CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
When Brody returned to his cabin, he cranked up the heat and took a long, hot shower. After a few days with someone around all the time, it seemed quiet. And lonely.
Brody wouldn’t lie. When Alex had mentioned ever so casually that they would never fall in love, his heart had taken shrapnel.
Maybe he didn’t know what love was—entirely possible.
Or perhaps he fell in love frivolously—also conceivable.
But after only a couple intense days with Alex, he would swear he’d taken the tumble.
However, was it just another bout of “vacation love?” The kind you fell into at the point in a relationship when everything was perfect—the honeymoon phase. Brody had never really gotten past that.
Even with Chloe, because of his frequent trips, they hadn’t progressed to the spending-every-day-together part of love. The making meals, paying bills, doing chores, and arguing over what to watch on TV part.
What if it was the mundane day-to-day stuff that killed relationships? He didn’t know! But he wanted to find out.
He’d been as surprised as Alex at his startling admission that he wanted a family. And while it might have been an off-the-cuff answer, deep down, he knew it was true.
He was thirty-five and not getting any younger. If that made him old, well, fine. He did like watching birds and The Weather Channel. So, maybe the desire to be a husband and a dad was right on schedule.
In all his travels, he’d met a lot of women, but none like Alex. Beautiful, smart, funny, and thoughtful was a rare combo. He especially liked her dry humor. But from what she’d said, it sounded like he’d better temper any delusions of happily ever after.
Brody had to think this through though. He may be in love with her, but what could he offer her? She wasn’t leaving Green Valley Falls. If they were to have any chance at being together, he would have to move here. And with his whole life up in the air, could he make that commitment?
It would be unfair to Alex to declare any feelings until he knew for sure. He put it on his list of things to work out. Right after figuring out a new source of income.
Clean and warm and with a few hours to kill before dinner, he sat down with his laptop and dove into “work.” Which, right now, was still just doing research on vlogging and how to monetize internet videos.
He studied merchant services, e-commerce software, and apps that might suit his purposes.
Along the way, he jotted down possible advertisers and marketing agencies.
When he took a break to check his email, he noticed two from Chloe. Thinking there might be a problem with his last article, he clicked into the first one.
Saw there was a huge storm up there. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay. Call me. Love, C.
“Love?” Brody said out loud. “I think knocking boots with my boss set that ship to sail.”
If the first message surprised him, the second one made his mouth fall open in pure shock.
I made a mistake. Nathaniel and I broke up. I want to get back together. Please call, C.
The nerve of this one! Did she really think an electronic apology would fix what she’d done? Wait a second. He went back and reread it. Sure enough, she hadn’t even technically apologized.
He felt nothing. Well, aside from the tiniest mix of vindication and smug satisfaction. But other than that, her message had no effect on his heart. There wasn’t the slightest temptation to consider her request, much less actually take her back. Heck, he didn’t even want to respond to her.
It was weird to think that only four weeks had passed since his trip to New York.
Thirty days since he’d been on the precipice of proposing.
In that time, his feelings for Chloe had gone from hurt to anger to indifference.
He hadn’t realized emotions could be so fickle, but supposed being betrayed gave them leeway to do what they wanted.
He didn’t answer her and instead called his mom to check in.
“It’s good to hear from you, honey. I saw the weather and was worried when I couldn’t get a hold of you.”
“Sorry about that,” Brody said. “The power went out, and my phone died. I was snowed in at a friend’s place and just got home.”
“A friend?” Her tone said she’d picked up immediately that whoever he meant was more than a friend.
“Fine.” He sighed. “A woman I’m seeing. I think. I guess.”
“Huh?”
“Well, I asked her out, and then we were trapped together for three days. It was a very long, very intense first date.”
“That’s an excellent test of how a relationship will work—spending all that time cooped up together. How’d it go?”
“It was amazing,” he said. “At least, I thought so. I really like her, but I don’t have a good read on what she thinks of me.”
“What about Chloe?”
“What about her? Turns out love fades fast when duplicitous treachery is involved.”
“Good for you.” She chuckled. “This is great, Brody. I’ve never heard you talk about a woman this way. Not just what you’re saying, but how you’re saying it. Is it serious?”
“Serious enough that I’m thinking of moving here.”
“Oh my gosh. I’m coming to meet her. What’s her name?”
“Alex. And you don’t have to come here, Mom,” he said. “In fact, I’d rather you not until I figure out my plan.”
“Well, Thanksgiving is next week. Maybe I could meet her then. Are you coming home?”
He wanted to spend the holiday with Alex. They’d only known each other for five weeks, but after their confinement together, he felt like their relationship was pretty far along. Would she want to go to Hartford with him? Or would she invite him to stay here with her?
“I’m not sure yet, but I’ll let you know once I decide.”
