Chapter Nineteen
Kiara
I lugged the storage ottoman up the front steps and pushed the front door open. The entryway was cluttered with boots and shoes. I kicked them aside and carried my thrift store prize down the short hallway. The twins had scored an old leather sofa off one of their friends, and my brother lounged on it with his legs outstretched.
"Please tell me you are going to make more of that zucchini bread," he said.
I ruffled his hair and plunked the ottoman down in front of him. "Only if you let someone else sit on the couch every once in a while."
Finding enough seats for everyone had never been a problem before, and I smiled as I looked around at the crowded cottage. Besides the leather sofa, I had found two dark, floral armchairs. Ivy had added bright throw pillows and positioned them on either side of the fireplace. A low steamer trunk served as a coffee table and was littered with glasses from last night.
I couldn't sit down the night before because I was too excited. It was unreal seeing my father, brother, and the twins all in the same room together. I felt as if relaxing meant I would wake up from the dream and find them all gone.
"You can stop hovering, Kiara," my brother said. "I'll be here all night. I'll even let you sit next to me."
I left him in the living room and headed into the kitchen. The tower of dishes in the sink was a shock. I had been eating alone so long I had forgotten how to use a dishwasher. Madison had volunteered to take care of the dirty dishes last night, but as I heard her pacing around overhead and yapping on her phone, I figured she had forgotten. I needed something to keep me busy, otherwise I would just peek at Charlie and wonder when I would wake up.
I was rinsing the last dish and shutting the dishwasher door when it crashed out of my hands. My whole body froze as I watched my father run up the beach. It was a daily routine when he was home, but I felt as if I was seeing a ghost. The glass was clear and unweathered, the curtains new and unfaded. It all felt impossible. My father grinned and waved at me, and the tears welled up and blurred the rest.
The newly rebuilt cottage was filling up with comfortable furniture and the clutter of a busy life. People were stomping overhead, watching television with the volume too high, and banging open the back door. My family was home.
"You okay, Kiara? You look like you've seen a ghost," my father said. He strode into the kitchen and poured a large glass of water.
"Just trying to remember. You know," I said, "for when you're gone."
My father shook his head. "Just enjoy the time we've got, kiddo. Can't waste it."
Suddenly, Teddy working side by side with me at the pizzeria played through my head. I had been stiff with embarrassment at the time, and every time I remembered it, I wished I had enjoyed it more.
"Or you could drift off into a daydream," my father said. "Want to tell me what's on your mind?'
"I don't know how to do it," I told him. "I don't know how to enjoy all of this without knowing I'll be missing you in a few days."
"You have your stepsisters," he said.
"Ivy spent the night in the city, and Madison hasn't been off her phone for more than ten minutes all day." I opened the refrigerator and hunted whatever could feed my ravenous family.
My father shut the door. "And you haven't sat down since we got here."
"That's what I said," Charlie called from the living room.
"Fine." I threw my hands up in the air and headed into the living room. There, I plunked down in an armchair across from Charlie. "I'm sitting down. Who's going to get lunch?"
"I will. I'm starving," Madison said. She jogged down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Have you told your mother yet?" my father asked her. Then he backed into the living room holding both hands up in surrender. "You're right, it's up to you. I won't interfere."
"I keep telling my guys if we ever need back up, we can just call for my sisters," Charlie said. "These Davies girls are strong."
I flinched. “Strong” was the word my father and brother used any time I was about to endure a long stretch alone while they were overseas.
Just once, I didn't want to be strong. I wanted someone to take care of me so I didn't have to be alone.
My eyes drifted over the still-bare walls of the cottage and out the window. Brickman's Estate stood in the distance like its own fog bank, dominating the horizon. The road had been strangely quiet all morning, and I knew that meant Teddy's guests had left. I wanted to jump over our split-rail fence and take a walk through his gardens. What if we accidentally met at the chapel?
