Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
Reaching across the space, Harry folded her into a warm embrace that Autumn desperately needed. The whole moment was overwhelming. Noah, the party…the snow globe was just too much.
Whispering in her ear so that only the two of them could hear, Harry said, “I know Christmas is hard, but I was hoping this might help. I know you miss him, them, but your dad and mom are always with us.”
God, it took everything inside her to hold back the tears. But crying wouldn’t be professional, so Autumn swallowed them, pushing the loss and grief down deep. With a nod, she tightened her arms around Harry, just a second more of warmth and comfort, before she took a step back and let the other woman go.
Of course Harry would understand the grief she’d been struggling with – and denying – for weeks.
Her parents had her late in life. She was the miracle baby neither of them ever expected to have. She’d been the center of their world, in a good way, and their loss…it still hurt so much. Christmas had always been a special time for them. The first one without her mom had been rough, but she and her dad had each other. This year…
If she was honest, she’d been floundering for months. The life she’d built in Sweetheart had revolved around her parents…namely her mother’s illness and then making sure her dad took care of himself after she was gone. She’d gone to a local college so she could stay home. Then taken a job right in her own backyard. She loved her job, her life and her friends. But she’d started to wonder if there was something more out there for her.
And the snow globe in her hand only made her wonder more.
Her parents had never really been travelers, preferring to build a home that was an oasis of comfort. But her father had collected snow globes of all the places they’d talked about visiting. But never did.
Autumn’s hand gently skimmed across the curve at the top of the glass before she turned it over and shook the white iridescent glitter into the water. Holding it between them, she let the snow rain down over the idyllic Christmas scene. Her bottom lip threatened to tremble, but Autumn bit the inside of her lip until it stopped.
In that moment, she couldn’t help but wish for more. Just more. A family to fill the hole left in her heart. A chance to see places she’d only ever talked about. To be filled with happiness and joy instead of the restlessness and sadness she couldn’t seem to shake.
Oblivious to Autumn’s thoughts, Harry watched the glittering swirl inside the glass globe, a smile filled with utter enchantment crossing her face. “There was this adorable little old woman selling ornaments at the Christmas fair in the square. I talked with her for several minutes. She travels the country, living in the airstream called the Tinsel Trailer, selling one-of-a-kind Christmas ornaments.” Looking at Ed, she said, “Doesn’t that sound like such an adventure?”
“No, it sounds miserable. Why would anyone want to live and work out of a tiny trailer?”
Her grin widening, Harry smacked playfully at her husband’s arm. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”
Wrapping an arm around her waist, Ed pulled Harry in close and pressed a kiss to her temple. “You’re my sense of adventure, love.”
Noah watched the byplay between Autumn and his grandmother, at a total loss. He understood the significance of the snow globe for Autumn, having seen the collection her father had given to her over the years. He wondered how many more she now had…and what cities she’d never visit that they represented.
The old resentment crawled up the back of his neck to settle uncomfortably across his tight shoulders.
Now wasn’t the time.
Especially when he watched Autumn’s lower lip tremble against the emotions she desperately fought to hold in. No one else would have even noticed, but he did. It was a tell. The way she bit her lower lip to keep it all in.
He didn’t have time for this. Not right now. Flipping his wrist over, Noah glanced at his watch. “Listen, I have another meeting in about thirty minutes.”
Harry frowned at him. Autumn’s quick glance held gratitude. Sweeping out her arm, she said, “Follow me into my office and we’ll chat about the last-minute details. It shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes.”
Everyone filed behind Autumn into a huge office. Noah couldn’t help but look around and take stock. First, the space was open and airy. The back wall was solid glass with a vista of the calm lake, soaring mountains and a winter blue sky.
Efficient, that’s what her space was. No papers scattered across her desk. No clutter of random tchotchkes on the bookshelves. No, everything was streamlined and purposeful…just like she was.
Instead of leading them to the large credenza set close to that glass wall, Autumn indicated a round table with eight elegant leather chairs placed precisely around it. The top of the table was a gleaming dark wood with rich grain and beautiful color.
Autumn stood, waiting until he and his grandparents settled into chairs before she and her assistant chose the ones opposite. It didn’t escape his notice that she placed her assistant closest to him, using the other woman as a buffer.
It irritated him when it really shouldn’t. In fact, if she’d sat first, he would have done the same. Which irritated him even more.
Autumn’s assistant pulled a large tablet out from somewhere. She placed it gently in the center of the table, upside down so that he and his grandparents could read the information as Autumn opened a file and swiped through colorful pages.
Running her finger down lists, she rattled off information that Noah had no desire to pay attention to. It was clear she didn’t need to actually read what was on the page…she knew it by heart.
His grandmother nodded. Her eyebrows beetled in concentration as she absorbed every word Autumn uttered.
“Just a few last-minute decisions. I know you wanted the crab cakes as the appetizer course, but there’s an issue with the catering staff’s supplier. We can however sub the shrimp and grits instead if that’s okay with you?”
Harry’s face fell. “We didn’t go with the shrimp and grits because it was more expensive.”
