CHAPTER TEN
HOLLYDALE RESIDENTS OF every age congregated on this Sunday afternoon around Diane and Carl Harrison’s house and backyard. They had greeted Aidan like they would a long-lost relative.
This was new to him, and he’d escaped inside while others chose teams for a volleyball game. In the living room, he took a deep breath. Diane reminded him of Cathy, and the inside of the Harrison house had the same floor plan as his father’s house in Cincinnati.
Until his father had met Cathy, he and his father were settled in a comfortable routine that centered around the two of them. Cathy had gone out of her way to do everything she could to make seven-year-old Aidan like her. Unbending and inflexible, he’d pushed her away for a good year until his stepmother gave up and concentrated her sunny optimism on his father and their new daughter.
He brought himself back to the present. Pictures of the three Harrison children lined the fireplace mantel and the top two shelves of the built-in bookcases. In every picture, he could tell Natalie apart from her identical twin as their different hairstyles and shape of their eyes gave them away. There was even a recent picture of Natalie and Danny.
It must be nice to know someone somewhere had pictures of you and welcomed your return. With Shelby gone, he didn’t have those roots anymore. Shelby had been his last living relative, other than Danny, ever since the plane crash that had taken his father’s and Cathy’s lives.
He needed fresh air, the beige walls were closing in around him.
Wandering back outside, Aidan admired the crisp, clean lines of the classic Thunderbird parked in the driveway.
“Overwhelmed a little?” Natalie’s father, Carl, if he remembered correctly, headed his way, a mason jar of lemonade in hand. “Even I’m surprised at how many people showed up.”
From the man’s handshake earlier, Carl promised to be a straight shooter.
Aidan kept from reaching out and running his hand over the shiny metal fins of the convertible. “Someone’s taken good care of this Thunderbird. She’s a beauty.”
“Good eye.” Carl sipped his lemonade. “Georgie cares about each car she renovates, but I think she poured her heart into my dad’s Thunderbird, which Mike inherited. It saw some hard times. Though TLC and a lot of elbow grease on Georgie’s part went a long way to change that.”
Those words penetrated deep but not in regards to the car. Years of isolating himself from family activities might have taken a toll on his and Shelby’s relationship. Unlike this car, there was no second chance with his sister.
More now than ever, he had to be the uncle Danny deserved. The boy needed a lot of TLC, and Aidan was prepared for the long haul of parenthood. He’d never shirked from hard work and wasn’t about to start doing so now.
“And Georgie’s married to your son, the sheriff?” Polite conversation was one skill he hadn’t had much opportunity to refine as of late. Coming to Hollydale might be the best preparation of all for his return to the private sector next year.
Pride shone on Carl’s face. “Best decision of my son’s life.” Carl walked over and inspected the other side of the Thunderbird, keeping his gaze away from Aidan’s. “Tricky business, this parenthood gig. You have to know when to accept what’s best for your family, even if it means you can’t step in and interfere.” He met Aidan’s gaze and smiled. “When they’re adults, that is.”
Aidan nodded, unsure of what to say or do next. “Thanks for the advice. By the way, happy anniversary.” Searching for Danny was a safe bet.
Carl laughed as two kids zipped past him and headed for the backyard. “Maybe it’s because I have three children, but you’re easier to read than you think. Natalie’s an adult, and I’m not going to interfere with whatever’s going on between the two of you. I’ll be here for her regardless of the outcome, but it’s a little like this barbecue. I’m just the hamburger flipper. My wife’s the organizer and the caretaker. In the meantime, my grill awaits. By the way, last time I saw them, they were almost done with their volleyball game.”
Carl walked on, leaving Aidan to ponder the man’s words. What did he mean about there being something between him and Natalie? Was the chemistry between them obvious to everyone else? Or had Natalie confided in her parents about Aidan’s desire to take Danny to Fort Lewis and assume permanent custody? Judging from the looks of this barbecue, Natalie would have support after he left. She’d be able to get through Danny moving away a sight better than he would.
