by Maggie Marr
Her heart ached. Maybe Charlotte didn’t notice the absence of her mother’s parents. The Emerson family did their best to provide a giant circle of family love for Charlotte. Brinn closed her eyes. As much as Ma drove her nuts, she never once doubted her mother’s unwavering love. Or that she would always be there. No matter what. Always.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” Tyler looked at her with surprise in his eyes. “I can’t imagine what she said to you, and you’re sorry?”
“I just…” Brinn looked at Charlotte, who now lay on her back in the snow, waving her arms and legs up and down. “She’s so wonderful and it breaks my heart about her mom and her grandparents.”
“We do the best we can, and we give her all the love we have.” He looked toward his cherubic little girl. “I’m certain that will be enough. It’ll have to be.”
“Daddy! Brinn! Look, I made an angel!” She jumped to her feet and pointed at her angel in the snow.
And she had, Charlotte absolutely had. The angel of a girl had made an angel in the snow.
*
How could he be this lucky? Tyler wanted to freeze this moment. Please God, don’t let Brinn run from us, from me, from Charlotte. Charlotte’s beautiful blond curls were beside Brinn’s head of black curls. The two of them bent over the worktable in the back of the bakery. A cookie castle was before them as well as three bags of different-colored icing plus sprinkles, sparkles, and all kinds of sugar confections that Charlotte could use to decorate. They’d returned to the bakery, and Brinn had pulled out a rack of castle cookies so that Brinn could decorate them for her cousins.
Brinn was magic. This was happiness. Pure and simple happiness watching his daughter decorate Christmas castle cookies with a woman he really liked… Everything fit when they were together.
“I’m getting more coffee. Want some?”
Brinn looked at him, smiled, and shook her head no. Then she returned her attention to helping Charlotte outline the castle cookie with bright pink frosting. Tyler walked to the front of the bakery where Alison was finishing wiping down tables.
Alison’s hair was now a bright red and she wore earrings shaped like jingle bells. “How’s it going back there?”
“She may be the most awesome person I know.”
“So how did it go between the two of them?” Alison whispered.
“Good. A couple of little bumps, but good.” He looked at Alison. “Charlotte really likes her, but we’ve been alone now for a while, so there were a couple of moments today where she seemed to want to be sure I was still hers.”
“Makes sense.”
“Daddy! Come and look at my cookie!”
He walked from the front of the bakery to the back. “Oh, doll, those are so pretty,” Even with the hodgepodge of sprinkles and silver balls, the castle cookies looked pretty darn good thanks to Brinn’s help keeping the frosting lines around the edges straight.
“Your cousins are going to love these cookies.”
“Can I give them to them at the dinner?”
“Of course.”
“Can Brinn come to family dinner?”
Tyler smiled at his daughter. “I am sure that Grandma and Grandpa would love Brinn to come to family dinner. Hey, Brinn, you coming to family dinner this Thursday?” A teasing lilt decorated his voice. She’d already said yes, but he could tell she was a little nervous about the prospect of dinner with his entire family. His brothers could be a bit much.
She set the frosting bag onto the stainless steel counter and turned to Charlotte. “I am coming to family dinner on Thursday night, and I think that I will bring a dessert. What sounds good to you, Miss Charlotte?”
Charlotte took a deep breath and her eyes widened. The prospect of picking dessert seemed to make her particularly excited. “Chocolate.”
“Consider it done.” Brinn looked past Charlotte to Tyler and smiled. “I know just exactly what I’ll make and bring, and it will have lots and lots of chocolate.”
Tyler ran his hand over Charlotte’s curls. Then he looked at Brinn. He could get used to Sundays like this. Sled rides and cookie decorating and hot chocolate. A quiet, happy day.
“So what you think, bug? Is it time to take Brinn home and then head out? It’s getting kind of late.”
Charlotte turned to Brinn. “Hold.” Charlotte lifted her arms toward Brinn.
Tyler’s heart nearly leapt from his chest. Charlotte wanted Brinn. She wanted Brinn to hold her. Today was going even better than he’d hoped. Brinn held Charlotte in her arms and turned toward the bakery door and stopped.
