by Keeland, Vi
Back home, Alex and I set up a table out in the yard. It made me happy to see him scarfing down the Iggy’s food. There was something cool about watching another generation discover the things you’d enjoyed. I couldn’t figure out how it was fair that I was the one here enjoying this moment and not his father. But it was Tanner’s loss.
Taking a bite of my chicken, I decided to probe him a little. “Are you happy to be in Beaufort?”
He nodded. “I love it here. I just wish we weren’t so far from my dad.”
His answer was a little heartbreaking.
“Yeah. I know. I can imagine how hard that is.”
“We didn’t see him much in New York, but if he wants to come see me now, it’s even harder.”
“I’m sorry, Alex. You deserve better. But you know, I grew up with your dad, so you might say I know him better than a lot of people do. I know who he truly is. And I do think one day he’s going to wake up and realize he’s not been the dad he should have been. And he’ll make it up to you.”
Did I just make a promise on my brother’s behalf that I wouldn’t necessarily be able to keep? I had no proof Tanner would ever make things right, but I wanted to give his son some damn hope.
“And one thing I can definitely promise is that I’m gonna be a better uncle to you. I want you to count on me. There aren’t all that many Miller men left anymore. It’s just the three of us. We need to stick together. You got it?”
“Got it,” he said as he ripped a big piece of chicken off the bone with his teeth.
“You know what we used to do after we’d come home from Iggy’s on Friday nights when I was a kid?”
“What?” he asked with his mouth full of chicken.
“We’d have ice cream for dessert. I picked up a couple of different kinds earlier. Want some?”
He jumped in his seat. “Yeah!”
It was getting a little chilly out anyway, so after we finished eating, we moved our party into the kitchen.
Fern, who seemed to be everywhere I was lately, was also in the kitchen.
As I prepared two bowls of Rocky Road for Alex and me, I turned to her. “Care to join us for some ice cream, Fern?”
She smiled. “Sure. Don’t mind if I do.” She looked at the container. “Rocky Road. Sounds like the path a certain someone is going to be on if he keeps pushing to sell this place.”
“Very funny.”
The three of us sat at the table, and we were able to have a relatively jab-free few minutes enjoying our ice cream—until my phone chimed.
Fern reached her hand toward my phone on the table. “Presley’s textin’!”
I went to grab it so fast that I hit my damn injured knee on the leg of the table.
“Fuck.” I quickly turned to Alex. “You didn’t hear that.”
He giggled.
“Are you okay?” Fern asked. “Seems like something got you a little excited there.”
I glared at her and looked down to read the text.
Presley: We’re gonna do dinner after all. Hope that’s okay.
My stomach churned. Why did it upset me that things were apparently going well? I knew I should’ve been happy for her, but I couldn’t be.
I’d pretend, though.
Levi: Cool. Yup. We’re all good here.
Presley: What did you end up doing?
Levi: Took him to Iggy’s but we ate it here. Told him some old stories. Having ice cream now. Nice night.
After about a minute, she texted back.
Presley: Aw, nice. Okay. Thanks again.
Levi: Anytime.
I turned to Alex. “That was your mom. She’s having a good time, so she’s heading out to dinner now. I told her we were all good here.”
Fern stirred the pot. “Dinner and hopefully some dessert.”
She was enjoying this way too much. But since she seemed to see my weird, territorial feelings toward Presley, I had to ignore her and not engage. The last thing I needed was for her to say something Alex picked up on. He was sharper than she realized.
After I cleaned up our bowls, Alex and I turned on a movie in the living room. He fell asleep before the ending, so after the credits rolled, I carried him to his room and tucked him in.
I took a few moments to look down at his sleeping face, once again marveling at how much he looked like me. The fact that he’d wanted to go to Iggy’s really had touched me. And our conversations tonight only added to that. It had been an emotional evening. I just wished one of the emotions wasn’t anxiousness over the fact that Presley still wasn’t home.
Finally, the door opened around 10PM.
I was watching TV in the living room when she walked in. I started to chastise her about how late she’d stayed out, but then stopped myself. “How was it?” I asked instead.
She threw her purse down on a chair. “It was…nice.”
I gritted my teeth. “Just nice?”
“Yeah. You know, about what I expected.”
As she sat across from me, I felt a sharp jolt of pain in my bad knee. I started to massage it.
She looked at it. “Is your knee still hurting you?”
“I reinjured it tonight.”
Her mouth dropped. “How?”
“I banged it against the damn leg of the table.”
“Seriously? That’s crazy. At least I can’t take credit for it this time.”
“Actually, it was kind of your fault.”
Presley’s nose wrinkled. “What?”
“When you texted me, nosy-ass Fern was looking at my phone and tried to grab it. I jumped to take it from her, and that’s when I hit my knee.”
“That’s my fault?”
“No. I’m teasing. It was my fault. I was on edge about you being out, so I overreacted.” Why did I just admit that? “But tell me about tonight.”
