Unexpectedly Home

by Emma Woods

  Unexpectedly Home

  Triple Star Ranch Romance, Book 4

  Emma Woods

  Fairfield Publishing

  Copyright © 2020 Emma Woods

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Except for review quotes, this book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the author.

  This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is purely coincidental.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Thank You

  1

  Birch Springs, Wyoming - November, 2019

  I laid down the blow dryer and began putting on my makeup. Even as I dabbed on foundation, I rolled my eyes at myself. Normal women didn’t feel the compulsion to have every hair in place before meeting anyone new. Normal women would spend a full day of moving and setting up a new house, and then take a shower and not even think of putting on makeup. For that matter, normal women could go to bed without needing every box unpacked.

  I was clearly not normal.

  “Gus!” I hollered. “I’ll be ready to leave in five minutes. Start putting your shoes on!”

  When the sounds of Mario riding his kart continued as they had for the past hour, I knew my brother was ignoring me. I pulled my favorite lipstick from the drawer which had only today become its new home and applied a layer. It didn’t matter if we were a few minutes late, I assured myself. Aunt Rosa will understand.

  But I was still annoyed.

  I turned sideways and ran my hands over the back of my jeans. Even pulling in my stomach did little to improve the shape I saw in the mirror. I reached quickly for my loose cotton tunic and buttoned it over my body, glad to stop looking at myself. Once I’d tugged the hem down an extra time, I took a breath and scrutinized my reflection.

  The woman staring back at me with slightly pursed lips was tall and had a generous, curvy figure. She had long, wavy, dark brown hair, a good tan, and snapping brown eyes. Her makeup was flattering, her full lips now a delightful berry color. Sure, she was a bit thicker around the middle and through her hips and thighs, but her dark jeans and polka-dotted tunic hid the most unsightly parts.

  Sighing, I turned away. I’d long ago realized that my pretty face did little to make up for my too-curvy figure. I pushed the unwanted thoughts out of my mind and went in search of the keys I’d taken possession of only that morning, and my brother.

  “Come on, Gus,” I nagged. “We need to be up at the big house in three minutes. Where are your shoes?”

  Gus tore his brown eyes so like mine away from the TV screen, his tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth as it always did when he was concentrating. “I don’t know. You’re the one who unpacked everything.”

  I pursed my lips. It was a fair point. “In that case, look in the closet in your room. I think I put the box with your shoes there. And don’t come out here with flip-flops on. It’s freezing outside!”

  He pushed to his feet and lumbered toward his bedroom, sighing heavily as if I’d asked him to tote an enormous load through a blizzard.

  While I waited, I retrieved the key, dug my keyring out of my purse, put the key on said keyring, and put on my own high-heeled booties, which elongated my legs. Well, I hoped they did.

  “Gus, what’s taking so long?” I called into his room.

  When I got no reply, I walked to the door and peeked in. Gus had found his shoes, but he’d also found the box of old toys Mom had insisted on sending with us. He’d pulled out a bag of miniature animals and was examining the contents with his full attention.

  It was my turn to sigh. I went to his dresser and pulled out a pair of socks, which I threw at him, hitting him on the shoulder. Gus turned and blinked up at me in surprise, then let out his goofy, hoarse laugh.

  “Corinne! You hit me!” he chortled.

  “Yes, I did. And I have a whole drawer of ammo here. If you don’t get a move on, I’m going to throw every pair of socks you own at you, and then I’m going to start on your underpants!”

  My brother’s eyes crinkled at the mention of underpants, and he put the bag of animals down and retrieved his socks. No doubt he was imagining some sort of wild underwear-throwing fight and enjoying the image very much.

  I leaned against the dresser and watched him, a familiar feeling of love squeezing my heart. Gus was a constant reminder to me that God didn’t make mistakes, no matter what we humans might believe. I’d been four years old when Gus entered the world and we’d learned that he had Down Syndrome. When I was older, I’d learned that this had spun my family into a far different trajectory than the one we’d been on. All my four-year-old self knew was that I simply adored my baby brother, and it was my job to protect him.

  There were always people who made fun of Gus or treated him like he was stupid or ignored him altogether. Our older brothers fell into the last category. Charlie and Quinn were busy living their lives and were embarrassed by Gus. They’d thrown themselves into school and sports and gone off to college without a backwards glance.

  Dad was one of the people who seemed to think that Gus would never amount to anything. His voice took on a patronizing tone whenever he spoke to his youngest son. It had been Dad who’d suggested that I take Gus on when he turned twenty-one last year and could no longer go to public school. Of course, it had also been Dad who’d taken me aside and told me that I couldn’t go away to college because Mom needed my help with Gus at home. And when work became “too much” for Mom, I’d had to quit school and find a job as an administrative assistant so that I could help pay the bills. Never mind that Charlie and Quinn both went to state schools and never once sent a dime home from their fancy new jobs.

