by Hart, A.
“Hey, Meg, will you grab dinner out of the oven? I’m going to start up the fire.” Megan shooed me off and smiled, and little Charlotte went immediately to her dolls and began telling them of her time with the “horsey”. After I went out to grab a couple of logs, I threw them in the fireplace and lit it up. Remembering there was now a toddler in my house, I grabbed the metal fireplace gate and put it around the outside of the opening. Fire safety first. It was an occupational habit. I walked into the kitchen and saw that Megan had pulled the pizza out of the oven. I quickly fed Chase and he licked me with gratitude. I rubbed his head. “Welcome, buddy.”
I looked around and noticed Megan had already found plates, napkins and cups for us all. I walked into the kitchen, liking the sight of her being in it way more than I wanted to. “Hey, pretty lady. I thought we would watch a movie with dinner?”
Megan’s face grew cold, but she wore a weak smile. “Like when we were kids.”
I nodded with a smile. “Exactly, but when I said pretty lady, I was talking to the little one.” She took a deep breath and then laughed. Charlotte just smiled up at me and I winked.
“Sounds good.” Megan smiled. I bit my lip and nodded, unable to speak without declaring my love for her . . . again.
“So, Lotte, I was at the store today and I came across this movie and thought you might like it. Have you heard of Frozen?”
She sprang up and clapped. “I love that!”
I laughed. “Alright then, Mom, you heard Little Pumpkin here, grab our pizza and let’s watch a movie.” Megan smiled over at me and nodded.
We ate our pizza and watched a delirious snowman frolic on the screen. Chase laid on his dog bed and was content to snore the evening away. The movie was actually pretty funny, and I found myself laughing along with the adorable toddler that sat next to me. After the movie and a goodnight hug from Charlotte, Megan disappeared down the hall with her. She splashed in the bath for few minutes and then was whisked off to the guest room. I took my time cleaning up from dinner and was just finishing up when Megan walked up in sweats and a tee shirt. She had her long, black hair flopped on top of her head in a large bun and her face was fresh from makeup.
I loved seeing her like this and in my house, in my kitchen. “Sorry, she likes elaborate stories before bed.” Megan huffed and I laughed at how adorable she looked.
“No worries. I hope the room will work okay?” Megan smiled with a nod and then plopped down on the stool in front of the counter. I filled up my mom’s old tea kettle with water and plopped it on the stove. Mom used to make us tea before bed, so I hoped that this gesture would spark those memories in Megan’s mind.
After a moment of silence, she raised her brow at me. “What are you up to SJ?”
I attempted to hide my smile, but I’m pretty sure that I failed. “Me? Nothing, just making us some sleepy tea.”
She laughed. “Uh huh. Completely innocent, huh?”
I nodded and smiled wide. “Yup.” She snorted and then lifted herself off the seat and walked around the counter so she was standing next to me.
My body was all too aware of her closeness. I swallowed hard and told my mind to think of her as only a friend, because that may be all I get out of this. She grabbed two tea bags out of the box and placed them in the mugs I had placed on the counter. Right on cue, the tea pot whistled. I leaned back to the counter and admired the view of Megan in my kitchen, making us tea.
She shook her head and deadpanned, “Take a picture, it’ll last longer, loser.” Then she stuck her tongue out at me.
I laughed. “Oh, are we completely reverting back to childhood, booger face?”
She shot me a glare as she poured the steaming water into both our mugs and then giggled. “I guess so, snot brain.”
I acted wounded, with my hand over my heart. “Ouch, good one.” Megan handed me the steaming cup of tea and I winked. “Thanks, Pumpkin”
She looked down and tried to hold back her smile. “Yup.”
We both walked over to the couch in front of the fire and sat down. After we both shifted until we were comfortable, Megan broke the silence. “So . . . ”
I cleared my throat and then chuckled. “Stop making this awkward. We were best friends for over a decade. Just relax.”
She huffed and lowered her shoulders, giving me a sarcastic look. “Better,” I said, deadpan.
“You have any card games?” Megan asked, and I pretended to look shocked.
“Who, me? Why, I may have a certain game.”
