Chapter Twenty-Two
“Well, at least we found our Christmas tree today,” Cait said once they were back at the cabin.
The walk back had been slow going, but Brian had supported her and helped her hike down the path as the sun set and dusk darkened the way. Her entire body ached, and she’d definitely taken on too much with the hike.
Thankfully, he believed her when she said all of her pain stemmed from the fact she was bounced around inside of a car while careening over a cliff. Her ribs hurt from the sobbing, and her head throbbed from the concussion. Brian asked no questions, and his silence gave her the chance to shove the memories down. Why had she even brought it up? The part about wanting a family with Brian?
He’d shocked her the other day saying he knew why she’d married him. She’d ignored him, pretended he hadn’t ripped the scab off her wound, but the pressure was too great. That was it. She’d wanted to reassure him she hadn’t married him out of convenience, but that she’d actually wanted a family with him.
Accepting Glen would make up for everything, hopefully. She could be the loving stepmother, and no one would fault her if she didn’t want any other children. Watching her pregnant sister-in-law was enough of a trigger. She’d better get used to it, since her two sisters were marrying soon. She could do it. She was a master at deflection, and there would be plenty of family drama to hide behind. No one should ever know—other than Brian, who never ran his mouth anyway.
Cait rallied her spirits. There was no sense dwelling on what couldn’t be changed. She was here to recover from her injuries, and she had a cabin in the woods to transform into a Christmas cottage.
She pulled her game face together and puffed out her chest, pretending nothing significant had happened. “I’m ready to decorate our tree. Why don’t you go up to the attic and see what my parents left? They used to do Christmas here before the family got too big. I can pop the popcorn and start stringing the garlands.”
Back home, they had a theme for each room. A mantel full of snow globes, holly and ivy threaded through the bannisters, and the kitchen was covered with gingerbread houses.
Here? She’d have to get creative with pine cones, twigs, wine corks, and whatever Brian could dig out of the attic.
“We could drive down the mountain and hit the general store,” Brian said, glancing at his watch. “Shall we eat dinner down there?”
The drive up to the cabin from the hospital had been harrowing, but at least they had been going uphill, which meant they weren’t quite as out of control going around the turns.
“I don’t want to go down the mountain in the dark,” Cait said. “Mom and Dad left us with plenty of food in the fridge, and I’m sure they have old ornaments from before we were born.” She stared at the ladder leading to the attic. “I’ve never been up there before.”
“I’ll go up and get them. You’re still wearing the neck brace.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t climb.”
“Let me check the light bulb and clear the cobwebs.” Brian ducked into the kitchen and grabbed a duster.
That was how he always was, a guy who thought of everything. He was quiet and behind the scenes, especially in her large family, but he always paid attention to ensure she was comfortable.
On impulse, she kissed his cheek. “You’re too good to me.”
“Now you’re making me nervous. Your family expects me to take good care of you. I’m sure Connor will be on my case if this isn’t a perfect Christmas for you.”
“Just get up there and get me the ornaments.” Cait slapped his backside as he ascended the ladder.
He was too good to her, especially since she’d set out to dupe him the same way Alana had duped the senator. The only difference was she’d ended up empty-handed. For years, she’d consoled herself that she’d done Brian a favor by marrying him to help him get the house.
She buried her head in her hands and sat down, waiting for him. If he’d known all along, it went a long way toward explaining why he’d stayed away from her—neglected her, and basically treated her as a roommate.
She didn’t deserve him up there cleaning the cobwebs and retrieving her family’s ornaments. He didn’t need her taking advantage of his good nature and his social awkwardness, trapping him in a marriage he neither wanted nor needed.
“What have I done?” She stared into the flickering fire. “Brian doesn’t owe me anything. Not a red cent. Not a kiss. And certainly not his heart.”
As if sensing her anguish, the two dogs waddled to her side. Melia laid her head on Cait’s knees and Sierra lay down with her paws over Cait’s feet.
“Cait?” Brian descended the ladder. “Are you okay? Do you want to come up to the attic and rummage around?”
“Sure, yes. Of course,” Cait mumbled, not sure or okay with anything. Maybe she should have gone home with her family. The noise level and activity in the Hart household would have offered many distractions, and she could have been the ringmaster of all the hubbub and decorating.
Besides, both sisters had offered her carte blanche with their wedding planning. She could use their weddings to launch her event planning business, as long as she changed her name to Cait Wonder.
She averted her gaze from Brian, but he took her hands and placed them on the ladder.
“I’ll be right behind you,” he said. “Your mother has treasure boxes up there. It’s a good thing she saved so much since she lost everything else in the fire.”
