by S. J. Lynn
“And have you get all riled up?” he teased.
Paula laughed. “Well, come on inside. All the family is here and eager to see you, honey.” She turned to me. “And I can introduce you to some family that’s from out of town.”
As soon as we entered, the attacks came. Hug after hug, we made our rounds. I already knew Luke’s uncle Lenny and Aunt Lisa, and his cousins Tammy and Jeffrey, since they lived not far from town. Everyone else was a stranger, but with all the love they’d shown, it was like I’d known them all my life.
“Luke, come outside. I have to show you my new ride,” Jeffrey said.
“Not for another two years, buddy,” Lenny cut in.
Luke turned to me, his hand briefly touching my shoulder. “You going to be okay?”
“She’ll be fine,” his mother said. “Now go.”
I offered a reassuring nod to Luke. Before he disappeared, however, he raised five fingers to me, telling me he wouldn’t be long. Lenny followed him out.
“Are you Luke’s girlfriend?” Tammy asked. She looked to be maybe fourteen. She was beautiful with long curly brown hair, green eyes, and a wide smile.
“Oh, um…” Paula looked at me expectantly, and I prayed for Luke to return and intervene at any moment. “We’re just friends.”
“Aw. I really was hoping. He never has a girlfriend when he comes to visit.” Tammy frowned.
“Tammy, go outside and wait for us by the fire,” Paula said. Tammy rolled her eyes, but dutifully obeyed. “Sorry about that. She’s never been one to filter her mouth.”
“That’s okay. I’m sure everyone that sees us together is wondering the same.”
Paula raised an inquisitive brow. “You both hanging around each other a lot, then?”
I shrugged. “Sort of. I help him at the ranch.”
“Oh?”
I could tell by the way she said that she hadn’t been told, and I felt bad for being the one to do it. Maybe Luke didn’t want anyone to know. “Speaking of, I’m really sorry about Jimmy. It’s still hard to believe he’s gone. I have fond memories of him from when I was a child.”
A shadow crossed her face. “That man never knew when to quit.” She sighed and went to the sink to rinse her mug. “I worry constantly about Luke. He’s always been a hard worker, but since he came back from Texas, with his father’s death, he’s been working nonstop. Gets it honestly.”
“I haven’t been back that long, but from what I’ve seen, he never takes a break.”
“Well, I suppose he has nothing going on to make him want to slow down.”
I frowned, not understanding.
“Luke’s always been a sweet boy. Always cared about others, always doing things to help out. But he values family, which is why I’ve yet to see him with a girl. In fact, when I asked about bringing a girl he’d be seeing over to meet me, he’d say, ‘I’ll bring a girl over when she’s special enough to me.’” As if realizing what she’d implied, she hurried to change the subject. “Tea?”
“Yes, thank you.” Was that true? Did Luke consider me to be special to him?
Paula gave me the glass of ice cold tea, and I graciously took a sip.
“Oh my gosh, silly me. I’m going on and on when I haven’t even asked how you were doing. How long has it been?”
She was talking about Josh. “Coming up on a year.”
“Oh, honey. How are you getting along?”
“Better as of late. I think being busy helps.”
Paula nodded. “It certainly does. “You know—and I might be out of line—but I think you and Luke could be good for each other. Hanging out as friends,” she said in a rush.
I had to laugh. I adored Paula. Always had. There was no way I could be mad at her for insinuating anything between Luke and me. Still, I didn’t even know what he and I were. “Yeah, I—”
“You girls aren’t gossiping like old hens, are you?” I hoped Paula couldn’t hear my sigh of relief at Luke’s entrance.
“Your mother doesn’t gossip,” Paula said.
“Yes, you do. Everyone here does.” He smiled and kissed her on the cheek, and then turned to me. “You ready to eat? They built a fire.”
I stuffed my hands in the back pockets of my jeans. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
“You coming, Mom?”
“Oh, I will in a minute. Just prepping a few things.”
