“Thank you,” her dad said. “We might take you up on that.”
For the next hour, Bryn relaxed and enjoyed her parents’ and Derek’s company. It was funny how easily he fit in with her family, in a way Jaxon never would. When his cell vibrated, Derek checked the screen and sighed. “They’re waiting for us at the front gate. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. McKenna, for making me feel welcome. I’ll wait outside while Bryn says her goodbyes.”
“It was nice meeting you,” her mom said.
“Good to know you’re looking out for Bryn,” her dad said.
Derek nodded and headed out the front door.
“If you wanted to trade that blond kid in for this guy,” her dad said, “I wouldn’t mind.”
Bryn sighed. “In another life, maybe.” She hugged her dad and her mom. “I’m glad you liked the ornaments.”
Stinging sleet hit Bryn in the face when she walked out the door. “This sucks,” Bryn said.
They hurried down the road to the main gate where her grandmother’s SUV waited. They signed out and hustled into the car. As soon as the car door opened, Bryn was hit with the smell of Fonzoli’s pizza. She inhaled deeply as she took her seat. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Four pepperoni calzones. Two for your grandfather and two for you.”
“Yum.” Her stomach growled. “I don’t suppose I could eat one on the drive back.”
“No,” her grandmother said. “Tell me about your visit.”
Bryn told her grandmother about the ornaments, leaving out any mention of Derek.
Her grandmother shifted the takeout bag around on the seat next to her. “Do your parents need anything?”
“Not that I can think of. Mom is opening a yoga studio. She might need some yoga equipment, but she didn’t mention it.”
“I can’t imagine living in one of those ancient cabins,” her grandmother said. “But she’s happy, isn’t she?”
“Not that you want to hear this, but the only thing she’s ever really needed to make her happy was my dad.”
“I’m beginning to understand that.” She smoothed her hand down the front of her coat. “The next time you speak to her mother, tell her the Women’s League will fund whatever she needs for the Yoga Center.”
“Thank you. I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear that.” Bryn sat still even though she felt like bouncing in her seat. Had she finally convinced her grandmother to make some sort of peace with the situation? That would be a major victory.
…
The next afternoon, Bryn found herself staring at a sea of furniture in a set of connected rooms on the third floor of her grandmother’s wing. Beds, dressers, armoires, and nightstands were packed tightly together, next to sets of dining room tables and buffets. Couches and wing-backed chairs lined the far wall. Bryn turned in a circle, taking in the dozens of beds and tables that could’ve stocked a furniture store.
“Where did all of this come from?”
Her grandmother walked over and ran her fingers along the edge of an antique dining chair. “These have been passed down through our family. While you’re free to purchase new furniture, I hope you’ll find some furniture for your guest bedrooms and sitting rooms.”
Her grandmother held a stack of blue Post-its out to Bryn. “Wander around. When you see something you like, put a Post-it on it. Derek can move the furniture around if you want to see how different pieces work together.”
“One of my many skills,” Derek said in a voice only Bryn could hear.
She smiled but didn’t comment. “Where will you be while I’m browsing for furniture?”
Her grandmother smiled. “Ephram and I are going out to lunch.”
“Have fun.”
After her grandmother exited the room. Bryn turned to Derek. “Any suggestions on where I should start?”
“Not with the blue and green paisley couch in the corner,” Derek said.
“Agreed.” She walked over to a gray suede couch with a matching wing-backed chair. “This is nice.” She tagged it with a Post-it. “Do you think anyone would notice if we shipped a few pieces to my parents’ cabin?”
“I don’t think any of this would fit in their cabin,” Derek said. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.” Bryn walked over to an end table with a white and gray marble top.
“You grew up like a Red…middle class…same couch for most of your life…right?”
“Yes.”
“How do you go from that to this?” he asked.
He wasn’t being judgmental. He just seemed curious. She put a Post-it on the table. “When I thought my parents had died, my grandparents took me in. They didn’t have to do that. So even though their way of life seems extravagant and sometimes strange, I’ve adjusted.”
“Better than going from rich to middle class, I guess.”
“Not according to my mother,” Bryn said.
“It’s pretty impressive that she gave up all this for your dad.”
“True love trumps everything.”
“I guess.” Derek pointed at a bedroom set across the way. “Is it me, or does the headboard of that bed look like a duck?”
Bryn walked toward the piece of furniture in question. “I think it’s supposed to be a swan.” She grinned at him. “Better than a duck bed, but it’s still strange.”
“No Post-it?” Derek asked.
“Nope.” She smiled at him. He was so easy to talk to when they were alone. “You know all about my strange life. I don’t know anything about you. Tell me your story.”
His smile faltered. “It’s not a happy story. My girlfriend, Ana, was fatally injured during the attack on campus.”
Well hell. “I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. “You couldn’t have known.”
Bryn sat on the swan bed. “I’d ask how you’re coping, but that is probably a stupid question.”
Derek sat beside her. “Ana and I had been friends since we were little kids. It’s like my life is off-balance now. Like I’m not sure of my place in the world.”
“Oh.” What else could she say?
Derek sighed. “I probably shouldn’t have shared.”
“No. It’s okay. You can tell me things. I won’t tell anyone else.”
“I know you won’t.” He turned and met her gaze. There was an emotion in his eyes she couldn’t quite interpret. Was he sad or nervous? All of a sudden, the situation seemed too intimate. Not that she didn’t trust him, but she probably shouldn’t be sitting on a bed having deep conversations with a handsome guy who wasn’t her future husband.
She stood. “If I don’t use up half this stack of Post-its my grandmother will probably be insulted.”
“Are you sure you want to pass up this fabulous duck bed?” Derek asked patting the mattress.
“I’ll try to live without it.”
“That’s a shame.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
The rest of Christmas break passed by in a flash. She and Jaxon spent some time together but for the most part it was Bryn and the two Derek’s. Not that there really were two Derek’s, but there was the Derek who talked to her and joked with her like a friend and maybe even flirted with her a tiny bit, and the Derek who was all business. If Jaxon ever found out about the first Derek he would not be pleased.
They decided to continue the tradition of a Welcome Back to School party which they’d started last year. Unfortunately, that meant Bryn and Jaxon were stuck playing hosts again. She was surprised at how touchy-feely he was being when they were in public. As they greeted students, he kept his arm around her shoulders or around her waist. Not that she minded, but she wondered if he had an ulterior motive.
When the last group of students filtered, in, she said, “I declare that it’s snack time.”
“Unfortunately, I believe it’s time to mingle and make useless small talk.”
“Nope. My stomach says food first, then useless social chatter.” She batted her eyelashes at him. “And you know how unreasonable I can be when I’m hungry.”
“Point taken,” he said. “Let’s visit the buffet.”
He stuck close to her as they filled their plates with cheese, crackers, and fruit. When she turned to head over to the table where Clint and Ivy sat, he turned in the opposite direction where his friends were seated.
“Meet back up for useless social chatter in fifteen minutes?” she said.