“Me too.” The man smiled and looked in the rearview mirror. “That feeling is the best part of being a doctor.”
The rest of the drive home, they played a competitive game of I spy to help Ollie forget about his growling tummy.
Finally, Ike parked on the street in front of her little bungalow, and they all piled out of the car.
Ollie led the way into the house. “Dr. Ike! You have to see the spaceships I have. I built one out of LEGOs all by myself.”
“Almost by yourself,” her daughter corrected. “I helped with some of the steps.”
“Not very much though,” the boy whispered.
Dahlia gave the kids a warning look so they wouldn’t start a fight. “Maya, why don’t you get out some plates and set the table for me?”
Her daughter bounded away, always excited to help in the kitchen.
“Come on, Dr. Ike.” Ollie pulled the man’s sleeve in the opposite direction. “I have to show you the spaceship.”
“I’d love to see it.” He paused. “But do you need any help in the kitchen?”
“Nope.” Dahlia flicked on the oven. “All I have to do is unwrap the pizzas and heat them up.” Back when she had a supermom complex, she used to make her pizza dough from scratch. But after the divorce she’d discovered the miracle of frozen food. God was she glad she didn’t hold herself to unattainable standards anymore.
“Come on, Dr. Ike! I want you to see my room!” Ollie wouldn’t be put off anymore.
“Coming.” The man sneakily gave her hand a squeeze before following her son down the hall.
That touch. That simple small touch seemed to warm her all the way through.
While Maya set the table, Dahlia threw together a quick salad, humming the whole time. She didn’t even realize her daughter was watching her until she spoke.
“You seem really happy, Mom.”
“I am.” She set the salad bowl on the table and sat beside her daughter. “I’m happy because Sassy isn’t sick. And because I have the best two kids any mom could ask for.”
“And you’re happy because Dr. Ike is here,” Maya prompted.
“Yes.” There was no denying it. “I’m happy because we get to share dinner with Dr. Ike. Together.”
“I’m happy about that too.” Her daughter took her time folding the napkins into flower shapes—something she must’ve learned from her aunt Rose.
When the timer dinged, Ollie and Ike rushed to the table like they couldn’t wait to eat any longer. They all sat down chatting and laughing as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
After dinner, Ike rinsed the plates, enlisting Ollie’s help to load them into the dishwasher, and Dahlia served them each a heaping bowl of ice cream. After the day they’d all had, they deserved it.
“Let’s watch a movie!” Ollie jumped up and down on the couch. “How about The Empire Strikes Back? That’s my favoritest of all the Star Wars ever.”
“I think that might be my favorite too.” Ike launched into an imitation of Darth Vader that made Ollie run to grab his light saber. After a quick chase around the room, they all settled in together on the saggy old couch—Dahlia on the end, then Maya, then Ike, then Ollie.
Between Ike and Ollie, they quoted at least half the movie.
When the credits started to roll, Dahlia stood and beckoned the kids off the couch. “All right, you two. It’s time to get ready for bed.”
Miracles of miracles, they actually listened, standing up with big yawns. They seemed too tired to even try and stay up later.
“Goodnight, Dr. Ike.” Maya gave him another hug. “Thanks for having dinner with us. I hope we can do it again soon.”
“Me too!” Ollie picked up his lightsaber, slashing it through the air. “Now we have to watch the rest of the Star Wars movies together.”
“I think that can be arranged.” The man fist-bumped her son and told him goodnight.
Dahlia followed her children down the hallway to their bedrooms, glancing over her shoulder. “I’ll be right back.” He’d better not go anywhere.
Ike took all of their ice cream bowls to the kitchen like a saint. “I’ll be here.”
She did her best not to rush through their bedtime routine. Usually Ollie stalled as much as possible, but the sweet boy’s eyes closed almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. Dahlia walked into her daughter’s room, where Maya was already snuggled in her bed.
“Ike is really nice,” she said, setting her book aside.
“He is.” Dahlia sat next to her and pulled the covers up, smoothing them in around her shoulders the way she liked.
