“Hey, Bug, how was your day?” He tried to inject an extra dose of happiness in his voice to cheer her up, but it ended up sounding fake even in his ears.
“Fine.”
Her monosyllabic words hurt his heart, and he wondered again if he was doing the right thing. He wanted to hug her and have her tell him about her day, but he could tell she didn’t want to, so he decided to cut the call short and end both their misery.
“Okay, honey, well, I hope you have a good night, and I’ll call again tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
And then, before he could say goodbye, the line went dead. He hoped his mother was gently informing Joy that hanging up on her father, even when she was angry, was not the polite thing to do.
He stared at the phone a moment longer and then tapped in a different, less familiar number.
“Hello?”
Presley’s voice was a soothing aloe on the other end. He couldn’t believe how quickly she had re-entered and bettered his life. “Hey, Presley. Did you see Joy today?” His finger traced a circle on the dining room table as he waited for her answer.
“Yeah, we built a snowman this afternoon. I closed the shop for a few hours and played with her. She misses you Brandon.”
“I know, but I’ll be done in a few days, and then I’ll be back.”
“Until you leave again.” Her voice was soft, but there was no denying the sadness in it. Though not sorry he called, Brandon wished the conversations had been happier. After she filled him in on the rest of her day, and he bored her with details of his presentation, they ended the conversation.
As he put the phone down, the silence crept in again, and he wished Presley were here with him. Hearing her voice had helped, but he missed her face and her lips. What he wouldn’t give to curl up on the couch with her right now and breathe in her scent.
It was still early, but the empty apartment held nothing for him, so he changed into shorts and crawled into bed. Though tired, Presley’s voice reminding him that Joy missed him ran circles through his brain, and doubt sneaked in again.
Aubrey arrived at seven the next morning, and after a stop at a coffee shop for a morning pick-me-up, they were back at the office and plugging away.
“Do you think we could finish today?” Brandon lifted the coffee to his mouth and took a sip. The warm liquid flowed down his throat, but it did nothing to ease the ache he felt.
Her green eyes flashed as she laid her pen down on the table. It was a deliberate controlled movement, one that showed the anger building inside her. “You want to finish the presentation today?”
Swallowing, he plowed ahead, knowing she might blow up at him but taking the chance anyway. “Yes, Aubrey. I miss Joy, and want to spend more time with her while I can. I promised her.”
Her eyes bored into his, but her shoulders relaxed. She didn’t have kids, but she had a soft spot for Joy. “Okay, it will mean a busy day today, but I’m almost done with the video aspect if you are close on the cost analysis.”
“I am. I think I can finish today.”
“Well, we better buckle down then.”
She turned the laptop screen toward him and started the slide show she had assembled. It was good, exciting. He offered a few suggestions and then turned his screen to her, so she could see the cost analysis. She pointed out a few items he had forgotten, and they continued working.
When lunch rolled around, she ordered in and they ate while they worked. At six pm, they finished. “Can you call Stewart and ask him to meet us tomorrow instead of Friday?”
She nodded and headed to the phone, and Brandon began practicing the presentation in his head. But he wasn’t feeling it. He was worried about Joy, and he wanted to hear Presley’s voice.
Aubrey returned a minute later. “Okay, he can meet us at eight am tomorrow morning, and I took the liberty of booking you a return flight for late morning.”
“Thank you, Aubrey.” She really was an amazing assistant.
When Brandon returned to his apartment, his first order of business was to order a pizza. The he dialed his mother. The phone rang four times before going to the answering machine. His parents had not embraced voice mail and while they each had a cell phone, they almost never answered it.
When the beep sounded, he left a message, trying to sound cheerful, though loneliness was all he felt. “Hi guys. I hope everyone is well. I’m almost finished here and should be home tomorrow. I can’t wait to see you, Joy. I miss you.”
He ended that call and dialed Presley’s number. Chances were she was with them wherever they were.
“Hi, you’ve reached Presley, but I can’t answer the phone right now. Leave a message at the beep.”
His heart ached even more at the sound of her sweet voice and the fact it was only a recording. He hung up without leaving a message. Not talking to them compounded the loneliness, but perhaps it would allow him to focus on practicing for the presentation.
Chapter 16
“What do you want to do today?” Presley asked Joy. She had shut the shop down early again to have some time to spend with her. Hopefully her customers would understand. She couldn’t really afford to lose any business right now.
“Can we build another snowman?” Her eyes danced at the prospect, and she folded her hands together in a pleading gesture. Her lip fell out in a perfect pout, a trait she must have gotten from Brandon as he too had perfected the gesture on Presley in high school.
She glanced into the backyard, but they had used most of its snow yesterday and Sunday, and there hadn’t been any new snowfall. “How about we go to the lake and see if there’s enough there to build a snowman.”
“Yes.” The word was squealed in delight, and she bounded off to get her coat and hat.
“You want to come, Anna?”
Anna and Beverly both sat at the kitchen table. Beverly was working a book of crossword puzzles, and Anna was reading a book.
“Sure,” she sighed. “This isn’t catching my interest anyway.” She closed the book and pushed back her chair.
