Perfect Night

by Laine, Terri E.

  She laughed too. “I can see that. Especially when you kicked the ass of every boy who looked at her. She had a party when you left for college. Not a literal one.”

  “I know. No party could happen without our parents knowing. Now will you save my life tonight?” I winked, then I remember. “Oh, Evan is welcome too.”

  She blew out a breath. “He’s gone.”

  “Oh. Is that good or bad?” One corner of my mouth tilted up.

  “You’ve learned from your sister?”

  “I plead the fifth,” and picked up my Coke only to realize it was empty. “Please come. Otherwise, she’ll send me over with a plate.”

  She waved her hand. “Oh, the plates.”

  “Don’t you have a lot of them?”

  “Exactly. So much food shoved at me, peanut butter and jelly sounds divine.”

  “Your loss,” I said.

  “Except for your mother’s apple pie.”

  I smiled widely; I felt the corners of my eyes crinkle. “You have to have dinner first.”

  “You know what, yes. I’ll go.”

  I took out my credit card from my wallet and she waved my hand away. “Your money’s no good here.”

  “Sure it is. And don’t say anything else. You know everyone in town. You can’t comp them all.”

  “Fine.” She plucked the credit card from my hand and keyed the register. Then she handed it back to me with a receipt. “Sign here, please.”

  I added a generous tip and handed it back. She grinned then spoke to Jack before ushering me to follow her.

  We exited out the back side door. “I can drive you,” I offered.

  “You don’t have to. Then you’ll have to bring me all the way back.”

  “Emma, it’s fine, really. Gives me something to do.”

  I opened the passenger door on my truck and helped her in. My parents lived on the outskirts of town, but it wasn’t that long of a drive compared to LA where the same distance could take double or triple the time. I appreciated there being no traffic around here.

  “How’s the house coming?” Emma asked.

  “Slow. I’ve only worked on it yesterday and today. It’s going to take time.”

  She nodded.

  “It’s good though. It will keep me busy.”

  “You sound like my dad. He was updating the house right up to the last day.”

  I didn’t want her sad. “Mom loves your house.” I thought I’d said the right thing.

  “So did mine.”

  I’d put my foot in my mouth and remained silent the rest of the drive. I pulled up at the front of the farmhouse I’d been raised in. It looked the same as it did the day I left.

  Mom was on the porch as I got out. Emma opened the door before I could reach it. But I was there to help her out. Mom’s arms opened wide and enveloped Emma in a bear hug.

  “Oh, honey,” she said, cupping Emma’s cheeks. Then her eyes found mine. “There’s my son. Two days in town and this is the first I see of him.”

  She stepped in my direction, and I scooped her up. “You know I love you.” I kissed her cheek before setting her down.

  “Come in,” Mom said, waving us in.

  Once inside, Emma said, “I hope it’s okay to come over unannounced.”

  “Nonsense. You’re family. Besides, I always cook enough for extra. I never know if Alana’s coming or not. And this one did a good job of eating us out of house and home.”

  “Mom,” I chided.

  “Go tell your father it’s time to eat. He’s out in the barn.”

  I tipped my head. “Yes, ma’am.” Emma looked okay, so I left out the door I’d come in.

  Dad was in the barn tending to our horses. We had a couple mostly because Dad loved them.

  “Aiden,” he said with a wide smile when he looked up.

  There was a time when I had to look up to my dad. Now I was his height. We embraced and he clapped me on the back.

  “I’m glad you’re home. I don’t have to hear your mother complain about not hearing from you. Now I can drive over and kick your ass if you don’t call or stop by.”

  I laughed. “I never meant not to call. Just things—”

  “No need for apology. You had a life to live just like Alana. Only with her, there’s always someone in town who can tell your mother they saw her and she’s fine.”

  “I’m sure they’ll do the same with me,” I joked.

  “Maybe. I’m hoping you do a better job of stopping by.” He held up a hand. “Not every day or every week. But consistently.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Good.” He patted my back. “Let’s go eat.”

  “I brought Emma,” I said as we walked back to the house.

  His brow arched. “She’s engaged.”

  “I know. She needed a friend even if she wouldn’t say it.”

  He bobbed his head. “She’s had it tough. Doug did his best after her mother died. Your mom did a fair amount of cooking for the pair over the years. I can tell you she secretly hoped the two of you would have ended up together.”

  That surprised me. “Really?”

  “Come on, son. We have eyes. So did the two of you… for each other.”

  I opened and closed my mouth a few times.

  He winked. “Let’s get inside.”

  The meal was reason itself to come back to Mason Creek. Mom was a master in the kitchen, and I hadn’t had a home-cooked meal like hers in a while. The few women I’d dated long enough to enjoy a meal at their places didn’t have Mom’s touch.

  “Thank you for a lovely meal, Mrs. Faulkner,” Emma said.

  She held up a finger. “It’s not done yet. I hope you have room for pie.”

  Emma’s eyes widened. “Apple?”

  “Yes. This morning I had a powerful urge to make apple pie.”

  “I wanted peach cobbler, but she wouldn’t hear of it,” Dad said.

