A Perfect Homecoming

While waiting for the water to boil, she considered Paula’s house. Aunt Viv had mentioned that the older couple who’d owned the house for longer than Ashleigh had been alive had passed away within weeks of each other. Rather than putting the house up for sale in the depressed real estate market, their children had chosen to update and rent out the home. Ashleigh hadn’t been upstairs yet, but more than likely, the Cape Cod contained a full bath and two bedrooms on the second floor, one for each of the boys. Paula’s bedroom appeared to be the only bedroom on this floor. Where did that leave Ashleigh?

She sighed. Looked like she’d have to make do with the living room sofa for who knew how long. The one decent hotel was fifteen minutes out of town and that would make school mornings more hectic than necessary. Plus, if Ashleigh didn’t sleep in the house, then Paula would have to get up with the boys if they needed something during the night.

The teakettle whistled. Since there were several tea flavors to choose from in Paula’s cabinet, Ashleigh decided to ask if she’d like a cup. Not like in the past when they could practically read each other’s minds. Or at least not complain if the wrong kind of tea was brewed for them.

Ashleigh started back down the hall as Kyle exited Paula’s bedroom.

“I’m giving them some time alone,” he told Ashleigh, implying she shouldn’t interrupt Paula and her boys.

“Asking Paula if she wants tea will only take a second.”

“She never passes up a cup of tea,” Kyle said. “Any flavor that’s decaf.”

Ashleigh hated when he answered a question before she could ask it. Or maybe she hated the fact that he knew her sister better than she did.

She turned on her heel, annoyed when he followed her to the kitchen.

He pulled out a cup of his own from the cupboard when she didn’t offer him one and brewed himself a single cup of coffee.

“You’re pretty comfortable here,” she said before she could stop herself.

“I come over a few times a week,” he said. “Dinner, helping with Mark’s homework, yard work. You know.”

She nodded, even though she didn’t know. The last few months of their marriage, he’d put in so many hours at the hospital that she’d barely seen him. Eating one meal a week together, maybe two if she was lucky, had been the extent of their interaction. Much less time than he’d been giving her sister and nephews.

There were countless comebacks on the tip of her tongue, but she held them in, unwilling to begin a fruitless argument.

Kyle took lemon juice from the fridge and held it out. “For Paula’s tea.”

Ashleigh’s fingers shook as she took the bottle and added a splash to the tea. How could she have forgotten how her sister preferred her tea? Had two years turned them into strangers?

Kyle sipped his coffee, set the cup on the counter and pulled out a spoon, efficiently swirling the liquids in Paula’s cup together. When he picked up the cup to take it to her sister, Ashleigh realized she’d been mesmerized, remembering how those fingers used to manipulate her until she lost complete control of both body and soul.

Kyle left with Paula’s tea. Ashleigh didn’t argue, needing a minute to slow her breathing. She sat at the kitchen table and dunked her tea bag up and down, staring at it until her eyes blurred.

“Hi, Aunt Ashleigh!” Mark’s sudden appearance in the kitchen doorway startled her.

“Mark! You’ve grown so much!” Ashleigh stood to hug the grinning nine-year-old who came almost to her collarbone even in her three-inch wedge heels. She was about to ask how school was going, but he ran off when Ryan called him.

Mark was no sooner gone than Kyle appeared in the kitchen doorway. “I’ll help the boys move Ryan into Mark’s room before I go.”

“I don’t want to kick him out of his room.” She stared at the swirls in her tea.

“He’s fine with it,” Kyle said. “Mark has bunk beds.”

Of course he’d already finalized details. He practically lived here.

“Scott doesn’t mind you spending so much time with his family?” The snotty question flew from her mouth before she could stop it.

Two years ago she’d have done anything to get him to show a little emotion. She’d gone so far as to divorce him, but even that hadn’t produced a reaction. Now he was silent until she turned to look at him and realized with alarm that she’d made him angry. Narrowed eyes and pursed lips were his tell.

Yep, definitely angry.

She wasn’t sure if she’d been trying for that reaction or not. Maybe she’d wanted some kind of response from him. Anger, joy, resentment, pleasure. Anything but steely control.

Whatever his emotion, Kyle’s words were deliberate. “Before he was deployed, Scott asked me to look after his family. If you have a problem with it, then maybe you should go back to your life in Richmond.”

A slap in the face would have been less painful than his contempt.

Ashleigh kept a tight rein on her own emotions. Act cool. “Whatever.”

“No, not ‘whatever.’” His voice rose in volume as he set his coffee down too fast. It sloshed over the top and onto the table. He turned to the sink for a paper towel, jerking the roll so hard that the sheets unraveled. He tore off a single sheet and cleaned up the mess in one infuriated swipe.

He held the used towel over the trash can and glared at Ashleigh. “I get why you’re here. Your sister needs you. Your whole family needs you.” He slammed the lid closed on the trash can. “Just don’t take your failings out on the rest of us.”

Ashleigh stood so quickly her chair nearly tipped over. “My failings?” Such nerve. So he did blame her for the miscarriages. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

He shrugged. “Physically.”

What did he want from her? Didn’t he realize how difficult this was? Coming back to the town where her life had fallen apart?

She stepped to the opposite counter, her back to him. A single tear rolled down her cheek—she’d be damned if she’d give him the satisfaction of seeing her wipe it away.

“I get it.” Her voice was hoarse with emotion. “You don’t want me here.”

“If only that were true.”

Before she could spin around and ask what he meant, he and his coffee had vanished from the kitchen.

CHAPTER THREE

“THIS IS PURR-FECT,” Paula said on a sigh to Kyle, and took another sip of her tea. “Thank you.”

“Ashleigh’s idea.” He spoke more harshly than he intended. No need to take his frustration out on his sister-in-law. “Hungry?”

She narrowed her eyes and tipped her head. “I could eat. The kids are probably hungry, too.”

“Anything in particular?”

“A couple of friends stopped by with casseroles, but I’m not sure what’s there. I told them to stick the food in the fridge.” Paula set her cup on the bedside table and straightened herself up against the pillows. “Amazing how quickly news gets around this town.”

“Tell me about it. I’ll go check it out and let you know what’s there.” He was about to leave but stopped at Paula’s next words.

“You’re staying for dinner, aren’t you?” Paula’s expectant look told him she didn’t want to be the only adult in the house with Ashleigh.

“Sure.” He couldn’t hold back his grin. He gave her a wink and chuckled. “As long as you promise not to let your sister get to you.”

She sighed. “I’m trying.” Then she groaned and threw her head back. “Believe me, I’m trying.”