Coming Home (The Morgans) (14 page)

 
Her pillow felt so comfortable, Tori thought as she stirred, coming slowly awake. She stretched and felt something move against her.

 
“Good Morning, Sleeping Beauty.”

 
Tori’s eyes shot open. Drue. Her soft pillow was his chest. She sat up quickly giving herself a head rush.
Soft light filtered through the curtains, but it was not yet fully daylight.

 
“We fell asleep.” she said groggily. Drue was still stretched
out on her sofa, his head resting on his arm.

 
He had watched Tori peacefully sleeping for the past hour and then regretfully awaken in his arms. She had snuggled so sweetly to his side. Her nearness had felt so comfortable, so right. He hated for the moment to end.

 
She took in a sharp breathe. “Oh my gosh! What are your parents going to say?”

 
Drue couldn’t help but laugh. He pushed himself upward and sat beside her.

 
“I’m fairly certain they have realized I’m not at home, since it is half past six. I am usually the first one down for coffee at six o’clock.”

 
“What in the world are you going to say to them?”

 
“Good Morning is usually a good place to start.” He teased.

 
“How can you joke at a time like this?” she asked mortified. “How am I going to look your parents in the eye? You know what they will be thinking!” she exclaimed.

 
“What they will be thinking will be true whether I had spent the night on your couch or not.” he said matter-of-factly.

 
She buried her face in her hand, her elbows propped on her knees.

 
“This will be like the walk of shame home. Doesn’t that bother you?” she grumbled.

 
“No, it won’t.” he said smiling. “I drove over here last night.”

 
She groaned even louder at his statement.

 
“You do realize that anyone that has passed by my house this morning will have seen your truck in my driveway. It will be on the front page of the newspaper that you spent the night.”

 
He took Tori’s face in his hands and turned her so they were looking directly at one another.

 
“I would not change one minute of what happened last night. Would you?”

 
Her insides went completely soft at his words. She leaned into him and placed her head on his shoulder.

 
“No, you know I wouldn’t either.” she answered softly.

 
“Then no more nonsense about what everyone else will be thinking. Agreed?”

 
“Agreed.”

 
He drew back and looked at her still sleep-softened face. Pressing a light but meaningful kiss to her lips, he whispered against them “I’ve got to go. The crew will be waiting.”

 
“I’ll see you tonight for the festival meeting at your house.” She replied.

 
“That will make for a long day without being able to do this.”

 
He drew in a deeper kiss, his tongue running along her lower lip.

 
She loved the tingles that coursed through her body at his touch. She shivered.

 
“Isn’t absence supposed to make the heart grow fonder?” she teased.

 
“Something like that. Gives us something to look forward to anyway.”

 
“Alright. Go on. Get out of here. I’m already behind. Mrs. Kincaid will be here this afternoon to pick up boxes of clothing that I don’t even have in a box yet.”

 
“We will talk tonight after the meeting.”

 
He brushed one last kiss against her cheek and was gone.

 
Saying I love you had been on the tip of her tongue, but she had held back. Neither one had professed their feelings verbally last night, more so expressed them with their actions.

 
Drue had not only made love to her physically but had made her feel loved emotionally without even saying the words.

 
His gentle touch, the way he had been so careful with her and concerned had made her feel like a prized possession.

 
The morning after awkwardness had never come. With the exception of realizing he had spent the night and facing his parents, waking up in his arms had been wonderful.

  Did you ever outgrow
feeling like you’d been caught doing something you weren’t supposed to be doing even when you were an adult child?

 
That was an oxymoron, wasn’t it? She laughed to herself.

 
Okay. Enough psychoanalysis. Time to get to work.

  Two hours into going through her grandparents’ closets and Tori was certain they were pack rats. Her grandmother had kept every card, art project and picture Tori had ever given her. Fifteen boxes were stacked in the corner marked Salvation Army ready for Mrs. Kincaid to pick up.

 
Kleenex littered the closet floor as Tori had broken down several times as she had sorted through her grandmother’s belongings.

 
She was sitting on the bedroom floor with a box of costume jewelry. A green and gold chain with a large diamond-shape green faux emerald hung around Tori’s neck. It had been one of her favorite necklaces as a child.

 
This box of jewelry had been in her grandmother’s bottom dresser drawer as Tori had been growing up.

