Covet thy Neighbor

by Denise Carbo

  “Is there some event in town going on that I’m not aware of? Mitch sightings going viral or something?”

  Franny chuckles. “I don’t think so, but a lot of the summer people are still around because the weather hasn’t turned yet.”

  “Good for business.”

  “Speaking of which, there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”

  “Oh?” Please be good news. I could sure use some.

  “You had mentioned learning more about the baking side and I could use more help in the mornings. Would you be able to and interested in coming in earlier?”

  More hours? I can definitely use the money. “How early would you need me? I still have to get the boys on the bus in the mornings. Would this be on the weekends too?”

  “If you’re available, yes. I know you have to work around their schedule so tell me what works for you. And don’t feel obligated either. I can hire on another part-timer if it’s too much.”

  “Oh no, I definitely want it. I’d love to learn more about the bakery. I just need to figure out the logistics.”

  “Great, you think it over and get back to me.”

  “I will and thanks Franny.”

  “Thank you, I need the help and you’re the best.”

  Franny disappears into the kitchen and I clean up the front putting away unused bags and boxes, wiping down the counters, and straightening the displays. The timing would be tight in the morning, but I could get the kids off to school, go for a quick run, and then get ready for work and make it to the bakery by nine. The weekends might be a little tough if Ryan isn’t on time.

  I stop pulling the muffins to the front of the case and frown. He needs to be on time. In fact, although he’s supposed to pick them up at nine, I need to talk to him about picking them up fifteen minutes earlier so I can be to work on time. He has to understand I need the money the extra hours will bring. He only has the boys for part of the weekend. It isn’t asking too much.

  The extra hours will cut into my studying time, but I can stay up a tad later and get up a little earlier. Who needs sleep anyway?

  I walk over and poke my head into the kitchen. Franny is at the marble counter adding flower decorations to a specialty cake. “Hey Franny?”

  She glances up and holds the frosting bag away from the cake. “You need me up front?”

  I shake my head. “No, I just wanted to let you know I can come in at nine instead of eleven. Would that work for you?”

  “That’s great. Are you sure? You can have some time to think it over.”

  “No, I really want to and Saturday is the only day it might be an issue. I need to talk to Ryan to make sure he will pick the boys up on time.”

  “Okay, but if you need it to be a little later, let me know.”

  “I will. I’m excited about this.”

  Franny smiles. “Me too. It will be nice to have you back here working with me.”

  I head back to the front counter and rest my hip against the edge. Not only will this put extra money in my pocket—or more to bills anyway, but I will get to participate in baking the goods. I can try my hand at helping with the specialty cakes eventually too.

  The Sweet Spot does a fair amount of business catering cakes and sweets for events and some of the businesses in town. She could teach me how to do those intricate flower decorations she creates or fondant. The last time I tried to decorate a cake with fondant it looked like a broken-down neglected building instead of a celebration cake. There were cracks and bumps all over the place. It had torn in a few places so I tried to hide it with frosting but it only made it appear lopsided.

  Who knows, maybe working with Franny will turn me from a pretty decent home baker into a professional. I could see myself working here alongside Franny for the foreseeable future. Having an actual career would check off a lot of those empty little boxes piling up in my head. All the things I thought I would have accomplished before I turn thirty in a little over a year.

  Like having a special someone to share life’s ups and downs with.

  Not that I’m not doing just fine on my own. I’ve been a single mother for almost four years and I think I’m doing a fairly decent job at raising my boys and staying moderately sane. I don’t think I’ve emotionally scarred either of them too badly.

  However, it would be nice to have someone to snuggle up to when life gets too overwhelming or just to laugh with and have fun. A little fun occasionally would be nice.

  I wouldn’t mind having an orgasm where I didn’t have to do all the work either.

  Chapter 9

  The cool breeze tickles the hairs on the back of my neck. September is winding down and the hot weather streak broke. Temperatures dropped into the high sixties overnight from the mid-eighties they’d been hovering at for weeks. I moved my studies outside this morning to take advantage of the blue skies and pleasant temperatures.

