CHAPTER NINE

Present Day – Burn Falls

New Year’s Eve.

I once heard that New Year’s Eve was a time to pause and reflect on the previous year, and to look ahead to the coming one. I just never thought my reflection of the previous year would be a tragic one.

Uncle Ted and a few of my mother’s friends came over for dinner, and afterward, Valencia, Betha, Alastair, and I decided to take a taxi to the one and only bar in Burn Falls to ring in the new year. We all needed a break and to numb our pain with music and alcohol.

“I’m sorry you’re missing your opportunity with Chance tonight,” I said to V as we sat at a high top table. Alastair and Betha were getting our drinks from the bar.

“I already told you that you’re more important. If it’s meant to be, then the next time we go for Margarita Friday something will happen.”

I took a deep breath, not sure how I could tell her that I was moving back to Burn Falls. Even though I’d told my mother that I needed to think about it, there really wasn’t anything to think about. OBB was my father’s pride and joy, and there was no way I’d let it turn to shit or be sold to someone else.

“I need to tell you something.”

“Okay.” She leaned closer and rested her crossed arms on the table.

“My mom wants me to take over OBB.”

Valencia’s azure eyes widened. “Really?”

“My father always told me that I would get it one day and well …” I paused and took another deep breath. “My mother can’t run it, and since he always trusted me, she just wants to sign the papers over and be done with it.”

“Be done with your father’s legacy?”

“It’s not like that. It will still be in the family and carry the family name, but she doesn’t want to deal with running a business and everything else.”

“I understand. So what does that mean?”

I smiled tightly. “It means I’m moving back here.”

“When?” Valencia asked with a frown.

“Well, I was thinking I’d return to Seattle on Sunday as planned and then give my two-week notice at the bank on Monday.” She was silent for a moment, and before she could say a word, I saw Betha and Alastair approaching. “Al and Beth don’t know. Let’s just have a fun night, and we can talk about it more tomorrow.”

V nodded as my brother and sister placed our margaritas in front of us. I hadn’t meant to tell V the news just yet, but given she was excited about the future, I had to tell her that it was changing.

Everything was changing.

Both Alastair and Betha saw some old friends from high school, so they left V and me to ourselves while they hung out with their friends. I didn’t mind. We were laughing, drinking, and having a great time just like we always had when we were together. As I checked my phone to see what time it was, I heard Valencia suck in a breath.

“Hotties at twelve o’clock.”

I glanced the way she was looking and sucked in my own breath. I hadn’t seen Draven for a few days, and yet, it seemed longer. He wasn’t in his white doctor coat and dress shirt and tie. He had on a black sweater that hugged every muscle known to man. No coat or jacket to shield him from the cold weather outside. Just—him.

“Oh my God. That’s my father’s … I mean, was my father’s doctor.”

“The one you were telling me about when I first got here?”

I nodded as I watched Draven and his friend Athan walk up to the bar and catch the bartender’s gaze.

“Which guy?”

“The one in the black sweater.”

“Who’s the other hottie?” V asked.

“His friend Athan.”

“Why didn’t you tell me he had a hot friend?”

My head snapped toward her, and I furrowed my brow. “Because I barely met the guy, and it was Draven I eye fucked every moment I could.”

“You can keep Draven. Athan is more my hunk of meat.”

I chuckled. “There’s no keeping anyone. I haven’t even heard from him since the night before you came here.”

“I’m sure it’s because he knows you’re dealing with a lot and wanted to give you time to be with your family.”

She was probably right, or I’d gotten all the signals wrong, but even though I was drunk the night he talked to me at the bar, I faintly remembered something about bending me over the barstool and having his way with me. Or I dreamed it, which I probably did because dreams like to fuck with your mind and reveal your deepest and darkest fears and secrets.

As if Draven knew we were speaking about him, he turned his head and looked directly at me in the crowded bar and smirked. I could no longer hear the music playing, the people chatting, or the clinking of bottles behind the bar. It was him and me in my world of darkness, and he was like my shining star.

I smiled back, and V muttered, “Oh shit.”

Before I knew it, Draven and Athan were walking toward us. “Calla.” Just my name on his lips again was enough to get me to squirm in my seat.

