Autumn's Embrace

She's in town to remodel the house she inherited. He's the real estate agent who'd like something more between them. Can they put their differences aside?

The last thing Abby wants to do is clean out her great-aunt’s house that she just inherited, but she needs to get it ready to sell. It doesn’t help that the arrogant man she met in town happens to be her new neighbor.Luke can’t believe the little girl who’d followed him around when she’d stayed with his mother’s old neighbor has grown up to be such a beautiful and feisty woman.As Luke helps Abby remodel the old home to get it ready to sell, he comes to realize she might just be what he was missing from his life. Can the two of them give up their dreams to build something better together?

Abby got out of the taxi into the hot and muggy July air and looked at the small cottage in front of her, still unsure why her great-aunt Beverly specified she was to inherit all of her worldly possessions. And from the looks of the place, the home did not have much value.
Abby pushed the uncharitable thought out of her mind and moved to the back of the car to help the driver get her second suitcase out of the back. The nice driver helped her wheel the suitcase up to the front door after she paid him the fare with a generous tip. She pulled the key out of the envelope in her purse and tried it in the door, hoping it would open without any trouble. As the key turned and the door cracked open, the dim interior made her wish momentarily that the key hadn’t worked.
Abby sighed. She hadn’t been in this house in close to eighteen years. As she perused the old furniture, the quirky knick-knacks on the fireplace mantle, and the colored glass bottles on the window sills, memories came back to her. She smiled.
She spent almost two years in this house in Maryland while her father was stationed overseas and her mom hadn’t wanted to relocate over there with him. Abby wondered what happened to her then best friend, Lainey Morison, who’d lived next door.
As Abby moved through the old house, she longed for a moment to go back in time and come see her aunt here in person instead of just the phone calls and family get-togethers. Aunt Beverly, her grandmother’s sister, had always stayed in touch with Abby throughout her life, sending birthday cards, Christmas letters, and occasionally coming out to California during the winters to spend a few weeks in the nice weather.
It shocked Abby to learn of her great aunt’s passing through a letter from a lawyer, which stated she was to inherit it all. Aunt Beverly hadn’t even mentioned she had been diagnosed with stage four cancer the last time they talked a few months ago. She hadn’t lingered long after her cancer diagnosis.
Abby allowed herself a few minutes to reminisce as she walked through the three- bedroom home. Aunt Beverly had always been a clean and tidy sort of lady. Abby wouldn’t have a lot of junk to sort through, but her aunt lived there for her entire married, then widowed life. She had a good sixty-years’-worth of material possessions to go through.
Aunt Beverly and Grandmother had quilted the bedspreads on each of the beds by hand. Each little stitch placed in the fabric a tiny reminder of the love they had for their family and Abby could almost feel it as she looked at the visual reminder. The time that went into making something like that still amazed Abby and she wished she could have learned the skill.
Abby made her way to the kitchen and scanned through the cupboards, where she found a few cans of soup and vegetables, but nothing that looked appetizing. The fridge was still plugged in, so Abby peeked inside and noticed a few bottles of condiments and pickles, a box of baking soda, and glass pitcher half full of water.
“I’ll need to go to the store,” she said to the empty room.
Abby pulled out a note pad from the drawer next to the long-corded phone hanging on the wall and made herself a list. A few fresh fruits and vegetables would go a long way to improving her mood. And some herbal tea. Abby opened the cupboards to see if her aunt left her a kettle she could use to boil some water.
“Perfect.” She pulled it out and put it on the stove top to make things easier for when she returned. Abby looked under the kitchen sink and then in the laundry room for some cleaning supplies. It must have been a while since Aunt Beverly felt up to really digging into the housecleaning. It would take a bit of work to get this house ready for her to sell. As much as she had enjoyed this place as a kid, Abby could never make this her home. California, with its sandy beaches and year-round sunshine, was where her heart lay.
After she finished her list, Abby checked for the keys on the hooks near the garage door, where she found the set for the old gas guzzler her aunt still used long after her husband had passed. The olive-green paint still shined in more places than Abby had expected. Hopefully the gas inside the tank was fresh enough to start the old beast up and get her to the little general store a few miles away.
It was a good thing the taxi had driven past it as she’d come into town. With the help of her phone map app she was sure she could make it to the little store without any trouble. And while she was in town she could scout out the city buildings, post offices, and other companies that would help her get all the paperwork taken care of so she could get everything in her name.
“I’ll work on it on Monday,” Abby said to herself as she pressed the garage door opener and headed to the car. When she climbed into the front seat, she smiled at the cushion that must have allowed her short little aunt to see over the windshield. As Abby stretched her leg out to reach the gas pedal, she marveled at the fact her aunt had been able to ever get the big boat to move.
She checked her mirror and backed out of the garage at a snail’s pace. It would take some getting used to if she planned to drive this car much. I won’t be here that long, Abby thought. Just need to get this thing ready to put on the market and head back home.
Abby wondered where exactly she’d go once she went back. Her roommate Carrie was getting married in a few months. Abby could never afford the rent on the place herself. If she were lucky, she could sell this house and one-acre lot for enough to at least get her a good start on either finding another rental or maybe even a small house to buy.
She wondered if the real estate price difference in Southern California versus rural Maryland probably would be enough. Her job as a massage therapist could easily bring in enough money to cover rent if she had a roommate, but Abby didn’t relish the idea of having to search for someone new. She and Carrie had been roomies since college. She could never find another roommate like Carrie and dreaded the thought of the disappointment when they inevitably didn’t work out.
Unbidden, her mother’s voice whispered the familiar words. “You should find yourself a husband, Abby. You’re old enough. You should settle down. And I want grand-babies.”
