Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Ryan
After our time in the bookstore, I had hoped Pepper would talk a little more. Unfortunately, the only sounds she made after that single word were that of yawns and ultimately an occasional snore. It’s why I turned away from town and took a drive. Naps are not something my girl willingly gives into anymore. It isn’t that she doesn’t need them, only that she fights any reason to not be exploring or working on a puzzle.
I think the drive did us both some good. Pepper recharged her battery, and I was able to work through some things in my mind. Mainly why Laney seems to take up so much space. And maybe why I was so willing to blame her for stalking when it was obvious I was the one invading her space. And her town.
My thoughts took me all the way to Mobile where Pepper and I grabbed a bite to eat and had more ice cream. Sadly, The Scoop did not come close to the quality of banana splits as Frozen Spoon. I’m dreading the sessions with the trainer Gordon is sure to force on me when we get home. Maybe I should download a few workouts to do in the mornings while we’re here. Strictly to counter the ice cream. And whatever this Jubilee is going to offer. I heard a few people while we ate dinner going on about the event. Apparently, Magnolia Grove is a hot location for the holiday celebration.
Now, standing in the yard, cradling the neighbor’s dog like I used to hold Pepper as I paced the halls while she used her newborn lungs in the middle of the night, I find myself walking a fine line toward flirting. My how things have changed in less than a week. There is no doubt part of my reaction to this woman is how kind and patient she is with Pepper and how taken my daughter is with her. She spoke to her.
The melody of her laugh makes it impossible to hide the smile fighting to break free. “Maybe that’s something we should look up.”
“Lurking? We could do that. I mean, I have a pact with my friends to clear our search histories should anything happen to one of us.”
Something is different tonight than it has been the other times I’ve talked with Laney. Based on the number of cars that were lined up in her driveway and in front of both of our houses, she was entertaining tonight. Maybe being with her people relaxes her. Or wine. Most of the women in my life are known to share a bottle or two with their friends, I doubt Laney is any different.
“Sounds like a solid plan.”
A beat of silence stretches between us, only the sounds of crickets filling the void. “Umm, do you think we could talk for a minute?” she asks, her eyes looking over my shoulder toward the front door.
I’m taken slightly aback. Just enough that I stop giving her dog the attention he wants, and he begins to squirm out of my hands. I lower him to the ground and as I stand ask, “Did you want to sit on the back deck? Pepper’s asleep and I was heading back out there when I heard the commotion.”
A roll of eyes and slight shake of her head, are her only response as she moves past me and into the house. “Come on, Steve.”
I follow my new guests into the house and as she moves with familiarity toward the back door, her eyes scanning the house as she goes. “Would you like something to drink? A beer? I also have bottled water and a bottle of whiskey.”
Laney stops and turns to face me, her nose scrunched. “Ew, no whiskey. A beer would probably help.”
Shaking off her comment, I grab us each a beer, popping the tops and tossing them in the garbage as I follow her and Steve outside. She’s sitting at the edge of one of the loungers when I walk up, holding a bottle in her direction.
“Thanks. Don’t you love this view?”
I follow her gaze as she looks out at the river, the moon and stars bright in the night sky, and natures call all around us. Dixie, the Martin D-28 I’ve had since Katie and I first arrived in Nashville, is leaning against the small table between our loungers. Steve pounces on a twig a foot away. I don’t want to take the chance of him knocking over Dixie, so I take her by the neck and move her next to me.
Laney follows my movements while taking a pull from her beer. “Do you play?”
She chokes and shakes her head. “Me? No.”
“Why do you say it like that?”
“How?”
“As if it’s a foreign concept for you to play guitar. Dixie here may be offended.”
My hand taps the side of my first guitar, and she snorts, hand flying to her mouth, a blush clear on her cheeks. I kind of like this version of Laney. Uninhibited and carefree.
“I have something to tell you. It may be a little presumptuous of me since we hardly know one another. It’s the holidays and I’m sure you and Pepper have plans to leave Magnolia Grove soon. But, since you are here now, I thought...”
Is she going to ask me for a fling? It’s not something that’s been on my mind, but I can’t deny my attraction to this woman. And, it has been a while. It probably isn’t the best idea. There is enough change in my life, no need to complicate it with someone who lives next door, even if it is temporary.
