As she undressed for bed, she paused with one leg out of her jeans. Selling out wasn’t a decision to be made impulsively. If she were to leave the company, she didn’t have a single idea of what she would do with herself afterward. She would need to secure her future. Real estate wasn’t an option, as she had signed a noncompete clause. It would need to be something new and fresh, something she would enjoy, and, if possible, something that would give her the time she needed to find herself again.
The idea of traveling appealed to her, but it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun alone. She remembered the Browns and the adventures they’d shared as they’d explored the world together. Never one to sit idle, Everly knew she’d soon grow restless and bored without a game plan. The change from working sixty hours a week to none would be way too drastic. Naturally, the transition would take time. She’d never leave the company if she didn’t believe it would continue on the same successful path without her.
Her mother had made sure Everly knew she was welcome to move home, should she decide to sell. She could live with her parents until she decided what she wanted to do next. It was a generous offer, but not one Everly would consider.
Did she want to sell her half of Easy Home?
That remained the question.
It shook Everly that she didn’t have the answer.
A month ago, if anyone had asked her, she would have unequivocally refused to consider giving up the company she and Jack had built from the ground up. The mere thought would’ve caused her to break into peals of laughter at the outrageous idea.
It didn’t sound nearly as ludicrous now, though.
While Jack insisted the company needed her, that without her leadership, he would stumble, he wouldn’t. It would be a big adjustment, but all would be well.
As Everly lay in bed, staring up at the dark ceiling, she wanted to blame Asher for this indecision. His rejection had badly shaken her, to the point that she questioned everything—where she belonged and what was right for her moving forward.
Rolling onto her side and tucking the warm blanket around her shoulders, Everly decided to give herself time. She’d mull over her options after Christmas.
* * *
—
Asher was dog tired. He’d taken a red-eye flight from Brazil and landed at O’Hare when most people were answering the call of their alarm clock. His brother picked him up at the airport and dropped him off at the house before heading to the hospital.
For a good part of the flight, Asher had been wide awake. His thoughts were heavy. He had to be back to the Amazon Explorer the day after Christmas. He’d already wasted an entire week, which gave him only seven days to patch things up with Daisy…if she’d let him.
Even now, he couldn’t forget the look in her eyes when he made it plain he wasn’t interested in continuing their relationship. Fool. Fool. Fool. Daisy had flinched as if she’d taken a blow. For a few awkward seconds she’d said nothing before nodding and accepting his decision, although he could see it devastated her. Without an argument, she’d climbed into the cab and headed straight to the airport.
Exhausted from the flight, Asher slept for a good portion of the day. That evening he joined his brother for dinner with the family. The house was beautifully decorated for Christmas. The tree was in the main living area off the kitchen; it had a variety of homemade ornaments the children had crafted. Another tree was placed in the living room, decorated with a creative flair that would make a designer proud. Several Nativity sets were scattered about the house.
Asher envied Daniel his marriage. He’d found his soul mate and they’d created a great life together. Come morning, Asher would drive to Indiana and, he hoped, connect with Daisy. He wasn’t sure of his welcome. Wasn’t sure Daisy would be willing to give him a third chance. He could hope, but until they met face-to-face, the unknown hung over his head like a dark rain cloud.
“Asher,” Kylie said, distracting him from his musings. “Is something wrong with dinner? You’ve barely touched your food. If it isn’t to your liking, I can fix you something else.”
Asher forced a smile. “No, no, there’s nothing wrong. Dinner is lovely. The problem is mine.”
Daniel and Kylie exchanged looks. They seemed to be able to communicate without speaking, which amazed him. He wondered if that would have been the case between him and Daisy one day.
“How about a drink?” Daniel suggested after the dinner dishes had been cleared away. “I have a bottle of single-barrel Scotch I’ve been meaning to open.”
A wee dram of Scotch sounded ideal, exactly what Asher needed. Seeing that he’d spent several hours sleeping, he wasn’t sure how well he’d manage that night.
His brother led him into the den and pushed a button that started the gas fireplace and then excused himself. “Give me a few minutes. I’m reading Dickens’s A Christmas Carol to the kids and they’re anxious to hear the next chapter. We’re at the part where the first of the three ghosts appears.”
“Take all the time you need.”
After a while, the French doors to the den opened and Daniel came into the room. “Sorry, that took longer than I thought it would.”
Asher was surprised to realize that his brother had been away nearly forty minutes. Buried deep in his thoughts, mulling over all the might-have-beens, he hadn’t noticed the passage of time. For all the attention he’d paid, Daniel could have been gone five minutes.
Kylie followed behind with the bottle of Scotch and two glasses.
Daniel kissed his wife, wrapping his arms around her trim waist, and whispered in her ear something Asher couldn’t hear. The affection between the two struck a raw nerve, and he was forced to look away.
“We won’t be long,” Daniel assured his wife, taking hold of her hand as she started to leave.
