by ML Nystrom
The smooth ride in Bertie’s car had him fighting sleep on the way to Connor’s place. The house was dark, but the side light burned to show him his way to the camper in the back.
She pulled to the side of the street and left the engine running. “Here you go, Garrett. Thanks.”
He couldn’t help himself. He leaned over to kiss her temple, and she turned her head to catch his lips with hers. Gentle. Sweet. Totally dangerous. He had to get out of this car.
He ended the kiss and opened the car door. “Don’t forget. Text me.”
She smiled and nodded as he closed the door. Garrett watched as she signaled a left turn and drove away.
An unseen pair of eyes observed the kiss. Malevolence burned in them as they watched as the man got out of the car and the woman drove away.
“Bitch gonna pay.”
Ten
Jodie’s meeting turned out to be about a unit in a strip mall that had housed a taekwondo school at one time. The space was larger than it looked from the outside and had several rooms in addition to the main workout area.
“The retail part of the business will go up at the front. That way people can see it through the windows. We’ll need at least two dressing rooms close to the store area.” Jodie pointed to a spot at the far wall.
“Why don’t we just use the locker rooms in the back?” Rhyleigh Givens followed Jodie’s finger and walked through the open area. I’d met her at yoga class. Jodie introduced her to me at the other yoga place as one of the trainers. The brunette’s body was lithe, long, and very flexible. I’d watched her twist herself into contorted shapes that made me wince in pain.
“We don’t want people tromping through classes and disturbing everyone to go try on a pair of leggings. The studio is back here. Good for privacy and keeping harmony while classes are going on.”
All three of us moved to the larger space. The two opposing walls were both covered in mirrors.
“Oooh! I like this. You can see yourself in front and from behind to check form in both directions.” Rhyleigh walked to the middle of the large room and spun in a slow circle.
I looked at the rows reflected back at me. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Wouldn’t some people be kinda weird about seeing double images?”
“The mirrors only go head high. The rest of the walls, we can paint in calming colors. Lavender, pale gray, aqua.”
“And the space up front can have the same but with traces of royal blue and copper. Those are colors that can sexually arouse people. We’ll get more sales and more people to sign up for classes.”
I turned to my sister. “Are you serious?”
“Absolutely. People spend more money when they’re turned on.”
“No, I meant about copper and blue being sexually arousing colors.”
Jodie laughed and tipped her head back. “Red and black are the top two, but we’re opening a yoga studio and related clothing store. Not a sex shop. Subtle is best.” She winked at me. “Why else would I have my bedroom painted in those colors?”
I had the urge to stick my fingers in my ears and sing lalalala.
Her boots clattered on the wood floor. “We need a new floor installed. One of those that has the cushioning like in dance schools. That way we can expand to other classes if we want. The office is back here, next to the locker rooms. There are two storage rooms on the other side, but I bet we can convert one of them into a private meditation area.”
“How ’bout a massage room and sauna?” I glanced into the larger of the two storage closets.
“That’s our expansion plan. The store next door is planning on moving out in a few months. If we get this place to turn a good profit, we’ll take over that space and turn it into a spa.”
“I meant that as a joke.”
Jodie waved a hand. “I didn’t. I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time. Jerry makes good money, and the kids are happy and healthy, but I need something for me. Something I can put my name on. You have your inn. I have my studio.”
I understood what my sister meant. She filled the roles of wife, mother, caregiver, and now needed to fill the role of Jodie.
“Hello there, ladies! Looks like a party to me!”
A tall blonde woman with a baby sling across her chest came into the room, followed by a short, round brunette in a faded hoodie. “This looks great, Jodie.”
My sister made the introductions. “Bernadette and Rhyleigh, meet Beverly and Melanie and little Ryan. Melanie is thinking about investing in the business too.”
The blonde shifted her burden higher and closer and stuck out her hand. “I like the idea of women helping women grow successful businesses. This is a fantastic idea and in a great location.”
I took it and pumped it twice.
“You just want a discount on classes so you can get your figure back,” Beverly announced. She reached out her own hand. “She has this thing about being a Vogue model someday instead of a high school math teacher. You’ll need to watch her to make sure she doesn’t install a practice runway.”
Melanie scrunched her face. “What’s wrong with a practice runway?”
“Nothing, Ms. PITA.”
“Pita? Are you a chef?”
The brunette laughed as I shook her hand as well. “Not the bread. P.I.T.A. Pain. In. The. Ass. It’s my pet name for Mellie here. Friends call me Bevvie.”
Melanie rocked the bundle. “Don’t say ass in front of the baby, and you want to come to classes too.”
“Yes, I confess I do. I’m hoping to get in better shape and lose a few pounds.”
It was Melanie’s turn to laugh. “Connor told you he’d divorce you if you lost any amount of, and I quote, ‘that gorgeous round ass of yours,’ unquote.”
Bevvie scrunched her face, mimicking Melanie’s previous expression. “Connor loves me no matter what. You just said ass.”
“I’m the mom. I have special privileges.”
“PITA.”
Both women grinned at each other and chorused together, “We’re gonna be sisters soon.”
