When we arrived in Merryton a little after six, I was more than ready to be home. I was looking forward to seeing my kiddo, eating, and relaxing. I was hoping Andrew wouldn’t feel the need to overstay his welcome, but I wasn’t getting my hopes up.
I walked into the house, and it smelled amazing. Not only that, it was clean—maybe even cleaner than when I left. I could get used to that. Drew noticed me right off and ran to me. I could get used to that, too.
I pulled him into a bear hug. “I missed you today. Did you have fun?”
“It was awesome, except Andrew made us clean.”
I turned my attention to the kitchen to find Andrew grinning at me. “Well, I think that’s awesome.”
Drew let go of me and ran back to join Andrew.
I hung up my coat and satchel before heading that way myself. “It smells terrific. Can I help with anything?”
Andrew handed me a glass of red wine. “No. Just relax.”
I couldn’t remember the last time I drank, but it was a nice touch. I took the wine glass from him and settled onto a stool at the breakfast bar. “Thank you.”
Andrew went back to pouring ganache over some decadent looking chocolate cake. “How was your day?”
I was gaining five pounds just by looking at the dessert he was making. “Long and boring. I’m happy to be home.”
“Mom, guess what?” Drew cut in.
“What, bud?”
“Andrew bought me a cool new Bears comforter and posters for my wall.”
“Did he now?” I glared at Andrew, who was trying his best not to laugh.
“You should come see it,” Drew said.
“I definitely plan to.” I stared Andrew down. “I hope you didn’t take the liberty to re-paint his room while I was away.”
“I’m saving that for next time.” He winked before he threw some more spices in the pan he was using to toss the shrimp on the stove.
I rolled my eyes at him and took a sip of my wine. “This is good.”
“A friend of mine owns a vineyard in Cali and he sent it to me.”
“Nice. Are you sure I can’t help with anything?”
“Positive.” He turned toward Drew. “Do you want to light the candles on the table?”
Did he even need to ask? What eight-year-old boy doesn’t love to light things on fire?
“Don’t forget about what I said,” Andrew warned. “Don’t use matches unless your mom or I says it’s okay.”
Drew walked over with matches in hand to light the candlesticks on the table. “I won’t forget.”
“I said no firearms, so you thought of fire?” I whispered to my nemesis.
Andrew watched his son with adoration. “Look how careful he’s being.”
I joined Andrew in admiring our son. He was being cautious, but he looked so grown-up. It tugged on my heart. “Thank you for taking such good care of him today.” I should have said that earlier, I suppose.
“It may be the best day I’ve ever had.”
I turned and looked at a thoughtful looking Andrew. In his eyes I could see love for his son. It was as it should be, but did it ever prick at my heart. I moved to the table and waited for dinner to be served. I sipped my wine while I listened to the “men” talk. I had to say I liked how Andrew let Drew help, and how patient he was with him. He was a natural at the whole dad thing. If only he would own it already.
It didn’t take long before dinner was served. Not only did it smell amazing, it was absolutely delicious. Spicy garlic shrimp over angel hair pasta, and a Mediterranean salad to go with it. I felt like I was dining at a five-star restaurant.
In between bites of dessert, I complimented the chef. “This is the best meal I’ve ever had.” The chocolate ganache cake was to die for. “Did your mom teach you how to cook?”
Andrew shook his head.
“Who?”
“Ask me later.”
That definitely piqued my interest. I would remember to ask him.
I had never been so spoiled. Not only did I not have to make dinner, but I didn’t have to clean up, either. Andrew and Drew took care of everything. All I did was sit on the couch and watch them work. I could get used to that.
Like I predicted, Andrew was in no hurry to go home. We ended up on the couch together, with Drew between us, watching a superhero movie. I didn’t mind at all, at least the movie part. Superheroes were always extremely attractive.
Drew fell asleep between us, so Andrew carried him up to bed. I finally got to see the newly decorated space. It looked terrible. Blue and orange did not mesh well with purple and black. And now Drew’s walls were overcrowded with both Stallions and Bears posters.
“It’s a good thing you fed me so well, or I might be upset with you right now,” I whispered as we tucked Drew in.
“Maybe it’s the wine,” he teased.
I kissed my son’s head and lingered for a bit. “I had one glass.”
Jake jumped up on the bed as soon as we stood up.
Andrew and I stood near each other and watched our angel sleep. I never tired of watching him slumber.
“Thank you, Rachel,” Andrew said for my ears only.
“For what?”
“For letting me have this moment, this experience.”
“It’s more than a moment for you, right?”
He looked down at me with warm amber eyes. He reached up and brushed his hand across my cheek. It tingled in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. In a way I shouldn’t feel now.
“I’m all in,” he promised.
“We better head downstairs.”
He nodded in agreement.
When we made it to the base of the stairs, I turned to him. “I’m sure you’re tired.”