But what would it be like for Danny to grow up knowing there were so many houses with people who loved him, folks he could always turn to? Homes that would have Danny’s picture on the mantel?
No, Aidan wouldn’t go there. His nephew needed discipline and consistency, two qualities he could supply. He navigated the path toward the backyard, where shouts of victory arose. That volleyball game must be over. He walked through the fence opening and found a girl with braids whooping for joy, while Danny hung out on the other side of the net, his shoulders drooping with dejection. Aidan increased his pace.
Before he reached Danny’s side, Natalie pulled Danny in for a hug. “You were great. I loved how you dove for that last ball. You gave it your best. That’s what matters. Keep that up, and you’ll always be a winner, I promise.”
Promises from other people were feathers as far as Aidan was concerned, light in the air and easy to blow away. He always tried to deliver on his own but held back from assuming everyone else would, too, except for his fellow troops. Aidan could count on them. He clapped his hands. “How about another game?”
Natalie eyed him with some trepidation. “If you say that with any more enthusiasm, we’ll have to restrain you.”
Shouts of welcome greeted new arrivals, and Aidan turned to find two bundles of pure energy flying toward Danny. “Hi, Danny. Want to go inside and play video games?”
Natalie moved toward him and grazed his ear. “Remember Ethan and Mattie, Lucie’s twins? Well, Caleb’s in the process of adopting them.”
The softness of her breath tickled his ear, and her strawberry scent reminded him of the best parts of summer.
She stepped away and clapped her hands. “No one’s going inside on this glorious afternoon. This is a day made for outdoor games so we can eat all the food. I am the Harrison Family Barbecue Horseshoes Champion. Do I have any takers to try to dethrone me?” She looked at the three kids. “Do any of you know how to play?”
Three heads shook, answering no, and Aidan found himself mimicking their response. Athletic and fit, he’d played a variety of games before, but never horseshoes. If they were pairing up for basketball, however, he’d have chosen Natalie in a heartbeat.
Natalie gathered a group of adults and kids together and headed to the other side of the yard, where a dirt circle contained a large metal stake rising out of it. Natalie led them to a grassy area with horseshoes resting on the ground near a white spray-painted line. Aidan noticed another one ten feet closer to the dirt circles. She explained the rules and asked each child to pair up with an adult. Several kids scattered toward a parent, grandparent or other adult. Danny glanced at him, then at Natalie. Aidan’s heart wrenched at the indecision on his nephew’s face, although he was making some headway if Danny didn’t beeline straight for the beautiful redhead.
“Danny, go ahead and team up with your uncle. He needs some Murphy power to help him combat this fabulous Harrison package.” She tossed a horseshoe inches in the air before catching it. She sent a smile in Lucie’s direction as the twins argued with their mother about who to pick for her team. “Besides, we girls need to stick together, right, Mattie?”
Natalie reached for Mattie as he did the same for Danny, who tugged at Aidan’s T-shirt. “Have you ever played before?”
Aidan wished he could lie and say he was good at this, but he shook his head. “Nope.”
“Aunt Natalie’s been giving me lessons. I’ll
cover you, Uncle Aidan.”
* * *
UNTIL AIDAN CAME to town, Natalie had never been in touch with her competitive side, which was rather surprising, considering Becks’s intense drive. Then again, Becks had enough of an edge in that regard for both of them, so Natalie had always been content to let her sunny side shine all the more.
She stood back and disconnected that wire Aidan sparked in her. Life was meant to be savored and enjoyed; it wasn’t a game where winners took all.
And life on an afternoon like this? With friends nearby, yummy aromas coming from the grill, a breeze keeping the summer temperatures relatively cool? Priceless. Summer was for the living.
In spite of herself, she felt compelled to look in Aidan’s direction, waiting on the sidelines of the horseshoes playing area. If only he could see the positive effect Hollydale had had on him even in such a short time. Already his face was lighter than when he arrived, his shoulders no longer carrying the weight of the world.
