Chapter 9
“I hugged him. Twice.”
I buried my face in my hands as Mae squealed and kicked her feet.
“My girls are going to fillet me alive. Correction, Eve is going to set fire to my bed.”
Victoria laughed and handed me a carton of cookie dough ice cream. “Well, it’s not like you kissed him or started humping his leg, so I think you’re okay.”
“Hugs are harmless. I could hug you right now and it would mean nothing,”
Allison commented around a bite of her own ice cream.
“I’m dishonoring David,”
I said it as both a statement and a question.
“You all were thick as thieves in school. I think David would be ecstatic to know you were interested in someone who he already knew cared deeply for you.”
Mae sipped her wine and studied me.
I turned my attention to Heath Ledger riding a horse on the TV and ate my ice cream in silence.
“So, you really listed your house?”
Allison asked as she laid her head on the arm of Mae’s floral couch.
“Yeah. I don’t know. I was just lying in the tub and had the overwhelming feeling that that life was over, and we needed something here to look forward to.”
Victoria raised the bottle of wine in my direction, brows raised in question. I shook my head and took another bite of ice cream.
“I don’t think I could stay in the same house. I understand your thought process.”
Allison commented and turned to stare up at the ceiling. “But you came back home. Is it hard being on your old stomping ground?”
I chuckled and thought about it. “Honestly, no. It just feels like I’m finally home. It feels like I’m where I need to be.”
Mae smiled. “There is just something about Whispering Springs.”
I smiled and watched as Heath Ledger knocked someone off their horse on the screen. There really was something about the town. It felt like one big family.
“I got approved for an apartment lease today,”
Allison said with happiness and apprehension coloring her voice.
“Hey! That’s great. Congratulations!”
I cheered for her and smiled as Victoria and Mae did the same.
“I move in next month. I don’t have any furniture,”
she groaned. “This is going to be the most expensive move I’ve ever had.”
“I’m going to schedule a time to go get the rest of our things from the house. You’re welcome to whatever you want. I just don’t think I could keep it all. I want a fresh start.”
“Are you sure?”
Allison sat up, leaning towards me.
“Absolutely.”
I didn’t even get the whole word out before she rushed forward and hugged me.
“Thank you so much, Lucy!”
I hugged her back and smiled. “You’re welcome. I guess this means I need to set a date to do that and talk it over with the girls.”
“Is Eve surviving the sleep over tonight?" Mae asked as she changed the movie to another Heath Ledger film, apparently there was a theme tonight. I wasn’t complaining.
“She sent me a picture of her eating a smore with a huge smile. I think she’s doing ok. The real question is, is Brett going to survive?”
“Ugh, I both love and hate that he only has eyes for Hannah. He’s just so,”
Allison made ass grabbing claws and growled. “I’m such a sucker for built men.”
Victoria rolled her eyes as Mae, and I laughed.
“Can we not sexualize my brothers? They’re just gross boys.”
I shook my head, smiling as I took my carton to the trash.
“They were gross boys ten years ago,”
Victoria mumbled, averting her eyes.
I gasped and spun to face her. “Not you too!”
Victoria covered her face with a pillow and screamed into it. “Do not judge me!”
Mae laughed and poured more wine into her glass. “You all are ridiculous.”
“Okay Miss I’m In a Relationship with Mystery Man.”
Allison made air quotes around the moniker and rolled her eyes.
“I can’t tell anyone. My parents would flip. You know that.”
Mae argued, her words slurring.
“It’s okay.”
I reassured her as I returned to the recliner. “We will just wait until you’re fully blitzed. Then, we will get all the details.”
Mae glared at me, deliberately setting her glass on the coffee table. “What a great time to stop drinking.”
We all laughed and fell into a comfortable silence as we returned our attention to our Heath Ledger marathon, all joining in as he serenaded the main love interest.
By the time the movie ended, Victoria and Allison were asleep on the couch. Allison still held her M his brow furrowed as he nodded. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
He hung up and glanced at me. “I’m sorry. I’ve got to go.”
“It’s ok.”
I looked up at him, watching concern cloud his features.
“There’s just a situation my new deputy needs help on. I’ll see you around, Daze. Be sure to make noise when you go home, scare off the bears.”
“I lived here my whole life, Garrett. I know the rules of walking in the woods.”
Garrett smirked. “Sure, but you haven’t lived here in nearly fifteen years. You might have forgotten.”
I rolled my eyes and scoffed. “Go save your deputy, sheriff.”
He sent me a playful wink and headed back to the house, his truck rumbling to life as he pulled out.
I could have left. I probably should have. Instead, I sat with the fire until it was nothing but embers. Eventually, I made it back to Gran’s and collapsed in my bed smelling like campfire and feeling refreshed for the first time since David’s passing.
Saturday passed slowly. The girls came home tired and happy. Liam was thrilled to have his toys and Brett looked like he didn’t get an ounce of sleep. I doubt he will choose to host a six-kid sleep over again.
Sunday came quietly, we all slept in, only to be startled as Dylan burst through the front door.
“Hello party people.”
He was holding two boxes of juice pouches in one hand and two bottles of wine in the other. “Who’s ready for family dinner?”
