by T. L. Haddix
“It’s Chase.”
As she took the phone, Ethan got up and headed to the downstairs bathroom. He closed the door quietly behind him, and she put the receiver up to her ear.
“Hello?”
“Are you okay? What the hell are you doing over there, anyhow?” Chase demanded.
“Excuse me? What business is that of yours?”
“You’ve been gone for hours, and we couldn’t get you on your phone. What were we supposed to think? Anything could have happened.” She held the phone away from her ear and tried to calm down by counting to ten. Twice. It didn’t work.
“What time is it, Chase? I don’t have a clock around me.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line before her brother answered. “It’s nearly eight o’clock.”
Beth snorted, and she drew in a deep breath before she spoke in a futile attempt to hold on to her temper. Ethan came out of the bathroom and walked to where she sat, his expression guarded. She patted the couch beside her and he sat down.
“I didn’t get here until six o’clock. You said it’s not quite eight o’clock now? That’s not even two hours. Where are you? At the farm?”
“Yeah. Do you need me to come get you? I can be over there in five minutes.”
“No, Chase. I do not need you to come get me,” Beth gritted. “Is Daddy there?”
“Yes, why?”
“Put him on the phone.” After a minute, she heard her brother swear ripely, followed by her mother’s sharp retort. She smiled as she thought about just how dearly he would pay for that comment.
Richard came on the line, muttering about how his children were supposed to be adults now. “Honey? You okay?”
“I’m fine. What’s his problem? I’ve not been gone that long, and it’s none of his business, besides. Can you keep him from coming over here?”
Richard groaned, and she could just imagine him running his hand through his hair. “You take care of whatever you need to take care of. We’re fine here.” She heard Chase’s protest in the background as their father hung the phone up. Hitting the “end” button, she handed the phone back to Ethan.
“My mother’s Swear Jar is going to be overflowing by the time Chase leaves there tonight, and my brother is going to be lucky if he gets out of there without getting his mouth washed out with soap, thirty-one years old or not.”
Ethan gave a small laugh at the picture she painted, but his amusement didn’t last long. “He’s so angry. You know this isn’t the end of it. He’s liable to drive over here.”
“I know.” She rested her head against his shoulder. “Ethan, I love you, but I need time. I need to think about what we’ve talked about here. I’m not sure I can put myself out there again. It isn’t fair to either of us to try if I can’t take that step. Do you understand?”
“I do.” He stood up and held his hand out for hers, tugging her to her feet. He kept her hand in his and used the connection to pull her close. With his other hand, he pushed the hair back off her face and touched his lips to hers in a gentle, but thorough kiss.
Pulling back, he groaned. “I’ll walk you out. If you don’t get home soon, Chase will be over here. I don’t think that’s what any of us needs tonight.” When they reached the front door, he put his hand on the doorknob, but didn’t turn it. Lifting their joined hands, he kissed her knuckles. “I love you, too, you know. If it makes a difference.”
He opened the door and Beth moved past him with a teary smile. “It makes a big difference. I’ll call you, okay?” She knew she didn’t have a choice, but leaving Ethan standing there was one of the hardest things she’d done, and she’d had a lot of hard choices lately.
~ * * * ~
Ethan watched as Beth backed out of the driveway. He closed the door and scrubbed his hands over his face, weary to the bone. When he glanced at his watch, he saw that it was only eight thirty. “This has been the longest day.” His words seemed loud in the quiet of the empty house. Locking the door, he trudged back upstairs to the bedroom. The appeal of the bed was nearly as strong as the pull of alcohol. He decided to go with the lesser evil, and pulled the bedding back. He stripped and crawled between the sheets, thinking he’d never get to sleep. To his surprise, though, he was out almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Chapter Fifty Nine
The Saturday after her revelatory conversation with Ethan, Beth found herself helping Hannah and Paulo move into their new house. The storage pod containing all their belongings had been delivered late on Friday evening. Beth, Chase, Jason, and Jackie had all shown up Saturday morning to help with the move and unpacking, as had Charlie, Annie, and, surprisingly, Gordon. With that many hands, it hadn’t taken very long to move the small family’s belongings inside.
As Beth had suspected, Lauren and Annie had instantly taken to Hannah, and Lauren’s daughter Ava had taken one look at Paulo and decided it was her role to play protective older sister. Lauren had kept the children at her house during the actual move, and had driven over with them after the unloading was finished. The morning had been peppered with jokes and laughter, with Jason taking the brunt of the teasing over his immediate infatuation with Hannah. Before long, everyone was growing hungry, and Lauren took everyone’s order. She sent Beth down to the Brown Bag to pick it up on the house, part of her housewarming gift to Hannah. Gordon volunteered to ride shotgun, and as they were leaving, Paulo begged to be allowed to go along. Beth shot a look at Hannah, who left the decision up to Beth and Gordon.
“Looks like you’re sprung, buddy,” Gordon told him, sending Paulo into ecstatic cheers. He rushed over to the Beast as the adults followed behind more sedately.
“You’ve had a busy week, I guess,” Gordon remarked as Beth unlocked the doors. He turned to make sure Paulo was fastened in safely as he buckled his own seat belt.
