Page 18 of Wildflower and Whiskey
“Shit. Well, I’m not leaving you and Braden here with him,” Luc declared.
“Dude, I’ve been taking care of myself for over a month now. We’ll be fine,” I said, making googly faces at Braden so Luc wouldn’t see how tight my chest got.
“If something happened to you guys, I’d never forgive myself. So call me selfish, but I need you to come hang out at the Thornes’. Take Braden for a walk through the orchards or something.”
“Fine,” I huffed, even though he wasn’t wrong. “But just because you’re the most selfless person I know. I don’t know how you even share genetics with Papa.”
“That isn’t fair. He had the love of his life die on him,” Luc reminded me.
I frowned, bitterness curling at the edges of my voice. “I know you were young, but they didn’t have a good marriage, Luc. I’ve told you this a hundred times. He was drinking ever since I could remember. Calling him a functional alcoholic is bullshit. Mom wasn’t happy. I remember her tears. I remember Helen consoling her.”
Luc sighed, and I could see him clinging to the fairy-tale version of our parents that he’d built in his head.
“You spent more time at the Thornes’ than you did here,” I pointed out softly. “Maybe you saw a fairy tale over there.”
“The Thornes are amazing people and a good family, but Helen took off. She left her kids behind after Mom died. How happy could she have been?”
“I ask myself the same question all the time,” I admitted, my voice dropping. “I always felt like there was more to Mom’s death than we ever knew. I was a stupid teenager back then. I spent most of my time getting drunk with friends. Maybe I was just emulating Papa’s bad behavior.”
Luc set down his fork and looked at me with those earnest eyes that made me feel younger than I was. “Maybe, but you’ve cleaned up nice. You’re doing a good job with Braden.”
My throat tightened, and I forced a smile. “Aw, thanks, little brother. I haven’t had a sip of alcohol since I found out I was pregnant. I’m determined to do right by him.”
“I’m proud of you,” he said, and I had to look down at Braden to stop from crying.
Luc waved us off a few minutes later. “Now both of you go on up and get ready.”
I smirked. “Why are you going over to the Thornes’?”
“If you would’ve let me finish what I was saying, then you’d know I’m asking Mr. Thorne for permission to officially date his daughter.”
My jaw dropped, then I grinned. “How chivalrous of you.”
“Elyna, that man was more like a dad to me than our own father. I owe it to him so he knows I respect him and Izzy.”
“Wow, I’m proud of you, Luc. Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Me neither, but things have changed.”
“Mind enlightening me?” I teased.
“No,” he said flatly.
I burst out laughing. “Go on and get yourselves ready.”
“Okay. Okay.” I rolled my eyes and headed upstairs with Braden to pack his bag.
I didn’t have a shift at the brewery, and I tried to stay away from the Thorne property when I didn’t work. Maybe because they were so keen on helping me, and I felt bad I was in a position where I needed the help. Or maybe it was I didn’t want to bump into Phoenix when we weren’t playing boss and employee. Truthfully, I was scared that I may ogle him and then what would he think? That I was playing a game like I did back in high school? I blinked the thought away. It didn’t matter. I was a single mom and Phoenix Thorne would never be interested in me. After packing a bag for Braden, I got dressed in my usual casual attire; a pair of jean shorts, a fitted heathered gray Henley T-shirt and a pair of white sneakers. Since I wasn’t working, I left my hair down and brushed it out, but it still had a wave to it. I don’t know why I was trying to look good. It felt like I was doing it for Phoenix but that didn’t make any sense because, as I already established, he wasn’t interested and we didn’t like each other very much.
Only that wasn’t right either because I did like Phoenix. Other than the fact he was handsome as hell; he was also kind.The way he stepped up and gave me a job and hours that worked for my schedule as a single mom to a baby. In a way, it felt like he watched out for me from a distance. I’d never had that before. Riley was selfish. He always went out and did his own thing. He never really cared about my well-being, even when I was carrying his son. We broke up before Braden was born, but he still kept coming around. He was there for the delivery and he offered me some money to help at first, but that happened less than a handful of times, until I realized he gambled away most of the handsome salary he made.
I went downstairs where my brother waited anxiously on me. I held Braden’s diaper bag on one shoulder and Braden on my hip, until Luc helped me get the stroller from the garage. Then we walked over to the Thorne property together. I was happy for Luc. He and Izzy getting together was a long time coming. There was an air about Luc that felt different. Like being with Izzy had finally made him grow up. But he was also happier. The guy was glowing. I didn’t want to believe in love. I never experienced it myself. I had boyfriends in high school, who I thought I loved, and some boyfriends through my twenties, but it seemed like I was always attracted to the wrong guy. I didn’t know what love was, maybe I still didn’t. But when I thought of Izzy and my brother, I knew it was true love. Those two had been best friends since they were little. They were always there for one another, through thick and thin. I knew when Izzy followed him to university, they would eventually figure themselves out. I just didn’t think it would take this long.
The air was on the cooler side this morning. I strapped Braden into the stroller, pulled his little baseball cap over his head, and we walked together down the road toward the orchards. The sign forMaple Valleystood tall at the entrance, and my chest loosened just a little at the sight of it. Luc veered toward the shed to find Izzy, leaving me to wander the orchardpaths with Braden. I breathed in the smell of apples and damp earth, trying to shake off the weight of last night. That was when I saw Phoenix.
He came from between the rows, shoulders broad, hair messy from work. His eyes locked on me immediately, sharp as always.
“Elyna,” he said, voice low.
