Home for Love (An Adult Contemporary Romance) (17 page)

Starting to panic, Bree rapped on the
back door and when no one answered her call, tried the handle. Finding it
unlocked, she pushed it open. Again, the house was quiet - too quiet. “Hello,”
she called out, her voice echoing in the empty house. They’d definitely been
here; Amber’s toys were strewn around the living room. Picking them up as she
went around, she fumbled for her cell phone with a free hand and dialed Todd’s
mobile. And, the darned thing rang in the kitchen.

“Bree, hi,” Todd said, entering through
the back door.

Bree yelped in surprise, having been
completely engrossed in the ghastly scenarios a concerned mother’s mind
conjured up. “Todd! You scared the life out of me!”

“Sorry,” Todd replied, chuckling and not
sounding apologetic at all. “That’s what you get for skulking around instead of
sitting down and making yourself at home.”

“I was not skulking around,” Bree
defended. “I came to pick up Amber.”

“Oh, crap,” Todd smacked his forehead.
“I completely forgot.”

“Where is Amber?” Bree narrowed her eyes
at him.

“Relax,” Todd warded her off, “she’s
just down the road with her friend from school. You remember Britney - Amber’s
height, brown hair, in the same class as her?”

“Oh,” Bree said, and sank down into one
of the kitchen chairs. “Thank goodness and yes, I know who Britney is.”

“Oh, honey,” Todd grinned, “you were
worried." She was being an over-protective mother and it was adorable, if
nonsensical.

“A bit,” Bree lied, smiling sheepishly
at him. 

Todd let the obvious fib go. “So,
Amber’s not going to be ready for a while.”

“Why not?” Bree asked then narrowed her
eyes at him. “She got to you didn’t she?”

“I have no idea what you mean,” Todd
replied, deadpan. “Amber gets a bit lonely with us adults and wanted to stay
and watch movies with her friend. Then they were going to do girly things like
play dolls or something. Britney’s mom asked if it was okay and I said yes.
It’s good for her to play with her friends.”

“Of course it is,” Bree agreed, “and I’m
glad you allowed her to play for a while. But, I don’t for one minute believe
that it was Britney’s mom’s idea.”

When Todd opened his mouth to deny her
accusation, Bree held up her hand and shook her head, “No, don’t go there.
You’ll just dig yourself in deeper.”

Todd’s mouth flapped open a few times
and then he shut it and shrugged. “So, Amber will be a few hours.” At Bree’s
lifted brow, he specified, “Four hours because there’s a full movie, cupcake
baking, and tea-time with their dolls.”

“Oh well,” shrugged Bree, “like you said
- it’s good for her to play with her friends. As you pointed out, there aren’t
any nearby friends at the farm.”

“If it’s any consolation,” Todd stated,
“Amber promised to return the favor, so Britney’s coming over here next
Saturday afternoon to do the same - and I’ll be getting the cupcakes
ready-made. There’s a big difference between a guy cooking and a guy baking
cake.”

Bree giggled at the image of Todd being
thoroughly managed by two little girls, “Good luck with the store-bought cake idea.
My suggestion - buy the cake mix in a box and ready-made frosting - easier than
homemade but just as fun for the girls to make. And yes, that does help.”
Getting up from the chair, Bree hunted in her handbag for her phone again,
“I’ll call Shelly or one of the girls and see if I can pop around.”

“What’s wrong with here?” Todd asked.

“Excuse me?” Bree responded in surprise.

“There’s no need for you to wait for
Amber at someone else’s home if you can just as easily wait here,” Todd
suggested.

“Okay, I’ll stay,” Bree accepted. “It’ll
give us a chance to catch up." He was testing their new, transparent
friendship. Given that she’d wanted to stay, but didn’t want to push things
with him, his offer worked out well. With the exception of the one, searing kiss
he’d given her a few weeks ago, their relationship had taken a completely
platonic quality to it. Then again, they hadn't been alone until now.

“I’ve got a cherry pie that Amber and I
picked up earlier and really good coffee. Can I get some for you?” Todd
offered. “You look like you need a bit of sugar.”

“I don’t know about needing sugar,” Bree
smiled, “but I sure do want some. And your snobbish coffee would be great,
thank you.”

“Coming up,’ Todd moved to the coffee
machine, turned it on.

“Can I help?” Bree asked.

