Close to Home

by Raney, Deborah;

“I think so. Maybe even a little ahead.” He took a drink and set the glass back down. “Do you think she’ll be well enough to move in when it’s done. Live on her own again?”

  “I don’t know. It all depends on what CeeCee decides she wants to do.”

  He laughed. “I probably wouldn’t be laughing if I was the one having to deal with her, but you’ve got to admire her spunk. I miss that woman.”

  She frowned. “Between her and you missing at Tuesday night dinners, things have really deteriorated.”

  “I wanted to talk to you about that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve been reworking my calendar a little. Turns out they have a four-day week option at work.”

  “Oh?” She tried not to get her hopes up.

  “I’m thinking there might be a way I could take that option with the goal of pursuing being ‘in a relationship’ with you—if you’re still interested.”

  “I am interested.” She stopped chewing and wiped the corner of her mouth on a napkin. “Very interested. Very.”

  Beaming, he reached for her hand again, that familiar glint coming to his hazel eyes. “Just be warned, I won’t be at your beck and call. I’ll still have to help Grant with the finish work on the cottage. And I don’t want to neglect Dallas and Danae and the boys. But I’d really like to see you when I’m back. Maybe not every week, but when you can.” He glanced sidewise at her. “I don’t want to assume too much, but here’s how I see it all going down.” He grinned, looking pretty stinkin’ confident about his plan. And pretty stinkin’ gorgeous to boot.

  “I’m listening.”

  “I’ll drive back on Thursday afternoons and spend some time with Dallas and the family, then if you’re available, I’ll pick you up for dinner on Friday night and—”

  “Or I could cook dinner for us. I have this Bundt cake recipe I think you’d like.” She winked. “Sorry. Continue.”

  She loved the twinkle in his eyes. “Then I’ll work for Grant all day on Saturday. And whatever Saturday evenings you’re free, we’ll find something to do around Cape. I don’t have that part all figured out yet, but I’m thinking we can go for walks, go fishing, catch a movie, maybe babysit the boys so Dallas and Danae can get a break . . . Then we’ll go to church together Sunday morning, go out to lunch, and then I’ll kiss you good-bye until the next Friday when we start the process all over again.” He gave her a look that said So what do you think?

  She squeezed his hand. “I am so loving this plan, Mr. Brooks. You just don’t even know . . .” She felt like she could fly! She might need cinder blocks to keep her tethered to the earth.

  As naturally as taking a breath, a strange and pretty amazing thought came to her: she couldn’t wait to tell her parents.

  “Okay. It’s a deal then.” He watched her boldly in the restaurant’s flickering candlelight, and she felt loved just looking into his eyes.

  His lunch hour was over far too soon. And she needed to be on her way.

  They stood outside in front of Caleco’s, reluctant to part. Finally, he placed the palm of his hand on her cheek. “I’ll be praying for your time with your folks. They’ll come around. I know they will.”

  “Thank you, Drew.”

  “Well . . . I’d better go.” He ran a hand down her arm, squeezed her hand briefly, then turned away.

  She turned toward the parking garage.

  “Hey . . .”

  She turned at the sound of his voice

  “Are you sure that Aaron dude didn’t kiss you three times?”

  Laughter bubbled up in her. “You know, come to think of it, I believe he did!”

  “Well, then I’m behind.”

  He jogged back and leaned to kiss her.

  She kissed him back, and let him settle the score. Once and for all.

  35

  Bree hurried past Sallie’s office, hoping her boss wouldn’t stop her on the way out as she seemed wont to do more and more recently. But Drew was coming back to Cape earlier than usual today, and she didn’t intend to miss out on one minute of his weekend here.

  Stepping out into a chilly mid-November afternoon, she wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck and walked briskly to her car. If she hurried, she’d have time to freshen up a little before he arrived at her house.

