Since youve been gone, p.15
Since You've Been Gone, page 15
Leah settled onto the other end of the bench, and it gave him a moment to collect himself before he started blubbering right here in the square, in front of Leah and the whole town.
“When I came home for the funeral, everything made the pain worse. I could smell my mom as I walked through the halls of our house. I could hear her telling me to slow down as I took the stairs three at a time. Basketball had always been my escape, but playing in the gym my dad had built for me and where he’d coached me for hours as a kid hurt. They were everywhere, and I couldn’t take it. So as soon as I could, I turned the business over to Uncle Dale and went back to the life they were never a part of.”
Leah set her clipboard and purse on the ground, then pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. “What about Abby?”
Jon flinched at the question. It was obvious that he wouldn’t have won Brother of the Year at that time. “I visited her at her school in England when I could, but we didn’t talk about our parents. We went on with life like there wasn’t part of us missing. It’s no wonder my shooting percentage went down and Abby practically flunked out of St. Mary’s. I don’t think I’ve had a time I felt like more of a failure than the day I ran into you at the airport.”
“Last November?”
“Yup.” Jon laced his hands across his chest. That was better than doing something stupid like running his hand across her knee, as he was tempted to do. “My coach had called me in that week to let me know they weren’t sure they’d be re-signing me. That meeting was followed by one with Abby’s school about how they believed she needed more support at home. The only two things I had left going for me were quickly going down the drain.”
“And then I was horrible to you.”
“True. You were.” He sent her a teasing look. “But it was a breath of fresh air. You didn’t look at me with pity in your eyes. You treated me like the Jon you’d always known. The Jon I wanted to be again.”
“You wanted to be the jerk in high school again?” The sassy look on her face caused a flicker of hope to rise in him. Maybe he hadn’t completely destroyed what they’d started.
He tapped the side of her foot on the bench. “Need I remind you that you’re the only one who thought I was a jerk in high school? Everyone else—”
“Wanted to date you or be you. Trust me, I know.”
As if on cue, two women in short shorts and Fourth of July tank tops walked by and offered him a finger wave. “Hi, Jon.”
Leah moved her feet away from his hands and back to the ground. So much for that small hope.
He offered the women a tight smile and turned toward Leah. “I’m not saying I wanted to be the center of everything. I’m saying that I wanted to be that confident guy I once was. The one who lived life fully because he had parents who supported him and made him believe he could do anything he put his mind to. The guy my dad had trusted enough to leave his company to.”
“Is that why you decided to come back?”
“That and Abby got kicked out of St. Mary’s.” He leaned forward on his knees and rubbed the back of his neck as the memory of that call flooded his mind. “But when I returned, I soon realized that the house was mine now—well, Abby’s and mine. And I couldn’t keep my parents’ clothes just because giving them away felt as if my guts were being ripped out slowly.”
She swallowed and broke eye contact. “What did you do?”
He sat back again and let his gaze travel over the crowd. “I had a free garage sale of sorts. I invited the people of Heritage to come and take what they wanted.” He pointed to Margret Bunting, who was running a booth selling jam. She was probably close to ninety and couldn’t be more than five feet tall, but she was full of fire. “That was my mom’s hat.”
“Does it make you sad to see it?”
“No. It makes me remember the day my mom bought it and my father teased her because he said it was bigger than an umbrella. It’s a good memory. And I love how it almost completely covers Margret. She’s hilarious.” A touch of laughter rumbled in his chest as he stretched out his arms on the back of the bench, taking care not to touch Leah. “It’s just stuff. And my mom doesn’t need me to hold on to her stuff to remember her.” He made eye contact with her once again, and this time she didn’t look away. “And your grandfather doesn’t need you to hold on to that name to remember him.”
“I know you’re right.” The edges of her eyes glistened, and the sight broke him.
He’d do anything to take that hurt from her. He gripped the back of the bench to keep from reaching for her.
“I haven’t changed a thing at the farmhouse since my grandmother died. I guess it made it more like I was coming home. Like she was right around the corner in her rocking chair, waiting. I know I need to, but if I do I’ll forget. I don’t want to forget.” Her voice cracked, and Jon couldn’t take it anymore.
“You won’t.” He scooted toward her, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and gently pulled her to his chest.
“I don’t think I’m very good at grieving.” She buried her face in his shoulder. After a few minutes she leaned back, and a bit of the weight behind her eyes seemed to be gone. “How are you handling your parents’ death so well?”
“I’m not sure that I’d say I am, but I’ve chosen to focus on the happy memories. The more I do, the more they outnumber the moments of bone-crushing pain. But I’m not sure that pain will ever completely go away.” Jon sighed and stared across the square again. “Like I know the day I get married will be one of the best of my life, and yet there will be grief that my parents aren’t there.”
Leah’s wide eyes and red face telegraphed that he should’ve thought through his last words a little more. He really needed to come up with a different example. “Not that I’m saying I’m thinking marriage now . . . or to anyone specific. I was talking in general . . . about key events of my life.”
Great, now she was laughing at him. She stood and motioned toward the booths. “What do you say we go find some inventory?”
