't help but wonder if Claire had taken his aunt's invitation and would be there. He also could not decide whether her being there would be more or less difficult. Regardless, he partially hoped she had shown up. If she hadn’t, he knew he be asking his aunt to make up a plate of food for her and taking it to her himself. Even if he was uncertain about why he felt the way he felt about her, someone he barely knew, he didn’t want her spending the holiday alone.
Resolved that he would see Claire one way or the other, Jared took a deep breath and knocked on his parents’ front door. Newt's leash was in one hand and a nice white wine was in the other. A beat later his aunt Rachel opened the door. Her apron was splashed in various colors and the smile on her face when she saw him made him smile form. Her short brown hair was back in a high ponytail and she waved him in as his brother’s two boxers came charging into the entryway.
"Hey, Jared. Good to see you. You'll be happy to know you are not the last one here. We are still waiting on Kevin and Reed, who I'm told are carpooling and have a childhood friend with them. I guess they’re picking him up from Lakeside. Who knows when they will arrive." As she waved off the undetermined arrival of his brother and cousin, she shut the door behind him.
Matthew and Robert appeared down the hallway waving at him to come further in the house. Holding up one finger, Jared unhooked Newt's collar from his leash and let the dog run off wherever he and the boxers were going. Max popped his head around the corner behind their older brothers and gave Jared a big smile.
"Long time no see," joked Robert. All Jared did was groan. As he turned the corner into the small laundry/kitchenette space, he heard melodious laughter that made him stop in his tracks.
It was a female laugh and it wasn't one of his aunts or mother. Instinctively he knew it was Claire. Apparently, she had taken up his aunt’s invitation to spend the holiday with them. From the sound of it she was working in the kitchen with the other women. Sure enough, when he entered the room he saw her with a rolling pin muscling though dough and a streak of flour across her cheek. With a glowing smile on her face his heart thumped heavily in his chest. She looked gorgeous. More gorgeous than usual, as if now she was in her element.
There was a thump on his back, and he turned his head to see Robert standing behind him. "Apparently her grandmother taught her and her sister how to make various breads, so she's been put in charge of this aspect of dinner."
Wanting to compose himself as Claire turned and gave him that thousand-watt smile, Jared muttered he was going to see if Newt had to use the restroom and turned left, away from the kitchen, into the living room where the sliding glass door was.
He didn't slow down until he and the three dogs were outside. The yard was large enough that the two boxers and Newt could run around like crazy, and they did, playing some version of tag no one knew the rules to. It was cold, the air biting but Jared relished the opportunity to just stand there and breathe. He’d known there was a chance Claire would be there but for some reason on the walk up from the driveway he convinced himself she wouldn't be. Seeing her in the kitchen, perfectly comfortable with his family had been more than he was prepared to handle. It was stupid. She was only a semi-stranger his family was helping out. Yet that thought didn't slow down his racing blood or make him feel any better. He could kick himself. It had been almost a decade since he'd had any reaction like this to a woman. He thought the difference was simply because he was no longer as young as he used to be but apparently that wasn't the case.
"Hey, little brother," came Matthew's voice from behind him a second after Jared heard the sliding glass door open and shut. There were two sets of footfalls, so Jared was willing to bet Robert was right there with Matthew.
"You doing okay?" Matthew continued. A beer, already open slid into view from over his shoulder.
Absently he grabbed it and took a swig. "Yeah, I'm fine." It came out more biting than he’d intended.
"Word on the street is you were showing interest in this woman. Initially I thought Robert was crazy. Then, he was just being nosy. But now that I've seen it firsthand, I have to say I am a little surprised." His older brother’s tone was full of amusement.
That graded Jared's nerves. "Everyone's discussing what I do with my life now? Do we really have nothing better to do?" he spat.
Robert came into view on his right-hand side, frowning. "It's not like that. It just caught everyone off guard.”
Before he could respond to his little brother, Matthew came in to view on the left-hand side. Not blocking his view of the dogs but he would have to look around one or both of to see the three galloping forms circling the yard.
"Would it be so bad? Having feelings for another woman after all this time?" Matthew questioned, folding his arms across his chest.
Frustration and anger started to bubble up in Jared's chest. He came out here to be alone with his thoughts, take a breath of fresh air and push feelings aside and here his brothers wanted to confront them head on.
"You don’t understand. Matthew, you and your fiancé have been together for years. You don't know what it's like to lose someone and have to recover from that. It's not like we broke up. She was taken from me. It’s different," he growled.
His brothers watched him in silence a moment; Jared couldn't read their expressions. But he knew them both well. They were weighing their options on what to say.
Finally, Matthew blew out a deep breath. "All right, we’ll leave you alone. It can’t be healthy to bottle up the first feelings you've had for someone in like a decade. I don’t think Lilianna would want this, but you know better than me. We’re here if you need to talk to us." His older brother patted his shoulder before both he and Robert headed back inside.
Jared watched the dogs play in the backyard a little longer, composing himself before heading back into the house, hoping he could still salvage some enjoyment from this holiday.
~~
Dinner had been pleasant enough. There were of course massive amounts of food. His mom invited the young couple who’d recently moved in down the street. Kevin and Reed’s high school friend was in attendance as well, so they ended up using two tables to seat everybody. Jared went out of his way to make sure he was at a different table than Claire. Juvenile, yes, but he wanted to avoid her entirely. Once dinner was rolling along, he found himself enjoying the time with his family.
After dinner and dessert ended and people were milling about, Jared took to helping bring the dishes into the kitchen and almost ran smack dab into Claire, as they reach for the same serving dish.
"Oh, sorry about that." She sounded upbeat as she drew her hand back from the casserole dish. "How was your dinner?"
"Fine," he responded, turning away from her. He was frustrated with himself about being a coward and kicking himself for being unfriendly when he didn't need to be.
"Hey?" she exclaimed a stage whisper
so other people wouldn't be able to hear her.
When he turned around, she was directly behind him and frowning up at him, as he was a good six inches taller in her.
"What is your deal? You said yesterday you thought it was a good idea I come. Now I'm getting the cold shoulder today. Are you all right? Is something wrong? Change your mind? Maybe I’m being silly but I kind of thought we were becoming friends, so I don’t know where this cold shoulder is coming from."
He could feel her frustration coming off of her in waves when she mentioned that they were becoming friends. It was all he could do to stop himself from snarling. Instead he forced his face blank and shrugged. "Yeah, well what are you going to do? You're only here for another few days and then you're going back to the west side. It's not like we’re going to have weekly phone chats or have anything to do with each other after the next few days." He turned back around grimacing when she could no longer see his expression.
He had seen the hurt in her eyes and it only made him feel worse. They'd only known each other less than two weeks and yet it felt longer. There was something stirring between them. She was someone he could see himself ending up with and that scared him.
Quickly he took the dishes in his hands to the kitchen and kissed his mother goodbye. She frowned but didn't question his leaving. Jared made sure to hunt down his father and aunts to say goodbye to them before he and Newt headed out. While he enjoyed his time with his family and loved them dearly, he needed to be alone, get back to his normal permanent life. Suddenly, he didn't want to go back to being a hermit, with only Newt to keep him company. To drown out even his own thoughts he turned up the radio, so the Christmas songs blasted in the cab of his truck and he forced himself to sing-along the entire drive back to his cabin.
Lantern Lake Winter Collection: Books 1-3 Page 16