by Ann, Natalie
“Come on, this is me, Pres. I know better than anyone that not only do you buy your own Christmas and birthday gifts—which isn’t a big deal, lots of people do it—but you also wrap them and address them to yourself.” Lucy paused when Presley glared at her, but didn’t stop. “And. You are the only person I know that makes herself an Easter basket and buys herself heart-shaped candy for Valentine’s Day.”
Presley chose not to answer. There was no use denying it. It was all true—and pretty sad, to be honest. Unfortunately, that was all she ever knew growing up. Even when her parents were alive, her mother never was one to go out and make holidays special. She and Chad never got huge overflowing amounts of gifts for any holidays, just a few things from her parents under the tree.
They never went without, but holidays weren’t about how much they received, but more about time spent together. Too bad all that time and attention was always focused on Chad and not her.
Even after Chad and her father died, her mother’s focus wasn’t on her. She didn’t do anything at all with her, which was when Presley started to buy everything for herself. Her mom didn’t care. She even handed over her credit card and told her to do it.
The ringing of Lucy’s phone had Presley looking up fast from the fries she was playing with on her plate. “Sorry, it’s Mark. I need to grab this.”
“No problem,” Presley said, then continued to eat, her mind wandering back to what Lucy said about Christmas day. Ben had left shortly after their Christmas breakfast. She ended up making him Eggs Benedict, along with waffles and bacon. Not exactly high rent like he asked for, but not low rent either. Of course she wasn’t sure how to make breakfast into something elegant, but he seemed pleased. Then he had left shortly after to spend the holiday with his parents, and she finished getting ready for work.
By the end of her shift she was beat and looking forward to crawling into bed. However, when she turned the corner onto her street she saw Ben’s SUV in her driveway. Stunned but pleased, she pulled behind it, then frowned when she saw the lights on in her house. He had given her the key back that morning, so unless he went and made a copy, she had no clue how he got into the apartment.
Opening the front door, she saw him lounging on her couch, his feet up and a blanket covering him. He turned to look at her, a mischievous grin on his face. “Hope it’s okay I’m here?”
Dropping her purse on the coffee table by the door and hanging up her jacket, she took her time answering, a silly look on her face the whole time. “Of course. Did you make a copy of my key?”
“No,” he replied, his smile still in place.
Her smile disappeared. “Then how did you get in?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Do you really want to know?”
“Maybe not.” She walked over and sat next to him, then leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips. “On second thought, maybe I do want to know if my place is that easy to break in to.”
“There’s nothing broken,” he said, tugging on a lock of her hair.
“I see that,” she said. “But still. Should I be nervous that it was so easy to get in?”
A soft warm look came into his eyes followed by a quick kiss on her forehead. “Do you really think I would let you live in a place that was easy to get in to?”
“So everything is good then?”
“It is now.”
Angling her head, she asked, “What did you do? I didn’t notice anything.”
“Does it matter what?” She gave him a steady glare and he relented. “I just tightened some locks on the window. Nothing major. The apartment is in a good area, and the landlords have it pretty secure. I would feel better about a deadbolt and chain on the door though.”
He was being so sincere, and frankly no one had ever cared about her welfare before. It was touching. “Sounds reasonable. I’ll ask the landlord about it, or call a contractor myself.”
He winced. “You think I can’t handle installing a deadbolt lock and chain? I may not be a contractor like Alec, but I’ve put my fair share of time in on his crew.”
“Really? Did you wear a tool belt?” Images of him shirtless with jeans and a tool belt on his hips crossed her mind, causing her face to light up.
“Yes, I did. And why does that have you happy all of a sudden?”
“Never mind,” she said chuckling. Then she looked at his face, really looked, and saw the dark smudges under his eyes. He had done nothing but smile or grin the entire time she’d been home. But behind that mask she saw the sadness, and how worn out he really was. He looked troubled. More than he had in a while. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he replied, his mask of happiness never wavering. “Why do you ask?”
Shaking her head, she stood up, pulling him up with her. She had a feeling she knew. He had been fine when he left that morning, more than fine. But she had a bad feeling that Patty might have called him. All the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, most likely why he was here when she didn’t expect it.
He would never come out and say it, but he probably didn’t want to be home alone tonight, and was hoping that by being with her he could actually get some sleep.
When he was standing next to her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close, then held him tight for a minute. He never said a word, just continued to hold her. Pulling back, she looked into his eyes and said, “The spare key is on the counter next to the microwave.” She gave him a quick kiss on the lips and forced a smile on her face so he wouldn’t think she was on to him. “For when you’re ready.” She didn’t want to put any pressure on him. Maybe he wasn’t ready to have a key to her place.
Honestly, she wasn’t sure she was ready either, but it felt like the thing to do.
Later that night, as tired as she was, she tried to stay awake until she knew he was sleeping, listening for his deep, even breathing. But she fell asleep waiting for it, his arm around her waist holding her close. Every time she moved, some part of him followed. An arm on her hip, his hand next to hers, his leg touching hers.
It was almost… smothering—conjuring memories as a child with her mother demanding so much of her attention, needing so much from her and never giving back.
