Come to Me Free

by Leah Atwood

  “You win.” Bryce chuckled. “Any chance of potato salad?”

  “You’re pressing your luck on that one.” She went to freezer, opened the door and withdrew the container with the gumbo. It was frozen solid, unlikely to come right out of the bowl, so she ran it under water while she readied a pot.

  “What can I help with?” Rob sidled up to her.

  “Nothing, you’re a guest.” She turned to Bryce after dumping the Gumbo into a pot. “You can get the bowls down.”

  “Hey now.” Bryce pointed to Rob. “How come he’s considered a guest and told to do nothing, but I get bossed around?”

  “Because dear cousin, you are family, not a guest.” Grinning, she swatted his arm. “Now, go earn your keep.”

  He saluted her. “You’ve got it, boss.”

  “Is the truck locked?” Rob asked, looking at Bryce.

  “No, why?” Reaching up, Bryce grabbed a few navy blue bowls from a cabinet.

  “I left my phone in it, and there’s a call I need to make.”

  “Go ahead, its open.”

  Dani observed Bryce with curiosity as he watched Rob leave the house. The minute the door shut behind Rob, Bryce turned to her. “What’s up?”

  “With what?” Playing dumb, she stared at him, hoping she appeared impassive.

  “With you and Rob. You can’t keep your eyes off each other.” Bryce set the bowls down on the counter near the stovetop.

  “We’re friends, that’s all.” She stirred the gumbo with a long-handled, large metal spoon.

  “And I’m Bigfoot.” Bryce positioned himself against an open spot on the wall with his arms crossed. “I knew he had a thing for you, but I didn’t realize it was mutual.”

  “You’ve talked about me with Rob?” She spun around, spoon still in hand, sending gumbo stock spraying across the kitchen.

  Telltale guilt flashed across him. “Inadvertently.”

  “Whatever is that supposed to mean?” Annoyed, interested, flattered—she wasn’t certain which feeling was going to take the lead.

  “Are you still seeing Jeff?”

  “Don’t change the subject. Tell me what was said.” Well aware she was giving him more ammo with her insistence, but unable to stop, she shook a finger at him.

  He darted a gaze to the door. “The night Gram told me you’d been dating someone, it came up naturally in conversation. Jay and Adam had picked up on earlier signals, and thought Rob was that person.”

  “And?” she pressed, looking at him while wiping up the gumbo that had flown from the spoon.

  “And he also gave me the friends spiel.”

  “Oh.” Disappointment stalled further thoughts.

  “But both of you are lying.” Bryce came and stood beside her. “A few months ago, I would have told you to run as far from Rob as you can. In fact, I essentially told him as much.”

  “You had no right.” She put both of her hands on her hips.

  His hand flew up, interrupting her. “Let me finish, please, because this isn’t easy for me to admit. I made a mistake that night and said some things I regret to a very good friend. People like Rob don’t come along too often, and I’m ashamed to say, I made some harsh judgments of him.”

  “Do you have a point? If so I’d really like to hear it before he comes back in?” She pursed her lips, waiting.

  Bryce was silent for a second before speaking. “Here it is—you and Rob are obviously attracted to each other, and it’s apparent to me that it goes beyond something physical.” He took a deep breath then exhaled. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I think you owe it to each other to stop this ‘friends’ junk and figure out what you both want.”

  “Rob’s made it clear he’s not interested in a relationship.” Painfully clear. She turned away and put rice to boil in another pot.

  “I’m pretty sure that’s changed, but he thinks you’re still seeing Jeff.”

  “I am,” she whispered.

  Bryce turned her to face him. “Are you happy with him?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Then do something about it.” His hand, still on her shoulder, started to shake and a shadow cast over his face. “Gramps’ death showed us life can end at any time. Rob also learned that lesson all too well. Don’t waste precious time forcing something that’s not meant to be because it’s easier.”

