Close to Home

by Raney, Deborah;

“Yes. Aaron Jakes.” She spelled his surname for them. “I’ll invite them. Thanks.”

  It would never happen. Grant and Audrey had invited them before, and they never even responded. Her parents rarely spent the night when they came to visit her, claiming they didn’t sleep well on her sofa bed, yet refusing the offer of her perfectly comfortable bed. They for sure weren’t going to spend any time with Tim’s parents. But of course, she couldn’t say that to them.

  Grant’s invitation was a disturbing reminder that while she had mentioned her “friend” Aaron to her parents, she hadn’t yet told them they were more than just friends. The only reaction she could imagine from them was one like they’d had when they met Tim. Of course Aaron wasn’t in the military and didn’t have parents living nearby to compete with Mom and Dad for her affection. But she dreaded the “official” conversation about Aaron nonetheless.

  She heard someone coming up the basement steps and looked, expecting to see Drew, freshly showered after a day of helping Grant with the cottage.

  Instead it was Link coming up. He must have helped work on the cottage too.

  “Hey, Bree. You’re early. What’s up?”

  “Oh, nothing much. Just—”

  Drew appeared right behind Link on the landing, his hair still wet, his tan a shade darker than it had been last week. He waved at her and spoke politely to CeeCee before joining Link at the kitchen island, straddling bar stools and gulping the iced tea Audrey had waiting for them.

  “How’s the cottage coming along?” Bree hoped the others would go with her change of subject.

  “It’s going pretty good,” Link said. “I guess. Dad, you’re the one who can answer that.”

  “Going real well,” Grant said, and proceeded to list everything they’d accomplished since she’d been here last Tuesday.

  “Do you want to go down there and take a look, CeeCee?” Bree offered.

  “Not now. Another day.” She didn’t sound in the least disappointed. Or interested in “another day” either.

  “We’re going to eat out under the pergola tonight,” Audrey said. “I think it’ll be cool enough by the time everyone gets here. Especially since we have homemade ice cream for dessert. Cecelia, you can see the house while we’re down there.”

  “I’ll go wherever you tell me to. Just point me in the right direction.”

  Drew laughed, perhaps thinking CeeCee was making a joke? But Bree knew better. The others must have, too, because no one else laughed.

  Drew took a large gulp of his iced tea, then cleared his throat.

  Bree felt sorry for him and cast about for something to divert attention in another direction. “Can I start carrying things out, Audrey?”

  “Oh, not quite yet, honey. But if you want to help the guys haul the extra chairs out to the pergola, that’d be great. We’ll wait until everyone is here before we start taking food down.”

  “Sure.” She jumped up and followed Link and Drew out to the back deck where extra deck chairs were stored in a small shed.

  Tim’s brother opened the shed and handed each of them two folding chairs. “You guys take these on down and I’ll be down with more in a minute. I need to go shut off the water around front for Dad.”

  “This way . . .” She led the way down to where the pergola sat at the edge of the meadow. When they got there, she looked across to the woods and saw the cottage for the first time. “Wow! It’s really coming along.”

  “You should see the inside. I was kind of hoping your grandmother would want to come and take a tour. We started on the interior framing yesterday and it’s starting to look like a real live house in there.”

  “I can’t wait to see it. I’ll have to go down and look before it gets dark. Do you know if it’s locked?”

  “I don’t think so, but if it is, I know where a key is. I’ll take you down later and show you around if you want.”

  She heard the pride in his voice, but didn’t respond, feeling a little awkward about hanging out with him now that she’d told Grant about Aaron. She wondered if he’d overheard her conversation with Grant earlier about Aaron. But if he had, he didn’t let on.

  Maybe she’d ask him later. Drew was so easy to talk to. He’d become like part of the family over the last few weeks. And she wondered if she’d lose his friendship too once Aaron “weaned” her from the Whitmans.

  * * *

  Drew balanced a precarious stack of coffee cups and half-empty iced tea glasses and carried them into the Whitmans’ kitchen where Audrey, Danae, and Bree were rinsing dishes and putting away the food they’d just brought in from the pergola.