Mrs. Bartoli stood in the doorway. Her eyes widened as her gaze traveled over Brinn and Charlotte and finally Tyler. She recovered quickly, and the corners of her lips turned up into a smile. But what was that? What was that look that Brinn’s mother had shot toward Brinn while Brinn held Charlotte? Was there something he didn’t know? Was Brinn uncomfortable with the way things were going? Was he going too fast? Putting too much pressure on her?
“Charlotte, this is my mom.” Brinn walked toward Barbara Bartoli.
“Hello.” Barbara tried to keep that hard facade, but there was a smile in her eyes when Charlotte grinned at her.
“You’re pretty too,” Charlotte said.
Barbara patted her hair and smiled. “Thank you. I love your blond curls.”
“Thank you. You’re Brinn’s mommy?”
“That’s right.” Barbara’s gaze flickered from Charlotte to Tyler.
“My mommy doesn’t live here. She lives in New York.”
“Yes. I’ve heard that.”
“I get to see her after Christmas. We’re taking a big trip.”
Brinn flinched, but her own smile remained firm on her face.
“Won’t that be nice?” Barbara walked to the worktable and looked at the Christmas cookies. “Did you decorate cookies?”
“For the cousins. For family dinner.”
“Ma, I’ll get the mess when I get back. Just a couple of things—”
“Don’t be silly. You three go. I’ll get this.”
“Are you sure?”
Barbara nodded. “I’m sure. Please go.”
Mrs. Bartoli’s shoulders and neck were stiff. Some sort of tension between mother and daughter. Tyler could feel it, but he didn’t know what it was about.
“Thank you, Mrs. Bartoli. Charlotte had fun.”
“Tyler, please call me Barbara. It would seem we’ll be seeing more of you?”
Tyler smiled. “I hope so, Mrs. Bartoli. I certainly hope so.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Well, don’t you look happy today?” Alison reached for the coffeepot and poured them both a cup as Brinn pulled a Bea & Barbara apron over her head. “Could that smile be because of another date you had last night with one Mr. Tyler Emerson?”
Brinn took the coffee cup from Alison and sprinkled cinnamon into her mug. Tyler had been over to her place nearly every night for a week. After their first night together, it’d been hard to be apart. So he’d wait until he put Charlotte down for the night, and then he would come to Brinn’s. That meant he left for home around five a.m., the same time she left to go to the Grande. The fatigue would have killed her if she weren’t so hopped up on love hormones.
“I hear he’s been to your house nearly every night for a week.” A teasing smile decorated Alison’s lips. She took a tray of snowball cookies and slid them into the display case.
“And how would you know that?”
“You aren’t the only person in town who gets up early. What time you think those snowplows run down your street?”
Brinn lowered her gaze and took a drink of coffee. It wasn’t like they were keeping their relationship secret, it was just… after how Ma had reacted… it seemed simpler not to broadcast it. Then there was Charlotte to consider. This week Brinn was meant to go to the Emersons’ for family dinner.
“My former brother-in-law likes to yap a little about what cars he sees at
what houses at what time. He just happened to mention that he’s seen an Emerson vehicle at your house the past six nights.”
“Hmmm.” Brinn was conflicted. Part of her was so excited with what was going on with her and Tyler and another part of her was really worried that she was a complete fool to believe that this was real and not just a fling. He didn’t act like it was a fling. Nor did she. So what was this nagging sensation that she couldn’t get out of her mind? A remnant of her heartbreak? A lack of self-confidence? A fear of committing? Whatever it was, she wished she could banish all those thoughts full of doubt and simply enjoy being with Tyler.
“You’re blushing. Oh my goodness, Brinn. I do believe you may in fact have it bad for this man.”
“He’s fun. We’re just having fun.”
“Mmhmm. I can just imagine what kind of fun Tyler might be able to provide. Brinn Bartoli is sleeping with Tyler Emerson. Mmhmm, that is fun.”
“Shh.” Brinn eyes roamed the empty bakery. “We live in a small town.”
