Save The Date

by K. S. Thomas

  “Okay – A, we are NOT calling him that and B, nobody is going to die.” I could tell Steph was about to counter and I lifted my hand to stop her. Then, in blissed silence, I drove on.

  Nearly six and a half hours later, we finally arrived at the lake house. Given our tremendous delay, the caretaker had had ample time to go through and open up the place after receiving Noonie Skeeter’s call first thing that morning informing him of our impromptu visit.

  In fact, by the time we pulled up, he had already left.

  “Whoa.” Steph was barely out of the truck and doing a complete 360 in the driveway trying to take it all in.

  “I know. I felt the same way when I first saw it. Actually, I still do.” It was exactly the way I’d remembered it. Part of me had been worried that like so many things, the once childish perception would prove to be somewhat distorted and exaggerated, but that was not the case. If anything, it was grander, more magnificent than I had originally viewed it.

  “Forget Savannah. I want to get married here.”

  I smirked. “Get yourself a groom and I’ll make it happen.”

  Steph cocked her head to the side to glare at me over the hood of the truck. “Get yourself a real live-in lover and maybe I’ll have time to.”

  I shrugged. “Guess we’re both staying single.”

  Eager to get inside and see if anything had changed since the last time I’d been there, I hurried for the front porch, skipping a step or so every few feet. Judging from the sound of gravel moving under rubber soles behind me, Steph was following right along.

  When we reached the porch, I heard two loud sighs. It took me a second to realize, one had been from me. Something about the sight of rocking chairs just did that to you. Sigh. Yup, I did it again.

  Then, with the excitement continually building, I reached for both handles on the set of all-glass French doors and pulled them open in one swift move, revealing the stunning foyer and massive wooden stair banister I had slid down once upon a time.

  “Oh my God! Why doesn’t anyone LIVE here? Because I will. Seriously, tell Noonie Skeeter to get rid of the groundskeeper. I’m taking over.” Steph was slowly walking through the room, shaking her head in awe with each step she took.

  “It’s amazing, isn’t it? And it’s exactly the way I remember it. From what I can tell, not a single thing has changed.” I inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of wood and fresh water. “It even smells the same.”

  “How many cousins did you say you had?” Steph’s eyes were closed as she stood halfway between the foyer and formal living room, just breathing in the rustic air.

  “Fifteen. Why?”

  She turned back to me, grinning mischievously. “Just exploring my options. I’m getting into this house one way or another.”

  I laughed. “Help yourself to any available Ashcrafts you like. It’d be kinda fun actually. We could be the Ashcraft Family Outcasts together.”

  “No way. They’re all gonna love me. You’re on your own with the outcast business. It’s okay though, I’ll still invite you to stuff. And of course, you’ll get the annual Christmas card.”

  “Gee, thanks.” It was right around then that I realized, I hadn’t ever received one of those from any Ashcraft. Not that I’d ever sent any out. But that went across the board. No one ever got a card from me. Somehow I suspected this ‘no card’ rule didn’t apply to everyone.

  Once we’d managed to get our fill of woodsy scents, we finally made it through the entire house and eventually settled on two bedrooms located on the main floor, closest to all the amenities we intended to enjoy during our stay. Namely, the pool out back and the rocking chairs out front.

  Given the gorgeous weather, we opted for the pool first.

  Of course we had way too much work to do to go swimming, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t work on our tans while diving into non-stop dressmaking mode. Utilizing an outdoor extension cord and multiple large patio tables, we created a massive work station suitable for our needs.

  Since Pattie had been kind enough to pack us a picnic for the drive, we hadn’t yet had to make time for meals. Between pulled pork sandwiches, fresh potato salad, homemade lemonade and to die for brownies, Steph and I had been eating our way through the day quite happily. But, as the evening began to creep up on us, thoughts of dinner began to swirl about in my head, slowly but surely taking over until the need for food became so overwhelming there was no focusing on anything else anymore.