Megan began bouncing up and down on the couch a little and smiled. “You don’t! I haven’t played it in—”
I laughed. “Eight years?”
Megan’s smile dropped slightly and she shrugged. “Yeah.”
I stood up and placed my mug down on the coffee table. “Well, Megan Lynn Sant—Maxwell . . . ” I winced a little at the awkwardness of me messing up her name. I looked back at her to see her covering her mouth and laughing. Feeling relieved, I laughed too and continued walking over to my cupboard. “You’re in luck.” Her laugh grew louder and I walked in with Phase 10 cards. I put my finger to my mouth. “Shh, you’re going to wake Little Pumpkin.”
She put her hand back over her mouth and shook her head. “Seeing you embarrassed always was amusing.”
I pulled my head back and arched my brow. “Pshh. Me? Embarrassed?”
Megan giggled and nodded. “Uh, yeah! You always turned bright red!”
I shook my head. “And you were always dramatic.”
She pointed at me and winked. “Touché, my friend.” This was nice, us being us, like old times.
I placed the card game on the coffee table in front of her and then decided I would push my luck. “Hey, what do you say we trade out the kid drinks for some adult ones?”
Megan paused for a second. Then, with her lip out, she nodded, talking more to herself than to me. “I have to teach in the morning, but a glass or two won’t hurt. Bed by midnight. Yeah, why not?”
I could think of about ten reasons why not, but hey, they all favored me. I was counting my blessings. I tried to hold back my large grin as I asked, “Beer or wine?”
Megan thought for a second. “You pick.”
Knowing her too well, I winked. “Wine it is, Pumpkin.” She just smiled at me. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of white wine and two mason jars.
I bought the bottle today but didn’t think to buy wine glasses. I didn’t typically have wine in my house, but for Megan, I would drink anything. When I walked back into the living room with my odd pairing, Megan laughed again. “Oh, this is getting rich.”
I shrugged and placed the mason jars down next to the bottle of wine. Letting my slight Georgia accent slip, I said, “Oh, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” Just then, I turned the bottle so she could see the label. The label had a large, orange pumpkin on it and said, “Pumpkin Girl” in big, cursive gold letters.
Megan squinted her eyes and leaned closer. Once it registered in her mind, her cheeks blushed a warm pink. She tried to hold back her grin when she grabbed the bottle for closer inspection. “Oh my God. Seriously, SJ?” Suddenly, she burst out into laughter and I couldn’t help but join her. “How did you get pumpkin wine? And does such a thing even exist? And the name? Insane.”
I rubbed my neck and shrugged. “Right? Travis’s dad’s farm makes it and the store carries it year round.”
She placed the bottle down and smiled up at me. “You’re too much, SJ.”
Our eyes locked and her smile began to fade. The air between us felt thick, and I decided to continue to walk the line. “Or am I just the right amount, Pumpkin?” Megan held my gaze for a moment, something heavy passing between us, and then suddenly looked away. After a brief second, she pretended to gag and then threw my only throw pillow at me. I put my hands up and pretended to duck, but ended up getting hit in the face. I looked up to see her cheeks blushed and she was tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, which was her nervous tell
sign.
I unlocked our eyes again and looked down at the wine, realizing I forgot the corkscrew. I headed to the kitchen in search of one, unsure if I would be successful, and yelled over my shoulder, “You always were a poor sport, Megan.”
She took no time to holler back. “And you were always a bad flirt, SJ.” I walked back in and gave her a pretend glare that caused her cheeks to blush again, and this was before the wine. Oh, this was going to be a fun night. A bad flirt? The pink in her cheeks told me otherwise.
Megan
I woke to dole flickering in front of my eyes and something warm against my body. I shifted a little and realized that the warm something was Sawyer’s large body. I stilled as flashes of the night came pouring into my mind. After a couple of mason jars of wine and a couple of intense games of phase ten, Sawyer and I had sat in front of the fireplace, just as we used to do as kids. I had laid my head on his shoulder, and he had held me close. I sighed in my mind, realizing that we had fallen asleep like that. It was much less scandalous than it could have been, but for Sawyer and me, this was bad. Crap, it was so bad, bad, bad. Not to mention I had work in the morning. I opened my eyes and confirmed that we were laying on the soft rug in front of the fireplace, my head was on SJ’s chest, and his arm was wrapped around me. I shifted again, watching his expression to see if I woke him, but nothing. Once I was flat on my back I gently lifted his arm off of me.
