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Genni
“It’s Jason. Let him in.” I tried to move around Brian, but he wrapped his arm around my waist, lifting me effortlessly.
“No, Genevieve. He’s not in his right mind at the moment. Lettin’ him in is the last thing we should do.” Brian held the door, his muscles rippling beneath his T-shirt. “Jason, you need to go and cool off. Come back when you’ve calmed your ass down, and then we can talk about this.”
“Fuck you, Evans. I am not going to leave and give you anymore alone time with her. You can’t just waltz up in here like you own the town and take her from me.” Jason’s voice was edged with venom as he spoke. “She’s mine, and you know it. I am the only one who can bring her to heel, teach her her place, and collar her the way she needs to be.”
“Jason, this is not the time or place to discuss this.” Brian’s worried eyes met mine over his shoulder.
“What the hell is he spouting about?” I crossed my arms across my chest. “Putting me in my place, huh? Is that what you think you’re doing?” The longer this went on, the more pissed I became. “You can both leave as far as I’m concerned. No one is putting me ‘in my place.’” I air quoted.
Brian ignored me and continued holding the door as he spoke, “Jason, please. You know deep down that this isn’t the way. Go calm down. I am doin’ nothing except protecting’ her, and you know it. Ultimately, it’s her decision, not ours, and right now, you are freaking her the hell out. She doesn’t understand, and if you don’t fucking calm your ass down, she never will. Go and take a walk, then meet us for lunch at the diner so we can discuss things.”
I had no clue what the hell they were talking about. All I knew was they were talking about me as if I was a thing and not a person, and I was done. “You both need to go take a walk and leave me alone.” I raised my voice so that Jason heard me, too. “I am done being pushed around by two overly macho men who think they know what’s best for me.” I pushed Brian out of the way, knowing deep down the only reason I was able to move his massive body of muscle was because he let me. I unlocked the door, removed the chain, and opened it. “Now, both of you get the fuck out of my house and off my property.” I stood tall, anger and frustration making my skin vibrate as I waited.
“I’ll go on one condition.” Brian’s eyes were wary and concerned. “Meet us for lunch at the diner. Allow us to explain, and then you can decide whether you want us in your life or not.”
“If that’s what it takes to get you out, then fine, I’ll meet you, but it better be a hell of an explanation because you are both acting like spoiled children fighting over a toy.” I glared at each of them with a pointed finger. “Calm down and think about how you have treated me. I’ll meet you at noon.”
“If you need us, you have our numbers.” Brian grabbed his jacket, put on his boots, and walked out. “Come on, Jason.” He grabbed Jason’s arm.
“Don’t fucking touch me. This isn’t over, Evans.” Jason jerked out of Brian’s grasp and stomped down the steps.
“Lock all the doors and don’t let him in if he returns. Call me, or hell, call his deputies, but don’t let him in.” Brian’s voice was low as he spoke, his eyes on Jason as he stormed off. After Jason had gotten into his cruiser, Brian turned back to me. “Got it?”
“I can take care of myself, thank you very much,” I huffed.
“Of that, I have no doubt, but please take extra precautions. I have personally witnessed what Jason can do when he’s this obsessed, and it’s not pretty.” Brian put his hat on and sauntered down the steps to his truck.
I closed the door, locking it and replacing the chain. Leaning against it, I listened to Brian’s truck start and back away. I replayed the last ten minutes in my head, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. Jason was acting like he owned me. As if! Brian, on the other hand, had only acted in my defense or protection. I have always taken care of myself, but the idea of a big, strong, sexy man wanting to protect me melted my insides a bit. To trust someone enough to give over that job was something I secretly craved but had never expressed to anyone.
Most of my relationships during my life were ones where I took charge, mainly because the guys I chose didn’t have a backbone. That was why I had sworn off men for the last few years and simply lived my life alone. Brian’s protective nature, his attentiveness, and his keen eye began to stir my buried hope that there was a man out there who wanted to take care of me, one I could trust enough to do so.
I shook my head and went back to the kitchen. The letters still sat on the table, waiting to be read. “Okay, Gran, what is it you wanted me to know.” I sat with my now cooled cup of coffee and opened the first letter.
The paper was yellowed with age, and the handwriting was rushed. It was merely a few lines and signed with a name I didn’t recognize.
My dearest Sarah,
I only have a few minutes to pen this note to you. We are being moved again, and we don’t know where to. Fighting is going on all around us at all hours, and the simple thought of you waiting back home keeps me going. The vision of starting our life together when this is all over helps me put one boot in front of the other. I feel your love all these miles away and hope you can sense mine. I anxiously await your next missive. They are calling our names, so I must end here to get it to the post before we march out.
It was signed, “All my love, Don.” Grandpa’s name was Chester, not Don, and he didn’t serve in the military. I sat for the next two hours reading through all the letters, filled with declarations of love, plans for the future, dreams of their life together, and the depression of war. When I finished the last one, I was more confused than when I began. There was never a last name, always just Don. “Who was this, Gran? Why did you leave these to me? What am I supposed to do now?”
I sat back, taking in the comfort of her kitchen. The ancient stove she loved so, the avocado green refrigerator, the cracked linoleum floor she always kept scrubbed clean. The table I sat at was scarred with years of use but polished with care. The counters were uncluttered—the only things sitting upon them were the coffee pot and her canisters of flour, sugar, and coffee next to a set of salt and pepper shakers. The cupboards were an oak, darkened with age, but free of grime and grease. The walls were light green with a wallpaper border depicting all kinds of kitchen utensils and aprons. Gran loved her kitchen; she called it the heart of a house where everyone always gathered. “A full belly led to a happy heart,” she used to say.
The old cuckoo clock chimed, and I realized I was late for lunch. I carefully replaced the letters and stood stretching the kinks out of my back I had gotten from sitting too long. Thankfully, the diner was only a few minutes’ walk away. It was time to go find out what Brian and Jason had to say for themselves.
As I was locking the door behind me, my phone rang deep in my purse. I didn’t glance at the screen, expecting it to be either one of the men waiting on me.
“I’m on my way, don’t freak out.”
“Hello to you, too,” an unfamiliar voice greeted me.
“Oh, I thought you were someone else.” I glanced at the caller ID and saw a Florida number but no name listed.
“Obviously. Is this Genevieve Brown?”
“Who wants to know?” I replied with a little more sass than I had intended.
