by Brynn Hale
But that is the way with the Churches. Their money falls out of their overfull pockets and their mouths don’t know when to stop.
Nolan answers the front door. “Elodie Roberts…” His eyes track to all points of my body and I tighten my jaw. “This is quite the surprise. You look… different.” The catch in his voice raises the hair on the back of my neck. Nolan Church was one of those guys in high school who said what they thought out loud and I heard him loud and clear.
Ellie the Elephant-Miss Elophant. Can’t fit on the bus, cause she’s as big as one. Had to have a special-made uniform for the band.
“Mr. Church, my father tells me that you have an ill dog?”
“What? No, I think we’re okay.”
I step back. Something isn’t right here.
He shakes his head. “The only dog we have is Shana’s little ankle biter.”
And there it is. Her name.
I start to turn. “Maybe my father got it—”
“Hello, Ellie.” Her voice calls from behind the door. She steps into view with a dog the size of a large can of pork ‘n beans in her hands. “You’re here to see Mr. Snickers.”
Her voice makes me clench my hand on the handle of my bag. “And what exactly is wrong with Mr. Kickers?”
“It’s Snickers. Mr. Snickers.”
I knew that.
“Mr. Snickers, is it?”
She sneers. “Yes. And he’s been sick since yesterday morning. Donna said he hasn’t eaten anything all day.”
Donna being their live-in housekeeper, I’m imagining because I can’t imagine her having any friends anymore.
I’m still standing with the storm door hitting me in the arm. “Can I come in? Or should I examine him on the porch in the thirty-degree weather?”
“Come in, of course.” She motions her perfectly manicured red fingernails at me.
“Is there a bar or island I can examine him on?”
“It’s a girl.”
I follow her through the house. I’ve only been here once before when Nolan’s oldest brother graduated, and my parents were invited to the graduation party.
“But it’s Mr.—”
Nolan holds up a hand. “Don’t even start with her. It’s supposed to be ironic or some shit. I think it’s just stupid.”
“Are you calling me stupid, Nolan?” Shana sets the dog down harder than I would’ve expected her to, but when it comes to Shana, she’s never been known to be kind to animals or people.
“No, dear. I’m saying the name is stupid. You could have at least called her Mrs. Snickers.”
“Okay, I’m going to need some silence to listen to Mr. Snickers’ chest.” If it’s the only way I can get them to shut up, I’ll use it.
I pull out the stethoscope and last night floods back to me.
Nolan leaves the room and I’m on guard, even more than before. There isn’t anything I have to say to Shana. And nothing she can say to me in return to change things. All I’m here for is… the dog.
I listen to the tiny heart. And then to the lungs. I search for any reason to keep listening and ignore her. I listen a little deeper.
“What are you feeding him… er, her?”
“We both know there’s nothing wrong with the dog, Ellie.”
I pull the dog to me. It’s insurance, in case she goes batshit crazy. It’s totally possible.
Shana crosses her arms in front of her. “I want to clear the air.”
I just stare at her and a little part of me relishes when she starts to squirm under my direct gaze.
She huffs. “Cole never would’ve loved you. Cole has a certain…type. I don’t regret what I did. Cole and I had a lot of fun, but then he wanted me to help on that farm—”
“Ranch. It’s a ranch. They don’t till land. They don’t plant any harvestable grains or crops. It’s a ranch. They raise animals and animal products.”
“Whatever…” She narrows her eyes. “You knew what I meant.”
“No, actually, that was always one of your problems, Shana. You said one thing and meant and did another. You knew how I felt. You said you’d stay away from him and you ended up walking down the aisle in what my father described as the gaudiest wedding he’d ever seen.”
“Now you’re just being hurtful.”
“You know what, maybe I am.” I set the dog down on the ground and it runs away from her as she bends to grab it.
Even animals know evil when they see it.
“I just wanted you to know that I’m… I’m sorry and now that you’re back, I hope we can be friends.”
“Nope.”
“Well, it’s going to be really awkward at church on Sunday.”
“Not for me. Apparently for you.” I close up my bag. “I just want you to know that I’m fine with that.”
Her mouth drops open dramatically and I’m done.
But I am here in a professional capacity, so I pull my prescription pad from my pocket. “Your dog has an eye infection.” I write out the prescription and leave it on the granite that’s the size of a small bedroom in square footage. “The office closes at five. I’d suggest heading in now to get the eye drops.”
I grab my bag and I’m out the door. Whatever friendship we had has now been buried.
Dead.
And I’m totally okay with that.
ELLIE
I’m on my way to Heraldsville, but I don’t know why. As much as I don’t want to agree with her, Shana’s right. Cole’s never dated anyone less than the prom queen, the most popular girl in high school and the most beautiful.
But we’re not in high school anymore.
I want to believe that voice in my head. And I want to ignore the one that says I’m not good enough for him. But it’s hard. And I fight believing in much else than what I see in the mirror. I’m a big female. Always have been, always will be. But I’m not sure why I believe that makes me less worthy of love.
