Splintered Oak (Winsor Series Book 3) (8 page)

Issy and Naomi began a list of potential names, and
I found myself speaking before my mind caught up. “She can stay with us. We have a third bedroom and bathroom that no one uses.” The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. Naomi was an easy person to live with.

“Jake, don’t be ridiculous,” Naomi
said. “I can’t live with you. My parents would kill me.”

“It’s not just me. I have a very practical, responsible, fatherly roommate who will no doubt take on a big brother role. He’s good like that. What’s the big deal? I practically lived with y’all freshman year anyway.”

Issy seemed to be considering it. “You know, Naomi. It’s not a bad idea. Unless you think you can’t resist his charms.” Her voice was teasing, but held a hint of warning.

Naomi started laughing again, and I tried not to feel the sting to my ego.

“I’m pretty sure that’s not a problem,” she quipped, still chuckling. “No offense, Jake, but I’ve seen how you treat your women.”

I shrugged off her comment and gave her another suggestive smile. “Maybe I haven’t met the right woman yet.”

She laughed again, a sound so intoxicating I never wanted it to stop. “And you still haven’t. But no thanks. I appreciate the offer, but I can’t accept it.” She turned her attention back to Issy. “I don’t know, maybe it won’t be that bad once I give it a chance. I mean, come on, I lived with you.”

“Hey! I was a great roommate!” Issy yelled defensively, her eyes lighting up her entire face.

We all succumbed to laughter, and I realized for the first time in weeks, I actually felt natural around Issy. Naomi was a beautiful buffer who seemed to take all the awkwardness and resentment away.

As the laughter died down, Naomi stood and gathered her purse. “Well, I guess I better go face the firing squad.”

Issy followed her to the elevator. I faintly heard them discuss the wedding portrait Naomi had been holding when I came in.

Enjoying the distraction, I casually made my way to the kitchen and noticed the counter held a picked through stack of mail. Silently examining each one, I periodically glanced up at Naomi and Issy who were still deep in conversation.

A letter with a return address from the Security Exchange Commission caught my eye. Ensuring the girls were still preoccupied, I silently slid the letter out of the already opened envelope and read the contents.

Mr. Forester,

I am sorry to inform you that the SEC has declined your request to re-open the investigation into fraudulent activity by Marshall Forester. As Mr. Forester removed himself from all ownership of Advanced Electronics, we must also decline inquiry into the acquisition of said stock by Andrew Summers. If you disagree with this decision, you will find appeal paperwork enclosed. Appeals can take between 6-8 w
eeks.

The sound of Naomi telling me goodbye caught my attention. I quickly returned the letter to its original position and left my station in the kitchen to casually stroll back over to the girls.

“I’ll head down with you,” I offered, following her into the elevator.

“You’re leaving already?” Issy scowled. “Why did you even come over?”

I leaned back out and gave her a quick peck on the head. “Something came up I need to look into. I’ll call you later.”

Her sad eyes haunted me as the doors shut. She knew as well as I did that things between us were strained at best.

“Wow, I can’t believe the changes in Issy.”

I wasn’t sure if Naomi was talking to herself or to me, but I answered anyway. “Tell me about it.”

She examined me for a second and then turned away.

“What?” I huffed.

“Nothing,” she said quietly, and then appeared to change her mind as she looked back up at me. “You don’t like it, do you? How much she’s changed.”

“She’s still hiding, so no I don’t like it. This whole playing house and getting married. It’s just temporary until she can sort through all her issues. It’s what Issy does—she uses people until she doesn’t need them anymore.”

Naomi nodded and then walked out of the building with me all while maintaining an uncomfortable silence.

We were parked in different lots, so I stopped her before she headed in the opposite direction.

“My offer still stands if you change your mind.” I handed her a business card from my wallet.

She only returned a polite smile, but took the card, which gave me a little hope. She turned to leave, but then swung back around, her face a mix of determination and compassion.

