Close to Home

by Raney, Deborah;

  It was almost all she’d been able to think about ever since that night Bree had brought Aaron Jakes out to the inn. “Let me ask you something. Did you girls think there was any chemistry between her and Aaron?”

  Landyn giggled.

  “I’m serious.” Audrey scowled at them. “Unless Bree was putting on an Oscar-winning performance that night, I did not see any spark at all between them. And you know Bree has never been one to put on an act.”

  Landyn rolled her eyes. “She was probably afraid to touch the poor guy for fear you’d make that face you’re making right now.”

  The other girls cackled like hens while Audrey tried to unfurrow her brow and unwrinkle her nose.

  But when the laughter died down, Corinne turned pensive. “Haven’t you ever wondered why Bree hasn’t had a boyfriend by now? She’d be a catch and a half for any guy. And she could probably have any man she wanted. But just think how uncomfortable it has to be for her to bring someone here to meet the whole family, to know we’re all sizing him up.”

  “Good point,” Danae said. “But, Mom, it’s not like she’s going to bring a guy out to meet us and then proceed to demonstrate whether they have any chemistry between them.”

  That made Audrey laugh. She felt better just to be able to talk this over with her daughters. She’d tried to broach the subject with Grant the night Bree had introduced them to Aaron. But he’d dismissed her before she got two words out. None of our business was all she remembered of his curt dismissal.

  In Grant’s defense, he was so wrapped up in his building project, trying to get that cottage enclosed before the weather got bad, that he’d been short with her more than once. But that didn’t change the fact that she needed someone to talk to about this. She couldn’t seem to keep from worrying about them losing Bree—which would feel like losing Tim all over again. She wanted their sweet daughter-in-law to be happy, to build a life with someone. She just wanted to be there to witness it all.

  “Are we even sure she’s dating Aaron?” Danae asked. “I would have thought she’d bring him out to the inn again if things were getting serious.”

  Landyn frowned. “No disrespect to Tim, but if you were a guy, would you want your girlfriend making you spend time with her late husband’s family?”

  “Well, he would just have to understand,” Audrey said. “I would have no respect for anyone who wouldn’t understand Bree wanting to stay a part of this family.” The tears pressed hot behind her eyelids again. “Bree knows we would welcome anyone she was dating to be part of the family.”

  “You really think Aaron felt welcome here that night?” Corinne said gently.

  Audrey looked at the table, knowing the accusation was aimed at her. Or at least it fit her. She thought how to defend herself. “If Bree . . . If she ever does bring home a guy she’s really serious about, we’ll welcome him like one of our own.”

  “But listen to yourself, Mom.” Corinne was trying to tread lightly, she knew. “You’re talking about Bree bringing someone home. This isn’t her home. Not really.”

  Audrey narrowed her eyes. “Well, it most certainly is her home. It’s been her home since the day she met Timothy.”

  “And you said you’d welcome him like one of your own.” Corinne wasn’t backing down. “But Mom, any guy Bree dates isn’t going to see this family as her family.”

  “No,” Danae said, as if that truth was just dawning on her. “In fact, he’ll probably see this family as one he wants to get Bree away from.”

  “Exactly!” Finally someone who saw her point! “You don’t think if this gets serious—with Bree and this Aaron guy—that she’ll quit spending time with us? She will. I know she will.”

  “I think it might already be pretty serious, Mom.” Landyn bit her lower lip, like she’d said something she shouldn’t have.

  “What do you mean?” Audrey and Danae said in unison.

  “I should not be telling you this, but I kind of can’t not tell you after this discussion.”

  “What?” They all leaned in closer, waiting.

  “Bree came to talk to me.” Landyn sighed.

  “About Aaron?” Audrey felt numb.

  Danae’s eyes grew wide. “Are they getting serious?”

  Landyn winced.

  Corinne gave a little gasp. “Are they engaged?”

