Chapter 17 #2
“Destiny has always been Team Briggs,” Gretchen replied with a shrug. “She got pissed when I told her that I was never going back to him, and apparently after I went to the bathroom, she said some unkind things about me to Remi.”
Theo didn’t need the rest of the blanks filled in, because he was well aware of Remi’s penchant for throwing punches whenever someone she loved was hurt or threatened.
While she was the most fun-loving, easygoing of his cousins, none of that was present when it came to defending her family and friends.
The girls continued recapping the night, how Charlie and Shaw had been forced to drag the women away from each other.
Theo kept a close eye on Gretchen, trying to make sure she wasn’t putting on a good front over the confrontation.
In the end, he could see that she really wasn’t upset by the unwanted visit or the woman’s cruel words.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there with you,” he murmured in her ear.
“I had the girls and Shaw. Remi…” Gretchen glanced at his cousin, who was exchanging barbs with Shaw. “She really had my back. She’s a good friend.”
After too many years of isolation and being let down, Theo knew how much it meant to Gretchen to have a friend she could trust.
With the recap of the previous night finished, Theo and Gretchen took a few minutes to officially introduce Shaw to his family.
“How about that tour?” Theo said.
Shaw nodded. “Sounds good.”
He and Gretchen led Shaw to the kitchen first, introducing him to Mom and Dad, before leaving by the back door and taking the path to the brewhouse.
Shaw seemed as impressed by Gretchen’s office as she had been, marveling over the view. “Nice to see fall colors again. It’s been a while.”
Shaw was closemouthed about where exactly he was deployed, maybe a requirement of the job or maybe because he had as many trust issues as his sister.
As Gretchen told her brother about her role on the farm, Theo took a moment to study the man’s face.
Shaw had dark circles under his eyes, which made sense, considering the late night spent reconnecting with his sister…
but there were deep creases around them that said his weariness wasn’t the product of one night’s lost sleep.
Shaw looked like a man who’d been tired forever.
Like Gretchen when she’d first arrived at the farm, Shaw’s smiles were few and far between and very brief. Theo got the impression he wasn’t used to smiling or laughing. God only knew what things he’d seen during his time in the military.
When they left her office, they walked to the large brewing room. Jace and Sam were there, checking on their latest IPA, drawing Shaw into a conversation about the brewing process.
Shaw, clearly interested, asked a lot of questions.
So many, Sam invited him to join them at the brewery tomorrow for a tasting, promising to explain what was in each beer and the process used to create it.
Shaw readily accepted, then belatedly looked at Gretchen.
“Unless you’d rather do something else,” he said to her.
“My flight out isn’t until Sunday morning. ”
“My plan was for you to do tastings at the brewery and the winery,” Gretchen replied, with a laugh.
“Perfect. I look forward to it,” Shaw said to Sam.
Theo glanced at his watch. “I think we’d better head back to the house or risk being late to dinner. We can save the rest of the tour for tomorrow,” he said to Shaw. “And then maybe Gretchen and I can show you around Gracemont.”
Shaw nodded, the warmth he’d shown to his brothers fading a bit.
The man was determined to make him prove his worth.
Not that Theo minded or even disagreed. Shaw had learned last night that his sister was trapped in an abusive relationship for years.
It made sense that her brother circled the wagons tighter around her, wanting to make sure she was safe with him.
Trust was a hard-earned thing for the Parker siblings, and for good reason.
Once they returned, everyone sat down for dinner.
While the farmhouse dining room had a big-ass table capable of seating fifteen people, his mother had set up an extra folding table they all jokingly referred to as the kids’ table, when four of the youngest Storms—Remi, Jace, Nora, and Grayson—sat down.
As was tradition, once everyone’s plates were filled, Dad lifted his glass and said the same things he did every year. “I’m thankful for this family, these friends, and our home. No man was ever more blessed than me.”
Those words were the cue to go, so Mom went next, saying what she was thankful for.
Levi, who sat next to Mom, kept the game going, wrapping his arm around Kasi’s shoulders. “I’m thankful for Kasi. It took me too damn long to open my eyes and see what was standing right in front of me.”
Kasi smiled, then went next. They continued, each person taking their turn.
When it got around to Shaw, he said, “I’m thankful to Theo for placing the call that brought my sister back to me.”
Gretchen wiped her eyes, smiling widely, as her brother fondly shoulder-bumped her.
