Page 80 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Tom surreptitiously glanced at Fee, pale and silent and wanted to kick himself for not being one step ahead of his family. It didn’t take a genius to guess what Fee intended on saying to him when they got back to Black Cherry. He’d come close to wringing Rayna’s neck when he found out what had been said but catching up with Fee was more important. Laterhe’d deal with his family.
Outside his cabin he slammed on his brakes and got out of the truck, running around to open her door. ‘Don’t even think about running off. We’re goin’ in here and you’ll listen to me first for a change before you say another word.’
Fee didn’t look at him as she got out and headed for the steps. Tom left her sitting on the sofa and disappeared into thekitchen to fetch them both a glass of ice water. He returned and set her glass on the table before taking his own over to the recliner.
‘I don’t know every detail of what was said because I was too worried about you to stand still and listen to Rayna but I got the gist. This is all my damn fault.’ He stifled her attempt to protest. ‘I should’ve sat them down and told them everything weeksago but I figured it was your business and it’d come out as they got to know you. I’m an idiot and you’d be within your rights to smack me.’ Fee’s solemn face gave him no clue as to what was going through her mind. ‘They love you. They don’t care if you’ve got a huge close family or none and the fact you haven’t lived in the same house your whole life is irrelevant.’ Tom tried to smile. ‘Whatthey hate is the fact I didn’t spell out every detail in the first place. They’re nosy.’ He risked moving across to sit next to her and caught a new sparkle in her eye that wasn’t there before. ‘As a family we’re very protective of each other. Too much sometimes but I kind of think it’s better than too little.’ He left it at that because the last thing he wanted was to imply her life was less completethan his own.
‘It is.’ She took hold of his hands. ‘I overreacted. All poor Rayna did was ask a few questions including where my mother lived. I should’ve given her a straightforward answer. It wasn’t a big deal but I made it one.’
‘Are you unsure of me? Of us?’ Tom hated asking but needed to know. ‘Have I rushed you into something you’re not ready for?’
‘I’m totally readybut I need to sort things out with my mother one way or the other before we make our own plans.’ A wry smile tugged at her mouth. ‘It would’ve been nice to know who my father is but that’s life.’
‘Shame about Allain.’
‘Yes, it was.’ Her quiet answer tore at him. This was one thing Tom couldn’t fix. ‘Are we good now?’ he asked.
‘I’d say we are.’ A slow, captivating smilecrept over her face. ‘Can we leave seeing your family again until tomorrow please? I need to apologise hugely to all of them, but especially Rayna.’
He yearned to saytheyshould be apologising toherbut kept his mouth shut. If he interfered she would gut him and hang him up to dry.
‘That’s right. It’s my place to sort it. Not you. Hate it don’t you?’ Fee’s spot-on summing upmade him wince. ‘You can do something useful and get some ice for my knee please.’
‘What about some painkillers?’
She shook her head. ‘Been there. Done that. Not a good idea. I know you’re talking about something innocuous but I’d better not. Ice and elevating it will do the trick.’
‘Maybe you should go to bed and rest.’
‘Going anywhere near a bed with you doesn’tusually involve resting,’ she retorted. ‘Perhaps my own cabin would be wiser.’
‘No way. What if you need help in the night?’
‘Oh, I give in. I’ll take up residence in your bed and let you fuss over me. Just for tonight.’
Forever sounds better to me. By the way her eyes widened Tom knew she’d read his mind. He wanted to cheer but satisfied himself with kissing her and whiskingher off to his bedroom.
As the pale morning sun sneaked into the room Fee lay in Tom’s arms and wished the next couple of days over with. A few weeks ago it took all her courage to walk into the Mockingbird Cafe and order a sandwich. Now she was expected to stand by Tom’s side while the whole town came to pay their respects to his grandmother. She’d be stared at. Questioned. Talked about.This could be tougher than any war zone.
‘I can’t imagine tryin’ to get through this without you,’ Tom whispered. ‘If it gets too much for you let me know and I’ll whisk you out of there.’
Fee nodded and snuggled back into his warm body.
‘How’s the knee?’
She flexed it gently. ‘Not too bad. I’ll know better when I get up.’
‘Make sure you sit down when youneed to, okay?’
‘Yes, Doctor Tom,’ Fee teased.
‘I’m looking forward to meeting your mother. How did she react to the idea of us visiting? I forgot to ask.’
‘I haven’t actually told her yet.’ She made an effort to sound casual. Tom eased her around to face him, deep frown lines etched into his face.
‘Are you crazy? You’re planning to turn up on the doorstep unannounced?’Plainly he couldn’t believe her. ‘Won’t she want to get ready? My mother spends days cleaning the house and baking a ton of food when she’s expecting visitors.’
