31. Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Maci
S unday evening after we’ve made it back and showered, Sutton and I enter through the front door for dinner. He follows me inside and closes the door while I pause at the front of the hallway. I’m met with the scent of a home-cooked meal. It’s reminiscent of days at Nana’s.
To my right is a sitting room with low couches in front of windows overlooking the south and east sides of the property. I immerse myself in memorizing every detail of this space, with all its books and light, to avoid the heartache rising up. Grief comes and goes. Moments like this fuel reminders of what I’ve lost.
Sutton reaches for my hand casually as he passes me from closing the door, headed down the hall. I can’t bring myself to move. He turns abruptly, standing before me and cupping my face with both hands. “Hey. What’s going on?”
My eyes are welling with tears and I’m trying to force them away, but it’s no use. His eyes go soft and wide before he pulls me against his chest, wrapping his strong arms around me.
When was the last time I let someone comfort me?
My racing heart calms as I melt into him. A few tears slip down my face, but the threatened flood has receded. I draw in several deep breaths and release my arms from around his torso .
“I’m sorry,” I say on an exhale.
His hands move back to my face and he uses his rough thumbs to gently brush the tears from my cheeks. “You have nothing to apologize for. If this is too much, say the word and we’ll leave.”
I exhale and give him a soft shake of my head. “No. I’m ok.”
“Are you sure?” He takes my hands in his.
“Sutton?” A familiar voice comes down the hall.
“One sec,” Sutton calls over his shoulder. His features remain soft, waiting for my decision.
“Yes,” I tell him confidently, forcing the tears to dry by blinking repeatedly. I take one more breath and squeeze his hand. “Come on. ”
I’ve never worried about impressing someone’s mother before. I don’t even worry about impressing my own. But the part of me that’s honest enough to admit I’m falling for Sutton knows how vital his family is to him. Them liking me is important to him, whether he says so or not. Andi may like me as Ruthie’s granddaughter, but will she like me as a partner for her only son? What about his dad?
And why does any of that matter, when my plan is still to be gone for good in a matter of weeks?
At the end of the hallway, the living room spans out to the left. We enter the kitchen on the right. Andi is at the oven, fiddling with something. She smacks a dish towel onto the counter and turns to us in mild frustration at whatever is going on there.
“Maci!” she cries when her eyes meet mine. She crushes me into her arms and I let her squeeze me for as long as she wants. This is a hug like Nana’s. A mother’s. I cherish every second of it, willing my arms to soak in the love and my eyes to keep the tears at bay .
She pulls back and looks me over at arms’ length. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Her eyes lift to Sutton behind me. He’s leaning against the doorway of the kitchen with his arms and ankles crossed and a smug look plastered on his face. She studies him quietly and looks back at me with glassy eyes. I’m positive I’m missing something. Something important, but I can’t bring myself to ask.
My heart flutters. “How can I help?”
She shoots me a look. “You will not. You’re a guest. Sutton, get Maci a drink and you two go sit down. Dad will be in soon, I’m sure.”
Sutton doesn’t balk and leads me into the dining room.
“So, Maci, how did the photos go yesterday? I’m sorry I couldn’t stop by and say hi,” Andi speaks from the kitchen, dishes clinking against each other. The table we’re seated at is beautiful and I run my hands along the grain lines of the wood. Sutton watches my fingers dance along the top.
“They were wonderful. Thank you so much for helping me get in there.” I glance at Sutton. “Did Sutton tell you I put him to work, too?” I can’t help but put him on the spot. He runs his tongue between his lip and upper teeth, smiling from the corner of his mouth at me.
“He didn’t! Only that he brought you something.” She looks at him expectantly.
“Maci wanted to borrow a trailer, so I took her one of the white ones.” He leans back in his chair, crossing his ankles straight in front of him and his arms over his chest. He has on a fresh tee, and once again, it’s stretched over his fabulous body in a too-inviting way.
“Sutton.” Andi stands in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room, giving her son a stern look. “You did not take her a dirty cattle trailer.” She is appalled .
He grins and I know before he speaks that he’s about to tease her. “Now Mama, I told her it was full of manure, but she wouldn’t listen.” His voice is as low and calm as always and it takes everything in me not to smack him in the arm where he sits next to me.
Andi’s mouth pops open and her cheeks turn red. She’s embarrassed of him for no good reason and he’s going to give her an aneurysm.
I open my mouth to interject, but he comes to his senses and comes clean. “I’m just playin’. I cleaned it out before I ran it up there.” He leaves his position next to me and strides over to where she’s giving him a dirty look. “If you don’t have faith in me, at least have faith in yourself. You raised me better than that.” He plants a firm kiss on her cheek and pulls some glasses from a cupboard behind her.
Affection fills my chest. So much love fills this space with all its quiet nooks and crannies, all its history. An unfamiliar ease settles over me.
Sutton returns to the table and sets a can of cream soda and a glass of ice in front of me. He takes a sip of his water before setting it on the table, then places his hand atop mine and rubs gentle circles on it.
