Читать книгу Her Wickham Falls Seal - Rochelle Alers, Rochelle Alers - Страница 11
ОглавлениеAiden picked up an egg and cracked it in a glass bowl. “What do you want to know about them?”
Taryn admired Aiden’s skill when it came to cracking eggs with one hand. “You told me they’re four and five, which makes them very close in age.”
“They were born eleven months apart. Allie just turned five and Livia was four in February.”
So, Daddy was really busy making babies, Taryn thought, as she bit back a smile. “I’m going to test them before I decide whether to offer them the same instruction.”
“I’m no teacher, but I’m going to go on the record to say that four-year-old Livia is as bright as her older sister. She’s also what I think of as a free spirit. Right now she’s into fairies. Last year, it was frogs.”
“I like her already,” Taryn said. “I must admit I was partial to fairies and unicorns when growing up. What can I expect from Allison?” she asked, watching as Aiden removed the bacon from the oven and placed the crisp strips on a plate lined with paper towels.
“Allie is a true Gibson because she loves to cook. She’s too young to touch the stove, so I allow her to sit on the stool and watch me.”
Taryn found her mind working overtime as Aiden talked about his daughters while he brewed a pot of coffee, whisked eggs and dropped slices of bread into the toaster. He informed her he had activated parental controls on the television, their tablets and on his desktop. There were strict rules for bedtime, but he still couldn’t get them to pick up after themselves.
“I plan to give them what students in a traditional school will experience. There will be instruction, recess and designated field trips. And given their ages, I will also assign a brief nap time.”
“That’s good to hear, because my mother complains constantly that Allie and Livia refuse to take naps. Most times, they’ll just lie in bed singing or talking to each other.”
Taryn made a mental note to devise a plan to get the girls to settle down enough to sleep for at least an hour. She wanted to ask Aiden about his daughters’ relationship with their mother. Although he had been granted full custody, did they get to visit with her? She’d had students who’d lost one or both parents to divorce, substance abuse, imprisonment, terminal illnesses or domestic violence. Aiden had alluded that his in-laws were not viewed in a good light in Wickham Falls, and she wondered what his ex-wife had done to set the townsfolks against his children.
The aroma of brewing coffee mingled with the distinctive smell of bacon wafted to her nostrils. “Can I help you with anything?” she asked Aiden after a comfortable silence.
“No, thanks. I have everything under control.”
Taryn waited for the weekends so she could choose between eggs, bacon, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, sausage or ham, grits and several cups of coffee with gourmet breads. Once a month she treated her family to Sunday brunch, which included mimosas, Bellinis and steak-and-eggs benedict, chicken-and-waffles or Belgian waffles with fresh fruit.
Aiden set two plates with napkins, coffee mugs and place settings on the breakfast bar. Minutes later, he ladled fluffy scrambled eggs onto the serving platter with strips of bacon, triangles of golden buttered toast and then filled the mugs with steaming black coffee. The bowl of grits and serving pieces were placed next to the platter.
“Do you want cream and sugar for your coffee?” he asked Taryn.
“Yes, please.” Taryn stared at the dishes Aiden had prepared quickly and with a minimum of effort. “It looks too good to eat.”
Aiden set a container of cream and the sugar bowl on the countertop and then sat next to Taryn, their shoulders mere inches apart. “You can sit and admire the food, but don’t blame me when I eat up everything before you.”
Taryn picked up a serving spoon and scooped up a serving of grits. “I did not sit here just to watch you eat.”
Aiden speared several strips of bacon with a pair of tongs. “I love breakfast.”
She gave him a sidelong glance. “Then we have something in common, because it’s my favorite meal of the day. Unfortunately, I don’t get to have a full breakfast until the weekends.”
“That will change once you move in. Most times, I use egg substitutes for omelets and frittatas because I don’t give the girls whole eggs more than twice a week.”
Taryn resisted the urge to moan when she swallowed a forkful of grits and eggs. “I’m looking forward to having you cook for me. The grits are delicious.”
Aiden leaned closer, their shoulders touching. “Do you like shrimp and grits?”
“Does a cat flick its tail?”