At age five she would play dress up and come into her grandmother’s room and put jewelry on that she kept in the bottom drawer for her. It was all costume jewelry that her grandmother had acquired over the years.

  Tori had felt like a special princess wearing the jewelry.

 
Tears spilled down her cheeks as the memories flooded her.

 
Right at this moment she was grateful to her grandmother for hanging on to things. This box of jewelry held so many happy memories for Tori.

 
She placed the lid atop the box and put it safely back on the top shelf where she had discovered it.

 
Just as she was wiping her eyes, the doorbell rang.

 
Was it time for Mrs. Kincaid already? Glancing at the bedside clock Tori saw that it was indeed two o’clock.

 
She opened the front door and welcomed Mrs. Kincaid in.

 
A young man close to Tori’s age had accompanied her.

 
“My dear, this is my nephew Jordan. He’s here visiting his mother this week and will attend the festival.   I recruited his help today to retrieve the boxes.”

 
“Hi, Jordan. I’m Victoria.” He took her outstretched hand and held it for what Tori felt was just a few seconds too long.

 
“It’s very nice to meet you. Actually we met a few times when we were kids, and I came to visit. You probably don’t remember.” he said.

 
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t.”

  He was
good-looking if you liked blonde-haired, trying too
hard, kind of slick-looking type of guy, which Tori did not.

 
“The boxes are right in here.”

 
Her grandparents had moved their bedroom downstairs several years ago to avoid climbing the stairs. This room had served as a den growing up.

  Jordan began carrying the boxes out to Mrs. Kincaid’s truck. Mrs. Kincaid noticed the tissues on the floor and Tori’s puffy red eyes.

 
“I know how difficult this must be for you. You know we are all here to support you if you need anything through this transition. All you have to do is ask.”

 
“I appreciate that. That’s one of the many benefits of living in a small town. The community support in time of need is amazing. Everyone has been so wonderful.”

 
“Just know that with your donation today that you will be helping a number of people at the Town Community Center and the Shady Groves Convalescent
Home.”

 
“I know that would have pleased my grandmother.”

 
She had always helped those in need. Whether it was serving food at the soup kitchen during the holidays or volunteering at the senior center during the week, she had always been involved in helping people.

 
“That was the last box.” Jordan said as he came back in the room.

 
“Can I offer you both some tea?” Tori asked as they exited the bedroom.

 
“No, my dear, thank you. We need to get these boxes dropped off, and we have one more pick up to make first.”

 
Mrs. Kincaid headed for the front door, but Jordan held back.

 
“I hope you will save me a dance at the festival.” he commented to her as he paused in the entryway.

 
“I believe Ms. Winslow’s dance card is already filled.” came a gruff reply from the kitchen doorway.

 
Tori jumped in surprise turning around to look as Drue stood a few feet behind them.

 
“What it is with you and Kevin trying to give me a heart attack sneaking up on me?” she laughed.

 
She walked over to greet him, and he pulled her to him for an over-the-top kiss hello.

 
Breathless Tori said, “Well hello to you too.”

 
Drue kept his arm around her waist as he looked down the hallway at Jordan Kincaid.

 
“Jordan.” he greeted the man, his eye contact making sure he sent the message that Victoria was not only taken but belonged to him.

  “Drue. Good to see you.” H
e nodded his head in silent acknowledgement to the message Drue was sending and swiftly followed his aunt to the front door.

 
He certainly didn’t lack self-confidence Tori thought to herself. You had to give the guy credit for that at least.

 
Mrs. Kincaid hugged Tori and thanked her again.

 
“We will see you Saturday at the festival.”

 
Tori watched from the front porch as they drove off. When they had turned out of the driveway she turned to Drue who stood beside her.

 
“I didn’t expect to see you this afternoon. To what do I owe the pleasure of this surprise?” she looped her arm around his waist as they walked back into the house.

 
“I was having withdrawals, so I decided to come over to get a quick fix.”

 
He suddenly pushed her up against the hall wall his hands on her hips and his mouth on hers. He was aggressive, his need pouring from his kiss. His grip tightened on her thighs as he pulled her closer.

 
It was over as quickly as it had started, but it had been a complete assault to her senses.

 
“I think that will hold me until dinner. We’ll have to see.”

 
Lord the man could kiss her socks off in thirty seconds flat and make her weak in the knees.

 
Dirt streaked down the side of his left cheek and his stubble had grazed her cheek. He looked rugged, and she loved it.

