“You’re welcome,” Shelly smiled. “And you’re also changing the subject. But, I’ll concede to you this time around. Next time, I want the details. I gotta head on home and call Laura to check. She’s good at managing the boutique, but you know me, I’m a bit of a control freak, so I just need to make sure all went okay. Really, coming here did me a favor. Otherwise I would’ve fretted about leaving it in someone else’s hands and probably would’ve gone into work.”
Shaking her head, Bree grinned at her friend’s true self-observation. “You’re welcome.”
After exchanging hugs, kisses, and seeing Shelly off. Bree headed back to the kitchen to finish up the chicken soup - a winter-bug curing remedy she firmly believed in. When she’d been beyond broke and Amber had gotten sick as a toddler, enough good, hearty homemade chicken soup helped speed Amber onto recovery and saved further medical bills and trips to the local clinic.
“Your toes look so cute, my baby,” Bree said lovingly while spooning soup into Amber’s mouth. Her baby looked so weak, but despite that and her tired eyes. Setting the soup aside, she leaned over and hugged Amber before commencing the feeding again.
Amber wiggled her sparkling toes, courtesy of a manicure given by an indulging Shelly. “I love them,” Amber responded. “But, you mustn’t call me ‘baby’, mom. We’ve had this conservation Mom. I’m a big girl now. Honey is okay or Amber.”
“Conversation, big girl,” Bree corrected both of them and received a brilliant smile from Amber.
“Granddad had this toes done too,” Amber shared.
“Is that so?” Bree asked; a grin spread on her face while her gran softly chuckled. Her granddad was snoring away, his natural exuberance around Amber depleted by his mirroring cold.
“Uh-huh,” Amber giggled. “I asked Shelly to and grandpa said something. Shelly told him not to be grouchy and he said okay. What’s grouchy?”
Bree threw a glance at her gran who abdicated all assistance and then answered, “It’s when you don’t feel like you do every day. You feel tired and not all that well because you’re sick.”
“I feel grouchy too, mom,” Amber said in a confessing tone.
Bree’s heart hurt a little for her baby and she leaned in to kiss her. “I know, big girl. But if you eat, drink lots of water, and sleep, you’ll be back to running around and playing in no time!”
“Is my little angel sick?” Todd asked, looking debonair in a formal pair of pants and shirt.
“Daddy,” Amber's, face brightened at the sight of her dad, and held out her arms for a hug.
“Your mom told me you caught a cold,” he said worriedly. “I didn’t know it was this bad.”
“Do I look bad, Daddy?” Amber asked disappointingly.
Todd caught Bree’s eyebrow wiggles of warning and answered, “No, you look as pretty as a princess.” The age-old compliment, used by Dad’s to make their daughters feel better, worked and Amber beamed up at him. “I’ve got a surprise for you downstairs. I’m just going to go get it and I’m taking your mom with me to help, okay?” Amber nodded weakly in response, the excitement of a pedicure and manicure from Shelly as well as her dad’s appearance having over-taxed her.
“Why didn’t you tell me she was so sick?” Todd asked Bree when they reached the hallway.
The retort Bree was about to utter got stuck in her throat when she noticed his ashen face creased with concern, brows knitted. This was his first experience with Amber being sick, she realized and it tugged at her empathy. “Oh Todd, I know she looks really sick, but it’s really just a cold. She’ll be fine. She just needs some rest, the right food, and some medication. We’re all, you included, giving her that and love and attention, so she’ll be back to her chirpy self in a few days’ time.”
“You sure?” he probed, worry not lessened. “She’s had a cold before?’
Bree resisted the urge to giggle. It was adorable that he was concerned, but he was having a bit of an over-reaction to the circumstance too! “Yes,” she said gravely, lips twitching at the corners, which he thankfully didn’t notice. “I’m sure. Look, I know as a parent you want to cuddle her and wish her better. And, because she’s your child, she looks more fragile than she actually is. I promise.”
Todd nodded, not entirely convinced, but looking more relieved. “Okay, let me take her the corsage.”