I pull in front of a boutique. I’m not sure they’ll have anything in my size, which is typically how it goes. Anything over a size twelve is usually hard to find in this area. And I’m nowhere near that number. If I had a couple hours I would’ve driven into Denver and gone to a couple of my favorite stores there. And if I have to, I have a plain black dress in my closet that I can wear. But I’d rather not look like I’m going to a funeral, which is what the dress is intended for.
The door has one of those chimes on it that rings happily as I enter. I’m never happy when it comes to shopping and definitely not for something that will show off my curves.
“Good afternoon, I’m Connie, how can I help you?” A woman not as tall as me, but as sizeable, steps from behind the wooden counter.
I turn from where I’m looking at a sweater that has a llama on the outside. Llamas are my weakness. I enjoy an animal with that much attitude.
I bite the inside of my lip. “Evening gown?”
Connie’s cloudy blue eyes flash over me and she smiles. “Snow Ball in Peacock?”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t seem too excited.”
“I’m not.”
“Then why go?” She stands back and crosses her arms.
“Ummm…” I don’t know what to say. I swallow.
It isn’t about proving Shana wrong. It’s about proving that I’m right. Right to believe that I’m worthy of love. Even if Cole doesn’t want me, some guy out there will.
I roll my gaze up so I can’t see her reaction. “I guess part of me wants to go.”
“Is there a special guy?”
“Maybe.” He’s more special than you’ll ever know, Connie.
Her lips widen and her fingers clutch my elbow, lightly. “You have a couple of hours?”
I glance at my phone. It’s 4:15 p.m. “Yeah, I can make that work.”
“Excellent. Then let’s get to it.” She picks up the phone. “MaryJane, I need you over here, stat. Bring your styling tools and makeup box. Yes. That’s right. Code Cinderella.”
I grab the decanter. My nerves are standing on end inside of me. The golden-brown liquid flows over the ice cubes in long ribbons. My father had the best taste in whiskeys. My brothers and I chose one to have in December to remember him. This one is a Glenlivet XXV. I drink the glass far too fast and fill it again.
My brother Luke steps into the room. “Whoa…hitting the hard stuff already?”
“I need it.”
“You get hit on by that cheetah in fake fur, too?”
We rarely talked about the guests, but this one made quite the impression on all of us.
“She’s something else.”
“I’ve marked her account. She won’t be back.” He grabs the bottle.
“Thanks.”
Luke’s job as Marketing and Sales Director for the B&B and all the other businesses keeps him busy and sometimes, I wonder if he has too much on his plate. He needs an extra set of hands and I promise myself to hire him an assistant in the new year. We’ve had a good one. We can afford a part-timer to help him out.
“You ready for this?” I ask him. It will be his first year going without his high school sweetheart on his arm. She up and left Peacock Ridge and we don’t dare say her name. He doesn’t want to hear it.
“I’m fine.”
I chuckle. “You remember what Grandma used to say. ‘Fine’s for china and dining. Not people’.”
His youthful smile brightens his face and I remember the Luke from…before.
“Okay, I’m missing her.” He takes a long swig. “But today I’m missing Dad more.”
“Luke, Dad wouldn’t want us to linger on his death. That tractor accident wasn’t your fault. Dad just didn’t get the parking brake engaged. Accidents happen.”
“But I should’ve been out there with him. He asked me to help him and I kept telling him in a minute. In a minute. But there aren’t any more minutes, now, Cole. I can’t help but think of what sage advice Dad would have for me.”
“He would’ve told you to stop fucking moping and go to the dance. Dance with every girl there, drink a few cocktails, and enjoy yourself. You’ve done everything you could. Grace made a choice.”
“To destroy me.”
“Maybe she chose to save herself. Have you ever thought of that? We don’t always know what’s going on in someone’s head. You need to forgive.”
“How can you forgive someone when you really don’t know what you’re forgiving them for?”
“Forgiveness isn’t only for her…it’s for you, too, Luke.”
“Maybe someday.” He sighs and throws back the rest of his drink. “But not today.” He grabs a few chili-lime-coated peanuts out of the bowl. “So you’re all fancy tonight.”
I straighten my bowtie. “What? This little number? Just something I had in the closet.” I model it like I’m on the runway in New York City and Luke acts unimpressed.
“It’s Dad’s?” Luke asks while throwing a peanut in the air and catching it in his mouth.
“Yeah. Is that okay?” I still. I hadn’t thought about what my brothers would think. And that was one of my problems. I needed to think about other people’s feelings. Maybe Breck was right and I wasn’t the right man for Ellie.
Luke brushes a hand through his hair, standing the strands in the front on end while finishing the peanuts in his mouth. “Cole, he’d love to see you wearing it. It’s too big for me, and Breck wouldn’t fit it either, but he’d try to fit his ass into it.”
“I would wear the hell outta that tux.” Apparently, Luke heard our middle brother in the hallway. “But I agree with Luke, Dad would love to see you in it.” He steps to the shelves and lifts a frame. He opens the back and a stack of two dozen pictures drop onto the bar top. He starts filing through the two decades worth of pictures. “They were always so happy.”
“They made me believe in love,” I say as I set my glass on the bar. “Even if I didn’t choose right the first time, I’m ready to have what they had. True love.”