He wasn’t taking the hint. “Come sit with me by the fire. I’ll grab the wine and the rest of the cake.”
“Andrew …” I sighed.
“We haven’t seen each other all week. We need to catch up.”
“No, we don’t.”
“Of course we do, we have a child together.”
I sat in front of the already lit fireplace in resignation. I knew he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He joined me with cake, wine, and glasses in hand. We sat crossed legged across from each other. He was all smiles, and I was wondering what happened to my life. He poured me a glass of wine and handed me a fork.
“You really are too much.”
“But I’m growing on you, right?”
“Like a blemish, maybe.”
“That hurts.”
I took a large bite of the cake and savored it. It was heavenly. “So tell me who taught you how to cook so well.”
He took a long sip of his wine before setting it down. I could tell he was hesitant to say, though I couldn’t understand why. “My fiancée.”
My eyes bugged out and my eyebrows shot up to my hairline.
“Ex-fiancée,” he amended immediately. My reaction disappointed him. “You’re always so ready to believe the worst of me.”
I studied him for a minute. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You make me nervous.”
He scooted closer, which didn’t help the nerves. “If it helps, you make me nervous, too.”
I shook my head at him. “I don’t believe that.”
“It’s true.”
I scooted back a tad. I needed some distance from him. He’s was doing more than making me nervous. “So tell me about this fiancée that taught you how to be a chef.”
He hesitated for a moment. “She is a world-class chef, based in L.A.”
“Was it a long distance relationship?”
He nodded. “Not the best way to go, but we both loved our careers as much or more than each other, so it worked.”
“That’s sad,” I said without thinking.
His head dropped. “I suppose it was, and it’s probably why it never worked out.”
“How long ago did you break up?”
“Which time?”
“There was mo
re than once?”
His nod came with a pained look. “The first time was right before I met your sister.”
“Oh.”
He didn’t address that. “The fourth and last time was about a year ago.”
“Do you think you’ll ever get back together?”
“No. I think Heidi and I are finally done.”
“Are you sure? You sound like you still have feelings for her.”
He thought for a moment as he stared off into the firelight. The glow of the light enhanced his amber eyes. “I’m finding,” he spoke into the fire, “that the way I look at love and relationships is evolving.”
“Into what?”
He looked toward me and a wave of tingles washed over me. My body really needed to get over that.
“What it always should have been,” he responded. “When you’re in my line of work, it’s easy to be in love with yourself. And it’s easy to find partners that are as self-centered as you.”
I almost felt sorry for him, or maybe I did feel sorry for him.
“I know you probably don’t understand, because outside of my mother, you may be the least selfish person I’ve ever met. I don’t want to be the person I was, and I don’t want to be with someone like Heidi anymore.”
I set my wine glass down and, like him, gazed toward the flames. “I’m not as unselfish as you think. I’m very selfish when it comes to Drew.”
“As you should be. But maybe with some time, it will become easier to share him with me.” His eyes were filled with hope.
“Maybe.”
“Rachel Laine?” I had never heard my name spoken so softly.
I met his eyes. I swore he was sitting closer than I remembered. He was close enough that I could see the specks of gold in his eyes, just like those in his son’s eyes. Close enough that I had the urge to reach out and touch him. I breathed in deeply and then let it out, washing the thought out of my mind. “Yes?” I whispered.
He inched closer. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Helping me to evolve.”
Chapter Sixteen
“I tingled, and I had this moment when I almost touched him. I’m blaming the alcohol.”
Taylor’s facial expression was somewhere between amused and confused. “You were drinking with him?”
“No. He made dinner, which by the way was amazing, and I had a glass of wine during dinner, and another one while we talked in front of the fireplace.”
That definitely amused her, by the smirk on her face. “You were sitting in front of the fire drinking wine?”
“No, we were eating this beyond fantastic cake he made.”
She laughed. “So you were on a date with him.”
“No, no. We were talking.”
“Then why were you getting tingles? And what do you mean by tingles?”
“Oh come on, I see the way you look at Easton, you’ve gotten the tingles before.”
“Oh, those kind of tingles.”
I placed my head in my hands and sighed loudly. “Yes, those kind. The kind I shouldn’t be having.”
“Why shouldn’t you? You’re both attractive and single. He is single, right?”
I looked up into her half-worried face. “Yes, but, Taylor, he slept with my sister and she died giving birth to their child. I should hate him.”
“Do you hate him?”
I shook my head.
“So you like him?”
“Define ‘like.’”
She flashed me an understanding smile. “You like him, but you don’t want to.”
I nodded. “He’s funny and charming. And did I mention he can cook? Not only that, he reminds me that I’m a woman.”
Her eyes widened.
“Not like that. I’m not getting involved with him.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes?”
