Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Holt
“Mrs. Holstedder said she doesn’t like Angela. Refuses her exercises.” Debbie flags me down as I rush down the hallway, trying to get to Gracie’s condo. Today has been crazy. Patients all have family in town visiting and they tend to slow down our appointments. I’m behind and it’s not even two o’clock yet.
I refrain from rolling my eyes. But just barely. Mrs. Holstedder is one of those handsy senior citizens I told Maple about. I transferred her to the care of my top physical therapist, Angela. She’s probably better at her job than I am since her husband is a pro athlete and has access to all the developing research on fitness. Patients should be happy to have her guiding their therapy instead of me.
“Please remind Mrs. Holstedder that continuing her therapy is part of her agreement to stay here at Sunny Shores, and as much as I’d love to see everyone, I’m just one man.” I bounce my eyebrows up and down. “I know I look like him, but I’m not actually Superman.”
Debbie sneers and spins away from me with a huff like I knew she would.
“You know you love me!” I holler after her. She just flips me off and keeps right on walking, shoes squeaking on the clean floors. God, I love my staff.
What I don’t love is the text I just got that sent me in a mad scramble to find Maple. I hustle out the side door, across the courtyard, waving hello to patients, but keeping my legs moving at a fast clip. I knock softly on Gracie’s door and peek in before anyone answers. Maple is on the couch in the living room, laptop open in front of her. She looks up and holds up a finger.
“Okay, that’s good progress. I think we’re actually ahead of schedule. She should be wearing shoes and a costume without biting anyone well before the fall.” Maple smiles so serenely, I can see why pets and humans alike adore her. She says a few more things and then hits a button and closes her laptop. “Hey, hunky monkey. I didn’t expect to see you here so soon.”
It’s a ridiculous nickname, one she came up with on the fly, and yet I love to hear it come out of her mouth. Just knowing she’s the only one who would call me that makes me wonder if I was too hasty in signing off on being girlfriend-free for the rest of my life.
“I have a situation,” I say, coming into the living room to sit next to her on the couch. “Where’s Gracie?” I add in a whisper.
“Napping.”
I nod. “Okay, good. Uh, my mother just texted me.”
“Is…that the situation?”
Maple seems confused and has every right to be. I haven’t told her much about my family. Honestly, the less they knew about this farce of ours, the better. Mom and Dad live on the outskirts of Anchor Lake and they aren’t much for town gossip, so I hadn’t considered that I’d have to involve them in this lie about being engaged. And Jess is so preoccupied with little Posy, I figured she hadn’t heard about us either.
“Well, they’re insisting on coming over for dinner tonight. I, uh, forgot it’s my sister’s birthday.”
“Holt!” Maple slaps my thigh, making me feel like the worst brother ever.
“I know, I know. Anyway, they want to barbecue and I wanted to let you know, in case you don’t want to be there.” I rush forward when I see a hurt look cross her face. “You’re absolutely welcome to be there, it’s just I didn’t want you to feel like you had to spend the evening with my family. They’re…a lot.”
Maple’s face clears and she’s smiling again as she snuggles into my side. “Families are always a lot. And besides, they can’t be worse than mine.”
I grimace, wondering how true that statement might be. “Well, in any case, I’ve sworn up and down to never get married again, so they’ll be a little confused about how you and I came to be. Or, we can let them know about the real situation.”
“Maple?” Gracie’s thin voice comes from the bedroom.
Maple stands up immediately. “Coming, Grandma!” She looks back down at me. “The more people we tell, the more complicated this gets. I’m so sorry to drag you into this. I’ll let you decide what’s best to tell your family. Just let me know and I’ll play along.”
With a swish of her skirt, she’s off to Gracie’s bedroom to help her up from her nap. I scrub a hand over my face, both amazed at how sweet Maple is and how complicated this situation has gotten in just two weeks. What started as a bit of a joke, and a way to protect Gracie’s fragile condition, has become a town-wide issue. The thing is, I don’t mind everyone thinking Maple and I are engaged, and if it continues to help her grandma, then I’m all in. Even with my family.
Maple comes out of the bedroom with Gracie shuffling next to her. Both of them smile when they see me there on the couch, identical if not for the close to five decades between them.
“Oh, Holt! I’m so glad you’re here! Would you like some tea with us?”
I stand up and help her into her favorite chair. “I’d love some.”
“But then Holt and I have to go. His family’s coming over for dinner tonight and we want to stop by the grocery store.” Maple heads into the kitchenette and I follow, the two of us getting the teakettle going and three mugs.
“Did you decide?” she asks in a whisper.
I put my arm around her. “Sure did, wife-to-be. You ready to get your acting skills going?”
She beams up at me and I can’t help but steal a kiss that doesn’t feel like acting at all.