  “No! Nothing like that,” Landyn said.

  Audrey released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Grant had warned her over the years that they would have to let Bree go eventually, to let her make her own life. But after almost five years had passed, she’d begun to think Bree might never remarry or even date again. Though she hated to see their sweet daughter-in-law miss out on having a family. Well, they were her family. And Bree had seemed content enough with that. Until now.

  And though she’d seen no chemistry whatsoever between Bree and Aaron, she was certain there’d been a few sparks fly—good sparks—between Bree and Drew that night he’d stayed to play that stupid sex wars game—or whatever it was—that had them all laughing so hard.

  Grant had grown to think the world of Dallas’s younger brother and had taken him under his wing. The more Drew spent time at the inn, the more Audrey liked him. And last Tuesday, watching Drew interact with her family around the table, it had struck Audrey that since Dallas was the only family Drew had, it was only natural that he would gravitate to the inn more and more.

  If Drew and Bree were to marry, it would be the most natural thing in the world for both of them to continue spending time at the inn, to spend holidays there, the way Bree already did. It would be almost like sisters marrying brothers.

  Oh, she would never admit to her daughters how much she’d fantasized about that very scenario over the past few days even as she struggled with thoughts of losing Bree. And now . . . Now that she knew Bree was dating someone else—someone who had the power to take her away from them—those fantasies seemed like an urgent mandate.

  They simply could not lose their Bree!

  24

  Bree was thankful for the late start to the day Monday since they had an event at the hospital this afternoon that would run late. She’d grabbed a sandwich around eleven and was in line at Starbucks for iced tea when she realized she was setting herself up for trouble by even being here.

  They’d gotten in the habit of picking up Starbucks for each other. If she came in to the office with only one drink, Aaron would take it personally and think she was trying to make a statement. But if she brought him a cup and he was still mad at her, it could get even uglier.

  She backed her Taurus away from the next car in line at the drive-through, barely missing a car trying to get in line. The guy honked loud and long, making exaggerated hand signals. She mouthed I’m sorry and tried to look apologetic before driving away as fast as she could.

  Coming into the Wilkes office, she immediately spotted the top of Aaron’s head over his cubicle wall. She saw him see her, but he quickly put his head down.

  She sighed. They were not going to play this game all afternoon. She dropped her things off at her cubicle and went to the doorway of his. “Good morning. Did you have a good weekend?”

  He whirled his office chair to face her. “Seriously? You’re going to ask me that?”

  “Sorry. A good Sunday? Did you have a good Sunday? I know I destroyed your Saturday.”

  He eyed her as if he didn’t recognize sarcasm when he heard it. “It was okay,” he finally said. “Good sermon on being kind to others.”

  “Ha ha. Very funny.” At least he’d gone to church.

  “No, actually that’s what the sermon was about.”

  “Well, how nice that it gave you something to gloat about.” She did not like the way he was making her behave.

  “Ha ha yourself.” He swiveled his chair back to face his desk and started typing.

  “Aaron, can we please not do this here?”

  “Do what? What are we doing?”

  “You
know what I mean.” He was showing his true colors, and she didn’t like it. Worse, she hated the way she was responding. They were both acting like a couple of middle school kids. “Aaron, I don’t want to have this between us when we do the hospital event this afternoon. Could we please talk about this and try to work things out?”

  Sallie stepped out of her office just then. “Everything okay out here?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Aaron scrambled to his feet as if she’d caught them doing something wrong.

  “Is everything set for the open house this afternoon?” Sallie looked between them. She did seem suspicious.

  Bree took a step back and cleared her throat. “Everything’s ready from my end,” she said. Had they been arguing louder than she realized?

  “I have to go pick up the tent in about twenty minutes. But everything else is set.” He turned to Bree. “Do you have time to go along and help me set up the tent?”

  “I could. If you really need me.” She didn’t have time, but she’d make time. No sense in ticking him off even more.

