A Promise To Keep

by Christina Tetreault

  “You all got out. Nothing else matters. Stuff can be replaced.”

  “Drew’s right, Kelsey. Everything can be replaced,” Ella said. “And in the meantime, you can borrow anything you want from me. Clothes, shoes, whatever. You name it and it’s yours.”

  “And you can stay with us for as long as you need. We have an extra bedroom. Tony won’t mind,” Cat said.

  “I appreciate the offer, Cat—”

  “Stay with me,” Drew said before Kelsey could accept or decline Cat’s offer. Having her in his house would not only solve her sudden housing problem, but also help him get her to the altar sooner. With Bancroft Automotive officially on the market, it couldn’t be soon enough.

  Kelsey rolled her lips together and moved her gaze from her house to his face. “Are you sure?”

  Cat and Ella looked away, but he knew their attention remained on his and Kelsey’s conversation. He didn’t care. He pressed his lips against her forehead anyway. “Positive. I want you to stay with me.”

  Drew held her hand as she spoke to first Matthew Ellsbury, the chief of police in town, and then Patrick Atwood, the deputy fire chief.

  “I’ll need to speak with you further, but I realize you must be freezing out here,” Patrick said after asking Kelsey several questions. “If you know where you’re staying, I can come by and we can finish up later.”

  Kelsey shivered, and he wished he had his jacket. She’d swim in it, but at least it would’ve kept her warm out here. “She’ll be with me. Eleven Blueberry Court,” Drew answered before she could.

  The deputy fire chief nodded and jotted down the address. “Kelsey, is there a number I can reach you at?”

  “My cell phone didn’t make it out,” she said, her teeth chattering.

  “If you need her, call my phone,” Drew said, and gave the man his number.

  Patrick stuck his pen back into his shirt pocket. “Thank you. I’ll call before I stop by.”

  It was all he needed to hear. “C’mon, let’s go get you warmed up.” He wrapped an arm over her shoulders and tried to walk away. She didn’t budge. Instead she remained focused on the charred structure across the street.

  Drew moved, so she had to look at him and not the house. “It’ll be okay. I promise.” He hadn’t done a great job of keeping his promise to Ian, but he’d make up for it now. “You’re as cold as ice. Let me take you home. There’s nothing you can do here right now.”

  Kelsey didn’t reply, but when he tried to lead her away, she didn’t resist.

  Gone. Everything she owned, including her house, was gone. The gravity of what she’d lost hit her head-on as she followed Drew toward his bedroom. All she had were the clothes on her back, which at the moment reeked of smoke, and her car. At least she hoped her car had survived. It had been parked in the garage. From where she stood, it looked like the garage had suffered only minimal damage.

  Closing her eyes, Kelsey stopped and grabbed the doorframe. She couldn’t breathe as her body shook. Please let this be a dream.

  Something warm and solid pressed down on her shoulders. “Take some deep breaths and try to relax.”

  She forced herself to breathe in and then out slowly, and opened her eyes.

  “That’s better.” He led her toward the bed. “You need a soak in the hot tub. It’ll warm you up and help you relax. Sit here, and I’ll go turn it on.”

  Kelsey didn’t argue. Since her parents’ deaths she’d been on her own. For once it was nice to have someone to lean on. Not to mention she was freezing. Drew had turned the heat up all the way in the car, but she still felt like a freeze pop. She doubted a soak in the hot tub would relax her, but it would hopefully warm her up.

  When Drew came back, he took a long-sleeved T-shirt out of a drawer. “You can put this on when you get out. I’ll throw your clothes in the washer.”

  She accepted the shirt. Ella had promised to bring some things over later, but until then she didn’t want to smell like an old ashtray. “Thank you.” Kelsey stood and hugged him.

  The two words seemed insufficient. He’d rushed over when he’d heard the news. Stayed with her until she’d gotten the green light to leave, and opened his house up to her. Regardless of their relationship status, he didn’t need to do any of those things.

  He nudged her chin up with his finger. “No need to thank me. I’d do anything for you, Kels. You know that, don’t you?”

