31. The Way She Was

31

THE WAY SHE WAS

" I can't believe I'm getting married this month," Ivy said, bouncing around the plant.

Aster glanced up from where he was looking at one of the sewing machines that was giving the seamstress issues.

He'd gotten back from vacation last week and worked on Friday and the whole weekend, moving these machines and setting up the new layout. The way that Poppy thought they'd work wasn't as efficient as she'd hoped.

Laurel and Poppy had talked, even though Poppy was on maternity leave, and they decided to shift it around some more.

He didn't care that much. It was what they paid him to do and it's not like he didn't have a great five days with Raine.

It was the most time he'd spent with anyone before, other than the men in the service. He wanted to be able to give that to her, knowing that in two weeks he was going to Texas to testify against Carrington's abductors and helping Daphne pack up and then they'd drive back together.

Daphne was going to stay with him for a month or so while Reese was having some work done on the cabin to get it more modern.

Zane was doing it and he'd had other jobs lined up. Reese had done what he could in terms of paint and flooring, but he knew the kitchen and bathroom needed an overhaul.

His sister was going to be in for a surprise, as she didn't know what was going on and had been told they were doing repairs, not updates.

But that also meant that he might not have as much alone time with Raine and didn't want her to be upset over that. Not that he thought she would be.

"Are you going to say that every single day of the month?" he asked, looking at Ivy. "It's only the first."

"Maybe," Ivy said, giggling. "It's just so exciting. And wait until you see Raine in her dress."

"I can't wait," he said. He hadn't seen her really dressed up fancy once and was looking forward to it. But he also knew that he preferred her the way she was.

Down to earth and not fancy, like him.

"It's going to be a blast," Ivy said. "Wait until you see how much fun the wedding will be. I mean, you've been to the summer picnic and Christmas Party, but this is different."

"I'm sure it's going to be great," he said. Aster wasn't sure why he always got stuck in these "girl conversations" that he couldn't care less about.

But it's not like he was going to tell Ivy to scram.

"You're just pacifying me," Ivy said. "I know. Brooks does it all the time. I get it."

"Glad you have that figured out," he said, smirking.

"I like this side of you," Ivy said. "Raine said she had such a great time on vacation. She's never been. I've never had one either. Not like that. But then I've traveled all over the world so much that I don't care or need to do those things."

He'd heard about Ivy, Jasmine, and Dahlia's upbringing. How their father was a doctor with Doctors Without Borders and they'd lived in poverty-stricken areas until they were eighteen when they all moved to America.

"Not everyone needs special or fancy things," Ivy said.

"Not me," he said.

"And not Raine."

He turned his head to see Brooks walk in the door. "There is my future hubby," Ivy said, all but skipping to Brooks. Raine's brother leaned down and gave Ivy a quick kiss.

"Here are your shoes," Brooks said. "You're lucky you caught me leaving and I had to run out this way anyway."

He saw the sneakers in Brooks's hands and Ivy slipped off her heels and put the sneakers on with her dress.

"Thank you. I hadn't expected to be here all day and it's not safe to be walking around with these on, but Laurel and I have a lot to talk about," Ivy said. "See you both."

He watched Ivy all but run out of the room and toward Laurel's office, leaving him standing there with Raine's brother.

"She's a handful," Brooks said.

"And you'd have her no other way," he said.

"Never," Brooks said. "Raine seems happy."

"She is," he said. Aster wasn't sure where this was going.

"Considering what happened on Friday, I wasn't sure. How do you feel about it?"

"Feel about what?" he asked. "What happened?"

Brooks lifted his eyebrow. "Never mind."

"Oh no," he said. "You said it, you can explain yourself."

"I'd rather not," Brooks said. "Raine can have a temper."

"I haven't seen it, but if something happened to your sister, I'd like to think someone in her family would let me know. You're acting like it was a big or important thing."

Aster didn't like knowing that maybe they were keeping something from him.

And he'd push the guilt aside that maybe he wasn't completely honest about his fears with the pains he felt. He told her what he knew. That he had a clean bill of health. End of story.

The other secret, his money. Well, that wasn't anyone's business.

He was justifying it that way in his mind.

It's not like he'd go around bragging he was given that money or had it. He was only dating Raine. A conversation like that didn't come up.

Yes, they loved each other, but it's not like they were married and she needed to know those details.

"She's going to kill me," Brooks said. "But I might as well tell you what I know since I let this much slip."

"Yes," he said. "You should. What is going on?"

Brooks nodded his head to the side and he followed him over.

"Raine's ex is back in town."

"Colton?" he asked. "So? It's not like I think she's going to go running to him."

"She won't," Brooks said. "But Colton showed up at the diner and started asking my mother all sorts of questions about Raine. How is she doing? What's going on in her life? Things like that. Said that he was divorced and coming back to the area."

Aster didn't like hearing that, but again, it's not like he didn't trust Raine. "I don't see your mother as someone who would volunteer much. Nor Raine caring."

"No," Brooks said. "My mother doesn't get mad often and didn't while she was working, but she did slip and let my father know and of course my father told River and me. Raine doesn't know we know."

"Yet you think she told me? Now what am I supposed to do? If I confront her, she's going to know your mother told your father. Your father told you. She's going to be pissed at everyone."

"Yep," Brooks said. "We can all share the pain, but I thought she would have told you."

"It doesn't sound like there is much to say," he said. "The guy came to town and asked about her. Big deal."

"No," Brooks said. "But he found out where she lived and showed up at her house Friday afternoon."

Now that part pissed him off and Raine didn't say a word. "What happened?"

"I don't know those details. Raine didn't say too much to my mother, but I know she was upset and hurt. You have no idea how badly Colton messed her up in the head."

"Which is why you guys are so protective of her?" he asked.

"Yes. I worried that his return would make her start to doubt herself again. I don't want to see that. I just thought maybe you had something to do with it. With the place she is in now. To see her slip back would tick us all off."

"I had no idea," Aster said. "But I'm giving you fair warning I'm going to find out so you better prepare the rest of your family for her knowing."

Brooks was grinning. "Heard."

"You did this on purpose," he said after a second of thought. "I know you did. I can see it. You're willing to take the heat for telling me too. Why?"

"Because it's time she put the past where it belongs and if everyone loses some skin in this, then it might be worth it."

He watched Brooks leave and had to wonder how much skin he was going to lose too, but he had to admit, he was pretty pissed off and needed time to cool down.