“Oh, I forgot!” Bree exclaimed. “We all did. No wonder you’re all dressed up. It’s your daughter-dad dinner date. Amber was so looking forward to it too, but with her and granddad out for the count we all completely forgot.”
Todd shrugged, “Really. It’s okay. I’ll take her out when she’s better.”
Bree smiled up at him gently. “You better go give our baby her first flowers.”
The flowers thrilled Amber, a delightful traditional corsage consisting of baby’s breath and tiny pink flowers. Flowers were not something that was naturally grown during the Alaskan winter so Todd must have paid a pretty penny for it, flying the tiny gift hundreds of miles, just to see a smile on his little girl’s face.
“A pity about your dinner reservations,” Moira quipped from a wing-back chair in the corner of the room. “Why don’t the two of you go out, have some fun?”
“That’s okay, Gran,” Bree replied. “I appreciate your suggestion, but Todd and I couldn’t enjoy ourselves knowing our big girl was sick.”
“Oh, go on with you,” Moira admonished. “Granddad’s snoring and will most likely be doing that until the morning. And, Amber’s just about to nod off herself. Her fever’s broken and there’s nothing more you can do, but sit and stare at her. You’ve been cooped up in this room or working and I think you need a break. And Todd,” Moira threw a stern glance his way, “there’s nothing you can do here either.”
Amber, who’d been silently eavesdropping, piped in, “I want you to go to dinner, Mom.”
Bree looked at Amber in surprise. Whenever she’d been ill in the past, Bree'd had to do much persuading to get her to stay with a sitter so Bree could go to work. That the sitter hadn’t been a stranger, but their friendly neighbor and landlady, an elderly, kind-hearted lady with grandchildren of her own, hadn’t made much of a difference. “That’s a first, honey,” Bree stated. “You’ve never wanted me to leave you when you were sick before.”
“I know, Mom, but you never have fun and Daddy’s the best fun. You’ve never eaten in a big person restaurant before.”
Bree smiled and mussed her angel’s hair. “That’s because we had more fun at kiddie restaurants where you could play and got toys with your meals.”
“Uh-huh,” Amber nodded in understanding. “Those restaurants were way cooler. But, I’m okay. Gran’s with me. She’s going to read me a story from the new book Daddy bought me, while I drink milk, eat cookies, and then she’s going to cuddle with me ‘til I sleep.”
Amber’s face reflected eagerness for the treats offered in a way that only grandparents could. She hadn’t left Amber alone with her grandparents for an extended period of time since the New Year’s Eve dance. Softly touching her palm to Amber’s forehead, it was met with soft, clammy skin that gave no indication that the fever was returning.
“Okay,” Bree nodded, casting a glance in Todd’s direction, shaking her head at his puzzlement to ward off further argument. Mercifully, a raised brow was the only challenge he gave. “But if I’m to go out, I better get dressed. Why don’t you and your dad spend some time together while I get ready?”
“Yay!” Amber squeaked. “Gran, we’re gonna have so much fun.”
Grinning at Amber’s enthusiasm and satisfied with her accurate evaluation of the situation, Bree went to her room. Only then did it strike her that she’d made her decision purely with Amber in mind, without recognizing that she was agreeing to a dinner at a possibly romantic restaurant with Todd. Yikes, she squealed inwardly. What the heck was she thinking?
xxx
On the way to the restaurant Todd received an education in childhood illnes
s. That was thankfully something that he had no experienced with. When he and his siblings were very young, his mother had not been in a self-pitying, drunken stupor most of the time, so she had been able to still care for them at that point. The more Bree enlightened him, telling him Amber’s whole medical history as well as her various reactions to being sick, the less anxious he felt.
Unfortunately, it also meant that he became more aware of Bree and the challenges he faced in getting them back together again - at least in bed and on paper. She was right when she said that they’d bonded well and speedily and he was anxious to have Amber with him fulltime in his home with both of her parents present. A phenomenon he’d longed for, but had barely been privileged to. Mentally brooding whilst keeping up with the light-hearted chatter Bree was maintaining, he continued to ignore the ‘elephant in the room’ as he led her into the restaurant.
