Building a Surprise Family

by Anna J. Stewart

  Leah ate some, furrowed her brow and, after a moment, nodded. “Not bad.”

  “Not bad?” Had Jo arrived in a parallel universe? “What’s the deal?”

  “Sure, it’s good. Don’t get me wrong, but there’s a bakery in town that, I’m sorry, puts these to shame.”

  “Let me guess. Chrysalis Bakery?”

  Leah’s brows shot up and disappeared under her hair. “You heard about it already? From who?”

  “Ha, I read about it online first,” Jo admitted and finished the first half of her bagel, then washed it down with more protein shake. “But Ozzy Lakeman mentioned it this morning. He’s a hottie. You and he ever—”

  Leah choked on her coffee and reached for a napkin.

  “Uh-oh.” Jo frowned as her friend cleaned up. “That’s an unfortunate reaction.” Many tight knots formed in her already crowded belly, confusing her. “What’s wrong with the blushing firefighter?”

  “Nothing, actually.” Leah wiped her eyes. “I’m just surprised is all. I assumed I was your first visitor, but I guess I should have known. He does seem to be everywhere these days.”

  “He saw me drive into town and thought he’d play welcoming committee.” The more she watched her friend, the more curious Jo became. “Okay, seriously, Leah. What? He seemed really sweet. Not to mention seriously hot.” She smirked at her unintentional firefighter joke. “Hormones,” she added at Leah’s expression. “It’s hard not to notice these things. Let me guess. He’s secretly a serial killer. Oh, no. Don’t tell me he still lives with his mother.”

  “No.” Leah cringed. “I think he moved out of his parents’ house before I moved here.”

  That sounded convincing. “Then what?”

  “I’m just comparing him to Greg, I guess. I mean Greg is so...” Leah flicked out her fingers as if something exploded. “And Ozzy’s so...” She shrugged and dropped her arms. “Ozzy’s a sweetheart. One of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. You ever need help with anything, you need advice or a great conversation or someone to watch your kids, he’s who you call.” There was something else, something more Leah obviously had trouble putting into words.

  “Well, he is a firefighter. They are reliable and trustworthy.”

  “He’s also a former computer tech and sheriff’s deputy.”

  “Really?” So Ozzy Lakeman had even more layers than she’d realized. He also sounded as if he was still trying to find himself. Yet another man who had issues with commitment. Yeah. Nothing to see there—she should move on. “Interesting.”

  “You tend to have a type, Jo.” Leah hesitated. “Trust me, Ozzy’s not a Greg.”

  “Another point in his favor, then.” Despite her piqued interest, Jo downplayed her notion of Ozzy. “You’ve actually confirmed my first impression. But don’t worry. I’m here to do a job and move on. And I’m definitely not looking to get personal with anyone.” Personal created ties and Jo was done tying herself to anyone other than her baby.

  “Oh? Where are you headed to next?”

  “Montana. If all goes well here.” Jo didn’t want to jinx it. “There’s a female-owned-and-operated construction company that’s reached out. They’re looking for a new partner to buy into the business, and apparently my name came up in discussion. We’re talking. If it works out, I’ll be heading directly there after the New Year.”

  Leah set her coffee down. “Montana?”

  “I know.” Jo knew exactly what Leah was thinking. Wide-open spaces weren’t exactly her forte, and Montana had plenty of them. “It would be a big change.” A huge change, Jo reminded herself. But the idea of a home base for a while appealed. She’d need some downtime once the baby got here and before she hit the road again. “And don’t worry. I know how important this election is, Madame Mayor.”

  “Stop it.” Leah winced. “I’m nowhere near elected yet. That’s months away.”

  “But the town council took your suggestion to hire me. That must mean something.”

  “It means Gil ran out of excuses and alternate plans.” Leah rested her jaw on her hand and looked almost forlornly at her bagel. “I never intended to do something like run for office, but I just couldn’t sit back when no one was moving in to stop him. And don’t think my recent move here has won me very many devotees. My opponent’s lived here all his life and still has fans on every corner. What support I do have comes mainly from people who are tired of having a Hamilton running this town. I could have been a circus clown and they’d have put up my signs.”

