Acceptance, The (7 page)

“How many horses does she have?” Courtney asked, her head moved toward the sun which was now dipping toward the west.

“I think she only has four left. The barn was once full. But she’s too old to ride now, she says.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“You figured her out pretty well, didn’t you?”

“Remember my super power.”

“Right.” He nudged her. “Well, there are two horses that are hers and I think my Aunt Simone owns the other two and pays to have them, and Grandmother’s, taken care of. She comes out and rides with my cousin Avery.”

“Simone. That’s a beautiful name.”

“She’s French.”

“You said you had a French Aunt.”

“You remember everything don’t you?”

“When it’s important,” she said swinging their hands grandly. “How did your uncle find a French woman?”

“Aunt Simone is my father’s best friend. They grew up together. My father was sent to boarding school outside Paris.”

“That’s why you and your father speak French?”

“
Oui,
” he said and she laughed.

“Having lived in many different cultures, I would think Paris and Nashville are worlds apart.”

“Especially for her. Have you ever heard of Pierpont Oil?”

She stopped walking and turned her body to his. “Of course.”

“That’s her. She’s the heiress to Pierpont Oil. Actually my cousin is, if she ever chooses it. My aunt and her father had a falling out when she fell in love with my uncle.”

Courtney nodded and they began walking again. “I don’t understand why parents can’t accept when someone wants to be with someone or do something they just can’t control. I mean, what business was it of his if she fell in love? I’ve met you and your grandmother. Something tells me your uncle is not a money seeking slob.”

“He’s a doctor.”

She stopped again. “He didn’t approve of a doctor?”

She felt Tyler’s arms move in a shrug. “I guess everyone doesn’t see eye to eye on that.”

“Foolish,” she said as the light shifted and she could hear the horses. They were walking into the stable.

Courtney closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of the hay and the animals. Freedom lived here. The kind you could ride with no one looking over your shoulder. A magnificent animal under you taking you fast in the wind or slow to relax.

She opened her eyes and she could feel Tyler’s on her.

“Horses make you happy,” he said.

“You’ve started reading people too?”

“I can see it. You’re as bright as your dress right now.”

She smiled. “Take me to one.”

Tyler guided her to a horse. “This is Alistair. He’s Avery’s horse.”

Courtney lifted her hand and the horse moved to her. “Oh, he’s wonderful. Aren’t you boy? Yes, you are a sweet thing. Very gentle.”

“You can tell that by him sniffing you?”

“You can tell.” She gave his neck a pat and lowered her hand. “Will you bring me again and we can ride?”

“Of course. I’m not very skilled at it.”

“I am.”

She felt Tyler’s hand come to her waist and pull her to him. “I’ll bet you are.”

His mouth came to hers again and she swiftly wrapped her arms around his neck. As the heat of his mouth burned against hers the reality of the day hit her. She’d been sipping tea with his grandmother, wandering rose gardens, and loving on gentle horses. His kisses had nearly wiped her memories clean. But at that moment, she missed her brother.

She pulled back from him. “I’m sorry. It’s just…I should...”

Tyler pulled her to him as she began to sob. “It’s okay. I wondered when your strength would give out. You can cry all you need to. I’m right here.”

And somehow, she always knew he would be.

Tyler looked up and he knew that the stars would be bright tonight. The sun was descending, the sky was clear, and this woman on his arm—well she was bright. He’d held her in the stables for nearly an hour. They’d sat on a bale of hay and she’d just cried. He knew she would. He was glad he was there for it.

When she felt as though she’d cried long enough, they began to walk.

“You’re taking me to the creek,” she said and her lips curled into a smile.

“It wouldn’t be a complete trip if I didn’t.”

They walked through the field toward the creek. The heat wasn’t as brutal as it had been that morning. A breeze had come through.

“Oh this sounds lovely.” Courtney stopped and tipped her head back. “I thought it was going to rain today. I really did.”

“The sky has no clouds.”

“I know,” she said and he was sure she did know.

