As Tears Go By (26 page)

“She’s
a sweet girl. Her friends are a little off, but your mother’s enjoying them.”

He
chuckled, and his dad sighed.

“I
remember staring at open land the same way you are now. I’d just married your
mother without really thinking things through. Her father was trying to kill me
every chance he got and I knew I screwed up. But there was something in my
heart that told me I’d do it all over again, just to have your mother as my
wife.”

“Is
that when you built the big house?”

Frank
made a gruff sound. “A house is a huge undertaking. I’ve always been impressed
with your ability to go out and build things from nothing, Braydon. Most people
don’t possess that sort of vision.”

“You
did.”

His
father shook his head and kicked a bit of dirt with his boot. “I cut down a
tree.”

“What?”

“I was
pissed off at the world. I had no money, no way of buying a home. My dad gave
me a plot, but what the hell good was that with nothin’ to put there? When I
started dating your mother, I carved our initials in a tree. After we eloped I
did a lot of hiding. I was hiding from her father, maybe hiding from her a
little too.

“I
wound up standing right in front of that tree. As I stared at our weathered
initials and the word ‘forever’ carved beneath them, I felt like the greatest
failure. I was so furious with my shortsightedness, I went to my truck, grabbed
my ax, and chopped down the tree.”

“Why?”

“Because
I promised her forever and I couldn’t deliver. I was just a kid. That night, I
went to face her father—and her. It had only been a few weeks. I thought if we
acted fast, maybe the marriage could be annulled, and Maureen could marry a
decent man that could provide for her the way she deserved.”

Yet,
here they were, nearly forty years later. Something had to have stopped his
father from getting that annulment. “What happened?”

“Your
grandfather tried to shoot me again.” Frank chuckled then turned serious. “I
couldn’t see how our marriage was going to work. We were up against so many
complications. When I sat her down to tell her just that, she surprised the
hell out of me by confessing she was pregnant.”

“With
Kate?”

He
shook his head, an expression of sadness weighing on his face like nothing
Braydon had ever seen. “No. This one would have been named Mary, after
Maureen’s mother.”

Braydon’s
lips parted with shock. His heart raced, as his eyes remained unblinking. His
parents never spoke of suffering such a loss. “I didn’t know.”

“We
don’t mention her. Your mom lost her early on.”

“You
knew it was a girl?”

“We’ll
never know, but your mother swears it. Says she could tell.”

He
didn’t know what to say.

“Once a
year we go up to the far end of the north side. There’s a copse of weeping
cherry blossoms there. She was so early, there really wasn’t anything to…you
understand. So I planted trees and had a stone carved with Mary’s name on it. I
brought your mother there and wrote down all of our hopes and dreams, all of
our promises, and we buried them there under Mary’s stone for her to keep.”

The
hair covering his arms stood on end as the sentiment sent chills down his
shoulders. “I’m sorry, Dad.”

He
nodded. “I promised your mother a home and a family so great she’d never feel
that sort of hollow emptiness again.” He cleared his throat. “The night she
lost the baby I told Paulie and Colleen everything that happened. Paulie went
with me to find the tree I cut down a few weeks before. Part of me felt like
when I cut that tree I…” His father lost his composure for a moment and Braydon
turned, pressing a comforting hand to his shoulder.

He
gathered himself and continued. “For some reason I felt like that tree was
connected to Mary, to us and our future. We brought it to the top of the
mountain and now it sits in the wall beside our bed. I built your mother the
house she deserved and I think we’ve done all right making it a home.”

Braydon’s
lips tightened into a sad smile. “Yeah, you did, Dad. The big house is a
masterpiece.”

“You
kids make it so. Your mother and I would love to see you come home and make a
life here, Braydon. This is where you belong.”

“It
wouldn’t be the life I predicted.”

“Only
fools and prophets try to envision God’s plan, Braydon. Regardless of what your
mother thinks, you’re not Christ.”

He
laughed. No he certainly wasn’t. “I have to get her to marry me first.”

“Like
every other man alive and in love, you give it your best and hope she takes
pity on your soul and says yes. Show her what you’re capable of. Build her a
home that’s more than just a house. Make her see the promise of your future
together. Family thrives on this land and something tells me she’s meant to be
here.”

“I
think so too.”

A
stream of cackles and the loud tear of small engines ripping over the distance
interrupted their conversation. He frowned. “Did they take out the quads?”

“Oh,
the Devil took your guests for a ride. Alec’s napping. Poor fool had no idea
what he was marrying into. I can sympathize.”

The
quads drew nearer and Braydon turned. Sheilagh and Nikki shared one and Carla
and Becca were on the other. Carla was driving and Becca’s screams echoed
through the trees. “At least they’re wearing helmets.”

“At
least. Come on, let’s go rummage through the leftovers.”

* * * *

It
didn’t take long for Braydon’s mother to get wind of his plans. Normally, he’d
be aggravated by her interference, but being that she was campaigning hard for
everything he wanted, he didn’t try to stop her.

Sheilagh
and Alec left for Princeton Saturday morning. Nikki and Carla left Saturday
afternoon, but before they left Carla demanded one last trip to O’Malley’s to
say goodbye to Kelly.

The
house seemed quiet once everyone departed and he finally saw what Sheilagh
warned him about with the flirtatious glances his father would send his mother.
He had to remind them several times they still had guests in the house, but it
was nice to see his parents still so in love.

“Ma!”
he yelled, walking in on another game of grab ass.

“Sorry,
love. You’re father’s a virile man.”

He held
up a palm. “Stop, before I need a cleaver to carve out my mind’s eye.”