  “Okay, now I really can’t wait to meet this guy. But—” Jo pointed to Leah’s bagel “—are you going to eat that?”

  “No.” Leah shook her head and pushed her plate away. “Feed it to the kid,” she joked. “But what?”

  “But?” Jo realized she’d fallen off track. “Oh, yeah. First things first is getting this construction project back up and running. You said I could get access to the main construction office when I got here?” She wanted to dive deep into the paperwork and employment records so she knew what and who she was working with.

  “Sure.” Leah dug into her purse and placed a set of keys on the counter. “Have at it. I’ve heard the place is a bit of a mess. Jed Bishop—”

  “The foreman,” Jo said. “I read what the mayor’s office sent already,” she explained, noting Leah’s surprised expression.

  “Right. Jed’s a pretty self-sufficient guy. Competent and decent. Maybe a bit too trusting? He also isn’t the neatest of individuals. No telling what you’re going to find in there. Don’t get me wrong. Jed did what he could, but Gil was more of a looming shadow than you’re used to and his opinion carries a lot of weight. The investigation did prove that it was the supplier who provided substandard materials. Jed didn’t make the connection until after the accident.”

  Jo had read the reports and agreed it hadn’t been easy to see. “In his statement, Jed said he was overruled on who their main supplier should be.” She hesitated. “Any chance someone else had something to gain with the accident?”

  Leah frowned. “If you mean the mayor, no. This project has been his baby from the start. As much as I disapprove of the job Gil’s doing as mayor, I don’t think he’s crooked, Jo. Maybe shortsighted. He doesn’t always see the big picture, but I know criminals. I’ve even defended some of them.” Leah’s eyes sharpened. “That’s not Gil.”

  “All right.” Jo took Leah’s observation seriously. Jo’s job was to move things forward, not to dig for dirt about the past. She wasn’t, however, going to ignore any potentially important information she might come across while overseeing the project. Though she wouldn’t run the day-to-day operation of the site, that task would still be the foreman’s, she would be supervising the whole operation, from liaising with the foreman to maintaining safety standards, verifying permit applications, negotiating or, in this case, re-negotiating contracts and setting up a new schedule for construction and development. “Jed’s going to be at the top of my list of people to talk to, so I’ll hash out any doubts he has.”

  “You might have to do more than that. Jed hasn’t committed to coming back.” Leah hurried to explain. “The accident took a toll on him. Not just the broken arm, but mentally. He might not be anxious to step back onto a project that collapsed around his crew’s heads. In spite of the fact that it wasn’t technically his fault, I believe he blames himself.”

  “Huh.” Jo absorbed that tidbit of information. “Okay.” That could definitely put a kink in the schedule. She was on a tight enough timeline, having to hire a new foreman would set them back even further. Especially since most of her contacts in the area were, as far as she knew, committed to other long-term jobs. But she had a few extra days to sort that out. She scribbled a note to herself and stuck it on the edge of the counter so she’d see it later. There was always a solution no matter what the problem was. Finding it, even when it didn’t readily p
resent itself, was what she was known for: tightening the ship and bringing it safely into dock. “I’ve already reached out to some of my Bay Area connections in case we need more workers, but I’d really like to get a detailed look at the original plans before we get started again.”

  “I’m sure they’re in the office somewhere, and if they aren’t, Xander Costas is the architect. You can find him at Duskywing Farm. His wife owns it.”

  “I passed it on my way up the hill. Looked nice. By farm do you mean livestock that moo or...”

  “Organic produce and homemade goods,” Leah said on a laugh. “Jams, honey, syrups, that kind of thing. She got chickens last month and the eggs are incredible. She also hosts a neighborhood farmers market on the weekends. Everyone goes.”

  “Since this one won’t let me sleep,” Jo said, rubbing her stomach, “maybe I can walk there and back and lull the kid with exhaustion.”

  “Don’t overdo it,” Leah warned. “That little one’s a miracle. And besides, I know you, Jo. Nothing slows you down. Don’t forget, it isn’t just you that you have to worry about now.”

