Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Vivi slammed the cupboard door with a growl of frustration. Where did Mason get off thinking he could boss her around like that?
Jerk.
She was tired of being under men’s thumbs. She was a grown woman, and it was time they started treating her like it.
In times like these, there were only two men she could count on.
Snatching up the carton of Ben and Jerry’s, she pulled a clean spoon from the dish rack and stabbed it into the creamy mixture.
She settled on the couch and flipped on the TV, content to zone out to some mindless show for a bit until bedtime.
She had a list of things to do tomorrow, not the least of which was to get the house back in order and clean it from top to bottom. The workers had cleaned the vents, and it smelled immeasurably better, but she needed to wash all of the walls to see if the saturated smoke smell came out.
A slamming sound from outside had her jumping practically a foot off the couch and almost spilling her ice cream. Disaster narrowly averted, she set the carton on the coffee table and pushed off, then made her way to the window to peek into the backyard.
She laughed at herself when she saw the door to the shed in the corner of the yard swinging wildly in the wind, the latch clanging loudly each time it slammed against the clasp.
She thought she’d closed it up last time she was out there, which she couldn’t quite remember.
Two days ago, maybe? She’d been so busy cleaning inside that she hadn’t paid much attention to the flowers.
She knew Ellen would be disappointed. She would have to dedicate some time to pruning them this weekend.
Grabbing up the ice cream, she detoured into the kitchen and stowed it in the freezer before making her way out the back door onto the small deck. Curving her arms around her waist to guard against the cool wind, she hopped down the stairs, then cut across the lawn toward the shed.
The wind had picked up since she got home, bringing with it a storm of epic proportions. The sky had already darkened far beyond what it normally looked like at this time of night, and she hurried to lock up the shed before the rain came.
Ellen’s late husband had used the small shed as a workshop when he was alive.
He’d enjoyed tinkering around with electronics and small engines, and the space was still cluttered with paraphernalia lining the shelves and floor.
As she approached, she noticed a small, flat disc-shaped object sitting on the counter.
Even though the light was dim, she recognized it immediately.
Harrison had purchased the small garden plaque for Ellen on the twentieth anniversary of Christine’s death.
She traced the flowers on the stone, sliding her fingers over the quote Ellen had loved so much.
Now a huge crack split the stone right down the middle.
She wasn’t sure how long it had been damaged, but Ellen obviously hadn’t gotten around to fixing it, or she’d forgotten all about it.
Sympathy seized her heart. It was faded with time, but it held a sentimentality that couldn’t be replaced.
She tucked the two halves under her arm, making a mental note to buy some industrial-strength glue next time she was at the store.
Stepping outside, she closed and locked the shed before returning to the house. As she reached the back deck, the first drops of rain fell from the sky, splattering over her cheeks and forehead. She dodged them deftly, making it inside just as the sky opened up and poured downward.
She’d just returned to the kitchen when the doorbell rang. She peeked out the window over the sink, but she couldn’t see to the front of the house. She cut through the living room, depositing the plaque on the coffee table before making her way to the front door.
She peered through the peephole, and her heart jumped in her chest when she saw Elijah standing on the walkway. Rain was slanting sideways in sheets, thrown around by gusts of wind, and she bit her lip. No matter what had happened Monday, she couldn’t let him stand out there and get soaked.
She reluctantly opened the door, then stood back to let him in. He hurried by, then tossed a grateful look her way. “Thanks.”
“Sure.” She closed the door, then turned her attention to him. “Let me grab you a towel.”
“It’s fine.” He held up one hand. “Don’t worry about it.”
She nodded a little as she moved toward the couch and took a seat. Why was he here?
He seemed to read her mind because a regretful expression crossed his face. “I wanted to stop by to apologize. For the way I acted,” he clarified. “I… It was wrong of me. Harrison’s news caught me off guard and I… blew it out of proportion.”
She offered a small smile. “I understand. It was a surprise for me, too.”
Elijah gestured to the cushion next to her. “Do you mind if I sit?”
“Of course not.” She tugged a throw pillow out of the way and tossed it to the side to make room for him.
“Thanks.” He fell silent for a minute, and his gaze snagged on the plaque she’d set on the coffee table. “Shame.”
“I know.” She watched him as he studied it, a sad expression on his face. “I’m going to get some glue and fix it up.”
He threw a little smile her way. “She would like that.”
Silence descended for a minute before he spoke again. “My mother loves you like her own. After Christine…” He gave his head a little shake. “Having you around breathed life back into her.”
“She means the world to me,” Vivi said, meaning it with her whole heart. “She was the only real parent I’ve ever had.”
“I know.” He turned a sad smile her way. “You deserve to have the house. I’m sure this wasn’t what you had planned for yourself after college, but I’m glad she has you around. I just… I hope you’ll keep it.”
A sharp little pang ricocheted through her heart.
She didn’t really have a choice. She couldn’t in good conscience sell it, and neither could she leave Ellen.
She was stuck here for the time being. It was incredibly uncharitable of her to even consider it.
Ellen was all she had left, aside from Knox.
She couldn’t risk moving away and something happening.
She knew Knox went to see Ellen from time to time, but he’d never been as close to her as Vivi had.
Though Vivi had lived with Ellen for a little over ten years, Knox had spent that time in the Marines.
He’d dedicated his time to serving their country, coming home only once or twice a year to check on Vivi before shipping out again.
He’d never really had a chance to get to know her the way Vivi had.
It was Vivi’s obligation to take care of Ellen now the way she’d taken her in and cared for her.
He glanced around at the boxes piled around the room. “What do you plan to do with everything?”
“Put it in storage.” She couldn’t get rid of it. She knew Ellen probably wouldn’t mind, but she couldn’t part with everything just yet.
He nodded. “Thank you for doing all of this. You’ve had to take on a lot, and I can’t imagine how hard it is for you.”
She lifted one shoulder. “It’s not so bad.”
Elijah studied her for a moment like he knew full well she was lying but wasn’t willing to dispute her statement. “Well, if you ever need anything, you know where to find me.”
“I appreciate it,” she said, meaning it.
“Anyway.” He placed his palms on his thighs, then pushed to his feet. “I just wanted to stop by and apologize, see how you were doing.”
She followed suit and hopped up, then headed for the front door. “I appreciate it.”
He jerked a thumb toward the boxes. “If you need any help with that, let me know.”
“I will, thanks.”
Elijah wrapped one arm around her shoulders in a quick, friendly hug. “Good to see you, Vivi. I’m glad you’re back.”
“Thanks.” She smiled and sent up a little wave as he headed out to his car, dodging the raindrops that still fell steadily outside.
Once he was gone, she closed and locked the door then turned to the boxes stacked around the room. No time like the present, right?
She pushed off the door, then grabbed her phone and pulled up her favorite playlist, cranking the music as she went to work boxing up reminders of the past.