Finding Home (9 page)

Eight

“Now, where are you going?” my mom asked as I walked downstairs with my packed duffle bag.  It was quarter to five and I was anxious for Brandon to get here. 

“Rome Lake.  Brandon’s grandparents have a cabin up there.  His family’s going up there and he asked me to come.”

“An overnight trip?” I could tell she was uneasy by the way her eyebrow raised.

“Yes, Mom.  I’ll be home Sunday morning.”

“Brandon’s parents will be there though, right?”

“Relax, Mom.  It’s only Brandon,” I said, even though I knew he wasn’t only Brandon anymore. “I’m twenty-one also.  Not a baby anymore.”

“I know,” she said, walking by and kissing me on the cheek. “Have fun, honey.”

She walked out of the room and I went and sat on the porch to wait for him.  I was nervous as I sat on the porch swing, swaying back and forth, and I tried not to be nervous.  I
was
nervous though.  Not scared nervous, but excited nervous.  Maybe this weekend would help me understand Brandon more and hopefully figure out this thing between us. 

I glanced down at myself, second guessing my outfit.  It was summer and it’d been a hot one so far, which didn’t leave much choice when it came to style.  The rule of thumb in weather like this was the less clothes the better, which is why I’d chosen a pair of shorts and a layered tank top, but as I looked down at my cleavage peeking out over the top, I wondered if it was too much and I didn’t want to look cheap. 

I looked up from my chest just in time to see Brandon’s truck round the corner.  He waved when he saw me, but I jumped up and rushed back into the house to my room, quickly rifling through my dresser until I found the red t-shirt I was looking for.  I pulled it over my head, not bothering to remove the tank top and I felt better.  I looked in the mirror and decided it still looked cute.  It was fitted and stylish, but kept my cleavage to myself.  I fluffed the waves in my hair quickly and headed back downstairs and onto the porch, grabbing my bag and making my way to his truck that was parked on the edge of the sidewalk.  He was out of the truck, waiting for me.

“Hey,” I said, shooting him a smile as he opened the door for me. 

“Where’d you run off to?” he asked as I climbed in.

“I just forgot something.”

“Your shirt?” he asked with a half-smile and I blushed, choosing to ignore him as I shut the door.  I’d been hoping he hadn’t noticed what I was wearing when he’d first seen me, but obviously he was much more observant than I gave him credit for or my cleavage was just that powerful.

He was beside me in the driver’s seat a second later, easing the truck away from the curb and making our way towards the turnpike. 

“Who’s all gonna be there?” I asked him as we drove.

“Just my grandparents and parents and my aunt and uncle and two of my cousins,” he said nonchalantly as if the lengthy list he’d just rambled off was nothing. 

“That’s a lot of people.”

“Not really.”

“And they’re okay with me coming?” I asked nervously.

“You should’ve seen the look on my mom’s face when I asked her.”

“Good or bad look?”

“Definitely good.  She loves you, Mandy.”

“Well…I’m glad she’s okay with me coming,” I said and then we settled in for our drive.

Rome Lake wasn’t too far from Carver, just under an hour’s drive to the east.  The closer we got, the greener it got.  Kansas was an interesting state.  On the western side, it was more barren and dusty and as you traveled east, it started to become more lush and green.  Carver was in the middle.  Plenty of trees and rolling hills, but towards Rome, it was even more so.  Rarely traveling out of Carver, I forgot how pretty it was. 

Brandon had mentioned his grandparents’ cabin over the years, but I’d never been there.  I’m sure he’d taken Jesse a few times, but the rest of us had never been invited.  I was immediately impressed when we pulled up.  To me, a cabin was a tiny little house in the middle of nowhere.  This cabin was very different.  To start, it was bigger than my house.  It was made with perfect, smooth logs and the roof arched to an angled peak.  The whole front was nothing but windows.  It was beautiful.

“This cabin is amazing,” I said to Brandon as he stopped the truck in front.

“That it is,” he agreed.

“You never mentioned how fancy it is.”

“It never came up.”

“I didn’t realize your grandparents were so rich.”

“They’re not.  My grandpa practically built this place by himself.  It took him a few years, but he did it and it’s awesome.”