  The front door opened and brought their conversation to a quick end. Rob walked in, handing the phone off to Bryce. “Caroline’s on the line. She wants to talk to you.”

  Making a face, Bryce took the phone.

  “Caroline just found out about Gramps,” Rob explained as Bryce stepped out. “Elle let it slip by accident.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “He didn’t tell Caroline and Jay?”

  “No, they were still on their honeymoon, and he didn’t want to mar it.” Rob pointed to the pots on the stove. “Sure I can’t help with anything?”

  “Positive.”

  The air in the room thickened. Bryce’s words hovered above her, creating an increased awareness toward Rob.

  “Dani…”

  “Rob…”

  They spoke at the same time. A thin giggle of nerves came over her.

  “Ladies first.” Rob flashed a smile.

  “I’m sorry I all but stopped talking to you.” There, she’d admitted it.

  “I understood.” His teeth grazed his bottom lip. “You started seeing someone and it wouldn’t have been right for us to talk as much as we did with a boyfriend in the picture.”

  The rice began to boil over, and she removed the pot from the heat. Setting it aside so it could cool and absorb the last of the water, she turned off the burner. Once it cooled down, she’d clean up what spilled over the top. Today wasn’t a good day for keeping the kitchen clean. She turned back to him. “Your turn.”

  “For what?” He squinted, confused.

  “You were going to say something a minute ago.”

  “Oh.” His lips twisted and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking of something to say, different than what he’d intended. “I was just going to say it’s good to see you again.”

  “You look good.” When she realized how her words sounded, embarrassment hit her. “I mean you look more at peace than you did this summer.”

  “I am.”

  “About Jeff…” The front door open and closed before she had a chance to elaborate.

  “That was fun,” Bryce said with a sarcastic tone from the hallway. He entered the kitchen and tossed Rob his phone. “You had a missed call, but I couldn’t get Caroline off the phone in time.”

  Rob caught his phone and looked at the screen. “Stop acting so grumpy. You know how Caroline is.”

  “Don’t get me wrong—I’m grateful for her and Jay’s friendship and condolences, but I just had to play hardball to convince them not to leave their honeymoon early.”

  Dani stood back. She’d never once envied Bryce his fame or fortune, but times like this, she did wish for a close network of friends like he had. Her own friendships seemed superficial next to his. Every last one of his band members would do anything for each other, immediately drop what they were doing if another was in need, unlike Jeff. Agitation tightened her chest. She couldn’t make excuses for him any longer. He was a good man, but work would always come first to him, much like it had for her. Until now.

  She dished the rice and gumbo into a bowl for Bryce and one for Rob. The ice cream had been enough to curb her diminished appetite. Insistent on helping, Rob carried the bowls to the table. Bryce pulled out two spoons from the silverware drawer and handed one to Rob. The room became conspicuously quiet while they ate.

  Rob finished first and set his spoon down in the bowl. “This was really good. Thank you.”

  “I didn’t think I was that hungry until I started eating.” Bryce finished off the last bite of his food. “It’s even better than I remembered.”

  Laughing, she took their empty bowls
from the table and set them in the sink. “It’s only been a few months.”

  Bryce looked at his watch. “We really should be going.”

  There wasn’t anything else she could say to delay their departure, not when she knew Gram would be expecting them soon. At least she’d see them again in a few hours. She walked them to the door and watched them leave. As they left the driveway, Bryce and Rob looked to be already engaged in a serious conversation.

  Back inside, she washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, all the while thinking of Rob. His presence confused her further, but even that was a welcome distraction from the pain of Gramps’ passing.

  Two hours later, she grabbed her phone, preparing to leave. The flashing message indicator light caught her eye. She must have missed the initial alert. She looked down and saw a new text message from Rob, the first one from him in weeks.

  For the record, you look good too. :)

  She sucked in a sharp breath. If the pleasant shudder of her nerves was any indication, she was in trouble.