  “The work can’t stop because my circumstances have changed.” She brushed off her hands and followed Leah to the door. “I’ll get myself caught up and then call you. How about lunch next week at that diner place? Or maybe coffee at that bakery? Decaf, of course, for me.”

  Leah rolled her eyes. “You’re going to eat your way through Butterfly Harbor, aren’t you?”

  “While I have a very good excuse to?” Jo’s eyes went wide before she grinned. “You’d better believe it.”

  * * *

  AFTER GETTING IN a good few hours of sleep along with a substantial run on the beach, Ozzy headed into town about the time school let out. The late-afternoon breeze kicked up as if welcoming him to his time off. Sure, he had chores he should be doing around the house, but he’d spent a lot of years wishing he had places to go rather than holing up in his house playing for a new high score on the latest video game. One of the positive changes he’d eventually made in his life was getting out more, and a walk around town was the perfect solution.

  If only he could get Jo Bertoletti off his mind. Even now, he could feel that bubble of anticipation—or was it excitement—bounce in his chest. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen his town through a newcomer’s eyes, and it was her eyes he couldn’t stop thinking about now. There was something appealing about the confidence she displayed, the way she’d readily dropped right in to get to work.

  Being a keen observer most of his life meant he’d seen the underlying circus that went on in a small town. A sheriff’s deputy, after all, bore witness to all sorts of zany antics and unpredictable events and tended to know the truth behind the gossip that swirled about.

  He didn’t see any in Jo’s eyes, or in any part of her. What he did see piqued his interest, though. Far more than any photograph on his phone or first date he’d gone on.

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Oz,” he muttered to himself. In part it was a warning. Jo had a lot going on in her life at the moment. No doubt the last thing she needed was his firmly settled self somehow developing a crush on her, an out-of-towner who literally lived on wheels no less.

  The breeze kicked up and gave him a nice slap back into reality. He loved this time of year, when Butterfly Harbor was in between tourist seasons. The summer crowds had yet to descend and their few late-spring visitors were usually only in for the day. Steady trickles of customers along with smatterings of schoolkids on their way home or wandering over to the youth community center kept Butterfly Harbor buzzing.

  At the end of the street he spotted two locals stringing up the music festival banner across Monarch Lane so newcomers would be sure to see it.

  The weekend concerts in Skipper Park weren’t scheduled to kick off for another couple of weeks, but the warming weather meant the beach barbecues and baseball games were in high demand. At least the ocean was still cool enough they didn’t get too many adventurous swimmers. This would be his first official summer working water rescues, and truth be told, it wasn’t something he was looking forward to. But one thing Ozzy had learned about himself in the last two years was that he could rise to a challenge.

  Frankie and Roman, his bosses—co–fire chiefs who had gotten married a couple months back—were well aware of his trepidation, and Ozzy had been informed, they planned to start him and probie Jasper O’Neill on dedicated training sessions soon. Knowing how high a bar Frankie and Roman set, Ozzy would have his work cut out for him. All the more reason to keep up with his rigorous fitness routine.

  “Whoops. Sorry, Ozzy!” Mandy Evans had spun out of her father’s store, the Cat’s Eye bookstore, her arms loaded with an extra large box with holes cut out on the sides.

  Ozzy skidded to a stop before he plowed into the teenager. “You got that okay?” Ozzy automatically held out his hands to help, but Mandy shrugged him off.

  “I’m good, thanks. Just running this batch of kittens up to Doc Campbell for a checkup. They’re going to foster homes later today if they pass their medical.” She eyed Ozzy. “Don’t suppose you’re looking for a feline companion?”

  “Uh-uh.” Ozzy chuckled and quickly walked backward away from her. “Turn those hopeful eyes on someone else, kiddo. Besides, I help take care of Sparky, remember? That little black cat you pawned off on Roman and Frankie is a handful and a half.”

  “Aw, man. Everyone’s onto me.” She scrunched her face. “My mom and dad won’t let me keep any more since I’m working now. Tribble and Zachariah need some youth to keep them going, you know?”