How much tequila was in these margaritas?

I smiled wider. “Dr. Young.”

He chuckled. “Draven.”

My cheeks turned hot. “Right. Draven.”

“It’s good to see you again, Calla.” Athan grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it, just like he had the night we met. I think I even heard Draven growl. “And who is this foxy lady?”

I looked over at V. “Valencia, this is Draven and Athan. Draven and Athan, Valencia.”

They all shook hands, and when Athan greeted her, he not only kissed the back of her hand, but his lips lingered, and he stared into her eyes until Draven cleared his throat.

“How’s your family doing, Calla?”

I smiled tightly. “Hanging in there. Thank you for asking.”

“Do you two want to sit with us?” V asked. After saying they would, Athan sat next to her, and Draven next to me.

“Do you live in Burn Falls, Valencia?” Athan asked.

“No. I’m from Seattle.”

“Seattle?” Draven asked.

“Yeah. So is Calla. I mean, before she decided to stay after all that happened with her father,” she responded. I hadn’t even told my mother that I was staying, and here V was telling Draven and Athan what my future held.

Draven turned his attention to me. “I didn’t know you were from Seattle.”

“Moved there for college and never moved back home,” I clarified.

“But you are now?” he asked.

I took a deep breath—I did that every time I had to say I was taking over OBB. It wasn’t because I was going to take on the responsibility. It was because I’d always thought that if my father were telling the truth, it wouldn’t be until after he’d retired. “I haven’t given my mother an answer yet, but yes, she’s giving me the distillery, and I’m moving back.”

“This is my lucky day,” Athan exclaimed.

“Your lucky day?” V asked.

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Now I have an in with the owner of the best whiskey this side of Ireland.”

Draven reached up and slapped him on the back of the head. “What is wrong with you?”

“Ow! What was that for?”

“Do you think Calla seems happy about this?” Draven asked.

“It’s fine,” I stated. “I just wasn’t prepared for all of this. When I go back to Seattle on Sunday, I’ll need to start packing and give my notice at work on Monday too.”

“I’m actually heading to Seattle in a week.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Yeah. My best friend, Martin, lives there, and I go back every month to visit him and his family. I’ve known his daughters since they were born.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet,” V cooed.

“So what I was getting at is that maybe I could swing by a night or two and help you pack or something,” Draven went on.

I balked, surprised at his offer. “You’d do that?”

“Don’t you know Draven is an expert packer? He moves every ten years,” Athan broke in.

My brows furrowed. “You do?”

Draven rolled his eyes at Athan. “Haven’t found a good place to call forever.”

“Looks like this will be my forever,” I stated. At least my mother was nicer to me now.

“It’s not a bad place,” Draven noted.

“Except my father was attacked here.”

“I haven’t lived here that long, but Burn Falls always seemed like a safe place to live,” Draven stated.

I nodded slowly. “Burn Falls was a town where everyone left their doors unlocked at night, but now, I imagine everyone is watching their backs.”

“It’s also boring with only one bar in town,” Athan chimed in.

“It is.” I smiled and took a sip of my margarita.

“It’s not that bad,” Draven said again. “We aren’t far from the Northern Lights. Have you ever been?”

“It’s been years, but yes.”

“Then maybe once you move back we can go sometime.”

My gaze flicked to Valencia. Her eyes widened, and she grinned. Was Draven asking me out on a date? The closest place to see the Aurora Borealis was at least five hours away in Fairbanks. That was an all-day trip.

An all-day trip with Draven.

“Hey, Athan, want to go with me up to the bar and grab another drink?” V asked, sliding off of her stool.

“Lead the way, sweet cheeks.”

They left, and I looked back at Draven. “You know you don’t need to do that.”

“Do what?”

“Be nice to me. You’re no longer my father’s doctor.”

Draven placed his hand on my arm. “I’m not only being nice to you because I was his doctor, Calla. I want to …”

I held my breath as I waited for him to finish his sentence. Was he about to confirm my thought that he wanted to take me on a date? Why would he want to take a chubby girl like me on a date when he had all those muscles? He could probably get any woman he wanted.

