by Elsie Davis
“Do you have the answer to everything?” she asked sharply, her frustration bubbling over.
“I try.” Chad shrugged, moving to the fireplace to add more wood.
Rachel shook her head. “I need to call Leslie, so if you’ll excuse me.” She turned and headed down the hall.
“She’ll vouch for me—I am her big brother,” Chad called after her.
Rachel stopped and turned around, staring back at the man she once secretly crushed on. “Maybe that’s what worries me.”
Chad’s smile disappeared. The question was…why?
Three
Rachel made her way down the short hallway to the bedroom—the only bedroom based on the look of things. Chad was right about her not being able to leave, but he had another think coming if he thought she would take the couch. This was supposed to have been her wedding night, and instead, it was her jilted bride’s night…if there was such a thing. And if ever there was an opportunity for chivalry, this would be it.
She shoved her suitcase into the corner and plopped down on the queen-size bed. The fluffy down comforter felt soft and heavenly. This was better than a hotel bed any day of the week. Pulling out her phone, she pressed the speed-dial button for Leslie.
“I’m so glad you called. I was starting to worry, what with the storm and all,” Leslie said in a rush.
“I’m fine. Mostly anyway. The weather turned ugly quicker than expected, making the drive long and tense. On top of that, my car wasn’t cut out for the snowy roads. I managed to put it in the ditch about a half-mile from the cabin. I had to park and walk the rest of the way, in my wedding dress with only 3 sweaters to keep me warm. Not fun, but at least I had sneakers. Otherwise, I would have never made it.” And her story wasn’t even close to finished.
“I’m so sorry. This was supposed to be relaxing for you, not add insult to injury from Alex’s treachery. At least you’re there now. There should be plenty of firewood. Unfortunately, the storm has turned into a doozy, stalling out over most of the Appalachian Mountains and stretching from Pennsylvania to Georgia.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. I should have never come here,” Rachel said, letting out a heavy sigh.
“Why not? Don’t you like it?” Leslie sounded hurt.
Rachel rolled over on her back and stared up at the ceiling. “The cabin is perfect, with one exception—it came occupied.”
“Occupied? I don’t understand. Is it a squatter? Are you okay?” Leslie had gone into protective mode, and Rachel was positive her friend would have been in the car and on her way here if not for the storm.
“It’s your brother,” she said, trying to put her friend’s worry to rest, knowing the bomb she’d let drop would have an entirely different reaction.
“That’s not possible,” Leslie exclaimed. “He’s in Afghanistan.”
“Nope, he’s here. And now, I’m here and snowed in with him. What a disaster.”
“I can’t believe he didn’t tell me he was coming home. I’m so sorry. But talk about an unseen benefit in an awful day for you.”
“Silver lining?” Rachel didn’t see it that way at all.
“You’re not alone during this snowstorm. The projections are now calling for four to five feet instead of the three in the original forecast. Talk about a game-changer. I feel better knowing Chad’s there. He’s a good guy, even if he is my brother.”
Leslie’s comment made sense, but not everyone would see the positive aspect her friend did. “My mother won’t agree. She will have a conniption fit if she finds out. Her angelic daughter is shacked up with a man—oh my.” Rachel grinned. “Nothing could be further from the truth, but you know how she likes to exaggerate.”
“Don’t tell her then. It’s not like anyone will know, and when the storm passes, you leave. It’s quite simple.” Leslie was the voice of reason she needed. No one needed to know, and her reputation would remain intact and her mother off her back for a few days. It all sounded pretty good when put that way.
Rachel would take a proactive approach and send her mother a text to let her know she had arrived safely, but nothing more. Not even where she was for the time being. It’s not as if the situation that triggered her flight was of her choosing. “I thought you always told me he was a ladies’ man?” she asked, going back to the reason for this conversation in the first place.
“Oh, he is, and I’ll be sure to give him the sisterly warning. After I chew him out for not telling me he was home, that is. I wonder how long he’s home for. It would be awesome to see him again. Does he look good? I mean, he’s not home because he’s injured or anything, right?” Leslie asked, worry echoing in her voice.
