House of Belonging

by Andrea Thome

  House of Belonging come together here

  love, food, laughter, fellowship

  welcome to our home

  *thank you for indulging our poetic fancy and

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  House of Belonging

  Chef Laina Ming and Chef Donovan Laird

  Logan rose and lifted his linen jacket up off the back of the chair where he’d deposited it earlier, sliding it on and buttoning it up. Laina was still watching him, frozen in the midst of the bustle around her in the kitchen, as he moved toward her. Logan saw Van behind her, nodding to him, encouraging him silently before stepping back to take charge of the other chefs.

  Logan approached her, watching as she bent over to change her shoes, rising up again a few inches taller. Logan stepped around the pass in the counter, coming face-to-face with Laina.

  “Incredible. Really. You must feel such a sense of accomplishment.” He wasn’t used to having her at that height, the top of her head almost at his chin level. Looking down at her shoes, he could see her gleaming red toenails peeking out from the black leather open-toed stilettos. He looked back up at her with a sideways grin. “So not everything you wear is black?”

  She dropped her chin and laughed softly. “No, not everything, although I do prefer to use color sparingly.” She reached out to touch the side of his arm. “Thank you, Logan. For your help in facilitating this event and for coordinating on behalf of Walland House. It was good to be back in the kitchen tonight. Officially, I mean.”

  She was about to say something else when Wyatt joined them. “India and I were wondering if you two would be willing to stand up front and add some fun commentary while people are bidding on the Luxury Survivor package? Just to make it a little more personal?”

  Logan shrugged his shoulders, offering Laina his arm. “I’m game if you are?”

  Laina held up her finger to ask for a minute, shrugging out of her apron, and returning with a small fitted black jacket that she slipped on over her skirt and blouse. She was gorgeous and elegant, and she looked like she could have been a guest at the party instead of the chef. The two of them joined the Walland House group at the front of the room, stopping briefly on their way by to say hello and hug Vivian and Sienna, who were chatting with Rex and Violet.

  Finn volunteered to be the auctioneer, starting the bidding off at $5,000. Hands shot up at various tables around the room, and the price had risen to $12,500 in under a minute.

  “Now folks, twelve grand might sound like a lot if we were just talking about a simple horseback ride and some camping. That’s not what this is. Susie and the girls spent all morning up on that mountain fluffing and preening and turning those tents into a five-star resort. Heck, I think it’s worth at least fifteen thousand dollars just to have another meal cooked by this gal. What do you say?”

  Finn gestured toward Laina, who lowered her eyes demurely, humbly accepting his compliment.

  A voice rang out from the back of the room. “I think it’s worth double that, actually. We’re in at thirty thousand dollars.”

  The crowd murmured at Vivian’s generosity, while Laina stood watching, slack-jawed. Logan grinned, leaning in to whisper in her ear. “I don’t know if you’ve met Vivian. She’s a good friend of Willow and Garrett’s. She’s married to the yoga instructor from this morning.”

  Laina nodded, answering back in a hushed voice. “I know her all right. She helped design this place. I can’t believe that they’re interested in this experience, of all people. They don’t strike me as campers.”

  Logan laughed. “Then we’d better make sure that the emphasis is more on glamour and less on camping, because it looks like they are our winners.”

  Finn was congratulating the women as the crowd rewarded their generosity with robust applause. Laina nudged Logan, indicating that they should make their way toward the winners.

  Sienna was beaming when they reached the table, hugging Vivian and wiping tears from her eyes.

  “I can’t believe you, Viv. I was half kidding when I said we should step out of our comfort zone. I had no idea you’d take me seriously. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited in an ‘I’m terrified of the woods at night’ kind of way.”

  Vivian smiled at Sienna, holding both of her wife’s hands in her own. “I think this adventure could be just what we need. I’m ready to snap out of this funk we’ve been in, aren’t you?” She looked around, her gaze settling on Violet. “You and Rex up for an adventure?” Then to India she asked, “And you and Wyatt, and of course we’ll ask Willow and Garrett. Do you think Susan and Finn would go?” India was laughing at the prospect when Finn walked up to answer for himself.