“Sounds good.” Jon stood and placed his hand on her back as they navigated the crowd.
She picked up her pace until his hand fell away. One thing was clear. They may have mended the rift regarding the name of the store and maybe even their friendship. But they were nowhere near returning to what had started between them last Friday night.
ten
They really needed to find another day in the year when food trucks could line up along the square. Leah pulled off another piece of her funnel cake and popped it into her mouth, letting the sugary sweetness melt on her tongue. Of course, too many days like this and she might not be able to fit through the door of the WIFI—uh, the MIM.
Leah ignored the small twinge of pain that came with the thought of the new name and walked back to where Jon stood. He reached for a piece of her cake, but she slapped his hand.
“Hey.” He yanked back his hand, then held up the clipboard. “It looks like we’ve gotten almost everyone. We just need to stop by Mrs. Nell’s booth.”
Leah waved away the idea. “I already told her she was a shoo-in.”
Jon’s brows rose as he shook his head. “Leah, we can’t do that. She has to fill out an application and set up a contract like everyone else.”
“Contract? Jon, she was our art teacher for most of our schooling. I think we can trust her.”
“Everyone needs to follow the same process.” He handed her one of their business cards. “And that process starts with an application for everyone.”
“My grandfather—”
“I’m not in business with your grandfather. Times were different then, and in today’s world we’re not doing business on a handshake and a smile.”
“Fine.” Leah shoved her plate into his hand, grabbed the card, and made her way to Mrs. Nell’s booth. She extended the card. “Jon wants you to fill out an application, and then we can set up a contract.”
“Of course. I feel much more comfortable with that too. Always better to have things in black and white when it comes to business.” Mrs. Nell pocketed the card, then went to help an approaching customer.
When Leah faced Jon, his smirk made her want to throw something at him. And he was eating her funnel cake. She marched over and yanked it from his hand. “I guess we’re done then.”
She started to walk past him, but he grabbed one of her belt loops and pulled her to a stop. “Oh no you don’t. We still have the matter of the auction.” He tapped the button on his shirt that held the number fifteen. “You promised to bid on me.”
“I’m sure those girls in the tank tops would be happy to oblige.”
Jon lifted an eyebrow, and she cringed. But like he’d really thought she hadn’t noticed them walking by and flirting during their talk. And then repeatedly at the booths. Could they have been more obvious?
Jon took a step closer, his finger still holding her shorts. “I don’t want to spend time with them, and I could be wrong, but I don’t think you want me to either. Do you?”
Leah searched for something witty, but her mind remained blank as her heart pounded in her ears. Her skin hummed with his nearness, and she gripped her plate a little tighter.
So instead of a funny, sassy reply, she only managed a small shake of her head.
Amusement played at the corners of Jon’s eyes as he leaned a little closer. “I’m glad we got that settled.”
Hannah’s voice echoed over the speakers, making Leah jump back. “All bachelors report to the gazebo. Ladies, get ready to open your purses. We’re raising money for a new clock tower in the southeast corner of the square, so let’s not be stingy.”
Jon pulled out a wad of cash and placed it in Leah’s palm. “That should be plenty.”
She glanced down, then fanned the money out. “Seriously, Jon, a thousand dollars?”
“It’s for a good cause.” He offered a shrug and then nodded at Luke standing next to Hannah. “Besides, I told you, I really want to beat Luke’s record of $733.45.”
“Why are you so competitive?”
He held up his hands and then pointed at himself. “Professional athlete. I made my living by being competitive. And I kissed this girl the other day, and now she moves away every time I try to get near her. Maybe I need an ego boost.”
“I think your ego is just fine.” Leah shoved the money into her pocket and wandered over to where the bidders had started to gather.
Gideon, Olivia and Janie’s brother, was up first. A few girls jumped at the bid, but it took only one glare from his girlfriend, Danielle, before they backed down. Danielle may have softened her look since Olivia’s wedding, but she was still as tough as they come.
After Danielle won the bid at three hundred dollars, Gideon joined her and dropped a kiss on her lips. They were seriously cute and one positive thing that had come out of Leah getting caught in that snowstorm.
Leah’s mind flashed back to when Jon had come close to kissing her that night. She’d pulled away then, and it had probably been the smartest thing she’d done. After just one kiss the other night, he already had a hold on her—as evidenced by their little interaction over there.
Jon seemed to think the kiss had changed things, but it hadn’t. They were still business partners, and he still had the ability to shatter her heart. Now more than ever. As much as his betrayal with the store name had hurt, if she let him any closer to her heart, she might never recover. Because with beautiful women throwing themselves at Jon all the time, how long until he grew tired of her and moved on—like her dad had?
Leah shook away the thought and glanced at Colby, who was sweating and scanning the crowd. He was probably searching for Madison, who seemed to be a no-show. He was number fourteen, so he’d go right before Jon. If he had been after Jon, then she could have possibly bid on him with her extra money, but with him first . . . Jon would kill her. Although that would serve him right for being so competitive. Maybe she could split the money between the two guys. After all, it was unheard of for someone to go for more than five hundred. Well, except for Hannah’s bid on Luke that Jon was determined to beat.