The Lodge was one of the newer establishments in Devil’s Peak, catering to tourists who wanted to experience Alaska at more of a distance than the older establishments offered.
“This is beautiful,” Bree whispered, awestruck. The lobby of the hotel was elegant in tones of cream and champagne, a theme that was carried through to the restaurant. “It must have caused quite a stir with the locals.”
As are you Todd, thought nodding, unable to take his eyes off her when she shed her coat and scarf. She wore a flowing back dress that left her long, elegantly-shaped arms bare. It was just to the knee so her great legs were free to his eyes and while not revealing, it was darn provocative. It nipped in under her substantially larger breasts and tempted a man to snake his hands up the floating skirt and hike it up. Lust hit hard and strong. He really needed to get her into his bed and soon.
Bree stared at him, waiting for a response. “Sure did cause a stir,” Todd nodded. “But the town council handled all the changes well, positioning The Lodge as just another required one. The owner’s local too - that helped.” At Bree’s frown he explained, “You remember Jack Thornton?”
“Jack? The sophomore that irritated the crap out of me, our senior year?” Bree asked, flabbergasted.
Todd grinned. “The one and same. But he’s okay really. He only irritated you because he had a crush on you.”
“But he can’t be above twenty-four. How’d he do this?”
“Drive,” replied Todd. “He went to the Lower 48 after high school, developed some computer program, made millions and came back a success. I know he irritated you and frankly, if someone moped around behind me with every step I took, I’d feel the same. But, you ladies didn’t always see what happened in the boys’ locker rooms. He wasn’t physically bullied, but they sure did pick on him. I tried to intervene when I caught it happening, but I wasn’t exactly round the guy twenty-four, seven."
“Well good for him,” Bree responded.
Todd smiled. “I know what you mean. It’s always great to see folk, you know, do well.”
He held out his arm for her to take as the host showed them to their table. It was a beautiful setting. Very French - or what she’d seen French looked like in the movies - small tables comfortably seating two or four were scattered around the dining area, covered by long, ivory tablecloths that complimented the warm wood of the bistro-styled chairs. The soft notes of a piano, gently caressed by masterful fingers, emphasized the ambiance, and relaxed the diners. The far side of the restaurant was comprised entirely of floor to ceiling, ivory-painted French doors that led out to an expansive lawn and even wider lake. Their table was situated in front of the doors. Two chairs opposite each other, with a third holding an oversized stuffed toy, in front of it, a prettily-wrapped pink box that looked more like confection than a gift.
“This is adorable, Todd,” Bree smiled up at him when she was seated. She leaned over and touched the soft, silky fluff of the polar bear ballerina decked in a pink puffy tutu and matching tiara. “And what is this?” She indicated the box.
“A man does not tell on one girl to another,” Todd responded, with mock firmness.
Picking up the box, Bree shook it, heard rattling. Shaking her head, she looked up at him. “You know I hate not knowing things. So spill. I’m her mother.”
“That ploy won’t work with me, honey,” Todd replied, smoothly. “Put the box down and stop staring at it. Amber can show you once she’s opened it.”
“You’re no fun,” Bree replied, pouting.
“And you’re like the little girl who can’t wait for Christmas,” he laughed.
“Oh, well,” Bree shrugged. “I’ll see soon enough.”
Todd signaled for the waiter. “Please, won’t you put the gifts in my car?” he asked.
“Certainly sir,” the waiter replied stoically, garbed in an equally sever looking black suit and starched white shirt. He efficiently and noiselessly removed the gifts and walked towards the restaurant exit looking odd carrying a large stuffed toy and equally girlish gift.
“This definitely isn’t the Devil’s Peak norm,” Bree stated, gaping after the waiter. “If this was any of the places in town, we would’ve had the waiter sitting down with us and having honed the craft of needling information out of people, you would’ve spilled on what was inside that box.”
“Come to think of it,” Bree continued, “let’s go to one of them.”
“Really?” Todd asked. “All the local women love coming here on dates.”
“Is that so?” Bree quirked a brow in question. “Have you brought any local ladies here?”
