Letters of Love (Green Division Series Book #3) Read online

  “You are the type who holds a grudge, huh.” She is going to be impossible.

  “To change to a less playful topic.” She walked Gunny toward the barn, Trixie followed without Ben’s order. “She wants to enter a competition, but you guys haven’t told me when you’d like her to. Has the doctor given any sort of, um, timeline?”

  Ben’s playfulness evaporated instantly.

  “Within the year.”

  “What are her symptoms?”

  “Dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, headaches.”

  “You’d never know she was sick.”

  “She hides a lot of it. She’s a tough kid. Too tough I think sometimes.”

  “She’s a good kid.”

  “She’s an amazing girl.” Ben looked straight ahead.

  “There is a competition in six weeks. I think that’s when we should enter her.”

  “Okay.” Ben didn’t want to discuss Tiffy’s illness. It brought out too many emotions he didn’t want to discuss. He cleared his throat. “Back to what I was originally saying, can we start over?”

  Toad looked at him apprehensively.

  “My name is Ben Anderson. Yours is?”

  “Aubrey Devlin.”

  “I’d shake your hand, but I don’t want to fall off the horse. Instead I’ll say it’s a pleasure to meet you, Aubrey,” Ben said very chivalrously.

  Aubrey. That does have a better ring than Toad. Aubrey.

  She laughed. “Aren’t you quite a gentleman.”

  “Once you get to know me, you’ll see that I am.”

  “If I get to know you,” Aubrey corrected.

  “Fresh start,” Ben reminded.

  “Right.” Aubrey wasn’t as convinced as Ben.

  *****

  Aubrey sipped on a glass of red wine. Ben. His name is Ben, not Asshole. That adjustment would take a while to get used to. At the very least from their situation, she wouldn’t have to worry about traffic tickets from him any longer. Next time she saw him parked on the side of the road she might be tempted to hammer down and flip him off as she whizzed by. She laughed to herself.

  “Ba-enh. Bay-en-ha.” She playfully enunciated his name. “Arshole.” That one rolled off her tongue so much better. Pushing her thoughts of Ben’s odd behavior aside, she studied the plans she’d drawn up on the computer. The thoughts of rebuilding instantly gave her a headache with all the work it would be. She needed more wine.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Aubrey squeezed time in for Tiffy to have two lessons a week minimum. Three weeks had passed. Three more to go to until the horse show.

  “Aubrey, can we go for a ride outside the ring?”

  “Do you want to work on your cantering?”

  “I want to talk wid you.” Wid. Tiffy had some funny ways of pronouncing words.

  “Sure.”

  “Uncle Ben, we’re going to take the horses out to the field.” Tiffy yelled over to him. Ben gave her a thumbs up and walked toward his truck.

  “I wanted to talk at you.”

  “Talk at me about what?” Aubrey loved her phrases. Talk at, not with.

  “You’re like my best friend.”

  Aubrey’s heart dropped. “Tiffy, you’re such a sweet girl. You’re one of my besties too.”

  “You don’t treat me like they all do. Mom, Dad, Uncle Ben, all of my family.”

  “What do you mean?” Aubrey stopped Gunny and Trixie followed suit.

  “They don’t think I know what’s going on ‘n I don’t know what’s happening to me. I know what dying means and I know I am dying.”

  Aubrey’s heart stopped beating. Tiffy was broaching a subject no adult wanted to have with a child.

  “But, I also know that I’m going to be okay. There’s a place for me with Bamby Ken up in Heaven, so I’m not scared. I’ll be okay. But, they all look at me like...like...like...” Her little eyes watered. “You’re the only one who treats me normal. That’s all I want, to be normal. They look at me like I’m gone. I’m still here.”

  “Oh sweetie.” Aubrey choked. She hopped down from Gunny, helped Tiffy off the horse, and held her in her arms. “You know they don’t mean to treat you any differently. They love you very, very, very much.”

  “I know.” She put her arms around Aubrey’s neck and leaned her little head against her. “But sometimes...” She sniffed. “I feel like I’ve lost them. They aren’t the same.”

  “It’s hard for them too sweetie. They’re doing the best they can. You need to cut them a little slack, they are trying.”

  Tiffy cried quietly. Aubrey did the same, it was a chain effect.

  “Do you want me to come with you and we can talk to your family together?”

  “No.” She pulled back from Aubrey’s embrace. “It’s okay.”

  “I will if you want me to.”

  “It will make them sad.”

  “You won’t hurt them.”

  “It will. You understand me.”

  Aubrey nodded her head. She understood too well.

  “Then that’s all I need. Someone understands. And we can talk ‘bout this stuff.”

