Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
T he following morning, Aaron sat in front of the computer in his father’s home office. He’d slept so much the day before, he didn’t need sleep. Instead, he fought the emptiness of knowing Belle would leave soon. He still had her. He’d enjoy every moment and cherish them for a lifetime.
He understood her vow to stand on her own. That didn’t ease his own desire to stand by her side.
When his thoughts wouldn’t calm down, he went to his father’s office and spent the rest of the night working on his design project. It wasn’t due until the following week, but he’d send it early. Changes were always needed. Even if he received an emergency call, he’d have time to make those.
Ready to make breakfast for the family, he went upstairs, showered and dressed, then stole downstairs to the kitchen. He was disappointed to see his mother up and looking fresh and standing in front of the mixing bowl.
Despite the smile she offered him, he could read past the veneer. She didn’t have too many children to keep her from knowing when one of them was troubled.
“What can I help you with?” He placed a pod in the coffeemaker.
“I’ll put you in charge of pancakes.” She stepped away from the mixing bowl filled with dry ingredients, her gaze firmly on him. “Yesterday, Belle mentioned she had appointments to meet with builders at her parents’ cabin.”
“I’m sure you can guess the rest.” He smiled as he poured milk, then cracked eggs into the flour mixture. He turned on the mixer. “A rental car was delivered to my cabin when she was staying there, but the landslide destroyed it. With so much going on, she hadn’t made another reservation. She was going to do that today, but she won’t get the car in time to make her appointments, so I told her I’d take her.”
His mother’s face unreadable, she turned away. He knew she cared about him. She looked out for all her sons.
“She’s leaving.” Aaron didn’t look at his mother but felt her surprise as she turned back to him.
“Not because of anything anyone’s done.” He knew his mother was fond of Belle and her children, but that didn’t replace what she felt for her own children. “She has decisions to make. She has a house to sell in Los Angeles. She wants to be near her parents’ cabin.”
“She’s moving to Sweet Mountain?” his mother asked in surprise.
“She’s going to find a place along the Front Range and look for a job,” he said. “They’ll spend weekends at the cabin.”
“How do you feel about that?” Naomi asked him cautiously.
Where did he begin? He’d given up sorting through the jumble of thoughts turning in his mind. His only relief was his design projects, which forced him to focus.
Movement at the kitchen door brought his head up. His mother turned.
Belle stood in the archway. Her children, who had stayed up too late playing charades with Aaron’s brothers, still looked sleepy. Her hesitant look moved from Aaron to his mother.
“Good morning.” Naomi smiled broadly. She rushed to the table and pulled out chairs for Belle and her children. “I have sliced melon in the refrigerator. Have a seat, and I’ll get that for you.”
“Thank you, but you don’t have to wait on us. I can serve the children.” Belle’s gaze shifted to Aaron, who poured pancake batter on the sizzling griddle. “We came down to help with breakfast.”
“Everything’s ready.” Naomi’s voice showed no trace of the concern Aaron had heard a moment ago.
“I guess I’ll never get used to how early you start your day.” Belle’s mouth tipped with apology.
“Don’t worry about that.” Naomi looked at her with understanding. She lifted a platter of sliced melon from the refrigerator. “Breakfast is the easiest meal to cook and eat. I’ll have everything on the table in a jiff.”
“I’ll help.” Belle moved to the oven where the bacon, eggs and hash browns warmed. Before Naomi could tell her to relax, she said, “And so will the kids.”
Her brows lifted, she glanced at her children, who rushed to her side, their eyes eager. She handed the syrup pitcher to Lyle and the butter dish to Kelsey. They hurriedly set the items on the table, then moved next to Belle, eagerness for more instructions in their eyes.
“That’s everything.” Belle’s arms filled with serving dishes, she gracefully moved around her children. “Have a seat.”
“Belle, let me help you.” Aaron turned to her.
“I’ve got it.” She flashed a confident smile. Her children followed her at the same time Aaron’s brothers stepped into the room. They slipped serving dishes from Belle’s arms and placed them on the table.