Throwing back his head, Aiden laughed loudly. “Should I take that as an affirmative?”
“It is,” she confirmed. “Whenever I go to Charleston, South Carolina, to visit a cousin, I order it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If I had to request a last meal, then it would be shrimp and grits.”
“I had it for the first time a few years back, and I’ve tried recipe after recipe until I finally decided to use tasso instead of cured ham to give the dish a smoky taste.”
“What’s tasso?” Taryn asked.
“It’s heavily cured ham that’s smoked with a tremendous amount of seasoning. The result is dry, very salty, peppery and smoky. I only use a little bit because it can easily overwhelm a dish.”
“Do you smoke your own meats for the restaurant?”
Aiden nodded as he took a sip of coffee. “Yes. Tomorrow, after we come back from Beckley, I’ll take you to the Wolf Den and introduce you to my uncle and brother.”
Taryn concentrated on finishing the food on her plate and she thought about how her life was going to change within a matter of weeks. She would leave New York and go from teaching in a classroom filled with twenty-two third-graders to homeschooling a four-and five-year-old. Instead of getting into her car and driving fifty-five miles to a school building, she would get up and walk to her classroom.
And living under Aiden’s roof was definitely going to be an adjustment for her. The last and only man she’d lived with was James Robinson. When first introduced to each other, they had felt their meeting was predestined, the reason being that they shared the same surname. When she moved in with James, it was as a girlfriend. And once she moved in with Aiden, it would be as his daughters’ teacher.
“Leave everything,” Aiden said, as he clapped a hand on Taryn’s shoulder when she reached for the platter. “I’ll clean up later. I want to show you where you’ll set up your classroom.” His hand went from her shoulder to her arm and assisted her off the stool. “Right now the girls use the space as their playhouse. If you want, I can store their toys, dolls, bikes and dollhouse in the shed.”
Taryn didn’t know what to expect but the area down the hallway off the kitchen was much larger than she had anticipated and comparable to the average Manhattan studio apartment. It was at least five-hundred square feet. She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows with built-in pale-gray woven blinds. They were raised, allowing her a glimpse of an expansive backyard beyond the patio and outdoor kitchen. It was the perfect place for recess, where the girls could run around.
“What do you think?”
She shivered slightly when Aiden’s breath feathered over her ear. He hadn’t made a sound when he came to stand next to her. Taryn had a mental picture where she would place desks, bookcases, worktables and set up art, science and music corners.
Taryn turned to face Aiden. “It’s perfect. Do you know the exact dimensions for this room?”
He nodded. “It’s four-hundred and seventy-five square feet. Why?”
“I don’t know if you have a set budget for furnishing the classroom, but I want to order a rug that’s no larger than eight by twelve for my reading and library corner. My students always enjoy sitting on the floor whenever we have read-aloud.”
* * *
Aiden stared at the terra-cotta floor. He had debated whether to cover the floor with indoor/outdoor carpeting once the sunroom was installed, but then he’d dismissed the idea when the floor installer suggested the stone because it was maintenance-free.
“You can buy whatever you need. Come with me and I’ll show you your bedroom.”
The salary he’d earned when employed as a private military contractor allowed him to pay off his mortgage, upgrade and enlarge the house, and put money away for his daughters’ college education. He didn’t think of himself as wealthy, but financially comfortable.
“How many bedrooms are in this house?” Taryn asked.
“Five. And that’s not counting the one in the attic that doubles as my home office. When I first bought this place, it was only twelve-hundred square feet. Before Livia was born, I had a construction crew expand it on both sides, add the sunroom, mother-in-law suite, raise the attic ceiling, finish the basement and install central air and heat. Allie and Livia play in the sunroom whenever it’s too hot or cold to play outside.”
“Did you live here during the renovations?”
“No. We stayed with my aunt and uncle. It was a little cramped but we pretended it was an extended sleepover.”
“How many bathrooms do you have?”
Aiden paused, counting. “Five. A half-bath off the kitchen, one in the basement with a vanity and commode, a full-bath in your suite, a bathroom in the attic with a commode, vanity and shower stall, and the original full-bath on the second story.”
