Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
The moment Tanner walked in the door, Isabella Reed ran toward him. “My baby’s home!” She grabbed his cheeks, examining him. “You look so handsome. Finally listened to your mama after all these years and got a haircut?”
Then she caught sight of Faith, who’d just walked in the door behind him, her backpack slung over her shoulder.
His mother arched an eyebrow at him. “Or did someone else convince you?”
On the phone that morning, Tanner had mentioned he was bringing a friend. His mom had asked all sorts of questions, but he hadn’t known how to answer them.
Faith wasn’t his girlfriend yet. So, he’d just said she was someone special. Someone he cared about. But Faith was different from any other woman he’d been with. That much, he knew. He’d never felt like this. So elated to have her in his life that anything seemed possible.
Tanner set his duffel on the kitchen floor. The dogs were jumping at him, nearly as excited as his mother. Their tails whipped side to side. Isabella snapped her fingers at them, and the two Labradors calmed.
“You must be Faith. Aren’t you a beauty? It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you for having me.” Faith dug into her backpack and produced a metal tin. “This is for you. I hope you like chamomile.”
“If anyone doesn’t, they’re wrong. You’re such a sweetheart. You didn’t have to bring a gift.” Tanner’s mother beamed.
“My mom would be scandalized if I didn’t bring something. But it was short notice.”
“Short notice is right. I had to run to the grocery first thing this morning. My son could’ve given us a little more warning, couldn’t he?”
He wasn’t going to mention that they’d only started…whatever this was last night.
“Any other faults I should be aware of? I swear I’m listening.
” Tanner knelt down to rub Scout behind the ears.
She was the older of the two dogs, and her muzzle looked grayer than he’d remembered.
He’d let more time go between visits than he’d meant to, something he was probably going to hear about endlessly on this trip.
He spoke to his parents at least once a week by phone, but his mom usually saved up her pestering to do in person.
“Tanner, I’ve got Faith in your sister’s room. I set it up with fresh linens but let me know if there’s anything else either of you needs.”
“Kaylee’s room, huh?”
His mother gave him a knowing smile. “I thought Faith would enjoy the view from there. Prettiest side of the property.”
And also the smallest bed. No way Tanner could fit in there with her.
“What about me?” he asked.
“You can share with Brayden.”
His little brother. It was a good thing he and Faith were taking things slow, because he clearly wasn’t getting any action in this house. Not that he’d expected to. Isabella Reed ran a tight ship. Tanner’s former bedroom had long ago been converted into her sewing room.
He took Faith upstairs. The walls were painted a cheery pale yellow, with white wooden trim. Yellow and white gingham curtains hung over the windows.
“It’s so cute. You grew up here?”
“Yep. Farm chores every morning and afternoon, especially during planting and harvest. My parents have lived here since they got married. My sister Kaylee and her husband live in the other house you saw as we drove in. They built it a few years ago. They took over the day-to-day business of the farm so my parents could retire. Brayden works the farm, too, but he still lives here.”
“You never thought of coming back and running it yourself? As the oldest?”
“I wanted to see the world. Then, I fell in love with the ocean.”
They walked down the narrow hallway, which was lined with family photos dating all the way back to when he and his siblings were babies. Faith walked slowly, examining each one.
In the car, he’d put how he felt on the table, and it was a relief to have done it. Saved any more agonizing about when he should tell her. He didn’t want his feelings to be any secret, not after he’d almost lost his chance with her. But she hadn’t responded at all.
Was that a sign she was considering his words carefully? Or that he’d freaked her out?
He’d been worried back at the gas station that she was upset. She’d had that mysterious phone call, which she’d said was from her mom. It had seemed odd that she’d taken it around the side of the building.
His mind had naturally gone to her ex-husband. Would she lie about talking to Jon? But Tanner also didn’t want to spoil the trip by accusing her of something.
She pointed to a photo of Tanner when he was eight, flanked by his two younger siblings. Their mom had stuck all three in matching outfits, which should’ve been barred by the Geneva Convention.
“You were cute back then. You still have the same smile.”
“Yeah, it’s too bad about the rest of me. Don’t know what happened there.”
She jabbed a playful elbow at his side. “Fishing for compliments, are we?”