“I know, but since this issue is on our end, we’ll provide the substitute at the same price.”
Harry’s lips thinned and her eyes narrowed. “Autumn, tell me you aren’t doing this on purpose. You know I wanted the shrimp and grits, but decided on the crab cakes so we could do the filet instead of the sirloin.”
That caught Noah’s attention. “I know, which is why I felt pretty confident telling the catering staff to move forward with the change. But I wanted to verify with you as well. I can always tell them to sub something else if you’d prefer.”
His grandmother’s mouth twitched. “You didn’t answer my question.”
Autumn’s eyes narrowed. “Did you ask a question?”
Shaking her head, Harry said, “The substitution is fine.”
Noah opened his mouth to tell them that money was no object and his grandmother should never have needed to sacrifice what she wanted to afford the filet in the first place. But before he could utter a word, his grandfather’s hand slammed into his knee. A subtle shake of his head had Noah snapping his jaw shut again.
“Great!” Autumn went on. “Now, I know you said you didn’t need a gift table.”
“Because no one is supposed to be bringing us anything. It specifically says so in the invitation. That’s not what this party is for.”
Autumn leaned back in her chair, the stylus she was using tapping softly against her palm. “We both know everyone is going to do it anyway. Better to be prepared.”
“But then is looks like we expected people to bring something when I’d really prefer that they didn’t.”
“Understood.” Autumn’s assistant flipped seamlessly to a digital drawing of the room complete with color coded tables, numbered chairs and a corresponding guest list off to the side. Clearly, the two worked well together. “That’s why I’m going to suggest we add one more high-top cocktail table. We’ve strategically placed several around the room already for people to place drinks or appetizer plates as they circulate before and after dinner. One more to the left of the entryway will blend in with the rest, but can also be used for people to place gifts and cards on when it’s needed.” Autumn’s lips quirked up in a subdued smile, “And trust me, it will be needed.”
Harry sighed. “I know you’re right, I don’t want you to be, but you are. You think of everything, Autumn.”
“That’s my job.” Scrolling through a few more pages, Noah zoned out again. He should be thinking about the call with his agent in fifteen minutes. The call that could end his career. But instead, he found himself watching Autumn.
Playing that childhood game, spot the differences.
So much about her was the same, and yet, so much was different. The sparkle of mischief still lurked in her eyes, just deeper and more well-hidden. Tiny lines crinkled the corners of her eyes whenever she smiled. Or frowned. Tell-tale signs that neither of them were as young as they used to be.
Not that his own body wasn’t capable of reminding him on that score often.
The delicate dusting of freckles that trailed across the bridge of her nose had muted, although that could simply be the time of year. He wondered if they still popped out against her creamy skin after just one day in the sun.
Her chestnut hair was shorter, brushing just below her shoulders instead of to the middle of her back, and she’d clearly taken time to curl it instead of letting it hang straight. Would it still be soft against his fingers if he ran them through?
But it was her eyes that still got him. Golden brown with flecks of green. Those eyes had never been able to hide anything from him. He’d known what each twitch of her eyelid had meant – happy, sad, angry.
Now, he couldn’t read anything.
The phone in his pocket vibrated.
A knot formed in his belly, hard and insistent. A knot that had nothing to do with the call he was about to take, even though it should have.
Pulling his phone out, Noah didn’t even look at the screen. “I’m sorry, my agent is early.”
Glancing up at him, eyes blinking as if she’d forgotten he was even there, Autumn said, “Michelle, can you show Mr. Woodson to the office next door? You can take your call there. We shouldn’t be much longer.”
“Absolutely.” Standing up, Michelle indicated he should follow her. Pressing the green accept button, Noah held the phone up to his ear. “Hey man, give me a second,” and then trailed the cute blonde down the hallway and into a smaller, vacant office. He didn’t even turn around as the door clicked shut behind him.
Striding across the space, Noah spread his feet wide and stared out across the vista before him. Did every room in this damn place have a million-dollar view?
“Don’t sugar coat it. Give it to me straight.”
Matt said, “I tried man, but they weren’t happy with the report from the doctors.”
“They’re requesting to release me.” It wasn’t a question. Honestly, it wasn’t a surprise either.
“Yes, the want to release you. I’m so sorry, man. They need depth heading into the playoffs if they want a chance. I’ll start making phone calls as soon as we hang up though. You know there’ve been a couple teams already sniffing around.”
“Don’t.” The word he’d been afraid to say for months felt almost like a relief. Which surprised the hell out of him.
Matt, ever the supportive friend when he needed it, said, “I know you have a lot going on right now, but this isn’t the end.”
Noah stared across the wide-open expanse of lake and trees. People scurried about below, paddling kayaks, trimming the bushes…just generally living their lives. Something he’d taken for granted. “Maybe it should be the end.”
He could practically hear Matt’s head shaking in disappointment. “It doesn’t hurt for me to make the calls. See what the options are. Take the week, enjoy some time with your grandparents. Enjoy the party. We’ll talk in a few days.”