“Yes, it is,” I said as we got out of the truck.

Before I could get my bag, Brandon had grabbed it from the back.  I followed him up the stairs to the sprawling porch and then he opened the front door, gesturing me in.  I stopped in the entryway, Brandon at my side, and looked around.  The inside was just as impressive.  A great room was spread out before us, the walls and beams made of deep, solid wood. Animal heads, which I guessed were from family hunting trips, decorated the walls and oversized leather couches and chairs sat on top of a pretty area rug.  The whole place felt warm and cozy, the way you’d imagine a cabin to feel. 

“They’re probably in the kitchen.  C’mon,” Brandon said, taking my hand and leading me across the room until I could hear voices.  We crossed into the kitchen and the group of people at the large dining room table turned their heads when they saw us.  I immediately recognized his parents and I knew the older couple was his grandparents.  I’d seen them a few times over the years, but they lived in Dempsey, about a half an hour away from Carver, so they weren’t around all the time.  There was also another couple sitting there and I figured they were Brandon’s aunt and uncle. 

“Hey, you two!” Mrs. Seaver said, standing up to greet us.  As she got closer, I pulled my hand from Brandon’s and I couldn’t help but notice the look he gave me before turning my attention back to his mom. “We’re glad you’re finally here.” She leaned over hugging Brandon and then me. “It’s good to have you here with us, Mandy.  I’m happy you could manage on such short notice.”

“Me too.  Thanks for having me.”

“Of course,” she said and then took me by the arm, leading me over to the table presumably for introductions. I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous as all their eyes focused on me.  Having Brandon at my side helped me relax though. “This is Mandy.  Brandon’s good friend since…well,” she said, turning to look at us. “Since forever.  Mandy, this is Brandon’s grandparents and this is Jim and Sherry, his aunt and uncle.”

“Good to meet you,” I said, smiling to them and they all greeted me warmly.

“We’ve got pulled pork planned for dinner, so if you two want to get settled, it’ll be ready in a half-hour or so,” his grandmother added.

“Where’re Jeff and Clint?” Brandon asked.

“They’ll be here later.  Clint had to work late, so Jeff stayed behind to give him a ride,” Sherry answered and Brandon nodded.

“Why don’t you two go put your stuff away,” Mrs. Seaver suggested. “Brandon, you’ll be in the loft with the boys and Mandy will be in the den on the sleeper.”

“Thank you,” I said and Mrs. Seaver smiled as Brandon and I turned and walked out of the kitchen.  I followed him up the stairs and down a long hallway. 

“Here’s the den,” he said, opening a door.  We walked into the room with an antique looking desk and a loveseat. “I usually stay in here, but you’ve obviously kicked me out.  I could always stay in here with you.” I turned to him as my cheeks blushed and he was grinning flirtatiously at me. 

“I don’t think your mom would be too keen on that.”

“She wouldn’t have to know.” He winked at me, just as he had earlier in the diner as he set my duffle bag down and then went to the sofa and sat down.  He patted the cushion beside him and I sat down, the couch sinking in so I couldn’t help the way our legs touched. I watched as his hand fell onto my knee, resting there as I thought about what to say.

“Who’re Jeff and Clint?” I asked.

“My cousins.  Jim and Sherry’s kids.  They live in Wichita.  I haven’t seen them since I’ve been back.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised.  I thought Brandon’s family would’ve shown up in droves when he got back.

“We’re not that close.  I actually can’t stand them most of the time.  Cocky sons of bitches are what they are.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the picture he was painting of his cousins. 

“I’m really looking forward to meeting them,” I said and he just laughed. 

“We should probably get downstairs.  My grandma makes the best pulled pork.  None of that store bought crap.  This is the real shit.”  He stood up, holding his hand out to me and helping me up. “And don’t let go of my hand this time, okay?” he raised an eyebrow at me and smiled sweetly.

“I…I didn’t know if your mom knew,” I said, my voice trailing off.

“She doesn’t.  She’s a smart lady though.  She’s bound to figure it out eventually.”

