Something Old

by Megan Ryder

  She had had her own challenges to deal with. A mother who had had a nervous breakdown and the death of her father. Instead of clinging to him, letting him help her, she pushed him and everyone else away. It culminated in that fateful charity event, while he was preoccupied with his phone and messages from his father and the legal staff, when she broke their engagement, then fled before they could discuss it. After a few ignored calls, voice mails, and even visits, he gathered up the remnants of his wounded pride and the pieces of his heart, and walked away, assuming she would reach out. When that didn’t happen, he tried to move on, dating several women publicly, flaunting them in front of Delaney at the art museum fund-raiser. It almost tore his heart out when she saw him. She reminded him of the time he went hunting with his father and a couple of his buddies. He had sighted a deer in the scope and the look it gave him, a knowing, sad look, made him put the rifle down without firing the shot. The deer had been too far away to even know he was the target, and his father said he was personalizing the animal. But Ethan had never forgotten the look.

  Delaney had had that same look, the haunted, sad, resigned look in her eyes. He didn’t even remember who he had taken to the fund-raiser, but he was ashamed now to remember how he had intentionally kissed the girl he was with, leading to a whole other set of expectations from the girl.

  It was at that point he decided time away would be best for him, the family, and the business. He headed out of Houston, on a self-imposed exile, not expecting to love the vines, but he did. At first, the work was just what he needed, falling into bed too tired to think or dream every night. Eventually, the pain faded to a dull ache and he started to venture out, dating in the area and having a casual, nonexclusive arrangement with Cami Spencer, the daughter of a family friend. Kira, his stepmother, and his father both had hopes they would connect and unite the families, much as they had hoped with him and Delaney. But he didn’t have a spark with her, and he refused to marry out of duty, no matter how hard his father pushed for him to settle down, to return to Houston, to take up his place in the family business.

  Now he was back on the island, where they had fallen in love, and he was afraid it was happening again. They were different people now. Too much time had passed, too many challenges to them, but they were here again. And the spark was still there, banked and smoldering, but he had no doubt, with the slightest bit of encouragement, it would blaze into an inferno.

  Hopefully, it wouldn’t burn them both again.

  Chapter Twelve

  The sun streaming in the window stabbed Delaney’s eyes. She blinked and raised her hand to shield the light. Her eyes were gritty from lack of sleep. She had heard Ethan moving around across the hall during the night. A part of her had hoped he would knock on her door like before. The sane part of her reminded her that she had destroyed their future and she didn’t get to have him anymore. She rolled over and her legs protested the movement, a reminder of the bike riding and walking they had done the previous evening. She swung her legs out of bed and groaned, falling back against the pillow. Five more minutes.

  She drifted off almost instantly.

  A banging on the door shook her fully awake.

  “Wake up, sleepy head. We have wedding stuff to do today.” Caroline’s voice echoed through the door, cheery as always.

  Startled awake, she jerked up, her legs cramping. She yelled back, “It’s barely eight. Middle of the freakin’ night.”

  “Breakfast in twenty minutes. I have bear claws.”

  Oh, shit. Bear claws. The only thing that could probably make her feel better. Well, that and some aspirin. She threw on a T-shirt and shorts and opened her door. At the same moment, Ethan’s door opened and they both paused, staring at each other.

  “How did you sleep?” Ethan asked.

  She didn’t want to admit she had spent most of the night tossing and turning, wishing she could sneak across the hall and finish what they had started. “Great. You?”

  He took a step forward and smoothed one side of her hair down, tucking it behind her ear. “Sure you did. I slept about as well.”

  Another door opened and Anna stepped into the hall, freezing for a moment when she saw them. Ethan greeted her then headed downstairs, leaving Delaney staring open-mouthed after him, her ear tingling from his touch.

  Anna stopped in front of Delaney. “So, you and Ethan? Again?”

  Her tone was mocking and Delaney’s gaze narrowed. “What about you and Wyatt?”

  Anna’s face blanked immediately, expression neutral. “That’s between us.”

