Finding Home (2 page)

“You must be Bryson. No I’m not the least bit sad. And I’m so happy to finally get to see my nephew.”

“Daddy said that you might be uncomformitable and when I ast my mommy what it meant she said it just meant that you were sad. She wasn’t happy with my daddy then. He wasn’t supposed to say that in front of me. He keeps forditting that I have big ears.”

Andy laughed out loud. Her nephew was very precocious. “Ummm. Well… It’s very nice to meet you Bryson.”

“Mommy said that I could call you Aunt Andrea. But I heard Grampy Joe call you Andy. So what do I get to call you?”

“Well, what would you like to call me?”

“I like Aunt Andy.” His eyes widened when he noticed her belly ring. “That is soooo cool. How did you get that in there?”

“I had a friend do it for me.”

“Did it hurt?”

“Just a little,” Andy laughed as she remembered all of the margaritas consumed after her piercing and just how erotic Jordan had found it. “But it was well worth it.”

“Wow. You have really big hoops in your ears too. Did that hurt?”

“No, not at all. I’ve had my ears pierced a long time, since I was about your age. They only hurt if they get caught on something.”

“Ohhh…”

“Bryson, there you are. You need to get in the house and wash your hands for dinner. You haven’t even greeted your grandmother yet.”

Andy looked up at the sound of her sister Chloe’s voice. There was Chloe in all her perfection. Her blonde hair was in place around her face. She had her make-up done in such a way that it brought attention to her green eyes and high cheek bones. She was wearing a pale pink summer dress that fell discreetly below her knees to about the middle of her calf. Her pale legs were covered in pale hose and her feet were adorned with pink pumps. She was the perfect picture of a wife, and Andy had never felt better in her life. She had always hated the perfection of her sister, but now as a woman, she could appreciate the effort her sister took with her appearance.

For the first time, there was no anger or jealousy when she looked at Chloe. It didn’t matter that Chloe was everything that her mother and most of the town thought was perfect and wonderful. Andy had discovered who she really was, and now she felt only love for her sister. The life she had always thought that she wanted was now the one thing she was most grateful that she didn’t have. She would die in the role of sedate little wife. But her sister seemed to be flourishing in it.

Andy walked to her sister and wrapped her arms around Chloe for a great big hug. “I’m so happy to see you, sis. You look fabulous as always.”

Chloe was so taken by surprise that she couldn’t say anything. Andy didn’t know if it was the way that she was dressed, her hair, her belly piercing, or the fact that she had dared to touch and possibly muss Chloe. It was sad to realise just how much distance there was between them. And most of it was her fault. She was the one who had left, the one who had all but ignored Chloe’s calls and letters. But it had been hard then to face the fact that Bryan was happier with her sister. Now she could look back and see the truth.

Hooking her arm through Chloe’s, she pulled her sister back into the kitchen with Bryson right behind them. Chloe didn’t say anything to her, seeming beyond words at the moment. She shook her head and pulled her arm free of Andy’s. She grabbed Bryson’s hand and hustled him ahead of her out of the kitchen, down the hallway, and to the stairs, stopping to take her daughter’s hand along the way.

Andy watched her sister lead the children upstairs and knew that they were heading to the play room where they would eat their dinner with Carly. Carly had been with the family since before Chloe was born. When Ms. Claire, as Carly referred to Andy’s mother, had children, Carly had taken over as nurse maid and nanny. Claire was not exactly the picture of a mother. To her, children were to be seen and only heard when she wanted to listen to them, which was not that often. Children were not allowed at the table until they were fourteen. It appeared that little had changed.

Shaking her head, Andy headed to her father’s den and the bar. Bryan was already there with another gentleman deep in discussion. He looked the same as always. Bryan had always seemed tall to her at 5’11”, but he didn’t seem all that much anymore. His blond hair was kept short and neat, and his blue eyes were so pale that they seemed dull. She thanked God once again for keeping her from marrying him. She would have been miserable, and he would have been too.

His eyes widened when she entered and headed towards the bar.