“Take your time, I’ve got gifts to wrap and cookies to bake.”
Kylie left and closed the French doors. Daniel moved behind his massive desk, opened the bottle of Scotch, and poured them each a couple inches before handing a glass to Asher.
They sat in the two leather chairs that faced the fireplace. Asher breathed in the aroma of the Scotch and swore it curled his nose hairs. This was mighty fine Scotch. The best. He was honored his brother chose to share it with him.
Asher took his first sip, closed his eyes, and savored the liquor. For a long moment, he stared into the flickering flames in the fireplace, reviewing what he would say to Daisy when he saw her again.
“I’m driving to Indiana tomorrow,” he told his brother.
“Figured as much.”
Asher stared down at the amber liquid as the doubts beat against the thick wall of his pride. “I’m nervous.”
“I can’t say I blame you.”
Asher held on to the Scotch glass with both hands. “I’ve badly bungled this relationship. I don’t know if Daisy will even talk to me, and frankly, if she doesn’t, I won’t blame her.”
Daniel crossed his legs and leaned back against the leather wing chair. “What if she turns you away?”
Asher looked up and frowned. He’d expected words of encouragement and support from his brother. He had enough doubts of his own without his brother reminding him of what a fool he’d been.
“Do you have a plan B?” Daniel asked.
Asher didn’t. Not really.
“A more important question, Ash: What if Daisy is overjoyed to see you?”
That was his hope.
“Then what?” Daniel pressed. “Do you plan to kiss her, wish her a Merry Christmas, and then head back to Brazil?”
The question shook him. At this point, all he knew was that he needed to see Daisy again; what happened after that was as clear as the murky waters of the Amazon River. His brother was right, though. Other than his heart, none of the circumstances that kept them apart had changed.
“From the blank look you’re giving me, I’d say you haven’t thought that far ahead.”
Asher felt foolish. What was he thinking?
“Are you going to ask her to leave her job and join you in Brazil? If you do that, then you’ll see each other for, what…an hour or two every couple weeks when you return before you start the next cruise?”
“No.” He’d never ask that of Daisy. But where would that leave him? The seriousness of this question pressed heavy against his shoulders.
Daniel wasn’t finished. “Are you willing to move to Chicago in order to be with her?”
That was the very question Asher hadn’t wanted to ask himself. Now it was front and center and required an answer. One of them would need to make a change, and the logical choice was him. Setting aside his Scotch, Asher leaned forward and braced his elbows against his knees while he ran his hands through his hair. He remembered Daisy telling him compromises would need to be made and questions would need to be answered. The first of those questions was how much of himself was he willing to give to make this relationship work?
He could see that his brother was patiently waiting for his response. “That is the big question, isn’t it?”
“Seems to me it is,” Daniel agreed. “Do you have an answer?”
Did he? Asher weighed his options. He loved Daisy. It’d taken him long enough to admit his feelings. To uproot his entire life for love seemed drastic and unreasonable. Could he do it? Should he?
“Asher?” his brother prodded.
“I could teach.”
“That’s always been an option. The university would welcome you. The question is if that is what you want.”
Asher straightened and the truth came to him. “Yes, if it means I can have Daisy in my life.” It was then that he knew. Whatever Daisy decided, he would give his notice to the Explorer cruise lines. His “vagabond days” were over. They had served their purpose, given him the life experience he’d craved. The time had come to move on and share his love and passion with students who would go out into the world and make a difference the way he’d always sought to do.
Daniel grinned as if he’d known what Asher would decide all along. “Good luck tomorrow, little brother.”
Asher had the strongest feeling that he was going to need it.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Everly woke to sunshine beaming in the bedroom window. The clock showed it was after eight. In farm country, that was midmorning. Tossing aside the covers, she leaped out of bed and dressed in jeans, a thick sweater, and boots before bounding down the stairs feeling guilty for being so lazy.
Her mother was busy in the laundry room off the kitchen, sorting the wash, when Everly burst into the room.
“Mom,” she said, “you should have woken me.”
“Why? My guess is you had a lot on your mind when you went to bed. How are you feeling this morning?”
“Better,” Everly said. “It took me until after three to fall asleep.”
“Did you make a decision?”
Everly had to think about it. “Not really. I figure I’ll put it on the back burner until we get through the holidays. This isn’t something I want to decide on the spur of the moment. If I do sell, I’ll want a have a plan for what’s next.”
Her mother nodded and then went back to sorting clothes. “You know your father and I will support you, regardless.”
“Thanks, Mom,” she said and then asked, “What can I do to help?”
“I was thinking of making a big pot of spaghetti for dinner. Would you mind getting the meat out of the freezer and bringing me up a couple jars of canned tomatoes?”
“I’m on it.” Everly raced down the stairs to the cellar where the family stored the jars of home-canned produce that came from the large garden her mother kept every summer. Some of Everly’s favorite memories revolved around the garden. Eating fresh strawberries warm from the sun, the red juice running down her chin. Shelling peas with her two sisters on the front porch swing and snapping green beans.
