The Farmer & The Belle (Baymoor Book 1) Page 8

  It was as if time stood still. Everything was exactly the same except for the big silver picture frame that now sat on her old desk. She picked it up and smiled. It was the note she had left for them right before she hugged them and drove out of Baymoor for good, or so she had thought.

  Dear Uncle Nate & Aunt Val,

  I just wanted to say thank you for loving me.

  You will never know how much it meant to me that you took me in.

  Thank you for always believing in me and supporting me.

  I love you beyond infinity X’s infinity. Georgie

  Georgina glanced around the room, remembering how eager Valerie had been to design and decorate it with her. She also remembered it as the turning point on her road to recovery.

  Past…

  She came to live with her Uncle Nate and Aunt Valerie in the summer of 1994. Valerie, unable to have children of her own and aware of her husband’s newly orphaned nieces’ and nephew’s situation, had embraced her wholeheartedly. Her patience was unending as she endured the child’s suspicious looks and defiant silence. She knew that this child was special, and it broke Valerie’s heart to see her in such a fragile state. They gave her a big room with huge windows and polished wooden floors. The twin bed was all hers and the most comfortable thing Georgina had ever slept in. She treasured it.

  When she woke up in the morning, Aunt Valerie would have pancakes and bacon ready. As the girl with the big brown eyes stared at her from the oak kitchen table, she would hum a song while doing the dishes and then ironing their clothes, so they could get ready to join Uncle Nate at their new café, The Comfort Table.

  Valerie would wait patiently for her niece to get dressed, never once yelling at her to hurry up or smacking her to make her move faster. Sometimes Georgina would take a whole hour of hiding in the bathroom just to see what her aunt would say. It was always quiet. Pure golden silence. No one to hit her with a ruler on her face or drag her by the hair for taking too long.

  When they got to the café, Uncle Nate would be there and his eyes would light up every time they walked into the room. Then he would walk over to give his wife a kiss and twirl Georgina in the air. It was the only time Georgina would make a sound. Her giggle was so infectious that Valerie and Nate would both laugh as they looked into each other’s eyes and fought back tears. After the ritual, Uncle Nate would take them over to his big desk and show them all the plans for the café. A cook named Raymond would come in with lunch and a special dessert for the quiet little girl.

  After lunch, they would tell Uncle Nate goodbye and head to the fabric store. There they would walk up and down the aisles as Aunt Valerie selected various fabrics for the café’s décor. Silently Georgina would eye the girly fabrics with fun patterns. She longed to reach out and touch them but was afraid of the consequences of being caught.

  After shopping, it was time to go home to make dinner. Valerie would sit Georgina down at the table with a small bowl of fruit while she made dinner. She would say out loud what she was making and outline the process every step of the way just to see if maybe the little girl wanted something different to eat. Her chatter was always met with silence. Georgina even chewed silently, and it infuriated Valerie.

  Kids were supposed to be loud and enthusiastic, talking at the speed of light about their day and what they would do the next day. They were supposed to run and find adventures to get into. Damn Ingrid Carlton to hell and back. She had wrung her daughter’s spirit from her.

  So they created rituals for the little girl, who before coming to live with them, had only known chaos in her young life. Nate would come home while dinner was still cooking and take Georgina to the park to let her play. It broke his heart whenever another child would run up to his niece to play and she would stare at the child, unaware of how to act. She would just turn and run back and grab his hand as she motioned that she wanted to leave now. He would scoop her in his arms and carry her back to the car. The whole time he would silently pray for God to help his baby.

  After dinner, while Nate did the dishes, Valerie and Georgina would go upstairs for a bubble bath. Story time was next. While Valerie read, Nate would act out the story. After giving her big hugs and whispering their love, they would walk quietly from the room arm in arm. Georgina never said a word.

  In their own room, they would talk quietly about their day, and unable to hold it in any longer Valerie would fall into Nate’s arms and unleash her tears for the silent little girl. Nate would whisper words of reassurance even as he fought to keep his own tears at bay. Then when words failed, they would comfort each other with their bodies. For two months, every day was like this. Then finally a breakthrough.

  Fabrications had just gotten in a new order of paisley fabrics. Valerie, who had a degree in interior design, was in charge of decorating the café and wanted to buy some before it was all gone. On the way into the store, something bright in the window caught Georgina’s eye. It was the most beautiful fabric she had ever seen. She wanted it so badly, it hurt. It was light pink fabric with rainbows all over. At the ends of each rainbow were white clouds that had a faint shimmer to it. Unicorns weaved in and out of the rainbows. The display hanging above the fabric was a large cardboard version of the rainbow with a shimmery unicorn running through.

  Valerie was so used to Georgina’s silence that she didn’t even notice when the little girl fell back and stayed by the window display closest to the doors. Georgina was enchanted by the rainbows because they made her so happy. If only they could be hers. She reached her hand out to touch the display and lost her footing. Georgina fell against the board of fabric and the board knocked the display down with a loud crash.