Maple has outdone herself, proving that, contrary to my ban, having a female in my life could be quite nice. She strung up streamers across the entire inside of the cabin while I marinated the chicken and a separate dish of fake chicken made out of tofu. She told me it wasn’t necessary to get her a different entree, but I’m not going to keep feeding her meat when I know she doesn’t like it. Any good fiancé would do the same.
“What’s her favorite color?” Maple asks from the floor.
I look over the bar to see her making a poster board for my sister. I go back to tossing the salad. “Um, I’m not sure. Maybe pink? No, purple?”
“Holt…” Maple groans.
Something about that throaty voice saying my name on a groan has me shifting uncomfortably. My family’s due any minute. I can’t be sporting an erection for my fake fiancée when I hug my mother. Maple comes into the kitchen ten minutes later to check on the rolls she made from scratch and are now baking in the oven. When she’s done, I snatch the oven mitt off her hand and toss it on the counter. I pull her into my arms and smile down at her.
“You’re going to make my sister’s day really nice. Thank you, Maple.” I dip my head and kiss her, wanting just a quick peck, but things between us heat instantly. Her hands fist my shirt at my waist as my tongue flicks against her lips.
The knock at the door threatens to beat the door down.
We break apart breathless. “That would be my sister.”
“Open up, Holtie Moltie!”
I cringe at the even worse nickname while Maple cracks up. I tug her back to my side and force her to be right there with me as I answer the door. Jess is on my doorstep, fist raised like she intends to keep banging on my door. Baby Posy is asleep in a carrier strapped to her chest, used to her mother’s loud nature. Mom and Dad are behind Jess, Mom holding a pink bakery box and Dad checking his phone, probably looking for a golf score update from his buddies.
“Happy birthday, Jessie Messy!” I let go of Maple just long enough to hug my sister and plant a kiss on the top of Posy’s bald head. “Everyone, this is Maple. Maple, this is my family.”
Maple beams, reaching out to hug Jess, who looks bewildered. Over Maple’s shoulder she gives me a lethal look. Jess is never happy if she’s not the first person in the know when it comes to my life.
“So, it’s true?” Mom asks, hand on her chest, bakery box wobbling. I reach out and grab it from her before she ruins Jess’s annual carrot cake. Maple shakes Mom’s hand and then reaches for Dad. He looks befuddled, but shakes her hand too. Mom’s lips are pinched. Never a good sign.
I pull Maple back into me, wrapping my arm around her waist. “Yes, it’s true. Maple and I are getting married.”
Maple rests her head on my shoulder and puts her hand on my chest. “He’s such a good man. I knew from the moment I met him twenty years ago that one day he’d be mine.”
Well, shit, I kind of like the way that sounds, even if it’s a lie. We step back and let them into the cabin, each of them lobbing questions at us all the way from where did we meet to how long we’ve been dating and does Maple snore at night. That one was from Jess. Maple and I tag team, each answering the questions with ease while we set out chips and a veggie tray on the coffee table in the living room.
“Where’s Stephen?” I ask Jess, cutting in on the interrogation.
She shoves a chip in her mouth, swaying side to side so Posy doesn’t wake from her nap just yet. “He’s working late. Said he’ll come by later.”
“Working late on your birthday?” Mom asks exactly what I was thinking.
Jess waves her hand in the air. “You know business owners.” She turns to Maple. “Stephen owns Anchor’s Up Brewery. He started it three years ago and it just sucks up all his time.”
“Worth it though. His latest craft brew is amazing,” I interject, remembering the delicious IPA he came up with this year.
Maple whirls around, rubbing her hand up and down my arm seductively, really playing up the devoted fiancée role. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like her hands on me. “Holt! You broke your diet enough to drink a beer?”
Jess cackles, which wakes up Posy. My poor little niece lets out a whimper. I reach for her and Jess lets me take her.
“I know, sweetie. Your mama is so loud and annoying. Come to Uncle Holt.” I nestle her into my neck and sway around the living room with her. She settles down, her pudgy little fist in her mouth, drool coating her hand. “Are you growing teeth?”
Jess groans. “Please don’t remind me. I swear, breastfeeding is over the second those teeth pop out. My nipples can’t take it.”
Dad grimaces. “Jess. We just met Maple. Let’s not talk about your nipples.”
Jess laughs, plopping down next to Maple and throwing her arm over her shoulder. “So, tell me about your plans for kids. You and Holt want to have a few babies?”
Maple’s cheeks flush. So much for her confidence in handling my family. She didn’t count on my sister and her invasive questions.
“That’s a conversation for us to have later, Jess,” I say, right as Maple answers.
“I’d love to have at least two, yes.”
My heart swells, which surprises me. Macy and I didn’t have babies on our radar when we were married, and I certainly don’t have them in mind now that I’m a confirmed bachelor. But suddenly the idea of holding my own baby in my arms—mine and Maple’s—sounds like heaven.