  Her vision blurred. So far, she’d kept the tears back. She wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be able to keep them from falling. “Drew….” She wanted to tell him she loved him. Admit she’d loved him since she was ten years old. Tonight wasn’t the time. Blinking to clear her vision, she nodded. “I think you’re right. A soak in the hot tub will help. I won’t be long.”

  Kelsey stripped off her clothes and stepped into the bubbling water. Her skin tingled as heat seeped into her body. Stretching out her legs, she leaned her head back and tried to block out the fire.

  “Better?”

  She opened her eyes. Drew sat at the edge of the hot tub, her dirty clothes in his hands. “I don’t feel like one of those freeze pops we used to eat in the summer.”

  For the first time all night, he smiled. “Good.” Leaning down, he kissed her lips. “I’m going to put these in the washer. Be right back. Do you need anything?”

  Kelsey laughed. First, he painted her house, and now he wanted to do her laundry. What would football fans across the country say if they ever knew? “You don’t have to do it. Give me ten minutes in here, and I’ll take care of it.”

  “Didn’t you hear me? When I said I’d do anything for you, I meant it. Even if it involves doing your laundry.” He held up the smoke-scented pile in his hands. “I love you.”

  She’d spent years dreaming of the moment when he’d say those three words. Although each of those daydreams had played out differently, none of them had included him holding her stinky jeans and sweater. Kelsey pulled him closer and kissed him again. “I love you too. Actually, I have for a long time.” There was no reason not to tell him the truth.

  “A long time? You’ve got me curious. Let me take care of these and you can tell me just how long.”

  Kelsey watched him walk away. The same inkling of doubt she’d experienced before nagged at her again. If he loved her, why had it taken him all this time to tell her? “He could say the exact same thing,” she muttered before slipping under the water.

  For almost fours years, he’d called her once a month. At any point she could’ve told him she loved him. She could’ve told him when they danced at Sean and Mia’s reception. Yep, she’d had just as many opportunities as him to say the words. She’d kept silent because she’d believed he didn’t feel the same way. Drew’s reason for not telling her sooner might be the same.

  She popped her head back out of the water. Don’t doubt him.

  Kelsey waited in the hot tub and considered how much to share. Admitting she’d loved him a long time, she could do. However, she wasn’t ready to share she’d decided while still in elementary school that he’d someday be her husband. He might hear the word husband and freak out. She knew more than one man who found the idea of marriage scarier than the business end of a shotgun. While he might love her, it wasn’t a guarantee their relationship would have one of those happily ever after endings. So for now she’d keep some of the finer details to herself.

  When ten minutes passed and Drew wasn’t back, Kelsey got out and dried off with the extra-large bath towel he’d left out for her.

  “All done?”

  Kelsey pulled her head through her shirt and found Drew walking into the bedroom with a tray.

  “For now.” She shoved an arm through one sleeve. “You were gone a long time.”

  Setting the tray on a nightstand, he put his arms around her. “Ella stopped by. She left two huge suitcases downstairs.”

  She’d never been so grateful one of her best friends was a shopaholic. Ella had more clothes in her closet than a
nyone she knew.

  “And I thought you could use a snack. I brought up some cookies, fresh fruit, and hot chocolate.”

  “Cookies and hot chocolate. I knew there was a reason I loved you.” She slipped away and made a beeline for the steaming mug. Thanks to her soak in the hot tub, she no longer feared she’d freeze to death, but she’d never pass up hot chocolate.

  Chapter Nine

  Drew adjusted his position in bed. He’d wait a little longer and make sure she didn’t have another nightmare. He was awake because of her last one. Assuming the nightmare didn’t return, he’d go downstairs and start breakfast. Considering what Kelsey had gone through the day before, the least he could do was make her breakfast.

  Reaching over, he brushed some hair off her forehead. She’d amazed him yesterday. Throughout her brief phone conversation with the insurance company, she’d remained calm. Her voice hadn’t wavered once. As the night went on, he’d waited for her to break down and cry, let out all the pent-up emotions she must be feeling. She never shed a tear. However, if she did give in to her emotions at some point, whether it be today or next week, he’d be there for her.