“I think you’re wrong, Jake. I think this is real for Issy.”

Those words from anyone else would have irritated me. But as I stood watching how the sun framed her dark hair and high cheekbones, I just shrugged. “I guess we’ll see.”

8. THE AGREEMENT

NAOMI

I felt a mixture of elation and sadness as I watched Jake walk away. Elation because Issy told me how she became a Christian, and sadness because it was glaringly obvious that Jake not only didn’t understand her growth, but actually resented it.

Jake and Issy had been an establishment—a consistent pairing that baffled the world but gave hope to the idea that family could truly be there for you. The palpable tension between them now felt tragic, as I knew it would remain as long as Jake felt contempt for her faith.

I didn’t envy Issy’s battle ahead. I was so blessed to be from a family of believers. No one had ever questioned my faith, only encouraged it.

I felt proud of Issy, and honestly a little disgusted with myself. Today was the first time I’d admitted out loud that I was a Christian
. Sure, I acted like one, but I’d never bothered to share my faith with anyone.

Issy witnessed to me the minute she got me alone, just because she wasn’t sure.

I shook my head. Who would have thought I would get a faith lesson from Issy, of all people? God was truly a mystery.

Pulling
out of the parking lot, I dreaded the idea of going back into that apartment. Instead of allowing myself to panic, I prayed for guidance and patience. Sometimes I really wish God would give me an audible answer. The “yes” or “no” I could handle; it was the times when the answer was “wait” that really felt hard. As the word “wait” settled in my brain, I couldn’t help but think back to Jonathan. I wondered what went on in his thoughts. Would he really wait a month to call? Was Alex right? Would I ever understand the role God wanted him to play in my life?

I shook off the gnawing questions as I parked my car and trudged up the stairs. The door was once again unlocked, and I pushed it open, reminding myself to have a talk with them about security. Glancing around, the apartment appeared even messier than when I left, if that was even possible. Following the mess down the hall, I looked up just in time to see Nate’s naked backside.

“Hey Naomi,” he called over his shoulder before disappearing into Issy’s old room.

I averted my eyes in horror and backed out the door, shutting it behind me. My shaking hands fumbled with the phone.

“Jake?” I squeaked when he answered. “How soon can I move in?”

His laughter filled my ear. “Come on over. I was
just talking with David about you and assuring him there was absolutely nothing going on between us. Like I said, the fatherly type.”

I took a stabilizing breath and told him I’d be there as soon as I grabbed the rest of my stuff. Making a beeline to my room and keeping my eyes on the floor the entire time, I quickly grabbed my bedding and posters. Nothing else was critical, especially since it would only be a few weeks, or so I hoped.

The irony was not lost on me as I drove back to Asheville for the second time that day. I had left home, convinced I couldn’t take the testosterone of my brothers, and now here I was, moving in with two guys.

I’d give it a week, I determined. I had seven days to drop my c
lasses with a full refund. If this arrangement doesn’t work out, I’d just move back home and deal with my brothers...and with Jonathan, I reminded myself. Somehow that seemed like the worse case scenario.

I should have felt more nervous than I did when I knocked on Jake’s door. Maybe it was having known him for years, but I realized Jake was as familiar to me as Issy, sometimes more so because he was always so relaxed around me. But then again, I was never the object of Jake’s affection, so there was no need to pretend with me.

Jake answered the door with a smile and moved aside so I could come in. “That didn’t take too long.”

“Well, I hadn’t even unloaded my car yet, so there wasn’t much to get.”

Jake seemed to find the sour tone in my voice amusing as he laughed again while he closed the door. “It couldn’t have been that bad.”

“Jake, I’m willing to move in with you,” I argued. “It was THAT bad.”

Unfamiliar laughter from the kitchen caught my attention and I glanced up to see who it was. The person I could only assume was Jake’s roommate strolled towards me and extended his hand. 

