Rachel Laine (The Women of Merryton Book 3) (17 page)

I
couldn’t believe Andrew talked me into going to his mom’s house for
Thanksgiving. I’d stressed about it for the last three weeks. That and the fact
the recall was happening. Why couldn’t the moron representative have resigned?
He was obviously guilty. They were already talking about prosecuting the man. It
was as if he wanted to stick it to his own party for calling him out on his bad
behavior. Why Andrew wanted to get involved in that mess, I had no idea.

I
wasn’t sure who was more excited we were coming, Andrew or Drew. The two peas
needed the same pod. I hadn’t told Drew until two days before where we were
going. It was probably a good thing, too, since it was all he could talk about once
I told him. He was excited to show Andrew his first-place trophy, and the nice
scar he was going to have above his eye where the stitches were. Some kid on
the Raiders tackled him so hard that when their heads collided, Drew’s helmet
came off and the other kid’s helmet cut Drew’s eye. I didn’t care that Drew
didn’t want me to run on the field, I did anyway. Even Taylor, in her pregnant
state, ran after me.

Andrew
actually had to calm me down about it that night. I was ready to never allow Drew
to play sports again. I was set to sign him up for piano lessons. “Just wait
until you have a kid that plays,” I said without thinking. I was that freaked
out by it.

“I
do have a kid that plays,” he reminded me.

“Yeah,
well, you weren’t there.”

“Next
year I will be there holding your hand and cheering him on.”

Sometimes
when he said things like that, I wondered if he meant that figuratively or if
he really was planning on holding my hand. And sometimes I wasn’t sure if I
wanted him to, figuratively or not.

“You’re
still planning on signing him up for baseball, right?” he asked.

“I
don’t know. I’ve seen some ugly baseball games and they don’t wear padding at
all, and helmets are only worn when they bat.”

He
chuckled. “Come on, Rachel. You can’t let such talent go to waste.”

“You
only want him to play because you did.”

“Well,
there’s that, but seriously, he’s good. Maybe even better than me at that age.”

“Registration
isn’t until February. I don’t want to think about it until then.”

“Don’t
worry, I’ll remember for us.”

“I’m
sure you will.”

“Give
Drew an extra hug from me, and tell him way to take one for his team. I’m proud
of him.”

“I
will, but please don’t promise him a horse or even a dog out of the deal.”

“I
was thinking more along the lines of season tickets to the Stallions.”

“If
that’s the case, make sure you get a seat for me.”

“I
can manage that.”

“I
was kidding.”

“I’m
not.”

“Goodnight,
Andrew.”

“Goodnight.”

We
always had the oddest conversations.

I
was actually looking forward to seeing him. I was talking to him way more than
any of my friends, or even my parents, who were now in Tucson living up the
senior life and enjoying the beautiful warm weather. I couldn’t wait for
Christmas break when Drew and I would be joining them.

The
morning of Thanksgiving I was nervous. I felt a need to dress well, or at least
attractively, all while staying warm. I was worried about the weather. We were
under a winter storm watch that the weatherman was saying could be upgraded to
a warning. They were predicting the snow to start around nine that night, so I
thought we should be fine. Evelyn lived forty-five minutes away, and I couldn’t
imagine us staying that late. We were getting there at ten that morning so I
could help with preparing the feast and so that Andrew and Drew could spend
some quality time together. I settled on wearing a midnight blue asymmetrical sweater
and some skinny jeans Taylor talked me into buying when we had gone shopping the
previous week. She said they made my butt and legs look fabulous. I hoped she
was right.

I
let my hair fall naturally, untamed, the way Andrew said he liked it. Maybe I
shouldn’t have, but when I looked in the mirror, I saw a woman.

Drew
was looking spiffy in new jeans, minus any dirt or grass stains, and a Bears
jersey Andrew had given him. We both brought our winter gear, just in case. We
headed out the door with a harvest bouquet in hand for Evelyn, an apple-cranberry
pie I had made the night before, and Jake, our lovable lab. Evelyn was kind
enough to allow us to bring him.

It
was a nippy, overcast day. I was hoping the meteorologists were right about
their timing. I wanted to be home safe and sound before we got the twelve to
fifteen inches they were predicting.

I
waved to Easton and what looked like his out-of-town family from Chicago, plus their
kids playing football in their front yard as we drove by. I’m sure Taylor was
inside cooking. I hoped she was taking it easy. Poor thing only had six weeks
left before the baby’s due date. They were barely getting settled in the new
house, which was gorgeous by the way. It had Southern charm written all over
it. I was helping with her baby shower the following week. I knew she thought
she was too old for one, but she hadn’t had a baby in over seventeen years; she
deserved a baby shower.

I
turned up the Christmas music on the radio and we made our way out of Merryton.

Drew
was as talkative as ever on the ride over. “Are we putting up our tree
tomorrow?”

“Yes,
sir.”

“I
can’t wait until Christmas. I need to write my letter to Santa.”

I
wasn’t looking forward to telling him Santa didn’t exist. I debated on telling
him this year, but I wanted the magic to last a little bit longer. I wanted him
to stay my little boy forever, but I knew it wasn’t possible. “Do you know what
you’re going to ask for?”

He
didn’t even need a second to think. “The Millennium Falcon Lego set, a new
bike, and video games.”

“Well,
I hope you’ve been a good boy.”

“Mom,
you know I have.”

“You’re
the best.”

“Do
you think Andrew can come over for Christmas?”

“Honey,
we are going to be in Arizona with Grandma and Grandpa. Besides, Andrew is
really busy with work right now.” I looked in the rearview mirror and caught a
glance of his disappointed face.

