Chapter 14
“Hello? Anyone home?”
Alethea heard the deep, male voice calling up from the entryway and booked it downstairs. Had she accidentally left the door unlocked? She came to a halt at the bottom of the stairs and let out an exasperated sigh as Brent”s head poked in through the front door. It was impossible for her to avoid this guy even in her dreams, and now here he was showing up at her house. “What are you doing here?” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him, making her irritation more than apparent.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to barge in like this. I started knocking and the door just kind of swung open. Is it ok if I come in?”
Did she really have a choice? She couldn’t very well tell him no now that he was already halfway inside the house, so she pulled open the door the rest of the way, a rush of his intoxicating scent hitting her nose, frankincense and pine mingling together with his soap. She steeled herself. Why did he have to smell so damn good?
“I brought a peace offering.” He extended a pink cardboard box in her direction. Alethea opened it and immediately recognized the sugary topping on a half-dozen gigantic orange-raspberry muffins from the cafe. A small noise of delight escaped her lips before she could stop it, but she quickly changed her expression back to one of indifference.
“I pulled in a favor and asked Joannie to bake those fresh this morning. Normally she only makes them on the weekends.” He gave her a hopeful smile. “We got off on the wrong foot and I thought this might help me atone for my sins.” The twinkle in his eyes made her stomach do a flip. She so wanted to be angry with this man. Why was he making it so hard?
“Thank you, that was thoughtful.” She accepted the box of muffins and had half a mind to shove him back out through the door, but instead heard herself saying, “Would you like to come in and have a glass of lemonade?”
“I’d love some.” As Brent followed Alethea to the kitchen, he stopped momentarily to stare up at the black trash bags held together by blue painter”s tape that were covering the gaping hole. He looked up at the eyesore with sadness, and she knew he was contemplating the loss of such a precious piece of art. Alethea understood his reaction, it reminded her of a shoddy bandage job trying to cover a deep wound.
“Mrrrrrup!” Dandelion came up behind them and began winding around Brent’s legs, plopping down at his feet and rolling about, shamelessly asking to be petted.
Alethea stared at her cat. Thanks a lot you traitor! First Danica and now you.
Brent bent down and outstretched his hand for Dandelion to investigate and after a few quick sniffs she rubbed the side of her face against his fingers. “I bet you smell Zax, huh?”
Alethea let a little laugh slip out in spite of herself. “You have a pet named Zax?”
“Well, technically my cat’s name is Sir Zachery McCalister III but I call him Zax. Don’t ask, it’s a long story.” He chuckled at the absurdity of what he had just said. Encouraged by Dandelion’s purring, he scratched her behind the ears. “Oh yeah, she’s a real terror alright. Definitely possessed by the devil.” He glanced up and winked at Alethea conspiratorily.
She ignored his attempts at being charming and continued on. “This way.” Her tone was cool. What was she doing? Why hadn’t she just taken the muffins and sent the man on his way? In the kitchen, she set the box on the counter and filled two tall glasses with ice. It was the height of summer now and the ice-cold lemonade frosted the glasses in her hands. She handed one to Brent and motioned for him to follow her outside onto the small patio where they took a seat on the white wrought iron garden bench. Neither of them spoke for a few minutes as they sipped on the delightfully tangy lemonade and watched the birds squabble over the birdbath. Finally, Brent broke the silence. “I love this time of year, when everything’s in full bloom and the world feels so alive.”
Alethea was surprised by his remark. She hadn’t taken him for someone who’d have an appreciation for nature. Come to think of it, what had she taken him for exactly? He was a man she knew nothing about, yet she was so certain he fit the stereotypical mold that she was trying to shove him into. She supposed she had taken him for the kind of guy who always got what he wanted. The kind of man who could care less about nature and would rather use a Peloton instead of going for a run in the park. She knew she wasn’t being fair but why should she care? Was it fair that the man she was supposed to marry hadn’t ever really loved her? Was it fair that she had to give up her job because her mentor had slept with her fiancé? Alethea had been on the receiving end of plenty of unfairness in her life. Maybe it was time for her to start dishing it out to others.
A blue jay hopped around the bird bath, squawking loudly at the chickadees as they tried to encroach upon his domain. He sprayed water about as he erratically splashed his wings, creating tiny rainbows here and there. Alethea tried to think of something to say but instead found that her thoughts kept straying to last night’s dreams. Color slowly crept up her cheeks as her disobedient brain replayed how soft his lips had felt against hers.
Luckily, Brent didn’t seem to have any issue making small talk. He asked after Scarlet, wondering how she was faring in Florida, and about Alethea’s two roommates for the summer, how the group of them had met and why they had ended up along for the ride on her renovation project. Alethea was pleasant enough, answering his questions honestly but keeping her answers relatively short and intentionally vague. There was no reason to start spilling her life story to this guy. She planned on staying as far away from him as she could from now on. And for that matter, why was he here exactly? It was nice of him to apologize, but he could’ve done so the next time they bumped into each other. Lord knows there would be a next time in this tiny town. Why had he made a special trip out to her house?
As if sensing her question, Brent switched gears in the conversation. “I hope you don’t mind me coming by today. I wanted to apologize, of course, but I also had to see the window, or what used to be of it, for myself. You said getting it replaced wasn’t in the budget but I’d like to do it for free.”
Alethea stared at him, baffled, and then narrowed her eyes. “What’s the catch?”
“No catch. Consider it a going away present for Scarlet and a housewarming gift for you.” His eyes were sincere, and he actually looked a bit nervous, strangely enough.