Taryn gave him a sidelong glance. “Should I assume you spend most of your free time in the basement?”
He smiled. “How did you know?”
“If you finished your basement, then it’s obvious it would double as a man cave.”
“Dudes need a place to drink beer, watch sports and trash talk without being censored.”
“You can do that at a sporting event.”
“That’s true in big cities like New York and Philadelphia. Remember, West Virginia doesn’t have any professional teams.”
“Don’t you go to high school and college football games?”
“Not really,” Aiden admitted. “I enlisted in the navy right out of high school.”
“How long did you serve?”
“Fourteen years.” He had taken an oath at eighteen to protect his country and he’d fulfilled that commitment as a navy SEAL. Being away for extended periods of time had placed a strain on his marriage and whenever he returned home it was to a house in crisis. Nothing he’d done for Denise was ever enough and after a while he stopped trying to please her. She had complained bitterly that the house was too small for four people, so to appease her he used the money he’d earned as a private military contractor to expand it.
After the entire house was renovated Denise wanted to leave Wickham Falls and that’s when he put his foot down. There was no way he was going to pick up and move after giving her what she’d called her dream house. Once their arguments had escalated to screaming matches, Aiden knew their marriage was in serious trouble. He’d suggested counseling, but Denise refused to go with him.
Aiden stopped at the end of the hallway. “Here’s your room, also known as the in-law suite.”
* * *
Taryn entered the sun-filled bedroom suite and felt as if she had stepped back in time when she saw the honey-toned, queen-size, hand-painted sleigh bed with a white goose-down comforter, lacy, sheer dust ruffles and mounds of matching pillows. She opened the door to a massive armoire to find a large flat-screen television and audio components. Stacks of linens, comforters and quilts were stored in the drawers of a smaller ornately carved armoire. A double mahogany dresser with a gilt mirror contrasted to the other pale furnishings. Taryn thought of the space as a lady’s bedchamber and sitting room, with a sofa set on a straw rug and covered with yellow polished cotton and two flanking armchairs with hunter-green suede seat cushions. The suite was a quiet retreat where she could relax, sleep or just escape from the world around her.
Framed photos of Audubon prints were set on the mahogany desk and bedside tables. She walked over to French doors, which led out to the porch. It was the perfect place for her to begin the day with a cup of coffee or end it while watching the sunset. Pale yellow silk drapes could be closed to provide privacy or left open to take in the view of the distant mountains.
“I hope it’s to your liking.”
Taryn turned to find Aiden in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. “It’s more than I could’ve imagined.”
His pale eyebrows lifted slightly. “You like it?”
“I love it.” Taryn didn’t say she would love it even more once she added her personal touch. She walked across the room and opened a door to a closet with overhead shelves. It wasn’t as large as the walk-in closet in her Long Island bedroom but it would be adequate if she donated clothes she hadn’t worn in years instead of packing them up and bringing them to Wickham Falls.
She opened another door to find a bathroom reminiscent of those in spas. Taryn could imagine herself whiling away time in the black marble garden tub with a Jacuzzi. A dressing table and chair were tucked under an alcove, while a vanity, freestanding shower with a large showerhead, commode, bidet and mirrored walls made the bathroom appear larger than it actually was.
“The suite gets an A-plus,” she told Aiden once she returned to the bedroom.
He inclined his head. “I’m glad you’re pleased with it. Now, are you ready to see the rest of the house?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll take the back staircase.”
There was something about Aiden’s body language that also prompted her to recall Langdon’s, who’d bragged that all special ops had a particular swagger identifying them as military elite. She did not want to ask Aiden about his past because she didn’t want to open the door for him to ask about hers. Taryn wanted their relationship to remain strictly professional.
Her single focus was educating his daughters and nothing beyond that. She had no intention of becoming his friend or replacing his wife as a mother for his children. She’d given up her condo to move in with a man who’d deceived her, and now she was giving up her home on Long Island to move in with a man who would become her employer. And she had a hard-and-fast rule never to engage in an affair with a supervisor or coworker. She had witnessed firsthand the fallout and embarrassment when a first-grade teacher had been dating the school psychologist, who hadn’t disclosed he was married, and was confronted by the man’s pregnant wife after she showed up unexpectedly at the school building to threaten her husband’s lover.