“Well, here, let me—”
She shushed Luke. “You two go and be with family. I got it.”
Luke rolled his eyes, causing me to laugh. “Fine, let’s go.”
Several minutes later, Paula joined us as everyone sat on bales of hay and talked about childhood memories. My favorite was hearing that Luke had a pet rock until he was seven. He tried to deny it, but his aunt wouldn’t hear of it.
“Don’t believe a word these people tell you,” Luke said to me. We sat on the same bale of hay when everyone else sat on their own. Paula said there wasn’t any more, but I knew differently. I’d seen rows of them in the little shed on our way in there. And as I sat watching her, I knew she was trying to bring Luke and me closer.
I shook my head. “Never. I swear.”
“Good.”
“So, Maggie, was it?” Jeffrey asked, and all eyes turned to me.
I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “Yes.”
“What’s a girl like you doing with a loser like him?” Jeffrey gestured toward Luke, who picked a stick off the ground and threw it at him.
“Watch it,” Luke warned.
“We work together,” I said.
“No way. You’re a firefighter?” Tammy asked with teenage excitement. Side by side, I could see an uncanny similarity between the two cousins. Twins?
I laughed. “I’m afraid I’m not brave enough for that.”
“Sure you are,” Tammy exclaimed.
Jeffrey lightly shoved her. “You aren’t.”
The two of them started scrapping back and forth, and Luke leaned in to whisper in my ear. “I think you’d make a great firefighter.”
“Me and burning buildings don’t mesh well.”
“Well, you’d at least look great in uniform.” His eyes held mine and for a moment no one else was around.
“Get a room,” Tammy shouted, and everyone erupted with laughter. Except me. I was a little embarrassed.
“Leave Maggie alone, Tammy,” Luke said.
“You leave her alone,” Jeffrey mocked.
“Kids, knock it off and go play,” Linda told them.
“Play? We aren’t little,” Tammy interjected.
“Tammy,” Linda warned.
Tammy rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine. Let’s go, Jeffrey.” They stomped off, leaving just the adults.
Luke and I spent most of the time talking to Steven, Mindy, and Lisa. They were siblings of Paula’s, along with Lenny. This was the first time I’d gotten to speak with them since I’d been there and they were a joy—extremely funny and filled with their own little adventures.
“So why’d you skip off to Texas, boy?” Lenny shouted over to Luke.
I heard Luke sigh before he removed his hat in the way he always did and put it back on. “Needed to get away.”
“Get away? From what? You have everything you need here.”
“Lenny,” Paula said.
Lenny shrugged. “Just wondering.”
“Just wanted a change. Besides, I’m back, aren’t I?” If I wasn’t mistaken, I could have sworn I witnessed some bitterness laced in his words.
“Only took your father dying to do so,” Lenny chimed.
“Lenny!” Paula stared, shell-shocked.
Luke jumped to his feet and walked over to where Lenny sat drinking a beer. I hadn’t even noticed he was drinking. “Don’t you dare talk about what you have no clue about.”
Lenny took a swig and said, “Just making conversation. Or do you have something you want to hide from your lady friend?”
Luke’s fists balled as if he was struggling not to deck his uncl
e. I’d never seen him so riled up.
Lenny stood, putting them nose to nose. “Got something you want to say?”
“You’re drunk,” Luke spat.
“You’d know a thing or two about that, wouldn’t you?”
“Shut up.”
“What’d you say?” Lenny stepped closer.
I had to intervene. This wasn’t my family, and I didn’t know what was unfolding between the two, but I did know I didn’t want to witness a showdown. Besides, this was a family reunion.
I stepped up behind Luke. “Hey, let’s go for a walk and cool down.”
“Yeah, you better listen to the lady.”
Luke’s jaw hardened, his eyes not moving from Lenny’s. “Mom, get Uncle Lenny some coffee.”
Paula immediately got up and went inside. I lightly tugged on Luke’s arm and drew him toward the back of the home.