Her niece Rachel hooked a sinker, and Natalie cheered. “Way to go.” Extending her hand, she gave her niece a high-five. “Great job.”
Diane also delivered a high-five to her granddaughter and another to Danny before clutching her clipboard under her arm. “Proud of you, Rachel! Same to you, Danny!” She then cleared her throat. “The two pairs that are moving on to the final round are Danny and Aidan, and Mattie and Natalie. It starts in ten minutes.”
Natalie side-hugged Mattie, her kind of girl in those tie-dyed leggings paired with a hot-pink top. “Who knew you had such a good arm? I’ll have to talk to Lucie and Caleb about softball lessons.” She extended her other arm. “And there’s my boy. Way to go, Danny. You’ve done great with all those horseshoes so close to the stake. Those points really add up.”
Danny’s eyes lit up like the fireworks that were only eight days away. Aidan stayed on the periphery of the action. Her father yelled out a new round of burgers were hot off the grill, and the crowd dispersed. She stepped toward the food table, hoping enough of the potato salad was left for her.
Aidan blocked her path. “Finals? What did your mom mean about finals?”
“Bragging rights, that’s all. Food first. It wouldn’t do for your competitor to drop of hunger, would it?” She pressed her arm to her forehead and pretended to swoon before his hand reached around and cupped the small of her back.
Awareness of him flooded her, the same as his scent, that citrusy smell she now associated with him. Her mother had warned her not to bite off more than she could chew. A relationship with Aidan, worrying about whether he’d be hurt again or worse, would be a gargantuan bite that could consume her whole.
For Danny’s sake, and her own, she had to keep her feelings to herself.
Aidan made a noncommittal sound, and his brusqueness was the right reminder of how they saw the world with two different sets of sunglasses, his opaque and hers rosy. Danny joined them in line for the food. Natalie grabbed two plates.
“Two plates? You weren’t kidding about how hungry you are.” Aidan reached for plastic utensils, glanced at Danny and picked up another handful of napkins. “Must be shooting all those dead ringers.”
“Is it wrong to root for you to miss one, Aunt Natalie?” Danny looked at her with his big brown eyes.
Aidan shook his head. “We don’t root against the other team. We have to rise up and perform better if we want to win.”
“For the record, I worked up an appetite threading all that tissue paper through two rolls of chicken wire earlier this morning, one for each side of the float.” Then she laughed and held up the second plate. “This one’s not for me, though. It’s for Danny.”
They piled their plates high with food and found a place to sit on the lawn. Appreciating the creamy taste of the potato salad, she couldn’t help but notice the strong family resemblance as Aidan and Danny bent their heads together, discussing strategy for the finals. Someday in the future, if Aidan’s high cheekbones were any indication, Danny’s chubby cheeks would fade away and become more prominent. He’d be a heartbreaker for sure.
In no time, Danny’s plate was empty. “Can I go play with Mattie and Ethan? I won’t tell Mattie anything about our strategy, Uncle Aidan.”
After they assented at the same time, Danny scampered off.
Aidan leaned back and patted his flat stomach. “If I eat much more today, my commanding officer will have a fit when I come back out of shape. Don’t suppose you run.”
“For my mom’s potato salad, I do.” She held up her spoon and licked off the last bit. “And I ran half marathons in college.”
“Didn’t expect that. Basketball, horseshoes, running. Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Painting. My art always looks like stick figures.” Rearranging her legs under her, no small feat in this sundress, she turned her attention to her hamburger. “I like surprises, same as I like cowboy boots, long soaks in the tub with a good book and meeting friends at The Busy Bean. What about you? Tell me three things you like.”
He raised his eyebrows and glanced at her over his burger. Putting it back on his plate, he shrugged. “Haven’t given it much thought.”
“What’s to think about? By the way, I won’t accept calendars, day planners or watches.” She eyed the dessert table and decided to wait until after the rest of the horseshoe competition.