  Next to him, Kelsey rolled over but didn’t wake up. Adjusting the blankets around her, Drew slipped out of bed. She had nowhere to be this morning. When she’d called to tell the middle school principal she wouldn’t be in today, he insisted she take at least until next Wednesday off. He’d heard Kelsey try to decline and insist she only needed today. In the end though, the principal had won. Then later the school district’s superintendent had called and suggested she take as much time as she needed. Drew knew she’d never take more than the five days off, but they should be able to get a lot accomplished by next week. He already planned to take her shopping this afternoon after her meetings with the representative from the insurance company and the deputy fire chief. While Ella had brought over plenty of clothes, Drew figured Kelsey would be more comfortable in her own things. While they were out, they also needed to get her a new cell phone. He didn’t mind her using his, but it wasn’t a permanent solution.

  When he reached the bedroom door, he stopped and glanced back at Kelsey. Waking up with her every day was his future. Regardless of what she did with her house, he planned to have her in his bed every morning and every night. The only time he expected her not to be there was during the season when he traveled for games. Even then she’d be safely in his house and his bed.

  Downstairs, Drew chopped up mushrooms and peppers. As much as he loved pancakes, he’d burned them more times than not. The last thing he wanted this morning was to set off the smoke detectors with his cooking. Omelets he could whip up with no problem. Setting aside the vegetables, he cracked several eggs in a bowl and beat them. Despite his hands being busy, his thoughts returned to Kelsey, or more specifically to their conversation last night.

  Telling Kelsey he loved her hadn’t been premeditated on his part. Yet, when the moment presented itself, he’d jumped on it. Getting to his end goal required he eventually say the words, and last night seemed like the perfect time. Besides, it wasn’t as if he was lying.

  Drew rubbed the center of his chest, hoping to relieve the sudden tightness there. He did love Kelsey. He desired her too. Was it the same kind of love that prompted John to propose to his longtime girlfriend at Thanksgiving? Or was it more the love one friend felt for another? Honestly, he wasn’t sure this morning.

  “It doesn’t matter.” He flipped the omelets and lowered the heat. “She loves me, and she’ll say yes.”

  Her admission last night both elated and pained him. If she already loved him, getting a ring on her finger would be easy. Like this morning, his conscience last night had questioned whether or not he was being fully honest with her. As soon as he’d said the words, she’d assumed he meant he loved her like a husband loves a wife. Whether he did or not, he knew he’d started this relationship so he could keep his promise to Ian. While he wouldn’t change his mind or his plan, he realized getting married for such a reason wasn’t the best of ideas.

  Placing the finished omelets on plates, he left them on a tray while he fetched some fresh fruit. Any kind of love is better than no love.

  Rolling over, Kelsey grabbed the blankets and stopped. She didn’t own flannel sheets. All her sheets were cotton. Flipping onto her back, she opened her eyes. This wasn’t her bedroom. Memories from the day before flooded back. She could see the smoke seeping out from around her bedroom door. Smell the smoke filling the air as she stood across the street in the Willows’ driveway, and hear the chain saw as it cut into the roof.

  Gone. Everything she owned, including pictures of her family, had been destroyed. Even worse than that, she suspected it was her fault. The fire investigator hadn’t shared his findings yet, but the fire had started in her bedroom. When she’d run upstairs, she hadn’t seen fire or smoke coming from any of the other rooms. No, the fire had started in there at the electrical outlet near her bed. The silly thing had been acting up for a long time, and rather than deal with it, she’d stopped using the table lamp. If she’d called an electrician instead, she could’ve prevented this.

  Kelsey sat up and reached over. The sheets were cool beneath her hand. She hadn’t heard Drew get up. She hated to admit it, but at the moment she could use a hug and his reassurance that everything would be okay.