  Chapter 13

  Friendship should come with limitations, or at least a get-out-of-jail-free card to cash in at times like this. Rob leaned against the sink of the funeral home’s bathroom, fleeing the mourners for a few minutes. Gramps had been a pillar of the Oden Bridge community and the continuous flow of guests evidenced that.

  For the most part, Rob had stood back, keeping to himself. His main role was over now that Sophie and Gracie were here and by Bryce’s side, supporting him. Since noon, he’d occasionally been drawn into conversation with various people but, by and large, he felt like an outsider. He was tempted to cut out, head back to Nashville tonight, but Sophie caught him checking on flights and asked him to stay.

  “I’m his wife, but you understand loss in a way that I don’t,” she’d said.

  Bryce must have said something to her about Carrie. Rob wasn’t happy about the breach of implied confidentiality, but grudgingly admitted to himself that he’d have done the same thing if the roles were reversed. Sophie and he had talked, and by the end of the conversation, he’d promised to stay until after the funeral.

  A promise he was regretting since they were only halfway through viewing hours. The scene brought back all the ugly memories of Carrie’s funeral, the worst of which was the sea of dark clothing. That’s what he remembered the most—the insipid, mundane detail of the attire. It made him want to rip his black shirt off and discard it in the trash like he had his suit.

  When his throat had constricted to the extent that he couldn’t swallow, he’d left the room and fled to the bathroom where he’d been for the last fifteen minutes. He ran a finger between his collar and throat, grateful that he wasn’t wearing a tie. Thank goodness for small blessings, because if so, surely he’d have suffocated by now.

  “Breathe in. Breathe out.” He turned the faucet on and splashed water on his face. Staring in the mirror, he counted to ten. Still summoning the courage to go back, he looked upward. “Lord, I’m still struggling here. Help me to be there for my friends and make it through this.” The complete peace he’d hoped for didn’t come, but he did find the strength to put one foot in front of the other until he returned to the crowded room.

  Without prompting, his eyes searched out Dani. He’d watched her too often and came to the conclusion that she wasn’t doing as well as she wanted people to believe. Where was her boyfriend? Morbid curiosity had made him ask Bryce about the guy last night. A banker’s son, worked long hours, but overall a decent man. If he’s such a decent man, why isn’t he here? If Dani were Rob’s girlfriend, he’d have rearranged anything to be with her today. It was a funeral, not an optional party among friends.

  She was deep in conversation with her cousin Gina, one of her few family members to whom he could place a name with the face. His observation was disrupted when Gram approached him.

  Taking his hand, she held it between her own, and looked at a picture display behind him that showed Gramps through the years. “Gene and I had over fifty wonderful years together.”

  “That’s an inspiring achievement.” He smiled at her, a foreign part of him wondering what it would be like to have that many years with someone.

  “There were times he drove me crazy, but we had a good life together. Losing him is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through and the first time he’s not here to help me through a trial.” She stared at Rob and gave his hand a decisive squeeze. “But there is nothing that would make me erase the years with him to save myself this pain.”

  A chill traveled from his shoulders, down his spine and landed at his toes. Gram was a wise woman. Her musings weren’t just that of a grieving widow. They were an intentional message to him. When he looked into her wrinkle-lined eyes, he knew she was aware of his loss. He doubted Bryce had told anyone other than Sophie, but somehow Gram knew. He didn’t know what to say.

  She stood on her tiptoes and gave his cheek a kiss. “I’m glad you’re here.” She walked away before he could get a word out.

  From the corner of an eye, he saw Dani leave. She looked to be in a hurry. At first he didn’t give it much thought since there could be any number of reasons why she left, but when she hadn’t returned after fifteen minutes, he went to look for her. He ducked his head into a room where several platters of finger foods were spread out, along with several carafes of coffee and a pitcher of water. There was no one in there. Several other rooms were also vacant.