Abby shook her head, refusing to argue with her mother in her mind. Twenty-six was still plenty young. She wasn’t interested in finding someone yet. Carrie seemed happy enough to be engaged, but Abby had yet to find someone who could catch her interest long enough to consider going out with him more than a couple times, let alone make plans to spend the rest of her life with him.
Abby smiled at the man in the car approaching her, waving while they passed. Every driver on the road waved like they knew her. She wondered if it was the car they recognized, or if the people here did things like that. She found herself waving back and enjoying the feeling of connection through such a simple act.
The little general store had parking out the front along the road, so Abby did her best to parallel park the giant boat without going up onto the curb or taking out the fancy trash can by the lamp post. When she shut off the engine, she enjoyed the peace and quiet. She pushed the long door open, heaved herself out of the seat, and climbed out of the car.
“You’re the first thing I’ll sell,” she mumbled to the car as she worked her way around the front of it. She looked at the other cars along the street. Not many of them were the same size as her aunt’s, but a few were comparable. Most were compact with a few mini vans in the mix. She looked back at the car and wondered if anyone would want to buy it. And she did need something to get around with, though she wished she had just driven cross country with her little smart car.
As she approached the door to the little grocery store, a man with a scruffy beard and a faded ball cap exited the building. Upon seeing her, he paused and held the door.
“Thank you,” Abby said, smiling at him.
“My pleasure, Miss.” He touched the rim of his cap and nodded slightly. He let go of the door after she’d passed him and moved on his way.
Abby scanned the quaint little store. Hardwood floors with worn varnish caught her eyes first. Wooden shelves lined the walls and a pale-yellow paint covered other shelves in the middle of the building, creating aisles for the goods to be displayed. After grabbing a shopping basket, she worked her way around the shop, scanning the shelves for the things she needed.
A bottle of vinegar and another box of baking soda would be sufficient for the majority of her cleaning. No need to use any harsh chemical cleaners. The herbal tea selection was a little disappointing, but she found a box of green tea. Not the brand she preferred, but in desperate times she could make do with this. With no chance she could find the agave to sweeten her tea, honey would be a good alternative. She continued through the aisles, passing a young mother with a shopping cart. Her toddler was working on a piece of licorice. The kid grinned at her with a mouth rimmed in red Abby cringed at the thought of how much more mess he could make before he finished that piece of candy, but the child seemed content and the mother shopped like she knew the place.
“Excuse me,” Abby said, smiling at the woman. “Do you know where I might find some honey?”
“Sure thing,” the lady said. “It’s just around this aisle on the other side down at the end.”
“Thanks.” Abby headed to where the lady pointed and turned the corner without looking. She slammed face-first into a broad chest. Abby stumbled back and rubbed her nose, trying to wipe away the discomfort. She looked up to see big blue eyes hiding under some wire-framed glasses.
“I’m so sorry,” Abby said at the same time the man’s deep voice mumbled an apology.
He straightened and spoke again. “Did I break your nose on my rock-hard chest?” He smiled, and Abby blinked in surprise.
She dropped her hand away from her face. “It’s not that hard. Don’t flatter yourself.”
The guy brought his hand to the same chest he’d just bragged about and rubbed it as if mortally wounded. “Ouch.”
Abby blushed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Excuse me.”
She tried to step around him. The guy just chuckled and didn’t move away. She tried to ignore him and searched for the honey. Nothing. She turned to the other shelf on the other side of the aisle. Still nothing. Turning around once more she caught sight of a small bottle of honey resting on the top of the guy’s basket.
She looked up at his face, confused and wondering why he was still standing there watching her. “Where did you find the honey?”
He looked at the jar in his basket and lifted it up. “This was the last one.”
Abby frowned and eyed the honey once more. “Thanks.” She pulled her list out to see what else she needed. Before she made it three steps, she felt the guy beside her. He walked with her a moment. She stopped. He stopped as well. Abby looked up into his face, slightly annoyed at his presence. He stood at least a foot taller than her with short blond hair and shoulders that could carry the world. His arms weren’t huge, but she admired the definition of the muscles as they disappeared under his fitted tee-shirt.
“Do you need something?” Abby asked.
“Would you like this honey?” He lifted the jar up and offered it to her.
“That’s all right. I’m good.” She waved it away, and he lowered his hand. “Thanks, though.” Abby turned her attention back to her shopping list, trying to ignore the man beside her.
He stepped around her and his basket bumped her as he passed. “Sorry,” he said. “Have a nice day.” She nodded and stared at the two choices of bread before her.
Not much variety, Abby thought. She already couldn’t wait to get back home to her little part of the world where she had everything imaginable available to her. And more than one jar of honey.
Abby finished her shopping, relieved she didn’t run into anyone else shopping. Literally. She rubbed her nose again, remembering the hard chest she’d smacked into. It really was an impressive chest, but she couldn’t believe he had bragged about it like that. Or that she had been extra rude to him in return.
Abby sighed and headed to the front, placing her basket on the counter as she arrived. The clerk smiled at her. “You new in town?” she asked.
“Yeah, I just arrived,” Abby said. She wasn’t ready to share any more and hoped the woman wouldn’t be too nosy.
“We’re glad to have you. Hope you enjoy your stay. You here long?”
“Not sure. For a few weeks, at least.” Abby looked over the store knowing, she shouldn’t ask for directions to a larger store with a wider selection. “Is there anything like a farmer’s market around here?”
“As a matter of fact, there’s one at the end of town. Just started up last week and in the autumn, there’s so much surplus you’ll find enough to satisfy every craving.”
Abby smiled knowing she would never be here for the fall. As the clerk pulled the items out of the basket and scanned the bar codes, Abby caught sight of the small jar of honey underneath a loaf of bread. She pulled it out and turned around, searching the store for any sign of the guy. She was alone with the clerk.
What a sweet guy. Jerk.