I stared down at him sleeping so peacefully on the ground, his tall, handsome body spilling over the floor, and grabbed the blanket he had put over me. I gently covered him with it, feeling slightly guilty leaving him like this. I couldn’t risk Charlotte finding us in the morning. I sighed at all of the reasons why what I saw—the strong, handsome, thoughtful man lying in front of me—could never be mine. I picked up the wine bottles and the mason jars and took them to the kitchen. The clock said 3am. I still had four hours before Charlotte would grace the world with her presence, and I would have to get us both ready for our days. I tip-toed back to the guest bathroom and, after brushing my teeth, I slipped into the guest room. I skipped pajamas and just slipped off my bra. I slipped in bed and snuggled next to my Little Pumpkin, as Sawyer had started calling her. That was, until my stomach became her kicking bag. I shook my head and built a wall of pillows between Kicking Bird and me.
Four hours later, and right on time, I was woken by Lotte. “Mama, Get up.”
I rubbed my eyes and smiled up at her beautiful green eyes. “I’m up, baby.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me out into the hallway and then to the kitchen. I stopped at the counter where I saw a note.
Good Morning, girls, I’m getting some sleep, but help yourself to anything for breakfast and lunch. I’m cooking dinner. Have a great day! See you when you get home. – SJ.
I smiled and shook my head. Sawyer was always so amazing. Never failed. I turned to Charlotte. “Alright, Princess, you ready for breakfast?”
She thought for a moment and then nodded. “O tay.”
I shook my head and laughed. “Okay so . . . ” I opened the fridge and freezer to see that Sawyer had obviously gone grocery shopping for us, unless he usually ate like a toddler. “Waffles or pancakes?” He had bought the frozen toaster waffles and pancakes.
Charlotte stopped brushing her doll’s hair and looked up at me. “Both, Mama.”
I smiled and thought about arguing and then decided eh, why bother? Pick your battles, right? “Okay,” I simply replied. I prepared Charlotte one waffle and one pancake and poured a bowl of Raisin Bran for myself.
Raisin Bran had been my favorite since I was little, which I know sounds odd. Sawyer’s mom always had it at their house, and it became a bowl of comfort. If I was having Raisin Bran . . . then all was right in my world. I know I’m probably the only person in the world who loves Raisin Bran, but whatever. I did. Conveniently, Sawyer had an unopened box on his counter. I shook my head. He was too much, too thoughtful. I knew he was trying to get me to fall in love with him, it was obvious.
Little did Sawyer know that he was wasting his time, he didn’t have to try. I was already in love with him. Truth was, I had never stopped loving him. That didn’t change anything, and none of this, no amount of cereal or gestures could change the many reasons why it would never happen, why it should never happen. I sighed as I finished prepping our breakfast. We ate quickly then threw on the clothes I picked out last night. We hopped into the Bronco and were off for the day. On the drive into town, I took a deep breath, trying not to let Sawyer’s thoughtfulness get to me. It was going to be a long three days.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sawyer
It was Friday afternoon and the girls would be home any minute. Last night had been amazing, I wasn’t surprised to wake up in the early morning alone on the floor. I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed, but I understood. Megan had Charlotte to think about, and we were only friends. For now. I had texted Megan around lunch and asked her if she was up for company tonight. She had texted back Absolutely, which was a good thing, because it was too late. I had already set the plan into motion.
I had invited all of Megan’s friends over for a BBQ tonight. I was on my deck watching Chase run around, chasing the geese, when I noticed the smell in the air. It was a smell that firefighters were familiar with but not a fan of. The sky wasn’t really smoky but it looked a little more overcast than how it had been for the previous week. I called Chase, and after he sprinted into the house, I followed him inside. I picked up my phone and checked the messages. Sure enough, I had a group text to the entire station from my uncle.