  “Okay, great.” Sallie gave a thumbs up, seeming reassured that all was well. “Good job.” She moved on to check in with another team.

  But Bree wondered if their boss sensed the animosity that had sprung up between her and Aaron.

  “I really need to get some work done at my desk before we go.”

  “Fine.” He plopped back into his chair.

  “I’ll meet you in the parking lot in twenty minutes? Do we need to take a work truck?”

  “Yes. I’ve already got the keys.” He avoided her gaze and gripped the mouse beside his keyboard, dismissing her.

  * * *

  A few minutes later, when she came out the back door, Aaron was waiting in the truck, engine running. She went around and climbed in the passenger side.

  They rode in silence to pick up the tent, but when they were on the road again, she threw up a prayer and dived in. “Do you have time to talk?”

  “All the time in the world. At least until three o’clock.”

  “I just . . . I hate that things aren’t going very well between us. I feel like—”

  “Why is that? That things aren’t going well. What did I do?” He sounded genuinely confused.

  “I don’t know that you did anything, Aaron. It just . . . things are more complicated than I expected. It’s taking me a while to get used to the idea of dating again.”

  “So where does that leave me?”

  “I . . .” She looked at her lap, praying for the right words. Because she knew now that she couldn’t lead him on any more. “I don’t think I’m ready for this, Aaron. I thought I was, but I’m just . . . not.”

  “It just seems a little funny that the minute we make things official, it all blows up.”

  “What do you mean make it official?”

  “You know . . .” He held up his phone. “Facebook. Telling Sallie.”

  “We didn’t tell Sallie. She pretty much told us.”

  He stared through the windshield. “Whatever.”

  She thought she might smack him if he said “whatever” again. And Facebook? She hadn’t checked her profile since Aaron had put the photo up from the vineyard and made their relationship public. She wondered what he’d written about them since that.

  She felt a little guilty that she wasn’t telling him the whole truth. And yet, how could she? She’d hurt him enough. And for all she knew, if she ever had a chance to get to know Drew better, she might feel the same apprehension she’d felt with Aaron.

  Though she didn’t think so.

  She pushed the thought away. Right now, she had to find a way to smooth things over enough that she could still face Aaron at work each day. She made a mental note: Never, never date a coworker. Unless you hate your job.

  The truck’s air conditioner blew cool air on her face, but it didn’t stop her cheeks from heating. “Aaron, I am so sorry. I owe you a huge apology. I do like you a lot. I thought I was ready to date again. But I’m just not. I’m sorry.”

  “So am I getting dumped here? Is that what this is?”

  “I’m sorry. But yes. It’s not fair to you when I just can’t give you what you’re hoping for.” She gripped the passenger side arm rest. “I wish I could make you understand. Tim used to talk about collateral damage. He hated it. Was always trying to figure out ways his platoon could avoid it. I feel like that’s what I’ve done to you.”

  “Yeah. It kind of feels like that.”

  “Please don’t take it personally, Aaron. It’s not you. You’re a great guy. It’s me. I’m just not ready.” Strange how their relationship had started in this truck, and now it looked like it would end here, too.

  They drove in silence until the hospital came in sight. “Do you know which entrance we’re supposed to use?” His tone was dull.

  She consulted the spec book on the console between them. “Go around there. There’s public parking we can use.” She pointed.

  He followed her directions and parked the truck, turning off the ignition. Within seconds, the cab was too hot to remain in. “I sure hope it cools off before we have to stand out here for two hours.”

  “I know. I don’t know why they thought it was a good idea to have an outdoor event in the dead of August.”

  “At least they’re serving ice cream.”

  “You think that was a good idea? It’ll be stickier than Café du Monde in the rain.”

  She laughed. “I’ve got baby wipes.”

  On the other end of the hospital, an ambulance roared into the Emergency Room entrance, sirens blaring, and they both stood watching from the distance. “That’s going to make for pleasant background music,” Aaron deadpanned.