Eve looked at me and rolled her eyes, carefully placing a bookmark in the worn paperback. I swear she had to be on re-read number five.
“Hello, Dylan. You’re the first one here.”
Gran pressed a kiss on his cheek and considered him. “What are you up to?”
“I’m just excited for your lasagna.”
He gave her his best shit-eating grin and I couldn’t fight my laugh as I shook my head.
“You are the worst liar, Dylan.”
He set the drinks on the kitchen island and came back to plop into the recliner next to me.
“Oh yeah? What were you up to Friday night, Lucy Lu?”
My eyes went wide as I gasped and punched him in the shoulder.
The asshole had the gall to laugh.
“You’re annoying. Go back home,”
I grumbled.
Dylan smirked and joined Liam on the floor, playing with his stacking cups.
The door opened. Brett took one look at Dylan and said, “Aw, you finally found a task you could complete.”
Dylan’s hand flew to his chest as he gaped at Brett. “Gran, do you hear the abuse I have to endure?”
Gran continued working on dinner. “Children, please save the fighting for after dinner.”
Brett hung his coat on the rack and joined me and Kaley on the couch. “Glad to have you back for family dinners.”
I smiled as Dylan tickled Liam; his giggles filled the room. Everyone was smiling at them.
Brett sighed. “I guess Dylan’s okay.”
Dylan grinned and picked up Liam as he stood. “Where is Josh? He’s always on time.”
As if on cue, Josh walked through the door, looking exceedingly disheveled and-
“Oh my god, what happened to your neck?”
Dylan burst into hysterics. “Did you lose a fight with a vacuum?”
Brett tilted his head and pursed his lips. “No, that definitely looks like he ran into a doorknob.”
I scoffed. “Guys, clearly Josh is having an allergic reaction. Gran do you have any Benadryl?”
Josh grumbled and kicked off his shoes. “I hate each and every one of you.”
Gran set her project down and considered Josh. “You are all wrong. He clearly got back into paint ball. Isn’t that what you used to tell me all those years ago?”
Josh groaned and leaned against the banister, crossing his arms over his chest. “Not you too, Gran. You are all children!”
“Hey!”
Eve objected.
A knock at the door pulled us all from our teasing.
“Are we expecting someone else today?”
Brett asked.
Gran looked at me. “Get the door, would you?”
I headed to the door, pulled it open, and was thoroughly surprised. “Garrett?”
He smiled and lifted the bag in his hands. “I brought salad and bread. Dylan said it was a lasagna dinner. Is that ok?”
I stepped aside letting him in. “That’s great. The boys just brought booze and juice.”
“Hey man.”
Dylan clapped him on the shoulder, still holding Liam on his hip. “Thanks for coming.”
Garrett nodded, in a form of welcome, as I took the bag from his hands.
“Well, make yourself at home Garrett. The lasagna is almost done. Lucy, will you go set the table, please?”
Gran asked as she pulled a baking dish from the oven.
I nodded and left the men to their shenanigans. By the time we got everyone their drinks and set the table, the lasagna was done, and Gran called everyone to the dining room.
Liam was now in Josh’s arms and Kaley in Brett’s as we all took our seats.
Garrett took the seat to my left and Eve to my right. Kaley gave him death glares from across the table.
“Did you get everything squared away on Friday?”
I asked Garrett as we passed around the food.
“Yeah, Garrett,”
Dylan chimed in. “Did you get everything squared away?”
Garrett rolled his eyes and plated his food. “Dylan, would you like to make an announcement?”
Dylan beamed as if he was a kid on Christmas day getting every single thing he wanted. “Actually, now that you ask, I do have an announcement.”
Gran plated her salad and raised a brow. “Well, out with it.”
Dylan stood and looked at each of us around the table. “I am officially a police officer and am working in the Sheriff’s office.”
We all burst into sincere congratulations and applauded his achievement. Gran, however, threw a napkin, hitting Dylan in the head.
“Gran,”
Dylan gasped as he caught the napkin.
“You didn’t invite us to your graduation?”
Gran crossed her arms and frowned at him.
Dylan looked down as he took his seat. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Well, next time include us so we can truly support you in your endeavors, hmm?”
Gran shook her head and smiled. “I’m proud of you, Dylan.”
Brett leaned forward on his elbows and asked Garrett, “So, is he a royal pain in your ass?”
Dylan scoffed and threw a dinner roll at Brett.
“No throwing food at the table,”
Kaley chastised.
“Sorry,”
Dylan apologized and glared at Brett.
Garrett laughed and nodded. “Every day. But he’s great at what he does and I’m thankful to have him on my team.”
I studied Garrett and smiled at his statement.
He met my eyes and grinned back, his dimples popping beneath his well-trimmed beard. A blush heated my cheeks.
Eve cleared her throat, “Mom, can I have a roll, please?”
The blush intensified as I looked down and handed her the breadbasket.
Brett and Josh cat called us from across the table, Gran swatted at Josh and told them to hush. I followed that with a very lady like gesture. I stuck my tongue out at them.
Gran pointed a finger at me. “Don’t push it.”
We all looked at each other and laughed. God, it felt good.