“Nope,” Todd replied, “put your feet up.
You were either really worried about Amber or you’ve had a busy day. You still
look a bit pale.”

“The day’s been great. And, I was really
worried about Amber,” Bree confessed. “But, not because I don’t trust you.” 

“No need to explain,’ Todd waved the
pending apology away, then placed a too large slice of cherry pie in front of
her. “I’m not offended. It’s your prerogative as a mother to worry about your
child. I wish my own had worried about us for just a fraction of what you just
felt.”

“Oh, Todd, I’m sorry.” Bree empathized.
“Is it hard to see Amber and me together?”

“Not at all. It’s a good thing. You’re a
good mother, Bree and Amber’s a happy, loved child. I’m not sure how I’m doing
yet as a dad. I’m taking it one step at time. I figured that if I go slowly
that the mistakes I make will be easier to spot and rectify. But in terms of
you and Amber, no, it’s not hard. It gives me hope that because we’re in this
together, I’ll do a better job of raising and protecting her than what I did
for my brother and sister.”

“That’s bullshit Todd," Bree bit
out, angry at him for his self-depreciating thoughts. “You did an excellent job
with your siblings, which, by the way, wasn’t your job to do in the first
place. And, for what it’s worth, you’re a great father. So, you can stop the
pity party right there.”

Taken aback by the sudden outburst, Todd
took his time and studied her expression; you could always tell what Bree was
feeling by her expressions - she wore her heart on her face. “I know that. But,
I don’t always feel that way.”

“Well get over it,” Bree stated, still
fuming. “For such a strong, intelligent man, you can have the most idiotic
notions, and questioning your skills as a father is one of them. I could’ve
understood this at the beginning, but not after seven months, not when you see
our daughter happy, thriving, and loving spending time with you.”

“Okay, point made,” Todd gave in. Then
with a glint in his eye, he teased, “Did I mention that you’ve become feisty
since you’ve changed your hair color?”

“Indeed,” Bree responded sardonically,
taking a spoon of whipped cream, she tilted it upwards and flung it straight
into his face. She waited just long enough to see his surprise, before getting up
and running upstairs. Todd was fast on her heels, nearly catching her.
Squealing, she side-stepped him and ran into the bathroom, locking it.

“Bree, come out,” Todd ordered, “you’re
acting like a child.”

Feeling like one, Bree stuck her tongue
out at the door. “No way.”

“I won’t do anything,” Todd promised. “I
know you don’t have clothes here.”

“I am not going to fall for that,” Bree
declared.

“You can’t stay in there forever,” Todd
stated, the obvious.

Bree realized that he was right, and
that she hadn’t quite thought this through - she should’ve first grabbed her
bag, and then ran outside instead of into the bathroom. He’d be waiting for her
at the door. Four hours wasn’t that long, she lied to herself, and he wouldn’t
retaliate in front of Amber, so she’d wait for Amber to return and come out
then.

After what seemed like ages, she felt as
though she was going crazy. She didn’t have her phone to keep her occupied or
to call on someone to distract him and, she could only stare at and count the
bathroom tiles so many times. Stuff invasion of privacy, she thought and opened
the bathroom cabinet, inspecting the contents. It was decidedly unexciting - no
hidden secrets to uncover. And, her idea of looking for products to maybe give
her hair a good condition while waiting was not an option as the guy used a
shampoo and conditioner in one! Visibly shuddering at what that would do to her
own hair, Bree stopped, hearing movement downstairs. Perfect. She’d slip out of
the bathroom, make her way outside and go, pay Britney’s mom a visit.

Bree had just stepped foot on the
landing, when Todd snuck up, jumped in front of her, and blasted her with a can
of whipped cream. “Uurgh!” Bree groaned in frustration and lunged for him. Todd
was laughing so hard that his attempts to dodge her failed, making it easy for
her to tackle him. The surprise of landing on the living room rug stopped
Todd’s laughter. Caught in the childish freedom offered by the fun of the
moment, Todd narrowed his eyes, contemplating as Bree grinned with wicked
satisfaction, whilst straddling him and tossed handfuls of cream at his face,
neck, and chest.

“Like that, do you?” Todd glared.

“Yep,” Bree replied, rubbing cream into
his t-shirt. “Okay Todd, you’ve had your fun and I’ve had mine. Truce?” she
held her hand out to him.