  Certain she wasn’t in the building, he went outside. The parking lot was packed, cars were parked in the grassy spot to the side of the funeral home, and even that was almost full. He scanned the front perimeter but still didn’t see her. Continuing on, he walked around the building. He spotted her on a bench, hunched over, with her head resting on her palms.

  He went to her and tapped her shoulder. “Need a friend?”

  A muffled cry came from her before she looked up. When she did, she looked at him through watery eyes. She didn’t say anything but nodded and scooted over, making room for him. The bench creaked when he sat down.

  The only sounds surrounding them were an occasional car door opening and vehicles passing by on the road. A light blue sky without a single visible cloud was a contradiction to the grieving that surrounded him.

  “I’m sorry.” She wiped at her eyes. “I’m not usually like this.”

  “You don’t usually have a loved one pass away, either.”

  “I should go back inside.” A strand of hair fell onto her face and she pushed it aside, not moving from her spot.

  “Let’s get out of here.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “You’ve been here all day, right? My guess is, hours before the visitors began to arrive.” At Carrie’s viewing, he’d been so early, the funeral home’s doors were still locked when he’d arrived.

  “Yes.”

  “Then trust me.” Taking a deep breath, he met her gaze. “I know from experience that sometimes you just need a little breathing room.”

  He saw the indecision dueling in her eyes. “Okay.”

  “Where are your keys?” He’d ridden with Bryce and didn’t have access to a vehicle of his own.

  “In my purse.” She frowned. “Which is inside.”

  “Where at? I’ll grab it.” If she went back in right now, she’d continue to be overwhelmed, an experience he knew all too well.

  “There’s a little room in the back hallway, to the right.” Her voice hitched. “It should be on a corner chair. It’s a yellow fabric purse with a scroll design.”

  That shouldn’t be too hard to find. “I’ll be right back.”

  He went inside, found the room and grabbed Dani’s purse. As he was leaving, Dani’s father, Gil, walked in.

  “Have you seen Dani?” Gil asked.

  “She’s outside.” He held his breath, spreading his hand to cover as much of the purse as he could. In his heart, he knew he was doing the right thing, getting Dani away from this for a little while,
but didn’t know that her father would agree.

  Eyeing the purse, Gil’s brows arched. “Is there something I should know?”

  “She’s upset, and I suggested going for a drive.”

  To Rob’s surprise, Gil slowly nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. She’s taking Gramps’ death even harder than the rest of us.”

  “I’ll bring her back soon.”

  Gil smiled and actually chuckled. “Dani’s my little girl, but she’s also an adult—she doesn’t have to answer to me.”

  Rob expelled a relieved breath.

  “Besides,” Gil winked, “Bryce speaks highly of you. I know she’ll be in good hands until she returns.”

  That must have been a very recent conversation. Rob kept the wry thought to himself and returned to Dani.

  He handed her the purse. “Where are you parked?”

  She dug out her keys and handed them to him. “Over there.”

  Taking the keys, he refused to think how right, how normal, it felt for her to hand over her keys for him to drive her vehicle without question. This wasn’t anything more than being a friend. He walked in the direction she’d pointed to, found her Explorer, and opened the door for her.

  He circled to the driver’s side and got in. While buckling, he looked at her. “Where do you want to go?”

  “Will you take me to Gram’s?” Her voice had steadied from moments ago.

  Nodding, he ran the route through his mind, sure he could get there on his own, without directions. The drive was quiet and Dani stared out the window for the short length of time. They came to the property line, and he pulled into the pecan-tree-lined driveway. He parked near the house and sat, waiting for Dani’s lead.

  She got out of the vehicle and held on to the door for several seconds before she walked to the porch and sat on the steps. He followed and sat beside her.

  “Your grandparents have a beautiful home.” The first time he’d visited Oden Bridge and stayed at this house, its welcoming air had infused him with feelings of contentment.

  “So many memories of my childhood and life happened here.” Her bottom lip quivered again. “It won’t be the same without Gramps.”