Page 62 of Reckoning

Or making love for the first time, solidifying all of the hopes and promises of the life ahead of them.

* * *

It was long past sunset when Roger Lowe drove into Star Ridge, then wound his way through the streets to his house. Seeing the lights still on downstairs was a welcome he hadn’t expected. He parked in the driveway and got out, his steps dragging as he went up the porch and unlocked the door to let himself in.

Briar was sitting cross-legged on the floor with a bowl of popcorn in her lap, watching a Hallmark movie. When she saw him come in, she muted the TV and put her popcorn aside.

“Hey, Dad, you finally made it home. Want something to eat? We still have some microwave soups.”

“Thanks, honey, but I have to shower before I do anything. God only knows what I brought home with me from the woods.”

She grimaced. “Don’t forget to check yourself for ticks.”

“Right,” he said. “Everything go okay here today?”

“Spectacular,” she said. “The crews are all working overtime. You can check their progress on the clipboard.”

He started toward the kitchen then frowned. “Do I hear the dryer running?”

She nodded. “Wonder of wonders, the washer and dryer are both operable now. I’ve already done your bedding. That’s why I’m not sitting on the sofa. I already made up your bed for you. Now I’m washing my sheets and the comforter too. We’re finally going to sleep on clean bedding tonight, and I laid out a clean towel and washcloth in my bathroom.”

Roger sighed. “Thank you, and congratulations again on your scholarship letter. Did you accept it?”

“Absolutely. Not about to waste such a wonderful gift,” she said.

He nodded. “I thought you might have already gone to bed.”

She shrugged. “I waited up so you could have the shower. And…I still have to make up my bed after the dryer goes off, so…”

“Right, and thank you for being so thoughtful.”

She nodded, aimed the remote to unmute the sound, and went back to watching her movie as Roger left the room.

But her mind was not on the movie, or the fact that her father was finally home. She was still thinking how absolutely perfect making love with Tate Bandy turned out to be.

* * *

Briar went to bed and dreamed of Tate, then groaned when her alarm went off the next morning, but there was no sleeping in. Workers would be arriving soon. And then she remembered today was also her birthday. Legally, she was now an adult. Emotionally, she was just beginning to learn how to be a woman.

She jumped out of bed, raced into the bathroom to wash up and get dressed, and went bounding down the stairs. But the house was quiet, and when she looked into the living room, Roger’s bedding was folded and lying on the back of the sofa. He was already gone. No note. No card. No nothing. She sighed.

Happy birthday, Briar. Thank you for remembering, Daddy.

It wasn’t an actual disappointment, but she’d hoped. And when she wandered into the kitchen, saw his coffee cup in the sink and toast crumbs on the counter, she shrugged off the last of her expectations and was reaching for the bread when the doorbell rang.

“Wow, the guys are early,” she muttered, and hurried through the foyer to unlock the door.

But it wasn’t the work crew. It was Tate.

“Happy birthday, darlin’,” he said, and swooped her up in his arms. “And a kiss for good luck,” he said.

She was still laughing when he put her down. “Be right back. Hold the door for me,” he said, and stepped back out onto the porch. This time when he came inside, gift bags were hanging from his arms, and he was carrying a long white box, obviously from the deli bakery.

She shut the door behind him and followed him into the kitchen. He’d already removed the lid from the box and was unloading the gift bags from his arms. He pointed to the big sheet cake.

“Eighteen little pink roses, one each for your eighteenth birthday. A candle to make a wish on, and presents. I come bearing gifts.” He pulled a big stack of dessert-size paper plates out of one sack, and a large handful of plastic forks with them. “It’s birthday central here today. You can save a piece of cake for your dad if you want, and then you and the workers can eat cake all day until it is gone.”

Briar was caught between tears and joy. It felt like a party. “What a wonderful idea! I get birthday cake for breakfast, and the guys are going to love you for this, but not as much as I do.”