"I dunno, did I say strong? I should have said daydreamy," Charlie said. He studied my face and then glanced out the window. "You plotting revenge against Brickman for the whole fire thing? I think he set everything right, and Dad's negotiating to repay the cost of the construction crew."
"Not revenge," I said, but Madison cut me off.
"I really wanted peanut butter and jelly and, since that's all I know how to make, that's what we're having for lunch. Oh, and I found a bag of potato chips." She balanced a big platter on the low steamer trunk.
"You need to start eating the healthy food I bought you," I said, tearing my eyes off Teddy's mansion. "Are you at least taking your vitamins?"
"Yes, doctor," she said with an eye roll. "I thought being pregnant meant I could eat anything I want."
"Everything but this." I snagged the can of soda from her hands and headed to the kitchen.
The counter was a mess of open peanut butter jars and bread crumbs. I started to clean up and glanced out the window again.
Teddy used to follow the same running path through the dunes that my father jogged. It had been over a week, but I kept hoping to see him strolling up the path and knocking on the back door. Even if it was just a friendly hello to my family, I would have been happy. Everything with Teddy was too complicated, and I needed to keep my distance, but I still wanted to see him. The twins had been reporting a flurry of rumors, and I was worried.
"Hon, could you grab my sweatshirt? I left it out on the back patio," my father called.
The living room erupted in laughter, and I paused with my hand on the doorknob. I was missing out on the joke, and my heart twisted. No matter how much I tried to cherish the time my family was together, I knew it was only temporary, so I scrabbled to memorize every moment.
I let go of the door handle and then jumped a foot in the air when Teddy knocked on it. He smothered a burst of laughter when he saw my face. I waved him in as I reined in my galloping pulse.
"I didn't mean to scare you," he said.
"I'm fine." I forced myself to breathe. "You didn't scare me."
"Surprise, then." Teddy smiled. "I heard your brother and father are home. Thought I should come by and fess up to the whole house fire thing."
My father appeared in the door to the living room. "Madison tells us you've more than made up for that. Nice to see you, Teddy."
"Mr. Davies." Teddy shook my father's hand and clammed up.
My father had that effect on people, especially young men. He was tall, with wide shoulders that dwarfed the doorframe and granite muscles chiseled by a whole lifetime spent serving the military. Even though his smile was friendly, my father's eyes swept from Teddy to me and back again in a sharp, assessing manner. A few beads of sweat broke out on Teddy's forehead.
It was just getting awkward when Madison bounced into the room and grabbed Teddy's arm. "Please tell me again about what happened with Cameron."
He rubbed his neck and glanced back at the door. "It was nothing. I just called him out on his sham engagement and how horrible he was to you."
"I heard you picked him up and slammed him against the wall." She clapped her hands with glee.
"That's what I like to hear. I knew I liked this guy." Charlie walked into the kitchen and grabbed Teddy's hand in a tight grip.
Teddy laughed and joked, but sandwiched between the imposing figures of my father and brother, he looked a little pale. He was on Davies turf now, and it was nice to see Teddy Brickman look out of his element. His suave charm and money made him fit in anywhere—except in our house.
When Charlie started to demonstrate ways to intimidate an opponent at close range, I stepped in to save him. "Back off, sarge. Remember what you said about Davies women?"
Charlie laughed and reached out to capture my wrist. I spun neatly and landed an elbow in his diaphragm. The blow glanced off his rock-hard stomach, but he held up his hands in surrender anyway.
"You're right," he said. "Watch out, T., these Davies women are fierce."
"Kiara's not fierce. She's kind," Teddy said.
My father and brother exchanged a glance, then my father clapped his hands. "Kiara's also a great cook. What do you say, join us for dinner? No linen tablecloths, polished silverware, or butlers here, but something tells me you'll survive."
"No joke, Teddy boy, Kiara's cooking is the best." Charlie thwacked him on the back again.