“Not that I can tell. I mean, it’s not like we had much to say to each other.” Other than the fact he wouldn’t marry her. Turned down for marriage twice in one day. Few ladies could share that claim to fame. “What’s he like? I mean, what can I expect?”
“He was a tormentor when I was a kid. The older brother who didn’t want his kid sister hanging around sort of thing. I remember once when he fixed me dinner, and he tricked me, using mushy mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes as a vegetable.”
It sounded healthy and delicious. “What’s wrong with that?”
“I hated cauliflower, and he knew it,” Leslie said in disgust.
“So what happened? Did you spit it out—at him?” Rachel chuckled. Her friend was a fireball, and she wouldn’t have put it past Leslie.
“Nope. I ate it.”
“You didn’t know?” Rachel asked, confused by Leslie’s admission.
“No. Truth is, I don’t like cauliflower, but when it’s smashed, and you add butter, salt, and pepper, it tastes pretty good.”
“So your tormentor did you a favor.” Rachel laughed. Innocent fun from her perspective. Chad may have been ten years older, but any brother had to be more exciting than no sisters or brothers. This is why Rachel vowed to have a large family one day.
“I guess, but it was mean-spirited.”
“Well, if he tries to cook me cauliflower, I’ll be on guard for a switch,” Rachel teased.
“Laugh now, but he likes practical jokes. Oh, and don’t let him near any scissors. Once, he cut my hair because I accidentally broke his bike. And then there was the time he locked me out of the house because I ratted him out to my mom that he’d gone on a date and snuck in the house late. I was only eight. What did he expect?”
“Hopefully, he gave you a good haircut,” Rachel continued to tease her friend, rather enjoying the stories. They made Chad seem more real and personal.
“I can’t believe you’re defending him. Don’t say you weren’t warned,” Leslie said, joining in the fun of the moment.
“I consider myself warned. Hopefully, Chad's grown out of practical jokes.” It sounded more like Leslie was a handful as a child and that her brother's payback methods were harmless enough. But if she was going to be stuck here with him a few days, she’d be on her best behavior so as not to test the man.
“Did you get a chance to talk to Alex? I haven’t heard from the snake, and neither has Bobby.”
“Actually, I did. It was the right decision for both of us, just super lousy timing.”
“You’re far too generous in your attitude toward Alex.”
“The thing is, I know more about what prompted his decision. I’ve promised not to say anything yet, but I will tell you since you’re my best friend. But you are equally sworn to secrecy.” There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t tell Leslie, and the last thing Rachel wanted was for her friend to continue to hate Alex over this.
“Start talking. You know I can keep a secret.”
It was true. “The thing is, Alex and the wedding planner fell in love.”
“No way.”
“Yes, way. They don’t want people to know yet because he’s hoping his parents will come around to accept her. He’s worried if they suspect Brittany is the reason Alex didn’t marry me today, that they’ll cut him out of
the family business and never accept her.”
“I still can’t believe it, and his timing stinks.”
“You’ll get no argument from me on that point.”
“And when I see him, I intend to give him a piece of my mind.”
“Let it go, Leslie. It’s all for good.”
“Hmmmph. After you left, your parents and Alex’s parents were deep in conversation, and they stopped talking every time I got near them.” Leslie knew they were controlling and had every right to worry.
There was no telling what they would concoct to salvage the wedded bliss they had planned for their children. “None of them will be happy, but it can’t be helped. They wanted this wedding more than Alex and me. And speaking of wedding, I need to change out of this dress.”
“Okay. And Rachel, I’m sure everything will be okay. Honestly, Chad is a good guy with a big heart. He’s always been very protective of me, and I’m sure he’ll do the same for my best friend.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep you posted.” Rachel hung up and crossed the room to grab her suitcase, hefting it onto the bed. Shorts, short-sleeve tops, and bathing suits—nothing of use while snowed in at the cabin. She made her way to the closet, hoping Leslie was right and that there would be a better selection of clothes her friend had left behind.