  It was just as well. We had already achieved as much as we were going to for the day. The only thing I definitely needed to get started on after we ate was the beading on the dress. With everything that had happened in the last forty-eight hours, I’d been happy to put it off, but considering how fast the wedding date was creeping up on us, that really was no longer an option.

  “Any thoughts on food?” Steph was wandering around the large kitchen opening and closing drawers trying to get a feel for things.

  “Yes. Lots.” I went straight for the fridge. “Alright. Now we’re talking.” Apparently the caretaker had done more than just open the blinds and set up the pool. The fridge was stocked from top to bottom in everything you could possibly want. The freezer was more of the same.

  “Holy shit. Check out this pantry.” Steph was standing in the doorway to what could easily have been mistaken for an additional bedroom had it not been for the fact that the walls were lined from floor to ceiling with massive shelves containing enough food to stock a small grocery store. “Well, at least we won’t have any reason to do any more driving anytime soon.”

  “Always a plus.” I was crunching away on a carrot. The veggie platter sitting front and center of the fridge had been too tempting to pass by. “Care to dip?”

  “Yes, please.” Steph went straight for the mini bell peppers.

  From there we just sort of started pulling random items to the kitchen table and continued our grazing until we moved on to sweeter items like cookies and ice cream, at which point I no longer considered it grazing. It was more like heifering.

  I was just in the middle of sliding half of a chocolate chip cookie through the carton of peanut butter cup ice cream when my phone exploded in the sounds of ABBA belting Dancing Queen, a clear classic if you ask me.

  “What’s up, Tor?”

  “I’m really, really sorry.”

  I crinkled my brow, already frowning. “About what?” Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good. Tori made it a habit to rarely apologize for anything.

  “Oh, you don’t know yet?” It was half statement, half question.

  “Don’t know what? Could you please just come out and say whatever it is you need to say?” I hated surprises. Especially ones that started with ‘I’m sorry.’

  Tori still hadn’t answered me when I heard Steph pipe up from across the kitchen.

  “Um, I think your boyfriend’s here.” Shit was seriously getting confusing.

  I dashed for the window she was peering out of and spotted Reesie running toward the house. I spun back around to scold Steph. “How many times do I have to say that he is not my boyfriend?”

  Then, click, I heard the line go dead and Tori had removed herself from the conversation all together. It was just as well. Her surprise would have to wait until after I figured out what the hell Emerson was suddenly doing here.

  I marched straight to the front door and yanked it open, all the while ignoring Steph’s continued muttering behind me as she followed along. I was barely to the edge of the porch when I stopped dead in my tracks.

  “Tyler?”

  “Surprise!”

  I was way too stunned to speak, let alone do anything to stop him as he practically ran over to me and wrapped me in his arms as if I’d been yearning to be held by them for an eternity. Truth was, neither Tyler nor his muscly arms and torso had even crossed my mind since before I left town.

  When I saw his lips zeroing in on mine, I finally managed to make a move. Even if it was just to turn my head to
dodge what, based on his embrace, would likely have been an overzealous kiss.

  “Babe, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” Tyler was busy running his fingers through my thick hair and pulling it back to get a better look at my face. Honestly, I’m a little shocked he didn’t reverse his actions the second he saw my expression, which was certainly less than thrilled.

  I thought I heard a hissing sound and turned just in time to see Emerson’s back as he disappeared inside the house without so much as a hello. As tempting as it was to try and analyze Emerson’s odd behavior, I simply didn’t have the time. Not with Tyler’s lips coming at me yet again, this time parted. I swear I saw some tongue tip creeping out just before I ducked and slipped out of his clutches.

  “Tyler, what are you doing here?” I demanded. The shock of it all was wearing off and quickly morphing into anger.

  “Look, I thought about what happened the other day –“

  “You mean the part where we broke up?”

  He closed in on me yet again, this time placing both of his hands on my shoulders and leaning into me from up on his six foot three frame. “Baby, no one breaks up over having to share a shower.”