His movements were stiff. I rubbed his arm. “You okay?”
He didn’t answer for what seemed like forever. “Yeah, sorry about that,” Luke said as we walked along a tiny path in the garden. “I didn’t know he’d had a few to drink. I would have taken you home.”
“He didn’t bother me. It’s you I think he’s gotten to.”
Luke stopped and faced me. “His comments—”
“You don’t—”
“I used to drink…a lot, actually. Not all day, every day. But sometimes several days in a row. I’ve made it a point to only have one beer.”
I crossed my arms, pleased he felt comfortable enough to talk to me about this. “Is it hard to be around others who drink?”
His brows pulled together in thought. “Sometimes. But usually the sight of alcohol angers me. I guess it just depends on my mood.”
“Did something bad happen because of your drinking?” It wasn’t my place to pry, but maybe he needed a confidant.
He peeked up at me through hooded eyes. “Nothing good ever comes from drinking too many.”
I guessed that was my answer. “Luke?”
“Yeah?”
“What are we? Who am I to you?”
His brows shot up before frowning again.
He placed his hands in his front pockets, but took them back out and grasped my face. I was expecting the kiss, since it was so easy for him to do so. The kiss was soft, with long strokes of our tongues. My stomach fluttered with butterflies, and I felt as if I was being lifted off the ground. When he pulled away, my knees nearly buckled.
He peered into my eyes. “You’re what I never had, but always wanted. You’re you.”
Chapter 15
Luke
I was out of my ever-loving mind to tell her she was what I’d always wanted. Always? As if I secretly wanted her to know everything—the truth. Well, I did, but not today, and certainly not at my uncle’s home in front of everyone else.
“Is that okay?” I asked when she didn’t respond.
Her eyes started to well with unshed tears and she nodded.
“Yeah?” I asked before bringing her in and embracing her. I knew this was a big step for her. It was for me, too. We stood there, hugging each other like it would be the last time—or maybe it was just me not wanting to give her the option to let go. “Are you scared?”
“A little.”
Her honesty always got to me. It was an admirable quality. One that I could use a lot more of. “Me, too.”
“Do you know how many people are going to go crazy over this?”
“Let them.”
She laughed. “Easy for you to say.”
“Yeah, maybe. Well, we should probably get back or they’ll wonder where we are.”
“Okay.” She loosened her arms from around me, and I took her hand as we made our way back.
“Go sit at the table and leave Luke and Maggie alone,” Linda told Tammy and Jeffrey when they asked us if we wanted to hike through the woods.
“Maybe later, guys. Are you ready for the best wings around?” I asked Maggie. Lenny could be a real jerk, but he could cook like no one else I knew.
“That sounds really good. I’m starving.”
We sat at the table, and I set my gaze on Lenny, making sure he’d cooled off, while also apologizing. If he wanted to continue, I’d make him take it inside away from Maggie. I wasn’t looking for a fight, but if the situation called for it, I wanted to be prepared.
While Linda served us, I reached for Maggie’s hand underneath the table. She looked at me shyly beneath her lashes and I winked at her. When I looked up, I caught my mother smiling at me. She loved Maggie. Always had, and it meant the world to me, but she didn’t know how wrong it was.
We enjoyed a pleasant meal of wings, garlic parmesan fries, fried pickles, and coleslaw. Mom had made her famous sweet tea.
“Hey, I called in at the fire station earlier because I couldn’t get a hold of you and the chief said you had the week off,” Mom said. It seemed this family reunion centered around me and only me.
I wiped my mouth with a napkin and cleared my throat. “That’s right.”
“Okay, it’s just unusual for you to take any time off. I was actually happy to hear that you had,” she said.
“Yeah, I figured it would allow me more time to get things squared away and take care of things on the ranch. You know it’s busy this time of year.”
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing you have Maggie here to help.” She smiled at Maggie. So that’s what they were talking about. I knew my mom all too well and she had plans for Maggie and me. I needed to warn her.