When they reached the creek bank they stopped. “We have to cross into the water to get to the boulder.”

She was grinning at him. “I’ve never been so excited to touch a rock in my life.”

“We can leave our shoes here.”

He bent down to untie his shoes and roll up his suit pants as she swiftly kicked out of hers.

“What’s on your toenails?”

She wiggled her toes. “Lady bugs. I thought they’d go well with my sunny dress.”

“You had lady bugs painted on your toes for your brother’s funeral?”

“He’d have appreciated it.”

“You’re a wonder to me,” he said standing and taking her hand. “I can’t guarantee it isn’t cold.”

“Are you afraid of cold?”

He laughed now. “Not me.”

“Good. Let’s go.” And with that she began to pull him toward the water.

Was she afraid of anything?

Tyler tried to get next to her and help her to the enormous boulder in the creek. “One side is lower so we can climb up.” He walked her around the front of the enormous rock.

“This is exciting. Okay, how do I get up?”

“I’ve never done this in dress clothes,” he said.

“We could certainly take them off.”

Tyler choked out a cough. He hadn’t expected that.

“I’ve kissed you, Tyler. I know you’re not a prude. You don’t get good at kissing like that without having had a lot of practice. That shouldn’t have caused you alarm.”

“Well it did.” He moved in next to her. “Put your hands flat on the rock and I’m going to give you a boost.”

She set her hands on the flat of the rock and he grabbed hold of her hips and lifted her until she was on the rock. Then he boosted himself up.

He scooted back and guided her to sit next to him.

She closed her eyes again. “I think I could sit here forever. It’s so peaceful. The water. The breeze. The horses in the back. The sway of the fields.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever look at things the same way now. You see more than I do and I’m looking at it.”

“Close your eyes then,” she said and he did.

It was then he could hear the water lapping up the side of the rock. The grasses in the field swayed. And the horses sounded as if they were having a conversation back at the stable. The air was shifting and even through closed lids, he could see it was getting darker.

“Do you see it all now?” she asked.

He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “I do.”

“You’ve been very generous with your time today. I’m sure there were a million other things you needed to do.”

He interlaced their fingers. “Today you were my priority.”

“I appreciate that.” She let out a sigh. “Tomorrow things will be different. I suppose I’ll have my mother on my front step wanting to clean out my brother’s things.”

“Seems there would be plenty of time for that.”

“You’d think. But I know her.”

Tyler opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her. “I should probably get you back.”

Her head dipped. “I don’t want to go back. Would you mind taking me home? To my home, I mean. It’s in the city, so if that’s a problem I can take a bus.”

He let out a snort. “Even if it were far away, it wouldn’t be a problem. I live in the city too. It won’t be an issue.”

“You live in the city? I didn’t realize you’d kept a place.”

“I didn’t. My aunt owned a house and would rent it out when she lived in New York. When my mom moved back to Nashville she lived there and when my uncle got divorced he moved in with her.”

“Sort of a family rental.”

He laughed. “Oh, yeah. It gets better. So my aunt moved back and her husband, who was the caretaker of the property for my dad’s company,” he shook his head. “Are you keeping up?”

“Of course. Your uncle worked for your father and they looked after the house and he lived there.”

“Damn, you’re better than I’d have been at that.”

“I don’t have a very significant distraction. I’m sure if I were looking at your handsome face I wouldn’t have caught any of that. But go on. I’m very intrigued about this house.”

“Okay. Well, they got married and the house was for rent again. My cousin Christian lived there and then my sister moved in. That was before we knew she was my sister.” It still sounded like a damn soap opera to him, even if it really wasn’t one. “I lived in the basement until I left on my trip.”

“Your trip of self discovery.”

“Yeah,” he said with the regret that he carried with it. “Anyway, Clara and Warner live somewhere else. Christian and Victoria live in the house Christian had built for them and,” he blew out a breath. “I’m back as the resident of the house.”

“It sounds like a magical place.”

“Magical?”

She nodded. “Your parents met and married. Your aunt married the man living in the house. Your sister is married. Your cousins are married.” She turned her head toward him. “Your uncle. Did he remarry?”

