“Dad,” Hugh said, “what does this have to do with redecorating?”
“Just listen,” Ian said. “Anyway, we got pregnant with you right away, and having two babies in the house was exhausting. And expensive.” He shook his head. “We said two was enough. We bought this house. It was more than we could really afford, but your mother was a whiz with budgeting and if we were really strict, we could make it work.”
“Why didn’t you buy a smaller house?”
“Because your mom fell in love with this one. It was bigger than what we needed, but she was adamant that it was perfect for us. It needed a lot of work, but we wanted to tackle those projects together.”
Hugh looked around the room. “And you did. I always remember the two of you working around here. You loved it. Mom would sew curtains, you painted… You made a great team.”
“No, we made each other crazy.”
“What? How is that possible?”
“We never argued in front of you kids, but we always wanted to do more around here. We simply couldn’t afford it. I didn’t want to spend my weekends painting or fixing the roof, and your mother was exhausted from chasing after kids all day. We were always living paycheck to paycheck. Things didn’t stay the same because we wanted them to, they stayed that way because they had to. Big difference.”
“Okay, I can understand that. I do. But…there’s just something comforting about the familiarity. It’s not a bad thing.”
“You’re right, it’s not. But it should be the people in your life and the feelings they invoke that make you happy, not a structure. You think it’s the house that gives you a sense of security, but it’s not. It’s the feelings that come with being here. You can’t let changes like this throw you for a loop.” He patted Hugh on the knee. “Wait until you meet a woman and fall in love. You’ll see how often she’ll want to change the wall color or the drapes or the comforter on your bed. Hell, your mom used to want to change everything with each season. I had to put my foot down on that one.”
Why hadn’t Hugh remembered that? “I can’t believe that’s really a thing.”
“Well, it is. Zoe tells me it doesn’t have to be such a big transition, but I don’t believe her.”
“I bet she’s making Aidan crazy with it,” he said with a grin.
“Yeah, but he’s loving every minute.” Ian paused. “Which brings us to you. It’s been a while since you mentioned seeing anyone.”
Crap. He’d expected this conversation, but his feelings for Aubrey were so new he feared his father would see right through him if he tried to downplay them. Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, he took a long pull of his beer and frowned when his father started to chuckle. “What? What’s so funny?”
“On anyone else, the silence wouldn’t mean anything. But with you, I can tell you’re trying not to tell me something. So? Out with it. Who is she?”
“How do you do that? How do you know what I’m thinking?”
Ian shrugged. “I’m your father. It’s my job.”
Hugh sighed. “Yeah, well… You don’t have to be so good at it all the time.” He couldn’t help but smile at his father, who was still watching him expectantly. “Okay. Fine. I met someone.”
“You don’t sound happy about it.”
“I am. I just… I wasn’t expecting her.”
“Ah…”
“What? What does ‘ah’ mean?”
“It means after everything we just talked about, I can see why you’re a little out of sorts. So tell me, how did the two of you meet?”
Hugh relayed the whole story—from finding Aubrey climbing through his office window to watching her drive away this morning—staring at the beer in his hand the entire time.
“And she lives here in North Carolina?”
Hugh nodded.
“And you didn’t bring her home with you?”
Hugh gave him a wry look. “Do you see her anywhere?”
“Careful. You’re not so old I won’t smack you for being a smart-ass.” His words were firm but his eyes twinkled with amusement.
“Sorry. I thought… I just… It’s going so fast and I know she had a life before I met her. Hell, she had a fiancé before I met her.”
“Yeah, but she explained all of that to you. I don’t particularly understand it.” He shrugged. “You kids today… You don’t get married for the right reasons. Back when I met your mother, people married for love. End of story.”
“You don’t really believe that, do you? People have been getting married for convenience for centuries. It’s great that you and Mom married for love, but it doesn’t mean everyone did.”
“Maybe. The important thing is she didn’t marry the guy. That tells me she’s got integrity. She may have gotten a little off-track for a while, but she came to her senses. You can’t hold it against her.”
“She’s impulsive,” Hugh stated quickly. “It was an impulsive decision to marry that guy, and it was an impulsive decision to run away. She jumped at the job opportunity Bill presented to her and since coming to work for me, she’s been trying new things. Scary things.” He raked a hand through his hair and almost growled. “She went parasailing the other day, for Pete’s sake!”
Ian’s loud bark of laughter filled the room.
“Now what’s so funny?” Hugh demanded.
“You.”
“I don’t follow…”
“I’ll admit Aubrey seems a little impulsive, but you make it sound like a crime. It’s not. Some people just lead with their heart.”
“Yeah, well, it wouldn’t kill her to slow down and think things through a little.” He snorted with disgust. “Parasailing. Pfft. People get hurt doing those things. If she had researched it and looked at the statistics and—”
“Oh, for crying out loud,” Ian said and stood. “Did she get hurt?”
“Well…no.”
“Did she have a good time?”
“I think so. She was smiling when she told me about it.”