  As had become their habit, he’d called her Tuesday night after she got back from family dinner at the inn. They’d talked for two hours before they finally made each other hang up. She couldn’t get by on five hours of sleep very often, but she didn’t resent even one lost minute when it was because of Drew Brooks.

  Drew. His very name made her heart beat faster. If they ever had a son, he would be named after his father. There’d been a time, not too long ago, when she would have been embarrassed for him to know how often she entertained that kind of thoughts.

  But recently, they’d begun talking about a future together. And sometimes she was overcome with gratitude that God had put a man like Drew in her life. It might seem an odd thought to some, but she thought Tim would have given his hearty approval of Drew.

  She hoped her parents would do the same. She was taking him to meet Mom and Dad over Thanksgiving weekend. That one visit to Boonville had begun a healing that continued through the weeks, and when she spoke of Drew on the phone, her parents actually seemed interested. And happy for her.

  She’d come to realize that her change of attitude toward her parents—and her willingness to forgive them for their callousness toward Tim—was a big part of the reason healing had begun. She wasn’t expecting an instant warm-fuzzy relationship with Mom and Dad, but now that she was calling them weekly and showing more interest in their lives, they’d reciprocated. Which made each visit more cordial than the one before. She felt more hopeful than she had in many years.

  And Drew had so much to do with it all. He’d never chided her for not working harder on her relationship with her parents, but through many conversations, and learning to appreciate that she may not always have her parents, the truth had dawned and the sun had risen.

  Drew. She grew to love him more each day. There were a lot of hurdles still to clear. She didn’t really want to leave Cape Girardeau and move to St. Louis. It would mean the end of Tuesday family dinners for her. And it would mean being far from CeeCee. She was adjusting to the rehab center well, but who knew how much time they had left with her.

  But the thought of a little more distance between them didn’t tear her heart out as much as it once had. Not the way it had when she’d considered the same because of Aaron. Because she knew that many family holidays would still be celebrated at the Chicory Inn and that she and Drew would both be welcomed with open arms to a place he considered as much home as any.

  She smiled. Funny how the right man changed her perspective on everything. Everything.

  She was almost home when her phone blared with Drew’s special ring. She laughed remembering how she’d programmed a lovely wind chime sound for Drew’s number last time they were together. He’d lobbied hard for the Hallelujah Chorus instead. And won. It could be embarrassing if she forgot to turn off her phone and he called while she was working an event.

  “Hey, babe. Where are you?” There was something so precious about being able to call someone babe again.

  “Hi, beautiful. I just passed the Perryville exit. I got away a little later than I hoped, but I should be there in less than an hour. Would you want to meet me at CeeCee’s? At the rehab, I mean?”

  “Sure. She’ll love seeing you.”

  “Is she doing okay? Have you seen her recently?”

  “Just yesterday. She’s good. Just a little frustrated with how long it’s taking to regain the use of her fingers. She has a lot of therapy ahead to get her hands back in full use. She has to get them in shape for the bridge club.”

  Drew laughed into the phone. “I can only imagine. Okay, I’ll just meet you there in an hour. I have something I want to give her.”

  “For CeeCee?�
��

  “Uh-huh.”

  “You’re not going to tell me what it is?” She was itching with curiosity.

  “It’s a surprise. You’ll just have to be patient. But I think she’ll like it.”

  “You are so stinkin’ sweet, you know that?”

  “Not sweet enough to keep the mosquitoes away, apparently.”

  She smiled, thinking—as she knew he’d intended—of that night at the inn when he’d first kissed her. That seemed like a lifetime ago. They’d come so far together since then. “Drive safe.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you back.” So very much.

  * * *

  “Well, look what the cat dragged in!” CeeCee’s face lit up like Drew hadn’t seen it do since before her accident.

  Drew looked behind him for Bree, but she’d hung back in the doorway, no doubt wanting to give him some time with the elderly woman first. Clutching the package he’d brought, he went to her and knelt beside her chair. It had been more than a month since he’d last seen her, and she seemed thinner than he remembered, but otherwise she was the same old CeeCee.

