“But you’re talking now?”
“It’s a tentative truce, I think, which is fair. It’s hard, though. She and Nick were my two best friends, and yes, I did let them both down, and myself and the kids, but I really miss her and how it was.”
She was so sad he wanted to hug her, which was crazy. Had he not just heard what she’d said? She was a very fragile person right now and he needed to heed that.
“You could just tell her that.”
She gave a despondent shrug. “I could, but truthfully, she’s done so much for me and she’s kept my kids safe and happy. Chase was the one who helped me get sober and get home and her wedding is only two months away. She doesn’t need me right now asking for more.”
She straightened herself up. “Well, on that note, I should get going. Thanks for sharing dinner with me. It was really nice.”
“Hey, I should be thanking you. All I did was find a tablecloth.”
She walked ahead of him toward the door. He wanted to say, “I’m here if you need me,” but he didn’t quite. “Well, you know where I am if you need to talk.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that.” She gave him a smile that looked like she was trying very hard to look chipper. “See you.”
“Yeah, see you.”
He shut the door and stood there for quite some time. She was smart, beautiful, and very complicated.
He could swear he heard his grandfather say with a laugh, “Just the way you like them, Mitch.”
The old guy might be gone but he wasn’t wrong. That was exactly the way he liked them.
Chapter 5
The next day followed a similar rhythm for Minnie. Up for a meeting, a cycle around town, and some baking. Minnie made lemon bars to take to the kids because they were Sophie’s favorites, or at least they used to be. She made a double batch so she had something to take to Chloe’s for dinner. Then, she walked over to her mother’s place.
Yet again, when she walked up to the front steps she couldn’t help but notice how different it was compared to when she’d lived here as a teen. It made her sad, all the lost opportunities, but it gave her hope. Her mother’s life was off the rails far, far longer than her own was and yet somehow, she had a nice partner, a lovely home, and she was a valued member of the community. If her mother could do it, surely Minnie could, too.
Oliver was at the table, grumbling about his math homework when she arrived.
“Hey, honey.” Her mother passed her a coffee as soon as she was in the room. “I need to pop out, but Olly here needs some help with his math. You always were our resident math whiz.”
And then she slid out the back door before anyone had time to argue.
“Are you really good at sums?”
“I am.”
He gave her a very skeptical look. “I don’t remember that about you.”
“Well, you don’t remember much about me at all and you didn’t do a lot of math back in Boston, you were too little.”
“I suppose that’s right. I hate math. My teacher loves it. It’s all we ever do.”
“Really?”
“It sure feels that way.”
Half an hour later, he was done and he had a big smile on his face. “You are good at this.”
Minnie was pretty sure her smile was a reflection of his. “Thanks.”
“So, did you do math for a job?”
She gave him a nod. “Yep, and I studied it at college.”
“So, if you’re so good at things, why did you leave us? Moms aren’t supposed to leave.”
She took a deep breath. “I know. That was not right. I wasn’t well and I made some bad decisions as a result. “
“You still sick?”
“I had some treatment and I’m hoping it works.” That was the truth. He was a little boy, surely, he didn’t need the ugly details.
“You planning to stay, then?”
“I am.”
“And you brought baked goods. Piper and Lucy make pies. They’re good. Your brownies were good. What did you bring today?”
“Lemon bars.” She lifted the lid of the container to show him.
“They’re Sophie’s most favorite. I like chocolate chip cookies.”
“Well, maybe I’ll make some of them tomorrow.”
He took a lemon bar and rewarded her with a smile. “Okay. I have to go. Ball practice.”
“Are the girls home?”
“Upstairs,” he said before flying out the back door, slamming it behind him.
She was feeling pretty good as she sat there and finished her coffee. Did she have the courage to go upstairs and face the girls? Luckily, Kevin appeared where Olly had left and she was given a reprieve. He took a lemon bar and a seat.
“Olly looked happy.”
“We did some math.”
“He hates math.”
“So, I heard.”
“Well, he left smiling so that’s a win for mom.” He gave his head a tilt of acknowledgement. “How was your day? All good.”
“Yeah, I baked. I need more to do. I’m bored and that’s not good.”
“True, but it’s only been three days.”
“I know.” He was right. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Her life didn’t crumble in one, and she couldn’t expect to fix everything in one either.
“I’ll keep my ear out if I hear of anything.”
“Yeah, well, if my reputation precedes me that might prove harder than you think.”
“Honey, people gave me a second chance, and your mom. People are better than you think. Well, most of them. There are always a few bad apples.”
“I might have met one already.” She shrugged. “Chloe invited me for dinner.”
“She’s one of the good ones. And you’ll meet more.”
Minnie decided not to mention Mitch fixing her bike or sharing dinner. “I have no doubt I will.”
“You going up to see the girls?”
“I have the distinct impression they’re hiding in their rooms so as not to see me.”
“Katie maybe, not Soph, I don’t think,” he suggested.
“You should pop your head in. Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.”
“Why do you have to be so wise?”
“Just lucky.” He chuckled.
He was right. Katie barely made eye contact and mumbled out a few words before saying she had homework. Sophie told her a bit about her day and asked a couple of questions before racing downstairs when she mentioned the lemon bars.
