Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
“ I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”
~Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
E lle had never been inside Clayton’s childhood home, a two-story Victorian around the corner from Noah’s house and the village park. A cobblestone path led to an oversize porch with two white rocking chairs, a white wicker table with a potted plant between them. Elle clung to Clayton’s hand as Fitz skipped up the stairs. He dropped to his haunches on a blue welcome mat and gave a small woof . A large oval shaped window with vines and leaves etched into the glass made the door opaque.
Elle hesitated on the top step and gnawed her lower lip.
“Hey.”Clayton stroked his thumb under her mouth. “Don’t be nervous.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not meeting your parents.”
“True, but I know for a fact they don’t have a gun collection like your uncle,” he teased. “Also, you’re not meeting them. They know you and already adore you.”
“Elle!” Natalie threw open the front door and dragged Elle close for a hug.
“Natalie.” Elle laughed, allowing the sprite-like Natalie to tug her into the house.
Clayton and Fitz followed.
“Please, call me Nat. I’m so happy you are here!” she gushed, yanking Elle in tight again.
“Natalie, show some decorum. Poor Elle, let her in,” Mrs. Owens’ melodic voice called from the living room where she sat beside a woman with gray-streaked brunette hair and ocean blue eyes. Elle knew she could only be Mrs. Wilson, Noah’s mom.
“This is for you,” Elle said, handing the small glittery gold gift bag to Nat. “This is for your mom. Is there a table for gifts or should I just give it to her?”
“Mom, Elle brought presents!” Nat announced.
“Happy Birthday, Mrs. Owens.” Elle handed her the gift bag.
“Oh!” Mrs. Owens placed a hand on her heart. “You didn’t need to bring me a gift.”
“She also baked Magic Bars for dad. Is he in the kitchen?”Clayton asked, holding up the container of sweets.
The two women eyed Elle as if appraising her like a prize cow being shown at the county fair. Though the comparison wasn’t flattering, Elle hoped for a blue ribbon.
“Should I open it now or wait?”Mrs. Owens asked already removing the tissue paper.
“I hope you like it.” Elle focused on the other woman. “Mrs. Wilson, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Maura, look!” Mrs. Owens held up the small jewelry box.
“Oh, Heidi, isn’t that the one you wanted from the shop in town?” Maura leaned in, examining the small box.
“Elle, how did you know? Every time I go in there, they are sold out of these.” Her fingers danced along the smooth edges of the box, eyes wide as she opened it, finding the four pairs of earrings. “Oh, sweetie.”
“I remembered you always wore earrings, and I wanted something for you to put them in. I just found the box and thought it looked like something you’d like.” Elle fiddled with her starfish necklace.
Clayton looped his arm around her middle, and when she looked at him, gratitude sketched his features.
“Those are adorable. We need to go shopping together. Ooh, sparkles.” Nat said admiring the rose tear-drop earrings in her mother’s hand.
“Open yours, Nat.” Clayton grinned, his head tipping to his sister.
Nat dug into her gift bag. “A matching pair! So cute…Seriously, how did he score you? You’re too good for him.”
“I’ve been asking myself that too.” He squeezed her tight.
How did I get so lucky? Clayton was the book she wanted to read over and over again. Beneath its handsome cover were paragraphs of thoughtfulness, sweetness, kindness, laughter, patience, trust, and all the best words to lose herself within his pages.
“It’s because you’re wonderful,”Elle whispered.
“Oh, I like her, Heidi.” Maura elbowed a smiling Heidi. “I wish Noah could find someone,” she sighed.
Clayton kissed Elle’s cheek and changed the subject. “Is Dad in the kitchen? Is Noah here?”he asked, turning to his mom.
“Your dad is in the kitchen with Scott. Noah will be here in a bit.”
“Ok, we can take these into him,” Clayton said, starting to lead Elle out of the room.
“Oh, no you don’t,” a grinning Nat scolded, pulling Elle back to her. “I want to give her a tour and show her all your embarrassing photos.”