“Do you love him?” her daughter asked through a yawn.
“I’m not sure yet.” She happened to be of the opinion that love was more than a feeling. Love was a commitment. “But I think I could love him someday.” She leaned down to kiss her daughter’s forehead. “It’s still true what I told you before, honey. I can wait to love him. I can wait to go on dates with him.”
“You shouldn’t have to wait if he makes you happy.” Her daughter’s smile turned sleepy. “I liked having him here tonight. And at the party. It’s nice to have a doctor around.”
“It sure is.” During that whole scene with Sassy, Ike had kept his composure. He’d kept everyone around them calm, monitoring Sassy and offering reassurance where needed. She looked down to tell her daughter again how proud she was, but Maya’s eyes were closed.
“Goodnight, sweetness,” she whispered, giving her one more kiss. Quietly, Dahlia left her daughter’s room and crept back down the hall.
Ike stood at the kitchen island, holding up two glasses of the nice bottle of pinot noir she had been saving for a special occasion. “Wine?”
“Yes, please.” She took the glass from him, lingering close, looking into his eyes. “Let’s go sit on the deck.”
It happened to be the perfect night—clear and still. There was always a chill in the mountains during the evening, but tonight Dahlia felt warm and full.
She led him to the small wicker couch she’d found at a garage sale and turned on the gas fire pit Rose had given her as a housewarming gift.
Then she sat next to Ike and let herself sigh deeply, exhaling the stress of the day and inhaling him.
The man moved his arm around her and made her life perfect. It wouldn’t be perfect all the time, but right now, in this moment, she had everything. “Maya said she really enjoyed having you here tonight.”
Ike set down his wineglass and turned fully to her. “Does that mean it can happen again?”
“I think it does.” If it were up to her, he’d be camping out here. But that didn’t exactly work with the kids. “I suppose we’ll still have to take things somewhat slow.” She played with the collar of his shirt.
“I can do slow.” He lowered his lips to hers and proved that slow and sensual was his specialty.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rose
This wasn’t exactly the birthday party she planned for her aunt, but Rose had to admit…a picnic in Sassy’s hospital room wasn’t a bad way to end this crazy day.
“This is the first birthday I’ve spent in the hospital in seventy years.” Sassy bit into a chocolate explosion cupcake Graham had found them at a nearby deli.
That man had been such a dear. He’d managed to scrounge up some of the best food she’d ever eaten. And then he’d offered to drive all the way back to the inn to pick up a change of clothes for Sassy, leaving Rose and Lillian and Sassy to have a little much-needed girl time.
“Hopefully this will be the last birthday you spend in the hospital.” Rose shifted in her chair next to the bed, readjusting her casted ankle on the pillows next to Sassy’s legs.
The doctor had allowed her to ditch the wheelchair as long as she promised to not put weight on it for two weeks and to use the crutches. “Next year we’ll have to plan something really wild. Maybe a girls’ trip to Vegas or something.” That she’d like to see—her mother and Sassy pa
rading around the Strip.
“We could do Vegas.” Sassy dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
“We certainly could.” Lillian was sitting propped up on the bed next to Sassy, and Rose couldn’t believe how much the two sisters looked alike. She wouldn’t have realized it if they weren’t side by side, but they had the same nose and mouth. “We used to get pretty wild in our day.”
Rose laughed, nearly spraying chocolate cupcake crumbs all over the both of them. “Right. Okay. You were the two most scandalous sisters in the South.” She couldn’t seem to stop laughing. From the accounts she’d heard from her grandparents, Lillian and Sassy were perfect angels, and why couldn’t Rose and her sisters be more like them?
“It’s not a joke.” Her mother tossed a pillow at her. “Why, back in Savannah, we used to go skinny-dipping in the neighbor’s pond all the time.”
“You’re damn right we did,” Sassy said proudly. “We’d sneak over there after Mother and Daddy were asleep so we could go swimming to cool off. It was innocent enough until that time you invited half the school’s basketball team to join us. You were twelve years old going on twenty back then.” She jabbed a playful elbow into Lillian’s ribs.
