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Clare shuffled down the hallway towards the kitchen, the smell of burnt bacon and toast surprising her less than the organized rooms before her. Trooper hurried into the room ahead of her and took a small leap to land on the freshly fitted couch cover and burrow down into the comfy cushions. “Mom?”
Reesa’s head popped out of the small pantry. “Morning, sunshine!”
“What happened in here?” Clare continued to circle and stare at their new little house. It almost looked homey. Almost.
“I unpacked a bit.”
“A bit,” Clare agreed, impressed.
“Just don’t look in my bedroom. This is as far as I got. I put any of your boxes along the hallway there.” She pointed to a row of boxes neatly stacked.
“And breakfast?”
“Right, well, I tried.” She pointed to a plate with the overly crispy bacon and blackened bread. “I’ll try to get to the store in the next few days to get some toaster pastries or something. Billy Lou bought actual food.” Reesa looked flabbergasted. “Like food-food, as in I have to actually cook it by standing at the stove.”
“You’re a woman of many talents.”
Reesa laughed. “Why thank you.” She took a bow. “I’m organizing all the other groceries. She really did hook us up.” She shook a package of chocolate sandwich cookies. “Gotta love her for these.”
“There’s also ice cream. I put it in the freezer last night. If it hasn’t melted.”
Reesa’s brow furrowed.
“Have you seen how old that fridge is?”
“I like it. It’s vintage.”
“Yes, but it’s tiny. We won’t be able to have much in there.”
“Do we ever anyway?”
“True.” Clare took a bite of a piece of bacon and gave a little shrug of acceptance as she took another bite. “What time did Theo leave?”
“An hour or so after he brought the blankets. He helped me unload the rest of the trailer. Did you sleep okay?”
“Like a baby. That heavy blue quilt is awesome. I hate to give it back.”
“I know, right? The blanket I used felt like a dream and smelled like one too.”
Clare’s brows lifted in amusement. “Oh really?”
“Yeah, did yours not smell?”
“They smelled like someone else’s house.”
“But they weren’t all masculine smelling?”
“Sort of, but I guess I didn’t think about it.”
“Oh.” Reesa ducked back into the pantry.
“But clearly you did.” Clare laughed. “Mom? There something you not telling me? You have a crush on the lumberjack?”
“Ha! Lumberjack—that’s funny. But don’t be absurd.” Reesa stepped out and shook her head as she surveyed which task to tackle next.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“So, if he pulled up to the cabin this morning and you were wearing... that.” Clare pointed to Reesa’s skimpy pajama shorts and tattered ACDC sleep shirt. “You’d be completely okay with him seeing you like that?”
“Yes. Why would I care? This is my house now. I can look how I want. And I’m not trying to impress some overly bearded gladiator.”
“Well, that’s good to know, because he just pulled up.” Clare pointed out the front window as Reesa’s eyes darted out the glass.
“Shoot!” Reesa ran to her room and caught her little toe on the door jam, yelping in pain as a knock on the door sounded.
“Don’t worry. I got it,” Clare called on a laugh. “Morning,” she greeted, waving Theo inside.
She saw his gaze survey the room and a spark of appreciation of her mom’s hard work briefly appeared. “Mom’s changing.”
“I brought these.” He handed a box of donuts to Clare and her face lit into a luminous smile. “Suit him up, Mom!” she yelled. “For we officially have a knight in shining armor!”
Reesa limped up the hall dressed in denim shorts and a fitted tee showcasing The Beatles walking along Abbey Road. “Are those donuts?” Her eyes gleamed.
“They are.” Clare fanned the box beneath her mother’s nose and both women stared at him with stars in their eyes.
“Yep. Our knight,” Reesa confirmed.
Trooper perked up on the couch as Theo stepped inside and happily barked before lunging off the sofa and running to Theo’s feet. He flopped over for a belly rub, which Theo gladly gave him. “He sleep alright?”
“Like a baby.” Clare brushed an affectionate hand over the dog’s head. “He kept me warm too.”
“I checked in on them about one this morning and they were snuggled up and both snoring.”
“I don’t snore,” Clare objected and a light flush staining her cheeks at her mother mentioning it.