Tyler chuckled. “Yes. He remarried his ex-wife.”

“Magical,” she sighed.

He’d never thought about it that way, but she was right. Now he lived there and here was this amazing woman.

Tyler shifted from his position on the boulder and slid down until his feet hit the water. “Oh! We’ve been up there longer than I thought.”

He reached for Courtney’s hand and eased her down. “It is a bit colder, isn’t it?” She gasped as her feet hit the water.

Tyler steadied her with his hands on her hips. As though instinct kicked in, she reached for his arms and then slid her hands up to his shoulders.

“Thank you for sharing your spot with me,” she said with her voice light.

“My pleasure.”

He took her hand and led her out of the creek.

Courtney was quiet in the car, but she was a sight sitting there in her bright yellow dress with a yellow rose tucked in her hair from his grandmother’s rose garden. He figured there was no harm in taking one since she’d already left for the night.

As he neared the neighborhood she’d directed him to, he shifted a look her way again. “Have you heard from your parents? Do you need to call them and let them know you’re safe?”

“When they realize I’m gone they’ll call.”

“It’s been hours.”

“I know.” She rested her head back against the seat.

Tyler knew that if his mother had known how to reach him while he was gone she’d have called multiple times a day. His father would have as well. Oh, who was he kidding? Every member of his family would call him. It had only been Spencer whom he kept in touch with and that was briefly, too.

He turned down the street she’d told him and slowed.

“Fourth house on the left,” she said.

He looked for the numbers she’d given him. “You live here?” he asked looking at the house that nearly mirrored his own.

“Yes. For now I do.”

“I live six blocks away.”

She turned to him now with a smile. “You’re near.” Her voice had lifted.

“I am. I can’t believe we live this close to each other.”

“Fate, Tyler.”

“I’m beginning to believe it.”

Tyler pulled up in front of the house and put the car in park. “I’ll walk you up,” he said just as her cell phone rang with a song he wasn’t familiar with.

“It’s my mother. She noticed.”

“I can wait.”

She shook her head. “No, I’ll let myself in.” She leaned across the car and held her hand out until she found his face. While her phone still rang she pulled him toward her and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Thank you for saving me today.”

As she pulled back she pressed the button on her phone and raised it to her ear. She didn’t say anything, but he could hear her mother’s voice on the other end. As she climbed out he could hear her say, “Yes, Mother. I know, Mother.”

He wanted to walk her up, but she seemed just fine. From the back of the little purse she’d carried at the funeral she pulled her cane out and walked up the front steps as he figured she’d done a million times before.

With her cane tucked under her arm she searched for her keys. She slid them in the door and disappeared into the dark house.

Out of instinct he waited for lights to turn on, but they never did. No, Courtney Field didn’t need lights to see the world, he thought as he put the car into drive. She saw more than anyone he’d ever known—himself included.

Chapter Nine

The rose was still fragrant and Courtney rolled it between her fingers, under her nose. Tyler had made one of the worst days of her life tolerable.

Her mother, on the other hand, had easily solidified it back to one of the worst days with one phone call. It had taken them nearly three hours to notice she’d left. She hadn’t asked if Courtney was okay. She hadn’t even asked where she was. She’d led in with, “Did you leave the house?” and, “You were supposed to be my support.”

Courtney couldn’t help but wonder, if she was supposed to have supported her, how was it that it had taken so long to realize she wasn’t even there?

As she’d assumed, her mother said she’d be over the next morning at nine to go through Fitz’s things. Courtney would have liked to have held off just a bit. There were items she’d like to keep. Things that meant something to her and her mother would never know. This was one of those times when her sight hindered her from just doing what she wanted. She couldn’t see those items.

Courtney leaned toward her nightstand and pressed the button on her clock. It told her it was eleven o’clock p.m. She’d managed to wallow in the house, alone, for hours. Her mind buzzed with thoughts of her mother arriving in ten hours. She wasn’t tired at all.