“The basketball team?” Rose gasped in mock horror. “You swam naked with the basketball team? Mother! I’m shocked!”
Lillian and Sassy’s giggles took fifty years off them easily.
“That might’ve been one of the best nights of my life, if you want the truth.” Lillian reached for another cupcake, and Rose tried not to stare. Her careful, calorie-conscious mother was actually enjoying herself.
“We lured those basketball boys right into the pond and then snuck out the other side.” Her mother hooted with laughter. “They had no idea where we’d gone to.”
“That is my new favorite story.” Rose sat up in the chair a little so she could see them better. “I can’t imagine the stories you have.” The stories she’d never heard while they were estranged. They had so much to catch up on.
“Actually, your father was one of those basketball boys,” Sassy told her.
“He was?”
Her mother’s expression didn’t darken the way she’d expected it to.
“Yes. He was.” Lillian stared at the wall across the room as though remembering. “He came over that night. I had a crush on him even then.”
It was easy to forget her parents had been high school sweethearts. In her memories they didn’t talk about their younger days much. “Did you love Dad?” She’d been wondering since her mother had told them about the affair. “I mean, I know you had your problems. But did you love him? Even after you found out he was cheating on you?”
“I must’ve loved him, because I hated him so much.” She hugged a pillow to her chest. “If I hadn’t loved him, the cheating wouldn’t have mattered, would it? It wouldn’t have hurt me so deeply.”
“I guess not.” Love was wonderful, but she was learning it could be painful too. She snuck a quick glance at her watch. Before he left the hospital, Colt had said he would come back to pick her up around six, but he still wasn’t back, and she’d heard nothing from him.
“I knew your father was sorry. He begged me to forgive him. And, over the years, I guess I did in a way.” Lillian leaned her head onto Sassy’s shoulder. “Like so many other relationships, we started out strong, but we lost each other. Life got in the way.” Her mother pointed at Rose. “That’s why I’m so glad you moved here. Away from Gregory. Away from that life.”
Okay, now Lillian was just talking crazy. “You’re glad?” All she’d heard from her mother for months after her broken engagement was how she’d ruined her life.
“It was difficult for me at the time,” Lillian admitted. “I wanted you to have everything. But yes. If you would’ve stayed in Savannah and married Gregory, you wouldn’t be glowing the way you do here. This place suits you, honey.”
“This is where I belong.” Life in Juniper Springs had been a struggle. It would likely continue to be a struggle on and off—with reservations and income at the inn constantly going up and down. There would be complications and blizzards and more unexpected roof leaks, no doubt. But the struggles had only made her stronger and smarter and more determined.
“What about you, Lil?” Sassy asked. “Where do you fit now?”
“I’m still figuring it out, I think.” She shot Rose a questioning gaze. “I may have to rent one of the cabins for a few months. To see if I can make a place for myself here.”
A month ago, those words would’ve terrified her, but now she couldn’t imagine anything better. Rose had changed a lot in the last year, but it appeared her mother had too. “You don’t have to make a place for yourself. We’ll make a place for you, if this is where you want to be.”
Her mother glanced out the window. “I’m not sure how I’ll manage with all of the dirt. And the snow.”
“You get used to it after a while.” Heck, if she could get used to the dirt and snow anyone could. Besides that, her mother had nothing tying her down. “You can always have a winter home in Savannah—a place to escape to when you need a break from the snow.”
Lillian seemed to consider the idea. “I have been thinking about downsizing anyway. And with all of you here…that’s an idea, Rosie.”
“With all of us here and with Elroy here,” she teased.
“Elroy.” Sassy shook her head with amusement. “I still can’t believe Grumpy’s real name is Elroy. I figured he came out of the womb wearing that scowl.”
“You should see him smile when Mom’s around.” She nudged Lillian’s foot with her cast. “I didn’t know he had it in him.”
“Hello?” The door creaked open, and Mags stepped into the room with her bundle of joy strapped to her chest. Eric hovered in the doorway behind her.