  Although unhurt, the little girl started to cry at the punishment that she knew would be forthcoming. She hoped it would be Aunt Valerie. Uncle Nate’s hands were very large and Georgina knew they would definitely pack more punch.

  “Are you okay, little lady?” It was Ms. Ramsey, the store manager who helped the terrified little girl to her feet. Georgina nodded slowly.

  “Georgina!!!” She flinched at the sound of her name being screamed. Aunt Valerie was running full speed towards her, and she braced her body and quickly shut her eyes so she wouldn’t see the hit coming. Instead, she felt arms wrapping around her, and she was pulled tightly to a soft bosom.

  “Oh baby, I thought I lost you. Then I heard that awful crash and almost died seeing you in that mess! What were you doing, baby girl?” Valerie asked her softly.

  Georgina looked at her tear-stained face. Why was Aunt Valerie crying? Was it a trick to make her feel bad, and then she would be caught by surprise when the hit came? She decided to tell her the truth because it wouldn’t make a difference anyway.

  “I wanted to touch the pretty fabric,” she whispered. Aunt Valerie looked at her for a long moment before looking at the fabric.

  “Do you like this fabric?” she asked Georgina, who vigorously nodded her head yes. “What would you do with it?”

  “I would decorate my room with it. I would make my room so pretty that I’d never leave it!” Georgina declared loud and clear, before lowering her eyes, “I’ve never had a room or a bed of my own before. Ingrid said I would just have to share.” Georgina shuddered as she thought of the awful noises emanating from Ingrid’s bed whenever a new man came into the picture.

  Ms. Ramsey cursed quietly behind Valerie who was mentally doing the same. She then said “The fabric won’t be in until Wednesday of next week. Would you like me to give you a call?”

  “Yes please; we are going to need enough for a comforter, two standard shams, curtains, and nightstand cover. I’m also going to need some of the silver brocade fabric for one neck roll and two eighteen-inch square pillow covers,” Valerie said, watching as Georgina’s eyes got wider and wider with each item she listed. She then held out her hand to her niece who took it and held on for dear life. Hand in hand they walked out of the store. Valerie couldn’t wait to tell Nate what had happened. The
y drove straight to The Comfort Table, and after getting Georgina settled at the desk with ice cream, she whispered in her husband’s ear what happened. Nate leaned back in his chair and looked at his beautiful wife. He still couldn’t believe she picked him out of all the men in this town chasing after her, and that she loved his sister’s child almost as much as he did.

  He cleared his throat loudly, and Georgina turned to look at him. Nate’s breath caught as he looked at his adorable niece. She looked so much like Ingrid did at that age. He remembered as kids how she would follow him around. Ingrid would do and play anything he wanted as long as she could stay with her big brother Nate.

  As a teenager, she had been beautiful, smart, and funny with plenty of friends, never lacking for male attention either. She was the apple of everyone’s eye, and he as well as their parents spoiled her rotten. Nate and Ingrid were best friends despite their four-year age difference.

  After high school, Nate went to Oregon State College. He was extremely popular and had a busy social life on top of being a great athlete. Despite all he had going on, he always made time to call his baby sister and go home for the holidays. It was his junior year of college that he convinced his parents to let Ingrid pay him a visit during her week of spring break. At first, they were nervous to let their baby go cross country all by herself, but Nate made a promise that he would keep her safe and out of trouble.

  When he picked her up from the airport, Ingrid’s eyes were shining bright, curls peeking out from underneath her beret. Nate was excited to see his best friend again. And when Ingrid spotted her big brother waiting for her, looking so tall and handsome in his varsity jacket, she launched herself into Nate’s arms and shrieked with joy.

  He took her back to campus and gave her a tour, proudly introducing her to all his friends and teachers along the way. While in the cafeteria, they bumped into some of his football teammates. One of them was a tall, brown-skinned youth named Russell Carlton. Nate had never liked the other boy. They competed for the starting running back position and Nate won. Russell was a poor sport about it. He talked about Nate behind his back every chance he got. When Nate confronted him about it, he quickly shut his mouth. Another reason Nate did not care for Russell was because he treated women badly. He charmed them with pretty words and then took what he wanted from them. Sophomore year, he put a girl in the hospital with broken pelvic bones and bite marks all over her body. A girl on campus had filed restraining order against him, but soon left school for good afterward.

  As Nate stood there talking to one of his teammates, he saw Russell talking to Ingrid, who seemed to be hanging on to his every word. Nate quickly cut off his conversation to head their way. Suddenly Russell looked right at him and smiled. Nate thought of his promise to his parents and felt a cold chill run down his spine.

  “Uncle Nate?” Georgina’s soft voice broke him out of his reverie. Valerie was looking at him with concern.

  “Yes, honey, I’m here. I was just thinking about something I had to do later,” he smiled at his niece, who surprised him by smiling back.

  “Georgie, I was wondering if you could make some time to go with me and your Aunt Valerie next Wednesday if you are not too busy?” he asked her gallantly. Shyly she nodded her head yes. The small family spent the next couple of days painting Georgina’s room and furniture.