“Truce,” he agreed and shook her hand.
Just as she was about to get up, he gripped her hand and brought her down onto
his chest, rolling them both around so that he pinned her arms to her side and
trapped her under his weight.

Bree was about to let a string of
expletives out when she became aware of the heady sensation of huis attention
on her. She glanced up and met his intent gaze, immediately cognizant of the
warm, heavy feeling of muscle on top of her.  The position that they were in
was inadvertently yet explicitly sexual. Baby blues met warm brown eyes and the
awareness progressed to the humming undercurrent of acknowledged desire.  It
would have been the perfect moment for a kiss - the all-consuming kind - but
Todd ended the spell they were under. Holding out his hand to help her up, he
threw a grin at her. “Yep, you’re definitely feistier as a brunette,” he
teased.

Bree blinked, surprised by the abrupt
change in atmosphere. Then she caught the scowl she almost let go of and buried
it. Fine, she thought, I’ll play along and responded, “You’d know, being one
yourself.” She satisfied her wicked thoughts with a slap to his behind before
traipsing upstairs to clean up in the bathroom.

“So, how was the movie?” Kristine asked,
as they all settled down for gossip and giggles with drinks in hand. It was
their monthly Saturday get together without the kids, and because Bree had to
bake mountains of smurf cookies and cupcakes for a birthday party the following
afternoon, they’d agreed to meet at the Ramsay farmhouse. The kids had grumbled
about missing out on time with Daniel, but when their mothers had explained
that Daniel and Moira would be visiting friends and that Amber would be at her
dad’s place, they’d acquiesced under the condition that they all got to go and
help Daniel harvest the fall fruit from the greenhouse the next week.

Bree blushed, “How did you know about
that? We only went last night.”

“And your point is?” Shelly chirped,
before sticking a blue cake-pop in her mouth. She pulled the cake-pop out,
inspected it, and declared, “These are yummy. Where did you get the idea?”

“Google,” Bree responded. “They’re
really just balls of cake mixed with frosting and covered with chocolate on a
stick. Because the theme of tomorrow’s party is, “The Smurfs," I had to
use white chocolate, colored blue. I was a bit nervous that they might not come
out right, so I’m really glad that you’re enjoying them. And, there’s more
where that came from.”

Shelly lifted a brow, “Sure, bring out
the baked goods. We’re happy to test anything. But,” she wagged a finger at
Bree, “that does not mean that you’re allowed to change the subject. So you
might as well get back to answering Kristine’s question.”

“It was great,” Bree, replied, “We saw
the new romantic comedy with…” At the sardonic looks from all of them, she
laughed and gave them a bit more. “The movie was great and the company was
better.”

“Are you and Todd together again?” Megan
inquired.

Bree shrugged, her face puzzled, “I have
no idea. He calls often and not just to speak to Amber. Then again, it all
started after I told him about Doctor Roz. Then, since that almost-kiss, he's
started calling more often. We’ve shared a few meals, when I’ve popped around
at his place, and Amber was playing with one of the neighbor’s kids. And then,
during our exercise session at gym the other night, he asked if I’d like to go
and see a movie with him.”

“Sounds like you’re dating,” offered
Alice, getting nods from the rest of them.

“I’m not so sure,” Bree said, shaking
her head. “It’s kind of like high school. I mean, we haven’t even made it to
first base since that one night.”

“The one night where you told him that
it’s not all about sex?” Shelly questioned.

“Yes,” Bree responded, grimacing at the
recollection of the fight.

Shelly cocked her head, considered, and
then spoke, “From what you’ve said, the fight was a mean one. And, you were
quite vocal about sex complicating matters. If the guy really wants a shot at
you, he’s not going to go straight for the goal after you made your feelings so
clear.”

“But things have changed between us,”
Bree argued. “And, we don’t talk about feelings or about us. We just kind of
hang out and have fun together.”

“Well, that’s not a bad thing, hun,” mentioned
Megan. “You guys were always so intense around each other - like old souls who
had found their long, lost loves, or other halves or something. It’s not a bad
thing to just relax and have fun. Heck, once you’re married, sharing a
mortgage, and many other bills, you don’t get all that much time to just have
fun. Sometimes I even have to pre-arrange when we’re going to have sex.”

“Really?” Bree asked, astonished.