“Go ahead and start,” Naomi called back to them as she crossed the kitchen. “I’m going to check on Dad and see how he’s coming along.”
Aaron set a stack of pancakes on the table and took his seat across from Belle. After the brothers helped Naomi and Felix take their seats, Aaron asked for the blessing. The family broke into conversation as they passed serving dishes
“Because I’ll be meeting some contractors at my parents’ place.” Belle turned to Naomi. “Do you mind if I pack a picnic for the kids, Aaron and me?”
The lift of Naomi’s brow was almost imperceptible. She didn’t look at Aaron. Everyone else did.
“That’s a great idea. Use whatever you need.” Naomi’s tone was filled with kindness. “We have plenty of items for you to make sandwiches. There’s also leftover fried chicken if you prefer that.”
Belle glanced at her children.
“Yummy.” Lyle grinned.
“That sounds delicious.” Kelsey rubbed her stomach.
“I’ll set that out.” Naomi’s laugh was soft. “I’m always glad when we have leftover fried chicken.”
“We’ll leave after the new horse arrives,” Aaron said quietly. He looked from his brothers to his father.
“You’re getting more horses?” Lyle’s eyes went big.
“We’re getting one.” Aaron’s mouth curved at the boy’s enthusiasm. “Do you want to help?”
“You bet,” Lyle’s eyes grew wide. He was a quick learner and proud of his work.
“Can I help, too?” Kelsey asked.
“There’ll be something for everyone to do.” Aaron gave Kelsey a reassuring look.
A satisfied look on her face, she settled into her chair.
“Good to know,” Felix said. “I’ll be helping, too.”
That brought everyone’s head up.
Aaron tipped his head. “Dad?—”
“Remember, something for everyone to do.” Felix poured syrup over his pancakes. “I don’t want to lose my touch.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Aaron’s eyes didn’t hide the admiration he held for his father. “It always goes faster when you’re in charge.”
“I don’t know about that.” Felix curved the corner of his mouth. “But we’re a good team. We’ll get that horse settled.”
An hour after the horse was in his stall and calmer, Aaron drove Belle and her children to her parents’ cabin.
The disappointment at seeing the charred timbers and scorched fireplace weighed heavily. Lyle scooted close to the windows, Kelsey at his side. Belle faced away from Aaron, but he sensed the tears filling her throat.
“Looks like your first appointment is here.” Aaron’s voice broke through the wall of silence.
Belle’s gaze jerked to the truck and the lanky man wearing a cowboy hat who climbed from the cab.
“Come on, kids.” Belle took a slow breath. She climbed out of the truck. Stepping to the back door, she helped her children from the back seat. “Ready to build a new cabin? You know what Grandpa always says—it can only get better.”
“How will it be better?” Lyle walked at her side.
“That’s what these men are going to tell us.” Despite the wariness in Belle’s eyes, her tone was light.
During each appointment, Belle wrote copious notes. Aaron kept the children entertained, though he paid attention to the conversations Belle had with the contractors. He knew some things about construction and could answer any questions she might have.
When they took a lunch break, she looked overwhelmed. “I’m glad this will be my parents’ decision and not mine.”
“You’re doing great,” Aaron said, though he sympathized with her because of the information she had to sort through.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” She gave a slight laugh.
He felt more than confidence in her. Spending the afternoon with her and her children brought a closeness he hadn’t expected, but welcomed.
Earlier, when he carried the picnic basket Belle had packed out of the kitchen, he hadn’t missed the look in his mother’s eyes. Aaron’s feelings for Belle weren’t lost on Naomi. Probably his brothers sensed it, too.
He’d faced disappointment before, but he couldn’t control the hope rising within him when he spent these moments with Belle. No matter what the future held, he had now. He’d value every moment he spent with the woman who had captured his heart in a way that caught him by surprise.
Every moment with Belle was to be cherished. Knowing she’d leave soon made him determined to remember each one.