  “We can talk anything anytime you want to.” Aubrey leaned down and kissed her forehead. “But I think we should talk to them about it too.”

  “Pinky promise me you won’t say nothin’.” Tiffy held out her little finger. “Please, pretty please Aubrey.”

  “I promise.” Aubrey shook her little pinky finger.

  “Especially Uncle Ben.”

  She hugged her again and then put her down. “I know you don’t want to talk to them, but you should hun. They love you.”

  “I know they do. And that’s enough.” She tried to smile. “Uncle Ben said you work in the children’s hospital.”

  “I work with sick kids.”

  “Like me.”

  Aubrey boosted Tiffy onto the horse. “You look pretty fit and able to me kiddo.”

  “I’m ready to ride again. I like riding.” Tiffy got comfortable

  “I do too.”

  They casually trotted about the field then turned to go back to the ring. Her and Tiffy had formed a bond in the short time they’d known one another. Kindred spirits.

  *****

  From a distance, Ben saw them dismount. They stood behind the horses, so he couldn’t see what was taking place. He assumed it must be some sort of wildlife. He tried not to assume the worst, which was the conclusion he usually drew from most questionable situations.

  “So Monday?” Tiffy reached up and held Aubrey’s hand.

  “It’s a date.” Aubrey walked her to the truck.

  “Same time?” Ben asked.

  “After she gets out of school is perfect.”

  “Later Aubrey.” Tiffy let go of her hand and bailed into the truck. Ben walked around, started the truck, and cranked the A/C.

  Ben closed the door and leaned against the hood. “Is everything okay with Tiffy?” he said lowly. Ben detected her mellowed out mood.

  “I think so.”

  Tiffy rolled down the window.

  “Uncle Bennnnn, I’m hungry. Can we stop for ice cream?”

  “I could go for an ice cream.”

  “I want a twist.” She leaned out the window.

  “You’re sure?” Ben asked Aubrey.

  Aubrey nodded her head. Ben felt confident she would tell him if it was something he needed to know. He waved to Aubrey and they left.

  After Ben dropped Tiffy off at home, he got suited up to pick up an overnight shift. It was Memorial Day weekend, a fun rousing time to be a State Trooper. Drunk kids, fireworks, and domestics. Ben loved it. Yeehaw.

  *****

  “Aubrey!” Taylor burst through the door.

  “Well hello to you too.” Aubrey said surprised at her friend’s appearance.

  “You didn’t answer your phone.” Taylor came inside, Jill on her heels.

  “We’re going out babe, you coming?” Jill looked stunning and would turn heads wherever they went.
/>   “I’m looking forward to crashing on the couch watching me some Tivoed American Idol.”

  “You’ve turned into a hermit.” Taylor pouted. “She’s been spending an awful lot of time with that trooper. Ben, right?”

  “I’m giving his niece lessons.”

  “You like him!” Jen accused.

  “Where the hell did you pull that out of your ass?” Aubrey turned around shocked.

  “We know you.” Taylor grabbed Aubrey’s shoulders. “Tell us with a straight face that you don’t like him.”

  “He’s an okay guy, but I don’t like him like that.”

  “Did you see her bite her lip?” Jill asked Taylor.

  “I saw it. You only do that when you are lying.”

  “I’m not lying. Just because the man stands around while I give Tiffy lessons doesn’t mean I’m in love. Jesus guys, get a grip.”

  “Oahh, she does like him.” Jill smiled.

  “You two...” Aubrey smiled.

  “Look at the smile!” Jill pointed.

  “Stop it!” Aubrey pushed her shoulder. “I said he’s okay, but I don’t like him like him. I can tolerate him.”

  “Mhm. Then come out with us tonight and try to find yourself a man.” Jill said.

  “I’m not in the mood for going out.”

  “Because she already has a man.” Taylor winked.

  “I need to work on the plans for the bakery. I meet with the contractor Monday afternoon before work.”

  “Mhmm. Nice excuse.”

  “You two go, have fun, behave. If you end up needing a DD, give me a call, though I prefer you not need one.”

  “When do you see him again?”

  “I’ll see THEM on Monday.”

  “Report back to us with any juicy details.”

  “Right, I’ll jump right on him and have my way with him in front of Tiffy. Jesus you two.”

  “She’s awfully defensive.” Jill nudged Taylor.

  “Like a guilty person, overcompensating. And hanging out with him on a holiday. That’s serious.”

  Aubrey pushed them out of the door. “Bye guys, have fun.”

  Jesus, they couldn’t be any more wrong. Asshole—Ben and her had become “friends” because of Tiffy. They weren’t friends, not really. They didn’t socialize outside of the lessons...well, except for that one time when he came back to get his sunglasses...but that didn’t count, nope. They didn’t talk on the phone, or text. It was strictly business. Taylor and Jill were very, very, VERY wrong indeed.

