by Ava Miles
“No, she’s still with her daughters,” Clara said, making room for Flynn. “I would love to work next to you, nephew. Would you care to wager who can make more body butter until we call it quits today? I personally have always found a wager useful for focus and efficiency.”
Arthur snorted. “Our side wagers are some of my happiest moments, my dear.”
He was a rake to mention them. They were the kind a couple only spoke of behind closed doors. “I had something else in mind. I thought perhaps I could help you and Annie go away this weekend, Flynn. The holiday baskets are important, but so is your relationship. Plus, you’ll both need a break.”
“I can spend the night at the house with the girls,” June volunteered, her mouth lifting and then falling again. “If Tom doesn’t like it, he can… I probably shouldn’t say. I feel like I should apologize again for his behavior.”
Clara had been married to a horrible man and understood that feeling all too well. “June, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the person who feels the need to apologize for another’s behavior is someone I would like to call a friend.”
Her mouth lifted into a soft smile. “I would love that, Clara. Thank you.”
“I suppose you can be mine too,” Arthur said, nudging the woman playfully. “Although some people think I’m a curmudgeon.”
Little did Arthur know she and his grandchildren in Dare Valley had gotten him vanity plates for his new retirement convertible as a Christmas present with the letters QRMUDGEN. She’d laughed so hard she’d cried when Jill had suggested it.
“You seem pretty nice, Arthur.” June faced Flynn head on. “I hope I can be your friend as well.”
He smiled like the Flynn of old. “I think we became that today, June.”
Somehow Clara knew their closer alliance with this woman would be a game changer for all of them.
Chapter 19
The horrible afternoon had given way to a miracle.
Amelia had been so upset earlier that the twins had watched Tangled with her and then asked her to have a slumber party with them. Iris and Eloise had even pushed their twin beds together so Amelia could sleep with them. The sweetness of the gesture had nearly choked her up as she kissed each of them good night.
She was eager to text Flynn and see how he and his family were faring. Hargreaves had made a lovely dinner for everyone, but the Merriams had departed quickly after eating, giving her time alone with the girls.
When Annie reached the kitchen to make herself a soothing cup of holiday tea before texting him, she saw June sitting at the table, knitting a dark blue scarf. A heavy feeling weighed her down at the prospect of potentially dealing with more strife or censure.
Her mother-in-law looked up, the clicking of needles going silent. “I wanted to apologize to you in person, but I didn’t want to impose on your time with the girls. I can’t imagine how upset they were, Amelia especially. How is she?”
“She’d never been hit before.” Annie poured herself a glass of water and slumped into a chair. “She cried and cried, and she just couldn’t understand why Tom would do that. I told her that he was mad at me and took it out on her, but she’s little, so I’m not sure it stuck. The twins have been extra sweet to her tonight. They’re having a slumber party.”
“That’s something then.” June clutched her knitting in her lap. “I don’t know if it’s any consolation, but I want you to know I’m behind you. We’ve always gotten along well, you and I, yet we’re not friends. I made some today with those wonderful people Flynn has brought. And I hope we might become friends too someday. In-laws aren’t the same, and with Ben gone, the bond feels different sometimes, doesn’t it?”
Pain shot through her chest. “Oh, June.”
“Just hear me out. After Flynn and I got back from the Andersons, I volunteered to help with the baskets. I hope that was all right.”
“You did?” She studied June’s soft, round face, the touches of Ben’s brows and nose visible there. “Why?”
Her mouth twisted. “Because Tom is wrong across the board. I got to thinking about what you and Flynn said about not being able to find any space in town, so I called a few of my friends and found out people had the idea Tom and I were against you making the baskets around the holidays. Something about cutting into family time.”
Annie’s hands shook as she reached for her water. “I’d wondered about that.”
“Yes, he said something in the feed store apparently, and you know how things spread around here.” She stuffed her knitting into her bag. “I was shocked to hear it and told my friends I was behind you one hundred percent. That I was helping you make the products, in fact. And do you know what? Those three friends volunteered to help us too. Said we women have to stick together.”
Annie fell back in her chair. She didn’t have any close friends her age in town. It had started back in school—she and Emily had always marched to the beat of their own drum—and some folks would never forget she’d come back to town pregnant and unmarried. Now, she was a mother of three and a small business owner, and she hardly ever saw anyone other than the girls and Tom and June. She’d figured it was just the way it was. No crying over spilt milk.
So to hear people from the community wanted to support her…
Her heart simply rolled over.
“You know these women,” June continued. “It’s Gertie Blanchett, Tilly Kowalski, and Carol Anderson, who said you can keep the portable on her land as long as you’d like. We all remember the days of our youth when the community would come together to raise a barn in a day. Those days might be done mostly, but the spirit remains.”
“I’d always wished I could have been part of a barn raising.” Annie shook her head, unable to believe these women were coming together to help her.
“We won’t have fried chicken and pie, but it’s the help that counts.” June frowned. “I could probably find you space in town too, but Flynn said he has everything arranged for the portable now, so perhaps we should stick with it. I figured that decision was up to you.”