She’d be back tomorrow and the next day. And as many days after as it took.
Mitch was pleased to be going to dinner at Chloe’s. Since he’d settled in town, he’d met a lot of new people. For a while, he’d spent quite a bit of time hanging out with Todd, but he was now pretty busy with his new girlfriend, Sarah, and her ready-made family across the street. He tried to get to poker night as often as he could at Todd’s, but he didn’t know too many single guys now, apart from Dave the local policeman. He and Dave went kayaking from time to time, which was nice, but he still missed the camaraderie he’d had for years being part of a triathlon team. He’d had coaches, managers, masseurs, plus all his competitors. It was always going to be an adjustment.
As his sister Harper, one of triplets, but the one who missed him most, pointed out when she called earlier that day, if he hadn’t moved far across the country from his family and where he grew up, he would not have been alone.
Still, Moose had invited him as he’d jogged past this morning and he had managed to get his assistant manager to cover for him. It would be a nice distraction from his thoughts, which kept wondering back to Minnie. Minnie’s big eyes, Minnie’s delicious cooking, Minnie’s awesome butt were among the circuitous route his brain had taken since she’d left last night.
He knocked on the front door and was greeted by Moose, the big guy’s body almost filling the entire doorframe. Moose was a gentle giant.
“Hey, dude, welcome to the house of Chlo
e, Moose, and Elvis.” When his host stepped aside, he saw what he meant. There was a very clear Elvis motif in the room. Elvis pillows and curtains and pictures. “Chloe’s uncle was a collector. We’ve toned it down.”
“This is toned down?” He shook his head, he couldn’t even imagine.
“You have no idea.” He’d brought a bottle of wine and a bunch of flowers. “Are those for me?”
“Don’t be a fool, Moose, they’re clearly for me.” Chloe came out from the kitchen in jeans and a navy sweater with spots, and there on her heels was the woman who had distracted him all day. Minnie. Damn, she looked good. She was wearing a denim dress that looked like a long shirt with a belt around the waist. It showed off her long, tanned legs. Now he would have to add her legs to the list of things he couldn’t get out of his head. Chloe leaned in and took the flowers. “Thanks. Have you met Minnie?”
They kind of both mumbled out that they were neighbors.
“Of course, you are.” Chloe smiled. “How lovely. I love those apartments. I think I’m meant to live in a renovated loft with not a single Elvis in sight. Come through.”
He followed along like a puppy behind the others. “So, you didn’t inherit the love of Elvis?”
“To be honest, I didn’t even know who Elvis was when I moved in here.”
Mitch knew Chloe had grown up in a religious community down south, obviously rock and roll music wasn’t part of the faith.
She put the wine on the table and went for a vase. He wouldn’t have brought wine if he’d known about Minnie coming.
“Do you want a beer?” Moose asked. He looked at Minnie, and she gave him a soft nod. “The girls are on the sodas.”
“Uh, sure.”
Moose tossed him a bottle, which he managed to catch despite feeling utterly out of sorts.
Chloe started to talk. “Minnie has asked that everyone behave the way they would normally, Mitch. Isn’t that right, Min?’
The woman herself finally spoke. “Yeah, truly, I’m fine. Social situations aren’t one of my triggers. I’m really happy to be here, doing something normal, you know?”
There was more knocking at the door, so Moose and Chloe headed that way, and they were alone briefly.
Damn, that man looked good. And he smelled like a forest and a lemon had made friends. It was a good friendship.
“I’m fine, Mitch.” She wanted to reach out and pat his forearm, both to reassure him and because she really wanted to touch him. She was way more tempted by the man than the liquor. “I didn’t realize you were coming.”
“Likewise.”
Todd and Sarah came in with a salad and bread. “Hey, guys.”
Greetings were made, and Minnie tried to focus. She knew Sarah’s son was Olly’s best friend and that Katie babysat for her and that was about all. She remembered Todd, of course, from the old days.
“This is so nice.” Sarah practically purred with happiness as she peeled the cling film off the salad and placed it on the table. “Katie is over with my kids. It’s so nice to be a grown-up for a while. She’s a great kid, by the way, and I love having your girls in my dance classes.”
“You teach dance?” She probably should be embarrassed she didn’t know the woman who was teaching her girls dance, but she had only been here three days.
“She’s just opened up a dance studio,” Todd said, grabbing a beer and another for Sarah.
“That’s fantastic.”
“I do adult classes, too. I’m teaching pole dancing as well as modern and hip hop and some ballroom, if you’re interested.”
“We’ll see.”
“The pole dancing is so hard,” Chloe interjected. “But such a good workout.”
“Oh, I know.” She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
“You’ve taken classes?” Sarah’s face lit like the proverbial Christmas tree.
“Not exactly. I had a friend who danced. She showed me some moves.” Okay, she worked in a strip bar so of course she’d learned some moves. She really wanted to get off this topic and fast. She was meant to be integrating back into suburban life, not talking about her dark days. “So, what do my girls like most?”