Mom jumps in before Jess can say anything else to put Maple on the spot. She’s been unusually quiet this whole time, studying Maple from below her eyelashes. “So, go over this with me again. You met when you were kids and suddenly now as thirty-year-olds you’re getting married? You don’t even live here, do you?”
Maple sits up straighter on the couch. I head over to her, sitting on the arm of the couch, with Posy. “Yes. I came to Anchor Lake every summer to stay with Grandma Gracie. When I was twelve and Holt was…”
“Fourteen,” I add in.
“Yes, fourteen, we met and ended up kissing at a bonfire one night.” Maple puts her hands out. “It was totally innocent!”
“Well…” I drawl, then laugh when Maple looks at me with panic in her eyes. “It was innocent. My glasses even fell off. Remember that pair, Mom? The ones I hated? You told me I had to wear them the full two years, but they were too loose on my face.”
Mom turns a sharp eye toward me, which makes me stop talking. “Holt. Focus.”
“Glasses. Anchor,” Jess adds in, nudging Holt in the shoulder. “And give me my baby back before she tries sucking on your nipple, looking for her dinner.”
“Jesus, Jess,” Dad sighs.
“Anchor?” Maple asks, thoroughly confused.
I slide down onto the couch with her and explain. “With ADHD, it helps to have anchoring words when you get lost in a conversation. I tend to go in a thousand directions, so I choose a word to anchor that train of thought, finish what I was saying, and then go back to the idea that distracted me. It’s just a technique I learned over the years.”
“I love that,” Maple says softly.
“So you were saying?” Mom prompts impatiently, always the hard-ass.
Maple winks at me, like we’re in this horrible situation with my parents together. Despite being a grown man and still having my mother snap at me for not staying focused, I’m happy here right next to Maple. Like there’s someone on my side for once.
“The following summer, Holt was dating Macy. And the summer after that, my father put me into science camps. I didn’t see Holt again until recently.”
I jump in. “I saw her in Charlotte at a conference a few months back. We started talking, the spark was still there, and here we are.”
We hadn’t talked about that bit, but figured we needed a little bit of time to get to know each other or Mom would never believe our quick engagement. I put my other hand on Maple’s knee and gaze into her eyes adoringly.
“And have you set a wedding date?” Mom asks, but I barely register her question. I’m too busy staring into Maple’s eyes and getting lost in their ocean-blue depths.
“Holt! Focus!” Mom snaps.
I blink, happy, contented bubble burst. Maple’s neck swivels like she’s in a horror film. I half expect smoke to come out of her ears.
“He is focused, Mrs. McGrath. Have you not seen the business he’s built for himself? Someone can only do that if they have immense focus and talent.”
You can hear a pin drop, if there were any pins in danger of dropping. I shouldn’t like seeing my mother put in her place, but I do. I really fucking do. She’s the one who never accepted my diagnosis and made me feel like there was something wrong with me. That my lack of focus was something I could choose not to have if I only wanted it badly enough. How many times had I gotten in trouble in school and then again once I got home, even though my grades were always amazing?
Mom finally harrumphs. Dad asks Maple if she golfs. Jess puts a blanket over her shoulders and feeds Posy. I stand up and get the grill going, rubbing my chest. I realize that never once did Macy defend me like that to my own family. In fact, she and my mom would laugh together about my distracted mind. As soon as the chicken and tofu is on, I go back to help Maple out of what has to be a painful discussion about golf handicaps and we get the food ready together.
“Thank you,” I whisper into her neck as I hold her close to me in the corner of the kitchen where my family can’t see us.
She slides her hands up my shoulders and kisses my neck. “She shouldn’t talk to you like that.”
“I know. I appreciate you standing up for me.”
She tips her head back and smiles. “Always.”
Just like that.
Everyone’s on their best behavior over dinner, and somehow, we all have a good time. Stephen shows up in time for Jess to blow out the candles on her cake and he makes a toast about his wife that makes everyone tear up. I know it’s been hard with a baby and a new business, but I’m rooting for those two to make it over the long haul.
As Jess and Stephen leave with Posy, my sister pulls me into a hug and whispers, “I love her! You better marry her quick, brother.” She grabs the leftover cake out of my hands and Stephen follows her out to their car with the baby carrier.
Dad gives Maple a hug. Somehow, Maple has agreed to go to the driving range with him one day this summer and actually seems happy about it. Mom puts her hands on my shoulders and studies me.
“I like her for you, Holt. You seem happy.”
“I am, Mom,” I answer truthfully. Having Maple here this summer has become an unexpected delight.
Mom smiles, a rare sight. “Then let’s start planning this wedding. Set a date!”
“Maybe next Labor Day?” Maple answers, coming up behind Mom. “It would be the anniversary of our first kiss.”
Dad claps me on the back. “You got a romantic on your hands, son.”
I slide my arm around Maple’s waist like that’s where it always should be. “I do.”
The second the door closes behind them, I spin Maple in my arms, press her up against the door, and kiss the hell out of her until we’re both panting.