I just smiled and followed him downstairs.

~~~

Brandon was right.  The pulled pork was the best I’d ever had and his family made me feel at home, like I was supposed to be there.  He’d held onto my hand as we walked outside to where dinner had been set up.  I saw his mom glance at our hands, but then she looked up, catching my eye and she smiled at me. 

The sun was almost set when we finished and I stood up, helping his mom clear the table.  Brandon got up to help as well, but she pushed him back down gently.  She looked at me too, insisting I sit down.

“Just relax, Mandy.”

“It’s the least I can do.  I’d love to help,” I told her as I started picking up plates.

“Thank you, Mandy,” Mrs. Seaver said and soon we were both heading into the kitchen, placing the dishes in the sink.  She started loading the dishwasher while I went back outside to get the rest of the dishes. 

“I think that’s everything,” I said as I started rinsing them off when I returned and then she turned to me as she continued loading the dishwasher. 

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for Brandon.  Thank you.”

“I haven’t done anything,” I said, the water continuing to run over the plate in my hand.

“You’ve been a good friend to him.  You always have been and you were so sweet to me while he was gone, coming over and checking on me.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Mrs. Seaver,” I said, turning the water off and setting the plate in the sink.

“I know I don’t need to, but I am.  As his mother, I am.” She wiped her hands on a dish towel and gave me a hug. 

“I care about him,” I said shyly when she let me go.

“And he cares about you.  Very much,” she said and I knew what she was implying.  She knew we weren’t just friends anymore and she was happy about it. “I’m glad he brought you this weekend.  He just seems calmer when you two are together.”

I felt myself blush and she just patted my cheek sweetly before she turned back to the dishes.

~~~

“You’re mom knows,” I said after everyone else had gone inside.  They wanted to play some cards, but Brandon and I stayed outside.  We were sitting around the fire pit, roasting marshmallows for s’mores.  I hadn’t made them in ages and I was on my second one already.

“Knows what?” he asked and I could tell he was trying to be cute.

“Don’t be dumb.  You know what I’m talking about.  You and me.”

“There’s a you and me?” he asked and I was suddenly embarrassed, wondering if I was, in fact, reading too deeply into things between us.  He must’ve sensed my apprehension, because he reached over and took my hand, holding it and kissing the back of it. “We haven’t exactly addressed this, have we?”

“No.  We haven’t talked about any of it.” My voice got quiet and he glanced over to me.

“I guess I didn’t think there was anything to talk about because it just felt right.  It was figuring itself out, but…” he said, smiling over at me. “We probably should set some limits or understanding of what this is between us.”

“Why does this sound like a contract negotiation?” I asked and Brandon started laughing.

“Because I want to be perfectly clear about this.  Lay it all out on the line.” He took a long swig of the beer he’d opened a few minutes before and I waited for him to continue.

“And what is it you want to lay out?”

“Besides you?” he grinned widely and I felt my cheeks burn and he busted up laughing. “You are so damn cute when you blush, you know that?” I blushed again because it was the first time he’d said something like that to me.  I wasn’t used to being called cute and it wasn’t easy for me to accept, especially because I didn’t think it was true.

“C’mon, Brandon…” I said and he just took my hand again, turning his chair so he was facing me and he looked serious, the joking from a moment before gone.

“I didn’t expect this, Mandy.  I didn’t expect to come home and see you…like this…the way I do now.” I watched as he spanned me from head to toe and there was something in his eyes I’d never seen before.  Guys didn’t look at me the way Brandon was looking at me now. “I don’t wanna mess this up, Mandy.  I’m such a fuck up all the time and you’re so damn good.  I worry you’re gonna wake up and realize how much better you could do than me, and I’m afraid of that.  But, I wanna chance to see what could happen because…” he said, hesitating for a moment as he slid towards the end of his seat, taking my other hand so he had a hold of both of them, encouraging me to slide forward too, so we were so close our knees were touching. “Because...all I know is that I feel okay when I’m with you and…dammit, I’m no good at this,” he said, stopping for a second and shaking his head as he stared down at the ground momentarily before looking back up at me. “I don’t know what took me so long to see how special you are, but I really…I’m just…I really like you, Mandy.  More than like.  I think I might love you, Mandy Dalton.”