  She laughed again. Maybe they could find their way back to friendship again.

  She checked her clock. “We still have an hour. It’ll be gone before the event starts. Besides, this is a hospital. What do people expect?” But she wondered how many times a day that scenario repeated itself.

  They managed to work the event as though their discussion—their breakup—hadn’t happened. Mostly by avoiding each other the entire afternoon. But it gave her hope that maybe she wouldn’t have to quit her job after all or never go out in public again for fear of running into Aaron.

  But when they got in the truck after tearing down the event, the tension—his anger—was palpable.

  They returned the tent to the storage building, and it was almost six when they got back to the office. He parked the truck in the empty parking lot behind the building but made no move to get out.

  A storm front was moving in, and the air had cooled off a little, but Bree didn’t want to sit here all night rehashing things. She felt like a first-class jerk, but she had nothing else to say to him. How could she ever trust her feelings if she could feel so wildly different about Aaron tonight than she had just a few weeks ago?

  She reached for the door handle. “Well, goodnight. See you tomorrow?” She hadn’t meant it to come out as a question.

  “That’s it? That’s all you’ve got to say?”

  “I said I was sorry. I truly am. I don’t know what else to say. Please forgive me, Aaron.”

  He sat, stone-faced.

  Her throat clogged with tears. She’d botched this so badly. But there was nothing else she could do. She opened the door and climbed out, longing for him to say something. Anything that would let her leave with some sort of closure.

  But she knew she’d injured his dignity. And she needed to let him be angry.

  With a sigh, she closed the door. Gently. Too gently. It didn’t go shut, so she had to open it and close it again.

  She walked to her car slowly. She heard the truck door slam behind her, then his car door, and he roared out of the lot and screeched down the street.

  In her car, she broke down, bowing over the steering wheel. God, I messed that up so badly. I don’t even know what to do to make things right. Please forgive me. And please help Aaron to forgive me.


  She wanted to crawl in a hole and never come out. She mentally checked her calendar and remembered that tomorrow was Tuesday. She couldn’t face anyone. Not when she’d just announced last week that she had a boyfriend. Of course, they’d all ask about him, maybe even expect her to bring him.

  She fished her phone from her purse and sent a quick text to Landyn: Would you guys be able to pick up CeeCee tomorrow night? I’m not going to be able to make it.

  She started to type out an explanation, but couldn’t think of any way to say it. She pressed send and dropped the phone back in her purse, not expecting the busy mom to answer right away.

  But her phone chimed a few seconds later. She dug it back out of her purse and read Landyn’s reply, her heart lurching: So sorry we haven’t gotten hold of you yet, Bree. CC is in the hospital. She fell. I’m afraid it’s bad. Call me.

  25

  Landyn? What happened?” Bree couldn’t keep her voice from trembling. She gripped the steering wheel with one hand, thankful she hadn’t started driving yet.

  “Oh, Bree! There you are. CeeCee fell. She’s in surgery now. Mom and Dad are at the hospital with her but—”

  “I’ll get there as soon as I can.”

  “No. Don’t come tonight. Dad said it would be better if we don’t pack out the waiting room. He promised to let us know as soon as she’s out of surgery, and the doctor said she’d probably be pretty out of it until morning.”

  “But what . . . how did it happen?” She’d already asked that question, but she couldn’t make sense of it.

  “We don’t know for sure, but apparently she fell off her front porch. Dad found her lying there—unconscious—when he went to check on her. He doesn’t know how long she laid there before he came along, but thank goodness she was in the shade. It could have been—” Landyn’s voice broke.

  It must be bad. “I just can’t believe this. Do . . . do they think she’ll be okay? Why did they have to do surgery?”

  “Oh. I thought I said. I’m sorry. I’ve talked to so many people tonight, I forget who I’ve told what. She broke both of her arms. Must have caught herself as she fell.”