Two large, fast-spreading forest fires. 1.Sixty miles northwest 2. Thirty miles northeast, on standby for possible backup and on alert for spreading into our territory. Everyone is on call, do not go far. Text back to confirm.
I shook my head. Damn. California was in a drought, and being in northern California we had a lot of big trees, wild brush and farmland. All of it was at risk for stoking the fire. We were smack in the middle of the two fires that were both spreading fast. I texted back a quick reply and then put my phone on loud and placed in my hip clip. It didn’t seem like it was too smoky out yet, so I could at least BBQ the food outside and then we could move the party inside if the air got too thick. I continued preparing the spread for the dinner when the front door opened and Charlotte came rushing in. “Esh Chay!” I laughed and got on one knee in anticipation.
Chase ran up to Little Pumpkin and licked her, then continued past her to the next victim, which was big Pumpkin. Charlotte continued running in with a wide smile and her blonde curls bouncing everywhere. My heart squeezed a little, and I couldn’t help the attachment I automatically felt to the spunky little girl. She sprang into my arms and wrapped her little arms around my neck.
I squeezed her in return and then sat her on my knee and leaned back. “Hey there, Little Pumpkin, how was your day?”
Her smile beamed up at me. “Good.”
I laughed. “I’m glad.”
When I went to look up, my eyes caught Megan’s. She was frozen in the doorway with her arms full of her purse and Charlotte’s backpack. She had a warm look in her eyes that made my heart do a flip in my chest. “Hey,” I said with a grin.
She smiled weakly and then swallowed hard. “Um . . . hey.”
Charlotte sprang off my lap and ran into the living room, followed closely by Chase. I had put on some princess show on Disney and placed all the toys she brought in front of the TV.
I stood and Megan looked around my kitchen, where I had everything out for the BBQ, and then on to the living room. “Wow.” She smiled. “You’ve been busy, huh? And thanks for setting up Lotte. That was thoughtful.”
I rolled my lips in and nodded. “So . . . ” She continued, “Who’s coming over?”
I smiled. “Cal, Em, the twins, Travis and Sarah.”
She stiffened and then, after adjusting her purse on her shoulder, she stared at me. “You invited my friends over?”
I
smiled. “Yeah. I hope that’s okay. I thought it would be nice . . . ”
She nodded and then she narrowed her eyes. “But I didn’t tell anyone about my apartment, about staying here . . . SJ!” I did my famous smile that always got me away with things as kids and just stared back at her. “You told them?”
I put my hands up in defense. “Didn’t tell anyone. Travis heard through the grapevine. He asked me, I confirmed. He most likely told the others.”
She huffed and shook her head. “I hate you.”
I laughed. “Good thing I never believed that line.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head again. I winked at her and then walked over to check on Charlotte, who was happily watching her show.
I walked back into the kitchen to see Megan making iced tea. “Hey, I’m going to get the grill going.” She nodded with a smile, and I had to tell my mind to stop thinking about how natural she looked in my kitchen again. As I walked out of the back door and onto the deck, I heard Country music begin to play from the kitchen and smiled. I put the BBQ chicken on the grill and then looked out into the sunset. The sun was bright red, which was usually a bad sign, and the sky was beginning to look a little grayer.
My cellphone beeped and I checked it. Both fires moving outward, stay close. I grunted and went back to focusing on the grill. I heard Chase bark a few times and turned to see what the commotion was about.
“Hey, Sawyer! Sweet setup.” It was Cal walking out with one of the twins in his arms.
“Hey, man! Welcome. How’s it going?”
He shrugged. “Eh, all right, you guys on standby for the fires?”
I nodded and closed the grill. “Yeah, us too.”
Emerson walked out with the other twin, followed by Sarah, Megan and Travis. Travis and Sarah were arguing over something and Megan had a couple of beers in hand. “Gentlemen.” She lifted beers up to Travis, Cal and me.
I smiled. “Thanks, Pumpkin.” She grunted and shook her head. Cal pointed to Chase, who was now running around and showing off below.