  “Actually, they do. We did, in fact.” How was he not getting this? And more importantly, how could I make it any clearer?

  “Don’t be silly, Callie. We’re perfect for each other and you know it. You just need a little more time to get over being so overly independent and you’ll see what a great couple we make.” I didn’t know what was grinding my last nerve more. The fact that he insisted on calling me Callie – a nickname I hated, or the fact that he was being a condescending asshole while doing it.

  “See that’s the thing though, Tylie. I don’t plan on getting over my annoying over- independence. It’s just who I am. And, I’m okay with that. Since you’re not, I’m thinking maybe we’re not as great a couple as you’ve led yourself to believe.” I gave him a pat on the back as I walked past him and returned to the front porch. I only hoped I came across as patronizing as he had a moment ago.

  “You can’t be serious.”

  I stopped and turned back. “Why not?”

  “I came all the way out here to see you. I brought a ring for fuck’s sake!” He was getting pissed.

  “You really should have called first.” I spun around on my heel and headed straight for the front door. Without looking back I called out, “You can stay here for the night. Just pick a room somewhere where I won’t have to see you and we’ll be good. You can arrange for a ride out of here first thing in the morning.”

  If he said anything else in response, I was too far away to hear it.

  It wasn’t until I was back inside and heard voices coming from the kitchen that I realized Steph had left me to fend for myself out there somewhere along the way.

  “That was interesting,” she said dryly when I walked in.

  “Couldn’t really have thought so since you didn’t stick around to watch it play out.” Sometimes I probably took her responsibilities as my assistant to the extremes. It probably wasn’t part of her job to hold my hand during a run in with a clingy, somewhat thick-headed ex. Still felt like it should have been though.

  “You can tell me all about it in the morning. After the drive up here, I’ve had my share of near death experiences for one day.”

  I watched as she placed our empty plates in the sink. “How would my telling you about Tyler’s visit be a near death experience?”

  “Oh, it would be a death of boredom.” She grinned at me. “Anyway, I’m going to bed.” If she hadn’t given a sly sideways glance in Emerson’s direction, I might have taken her little dig personally. As it was, her motives for ditching me for the second time in less than five minutes while in the company of a man I was less than thrilled about, were clear as glass.

  The moment Stephanie was gone, I swear I felt a chill cast over the room. Even from the doorway I could feel Emerson’s whole demeanor change.

  “How’d you get roped into this whole mess?” It was the only thing I could think of even if the answer would likely trace back to my grandmother.

  “He showed up at the farm looking for you. Noonie asked me to bring him out. So, I did.” He tipped back the beer he was holding and took a long sip.

  “Noonie, huh? Guess you already think you’re family.” God, why was I being such a bitch to this man?

  Emerson’s bottle hit the counter with a loud clank. “I’m sorry. You have a problem with me calling Skeeter Noonie? Why? It doesn’t count since I’m not related by blood?”

  “No, marriage will work just fine. I’m just saying, maybe wait until after you make that trip down the altar.”

  “Just who the hell is it I’m supposed to be marrying? I know planning weddings is kind of your thing, but maybe you could stick to planning ones for people who ask you to.” He hadn’t raised his voice any, but there was definitely an edge to his tone I hadn’t ever heard before. Like a quiet fury just simmering below the surface, controlled but raw.

  “Are you fucking kidding me right now? I was asked to plan your wedding! You really think coming here on a moment’s notice to throw all this shit together was my idea?!” I on the other hand was shouting. Nothing controlled about what was bubbling below, or rather spilling over.

  Emerson’s mouth half opened and then immediately shut again. For a moment, I thought I had him. Thought I’d won. Then, I saw the sides of his mouth begin to twitch and the corners of his eyes crinkled. I’d seen it happen often enough to know he was about to laugh at me. “You think I’m marrying Savannah.” There was no question about it.

  “Well, yeah!” I replied indignantly. “Wait. Aren’t you?”