  My extra hours at the bakery started yesterday and even though it was only a couple of extra hours, it packed a punch mentally and physically. Thankfully, I have today and tomorrow to recover. After I get my classwork done, of course.

  Ryan was remarkably agreeable when I told him my new hours and I need him to pick the boys up fifteen minutes earlier on Saturdays.

  Crunching gravel from a car pulling into Luke’s driveway has me craning my neck to see if it’s him or a visitor. A minivan, definitely not his car. A dark-haired woman climbs out as the front door opens and Luke steps out with a wave and then jogs down the steps to open the side door. There’s a toddler sitting in a car seat waving his arms at Luke. His nephew, Joey? That would make the woman, Barbara, his sister-in-law.

  I haven’t received a phone call from her yet and I am not about to wander over and introduce myself uninvited. Scooting my chair sideways a bit so I’m not tempted to take any more peeks in their direction, I stare down at my laptop and read. My first test is in less than two weeks. If I do well, it will be proof I’m not wasting my time and money taking classes.

  Fifteen minutes later, I take a long drink from my glass of ice water. I read an entire chapter twice and retained nothing. How am I going to pass the test when I can’t even get through the chapter?

  The trio appear in Luke’s backyard. He’s carrying the little boy while the woman walks beside them.

  And they’re headed this way.

  I sit up straighter and smooth down the wrinkled T-shirt I yanked from the unfolded pile of clothes sitting in my laundry basket this morning. When they reach the holly bushes separating our yards, I lift a hand to wave and smile.

  The woman gives me a wide smile and waves. “I hope we’re not intruding.”

  “Of course not.” I stand and walk to the stairs of my deck while they cross over my lawn and stand at the bottom.

  Luke nods. “This is my sister-in-law Barbara and my nephew, Joey.”

  Barbara steps up a step and extends her hand. “Hi.”

  I step down to meet her in the middle and shake her hand. “Hi, I’m Olivia.” I glance over to Joey and smile but he only solemnly stares back. Takes after his uncle, I see. “Would you like anything to drink?” I glance at all of them. “I’ve got iced tea, water, milk, juice?”

  The milk is running low so I hope that’s not their first choice. I have to make a grocery list and go to the store tomorrow.

  “Joose.” Joey purses his lips and draws out the word adorably like only a toddler can.

  “Coming right up. Apple, okay?” He nods and wraps his arms tighter around Luke’s neck and lays his head on his shoulder. I glance at Barbara and Luke. “Anything for you two?”

  “Nothing for me, thank you.”

  “I’m good.” He tilts his head towards the playscape. “Mind if I take Joey on the swing?”

  I wave a hand toward the swings. “Be my guest.” I look back at Barbara and smile. “Do you want to have a seat? I’ll just be a minute getting the juice.”

  She wanders over to sit at the table while I go inside a
nd grab a juice box from the kitchen. When I come out, she’s angled her chair to watch Luke and Joey. Luke is standing behind Joey who’s clutching the chains and kicking his legs. The swing is twisting more than gliding.

  I open the straw and stick it in the juice box while I cross the yard to them. “Here you go, Joey.”

  He stops kicking and looks up at Luke while he steadies the swing to a stop. Luke takes the juice from me and squats down and hands it to Joey.

  “What do you say to Miss Olivia, buddy?”

  Joey peeks up with big dark eyes surrounded by a thick fringe of black eyelashes. “Tank oo.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  I wink before turning and walking back to the deck to join Barbara. Hovering over my chair, I ask, “Are you sure I can’t get you anything?”

  She shakes her head. “Thanks for letting us drop in like this. I can see you’re busy.” She points to my laptop and papers strewn on my end of the table held down by my glass.

  “Oh, don’t worry about it. I wasn’t getting very far anyway. I must have read the same sentence a half dozen times. I’m beginning to wonder if going back to school at this point in my life is a good idea.”

