My phone buzzed, and I was surprised to see Brandon’s name on the caller ID. “Brandon! What a delight! How long has it been?”
Brandon was a former college friend, and he’d helped me with several projects that called for an attorney through the years. We hadn’t seen one another for a long time. He used to carry a torch for me.
“Auggie, my love. I’ve been thinking of you.”
“Sweet talker, you. Aren’t you married yet?”
“Came dreadfully close a couple of times, but none of them could hold a candle to you, dear one.”
I couldn’t stop the grin. “Brandon, why don’t we get together? I’d love to catch up.”
“I was hoping for just that sort of invite, as a matter of fact.”
“Oh, wonderful! Why don’t you come over tomorrow after work and we’ll cook out and have a nice chat? This Indian summer is the perfect weather.”
“See you then!”
Brandon showed up a bit earlier than I’d planned. I had an idea that he wanted to chat alone before Worth got home. There had always been some jealousy between the two of them. Although I’d always flirted with Brandon, my heart belonged to Worth. It had from the moment I met him, for better or for worse.
“So, what’s going on in your life?” he asked after sitting down with his drink in his hand. He’d kissed me on the cheek and hugged me just a bit longer than necessary when he first came in. He smelled of being freshly showered and shaved. It was nice to have a man take some time to be well-groomed for you alone. I was flattered.
“Well, other than the farm, there’s actually quite a bit.” I filled him in on Hawk and the twins having stepped into a world of quasi-adulthood by driving. “Marga is giving me fits.”
As if on cue, the door opened, and Marga stepped out. I heard Brandon’s indrawn breath. Marga nodded to him, and he stood immediately. “Marga, you’ve turned into a woman since I saw you last. You’re the spitting image of your mother at your age.”
“Not sure if that’s a compliment,” she practically snarled, eyeing me.
Brandon flushed a bit at the cockiness of her attitude, and he glanced at me. I shook my head. “Did you need something, Marga?”
“Yeah. Lily wants to talk to you.”
“Would you tell her I’m with a guest and ask her to come up to the house?”
“I guess,” Marga allowed with a dramatic sigh and left.
Brandon cleared his throat.
“See what I mean?” I put to him. “Was I ever like that?”
“You, my darling, were exactly like that!” he answered and knew instantly that it wasn’t going to find favor with me. “Don’t get me wrong, Auggie. You are every bit as beautiful as you were in college, but you had a wild streak in you. She’s got it too. I don’t envy you.”
“You need to settle down and have some children while you still have a chance, Brandon.”
“Need the right woman. I only knew one so far who would fill the bill and she’s been taken,” he said, winking at me.
“Auggie?” I heard Lily’s voice by the front door.
“I’m out here on the patio,” I called out and she materialized in the doorway of the opened slider. “C’mon out and join us. Make yourself a drink.”
As she came out, Brandon stood and offered her his chair. “No, it’s fine, I’ll sit over here,” she said as she chose a rocker, her drink balanced on its arm.
I introduced Brandon and Lily and was surprised to see Brandon literally turn in his chair toward her. I smiled to myself. It seemed the man was attracted.
“Lily is my farm manager, but also a good friend. She and I had a lot in common — the way we grew up.”
Brandon nodded. “Well, it just so happens that I like Auggie-style of women,” he said boldly, and Lily laughed, recognizing that she was being flirted with.
“Well, I don’t know. Shall I leave you two alone?” I joked, and Lily laughed even more. Actually, it was more like a girlish giggle. It was sweet to witness.
“I was coming up to talk to you about Lightning Sal. She’s doing really well, and I think she’s ready for the track. Thought you might want to let her owners know.”
I nodded and made a mental note. “Brandon, why don’t you tell Lily a bit about yourself and the kind of trouble we used to get into. I’m going inside to check with Letty about dinner.”
They barely noticed me leaving, and I realized I’d just lost a beau. I went inside and found Worth standing in the doorway.
“Did I miss the party invite?” he said sarcastically.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m home early and I can’t help but notice that Brandon’s car is in the drive. You didn’t expect me so soon?”
“Didn’t realize I had to clear it with you first. Brandon was invited for dinner, and I’m on my way to talk to Lettie.”
Worth didn’t look like he believed me. He looked over my shoulder and saw Lily’s profile. “What’s going on out there?”
“Lily came up to talk to me — farm business. Make yourself a drink and go ahead and join them. I’ll be back out shortly.”
“Hmph.” He turned on his heel and went upstairs.
I shrugged and went into the kitchen to see where Letty was with dinner. “Our guest list has increased by one and the others are home early,” I told her and she nodded. Nothing could shake her.
By the time I got back out to the patio, Worth had changed to casual attire and joined the other two. Brandon was telling a joke — one that Lily found hilarious, judging by her laughter, but Worth was just barely smiling.
It was going to be a long night.
Worth
I hadn’t been to Joe’s in ages. When I walked in, it smelled like home — if not better. Home had become a war ground. Intense resentment and anger floated about like sludge on a pond. I knew Auggie was deep down angry. She felt betrayed on behalf of the children. I got that. What I didn’t get was how she separated her own culpability. She had gone along with everything I’d suggested without so much as a whimper or question. What had been good for me, was good for her too. Why didn’t she see that?
I ordered a beer at the bar and got a good look over from the other patrons.
“Where you been, Worth, ol’ boy?” came a few voices. When had I gone from “my boy” to “ol’ boy?” I gave out a general wave and realized then that there was no tweed, patch-pocket jackets as in the old days. The faces I saw were generally in my own age range. The torches had been passed, and mine had been one of the first.
I felt some movement to my left and looked to see Tom Duncan sliding over to the stool next to me. “Been a while,” he said, nodding.
“Yes, it has.”
“That’s a pretty nice place Auggie and you built out there. I hear lots of talk ‘bout it.”
“Is that so. Well, thank you.”