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As though she could feel the heat of his stare, she turned around and her eyes caught his. Breck felt like he’d been hit by a freight train. What the hell was wrong with him?
You didn’t go near a friend’s sister. That was part of the bro-code he’d grown up with, and as far as he was concerned it still applied now. So why was his heart racing like it was trying to win the Kentucky Derby?
Maybe it was shock. The last time he’d seen her, Breck had been in a bad place. Seeing her again, all these years later, was bound to stir up memories. The Russells had been the one chink of light in the darkness that was his life in those days. No wonder seeing her felt strange.
Yeah, the little voice in his head said. Keep thinking that if you want. But tell me, why didn’t you have the same reaction the first time you saw Lucas again?
4
Deenie looked up as soon as Caitie walked into the kitchen the next morning. The sun was shining through the window leading out to the yard, its yellow glow lighting up the marble countertop where Deenie was laying out breakfast. The coffee her mom bought especially for her was already brewing, the pot spitting and sizzling as it filled up, the aroma rich in the room.
“Hey sweetheart. Did you sleep well?” Deenie asked.
Caitie smiled at her mom. “I think my body’s still on New York time. I woke up before five.”
Deenie sighed sympathetically. Neither one of them were great sleepers. Caitie couldn’t remember either of her parents sleeping in, not even on weekends. They were always up with the roosters.
“Where’s Dad?” Caitie asked, noticing his absence.
“Playing golf. He was out the door at six.”
“I didn’t hear him leave.” She looked around, as if she were checking for him. “Is he always that sneaky?”
Deenie coughed out a laugh. “Your dad, sneaky? Oh, boy, he’d like that description. He couldn’t sneak around to save his life. Do you remember when I turned fifty and he tried to surprise me with a birthday party? I had to practice my shocked expression for weeks.”
“Oh I remember. He was so proud, too.” Caitie poured herself a cup of coffee and sat at the breakfast bar, taking a sip of the earthy b
rew. Her parents were like night and day. She’d always marveled at how they’d made their relationship work for so many years. On paper, they were such a mismatch, yet together they worked. They set a high bar for Caitie and Lucas – one her brother had managed to scale. But for her the climb seemed almost impossible.
“How’s he enjoying retirement?” Caitie asked.
Deenie joined her at the breakfast bar, pulling up a stool and setting her mug of green tea on the counter. “Ah, he’s getting there. The first few months were difficult. He didn’t know what to do with himself. After he ran out of all those little repairs you put off for a rainy day, he started getting under my feet. He was like a lost puppy following me around.”
Caitlin grinned. Her mom would never have the patience for that. “Did he drive you crazy?”
“You better believe it. I even thought about breaking things to give him something to repair. When he began interfering at the bookshop, I knew something had to change.” Deenie took a sip of her tea. “That’s when he started booking regular slots at the golf club. He’s made some new friends there, and gotten reacquainted with old ones. It’s made everybody’s life easier.”
Caitie tipped her head to the side. She’d always been fascinated by her parents’ relationship. “So what’s your secret?”
“Our secret?” Her mom looked confused.
“You’re so different from each other. How do you keep things going? You were never the kind of wife who bowed to her husband. Look at Dad’s job. You’ve always been against big pharmaceuticals and how they push their own agenda, but never once have I heard you tell Dad you don’t agree with his job.”
Deenie rubbed her chin, giving Caitie a speculative look. “I’ve never thought relationships change who you are. And I definitely don’t think they mean you have to agree on everything. Look at the way your father and I met. From the first moment we laid eyes on each other, we knew how different we were. I guess the secret is seeing that everybody has their own point of view, and they have the right to that.” Her lips curled into a smile. “Love doesn’t mean having to agree on everything, but it does mean respecting each other’s choices. If you love somebody and want to spend your life with them, you have to love every part of them. Even the bits you don’t quite understand.”
The front door slammed, and Lucas’s greeting echoed down the hallway. Caitie turned around to see her brother walking into the kitchen, followed by Ember. Both of them looked exhausted.
“The coffee’s just finished brewing,” Caitie told them, inclining her head at the pot.
“Mom has coffee in the house?” Lucas asked, his eyes wide. “This must be some kind of miracle.” He pulled two mugs from the cupboard and poured coffee into them, adding milk before stirring them. Passing the first to Ember, he took a big mouthful of his own, sighing deeply.
“I’m so tired,” Ember said, pulling out the stool next to Caitie’s. “I can’t imagine what you must be feeling like. Did you get any sleep.”
Caitie grinned at her. “I got some.” She took another mouthful of coffee. “And this is making up for the rest.” She put her mug down and grabbed the notebook she’d been scribbling in since she woke up. “Oh, and I started writing down some ideas for your wedding. We should get started on making some plans.” She glanced over at Lucas. “And if you’ve had enough coffee.”
“We decided Lucas should probably go surfing,” Ember said, winking. “Organizing weddings isn’t really his thing.”
Caitie turned to her brother. He shrugged at the question in her eyes. “I’m good with that,” he said. “As long as you guys don’t mind.”