She looked a bit confused before she answered. “Jeremy is really nice. Like really, really nice. And smart and funny…”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I said, “Okay…”
“But honestly, after I texted and you told me what you guys had done tonight—going to Iggy’s and reminiscing—I sort of lost focus. All I wanted was to be home. Which is weird, you know? That shouldn’t have happened so easily.”
My heart began to beat faster. “I wished you were with us too,” I admitted.
She rubbed her palms together. “So, you said you were on edge tonight…because of me?”
I nodded, but it took several seconds before I could respond. “I can’t properly explain it. But yeah.” I shook my head, not wanting to elaborate. “Anyway, I apologize for trying to make you feel guilty about things this morning.”
Her mouth spread into a smile. “There are worse things in the world than having a handsome football star acting all protective over you. I appreciate you looking out for me.”
“It wasn’t exactly as noble as that. But I will look out for you from now on, Presley. You and I, we didn’t know each other all that well before. But I feel like after I leave in a couple of months, things will be different. I don’t plan to lose touch with you guys.”
“I’m kind of getting used to having you around, Levi. It’s gonna suck when you leave.”
I hadn’t realized I was still rubbing my knee until Presley moved from her seat and positioned herself next to me. She placed her hand on it and began to gently massage. My body stirred.
“Does that feel okay?” she whispered.
“Yeah. It does. More than okay.”
I bent my head back, swearing at myself for enjoying her damn touch more than I’d enjoyed…well, hell, the last time I’d had sex. What the fuck was wrong with me? Getting off on Alex’s mother?
But I saw her as so much more than that now, didn’t I? And it was starting to become a problem.
CHAPTER 8
* * *
Presley
“Sweetheart, will you do me a favor and go see if Uncle Levi wants any banana-nut pancakes?” The stack on the side
of the stove had to be eighteen inches high.
Alex got up from his chair, but instead of heading to his uncle’s room, he walked over and put his hand on my back. “Are you okay, Mom?”
My forehead wrinkled. “Sure, why wouldn’t I be?”
My son shrugged. “I don’t know. But you usually make a lot of food when you get upset. Last time Dad didn’t show up for his visit, you made like a hundred cupcakes.”
Though a hundred was a bit of an exaggeration, I did tend to cook when I was lost in my head. I’d had no idea Alex realized that. This morning, I’d gotten out of bed at six and roasted a whole chicken before chopping it up and making chicken salad. My growing feelings toward Levi had me very unsettled.
But I didn’t want Alex to worry, so I smiled. “I’m fine, sweetie. I made extra to freeze in case you’re hungry after practice, that’s all. You can just pop them in the toaster oven later when you get home.”
Alex shrugged. “Okay, Mom.” Then he walked back over to his chair and sat down.
I turned with the spatula in my hand. “Umm… Did you forget you were going to go ask Uncle Levi if he wanted pancakes?”
“No, I didn’t forget. Uncle Levi’s not home. He left already.”
“He left?”
Alex nodded.
“When did he leave?”
“While you were in the shower. I was in my room getting dressed, and he came in with his suitcase to say goodbye.”
“Suitcase?”
“Yeah. He said he was going away for a few days.”
“Did he say where?”
“No.”
Alex was completely unfazed as he shoveled a pancake into his mouth. I, on the other hand, felt oddly bothered. Levi had gone out of town for a few days and didn’t even mention it to me? It wasn’t like he had any obligation, yet it still made me feel sort of bad that he hadn’t told me or said goodbye.
“Did he say when he’d be back?”
“No. He just told me not to drop my right shoulder when I cut to my right at practice. Coach Brick taught me to do it that way, but Uncle Levi said it should be the opposite—I need to drop left to fake out the defender.”
“Hmm… Well, I’m sure your uncle knows what he’s talking about. Though I’m not sure you should ignore the direction of your coach without discussing it with him first.”
“What’s a wet noodle, Mom?”
“A wet noodle?”
“Yeah. When I told Uncle Levi Coach Brick taught me to cut right, he said Coach Brick was a wet noodle and didn’t know his butt from his elbow.”
Oh boy. “Umm…a wet noodle is… What I think your uncle meant was that he didn’t agree with the information Coach gave you. But I don’t think you should repeat what he said when you talk to your coach, because it’s sort of not nice. Maybe just say your uncle told you to check with him because he thinks you should drop the other shoulder.”
Alex shrugged. “Okay.”
I sighed. “We need to get going in a few minutes to get you to football camp on time. So finish up, and then go wash your hands and grab your equipment bag.”
After I dropped Alex at camp, I decided I didn’t have time to wallow in my silly hurt feelings or micro-analyze everything going on in my head. I had an enormous job to do in order to get the B&B up and running, and that needed to be my priority. So I stopped by the paint store and picked up a few gallons of primer, then dove into the monumental task of getting all of the bedrooms ready for paint. It took me almost five hours, but I cleared the furniture out of the first three rooms I planned to work on, removed everything from the walls, spackled all the small holes, and covered all the moldings and corners with painter’s tape. By the time I was done and ready to pick up Alex at camp again, I felt invigorated, rather than deflated like I had this morning.
At the end of practice, Coach Jeremy walked over to my car while I was putting Alex’s equipment in.