With a resigned smile, Clayton headed toward the kitchen. Clasping Elle’s hand, Nat tugged her along with a childlike energy that did not match her twenty-seven years. They passed a portrait gallery filled with snapshots of family moments as they climbed the stairs.
“Ta-da!” Nat threw open a door at the end of the hall.
Clayton’s room was like a time capsule. A full-size bed draped in a green plaid comforter. Classics, action adventure, and animal science books filled two bookcases flanking a small desk.
On the bedstand was a small lamp with a white shade and a copy of Clayton’s senior yearbook. Flipping it open to a page bookmarked by a ticket stub she found a picture from that Winter Ball her Junior year, his Senior year. In the front of the picture a teenaged Noah swayed with some girl but in the background, Elle sat in the bleachers, her eyes fixed forward. Beside her Clayton sat looking at her, while she looked at everyone else.
Even then he saw me.
“I haven’t looked at this in forever.”Nat sat beside Elle, flipping through the glossy pages.“I had such a crush on Noah when I was a little girl.I used to flip to all the pictures of him. I was such a dork.”
“I crushed on Noah in high school too.”
“But you don’t have a crush on him anymore?”Her tone was playful yet protective.
“I’m crushing hard on your brother, and only your brother.”
“Good. You make him happy. Keep it up.”
Nat finished her guided tour. The experience was reminiscent of Lizzie’s walk around Pemberley, seeing the little things that made Darcy who he was. Elle was seeing the things that had formed Clayton into the wonderful man he was, and she tumbled further into feelings for him.
Noah called them in from the deck for dinner. Clayton’s mom’s favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, so every year for her birthday they did a mini version of a traditional feast. Sliced roasted turkey breast, bowls of honey-glazed carrots and red mashed potatoes, platters of roasted squash, cornbread dressing, and dinner rolls covered the table. The savory scent of the dishes enticed Elle. It would be a struggle finding the balance of being a good guest and not overindulging.
After an introduction to Noah’s dad, Scott, and a very formal handshake reunion with Dr. Owens, Elle sat between Clayton and Nat, their parents sat at the opposite heads of the table. Noah across from Nat, beside his parents.
“Eleanor, I forgot to thank you for the Magic Bars. Very thoughtful,”Dr. Owens said between bites of cornbread dressing.
“Honey, she goes by Elle,” Heidi corrected with a warm smile.
“It’s okay.” Elle looked back and forth between them. “I only hope they are half as good as your turkey.”
“Thank you.” His blue eyes sparkled with pride.
“My aunt says to hold on to a man who can cook. No wonder you two have been married for so long.” Elle said and then winced wondering if it was an appropriate thing to say. The whoosh of laughter from Clayton’s mom eased her fear.
“You know, Chris taught Clayton to cook. He’s quite good, just like his father.” She winked at her son.
“I know.” Elle blushed.
Lively conversation crisscrossed the table. Clayton, his mom, and Maura discussed book club. Both women gushed when Clayton shared that he and Elle were reading that month’s book together. Noah and Nat went back and forth, teasing each other about her bad cooking and his obsession with puppy videos. Clayton’s dad sat quietly as Scott went on about all the things he was doing now that he was retired.
“You must be excited that Nat will be done with her residency next May,” Scott said, forking up a bite of carrots.
“We’re very proud.” Heidi grinned at her daughter.
“You’ll finally be able to retire, thanks to Nat,” Scott said.
Clayton gripped his fork tight, jaw clenched.
“Medical school can be a lot. It’s not for everyone.”Dr. Owens’ gaze flitted between both his children.
“Some people choose different paths,” Heidi said, her tone sweet on the surface but the narrowed eyes aimed at her husband held an undercurrent of indignation.
Elle’s gaze was fixed on Clayton’s right forearm, the fingers of his left hand traced the outline of the paw print tattoo. As if each caress of inked skin anchored him to the path he’d chosen.
His path. The right path.
Looking up, Elle cleared her throat. “I work with some of the best doctors in the country. I’m amazed by anyone that goes into the medical field helping others just like Dr. Owens, Nat, and Clayton. It takes a certain kind of person to give so much of themselves to heal others.”
