Chapter 3 #2
“I can’t remember the last time I made a pizza from scratch. I’m in.”
Birdie links arms with mine again. “Well, now. Looks like today’s goin’ to be fun. But first, how about we go outside and introduce you to everyone.”
She leads me arm in arm out the back door and toward a crowded wooden table under the shade of some old trees.
Seated around the table are six men of varied ages and two females who look like the spitting image of each other with a few decades between them.
Then there’s a friendly face I haven’t seen in years that I’ve been dying to see more than anything.
“Uncle George!” I slip my arm loose from Birdie and run over to him, his wide smile and warm embrace so comforting that my eyes sting with unshed tears.
“Blair Bear. I’ve missed you,” he says, squeezing me tight before we both step back and take each other in. “I swear you get more beautiful every time I see you.”
I blush and shake my head. “You always say that.”
He dips down to meet by gaze. “Doesn’t make it less true.”
“I thought I’d missed my chance at seeing you. Weren’t you supposed to leave today?”
He scoffs. “And not see my niece before I left?”
“I’m glad.”
“Besides, you think I’d turn down some good ol’ homemade food up here on the mountain?” He rubs his round stomach. “I need sustenance for my trip.”
That makes everyone chuckle, reminding me that we’re not alone.
Uncle George moves to my side and slings an arm over my shoulders. “Coopers, soon-to-be Coopers, Jessica, Wyatt, and Mayor Walker, I’d like to formally introduce y’all to my darlin’ niece and medical superstar, Blair Littlefoot.”
Without realizing it, my eyes glide toward Sutton who’s watching me closely with a mix of wariness and curiosity.
“Let’s introduce everyone. Startin’ closest to us, that’s Will,” my uncle says, snapping me out of my stare.
I step forward and shake Will’s hand. “You’re Birdie’s ‘City Boy’, right?”
His lips curve up into a warm smile as he looks lovingly at his fiancée. “Sure am. Nice to meet you.”
“You too. Thanks for having me.”
My uncle continues, moving me with him. “Next is Jude. He’s a gardener. Got a real pair of green thumbs on him too.”
Jude laughs. “Landscape architect, but I guess that’s just a fancy name for a gardener.”
“I’m so sorry for my part in destroying that beautiful meditation space. I’m happy to help fix it back up,” I tell him.
Jude cocks his head. “From what I hear, that was all Grumps’s doin’. But I ain’t gonna say no if you’re keen to get your hands dirty.”
“I haven’t had much time or opportunity to do anything like that lately.” I arch a brow. “Besides, isn’t helping out part of my stay here?”
“Itchin’ to get to work already?” Will says. “You’re definitely in the right place.”
Isla and Birdie share a silent conversation, Isla nodding what looks like approval at her best friend before she clocks that I’m watching her. Instead of looking guilty, she just grins knowingly.
Those two remind me so much of Alex and Cate, and that just puts me more at ease.
I’m very much a creature of habit. I have my career–which I’ve worked hard for–and I have my two best friends. There’s my family of course, but distance and a severe lack of downtime means I’m lucky to visit them for just a few days every year.
Standing here in front of this obviously close group of people, it hits me yet again just how much my job has cost me. An unfortunate consequence of ambition and talent, I guess…
“Stick with me, Blair Bear,” Uncle George whispers in my ear. “Next is Isla and her mom, Jessica. Isla is gettin’ married to–”
“Case.” I nod. “We’ve met already, yesterday and this morning.”
Case grins. “At least this time you’re not chasin’ a donkey in your pajamas and gettin’ covered in mud.”
“Yeah. Definitely not my finest moment,” I reply. “Though I’m not sure who got the biggest fright–me, the donkey, or your brother.”
Sutton just laughs and shakes his head. “I think it was the innocent water feature, followed by Grumps. He’s been MIA since so who knows what payback he’s plannin’.”
I sigh. “Guess that means I’ll have to start drying my clothes inside from now on.”
“Don’t worry,” Case adds. “Sutt will just replace anythin’ his donkey takes, includin’ underwear.”
Sutton’s cheeks turn pink and I find the sight endearing. No, Blair. It’s day two and they’re your hosts–effectively, your landlords for the next six months.
“My brother’s a full-service kind of host. He’ll get you dirty and replace your stolen wares,” Jude says, wading in.
Will chuckles, pulling Birdie into his lap and wrapping his arms around her middle creating a picture of loved up contentment.
“Are we goin’ to get this pizza assembly line up and runnin’ or are y’all just goin’ to sit here and tease me all afternoon,” Sutton asks as he pushes his chair back and stands.
“Tease you,” Case, Jude, Isla, Jessica, and Birdie all say in unison, making us all laugh. Sutton rolls his eyes, but he does it with a wry smile.
“Let me finish the introductions first. I need y’all to look out for Blair while I’m gone,” Uncle George says. “Next to Sutton is Wyatt Grayson. He’s their ranch hand and the one who keeps most of these city men in line.”
Wyatt looks like he’s all of eighteen, but there’s wisdom in his gaze that could only come from someone who has already had an interesting life.
“Hey! I take offense to that,” Will says. “We’re not that bad.”
“Not now, anyway,” Wyatt teases. “Though until we can get that donkey under control, I’m not sure we’ll get everythin’ we need done. Especially not in time for the weddin’.”
“Here, here,” Jude answers. “That damn animal is goin’ to be the death of me. He keeps finding a way into the greenhouse and helpin’ himself to one plant a day.”
I frown. “Just one?”
“Yep.” Jude sighs. “He’s a fan of slow, drawn-out torture. He doesn’t even eat the same type every day.”
“Leavin’ me to last, aye George?” a salt and pepper haired man says from the other head of the table. He turns to me with a wave. “Pete Walker, Mayor of Timber Falls.”
“Walker?” I say, looking between the man and Birdie. “Father and daughter?”
“Yep. I’ve also known your uncle there for years so if you ever need anythin’, just call by City Hall and I’ll be there,” Pete replies.
“And if he’s not there, it means he’s listenin’ to his daughter and not workin’ all the time,” Birdie interjects. “All work and no play makes this daughter worry about her father.”
Pete’s eyes soften. “Yes, dear.”
“Right. Pizzas?” Sutton says, still waiting for an answer from the group. Anyone would think he was hungry.
Case pats his twin’s shoulder. “Yes, Sutt. No need to get hangry.”
“I’m not hangry. I’m keen to win the bet.”
“There’s a bet?” I ask.
“There’s always a bet or a competition of sorts. Whoever makes the best pizza today gets to choose the song for the first weddin’ dance,” Isla explains.
Now they’re talking. I’m a competitive person. I had to be in order to get ahead and forge my career years before my time. “Can anyone join in?”
“This is goin’ to be good,” Birdie tells Isla as we all make our way into the house.
“Glad it’s not us this time. We just get to sit back and watch,” Isla replies.
Too curious for my own good, I look back over my shoulder. “Sit back and watch what?”
“Um… the competition,” Birdie says a little too quickly.
“Aren’t you worried the winner will pick a bad song? I mean, it is your wedding,” I ask.
“Nope. We’re already havin’ our dream double weddin’ on the mountain. That’s special already. Everythin’ else is just makin’ memories,” Birdie explains.
Isla nods in agreement. “A bit like life really. You keep those important to you close, and the rest is just enjoyin’ the journey. It’s too short to worry about anythin’ else.”
Ironically, it’s that idea that sticks with me as we all gather in the house and the chaos begins.
Maybe that’s how I should approach my time in Timber Falls. Make memories and not let work rule my life–for the first time ever. Then I might find the “why” that I’ve been wondering about.
That’s the hope, anyway.