* * *
“Why didn’t you tell me you’d offered her the house?” Drew stared at his father over the kitchen table. “Liam said she was looking for somewhere to live when she came in yesterday for the job interview, but never would I have thought you’d offer her the cottage.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” His father used tongs to take the bacon out of the frypan and dropped it on absorbent paper, then placed it in the warming draw. “April was part of this family and she needs a home for herself and those children. Seems like the obvious thing to do to me.” He cracked half a dozen eggs into a bowl, added milk, and whipped them until they were frothy. “Regardless of how and why you two broke up, we still look out for family. You know that. All I’m suggesting is that we reserve judgement until we have all the facts and until that time, treat April as we’ve always treated her.”
“But she’s not family anymore.” It sounded petty, but he couldn’t help it. Seemed as though everyone was welcoming her back with open arms. “She left me. Without a word. I’d have thought that was enough to break the ties we had.”
“You’re a grown man, Drew. I don’t understand the reasoning behind your bitterness. You’re sounding like a spoiled five-year-old child. You had something to do with this too.”
Drew didn’t understand either, but he couldn’t tell his father that. Instead he started setting the table for breakfast. Saturdays was the one day his father ruled the kitchen at breakfast time and he made the most of it.
“I don’t think you’ve gotten over her, to tell you the truth.”
“That’s exactly what I say.” Gigi breezed into the kitchen, her colorful caftan floating around her legs. “Unresolved love, if you ask me.” She poured herself a glass of juice and ignored the glare Drew gave her. “You should look inside yourself and stop being so pig headed, darling. You may think you’ve forgiven her, but I seriously doubt you’ve got any further than that.” She sniffed the air. “Don’t go burning that bacon, Atticus. We don’t need it tasting like old leather to make it palatable.”
“My breakfast day, my rules, and I happen to like my bacon crispy. Now get back on the other side of the counter, Gigi, and leave me alone.”
Gigi moved out of his reach and grinned at Drew. His father and aunt snapped at each other all the time, neither of them meaning half of what they said. A bit like him and his brothers and sister.
“Have you met her children yet?” His father brushed his fingers over his bushy grey mustache, his eyes watching Drew keenly.
Drew shook his head.
“Well, you’re in luck. Gigi called her last night and convinced her to come over later today. She’s moving into the rental this morning and since it’s only a couple of houses up the road, she agreed to stay for dinner.”
A hard thud hit him in the chest. Dinner, here? How the heck was he going to cope with her right under his nose? Drew had thought he’d have a couple of days to get used to seeing her around before she started work, but thanks to his darling aunt, it didn’t seem to be the plan.
“I, uh, I think I have plans.” I am such a coward!
Gigi patted him on the arm. “No, you don’t, darling. I looked at your online calendar before I called her. Nothing, nada, zilch. You’re trying to hide from her and it won’t work, Drew.” She pulled out a chair and sat at the dining table. “She needs family and I’m sure she would still consider you a friend too if you’d only drop this stiff shirt attitude of yours. It would make things easier for both of you if you could be civil to each other, especially as she’s going to be working for you. Seems the logical step to me.”
“I had nothing to do with that.” He slunk down in the chair and watched his father plate up breakfast.
“Doesn’t matter who employed her. You needed a nurse and by all accounts, she’s perfect for the job. As I said yesterday, Drew, she might need a friend and who better than you, dear boy.”
“I expected better of you than acting like a child that lost his favorite toy.” His father placed a plate of breakfast on the table in front of him and Gigi. “You’re a grown man with a stellar career. She’s a single mom with two kids and a burden on her shoulders. Help her out in the name of friendship, if nothing else. Your past history is just that. History.”
Drew poured himself a glass of water. “Why are you two pushing this so hard?”
“Because you’re acting like an idiot instead of the man I know you are.” Atticus sat down at the table, his own plate full in front of him.
Drew eyed his father’s loaded plate. “You’ve heard too much of this stuff is bad for you, right?” As much as he loved the taste of bacon, Drew was always careful he didn’t overindulge in fried food.
“Sure I do. And you know how good my cholesterol is, so don’t try and change the subject here.” He poured a generous serving of homemade hot sauce over everything on his plate. “April will be here for dinner and I’d appreciate it if you could show her that she has a friend in you. In all of us. The Hope family are renowned for being friendly and welcoming. Don’t go ruining our reputation now.”
Reputation? His father’s standing joke that he no longer found amusing. Sure,