  Grant followed him with a stack of dirty dessert plates. The evening had turned out to be pleasantly cool, and Audrey was gloating. “See there, Mr. Whitman. I told you it would be nice enough that we could eat outside.” She flicked soapy water at him.

  Grant slid the dishes into the sink and kissed the nape of her neck. “You were right, my dear. I bow to your superior weather knowledge.”

  “Ha! Only weather?” Audrey laughed. “I have superior knowledge you haven’t even begun to tap into, sir.”

  Drew watched them, fascinated by the way Grant and his wife teased each other. They always seemed to have so much fun together, even at their age, and after so many years of marriage.

  His own parents had enjoyed a good marriage as far as he could remember. It wasn’t something he’d ever analyzed until now. He and Dallas had grown up in a home that was much more formal and polite. Nothing wrong with that. But he liked the playfulness Grant and Audrey shared. He saw that quality in his brother’s marriage too and guessed that was probably Danae’s influence.

  “Is there anything else I can do before I go?” Drew asked, looking around the kitchen.

  “No, but it’s sweet of you to offer,” Audrey said.

  In this family it seemed like the women did the cooking and dishes and the guys did . . . other stuff. Kept the cars running, mowed the lawns, built houses. He kind of liked that arrangement too.

  He started for the front door, but hearing Grant holler his name, he turned back.

  “Are you in a hurry to leave? I was hoping you’d take my mother down to see the progress on the cottage. She’s being a stinker and won’t go with me, but I don’t think she’d turn you down.”

  He grinned. “Sure. I’d be glad to give the tour.”

  He followed Grant to the great room where Mrs. Whitman was sitting in a comfortable chair.

  “Mother?” Grant put a hand on his mother’s shoulder. “Drew is going down to the cottage to give a little tour. Wouldn’t you like to see the progress we’ve made? I can drive you down there if you don’t want to walk.”

  Drew had to stifle a laugh as the woman drew herself up to her full five feet and gave Grant a look that could have curled his toes. “I am perfectly capable of walking down to the meadow. I told you before I don’t need to see the house.”

  “I think Bree wanted to see it,” Grant said. He hollered into the kitchen. “Bree, Drew is giving tours of CeeCee’s house. Do you want to go?”

  She appeared in the doorway. “Sure. I haven’t seen it since you got the loft finished out.”

  “You youngsters go on.” CeeCee waved them off. “I’ll see it next time.”

  Drew gave Grant a look that asked if he was supposed to press CeeCee, but got no response. “Anyone else want to take the tour?”

  A flurry of refusals came at him. Seemed everyone had either seen it already today or had kids they needed to get home.

  He tried to persuade Grant’s mother again. “Are you sure, Mrs. Whitman? I think you’ll be surprised how much we’ve accomplished since you were last down there.”

  “I am quite sure, thank you. And there’s no need to be so formal. You can call me CeeCee, like the other children do.”

  He smiled, but didn’t quite feel right about using her grandmother name. His Southern mother had taught him and Dallas that adults were to be addressed as Mr. and Mrs. un
less they requested otherwise. Of course, CeeCee had requested. Maybe he just wouldn’t call her anything.

  “I guess it’s just you, Bree,” Grant said. “Drew, be sure and show her the window seat in the loft.”

  “I . . . I can wait until next time if I’m the only one,” Bree said.

  “No, you go on down, Bree. Drew’s been wanting to show off what we’ve done.” Grant went to open the back door.

  Which didn’t leave Drew much choice. He was thankful for the sunburn that—he hoped—hid his flushed face.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind, Drew?”

  “No. I don’t mind.” He didn’t mind at all. He would have minded even less if she wasn’t dating that stupid Aaron guy.

  20

  I hope you’re okay with this,” Drew said over his shoulder as they walked down to the construction site. “I promise I didn’t orchestrate this to get you down here alone or anything. I get that you’re taken.”

