“Why? There’s no reason for you to do that!”
“Kate, your husband just came home after being deployed. I’m sure he’d like to ease back into his home life with you and the kids without a houseguest.” And before Katie could argue, Violet held up a hand to stop her. “You know it’s true. The last thing I want is to feel like a fifth wheel. I think we can both agree I’ve had enough of that in my life. So…just let me do this, okay?”
Luckily, her friend didn’t argue, but her face showed her displeasure.
“Believe me, I have loved having this time with you–just having the time for it to just be the girls and hanging out like we used to. But if it wasn’t for the wedding, I would probably be leaving today. Or maybe even yesterday, so…”
“That has nothing to do with you going to stay at the B&B. Although, I have to admit, I’m a little envious. That place is gorgeous and I’ve secretly been wanting to stay there–even though it’s so close to home.”
“Then why don’t you?”
The only way to describe the look on Kate’s face was confused.
And maybe laced with a little pity.
“Um…I have kids, Vi. You don’t just pick up and go away for the weekend when you’re a parent. And on top of that, the B&B has only been open for a year, and during most of that time, I’ve been pregnant, Brian’s been deployed, and…oh, yeah, I have Kira!” Shaking her head, she laughed. “I know you don’t think picking up and going away on vacation–even one close to home–is a big deal, but it’s not always easy to do. And before Rose moved here, there was no one to watch Kira overnight.”
“Yeah, okay, maybe,” she agreed. Sort of. “But you probably could have asked a friend to watch Kira or even just invited Rose for the weekend before Brian deployed.”
“Do you even hear yourself? Why would I make Rose fly here for a weekend just so Brian and I could go someplace a mile up the road for the night?”
Violet had heard enough, and this was getting her nowhere. She went to stand up, and this time Kate didn’t stop her.
But her words did.
“Would I love to travel more? Yes. But being a parent to Kira and now to Benjamin means more to me. They’re only little for such a short amount of time. Why would I want to keep pawning them off on other people for my own selfish needs?”
“Selfish needs? Kate, you have children, you’re not a prisoner in your own home, for crying out loud! There’s nothing wrong with taking a little time for yourself! If anything, it would help you de-stress a little and probably make you an even better parent!”
“You may not believe this, but I can de-stress by taking a nice long bubble bath after the kids are asleep or curling up with a good book.” She shrugged. “You’re into travel–it’s your livelihood–so I know why you’re so passionate about promoting it. But my house?” She motioned to the space around her. “It’s a pretty great place to be. And when the kids are a little older, we will go on vacations–some with the kids, some without. But for now, I want to be here with them.”
Oh, God…is that how Hunter felt when I talked about us going away together? Is that why he changed the subject?
Before she could go down the rabbit hole with that thought, Kate was speaking again.
“So what did you have to think about? I mean, if you think this is just a fling and Hunter doesn’t mean anything, then why get away for the night?”
No one other than Katie dared to question her like this.
And, unfortunately, she was also the only person who got Violet to open up.
“That’s the conclusion I came to after having the night to myself,” she said, walking to the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee.
Like a ninja, her friend was beside her. “And before you came to that stupid and completely ridiculous conclusion…”
“Why don’t you tell me how you really feel, Kate?” she mocked while putting her coffee pod in the machine.
“You must have been considering his offer, Violet. You were freaking out over it because you were seriously considering it.”
Her heart was racing like mad and her hand was shaking as she picked up her mug, but she held it together without spilling anything–her feelings or her coffee–until she was sitting at the kitchen table.
“Okay, fine. I was considering it. But only for like a second! It’s not something I’d actually do! I mean…geez! Come on! It’s me we’re talking about. And once Hunter really thinks about it, he’ll realize it was a mistake, so…crisis averted.”
And even as she took her sip of coffee, Violet knew she was lying–to herself and Katie. Because more than anything, she wanted to believe someone like Hunter genuinely cared for her and wanted her in his life for the long-haul. Unfortunately, life had taught her that she wasn’t enough for the people who mattered–not her parents, and certainly none of her foster parents. She was the girl who was okay to take care of for the short-term, but not enough to want in their lives forever.
Unshed tears stung her eyes, and she stared down at her coffee until she felt a little more under control.
It took a solid five minutes before she looked up. And there was Katie. Patiently waiting.
“You may not believe this, but you are an amazing woman who is more than worthy of being loved,” her friend said fiercely. “I can’t make you believe it, but I know it. You are the best person I know. I wish you had the faith to take this step with Hunter because you deserve to be happy. And I know he would do that for you.”
There was nothing left to say.
Her heart was already in so much turmoil.
So together, they drank their coffee until Brian and the kids woke up. And then moved on with their day.
“You know, when you said you were thinking of expanding the deck, I didn’t think you meant right now,” Kyle said as he nailed the last beam into the frame.
All Hunter did was grunt as he hauled more lumber across the yard and dropped it at his brother’s feet.
“Okay, are we going to talk about why you’re in such a pissy mood? Because I’ve got to tell you, this is not how I want to spend the day.”
“So leave,” he all but growled before picking up another bundle of wood.
This time when he dropped it over by Kyle, his brother gave him a shove that almost sent him flying onto his ass.
It was all the provocation he needed before he charged forward with a head full of steam and hit Kyle with enough force to send them both stumbling over construction material.
“What the hell?” Kyle demanded even as he regained his footing and came back at him with another hard shove.
But Hunter wasn’t interested in talking. He needed to pound on something–or someone–to get out all the frustration he was feeling, and his brother was a handy outlet. One shove led to another and then fists were flying. The first time his hand met with his brother’s cheek, he felt a sense of satisfaction that was almost enough to calm him.
His brother’s fist hitting his face turned that right around.
After that, it was hard to say how long they went at it, but it was his father’s ear-splitting whistle that stopped them both in their tracks.