Balancing Act, page 12
“Her name is Willow. Willow Eldridge.”
Jace snapped his fingers. “The event planner. I’ve heard of her. She’s related to Helen McDaniel somehow, isn’t she?”
“She’s her niece.”
“So, how did a loner like you hook up with her?”
“It’s a pizza, not a hookup,” Noah snapped back. “I never figured you for a gossip, Jace.”
“I’m a bartender. Gossip is my wheelhouse.”
“Well, don’t gossip about Willow. She’s a nice lady. Emphasis on lady.”
Jace held up his hands in surrender. “My bad, bro.”
Both men turned to look at Willow as she emerged from the ladies’ room, putting a stop to the conversation. Noah noticed she’d tidied her hair, but she hadn’t put on any lipstick or touched up the minimal amount of makeup she wore. He liked that about her.
“Are we ready?” she asked him.
“Yeah.” Noah gave a nod to the bartender. “See you next time.”
“Pizza was great,” Willow added with a smile.
It seemed natural for Noah to place his hand on the small of her back as he opened the door for her and escorted her outside. They left the clack and clatter of the bowling alley behind and stepped into the quiet of the small town, settled down on a school night. A single streetlamp combined with the red, white, and yellow of the bowling alley’s neon sign to illuminate the parking lot. A gentle breeze swept the pine scent of the forest down from the mountains.
He walked her to his truck and opened the door for her. She observed, “You’re an old-fashioned guy, aren’t you?”
“The way my parents raised me.” Noah shut the door and walked to the driver’s side of his truck. He climbed into the cab and started the engine.
His stereo came on automatically and played the throaty, smoky voice of Norah Jones. As Noah pulled out of the Mountaineer Lanes parking lot, he tried to recall the last time he’d been alone in a vehicle with a woman. Maybe in the ambulance after the accident? He remembered a female paramedic. But no, there’d been two paramedics working on him that day.
And it had been a totally different atmosphere. That had been chaos. The vibe now was, well, intimate. He noted that Willow was tapping her foot. Don’t be nervous, Goldilocks. He was nervous enough for the both of them.
Which was stupid. Once upon a time he’d been a smooth operator. Once upon a time seemed like a lifetime ago. But he didn’t need to be smooth tonight. This was a ride home. Not a date. He cleared his throat and reached for something—anything—to break the silence. “So, what are you serving for supper at this shindig?”
“Steak,” she replied immediately, her tone holding a slight note of relief. “Rib eyes. There will be other choices for those guests who don’t eat beef, but Jake and Tess are Texans.” She then rattled off a menu that gave Noah a moment of regret for refusing the wedding invite.
When they exhausted the topic of the wedding, she appeared more relaxed. Noah was, too. They continued their drive in easy silence. So easy, in fact, that Noah did yet another crazy thing. He cracked open a window on his life.
“I am… I was… a firefighter.”
She waited for him to elaborate. When he didn’t, she said, “That was my guess. Are you on disability? Because of your leg?”
“I’m not disabled. The leg will heal with proper rehab, which I’m doing. Getting stronger by the day. I had another surgery in December. Hopefully, it’ll be the last.”
“Want to tell me what happened?”
“Nope. I don’t talk about it.”
“I figured that, too,” Willow said. “I understand. Believe me, I understand.”
Noah glanced at her. He could barely make out her features in the truck interior’s ambient light, but he could see the wry twist of her lips in the shadows. He wanted to ask her what injury she didn’t talk about, but he couldn’t do it. Not when he wasn’t prepared to share his own pain.
Frank Sinatra followed Norah Jones on his playlist, and the sound of “Summer Wind” filled the silence as he approached the entrance to the Raindrop Lodge property. There, he noted a line of three exiting cars waiting to turn onto the road. “Something going on at the lodge tonight?”
“Hmm?”
He slowed his truck and flicked his turn signal. “It’s late for guest departures.”
“Oh. Those aren’t guests. We closed to guests this morning. Those are probably members of the cleaning crew. My mother insisted that the lodge be deep cleaned top to bottom before wedding guests begin to arrive. That starts happening tomorrow.”