After bundling up, they stepped out into the cold air and began the short trek to the lake. Joy ran ahead, stopping every now and then to pick up a stick or a stray leaf. The snow was thinner here on the sidewalks due to the foot traffic.
Presley shoved her hands in her pockets and voiced the words that had been parading through her head. “Do you think he’ll ever stay here?”
Anna shrugged and sighed. “I don’t know, Presley. Morgan really did a number on him. I think his avoidance of this place has more to do with her than with the place itself.”
It was what she had expected, but it didn’t make her feel any better.
“Do you think you would ever move to be with him? I know Joy has really taken to you. She could use a good mother figure.”
It was Presley’s turn to sigh. “I’m not sure. I love Joy, and care deeply for Brandon, but I did the big city in Paris, and it wasn’t all I thought it would be. There’s something about a small town where everyone knows you that is welcoming.”
“Yeah, I missed that this year.” Her head dropped, and her eyes focused on the ground. Her shoulders rolled forward from the invisible weight she was carrying on them.
“What happened, Anna?”
“Nothing, really, but it was so big that I didn’t make any close friends. It just felt lonely, and after being here – well it was a shock.”
Presley could relate. She had always been more of an introvert, and the move to Paris had been a shock. If it hadn’t have been for Pierre – as much as she loathed him for cheating on her at the end – she didn’t think she would have lasted as long as she did. Anna wasn’t as quiet, but Presley could imagine the shock of a big college campus. “Will you go back?” They reached the lake and sat down on the green park bench.
Anna plucked a leaf off a bush that sat next to the bench. “I don’t know. I do want to get my nursing degree, but I might consider a closer school for next year. My dad fa
lling really affected me too. My parents are both getting older, and I want to be closer to them in case something happens again.”
Presley understood that. Her mother and brother were all she had, and even though she lived in an apartment attached to her mother’s house, Presley rarely saw her. But, she would be close by if anything happened.
“Presley?”
The male voice grabbed Presley’s attention, and for a moment her heart believed it was Brandon. She turned to the approaching figure, but the proportions were not right to be Brandon. The figure was taller and a little thicker. “Ryan?” She jumped up from the bench and ran to embrace her brother. He had graduated from college this last summer, but she hadn’t seen him since then. He’d been working as an architect in a firm in Houston.
He picked her up and twirled her around. Even though he was younger, he had always been bigger than Presley, at least since he turned thirteen and shot up like a weed. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to spend Christmas with my mom and sister. I took a week off work.”
“But how did you know where to find me?”
He rolled his eyes. “I was accosted by Paula on my way in. She told me you had been hanging out with Brandon Scott and that if I couldn’t find you at the bakery, then to check his house.” He shuddered and rubbed his arms. “I wish she would just use words and not her hands so much.”
Presley laughed as the mental picture appeared in her mind. She could almost see Paula’s hand gliding up Ryan’s muscular arm as she shared her gossip.
“When did you start hanging out with Brandon again? I thought that was over.”
Presley shook her head. “It’s a long story.”
Ryan’s eyes shifted from her face to something over her right shoulder. Presley turned to see Anna approaching them.
“Anna Scott?”
“Hi Ryan. You look good.” Anna’s hands were clasped in front of her, and as she twirled the ring on her right hand, Presley remembered Ryan telling her they had dated for a time in high school, after her move to Paris.
Presley stepped back to the bench to give them a moment.
“Can we build the snowman now?” Joy asked as she ran up to the bench. Presley had forgotten that was their purpose in coming here, but she smiled and started rolling snow for her.
Ryan and Anna soon joined in, and between the three of them, they managed to put together a snowman taller than Presley. In fact, he was almost Ryan’s height. Joy scurried toward the lake and returned with two sticks for arms and two rocks for eyes. Ryan lifted her up so she could place the eyes herself.
“It’s too bad we didn’t bring a carrot,” she said as she stepped back and admired their work.
“I think he looks wonderful anyway,” Presley said squeezing Joy’s shoulder.
“I agree,” Anna said, smiling shyly at Ryan. “I know, who’s up for a movie? I think they are playing a Christmas movie.”
“Me, me; I love movies.” Joy jumped up and down and pumped her arm in the air.
Presley shrugged. “Fine with me. I have nothing better to do.” Her phone had been too silent all day.
“Ryan?”
He shrugged as well. “Sure, I love a good Christmas movie, but can we get something to eat first? I’m starving.”
At the words, Presley’s stomach joined in with a rumbling chorus. “All right, to Max’s.”
Presley and Joy led the way, so Anna and Ryan could have a little privacy behind them.
The Diner was busier than Presley had seen it in a while, and they had to squeeze into a small table near the kitchen. Max dropped off menus without a word as he maneuvered plates of food to another table. After placing their plates down, he came back their direction.
“What’ll you have?”
“What’s going on Max? Why is it so busy?”
He rolled his eyes. “Barnard thought it would be a good idea to drum up business for the local shops by offering sales. Today is evidently half price burger day. Course he never told me about it.” Max raised his voice and glared across the room. Barnard waved before shoving a burger in his mouth.