Glancing at Paulo to make sure he was occupied and not listening too closely, Beth smiled. “I have. I went out and saw Cullen and Randy Jarvis. He’s actually doing better than he has for a long time.”
“Well, he saved you. I know from what you told me about the man that he’s carried a lot of guilt about coming home from Vietnam when your uncle didn’t. Maybe saving your life helped him see that his coming back was necessary.”
She reached over and squeezed his arm. “That’s exactly what he told me. He’s still not completely well, probably never will be, but he’s better.”
Paulo piped up from the back seat. “Who’s better?”
“A friend of mine.” She smiled at him in the rearview mirror. “You and I have gotten into all sorts of trouble this week, haven’t we?”
The boy quickly responded with a list of all the cool things they’d done, and he and Gordon kept a conversation going all the way into town. Beth drove around the square, and pointed out the Journal and Annie’s flower shop on the way.
As she pulled into a parking space in front of the Brown Bag, her cell phone rang. When she saw the library’s number on the display, she waved Gordon and Paulo on ahead of her. She quickly finished the call and caught up to them at the door.
“I have a couple of books that have arrived at the library. We can swing by there on the way back, if you guys don’t mind.”
“You’re the driver,” Gordon told her as she led the way inside. She introduced Gordon and Paulo to Janet, then gave the woman the list Lauren had made.
“She said to let you know that she’ll cover the cost, and to call her with any questions.”
Janet went over the list and shook her head. “Not a thing on here that’s going to cause a problem, but it’s going to be a few minutes before I have this pulled together. Do you mind waiting?”
“Nope. As a matter of fact, we need to run over to the library. How long will it take to get the order ready?”
“Maybe fifteen minutes, unless we get slammed. Then give me a little longer.”
Beth laughed. “Why don’t we make it twenty, then?”
Janet laughed back an
d waved the list at her. “Go get your books, girl. I know how you are about your reading.”
With a wave, Beth herded her group out the door.
“You do like to read, don’t you?” Paulo grabbed her hand as they walked back to the Beast and looked around her to Gordon. He grinned. “Mom said the ladies at the library back home cried when they saw Beth coming ‘cause she took half the library with her when she came in.”
Beth sighed and rolled her eyes dramatically as Paulo scrambled into the back seat. Hands on hips, she pursed her lips and corrected him. “It was only a quarter of the library, thank you very much.”
When he mimicked her, they all laughed, but a few moments later when she pulled into the parking lot of the library, his joking grew silent. Beth teased him gently about his love of reading as he stared at the building, a love which was every bit as strong as hers.
“Don’t drool on the upholstery, please.”
The boy’s eyes were huge as he took in the size of the library. The building had been remodeled about ten years earlier, and with an expansion that was larger than the original building, Beth had to concede it was a sight to behold. As they walked toward the door, it opened, and Ethan stepped out. Beth thought his smile looked a little forced as he took in her group.
“Hey.” He moved to one side of the door and nodded at Gordon, who nodded in return.
Beth felt a blush steal across her cheeks. “Ethan, this is Paulo Gray.” She rested her free hand on the boy’s shoulder. “He’s a friend of mine from New Mexico who just moved to town. Paulo, this is Ethan.”
The detective crouched down and held his hand out for a solemn handshake. Paulo accepted it and muttered a “how do you do” as he tipped his head to the side and narrowed his gaze.
“You’re the guy who made Beth cry, aren’t you?”
Ethan’s mouth tightened, but he didn’t try to brush off Paulo’s question. He raised his gaze to hers for a moment before he returned it to meet the boy’s eyes. “I guess I am.”
Paulo just studied him. He didn’t speak until Ethan started to stand. “Beth, do you want me to hit him for you?”
She smiled and smoothed his hair back off his forehead. “No, honey. We’re friends now. You don’t have to be angry at him, okay?”
“Did you guys kiss and make up or something?” His gaze was surprisingly calculating, and at his words, her face flamed with embarrassment.
Gordon snorted with laughter that he tried unsuccessfully to disguise as a cough. “Out of the mouths of babes.” He reached his hand out to Ethan. “Galen Gordon. I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced.”
Ethan accepted his hand, eying the other man with much the same suspicious look Paulo had just given him. Beth felt her heart turn over in her chest, but before she could speak, Paulo returned his gaze to Ethan.
“Well, did you? Kiss and make up?”
Ethan was helpless against the boy’s persistence, and he smiled. “Something like that.” He looked at Beth as he spoke.
Gordon cleared his throat and reached down for Paulo’s hand. “Let’s you and me go inside and see if they have anything you haven’t read, Paulo. We’re a third wheel right now.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ll explain it to you inside.” The boy reluctantly went along, and Beth shot Gordon a grateful look.
“He seems friendly enough,” Ethan said as they went inside. His eyes didn’t leave Beth’s face.
She raised an eyebrow at his tone, knowing he wasn’t referring to Paulo. “He is. He’s a good guy. And he’s just a friend.” Crossing her arms, she looked down at her feet as she scuffed her shoe against the ground. She took a hesitant step closer to Ethan. “I was going to call you tonight.”