 
His expressed need to see her filled her with such happiness, she almost bubbled with it.

 
“What if it doesn’t hold me?” she asked sassily.

 
“Then I guess you’ll have to hightail it over to the farm and hunt me down for your fix.”

 
He kissed her forehead.

 
“I just wanted to check in and make sure you were doing alright. I know this is hard for you.”

 
He brushed a loose hair that had escaped her braid behind her ear.

 
“It has been a difficult morning, but I’m okay. It had to be done.” she answered sadly.

 
“I ran across some wonderful memories during the process. That part has been really nice. My grandmother kept everything I think.”

 
She laughed as she shared with him some of the keepsakes she had found in the closets.

 
“Well, I need to get back, but do me a favor.” he said.

 
“Anything.”

 
“If slick comes sniffing around you again, tell him to get lost before I do.”

 
With that comment he winked at her and scooted out the back door.

 
The Morgan’s driveway was full of cars when Tori pulled in that evening. She was certain that half the town had shown up to help make sure the festival was a success. It was the highlight of the year.

 
She parked in the back near the barn to accommodate room for others to continue parking.

Grabbing the cupcakes she had baked earlier, she scrambled from her car and went in through the back door.

  The noise hit her as soon as she walked in. Several people were in the kitchen to greet her as she sat the cupcakes down. Trays were being loaded up with baked goods and finger foods to feed an army it looked like.

 
As she walked through the dining room she had to sidestep as a brown-haired little boy chased after a brown-haired female version of himself.

 
“I’m sorry” said a frazzled looking woman as she followed close behind the two. “There aren’t enough vitamins available for me to be able to keep up with those two monkeys.” she said as she flashed by in hot pursuit.

 
Chatter filled the Morgan house as people were still filtering in. The men had cornered themselves off in the family room with talk of the market, feed prices and fall crops.

 
If the women weren’t in the kitchen filling up plates to set out, they were in various groups catching up on town news.

 
She saw Mrs. Morgan bent over a sour-looking Mrs. Parker, trying to appease her. If Mrs. Parker wasn’t the center of attention she wasn’t happy. She didn’t envy Mrs. Morgan.

 
Her eyes searched for a certain Morgan family member, but she hadn’t located Drue as of yet.

Just then she
was grabbed around the waist and hugged from behind.

 
“Where have you been? I have missed you!” Kevin whispered in her ear.

 
She laughed good-naturedly with her friend. He always knew how to make her smile.

 
“Making your favorite cupcakes for one thing.”

 
“Carrot cake?” he hoped.

 
“Is there any other kind worth making?” she teased him.

 
“I knew I should have married you a long time ago.” he said mock seriously. “Now where are my cupcakes?”

 
Kevin walked off toward the kitchen on a hunt.

 
Drue had just come in the room when he heard Kevin make the marriage comment to Tori.

It felt like someone had kicked him in the gut. In his heart he knew Kevin had only been kidding, but his mind was playing some crazy games with his common sense.

  He didn’t feel very sensible right now, not after watching Kevin wrap his arms around his woman, whisper something in her ear and then tell her he should have married her.

That’s what everyone else was wondering too, weren’t they? Hell,
so had he just a few short weeks ago.

 
They didn’t know what he did. They didn’t know what he and Tori had shared last night, nor the feelings they had for each other.

 
Maybe it was time he made sure they did. He knew they were wondering after they had been seen at church together, but nothing had sent the message home that Tori was his woman.

 
He walked toward her with purpose in his stride and on his face.

 
She looked up as he came across the crowded room, her
expression changing to one of questioning when she saw the look on his face.

 
“There you ar…” Before Tori could finish Drue gathered her into his embrace and kissed her deeply, his arm bracing her around the waist as he slightly bent her backwards.

 
He drew back slowly but did not release his hold.

 
“Hi, yourself.” he said. “Miss me?” he asked smiling that devilish smile of his.

 
Suddenly Tori became aware that the dining room had become significantly quieter. As she looked around, she saw that she and Drue had become the center of attention.

 
This was so unlike him. He had always believed that personal business should remain just that…personal.

 
So, why all of a sudden was he providing public displays of affection in a room full of townspeople?

 
“Alright Morgan.” she said confused. “While I appreciate your salutation and warm welcome, it’s totally off base for you. What gives?”