She climbed another flight of stairs with Aiden until they came to the third-story landing and his home/office/bedroom. A king-size platform bed, bedside table and a brown leather love seat were positioned under an eave, while a workstation with a desktop and printer was placed in front of a window overlooking the front of the house. An entertainment stand held a television and stacks of DVDs. Taryn walked over to the credenza to study several framed black-and-white photographs. The image of an elderly couple sitting on a bench holding hands captured her attention. There were other photos of the same couple with the tall thin man dressed in his Sunday finery, while the short dark-skinned woman by his side wore a Native American beaded dress and moccasins.
“The woman is my maternal grandmother,” Aiden said as he moved closer to Taryn. “Grandma Esther belonged to North Carolina’s Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. My sister is named after her.”
Taryn’s eyes went from the photographs to Aiden’s features, noticing he’d inherited his grandmother’s high cheekbones. “Is she still alive?”
“No. She died eight years ago, exactly one month to the day my grandfather passed away. My mother claimed she died of a broken heart.”
“How did your grandparents meet?”
“That’s a long story. I’ll tell you about Grandma Esther’s people another time.”
Taryn wondered if Aiden had told his daughters that their great-grandmother’s tribe had occupied what is now Western North Carolina for countless centuries. “How much time do you spend up here?”
“A lot, but only when the girls are away. Whenever they’re here I sleep in the bedroom across from theirs as a safety precaution.”
She did not want to imagine the consequences of someone attempting to break into Aiden’s house. Given his size and military training, there was no doubt he would prove a more than worthy opponent. “Do you have a lot of crime in The Falls?”
“We have burglaries and vandalism, but it’s been years since there’s been a murder. Most of the break-ins are from kids hooked on drugs and looking for something they can easily sell so they can get their next fix. Back in my great-granddaddy’s day it was the revenuers chasing moonshiners, and now it’s the sheriff and his deputies going after those dealing drugs.”
“How large is the police force?”
“We have a sheriff and three deputies now that they’ve hired Seth Collier. Seth grew up here and enlisted in the Marine Corps. The sheriff got the town council’s approval to hire him.”
“How many folks from here join the military?”
“It has to be at least forty to fifty percent. Now that most of the mines are closed, boys who graduate high school have to find employment elsewhere. The recruiters from all the branches come during career week and have a windfall when they’re able to sign up kids who can’t wait to get out of The Falls. Some join and become lifers, while others use the military as a path to complete their college education.”
“Like Sawyer?”
Aiden nodded. “I was a few years ahead of Sawyer but he was one of the smartest kids to ever graduate from Johnson High. He made straight As and had a near perfect score on the SAT. Everyone was shocked when he enlisted in the army instead of going directly to college.”
Taryn smiled. “It looks as if he didn’t do too badly.” Jessica’s software engineer husband had become a multimillionaire before turning thirty.
“He’s done very, very well for himself. We’re just glad he decided to come back and give back when he donated the money to create a technology department for the school district.”
“Do you like working at the Wolf Den?” she asked.
Aiden gave her a lengthy stare, then said, “Yes, because I like cooking.”
“Did you go to culinary school?”
A hint of a smile parted his lips. “Why would I go to culinary school to learn to prepare fancy dishes for patrons who can’t pronounce or know what foie gras is? A cook by another name is a chef in his own realm. The Wolf Den has been run by Gibsons since the 1920s, and we continue to stay in business because we’ve established a reputation for grilling the best steaks and smoked ribs in the county.”
Taryn laughed. “Okay, Chef Gibson, let’s continue with the house tour.” Jessica told her that she and Sawyer visited the Wolf Den at least twice a month because the food was exceptional and that Wickham Falls had only two eating establishments—the Wolf Den and Ruthie’s, a family-style buffet restaurant. Jessica had disclosed that the townsfolks repeatedly voted down the town council’s proposal for a fast-food chain, fearful it would impact Ruthie’s viability. The Wolf Den would remain unaffected because they served beer and alcohol.
