Chapter 5 Rae
RAE
There was a low hum coming from the small speaker in the corner of the kitchen.
When I was growing up, it used to be a massive boom box that my father would drop a million large batteries in, so he could take it outside with him.
He’d play the classic rock station, and it would always be a low hum in our house, smothering any silence that dared creep into our quieter home.
Now he had these speakers all over the place, and it was odd getting used to it.
“Honey, did you bake the cherry rhubarb?” My mom craned her neck, directing her question at my father.
Dad was the baker in the family. My mother was a decent cook, a kick-ass host, and a killer business manager, but the baking was all my dad.
He cleared his throat and nodded. “Yep, it’s ready for delivery.”
Wiping the crumbs from my hands, I cleared my throat and asked, “A delivery order?”
It was Thursday night, and while I had planned to help by the weekend, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to get started sooner, especially considering I had literally nothing going on.
I’d completed a puzzle with my mom and sat in the garage, hearing my dad talk about the boat he was still restoring.
He’d been working on that boat for years, but he was confident this was the year he would finish.
I’d tried sitting on the back porch with my laptop to fulfill the fantasy I’d had while in New York, but I just sat there staring at the screen.
I had to get out in the community and talk to the struggling businesses.
I had to figure out who needed the marketing help, and where the greatest weaknesses existed.
“Yeah, this one is a part of the few orders that had been scheduled for this weekend, but I was actually thinking of having this one picked up…” My mom’s eyes narrowed on the chicken in front of her.
My dad furrowed his brows as if he was considering a problem of some kind.
“Hey”—I waved my hands at them—“I’m right here, no need to have him pick up. Remember, this was sort of the entire reason I came home?”
“Oh honey, that’s okay, this particular order is delicate, and it might just be better to have him pick it up from the diner.”
Delicate? What the hell did that mean?
“Who is it for?” I stood, moving around the kitchen and tugging open the fridge.
No one answered.
Abandoning my quest for food, I turned around. My parents were silently communicating with one another, using their eyes.
“Seriously, what’s going on?”
“Nothing, honey. Thomas is just cautious about who knows about him, and we try to be respectful about his wishes.”
I perked up at the name. “Thomas, as in the guy you’re always talking about?”
I pictured the strange old recluse they must be referring to, remembering all the stories my parents had shared about this man who had become close to them over the past few years.
“I can meet him; I mean, I don’t mind or anything.”
Suddenly my dad’s eyebrows hit his receding hairline. “That’s actually a wonderful idea.”
My mom gave him a long look before returning her gaze to the chicken in front of her.
“He’ll come…I know he will.” My dad softened his tone and reclaimed his seat.
My mom shook her head, staying reserved.
I felt uncomfortable, like maybe I was intruding on a private moment, and then my gut shuddered the slightest bit at the idea that maybe they weren’t comfortable with me being here.
“Mom, if you’re unsure of him meeting me then I don’t have to—”
“No, honey,” she interrupted, shaking her head, “it’s not you. I think it would be wonderful for you to finally meet him. I know you’ve heard us talk about him quite a bit over the years.”
“If you’re sure?” I snagged a can of Sprite before slinking back into a chair.
“Of course I am. We’ll plan to have him over for dinner tomorrow evening.”
“That’s sort of short notice, isn’t it?” I asked, gauging the reactions from my parents. Most people wouldn’t be able to just drop everything and attend an impromptu dinner.
My mother only waved me off. “Oh, no, he’s not usually busy.”
I let it go, still a little weirded out by how guarded my parents were regarding their friend.
Over the years, there had been an endless stream of casual references to the man, but I still had no idea what he looked like, if he was older than my parents, or what his story was. But if he was this important to my family, it would be a good idea to meet him.
I decided to drop it and head to bed. Tomorrow would at least bring me one day closer to being useful with deliveries—I started Saturday morning and had eight clients, which meant I would be busy all day.
Smiling, I sauntered down the hall and considered the last time I felt this happy.
It had been too long to even remember.
“Do you think your parents will mind if I crash the dinner? Your mom makes the best pot roast.” Nora walked next to me as we lazily shopped for my mother’s dinner.
Thomas had said no, apparently, but then my father called him and had a private conversation in the garage, after which, the recluse had agreed to show up by seven. Truthfully, the man sounded a little grumpy, and I was apprehensive to meet him.
