“It’s a sharpener for tools with an edge. It was my grandfather’s. Mom and Dad had it in their garage in Manassas, and Dad gave it to me since he didn’t use it. My grandparents had a farm, and we used to cut wood for them and my parents. After Pop and Nan passed away, Dad and his brother sold it since neither of them wanted to live there.
“This,” I held up the old axe, “was my grandpop’s. I’ve replaced the handle a few times, but the head has lasted a long time.” I reached for the safety glasses putting on a pair and holding the other pair out to Avery, who had come closer. I then handed him a pair of leather gloves and pulled him to stand in front of me so I could show him how to sharpen an axe.
“Now, see the edge here?” I flicked my thumb over the edge to point out the dull and jagged spots at the top edge where the axe struck first. “We wanna sharpen this up so it splits with one strike. These stumps and logs aren't too tall, so I should be able to get them in one blow if we sharpen the blade right.”
“Who taught you to do this?” Avery glanced over his shoulder and caught me staring at him. His grin made me laugh and kiss his cheek.
“My grandfather and then a nice man named Mr. Crosby. I worked with him during the summer for a couple of years while I was in high school. Now, put your gloves on and I’ll show you how to do this.” I kissed his cheek again, bringing a laugh from him.
“Bossy.” I laughed with him. If he thought I was bossy sharpening an axe, wait until—if—I ever got him into my bed.
An hour later, I was carrying the leather sling containing the wood I’d chopped while Avery wiped off Ossie’s paws and carried him inside. He slid off his boots, as did I, and he handedme the sweatshirt, which I hung on the rack, along with the ball cap I’d worn.
It felt good to have someone to talk to while I chopped the wood, putting some of the dry wood on a trash bag in the mudroom so I didn’t have to go outside for it. I wanted to cuddle on the couch and watch a movie. Going back out into the cold was nowhere on my radar for the afternoon and evening.
I took the wood into the living room and opened the fireplace doors before sliding the mesh screens back. I’d cleaned out the fireplace the previous day when I was bored out of my mind.
I stacked the wood on the iron fireplace grate, putting some kindling and old newspaper between the logs and, once it caught, I closed the mesh curtains and dusted off my hands. Avery was sitting on the couch watching me, that cute smile making me want to kiss him like crazy.
“You want some soup? I’ve got chicken noodle and ham and bean in the freezer.”
He was staring at the fire as it ignited, but when I mentioned the soup, his gaze met mine. “You have soup in the freezer?”
I nodded. “I made a few batches over the holidays and put some in the freezer so I could have it when I wanted.”
His beautiful, pale gray eyes were huge. “You can make soup?”
“Yes. I can make all kinds of things. Do you not know how to cook?”
“I mean, just a few simple things. I can scramble eggs and cook bacon. I can make stuff for taco Tuesdays, and I can heat a pizza.” His cheeks flushed as he said it.
I didn’t laugh. I figured there was more to it, so I only nodded. “Mom insisted that Holly and I both learn how to feed ourselves. Let me go warm some up for us.” I reached for the remote and turned on the television before holding it out to him. “Find us something to watch. I like everything, and there are streaming services, too. I’ll be right back.”
Ossie came over and put his paws on the couch, his tail wagging. Avery looked at me. “Can he be on the furniture?”
I grabbed Ossie’s blanket and put it on the couch next to Avery. “Yeah. I’m an old softie, but he has to stay on the blanket.”
Something occurred to me. “Say, the last time you were here, I hit the vodka pretty hard, and I remember upsetting you to the point you left. Did you come back, put me to bed on the couch, and lift Ossie up to lie with me? Did you bring in the Chinese food and put it on the kitchen table?”
He glanced toward the fireplace and gave a slight nod, which was odd. “If I did, would that upset you?”
I stepped closer and leaned down to kiss his forehead. “Nope. I’d say thank you for being so kind and go heat up our soup.” My smile was unstoppable.
“Man, this is so good.” Avery’s groan went straight to my groin.
I’d heated up the chicken noodle soup and warmed some saltines with parmesan cheese on top, just like mom used to do for Holly and me when we were kids. We each had a bowl, and we were sitting on the couch with our feet up on the ottoman of my leather sectional.
Our water glasses were strategically placed on the end table next to me so he had to lean over me when he wanted a drink so I could smell his grapefruit shampoo when he wanted a drink. Having him press against me wasn’t a burden at all.
We started watching a random show about monkeys, which was fine, but I was a little surprised. “You couldn’t find a movie?”
Avery grinned. “I found one, but I thought we should wait until after we eat this delicious soup. You really made this? It’s so good.” He reached for a cheese cracker and dipped it into his handled bowl before taking a bite.
“Thank you. Like I said, Mom wanted to be sure Holly and I didn’t starve.”
Avery stared at the fireplace again before he spoke. “My mom works for a high-end real estate company. My father’s a tech guy, and we had a cook who came in twice a week, made food for us, and Mom reheated it. That’s probably why I know how to heat things.”
“My parents are both retired now, but my mom was a teacher and had a side hustle as a seamstress for a long time. Now, she works as a substitute teacher when she’s needed. My father has worked as an electrician his whole life. I’m happy they’re both mostly retired. The bad thing is that they now have a lot of time on their hands to analyze my life.”
