“That depends on what time she gets here.” Megan followed him, leaning against the column that supported the loft. “Did you tell her about David?”
Joel’s stomach clenched. “I told her everything. It was about time.” He had to smile. “Her first comment? ‘I thought you were a virgin when we got together.’”
Megan smirked. “Well… technically, you were. With women at least.” She stiffened at the sound of a car engine. “This must be her.”
Joel peered through the windows. Carrie’s Honda Civic was indeed parked outside. “Stay a while longer? You only just got here.”
“This was always going to be a quick stop on my way.” Megan kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry. I won’t let it go for too long before I come visit my little brother again.”
Joel pulled a face. “Aw, did you have to spoil it? Don’t I get a reprieve or something?” He grimaced when she whacked his arm. “Ouch. I thought you’d grown out of that.”
“You wish.” Megan picked up her purse, and Joel grabbed her coat from its hook. By the time he’d helped her into it, there was a rap at the door. Joel opened it, and Bramble chose that moment to make a mad dash for freedom.
Thankfully, Carrie was more alert than Joel was, and shut the screen door. She peered through the mesh at Bramble. “Where do you think you’re going?” Joel grabbed hold of his collar and held on tight. Carrie caught sight of Megan, and smiled. “Hey, I didn’t know you’d be here. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah, but unfortunately, I have to go. Nice to see you, Carrie.” Megan patted Joel’s arm. “I’ll see you next weekend.”
Joel couldn’t resist. “So soon?” That earned him a final glare. He tugged Bramble out of her way.
Carrie opened the screen door for her, and Megan squeezed past. She walked briskly to her car. Joel got a wave as she pulled out of the driveway.
“Something I said?” Carrie rubbed her arms. “Actually, tell me inside. It’s freezing out here.” She glanced at Bramble. “Unless he needs a W-A-L-K.”
Bramble’s ears pricked up, and Joel groaned. “Christ, now he can spell too. If Bramble had his way, he’d have five or six of those a day.” He stood aside to let her come in, accepting her kiss on the cheek. “There’s coffee if you want some.”
“Sounds great.” Carrie closed the door behind her. “So what was up with Megan? She flew out of here like I was contagious or something.”
Joel sighed. “I think she felt as though she’d be in the way. Plus, I got the impression she was expecting tension between us. Newly divorced couple and all…”
Carrie shook her head. “Put her straight, please?” Her eyes glittered. “Well, as straight as your sister can be.” She stared at the interior. “I think whoever named this place Periwinkle nailed it. A cute name for a cute cottage.” When she saw the fireplace, her eyes shone. “Can I light a fire? It’s cold enough for one.”
“Knock yourself out. There are logs in the basket.” Joel gave her a speculative glance. “You do know how to light a fire, right?”
Carrie narrowed her gaze. “My grandfather taught me, if you must know. It’s a skill I’ve never forgotten.”
Joel left her to it and went into the kitchen. “Now I understand why you kept choosing to look at properties with fireplaces, when we started house-hunting.” It seemed incredible that after twenty years together, there were still things he didn’t know about her.
“Which came to nothing, when the house we both fell in love with didn’t have one. And when did I have the opportunity to light a fire? It’s not like we ever went camping.” She chuckled. “Now, why was that? Oh yeah. ‘Too many bugs.’ ‘A bear might eat the tent.’”
“Hey, bears do that,” he protested.
Another wry chuckle. “How long have you had the dog?” she inquired. “It’s Bramble, I think you said?”
“Yeah. A couple of weeks. I got him the first weekend after I moved in here. And be warned. He’ll lick you to death.”
Seconds later, a peal of laughter bounced off the high ceiling. “Bramble, that tickles. My ears are perfectly clean, thank you.”
Joel grinned. “Ear-baths are his specialty.”
“Sit. Sit. Let me make up the fire, needy puppy.”
Joel chuckled quietly. Bramble was clearly enjoying meeting two new humans in one day.
“I like this place.”
Joel smiled to himself. “You’re right, it is cute. Go take a look, once you’ve gotten the fire going.”
Carrie laughed. “Let me guess. You already cleaned up because you knew I was coming, so I’m not going to find anything incriminating.”
“Incriminating implies something illegal or wrong. Wanna rethink that word choice?” Joel took two mugs from the cabinet and placed them next to the coffee pot.
Carrie walked into view in socked feet. “I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s just that you kept a huge part of you hidden, for so long. It got me wondering if you kept anything else hidden too.”
“If you’re that interested, my gay magazines are on the bookcase next to the rocker. They’re in plain sight. And before you ask, we’re not talking erotica, so I wouldn’t feel the need to hide them when the kids visit.” His throat seized. If they visit. There’d been little communication since he’d first moved out. They blame me for the divorce. That much had been obvious from the start. And as for leaving the magazines in plain sight, Joel knew that was a lie. He’d bury them under a mountain of laundry, rather than let the kids find them.
Maybe one day. But that day didn’t look like it would arrive anytime soon.
“They’ll come around, Joel.” Carrie’s voice was soft.
He glanced at her, noting the strong eye contact. “That obvious, huh?”
“I told them I was the one who asked for a divorce, but they seemed to take that as a sign—well, Nate did—that I was trying to get away from you, so you must have done something to warrant it.”
“Of course. But he’s not wrong, is he?” The coffee pot beeped, and Joel filled the mugs with the aromatic brew.
Carrie walked over and took one. She gazed at the kitchen with its round white table and four chairs. “This is plenty big enough for you.” She laid a hand on his arm. “And yes, he is wrong. We got divorced because we’d grown apart. We were more like roommates than a married couple.” Carrie wrapped both hands around her mug.
“And why were we like that? Because of me.”
She inclined her head toward the living room. “How about we sit by the fire while we talk?” Her lips twitched. “That’s if it’s still going.”
Joel snorted. “Aha. So you’re admitting your fire-lighting skills might not be as good as you claim.” They went into the living room area. Carrie hurried over to the fire, kneeling in front of it, and he chuckled. “Oops.”
Carrie grinned. “Oh ye of little faith.” She grabbed some of the kindling from the log basket, added it to the fire, then blew gently on it. The flames burst into life, and she placed a single log on top. Carrie gave a flourish. “Ta-da.”