  “I’m not taking sides in that argument.” Ozzy shifted his attention across the street to where Harvey Mills sat in front of Harvey’s Hardware, a catch-all store that also served as the town’s postal annex and, in all honesty, gossip central, second only to the diner.

  The older man had taken up backgammon again in the last few months after he’d tumbled off Mrs. Johanson’s roof while cleaning her gutters. Harvey hadn’t broken anything—a minor miracle—but it had been strongly suggested he take it easy and refrain from offering handyman services to single ladies of a certain age.

  Now that the weather had cleared, he’d moved his old-fashioned table and chairs outside to get his daily dose of Vitamin D while he played. It had become a bit of entertainment about town, with many residents helping to occupy Harvey’s time by challenging him to a game. Including, Ozzy’s brows arched at the sight, their very own mayor.

  Ozzy glanced at his watch. “You sure you’re good carrying them as far as Doc Campbell’s?”

  “Yep,” Mandy insisted. “Feels good to be outdoors. I’ve been stuck inside studying all week. You and Hunter still going fishing tomorrow morning?”

  “Before the sun’s up,” Ozzy confirmed. “Phoebe’s coming with us, too. Her idea,” he added at Mandy’s wide-eyed surprise. “I know. Who knew seven-year-old girls like to fish.”

  “Oh, well, I loved it.” Mandy shifted the box as a little pink-tipped gray paw poked out of one of the holes. “But then my dad says I was born with flippers on my feet. I’ll probably see you at the marina. I’m running one of the whale-watching tours for Monty.”

  “By yourself?”

  “Uh-huh.” Mandy beamed. “My first solo run and I got a raise. Monty actually pays me to be out on the water.” She shook her head. “Best job ever. I need to get going. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, tomorrow.” Ozzy watched her scoot across the street and head down Monarch Lane toward the vet’s office. Curious, and deciding he had some time to kill, he jogged across the street to the hardware store.

  “I was going to stop by and see if you were up for a game,” he said to Harvey, who pushed his thin wire-rimmed glasses higher on his nose and gave him one of his cool smiles. “Guess you’ve found some new competitors, huh? Afternoon, Gil. Didn’t know you played backgammon.
”

  “I don’t,” Gil Hamilton said with a bit of a shake of his head as Harvey quickly moved two of his pieces closer to bearing off. “As you can see.”

  Ozzy did see and honestly, the image left him oddly amused. He’d known Gil Hamilton all his life, had trailed a few years behind him in school, and Ozzy, along with countless others, had ridden in the wake of the town’s favorite son’s successes. There wasn’t anything Gil hadn’t accomplished: class president, star quarterback, prom king. He’d also earned a nickname thanks to Frankie, Ozzy’s boss. Gil “The Thrill” Hamilton had been the King Midas of Butterfly Harbor; everything he touched turned to gold. But just like Midas, the benefits came with their own particular curse.

  The Hamilton touch had become tarnished in recent years. Whether the tarnish started with Gil’s father or grandfather, the only remaining Hamilton offspring carried the brunt of it now. So far, Gil had managed to keep his reputation from completely crumbling, but given the number of “Elect Leah Ellis” signs in store windows and spiked into front yards, it was only a matter of time before Gil found himself in the unemployment line.

  It wasn’t that Gil was a bad guy. Living in the shadow of a father who had all but ruined the town couldn’t be easy, but there were times Gil seemed to forget that his ideas and plans for Butterfly Harbor actually affected the people who live here, and not always for the better. That, at least for Ozzy, was what irritated him and would pretty much guarantee he’d be voting for Leah Ellis in November.

  “Backgammon is a great equalizer,” Harvey said, clearly catching Gil’s sour expression. “And a great teacher of patience.”

  “Right now it’s just teaching me that I’m terrible at it.” Gil rolled a four and three, and without much of a glance at his pieces, reached for one. Ozzy coughed a little too loudly into his hand. Gil glanced up and Ozzy shook his head.

  “Ozzy, wait your turn,” Harvey admonished and stretched out his right leg with a bit of a wince. “The man needs to learn on his own.”