Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
GABE
“You three ought to be ashamed of yourselves!”
It wasn’t often that three grown men got a dressing down from three indomitable septuagenarians who were almost old enough to be their grandmothers.
“Do you know how much you’ve upset that poor girl?”
“As if she doesn’t have enough to deal with because of that selfish ex-husband of hers!”
“She’s locked herself away in that big old house, all on her own, and we had to stage an intervention!”
“She hasn’t even ventured out to the bakery unless it’s after dark, and you know how much she loves that place.”
Iris, Marigold and Bee. No sooner had one of them stopped to take a breath than one of the others chimed in with their two pennies’ worth. Gabe couldn’t keep up with who was saying what, but that didn’t really matter to them as long as they got their point across.
He exchanged glances with Shepherd, but none of them were stupid enough to interrupt.
Gabe felt like a naughty schoolboy and was pretty certain the other two did as well.
How the three matriarchs of Frostvale had managed to time cornering them all together, he had no idea, but nothing surprised Gabe with these ladies. They had eyes and ears everywhere and knew everything.
Gabe felt his face burning with shame. He couldn't bring himself to look at Shepherd or Asher again, instead keeping his eyes fixed on a scuff mark on the floor. Their words stung, each accusation landing like a physical blow. He hadn't realized how badly the others had hurt Evie, but he knew his own rejection had stung. And it wasn’t like he didn’t want her. She was beautiful, sexy and real, but…
“Miss Iris…” He chose to address the indomitable trio’s unofficial ringleader. “She was drunk. There was no way I could take advantage of her when she was impaired. That wouldn’t have been right.”
It was Marigold who stepped up and patted my cheek. “I know, sweetie. But that didn’t make the humiliation any less.”
“So what? I should have taken her to bed and had my wicked way with her when she wasn’t able to give indisputable consent?” Gabe was annoyed now and said things he would never normally dream of in present company. In any company, in fact.
Iris harrumphed. “Of course not. You did completely the right thing.”
“Then…”
“But you still hurt her.”
“Jesus, I can’t win!” Gabe exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.
“Of course not. You’re a man,”
“Men are stupid.”
How the hell did these women ever persuade some poor schmuk to marry them? They’d probably held them at gunpoint. Or kidnapped them.
That wasn’t fair, though. For all their nosy, busybody ways, their hearts were in the right place.
Didn’t mean he had to like being put in my place when he’d handled the very awkward situation with Evie as carefully as he possibly could under the circumstances.
Asher and Shepherd were smirking, the bastards, but nothing, absolutely nothing, got past these old ladies, and as if as one, they turned on the other two men.
“Now you two degenerates don’t have Gabe’s excuse. The pair of you were just assholes.”
Gabe spluttered in shock to hear such an expletive coming out of the mouth of one of the normally prim, diminutive ladies in front of them.
“Hey, I didn’t want Evie to get the wrong idea!” Shepherd raised his palms in front of him as he defended himself.
“Then you should have kept your lips to yourself,” Bee retorted.
“And if that was the case, why did you decide to throw a grenade to blow up her dinner with Asher after avoiding her all week?”
All eyes were on Shepherd now, and Gabe didn’t think he’d ever seen the grumpy barista quite so wrong-footed before.
“You don’t want her, fine! No one is forcing you. There are other very fine gentlemen who are not as stupid as you, who recognize what a catch young Evie is.”
“But to compromise the first date she’s had in almost a decade? The first time she’s dipped her toe in the pool since that idiot husband of hers left her high and dry. That’s unconscionable.”
Gabe half expected Shepherd to stalk off, but he took his dressing down like a man, staring at his feet while the three women said their piece.
“Well? What have you got to say for yourself, young man?” Iris demanded, hands on her bony hips.
Shepherd muttered something unintelligible.
“I beg your pardon?”
They clearly weren’t letting this go.
Shepherd sucked in a breath and raised his head, though he didn’t look anyone in the eye. “I was jealous, okay. Happy now?”
He earned three intimidating glares for his belligerence and ducked his head again.
“Well, hallelujah and praise the lord!” Miss Iris sang, raising her hands towards the sky. “The boy’s had an epiphany; there’s hope for him yet.”
Shepherd growled, and Gabe pressed his lips together to stop the grin that wanted to form on them.
Except wait! He wanted Evie for himself, didn’t he?
He’d been biding his time, giving her a chance to find her feet and regain her equilibrium after Adrian left.
He’d hummed and hawed about what a suitable amount of time was before he approached her, especially since she’d always viewed him as Adrian’s friend.
Truth was, he’d always liked Evie better.
He was brought out of his musing by the three ladies turning on Asher. Now there was a surprise. Asher rarely made a misstep, but he’d done a doozy with Evie, which was perhaps the most surprising.