  Delaney just shook her head and started to laugh. “College all over again.”

  “God, I hope not,” was Anna’s fervent reply. She sniffed the air. “Did I hear there were bear claws? From Rise and Shine?”

  Delaney sighed. “And they’re as amazing as always.”

  “Race you down there.” She grinned, as if the past was behind them.

  Delaney laughed. Things seemed bright and sunny now. Until she walked into the kitchen and saw everyone clustered around the television, looking grim. “What’s wrong?”

  She snagged a bear claw, beating Anna to one, and raised up on tiptoes to see the screen.

  “Tropical storm. Headed straight for us. Better pray it doesn’t turn into a hurricane.”

  She frowned. “I thought that was headed north of us.”

  Ethan stood and pushed through the small group, running his hands through his hair. “It shifted. Should be here tomorrow night.”

  “Well, that’s good, right? The wedding should be fine.”

  Caroline faced her, tears sparkling. “It’s an outdoor wedding at Oak Bluff Hotel. On the Gulf side of the island. It’s going to be destroyed. The gazebo. The tents. The gardens. All destroyed.”

  Grady walked over and put his hands on her shoulder. “Look, the guys and I will head over and see what we can do to shore up anything they have. And anything that gets damaged, well, I can fix it. Don’t worry. The wedding will be fabulous. I promise.”

  The guys all nodded and headed for the door. Ethan grabbed Delaney’s arm and hauled her into the dining room. He pinned her against the wall and proceeded to kiss the life out of her. Her hands fell limply at her side, the bear claw forgotten.

  “Good morning.” He snatched the pastry from her slack hands. “Thanks for breakfast, darling.”

  He sauntered after the guys, munching on her breakfast. She straightened against the wall, struggling to focus and figure out what had just happened.

  “Damn that guy can kiss.” Anna leaned against the door-jamb, her face looking suspiciously relaxed.

  “Which one?”

  Anna looked at her. “Both of them. Dibs on the last bear claw.”

  They pushed and shoved into the kitchen, lunging for the pastry box at the same time.

  “You’re lucky there were two. Else you would have had nothing for breakfast,” Anna said.

  “I’m a lot tougher than I was back then, Anna. Don’t push me.”

  Anna cocked her head and studied Delaney for a long moment, a half-smile. “I wondered where you had gone.” She nodded. “Nice to see you back and fighting.”

  Delaney stared at her. “Are you freaking kidding? You were being a bitch on purpose?”

  Anna shrugged, popping a piece of pastry in her mouth. “I’m good at it.”

  “No time for squabbling. We have party favors to put together, flowers to arrange, and food to coordinate.” Caroline consulted a clipboard in front of her and all the girls groaned.

  Damn Caroline and her ever-present lists.

  “Shouldn’t the wedding organizer be doing this?” Brigid whispered behind Anna and Delaney.

  Caroline looked up. “I’m an event planner. How would it look if I didn’t plan my own wedding?”

  “Smart?” Anna queried then ducked as Caroline mock smacked her in the head.

  “Okay, ladies. Here’s the plan.”

  The guys returned for lunch with optimist
ic news and an even more welcome sight—food. Specifically, burgers from the Rusty Anchor. They gathered around the dining room table and tucked in. Only Caroline frowned at the burger. She watched everyone enjoying the meal then shrugged and began to eat, her eyes closing for a moment as the first taste exploded on her tongue.

  Matthew grinned from the other side of the table. “Good, isn’t it? Makes you wonder why you gave up meat.”

  “I gave up meat because it’s not healthy for you,” she replied primly.

  The rest of the table burst out laughing. After a moment, she joined in.

  “You sound like a fifty-year-old woman. I would have expected that from Delaney, but not you,” Anna teased.

  Delaney tossed a wadded-up napkin across the table. “I resent that. Besides, no one in Texas can live without meat. Only Californians like vegetarian meals, isn’t that right, Anna?”