They talked for a minute longer, agreeing to call again soon. He cleaned up and went to get Alex.
Maybe it was old-fashioned, but he walked up the trail to her cabin and knocked. It had only been a few hours, but he already missed her.
“You didn’t have to trek all the way up here,” she said. “I was just about to come meet you.”
“Momma raised a gentleman.” Brody pulled her into his arms. “Also, I thought you might need help getting over that branch.” He nodded to the mini-tree blocking her trail.
“My hero,” she sang, leaning into his kiss.
“You look beautiful,” he murmured against her lips. He noticed she’d put on more makeup than he’d seen her wear, but didn’t mention it. He hoped that wasn’t for his sake. He liked the all-natural look. Either way, she was gorgeous.
On the drive to Nick and Faith’s, he brought up Thanksgiving. “You have any plans for T-day? I talked to my mom today, and she says you’re welcome to come with me to Hartford.”
“Oh. Pops and I usually go to the Reeds or the Walkers for dinner, and then my friends get together for a game night later.” She paused. “But, um, I’m sure it’d be fine if you joined us.”
“I wouldn’t want to intrude,” he said. “Plus, I can’t leave my mom hanging.”
“No one would mind if she came too. The more the merrier, right?”
He didn’t like the idea of crashing someone’s party and racked his brain for another option. “What if you and I made dinner for my mom and Pops? Here in GVF. At your place.”
“Us? Host Thanksgiving dinner?” Her eyes widened. “Do you know how to cook?”
“I’ve never really tried.” He shrugged one shoulder. “But how hard could it be?”
“I don’t know. This seems like next-level stuff.” Doubt laced her words.
“The actual cooking or the hosting as a couple?”
“Both.”
“Huh,” he said, deciding on a new track. “It doesn’t seem like you to back away from a challenge…” There, that should bait the hook nicely.
She side-eyed him. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I mean, if it’s too hard for you…”
“Fine,” she snapped. “Let’s do it.”
“Too easy,” he whispered to himself before glancing over and smiling. “It’ll be great. My mom will love it here.”
“You may have goaded me into this, but don’t get your hopes up. I’ve never hosted a Thanksgiving dinner. And I’m not known for my culinary skills.”
“I’ll help,” he said quickly, not wanting her to change her mind. “Together we can do it.”
They met Juliet on the walkway to Faith’s. She was carrying three pizza boxes, and Brody rushed to help her.
As soon as they crossed the threshold, Tess pulled Alex into a corner and began whispering furiously. Brody assumed she was asking all the questions she’d wanted to over the radio, but couldn’t because he was there.
Alex returned to his side, and Tess beelined to Faith and Juliet, who were in the kitchen.
“Word out about us real-dating?” he asked with a smile, grabbing her hand. “I’m surprised you didn’t already talk to them today.”
“Yes. It’s official.” Alex rolled her eyes. “Tess said she had to ‘have eyes on my face’ to ask her questions. She swears she can tell when I’m lying or hiding stuff.”
Before he could ask for details on why or what she might lie about, Nick approached.
“Hey, man, congrats.” Nick slapped Brody on the back. “Welcome—officially—to our gang.”
They had some time before Maddie’s show started, so they poured drinks, ate pizza, and rehashed the Armageddon experience.
Trees had fallen, a road had washed out, and multiple power lines had snapped in the cold.
Juliet had been boarding five dogs and brought them all into her tiny house, afraid they’d freeze in the barn.
Tess had come to stay with Faith and Nick because they had a fireplace.
“I want the scoop on how this happened?” Tess waved a piece of pizza between Brody and Alex.
“I just walked right in and asked her out,” Brody said.
“And then stayed for three days,” Alex added.
“How’d you not end up in a tent on the porch, Brody?” Tess asked.
He looked at Alex, who laughed and shrugged. “I told you. Most people annoy me.”
“Well, thank you for not casting me out,” he said to Alex and then to Tess, “I did warn her about my irresistibility.”
“Hey, what’s everyone doing for Thanksgiving?” Juliet asked. “Maddie will be home. You and Pops coming over, Alex?”
“Actually.” Alex cleared her throat. “I’m gonna cook for Pops, Brody, and Brody’s mom.”
All eyes snapped to her.
“You sure that’s a good idea?” Faith asked gently.
“I know what you’re thinking, and yes, I can do this,” Alex said. “I was also gonna see if y’all wanted to do game night at the rec cabin. There’s a kitchen and plenty of room.”
“Oh, that sounds fun,” Juliet said.
They watched Maddie’s show and hung out until late. Brody drove Alex home and jumped at her invitation to spend the night.
He fell asleep thinking that every day in this tiny little town, and every moment with this tiny little woman, felt more and more like home.