  Wednesday was finally here and Georgina rushed through breakfast and put her clothes on all by herself. Valerie and Nate tried to hide their delight over their niece’s obvious excitement. As they pulled into the parking lot of Fabrications, Georgina could hardly contain her excitement. She walked between her aunt and uncle, skipping as a normal child would do, chatting a mile a minute. Valerie and Nate exchanged smiles over their niece’s head. They had patiently waited and good things were coming. Between the breakthrough with Georgina and the completion of their restaurant, they felt that everything was finally coming together…

  Georgina set the picture frame down and grabbed her bag to unpack. She was going to take a shower, eat, and then get some sleep. Tomorrow she planned on going back down to the hospital to take care of her family the way they had always taken care of her. But first, she had to call Graham back so he didn’t worry.

  The phone rang once before he answered. “Georgie? What’s wrong?”

  She immediately felt bad for making him worry and hastened to reassure him. “Hi, G. Nothing’s wrong. I was just getting to the house and was met by Baymoor’s unofficial welcoming committee. What’s up?”

  There was a moment of silence as he debated whether she was telling the truth or not. She pictured her big brother. He was well over six feet, tattooed, and ripped. Graham was also fiercely protective of his sisters. Ever since the night, their lives were forever changed…

  Finally, he spoke. “So I talked to Uncle Nate and his prognosis is good. They’re both happy to have you there. How are you holding up?”

  “I’m fine, now that I’ve seen them. I’m going to start unpacking and then work on some plans for the business. I met their good friend Max today and visited the café.” She prayed he didn’t ask her about Max. But luck was not on her side.

  “Oh yeah, what’s he like?” Georgina knew that Graham would be making note of her answers and running a background check on the farmer. It was something he was privileged to do with his government background. She wondered with amusement what he would think of her honest opinion. Tall, mouth-wateringly gorgeous, a straight up beast between the sheets…

  “He’s alright,” she said nonchalantly. Has a kickass tattoo on his tight abs…

  “I see…he’s just…alright?” Graham seemed to be gauging her response.

  “Well, it’s not like I know him or anything! I mean, what do you want me to say? He’s infuriatingly nice, doesn’t look like any farmer I’ve ever seen, and all the women are gaga for him?” Georgina responded waspishly, and then closed her eyes. Uh-oh…

  “Oh shit! You like him!” Graham started laughing. “He must be something special if he’s got you paying attention to him. You never look. Think I might have to take me a trip down to Baymoor and meet this farm boy that’s got my little sister’s nose wide open.”

  “Don’t you dare do it!” Georgina warned. “Nothing’s going on here. I came for a visit and despite the happiness I’m feeling for getting to spend time with the parentals, I cannot wait to head home.”

  But Graham wasn’t buying what she was selling. “Georgie likes Maaaax! Georgie likes Maaaax!”

  “Shouldn’t you be off somewhere confusing some poor woman with mixed signals?” she asked haughtily.

  “Nope,” Graham responded immediately. “I’ve waited too long for you to display an interest in anyone to let this go. It’s not normal for someone like yourself to live the way you do, Georgie.”

  “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?! I’m normal!” she replied indignantly.

  “Ish. You’re normal-ish,” Graham bluntly replied. “As in you function in society but only to a certain degree. You have a career that you are obsessed with, pay taxes, have friends that you occasionally socialize with, but that’s it. You do the bare minimum.”

  Georgina saw red as she sucked her teeth harder than a Hoover vacuum cleaner. “Hold up! I know you didn’t just try to call me a basic bitch, Graham Lewis Carlton?! I’m about to fuc-”

  “No, no, no,” Graham said hastily as he tried to diffuse his little sister’s temper. He knew what she was capable of if mad enough. Hell, he’d taught it to her. “That is not what I said at all, dammit! Don’t go putting words in my mouth, Little Bit. Look, no brother wants to ever say or think this about his sister, but you’re a beautiful, sexy woman who should be having a good time dating or at least getting laid occasionally. You show no interest in the opposite sex or even your own sex! You’re only thirty years old, Georgie. Don’t you want to experience just a little more to life?”

  She started to reply with a smart-ass comment when a long ago memory flashed through her
mind.

  “Sorry, Georgina. I really like you, but Mama says I can’t invite you to my birthday party on account of how your mama turned out. She said the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, you know?” Darlene Myers’ normally pale face was apple red with embarrassment and her brown eyes filled with tears as she apologetically explained to Georgina why she was the only girl in class that hadn’t received an invitation. “I would if I could, though, because I really, really like you. I swear!”

  She willed herself not to cry and held her head high, aware that the other kids at the lunch room table were absorbing Darlene’s words like sponges. It seemed that she would never be able to escape Ingrid and her well-deserved reputation. That afternoon Georgina went home and repeated to her aunt with a stoic face what Darlene had said. After giving her niece an afternoon snack, Valerie went to the phone and called Eugenia Myers. She coolly informed her that The Comfort Table would not be utilizing Meyers Dry Cleaning and Alterations to clean their linens. The next day, a happy Darlene tried to give Georgina an invitation to her party, but the damage had been done and the other kids were whispering about her.