“Hey, Mom? I need to talk to you about some things at the ranch if you don’t mind…inside.”
“Oh, sure, son.”
“It’ll just be a few minutes,” I told Maggie. “If he starts”—I gestured toward Lenny—“come and get me.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m enjoying all this food.”
I almost kissed her in front of everyone, but thankfully stopped myself.
Once inside, I shut the door.
“Okay, now you have me really worried,” Mom said.
“You were already worried?”
“Yes, you’re stiff today. It’s not like you…especially around family.”
We sat on the sofa in the living room, and I adjusted my hat. “I didn’t think it was so obvious.”
She placed a hand on my thigh. “What is it, Luke? You might be a grown man now, but I’m always your mother. And I know something is bothering you. Is it your father? Because you can tell me.”
I squeezed her hand. “No, Mom. I mean, I miss him, but I think other things are crowding that out.”
“Well, that’s not good either.”
“No, I guess not.”
“You and Maggie seemed different after you came back from your short walk,” she said with a knowing grin.
I laughed. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. First kiss?”
“Mom, I’m not a teenager.”
“I know. Well?” She nudged me.
I gave in. I always gave in when it came to my mother. “I asked her out…sort of.”
She did an audible intake of breath. “That’s wonderful! You’ve loved her since you were kids. What took so long?”
What took so long? “She was engaged.”
“Oh, you know what I mean. Before the engagement. It’s like you two just went your separate ways.” It was hard to pinpoint what story she was reading from, because it wasn’t mine.
“Maggie didn’t really notice me. She was in her own world, remember?” And I wasn’t saying that unkindly.
“She did tend to stick to herself, didn’t she? Despite being popular with everyone.”
I nodded.
“So? What’s the matter?”
As best I could, I started from the beginning. “You remember Josh Jeffries, right?”
Mom frowned. “Yeah, that’s Maggie’s fiancé that died.”
I rubbed my hands together slowly. “You didn’t hear what happened to him?”
“Well, I…I wa
s told it was on the job. I don’t like to think about it too much being that you do the same thing.”
“Well, it wasn’t just a case of him dying while trying to save someone. He died because of me.”
“Luke—”
“It’s true. That’s why I got pissed when Uncle Lenny hinted about me being a drunk…because that’s exactly how it happened.”
“What do you mean?”
I took a deep breath. “I was supposed to go in that day for work.” When I looked at her, I knew there wasn’t any need to continue.
“Oh, honey…”
“And now”—I shook my head—“I’ve not only taken his life, but I’m also taking his girl.”
She shifted next to me and brought her face close to mine. Her next words were not even close to what I was expecting. “You have got to stop this.”
I frowned and she continued. “You have always taken on way too much. Your dad and my financial situation, my care…your dad’s death. I can’t imagine having to live with always making other people’s problems my burden.”
“Mom, I take care of you because I love you.”
She smiled. “And I appreciate that, but you’re still young and have the rest of your life ahead of you. I had my time. Now I just want to grow old with tons of grandchildren all around me.”
“Jumping the gun, aren’t you?”
“Perhaps.” Her smile faded. “But you did not kill this man.”
“Mom—”
“Luke, I will not listen to this nonsense again.”
“Did you not hear what I said?” I paused. “Josh went in on my shift—I didn’t even ask him to do it because I was so messed up that night when he went to check where I was after the chief called him. That should have been me that died.”
“Why have you been carrying this pain around all by yourself? Is this why you left for Texas?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t deal with myself or the people in this town that were mourning. I needed to keep busy…and busy wasn’t here.”
“I’m so sorry, honey.”
“There’s more. I guess you could say this was the main reason I left.”
“What is it?”
“I’d received a letter.” I explained that it was from Josh, before he knew I’d be the one to end his life, and what it asked. Mom remained quiet the whole time. “So that complicates everything when it comes to Maggie. What should I do, Mom?”