“Hmm.” Noah made the right turn into the property. “This is a busy road. That can be a treacherous intersection.”
“Oh, we know. Aunt Helen has been trying to get a stop sign approved for months. You do not want to get her started talking about it. She’ll go on quite the rant. I swear she will make a voodoo doll of the guy who issues permits and stick pins in him.”
Noah laughed. Again.
Willow directed him through the resort property toward the cabin where she and her children were staying. Approaching it, Noah debated what his next move should be. Just pull up in front of the cabin and wait for her to get out of his truck? Should he walk her to her door? That would be weird, wouldn’t it? Presumptuous. This wasn’t a date.
You invited them out, bought beer and pizza. That’s sort of a date.
What if she asked him to come inside for another beer or a nightcap? Should he accept? Her children weren’t there.
What would it hurt? He liked Willow Eldridge. She was attractive. She was intelligent and intriguing. That day he met her she’d charged into his home protecting her cub like the biggest, baddest mama grizzly in the forest. Tonight in the grocery store, she’d been a wounded little fawn who made him want to kiss her hurts and make them better.
Slow down, Tannehill. That way there be dragons.
Besides, she’d recovered fast. The woman who’d shared a pizza with him had her mojo back. She’d been friendly and funny and kind.
Very appealing.
He wanted to walk her to the door and give her a goodnight kiss. He’d like to cup her face in his palms and tilt her head up. He’d like to see the moonlight wink in her eyes before he slowly lowered his mouth to hers. He’d take his time about it, go slow and sweet. Taste her, explore a little. Hold her. Make it count.
It had been so long since he’d held a woman in his arms. She’d be warm, and he was so cold. He’d like to soak in her warmth.
Whoa. Just whoa. This intersection definitely needed a stop sign.
She was a mother with two kids, and he had no business thinking about kissing her. He’d just pull up and drop her off. He wouldn’t walk her to her door. She wouldn’t ask him in. If she did, he’d say no.
Wouldn’t he?
“This is it,” Willow told him as they arrived at what was literally the end of the road.
Noah pulled his truck into the cabin’s semicircular front drive. He shifted into park and hesitated. Was he going to lift his hand to the ignition switch?
Just as he started to move, Willow spoke. “I was leaving my husband the day he died because I’d discovered he’d had an affair and that his lover was pregnant. Today my former mother-in-law shared the news that the child—a boy—is now an orphan because his mother recently passed. My inlaws have taken him in to raise. He’ll be in their lives and, therefore, my children’s lives. In my life.”
Holy hell. What a kick in the balls. How did Noah respond to that revelation? He needed to say something, but all he could come up with was a low whistle followed by “Damn, Willow.”
She wasn’t done. “My mother-in-law wants us to move down the street and become one big, happy family. I love her, but that isn’t happening. That’s why I turned into a basket case in the dairy case. Thank you for being so kind tonight.”
With that, Willow Eldridge unbuckled her seat belt, exited the truck, and all but ran to the cabin door.
“Okay, then,” Noah said aloud. No wonder she’d been bawling in the grocery store. He would have skipped the dairy and gone straight to the beer-and-wine aisle.
He waited, ensuring she made it inside before shifting into gear and heading out. His mind was spinning. He’d known that something had hurt her, but having heard the details? Wow. Willow Eldridge might well be as battered up as he.
He was halfway back to the highway when his phone rang. Willow. “Thank you for tonight. You don’t know how much I needed the rescue,” she said when he answered.
“This wasn’t a rescue,” Noah said flatly, fiercely resisting that idea. He’d given her a helping hand—that was all.
“I guess you’d have an opinion on that as a firefighter.”
“Former firefighter,” he corrected.
“We’ll have to agree to disagree on the rescue part. I hope you’ll allow me to say thanks.”
He hesitated, then said, “That’s not necessary. You already thanked me.”
“Words aren’t enough. Let me do more.”
His heart went ka-thunk.