 
“Drue, will you help your father move some more chairs into the family room so we can get the meeting started?”

 
His mother was in her element going over plans, supply lists and assigning work tasks for the festival.

Everyone was eager to be a part of it. The food booths, the craft show and the barn dance was an opportunity for everyone to get involved.

  Looked like it was going to be another record year.

 
“Saved by your mommy” Tori teased him. “She can’t keep you tied up all night.”

 
He winked as he headed toward his mother.

 
What had gotten into him? He was playful and downright mischievous, and it unnerved her. She didn’t know what to expect. Never had she thought to use the terms unexpected and playful as descriptors for Drue’s behavior.  It was one for the record books, she was certain.

 
Smiling to herself, she walked over to the refreshment table in the corner to pour herself some tea before the meeting got started.

 
She noticed the ice cooler was getting low, so she decided to go out to the back porch and refill it from the freezer.

 
As she scooped ice into the cooler, she heard two voices coming from the kitchen through the crack of the back porch door. She wouldn’t have paid much attention, but she thought she had heard her name. She stopped to listen.

 
“Can you believe how Tori has come back into town like she owns the place. Not only has she always had Kevin trailing around her like a puppy, now she has Drue by the nose as well.”

 
Tori took a step closer to the door not believing what she was hearing.

 
“I know Jill. Did you see how Drue nearly laid her out on the floor earlier with that kiss? I almost told them to get a room.”

 
“I never thought she was a tramp, but she’s been away in the city for a long time. Who knows what she’s like now. She doesn’t seem to have any qualms at playing the two against each other.”

 
“Yeah, well, I had a chance at Drue before she came back into town too. Now all they seem to be interested in is her apparently.”

 
“She’s supposed to leave in a couple weeks.”

 
“It can’t come soon enough as far as I’m concerned.” Jill said.

 
Tori felt sick. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She recognized the girl called Jill from the diner, the one that had went out with Drue. She didn’t know who the other girl was. It didn’t matter really.   All she knew was they were completely wrong.

 
How could anyone think she was playing the two brothers? Anyone who knew her would know that she and Kevin were best friends, wouldn’t they?

 
Drue hadn’t believed it, her sub-conscience whispered.

 
My God! Is this what everyone in town thought of her?

 
She finished filling up the cooler, and shut the freezer door. Carrying the cooler back into the dining room, she ran into Kevin.

 
“Here, let me take that from you.” He grabbed the cooler, but when he looked at Tori’s face he stopped.

 
“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” He set the cooler down and came up beside her, his hand on her elbow.

 
Tori could see Jill and her friend off to the side snickering while they watched her and Kevin.

 
Suddenly Drue was on her other side.

 
“What are you two up to?” he asked teasingly, but he immediately realized the tension in both Kevin and Tori.

 
“Hey, what’s going on?” he asked scanning both their faces.

 
“That’s what I was trying to find out.” Kevin answered.

 
Tori felt like the room shrank standing between the two of them. She looked around the room to see if others were watching them. She felt like she was on display.

 
Never had she cared what anyone thought, but never had she been in the position to lose her best friend and her extended family if something went wrong to sour the relationships.

 
It scared her beyond measure.

 
“Nothing is wrong. I just have a tremendous headache.” Tori told them both.

 
It wasn’t a lie. Her temples were now pounding in her head.

 
“I really just need to go home and lie down. Would you please tell your mother I’m sorry. Tell her I’ll help anyway she needs me to.”

 
“Let me take you home.” Drue told her.

 
“No. I drove over. I’ll be fine. Stay and help your mother.”

 
“Don’t forget we are going to Hartford tomorrow to pick out costumes. I’ll pick you up at ten.”

 
She turned toward the kitchen but stopped and looked back.

 
“Okay. I’ll talk to you both tomorrow.” she said and slipped out the back door.

 
Kevin knew his friend better than anybody. Something was wrong. She might have a headache, but something had caused the strain he saw in her eyes. It hadn’t been there earlier.

 
“Headache my foot. Something upset her.”

 
“You think so?” Drue asked.

 
“I know so.”

 
Drue looked around the room and spotted Jill and Amy Armstrong in the corner huddled together watching them. When he looked straight at them, they wouldn’t meet his gaze.

 
Hmm. His gut told him they had something to do with this. He’d let Tori go home and rest, but he would get to the bottom of what had upset her tomorrow.