  Bree wasn’t sure how to reply. But she felt bad that he’d thought he had to explain himself. “Never crossed my mind,” she said finally, glad it was dark outside.

  Drew unlocked a side door and flipped several light switches on. “Watch your step. It’s a little uneven right here until we get the flooring in.”

  She stepped over the threshold and followed Drew into the main part of the house—a sweeping open-floor plan that looked huge unfinished as it was. “Wow! This is going to be so awesome! CeeCee doesn’t know what she’s missing.” Bree tipped her chin up to take in the beams and rafters twenty feet overhead and the loft space that overlooked the open living area and kitchen. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “I love the smell of sawdust.”

  Drew laughed. “Well, there’s plenty of that to go around.”

  Everything was still bare wood and subfloor, but the cottage was now fully enclosed. The few rooms were taking shape, and she could envision what it would look like in a few more months. “I can’t believe you and Grant have done most of the work yourselves. This is just beautiful!”

  Drew shook his head. “Not me. I just do what Grant tells me. He’s the rock star here.” But Drew was beaming and looking pretty proud of what they’d accomplished in less than five weeks. Rightfully so.

  “I don’t know that much about construction, but I remember when Grant and Audrey gutted the house and remodeled everything to turn it into the inn, they worked their tails off! Of course, the inn is fifty-five hundred square feet. This one’s, what? About fifteen hundred?”

  He nodded. “Not counting the loft. I think it adds another four hundred.”

  “Oh! Speaking of the loft, Grant said you should show me the window seat.”

  “Follow me.” He flipped on a light switch and led the way up the open staircase that hugged the wall of what would be the dining area. Halfway up, he stopped and looked over the railing. “Underneath the stairs will be a little alcove for an office.”

  “Or another card table for CeeCee’s bridge club.” She could picture it all and wished they’d been able to persuade CeeCee to come and see her house.

  Drew continued on up the stairs. “I think it’s the bookshelves above the window seat that Grant wanted you to see.” At the top, he stepped aside to reveal a deep window seat with a hinged lid for storage and, on either side, bookshelves that went all the way to the vaulted ceiling.

  She plopped down on the unfinished wooden bench and gazed out at the night sky. “Oh! What a great view!”

  “Careful you don’t get sawdust on your shorts. It’s pretty dusty up here.”

  “If I ever build a house, I’m not going to let them clean up the sawdust so it will always smell this good.”

  She inhaled again, making him laugh. He made an effort to dust off the other side of the bench, but remained standing. “You should see the view in the daylight. I mean, I know you’ve seen the creek and the woods, but there’s something about seeing it from this vantage point. Up this high. It’s pretty cool.”

  “I bet. And the bookcases are perfect here! Put a little coffeemaker on one shelf, and I could just live right here in this spot forever!”

  Drew grinned. “Depends on what books were here. If you fill it with a bunch of romance novels, count me out.”

  “Seriously? What’s wrong with you? You don’t like romance novels?” she teased. Dallas’s brother was easy to be with, and more like his brother than she’d remembered. Same easy-going, wry sense of humor. They even looked like brothers, although she knew Dallas had been adopted. “So what kind of books would be here if you lived here?”

  He thought for a minute. “Biographies. World War II memoirs. How-to books . . . about construction.”

  “You must be enjoying the work? Working with Grant?”

  “More than I ever thought I would. It’s honestly made me rethink the kind of job I’m looking for.”

  “Really? How’s the job hunt going, by the way?”

  He shrugged. “Okay, I guess. I have an interview next week. Finally.”

  “That’s good. Who with, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “Not at all.” He stuck his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans. “It’s a company in St. Louis.”

  “Oh . . . I didn’t realize you were considering a move.” She didn’t even know where in Cape Drew lived. He’d mentioned an apartment. But it took her aback to think of him leaving the area. “I bet Dallas isn’t very happy about that.”

  “I don’t know about him, but Danae isn’t very happy about losing Uncle Drew as a babysitter.”