“Whoa…what’s up with you, Deepak Chopra?” Luke’s brow furrows.
“He saw Ellie Roberts yesterday. Excuse me, Dr. Ellie Roberts, veterinarian. And he thinks he’s got a chance.”
Luke’s head swings to me. “The same girl who graduated with me?”
I cross the room to the doorway. “Same one.”
“Cole, don’t fuck with her.” My baby brother’s protective side rears its head. It’s a trait that my father instilled in all of us.
“I don’t plan to fuck with her, brother. I intend to marry her.”
I leave them both with their mouths open and their eyes wide.
The town’s VFW functions as the place for the Ball. I step into the vestibule of the building, hand my long, black wool coat to the coat check room and stick the token in my pocket. Some things never change. The same hunched-over elderly ladies are working for the night. Their bottle of schnapps is well hidden below the half door to the room and by the end of the night everyone will have to get their own coat because the petite ladies will be too plastered to see straight.
The ballroom buzzes with people sitting at the round tables around the outside of the dance floor. I glance around and a table of ladies waves me over. I fight the urge to pretend like I don’t see them, but again, I remember they are guests until tomorrow at ten a.m. and then they’re gone.
“Good evening, ladies. How are you?”
Each answers with a smile and some with short bursts of interaction, and I can see that most of them are genuine and probably not out for anything more than a friendly face. My eyes come around to the one in a disco ball, highly reflective silver dress with shoes that are the same.
“Mr. Reeves, where is this—I’m assuming lovely—lady of yours?” she asks while reaching for my jacket sleeve.
I step back. “Ladies, we’ll be having an extra special buffet in the morning with mimosas and bloody Mary’s made with our house special mix from the summer garden. I hope you will enjoy. I need to go check on my date.”
“Oh, my!” one of the ladies’ gaze holds to someone behind me. “Isn’t that the woman you were talking to at the barn, Mr. Reeves?”
I spin to see who she’s talking about and my gut takes a punch at the sight. Every ounce of air in my lungs exits in one burst and I’m not sure I can inhale to save myself. I cross the room, and if there’s a man in the room not looking at her, he’s a fucking fool.
“Elodie, you’re stunning.”
Her candy-apple-red dress wraps every curve like she’s a perfect present. The dip of the shiny neckline reveals the bountiful roundness of her breast. My mouth waters and I wonder if I’m drooling. I can imagine every man in the room doing the same and part of me wants to usher her from the room, but the majority of me wants every man and woman to see what’s now mine.
“Thanks, Cole. I… I don’t know why I’m really here and in this ridiculous dress. But you asked—”
“Thank you for being here. And that dress is fucking fantastic.” I slip my hand into hers. I give a light squeeze and in the white twinkling lights that are strung overhead from wall to wall her face flushes a bright pink.
Her eyes dart nervously around the room. “Why do I feel like I’m actually naked?”
“If you were, every woman in here would be jealous, and every man would have a fucking black eye from me.”
She closes her eyes and steps closer. “I have to be dreaming. This can’t be real. Are you sure?”
“What’s real is what I’m feeling for you. Let’s get a drink and find a quiet place to talk.”
She grasps my hand tighter, stopping me in my tracks. “Please don’t leave me alone, Cole.”
The way she says my name has my dick starting on a one-way track to semi land. I step close, wrapping an arm around her waist and making sure she can feel how she affects me along her side.
I lean in close, slipping a hand behind her neck, her tumble of big and soft curls tangling in my fingers. “You do that to
me, Elodie. No other woman will ever take me from flaccid to hard in five fucking seconds. Only you, baby.”
Her eyes close and she actually leans into me, her chest rising and falling quickly. “Down, boy. We don’t need to have the check room coat ladies drinking tequila to calm their nerves.”
I let out a hearty laugh and lean down to her ear. “I want to fucking kiss you, but I’m going to wait. I’m going to wait until the room is full and all eyes are on us. When everyone can know that you’re going to be mine, Elodie.” I breathe a heavy, hot breath in her ear. “Forever, my princess.”
ELLIE
What the H-E-Double-hockey-sticks is happening to me?
I moan into his chest, every part of me melting into him. I’ve never felt on fire like this before. Like every ounce of my body is made of molten lava and the slick between my legs is the flow of the hottest kind.
“Drink…now, please.” I grit through my teeth as my pussy clenches. I need something strong. Something to cool me down.
His hand slips to my back. “Give me about twenty more seconds to talk this down.” His nose buries in my hair. “God, you smell like sugar and spice.”
I lean back, ignoring all of the eyes directed at us. “Good enough to eat?”
He tips his head and shakes it. “You aren’t helping, Dr. Roberts.”
I giggle and make sure to rub against him a little more.
“Ellie…” His chest rises and falls quickly. “That’s it. Back to my place…”
I step out of his hold and turn brazenly, glancing over my bare shoulder, a dusting of shimmering powder catching in the lights. “Come cowboy…”
“Oh, I plan to.” He fastens the button on his jacket as he steps toward me. He passes by but leans down to my ear as he brushes my shoulder. “I’ll be coming all night, and so will you.”