  “Listen, ladies. We’re grateful for the invite, but me and Susie, we’ve done our time. The rest of our nights are gonna be spent in high-thread-count sheets with a cozy down comforter on top of us. Our days on the trail are behind us.”

  Susan laughed in agreement, offering to step in and run Walland House for Garrett and Willow, and babysit India’s and Violet’s kids in their absence. It was settled.

  The group chatted excitedly for a few more minutes, agreeing to meet by one the following afternoon at Logan’s ranch to saddle up and head out on the trail. That would give them a couple of hours to ride before arriving at camp, where Laina would have dinner waiting for them. Buck agreed to lead the trail riders so that Logan could drive Laina and all her cooking equipment ahead in his truck. That way, they’d give Laina ample time to prepare dinner. Logan hung back by the kitchen with Laina at the end of the night, helping her take stock of what she’d want to bring the next day, while the rest of the guests filtered out of the restaurant, ready to call it a night.

  Van found them chatting when he came back up from the cellar. “I’m headed out, Laina. Is there anything else you need from me before I go? I’ve got the menu for tomorrow night, and I promise I’ll get here extra early to make sure everything is good to go for the soft open. It will be fine. I know you don’t like leaving your baby, but I can handle it. Go, and enjoy yourself while you’re at it.” He glanced at Logan. “Need help loading up?” Van looked at him pointedly.

  Logan took the hint. “Sure, why don’t you at least come outside with me and size up how much space I’ve got in the Bronco. You know what she wants to bring. That way, if we need more room, maybe you could make a run up to camp in the morning for us?”

  They left Laina to review her checklist while they headed outside.

  Van slapped Logan on the back, offering his hand in a gesture of friendship. “Well done, lad. Laina looks the most relaxed I’ve seen her in a long while. And I’m glad the two of you will be surrounded by friendly faces tomorrow. My advice to you? Keep it simple. Caution is her middle name these days, so you’ll have to let her take the lead if you want any chance with her.” He stopped, evaluating Logan with his steely blue eyes while rubbing the blond hair of his beard. “I don’t know why I’m inclined to trust you, but I am. Don’t fuck it up, OK?”

  Logan nodded soberly, realizing how important Laina was to Van in that moment. He had a newfound respect for Van with the knowledge that they both had Laina’s best interests at heart. “I won’t. Fuck it up, that is. And I’ll be a perfect gentleman, Van. Truth is, I’m not expecting anything from her. We pretty much agreed that we’d wait out the weekend before deciding if we were going to consider anything more between us. Well, she suggested that and I agreed, but if she changes her mind, who am I to argue? She’s special, but I don’t have to tell you that. I know it too, and I’m not going to hurt her. You have my word.”

  Van studied Logan, nodding. There was no need to look at the space in the back of the Bronco. They’d both already known it would be more than sufficient, so Van said good night while Logan headed back inside the restaurant.

  Laina had switched off the main kitchen lights, and was waiting for him to return before turning off the rest. “Well, are we good on
space? I think we can meet here in the morning to load up, if that works for you. Can you be here around eleven thirty?” She paused, thoughtful for a moment. “That would give you enough time to get in a yoga session too.”

  Logan winced. She must have noticed him limping all evening. “Can I let you in on a little secret? I’ve never done yoga before in my life. This morning was my first class. I have no idea how you people do it. My hamstrings feel like rubber bands that might snap at any moment. I wanted to cry with relief when you agreed to let me drive you to the campsite tomorrow. I don’t think I have it in me to get back on my horse.” He paused. “I went to yoga today because Van told me when I saw him on Monday that you’d likely take a class this morning. I guess I just couldn’t wait until tonight to see you again.”

  He wasn’t sure how she’d feel about the fact that he’d lied to her earlier, but he figured the sooner he fessed up, the better. He wouldn’t tell her a lie again. She was the kind of woman who could handle and would appreciate any truth. He sensed that about her now.