She shook her head, this man just kept surprising her. “I couldn’t let you do that, I wouldn’t feel right.” She stubbornly dug in despite wanting to accept his generous offer. Something hard and cold inside her refused to relent. “Anyway, I’m not going to be living here so no housewarming present is needed. We’re just fixing up the house so it can be rented out on Airbnb, then I’m going back home to the city with the other two.” She thought she saw a flicker of disappointment flash across his face, but she couldn’t tell if she had imagined it. You can’t trust this man, she reminded herself. She acted like a deranged lunatic every time he saw her. He should be running as far away from her as he could, not coming over with gifts. There had to be a hidden motive. Maybe he had seen the antiques in the house when he had helped Aunt Scarlet and planned on stealing them once he had access to the house again. She let her thoughts run wild with distrust, imagining Brent tiptoeing out of the house with a vase under his shirt, like a cartoon thief.
“I love this time of year, too.” Alethea was surprised by the words that came out of her mouth. She had wanted to say something to change the subject and it had just sort of tumbled out. “There’s almost a kind of energy that you can feel, all the insects buzzing around frenetically.” She smiled, watching all of the activity in the overgrown weeds that had flowered and gone to seed.
Brent was about to say something in response, but as he glanced over at her, he did an actual double take.
“What?” she asked, confused.
He blinked a few times then chuckled softly. “Sorry, it was nothing. Just the way you were silhouetted by the sunshine there for a second, it almost looked like you were glowing.” He didn’t break away his gaze, letting it linger, studying her.
Alethea wanted to roll her eyes. She had heard her share of cheesy lines, but this one took the cake. She looked like she was glowing. How corny!
Just then the breeze started to pick up, rustling the leaves of the old oaks lining the yard, the Black-eyed Susans and purple obedient plants swaying in the wind. The door to the kitchen behind them gently swung open, making a low creaking noise as it went. Alethea turned to look but no one was there. “Must’ve been the wind.” She got up and pulled the door closed tightly, making sure it was secure this time.
Brent looked over at the door. “I can take a look at that if you’d like.”
“Take a look at what?” Danica’s loud voice boomed from behind and they both turned to see her walking from the cottage across the yard towards them. She was wearing her favorite pair of yoga pants, sky blue and covered in a print of fluffy white clouds, and her radiant face said her online yoga class had just gone well.
Brent gave her a wide grin. “Hey there, nice to see you again! I was just offering to help a bit around the house. Actually, I was hoping to make a new stained-glass window for Queenie, as a welcome to the neighborhood. The truth is, ever since Wilbur told me about the window, it’s been bothering me. It’s something I’d really like to do.”
Alethea shot daggers at her friend. It was a warning shot, an instruction to keep her mouth shut, which Danica promptly ignored. “Well that’s about the nicest thing I’ve heard someone offer. I’m sure Alethea was too modest to accept your generous offer, so I’ll do so on her behalf.” She directed her smirk at Alethea, she was on a roll now. “Brent, we”d like to hire you to help us finish up the renovations.”
Alethea made a strangled noise in her throat and was about to protest, but Danica raised her voice, talking loudly over her. “Can you start next week?”
Alethea couldn’t believe what was happening and gave Danica a look of incredulity. She was so mad she could slap that smirk right off her friend’s face! Brent said that he could in fact take on the project and he and Danica discussed the details as they walked back into the house. Alethea just stood, rooted in place, watching them as they went, Dandelion trotting over to Brent’s side and trailing behind. Traitors! All of you!
Once Brent had left, Alethea rounded on her supposed friend. “What the hell, Danica?”
“Told you I’d get you back!” She crossed her arms and smiled, obviously extremely pleased with herself.
Alethea opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.
“Oh, get over yourself.” Danica had never been one to suffer fools lightly. “Admit it, we NEED him, Al. Not only is he the only available contractor within a zillion mile radius but he’s actually a good one who comes highly recommended! And I know how badly you want that window replaced and here’s your chance. Queenie deserves it. YOU deserve it! Don’t you think?”
Alethea may not be able to argue with reason but she could defend her emotions. “That may be but I don’t trust him.”
“Oh and you thought Wilbur was oh-so-trustworthy?”
Alethea sighed half in frustration and half in surrender. Her stubborn friend was not backing down, and Alethea knew she’d never win this one.
Danica softened a bit and reached out for Alethea’s hand. “Don’t let your past sabotage your future, girl. You’ve got to find a way to let some of the Jackson stuff go. It’s eating away at you from the inside, I can see it. And if you don’t do something that gives you some kind of release, it’ll consume you.” All traces of her smugness were gone and Dancia looked at her with only empathy and love. “I know what it’s like to hold a grudge, trust me. And if I ever see Jerk-Face-Jackson again I’ll put him in a Wounded Warrior position he’ll never forget! But not allowing yourself to move on isn’t the answer.”
Alethea knew Danica was right and that she was speaking from experience. She had a complicated at best relationship with her step-father and no relationship at all with her biological one. Her formative years had been filled with strife, something that Dancia had eventually come to terms with as an adult. Alethea looked at her supportive friend and wondered how they both had managed to survive so many trials. She doubted she could ever bring herself to forgive Jackson and Susan, but Danica was right. She had to stop letting the anger and hurt fester inside her, coming out in explosive spurts she had no control over. Like it or not, the Muffin Man himself would be working on her house starting next week, so it would be in everyone’s best interest if she could try and get a handle on her emotions.
Dandelion saton the back of the reading chair, trying to ignore her human’s obstinate remarks as she argued with her friend. Alethea’s stubbornness could be so infuriating sometimes! On the other hand, Dandelion couldn’t be more relieved that Brent had come over today. Finally, someone with their wits about them. She had known the second she saw him that he should be the one working on the house and was grateful that Danica had taken matters into her own hands. Besides, Dandelion was intrigued by this Zachery fellow. He simply smelled divine.