The House that Love Built

Twelve




Owen swallowed hard and tried not to react to Brooke’s new look. Her super-high heels put her almost at eye level with him. She wore a short denim skirt and a tight-fitting yellow shirt. Her hair was long and flowing past her shoulders, and she had on more makeup than he’d ever seen her wear.

“You look great,” he said as she stood in the doorway, although he much preferred her baseball cap, ragged jeans, and flip-flops. He glanced down at his own flip-flops. “I, uh, feel underdressed.”

“Don’t be silly. Come on in.” She pulled the door wide and stepped aside.

“It smells great in here.” Owen didn’t feel nearly as comfortable as he did the other night, and it wasn’t just because her children weren’t home. Something was different.

“Thanks. The table’s all set.” She motioned for him to follow her into the dining room. Alarms were blaring in his head so loudly that he could hardly think. Candles were lit, and it looked like the good dishes were in place. Then he noticed real napkins. Virginia used to use the cloth napkins when she was trying to impress someone.

“Looks great.” Owen had pictured them in front of her television, feet propped up on the coffee table, eating off paper plates. He sat down across from her, and when she folded her hands and bowed her head, he did the same. As she blessed the food, Owen opened one eye and studied her transformation. This could only mean one thing. She was interested in him way more than as just a friend.

By the time they’d finished eating, Owen was already trying to think of a way to leave.

“I decided to let you pick out the movie,” she said as she gathered up their empty plates. He had to admit she was a great cook, and the homemade meal had been welcome. The conversation had stayed light, although Brooke had fidgeted a lot. Most of the time her dry sense of humor was casually confident, but this evening she was polite and soft-spoken. Yes, this was an entirely different Brooke.

Owen helped her clear the table. Once the dishwasher was loaded, they went into the living room. Are the lights dimmer in here? He glanced around the room. During his last visit, there had been toys everywhere. Things were much tidier now.

“What do you feel like watching?” Brooke pointed to the hutch where she’d laid out their last DVD. “If you open that door, it’s filled with movies.”

Owen picked out a comedy that he knew wasn’t romantic in any way. “How about this?”

“That’s fine.” Brooke walked to his side and waited while he loaded the DVD, then they both walked to the couch. She waited for him to sit down, and then she sat down beside him, much closer than last time. As she hit Play on the remote, he tried not to think about her outfit and how close she was sitting. For some men, this might have seemed like an opportunity, but Owen thought himself a good enough guy not to lead on a widow with two children. No matter how good she looked. Or smelled.

Ten minutes into the movie Owen barely knew what was going on. His only thoughts were of her leg slightly rubbing against his, especially when she laughed. Once, her hand landed briefly on his knee. He’d been married to Virginia for eight years, so he’d been out of the dating pool for a long time, but he still remembered what flirting was.

Somehow he made it through the movie, but there was no denying that by the end she’d edged even closer. And despite his feelings for Virginia and his desire not to hurt Brooke, he felt the overwhelming urge to take her in his arms and kiss her. It had been so long.

She flipped the television off and twisted to face him. Owen held his breath.

“Well, what did you think? Did you like it?” She smiled, and for a moment, the old Brooke was back.

“Yeah. It was pretty good.” He tried not to look at her, but when he finally did, she grabbed his face in her hands and planted her lips right on his. He couldn’t move, nor did he really want to, but his conscience overruled and he backed away. “Uh, Brooke, I thought we agreed that neither of us were ready for this.”

Her face turned red, then her eyes began to water, and Owen felt like a jerk. Maybe he should have just gone with it, then made it a point to never see her again. “Please don’t cry.”

She jumped up from the couch, yanked her shoes off, and even tossed one across the room. Owen shielded his face with his hands, unsure if the other shoe would be coming his way. As he cowered on the couch, she stomped her foot and started to cry.

“I am so stupid!” She pulled at her skirt. “These clothes are Juliet’s. She insisted I borrow them a long time ago, and I’ve never even worn them until tonight.” She covered her eyes with her hands. “I guess I’m just so mad about everything in my life! Mad that Travis is dead. Mad that my parents have reconciled after twenty years apart. And now I’m mad that I threw myself at a man I barely know!”

Owen opened his mouth to try to say something, even though he wasn’t sure what to say, but she started in again, standing over him, pointing a finger at him.

“You know what? I’ve never even kissed anyone else besides my husband. We were together since the beginning of high school.” She leaned down. “Why did I do this?” She threw her hands in the air and began to pace the room, almost as if Owen weren’t even there. “Maybe I just needed to act out.” She stopped and turned to face him. “Maybe I just wanted to do something a little reckless.” She shook her head. “This is so not me.” Then she threw herself on the couch next to Owen.