“You should know that someone recognized you in town today. It wasn’t me. Heck, I thought he was full of bologna being a teenager and all. Then, I really thought about it and, well here you are. Sitting right there.” Laney waves her hand and lifts the bottle to her lips again. Which appears to be empty by the way she’s tilting her head back.
I feel as though I’ve been sucked into a vacuum as her words sink in. There’s a buzzing in my ears and the world around us tilts slightly. Thank goodness Pepper is asleep.
“What do you mean?” It’s a dumb question because I know the answer.
Laney sighs. “You’re Ryan Miller. The beard threw me off. Or just you being here in Magnolia Grove and not on my TV or in my ears did the job. I’m not sure.”
Well, shit. So much for Gordon’s guarantee on anonymity.
“You said someone saw me?”
She nods.
I stand.
And pace, draining my beer in the process. Once it’s down to only a drip of foam, I set the bottle on the table and continue my movements. I could pack up our things tonight and hit the road before dawn. We could be home by lunch. Except I was finally starting to relax, and Pepper saw the town transforming into what is sure to be a winter wonderland over the coming days. That’s why I brought her here. To take a break from home and our life. While I wasn’t sold on the idea at first, I admit it’s made a difference. I can see the difference in my baby girl with each passing hour.
“Would you mind telling me what you know?” I ask as I move back to my seat.
For the next five minutes she catches me up on the gossip of Ryan Miller being in Magnolia Grove. Of course, the story itself is short but she finds it necessary to give me mini backgrounds on each of the players, most of whom seem to be teenagers. Teens have social media. This could be bad.
“I told Nash to keep this quiet and he agreed to talk to Micah and Ginny. Mattie Lincoln—you know, the famous quarterback—and Boone—he’s Nash’s dad and also a really good bull rider. Like world famous good. Anyway, I reminded him we have our own celebrities here in town and while they’re used to this town, someone like you may not feel the same way.”
“Someone like me?”
“Real famous.”
The serious look on her face and the way she says “real famous” are too funny not to draw a laugh from me. “I hate to break it to you, darlin’, but Mattie Lincoln is a god among men. I just play the guitar and sing a little.”
“This is no time to be humble, Ryan. You’re not from Magnolia Grove but we have very few boundaries here. I mean, sure people are respectful, and we love one another, but they will butt right in on your business. And Pepper. I mean, they will smother her once they know.”
If anything was going to stop me from playing this off, it’s the mention of my daughter. By the look on her face, I would gather my expression is one of fear and protectiveness.
“No, not like smother her in a bad way. Like they’ll want to take care of her. By the way, I’m very sorry for your loss. For hers too. My heart just breaks for you both.”
“Thank you.”
She nods and stands. And following the same path I was on, begins her own pacing. I watch as she seems to be having an internal battle. Her news should have me freaked out and on the phone with Gordon. Except, in my gut I don’t think this is as big of a deal as Laney believes. If the kids had posted anything or spread the rumor, I would have heard this from someone else. Either my sister-in-law, who has alerts for anytime my name hits the media, would have called or my mom would have mentioned it on our call earlier.
It’s been radio silence. It means, they kept their word.
“I don’t think those kids have said anything.” Laney stops and turns to face me, her eyebrows narrowed. “If they had, I would have known immediately.”
Laney’s shoulders drop and she exhales loudly before returning her seat. “That’s a good point.”
“Tell me about your town. Do you think anyone would out me if they knew? I could pack up our things and go home, but I don’t want that for Pepper. She is more herself here than she has been since Katie passed. Today...” I clear my throat, swallowing the emotions of the memory leaving the bookstore.
“Today, she spoke.”
That’s why I don’t want to leave. Laney sees Pepper. She saw her silence and instead of judging her, or me, she let my baby be herself. Why would I want to take this all away from her when it may be exactly what we both need?
“I brought her here for a break from the darkness that has loomed over us for a year. I want her to experience what Magnolia Grove offers for the holidays. She deserves to be a kid. I’ll call my manager and give him a heads up, but do you think if we don’t deny who I am people will be okay letting us be?”
Seconds turn to minutes as she considers my question. Nerves begin to stir in my gut. What if she says no? Can we do something else? Sure. Do I want to? Not really.
“I think we may need reinforcements, but it’s doable. Leave it to me, superstar.”