Teddy recovered the air my brother had knocked out of him and caught my eye. "You haven't told them?"
"Told us what? Kiara never tells us anything," Charlie said.
I shook my head, searching for a change of subject. "Madison, have you heard from Ivy? Will she be back for dinner too?"
She shrugged. "I can't believe you didn't tell them about quitting law."
The whole room moved in slow motion. My father frowned like he always did when he realized he'd missed another milestone in my life. My brother's sparkling eyes and smothered smile got ready to say “I told you so.” I braced myself.
Then I felt Teddy's hand. He'd slipped it behind me and pressed it against my lower back, a gesture of support. He propped me up as I faced my family.
"My heart wasn't in it," I told my father.
"Told you that was a waste of money. No way my sister could sit still while people argued over petty things. Though I had my money on her getting kicked out or convicted of contempt of court," Charlie said.
Teddy stepped between me and my brother. "She would have been brilliant at it. Kiara's one of the most diplomatic people I know. It's just she's more interested in cooking."
"Cooking?" My father scrubbed his chin, his eyes studying Teddy's hand at my waist. "Like catering? I could see that."
"You're not mad?" I asked, glad Teddy's hand was there to hold me as I swayed with relief.
"Your brother's right; the Davies are not good at sitting behind a desk. Cooking needs a lot of energy, organization, and creativity. That's why you're so good at it."
"What do you know about cooking?" my brother asked my father. "You've been living on rations most of your life."
My father punched him hard in the shoulder. "Except for all those wonderful meals your sister cooks."
Charlie rubbed his sore shoulder. "True."
As they scuffled, Teddy caught my waist with his other hand and turned me towards him. It was cramped in the kitchen, and I took advantage of the excuse to be so close to him.
He was dressed down, but the collar of his white shirt was still crisp despite being unbuttoned. I caught my lip in my teeth as I lingered over the dark stubble along his jaw. His aftershave breezed through me like a wind stirring up the ocean waves.
"Sorry. I didn't know you hadn't told them," he said. "I was just stopping by to give you these reference letters. One from my father, one from Vincent Jeffry, and personal recommendations from our guests."
"Thanks," I said. I clutched the manila folder in both hands to stop from reaching out to touch him.
Teddy's hand slipped from my waist. "Good luck."
"Speaking of meals, can we please have that fancy beef you make?" Charlie asked.
I turned to him. "You mean Beef Wellington?"
When I turned back, Teddy had slipped out the door. He was halfway up the path through the dunes when he turned and waved. I mouthed the words “thank you” and wished I could say more, but it was too late.
#
I couldn't wait to be driving home from the interview. Armed with the strong recommendations and reference letters Teddy had gathered for me, it seemed like my future was all but assured. I imagined driving back triumphant from the interview with the windows open and the radio all the way up.
Except every time I pictured it, I drove past my bumpy driveway and down to the elegant gates of Teddy's estate.
Maybe it was because the cottage was starting to feel cramped. Ivy and Madison had invaded my room and advised me on my entire interview look. My father and brother were crowded at the bottom of the stairs and took pictures as if it were my first day of school. When I left, they were already eating leftover Beef Wellington in great, big sandwiches and fighting over teams for Scrabble.
It was hard to leave, but I felt like a swelling wave of love and support was sending me on my way. The world was bright and cheerful, and I had every reason to hope my new career path was about to open up in front of me.
I drove the new-to-us pickup truck my father had purchased into the service entrance of the massive townhouse. The interview was a chance for me to show off my skills and possibly secure a regular dinner party circuit among Mr. Brickman's top colleagues. All I had to do was prepare a small luncheon for a newlywed couple and hope it passed muster amongst their elegant friends.
"You're lucky," the young wife said. She peeked out the kitchen door and assessed her perfectly decorated table and the guests mingling around. "There are no special instructions with this crowd. Just a light luncheon for six."
"I'll have the first course prepared in ten minutes and the main dishes ready within twenty-five," I told her.