He leaned into her from behind, bringing his mouth to her ear. “I do like fishing. Anything biting?”
She gave him a scorching look over her shoulder. “We’ll have to wait and see.”
Tanner showed her Kaylee’s old room. It still had a twin bed with a pink, ruffly canopy over the top. At least Kaylee had gotten rid of the unicorn sheets and comforter back in high school.
“I’ll be way at the other end of the hall. We’ve officially been separated. No hanky-panky allowed.”
“Will you get in trouble for being in here with me?”
“Only one way to find out.” He closed the door to the hall.
Faith set her backpack on the bed. “I want your mom to like me.”
He grinned at that. “She does. For one—you’re you, and anyone would like you. Second, she credits you with cleaning up my appearance.” Tanner dropped his duffel at his feet.
“You know, you haven’t kissed me all day,” Faith said.
“I was waiting for you to make the first move.”
“Hasn’t that been our problem this whole time?”
He took a step toward her, lowering his head to brush his lips against hers. Her mouth pressed back, still closed. Her hand fisted the back of his shirt like she had to hold on, and she made a small whimper.
His pulse rocketed upward. He didn’t know how such a chaste kiss could set his blood on fire. But she did that to him.
She had everything he needed. All he had to do was win her. This trip was part of the effort. But his mind whirred, dreaming up more ways to make her happy. If he could make the highs high enough, then the lows—when they came—might not be as bad. Right?
“Does it feel good to be home?” she asked.
“It’s good to be here with you.” But he guessed she probably meant the unwelcome buzz in his brain. The shadow that followed him. Amazingly, he seemed to have left it behind in West Oaks. “I’m feeling like myself.”
He hadn’t slept great last night, but at least he’d skipped the nightmares. And since he’d woken up beside her, a positive mood had come easily to him today. Maybe opening up to her had helped.
Whatever it was, he wanted to get everything he could out of their time here together.
Tanner rested his hands on her hips. “We have dinner with my family, but after that, I want to take you out on a real date, just us.”
“The bar you mentioned?”
“Yep. Going dancing, and we’re doing it right. I’ll even borrow my brother’s cowboy hat and boots.”
She tilted her head. “But will your jeans be tight enough?”
“Painted on. Wait till you see my ass in them.” He kissed her again. “Any other requests?”
She ruffled his hair. “You have to dance every song with me. Even the cheesy ones.”
“Planning on it. And afterward, we’re going stargazing. I’m betting you miss the stars?”
She gasped. “So much. How’d you know?”
“Lucky guess.” He’d seen her looking at the night sky when they’d been out together. But anywhere near L.A. was hopelessly light-polluted. Here, they were still close enough to civilization that it wasn’t ideal, but he knew a place she would like. Nice and quiet and romantic.
Faith had said she missed home. The Central Valley wasn’t Texas, but it was as close as he could get within easy distance. And he already knew all the good spots.
He intended to prove he was worth the effort. If this was his shot with Faith, he had to make every moment count.
Unfortunately, he had to run the gauntlet of dinner with his siblings first.
That afternoon, Brayden came in, half covered in mud. He did a double-take when he saw Faith sitting at the kitchen table. Tanner was getting beers out of the fridge. “Hey, bro, this is Faith. Faith, Brayden.”
“Hi. Are you Tanner’s girlfriend?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it.
“I’m still working on that.” Tanner grabbed an extra beer and handed it to his brother. “But thanks for pointing it out.”
Brayden snorted. “Was this trip your idea, Faith?”
She shook her head. “Nope, it was his.”
Brayden looked skeptical. “But clearly, it’s more about you than us. Because I don’t see what Tanner’s doing here otherwise.”
Tanner didn’t appreciate what his brother was implying, especially because it was true. “I can’t come visit my family?”
“Obviously, you can. But you don’t. Not anymore.”
Tanner gestured around them. “Then what is this?”
Brayden popped the tab on his beer. “Whatever,” he grumbled. “Tell your girl what you like. Welcome back.”
“You’d better clean up. Chow’s almost on.” The pot roast was finishing up in the oven, and their mother had gone upstairs to change.
Tanner’s brother stomped up the stairs.
