Page 23 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
Chapter Eleven
Fee pushed away the plate of uneaten fruit and wholegrain toast. She was supposed to have small, frequent meals but her stomach churned at the idea of eating.
What would have happened last night if the new guest hadn’t appeared? The question wasn’t really a question because it was obvious. Their first kiss lit her up from head to toe and going by Tom’sresponse it’d had the same effect on him. His late wife hadn’t been on his mind then which would annoy him no end today.
Honourable, loyal men were a mystery. None of her mother’s transient boyfriends fitted the bill and the men she’d worked with were usually loners like her, or serial cheaters who believed what happened on the road stayed there. Tom had made a promise to one woman andwas determined not to break it for the rest of his life.
She popped a grape into her mouth and thought some more. From the moment she set eyes on Tom she’d been drawn to his quiet, laidback strength but the more layers she unpeeled the more fascinated she became. He was the opposite of urbane, sophisticated Pierre with his flexible morals and world-weary manner. Doctor Michael’s theorywas that she’d been searching for lasting love all her life and when smooth-tongued Pierre told her what she wanted to hear she’d refused to listen when other people warned her off him. No one ever mentioned a wife and child either because they genuinely didn’t know or perhaps didn’t consider it their business to tell her.
Absentmindedly, Fee spread low-sugar strawberry jam on her toastand took a big bite. Tracking down Mary-Jo was first on her to-do list for the day. The chatty girl could be a goldmine of information about Gina, and she needed to find out more about the woman Tom had loved.
There was no need to cut more wood but Tom didn’t know any more satisfying way of burning off the mixture of anger, frustration and flat-out resentment surging through his body.With the first swing of the axe he demolished his mother’s argument. He should have asked her whether she’d jump into bed with the first man who asked if his father suddenly died. The fact he’d be smacked from one end of the house to the other as soon as the words left his mouth was irrelevant. She was still wrong. So what if he was lonely? Lonely was better than dishonest.
Dishonest?Who’s the dishonest one? You wanted Fee last night and don’t deny it.
Honesty was both his strength and his failing because it left him nowhere to hide.
Tom swung the axe again and hit the sweet spot on the log, the perfect place for it to split right down the middle. He refused to think any more until he was dripping with sweat and a massive pile of wood was stacked up neatlyagainst the side of the shed.
From now on he’d treat Fee Winter the same way as every other guest. He might give his brothers a call and see if they were up for a few beers later to get him out of temptation’s way for a few hours. He collected the shirt he’d abandoned and trailed back into the house. Tom opened the fridge and reached for his aluminium water bottle but it wasn’t there.He checked the other shelves and on the door in case he’d set it in the wrong place. Slamming the door shut he grabbed a glass from the cabinet and filled it with cold water from the tap. Tom gulped it down before getting a refill and then opened the cinnamon rolls his mother had left behind. He blinked at the empty box. She’d brought four and they’d eaten one each which even with his debatable mathskills left two. Fee’s disappearing sandwich ran through his mind before he remembered the Waters’ children. Quentin came by earlier to complain about the poor quality of the kitchen utensils and the kids raced off through his house before their father corralled them. He could hardly accuse guests of stealing his food especially when they were already dissatisfied. Waters would no doubt insiston calling the police and Tom’s father was mad enough with him already without adding fuel to the fire.
He’d save his appetite for lunch. Today’s special was meatloaf and could be his reward after he’d grovelled to his father.
The joy came back, one shot at a time, and Fee’s stomach loosened and relaxed. Back in the cabin she popped the photo card out of her camera and into herlaptop to watch a slideshow of the pictures she’d taken around the lake over the last couple of hours.
There were several gorgeous shots of the sun filtering in through the trees. Close-ups of plants she couldn’t recognise but would research later. Best of all was a whole series of the same deer who’d returned to see her. Maybe that was a fanciful idea but for once she wanted to believethe unlikely. Its coy almost flirtatious expression as it met her gaze without blinking was priceless.
She checked her watch and realised it was well into lunchtime at the Mockingbird Cafe. She’d wait and go down later for a drink because the last thing she needed was to bump into Tom. Around two o’clock should work and while she was there she’d ask Ina when Mary-Jo would be back fromKnoxville. If she had time to spare she could check out the ice cream shop as well and meet Ina’s other daughter.
She lost herself in editing her new photos and the time flew by. Fee backed up her files to her USB drive and closed down her computer, but instead of leaving the laptop out she took it into her bedroom and hid it under the folded jumpers in her drawer.
Now she wasready for her fishing expedition.
Fee had skipped lunch so her idea of compromise was to order a slice of cake but only drink water. At the first forkful of soft white sponge topped with whipped cream and fresh coconut she tumbled head over heels in love.
‘Are you enjoying that?’ Ina asked.
‘It’s wonderful. Absolutely divine.’ There was no need to lie to gain the otherwoman’s approval. ‘I was hoping to see Mary-Jo again. Will she be in soon?’
Ina glanced up at the clock. ‘She hoped to be back in time to get Lulu from day-care at four. If she’s early I’m sure she’ll pop in here first for something to eat.’
‘Do you mind if I check my emails while I wait for her?’
‘Go ahead, honey. Let me know if you need anything else.’ Ina smiled andbustled away to see to a couple of new customers.
‘Hey, Aunt Ina. Did I leave my…’
Fee saw Tom, his face pale and strained, filling the doorway. After several long, dragged out seconds he blinked and focused his attention back on his aunt.
‘My phone. I think I left it here earlier. Did you find it?’
‘Sure did.’ Ina fumbled in the pocket of her red gingham apronand held it out to him. ‘I was goin’ to give it to Ms Winter here if you didn’t come back.’
A slow, heated blush crept up his neck colouring the thin strip of pale skin exposed by a brutally short, fresh haircut. Fee missed the gentle waves usually brushing the collar of his shirt. ‘That would’ve been fine,’ she interrupted, forcing him to speak to her. Tom grunted something she guessedmight be “thanks” and in return she flashed him one of her sweetest smiles.
‘Better be going, I’ve got work to do.’ He kissed Ina, gave a vague nod in her direction and strode out of the cafe, slamming the door behind him.
‘I thought his mama sorted him out this morning but seems to me he’s as antsy as ever,’ Ina declared with a loud sniff.