“I’m David, and Jake has assured me he will be a perfect gentleman. I’m not comfortable with you staying here if you two are, well you know. I happen to be fond of Issy, and it was her phone call that actually convinced me to let you crash here until you can get settled.”

I shook his hand and examined him. He seemed familiar to me, but I couldn’t place him. Maybe he just had one of those faces, as he was average height, coloring and weight. In fact, there wasn’t anything particularly striking about him that would resonate with me, but still I couldn’t help but feel as if I’d met him before.

“Do I know you?” I blurted out, unable to get the thought out of my head. “You look so familiar to me.”

David didn’t have any recollection, but then again I had seen Jake daily for a year and he didn’t recognize me either. After they showed me around the condo, which was in desperate need of some color, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that I knew him. Finally it hit me.

“Where do you go to church?” I asked, interrupting them as they discussed some business venture they wanted to invest in.

“What?” They asked in unison.

“That’s where I’ve seen you, I think. I go to
Harvest Fellowship near campus.”

“You go to church?” Jake asked incredulously to both David and me.

David shot him an irritated look. “Yes, I go to church. But, I go to a little church down the road from here. I did teach some financial seminars at Harvest a couple years ago, though.”

I shot off the couch. “That’s it. I went to that seminar. You were great! In fact, the things I learned kept me from spending way too much money when I went to Portugal, so thank you.” I sat back down, finally satisfied that I’d solved the mystery.

That conversation seemed to be the final barrier as David visibly relaxed about my staying there. Jake was right. He definitely was already giving off that big brother vibe. I chuckled to myself. Alex would be proud. Okay, that was a stretch, but maybe he wouldn’t kill me if he found out.

After an enjoyable hour of random conversation about ourselves, I looked at my watch and noted that I needed to finally unload my car. The boys stood to help me, but I stopped them again before we all walked outside.

“Wait. I think we need to first establish some ground rules. Here are mine, and I’ll be happy to follow any of yours. First, every one must be fully clothed when using the common areas. Jake, I know that will be hard for you, but honestly, I’ve seen your bare chest enough to last me a lifetime.” I watched as Jake snickered and David shot him a warning stare, validating my rule. “Second, no one is to enter my room, for any reason. I don’t care if you think I’m dying, it’s off limits. And finally--and this is just because I grew up with men and I know how things are--I would prefer if you keep all gas excretions to your personal space. I have no interest in hearing the alphabet burped in harmony.”

Laughter ricocheted off the walls as they both doubled over after my announcement. I stood with my hands on my hips, failing to find the humor. When the roar finally died down, they both agreed, but still had a hard time talking through their laughter.

It took only a few minutes to unload my car and get my stuff settled into the new room. I liked it. The walls were a soft mushroom color that would look great against my posters and green bedding. The bathroom was also twice as large as the one on campus and included a tub, which felt like a luxury. Jake set down the last suitcase and began to leave the room when David stopped him.

“I have a rule too,” David announced, getting that fatherly look again. “There will be no sleepovers.” He looked at me. “If you want to do that on your own time, fine, but not here. Jake, that goes for you too. Naomi doesn’t need to be exposed to crazy, love-struck women every morning.”

Now I laughed and Jake scowled, but remembering Betsy’s tears made me grateful for David’s rule. “No problem here,” I agreed easily.

David nodded and then excused himself, telling me again that I could stay as long as I needed to. Jake seemed to linger longer, wanting to say something and then stopping himself.

“Don’t forget rule number two,” I reminded him as I made a shooing motion with my hand.

Jakes easy grin returned. “I never realized how demanding yo
u are, Naomi. It’s kind of sexy.”

I crossed my arms against my chest and put on my best “mom” face. “It’s the new me, but don’t get any ideas. My memory is not selective, and I am definitely not your type.”

He raised his arms and laughed. “I’m kidding,” he said as he retreated, but I still caught the second glance he sent my way before shutting the door.  

I looked around and fell face down on my bed.
Please Lord, tell me this isn’t a mistake.