20. Weird Things Happened
WEIRD THINGS HAPPENED
“ Y ou’re dating someone?” Aster asked. “Since when?”
Daphne knew this might be hard, but she wasn’t going to keep it from her brother either.
Especially since Abe told her that Laurel knew. And though Laurel said she wouldn’t say anything to Aster, she didn’t want something to slip by mistake.
“Relax, Aster,” Raine said. “Your sister is only telling you she is dating someone, not that he robbed a bank and is going to turn her into his lookout for the next hit.”
She laughed over Raine’s words because the frown on her brother’s face said he was waiting for some bad piece of news to follow.
“What’s so bad about me dating someone?” she asked with her hands on her hips.
Too many times in her life she went to Aster for advice and help and now she didn’t want it.
Maybe she was wrong to lean on him, but she hadn’t really for years. She hadn’t wanted to burden him with the problems at home when he was overseas and fighting wars.
It’s just too bad that he realized how bad it was once he was out of the service. And how much of it fell on her.
“Nothing,” Aster said. “As long as I get to meet the guy and know that he treats you well. That he’s not out for fun and is taking being with you seriously.”
“I can handle my own relationship,” she said firmly. “I mean it, Aster. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me in life and in the past year, but I’m an adult.”
“You’re still my baby sister,” Aster said. Raine was laughing. “Why do you think this is so funny? Brooks did this to you too.”
“I know he did,” Raine said. “The curse of an older brother. But don’t take your frustration with your parents out on Daphne. She’s a strong woman and can make decisions on her own.”
“What happened with Mom and Dad?” she asked. So much for this turning into a pleasant visit for her to share the news of her relationship.
“Nothing,” he said.
“Don’t try to shield me,” she said. “Did they ask you for money too?”
Aster growled. “They called and asked you for money?”
She laughed. She hadn’t seen her brother this frustrated in a long time.
“Yes. And I told Mom no. She gave me some line about things that had to be fixed from the inspection or they were going to lose the sale and they didn’t have the money to do it.
I said they should have saved the rent money I’d been giving them for years. ”
“Let’s not go there again,” Aster said. “I’d said it to them enough too.
And yes, they need like five thousand dollars to fix things or they will lose the sale.
That doesn’t ring true with me. Most inspections have a cap on them or the people can walk away or they negotiate.
I told them to do that. Say they will take five grand off the asking price or give credit or however they want the bank to spin it, but they aren’t getting the money from me. ”
“I’m not sure if they will ever stop asking even though we aren’t there anymore,” she said.
“Probably not,” he said. “And enough of that. I’ll take care of it like I did. They won’t bug you for it.”
“Aster,” she said. “I took care of it myself. Before you even knew. So they came to me first. I’m not a pushover, so get it out of your head.”
“Fine,” he said. “Go back to this guy you’re dating. Who is he? How did you meet? What does he do? Where can I find him?”
If her brother wasn’t smirking on the last question she might walk over and smack him.
Raine did it for her and they all laughed.
“Since this area is so small, Raine might know him. Poppy knows him and went to school with him. Laurel knows him well.”
Aster frowned. “Laurel doesn’t know that many people,” he said. “She’s new to the area too.”
“It’s Abe Cooke,” she said. “Laurel’s neighbor and Easton’s cousin. He owns Cooke Landscaping. He’s doing a big project at the McGill Estate.”
She saw Aster’s head go back and forth. “I don’t know him, but I’ve met Easton. He’s a good guy.”
“So is Abe.”
“He is,” Raine said. “River and Abe played sports together. I remember both of them. Abe’s father had the business and passed away a few years ago and Abe runs it now. He’s a standup guy. I’ve never heard anything bad about him. Nothing like you’d hear about Brooks.”
“I love you, Raine. But there is no way I would let my sister date your brother if he were single.”
Daphne’s jaw dropped. “Let me? I thought you liked Raine’s brothers.”
“I like them a lot,” he said. “But Brooks had a bit of a reputation back in the day. Raine knows. She’ll admit it.”
“He did,” Raine said. “But he’s reformed. And this isn’t about my brother; it’s about Daphne. We know who he is and you met at the McGills’. It couldn’t have been going on that long.”
She was going to gloss over how Raine said they met. It was best to let that assumption stay there.
“Not long,” she said. “We talked at the McGill property, then ran into each other at the store.”
Raine laughed. “Aster, that sounds like us. Did you drop food on the floor and Abe had to help you?”
She forgot that her sister and Aster met up again in the store and that was how they started to flirt more.
What the heck was it about this town that those weird things happened?
“He startled me and my cart ran into cereal boxes that fell. He helped pick them up. It was on July Fourth. Then he followed me through the store and we talked in the parking lot.”
“He stalked you?” Aster asked.
“Noooooooo,” she said. “We were talking and he’s funny. I can’t explain it. At first, I wondered if he took anything seriously but then realized he does. He’s just got this great personality.”
“I can see you two together,” Raine said. “He’s really down to earth and more like you.”
“I’ve been hearing that a lot lately,” she said. “That people can see us together.”
“Who else knows?” Aster asked.
“I told Poppy. She said the same thing. She actually said she wanted to set us up on a blind date before I even saw him on the grounds. I’d told her no.”
None of this was a lie. It was good to put those pieces in there.
“Poppy loves getting involved in people’s relationships,” Raine said.
“I noticed that. It was nice talking to her, but I know my boundaries. She’s my boss. She wants to be friends, but I’d never do that. Or maybe I’m thinking more of it than it is.”
“They are like that,” Aster said. “Poppy is more outgoing and friendly than the rest, but they are honest and sincere in everything. Never doubt that for a minute. I’m obviously closer to Lily than the rest because of Zane, but if Poppy is giving you advice or putting a good word in for someone, then you can believe it. ”
She moved over and hugged her brother. “I needed to hear that. You know more than anyone how much I doubt myself.”
“Don’t,” he said, giving her a tight squeeze. “Never. You’re a strong capable woman, but I’m always going to be your big brother and stand in your way. Nothing I can do about it. It’s just going to happen.”
“I know. I appreciate it too,” she said. “And you’ll want to meet him. Maybe we can go to dinner at some point. I’ve met Laurel, but she wants to have me over too.”
“If you’re happy,” Aster said. “That is all I care about.”
“I am,” she said. “I was happy to move here and start this dream job and live in that beautiful little cabin on those gorgeous grounds. Now I’m lucky enough to find a guy that I enjoy spending time with.
I won’t be so bored on the weekends trying to learn to make a quilt or watching videos on how to decorate cookies. ”
“What’s wrong with decorating cookies?” Aster asked.
She rolled her eyes. “Now you sound just like Abe.”
“I hope in a good way,” Aster said. “Not that long ago you had your hands on your hips ready to read me the riot act.”
“In the best way possible.”