“My oh my, but you two are moving fast.”
Brinn’s smile slipped from her face. Fast? Were they moving fast? She’d known Tyler her entire life and this relationship just seemed so easy and so comfortable, as though they’d slipped into something that was warm and wonderful. She didn’t feel like they were moving fast. Did Tyler?
“Wait until your mom finds out just how much fun you’re having with him.” Alison clucked her tongue.
A sigh passed over Brinn’s lips. “I don’t think she’s happy with the idea of me seeing Tyler.”
“Too public for her?”
Brinn nodded. She couldn’t even begin to say the real reason. That her own mother didn’t think she was good enough for Tyler Emerson. She’d been avoiding Ma. When they crossed paths at the bakery, they nodded and said hello. The Bartoli way. Stuff those emotions down and don’t talk about anything unpleasant. Ever.
“Your mom definitely values her privacy. Kind of explains how she handles her own life, right?”
Brinn pulled her eyebrows together. She tore her thoughts away from Tyler and tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
Alison shrugged, grabbed a counter towel, and walked out into the seating area.
“Wait? What?” Brinn followed Alison from behind the counter. Alison’s lips clamped closed and she bent over a four-top, really making certain with her determined wiping that there were absolutely no crumbs on the table.
“Nothing.”
“No, it’s something. What is it?”
“I’m not going to gossip about your mother.” Alison turned to Brinn. “It’s something I thought you knew but didn’t discuss. Me and my super-big mouth. Don’t worry about it.” Alison scooted a chair beneath one of the tables and then brushed by Brinn to fluff the pillows on the love seat in the corner.
“I’m not worried. And you’re not gossiping, but you have to tell me now.”
Alison closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She turned away from the couch and looked at Brinn. “Just small-town gossip, I’m sure that’s all it is.”
Brinn started to ask Alison another question, but the bell above the bakery door jingled. The Christmas saying flew through Brinn’s mind. Her and Alison’s conversation was cut short by a flurry of customers entering the bakery.
They stayed busy for the next three hours taking orders and serving customers. When the burst of activity was finished, Brinn turned to Alison. “I need to drop off with today’s donation at the food bank. I’m going to load up the car and head over there.”
“The castle?”
“A couple more days and I think we’ll be done. The ceremony is on Friday. You coming?”
“Yeah, of course. I think your mom might even close the bakery for a couple of hours.”
“Sacrilege.” Brinn pressed her palm over her heart. “Mom never closes the bakery.”
“For this, she will. She’s been crowing about the Christmas castle ever since you and Hans started drafting the design.”
“She doesn’t crow to me.” Brinn tossed her apron into the laundry bag.
“That’s just her way. You know she’s proud of you, right? I mean she talks about you all the time. Of course you’re never here when she does, but she raves about you.”
A warm feeling settled around Brinn’s heart, thawing the ice that had formed with regards to Ma. A few minutes later, Brinn loaded the back of her car with the food bank donation. She couldn’t really forgive Ma for her words, but she wanted to believe that Ma’s worries came from a good place, that Ma was simply trying to save Brinn from more pain. The same fears danced through Brinn’s brain, but the more time she spent with Tyler, the more she believed that theirs was a true romance with real feelings and that no matter how insecure Brinn felt about her looks, and the fact that Tyler’s ex-wife was shockingly beautiful, Tyler liked the way Brinn looked. He liked every bit of her. She still couldn’t keep those unpleasant thoughts from swimming around in her head though.
“I think I got it all.” Brinn grabbed a travel mug full of coffee Alison had filled for her. “I’m going to stop by Ma’s on my way to the food bank.” Brinn wanted to get the anxiety she felt around Ma cleared away. They’d gone long enough without really speaking. She was going to continue seeing Tyler, and while Ma might be worried, Brinn didn’t want these uncomfortable feelings hovering around the bakery.
“See you tomorrow afternoon.”