Jodie squealed. “Oh my God! Did Owen finally take his thumb out?”
Melanie shook her head. “Not yet, but I caught him measuring one of my rings with a pair of calipers. I think it’s in the plans.”
“Ooooh! I’m so happy for you!”
My brain paused on the name Owen. “Wait, are you talking about Owen MacAteer?”
Melanie smiled softly and looked at the baby in her arms. “Yes. This little guy is half my world, and Owen is the other half. He told me about the bed-and-breakfast inn you’re getting done.”
“Yes, Garrett is doing a lot of it, but Connor and Owen are there several times a week. They do really nice work. The place is up near Woodfin if you ever want to come by.”
Beverly’s mouth opened and closed a few times, and she shook an excited finger at me. “Oh! Oh! Oh! You’re Bertie!”
“Yes, my friends call me that.”
“Connor is my husband. Owen and Garrett are my brothers-in-law. Small world, eh?”
“Very.”
Little Ryan let out a yip and Melanie cooed at him. “I remember seeing you with Owen once at the mall last year. Owen said it was a setup date that turned into a planning session for your inn. I want you to know, I’m cool.”
Relief caused my shoulders to drop from their height near my ears. I hadn’t realized the tension in them. “I’m glad to know you both and that Owen found himself a wonderful woman. That blind date this one tried to set up for us turned out to be the best business meeting I’ve ever had.” I thrust a thumb over my shoulder at my sister. “Owen’s ideas for my place fit perfectly with what I envisioned for my inn. You have a very talented man.” Besides, I don’t want Owen. Just his brother.
Bevvie had no problem jumping in. “Owen is totally completely and irrevocably in love with you, Melanie. Once a MacAteer man commits, that’s it.”
Jodie nodded in agreement. “From what I’ve seen, absol
utely.”
Rhyleigh bounced over from her explorations to join the conversation and take it in a different direction. “This is so cool! I can’t wait to get started.”
Jodie pulled out her smartphone and began taking notes. “Right, we need estimates on construction time and materials, furnishings, inventory, staffing, advertising.... I’ll get with Connor or Owen and see what they can do for us. Once I have some solid numbers, I’ll make up a spreadsheet and business plan for everyone’s approval. Fair?”
“I can help with that, sis. I have a tad of experience in that area.”
Jodie regarded me with her fingers still moving on the phone screen. “Yes, you do. I think you should write up the plan. I’ll do the research.”
Rhyleigh added, “I’ll look into supplies for the studio part.”
Melanie juggled the baby, who started to make little grunting noises. “That’s great! I’ll work on advertising on social media.”
“I don’t have funds to invest, but I’ll help any way I can,” Beverly stated. “I agree, this is really cool. Women supporting women’s businesses. I like it.”
Jodie piped up. “We’ll need a name and logo. Let’s do some individual brainstorming about that and talk about it in a week or so.”
“Very cool.”
Eleven
“Mattie’s making the face again.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Are too.”
“Are not.”
“Too!”
“Not!”
“Connor!”
Garrett looked at Connor with tortured eyes. “Do they always argue like this?”
He grinned and lifted another box. “Constantly. They’re brothers, you know. We fought like that when we were growing up.”
“We did?”
The materials for the wood flooring for the inn had arrived and all of the men were loading them in the farmhouse. Some of the floors were in good shape and could be refinished. Some were too far gone and had to be replaced.
Connor heaved the box on his shoulder and started toward the open door. “Not so much you and Owen. Patrick, Angus, and Eva scrapped the most, but I can remember when Eva had that boy picking on her at school, those two stepped in.”
Garrett followed, carrying a similar box. Connor set the box next to four others and went back for another one. Mattie and Jacob had come with him, as they were out of school. The squabbling started up moment after they arrive to unload the pallets. “Oy, boys, how ’bout you forget making faces and go play with Pal?”
Mattie looked at him with glee. “Will you tell mom we need another dog?”
“Nice try. Go to the front yard where I can still see you. Bertie has those flower beds that are full of weeds. You need something to do, go pull them and pile them up near the compost heap in the back. Yeah?”
The boys forgot about their bickering and called for the yapping Pal. They started pulling at the brown stalky plants around Bertie’s cottage and throwing them for the dog to chase.
“Think that will last?”
Connor chuckled. “That’s how Da got us to stop. He found us work to do, and by the end of the day, we were too damn tired to do anything else. The work inside looks good and you’re on track with deadlines.”
Garrett set his load down next to the one Connor placed.
“Plumbing is done, and I installed the kitchen counters yesterday. The sink is next, and I wouldn’t mind having some help. It’s a big one. The cabinets she wanted got delivered a few days ago, but I haven’t started on them yet. Probably next week before I get to them, and the appliances are coming in as well. Owen’s got seven more home jobs booked, which he estimates will put him at about three weeks before he can get back to the inn. As long as the weather holds out, I can keep up with everything, but one good snowstorm and we’ve got problems.”