“I’m talking a fabulous meal. An open bar. Company and conversation if you want it. Solitude if you’d prefer. Noah, please be my plus-one at my brother’s wedding on Saturday?”
He drew in a deep breath. It’d be a mistake. He didn’t want to socialize. He wasn’t fit for it.
There was bound to be dancing. A dance with Willow? Holding her close. Sharing her heat. Yeah, right. On your bum leg? All he’d be able to manage was a sway.
However, they were serving rib eyes. He exhaled in a rush and asked, “What time shall I pick you up?”
“You look beautiful, Mom,” Lucas Prentice said to Genevieve as he offered her his arm to escort her up the aisle of St. Vincent’s Church.
“Thank you,” Genevieve replied. “I must say, you look outstanding yourself all decked out in black tie.”
Lucas fiddled with the bow tie at his neck. “I’m trying not to complain since I know this is what Tess wants. Jake would have been happy with us all wearing jeans and T-shirts.”
“At least you’re getting to wear your boots.”
“True.” Lucas leaned down and kissed his mother’s cheek. “So, shall we do this, mother of the groom?”
“Absolutely.”
Her second son escorted her up the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon. She sat in the front row next to her sister, who took hold of her hand and squeezed it. Helen had regaled her with tales of her travels over a long lunch earlier in the week, and Genevieve had suffered a severe case of FOMO about missing Tahiti and Bora-Bora. But Genevieve was a good sister. She’d listen to Helen’s stories and hear how much fun she’d had. Without Genevieve.
At the altar, the men took their places. Lucas stood beside Jake. Gazing at her sons, Genevieve could feel her heart give a little hitch. She leaned toward Helen and spoke softly. “Isn’t it wonderful to watch Lucas standing up as Jake’s best man? A year ago, they weren’t speaking and avoided each other like the plague. Today, their grandfather’s estate issues are settled, and the boys are back to being brothers. I’d begun to lose hope the healing would ever happen.”
“It’s a happy day,” Helen replied.
And it was. Brooke and then Willow marched down the aisle and took their places as attendants to the bride, followed by the flower girl and ringer bearer, Emma and Drew. Genevieve got a little misty-eyed as she viewed her children and grandchildren standing at the altar. She couldn’t help but be sad that David wasn’t here to share this beautiful family event.
At the signal from the organist, Genevieve rose to her feet. Her heart filled with joy to see the love shining in Jake’s eyes as he watched his bride walk down the aisle to join him.
The church was packed. Tess, who had no blood family, had family nonetheless. She’d been bubbling for days over how many of her friends had accepted their invitations. Genevieve couldn’t understand why the young woman was so surprised. Everyone who knew Tess loved her.
Her heart full, Genevieve’s gaze drifted away from the happy couple and touched on Willow. Her daughter shone in her role as an event planner. Everybody around town was talking about it. Willow’d had everything organized and running smoothly as the guests began to arrive. With Maggie and Tom in town, Genevieve had even been relieved of babysitting duty. That had been both a joy and a regret.
She wouldn’t have missed a minute of these past three months with her grands. And yet, what she would have given to go with Helen on her trip. How to fulfill these two parts of herself ? Three parts, she amended as her gaze returned to the bride and groom. She focused on Jake’s face. He looked so much like his father. So handsome. So full of life and love as he spoke his vows to the woman he loved. David, you would be so proud.
Now her teary eyes overflowed, and she reached for the handkerchief she had ready in the hidden pocket of her gown. Dang it, my mascara will run. I’ll be a raccoon in all the photographs.
Then, like always, just when she needed it, Helen slipped her arm through Genevieve’s and gave it a squeeze, offering silent comfort and support. Genevieve made it through the rest of the service with dry eyes, taking dozens of mental photographs.
“Wasn’t it a beautiful ceremony?” she observed as she and Helen settled back into the car taking them to Raindrop Lodge for the reception.
“Just lovely,” Helen agreed. “Tess and Jake make a gorgeous couple. I’ll tell you who else makes a gorgeous couple—Willow and Noah Tannehill.”