  Laina’s first instinct was to giggle, because she’d already figured out he wasn’t a regular after having talked with Sienna that afternoon. She’d suggested the additional class to flush him out, and he’d passed the test, admitting the truth as she’d hoped he would. But his expression was so open and vulnerable, it was disarming.

  Laina closed the gap between them, looking up at his surprised face. His whiskers were shorter than they’d been previously, and it looked like he’d recently gotten a haircut. She reached a hand up to his face impulsively, feeling his pulse quicken to match the pounding heartbeat drumming in her own ears. Laina rubbed her thumb along his jawline, debating whether to say what she was thinking.

  She chose not to, instead letting her eyes do the talking. Laina could feel that Logan was holding himself back because his entire body was as still as stone. She could see his suit jacket straining against the tops of his broad shoulders. They stood like that, studying each other, before Logan opened his mouth just slightly, licking his lips and expelling the breath he’d been holding.

  “I’m sorry I lied to you, Laina. It won’t happen again.”

  His sincerity was like a drug. Laina rose up on her tiptoes and kissed him softly. The first touch of their lips was just a graze, followed by a lingering second meeting before Laina sighed and rested her forehead against his chest. Even in her heels, Laina was still much shorter than Logan.

  After a moment, Logan stepped back and reached down between them, taking her hands in his, lifting one of them to his lips while she watched. “I’m going to say good night while I still have a shred of self-control. We can wait the weekend out. It’s probably for the best.” He bent down, brushing her hair aside so he could whisper one last thought in her ear before he left.

  “But on Monday, Laina, all bets are off.”

  CHAPTER

  NINE

  Laina awoke Friday morning to the sound of her chickens calling good morning from the coop. The sky was cornflower blue, the morning air still cool and sleepy. She could see the sliver of the crescent moon as it prepared to sink behind the tree line where a smoky layer of morning mist hovered, waiting to welcome it. Laina stretched her arms overhead into the crush of down pillows built up behind her head. She wanted to enjoy the last few moments of proper back support on a real mattress before she headed out for her big adventure.

  Sighing and forcing herself out of bed, she shivered as the cool air brushed across her bare legs. She always wore her favorite old tanks or T-shirts to bed, with nothing else. She liked to feel free when she slept. Last night’s selection had been an old top emblazoned with “Save the Whales.” All the kids in Southern California had that shirt when she was growing up. Her parents had led several marches on behalf of the giant sea creatures twenty years earlier, which is how Laina had learned the value of standing up for what she believed in. She now had a laundry list of justice issues, courtesy of her liberal upbringing.

  Laina kept the stack of old shirts because they held happy memories for her, and she enjoyed choosing a different memory every night before bed. These included her culinary school shirt, her vintage Yankees tee from her very first ball game, and the Hozier shirt from that unseasonably warm spring night at Madison Square Garden with Patrick. They’d gotten crappy takeout afterward and hung out on a bench at the end of Pier 29, laughing and talking until the sun came up behind them. It was early on in their relationship, before his drinking had spiraled out of control.

  That was a very happy memory.

  It made her sad when she thought about Patrick and all his wasted potential. He was an incredibly talented musician, and when he’d fronted his band, he’d been electric. Patrick’s voice had been smoky and soulful, with just enough edge to have a range that meant he could sing anything from reggae to rock and roll. The band played it all, mostly original music written by Patrick and his brother, Jeremy, and they’d been making a solid living for over a decade throughout the East Coast and the Midwest.

  Until Patrick’s death.

  Jeremy.

  At some point, Laina needed to have a very uncomfortable conversation with Patrick’s brother and bandmate. She wasn’t looking forward to it, but she knew it was inevitable.

  She showered quickly, packing her overnight essentials, several layers of clothing, and at the last minute, she threw in a swimsuit just in case she was able to sneak in a dip later that evening. Night swimming was something she’d enjoyed since she was a child. Her parents used to take her to the beach for bonfires and camping almost every full moon. Laina wasn’t a newcomer to roughing it. She’d slept in some pretty interesting places throughout her lifetime.