I sorted through the ingredients list given to the interviewees and found everything I needed. The young wife watched me for a moment and then pushed open the kitchen door to join her friends.
As the door swung shut, I saw Whitney. She waved, and my whole body prickled with the possible menace she could aim at me.
Somehow, in all the rumors flying around about Teddy, Whitney had been careful to edit out my presence. According to her social circles, I didn't exist, except here I was preparing a spring mix salad and salmon rolls for her and her friends.
"So," the older husband said as I carried a large silver tray into the dining room, "our dear friend says you had the misfortune of working for Teddy Brickman."
"I helped cater one of his parties, yes," I said.
Whitney batted her eyelashes at me. "I'm sure you were hoping that was going to turn into a regular gig. Too bad."
My cheeks heated, but I served the first course and answered all the questions with an even tone. Whitney dropped the subject until I returned with the second course: a bright and savory butternut squash soup.
"And it's a good thing for the economy that Teddy is no longer working for his father's corporation," she said.
"Not a head for business," her friend's new husband agreed.
His young wife shook her head. "That makes it even sadder. What's he going to do now?"
Whitney tossed her hair and looked at me. "Who knows? I'm just glad he and I went our separate ways first. I'd hate to be all tangled up in family drama."
I blinked at her and almost dropped a ladle full of soup.
"This is delicious," one of the other guests remarked to me.
"Thank you."
Whitney made sure to cut the pleasant exchange short and share more gossip. "Honestly, I think breaking up with Teddy Brickman might be the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"I think Roger Dallas might be the best thing," her friend added.
"Oh, stop. He's just being a good friend." Whitney beamed. "Though, we do have plans to go to the opera later this week."
My heart stumbled around my chest as I served the luncheon guests. They sat in their designer clothes and tailored suits and picked at their plates the same way they picked at their peers. Every course I served came with a new piece of news from Whitney.
"Of course, his father was always planning to retire and sell his shares of the company," the new husband said. "His son just pushed him into it."
"His illegitimate son," Whitney's friend pointed out.
"Yes, exactly," Whitney agreed and dabbed her mouth with a white linen napkin. "That was just the loophole the board had been looking for, but Mr. Brickman beat them to the punch. He can retire in style; it's Teddy whose business prospects are ruined."
"Speaking of prospects," the new husband said, glancing up at me, "you should consider selling this sauce. It is the best thing I've eaten all week."
"Oh, so you like rustic food?" Whitney asked. "I was never partial to marinara sauce myself."
I wouldn't let her shake me and kept my polite smile in place, no matter what she said. The only problem I had was controlling my galloping pulse.
Teddy was officially single, and the ultimatum was off the table between him and his father. I wanted to race through the rest of the interview and drive straight through his gates to find out what happened.
Was Teddy finally free?
"Well, I heard the final nail in Teddy Brickman's coffin is this thing with that Madison girl. She tried to blame it all on poor Cameron Falcon, but it was really Teddy she was directing her drama at."
Whitney's friend leaned forward as she told her juiciest piece of gossip. "He's the one that got her pregnant. When Whitney told him she wanted to move on, he went and found the first willing shoulder to cry on and then, whoopsies!"
"Oh, so that's why he left for Europe in such a hurry. I bet we won't see him back for another year or so," Whitney said.
Later, after I had politely shaken hands with everyone and thanked them for the opportunity, I could still feel the tremors in my fingers. I was so angry that my hands shook, then strangled the steering wheel as I raced back to Long Island. The interview had been a sham, just an excuse for Whitney to torture me and make sure I knew that Teddy was gone.
He'd left without saying goodbye to me.
My phone rang, and I had to pry my fingers off the steering wheel and fumble with it. "Hello?"
"Kiara, it has been way too long, and I'm dying for another dinner surprise night," Tanya said. "Or are you a full-blown chef by now, and I should just stop by your restaurant?"