“Can I take you to dinner before you head back to Seattle?”

Heart meet floor. Floor meet heart.

“Dinner? With me?”

“Why is that such a surprise?”

I looked down at his hand still on my arm. “Why me?”

“Why not you?”

I scoffed. “Because look at you. You probably have a six—no, an eight-pack, and I have—”

He leaned closer to me and whispered, “Trust me, I want to taste all of your curves.”

The rest of the night was a blur. Athan and Valencia returned with drinks, and we danced and laughed as we rang in the New Year. As we counted down from ten, my heart was racing. I wondered if Draven was going to kiss me. That was what people did when the clock struck twelve, but I hadn’t had a kiss at midnight in a few years. However, instead of kissing me on the lips, Draven leaned down and pressed his lips to my cheek. I was bummed, but then again, we weren’t officially dating, and I shouldn’t have expected him to kiss me for the first time in front of the packed bar.

Just before we got into a taxi to go home, Draven told me that he’d call me to set up a date for Saturday. I couldn’t believe I was going to go on a date with him.

Just like two teenage girls, V and I laid in my bed, gushing about the night.

“Athan is so hot.”

“So is Draven.”

“I can’t believe you have a date with a doctor.”

“I can’t either.” We both giggled. I blamed the alcohol. “Did you ask Athan what he does for a living?”

“No, that never came up, except he said he lives in Russia.”

“Russia?”

“Yeah. Crazy huh?”

“Did he move from the States?”

“I guess. He really didn’t say.”

“I wonder how he and Draven know each other.”

“They both look really young. Do you know how old they are?” V asked.

“I don’t know. How long is med school?”

“Grab your phone and Google that shit.”

I reached over to the nightstand and did just that. “Google says that generally most people graduate college at twenty-two and medical school at twenty-six. Then after three years of internship and residency, many physicians begin their career at twenty-nine.”

“Is he an intern or resident?”

“I don’t think he’s either. He seemed to be doing stuff on his own like a regular doctor and not an intern or resident. Not that I know much about doctors.”

“So he’s at least twenty-nine?”

“I think so.”

“That will make Athan around the same age then.”

“You like him?”

She turned onto her side, facing me. “Who? Athan?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s not to like? He’s hot with his light beard and dark eyes, but he apparently lives in Russia so it doesn’t matter.”

“I’ll ask Draven his deal.”

“Again, it’s not like it will matter. I live in Seattle.”

I was going to miss Seattle: the good coffee, the Space Needle in the distance, Unicorn bar, and my best friend. Before I drifted off, I thought about how the end of the year was so shitty, but the start of the new one was looking promising.

Over the next few days, my family and I, including Valencia, packed up my father’s clothes to donate as well as anything my mother wanted to part with. I was going through one of his drawers when I found a small stash of photos with a rubber band around them. I removed it and started to look through the images.

There weren’t many photos, maybe a dozen. There was one of my dad’s mom with her parents, and her younger brother and younger sister in a muted color photo. It was dated on the back: July 2, 1951. A photo of my grandma and grandpa from Ireland, standing next to an older car. It looked as though she was wearing a wedding dress. It too was a less vibrant color photo, and it was dated on the back: October 4, 1967. At the bottom of the stack was another photo. This one a sepia-toned picture of my great-grandmother, Gael, sitting next to a well-dressed gentleman in what appeared to be a nightclub because the table had multiple drinks on it with skinny straws. It was dated February 14, 1946, and she was smiling up at the man like a woman in love.

“Who’s this, Mom?” I asked, extending the last photograph in her direction.

She took the photo and stared at it for a few moments. “That’s your great-grandmother, Gael.”

“Right, but I mean the man?”

“Hmmm. I’m not sure,” she said, looking at the picture.

“It’s not Dad’s grandpa?”

Mom chuckled. “No. No that’s not.” She reached for the other pictures in my hand and then showed me the one from 1951 and confirmed, “This is your father’s great-grandfather, Jack.”

I took the 1946 photograph from her and looked at it again. “Well, whoever he was, it looks like Great-Grandma was in love with him before she was in love with Great-Grandpa Jack.”