Chapter 4: Chapter 4

ANDIE

Andie was almost going stir-crazy. She still hadn’t opened the bakery, and it felt so odd not to be in her comfort zone of baking and frosting her delicious cupcakes. But she knew she needed the time.

She still wasn’t sleeping. All she saw when she closed her eyes were Caleb and Candice lying on those metal tables, covered with those white sheets.

She was still keeping everything under control with the babies, and Lily was working back into her normal schedule, but she just couldn’t sleep.

She must be one hell of a pansy. Maybe after today, she could put it all behind her.

She had already dressed in her half-sleeved, slightly tight black dress. It came down to her knees, and there was nothing special about it, just a plain black dress.

She also found a pair of flat, black dress shoes since she’d never worn heels a day in her twenty-five years.

She dressed Lily in her frilly black dress and placed her back on the floor, then caught Lucy before she crawled away.

She dressed Lucy in her black onesie and matching skirt and sat her on the couch. Then she picked up Lily and the bags. She turned to Lucy, helping her stand, then scooped her up as well.

Andie took a deep breath as she headed for the door. She struggled to open it but finally managed and pulled it shut with her foot.

She shivered as she stepped outside, even though it was almost seventy degrees. What was wrong with her?

She shook her head, walked to the car, and stood Lucy on the concrete driveway while she opened the car door. She put Lucy on the seat, placed Lily in her car seat, and fastened her in.

Leaving the bags on the floor of the back seat, she picked Lucy up, put her in her car seat, and clicked her belt.

Then she grabbed her keys from the diaper bag, got in the driver’s seat, started the car, and headed to the church.

Rose and Bruce were getting a ride from Todd and Maisy. There was going to be a short viewing before the funeral.

She hadn’t been asked to speak, and that was fine with her. She didn’t know what to really say. She was just so… empty and sad, but she pushed through for Lily and Lucy.

After the funeral and burial, they were going to hear Caleb and Candice’s will. Then they would make the necessary arrangements for Lily.

Andie smiled a little as she heard the two babies gabble back and forth like they were having their own little conversation.

She pulled into the parking lot of the small white church, letting out a deep breath. She got out of the car, leaving the windows down, and took Lucy out.

Then she went around to the other side to retrieve the bags and Lily.

She swung the bags over her neck and placed Lucy on the seat. She got Lily out, placed her on her hip, then put Lucy on her other hip. She adjusted both girls and struggled to close the door.

ELI

Eli was out front of the church talking to a couple of his employees and friends when his gaze landed on the small spitfire. “Excuse me, guys. I’ll be right back.” He took off, heading over to Andie.

He got a little closer, and she managed to close the car door. As she turned to head to the church, they both froze.

They hadn’t spoken to or seen each other since his outburst at the house. She looked worse than she had that day. But seeing her show off those tan legs of hers again sent him reeling. She was so beautiful.

~Wait, what? Where the hell did that come from?~ He mentally kicked his own ass. He was supposed to be grieving two family members, not thinking his sister-in-law’s best friend was beautiful.

He shook himself out of the thought and continued to walk over to her. It didn’t even look like she breathed once as he strolled over.

“Hey, Andie, let me help?” He held out his hands and was surprised when Lucy reached her little arms out and latched onto his black suit sleeves.

He placed his huge hands around Lucy and pulled her from Andie.

Her gaze narrowed a little, and they were still a steely color instead of the soft, warm gray Lucy’s had. He needed to apologize, which he was never good at.

She began to walk to the church, and he followed right behind her, his gaze raking over her a little more.

~Stop it, you stupid lug head!~ he scolded himself as they entered the overcrowded church. He stepped closer to her and laid a hand against the small of her back.

Her head snapped up, and she shot a gunmetal glare at him, but he ignored it, ushered her into the sanctuary, and found her a pew. He sat down beside her but kept a respectable distance.

She unloaded the bags from her shoulder and adjusted Lily. A smile played on both of the babies’ lips as Lucy and Lily grabbed each other’s hands and babbled nonsense to each other.

Eli could see the girls were becoming even closer. He glanced at Andie. She had turned her head away from him and was staring straight ahead.

“I can take Lily for a minute if you want to say your goodbyes,” he offered softly.

He watched a wave of sadness wash across Andie’s face, but it was hard in the next instant as she shook her head. He looked at her a moment longer.

She was really being affected, but she wouldn’t let anyone know it. He just hoped she wouldn’t break down and totally lose it, although she had a right to do so.

Maybe once she didn’t have to care for both girls, she’d be better. “Andie, I’m—”

“Eli, we need you for a minute,” his father called out.

Eli glanced at his dad. “Okay.” He looked back at Andie. “Do you want me to try to take Lily?”

All she did was shrug in response. He put Lucy in her lap and placed his hands around Lily. The back of his hand inadvertently brushed against one of her breasts.

He felt her tense up and pull back quickly. He didn’t say anything as he moved Lily into his arms to get a better hold of her, and she let out a loud cry, making many of the guests turn to look.

Andie glanced at Eli, and Lily reached out for her.

Eli heard the many murmurs of “Who brings babies to a funeral?” and “Can’t she control those kids?” He turned to glare at the people, who quickly turned away.

He placed Lily beside her and said, “I’ll be back to help in a minute.” He headed over to

his dad.

“I don’t need help,” she murmured as Lily began to settle down.