Brayden was six years younger. Before Tanner had left home for the Navy, they’d been close. But now, his brother resented the fact that Tanner hadn’t returned to the farm. He got annoyed when Tanner visited and annoyed when he didn’t.
But he’d been rude in front of Faith, which was totally uncalled for.
Tanner was going to apologize to her, but then his parents came down, and Kaylee and her brood arrived—three boys under five. The dogs ran around as the kids screamed. Faith went to help his mom get the food on the table.
The circus had officially started.
Brayden reappeared just before they ate, dark hair damp from his shower. The whole crew gathered around the dining table, elbow to elbow.
Tanner put his hand on Faith’s leg. “Noisy enough for you?” he said into her ear.
“Throw in my niece and her tambourine, and it would be just about right.”
Sometimes lately, a cacophony like this could set off Tanner’s inner alarm bells, overloading his senses. But tonight he was handling it. Even his brother’s bad mood had slid off him easily enough.
It helped that he had a mission. He was taking Faith out later tonight, and nothing could get him down.
After dinner, he and Kaylee took dish duty while the others settled into the living room.
His sister rinsed off a plate, then handed it to him to load in the dishwasher. “What’s the story with Faith?”
“I like her.”
“That’s obvious. Where’s she from? How long have you been dating?”
“Um, Texas. And…a day?”
“What?”
“We were friends first. Got to know each other.”
Kaylee handed him another plate. “She must be special for you to bring her home.”
“She’s from a small rural town, and I thought she’d like it here.”
“Ah. So, you’re not here to see us. Why am I not surprised?”
“You sound like Brayden, complaining about me having my own life someplace else. I’ve just been busy. ”
“That didn’t used to stop you from driving up. And Mom and I have come down to West Oaks. Like when you were injured with the concussion?”
“Yeah. I really appreciated that.” Those first couple weeks after the injury, he wouldn’t have been able to take care of himself otherwise.
“What’s been so different lately? When I heard you were bringing a girl home, I thought that might explain it. If you’ve been head-over-heels in love and haven’t thought about anyone or anything else. But if she’s so new, that doesn’t explain months of absence.”
He grabbed the dish towel to wipe his hands. Now that he’d told Faith, it was easier to imagine telling his sister the truth. But this wasn’t the moment for that conversation. “I’ll try to do better.”
“I hope so. You know I love you. We all do, even Brayden.” She pulled him into a hug.
After another hour, the kids were crashing out, and it was fully dark outside.
Tanner found his brother sitting on the back porch. Frogs were making a racket down by the creek, and moths fluttered around the porch light.
“Any chance I could borrow your truck?” Tanner asked.
Brayden barely looked up. “Why?”
“I’m taking Faith out tonight, and I need it. We’re going to look at stars.”
His brother propped his elbows onto his knees and glared. “You are not having sex on my truck bed.”
“Jeez, I won’t.” Tanner grabbed a chair and sat. “I’m sorry I haven’t come up in so long. I’ve been dealing with some stuff.”
“Like what?”
“Like…” He cleared his throat. He didn’t let himself think too much, just said it. “Since that concussion I got. I haven’t been feeling so well.”
Tanner thought his brother needed a little bit of truth. And unlike Kaylee, he wouldn’t get too worked up over it.
“That sucks. Do you need anything?”
“Aside from your truck?”
Brayden snickered. “Okay, fine. Take it. Have fun.”
“Thanks.” Tanner squeezed his brother’s shoulder.
“This thing since the concussion. Is it physical? Or…”
“More mental. I guess.”
“Like the issues you had before? When you came back from overseas?”
“Probably.” This was a little deeper than Tanner had intended to go.
“Mom and Kaylee have been afraid of something like that.”
Tanner’s guts swooped. He didn’t like that his problems were so transparent. His family saw through him too easily. Which was likely the reason he’d stayed away.
“I don’t want any of you to worry.”
“That’s what family does though. The more you shut us out, the worse the worry gets.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Brayden didn’t understand that their worry made Tanner feel even worse, too. He was the big brother. The eldest son. He’d already chosen a life that took him away from them. He couldn’t turn around and expect them to hold him up.
“Everything will work out,” Tanner said. “Love you, bro.”
“Yeah. Me, too.”