  Our mother was a different situation completely. Mom had been a bit older when Gus was born, and he’d been a difficult baby. There had been a few health scares that had strained both of my parents, their finances, and their marriage. Mom simply hadn’t been able to cope. She developed crippling migraine headaches and had to go to bed for days at a time, leaving me, as the only girl, to care for everyone. As the years went by, Mom seemed to implode. These days, she left the house only to go to the grocery store or church and then come directly home, where she mostly watched TV and avoided housework.

  It would have been one thing if my parents had acknowledged my contribution to the family. Just once, I would have loved to hear them say, “Wow, Corinne, we wouldn’t have made it without you!” But, no. My brothers moved away and adopted the opinion that it was my duty to care for Mom, Gus, and the house. Dad threw himself into his work and dealt with his wife’s behavior by bringing home take-out every night and hiring someone to come in and clean once I moved out.

  Caring for my brother was a heavy load to carry. There were days when it was very tempting to resent my family for their inability to help. I’d had to give up so much. Gone was my dream of going to college to study fashion. I turned down the few offers I received to go out with eligible men, because I couldn’t leave Gus alone. The future I’d imagined had to step aside to make room for the reality that my lot in life was to care for Gus.

  I don’t mean to make that sound so grim. It was really hard at times to face the fullness of what I was missing, but on the other hand, I got Gus. My brothe
r was a ray of sunshine on a dark day. He had a smile you couldn’t resist, a love for absolutely every person and every animal he’d ever met, and a genuinely cheerful spirit. Gus never let it bother him for long when people looked at him funny or spoke to him like he was three years old. He read comic books, loved Star Wars, and was always begging me to let him get a dog.

  “I’m ready!” he announced, pulling me from my reverie.

  “Let’s grab our coats. It’s cool out now, but by the time we come home, it’ll be really cold.”

  “Do you think it’ll snow soon?” Gus asked hopefully.

  “Probably. I’m surprised it hasn’t snowed more so far this fall,” I admitted as I opened the hall closet and handed him his coat.

  Gus shrugged into it and said, “Global warming.”

  I laughed and pulled on my own coat.

  We went outside, and I locked the little cottage up tight. Then we began the hike up to Bumblebee House. My dad’s youngest sister, Rosa Harrington, owned Bumblebee House and its surrounding outbuildings and two acres of land. She’d partnered with my grandfather when he decided to buy the old Victorian manor in their hometown of Birch Springs, Wyoming, and fixed it up about ten years ago. Rosa had an incredible eye and had turned the newly-renovated house into a real showplace. She had a love of antiques, funky knickknacks, and pattern mixing. The house itself got its name from a sweet wrought-iron bee which hung near the gate at the end of the driveway near the road.

  The previous summer, I’d called her and shared that I was hoping to move out of western Nebraska where we’d been born and raised. Rosa had suggested applying for a receptionist position at a local ranch and coming to live at Bumblebee House with her. I’d been thrilled when everything fell into place. Rosa had even decided to spruce up the gatehouse cottage for us.

  So, over the past few days, I’d packed up all our belongings and moved myself and my brother into the darling little Gate House, as my aunt had christened it. After the chipped Formica counters, stained linoleum, and grungy blinds of our last apartment, this new residence was a huge blessing. I should have known that Aunt Rosa would have put her special touch on it.

  The outside of the cottage was dark blue with light oak shutters and a long porch running the length of the front. Inside, the living room, dining area, and kitchen were one large room with beautiful refurbished wood floors, fresh paint, and all new appliances. Both bedrooms sported new, fluffy carpets, gorgeous draperies, and were fully furnished with antiques from the main house. The bathroom had been fixed up and painted, and Gate House even boasted a brand new washer and dryer. In short, Rosa had made sure we had everything we needed.

  I’d only had to move in our clothes, favorite kitchen gadgets, and personal items. It had been a chore, to be sure, but nothing like if we’d had to bring our battered furniture with us from Nebraska. In fact, we’d been able to manage moving in by ourselves. Rosa had made us promise to walk up to the main house for supper, and Gus had been eager to accept.

  Now I wasn’t so sure it was a good idea. Rosa rented rooms to a number of single women who were sure to be young and full of enthusiasm for the long, hopeful lives they had ahead of them. I’d found that I didn’t fit in with other women in their mid-twenties and wasn’t keen on having to live so close to a batch of giggling girls who did yoga and drank soy cappuccinos.

  We reached the end of the driveway and saw Bumblebee House lit up. It really was beautiful. The few times we’d been able to visit, I’d fallen in love with the place. It seemed thrilling to realize that we’d be living here on the property and getting to visit the darling little town of Birch Springs on a regular basis.

  We climbed the porch, and Gus conscientiously scraped his shoes on the mat by the door. “I’m starving,” he announced. “We didn’t even eat lunch today.”

  “All right, Gus, here goes nothing,” I said and rang the doorbell, my heart beating a little too quickly.

  2

  When it opened, a petite, curly blond stood on the other side of the door. “Hi! You must be Corinne and Gus! I’m Jill. Come in! It’s freezing out here!”