Bingo. Blue jeans and a flannel shirt. The perfect combination for warmth and comfort. Tossing them on the bed, she reached to unzip her gown. Sliding the zipper down the first two or three inches, she moved her hand to come from underneath her arm to pull it down the rest of the way.
Except it wouldn’t budge. Rachel tugged at it repeatedly, but the zipper was stuck. Rachel tried from the top again, hoping to pull it back up or push it down further. Nothing happened.
She let out a deep sigh. “Arghhh. Why me, Lord?” This just wasn’t her day. It was either stay in her dress the entire time she was here or resort to asking Chad for help. Didn’t seem like much of a choice. Rachel pulled open the door and headed down the hall.
As she entered the living room, Chad laid his phone down on the coffee table and looked up at her, his expression unreadable.
“I need help,” she said, coming straight to the point.
“And I need a new ear. Leslie just chewed mine off for not telling her I was in town.”
“That’s not my fault. You should have called your sister. And then none of this would have happened because I wouldn’t have come here.”
Chad shook his head, tension radiating from his tightly drawn brow. “So much for quiet time. She’ll be here as soon as the snowstorm stops and the roads are passable.” He let out a deep sigh. “What do you need help with?”
“This,” she said, pointing to her dress. “The zipper is stuck.”
Chad stood. “Turn around. I can imagine it’s not overly comfortable, both the dress and the memory it represents.”
It was a nice sentiment, not to mention proof he could be understanding. Rachel did as she was instructed and turned around.
He pulled and yanked at the zipper, but Chad wasn’t having any better luck than she was. “You’ve got it caught on the lace and silk. So unless you're partial to the dress, the easiest way to get it off you—is to cut it off.”
Rachel spun around. “Is this a joke to you? I heard about how you cut Leslie’s hair. She was adamant not to put scissors in your hands, so why don’t you tell me what you’ve really got in mind. She warned me you’re a practical joker.” She leveled him with a stern gaze, letting him know she wouldn’t tolerate practical jokes.
“I didn’t realize you would still be sentimental about the dress.” Chad frowned. “I’d think you would want to burn it. Besides, the material is already torn beyond repair, and the bottom is wet and dirty. I was making light of what needs to happen if you want to get the dress off.”
She wasn’t going to explain it to him. Turning the other cheek was more like it. The expression had been drilled into her while growing up, and it stood her in good stead now. She didn’t want revenge on Alex, and she didn’t want to ruin any chance he might have to find happiness. In fact, Rachel was a little jealous he’d found someone to love, the marriage kind of everlasting love if he was to be believed. “Cut it off then.” She turned around, wanting nothing more than to get this over with.
“Just so you know, I cut Leslie’s hair because she painted my bike pink. It was the bike I used to get to work. I didn’t go to work that day, and I lost my job at the grocery store. So I’d say it was a fair trade.”
Rachel grinned. “Pink, huh? She left that part out.”
Chad continued to work at the zipper in silence. The sound of fabric tearing made her cringe. It’s not like she wanted the dress, and it was already ruined by the walk in the snow, but she paralleled it to the closure of a chapter in her life.
“Got it,” Chad exclaimed as the zipper broke free. “I, umm, err, think you should be good now,” he said, stepping away and holding up his hands.
Realizing half her back was exposed, including her bra strap, Rachel felt her face grow warm. She took off down the hall to the privacy of the bedroom. Donning the jeans and flannel shirt, she felt much better. More relaxed. Enough to get up the courage to face Chad again.
Chad looked up when she joined him in the kitchen. “I heated some hearty clam chowder for dinner, and we’ve got oyster crackers and sourdough bread. Figured you would be hungry.”
“It sounds good. Why are you acting so nice?” Rachel asked, taken off guard and wondering what he was up to—Leslie’s warning never far off.