“What are you two doing here?” Rose pulled her foot off the bed so she could try to stand with the crutches.
“We wanted to come and see all the good news for ourselves.” Mags walked to Sassy and kissed her cheek, letting their aunt get another good look at the baby. “And Colt asked if we could bring you home.”
“Oh.” The happiness that had just been bubbling inside of her seemed to all drain away. Colt had sent them to get her? Clearly he didn’t want to have that talk he’d promised her. Maybe she’d been wrong to think it would be good news. There was a possibility he’d simply wanted to let her down gently. “Great.” She cleared her throat. “Good. I’ll get to ride with little Luca then.”
Rose sat back down in her chair while Mags and Eric visited with Sassy and Lillian for a few more minutes.
She was fine. More than fine. Her heart wasn’t aching. Nope. She refused to let it feel the weight of disappointment.
When the conversation started to wind down, she and Mags and Eric finally filed out of Sassy’s cramped hospital room. Rose made sure to keep a smile on her face as she hobbled out to the parking lot with Eric spotting her like he was afraid she might fall over.
When they reached their rental car, Mags faced her. “We offered to come and pick you up, if it helps. I wanted to see Sassy again and tell her goodnight.”
It didn’t help. Earlier Colt had told her they had a lot to discuss, and now he didn’t even want to suffer through the half-hour drive back to the resort with her. Fine. It was fine. She could take a hint. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” she said to her sister. “I’m great.” Before Mags could see through the lie, she opened the door and slid onto the backseat next to the car seat, wrangling the crutches onto the floor.
“Okey-dokey then.” Mags got Luca all strapped in and kissed his button nose. “Keep an eye on my little darling.”
“Not a problem.” Rose couldn’t resist giving the baby a kiss too.
Silence seemed to sit heavy in the car as Eric drove them toward the highway, but Rose didn’t feel up to breaking it for once. So she focused on her little perfect nephew, hoping his contented little breaths could take the edge of
f her heartache.
“Anything you want to talk about?” Mags finally asked.
“No.” It would be better not to talk. Oh, who was she kidding? She was a total talker. “Maybe. I mean, come on. You guys were there. You saw what I did. I left nothing on the table. I told him exactly how I feel about him, and I thought the drive back would be a good chance for us to talk. I thought he wanted to talk. But no. He sent you. So I have no idea what he’s thinking. Or if he’s even thinking about me at all.” She finally took a breath, but once she got going it was hard to stop. “I mean, I really put myself out there.”
“In front of everyone,” her sister offered.
“Thanks for that.” As if she needed to be reminded of one of the most humiliating moments of her life. “But yes, I made a complete fool out of myself, and all I’m getting in return is this horrible silence. I hate silence. I’d take anything right now. Even if Colt told me I’m not his type. Or that I disgust him. Knowing that is better than knowing nothing. Right?”
“For sure.” Strangely, Mags didn’t turn around to look at her. In fact, her sister remained weirdly quiet on the subject.
“You want me to kick his ass for you?” Eric offered.
“No.” That answer might’ve been too hasty. “Maybe. You want to know what I think? I think he’s already left this place mentally behind.” And her along with it. “He couldn’t wait to sell the store so he could move on with a whole new life, and then I come along and complicate things for him. He probably wishes I’d kissed Nolan in the canoe. Then there wouldn’t be any decision to make. I’d be with Nolan, and Colt would be free to move on without another thought.”
“Why didn’t you kiss Nolan?” This time her sister did peek back at her, but she turned around so fast Rose hardly caught a glimpse of her face.
“Because he’s not Colt.” The words sounded every bit as pathetic as they felt. “I don’t understand anything about how love works. I only know you can’t force it.” She hadn’t been able to force it with Gregory, and maybe she’d actually learned something from her whole engagement debacle. She didn’t want to force love. Especially with someone who didn’t love her back. Rose let her shoulders slump against the back of her seat and watched the lights in town pass by out the window.
The Summer Sisters (Juniper Springs Book 2) Page 26