“Hi, Presley.” He seemed a little apprehensive, and I hoped Alex hadn’t mentioned what Levi had called him.
I smiled. “Hey.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets and glanced around the parking lot. My son was talking to a few boys near the fence and not paying the least bit of attention. Jeremy rubbed the back of his neck. “So, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to go out again?”
While I was relieved that Alex hadn’t mentioned Levi’s comment, I also wasn’t sure how I felt about going on a second date. He was a nice-enough guy, and handsome, too; I just didn’t feel any spark. Though, I was pushing thirty now, so was a spark really necessary? In my experience, sparks that burned too hot generally led to a fire. Maybe I needed more of a slow-burn person.
I managed a smile. “Umm... Sure, why not?”
“Great.” He smiled. “Do you like country music?”
“I do.”
“I have tickets to a country festival in Charleston the weekend after next, if you’re up for it. It’s an all-day, all-night type of thing. But we can go and come back whenever you want.”
“Could I…let you know about that? I’d need to figure out a sitter for Alex and stuff.”
“Sure.” He nodded. “Of course.”
I closed my trunk. “I’ll figure it out within a few days, okay?”
“That sounds perfect.”
Alex ran over. “Mom, can I go over to Timmy’s after dinner?”
I smiled and mussed the hair on the top of his head. “We’re not even back from one thing yet, and you’re already asking to do something else.”
Jeremy smiled. “I miss having that energy. The only thing I want to do after a long day of practice in the sun is put my feet up and drink some sweet tea. You two have a good night. I’ll see you tomorrow, Alex.”
I smiled back. “Have a good night, Jeremy.”
Later that evening, I’d just gotten Alex to bed and settled in the living room to watch TV when someone knocked at the door. I hadn’t been expecting anyone, but people occasionally stopped in for a room even though we had the Sold Out sign hanging under the main sign for the inn. It looked to be exactly the case as I unlocked the door and saw a woman standing on the porch with her back facing me, a suitcase next to her.
“May I help you?”
The woman turned and lifted her arms in the air, each holding a bottle of wine. “Surprise!”
“Oh my God!” My mouth dropped open. “Harper! What are you doing here?”
My best friend swamped me in a hug. “I took on a new client in Charleston and flew down to visit him. I figured I’d drive over and see if there was any room at the inn.”
“Of course there is!” I squealed. “I can’t believe you’re really here. Come in! Come in!”
Harper grabbed the handle to her Louis Vuitton-monogrammed luggage and wheeled it inside. She always dressed like a million bucks, and after a few weeks of living in Beaufort, I’d realized just how different the people down here looked compared to her. Harper was tall and model thin, and she had on a white linen pantsuit. The stylish bottoms had a high waist and wide legs, and a matching double-breasted jacket covered a sheer, white, lacy tank top. The only color in her ensemble came from a thin, blood red belt, matching pointy high-heeled red shoes, and a fully lined mouth with bright red lips. I couldn’t help but think how out of place she’d look at the local supermarket.
I brought her in and smiled, shaking my head.
“What?” she said.
“Nothing. You just look so…New York. Like the one-woman PR powerhouse you are.”
She looked down. “I specifically wore linen, so I’d look more casual.”
“If that’s casual, what the heck do I look like?”
I had on gray sweats with a rip at the knee and a ribbed white tank top. My hair was tied up in a messy bun on top of my head, and I’d just washed off what little makeup I wore these days.
Harper looked me up and down and grinned. “Do you really want me to answer that?”
I laughed. “Definitely not.”
She gazed around the spacious house. “Wow…this place is great. I feel like I stepped back in time.”
“It’s a mess right now. But I’ll give you the grand tour anyway.”
I walked Harper through the inn, giving her some of the history of the place as we went room to room. When we came to Levi’s room, I pointed to the door. “This is Levi’s room. He’s out of town.”
“How are things going with him? Last time we spoke, you said he was giving you attitude.”
I hadn’t filled Harper in on the weirdness between Levi and me lately, so I chose my words carefully. “No, we sort of worked out our differences. It’s a long story, but Tanner had been feeding his family a bunch of crap about me for years—basically led them all to believe I’d left him high and dry when he got injured.”
“Ugh. Figures. Can’t say I’m surprised with that man.”
I sighed. “Yeah.”
“So things are okay between you and the brother now?”
While I debated how to answer, a voice boomed from over my shoulder.
“All’s good, except the two of them want to boink like rabbits!”
Fern. I turned and shook my head.
“What?” She shrugged. “Don’t look at me like that, young lady. It’s true, and you know it.”
“Levi does not want to…boink me.”
Fern tsked. “You and that boy have been blowin’ up a storm since he rolled in. Only two things happen with that much whirling going on. Either you wind up fornicating or a house lands on a wicked witch.”
Harper’s entire face wrinkled. She shook her head. “Fornicating? Witch? I’m so confused.”
Her look made me chuckle in spite of myself. “Harper, this is Fern. She lives here at the inn. Fern, this is my very best friend, Harper Langley. She lives in New York and came down for a surprise visit.”