Annie shook her head. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I hope you don’t feel I’m butting in. I only want to help.”
She extended her hand to June, who took it. “Thank you. I would love it if you and your friends helped.”
A part of the town was standing up for her. So few people had ever stood up for her before.
An image of Flynn stepping up to Tom flitted through her mind. She was proud to have a man like him in her life, one who would always have her back.
“And June—I would love it if you and I became friends. I’d count myself lucky.”
They both shared a watery smile before June wiped her eyes.
“My boy loved you from the moment he became a young man,” June said, looking down at their linked hands, “and I know it was hard for you at times, although that’s none of my affair. But that was done when he died. I only want you to know that whatever has led Tom to act like this—I don’t share it.”
Annie’s throat was tight, and she coughed to clear it. “It wasn’t easy on Ben at times either. June, I wish things hadn’t happened the way they did.”
“I know that.” Her mouth tipped up at the corners, and she squeezed Annie’s hand before letting it go. “Now, I’m going to head home and call my gals to tell them we’re on. What time do you want us here in the morning?”
She smiled easily for the first time in hours. “Eight o’clock all right? I’ll run you through what I have in mind.”
“We’ll be there,” June said, picking up her knitting bag.
“June, what about Tom?” she asked suddenly. He obviously wasn’t going to have a change of heart. Although he and Ben had built the lab for her, it had become clear to her they’d only thought of it as a hobby. A pastime. A way for her to entertain herself. Now that it had become a real business, one with a chance for serious success…
Tom was as opposed to that as Ben had
been, and she didn’t want to be responsible for a rift between him and June.
“Leave Tom to me. I’ll ignore him if I have to, not that he’d notice.” June tugged on her coat by the front door. “We’ve found a way to exist with each other for forty-some-odd years, and one of the ways we do it is to stay out of each other’s hair. I’ll keep serving him three meals a day and keeping house for him, but that’s the extent of it. He’s wrong to act like this, and I’m looking forward to proving it to him.”
Annie blinked. She’d always wondered how happy Tom and June were together. Ben had told her there wasn’t much affection between them. She certainly hadn’t seen it, but it was hard to know what went on behind closed doors. Didn’t she know that firsthand?
“Also, your man is in the lab making body butter,” June said, an amused smile on her face. “He said he was going to get ahead on his quota since he needed to make sure the tables and heaters and supplies were all set up properly at the portable tomorrow. I could tell him to swing by and see you if you’re in the mood for company.” She paused, then added, “I like him, Annie. And his family. They’re good people.”
“I’m glad you like them. Him. About Flynn…” She felt her cheeks start to flush. “June, I’m thinking—”
“I know you are, dear.” June kissed her cheek warmly and then cupped it with her hand. “I’m glad for you, Annie. You’re still so young, and no one should have to be alone for the rest of their lives. He’ll make you and the girls happy. I told him and his family earlier I would spend the night with the girls if you two wanted to go away together for a night.”
She gaped at the woman, as surprised by her words as her rare demonstration of affection. “You did?”
June only nodded, a twinkle in her eye. “Just let me know when you want me. Okay, I’m off. I’ll tell Flynn you’re free. Good night, Annie. And thank you.”
She was out the door before Annie could say another word. Perhaps that was for the best. Her throat seemed to have closed up tight from emotion. She hadn’t imagined June giving an informal blessing, but it meant a lot. So did her suggestion about becoming friends, something that made Annie’s heart swell.
While she waited for Flynn, she cleaned up the usual clutter around the house: a toy here, a pair of shoes there, an array of coloring books and crayons. But it was Amelia’s block handwriting on a notepad that captivated her. A Story About Twins. Her daughter had listed a few items Annie had learned from her own research. They play together in their mommy’s tummy. They make up words together. They know what the other is thinking all the time. But it was the last item that had her tearing up. They were friends before they came out of mommy’s tummy.
Goodness, so much emotion today. She wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. She’d have to ask her daughter more about this article she was doing with Arthur.
A soft rap sounded, and she glanced over as Flynn opened the door. There were dark circles under his eyes, and she crossed to him. “You’re tired. I didn’t know you were still at the lab. You should have gone home and rested up with the rest of your family.”
He shrugged out of his coat and kissed her on the cheek. “I couldn’t leave until I knew you and the girls were all right.”
“They were still pretty upset.” She gave him a rundown, ending with everything June had told her.
“I’m glad for you,” Flynn said, cupping her cheek. “This feels like what Uncle Arthur calls circling the wagons. Tom won’t like it.”
“June doesn’t seem to care about that,” Annie said. “In fact, she offered to stay with the girls if we wanted to go away together for a night.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, she said as much in the lab. It pretty much floored me. I’d wondered how we might find some time alone, frankly. The twins didn’t seem to be taking to Uncle Arthur and the rest of my family like I’d hoped.”
“Today changed that, I think,” Annie said. “Both Eloise and Iris told me they were sorry for not being nicer to him. He won them over by protecting and comforting Amelia. Oh, Flynn, she was so crushed.”
