Page 10 of Call It Love

“She moved to Florida to be closer to her grandchildren.”

I nodded. I wasn’t surprised since she’d always taken two weeks of vacation in the summers to visit with her family. Chase never denied her leave, even though it was a busy time of year on the farm. “Your girlfriend has good taste.”

His head cocked to the side. “Why would you think that?”

Damn it. Why did I have to say that?“I, uh, it just looks so clean and nice and, well, pretty sure these aren’t your clothes.” I plucked at the sweatshirt. I hated that I sounded jealous. I forfeited that right a long time ago.

“Are you saying I can’t keep a clean house because I’m a guy?”

Without thinking, I responded to the teasing tone in his voice. “Well, you were always kind of a slob…”

It must have sounded too familiar, because he grew serious once again. He leaned back and drummed his fingers along the arms of his chair. “I guess Igrew up.”

He definitely had. He’d always been tall and strong, but now his muscles stretched the material of his t-shirt. If he had given me his clothes, they would have been way too big. Again, he seemed to piece my thoughts together.

“I guess I’m too busy in the fields to make much of a mess in here. For the record, the clothes belong to Bristol. She pops over sometimes to help me with some of the equipment. If she gets too dirty, she likes to take a quick shower and change into something clean before she heads home, so she leaves some things here. Em and Mama Rae keep us fairly well fed and help with other things as well.”

The relief I felt about his update was misplaced. I had no right to be jealous.

But just because the clothes belong to his younger sister doesn’t mean he doesn’t have someone special in his life, I reminded myself.

Pushing that thought aside, I focused instead on the other half of his comment. Warmth filled my heart when I thought of Mama Rae, Emalee’s mom. She was another person on the list of those I missed. Mama Rae had become like a second mother to Chase and his sisters after they’d moved to Sterling Mill when they were kids and stepped into an even bigger role after their grandparents had passed. While Chase and I were dating throughout high school, she’d gathered me under her wing as well. It was a welcome benefit, since my mother obviously wouldn’t win any mother-of-the-year awards. She wasn’t cruel or neglectful; she’d just been beaten down by life—namely my father.

I’d been close to Chase’s sisters, too, as well as Emalee. I wondered what they’d think if they knew I was back under the roof where I’d spent so much of my time.

Em would probably be kind. That was just her nature. Even after I married Mason and returned hereevery few months, she’d offer me a kind smile and ask how I was. I’m not sure she ever bought into my reply that I was fine. Bristol became indifferent, likely protecting her own feelings as much as her brother’s. But Cameron, Chase’s twin, never ceased to glare at me. She’d probably be happy to see how the mighty Mrs. Washington had fallen.

Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe I should ask Chase for a ride into town and stay…where? But that wouldn’t be his problem.

“Chase, I’m really grateful. Would it be too much to ask if you can give me a ride into town or?—”

“I’m not going out in that rain this late. You’re welcome to stay here,” he said, standing abruptly. “The guest room is always fresh because it’s not uncommon for Iain or Abby to have a spontaneous sleepover out here. We can talk in the morning.”

Tears pricked at the back of my eyes. Despite everything that had happened between us, he was still willing to look out for me, just as he used to.

“I—”

“There are clean towels in the bathroom, along with new toothbrushes and toothpaste in the drawer. Morning starts early, but it should be quiet since we’ll be in one of the outer fields. Make yourself at home.”

“Thank—”

“Good night.”

When he said things could wait, I guess he meant it.

I mumbled, “Good night,” as I watched him grab a candle and retreat from the room with long strides, almost as if he couldn’t wait to get away from me.

Exhaustion swept over me as I quietly called for Jack. I practically tiptoed down the hallway toward the room Iknew he intended for me. As I opened the door, a wave of nostalgia threatened to pull me under.

Unlike the living room, this room remained untouched by the years—same metal-framed bed draped with the familiar block-patterned quilt, the same ancient cedar chest at the foot of the bed, and the same floral curtains framing the window. How many times had I spent here, waiting for Chase to sneak out of his room and snuggle with me? We’d never risked doing anything more; we saved that for other places known only to us.

Even now, as I slid beneath the cover, I half wished he’d come and hold me and promise me everything was going to be all right.

Instead, I curled myself tightly around the down pillow with Jack resting at my feet.

Chapter 4

Chase

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