  “I’m back in town to work on your house, CeeCee,” he said, taking her thin hand in his. “Grant says the staff here think you’ll be recovered enough to move into the cottage by spring. Are you looking forward to that?”

  “Oh, I suppose. They treat me pretty good here though.”

  He looked around her large sunny room. “I can see that. This is nicer than my apartment in St. Louis. By a long shot.”

  “Well, I don’t know about that. But it beats living on the streets.”

  He laughed. “I don’t think you ever have to worry about that.” He patted her hand. “How are your arms doing? Are they getting you back in shape?”

  She scowled. “It’s not my arms that are the trouble. It’s these blamed hands.” She held them up as if they were foreign object, then let them drop back into her lap. “I can’t hold a dinner fork, let alone a hand of bridge.”

  He put the package he’d brought her on her lap. “I brought you something that just might help with that.”

  “Oh?” She looked at the package. “This is for me?”

  “It is.”

  “Well, I suppose you’re going to have to help me open it. These hands are good for nothing.” She touched the wrapping paper. “Now you be careful. Don’t tear this pretty paper. I like to save that.”

  “I apologize for the sloppy wrapping job.”

  “I’m sure you did the best you could.”

  He laughed and slipped a finger beneath the edge of the paper and loosened the tape. He slid the paper away to reveal the wooden playing card holder he’d slaved over for many a night.

  She gave him a comical questioning look. “What is it? A boomerang?”

  Still laughing, he reached into his shirt pocket for the deck of cards he’d thought to bring at the last minute. “It does kind of look like a boomerang, doesn’t it? It’s a card holder. So you can keep your cards all in order with just a couple of fingers.” He set the device on the end table beside her and slipped a few cards into the slot. “And see, it’s curved so no one but you can see the cards.”

  “Well fry me in butter and call me a catfish! Would you look at that.”

  Drew cracked up, but CeeCee ignored him, leaned to one side in her chair, squinting past him, seeming distracted. “Is that our Bree over there in the doorway?”

  He turned to wink at the woman he loved. “It sure is.” Bree had crept closer, eyeing the mysterious package he’d brought for CeeCee.

  “Well, what on earth is she doing clear over there. Tell her to get herself in here.”

  Laughing, he motioned Bree over.

  “Hi, CeeCee.” Bree kissed her cheek and knelt beside Drew, smiling.

  “Did you see what this young man made me?”

  “I did. It’s pretty cool, isn’t it.”

  “I don’t know about cool, but I can’t wait to give it a whirl. Now that young man . . .” She leaned closer to Bree, glaring as if the girl might need convincing. “He’s a keeper.”

  Drew wondered if she meant, as opposed to Aaron Jakes, but he didn’t dare ask.

  But Bree beamed at him over the top of CeeCee’s head. “I know he is, CeeCee.”

  Drew picked up the card holder and held it out. “I don’t know if you need something similar to this to hold your chips and coins, but I might be able to—”

  “Oh honey, we don’t play for money here.” The familiar CeeCee glint came to her eyes. “We play for blood.”

  * * *

  Bree and Drew were still laughing when they pushed through the doors of the rehab center into the parking lot.

  “That is quite a lady there,” he said, shaking his head.

  “That was so sweet of you to make that for her, Drew. It was beautiful, too! A work of art.” It seemed like every day she learned something new and amazing about this man.

  “I think that might be taking it a little too far. But I was pretty happy with how it turned out.”

  “You could make those and sell them. I bet they’d go like hotcakes.”

  “No they wouldn’t, because I’d have to charge $3267 for each one if I wanted to make five bucks an hour.”

  She giggled. “Okay. Never mind. But you’d make me one, wouldn’t you? For when I’m old and decrepit?”

  “We’ll see. If I start on your fiftieth birthday, I might finish in time for your old, decrepit stage of life.”

