***
Two hours later I was all dressed up and headed down to my car when Granny stopped me.
“You missed dinner,” she said. She put her hand on her hip and looked me up and down before shaking her head. “You going back out to that bar again?”
“I am, but don’t worry, I’m not my brother. I’ll be fine.” I met her eyes to show her that I was serious and my word was a promise and not all talk.
Before I could leave, she ladled a bowl of soup and put it on the counter and motioned for me to sit. “You shouldn’t go out drinking on an empty stomach.” Most grandmothers would have discouraged me from drinking, but not mine. She had spent a day or two of her life far from sober, and though she wasn’t in the habit, she wasn’t going to be a hypocrite either. She motioned to the bowl and cleared her throat.
I sighed and took a seat. It was useless to argue with her.
“So how’re things going over at the Dawson house? You still working for the enemy?” She smirked at the notion. She considered the Dawsons the enemy about as much as I did, which wasn’t much. My Daddy was a different story. He’d had his fill of Mr. Dawson years ago. He was content to let me and Granny be friends with who we pleased, but he hadn’t changed his mind on how he felt. When I’d dated Ted before, he didn’t have much to say, and when it failed he had said even less. But I could see the “I told you so” in his eyes. If he ever found out that I’d done more with Ted than work for him, he probably wouldn’t be too proud of me.
Maybe it was best I kept things professional.
“They’re going.” I lifted a shoulder as I leaned in over my bowl and pulled a hearty spoonful to my mouth.
Her eyes narrowed as she met mine. “Do I detect a tone of trouble?”
“No trouble at all.” I shoveled another spoonful to stop me from betraying myself further.
“Mhm.” She turned and ran some water in the sink, but I had a feeling she wasn’t convinced. “Anytime you get around that Teddy Dawson you get in that mood.”
“What mood?” I tried my best to not sound offended or defensive but fell short.
“That one. The one where you come home and storm up to your room and then emerge hours later like you have a chip on your shoulder and a point to prove.” I averted her gaze and swirled my spoon around the bowl, chasing a noodle. “You’re going out to see Teddy, aren’t you?”
Only two people called him Teddy in his life, and his mother was the other one. The innocent name was laughable compared to his reputation. “Ted hasn’t been Teddy in years.”
“That’s not a denial.” She rinsed a glass and placed it on the drying rack. “And if you didn’t still see that young boy you dated in him, you wouldn’t be chasing after him.”
I dropped my spoon, pushed away from the table, and rose to my feet. “I’m hardly chasing after him. There’s nothing between us, and there never will be again. I’m moving on. I have my own plans anyway.”
Granny turned, her hand resting upon her hip as she flashed me a sly smile. “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.”
My mouth popped open, and I stormed out of the room and didn’t slow down until I was in my car.
I was well down the road when I finally calmed, and I tried to pull myself together before I talked myself out of going. I could still turn around, but what fun would that be? I passed the Stutt farm and slowed. Something about the old windmill had always called to me, and I watched it as I drove by, only glancing at the road to make sure I was still on it. I could see myself there, waving from the porch to the cars passing as I sipped tea from my swing. I’d paint the house a shade of blue that warmed the heart like sunshine and welcomed friends. I could give it life again.
Old man Stutt had died in the nursing home after leaving the house abandoned for years, but none of his family wanted the place. It was sad seeing it wither and perhaps one day when I secured the money, I’d attempt to track them down and make them an offer. Hopefully, no one would sell it before I could, and the thought of that made me want to go home and pack my things and squat like the early settlers. I’d tie myself to the windmill in protest.
I giggled at my wild imagination and slowed to turn in to Kinsey’s. No backing out now. I noticed Mason’s truck and wondered if Ted was inside. I glanced around the lot as I found a place to park, making sure that Ella’s car was nowhere in sight.
The very thought of the girl sent my hackles up so I had to calm down before going in. I gripped the wheel and rested my forehead against it taking deep breaths. So help me if I found him here with her. It would be a deal breaker. I would have to quit my job. I couldn’t handle it.
I forced myself to straighten in my seat and just in time for a knock at the window beside me. I looked over to see Mason with a concerned look. I lowered the glass, and he leaned against the door. “Hey, you all right? I noticed you laying over the wheel.”
My cheeks flared with heat as embarrassment washed over me. “I’m good.” I laughed it off and waved my hand to dismiss his worry. “I thought I lost my ID. All good now.”
“Ted’s on his way.”
I rolled up the window before reaching for my door handle as he backed away. “I’m not here to see Ted.”
Mason’s face fell and then he searched my eyes as if he were unconvinced. “You have a date?” His eyes flashed with a look of worry and headlights turned into the lot, casting a glare across him. He flinched and then focused. I heard the distinct sound of Ted’s truck without even looking, but Mason confirmed. “That’s him now. You think this is the best place to have a date with Ted here?”
“Not many other options.” I pushed past him and hurried inside, glancing back once to see him going over to Ted’s truck. I glanced again once I reached the door and watched Ted step out of his truck dressed up so nice I could almost smell the fresh scent of his cologne I was sure he’d doused himself in. He sure didn’t do all that for me.
I went inside and made my way to the bar, all the while looking around to see what kind of women had stumbled into the bar that might be looking for a man like Ted. It was slim pickings, and I wondered if everyone was at Ella’s party. If the bar stayed this dead, Ted and his brother might leave out of boredom. I didn’t want that.
Lucy came over and leaned against the bar. “Usual?” Before I could nod, she had one in front of me. “Going to be picking up pretty soon, looks like you got here just in time.”
“I would think that most are going to Ella Patterson’s party.” I sipped my beer as her eyes widened.
“They’ll be here to warm up. Ella likes to buy a round to loosen everybody up. Then she cleans us out to show us she can.” My heart sank. Surely Ted knew this. He hadn’t been trying to deter his brother from Ella’s, he’d been trying to make things sound innocent, like nothing more than a casual night out with his brothers. I heard a commotion across the room and turned to see Mason laughing it up with a couple of girls as he and Ted sat with them. Screw them. I had every intention of leaving until Tyler, our hired hand, came in, crossed the room and took a stool three seats away from me.
“Well, hey there, boss.” His smile widened, and he winked. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
With another glance at Ted, I closed the distance between Tyler and me, taking the seat next to him as I threw back my beer. I may as well make the most of my night.