“Really,” Megan nodded. “It’s not that
we don’t love each other or even want each other; life just gets in the way,
sometimes of the more intimate part of a relationship, let alone the fun stuff
like movies and dating.”

“But that’s just it,” Bree interjected,
“I don’t know if we’re dating. We don’t talk about us in that way or at all
really.”

“Maybe you should ask him?” suggested
Kristine. “What do you have to lose?”

“I've considered it,” Bree agreed. “And
if he doesn’t make a move soon, I will ask him, but I’m still very weary to
approach it with him. For the first time in ages, there’s no drama with
whatever is going on between us. Things feel natural, sexually frustrating, but
I can live with that for a while longer. If it means that, we’re building
something here - if not for now, then for the future. I mean, he could just be
being nice to me because of the depression. He did say that he would do what he
could to support me. Maybe going out, having fun, the exercise thing, and the
phone calls are his ways of showing that support.”

“And, maybe I’m an eighteen year old
cheerleader,” Shelly challenged.

“Well, you were eighteen once and a
cheerleader,” Bree countered. “And, even though your tongue is blue from
stuffing your face with those cake-pops, you, sadly, could still pass for
eighteen.”

“Yep,” agreed Kristine, joining in on
the teasing and giving Bree a helping hand out of the friendly interrogation.
“Bree’s right. You could pass for eighteen. I bet you even still wear the same
bra size.”

Shelly responded by throwing a cushion
first at Kristine then at Bree. “You’re right,” she grinned, “my aim is still
as good as when I was eighteen, too.”

xxx

Fall was in full swing, Bree observed,
relishing the crunch of the leaves underfoot as she walked along the main
street of Devil’s Peak. Already, the businesses were geared up for Halloween.
Fake, plastic pumpkins, ghostly faces, and characters from scary myths and
legends graced the windows of the businesses. Regardless of the type of
business, each window display was using Halloween fever, a regular bug that bit
during October, as a means of marketing their trade.

Bree passed by the toy shop, and despite
her heavy load, was tempted to venture inside. Nearly an hour later, though it
seemed like moments, she exited the shop with an even heavier load, having
splurged some of the extra income she’d begun earning from the parties on yet
more Halloween décor for Amber. One of the coolest things about being a parent,
Bree thought, was the license to indulge your child and reap the same benefits
of enjoying the treat without any guilt. So, really, the Halloween décor was
for her too, not that she would admit that to anyone - including Amber.

Already the farmhouse looked like
pumpkin-ville. Alaskans had the benefit of good soil and unusually long
daylight hours from summer to fall, and the result sometimes were super-sized
vegetables. With her grandfather’s skill at anything growing out from the
earth, they’d been able to supply nearly the entire population with pumpkins
for the Halloween festivities. Of course, the Ramsay household and now Todd’s place
too, got the best of the bunch and about thrice as much as another indulgence
to Amber. Although, Bree believed that her grandfather enjoyed her
grandmother’s pumpkin baked goods and carving the jack ‘o lanterns as much as
Amber did.

Todd, of course, had been included in
the decorating and had entered into it with such eagerness that watching him
Bree had felt moved. He’d never experienced any traditions celebrated when he
was a child as there’d been no parental interest and no money. Now, that he had
both a family and the financial resources, he seemed to be making up for lost
time.

Bree was beginning to hope that this was
the case with their relationship too. He continued to be singular in his
attentions to her and being part of a small town, she knew that he wasn’t
dating anyone and in fact, hadn’t dated anyone since she’d returned to Devil’s
Peak. But, the fact was, they were dating. Any intelligent human being would
interpret the flowers she got on occasion ‘just because’, the movie and dinner
dates, the impromptu lunches, and daily phone calls as such. The only thing
missing was physical intimacy and now that she knew how great sex between them
could be as adults, she felt like a starved dog staring at a bone every time
they saw each other. She was starting to see Shelly’s point about him being
wary of going there with her due to what she'd said during ‘the fight’. She was
tempted to test that theory, but was still trying to figure out the best way to
do it without outright seducing him and risking emotional rejection.

The Bree that had been depressed
wouldn’t have thought of Todd having genuine interest in her. And, Bree
acknowledged, she’d always doubted, questioned his interest in her before being
diagnosed with depression - as far back as when they dated in high school.
Working with Doctor Roz, she’d unpacked her insecurities as well as her overly
developed self-criticism and after months of therapy and a full prescription of
anti-depressants, she could finally allow herself to feel good about the
positive and negative in her. That also meant that she could allow herself to
see how others truly cared about her and that included Todd.