She scrunched up her perfect nose. Have I ever mentioned I hoped I looked like her in my forties?
“Does he want to be involved with you outside of Drew?”
“I don’t think so; I’m not his type. He’s more into the Cheyenne’s of the world. But my parents think he’s interested in me.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re right. From the sounds of it, I would say he’s trying to woo you.”
“No, he’s trying to get to know the mother of his child. That’s all.”
“I remember saying that about Easton last year.”
“It’s not like that. You and Easton shared a past.”
“And so do you and Andrew. Maybe not one you were directly a part of, but he is part of your past. Not to mention you share a child.”
“He slept with my sister.” I felt like I needed to keep reminding myself of that. Like it would protect me, or keep me from doing something stupid.
“Easton and I divorced and he married his nurse.”
“So what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that sometimes life throws the most unlikely of people together.”
“I want him to be Drew’s father. I don’t want Drew to ever think that he got involved in our lives because of me. What am I even saying? I think I’m just starved for male attention. It’s been a while, you know?”
She rested her hand on my knee. “I remember those days, and they can be lonely. But are you sure that’s all it is? All things considered, if he wasn’t Drew’s father and he never knew your sister, what would you think of him?”
I bit my lip and looked around at all the dusty boxes in the little room we met in frequently during Sunday school. It was our hideout of sorts. I finally landed on Taylor’s understanding bright blue eyes. “There’s no doubt. I would be attracted to him.”
“Well, I think things are going to get interesting for you, my friend.”
I normally felt better after our little Sunday chats, but this time I felt agitated. I shouldn’t have admitted my feelings out loud. I was already feeling uncomfortable with Andrew’s pending run for office. He had explained to me last night the weird rules in place. His party had thirty days to gather enough signatures to recall the current representative. Once that was in place, and the signatures were verified, they could officially oust him. From there, they and the opposing party had ten days to put up a candidate vetted by their respective parties. The election must then occur ninety days after. So this nonsense could go on until the middle of March.
I had begged him again last night to reconsider, or even consider running later. The seat would be up again in a year, but no. His “advisors” felt like now was the time to strike while his popularity was still high. And an incumbent, they said, is easier to elect, so Drew would be less of an issue in the regular election if he had already held the seat. I wasn’t pleased to hear them call Drew an issue. Andrew assured me it wasn’t meant that way and he didn’t see Drew that way in the least, but still. The fact that they were discussing my son irked me. He was a sweet, innocent little boy who deserved to know the truth.
But Taylor was right, things were only beginning to get interesting.
Drew and I had an interesting conversation during lunch that Sunday. “Mom, is it all right if I tell my friends about Andrew now, since Grandma and Grandpa know?”
I did my best not to choke on the leftovers I was eating from last night. I set my fork down carefully. I tried to buy some time to come up with something to say that wasn’t a lie. I was calling Andrew obscene names in my head.
“Mom?” Drew kept staring at me, expecting an answer.
I reached up and brushed his hair with my hand. I loved him so much. “Bud, I know this might not make sense to you right now.” I knew it sure didn’t for me. “But you know how Andrew played professional baseball?”
He nodded his sweet head.
“Well, that has made him really well-known, even kind of famous.”
“Famous?” Drew’s eyes were big with excitement.
“Kind of, yes. See, Andrew really wants to get to know you, but if a bunch
of people knew he was spending time with you, then it would make it hard for you to do anything together because too many people would want to be around him.” That sounded like such crap.
“But my friends won’t tell anybody or bug us.”
“Maybe not, but for right now, it has to be this way. It won’t always be. I promise.”
His look of disappointment was breaking my heart. He turned back to his sandwich.
I sat there and watched him. I had lost my appetite.
For the rest of the day he seemed kind of bummed. He was hoping that Andrew could come to his championship game that Saturday. I wanted that for him, too.
I tried my best to keep him preoccupied. We played Uno, War, and Slap Jack—repeatedly. He won more often than not, but wasn’t as happy about it as he usually was. I had to get Andrew to see what this was doing to his son.
I read extra-long that night to Drew. We were almost done with the third book. It was getting exciting. At least it was until…
“Wouldn’t it be cool if I had a godfather? Like Andrew?”
I didn’t say anything. I could only hug him extra hard.
Once Drew was asleep I sat on my bed and tried to organize my weekly calendar, but I was having a hard time concentrating. I needed to talk to Andrew. I honestly thought he would have called. I had gotten used to him calling on a daily basis to irritate me. I went to bed that night bothered by Drew’s desires and possibly the fact that I didn’t hear from Andrew.
~*~
I was barely awake when my phone rang at six the next morning.
“Hello?” I answered, barely above a whisper. My voice wasn’t ready to work yet.
“I know it’s early, but I didn’t get to talk to you yesterday.”
Rachel Laine (The Women of Merryton Book 3) Page 14