“Then what’s the problem, Hugh? She didn’t make you do it.”
Hugh sighed loudly with frustration. “She could have gotten hurt,” he blurted out. “The lines could have gotten tangled, there could have been a strong wind. The driver of the boat could have been inexperienced. Take your pick. I don’t see the need to rush in and take risks that could get you hurt.”
Ian walked up to Hugh and slapped him upside the head, grinning. “Bet you didn’t plan on that, did you?”
“Ow! What was that for?”
“You can get hurt anywhere, Hugh.”
“Yeah, but—”
Ian held up a hand and cut him off. “I know where this is coming from. I do. But you can’t base everything in your life on what happened to your mother.” His voice caught on the last word. “She’d made that trip to the pharmacy hundreds of times without one thing happening. It was an accident.”
Ian’s eyes held all the sadness Hugh felt in his heart. “But if you can prevent…”
“You can’t. People get hurt in their own homes. They get hurt doing the things they do every single day. There’s no rhyme or reason. And if you spend your entire life trying to avoid situations where you might get hurt, then you’re missing out. Is that really what you want?”
Hugh couldn’t speak. His throat felt tight and his eyes stung with unshed tears. He simply shook his head.
“I can guarantee you, your mother would not want her legacy to be that you were afraid to live your life. She was a woman who enjoyed life and made the most out of every minute. You kids meant the world to her and she took joy in everything you did.” He squeezed Hugh’s shoulder. “Think about it.”
* * *
Aubrey was curled up in bed with the TV remote, flipping through the channels, trying to find something to watch. Honestly, with hundreds of channels
, it shouldn’t be this hard, she thought.
It was late for her. The eleven o’clock news was over and all of the late-night talk shows were starting up. It had been so long since she’d watched any of them, she wasn’t sure which channel to go to or what she’d find.
“Maybe I should read,” she muttered, looking around for her Kindle. She was a one-click addict—there had to be something on there to pique her interest. Shutting off the TV and reaching for the nightstand drawer, she let out a squeak of surprise when the phone rang. A slow smile crept across her face when she saw Hugh’s name on the screen.
“Hey,” she said softly, relaxing back onto her pillows.
“I didn’t wake you, did I?” Hugh asked.
“Nope. I was just sitting here trying to figure out what to do with myself. It was a toss-up between late-night TV and a book.”
“Book. Always go for the book. You’ll sleep better.”
She chuckled. “I’m not too sure about that. I found I sleep better when you’re next to me. And we didn’t read a single word.”
He groaned. “You’re killing me.”
“Okay, sorry,” she said. “So tell me how your first day at home was. Did you get to have dinner with everyone?”
“Oh…yeah,” he said sourly, and Aubrey knew something was up.
“Out with it, Shaughnessy. What’s going on?”
He told her about his father’s plans for the house and why he wasn’t particularly thrilled about it. “What about your brothers? Do they feel the same?”
“Hell no. They spent a good portion of the night telling me why I was wrong.”
She could hear the pout in his voice and her heart went out to him. “I’m so sorry. What can I do? Do you want to come here for a few days?”
“I do…but if I leave it’s just going to give them more ammunition.”
“You’re entitled to feel the way you feel, Hugh. They don’t have to agree with it or even like it, but you don’t have to change for them. Chances are they do things you don’t like or agree with. Right?”
He sighed. “What’s your point?” There was no animosity in his tone, only curiosity.
“Just because they think or do things differently than you, do you love them any less?”
“Well…no.”
“So don’t let this bother you. You’re probably the only one still thinking about it. Take this time to enjoy your visit with your father and your brothers. If they give you grief about it, just shake it off.”
“Easier said than done. And you should know that. Weren’t you on the receiving end of family grief only a week ago?”
Aubrey was quiet for a moment. “That’s different, Hugh. Your brothers aren’t being mean to you or belittling you for the sake of being cruel. They’re probably doing it more out of good old-fashioned sibling teasing.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.”
It still stung. “So,” she began cheerily, “what are your plans? Anything exciting?”
He outlined his plans to help his dad with the yard work, to see his brother Aidan’s house, and to look at some property for a potential new resort.
“Sounds like you’re going to have a lot to do.”
“I suppose.”
There was that tone again. “Hugh? Come on. There’s something wrong. I can hear it in your voice.”
He was silent for a long moment, and just when Aubrey thought she’d have to prompt him, he said, “I miss you.”
Her heart melted at his words. “You just saw me this morning,” she said quietly.
“I know, but this last week we’ve been around each other all the time. And now…now I wish you were here with me.”
An idea flashed in her mind and she had to stop before she simply blurted it out. Aubrey had a feeling Hugh would agree to it, but she had to take a minute to make sure she was offering for the right reasons.
Hugh broke the silence first. “How was your flight home? Was everything all right? I got your text saying you were home but you didn’t elaborate.”
“There really wasn’t much to say. Everything was on time, my car was parked exactly where I left it, and when I got home, my refrigerator was empty so I went food shopping. All in all, it’s been a very exciting day.”