“Oh dear, I better find out what he has planned for me. I’ll take a burger by the way.” As Max finished taking orders, Presley eased out of her chair and weaved through the crowded chairs to Barnard. “What is going to be the sale at the bakery? I need to have some warning as I’m helping out with Joy while Brandon is gone.”
He motioned her to lean down. “There is no sale for the other businesses. I just wanted a half price burger today, but maybe it’s not a bad idea looking at this crowd, huh?”
Presley shook her head at Barnard. The man certainly had guts. If Max ever found out, all Hades was going to break loose.
“So, what does he have planned for you?” Ryan asked as she returned to the table.
“Nothing,” she whispered. “He just wanted a half price burger.”
Anna and Ryan stifled their laughter as Max returned with the drinks.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, his eyes flitting from one person to the next.
“Nothing, nothing at all.” Presley clapped a hand over her mouth as another giggle took over.
“Barnard!” Max’s voice turned from frustration into an angry growl as he marched over to Barnard, who paled, shrank back, then turned red and puffed up. Max led Barnard out of the building and the two proceeded to have an angry spat in front of the store. Presley couldn’t hear the words, but their angry gesticulations said a lot.
Ryan whistled through his teeth. “I would not want to be Barnard right now.”
Moments later, the two returned. Max stomped into the kitchen and Barnard stopped at the door and raised his hands. “Excuse me, folks, can I get your attention? I’m afraid there was a mix up and there is no half price burger day.”
The crowd groaned and booed.
“But, but,” he continued, “to make up for it, I am offering a free scoop of ice cream to everyone in this restaurant.” The words looked as if they physically pained him to say.
“Score one for Max,” Presley whispered as the crowd grumbled and returned to their food.
Max appeared a moment later and plopped the plates down on the table. He might have won, but it had done nothing to soften his mood.
After the food was finished and the tab was paid, the group headed down the street to the cinema. Miracle on 34th Street was playing, and after purchasing tickets, they entered the one theater.
The old chairs were worn and a faded brown color from the eighties where they weren’t patched, but they worked. A few other people sat in the theater, but they had their choice of seats. Joy led them down the aisle to about ten rows from the screen and smack dab in the middle of the row. It was closer than Presley usually sat, but as she didn’t have to crane her neck, she agreed. Anna sat next to her and Ryan on the other side of Anna. Presley doubted either one of them would really be paying close attention to the movie.
When Presley returned home from watching the movie, she noticed a missed call from Brandon on her cell phone. She clicked on the voicemail button, but there was nothing waiting. Why hadn’t he left a message?
She considered calling him back, but it was nearly ten. If he was working, she didn’t want to bother him, and if he was sleeping, she didn’t want to wake him. Perhaps it was better this way anyway. If he still planned on leaving, she should probably begin distancing herself, if that was even possible.
An exasperated sigh escaped her lips, and Niko looked up from his dish on the counter where he had been crunching his dry cat food.
“I don’t know what I’m doing Niko. I’m just going to get my heart broken again.”
Niko wandered over and rubbed against her hand. At least he understood; he always understood.
Flicking off the kitchen light, Presley headed down the hall to her bedroom. It was late and five am came early. The nice thing about owning her own store was being able to set her hours, but owning a cupcake shop/bak
ery meant people expected to get their breakfasts there and that meant opening by seven am.
As she changed into shorts and a tank top, Presley wondered if she could move with him. Could she close the shop and reopen somewhere with him if he asked her to? She found no easy answer as she brushed her teeth and climbed into bed, so she handed it over to the Lord in prayer.
The next morning, the answer was no clearer, but she had faith that He would show her the answer when He was ready.
The day was slow, and Presley found herself whipping out her cell phone between customers to check for a message from Brandon, but it was always empty.
After the lunch rush, she took out a rag and began wiping down the tables. The bell jingled and Joy rushed in.
“Presley, did you hear? Daddy’s coming back tonight.”
“Sorry, she just had to tell you,” Anna said, shaking her head.
“That’s okay,” Presley said to Anna before turning her attention to Joy, who was patting her hip excitedly. “No, I hadn’t heard, but I didn’t get to talk to your daddy last night. That is good news though.” Why hadn’t he left a message telling her that? The thought sent tiny tendrils of doubt into her heart.
“He said he’d be home tonight. You’ll come, won’t you?”
“Of course I will.” Though Presley wondered if the reason he hadn’t told her he was coming home was because he didn’t want her there. Joy hugged her legs before dashing over to the pastry case and pressing her nose and hands against the freshly wiped glass.
“Dinner will be at seven,” Anna said. “Will that give you enough time?”
“Yeah, it gives me plenty of time.” Presley had tried staying open later than six in case people wanted dessert after dinner, but very few people had shown up. So, she had left closing hours at six, which gave her some time to unwind in the evenings.
“Great, we’ll see you then. We have to go expend some energy.” Anna nodded at Joy, who was tapping at the glass as if trying to convince the pastries to come out. “Come on, Joy. Let’s let Presley get back to work.”
When Love Returns Page 10