Chapter Twenty-Six #2
Chase started to say something but was interrupted by the sound of clapping. We all turned to see Mrs. W and Abel walking into the room, side-by-side, Abel with a smug, happy smile and Mrs. W her usual restrained self with an added glow of joy.
Aiden led the clapping, but we all joined in a second later, Charlie throwing in an exuberant, "WooHoo!"
Mrs. W lost her composure and blotted a tear from the corner of her eye.
She was rescued from the moment when Charlie left Lucas' side to run up and squeeze Mrs. W in a tight hug.
Mrs. W cupped the back of her head, gently stroking her tousled auburn curls, and whispered something in her ear that had Charlie's shoulders hitching in a half laugh, half sob.
Though she made a point to say she thought it was entirely inappropriate for the housekeeper and cook to have a catered party in their honor, we all knew Mrs. W was touched.
Since their parents had died, she was the closest thing they had to a mother, and none of them would let her marriage pass without celebration.
The night passed too quickly. The food was almost as good as Abel's, and the champagne flowed freely as various Winters got up to tell their stories of growing up with Mrs. W.
Our dessert was individual raspberry shortbread trifles—shortbread because it was Mrs. W's favorite, and Abel made it for her for years.
Raspberries because they were his favorite fruit.
I happened to know he'd made the desserts himself earlier in the day, and I was going to have to badger him for the recipe.
I sipped my coffee, sorry the evening was already at an end, when Charlie dropped into the chair beside me that Vance had vacated a few minutes before, leaving to check in on Rosalie, sleeping in an empty bedroom.
"Are you ready to move in?" she asked, leaning across me to catch Chase's attention.
"Can I?" Chase's eyes brightened at the thought. He’d adjusted to living in Winters House, maybe even liked it after a few weeks, but I knew he was ready to have his own space again.
"All set," Charlie answered with a wide grin. "Finally. The cleaning crew went through this afternoon and I double checked all the appliances, lights, everything."
"That's the best news I've heard in weeks," Chase said. "Thanks. I know I was a pain in the ass about the delay, but the place looks amazing. Exactly what I wanted."
"You weren't a pain in the ass."
From across the table, Lucas cut in with, "You should have heard her when the lumber yard called about that delivery. Sailors would have blushed."
"I wasn't that bad," Charlie insisted.
All Lucas said was, "Princess."
Charlie's cheeks turned pink and she shrugged a shoulder. "Maybe it was almost that bad. But they deserved it. Sending my oak to the wrong customer. Ridiculous."
A hand came down on Chase's shoulder and I noticed Vance standing behind him, a sleepy Rosie tucked into his arms.
"You good to move in?" Chase nodded. "Need some help? I can call my guy who moves my bigger pieces. Between the two of us, him and his partner and their truck, we can get your stuff over there by lunch."
"That would be great," Chase agreed, "Thanks."
Vance gave him a chin lift. "One sec." He passed Rosie to Maggie and pulled his phone from his pocket. After a conversation so short I could only conclude it was in code, he said, "Good to go. They'll be here at seven thirty in the morning."
Chase said again, "Thanks, man."
Vance only smiled and went to reclaim his daughter. He and Maggie left, Vance saying over his shoulder, "See you tomorrow."
Chase stood, something in him loose, unbound, as if a hidden spring inside him had uncoiled, setting him free. He reached for me, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet.
"Ready?"
"I guess," I answered, not wanting the night to end. I yawned, leaning into Chase and admitted to myself that my four AM wake-up call didn't leave much room for nightlife.
We said our goodbyes and Chase helped me into his car, leaning over to click my seatbelt into place. I batted his hands away, muttering, "I can do it."
"You're about to pass out. I want to make sure you're in the car before we drive away."
"I'm not that tired," I said and then proved myself wrong when my jaw cracked open in a wide, almost painful yawn.
I was exactly that tired. I gave a fleeting thought to the café, wondering if Bruce and Marie had remembered to wipe the inside of the pastry case or put the cups back on the rack so they’d be dry by morning.
Then, for the first time since I'd opened the place, I gave a mental shrug and decided it didn't matter. Whatever was wrong, I'd fix it later. I'd had a brilliant night with my oldest friends and Chase by my side. That was all I cared about.
The next thing I knew, Chase was shaking me awake.
"I fell asleep?" I asked, blinking against the sudden light when Chase opened the car door.
"You were out cold before we cleared the driveway," he said with amusement.
I fumbled in my purse for the keys to the back door, and Chase followed me inside. I was half-asleep, but not so tired I didn't take a quick trip through, checking to make sure everything was as it should be.
To my shock and pleasure, it was. Oh, there were a few things here and there that weren't done the way I would have, but my new hires had done well enough. Better than I'd expected. Maybe if I found one more like them, I could ease off a bit.
Chase closed his hand over my elbow and led me back to the stairs to my studio. Dipping his head, he brushed his mouth across mine.
"Lock the door behind me and go to bed, sleeping beauty."
"Do you want—"
With a low groan in the back of his throat, Chase shook his head. "I do. I really do. But not tonight. Come to my house for dinner tomorrow. A late dinner, after closing.”
"Okay," I said, simply. "I'll cook." My sleepy brain was already putting together the menu, heavy on dessert. And chocolate.
"I'll be here to help you finish up," he said, "and we'll walk over together."
"Okay," I said again. One more brush of his mouth over mine and he was gone, saying over his shoulder, "Lock the door and set the alarm, Annabelle."
I did, smiling to myself the whole time. I fell asleep with a smile still on my face, already dreaming of seeing Chase the next day.