  “What are you studying?”

  “Management and Marketing, at the moment. They were as good a choice as any. I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.”

  Barbara chuckles. “Plans have a way of changing.”

  “That they certainly do. I got pregnant my freshman year of college and dropped out. It’s taken me ten years to go back.”

  “I changed my major four times before I settled on nursing.”

  “You’re a nurse? Do you work here in town?”

  “Yes, I started last month at Churchill Memorial.”

  “My twins were born there. Actually, so was I.”

  She smiles wide. “That’s one of the many things I love about Granite Cove. Families have lived here for generations. Who can blame them for not leaving this little slice of paradise?”

  “I didn’t actually grow up here, but the next town over where my parents still live. But I know what you mean.”

  “It’s very different from Philadelphia.”

  “Is that where you’re from?”

  She nods and glances over to check on her son. Luke and Joey have moved from the swing to the slide. Luke stands next to the slide holding onto Joey by the waist as he scoots his little bottom forward and slides down.

  “I grew up in a suburb but went to university in Philadelphia and then got a job there after graduation.”

  “I imagine it’s quite a different pace here than what you’re used to. What made you move?”

  She rubs the tip of her nose and stares at the table. “My parents retired here five years ago. After I lost Wyatt, I had a tough time coping. I came for a visit and never left.” She glances up and gives me a small smile.

  “I’m sorry for your loss. Was Wyatt your husband?”

  “Luke didn’t tell you?” She shakes her head. “What am I saying, of course he didn’t. Yes, Wyatt was my husband and Luke’s brother. He died in a car accident while I was pregnant with Joey.”

  “Oh my gosh.” I reach over and put my hand over hers on the arm of the chair. “I’m so sorry.”

  Her smile wobbles and she looks away.

  I sit back. That must have been devastating to lose her husband while pregnant. Having to go through everything alone?

  “It’s been over two years, but I still get choked up. Sorry.”

  “Please don’t apologize, it’s perfectly understandable.”

  “Everything okay?” Luke is standing by the railing of the deck staring at Barbara. He glances at me and then back to her with a frown.

  He’s protective of his sister-in-law. Another point in his favor.

  “Fine, we’re just chatting.” She tilts her head back so she can see Joey crawling on all fours across the lawn.

  Luke jerks his head in his nephew’s direction. “He’s pretending to be a puppy.”

  Barbara grins and turns back to me. Luke stares at me as if to warn me not to upset his sister-in-law again and then walks back to Joey.

  She takes a deep breath and huffs, blowing her black bangs up off her forehead. “Anyway, Luke has always been a godsend with Joey since he was born, but I needed the comfort of my parents. They’re doting grandparents. Now that Luke has moved here too, hopefully we can all heal and move on.”

  So Luke followed Barbara and Joey here? They all lived in Philadelphia?

  “Family is everything. I don’t know what I would do without the help of my parents and barbeques without all my cousins and their offspring would be boring indeed. Even though my brother isn’t able to visit often, we talk on the phone all the time. In fact, one of my cousin’s engagement parties is next week and the clan will all be there, minus my brother because he’s working.”

  Barbara rests an elbow on the table and props her chin on her curled up fingers. Her braid falls over her shoulder and swings down. The way the sun hits the strands there appears to be a blue sheen to the black tresses. “You have a brother?”

  “Yes, twins run in my family.”

  “He’s your twin?”

  “Yup, Oliver, Oli for short. I know, not very original, Oliver and Olivia. My sons are Timmy and Tommy. I guess I inherited my mother’s lack of originality or corniness.” I shrug and give her a half smile. “What about you, any siblings?”

  “No, just me. My parents didn’t have me until they were in their forties. They tried for years until finally I came along. My mom wanted to call me Hope, but my father wanted me named after his mother so my full name is Barbara Hope Callihan-Hollister.”