  Aubrey pulled out the plans the contractor had drawn up. They would break ground within the month once she approved his proposal. The contractor was one Ben suggested in passing and gave her the best price of all the contractor’s she’d checked. Again, that was something “friends” would talk about, nothing more.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Mid June

  “Only one more week until the competition.” Tiffy beamed at Aubrey.

  “Excited?”

  “Super excited. I’m gonna win it.”

  “I’d put my money on your any day.”

  “Do I win the money?”

  Aubrey smiled. “It’s just a phrase.”

  Ben boosted Tiffy on the horse then walked back to his normal post where he watched religiously.

  Though she only wore a tank top, shorts, and sneakers, she still baked in the oppressive heat. Ben wore his way too cool sunglasses, a Nike hat, a polo shirt, and khaki cargo shorts looking very much like he belonged on the local golf course.

  Aubrey stood back and let Tiffy practice the instructions she’d given her.

  “I talked to Ronnie. He say’s you’re breaking ground next week.”

  “Yeah, it’s pretty scary.”

  “Scary? It should be exciting.” Ben rested his foot on the fence.

  “It’s so much work. So much more than last time and I have just as much on my plate. I get stressed thinking about it.”

  “When do you have free time between lessons, work, and the bakery?”

  “Free time? What’s free time?” Aubrey looked at him as though the thought was foreign. “I don’t know what this free time is.”

  “I bet you don’t. We appreciate you spending your free time with us....with Tiffy,” he corrected. “She talks about you all the time. You, Gunny, and Trixie. In that order.”

  “She’s a hard girl not to love.”

  “I agree, but I’m biased.” Ben smiled, then the smile faded. Aubrey could tell where his train of thought had gone.

  Thud.

  Aubrey turned around and was horrified.

  “Tiffy!” She closed the distance between them in an instance, Ben hopped the fence behind her.

  “Tiffy, come on, wake up.” Ben tried for a calm voice. Tiffy was on her back on the grass, eyes closed and not moving.

  “Call 911,” Aubrey instructed Ben and passed him her phone. Aubrey checked her breathing and her pulse.

  “Is she breathing?” Ben’s voice was panicked.

  “She’s breathing.”

  “Tiffy, sweetie, wake up,” Aubrey said. Ben talked in the background to his dispatch center. “Come on, honey.”

  Tiffy eyes started to roll open.

  “Hey, there.” Aubrey smiled and kept collected and calm. “Don’t move, okay.” Aubrey braced her neck.

  “What happened?” she asked groggily.

  “You fell off the horse. Did Gunny rear up on you?”

  “I felt dizzy and then...and then....I don’t remember.” Tiffy was calmer than any adult would have been in her situation.

  “Where do you hurt?”

  “My wrist.”

  “Does your neck hurt?”

  “My head hurts.”

  “Does your neck or back hurt?”

  “My back hurts bad.”

  “Me and you, we’re going to play a game.”

  “What game?” She closed her eyes and winced.

  “Freeze tag and you’re it, no tag backs.”

  “What’s freeze tag?”

  “Oh you’re making me feel old. We’ll try this another way, what I want you to do is be as still as a tree.”

  “Tree branches move in the wind.”

  “You would give any lawyer a run for his money. I don’t want you to try to get up, you stay as still as you can.”

  “Okay.”

  “Can you wiggle your fingers for me? Just your fingers.” Tiffy wiggled her fingers. “Now can you feel your toes when you try to wiggle them?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Alright, good girl.”

  “I’m sorry Aubrey.”

  “Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

  “I didn’t mean to fall.” Tiffy started to get emotional.

  “I know you didn’t, it’s okay sweetie.”

  Ben knelt down next to them.

  “Tiffy.” Ben breathed a sigh of relief at seeing her awake.

  “I need to keep her neck stabilized. Can you put the horses away?”

  “I don’t care about the damn horses.”

  Aubrey would have asked him what the hell his problem was, but it wasn’t the time.

  “Did she hurt her neck?”

  “She says her back hurts so I’m stabilizing her neck as a precaution.”

  “Uncle Ben, I’m sorry.”

  “Listen, you didn’t do anything wrong. You’re going to be okay.” Ben curled his hand around hers.

  “Ben, I need you to put the horses away so when the ambulance gets here there won’t be any problems. I’ve got her.”

  Ben wavered between leaving her and staying, then stood up and did as Aubrey asked.

  “Uncle Ben sounds mad.”

  “He’s not mad, you gave us a little scare.”