  We trooped inside, and Jill chatted a mile a minute while we took off our coats and hung them on the funky iron coat rack Rosa had positioned near the front door. By the time we were headed into the dining room for supper, I knew that Jill was a second grade teacher, played the piano, and hated laundry. I felt a bit overwhelmed by the onslaught of information, but she was certainly very friendly. More importantly, Gus seemed to like her.

  As we neared the dining room, Rosa bustled out. “Oh, good! You made it.” She wore high-waisted sailor trousers and a vintage blouse with a bright cacti print. Her hair was tucked up with a ‘40s-style bandana. As always, she sported bright red lipstick and the comforting sensation that you were home.

  She hugged Gus and then pulled me into her embrace. Rosa paused to examine my face, and then gave me a bracing wink, understanding more than I might put into words about meeting so many strangers.

  “Come into the dining room and sit down. Dinner is ready. We’ll have a good chat once supper’s done and things have quieted down,” Rosa promised and guided us into the beautiful dining room.

  Gus and I sat as the other residents of Bumblebee House trooped in and took their seats. We met Emily and her husband Nate, who together looked like they could be models in a Pottery Barn ad. Rosemarie floated in, long brown hair tucked up in a bun. She gave us a shy smile and took her seat without much additional commentary. Carrying a platter of fried chicken came Danielle who, along with Rosa, was a good twelve or more years older than everyone else. Danielle had smile lines and a sincere, gentle manner. Little red-headed Mae reminded me of a wide-eyed pixie, though she turned out to have a sharp wit and a fun sense of humor.

  We all held hands, and Rosa blessed the food. Then dishes were passed and plates were filled. There was lots of polite interest and thoughtful questions for me. I sat next to Rosemarie, whose family owned the Triple Star Ranch where I was to work as receptionist. We’d spoken on the phone before, and she turned out to be just as sweet as I’d first thought.

  But what really impressed me was the way everyone treated Gus. My mama bear instincts had been on high alert when we’d first met so many new people. And they all surprised me. My first impression of Nate was that he was just another pretty boy who was very self-involved. Yet, he talked about comic books with my brother for almost ten minutes. Danielle kept offering Gus food and kept his cup filled with lemonade without treating him like he was a toddler. Jill asked Gus about what other books he liked, and the two carried on a conversation about some children’s books I didn’t recognize.

  By the time supper was over and it was time to clean up, I was all too happy to let Gus go and help Emily and Mae wash dishes. Rosa led me to the living room where we could talk in private.

  “We’ll get the two of you on the cooking and cleaning rotation,” she said over her shoulder as we walked across the foyer to the living room. “Suppers are included, provided that you help cook and clean. It’s a really great way to get to know the other people who live here.”

  I curled up on an oversized sofa and Rosa took an armchair next to me, resting her feet up on the ottoman. “I can’t thank you enough for letting us come and live in the Gate House,” I began. “Are you sure we can’t pay rent?”

  Rosa shook her head, her face serious. “Corinne, you have so generously taken on the care of your brother, and with very little help from the rest of the family. Letting the two of you stay here is my pleasure. I’m so glad to have you close and be able to lend a hand with Gus now and then.”

  Tears filled my eyes, and I blinked them away. My aunt reached out a hand and gave mine a squeeze.

  “How’s Gus doing these days?” she asked, sensitively changing the subject.

  I took a deep breath, and the desire to let my grateful tears go lessened. “He’s doing very well, really. It was hard for him to have to leave school. He always does
better with a routine. When he turned twenty-one, Dad called and said they needed me to have Gus move in with me because Mom couldn’t handle having him home.”

  Rosa shook her head sympathetically. “What a lot for you to handle.”

  “It can be a lot. I had to find a new apartment with a second bedroom and pay for adult day care, since he can’t be alone all day.” I tugged at the sleeve of my blouse, remembering the struggle I’d had in those first few months. “But we got through it. And now we’re here. Seriously, the cottage is adorable. It’s so bright and clean!”

  “I had a lot of help from Rosemarie’s brother, Matt,” Rosa said. “I think you’ll like him.”

  “Well, if he’s like Rosemarie, I probably will. Everyone has been so welcoming,” I said, looking wistfully toward the kitchen where we could hear strains of chatter and laughter.

  “I think you’ll find the Bumblebee girls to be very understanding. I’ve been impressed with all of them over the past months.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t always have much in common with other single women my age.”

  Rosa pondered that, nodding slowly. “I can imagine why it would be hard. Listen, Corinne, I’m not going to tell you that these girls are perfect. But they are very kind and will treat you and Gus with a lot of love. I encourage you to give them a chance to be your friends.”

  Not ten minutes later, Mae stuck her head around the door and asked if it would be all right if they watched a movie with Gus in the family room. Rosa and I went with her, and we spent the rest of the evening laughing at the animated figures on the screen. And I had to admit that maybe my aunt was right.