  She pulled up in front of the restaurant just before eleven and saw that Logan was already there. The Bronco had been washed, its brown paint gleaming in the sun.

  Laina hardly noticed.

  The tailgate was open, and Logan was inside the rear of the truck on his hands and knees, using straps to secure something. His jeans were stretched so tightly across his rear end, there wasn’t room for air in his back pockets. Laina slowed her car long enough to admire the muscles flexing on Logan’s back as he yanked tightly on the strap one final time and sat back, satisfied with his work.

  Laina shook her head and exhaled. He was exceptionallooking.

  She eased her car into the spot next to Logan’s, stuffing the keys under the seat so Van could drive it later. He’d promised to drop Laina’s car off at her house for her after the restaurant closed. She got out and was about to extract her bag from the back seat when Logan reached in from the other side and grabbed it.

  “Here, let me have that.” He transferred her duffel bag into the back seat of the Bronco. “Van and I already started loading some of your equipment, but he said there were certain things you’d want to handle yourself.” Laina smiled. “My knives.”

  Logan’s face went deadpan. “That’s hot.”

  After a beat, they burst out laughing together, each of them happy to have the tension broken. They finished loading the truck with Van’s help and were on their way before noon.

  Laina hated having the air-conditioning on, so she was happy to discover that Logan was a windows-down kind of guy. He’d put the hardtop back on the Bronco today since he’d heard there was a slight chance of rain later that night. The tunes were cranking as they flew up Maroon Creek Road and past Walland House before Logan slowed the truck. Laina had been relaxing with her head back and eyes closed, enjoying the feel of the wind in her hair when she felt the crunch of the gravel drive against their tires.

  “Sorry, I wanted to remind Buck to give Willow a gentle horse.” Logan threw the truck into park. “I know she thinks she’s superwoman, but her body is still recovering, even though it’s been eighteen months since the accident.”

  He jumped out of the truck, jogging toward the barn where Buck had just finished outfitting all the horses for the ride. They chatted for a few moments, and Laina wat
ched from her passenger seat as Logan pointed out a brown-andwhite-speckled mare that looked particularly tame. She was touched by his consideration for his sister. As he climbed back into the Bronco, Laina raised her eyebrows and waited for him to meet her gaze.

  “Are you referring to the accident where you gave Willow half of your liver in order to save her life? Yeah, I heard about that.” Laina sighed. How could she find fault with someone who’d given up half an organ?

  Logan huffed, not intentionally showboating his good deed to curry favor with her. “Yeah, well I had the easy part. My body regenerated within the first six months. Willow’s had to learn to accept a donor liver from a brother she’d just discovered she had.”

  Laina was shocked. She thought Willow and Logan had grown up together as full siblings. They’d always seemed close when she observed them together, and their entire group was extraordinarily tight-knit. She was a little anxious about the dynamic of the evening ahead. If it got awkward, she could always sneak away for a swim to allow the friends to have some time alone together.

  “What? That’s crazy! You mean to tell me you didn’t know each other when you were growing up?”

  Logan told Laina all about how his mother had hidden her affair with Willow’s father for almost three decades. Logan had only discovered who his real father was and met his half sister, Willow, when Logan’s mother encouraged him to demand half of Willow’s inheritance upon their father’s death. Once he’d met and spent time with his sister, he’d refused, instead lying to his mother about the DNA results and claiming Willow wasn’t his sister, even though she was, in order to protect her. Willow insisted that Logan take half of the money, which he’d ultimately used to buy the ranch, but his mother would never know that the ranch portion was truly, legally his.

  There wasn’t anything Logan wouldn’t do for his sister and Garrett. They were his family now. He couldn’t help but still feel a small amount of empathy for his mother, though. He knew she’d had a painful life, shuttled in and out of foster care as a child. He was grateful that no matter how difficult things had gotten, she’d never given him up to make her own life easier. But she hadn’t been warm and fuzzy either. Still, he felt the guilt of denying her every time he tossed one of her unopened letters into the drawer in his kitchen. But he’d finally decided it was what he had to do to protect his own heart. He knew he should throw the whole stack away and move on, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.