Brinn walked to her SUV and climbed behind the wheel. The Rocky Mountain day had been beautiful with a bright blue sky and crisp cold air, and while it was quickly slipping into evening, remnants of the day’s gorgeousness were still apparent. A golden light from the setting sun cast a glow on the snow. A few minutes later, Brinn pulled into the driveway at Ma’s house. She used her key to enter her childhood home.
Ma’s house was spotless. The entire house always looked as though no one lived here. Brinn set her keys on the table next to the front door and wandered into the kitchen. Two steaks lay on the broiler pan with the two potatoes ready for the oven.
Maybe she was having company? They’d stopped their usual Sunday dinners until after the holidays because she and Ma had agreed they needed Sunday afternoon to rest. Once she stopped at the food bank, Brinn was going to Nonna’s for burgers and a movie.
Brinn went to the refrigerator. A habit she’d had since elementary school was to walk into the house and check out what was in the refrigerator. She opened the door. Wine chilled in the fridge beside a fresh chocolate torte. Ma didn’t drink often and didn’t bring home food from the bakery unless she was having company. Ma was obsessive about watching her figure. Hmm, where was Ma?
Brinn walked up the stairs and past the room she and Deborah had shared when they were kids. Then she stopped.
Giggles? She heard giggles from her parents’ room. Ma didn’t giggle. Or at least Brinn never remembered hearing Ma giggle. Laugh, yes, on occasion. But giggle? Giggling really wasn’t in Ma’s repertoire. Brinn paused just outside Ma’s door. She held up her fist in midair, ready to knock when she heard—
“God that was good, Barbara. I’m starved.”
Brinn’s heart stalled in her chest. That voice… oh my goodness… she knew that voice. Frozen. Frozen beside Ma’s door. Like an eight-year-old walking in on her mother and father, Brinn couldn’t knock, she couldn’t move, she could barely breathe. Ma’s door flew open.
Brinn gaped. Ma, in a bright red silk robe with a satisfied smile on her face and a mess of wild black hair stood before her. And behind Ma?
Dom.
Ma froze. The smile dropped from her face.
“Barbara, what is it?” Dom, in a red flannel robe—Brinn’s father’s old robe—looked past Barbara and his gaze locked with Brinn’s. His eyes clouded. Dom, her father’s best friend.
“Brinn… I…,” Ma started, but Brinn held up her hand. She couldn’t… she couldn’t have this conversation with Ma now.
“I can’t.” Brinn turned and wa
lked down the stairs.
“Brinn, please wait.”
Brinn paused at the front door.
“It’s not what it looks like. This is… this is just something we do. Dom and I, for a while now… it’s… I mean…” Ma pushed her disheveled hair into submission. “Please, this is very private. I would appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to anyone.”
“Private? So a relationship is okay as long as it’s private? I know you think that Tyler would never want a woman like me—”
“Brinn, I never said such a thing, I never meant such a thing. This”—Ma waved her hand toward the staircase—“this is nothing like you and Tyler. Tyler is recently divorced, he has a child with that woman, things like that are complicated. They can be messy, it could—”
“It could be what, Ma? It could be embarrassing to you if I actually put my heart out there and it didn’t work? Humiliating? Is that what it would be? Well, don’t worry about me, Ma, okay? I’m all grown-up and can face the consequences of decisions I make.”
Brinn looked past her mother to the staircase where Dom now stood, his hands at his side. Worry creased his face. Dom had been a constant in their lives since before Brinn was born. Since before her dad died. Since forever. Brinn liked Dom. Had always liked Dom. She’d taken comfort in the fact that he’d helped Ma run the bakery for years. This, this thing between Ma and Dom was probably a great thing. She just wished her mother had trusted her enough to tell her about it.
“Ma, I’m just sad that you feel like you have to hide your life. Hide who you are.” She looked at Ma’s face, which was filled with embarrassment and something like shame. “I’m not going to live that way. No matter how much you need to.”
Brinn walked out the door and got in her SUV. She needed to do the food bank drop-off and get to Nonna’s because Nonna was expecting her burger.
Chapter Fourteen
Brinn pulled the two burgers from the bag and then three orders of french fries. Nonna always wanted a double order from Around the Block.