Page 20 of And Then There Was Us
“Yeah, that’s one of my favorite memories. We were having a barbeque in my dad’s backyard with a few relatives and friends for my father’s birthday. That’s my dad’s thing, barbeques. Actually, from what Treat told me, it was something my mom started. She thought the sun filled our souls with happiness or something. Anyway, that day we all had so much fun. We all gathered around, you know, to watch him blow out the candles, and he was making a wish, and Josh asked him what he was wishing for, and all of us at the same time, even my dad, said,Mom.” Hugh shrugged. “Now that I think of it, we probably shouldn’t have laughed. He was serious, and so were we. We know how much he misses her, but it was still funny.”
“I think that’s so sweet.”
“What’s your favorite memory?” Hugh asked.
She shrugged. “I could say the day Layla was born, but it wouldn’t really be true. As wonderful of a moment that it was, it was painful and lonely and filled with mixed emotions. Probably my favorite memory was from when I was eight. It was right before my father left us. He took me somewhere, just me and him. I think it was a park, but I’m not really sure. It looked like a park, but there was a carousel, and he said I could ride it as many times as I’d like. Then we got cotton candy, and I just remember music and thinking that it was such a special day.” She looked down at the counter, remembering the next morning. “I realized later that that afternoon was his way of saying goodbye. He left the next day, and I never saw him again.”
“Bree, that’s awful.”
“No, it’s a happy memory. It’s just what came afterward that wasn’t happy. But at least I have that afternoon.”
She watched Hugh process the heaviness of what she’d revealed, and she felt guilty for telling him, but something told her that he wanted to know the truth, not a fabrication of her happiest memory.
He put his arm around her and kissed her cheek. “You’re right. At least you have that afternoon, and even if there’s something not so happy afterward, he gave you that memory to cherish.”
And there it was, the reason he needed to know. So she could see how he reacted. Now she felt validated in continuing to hold that afternoon in the high regard she always had without feeling like she shouldn’t. Her mother saw that afternoon for what it was. A big show so his little girl would always think of him in a happy light. Brianna knew it, too, but she didn’t care. She wanted to see him in that light. It was easier than seeing him as the man who left without anything bigger to block out the hurt.
“Would you like some coffee? Juice?” Hugh moved comfortably in his bare feet and he spoke easily, as if they’d been having breakfast together forever.
“Either’s fine, thank you. Can I do something to help?” She stepped down from the tall chair, and Hugh smiled.
“Don’t be silly. Sit. Relax. I never get to cook breakfast. It’s a treat for me.” He set a glass of orange juice and a mug of coffee before her. “French vanilla, hazelnut? Milk? What’s your pleasure?”
Your lips on mine again.“Mmm. French vanilla would be delicious.” She rarely splurged on flavored creamers. “Do you have Sweet’N Low or sugar?”
“Both.” He set out a little ceramic bowl with several different types of sweeteners in it.
“I feel like I’m in a restaurant,” she teased.
“You can thank my sister, Savannah, for that. She hired a woman who cleans the house and keeps my schedule. When I’m in town, she makes sure the house is fully stocked.” Hugh handed her a glass bottle of maple syrup.
“Your sister did that for you? Now I do wish I had a sister.” She laughed, but Hugh’s economic status was so far out of her league that even hearing about his lifestyle seemed unreal.
“Savannah thinks I need taking care of. She worries about all of us. I guess as the only girl, and without our mom around, she probably feels a sort of obligation.”
Brianna noticed his eyes soften when he spoke of his family.I have to stop noticing things about you.
“What time do you have to be at work today?” he asked.
“Ten.” She took a bite of a waffle. “Hugh, these are amazing. Thank you.”
“I have an appointment at ten, so you can either borrow a car or I can drop you off. Didn’t you say you wanted to buy Layla a birthday present today?” He finished his waffles and dished fruit onto his plate.
You remembered.“Yeah. I need to do that, but I’m sure I can take a bus to the mall.” She couldn’t eat more than a few bites.
“Nonsense. How late are you working? I didn’t even know bars opened at ten in the morning.” He pushed his plate to the side while he finished his coffee.
“I’m not working at the bar this morning. I’m helping my friend Claude in his studio. I should be out by one or so.” She stood to clear the dishes, and Hugh stood as well. He took the dish from her hands and began washing it while Brianna cleared the glasses.
He rotated away from the sink, and she knocked into his arm. “I’m sorry,” she said, feeling heat crawl up her chest.
“I’m not.”
His dark eyes stole her breath, and when he brushed her hair from her cheek, she shivered.
“Bree,” he whispered.
She was rooted to the floor by his sensuous gaze. Her pulse sped up. When he ran his hands up her arms and then took a long, slow stroke back down, Brianna threw caution to the wind. She lifted up on her tiptoes, but the distance to his lips was still too great. Hugh slipped his hands beneath her arms and lifted her onto the counter, then pushed himself between her knees and took her face in his hands.Oh, how I love the feel of your hands on my face. Leave them there forever. Please.