Arriving at Todd’s shop, Bree grinned at
the ‘ghoul-inspired’ changes she saw through the window. Even the sign had been
changed to read, “Scary Adventures." Again, it wasn’t very imaginative,
but to the type of clientele that Todd drew, it got the job done. When she
entered the shop, Todd came forward to relieve her of the multitude of bags she
carried.

“Is there anything left in town,” he
teased.

“I couldn’t resist,” Bree’s lips curved
in delight. “I will not go past the toy store again until after Halloween or
better yet, until I need to do Christmas shopping. Besides, it’s Amber’s first
Halloween in a proper house, with friends and family and well, I couldn't
resist getting things I think she’d like.”

“At this rate, we’re going to have to
build a shed to house all of it,” Todd groaned.

“As if you’d mind,” Bree scoffed.
“Especially since you’ve spoilt her the most.”

Todd grinned sheepishly, uttering
denials that fell flat.

“Oh, and this is for you,” Bree held out
a bag. “Gran and I have begun bottling jams, pickles and fruit to fill the
winter pantry. It’s amazing that in summer we take it for granted and then in
winter, when there’s no fruit or fresh vegetables to be had, we’d die for a
taste of them.”

“It’s in our nature as humans to forget.
It’s how we cope.” replied Todd. “And, there’s no need to die for anything. I
can always get you what you want when we run the plane to Fairbanks.”

“Thanks but I want Amber to fully
experience Alaska and making do with what you have during our long winter is
part of that. Besides, getting fruit in winter, even if it is coming from
Fairbanks is super-expensive and a bit over-indulgent.”

“With the exception of coffee, that’s my
philosophy too,” Todd smiled appreciatively. “And speaking of coffee, do you
have time for some?”

“Sure,” Bree replied, amazed at how much
had changed since the first time she set foot back in town and he’d asked her
that same question. That day, she hadn’t fully appreciated the gourmet coffee.
Heck, she’d been a nervous wreck, worried about how he’d respond to the
knowledge that he had a six year old daughter. In retrospect, she hadn’t fully
appreciated many things. Smiling to herself, Bree was glad that she had moved
very far from that place.

“What’s that smile about?” Todd asked,
nosily.

In the past, her automatic response
would’ve been something like, “Nothing much.” Now, she felt secure enough to
share. “I’m just thinking back to when I first sat in this kitchen and how far
we’ve come. All of us - you and I have a great relationship as co-parents and
friends, I couldn’t ask for a closer bond between you and Amber, my
relationship with my grandparents remains strong and I’ve even reformed old
friendships.”

Todd’s eyes sparkled with sincere
happiness for her. “That’s really great to hear, Bree. I’ve noticed it too, but
to hear you say it makes it more concrete. And, I’m very glad that you and I
have resolved our differences. We’re true friends again and I like it. I missed
you all those years, so it’s good to have you back home for good. So, I hope
your happiness remains cast in stone.” He raised his mug of coffee at her in
salute.

Bree’s lips curved at his sweetness,
“Thank you. It means a lot to me that you feel that way. And may I return the
sentiment. May your happiness, Todd, be real and true for you and may you have
longevity and vitality.” Bree clicked her mug against his.

“My pleasure,” Todd responded. “And
thank you.”

“I have a confession to make,” Todd
admitted, “I’ve lured you here with the bribe of my superb coffee so that I
could find out what we’re doing for Halloween.”

“I appreciate the coffee,” Bree held up
the mug. “But, you could’ve just asked or called. Frankly, I should’ve
discussed this with you earlier, but I got a bit distracted with all the
Halloween arrangements. I admit that I’m surprised that Amber hasn’t spoken
your ears off about the plans already.”

“No problem,” Todd shrugged, “my time is
yours anyway. Amber did speak a lot. In fact she spoke so much that I’m kinda
confused.”

“The short version is that Amber is
going trick or treating with the kids on your street. So, we’ll get ready at
your place. Then afterwards, the regular folk are coming over to the farmhouse
for a party for the kids. We’re also including the kids from the youth program,
and of course, the entire bunch from Devil’s Peak Cares will be there also.”