  Anna took a big bite and grinned, eating as if she hadn’t had a real meal in forever. Judging by how thin she had gotten, she probably hadn’t. “Screw that. They don’t know what they’re missing. I’ll run an extra couple of miles tomorrow. Maybe.”

  After several minutes, Caroline sat back. “What’s the verdict? Grady?”

  Grady frowned. “There could be quite a bit of structural damage. They’re bringing in everything they can, but the gardens and the gazebo might be a significant loss.”

  “Could you fix it in two days?” Matthew asked.

  “Probably. Depends on the damage. As long as the hotel doesn’t get hit hard, we’ll be fine. It’s not a hurricane. Everything else can be worked around, Caroline. The hotel has it covered, I think.”

  “So, I’m worrying for nothing?” Caroline still looked anxious, biting her lower lip and staring wide-eyed.

  Matthew smiled, but it looked a little forced to Delaney. “Not nothing. It’s a powerful storm, but the island has survived worse. We don’t need a gazebo to get married.”

  “Great.” Her eyes brightened and her face took on a militant set. “Now, for the next set of tasks.”

  Caroline began barking orders, but Delaney was focused on Ethan, who had been very quiet since the return.

  She nudged him and leaned over. “Are you worried about the vineyard?”

  He nodded. “I know my manager can handle it, but it’s mine, you know? Any chance of me sneaking away for the day?”

  Delaney glanced at her watch. Midafternoon. “Not if you want to get back today.”

  “I can’t leave now. Maybe tomorrow. What’s the schedule?”

  “No clue. But knowing Caro, it’s packed with errands, more for us than you guys. She’d understand if you have to leave.”

  He frowned. “Let me check on the weather and the schedule.” He hesitated. “Did you want to come with me?”

  Surprise was quickly replaced by a flush of pleasure, tinged with caution. An escape from the pressure would be great. Spending time with Ethan, like the old days, would be a bonus. Although she was here to reconnect with her friends, not just Ethan, and leaving her friends especially the bride might not be the wisest option. Leaving the safety and isolation of the island, heading into the reality of mainland, also might not be smart, especially if she needed to keep her distance and protect her heart. The silence between them dragged on and the cautious hope on Ethan’s face was replaced with a closed mask.

  “Forget I mentioned it. I can go alone.” He looked away.

  She laid her hand on his arm then put two fingers under his chin and turned him back to her. “It’s not that, Ethan. I’m not sure we should spend more time together. The week will end.”

  “We don’t have to end just because the week ends.”

  “Do you think everything will magically go away, be resolved, just like that?” She snapped her fingers then spread her fingers.

  “How the hell should I know? I don’t even know what went wrong back then. I have no idea how to fix it, or anything.”

  He jumped up, knocking the chair back against the wall. Everyone turned and stared at them, silence reigning. Delaney’s face heated and she stared at her hands, twisting in her lap. Ethan looked wild for a moment, eyes rapidly scanning the room.

  “I’ve got to get out of here. See you later.” He fled the room, avoiding all gazes.

  After Ethan had left, Delaney also stood, more slowly, more controlled. She met everyone’s gaze evenly and calmly, even though her stomach was flipping and churning. She tightly clasped her hands in front of her, hands aching at the strength of her grip. “Excuse me. I need to lie down for a few minutes.”

  She walked out of the room, head held high, warmth staining her face. No one said a word. She maintained her calm facade as she slowly walked up the stairs to her room. Once she had closed the door, she gave in to the tears that had threatened all week. She cried for the past, for the present, for the future that never was and never could be. But, most of all, she cried for herself. For the first time in five years.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Delaney hid in her room the whole afternoon, not ashamed to admit it. Ethan had every right to be upset and angry with her. She could never tell him the real reason they broke up, why she left him. He wouldn’t understand. His pride, his ego could never conceive of a world in which she would have to protect him, when all he wanted to do was protect her. And she knew spending time with him would lead to her sharing more information that she wanted, risking her heart and more, and she was too afraid to take the chance. Eventually, the lack of sleep from the prior several nights caught up with her and she slept.