“He does.” Theo pointed to Trooper before tapping the dog’s nose. “I’m headed into town. You need anything?” He looked at her list on the fridge and other than the word: Beer, nothing was listed. “Easy enough.”
“It’s not a real need. I just hit a wall about midnight and thought it sure sounded good at the time. I opted for another cup of coffee instead and then knocked out two more hours of unpacking. So I guess the coffee was the productive choice.” Reesa beamed proudly.
“You don’t look like you barely slept,” Theo commented, his subtle compliment not going unnoticed by Clare.
Reesa laughed. “Well, thanks, but I feel like it. My limbs are having a hard time keeping up with my ambition. Thanks for the blankets, by the way. I still haven’t unboxed bedding, so they came in handy last night. Just out of curiosity, what soap do you use?”
Surprise had his brows slightly lifting and Clare snorted behind her donut before taking a bite.
“Soap?”
“Yeah,” Reesa mimicked taking a shower. “Soap.”
“Uh...”
“She liked the smell of your blankets,” Clare mouthed around the donut in her cheek and rolled her eyes.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, I was surprised too.” Reesa pointed to his face. “But they smelled amazing.”
“Umm.... Thanks... I think.” Theo rubbed a hand over his beard, suddenly self-conscious.
“Anyways,” Reesa waved him further inside. “Coffee? I have a fresh pot.” She walked over and began pouring three mugs, handing one to her daughter. “She’s a monster and drinks it black. One of many bad habits I’ve blessed her with. You?”
Clare patted the table for him to come and sit. “Cream, if you have it.”
“I do. Your grandmother saw to that. Vanilla, okay? That’s what she bought.”
“That’s fine.” He watched as she heavily poured cream into the cup and then walked it over. She sat in the other free chair and grabbed a donut. “I thought I’d take your trailer with me and drop it off at the rental yard.”
Reesa paused in her bite at his generosity. “Really? It’s Sunday. Are they open?”
“No, but I know Tim and will let him know.”
“Oh. Well, yeah, that’d be great. Thanks.”
“And I’ll be back later to help my grandmother move the Corvette back to her place.”
“We could do that this morning,” Reesa offered. “I could drive it over there and you could bring me back here on your way to town?”
“You just want to drive it again,” Clare outed her.
“Duh.” Reesa smiled. “But it would also remove it from my sight, and I will no longer be tempted by its irresistible charm. I’m a sucker for a pretty face.”
“Then I guess we could take care of that here soon. As long as you don’t go crazy and take off down the road in it.” Theo looked to Clare to gauge that possibility and the teen giggled.
“I’m not Vin Diesel,” Reesa assured him. “I won’t drive it off a cliff and parachute myself into your grandmother’s yard.”
“What?” Theo asked in confusion.
“Do you even watch movies?” Reesa asked. “Vin Diesel, XXX... You know, the whole I’m angry at the senator, so I’m going to steal his car and drive it off a cliff and film it for him.”
“Yeah, never seen that one,” Theo admitted.
“Don’t worry. No one has,” Clare assured him. “It was a bust, but my mom loves it.”
“I wouldn’t say I love it. I liked it. I like Vin Diesel. I just want to hug him when I see him on screen.”
“Hug him?” Theo took a sip of his coffee, his eyes watching her closely.
“Yes. Hug. As in wrap my arms around him and have those big muscley arms give me a squeeze. I think it would feel nice.” She set her cup down and then slapped a hand to the table making the other two jump. “Okay, so I’ll grab my shoes. I’m ready.” She left the room and Theo looked to Clare.
Without asking, she answered his unspoken question. “Yes, she is always like this. You learn to love it.” Grinning, she helped herself to another donut. “Thanks again for Trooper last night. It’s always a bit weird the first night in a new place. And this place is so quiet it was... unnerving. It was nice to have him with me when I got nervous.”
“No problem. You need him tonight?”
“No, that’s okay. I think he missed you.” She blushed at admitting that to him as if she were also disappointed the dog was ready to go home. “I’ll just leave my radio on tonight for some background noise.”
“You lived in the city before moving here?”
“Not really the city, but in town. We had a great house on the corner of Old Main. An old colonial place. Mom fixed it up and we were able to sell it for twice what we paid for it. But it was my favorite house we’ve lived in so far.”