He chuckled. “Sounds like it. I wish all I had to do today was food shop,” he grumbled. “I’m telling you, Aubrey, I don’t know if I can stay here and watch the house get torn apart. Aidan’s planning on starting this weekend. Had anyone bothered to tell me this beforehand, I probably wouldn’t have come home.”
That was her cue. “What if I drove down to you this weekend? You could show me your hometown and we can go look at the property together. We can find someplace to stay so you won’t be in the middle of the construction zone. What do you think?”
“I thought I was going to drive to you? That was the plan, wasn’t it?”
She laughed because she was beginning to notice a pattern with Hugh—he did not accept change easily. “We talked about it, yes. But you have a lot going on there and it would be just as easy for me to come to you as it would be for you to come to me. This way you’re not missing out on any of the things you need—or want—to do.”
“I hate to ask you to do that, Aubrey. You’re already traveling so much because of me and my schedule. I would think you’d like to sleep in your own bed for more than a handful of nights.”
“I imagine I’ll sleep just fine—as long as you’re right beside me.”
He made a sound that was part growl, part groan. “You’re amazing, you know that, right?”
“So you keep trying to tell me.”
“It’s true.” He paused. “Does it… Do you ever feel like…” He stopped. “Never mind.”
“No. Come on. Tell me,” she urged him. “What were you going to say?”
“Does it ever feel strange to you that we’ve only known each other for such a short time and yet…?”
“And yet it feels like we’ve known each other forever?” she finished for him.
“Yes! That’s exactly what I mean.” He waited a beat. “So…does it?”
Aubrey had been thinking about that very topic all day. When she’d left Hugh back in Hilton Head that morning, she’d thought it would be no big deal. Their new romantic relationship was wildly exciting and she loved every minute of it, but it was time to get back to reality.
Boy, had she been wrong.
In the short amount of time they’d been together, Aubrey felt as if her entire life had changed. She felt out of sorts in her own home and hadn’t known what to do with herself most of the day. She knew she’d had a fairly full life before going to Napa and yet now…she couldn’t remember what had filled her time.
Maybe she didn’t want to remember. She was normally given busywork from her father or Paul, and it bored her to tears. Since meeting Hugh, Aubrey felt truly alive. It was wonderful and invigorating and…she missed him. Not just the work and the way her days filled her with joy, she missed talking to him, bouncing ideas off him.
And it had been less than a day.
“Um…Aubrey?” he asked, and she realized she’d gone silent for a long time.
“Sorry. My mind wandered for a second.”
“And…?”
She smiled at the hint of uncertainty in his voice. “I feel the same way, Hugh. I mean, I know it’s only been two weeks and I know we shouldn’t be this comfortable with one another and yet, we are.”
“Does it freak you out?”
“No,” she replied honestly. “It just feels right.” Then she thought about it. “Why? Is it freaking you out?”
“I’ll admit I may be feeling a little…unsettled. I don’t want to feel like I’m rushing you or like we’re acting…”
“Impulsively?” she teased.
Hugh must have
noted her tone because he grumbled, “Yes.”
Aubrey was certain Hugh had his reasons for being so cautious in all areas of his life—and she’d find out what they were. Eventually. For right now, however, she was content to just let the topic go.
“If it’s any consolation,” she began silkily, “I really enjoy being impulsive with you.”
She could hear the smile in his voice when he said, “I enjoy it too.”
“Well, good. Now how about we both get some sleep and plan on me driving down on Saturday.”
“Aubrey, I was serious. You don’t have to. I really don’t mind driving to you.”
“Do you want to get away from your family already?”
“Why?”
“Because if that’s why you want to come here, then we’ll do it. If you want to do all the things you were telling me about, then let me come to you. I don’t mind. I haven’t been to the Carolina coast in years. I would love to see it.”
“Only if you’re certain…”
“I do have one stipulation.”
“Name it,” he said.
“I’m not sleeping on Ninja Turtle sheets. I have to draw the line at that.”
Hugh burst out laughing. “I think we can work something out. We’ll find someplace else to stay. My brother Aidan has an apartment over his garage I’ve stayed at before. Or if you’d prefer something a little more private, I can get us a hotel room.”
“You live out of hotels all year long. I think your brother’s apartment sounds perfect. We can food shop and cook meals together and lock the world away if we want to.”
Hugh chuckled.
“What? What’s so funny?”
“Wait until you meet my family. They’re not going to give us much privacy no matter where we stay, but if we’re staying at Aidan and Zoe’s place, I have a feeling they’ll be just as intrusive as housekeeping at any resort.”
The idea didn’t bother Aubrey. No one bothered her much in her everyday life. At least not because they loved her and wanted to spend time with her. It was normally about work and obligations. It would be nice to see how a loving family behaved with one another.
“I don’t think it will be so bad,” she finally said. “But I’ll leave the choice up to you. I’m just happy to be seeing you—it doesn’t matter where we stay.”
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