"Clayton didn’t go to medical school,” Dr. Owens cleared his throat and stared at his son.
“He’s a doctor, though. He cares for his patients, just like Nat or you. Some may argue that in a town with more cows than people vet trumps human doctor.” Her hazel eyes narrowed into not quite a glare, but glare-adjacent at Dr. Owens. Not to mention he’s qualified to care for multiple species, not just homo sapiens. The thought danced in her head, but she bit her lip to hold it inside.
Forks paused halfway to mouths, eyes widened, smiles tightened, and hands clenched napkins. A strange tension engulfed the table with her words. Clayton’s hand left Elle’s lap. An icy shiver ripped through her body at the loss of his touch.
Dr. Owens lips were drawn in a firm line, his stare fixed on Elle.
“Who wants coffee and pie?” Heidi interrupted the silent standoff between Elle and her husband. A bit of desperation quavered in her voice as she changed the topic.
After helping with cleanup, Elle left the family downstairs and sought the safety of the closed bathroom door before releasing the bubbling over anger. How fucking dare he not see his son? Her blood boiled. She’d take back every nice thing she’d said about Dr. Owens and his stupid bow ties over the years. Clayton wasn’t a man to be found lacking; he was the man all men should be measured against. Sure, not everyone could go to medical school, but nobody could be Clayton with his quiet thoughtfulness, patience, kind heart, musical laughter, loving strength, and so many other attributes that she adored and could spend weeks listing.
Splashing cold water against her face, she washed away the lingering irritation. With a long exhale, she opened the door, finding Clayton standing there, his face unreadable.
“Elle, I…” He stopped, sucking back the words he might have planned to say. Cupping her face, he pressed the softest kiss on her mouth. Pulling back, his fingers outlined her lips. “Come with me,” he whispered, taking her hand.
Clayton led her down the hall to his room. Once behind his childhood bedroom door, he pulled her into his arms and captured her lips. “Thank you,” he said, his voice hoarse.
“You don’t have to thank me.” She breathed in deep his citrus scent. “What was that about down there with your dad?”
“I was always supposed to be the next Dr. Owens at the clinic. Since my great-grandpa, the first son has always been Dr. Owens. When I went to undergrad declaring pre-med my major, I did it to please my dad. My heart wasn’t in it, though. When I told him I was going to go to Veterinarian school instead of medical school I could see the disappointment in his eyes. I’d failed him.”
“The only failure is his in not seeing you. Not knowing your heart,” she said, her tone firm but soft. “I see you. I see who you are…who you’ve always been.”
“I know he loves me. Someone can still love you and be disappointed in you.”
"He’s the disappointment.” She gripped his face forcing his stare to hers. “You hear me, Clayton. You are a goddamn masterpiece.” She used his words to her.
“Elle, I…”
She halted his words with a consuming kiss. Hoping each press of her lips branded him with the truth that he was everything even if his father didn’t see it. Even if his vision was clouded, not seeing himself the way she saw him.
A lopsided grin spread on his face. “I used to have very naughty fantasies about you in here.”
“Yeah?”
“Yup.” He trailed his hands to her waist, bending to kiss her.
“Too bad your parents are downstairs.”
“That may have been one of my fantasies.”
Her right eyebrow arched.
Amusement sparked in his eyes. “Just up here with you trying to be quiet, so we didn’t get caught.” Clayton’s steamy gaze jumped between the bed and her, causing Elle’s breath to hitch.
She considered pulling him atop her on the bed, allowing his hands to roam under her dress, covering her with a hungry mouth. Their careful ears listening for the sound of footsteps while she unbuckled him, slipping hands beneath boxer briefs. The stolen moments of pleasure, knowing that any moment the unlocked door could open, and they could be caught.
A tingle in her lady bits accompanied her X-rated thoughts.
“When we get home.” Her response was breathless and wanting.
Home? It was like a foreign word, yet it slipped from her tongue so sweetly.