  “Okay, but not the same.” She’d said the same thing yesterday. Sure, she could rebuild the house, but it would never be the same house her family had lived in. She could replace many of the items lost, but not everything, especially the pictures. With some luck, a computer expert might be able to retrieve the pictures on her destroyed laptop, but she didn’t have digital files for all of them.

  Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes. C’mon, think positive. No one was hurt. Yep, that was a definite positive. Thanks to Ella, she had clothes, so a shopping spree wasn’t looming in her immediate future. Finally, she had a place to stay.

  Correction, not only did she have a place to stay, but she was staying with the man she loved. And Drew loved her too.

  She’d happily forget all the events of the previous day except one. When I said I’d do anything for you, I meant it. Even if it involves doing your laundry. I love you. She replayed the moment she’d etched into her memories. Yes, their conversation last night belonged at the top of the positive list.

  “You’re up.” Drew walked in carrying the same tray he’d used to bring up their snack last night. “How are you feeling?” He set the tray down and climbed into bed.

  “Tired.” They’d gone to bed early, but she felt as if she’d closed her eyes only ten minutes ago. The sun streaming through the window blinds told her it had to be sometime after six o’clock. “What time is it?”

  “Twenty past eight. I’m not surprised you’re tired. You were restless last night and had a few nightmares.”

  She remembered at least one. She also remembered waking up from it and finding Drew’s arms wrapped around her. “Sorry. Did I keep you up a lot?”

  “Nah, I’m glad I could be there for you.” Drew picked up the tray and set it on the bed. “You didn’t eat much last night. I thought you’d be hungry.” He handed her coffee first. “I considered making pancakes, but decided omelets were safer.”

  He did her laundry and served her breakfast in bed. Never in her wildest dreams would she have guessed he’d do either, but she adored him because of it. “I wasn’t before, but all of a sudden I’m starving.” She took a long swallow of the coffee. Sweet and creamy coffee filled her mouth. He’d added milk and extra sugar just the way she liked it.

  “I love you.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. She’d told him everything yesterday, including the fact she’d fallen in love with him when she was ten. There was no reason she couldn’t tell him she loved him whenever she wanted now.

  Drew raised his coffee toward his mouth. “Love you too.” He took a sip and set it back down. “After your meetings with the insurance company an
d Atwood, I thought we’d hit the mall. Do you care which one?”

  Kelsey took a bite of her omelet. “Wow, this is really good.” She dug her fork in for more. “I’m impressed. You can cook and do laundry. What other hidden talents do you have?”

  He went for his coffee mug and stared at her. “I’ll demonstrate more of my talents tonight.”

  If not for the fact the deputy fire chief would be there in less than an hour, she’d ask for a brief demonstration now.

  “You didn’t answer me. Where do you want to start shopping? The Hamilton Mall is closer, but I don’t mind driving to Natick. The one there is bigger.”

  Shopping, yuck. “Honestly, I’d prefer to go with option C. None of the above.” She took another sip of coffee, grateful the caffeine was finally kicking in. “I hate shopping.”

  “C isn’t an option today.”

  He was right, but she wasn’t going to tell him. “I know.” She hadn’t bought a single item, but already she pictured the credit card bill coming in the mail. “The stores at the mall in Natick are too expensive. The Hamilton Mall has some reasonable ones. I got my last cell phone there too.”

  Drew took her free hand. “Hey, don’t worry about money. I got this. Get what you need from the stores you want.”

  He means well, Kelsey reminded herself before she said something she’d later regret. “Drew, I appreciate the offer. Really, I do. But you don’t—”

  “Have to pay for your things,” he said, finishing her sentence before she could. “I know I don’t. I want to.”

  Okay, she’d try a different approach. “I’m not sure exactly how it all works yet, but I know the insurance company will replace the clothes I lost. That’s why people have homeowners insurance.”

  “Yeah, but is the insurance company going to hand you a check today? Let me get you a few things this afternoon. Everything else you can replace when you get the money from the insurance company.” He squeezed her hand. “If Ella was in your position, wouldn’t Striker be offering to do the same for her?”