The men drifted away to the living room, apparently dance lessons weren’t their thing. She was glad not to have Mitch in close proximity in case the pole dancing came up again. Sarah regaled her with stories of her daughters.
“Sophie is a natural. She has that dancer’s body, you know. Katie, she’s shyer and it is harder to start as a teen of course, but she’s such a trouper.”
“That’s great.” One more thing she’d missed.
“Is it weird, me talking about this?” It was clear Chloe was trying to look busy.
“Not at all. I feel embarrassed that I don’t know more about my own kids, but you telling me is good. It might be a while before they feel like sharing, but I do want to know.”
And then Sarah leaned in and squeezed her hand. “Honey, you’re doing so great just coming back and facing the music. They’re great kids, and they’ll come around.”
Chloe came and squeezed her other hand, and Minnie felt the tears prick her eyes. “You know Katie works for me, and she’s amazing. And whatever she tells you I know she’s happy you’re back.”
“How do you know that?” Her voice came out raw and raspy.
“She told me. Now come on, let’s be grown-ups. No more kid talk. Let’s get those hot men back in here and feed them some dinner.”
“Hot men, get your butts in here, please,” Sarah yelled.
Moose came charging through the door first. “Well, now, I know you’re talking to me.”
Then all three men started flexing their muscles and goofing off, and in no time at all Minnie was laughing, and man, it was good to laugh.
Mitch was seated next to Minnie for dinner. It was kind of cozy and his thigh was pressed up against hers, his arm brushing hers as he reached for the meal, which was southern fried chicken, mac and cheese, and potato salad, as well as the bread and salad. It was carb-loading at its best, as an athlete Mitch couldn’t help but run the carb and calorie count in his head, years of habit was hard to unlearn.
“This is amazing,” Todd said, piling his plate high. “Seriously, it smells divine.”
“We can all meet for a run in the morning to maintain our hotness,” Moose teased.
“You’re on,” Mitch said, passing the potato salad to Minnie, their fingers brushing. “Or maybe a ride?”
“Or maybe both,” Todd said from behind a chicken leg. “You should serve this at the ice-cream parlor, Chloe.”
“I don’t think the diner would be too pleased with me,” she said sweetly. “Also, there isn’t a decent kitchen.”
“When will the Inn be done?” Mitch asked. Everyone in town knew Moose had bought the old Post Office and was turning it into an Inn.
“Soon. I want to open it in a month to make the most of the late-fall crowd. You know leaves and all that. I’m aiming for mid-October. Most of the construction is done. We’re down to fit-out, landscaping, and then we need staff. I’m interviewing next week.”
“That sounds like a lot to do in a month,” Sarah said, her face clouded with concern.
“It is,” Chloe interjected, “but as Moose doesn’t sleep he has a lot more hours in a day than a normal person. He’ll do it.”
Her faith in him was adorable. Mitch couldn’t remember a time a woman had looked at him with such total confidence. It had to be good for the ego, not that Moose had any issues in that regard.
“Well, you should serve this chicken to the guests,” Todd suggested.
“We’re mainly doing breakfast and nightly snacks with wine and beer at the start anyway. We do have a function space. I’m hoping to get family reunions or small weddings, that sort of thing.”
“It sounds really exciting. I remember when the Post Office shut down back when I was in middle school. People were not happy, partly because they wanted a post office, but also because it�
��s such a gorgeous building,” Minnie said. Mitch forgot that she’d grown up here and knew about the town’s history. “Remember, Todd?”
“Oh yeah, it was a big stink. The local paper ran a campaign trying to save it but it didn’t work, obviously.”
“Yeah, I protested. My friend Gail and I made signs and ran a little picket line.”
Todd laughed. “I remember that. People thought you two were nuts.”
Now, Minnie was laughing. “We were. We were also really bored. It was summer and painting those signs filled in a couple of days for us. Not that it made any difference.”
“Did you protest anything else?” Mitch couldn’t imagine a young Minnie as a radical. She seemed so measured now, and so sweet. Not that a protestor couldn’t be sweet and a post office was hardly a radical protest.
“Oh yeah, they wanted to bring in a curfew for teens when I was a junior. We had the whole high school out with signs at City Hall. We won that one. Lesson learned, teens care more about partying than post offices.”
“Who saw that coming?’ Moose laughed.
She shook her head and laughed along. “Self-interest is a big motivator.”
“And as one who came after and grew up in a curfew-less town, I thank you.” Todd pretended to tip his hat.
“Wow, who knew you were such a radical, Minnie?”
“Not anymore, my protest days are behind me.” And he heard the joy drain from her voice.
“You should come down and see the Inn. I’m there every day, just stop by. Hopefully, your radical teenage self will approve,” Moose offered.
“I’d love to.” And then the smile returned. He felt jealous that he hadn’t been the one to put that smile back but that was ridiculous. And he could hardly invite her to his place of work. She was a recovering alcoholic and a trip to a bar was definitely not a good idea. Still, it was strange that she seemed okay with the alcohol served tonight. Still, none of his business, he reminded himself.
Any Way You Spin It: An Upper Crust Novel (The Upper Crust Series Book 7) Page 5