“Good, Lord, Andy is that you? What?” Bryan seemed completely startled speechless by Andy’s exposed abs complete with belly ring and the amount of chest she had left exposed. Not exactly the way she used to dress.

“Why, hello Bryan. It’s so nice to see you again.” Andy stopped to pat him on the shoulder before heading over to the bar for a drink. “Can I get either of you anything to drink?”

Bryan
’s lips moved in a way that reminded her of a fish. Trying to keep from laughing at his shock, Andy focused on the other gentleman in the room. He was taller than Bryan, maybe 6’3” with sandy brown hair and gorgeous deep blue eyes.
 
He was very muscular and looked good in a pair of casual dress pants and polo shirt. Her mouth was watering just looking at him.

“You must be Andrea. I’m Jackson Williams. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Andy laughed at the twinkle in his eyes. “Not what you expected, huh? And it’s Andy, not Andrea. People who know me call me Andy.”

“Well, then, Andy, how about a scotch.” Jackson moved towards her across the room while she poured his drink. She poured a martini from the already made pitcher for Bryan before pouring herself vodka with cranberry. When she turned with the drinks in her hand, Jackson was right in front of her.

“Here, let me help you with that,” he said, before removing his drink from her hand and then taking Bryan’s as well. His body brushed against her, and she could feel her nipples tightening. She couldn’t help but wonder if he had done it intentionally.

Clearing her throat she asked, “So what do you do for a living, Mr. Williams?”

“I’m a developer. My partner and I own a construction company. We buy land, develop it, and then sell it off to the highest bidder.”

“Jackson,” Claire moved into the room with Chloe and Joseph, looking uncomfortable in a shirt and tie, in tow. “I’m so glad that you could make it. Where is the delightful Mr. Sanders this evening, and your brother?”

“My brother is out of town for a few days on personal business, and you know how Mr. Sanders is.” He looked over to Andy, “I’m afraid that he’s not much of a people person.”

Chloe moved over to Bryan’s side while Joseph went to Andy and gave her a quick hug before moving to the bar to pour martinis for Chloe and Claire and a whisky for himself.

“Good to see you again, Jackson. How is the new club coming along?” Joseph asked.

“Very well, sir. We should be ready to reopen in a few more months.”

“I’m sure that it will be well worth the wait, Jackson.” Claire simpered and clung to his side. “Why, everything that you touch is just destined to be magnificent.”

Andy tried to hide her snort by turning it into a cough, but she was pretty sure that he knew what her response was anyway. What she hadn’t wanted to do was draw her mother’s attention which was exactly what she had managed to do.

“Oh, yes, have you met our other daughter Andrea? I’m afraid that she just arrived and didn’t have time to change.” Claire’s eyes moved over Andy with firm disapproval. This was nothing new to Andy though. Maybe she should have changed for her mother, but it was too late now.

“Yes, I must say that I was hoping that this was another one of your set ups, Claire. If so, then you’ve made me very happy,” Jackson replied while looking at Andy with a twinkle in his eyes.

Andy burst out laughing as her mother and Chloe both choked on their drinks. Bryan looked like a deer caught in head lights. It was all just too funny.

“I’m sure that was the furthest thing from my mother’s mind. Rest assured that she thinks more highly of you than to set you up with the likes of me.” She lowered her voice to a stage whisper. “I’m afraid that Momma wouldn’t wish me on her worst enemy, Mr. Williams.”

Jackson
looked at her with a grin of his own. “I’m sure that couldn’t be true, Andy. And it’s Jackson. Trust me when I say that there is not another woman I know that I find so charming and interesting.”

The heat of his eyes brought her to slow simmer. There was something about him that reminded her of Jordan, perhaps his eyes. All she knew was that her nipples were like torpedoes and her pussy was soaking. She needed to get laid bad and suddenly her options while visiting home weren’t too shabby.

“I’m sure that dinner is ready.” Claire quickly brought the attention back to herself. “Come Jackson, you can be my escort.” With that she pulled at his arm and led everyone to the dining room.

Joseph wrapped his arm around Andy’s shoulder and leant down to her ear. “Well, this should be interesting.”