Chapter 4
Silas
“What in the hell is going on here?”
“We’re getting ready for the rehearsal dinner.”
Mother bustled by me into the kitchen with a poinsettia under one arm and a white wreath under the other.
“What do you mean rehearsal dinner?”
I had woken up to both of my parents running around with their heads cut off, and two people in living room putting up two huge Christmas trees. It was chaos.
“For Melonie and Corey,” she tsked.
I grabbed a coffee cup from the cabinet and filled it to the brim. I was going to need all of the caffeine possible to deal with whatever was going on. “Should I know who Corey and Melonie are?”
“You met Melonie yesterday at Crowne Floral,” Dad called from the pantry.
Well, that explained that one. “But why are you having their rehearsal dinner here?”
Mother put her hands on her hips. “Well, because they’re getting married here, so it seems only right that they have the rehearsal here.”
“Can I ask why you are talking to me like I should know all of this?” I set down my cup and leaned against the counter. I was hungry, but I needed a few answers before I did anything else today.
After Dad and I had returned from town, Mother had talked nonstop all the way through dinner, but I couldn’t tell you a word she had said. Dinner had been delicious, as always, and I had fallen into bed by nine o’clock exhausted.
The one thing my mother hadn’t talked about was the fact she was not only having a wedding at the house, but the rehearsal dinner too.
“Well, I guess if you would call me, you would know what is going on.”
“I’m a busy man, Mother.”
She rolled her eyes and grabbed her cup of coffee from the counter. “If you can’t take the time to call your mother, then I think you’re too busy.”
“We’re not going to discuss my work schedule, Mother. What we are going to discuss is why you told me I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t come here for Christmas.”
She flitted her hand at me and took a sip of coffee. “It was time for you to come home.”
“What?” I huffed. I had worried for the past five days that either one of my parents were dying, or they were about to lose their house or something. “You made me come all the way here because you thought it was time I come home?”
She shrugged . “I know it’s something that you can’t wrap your head around, but I missed my son. I was going to do whatever it took to get you back home. I know in your head you hate this place, but for me, it’s home, and I wanted my family in one place for Christmas. You took off for L.A. over eight years ago and never looked back on the people you left behind.”
“I didn’t leave you and Dad behind. I had my own life to live,” I insisted.
“I’m not talking about your dad and me, son.” She shook her head. “I’m afraid it’s been too long,” she mumbled under her breath.
“Too long for what?” I asked.
“It’s been too long for you to realize the things you left behind were the things that helped you become the man you are today.”
I splayed my hands on the counter and leaned forward. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Then I guess it doesn’t matter, and I was wrong, Silas.” A sad smile crossed her lips. “I need to finish getting ready for tonight. Ainsley will be delivering the flowers soon, and I need to make sure the caterers are ready.”
“Ainsley?” I asked. She was going to come here?
“Yeah,” she replied absently. “It’s one of the busiest days for her right now, but she was nice enough to deliver since it’s for Melonie.” She waved her hand at me and grabbed the cordless phone. “Find something for yourself for breakfast, dear. I don’t have time to make anything more than coffee.”
I looked down at my quickly cooling coffee. “Thanks, Mother,” I mumbled.
She flitted out of the kitchen, and Dad peeked his head out of the pantry. “I found a box of Poptarts. You want one?”
Jesus. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a Poptart. “What flavor?”
A huge grin spread across his lips. “You’re favorite. Brown Sugar.”
My stomach growled, and I figured it was better than nothing. “I’m in as long as that box isn’t from when I lived here.”
Dad moved out of the pantry and shut the door behind him. “Nah, your mother always buys them in hopes you’ll come home, but I always eat them,” he chuckled. He handed me one of the silver packages, and it felt like I was sixteen again, getting ready for school.
“So, what’s with you and Mom having a wedding here?”
Dad shrugged and opened his package. “We have this big house that’s way too big for just your mother and me, but we don’t want to give it up.”
“Come on, it’s just a house, Dad. You and Mom could get one of those new condos I saw when I drove into town.”
“Rave Heights?” he asked over his shoulder. He filled a cup with coffee and proceeded to dunk his Poptart in it. “We’re not interested in moving into one of those ritzy places. We love where we live and have no plans of moving, Si.”
I opened my pack and stuck them in the toaster. “You know you’re eating those all wrong.” I looked over my shoulder at him. He had the Poptart raised mid-air and his head tilted to the right. “You need to heat them up, then eat them.”
“You the Poptart police now on top of being a very busy man?” he chuckled.
I held up my hands and turned back to the toaster. “Only trying to help.”
“You know what you could help me with?”
My Poptarts popped up, and I grabbed a plate to set them on. “What’s that?”
“The lights outside. I can handle the ones in the backyard, but I’m going to need you to do the ones in front, if you can.”
“Dad, how many more lights can you have?” Planes passing overhead were going to think the house was a landing strip.
“I just want a few floodlights and just a couple of strings around the columns out front.”
I rolled my eyes but nodded my head. “As soon as I finish my gourmet breakfast, I’ll get right on it.”
He winked and held up the box of Poptarts. “I knew I could count on you. I’ll leave these on the top shelf if you want more later.” He put them back in the pantry and headed out the back door with his Poptarts in one hand while he hummed “Oh Christmas Tree” under his breath.
I finished my Poptart and sipped my coffee.
So I was home for Christmas, nothing was wrong with my mother or father, and Ainsley Crowne was still as beautiful as ever.
Plus, she was going to be here any time. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but I knew I needed to get showered and dressed before she showed up. Because even though she seemed to hate me, I couldn’t help but feel excitement at the idea of seeing her again.
After all, she was my first girlfriend. But then she also was the first to break my heart. Not that I ever let that shit happen again.
Ainsley was the first and the last I had ever let in.
I wasn’t dumb enough to make that mistake twice.
*