  “There were a few times I wished I was an only child, but truthfully Oli was always my best friend growing up.”

  “I’m afraid I wallowed in being my parents’ only child as a kid. I was their princess.” She smirks and a dimple appears in her cheek. “Still am in many ways, but Joey is definitely their little prince.”

  “How do you feel about books?”

  Her black eyebrows almost collide. “Um…I like them?”

  I chuckle. “The reason I’m asking is because my friend Franny is hosting her book club at her house next week and asked me to come. Would you like to go with me?”

  “Your friend wouldn’t mind?”

  “Oh no, I’m sure she won’t.” Just to be sure I’ll call and ask her, but I know she won’t refuse especially when I tell her Barbara is new to town and needs friends. Franny has a big heart.

  “Then yes, I’d love to.”

  “I can give you my copy once I finish. Honestly, I haven’t started it yet. I’ll get started on it tonight after I put the boys to bed.”

  “That’s okay, just tell me the book and I’ll download it to my tablet.”

  I rattle off the title and author and she puts it into her phone. “Did Luke give you my number? We can coordinate going together later.”

  “Yes, he did. Did he give you mine?”

  I shake my head and then a few seconds later my phone dings. I glance down at the face lying on the table.

  “I just sent you my number.”

  “Oh, good. I’ll call you this week and let you know what time and all the details. I’m afraid I’ve got mommy brain and can’t remember if Franny ever told me or not.”

  “Please, I never realized that was even a real thing until I had Joey. It’s like my brain cells seeped out and into the womb.”

  “Tell me about it. And I hate to tell you, but it only gets worse. The other day I was talking to Oli on the phone and walking all over the house looking for that same phone.”

  She bursts out laughing. “I put mine in the fridge once. I borrowed my mom’s phone to call mine and find it. I walked into the kitchen to see my dad standing in front of the fridge frowning. He looked at me and said, “Tell me the truth, is the fridge ringing or am I hallucinating?”

  I slap a hand over my mouth as lau
ghter shakes my upper body.

  Luke walks onto the deck carrying Joey.

  “Funny mommy?”

  Barbara stands up and plucks Joey from Luke’s arms and rubs her nose into his belly until he giggles. “Yes, mommy is funny and so are you.”

  Smiling, I stand up. “Can I get anyone anything?”

  “I think it’s time for Joey’s nap.” Luke rubs his hand on top of his nephew’s head.

  Joey lays his head on Barbara’s shoulder and yawns.

  “Thank you, Olivia, this has been fun. I’m so glad I got to meet you and I can’t wait for book club next week.”

  “Me too.”

  “Book club?” Luke glances at me.

  “I invited Barbara to my friend’s book club.”

  “I’ll babysit the pipsqueak here while you go.”

  “Say thank you and goodbye to Miss Olivia, Joey,” Barbara whispers.

  Joey waves his tiny fingers in my direction and yawns again. My heart melts and I smile and wave back.

  Luke puts his hand on Barbara’s back as they turn away and walk to the stairs.

  Does Luke have more than brotherly feelings for his brother’s widow? He’s awfully protective of her and following her here to Granite Cove seems a little over the top.

  I watch them walk over to his driveway and put Joey in the car then sit back down and power my laptop back up out of sleep mode. It’s none of my business what Luke’s feelings for Barbara are.

  Chapter 10

  Splat! Icy water drenches my face and hair. The sting of a water balloon hitting my cheek freezes me in place. I wipe my hand down over my face to remove some of the water which hasn’t already dripped onto my blouse.

  The culprits duck behind the hood of a car. Three pairs of widened eyes and an assortment of different colored bangs are all that’s visible of the trio of troublemakers.

  “Sorry, Aunt Olivia!”

  I narrow my eyes and march towards my little second or is it third cousins? I can never remember how that works. They belong to two of my various cousins.

  Conner stands and clasps his hands behind his back trying to appear contrite. Perhaps the smartest of the trio and also the oldest.