Cursing his slip, he scowled, “A few.”
Bree laughed, “That’s okay. I was just teasing you. I didn’t expect you to have lived like a monk these past seven years, Todd.” The words felt right, but in reality, jealousy had snuck in, Bree acknowledged. Which was ridiculous, because they weren’t an item.
“So, have you seen other people?” Todd ventured.
“One or two,” Bree responded, “but nothing serious. Being a single mom doesn’t lend itself to wild romances.”
Todd leaned back, unable to keep a satisfying smirk from showing. “I remember our romance as pretty wild.”
“Yes, it was,” Bree smiled back. And look where it got us.
“Bree, Todd - welcome,” a strange masculine voice interrupted and saved Bree from further questions about her love life. “It’s great seeing you again.”
Bree looked up at one of the hottest guys she’d seen in a while. He was suave, oozing sophistication and dashingly debonair in an expensive silk suit of grey, a midnight black shirt under it. The guy had it going on - green eyes, dark brown hair, and a face chiseled by a master.
“I’m sorry,” Bree said to the stranger. “I haven’t been back in a while, and so much has changed. How do we know each other again?”
“Much may have changed here,” his smiled at her, dazzling with teeth so straight they must’ve been cosmetically attended to, “but you’re still as beautiful as I remember, if not more so.”
The line was so much like the one Todd had delivered in the hardware store’s shed, Bree darted a glance at him. Todd had his poker face on - not a good sign.
“Bree, this is Jack, one of the town’s new businessmen,” Todd interrupted the flirtatious glances; he’d had enough of them. “We knew him in high school.”
“Oh yes, Jack,” Bree responded, throwing a smile at him. “You’ve grown up since I last saw you.”
Jack’s smile slipped and Todd chuckled softly. “Yes, well,” Jack responded, “seven years will do that to a person. Thank you for coming to The Lodge. I’ll leave you to enjoy your dinner, but if there’s anything you need, just let us know. Bree, lovely to see you again; we should do brunch sometime - The Lodge is renowned for it.” He looked at Todd, nodded by way of greeting, and smoothly glided away from them to the other tables.
“Brunch?” asked Bree. “Is he for real? The only people that ‘do brunch’ are those who don’t live on a farm in Alaska with a six year old kid.”
Todd chuckled, “I guess he sti
ll irritates you.” Something he was immensely relieved about. “You sure know how to take a man down, Bree.”
“Oh, he doesn’t irritate me,” Bree stated artlessly. “He’s just changed that’s all and that caught me off guard.”
“I noticed,” Todd replied. “Like what you saw?”
“Well, he’s certainly grown up. He’s not the stick thin boy from high school. Why?” she asked. “Are you jealous?”
“Of course,” replied Todd, searing her with a possessive look. “I’m here with you.”
Bree gulped, dismissing the tingles that his look evoked - time to change the subject. “So tell me about this brunch business? I’ve seen the improvements to town, but what else do I need to know about?”
In the end, they had a relaxed dinner discussing old friends and new. Bree told him of her landlady and the people she’d worked with in Columbus. Todd told her about starting up the business and the many people he'd met. They avoided talking about each other, but for once, they didn’t focus their entire discussion around Amber either. Todd paid the bill, tipped the starched-up waiter heavily, and helped Bree to the car thinking that the evening had turned out to be a success.
Chapter 9
Bree slid her key into the door of the farmhouse, Todd behind her carrying Amber’s gifts. She turned the doorknob and was met with resistance. What was it with her and doors lately! “Todd, the door’s stuck,” she whispered. The house was in darkness and she neither wanted to wake her tired gran nor the two patients. “I’ve turned the key but it won’t budge.”
“Here, let me try.” He handed her the gifts and took the key from her. “The latch is up. You’re not going to get into the house this way unless we break down the door.”
“Poor Gran,” Bree stated sympathetically. “She’s been covering for granddad a lot with the farming. She must’ve been so tired she didn’t realize what she was doing. Maybe there’s a window or something open. You could boost me up.”
Home for Love (An Adult Contemporary Romance) Page 8