“And how many houses have you lived in?”
Clare looked heavenward and mentally tallied. “Eight... no, nine... wait... if we count the barn, I’d guess it’d be ten.”
“Barn?” His tone held the slight inflection of disappointment, but their conversation was cut short by Reesa entering the room slipping a shoe on her foot.
“Ready?”
His eyes lingered on her exposed legs a moment before he stood and walked his cup to the sink. “Sure.”
“You alright staying here by yourself? Or do you want to go?” Reesa asked.
“I’ll be fine. I’m going to work on unpacking my closet. Find my sheets and stuff.”
“Alright, looks like it is just you and me, Paul Walker.”
“Who?” Theo asked.
“Honestly,” Reesa threw up her hands. “Where’s your pop culture knowledge, Theo? You’re killing me.” She led the way out the door explaining the Vin Diesel and Paul Walker partnership in all the Fast and the Furious movies, all her words falling on deaf ears as Theo still had no clue as to what she was talking about. “And you’re a mechanic... you should be all about car movies, right?”
“Maybe I don’t want to watch movies about cars since I’m around them all day.”
“But you have the best opportunities to drop movie quotes all day long working around cars.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because it’s fun.” Reesa paused at the door of the Corvette. “Well, this is it, baby. Our relationship has come to an end. It was short, but thrilling.” She rubbed a hand over the top of the door as she opened it. “It’s not you, it’s me. Actually, it’s me and him.” She thumbed over her shoulder towards Theo. “We just aren’t comfortable with this arrangement. And though it feels right between us, we both know it’s wrong.”
“You done?” Theo asked, unamused at her playful banter and snapping her back into seriousness.
“I guess.” She sighed as she slid behind the wheel. “Following you.”
He nodded and shut her door.
∼
Billy Lou stood on her massive front porch, the white railing wrapping all the way around the ranch-style home. Her perfectly styled white hair was combed into an elegant French twist and fastened off with a silver swirled clip. She’d always been beautiful, Theo thought. No matter her age, his grandmother stood with grace, dignity, and style. The house matched her perfectly. The pristine flower beds and landscaping, the lush shade trees, and the overhanging of wisteria that draped along the edges of her front porch created a picturesque, magazine-worthy photo. The scowl on her face, on the other hand, did not match the happy exterior she presented. “I hate you’re not going to use that thing.” She hugged Reesa and her face slipped into its usual smile.
“I just can’t.” Reesa squeezed her hands. “Trust me, it’s eating me up that I can’t.”
“I know, honey.” Billy Lou nodded towards her grandson as he made his way to the porch, picking up a stray tree limb along his way. “How’d you manage to nudge him out of bed this morning?”
“I didn’t. He’s the one that showed up at my house. Bearing gifts too. I think Clare has elevated him to hero status for bringing her donuts.”
Billy Lou’s eyes gleamed as she turned her attention and newfound interest towards Theo. “Theodore.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Mornin’, Grandma.”
“You two come on in and have some coffee. You like French pressed, Reesa?”
“I like any coffee, Billy Lou.”
“That-a girl. Come on now.” She waved them inside as she walked towards a luxurious kitchen with sweeping oak cabinets and polished granite countertops.
“We can’t stay long, Grandma. I’ve got to get Reesa back to the cabin and I’m taking her trailer to Tim this morning.”
“Oh, posh, Theodore, Tim can wait. Besides, I am just hungry for company this mornin’. I was tempted to come by the cabin, but I didn’t want you to think I was checking up on you so soon.”
“You’re welcome anytime,” Reesa invited.
“It seems someone else beat me to it this morning though.” Billy Lou nodded towards Theo.
“Theo’s gone above and beyond,” Reesa explained. “He helped me unload the rest of the trailer, loaned us some blankets for the beds last night, and even brought donuts this morning. I don’t know what I’ll do once we settle in and he grows annoyed with us.”
Billy Lou laughed. “Oh honey, Theo’s annoyed by everybody. Don’t take it personal.”
“Thanks, Grandma.” Theo’s dry tone had the women grinning.
“Now, tell me, Reesa, what is it you do for work?”
“I crochet.”
“Crochet? As in knit?” Theo asked curiously.