Ethan looked skeptical, and he watched her carefully. “Really?”
“Yep, sure was. Did you have to work today?” She raised her gaze to the spot where his white t-shirt showed above the top of his dress shirt. Reaching out to brush a small piece of lint off his collar, she let her hand linger for a moment.
“I did. Nothing major, though.” He caught her hand and used it to tug her even closer.
Her gaze shot to his, and the flush spread from her face to go all the way down her body at the heat in his gaze. “We’re having Sunday dinner tomorrow, as usual. Hannah and Paulo will be there, and I thought it might be nice if you could stop by. If you don’t already have plans, that is.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea, me coming over? I don’t want to cause trouble. I’m afraid things between me and Chase will get ugly, and I don’t want to put you or the family through that.”
She didn’t bother to hide her disappointment. When he saw that, Ethan groaned. “It isn’t that I don’t want to be there.” He paused. “This is one of those ‘better do it or else’ relationship things, isn’t it?”
“Kinda, yeah,” she told him on an exhale. “We have to start somewhere.”
“So does this mean we have a relationship?”
She couldn’t tear her eyes away from his. “I think maybe it does, if you still want to. If you really don’t want to come tomorrow, or you won’t be comfortable, don’t. But if the only reason you’re staying away is because of something that might be said, please don’t let it stop you. We’ll deal with whatever happens.” Gathering all her courage, she touched his chest lightly with both hands.
His face softened and his lips quirked up at the corners as he put his hands on her waist, holding her steady. “Hannah and Paulo will be there?” She nodded. “I guess I could head out for a while, then. I want to meet the paragon Jason has been yammering about all week. She can’t possibly be as perfect as he says she is.”
Beth laughed. “She’s pretty close.”
Ethan raised a hand to trail his fingers across her cheek. “What about Gordon? Is he going to be there?”
She shook her head. “No, it’ll just be family, Hannah, and Paulo. Ethan, he’s just a friend, nothing more.” She could tell that he wanted to believe her, but he still wasn’t confident of her feelings. “Please come tomorrow. I want you there.”
With a sharp nod, he gave in. “Okay. I guess we have to get it over with one day. I’d rather it be sooner than later, I guess.”
“I think so.”
Looking around the parking lot, he nudged her backward so that they were concealed behind the garage where the bookmobile was housed. “It’d sure be easier though, if I had something to sustain me until tomorrow. It will take a lot of courage and strength to head into the enemy camp.”
Beth gazed up at him as a thousand butterflies suddenly took up residence in her stomach. “What exactly do you have in mind?” She felt her insides melt at the look he gave her.
“How about a kiss?” His demeanor turned uncertain, and she was amazed to see how vulnerable he looked without the façade she was used to seeing.
Swallowing, she let her hands slide up his chest to rest on his shoulders as he stepped closer to her. He cupped her head in his hands, letting his lips lightly brush hers. When he heard her fluttery sigh, he brought his mouth down more firmly over hers, deepening the kiss. Pinning her against the side of the building, he let his hands roam down her back, pulling her even closer to him with a groan.
Several minutes went by before he stepped back, breathing hard. Beth protested, and he pressed another kiss to her forehead as he moved away from her. A dull flush stained his cheeks, and he turned toward the garage as he adjusted the fit of his pants.
“Good thing you’re wearing jeans.”
Surprised, he fought a smile as she laughed with delight. He cleared his throat and looked out over the parking lot. His voice was husky when he spoke. “Does your mom still start dinner at one o’clock, blondie?”
“She does. Can I have another kiss?”
He shook his head. “Not right now. The last thing we need is to be arrested for public indecency. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He ran a finger down her cheek before he walked away.
Chapter Sixty
By twelve thirty the next day, Beth was a nervous wreck. Her mother had accepted the news that Ethan would be joining them for dinner with alacrity, even though she’d urged Beth to tell Chase before Ethan arrived. The men were all down at the barn, working on a stuck door, and Beth decided to gamble on her brother’s not showing his temper in front of Hannah and Paulo.
“He’ll be fine,” she muttered to herself. “I’m sure of it.”
As she flitted around the kitchen, Hannah and Jackie exchanged a look. Jackie watched as her daughter checked the oven for what seemed like the hundredth time, and she moved to the other side of the island to sit beside Hannah with a bemused sigh.
“Does she usually get like this?” Hannah asked in a low voice as Beth hurried into the dining room without a word.
“No. I’ve never seen her like this before. This isn’t going to be a pleasant dinner, I’m afraid. I’m apologizing in advance.”
Hannah understood immediately. “You’re worried about Chase, aren’t you?”
Jackie nodded. “He’s furious with Ethan.” The doorbell rang, and both women jumped.
“Good lord, her nerves are rubbing off on us.”
They listened as Beth hurried toward the door, and as it opened, Jackie heard a burst of laughter from outside. She looked out the window to see the men and Paulo returning from the barn. Standing, she got ready to run interference. “Showtime.”
She glanced over as Hannah said a quick, silent prayer, and added one of her own, afraid they would need divine intervention to make it through dinner without bloodshed.