“He’s a fine-looking man. I’ll admit this date caught me by surprise. The first I heard about it was this morning when she told me she and the kids wouldn’t be sharing this car with us out to the lodge. She was so busy I didn’t have a chance to quiz her about it.”
“Oh, I have the scoop on that.”
“You do?” Genevieve whipped her head around to stare at her sister. A ribbon of hurt fluttered through her. I’ve babysat Willow’s children darn near daily for the past three months. Helen has been on the opposite side of the world for over a month, and she knows more about what’s going on in Willow’s life than I do?
Genevieve had thought she and Willow had made significant progress over the past year. Guess she’d been wrong. “What do you know?”
Helen explained about running into Willow, Noah, and the children at the bowling alley. “Drew told me he’d invited Noah to the wedding, but he didn’t think he’d come. I, of course, encouraged it. I like to think I may have helped a little bit in facilitating his presence here this evening.”
“Hmm.” Genevieve had heard about the sleepover at Auntie’s house, of course. The children mentioned it at the rehearsal last night. They hadn’t mentioned Noah Tannehill. Neither had Willow breathed a word about the man until she’d mentioned he’d be driving her to the reception.
“Willow and Brooke both look lovely in pastel green. Tess couldn’t have chosen a more flattering color for her attendants. It was nice of her to include Jake’s sisters in the wedding party, don’t you think?”
“I do.” Tess is thrilled to have sisters. She told me so. She tells me things. Even living a thousand miles away in Austin. “I’m thrilled to have Tess join our family. I love her.”
“Me, too.” Helen nodded. “It’s nice that the Eldridges can join us, though it must be a difficult, bittersweet moment for them. The last Prentice-family wedding they attended was when Willow married Andy. I’m sure they always miss him, but it must be worse at times like these.”
“Have you spoken to Maggie and Tom this week?” Genevieve asked.
“No. Maggie stepped out of their cabin as I drove by one day, but I was late to a meeting and didn’t have time to stop and talk to her. We exchanged waves.”
“Hmm. That’s about all I’ve managed, too. It’s been such a crazy-busy week, and I know Willow was grateful to have the extra help with the children because your week was jam-packed, as well. I hope to get the chance to visit with them tonight. They’re still family, as far as I’m concerned.”
“Speaking of family, I don’t want to be Debbie Downer at a happy event, but you need to know this because she’s working tonight. Our manager gave notice this afternoon.”
“Lana did? No! Why?”
“Her husband has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She’s going to devote all her time to his care.”
“Oh no. I hate to hear that. I knew she was worried about the possibility.” Genevieve clicked her tongue. “I saw him at the store earlier this week, and I could see a significant decline from the last time we met. Alzheimer’s is such a horrible disease.”
“It is. And scary. It’s one of those great ‘what-if ’ diseases. I swear, Genevieve. I’m praying for pneumonia. Dr. Theimer always said pneumonia was God’s gift to old people. A heart attack wouldn’t be bad, either, as long as it was the widow-maker type. Do they call it a widower-maker when a female has one?”
“I don’t know. Can we change the subject, please? This wedding is a happy event.”
“Fine.” Helen paused a few beats, then added, “I worry about strokes, too.”
“Helen!”
Her sister laughed and patted Genevieve’s lap. “I’m done. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for the cocktail hour and the appetizers. That truffle mac and cheese is calling to me.”
Traffic slowed down unexpectedly at that point. Genevieve noticed but didn’t overthink the delay until their car came to a complete stop. Helen leaned forward and spoke to the hired driver. “What’s up?”
“Don’t know, ma’am. Traffic has come to a standstill.”
Genevieve frowned. Willow was still back at the church, her presence required for after-ceremony photographs. Genevieve knew she had hired off-duty policemen to facilitate traffic at the entrance to the Raindrop resort. Maybe Willow should make a call.
She slipped her phone from her evening bag and dialed her daughter. The first call went to voice mail, so she tried again. This time, Willow picked up. “Mom?”
“Just thought you should know traffic is shut down on 16.”
“You’re kidding.”
