I set the clippers back down and made my way back to the house, securing the greenhouse door behind me.
“Okay, your food will be there in thirty minutes.”
With a grin on my face, I began my search for a vase. “I owe you, Jennifer.”
“Yes. Yes you do. And Ryder?”
The whole bottom left cabinet was filled with all different sized vases. Reaching in, I grabbed a smaller one and placed the flowers inside of it.
“Yeah?”
“I really like Ava. Please don’t do anything to hurt her.”
My entire world felt as if it had stopped. “Do you really think she was hurt by that? I mean, I didn’t say or do anything. I honestly didn’t think it was a big deal for Vanessa to be in the house.”
“Let’s put it this way. If you showed up at Ava’s place and a guy she grew up with showed up and Ava gushed all over him and then allowed that guy to go into Ava’s apartment and show you all around … how would that make you feel?”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I don’t understand women.”
“Ryder! Be honest. Would you like it?”
Filling the vase up with water, I thought about it. “No, I don’t guess I would like it.”
“Okay. There ya go. That’s how Ava felt because I know men and I’m sure both you and Nate gave Vanessa that googly eye thing guys do when a pretty girl shows up.”
“Googly eye thing?” I asked.
“Yes. Flirting.”
“I didn’t flirt with her!”
With a frustrated sigh, Jennifer whispered, “Just make it up to her with this lunch. I’ve got to go! Love you.”
The line went dead as I pulled my cell out to look at it. “I wasn’t flirting!”
Sinking down onto the island stool, I blew out a frustrated breath. “Lord, help me to better understand women. Please!”
I walked around the house while I waited for the food. Stepping into the sitting room, I walked over to the small library in the corner. New and old books were mixed together in no real layout. I wasn’t sure what I was searching for. Maybe a tell-all book on how not to fuck up with the woman you loved.
The old desk in the corner was original to the house. I sat down and pulled out a drawer. The only thing in the drawer was a box. Pulling it out, I slowly took the rubber band off and opened the note attached to it.
Frowning, I looked at the signature and wondered who G was.
When I opened the box, it was filled with letters. Surely my mother had seen these already.
I opened one letter and began reading it.
I folded up the letter and put it in the box. “I feel ya, dude. Nice to see women haven’t changed in over a hundred years.”
The doorbell rang and I jumped up, setting the box on the desk as I made my way to the front door.
When I opened it, I was stunned to see two women standing before me with brown bags in each of their arms.
“We’re here with your delivery from Fusion Grill.”
Opening the door to let them in, I smiled and said, “Awesome! Follow me to the kitchen.”
Each one of them put a bag on the counter and began unpacking it.