  Mom came back with pie and homemade ice cream. “It shouldn’t be possible for me to have room to eat anymore. But I can’t say no,” Emma said with grin.

  Mom served me a generous piece. I couldn’t imagine why my sister didn’t come home more often.

  Only one piece was left when we were done. Emma declined taking leftovers. We were in the middle of saying our goodbyes when Emma said to Mom, “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me, honey. You’re always welcome.”

  “I know. Thank you for not asking how I was doing.” Her voice cracked. “Because I don’t know how I’m doing.”

  Mom rested her hand on Emma’s. “Some things don’t need to be said. You just know. I want you to know, that we’re here for you. We can never take the place of your parents. But we can still love you like you were ours. If you ever need anything, you just let us know.”

  They were barely whispered words, but Mom heard Emma thank her again. Then she was hugging Emma who sagged in her arms. I couldn’t imagine the pain she was going through. Guilt would have killed me if either of my parents had passed on while I was in LA.

  A lot of eyes were red rimmed when we finally headed out. I left Emma to her thoughts on the drive back as she stared off into the distance.

  Once we turned on the road around the town square Emma said, “You can drop me off at the bar. My car is there, and I need to close the registers soon.”

  “Can’t Jack do that?” I asked.

  “I haven’t decided yet. Until then, it will be me.” I pulled into an almost empty lot and she faced me before getting out. “I feel guilty about eating at your parents.”

  “Don’t. Mom loved having you.”

  “It’s just I have a fridge full of funeral food. I know everyone meant well and I’m thankful they took the time. But the idea of eating it makes me sick.”

  “It makes it real,” I offered.

  “Yeah. It’s not like I don’t know he’s gone. I don’t want the reminder. Not yet.”

  “I can take you to a shelter for homeless kids you can give it t
o.”

  She perked up. “Really?”

  “I think so. I can certainly find out.”

  “Thanks, Aiden.”

  “Anytime.”

  She leaned across the seat divide and planted a sweet kiss on my cheek. I had the urge to turn and kiss her like I’d wanted to for years. I didn’t. I could never be that selfish. Not with her. Time would tell if there was ever that perfect moment for me to make that move. She hesitated and I couldn’t read into that moment.

  “Goodnight,” I said.

  “Goodnight,” she replied and got out.

  I watched as she keyed in a code and entered the side entrance of the building. I sat there a second longer after the door closed fighting the instinct to follow and ask what had been going through that pretty little head of hers.

  Just as I was about to pull out, Jack stormed out the door. He paced back and forth before pulling out his phone, punching in numbers and putting it up to his ear.

  What was he up to? I needed to have another talk with Jack.

  Chapter 7

  Emma

  The air was crisp, and my lungs constricted on each inhale of the brisk air. I pushed and ran harder like my life depended on it. In reality, I was working through all I’d learned.

  According to the books and bank statements, Dad was doing okay. Nothing that would ever make him rich, but he wasn’t in dire straits either. He was getting by like most folks in town. There hadn’t been an influx of cash like maybe he’d taken out a loan. There was nothing I could find that would make him a target of sinister means, but I couldn’t shake the feeling he’d been murdered.

  I would have stopped by Java Jitters to see Jessie, but Aiden called and was coming by to drive me to a homeless shelter several towns away that was willing to take the food. I’d already transferred the food into disposable containers so I could return the countless platters and dishes the good folks of Mason Creek had delivered their comfort food on.

  As I circled the town square, I thought about all the times I’d wanted to leave Mason Creek. Now I found myself contemplating staying. That would be the end of my relationship with Evan because he wasn’t a small-town guy. I wasn’t sure I wanted him to stay even if he was.

  I turned onto my street and spotted Aiden’s truck at the front of my house. I checked my watch, and I wasn’t late. I slowed as I got close. He’d gotten out and was leaning on the cab when I came to a stop.

  “Hey stranger. Funny meeting you here in a place like this,” I teased, glancing at my watch.

  “I know I’m early. I brought you coffee.” He held out a Java Jitter’s cup. “Jessie says hi.”

  “Thanks.” I took it. “I like your hat by the way.” He’d worn another baseball cap. I didn’t allow myself to hope he’d worn it for me. “I’m going to grab a quick shower. I wasn’t expecting you so early.”

  “No problem.”

  I liked the idea of him being there. The house felt too big allowing loneliness to take hold. As we walked in, I asked, “Sheriff doesn’t mind you being late?”

  “I guess I’ll find out. I let Bess know, but the sheriff wasn’t in. Wyatt said he’d switch shifts with me. It will be fine.”

  “I don’t want to get you into any trouble on your first day.”

  He tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “No trouble.”

  His touch shouldn’t have sent butterflies into flight in my stomach, but it did. “I’ll be a few minutes,” I said and scrambled up the stairs, hoping he didn’t see my reaction to him.

  I showered in record time and spent a couple of minutes debating whether or not to bother with lipstick. In the end, I went without it. He’d seen me at my worst already. It would be too obvious to put it on now.

  “I’m ready,” I said when I was going down the stairs. He was staring at pictures on the wall and turned to face me. I grabbed the bags of food, but he took them from my hand.

  “Let’s go.”