  She laughed harder, and tried to imagine what they might look like when they reached CeeCee’s age.

  They’d reached their cars, parked beside each other in the parking lot. He walked with her to her drivers’ side door and leaned against the passenger door of his car.

  “I did actually make you a little something though.” Drew reached into his pocket and brought out a simple, unvarnished wooden box. He handed it to her, looking sheepish. “You might think this is a dumb gift, but I remember how much you like the smell of sawdust.”

  She took off the lid to reveal a pile of curly, pale yellow wood shavings and sawdust.

  “See. You can just open this box whenever you want a whiff of that smell.” He demonstrated.

  “Drew . . . How sweet.” She put the little box to her face and breathed in the pungent, and now familiar, woodsy smell. “I love it! I couldn’t love it more.”

  “I made the box out of scraps from CeeCee’s house. And those wood shavings are from the cottage too.” He grinned like a little boy presenting a fistful of dandelions to his mother.

  “It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.” She smiled up at him, clutching the box to her breast, being careful not to spill it. “It smells like you. I’m going to carry it with me everywhere.”

  He tapped the box, a mischievous glint coming to his eyes. “Um . . . you might want to dig around in there a little bit.”

  She gave him a questioning look, but opened the box again and stirred the wood shavings with her index finger. She struck something hard and cool to the touch and fished it out. “Oh! Drew . . . Oh . . .” Words failed her.

  He took the ring from her and knelt in front of her on the hard asphalt between their cars. “Bree Whitman, you’re already my best friend. I would be the happiest man alive if you would also be my wife.”

  “Yes.” She couldn’t seem to make her voice more than a whisper. “A thousand times yes.”

  He rose to his feet and slid the diamond on her left ring finger, then took her hand and kissed each finger. “Looks good on you.”

  She held her hand out in front of her face, but all she could see through the blur of happy tears was the man she loved. This good man God had given her. This best friend . . . and so much more.

  Group Discussion Guide

  Keep in mind that discussion questions contain spoilers that may give away elements of the plot.

  1. In Close to Home, Bree—the daughter-in-law of the Whitman family—struggles with moving on after th
e death of her Marine hero husband, Tim Whitman, in Afghanistan. What are some of the issues a very young widow or widower faces that an older one may not?

  2. What do you think is a reasonable amount of time for a young widow to wait before remarrying? Would you feel differently about your answer if the young woman had been married to your own son? Would you answer differently if it was a young widower rather than a widow? Why?

  3. Do you think a widow or widower should maintain a relationship with the family of her or his spouse after the death? Would a remarriage change your answer to that question? Put yourself in the shoes of the following people and think how you would feel about a young widow remarrying: If you were the parents of the widow’s late husband? If you were the widow’s parents? If you were the parents of the new spouse? Did your perspective change dramatically depending on whose eyes you were seeing the situation through?

  4. If your son’s wife or daughter’s husband had a distant relationship with her or his parents, how would you encourage them to handle the situation? Generally speaking, how involved do you believe in-laws should be in the lives of their children’s spouses? In Close to Home, Bree held unforgiveness in her heart toward her parents, mostly because they had disapproved of her marriage. That disapproval was magnified after the death of her husband. Why is it hard for her to forgive her parents? Is there any way they could make amends five years after Tim’s death?

  5. Bree becomes involved with a peer she works with at an event planning agency. What are some of the problems inherent in workplace dating? Would your opinion be different if one person in the relationship was the boss or supervisor of the other? Do you think it is right for companies to have non-fraternization policies (not allowing employees to date each other)?

  6. Although Bree enjoyed her friendship with Aaron and liked him a great deal, she realized rather early in their relationship that she didn’t love him. Why do you think she went along with his desire to have a dating relationship for so long, even though she was growing to love another man? Did you lose respect for Bree during this time in the story? Have you ever found yourself in a similar position? If so, does that make you more sympathetic to Bree?