They descended the staircase to the second floor where Allison and Livia had adjoining bedrooms. Aiden’s bedroom was opposite theirs, and a guest bedroom was at the end of the hallway along with a full bathroom. The girls’ bedrooms were quintessentially girlish with white canopy beds, matching dressers and chests. Window seats were covered with brightly colored cushions stamped with animated Disney characters. Photos and figurines of fairies were in evidence in Livia’s bedroom. Her older sister’s bedroom was less whimsical with framed photographs of birds and flowers. Viewing the rooms gave Taryn a glimpse into the personalities of the two girls who were close in age yet differed when it came to their interests.
“Now, the basement,” Aiden said as they again took the back staircase.
“I noticed the girls don’t have a television in their rooms,” Taryn remarked.
“There was a time when they did, but I had to take it out because they would turn it on late at night when they should’ve been sleeping. They aren’t allowed in the attic, which means they can’t watch television there. Your suite is off-limits, so again they’re denied. I have a television in the basement with parental controls, and they’re only allowed two hours of television a day because I don’t want them addicted like some kids.”
“Did you get rid of their TV?”
“No. It’s in the basement storeroom. Why?”
“I’m going to need it for the classroom. Even though I didn’t do it with my kids in New York because I taught third-graders, I’d like to designate Friday afternoon for free time and show age-appropriate movies, along with popcorn. If Daddy isn’t working, then he’s welcome to join us.”
A flash of humor crossed Aiden’s features. “I’d like that as long as I don’t have to sit on a little chair.”
“What if I order a beanbag chair for you?”
“I’d prefer a recliner.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Recliners are not allowed in the classroom.”
“What if I string up a hammock?”
“Keep pushing it, Aiden. If your old joints pop and crack when you sit down, then I won’t invite you to join us.”
“I’m not that old.”
“You’ve got to be at least forty.”
“So the pretty lady has age jokes,” he countered. “I thought it was women who were touchy about revealing their age.”
“Not me. I celebrate every birthday all month long, and sometimes even longer.”
“That’s because you were born in the shortest month of the year.”
“Don’t hate on February because it’s a month we celebrate. Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine’s Day, National Gumdrop Day, Cherry Pie Day, National Margarita Day and, of course, Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays, and so many others too numerous to name.”
“How do you know all of this?”
“I put up calendars on my bulletin board with all of the bizarre and unique holidays for each month and I’ll talk about it for five minutes.”
“You talk to children about margaritas?”
“Not the cocktail but the plant. I show them pictures of the blue agave plant, tell them where it’s cultivated, how tall it can grow and that the high production of sugars, mostly fructose, is in the core of the plant.”
“So it becomes a mini science lesson.”
“Everything that goes on in my classroom is tied to learning, Aiden. Academics are important but I believe in educating the whole child, and that means making them aware of their environment. When a child goes shopping with his or her mother or father and sees a bottle of agave on the shelf, he or she will know that it’s a sweetener and not a cocktail.”
“I’m sorry for prejudging you.”
“There’s no need to apologize. You have every right to question me about what I intend to teach Allison and Livia. I may not have any children but I, too, would be concerned if my child’s teacher talked about alcoholic beverages, and I would never expose your children to something I wouldn’t want for my own.”
“I know I’m a little overprotective when it comes to my girls—”
“You don’t have to say it, Aiden,” Taryn interrupted. She wanted to tell him that she’d had students whose parents were dealing with their own personal issues and were unable to protect their children. She forced a smile. “Now, are you going to let me see your man cave?”
Aiden returned her smile with a bright one of his own. “Of course.”
“This is ni-ice,” Taryn drawled, drawing the word out in two syllables when she stepped off the last stair, her shoes sinking into the plush pale-gray carpeting that matched the fabric walls. Aiden flipped a wall switch and high-hats bathed the space in soft light. The basement had been transformed into a media/game room with black leather reclining chairs, sofas and love seats. A flat screen measuring at least seventy inches was mounted on a wall for viewing throughout the expansive space. There was a wet bar fronted with a quartet of stools, a glass-fronted credenza with highball and cocktail glasses and fully stocked with spirits, along with a portable refrigerator and wine cellar. The game area contained pool and air hockey tables and additional side tables with checkers and chess pieces stood ready for willing players.
