Carol chuckles. “Nine rowdy boys who I wouldn’t trade for anything.”
“Brooks is engaged. What about the rest of them?” Grandma asks.
“Grandma,” I warn. She, of course, ignores me and keeps her attention on Carol.
“Orrin and Brooks are the only two who are spoken for.”
Grandma claps, and I laugh at her antics. “Stop. Whatever you’re thinking, just stop.” I hold my hands up in defense.
“What? You got rid of the man who never loved you the way you deserve to be loved. Carol’s boys are all good men.”
“I’m sure they are.” My eyes flash to Carol, and I give her an apologetic smile. “But I’m here to help you take care of the manor, and I’ll still be working my job as well.”
“What is it that you do again?” Carol asks.
“I’m a book editor. Mostly for independent authors who self-publish. I love it. It gives me my reading fix, and I get to be a part of an incredible community who get to write their stories the way they want them told without a huge publishing house dictating the story.”
“Oh, give me a romance novel and a few hours, and I’m a happy woman,” Carol replies.
“Right?”
“My husband started a tradition when our boys were small. He takes them on a weekend of camping and fishing. No girls allowed. It gave me a weekend of no men in the house. Most of the time, I spend it reading all the books.”
“Sounds like a great weekend to me.”
“Most definitely. I do go get my nails done, and sometimes a massage, and meet up with friends for dinner, but the majority of my time, it’s enjoying the quiet and spending time with my favorite authors.”
“Carol, I think you and I are going to be great friends.”
“Of course you will be. She’s going to be your mother-in-law,” Grandma adds.
Carol smiles widely while I roll my eyes. “Too much pain medication.”
“I know these things,” Grandma assures me.
If that were true, she would have warned me not to marry Lyle. As if she can read my mind, she speaks up. “I knew he wasn’t for you, but you loved him. It wasn’t my place to tell you otherwise. I won’t tell you which of the Kincaid boys you’re going to marry either, but mark my words, it’s going to happen.”
Before I can rebut her claim, the door pushes open, and an older man in a white coat enters. “I hear you’re anxious to get out of here,” he says to Grandma.
She looks at Carol. “Tell Brooks as soon as I’m able, he’s getting an apple pie.”
Carol stands, her smile lighting up her face. “I’ll do that. You take care. Kennedy, I’m right next door if you need help with anything. In fact, I’ll bring dinner over this evening.”
“You don't have to do that.”
“I want to. That’s what friends and neighbors are for. I’ll see you both later.”
We wave, and then the doctor goes through his exam. To my surprise, Grandma is on her best behavior. He hands me a prescription with instructions for Grandma to follow up in two weeks. “Maureen, you behave.” The doctor points at her. She tries and fails to look like she’s innocent. My grandma lives her best life, and I love her for it. She has life goals for sure.
CHAPTER
TWO
Declan
Most days, I love being a business owner. Most days, my customers aren’t assholes. Today was not that day. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. It started out with me bringing Blakely with me. It’s usually fine, but I’m always watching her like a hawk, so I don’t normally get much done while she’s here. Spending time with my daughter was not the shit part of my day, just so we’re clear.
The shit started when one of my employees called in sick. Tanner is a young kid who is enrolled at the vocational school in Harris. As a part of his work program, he was placed here his senior year to work a few hours each afternoon. He’s a good kid, and when he asked about staying on after graduation, I agreed. He’s a good worker when he’s here, but he’s been calling in a lot lately. I need to sit down and have a talk with him, but that’s something for another day.
The second part of this shit-filled day started when the parts that were supposed to be delivered were not. When I called to track them, they were in Ohio. They were on the truck for delivery this morning. At least that’s what the tracking info says. However, when I called the company, my parts were now in Ohio. So that leads to the third shit part of the day. Calling the customer and letting them know that there will be a delay. I don’t know where the damn parts are headed or when they’ll get here.
The customer, an older gentleman who lives in Harris, was not impressed. Apparently, I’m an incompetent fool, and my business is going to tank if I keep treating my customers this way. It took every ounce of control I had in me to keep from telling him to go fuck himself. However, at the end of the day, this is my business. This is how I keep a roof over my daughter’s head, food in her belly, and spoil her rotten with everything her little heart desires. Well, maybe not everything. My brothers are to blame for that, but I’m not completely innocent either.
And finally, although this isn’t a bad thing except for the fact that it takes all my time, my phone rang off the hook. All. Damn. Day. I get that this is a business, and it’s good that I’ve made a name for myself, but damn. I couldn’t get anything done, so here it is, well after six when the shop closes at five, and I’m still catching up on things I didn’t get done today. I’m going to have to break down and hire some help. Maybe a high schooler who can work a few hours every day after school to just answer the damn phone and take a message. Sure, I could let it go to voice mail, but I hate that shit. I’d rather talk to a person and leave a message than talk to a mailbox. So I’m adding hire a receptionist to my ever-growing to-do list.
Luckily for me, my mom watches my daughter, and when I called her to ask if it was okay to stay a little later, she, of course, agreed. Not that I thought that she wouldn’t, but I didn’t want to just assume and take advantage of the fact that she’s my mom and Blakely’s grandma. Apparently, according to my daughter, she helped my mom make dinner to take to their neighbor Maureen who fell and broke her leg. Mom said they were going to stay and visit and that she thought Blakely would cheer Maureen up. There isn’t a single doubt in my mind about that. My daughter is something special and could charm a snake even with all of her four-year-old sass. I smile just thinking about the best thing that ever happened to me.
It’s pushing seven, and I’ve had my fill. The work will be here tomorrow. Right now, I need a hug and a smile from my little girl. I want to take her home, make some dinner, and snuggle on the couch before bed. She’s exactly what I need after this cluster fuck of a day. Grabbing my keys, I turn off the lights, rush to my Tahoe, and head toward my parents’ place.
As I’m turning on their road, I get a text from my mom. I hit Accept on the screen so the computer voice reads it to me.
Mom: We’re at Maureen’s. Take your time.
I don’t bother to reply. Instead, I turn my Tahoe into Maureen’s driveway. I leave the engine running so that I can run in and grab Blakely and head home. My feet carry me to the front door, and I rap my knuckles three times before the door swings open, taking my breath with it.