Her mother’s recipe called for the sauce to simmer on the stove all day. When she was a kid, it had been one of her favorite dinners. Her mother knew that and was cooking this meal especially for her.
As she came up the stairs, she heard Jasper barking. Glancing out the window, Everly noticed a strange car parked in the yard.
“Are you expecting anyone?” she called out to her mother.
“Not me, but your father might. He’s got a couple heads of beef he’s looking to sell.”
Turning away from the window, Everly set the frozen hamburger and canned jars of tomatoes on the kitchen counter. Knowing the spices her mother used, she reached into the cupboard and brought down the basil, oregano, thyme, and granulated garlic.
“I’m going back upstairs to comb my hair,” she called to her mother just as the back door opened, letting in Jasper, her father, and Asher Adams.
Everly froze, unable to move.
“I take it you know this young man,” her father said, directing the question to her.
Her voice had completely deserted her.
“Daisy?”
“I know him,” she answered, after an awkward silence.
Her mother came out of the laundry room and looked from Everly to Asher and then back again. “Is this the guy you didn’t want to talk about?” she asked in a stage whisper.
Everly nodded.
“My name’s Asher Adams,” he said, stepping forward and extending his hand to her mother.
“Why are you here?” Everly asked. She was too shocked to think clearly and realized her question lacked warmth and welcome.
“I heard you mention something about fudge. I have a weakness for it. Grandma Ruth’s recipe, I believe you said.”
“You came to talk to me about fudge?”
“Daisy,” her mother gently chastised. “Asher is our guest. Why don’t you invite him into the living room?”
All she seemed capable of doing was staring at him as if he was an alien from outer space.
“I’m sure after the long drive you’d welcome a cup of coffee,” her mother offered, seeing Everly’s complete lack of manners.
“I’d like that,” Asher said, although his eyes didn’t waver from Daisy.
Her father led him into the other room and Jasper followed.
“Daisy, my goodness, what’s the matter with you?” her mother asked in a low whisper. “Your young man is here. Talk to him.”
“My hair isn’t combed. I don’t have any makeup on.” Leave it to Asher to show up when she looked her worst. It surprised her he didn’t take one look at her and run for the hills.
“From the way he’s looking at you, I don’t think he much cares.”
“I care,” she insisted.
Her mother thrust the coffee mug into her hands and steered her toward the other room.
Everly jolted forward and nearly spilled the hot liquid. Taking short, tentative steps, she walked into the living room as if heading toward the guillotine.
“Gary,” her mother said, following close behind her. “Let’s give these young people a chance to talk in private.”
Everly sat across from Asher, her flattened hands tucked between her knees, her eyes downcast, waiting. Neither spoke for several uneasy moments.
“I’ve missed you,” Asher said.
“Then it wasn’t the fudge that convinced you to fly from Brazil after all?”
Asher grinned and shook his head. “I was a fool to let you go, Daisy. I’ve regretted it every minute since you left. I thought within a day or two I’d be able to move on.”
“How did that work for you?” she asked, although his being here was answer enough.
He snickered softly. “Not well at all. You were all I could think about, all I wanted to thi
nk about.” He glanced up then. “Do I dare hope you thought of me?”
She shrugged. “Not really.”
His lips quivered as if he was holding back a laugh. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“Okay, if you must know, you crossed my mind every now and again.”
He cocked his eyebrow in skepticism, but he didn’t pursue the question further. “Before you left you told me there would be obstacles we’d need to face, questions we’d need to answer, and compromises to make.”
She nodded. “I remember.”
“You said you were willing, and hoped that I would be, too.”
She held her breath. “Are you…willing?”
Instead of answering, Asher stood and walked over to the fireplace, where the family stockings hung. He stared at the one with her name on it before he turned to face her. “My brother asked me if I was willing to move to Chicago.”
“You hate the city.”
“I told him I would if it meant I could be with you.”
Everly scooted to the edge of the cushion. “Do you mean it?”
“With all my heart.”
Everly stood and walked directly into his arms. When he brought her into his embrace, a sigh went through her as she clung to him. His mouth sought hers in a kiss that was hot enough to ignite fireworks. It felt right and good to have Asher’s arms around her.
They couldn’t seem to get enough of each other. Kissing again and again, whispering to each other of the loneliness and the regrets. “I missed you every minute of every day,” she admitted between kisses when she could find her breath.
“Knew it,” Asher whispered, his voice husky and warm, as if he was alive again now that she was in his embrace.
Everly jabbed Asher in his ribs with her index finger. He grinned and braced his forehead against hers. “I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights.”
“Me, too,” she admitted. “I…I don’t know if I’m going back to Easy Home.”
Asher took a step away, as if uncertain he’d heard her correctly. “Don’t, Daisy, not for me. I’ll take a position at the college and we can go from there. See where this takes us.”
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