Maureen
winked at Becca. “What are you love birds up to this afternoon? You should show
Becca around the mountain. Maybe take her for a tour of the town. It’s nothing
like the city. There’s something magical about living in such a small town
where everyone knows everyone. Wouldn’t you agree, Frank?”

His
father gave a silent nod of agreement.

They
ended up driving around the mountain for most of the afternoon. Becca was
thrilled to spot a few stags, but the bear were nowhere to be found this time
of year. They drove into town and had dinner at a small diner, then strolled past
the darkened storefronts as Braydon pointed out each shop and gave a brief
description of each storeowner.

“You
know everyone,” she said with astonishment.

“Pretty
much. This is one of those towns where the butcher’s the mechanic’s son, and
the pharmacist’s nephew. The pharmacist’s wife is the preschool teacher and the
director of the preschool is the taxidermist’s daughter, who also happens to be
the clerk at the farmers’ market Ashlynn owns, thereby relating somehow or
another to the McCulloughs. There’re so many of us, we seem to have a
connection to everyone.”

They
passed the mechanic’s house located around the corner from Main Street. “Oh,”
Becca gasped. “Look at this place.”

Braydon
took in the old Victorian. “What is it you love about it?”

“It’s so
charming. You never see picket fences like that anymore. And look at those
shutters. It’s enchanting.”

“They’re
handmade by the local carpenter.” He made a mental note to give their home a
Victorian exterior. He’d talk to the carpenter as soon as he had the dimensions
and windows figured out. The picket fence would be a little tricky, being that
it would have to be high enough to act as security. He could manage it.

When
they returned to the big house, Becca was quiet. Braydon climbed into bed and
pulled her close, sensing her melancholy. “What’s wrong?”

She
sighed. “I miss Hunter.”

“We’re
leaving tomorrow. We can be home by ten if you’d like.”

“Kevin
doesn’t drop him off until late afternoon.” Her lips pursed. “But knowing him,
he’ll have no problem dropping him off early.”

“Maybe
you could call and tell him we’ll be back earlier than expected.”

“Thank
you for understanding.”

“Of
course.” He kissed her nose.

The
weekend had run its course and while it turned out to be a wonderful visit, he,
too, was anxious to return home and draw out some of his plans. That night
Becca’s mind was on her son and he sensed her homesickness. Rather than make
love, he simply held her as they talked softly about their pasts.

The
following morning, Becca was packed and dressed before Braydon even opened his
eyes. Knowing she was longing for her son, he hurried to make his goodbyes and
got them on the road by eight. His parents didn’t make the usual stink about
him leaving, because they knew he’d be back again soon.

When
they returned to Becca’s she pouted at the absence of her tree, still not used
to seeing her yard so empty. “The house looks lonely.”

He was
about to suggest they plant a new tree closer to the house, but he kept silent,
rather, deciding he’d plant an elm just like the one she lost in their new
yard.

Kevin
was scheduled to drop Hunter off that afternoon. Braydon wanted to get back to
his home office to start working on the plans for the house, so he said goodbye
to Becca shortly after carrying in her luggage. As he was starting his car
another car pulled in behind him. Braydon frowned. Looked like Kevin decided to
drop his son off a bit earlier than expected.

The car
blocking his exit beeped, and he met the other man’s stare in the rearview. He
was curious to see what sort of man Becca’s ex was.

Though
Becca planned to call him, she hadn’t yet. What would the man have done if they
were still out of town? Braydon wondered if her ex still treated her home as
his own at times. The thought made him uncomfortable.

Becca
emerged from the house, her eyes a bit nervous, but her excitement to reunite
with Hunter was evident in her pace. She pranced to the car and helped Hunter
out. Kevin climbed out as well and Braydon frowned. Did he usually stick
around?

Becca
worked to guide Hunter toward the house. Kevin followed her, talking at a fast
clip and glancing back at Braydon’s car as Hunter twisted in her grip and
laughed. He approached Braydon’s car and bounced, his small hands pressing on
the glass.

Bray
couldn’t leave without saying hello, especially since Hunter appeared excited
about his presence, which was beyond flattering.

Turning
off the car, he climbed out. “Hey, Hunter.”

Hunter
paced and laughed, but didn’t say hello, only registering Braydon’s greeting in
short glances fixated on his proximity.

“Hi.
I’m Kevin, Becca’s husband.”

Not
anymore.
Braydon
held out his hand. “Braydon McCullough.” This was awkward.

Becca
tensed. Hunter was commenting on various things and seemed to be in a fairly
pleasant mood. They stood in silence for a moment.

“What’s
your association with my wife?”

“Kevin,”
Becca said in an impatient tone.

There
was no need to beat around the bush. The guy knew they’d just gone away
together. “I’m dating her.”

His
face hardened at Braydon’s bluntness. “Doesn’t take long for you to move on, I
see,” he mumbled under his breath.

Becca
didn’t miss a beat. “I’m still light-years behind you. At least I waited for
the sheets to cool, but they were never really that hot to begin with.”

He
wanted to give her a high five, but kept his expression blank.
That’s it,
angel, don’t take any shit from this clown!

“And
whose fault was that?”

Whoa!
Braydon’s head
jerked in the other man’s direction, Hunter’s presence the only thing holding
him back from cleaning this asshole’s clock.

Becca’s
face flushed deep red. “I’m not discussing this with you. Pop the trunk so I
can get Hunter’s bag. Braydon, will you keep an eye on Hunter?”

“Sure.”
But he’d also be keeping an eye on the other man.

Her ex
followed as she moved to retrieve Hunter’s belongings. The man continued to
drill her with questions and accusations, but didn’t open the trunk.