“No. As in, I crochet. It’s different than knitting.”
“And you make stuff and sell it?”
She laughed. “Something like that. I create patterns, sell them online, and then film educational how-to videos for certain stitches and techniques. I market mostly online and it’s flexible. Plus, I’m able to work from anywhere, which is nice.”
“That is wonderful.” Billy Lou took a long sip of her coffee and eyed Theo over the top of it to signal him to ask the next question.
“That why you’re free to move so much?”
“Pretty much. We aren’t anchored anywhere due to a job, so we can float wherever the wind blows us.”
“An adventurous lifestyle.” Smiling, Billy Lou toasted towards her. “I’m not cut out for it. I’ve lived in this house for over fifty years and have no desire to leave it.”
“I don’t blame you. It’s beautiful. It’s like a little slice of heaven.”
“I think so. Jerry and I worked hard to make it so. Jerry is my late husband.”
“The owner of the magnificent red beast out there?”
“Yes. Though that was a complete waste of money and time, in my opinion. It was the one purchase we did not agree on.” Billy Lou pointed to Theo. “I’ve tried to get Theo to take it off my hands, but he refuses.”
“Dad would kill me for it.”
“Your daddy would have to go through me first. And his fingers will never touch it.” Billy Lou’s sharp tone surprised Reesa, but she didn’t comment, for which Theo was grateful. She didn’t need to know about the dysfunctional side of his family. “So, Reesa, you have family tucked away somewhere?”
“Here and there, but the relationship is estranged.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. It’s hard when that happens.”
“It was at first, but Clare and I have made it work. She’s my world, and I’ll do whatever I have to in order to protect her from what I experienced.” Theo zoned in on her face as she spoke, the smidgen of hurt and anger slipping through before she realized her mood had darkened and quickly changed course. “Clare’s great though. I couldn’t have asked for a better kid.”
“A lot of that has to do with parenting,” Billy Lou complimented. “I see the special bond you two share. I think it’s wonderful. And I hope to get to know the two of you better.”
“Likewise.” Reesa set her empty cup on the shining countertop. “That was exquisite coffee, Billy Lou. Thank you.”
“Oh, anytime, sweetie. We should make this a regular thing. Sunday mornin’ coffee. I’d love it.”
“Me too.” Reesa looked to Theo. “Ready? I don’t want to hold up your day. And I want to be able to help Clare with her closet. Tomorrow is her first day at school and I know it will take hours to pick the perfect outfit.”
“Bless her heart.” Billy Lou held a hand to her heart. “Oh, I arranged her a ride tomorrow. There’s this sweet boy named Teddy who lives up the street. He’s a safe driver, been driving since he was ten around these parts. He’s sixteen, but responsible.”
“Grandma, Reesa may not feel comfortable with—”
“I know, that’s why I told him I would let him know. I was going to talk to Reesa first.”
“I hate to not take her myself on her first day.” Reesa looked nervous at the idea of Clare facing a new place without their usual routine.
“I can pick you both up and take you,” Theo offered. “And then if we let Teddy know to introduce himself to Clare tomorrow, she can let you know if she’d mind riding with him.”
“I... this is a lot. You’ve already done so much for us. I hate to ask you to swing by the house so early.”
“I don’t mind.” Theo shrugged his shoulders. “I have to be at my garage by eight, so it’s on the way.”
“Not if you have to bring me back to the house afterwards.”
“I figured we’d look over your car in the morning.”
“Oh, right. Well, I guess that would work.” Reesa nodded. “Thank you, again. I’m continually amazed at the kindness of complete strangers. Especially ones who look like—”
“Is this another beard joke?” Theo interrupted. “Can we just stop with the beard jokes?”
Reesa and Billy Lou laughed, and he rolled his eyes. “I’m leaving. If you’re wanting a ride home instead of a three-mile hike through the woods, you better come on.”
“I think he’s starting to know me,” Reesa whispered on a giggle to Billy Lou. She hugged the older woman one last time.
“You dish it out, honey. He needs it. See you later.” She waved them off and Theo slowly made his way back to the cabin.
“Your grandmother is one classy gal. I like her.”
“She’s pretty special.”
“I never really knew my grandparents. They died when I was young. Both sets.”