“How much did you bring?” The girl in front of Leah spoke to her friend next to her. Oh, look, it was the tank-top girls. Joy.
The other girl held up a stack of bills. “Three hundred and fifty.”
“I brought three hundred. So as long as Jon doesn’t go for more than six fifty, we’ll be fine.” The first girl clapped her hands.
There went that idea. Leah would need at least seven hundred to win Jon, which left only three hundred. That probably wouldn’t be enough for Colby.
At least they didn’t have more than a thousand. Then again, maybe it’d be better if they did. As much as Leah didn’t want to see Jon with them, the idea of a true date with him sent her mind into a whirl. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t keep her brain in line with her hormones.
Leah inched away from the girls and nearly collided with Margret Bunting. Leah reached her hand out to make sure the woman was steady. She must have left the giant hat at her booth. “I’m sorry. I about ran you over.”
The woman’s wrinkled hand landed on hers. “Easy to do. People keep getting taller and taller these days. I could be shrinking, but we won’t talk about that.”
Leah couldn’t hold back a laugh when the woman winked at her. “Maybe it would be safer to watch from your booth.”
“I’m not here to watch, missy. I’m here to bid. And I have my sights set on that one.” She pointed to the end of the line where Jon stood.
“Jon Kensington?”
“Yes. He’s cute, and look at those muscly arms.”
Leah opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
“I need my furniture moved around, and he looks like he could do it all by himself. And I don’t think I’d mind watching him move it either.” She offered Leah a wink.
Leah pressed her lips together to keep from laughing again. She glanced back at Jon, who was watching her with a raised brow as another contestant went for two hundred dollars. This was a perfect solution. Maybe she could save Colby. She leaned closer to Margret. “How much do you have?”
“I saved five hundred dollars.” She waved five bills so crisp she’d probably picked them up from the bank that morning.
“I think you might need a little more.” Leah pulled the cash Jon had given her from her pocket and started to pass over several hundred dollars but paused as Jon’s words echoed in her head. “I really want to beat Luke’s record of $733.45.” She held out two hundred dollars. No reason to let his ego get too big. “Seven hundred should be plenty. Start with that bid and you won’t have any problems.”
The older woman’s eyes twinkled as she took the money. “Do you want to come over and watch him move the furniture with me?”
Leah about choked as the idea filled her face with warmth. “I’m good. You enjoy, and make sure he moves as much heavy furniture as you want for that price.”
When Mayor Jameson announced Colby’s name, he stepped forward. He shoved his hands in his back pockets as he shifted from one foot to the other.
It was a win-win. Someone else could save Jon, and Leah could save Colby. She held up the cash. “Eight hundred dollars.”
The crowd gasped, and Jon’s jaw dropped. The only one who didn’t seem in shock was Colby, and he looked relieved.
Mayor Jameson’s voice boomed through the microphone. “That’s a new record, folks. Eight hundred dollars to Leah Williams. Unless there are any other bids, Leah, come claim your prize.”
Leah made her way to the front and dropped the cash in Hannah’s hand, then rushed over and hooked Colby’s arm with hers. He leaned in. “Thank you. But eight hundred?”
She shrugged and led him to the side just before a tiny voice from the crowd yelled, “And the next one’s mine. Seven hundred.” Margret rushed forward, waving the bills in the air. Everyone just stared at the woman as she dropped the bills in Hannah’s hand and pointed a finger at Jon. “Those muscles are mine.”
Even the tank-top girls seemed too shocked to be mad.
The mayor glanced around and turned toward Hannah with a shrug. “That’s the end of this year’s auction, folks.”
Jon’s gaze shot to Leah, and she bit her lip to keep from smiling. Didn’t work. He shook his head and sent her a look that she had little trouble deciphering. She was in trouble, but it had been worth it on so many levels.
Colby strummed a few chords on his guitar, then shifted his position on the edge of his bed and made a few notes in his notebook. His room at Nate’s didn’t leave much space to play, with the queen-size bed, antique dresser, and small chair by the door, but he was thankful for every inch. He’d written three pages of notes in the past couple hours, and he wasn’t near done.
He’d been so frustrated when he left Madison’s on Tuesday night, but the more time he’d given it, the more he could see that he’d pushed too hard. Deep hurt took time to heal, and he needed to be there to walk through it with her, not try to drag her through the journey.
He hadn’t been surprised when she hadn’t shown up for the auction today, just disappointed. Disappointed and slightly terrified at ending up on a date with a stranger. He’d never been so relieved when Leah’s voice shouted out that bid. He wasn’t quite sure why she’d started so high, but at least it saved his sorry hide.
Since Madison knew that Leah and Colby were only friends, he wouldn’t have to worry about causing more drama there. Because as much as Madison wanted him to believe that she wasn’t affected by him, the way her eyes softened when they looked at him betrayed the lie, not to mention the way she’d leaned into his touch.
But he needed to slow down and take it at her speed. Which was why he’d taken a few days off from painting. The way he felt right now, he might try to kiss her again, and she’d made it clear she wasn’t there yet. He’d focus on the yet.