“And you!” Iris pointed a gnarled finger at Asher. “You, of all people, I really thought knew better. We all knew young Gabriel here was biding his time, and with good reason. but you…”
Wait! His gaze narrowed on Iris. How did they know that?
Bee glared at him and shook her head, silently telling him not to speak. Gabe kept his mouth shut. He wasn’t that stupid.
“You took her out for a date, then suspected the worst as soon as Shepherd opened his mouth.”
“You really think Evie would do something like that?”
“She devoted herself to Adrian despite everything. That gives you the measure of the woman. You really think she’s the type to string two men along?”
They were like a tag team, these three.
“Of course not…” Asher stuttered, looking somewhat shellshocked.
“Except you did, didn’t you?”
“Instead of trusting her, you immediately sided with Shepherd.”
“Even when she told you the truth, you questioned her integrity.”
"I - I didn't mean to…” he started to say, but Iris cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand.
"Intentions don't matter, young man. It's the consequences that count," Iris said, her green eyes flashing behind her glasses.
Marigold nodded in agreement, her perfectly coiffed hair barely moving. "That poor girl has been through enough without you three adding to her troubles."
Gabe's stomach churned with guilt. He remembered the light in Evie's eyes when she talked about her baking, how it seemed to make her whole face glow. The thought of her skulking around after dark, avoiding the place she loved most, made him feel physically ill.
Bee's usually gentle voice had a hard edge as she added, "You need to make this right."
The silence stretched out, heavy and uncomfortable. Gabe risked a glance at the others. Shepherd's jaw was clenched tight, his dark eyes stormy. Asher looked positively ill, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a pallor that made his features an odd starkness.
"Well?" Iris demanded, tapping her foot impatiently. "What are you going to do about it?"
Gabe cleared his throat. "We'll make it right," he said, surprising himself with how firm his voice sounded. "Won't we, gentlemen?"
Shepherd grunted an affirmative while Asher nodded vigorously.
"See that you do," Marigold said, her tone softening slightly. "That girl deserves nothing but happiness."
As the three women bustled away, muttering among themselves about the stupidity of men, Gabe let out a long breath. He felt wrung out, like he'd just survived an interrogation by enemies of the state, rather than a scolding from three elderly ladies.
"Well, that was thoroughly unpleasant," Asher said, running a hand through his sandy hair.
Shepherd snorted. "You can say that again."
Gabe straightened his tie, a nervous habit he'd fallen into whilst enduring similar dressing-downs from his father during his younger years, when the man attempted to mold Gabriel after himself; an obnoxious, rich asshole who ruthlessly cut away anything not immediately profitable… including the hotel Gabe now ran in pure defiance. The hotel his grandfather had loved, and which should always have remained a family legacy. That was a far too emotional response, according to Howard Thatcher. Fortunately, Gabe’s grandfather had left the Evergreen hotel to him and not his father - maybe the old man knew Howard wouldn’t appreciate its charm.
Not that it stopped his father from trying his best to persuade Gabe differently.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and his memories aside, cursing the habit he thought he’d overcome.
Apparently, it only took three little old ladies to bring it roaring back.
"They're right, though. We need to fix this. "
Asher nodded, his usual cheerfulness returning slightly. "Agreed. But how? I doubt Evie wants to see any of us right now."
Gabe considered this. He pictured Evie's warm smile, now dimmed because of their actions. The thought made his chest ache. "We need to show her we're sorry, not just tell her. Actions speak louder than words, especially with Evie."
Shepherd grunted in agreement. "She's never been one for grand gestures."
"What if we each do something to help her with the bakery?" Asher suggested, his eyes lighting up. "She's been struggling to keep up with orders lately."
Gabe nodded slowly, an idea forming. "That could work. We could offer our services - no strings attached, just to help her out."
"I could handle deliveries," Shepherd offered gruffly. "Save her some time."
"And I could man her festival booth, since it’s right next to mine," Asher added. "Give her a chance to focus on baking."
Gabe considered for a moment. "I could review her finances, see if there's any way to streamline her expenses or boost her revenue. I know she’s been worried about that this first year in business."
The tension in Gabe's shoulders eased slightly as their plan took shape. It wasn't much, but it was a start. A way to show Evie they cared. That they recognized their mistakes and wanted to make amends.
"We should approach her together," Shepherd said, his gruff voice softening slightly. "Show a united front. Make it clear there are no hard feelings between each of us.”
Asher nodded, his enthusiasm returning. "Good idea. When should we do it?"
Gabe glanced at his watch, considering. "Tomorrow morning? Before the bakery opens? That way, we're not interrupting her workday."
The other two men agreed, and they quickly hashed out the details.
As they parted ways, Gabe felt a mix of anticipation and nerves churning in his gut.
He hoped Evie would give them a chance to explain, to make things right.
The thought of her warm smile, the way her eyes crinkled at the corners when she laughed, made his chest swell.
He'd do whatever it took to see her smile again…
even if it did turn out he had competition for her affections.