I put the bedrooms back to rights, and Wyatt and Julian tackled the kitchen. Once that was done, I wanted to go back and check on the kids. Julian re-showed me how to engage the security system, and the three of us went back to the main house.
I was shocked to discover Thomas and Willow sitting on a big overstuffed sofa, watching Frozen with surround sound. Isabel was snoozing peacefully, propped up in Thomas’s lap while he sat beside Willow with his feet up on one end of the in-home-theater-style furniture.
I did a double take as Willow shared her popcorn with Thomas. Julian and Wyatt had stepped in the room behind me, and I shot a glance at the two men, watching them grin in reaction to what Thomas was watching.
I smothered a chuckle. “Hey y’all.” I walked into the room.
“Oh.” Thomas checked over his shoulder, giving us a casual wave. “You’re back.”
Willow bounced on the fancy leather. “We’re having a movie night, Mama!”
“I see.” I walked around the big sectional sofa. “How’s Isabel? Any troubles?”
“None at all,” Thomas said casually.
“Frozen?” Julian asked his father. “Dad, you’re watching Frozen?”
“I’ve never seen it before,” Thomas said straight faced. “It’s a wonderful movie. I especially like how Elsa must learn to embrace her magickal powers…and no longer be frightened of them.”
He seemed to be looking right at me when he said that, but I shrugged it off.
“Sit with me, Mama,” Willow said. “You can have some of my popcorn.”
“How did everything go?” Thomas asked.
I sat on the big couch next to Willow, taking a handful of her popcorn. “Nothing that a little elbow grease couldn’t cure.” I said, purposefully keeping my answer vague in front of my daughter.
Julian stood behind me and rested his hand on my shoulder. “Maybe you two should stay here tonight.”
I reached back for his hand. “That’s probably a good idea.”
Wyatt plopped down in a chair to my left. “I love this movie.”
I snorted out a laugh. “You like Disney movies?”
Wyatt smiled as Willow started to sing along with the rock trolls. “Sure, what’s not to like?”
***
The following morning, Thomas announced he was taking Willow out to breakfast, and she was thrilled. I took the opportunity he’d given me to do a thorough cleaning of the cottage. He’d generously offered to send some of the staff over to help, but I wanted to do it myself.
It had dawned on me in the middle of the night that I had completely forgotten about Irene’s cookbook, and I was relieved the next morning to see that it was still in the cabinet above the refrigerator, exactly where I’d left it. I wiped down the kitchen cabinets, the inside of the refrigerator, re-mopped the kitchen floor, and scrubbed the devil out of every inch of the cottage. It made me feel slightly more in control. I was dumping the mop water down the kitchen sink when a knock sounded on the cottage door.
I opened it to find Wyatt holding a couple bags of groceries. The spring breeze had his brown hair blowing in his eyes. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a long sleeved, button down pale green shirt. The color made his eyes pop, and I immediately regretted my current choice of outfit.
“Good morning.” He smiled.
“Wyatt.” I smiled and tried not to be embarrassed that I was wearing a ratty old t-shirt, cut off shorts, and had my hair clipped in a messy twist on top of my head. I also tragically didn’t have a stitch of makeup on. My Grandma Taylor would be rolling in her grave. Southern ladies should always be prepared to receive a visitor. “Sorry,” I said pointing at my hair, “I’ve been cleaning, and wasn’t expecting anyone.”
“You look stunning just as you are.” He sounded sincere, and held out the bags. “I brought some things to replace what was ruined last night.”
“Oh.” I took the bags. “Thank you, that was very nice. Would you like to come in?” I stepped back and allowed him to enter.
He walked in and I took the groceries to the kitchen.
“It looks great in here,” Wyatt said as he followed me back.
“Thanks.” I set everything on the counter. “I’ve been scrubbing for an hour.”
To my surprise he nudged me aside, opened up the bags, and started to tuck things in the fridge himself. “I got you a carton of milk, more eggs, some ketchup and mustard.” He smiled over at me. “Basically, I replaced all your condiments.” He pulled out a jar of mayo and another jar of sweet pickles and put those in the fridge.
I reached in the other grocery bag, saw bags of flour and sugar. “Thank you.” I was touched at the thoughtfulness of his gesture. He’d noticed all the food that had been smashed or thrown around the kitchen and had replaced every single item.
He shut the refrigerator door and smiled at me. Good manners had me automatically ask him if he’d like to have a seat, but instead of going to the living room as I’d expected, he sat in one of the kitchen chairs.
Not sure what else to do, I went ahead and refilled the canisters, while Wyatt asked when the new security system would be installed.
“Thomas said they’d be coming tomorrow.” I folded up the empty bags of sugar and flour. “I’m sure we’ll be fine here tonight. Especially since I’m keeping the security system armed from now on. It was foolish of me not to use it. I guess I learned that the hard way.”
He pulled a card from his shirt pocket. “This
