again after living in different states for the past few years. However, both of them had new men in their lives. Other than the wedding shower for Callie a couple of weeks ago, Melanie hadn’t had a night out with her friends in ages. All in all, she was in sore need of some fun.
Granted, the debacle in the parking lot after the wedding hadn’t been any picnic, but hanging out at the bar with Spence had had its moments. His smile had definitely been the same, but it rarely banished the weariness in his eyes. She knew that look. The cause might be different, but she saw the same tired expression in her own gaze every morning when she put on her business suit and headed off to another day at the office. Pretending everything was okay was exhausting.
Other than seeing a few close friends, she did her best to avoid most people in town. All of their questions and comments might be well meant, but they’d quickly grown tiresome. She spent far too much time saying the same things over and over.
My mother is fine. Yes, it was a shame about my father. No, the company isn’t for sale. No, I don’t know how long I’ll be in town. Yada yada yada.
At first, she’d appreciated the concern. Now she really wished they’d leave her alone. Bad attitude and all that, but it was how she felt.
She suspected Spence would run into the same thing once people found out he was back. They’d all want to know every little detail, even those he didn’t want to share. Maybe especially those. If anyone found out that she’d spent the evening at the bar with him, they’d be after her, too. Well, they wouldn’t learn anything from her. It was Spence’s story to tell or not tell; his choice, not hers, and definitely not theirs.
It had even been a bit risky going to Something’s Brewing that morning to pick up muffins. However, since Bridey had been Callie’s maid of honor at the wedding last night, it was a safe bet Bridey would have arranged for her assistant to cover the shop. Earlier, Melanie had discovered she had a voice mail from Callie. Evidently, she’d called during the time Melanie was at the bar, and asked why she hadn’t shown up at the reception. In return, Melanie left a brief message for Callie apologizing for not being there, but keeping the details vague. The happy couple would already have left on their honeymoon in Hawaii, but at least Callie would know Melanie had tried to return her call.
She hoped no one asked that question again, because she didn’t have a good answer. But rather than dwell on things she couldn’t control, she planned to finish her errands and then go home to work in the garden. The flower beds had always been her mother’s joy. Keeping them weeded and watered took time Melanie didn’t really have to spend, but to give up on the gardens felt like giving up on the idea that her mother would ever come home.
She gripped the steering wheel hard enough to make her joints ache. Here she was, a grown woman, one who had held down a well-paying job and lived a life independent of her parents. Now all she could think about was having her mother come back home and be the adult in the family. Shoving that idea back into the dark recesses of her mind, she concentrated on happier thoughts.
Like spending more time with Spence. Yeah, he was only coming over because she’d offered him a place to live and maybe out of gratitude for making sure he’d had a place to sleep last night. That didn’t change a thing. Regardless of his reasons, she was looking forward to the evening.
On the way back to the house, she stopped at the store and picked up milk, bread, some soft drinks, a few other things. After a moment’s hesitation, she went back and added a six-pack of the same beer that Spence had been drinking at the bar. After all he’d consumed last night, she couldn’t imagine him wanting more. If he didn’t want it tonight, maybe he would the next time.
Twenty minutes later, she turned down her street
Granted, the debacle in the parking lot after the wedding hadn’t been any picnic, but hanging out at the bar with Spence had had its moments. His smile had definitely been the same, but it rarely banished the weariness in his eyes. She knew that look. The cause might be different, but she saw the same tired expression in her own gaze every morning when she put on her business suit and headed off to another day at the office. Pretending everything was okay was exhausting.
Other than seeing a few close friends, she did her best to avoid most people in town. All of their questions and comments might be well meant, but they’d quickly grown tiresome. She spent far too much time saying the same things over and over.
My mother is fine. Yes, it was a shame about my father. No, the company isn’t for sale. No, I don’t know how long I’ll be in town. Yada yada yada.
At first, she’d appreciated the concern. Now she really wished they’d leave her alone. Bad attitude and all that, but it was how she felt.
She suspected Spence would run into the same thing once people found out he was back. They’d all want to know every little detail, even those he didn’t want to share. Maybe especially those. If anyone found out that she’d spent the evening at the bar with him, they’d be after her, too. Well, they wouldn’t learn anything from her. It was Spence’s story to tell or not tell; his choice, not hers, and definitely not theirs.
It had even been a bit risky going to Something’s Brewing that morning to pick up muffins. However, since Bridey had been Callie’s maid of honor at the wedding last night, it was a safe bet Bridey would have arranged for her assistant to cover the shop. Earlier, Melanie had discovered she had a voice mail from Callie. Evidently, she’d called during the time Melanie was at the bar, and asked why she hadn’t shown up at the reception. In return, Melanie left a brief message for Callie apologizing for not being there, but keeping the details vague. The happy couple would already have left on their honeymoon in Hawaii, but at least Callie would know Melanie had tried to return her call.
She hoped no one asked that question again, because she didn’t have a good answer. But rather than dwell on things she couldn’t control, she planned to finish her errands and then go home to work in the garden. The flower beds had always been her mother’s joy. Keeping them weeded and watered took time Melanie didn’t really have to spend, but to give up on the gardens felt like giving up on the idea that her mother would ever come home.
She gripped the steering wheel hard enough to make her joints ache. Here she was, a grown woman, one who had held down a well-paying job and lived a life independent of her parents. Now all she could think about was having her mother come back home and be the adult in the family. Shoving that idea back into the dark recesses of her mind, she concentrated on happier thoughts.
Like spending more time with Spence. Yeah, he was only coming over because she’d offered him a place to live and maybe out of gratitude for making sure he’d had a place to sleep last night. That didn’t change a thing. Regardless of his reasons, she was looking forward to the evening.
On the way back to the house, she stopped at the store and picked up milk, bread, some soft drinks, a few other things. After a moment’s hesitation, she went back and added a six-pack of the same beer that Spence had been drinking at the bar. After all he’d consumed last night, she couldn’t imagine him wanting more. If he didn’t want it tonight, maybe he would the next time.
Twenty minutes later, she turned down her street
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