“Well,
maybe he can come to Arizona.”

I’m
sure my parents would love that. “Not this year, bud. But we’re going to have a
great time.”

“Okay.”

I
wondered when this all settled out if Andrew was going to want to share
holidays or have Drew to himself for some of them. I supposed if he ever
married, he would. The thought made me ache to my core. I couldn’t imagine
spending any holidays away from Drew.

Drew
and I enjoyed singing Christmas carols as we literally drove over the river and
through the woods to his grandmother’s. He had no idea that’s what we were really
doing, but there you go.

When
we pulled up to Evelyn’s house, my jaw dropped. It looked like a chateau placed
in the middle of the most beautiful plot of forested land. She had a circular
driveway that surrounded an oasis of strategically placed boulders and
perfectly shaped pine trees. The landscape was incredible, even in the winter.
The house was made of wood, but had amazing stone arches around all the doors,
including the garage doors.

Drew
was anxious to get out of the car and see Andrew. We knew he was there; he had called
us on our drive. I thought he might be more excited than Drew.

I
pulled around the drive and parked close to the path that led up to the stone-walled
porch and front door. Drew and Jake were out before I turned off the car. I was
going to tell him to wait, but it was a lost cause. He jumped out with his
trophy and dog and ran toward the front door. Andrew was already coming out to
meet us, and Drew ran straight into his arms.

I
sat in my car and watched. It was a touching scene—father and son, together
again. Andrew held Drew tighter than he ever had before. You could tell he
didn’t want to let go.

I
didn’t want to let go, either.

As
soon as Andrew released him, Drew showed off his trophy.

I
decided I should get out of the car. I grabbed the flowers and the pie and
walked toward the dynamic duo. At least Jake still loved me, or maybe he was
sticking by my side because he smelled the pie. I was almost to the pair when
Andrew looked up and we locked eyes. “Hi.” I smiled.

He
walked toward me, but didn’t smile back. His amber eyes were warm and inviting
as he neared. It made me feel all tingly again. I was glad the flowers
distracted him. “You really shouldn’t have.”

“These
are for your mom.” I handed him the pie. “This is for you, as requested.”

Then
he did something he had never done before. He bent down and kissed my cheek.
“Thank you.”

Major
tingles. I sighed like I had been thoroughly kissed, which was sad. “You’re
welcome.” I had to catch my breath.

“Andrew!”
Drew got his attention back where it belonged.

Andrew
smiled at me before turning back to our son. “Ready for some batting practice?”

I
rolled my eyes. “You’re supposed to play football on Thanksgiving. I think it’s
a rule.”

“Not
in this house,” Andrew informed me.

“Yes!”
Drew shouted.

Andrew
led us toward the front door. “Let’s get your mom out of the cold first.”

I
was eager to see the inside of the picturesque home.

We
were greeted right away by the lovely Evelyn. She beamed at the sight of her
grandson. “I’m so happy you made it.” She looked like she had already been busy
in the kitchen. She was wearing the cutest red and white polka dotted apron
that looked straight out of an
I Love Lucy
episode
.

I
handed her the bouquet of flowers. “Thank you for inviting us.”

She
smiled wide and hugged me before taking the flowers. The Turners were being
quite affectionate. I found I liked it.

I
hugged her in return. “What can I help with?”

“Follow
me.”

“Make
sure you keep your coat on,” I instructed Drew before heading to the kitchen
with Evelyn.

“I
don’t need no stinkin’ coat, Mom. I’m a man.” He had moved on from big boy to
man.

I
arched my eyebrow at my son. “Is that so?”

He
nodded once, sternly.

“Well,
okay. Have fun getting cold.”

“Maybe
you should take it, just in case,” Andrew suggested.

Drew
shook his head.

Andrew
and I smiled at each other. The temperature outside was only in the thirties. I
wondered how long he was going to last.

“See
you guys later.” I walked toward the kitchen only to be pulled back by Andrew,
who caught my hand as I passed by.

“Don’t
miss me too much.”

I
shook my head at his arrogance.

He
laughed that booming laugh of his. “We won’t be out too long. Then I’ll show
you who is king of the kitchen.”

“I
hope your head doesn’t get stuck going out the door.”

“I’ve
missed you,” he called back. Drew was dragging him out the door.

I
walked past the formally decorated living room with the peaked ceilings, to the
to-die-for kitchen where Evelyn was waiting for me. She was arranging the
flowers in a crystal vase.

“These
are beautiful; they’ll make the perfect centerpiece for our meal this evening.”

“I’m
glad you like them. I love fall colors.”

“Me,
too.” She looked up at me from her island. “You know what else I love?” she
asked.

“What?”

“I
love that you hold your own with my son, and how happy you make him.”

“It’s
Drew, not me,” I stuttered.

“You
think so?”

I
nodded, barely.

She
smiled as if she knew a secret.

There
was a moment of awkward silence. “What’s left to be done?”

“Andrew
has the turkey brining already. He’s going to make a maple-glazed turkey this
year, with a bourbon-pecan gravy.”

“Wow.
I didn’t realize we were going to be eating like we were starring on the Food
Channel.”

“He
does get carried away, but it’s always well worth it.”

“Did
he like to cook when he was younger?”

“Oh
no. That all came when he was older.”

“After
he met Heidi?”

She
looked surprised I knew about her. “Yes, Heidi.”

I
joined her at the island. “Did you like her?”

She
thought for a moment. “She was nice enough. We got along.”