“What about your parents?”
“We’re estranged.”
“Ah, so that’s who you were talking about.”
“Yep.” Her clipped answer left him curious.
“Where do they live?”
“Hot Springs.”
He tapped the breaks in surprise, and she gasped at the slight lunge amidst their momentum. “Hot Springs?”
“Yes.”
“Do they know you’re living in Piney?”
“No. Not yet.”
“Wh-how-why-what?”
She snickered at his confusion. “Yeah, same. I don’t know why I moved so close either. I had this momentary lapse in judgment, I guess. With Clare about to finish her sophomore year of high school, I just started thinking about how they might want to see her, meet her, and see that she’s this wonderful human being. But then we moved, and I’ve sort of been inwardly panicking about them meeting, so I haven’t made it happen yet.”
“Wait, your parents have never met your daughter?” Shocked, he pulled up to the cabin and parked, Clare and Trooper playing fetch outside. The happy teenager waving before taking the slobbery tennis ball and throwing it again.
“No, they haven’t.” Reesa’s voice grew sad. “I’m terrible, aren’t I?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But you’re thinking it.”
“No, actually, I’m not. I don’t know your story,” Theo replied. “I’m sure you have your reasons for the way you’ve lived your life. It’s not my place to judge. Besides, my parents aren’t exactly all rainbows and sunshine either. My relationship with my dad is tense, at best. And my mother, when she decides to lay off the martinis before noon, can be sweet, but an air of disappointment lingers when we’re in the same room.”
“Ah, so you disappointed them.”
“You could say that.”
“Did you get knocked up at sixteen and refuse to give the baby up? Because that’s my story.”
He looked at her then, his eyes studying her. Her own dark gaze took on a slight sheen that said she was preparing herself for his rejection too. “Sixteen?”
“Yep. Tada! Unwed teen mother.” She raised her hand. “My parents dropped me off at a pregnancy support center and I haven’t seen them since.”
“Sixteen years ago?”
“Well, fifteen... about to be sixteen years ago. But yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “It’s life. It happens. It moves along and we make the best of it, right?”
“Couldn’t have been easy.”
“It wasn’t, but it’s gotten easier over the years. And look what I got out of the deal.” She pointed to Clare as she laid on her back and Trooper attacked her with kisses. “She’s the best thing to ever happen to me. I’d say I came out on top in the deal.”
Theo harumphed in agreement. “Yeah. Not bad.”
Reesa opened her door, Trooper perking up at the sound. When Theo stepped out of his truck, Trooper sprinted over and then back to Clare with excited yips for her to throw the ball again. “About time. I thought you were leaving me to unpack all the yarn.” Clare motioned towards the house.
“Billy Lou wanted to visit,” Reesa explained.
“I figured. Hey, I followed the directions on the back of one of those freezer meals Billy Lou bought. It’s in the slow cooker.”
“We have a slow cooker?” Reesa asked.
“Apparently.” Clare looked as surprised as her mother. “It’s some sort of Italian chicken pasta.”
“Thank you, Billy Lou!” Reesa fist pumped into the air in celebration. “Want to eat lunch with us later?” she asked, taking Theo and Clare by surprise.
Noticing her daughter’s intrigued expression had him shaking his head. “I would, but I need to tackle some work in my garden today.”
“You have a garden?” Reesa asked with amusement. “People really do that sort of thing?”
“Mom.” Clare slapped a palm to her face in embarrassment and Theo chuckled.
“People really do. Or so I’ve heard.”
“Wow.” Reesa grinned. “Well, have fun with that. Thanks for the ride and taking the trailer with you. And for tomorrow morning.” She drum-rolled her hands on his arm in a friendly pat.
“You just made it awkward,” Clare warned and then laughed as Theo nodded.
Reesa nudged him towards his truck. “You’ll get used to me. See you tomorrow.”
He whistled over his shoulder and Trooper hurried after him, jumping into the cab of the truck one step ahead of Theo. He watched as Reesa affectionately rubbed a hand over Clare’s long ponytail on their way back into the cabin before tossing him one last wave. From what he could tell, Reesa was a great mother, and though odd, a good person. Time would tell. In the meantime, he backed his truck towards the trailer and set to work.