“Sadly, no, because this Thomas guy is so skittish when it comes to people that he barely agreed to come, but I’ll save you some.”
My best friend let out a sigh. “Better than nothing, but make sure your mother doesn’t open her windows. I swear if I smell that pot roast, I’m going to die.”
Letting out a little laugh, I continued walking down the aisle. My mother had given me a list, most of which I had already grabbed, save for a few things.
“You want to come with me to deliver orders tomorrow?” I asked, grabbing for a can of green beans.
“You know your mom wants fresh green beans, not the canned kind,” Nora warned me, pointing her finger at me as I crouched down to grab the can.
“Pshh, this is for me.”
“Oh my gosh, you don’t still eat green beans with melted cheese, right from the pan, do you?”
Slightly blushing, I aptly ignored her.
“Ewwww, you’re such a weirdo.”
“I am not,” I defended earnestly. “But when you have to live off nickels and dimes for food, you learn to lower your standards. Don’t let me near the ramen aisle.”
She giggled and let out a sigh as we continued to move. “I can’t go with you tomorrow. I have to help my parents, but let’s meet up tomorrow night. I want to get a feeling for the nightlife of this place.”
We both waited a beat before bursting into laughter, because this was Macon; there was no night life, especially not now that a ton of businesses had shut down.
“I did hear there was a bonfire of some kind and alcohol was involved,” Nora offered, sobering.
“Oooh, kinky.” I waggled my brows, reaching for a cold bottle of Diet Coke.
Nora grabbed one too. “Better than nothing.”
Unfortunately, my best friend wasn’t wrong.
The house smelled divine, and I opened the window closest to the street just to piss Nora off, knowing she’d be outside at some point. She’d punch me for it later, but it would be worth it.
“Rae, honey, is the table all set?” my mother asked, wiping her hands on her apron.
I nodded, grabbing a carrot that hadn’t been cooked.
“Good, he should be here soon. Listen…you should know that Thomas is different. He’s not very social and can seem rude, but really, he’s just nervous.”
Patting my mother’s hand, I smiled. “Yeah, I sort of got that when you guys nearly had an aneurysm at the mere idea of having him over for dinner.”
My mother blushed and ducked her head.
“Well, just don’t be put off by him. We’ve actually wanted you two to meet for a while now.”
That threw me. From her reaction, she didn’t seem like she had wanted me to meet him. And why on earth would they want me to? Unless he was my age…and not some old man…
Panic gripped my chest, and I felt a little faint.
“Mom…he isn’t—”
“Oh, he’s here.” My mother moved past me, looking outside. There was a silver truck that had pulled up against the curb. It looked tall, probably too tall for an older gentleman to drive. She wouldn’t try and set me up with someone, right?
Suddenly, I hated that I didn’t push to have Nora invited.
Breathing a little harder than necessary, I looked down at what I was wearing. A Star Wars T-shirt, with a few bleach spots, and leggings that had melted chocolate on them from when I fell asleep out on the patio. She wouldn’t…not without telling me to clean up, right?
I heard voices, and it all coalesced.
The one that should have been old instead sounded young and gravely.
My mother was totally trying to set me up with Thomas, and I was totally giving her shit for this later. Because at least warn a girl. I had no makeup on. My hair was at least smooth, and neatly tucked into a ponytail, but the rest…
The rest!
“Come on in, the table is set,” my mother said encouragingly.
Gripping the counter behind me, I tried to wait out the impending train wreck.
My father came in first, followed by my mother, and then a head, hovering much higher than either of theirs, full of dark hair, popped into view.
And then he looked up, a familiar pair of navy eyes landing on me, sending me back four years to a night that had changed my life.
I waited for his expression to break, showing recognition, but his eyes quickly darted away.
This wasn’t Thomas. Unless…did I just hallucinate?
My father said something, but I couldn’t process it.
I realized too late that I hadn’t been breathing.
My mother touched my elbow, but all I could see were those navy eyes.
I don’t want to be here.
Everything in me screamed to run. My heart hammered in my chest so hard that I thought I might throw up.
“Rae?” my dad asked.
All at once his words hit me, and I sucked in a breath. “Sorry, it’s just hot in here.”
“Oh goodness, let me open a window,” Mom fussed, heading to the window while my dad stood close to the man I had hoped to avoid for the rest of my life.