“What if those are my three favorite things, though?”
She almost threw the rest of her hamburger at him before the sparkle in his eyes let her know he was joking. Instead, she waggled her burger at him. “My game, my rules.”
He bit off a chunk of his burger, a faraway look in that gray gaze.
Before he answered, her mother blew a whistle. “Time for the final round. Everyone gather around.”
Aidan leaned over and whispered, “Strawberry scones, strawberry chiffon pie and strawberry shampoo.”
She used that type of shampoo, and he’d noticed. If he wanted to throw her off her game, he’d have to rise up and try harder than that. Although, from the way her insides went all quivery, he’d done a good job.
And the day wasn’t over yet.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
AIDAN LEANED BACK against the Harrisons’ old gray shed, soaking in every detail. Carl and Diane sat in the distance with a photo album, showing off pictures of their wedding day. A few feet away, Natalie laughed with a group of people, her face animated with good humor as her hands moved along with the story she was telling.
A man in a black T-shirt, Natalie’s brother and the sheriff, approached him with two bowls. “Do you like banana pudding?”
Aidan hadn’t consumed pudding since his wisdom teeth removal. The sheer memory brought a shudder. “Gave it up a while back.”
“You haven’t tried my grandmother’s recipe.” Mike shoved one of the disposable bowls with a plastic spoon toward Aidan. “If you don’t like it, you won’t hurt my feelings, unlike my sister, who wears her heart on her sleeve.”
Aidan stiffened his spine and accepted the proffered bowl. “Thanks.” He swirled the whipped cream into the rest of the mixture and forced a smile.
“I wasn’t always the smart man you see before you today,” Mike said.
Self-deprecating humor. Relatable and approachable, Mike was the type of person Aidan could see as a friend if he stayed in one place long enough. Being a loner could get tiring after a while. Still, no real use in making friends here if he intended to leave.
If?
Where had that come from? Leaving was a given, with his itinerary planned for the next couple of years. Aidan blinked and rotated his spoon in the opposite direction. “Hollydale is thankful you’ve wised up, I’m sure.”
Mike ate a spoonful of pudding and pointed at Aidan’s bowl. “If you wear a hole in the bottom from all that circling and the pudding falls on the ground, don’t blame me. Where was I
?” He licked his spoon before tapping it on his chin. “A long time ago, Natalie delivered a note to my now-wife that ended badly. Georgie didn’t talk to me for eleven years.”
Aidan nodded as if he understood a word Mike said. Six languages with a smattering of a few others, yet the Harrisons confounded him more than any dialect.
Mike finished off the last of his pudding, while Aidan swirled his spoon around his. “You’re diplomatic. I’ll give you that. You’re willing to play along.”
“To a certain extent.”
Seriousness replaced Mike’s good humor. “Natalie would kill me for saying this, but she’s a happy soul and loyal to a fault. When I was stupid and hurt Georgie, Natalie stopped talking to me for a long time.”
Mike was a straight shooter, so Aidan leveled with him. “Still not connecting the dots.”
“Try a bite, and I’ll fill you in.” Mike tilted his head toward the bowl. “It’s the sheriff and father in me.”
Aidan hesitated before curiosity won out. He brought the spoon to his lips. Creamy goodness slid down his throat. Nothing could be that good. He tried a second taste and discovered he was wrong. It was better than good.
He finished the bowl and glanced at the sheriff. “Thanks for the push. Now, what’s your point?”
Mike glanced at Natalie. “Natalie has a lot of friends who’ll defend her to the ends of the earth. You can have the same people on your side if you let them in. She’s a genuinely happy person, and I’d hate to see her hurt.”
Mike walked away, and Aidan threw the bowl in the nearest receptacle. Mike was protective of Natalie. Didn’t he know Natalie could protect herself?
Aidan searched for Danny, eager to spend some time with the pint-size horseshoe champion. There he was, hanging on Natalie’s every word, love reflecting in his nephew’s brown eyes.
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