  “Hell no, I’m not marryin’ her! Are you kidding me? We’d kill each other before the honeymoon was over. Besides, she’s Spence’s little sister, which makes her like my sister.”

  Stunned, I was too beside myself to put it all together on my own. “But she said she was marrying her brother’s best friend. That’s YOU!”

  Emerson was still grinning. “You really need to come out for more family reunions, Liss. Spence ain’t Savannah’s only brother. There’s the oldest, Simon, as well.”

  I have no idea how long I stood there like a fucking statue, my arms up in the air and mouth wide open. It seemed like an eternity before I finally managed to speak again. And even then, it wasn’t much.

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, oh. Don’t you think I might have mentioned I was the groom when we were hanging out the other day? Or any time after? I mean, I think that sort of stuff is worth mentioning. Even if some people don’t.”

  I noticed the smile fading from his eyes, in spite of the fact that he was making every effort to keep his lips drawn up.

  “Well, I’m glad to hear that.” Maybe now that all of that was cleared up we could move on to less awkward territory.

  “While we’re on that, was there anything you wanted to share?” He was cocking his head to the side and giving me a probing glare, as if he was daring me to deny something. Only I had no idea what I was supposed to confess.

  “Not particularly, no.” Increasingly uncomfortable from the way his eyes were boring into me, I busied myself with putting away the last of our buffet of snacks.

  “Just as well I guess. Your boyfriend already gave me an earful on the drive up here.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, I bet he did. Of course, it probably wasn’t anything compared to what he’ll have to say tomorrow on his ride back out of here.”

  I turned back from the pantry and caught a glimpse of Emerson out of the corner of my eye. The smile from before was gone now and had been replaced with a turned in lower lip which was apparently being gnawed on. I assumed it was his version of Steph’s thoughtful pen tap since he had remained strangely silent. An uncomfortable move mid-conversation and I hated having been the last one to say something. How long did I wait to speak again? Did I speak again? Maybe it was time to just wave and walk out of the ro
om.

  I was mid contemplation myself, twisting my left index and middle finger in my right hand – because that was my thing, when Emerson said, “I’m starting to think we have some serious communication issues, which is ironic really because the other day…well, never mind that now. You’re not together with that guy anymore, are you?”

  “No. We broke up last week. I have no idea what possessed him to come up here out of the blue.” Then, to make sure he knew it was really done with I added, “Because it was over for me way before that already. I just didn’t know how to tell him…or anyone else.”

  His entire energy shifted as he leaned back against the counter behind him, completely losing that foreboding thing he’d had going on a minute earlier when he was getting on my case about how annoying Tyler had been. “Who else would you need to tell?”

  I sighed. “My mother and my friend Tori. Not that either of them were all that surprised. But, that’s pretty much the reason I was dreading it. They have this not so secret fear that I will end up alone like a crazy old cat lady. Which is stupid, because I’m allergic to cats, so that’s obviously not happening.” Why was I still talking?

  If nothing else, my embarrassing rambling was bringing the smile back to Emerson’s eyes. Even if it was at my expense, I felt a rush of butterflies storm through the pit of my stomach knowing I had put it there.

  “I seriously doubt you’ll end up alone, Liss. Crazy maybe, but not alone.” There was something sweet about his tone and I chose to ignore the part where he was clearly making fun of me.

  “I’m really sorry you got stuck having to bring Tyler all the way out here. I’m sure you had better things to do today. Not to mention, carting around your boss’s granddaughter’s ex-boyfriend probably isn’t part of the job description.”

  He chuckled. “I didn’t mind. Well, I mind less now that I know you’re not still with him.”

  His tone went soft and the contours of his face changed, revealing the boy still hiding within the man.

  “Why would you care if I was with him or not?” I could feel my insides vibrate with anticipation as I waited for his answer. I don’t know what I thought I was going to hear. A grand confession of love after one measly afternoon of fishing and sightseeing, if you could even call it that since we never left the property. Still, part of me was unable to detach from the six year old romantic who had felt it was so obvious that we’d live happily ever after one day.