“Smells good. Do we want to eat at the table?”
His mouth full of steak, he chewed and swallowed. “I’m almost done. I thought you said you weren’t hungry.”
“I was starving.” She palmed her head and sighed. “Oh, Brian, I wish you wouldn’t take everything literally.”
Alana had explained to him that normal people lived lives full of imagined stories behind every action. Simply saying “I’m not hungry,” could mean many things.
This was especially true with women. Brian clearly remembered the list Mrs. Thornton gave him. Look for stories behind the words.Don’t take them at face value. Imagine what the real message is. Does she want your attention? Your forgiveness? Or is she angry and wants you to suffer?
“Sorry.” Brian rubbed the back of his neck. “Guess I should have made you a steak. Why did you say you weren’t hungry?”
“I was upset and wanted to be left alone. I can’t believe my mom would pull a fast one over my dad. Maybe you’re right. It’s an uncle I don’t know about, or a friend. I know my mother was pregnant before she married my father, but I never thought I wasn’t theirs.”
Brian drank water to chase the lump of steak down his throat. “It’s just a picture. Maybe we should look for more clues.”
“I don’t want any more clues.” She dragged her fingers through her long locks of hair. “I want to rest and get better, except there’s nothing to do up here but go crazy.”
“We could get ready for our perfect Christmas,” Brian said. “Larry left a basket of chestnuts. I can put another log on the fire and we can roast them.”
“I need to eat something first.” She opened the refrigerator and wrinkled her nose.
Melia was immediately at her side, sniffing the contents of the fridge, while Sierra milled around the kitchen, brushing her tail over every surface.
“I’ll put on another steak for you or fix you a salad,” he offered.
“It’s okay, I can do it myself.”
“Still want to be left alone?” he checked, before putting his plate down.
She shrugged and patted the dogs.
“Guess I’ll go into town and get some supplies.” He figured his best option was a full retreat. “Want anything?”
“No, I just want this day to be over.”
“Six more hours.” He glanced at the clock and hurried out the door.
“Wait!” Cait called after him. “I’ve decided I want to decorate. While you were cooking your steak, I found a wood-burning kit and a small coping saw in the woodshed. Can you get me pieces of wood, glitter, glue, and ribbons?”
“Why don’t you come with me?” He walked back up the porch.
Cait swallowed hard and shook her head. “I’d rather stay here. Don’t come back too late. The roads are dark.”
“I’ll be fine.” He remembered to lean toward her and give her a kiss on the cheek. It was what normal husbands did, and he liked the feel of her skin under his lips.
She blinked and nodded. “Be careful, okay?”
“You too.” He threw in a joke. He had a list of them he’d memorized to fit in at the firehouse. “Don’t burn down the house until I get back.”
That brought a smile to her otherwise weary face.
“Sure, Brian. That’s why I married you. To put out my fires.”