Everything is so easy with him, and that’s scary as hell. I’ve heard so many people say how hard love is, how much work relationships are. My own experiences lend to that sentiment and yet I never wanted to put in the work. Never wanted to compromise. Maybe because it felt like I was the only one who was going to be losing something. With Sutton, I haven’t felt like that at all. Could it always be like this?
The front door opens and closes and heavy footsteps approach.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Andi’s voice is steady and loving as always. From my spot at the table, the entrance from the hallway into the kitchen is visible. When Mr. Strickland fills the space, it’s abundantly clear all the ways Sutton resembles him. Muscular and broad, but not too bulky, tall and tan. Something tells me there will be plenty of similar personality traits, too, because he doesn’t carry Andi’s endearing gift of gab. The perfect steely blues and smile are all her, though.
Mr. Strickland kisses Andi on the temple and then looks our way, perking up when he spots me.
“Hi there.” His smile is warm like Andi’s as he skirts around her to the sink. He washes his hands and grabs a towel hung over the oven door handle. His lips tip up on one side—an expression I’ve seen on Sutton too many times to count—as he exchanges a look with his son and maneuvers forward into Andi’s line of sight. The hand-drying motions are over the top. “So what’s for dinner, Mama?”
She’s intent on buttering rolls, but the motion of his hands catches her eyes and her face scrunches in annoyance. “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times!” All of the aggression is lacking as she snatches the towel from him, smiling broadly. His chuckle is warm and he steps quickly out of her reach into the dining room.
Instinctively, I stand. Mr. Strickland claps Sutton on the shoulder once inside the room. “Dad, this is Maci. Maci, this is my dad—”
“Michael.” His large, tan hand extends to me and when I offer my own, he clasps his second over top. Calloused like his son, there’s affection in the grip. I swallow hard. “Nice to have you.”
“Thank you.” Without a doubt, I’m blushing. I will the heat away, but it’s no use.
Michael sits across the round table from me, as Sutton retakes his seat. Andi follows shortly with dishes and hot pads. “I’m happy to help,” I offer again and she waves me off.
“Not a chance. You just sit right there, honey. ”
I do as I’m told and Sutton squeezes my leg. My cheeks flame anew as memories from the blind flood my mind’s eye. His hands, his mouth. Both glorious and detrimental.
Swiping my drink from the table, I take a huge gulp. Sutton eyes me curiously. I ignore him.
Dinner is amazing. The food is spectacular and sitting and chatting with Sutton’s parents is comfortable in a way I couldn’t have predicted. It’s like being home. Or at least a home filled with unconditional love.
His mother is giddy with excitement that we’ve hit it off and his father seems so proud of him all the way around. Everyone is pleasant and at ease.
At the conclusion of dinner, Michael excuses himself and Andi starts cleaning up. There’s no holding me back. Nana would tan my hide if I didn’t help clear the table and clean up the kitchen. Before she can protest, I collect the plates and silverware from the table, following Andi into the kitchen where she’s carried her own.
From the corner of my eye, she turns sharply to Sutton who puts his hands up in surrender. The dishwasher is empty, so I begin rinsing and loading without asking.
“Just can’t help yourself, can you?” Andi gives me a gentle bump with her hip from my opposite side.
How can something so simple convey so much emotion? Plate in hand, I turn to her. “Thank you again for having me. This has been so incredibly special.” My throat constricts and I press my lips together firmly, swallowing.
Her eyes stay locked on mine. “You are welcome here anytime, honey. We’re glad to have you.” A moment later, she sets the remaining dishes from the table onto the counter.
Sutton’s heat permeates my shirt from behind. My body screams for his touch. He’s so close and it would be easy to lean back into him, but I refrain because this is new. I’m still not sure what we are and I’m meeting his parents for the first time, as anything other than a grieving granddaughter. Never mind that both of us continue to skirt the issue of me leaving.
His cheek brushes my hair as he draws his mouth near my ear. “You’re incredible.”
There’s that fucking whisper again. I’m undecided if the chill that runs down my spine is from his words or his breath teasing my neck.
My head cocks gently his way, aching to be closer. I’m only slightly disappointed when his gentlemanly nature shines through and he plants a chaste kiss loosely into my hair, backing away.
Leaning against the counter near the refrigerator, he eyes me like dessert. “I’m planning to go see my sister soon. Would you be interested in coming with me for a visit?”
“Oh, Sammi would love that.” Andi’s voice reminds me of her presence. She goes about finding Tupperware for leftovers before scooting Sutton out of the way and organizing things into the refrigerator.
“I’m surprised I’ve been given a choice.” I dry my hands with the correct towel.
Andi’s movements cease and her eyes dart between us. Sutton’s gaze goes dark and his mouth tips. “Firecracker.” It’s a warning.
I want to challenge him. To see what punishment looks like, but again, I refrain due to Andi’s presence.