  Bree laughed. “I bet. Well, maybe we can fill in for you.” Until now, she hadn’t thought about the day when the cottage would be finished, and Drew would no longer be a part of Tuesday night dinners. It wouldn’t be the same without him.

  Of course, who was she to talk? The way things were heading with Aaron, Drew would soon be more a Whitman than she was.

  “I don’t really want to move.” Drew’s voice pulled her back to the moment. “But if that’s what it takes to be gainfully employed, that’s what I’ll do.”

  Not coming up with a response, she turned to the bookcases. “So, biographies and World War II for you, huh? I figured you more for legal thrillers. Or maybe science fiction.”

  “Science fiction, no. But I’ve been known to read John Grisham or James Scott Bell.”

  “She looked toward the shelves near the ceiling. I wonder how CeeCee will reach books up there. I wouldn’t put it past her to climb a ladder.”

  He winced and sucked in a breath. “That wouldn’t be good. Grant said the bookcases weren’t in the original plan, but he said Audrey would love them. Did you know they plan to move in here when they retire? I guess he means after Grant’s mom is . . .” He didn’t finish the sentence.

  “Yes. I think they’d planned all along to build down here. For when they retire. CeeCee’s situation just sped the process up a little. And I think the cottage will be done in the nick of time.”

  He frowned. “Is she not doing well?”

  Bree shook her head. “I didn’t see it at first. Maybe I didn’t want to. But after Grant and Audrey mentioned it, I definitely can see that she’s failing. And . . . changing. She’s been so crabby recently. Snapping at people and just being disagreeable.”

  A twinkle came to his eyes. “I just thought maybe that’s how she always was.”

  “No. I mean, she’s always had a stubborn streak, but she used to be sweet as pie even if she was telling you she was not going to do something if she didn’t feel like it.” Bree laughed, knowing how strange that must sound. But it was true. “Grant always says CeeCee can leave a door-to-door salesman smiling, even as she tells him to hit the road and don’t come back.”

  Drew nodded, laughing. “I believe that. Is she still saying she won’t move?”

  “Last I heard. Did you say anything to Grant?”

  “Me?” He looked incredulous. “Are you kidding? I wouldn’t get in the middle of that with a ten-foot hot poker.”r />
  She laughed. “Smart man. Me neither.”

  “But I guess it’s not such a big deal if Grant and Audrey were planning to build anyway. They could probably rent it out to B&B guests until they’re ready to live in it.”

  “I thought about that too. They probably wish it was ready to rent now. Audrey said they’ll be booked solid all Labor Day weekend.”

  “Well that’s good.”

  “It is.” She looked around the cottage again. “They could make this the ‘Friends and Family’ room.”

  He looked puzzled.

  “Have you ever been on the second floor of the inn?”

  He shook his head.

  “Oh. Well, if you ever go up there, you’ll see that one of the rooms has a sign over the door that says ‘Reserved for Friends and Family.’ It’s for any of us—well, their kids,” she corrected quickly, a little embarrassed that she’d included herself without thinking. realizing that she might no longer be included in that group if things heated up with Aaron. “If they need a place to stay for a few days. Or longer.”

  “Oh, yeah. I remember when Dallas and Danae brought Austin out here to stay for a while back when they were trying to get custody of him.”

  “That’s right. And they aren’t the only ones who’ve needed that room from time to time.”

  “Have you?” He kind of looked like he regretted asking the question, but he didn’t retract it either.

  “No. I stayed in the inn one night when it first opened, just to help Audrey test the rooms. She wanted someone who’d give an honest opinion to stay in each room and give it a test run before the grand opening. But I’ve never had to stay there.”

  “So did it pass the test?” He was grinning now.

  “It did. I gave it five stars.”

  “Well, if they get a comfortable bed in this cottage, it’ll be a six-star room.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. Grant and Audrey would only buy the best. But I think it will be CeeCee sleeping in that bed. I really think she’ll change her mind or else”—she hesitated—“they’ll have to change it for her.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “I just don’t think she can live on her own for much longer.”