  A soft knock woke her. The sun was low in the sky, over the water, and the day was cooling off. She was disoriented for a moment, not sure if it was evening or morning. If only it were morning and she could put this whole day behind her. But no, she wouldn’t have that luck.

  “It’s open.”

  The door opened and Caroline peered in. “Good, you’re awake. We got pizza for dinner. Will you come down?”

  Delaney rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up, stretching stiff muscles. “Is Ethan back?”

  Caroline walked farther into the room, closing the door behind her. She sat on the edge of the bed. “You need to tell him.”

  “Tell him what?” Delaney played stupid.

  She had had years of practice, acting like a dumb blond with a lot of money and no brain to speak of. Imagine everyone’s surprise when she proved she was smart and could take care of herself. Actually, her act was so good, she had fooled herself until forced to step up.

  Her friend watched her with perceptive eyes. “I know you. I know something had to have happened to make you split with Ethan. Was it his father? His stepmother?”

  Delaney froze, the truth on the tip of her tongue. It had been so long since she had had someone to confide in, to rely on, to trust. But old habits died hard and she just couldn’t bring herself to revisit the old pain. Not now.

  So, she shook her head. “It’s in the past, Caro. Let’s leave it there.”

  The other woman patted Delaney’s back. “Well, you owe Ethan an explanation. He’s going to demand one soon.” She stood. “Come downstairs to eat. We have another challenge tonight!”

  Delaney groaned. “Come on, Caroline. I’m not in the mood for games. Especially now.”

  “Tough. I’m the bride. I get my way in everything.”

  Delaney stood and snorted. “That’s getting really old, Caro. Playing the bride card.”

  “It’s the only time I’ll be able to use it. I hope.” She added the last sentence softly, almost to herself.

  “We all hope so. No one can survive a week like this again.”

  Caroline stopped at the door. “Has it really been so bad to be back with your friends again?”

  Had it? Delaney had been dreading the week ever since Caroline had asked her to be her maid of honor, anticipation a knot of dread in her stomach. But now that it was here, how did she feel?

  “No, it was the right time. I’m glad we had this
chance to spend time together. It’s been a little awkward and stressful, but I think it’s all working out.”

  “And you and Ethan?”

  Delaney ducked her head. “I’m not sure where that’s going, if anywhere. So much has changed and other things haven’t. I’ve changed, and I have a lot going on right now, a lot of decisions to make in my life.”

  “That won’t change, Laney. Life is all about changes. It’s how we grow.”

  Delaney sat on the bed. “My mom is moving to Arizona.”

  Caroline followed her. “That’s great! Houston held so many bad memories for her.”

  “She said something to me before I left for the island. She said I haven’t been living, just treading water. Now I realize she may have been right. I mean, you’re getting married. Anna is a successful actress. Brigid is working toward becoming a partner. Ethan has a vineyard. Everyone has moved on while I sit in the museum basement making schedules for museum tours.”

  “So, what do you want to do?”

  Delaney sighed. “I have no idea. But I think it’s time I figured it out.”

  “Does Ethan fit in to this new plan?”

  “I have no idea.”

  She opened the door of her room and Ethan stood in the hallway, a blank look on his face, but his eyes burned with anger. Oh shit.

  No one said anything when Delaney rejoined the group. Ethan avoided her eyes, preferring to regress to junior high school days and hang with the boys while the girls sat opposite them, cliques to the end. Although, judging by the looks being shot across the fire by the other couples, Delaney and Ethan weren’t the only ones struggling with the pairing and matchmaking. After pizza and lots of beer and wine, Caroline gathered everyone around the fire pit on the patio and introduced the next challenge.

  Blood roared in Delaney’s ears and she jumped up. “Hell no.”

  Ethan reclined on the stone wall against the house and smirked at her. “Something to hide, Laney?”

  She whirled to face him, hands firmly planted on her hips. “We all have stuff to hide. I’m not playing a stupid game of truth or dare where I’m the target. Absolutely not.”