But then she realized it wasn’t smothering at all. It was vulnerability from Ben. Something she never expected to see from him. And that he was showing that side of himself warmed her. Made her happy, made her feel cared for.
He gave her so much, never took anything from her, never demanded anything from her, and she realized that she wanted to give back.
The next morning, he leaned over the bed and gave her a goodbye kiss, just like he had been doing ever since she teased him about leaving her house without a trace. Hours later she climbed out of bed, took her shower and made her way to the kitchen. She turned on the coffee maker and noticed the key was missing from the counter. In its place was a note. Picking up the piece of paper she read, I’m ready, are you?
All morning long and halfway through her shift she thought of those words. Was she ready? Did she want to give her heart to someone right now? She was pretty sure she couldn’t fight it off any longer. But there was so much he really didn’t know or understand about her.
Though, if she were honest with herself, he seemed to understand more about her than anyone else.
Christmas morning was a good example. It was almost like he knew how pleased she would be. Not that she was materialistic, she really wasn’t. She wouldn’t have cared if every box had coal in it—it was the idea that she woke up and had a Christmas morning like something she’d always dreamed of. Except she never told him that or anything at all about her childhood holidays.
Fluctuating back and forth emotionally all day, trying to figure out if she was truly ready or not, she rounded the corner and heard laughing inside of Sarah’s room. Thinking that one of the kids wasn’t in their room when they should be, she walked over and stood in the doorway, watching Sarah playing cards with Ben, his back
to her, and Sarah’s head down concentrating. “Are you going to say hi, Presley?” he had asked.
“How did you know it was me,” she’d asked, pouting slightly.
He turned his head and lifted an eyebrow. “You walk a certain way.”
“You know it’s me by the way I walk, even with everyone else walking around here?”
He added a smirk to his face, causing her to lift then drop her shoulders in defeat. “What are you doing here?” she asked instead.
“Ben’s teaching me to play hearts, Presley,” Sarah informed her.
“That’s nice. Are you beating him?”
“No. But I will,” Sarah had said, laughing.
Ben stood up and tossed his cards on the table next to Sarah’s bed. “You need to get ready for the night. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble with Presley. She can be a little cranky when she’s hungry.”
Presley punched him lightly in the shoulder. “I do not get cranky when I’m hungry. But I am hungry right now. Are we eating together?”
“I thought maybe we could.”
She looked at him thoughtfully. She hadn’t been expecting to see him tonight. They had passed each other a few times, sent each other a wave, but nothing more. He never asked her about the note he left, and she never brought it up. She appreciated that he wasn’t pressuring her in the least, letting her decide on her own. “I’d like that.”
Together they walked down the hall to their normal meeting place, no words exchanged. Finally opening the door to the little break room, Presley turned, looked at Ben’s face, stared into his eyes for a moment and blurted out, “Yes.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. Opening her palm, he laid it in the center and curled her fingers around it as she had to him.
Her eyes never left his, staring intently. “I’ll always let you know when I’m coming over after my shift,” she said softly.
He pulled her close, kissed her cheek and whispered, “Thanks.”
She trusted him and knew he wouldn’t have anyone at his house that she would be barging in on. But she also knew better than to enter his house at night without forewarning him. She wasn’t stupid. And he seemed to appreciate he didn’t have to ask her to do that either.
They seemed to have a deep understanding of each other, without spoken words. It was unnerving to be honest, and scary.
“Presley. Presley, hello, where did you go?” Lucy asked her.
“What?” she said looking over at Lucy eating her lunch. She had completely zoned out.
“You’re pretty far gone on him, aren’t you?” Lucy asked, a soft smile on her face, matching the dreamy look in her eyes.
Again, no use denying it. She knew it was written all over her face. “No. I’m all the way gone at this point.”
Happy Family
“Knock, knock,” Isabel said, pushing the door open wider with Ryan’s mom, Michele Mathews, right beside her, one holding two bottles of what looked to be champagne and the other holding a tray of glasses. “We wanted to stop in quick and let you girls have a toast.”
Kaitlin turned the minute Beth finished with her hair and rushed forward to give her mother a hug, then turned to give Michele one, too. “Mom, I told you I wasn’t drinking this weekend. I want to remember every detail of the wedding.”
“I know dear,” Isabel said, “which is why I brought sparkling cider instead. I still don’t understand why you won’t have at least one glass.”
Kaitlin laughed like a giddy schoolgirl. Of course it was her wedding day, so she had every right to be that happy. “Blame Brooke. No blame Cori.”
“What did I do?” Brooke asked, all indignant.
“You got me drunk the night before Cori’s wedding and then I had a hangover the rest of the day. I’m not letting that happen for my own wedding.”
Cori laughed. “No one told you two to drink as much as you did. I didn’t need any wine to get through it. I guess that makes you both wusses.”
Sophia, Kaitlin’s maid of honor jumped in. “What happened? Kaitlin, you never told me you were drunk. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you drunk.”