"I think that's a better plan than cooking for the rich and completely vapid," I said.
"So that means the interview didn't go well?" she asked. "They do say that you're interviewing your potential boss as much as they are interviewing you."
"I can't do it," I said. "I can't be around those people all the time."
She snorted. "And that's why I'm not going in for corporate law. Ugh. I'm thinking I'm going to go into contract law. So, what's your plan?"
"Sauce," I said.
"Sauce," Tanya repeated. "As in make a killer sauce and sell it online?"
"Oh, I was thinking farmers' markets and all that," I said.
"If you're talking about your killer pizza sauce and that delicious cream sauce then, no, you've got to think bigger. I'm seeing you creating gourmet sauces that you can sell for a fortune to the same people you can't stand to be in the same room with," she said.
We talked and brainstormed the whole way home, and I almost drove right by my driveway before I remembered that Teddy was gone. "They weren't all bad."
"So tell me about him," Tanya said.
I sat in the car facing the cottage and shook my head clear. "Sorry. I'm home, and it looks like everyone else is, too," I said.
"You go enjoy that," she said. "Just make sure you call me back later and tell me all about what happened with your guy."
"I don't have a guy," I said.
"Yet," Tanya announced and hung up the phone.
I was reaching for the front door when it flew open and the twins rushed out. "Where are you going?" I asked.
"Madison needs cute maternity clothes. We're going to go trade our social media marketing skills for some free fatty fashions," Ivy said.
"Social media marketing?"
"Duh," Madison said. "We post pictures all over with me wearing the clothes. That's like a thousand or more followers. That's how we got lots of free stuff."
"And it works?"
The twins smiled and jumped into a waiting cab. "We'll show you when we get back. Don't wait up, though!"
I watched them go, feeling an odd mix or irritation and love. They used the cottage as nothing more than a home base for their social rounds, but at least they thought of it as home. I would see them a lot more, and that would be a great help when my father and brother had to leave.
An empty cab rolled down the driveway and brought a chill over me. I turned to the cottage and pushed open the front door. There in the hallway were two military-issued duffel bags. I marched inside and shut the door as if I could close out the cab and keep my family together forever.
I stopped myself before I locked it and called out, "Dad? Charlie?"
How many times had I called out to find they had already gone? It felt like the cottage was colder, and I wrapped my arms around my waist.
"Glad you got back. I've been called up to base, and your brother has to report to the hospital for his physical assessment." My father strode down the hallway, dressed in his uniform.
"But they aren't going to clear him, are they?"
"Sorry, kiddo, but I'm a quick healer," Charlie said. "It might be desk duty for a while, but they still need me overseas."
It was impossible to hold back the tears. That morning, I had been surrounded by the cacophony of family, and they had sent me out the door all hopeful. The least I could do was try to give them the same send off. I swiped my tears off with the cuff of my sweater and forced a smile into place.
"You don't have to do that, Kiara," my father said. "We know you're strong. You love having us here, but we're just getting in your way."
"But what if I need you?"
My father shook his head and took me by both shoulders. "You don't need us tripping you up."
Charlie moved his boots from my path and sat down on the stairs to pull them on. "But we'll call and pester you as much as we can."
I nodded, not trusting my voice anymore. I hugged them both tight, rasped how much I loved them, and walked them to the door. Quick goodbyes were the only kind my father and brother could stand, and they were gone within minutes.
No one was around to see, so I sunk to the floor in the entry hall and sobbed. The hoarse cries hurt my throat, and I knew I was stronger than that, but I was so tired of being alone.
Then it came back. Deep inside me, the strength welled back into my bones. If I was the only person I could depend on, then I had to get up off the floor and find my way.
I walked through the empty cottage to the little desk. Grabbing the chair, I turned it so my back was to Teddy's equally empty mansion and sat down. The laptop glowed as I typed furiously. First things first, I needed a website.