Chapter Twelve #2
For a moment she wanted to weep and contemplated throwing herself on the floor and screaming like a three-year-old. But one, the floor was dirty, and two, there wasn’t any time for having a tantrum. She had no one to blame but herself.
Exhaling slowly, she counted to ten before she took out her phone. She had to text Becket. Tonight, she couldn’t see him.
Grabbing her car keys, she left the house and ran to her car. Hopefully, the hardware store was still open.
*
Seriously ticked off, Becket stopped in front of the bookstore to get more paper.
It was just about closing time; he’d just made it.
A glance in the direction of Ellie’s yarn shop told him what he already knew—she wasn’t there.
He’d seen her text. She couldn’t see him tonight.
No explanation, no nothing. Just four words.
Since breakfast, the day had gotten steadily worse. He was tired and irritable and the only thing that had kept him going was the thought he’d see Ellie tonight. And then he’d received her text.
As he walked into the store, he saw Aurelia at the back, talking to someone. Damn it, the last thing he wanted to do was to explain to her why he was here.
As he grabbed the paper he was looking for, he heard Aurelia’s whisper loud and clear.
“Ellie told Stewart at the hardware store the house was a mess. And I don’t know who she got to paint her bedroom, but he’d apparently made a total mess of things.
She should’ve asked for a recommendation from someone. ”
“Isn’t she moving into the house this weekend?” someone asked Aurelia. “But if she still has to paint the bedroom, clean the house while running her shop… I don’t think so.”
Becket dropped the paper and stormed out of the bookshop. Before he’d reached his truck, he had his phone in his hand. He was going to wring her beautiful neck. Damn it to hell, why couldn’t she ask for help?
*
Ellie had changed into shorts and a strappy top before she plugged in the vacuum cleaner. She was going to clean this house before she went to bed tonight. With her favorite country band singing in the background, she switched on the machine.
Vacuuming the house shouldn’t take that long, but cleaning out the cupboards and dusting the place from top to bottom would probably keep her busy all night. The windows she’d leave for the weekend.
She was itching to paint over the horrible colors in her bedroom, but that would have to wait for tomorrow night. At least she’d been able to get everything she needed.
An hour later she was upstairs, vacuuming her bedroom with the outrageously colored walls. It was after eight and still light, but the sun had already dipped behind the mountains.
The next moment, the vacuum cleaner stopped.
She turned around to see what had happened and promptly lost her breath.
The whole Weston clan was standing in the doorway of her bedroom.
They each had some kind of tool in their hands: cleaning utensils, paint brushes and rollers and trays for the paint.
Her eyes met Becket’s. He was not happy, if the muscle in his cheek jumping up and down was any indication, but he didn’t say anything, just glared at her.
Stunned, she stared at them. “What are you doing here?”
“We’re here to help,” Willow said. “You know that thing you do when you love someone and they need something? Mom, Laura and I will tackle the kitchen cupboards.”
“This is the paint job that needs redoing, I assume?” Hayden asked as he bent down and picked up one of the containers of paint she’d bought.
“Yes, but you can’t help me!” Ellie cried out. “You’ve been working on the ranch all day, you can’t…”
But they just ignored her. Becket took the vacuum cleaner from her without saying a word.
“There’s pink and green,” Cooper said as he crouched in front of the containers of paint. “Which color do you want where?”
The lump in Ellie’s throat was making it very difficult to talk. “It’s my mess, I can’t ask you do to that,” she got out.
Cooper smiled kindly. “You’re not asking. We’re offering. Mom brought beer and food. Tell me what you want. And then, if you don’t mind, please bring us some of the beer and food?”
She turned to look at Becket, but his back was turned to her and he was vacuuming the floor as if his life depended on it.
“Okay, fine.” She quickly explained what she had in mind before she left the room and jogged down the stairs.
In the kitchen, Laura and Willow were on their knees, cleaning out the bottom cupboards while Arlene was wiping down the top ones.
“I feel so bad about this!” Ellie called out. “You have all been working today…”
“We’re here,” smiled Arlene. “We’re going to help you, whether you like it or not.”
Swallowing against the huge lump in her throat, Ellie nodded. “Thank you,” she finally got out. “Where’s Luke?” Ellie asked.
“He’s staying with Isabella,” Laura said. “It’s Summer Break so the kids on the ranch stay outdoors much later than during school term. I really love this kitchen.”
“Mom,” Willow said. “I think you’re right. Maybe I should redo the kitchen in my house as well.”
“Told you,” Arlene grinned. “While you’re at it, why don’t you also get yourself a nice husband?”
Willow rolled her eyes. “You know how I feel about that.”
“The men want beer,” Ellie said. “And something to eat.”
Arlene walked over to the two baskets they’d put on the counter. “Let’s see. I didn’t have much time to prepare something fancy, so I’ve just made sandwiches, but at least nobody will starve. Here we go.” She handed three beers to Ellie and a plate of sandwiches and cold meats.
“Let me help you,” Willow said as she took the plate.
As they walked up the chairs, Willow smiled. “We’re a bit overwhelming, I know. But this is what people do for one another around here, you’ll see. You’re good for Becket. This is our way to thank you.”
“Oh, Willow, you know your brother,” Ellie sighed. “I have no idea how long this—whatever it is—will last.”
“You should tell him how you feel.”
Ellie shook her head. “I’m not making it any harder than it will be when he leaves.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
Fortunately, they’d reached the bedroom and Ellie didn’t have to answer.