  After we got into the car and secured our seatbelts, he added, “Apparently, children’s homes have a lot of regulations, but some of the adult ones don’t. I found one that will take the food.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Aiden turned on the radio and music played softly in the background as we drove out of town through the covered bridge. So many thoughts swirled in my head. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure,” he said.

  I needed a man’s opinion. “If you were my fiancé, how would you handle the death of my father?”

  He didn’t look at me and kept his eyes on the road. “I would give you whatever you needed,” he said.

  “Like what?”

  He tapped his thumbs on the steering wheel. I wasn’t even sure he knew he was doing it. “I’d hold you, dry your tears, and wish like hell I could take the pain away.”

  “That,” I said, fighting the burn in the back of my eyes. I wouldn’t cry.

  “Why? Is Evan not there for you?”

  “Oh, he wants to be there for me if it includes us being naked,” I said, swallowing the bitter taste on my tongue.

  “Everyone handles grief differently. Just tell him what you need.”

  “You’re probably right, but shouldn’t he just know?”

  He glanced at me for a second and I was reminded how many times as a teenager I dreamed of Aiden driving me home from school.

  “As much as I hate to say this, he’s not from around here. He doesn’t know you or your dad like I do. His empathy for what’s happened only comes from wanting you to be happy. And who knows if he’s ever had tragedy in his life. He might have thought that was the best way to get close to you.”

  I stared out my window. “Maybe.”

  Then Aiden took my left hand and threaded his fingers through mine. He said nothing even when I looked up from where we were joined and caught him glancing my way. I scooted across the bench seat stretching my seatbelt, never letting go and rested my head on his shoulder. He let go of my hand and wrapped his right arm around me, driving with his left.

  Being in his arms felt like a little slice of heaven in the hell I was living. It was the peace I needed, and I just allowed myself to enjoy the feeling.

  When we arrived, Aiden said, “I can take it in.”

  I shook my head. “I need to see it through.”

  He didn’t argue with me on the merits, only nodded. The contrast between him and Evan was stark.

  As I walked in, I got an up-close view of how lucky I had it in Mason Creek. Tables much like the ones in the school’s cafeteria were filled with people who wore an expression of defeat. How could I possibly feel like my world had ended when there was suffering like this so close to home.

  Aiden talked to a woman as I tried not to stare at anyone but still see.

  “Thanks for this,” the woman said.

  “I feel like I should do more,” I admitted.

  “We can put you to work,” she said.

  I met Aiden’s eyes and he nodded. For the next hour, we worked the line, serving food to those less fortunate. Though I’d been given instruction as to portion size, I found myself being a little more generous with the offerings I’d brought. The breakfast casserole was gone before I knew it. As much as I would have stayed to help at lunch time, Aiden had to work. We thanked the woman and left.

  When he got behind the wheel, he held out his arm. I slid over and resumed my earlier position.

  “You know what I just realized,” I said.

  “What’s that?”

  “I have absolutely no food in my refrigerator now.”

  He chuckled. “We’ll stop at one of those big box stores on the way home.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “If I go to the store at home everyone will know I didn’t eat their food.”

  “It’s not a problem. Alana will appreciate me not coming into the store either.” She worked part time at the grocery store in town.

  We did just that. Aiden made me laugh as we walked the aisles and he pointed out the scand
alous selections that would never been found in our grocery store. “Organic,” he teased. “Isn’t everything organic?”

  I giggled and it felt good.

  On the ride back, I was once again tucked close to his side with my head on his shoulder. I closed my eyes, lulled into a dreamless sleep.

  Somewhere between the spaces of unconsciousness, I swore I felt his lips brush my forehead.

  “Emma. We’re here.”

  Slowly, I opened my eyes. I didn’t want it to end. His arm tightened around me as if he could read my thoughts. “I can stay if you need me to.”

  Oh, how I wished I could remain right there, just like that with him. “No,” I said sitting up. “You have to go to work. I’ll be fine.” The last bit was just lip service. If I said it enough, I’d believe it.

  “You will be. It doesn’t have to be today,” he said.

  There he was saying all the right things that Evan should have said. And I should want to kiss my fiancé with the same urgency I felt to kiss Aiden. I didn’t. I had more respect for Aiden than to involve him in something so messy. I needed to decide my future before anything else. Evan had a right to know exactly where my heart stood.

  I gave Aiden my best smile, which was half felt—the better half because of him. “Don’t be a stranger,” I said and got out of the car before I did anything reckless.

  Chapter 8

  Aiden

  My shift technically didn’t start yet, but I had nothing better to do. If I’d gone home, I would have gotten caught up in a project and might have been late. I stopped at The Sweet Spot and bought a variety of pastries and muffins.

  I walked into the station and the sheriff looked up from where he stood next to Bess’s desk.

  “Aiden. I see you finally decided to come in.”

  “I switched shifts with Wyatt.”

  He angled his head toward his office. “Why don’t you come on back?”

  Bess’s eyes got wide, and I knew I was about to get my ass handed to me. It would be worth it. Emma had needed me more. I left the pastries with Bess with a few muttered words about it being for everyone before following the sheriff to his office. He stood at the door until I was fully inside and then he shut it.