Owen twisted to face her. “Look at me.”

She turned to face him, her eyes red. “You can go now. I’m sure you’ll never want to be my movie and dinner buddy after this. I’m really sorry. I’m just—”

“I know.” He gazed into her eyes for a moment. “You’re just unhappy. I can relate.”

“Owen, I’ve never acted that way before. You must think I’m . . .” She pulled her eyes from his and shrugged.

“Brooke, you’re absolutely gorgeous. Any man would be crazy not to want to get involved with you.” He paused. “But I’m trying to be a good guy here. I’m damaged goods. You don’t want to be involved with me.”

“I don’t want to be involved with anyone. Really. I guess I just needed something. I’m so mad at my mother right now, and I guess I wanted to try to get her back somehow. And I haven’t been held in so long. It was all just like the perfect storm, and I . . .”

Owen shook his head, clicking his tongue and grinning. “Yep. You pretty much threw yourself at me.”

“Do you have to rub it in?”

Owen took a deep breath, unable to stifle his smile. “Yes, I think I do.”

She playfully slapped him on the arm. “Look, go ahead and leave if you want, but I’m going to go put on my jeans and a T-shirt. I’m miserable in these clothes. I’ve been worried about tripping in those shoes all night.” She stood up. “So if you’re not here when I get back, no explanations necessary, and I’ll see you around.”

Owen didn’t move. He was unsure what proper protocol would be in a situation like this, but he was pretty sure that just bailing without a good-bye wasn’t the way to go. Brooke returned a couple of minutes later wearing jeans, a red T-shirt, and no shoes at all. She’d pulled her hair into a ponytail and apparently wiped off some of her makeup. She looked like the old Brooke again.

“I like this Brooke better,” Owen said as she sat down on the couch.

“Wow, you’re still here. Why didn’t you run when you had the chance?” She leaned her head back against the couch and closed her eyes.

“Okay, here’s the deal.” Owen propped his feet up on the coffee table for the first time that evening. “I was married for eight years. I was madly in love with my wife and would have stayed with her forever, even though she was really hard to live with. Our only big issue was that I wanted children and she didn’t. Then she slept with my best friend and business partner, and now they are going to get married and they’re having a baby, as I already told you.”

He blew out a puff of air. “So. I basically think all women are evil, and I’ll never trust or love another one. In addition to that, I have zero goals for the future and will probably be working on my house for the rest of my life.”

He turned to face her and smiled. “Your turn.”



Brooke glanced at her watch and wished Owen would just go home. She’d never behaved like this in her life. “I don’t think you have enough time for my saga. I don’t think I can sum it up that easily.”

“I have all the time it takes.”

“Okay, let’s see.” She fought the urge to laugh. Or cry. “I married Travis right out of high school. He was the love of my life. After he died, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to function again—simple things, like getting up and getting dressed in the morning. But I didn’t have a choice. I had two children to take care of. My mom moved in and lived with us until a couple of months ago. Now I do get up, get dressed in the mornings, and find certain pleasure in some things—like a tub of ice cream every now and then.” She smiled. “And watching my children grow into wonderful little people. That makes me happy.

“But I don’t feel complete anymore. It’s like my heart is just closed—forever.” She glanced his way to see him nodding. “And I don’t hang out with the women that I used to because they all have husbands. They’ve reached out to me plenty of times, but I always find an excuse not to do things with them. I’m the third wheel, and being with them just reminds me of Travis. That he’s not here.”

She turned to face him. “So, despite my actions this evening, I have no desire to be in another relationship. Sounds nuts, I’m sure.”

Owen shook his head. “Nope. Not at all. So what’s the deal with your parents?”

Brooke told him about her father’s infidelity and his leaving them when she was twelve. About growing up without him . . . and then finding him at her mother’s apartment the other night.

“Wow. That had to be a shock.”

Brooke put a hand to her forehead, then rubbed tired eyes. “I want my mother to be happy. I really do. But this is some kind of false happiness—I’m sure of it. She hasn’t been around my dad in twenty years. I just don’t believe that they had the kind of love she says they had. If they did, he would have never cheated on her, then stayed gone for that long.”

They were quiet for a while, then Owen said, “Maybe you need to talk to him.”

Brooke tensed. “I can’t. I’ve spent part of my childhood and my entire adult life hating him. I can’t just turn off those feelings.”

“I didn’t say to turn them off. I thrive on hating Virginia.” He gave a humorless laugh. “But in your case, it sounds like he’s going to be a part of your mother’s life whether you like it or not. Maybe there’s a way to work through it. Or maybe not. But it seems like a chapter waiting to be written.”