He shook his head and rolled his eyes. Stubborn woman. He strolled over to his dad. “What’s up?”

“She wasn’t too thrilled about having you over there. Figured I’d give you an excuse to get away.”

Eli frowned at Todd. “What the heck? I was just getting ready to apologize.”

“Really?” His dad sounded shocked. He glanced at Andie, who was carefully watching both girls. “I think it’s going to take more than an apology with her.”

“I don’t know. She let me help her inside with Lucy. I don’t want an enemy in her.”

Eli glanced back just as Lucy almost fell off the pew, but Andie reacted fast, wrapped her arm around her, and pulled Lucy into her while keeping hold of Lily.

She made Lucy sit down beside her, prompting the girl to let out an upset squeal.

Eli sighed. “I’m going to see if I can help her some more.” He started to walk over, but Todd grabbed him by the shoulder. Eli turned to look at his dad and asked, “What?”

“Don’t, Eli. We don’t need another scene like we had at the house.”

He sighed again as he stared at Andie. “Fine.” He gave in.

ANDIE

Andie’s heart was pounding from the way Lucy had latched onto Eli, the way his hand had felt on her back, and then Lucy almost falling off the pew.

Maybe she should have just stayed home. It was obvious the people here thought she shouldn’t be there.

She was sitting alone in the back. She got shunned a lot when she was out, but people sure didn’t have a problem eating her sweets and other foods she baked.

The service was just getting started, and Lily was beginning to get a little cranky. She let out a squeal as Eli got up to speak, making quite a few people turn to look at her, Lily, and Lucy.

Andie picked up the bags and babies and then began to walk out. Yeah. Terrible idea. She bit back the tears as she struggled with the door to exit the sanctuary.

ELI

Eli looked up when he heard his niece and stopped speaking as people turned to look at Andie. He couldn’t just watch as she pulled open the door and left with the babies.

He stopped and took a step to go after her when he heard a throat clear and looked at his dad. Eli took a deep breath and continued the speech he had prepared.

As soon as he was done, he stepped down, and instead of taking his seat by his parents, he exited the sanctuary. He finally found Andie sitting outside with a blanket spread on the grass under a huge oak tree.

She was playing with both girls, and he observed how she didn’t show Lily any less attention than she did Lucy. The babies were laughing as she tickled their feet and bellies.

He smiled as he headed over. “You didn’t have to leave, you know.”

She looked up at him, and her gray eyes were soft this time. She shrugged. “It’s okay.”

He sat down next to her at an angle, stretching his long legs out behind her, and leaned back onto one of his hands. “No, it’s not, Andie. She was your best friend.”

“Some seem to have forgotten that.” She shot a glance at him as a small breeze blew her hair across her cheek.

He reached out and tucked it behind her ear, and he heard the sharp breath she inhaled. “I’m sorry about the other day,” he whispered.

She shrugged again. “It’s fine. I get it. It’s unacceptable here to be a single mom to one baby, let alone try to take care of two. I’m used to it by now.”

“I don’t feel that way. Things happen that can’t be controlled sometimes,” he offered.

“It could have been if I hadn’t been so stupid,” she whispered as Lucy crawled over to Eli and pulled herself up on him.

“Hey, cutie. Not scared of me today, huh?” He put a hand against her back as she bounced up and down a little and gurgled.

Lily sat up slowly, latched on to Andie’s dress and hair, and pulled herself up also.

Eli watched wide-eyed. “That’s new.”

Andie pulled out her phone and typed something quickly, then hugged Lily. “Such a great job, sweetie. You’re getting so big. You don’t want to be outdone by Lucy, do you?” she praised.

She glanced at Eli and took Lucy. “You better get back inside before someone sees that you’re out here with me. You don’t want that to happen.”

Eli let out a sigh. “You could come back in. I’ll help.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s fine.”

He laid a hand on her shoulder. “Are you coming to the cemetery?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know if I’ll be at the reading of their will, either. Rose and Bruce can let me know what the plan is, and I’ll comply.”

“I want you to come. You will have whatever you want of Candice’s things. Her parents agreed with me, so at least show up there?”

She sighed. “Okay. Thanks, Eli.”

He rubbed her shoulder a little. She still felt cold to him, but he didn’t know what to do to help her.

He got up and headed back inside. He returned just in time for the end of the service.

ANDIE

Andie sat there with Lily and Lucy and watched as Eli, Todd, Bruce, and a couple of other men loaded up the first casket. She fought the tears as they headed back in and brought out the second casket.

The girls crawled into her lap, and she pushed the tears away as they clung to her. What if she let Eli in to help a little right now? Could she have mourned the loss of her friend?

No, terrible idea. She was already craving his scent of dark chocolate, hay, and leather soap. She shivered at the thought. And when he touched her, he made her feel warm again.

She also knew she could lose herself in his strange eyes that would change color depending on his mood.

When he was being sweet like he just had been, they were a soft golden color instead of the coppery tint when he was upset or confused.

How did she get to be so perceptive over that man? It wasn’t like anything could ever happen because she wouldn’t allow it.

She would wait until after the will reading, once Lily was no longer in her care, before she would allow herself to lose it and mourn her best friend.

Lucy wasn’t as tense as Lily was because Lily did know something was wrong. She just didn’t know what.

She would be okay until then. Hell, she didn’t even think she wanted anything of Candice’s. All she wanted was her best friend back. Maybe something would bring peace to her. Doubtful. So doubtful.