Connor grunted and wiped his brow. “I have as many calls come in for handyman jobs as I do renovations. The work in the wood shop is behind because of all the extra freelance work. I don’t see it stopping anytime soon either. I get calls from simple ceiling fan installations to customizing and designing living spaces. Owen’s getting the same, and we’re drowning. That’s one big reason we put you on the inn job exclusively. I’m seriously thinking ’tis time to call Patrick and Angus. At least for a bit.”
Both men paused and watched as the two boys rushed by with a load of weeds. Pal thought it was a game and chased after them, barking his head off.
“They’re both in Pennsylvania right now. Da’s back in Jersey. Have you spoken to him lately?”
Connor’s mouth tightened. “Not in quite a while. Last time we got on the phone, he started yelling about how I ruined the family business.”
Garrett chuffed and picked up another load. “All of us know he’s wrong. In fact, he’s getting worse. There are times he knows exactly what’s happening in the world, and other times, he’s calling for Mom or asking when his sons are coming home from school so they can get to work.”
“Anyone staying with him?”
“Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Reilly, but they aren’t in great health either. That retirement village they live in takes good care of all three of them. Best decision we ever made was getting them in that place. Has a great staff and some good doctors.”
Connor picked up another box. “How was he last time you saw him?”
“Not great. He was having an off day and didn’t know me. Gave Joy shit, and she refused to go back.”
“Talk to her recently?”
Garrett stacked the box and stood up to stretch his back. “No, and I don’t think I have to.”
“Don’t you have a house together?”
“Yes, and no. My name is not on the deed or on the mortgage. Her parents gave us the down payment for it and insisted she be the main owner. I had no reason not to agree. I paid the mortgage, but she owned the place. I never thought much about it, because at that time, I assumed we’d be together for life. Now that I’m not there, it’s up to her.”
“She did a real number on you, eh?”
Garrett stared at the box he put next to the other. “Yeah, she did.”
Owen walked in with a shell-shocked expression on his face.
“Oy, Owen. What’s the matter with you?”
Owen looked at his twin. “Woman. Last one today. Her house. Hang blinds. Hang shutters. One other job.”
“Did you get it done?”
Owen shook his head.
“Why not?”
Garrett twin-sensed the disturbed vibe from him. “What other job did she want you to do?”
Owen looked up and met his brother’s eyes. “Her.”
Connor barked out a laugh. “We do pride ourselves on personal service.”
“Not that personal, I hope.” Beverly walked in with both boys trailing behind her. She came up to Connor, and they shared a quick kiss greeting. “The girls are in the van, and I have groceries to get home and unload. Since we were close, I thought I’d run by and pick up the boys. Get them out of your hair.”
“They’re no trouble, my love, but go ahead and take them home. They can unload and carry for you. We can get this done faster now with Owen here.”
“Sounds good. I’m doing a big stir-fry and rice tonight. How many am I cooking for? You coming over, O-man?”
He answered with a shake of his head. “Home.”
“I figured as much. Don’t get your panties in too much of a wad over some woman-cougar-type-person making a pass at you. All y’all are good-looking, hot men. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of those jobs you get asked about are just excuses to see your manly bodies at work.”
Owen’s jaw dropped to his knees. “Have Melanie.”
“Yes, you do, but that doesn’t stop some women from trying. Connor’s wedding band helps, but he has a few biddies that call him for all sorts of simple stuff just to get him in their homes.”
Owen looked like that thought was too much for his brain to handle.
Garrett pondered. Did Bertie ever watch him? He liked the thought.
“Connor and Garrett, I’ll see you in an hour?”
“Sure, love.”
Garrett hesitated. “You don’t have to cook for me, Bev.”
She scoffed. “I’m a Southern woman and a mother. We feed everyone.” She turned. “Boys, get in the van and stay quiet. Abby’s driving home.”
“Coolio!”
Connor watched his wife and stepsons exit the building before continuing the job of moving the pallets of flooring inside. “I’ve been thinking about this a lot. We have so many jobs, I’ve considered making this an official business. MacAteer Brothers Home and Handyman Services. My little Sarah designed my furniture business website. She could roll that into a different site that includes all of us. Partners.”
“Patrick and Angus?”
“If they want to join on a permanent basis, that’s up to them, but there is enough need for our services in this city to keep us all busy. If Eva had the time and interest, I’d be calling her too.”
Garrett squatted down and gripped the next box. His thighs burned a little when he picked up the weight. In the original family business, Irish Pub Builders, he had been nothing more than a worker. His job had been to take orders and swing a hammer. The free-lance work after the family split up was more of the same. He made good money, but it hadn’t been satisfying. With the inn job, he’d been given more leeway to expand his skills and add his own creativity. He found himself liking that part of the renovation and so far Bertie loved what he’d done.
He watched as Owen bent to help move boxes. The brothers had always worked well together through their lives. They recognized and appreciated each other for their individual talents. Connor had a great head for organization and timelines. Owen had his brute strength and beautiful deck designs. Garrett knew restoration, wiring, and finish carpentry. Even if Patrick and Angus decided not to join them, the three brothers could develop a solid established business that would only grow. He could see nothing but good in the future.