Brooke forced a smile. “The book ended a long time ago for me.”

“Can I tell you something?” Owen put his elbow on the back of her couch and propped his head up, facing her. “I’m glad you threw yourself at me and we had a chance to talk like this.”

Brooke slapped him on the arm. “If you ever bring this up again, we are not going to be friends.”

Owen smiled, then stood up. “Brooke, I’m going to be your friend for as long as you’ll have me. But eventually someone is going to come along and have more to offer you than just friendship, and that’s as it should be. You’ll open your heart one day. Your situation is different from mine. Travis left, yes, but he never betrayed you. And betrayal is a tough thing to get past.”

She playfully held out her hand. “Friends, then.”

Owen grabbed her hand, but pulled her to him and held her tight. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. “I think this is all I really wanted from the very beginning. A hug.”

He kissed her on the top of the head. “From now on, when one of us needs a hug, we’re going to just ask for it.”

“Deal.”

As she walked him to the door, she felt different. Partly about Owen, but also just in general. Calmer. Maybe her fit had been building up for a while.

She walked into the kitchen for a glass of water, glanced to her left, and made sure she’d marked through the day.

Only twenty-nine days to go.



Brooke was glad when Spencer and Meghan came running into the house early on Saturday morning. She already had the pancake mix ready and the bacon cooked.

“There are my munchkins.” She gave Meghan a big hug and winked at Spencer as they came into the kitchen.

“Mrs. Judy is here too.” Meghan reached for a piece of bacon on the table.

“Oh.” Brooke turned around to see Judy walking into the kitchen.

“Hope it’s okay. I just followed the kids in. I think they all had a great time.” Judy had gotten a haircut since Brooke had seen her last. Her shoulder-length dark hair had been cropped into a stylish short style that barely covered her ears.

“Your hair looks great.” Brooke twisted her ponytail for a moment, wondering if she could be so brave.

“Thanks. I just needed a change.” Judy bit her bottom lip. “Anyway, I just wanted to come in and say hi.”

Brooke recalled all the times she and Judy had spent together, with their husbands and without. Brooke knew she was the one at fault for shying away from the relationship. “I’m glad you did. Do you want to stay for pancakes?”

Judy put a hand on her stomach. “No, I better not. I’m on this new diet, and I’m afraid pancakes aren’t on it.” She grinned. “But I’m glad to see you guys are still doing pancake Saturday.”

Brooke poured batter onto the hot griddle. “Yeah. We try not to miss it.”

Judy walked closer. “After you get done with the pancakes, can I talk to you? By ourselves.”

“Sure. It’ll just be a few minutes. Is everything okay? Did something happen with the kids?”

Judy waved a hand in the air. “No, no, everything is fine.” She pointed to the coffeepot. “If you don’t mind, I’ll just have some coffee and wait.”

Brooke got each of the kids started on pancakes, then set the griddle aside and motioned for Judy to follow her into the living room. “What is it?”

Judy barely got out of earshot from the kids when she said, “Spencer was telling us all about your new friend, Mr. Saunders.”

Brooke pushed back a strand of hair that had fallen from her ponytail. “Yeah, the kids seem to like him. He bought the Hadley place.”

“So I heard.” Judy grinned. “I also heard he’s gorgeous.”

Brooke briefly recalled her ridiculous behavior the night before. “He’s nice looking.”

“So do you think—you know—anything more than friends, maybe?” Judy raised one shoulder and lowered it.

“No. I’m not ready, Judy. Friends only.”

Judy frowned. “Are you sure? Positive?”

“I’m sure.” Clearly I’m as messed up as he is.

“I didn’t think you were. But I wanted to double check, especially since Spencer told us you’ve all been hanging out together.” Judy bit her bottom lip for a second. “The thing is, Tallie met him the other day at the dry cleaners, and I think—well, I think she gave him her phone number. I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t something already going on between you two.”

Brooke swallowed hard. Tallie Goodry had been divorced for about six months, but Brooke knew she still ran around with Judy, Rick, and the rest of the group. Tallie’s ex-husband, Brian, had moved to Houston. Rumor was that Tallie had wanted the divorce, but Brooke didn’t know for sure.

“He’s fair game. There’s nothing going on between us.” The minute she said it, though, her stomach flipped.

“Although . . .” Brooke didn’t want to spread gossip, but something about Tallie and Owen together disturbed her. “He is coming out of a bad marriage, and he made it pretty clear that he isn’t looking to date anyone.”

Judy rubbed one of Brooke’s arms. “Aw, honey. You’ll find someone.”

It took Brooke a few moments to catch what Judy was insinuating—that Owen just wasn’t interested in Brooke.

But maybe that was exactly the case.