“How often do you entertain down here?”
“It varies. I usually host Super Bowl Sunday and alternate with my sister for Thanksgiving. My brother and his wife always have Easter and Christmas at their home. What about your family, Taryn? How do you celebrate the holidays?”
Taryn rested a hip against the mahogany bar. “My father is a rabid football fan and his guilty pleasure is attending the Super Bowl.”
Aiden lifted questioning eyebrows. “He goes every year?” She nodded. “What does he do?”
“He’s a family court judge.”
Aiden grimaced. “Been there, done that,” he mumbled under his breath. “What about your mother?”
Taryn knew if he’d gained sole custody of his children, then he would’ve had to have gone through the family court system. “She’s a social worker.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“I have a brother who’s active navy.”
Aiden’s expression brightened as if someone had suddenly turned on a light. “Where is he stationed?”
“Base Little Creek.”
Recognition stole its way over Aiden’s rugged features as he stared at Taryn as if she had spoken a language he did not understand. “Your brother is a SEAL?”
“Yes.”
“He’s SEAL Team 8?”
A soft gasp escaped Taryn’s parted lips. “You know?”
“Yes, because I was a member of SEAL Team 5 stationed in Coronado, California.”
She pressed her fingertips to her mouth. “I knew it,” she said between her fingers.”
“Knew what, Taryn?”
“I knew you were special ops because your body language is the same as my brother’s. Do folks around here know you were a SEAL?”
Aiden shook his head. “Only my family knew. It was something my ex complained about because whenever I was assigned a mission I couldn’t tell her where I was going.”
Taryn thought about her sister-in-law who didn’t complain when Langdon received his orders; she knew when she married him that she wouldn’t hear from him for weeks at a time. “Didn’t she know this when you married her?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand—”
“There’s nothing for you to understand,” Aiden said, cutting her off. “The only thing I’m going to say, and after that the topic is moot, is the best thing to come from my marriage is my children.”
Although Aiden hadn’t raised his voice, Taryn felt as if he had. She clenched her teeth to keep from reminding him that he had been the one to mention his wife. And she resented that he’d spoken to her as if chastising his children. “I’m ready to leave now.” And she was. She’d spent almost two hours with Aiden, longer than any normal interview, and suddenly she felt as if she’d worn out her welcome.
“Don’t you want to see the rest of the basement?”
“I’ll see it at another time. I need to get back to the house and walk Bootsy.” Taryn hadn’t lied because she’d promised the puppy that she would walk him. Turing on her heel, she headed for the staircase, Aiden following. It only took minutes for her to return to the kitchen and retrieve her jacket and tote. “What time are we meeting tomorrow to go to Beckley?”
“Does ten o’clock work for you?”
She looped the handles of the tote over her shoulder. “Yes, and thank you for breakfast.”
Aiden inclined his head. “You’re welcome. I’ll walk you to your vehicle.”
Taryn wanted to tell him she could find her car without his assistance but decided to be gracious. “Thank you.” Aiden walked her to where she had parked the SUV.
“Drive safely,” he said when she opened the driver’s-side door.
“I will.”
She shut the door, started up the SUV and maneuvered away from the curb. Taryn acknowledged that she’d closed the door on one phase of her life, and when she signed the contract, agreeing to homeschool two preschoolers, she had opened another. Interacting with Aiden had been comfortable and easygoing until he’d mentioned his wife. And it wasn’t for the first time she wondered, what had the woman done to result in her losing her children? Were the townspeople right when they claimed her family was bad news? And why, Taryn mused, did Aiden marry her when he knew her family’s history, whatever that was?
The questions tumbled over themselves in Taryn’s head, until she was forced to mentally dismiss them when she reminded herself that although she would share a house with her students’ father, their relationship would be strictly professional. He was her employer and she his employee. It was something she could not afford to forget.