When it was her turn, it took a moment before Gretchen could find her words.
But when she did, they didn’t stop flowing, as she thanked nearly every single person sitting at the table.
And her heartfelt gratitude had Mom and Edith surreptitiously wiping away their own tears.
She gripped Shaw’s hand, and said she was thankful to have him back in her life.
Then she turned her attention to him.
“Theo, there isn’t a word strong enough to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Honestly, you saved my life.” It looked like she wanted to say more but couldn’t, too overwhelmed with emotion.
Theo smiled at her, lifting her hand up to kiss. “I’m thankful for Nora’s OCD.”
While most of his family gave him curious, confused looks, he, Gretchen, and Nora laughed.
“Because without her compulsions?—”
“Quirks,” Nora interjected with a grin. “We’re calling them quirks now.”
“Without her quirks, I never would have scheduled a fifth interview, never would have met you,” he said to Gretchen. Leaning closer, he whispered, “I love you.”
From there, Maverick went next, but Theo heard very little of the rest of the thank-yous, soaking in the way Gretchen leaned toward him, her hand resting on his knee.
After nearly two hours at the table, they finally rose, everyone pitching in with cleanup.
“I’ve never been this full in my life,” Grayson groaned. “Why is Mom’s gravy so damn good, and why do I feel the need to cover my entire plate in it?”
Theo tried to laugh, but he was feeling the same pain.
Once the dishes were done, the leftovers packed up and distributed, Edith reached for her purse and jacket.
“Manny and I are going to head home,” she said to Theo, Gretchen, and Shaw.
“Aw,” Remi complained, walking up behind them. “We were going to play Charades.”
“I can drive you two home after the game,” Theo offered Gretchen and Shaw, not wanting to say good night to her yet. The hopeful look Gretchen gave her brother proved she felt the same.
Shaw bent toward her, giving her a kiss on the forehead. “My jet lag is kicking in hard. I’ll ride back with Edith.”
“Oh,” Gretchen said. “I can go too, then.”
Shaw shook his head. “Don’t cut your night short because of me. My only plan is to fall face down on the bed and sleep until morning, so stay here and have fun.”
“Are you sure?” Gretchen asked.
“We have the rest of the weekend to hang out and catch up,” her brother reassured her. “Theo can bring you home later.”
Theo didn’t state that his idea of “later” was actually tomorrow morning. He missed sharing a bed with Gretchen, and he was hoping to convince her to sleep over. Their cabin was still empty until the New Year.
“Okay.” Shaw and Gretchen hugged goodbye.
Shaw gave Theo a look he easily interpreted.
“Let me walk them out, and I’ll meet you in the living room,” Theo said to Gretchen.
She shot her brother a warning glance that Shaw completely ignored, then went to the living room with Remi.
“Catch you on the flipside, Hotshot,” Remi said to Shaw as she walked away.
Shaw shook his head, the combination grimace/grin most people wore when dealing with Remi appearing.
Edith and Manny were loading the car with leftovers and her now-empty casserole dish, chatting with his parents, when Theo and Shaw stepped out on the front porch.
“Thank you again for the invitation to dinner,” Shaw said, turning to face him.
“I’m glad you could make it. Not sure Gretchen’s feet are touching the ground yet. Having you here meant the world to her.”
Shaw acknowledged that with a brief nod, then he looked back at the house when loud laughter erupted from the living room. “I think this is a good place for her. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her so…”
Theo expected Shaw to say happy.
So he was surprised when Shaw said, “Herself. When we were kids, she was always chatty and laughing and loud. That dimmed a little after our dad left, and it vanished completely when Mom remarried.” Shaw didn’t say Ivan’s name, or even refer to him as their stepfather.
“When we moved into the foster home, she was a shell. She looked like my sister, but that was it. And with Briggs…let’s just say the light went off and it stayed off.
Tonight…” Shaw rubbed the back of his neck, and Theo got a glimpse of the emotions the serious man was trying to hide. “I got my real sister back.”
Theo smiled. “She’s an amazing woman.”
Shaw tilted his head toward Edith, who was standing next to her car, saying goodbye to Mom and Dad. “Edith cornered me this morning while Gretchen was showering, to plead your case.”
Theo grinned, unsurprised. “What did she say?”
“That you were a good man, and you’d treat my sister right.”
“I will,” he vowed.
“I think… I think I believe that,” Shaw admitted. “But if you don’t…”