“As opposed to earlier, you mean?” he teased, a gentle smile on his face.
“Sort of.”
“My sister warned me to be on my best behavior,” Chad said, chuckling as he delivered the soup bowls to the table.
“I’ll have to remember to thank her. This is just what I needed after the day I’ve had. Lucky for me, Leslie’s clothes fit. Otherwise, I’d be running around in shorts and t-shirts.” For such a horrific day, the evening was shaping up to be a pleasant ending.
Chad shook his head. “Sounds chilly in the middle of a snowstorm.”
“Tell me about it.” Rachel wanted to set the ground rules since they were stuck here together, ensuring they were on the same page. About everything. “So I thought we should discuss the arrangements since we’re both stuck here.”
“What’s that?” he asked, pausing mid-air with a spoonful of soup.
“Sleeping arrangements.” It was easier to tackle the subject head-on and take control, letting him know where she stood.
One eyebrow quirked up, his brow lines deepening. He set his spoon down and sat back in his seat. “What about them?”
“There’s only one bedroom, and I’m going to be in it. Alone.”
“It’s my cabin, and you are the guest here, the last time I checked. We have a sofa sleeper that will suit you fine. And absolutely, you will be sleeping alone. There are no worries about that on my account.”
With the worst of the arrangements mutually agreed upon, Rachel turned her focus on the bedroom issue. “I want a door that locks—for privacy. I felt sure you would understand. We may be stuck here together, but I’ve got a reputation to protect.”
Chad shook his head. “You’ve got some nerve relegating me to the sofa, a bed too short for me, I might add, and in my own home. And for the record, my sister’s best friend is in a category all by herself that shouts untouchable, and I’m not a peeping Tom.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine. You can’t possibly have had a queen-size bed everywhere you went when you’re deployed. Please?” Rachel asked, tempering her request with kindness, hoping to appeal to his chivalrous side.
“You have a point.” Chad nodded, falling silent as they ate their soup.
“This clam chowder is awesome. Did you make it yourself?” she asked, searching for a way to breach the awkward silence.
Chad shook his head. “Hardly. It’s from a can. You don’t want my cook
ing, trust me.”
“I’m not much better. Cooking was never my thing, but I can get by.”
“Good thing we have lots of canned food and frozen food by the sounds of things.” Chad shot her a wink.
And just like that, the air was cleared, and some of the day’s complex emotions vanished. Leslie was right. Having someone to talk to while she was here wasn’t so bad. “Canned food can get old quickly. I said I was not much better, not hopeless,” she teased.
“What about bacon and eggs?” Chad asked.
“What about them?”
“For breakfast, your treat.”
Rachel thought about it for a few seconds and then relented with a shrug. “Sounds good.”
“I look forward to breakfast then,” Chad said, standing as prepared to take his bowl to the kitchen.
“It’s a date.” She nodded, suddenly looking forward to tomorrow and what it might bring…snowstorm and all. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen at seven a.m. sharp.”
“Is that when you’ll have breakfast on the table like a good wife?” Chad asked, the corners of his eyes crinkling from his broad grin.
His comment stung, but then the big oaf didn’t seem overly sensitive to the kind of day she had. Either that, or he had a case of short-term memory. “Hardly. That’s when we start cooking breakfast.”
Chad shook his head. “Trust me, you want to do this on your own.” They moved to rinse the dishes in the sink.
“I do trust you. About as far as I can throw you.” Rachel laughed, having fun at his expense. Payback. “I’m sure we can handle it together, and it sounds like it’s high time you learned.”
Chad seemed like he was about to contradict her, but he suddenly smiled and nodded. “If you say so.”
“Why don’t you go relax. Maybe tend to the fire or something. You did open a can of soup and heat it, so in all fairness, I reckon I should wash up the dishes.”
“Don’t forget I heated the bread,” he teased.
“That too. Now get out of the kitchen and find something to do.” Rachel laughed, tossing the hand towel in Chad’s direction.