Kaitlin blushed, looking at her mother and future mother-in-law, who seemed to get the hint, with Michele jumping in and saying, “Since I was there that night, I won’t embarrass Kaitlin further.” She leaned in and gave Kaitlin one more hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Welcome to the family, Kaitlin. Officially as the daughter I never had.” Then Michele walked over to Brooke and gave her a hug and kiss, too. “I don’t know how I got so lucky to end up with two wonderful daughters-in-law.”
“Mom, please get out of here and take Michele with you,” Kaitlin said in desperation, sniffling. “Beth isn’t going to want to do my makeup again.”
Presley sat over in the corner on the couch watching the byplay of everyone. She felt out of place and wondered for the millionth time what she was doing in this room with the bridal party.
But Ben had asked, and asked nicely, telling her he didn’t want her to sit in the room alone until the ceremony and then made her feel guilty by saying Kaitlin asked for her to come down and relax with them.
So she went, but she wasn’t happy about it. Watching not just one mother, but two mothers gush over both Kaitlin and Brooke brought on deep feelings of bitterness. Emotions she hadn’t felt in years, not since she was growing up and in school watching the interactions all her friends had when their parents showed up for sporting events and school activities to support their children.
Nicole was normally passed out on the couch when Presley was at school functions. Even if she wasn’t, Presley didn’t want her there. Not drunk and acting like a fool, tripping over everyone, laughing one minute and then crying the next. No, Presley was better off in the long run. That still didn’t stop the jealousy in this moment, though.
She would have much preferred to be making the rounds with Ben right now for the security of the wedding. The facility had its own crew, but Ryan had wanted something more, so he asked Ben to take care it.
Ryan’s father, Thomas, had decided to throw his hat in the ring and run for County Judge, so they didn’t want anyone on the grounds that didn’t belong, trying to get a photo or anything that could be misconstrued during the elections.
With the door shut behind Michele and Isabel, Sophia walked over to Kaitlin, grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her in the eye. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
Presley had begun to suspect that but had kept her opinion to herself. It wasn’t her place and she could have been wrong. But a few times Kaitlin had cringed when food came out, and that combined with her adamantly refusing to drink got the wheels turning in Presley’s head.
Ironically, Cori had been giving Brooke knowing looks last night and then again a few minutes ago when the cider was delivered, leading Presley to believe they were onto Kaitlin also.
Only Sophia had been willing to ask Kaitlin to her face. Actually, Presley liked Sophia a lot. She was upfront and to the point, much like Presley. Though, Presley had to admit, there seemed to be more to Sophia than she was letting anyone see. Again, she was just guessing at this point, but since she felt so out of place at the rehearsal dinner last night, she had spent a lot of time sitting back and observing everyone.
Kaitlin looked away, but Sophia only grabbed her chin and forced her eyes ahead. “How late are you?”
Everyone waited, holding their breath, when Kaitlin final said, “A week.” Presley had to cover her ears from the loud squeal Cori made, but Kaitlin rushed on. “I haven’t even taken a test. Ryan and I decided we wanted to get through the wedding first. Just in case I’m not, we didn’t want anything to take away from our happiness. You know…” She trailed off, trying not to shed the tears forming in her eyes.
“I knew it,” Sophia said, triumphantly. “There was no way you would wait until after the wedding, but I also knew you wouldn’t jeopardize not fitting into your gown. First try, wasn’t it?”
Kaitli
n looked disgruntled. “I hate how you always know everything.”
“That’s because you are so predictable. You plan everything out, so it’s hard not to know what you are going to do,” Sophia answered, pulling Kaitlin in for a hug. “I’m so happy for you. Look at that, engaged and pregnant all in less than a year. Pretty efficient on your part.”
Presley got up and walked forward, hugging Kaitlin after Beth congratulated her. She walked past Cori suspecting she wasn’t the only one hiding something, then leaned down and whispered in her ear, “When are you going to share your news?”
Cori’s eyes went wide with shock, and she pulled Presley aside. Everyone else was still talking excitedly with Kaitlin, so they didn’t notice. “I should have known you would have figured it out, too. How did you guess?”
“The alcohol, and the fact you didn’t eat any dessert last night. I’m surprised no one else caught on,” Presley said in a whisper.
“Dang it. It stinks, it really does, but chocolate is making me ill right now. That doesn’t seem fair. But no one said a word last night about it.”
“Maybe because Jack ate your dessert when no one was looking.”
“Really, Presley, are you like a spy right now or what?” Cori said, putting her hands on her hips and trying to scowl, but she only ended up laughing.
“What are you two talking about over there?” Kaitlin asked.
Cori turned, plastered a bright smile on her face and said, “Nothing. Presley is telling me how good your brother is in bed.”
“Cori,” Presley said, shocked, the heat rushing up her neck and face, but she couldn’t stop the laugh from spilling out.
“Oh, Cori, just tell Kaitlin. Stop trying to pretend it’s a secret,” Brooke said.
“You know, too?” Cori accused Brooke.
“I’m sure everyone here does. Well, maybe not Sophia. She doesn’t know you as well as the rest of us.” Brooke turned to Kaitlin. “Go ahead, ask her.”
“When are you due?” Kaitlin asked with a silly knowing grin.