He pulled her into his arms, engulfing her in warmth and protection. “I know she was. Every time I think of it, I want to wrap my hands around his throat. Annie, he makes me angrier than anyone I’ve ever met, and I’ve never thought of myself as an angry guy. It’s making me reconsider some things.”
A sudden pulse of fear chilled her, and she pressed back to gaze at him. “About us?”
“No, definitely not about us. About me. Up until now, no one’s ever gotten to me like this. Usually drama rolls off my back, but maybe that’s only because I’ve never cared this much before.”
“It’s not rolling off my back either, Flynn.” She put her head on his chest. “He hurt my daughter. I feel like I should have done more in the moment.”
His hand made soothing passes up and down her spine. “Sounds like we’re all beating ourselves up. I’ve never found it super constructive. How about we focus on some good things instead?”
“I like the sound of that.” She took his hand and led him to the kitchen, pulling out two beers from the fridge. Forget the tea. “Where do we start?”
“With how much I adore you,” he said, reaching for the bottles. He popped the top off one of them and handed it to her before getting to work on the other.
She led him to the table, and they sat down, their chairs pressed as close together as they would go. Annie took a sip of her drink and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Adore me, huh? I like the sound of that.”
He lifted her chin. “Then you’re going to like what I’m about to do next even more.”
His mouth settled over hers in a kiss that was both intoxicating and gentle, comforting and, yes, full of adoration. She’d never imagined a kiss could elicit so many feelings, and today had been full of them. She fell into it, closing her eyes. The bliss of his lips moving in time with hers became her sole focus. The greasiness in her stomach from earlier slid away, replaced by the warm throb of good old-fashioned desire.
When he lifted his head, his green eyes held that familiar light—the one that had been dimmed today. Somehow one simple kiss had pushed away all of his fatigue and discouragement, and hers as well. She marveled at its power, knowing its source was their special connection. True, they hadn’t known each other long, but her heart had known him from the beginning, just as his had known her. That was the greatest sign of it all.
“I love you, Flynn,” she whispered, raising his hand to her cheek and kissing his palm.
“I love you too, Annie.” He caressed her face. “Thank you for trusting me. I know this is happening fast.”
How many days had it been? Right now, she couldn’t remember. “I won’t be able to get away for a while after what happened with Tom today. Amelia is crushed, but the twins are pretty upset too. I’ll find out how much tomorrow, I imagine. But after… I want to take June up on her offer and go away with you for a night. I don’t care where. I just want to be with you. Make love with you.” If she could, she would have taken his hand and led him to her bedroom tonight, but the girls were here, and she didn’t feel comfortable with that. Not this first time anyway.
“I know. You’ll know best when the time is right. Until then, I’ll continue to imagine what it’ll be like to be alone with you.” Lifting her hand to his mouth, he kissed her fingers slowly.
An incredible feeling of peace stole over her, something she could only remember feeling a few times. “This is going to sound weird—”
“I’m the king of weird.”
She smiled at him, grateful for his understanding. For his ability to listen. “But the way I feel now…the sense of peace and hope and strength I get when I’m with you reminds me of the way I felt on this beach in Greece once. I wasn’t with anyone, but I didn’t feel alone.” She shrugged as redness washed over her cheeks. “It’s a feeling and moment I’ve always wanted to go back to. Like a touchstone, I guess. The first time we met, you
r eyes reminded me of those waters. Still do.”
“Where in Greece?” he asked. “I’ve spent some time around the islands.”
When she told him about Pano Koufonisi, his mouth dropped open. “I’ve been there. When were you there?”
She tapped her chin, thinking back, and told him.
He grabbed her shoulders. “You’re kidding. I was there just before that. With my family. I remember because Michaela, my youngest sister, had just graduated from high school. God, I’m about to bring the weirdness to another level. Don’t laugh.”
“I’d never laugh at you,” she said, twining their fingers together.
“Maybe our souls knew we were going to come together all along, which is why you felt like you did on that beach.”
Maybe some people would call what he’d said foolish or flighty. Tom certainly would, and Ben too, but not Annie. The heart she’d wrangled back from wanting to dream big dreams and fly high in the sky broke its confines at last. A powerful warmth spread through her chest, almost like it was burning up the last of the ropes she’d wrapped around her heart to anchor it in place.
She closed her eyes as that wonderful feeling from the beach filled her again. Only this time his arms were around her for real.
When she finally opened her eyes, all she saw was Flynn’s liquid green eyes. When she looked deeper, she could have sworn she saw those greenish-blue waves rushing toward her, calling her to new experiences, new people, new places.
He was the touchstone to everything she’d always wanted.
Chapter 20
June’s friends proved to be wonderful additions to the holiday basket effort.
Flynn loved all three white-haired ladies, who powerwalked as a matter of course, bustling around the lab and the portable, and worked all weekend without uttering a single complaint. Since the portable was on Carol’s land, they mostly did their work out there. Hargreaves stayed out there much of the time, to “assist the women as they learned their trade.”