Page 8 of Play the Field

Once I was parked, I pushed off the ignition and grabbed my duffel from the back seat. I sucked in a deep breath of fresh country air as I walked around to the front of the house. Daniel had asked me to park around back to reduce the odds of the paparazzi swarming his kids on their way to school.

With any luck, it would be some time before anyone realized I was back in New Winford. But as I trudged up the hill to the front door of my former childhood home, I knew it was only a matter of time.

I tried to shake the feeling as I walked up the flagstone path.

Before I could even walk up the steps to knock on the door, it swung open.

A nervous smile from my brother greeted me. “Hey, kid.”

“You’re only three years older.” I rolled my eyes, trying to stop the smile at the corner of my mouth from spreading to my cheeks.

Daniel opened his arms for a hug. “I know, but it bothers you so I’ll keep doing it.”

Wrapping my arms around him, we gave each other a light squeeze and a couple of pats on the back before separating.

“Hungry?” Dan clapped his hands together.

I nodded and followed him inside. From the kitchen, I could hear a sizzling pan and some light music. When I walked inside, Daniel’s wife waved at me.

“Hey, Meredith.” I smiled at her, offering a soft wave.

Even before any words left her mouth, I knew she was hesitant about my presence. And I couldn’t blame her. If all I heard was what the tabloids wrote about, I wouldn’t want someone like me anywhere near children.

But she smiled at me anyway. “It’s good to see you. It’s been a while.”

I nodded. “Yeah, that’s on me.” Swallowing hard, I looked down at the counter. “Is there anything I can help with?”

“Nope, we’re just about ready. Babe, can you get the kids?” Meredith turned to Dan.

Walking toward the hallway, Dan hollered at his children. “Guys, dinner is ready and your aunt is here.”

Meredith rolled her eyes. “I mean, I could’ve done that.”

I shook my head as I laughed. “Glad to see he hasn’t changed.”

Before she could even respond, Meredith’s eyes darted up to the stampede storming down the hallway. Two sets of heavy steps pounded against the creaky hardwood floors.

“Hi, Aunt Cat!” The little voices said in unison.

Laughing, I knelt to hug the two kids. “How are ya?”

At eight and five, Lily and Jacob had no idea what kind of baggage I’d lugged into the house. They were just excited to spend time with their aunt who always brought expensive gifts.

Lily nodded. “Good.”

“Me too.” Smirking, Jacob copied his older sister.

As Dan walked past, he ruffled his kids’s hair and grabbed a stack of plates from the cabinet. Handing them to Meredith, he looked over his shoulder. “Kids, take your seats, please.”

They took off toward the dining room, just on the other side of a pass-through from the kitchen. Hoping up onto their chairs, the two of them got comfortable while Meredith dished out fajitas.

“That looks and smells amazing, Mer.” My mouth started to water as I peeked into the still-crackling pan.

She smiled, pride beaming on her face. “Thanks. It’s a new recipe so hopefully, it’s worth the effort.”

Dan kissed her cheek as he started to take plates to the table. Behind him, I grabbed another two plates.

After dishing for herself, Meredith trailed behind to the table where we set down plates and took our seats. The table was the same one that had lived in this room thirty years ago when my parents first bought the house.

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