Reunited in Good Hope (A Good Hope Novel Book 8)

by Cindy Kirk

Krew chuckled. “I think I might learn, too, if this was mine.”

  Cassie turned and rested her back against the countertop, the red of her dress a bright splash of color against the white. He didn’t know too many women who’d be content hanging out in a kitchen talking to only one person during a party, but Cassie appeared in no hurry to get back to the festivities.

  “I never asked where you live.” She gave him what he interpreted as an encouraging smile. “I mean, normally, when you’re not visiting here. I know you live in Green Bay, but do you have a condo or a house?”

  “Until recently, I shared a loft with three teammates.”

  “Three roommates.” She widened her eyes. “Didn’t that get crowded?”

  “It was a big loft.” Krew smiled, remembering. “We each had our own bedroom and bathroom. The kitchen was big, though nowhere near as nice as this one.”

  “Surely you could have afforded your own place.”

  “Of course.” He shrugged. “But these guys are friends, and none of us spent much time at home.”

  “Real estate is a good investment.”

  He smiled. No doubt, that fact was repeatedly emphasized in the courses she was taking. “True. But you never know from year to year where you’ll be. I didn’t want to be stuck with a house to sell.”

  “One day I’m going to buy a house.”

  Her words sounded like a solemn vow.

  “There’s a lot of upkeep involved in being a homeowner.”

  She flushed and pushed away from the counter. “I know the house I live in looks pretty bad. The landlord won’t do anything. I’ve called him, but he’ll only do the bare minimum. Most of the time, not even that.”

  Krew’s parents had always rented. With his dad’s sporadic work history, there was no way they could save enough money for a down payment, much less qualify for a loan.

  Their rental house had been a dump. He and his sister had avoided being at home as much as possible. Krew realized now that he could have at least mowed the yard.

  “Do you or your boys know how to do basic home repairs?” Krew had barely known the proper way to swing a hammer when he’d left Good Hope. But a couple of summers of working construction during his college years had taught him a lot.

  The pink in her cheeks deepened as she shook her head. “I’ve been thinking about seeing if Len could teach us. Nothing big, but one of the shutters is coming off, and the screen is out on the door.”

  Krew started to nod, was about to agree with her that getting her mother’s boyfriend involved was a good idea. But he stopped and considered that perhaps this was one way he could help Cassie and get better acquainted with Dakota’s brothers.

  Teaching her and the boys rudimentary construction skills could never make up for leaving her to fend for herself all these years, but it would make her life in the future easier.

  “I could teach you and the boys how to do some basic repairs.”

  “That’s nice of you to offer.” She smiled. “But I’m afraid you’d be wasting your time. We don’t even have tools.”

  “I’ve got some.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes.” Or rather, he would by the time he stopped over. “Let’s plan to get together once I’m back. I’ve got some things I need to take care of in Green Bay first.”

  Things like see the team doctor and speak with the coach. Things like figure out what was going to happen once he was off the disabled list.

  “Sure.” Cassie shrugged. “If you want to—”

  “I wondered where you were.”

  Krew turned, and there was Gladys, beaming at the two of them as if she’d found a pot of gold, instead of two people having a conversation in a kitchen.

  “Are you having a nice time this evening?” Cassie asked with a warmth that told Krew she was fond of the eccentric older woman.

  “Oh my dear, I’m very encouraged by this turn of events.”

  Krew exchanged a glance with Cassie. Encouraged?

  “You mean Hadley being pregnant.” Cassie spoke gingerly, as if not certain of the direction Gladys was headed.

  “Of course I’m happy for her and David. But I was referring to another couple in love.” Gladys cackled. “Though they don’t yet know it.”

  Cassie’s lips quirked. “Who are you matchmaking this time?”

  “Matchmaking?” Krew asked.

  “Gladys, Ruby and Katherine conspired to help Lindsay and Owen’s romance make the leap from friendship to love.” Cassie chuckled. “Lindsay didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back, she saw signs of their meddl—er, interventions.”

  “Hadley and David were actually our first foray into bringing young lovers together.” Gladys sighed melodramatically. “Now a baby. I couldn’t be happier.”

  “Who is it you have your eye on now?” Krew repeated the question Cassie had voiced but Gladys hadn’t answered.

  “No. No. No.” Gladys wagged a finger at him. “That’s a secret. The only hint I’ll give you is they’re both at this party. I’ll leave it to you to figure out the rest.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The second they returned to the living room, Cassie found herself glancing around the room, trying to see who Gladys had her eye on. She caught Krew doing the same thing.

  “I think I know,” she told Krew in a low voice, taking a sip of the club soda someone had handed her.

  “Who?”

  “Over by the fireplace.” Cassie nodded. “In fact, I’m sure of it.”

  Krew lifted a bottle of beer to his lips and cast a casual glance in that direction. “The minister and Katie Ruth?”

  “Katie Ruth does a lot of volunteering at the church.” Cassie lowered her voice even further. “I always thought she’d be a better match for him than my sister.”

  As they watched, Gladys strolled over to the couple.

  “Why do I get the feeling they aren’t going to know what hit ’em?”

  Cassie laughed, a silvery tinkle that rose from deep inside. “Maybe we should warn them.”

  Krew took a swig of beer. “It’ll be more fun to sit back and watch. Besides, we don’t know for sure it’s them.”

  “Sure we do.”

  “I like your confidence, Ms. Lohmeier.”

  “I call ’em like I see ’em.”

  “Cassie.” Lindsay, Owen at her side, looked mildly astonished. “I thought you’d left.”

  “We’ve been mingling.” The moment the we left her lips, Cassie wished she could pull it back. Now she was making it sound as if she and Krew were a couple.

  “Us, too.” Lindsay slipped an arm through Owen’s. “But I’m exhausted, so we’re heading home. It’s fabulous news about Hadley and David.”

  “I’m happy for them,” Cassie said. “And for Brynn.”

  “Brynn told me she’d love to have a sister.” Lindsay smiled. “I told her I understood, because I have a sister and they’re great.”

  Cassie felt a warmth rise up inside her.

  Krew chuckled. “Mine was a pain in the ass most of the time.”

  “Mine were, too.” Owen sipped his drink.

  “Men.” Lindsay shook her head, but her eyes were dancing. “Take me home, husband?”

  “Gladly.” Owen brushed a kiss across her cheek, then shifted his gaze back to Cassie and Krew. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

  They’d taken only a step or two away when Cassie remembered the prize money. “Owen.”

  When he turned, she felt foolish. This certainly wasn’t something that needed to be discussed at this moment. Still, now that she had his attention, she continued. “I finally have the money to pay for the repairs my car needs. I’ll give you a call, and hopefully you have times open so I can bring it in.”

  “You don’t need to pay me for repairs, Cassie.” Owen’s tone held more than a hint of exasperation. “We’re family now.”

  “I won’t mooch off you and Lindsay.” Cassie spoke firmly. “I pay my own way.”


  “We’ll talk about this when you bring in the car.” Owen took his wife’s hand. “Just call. I’ll fit you in.”

  “I’ll bring my checkbook.”

  Owen chuckled and shook his head.

  Krew didn’t speak until they were out of earshot. “He’s right, you know.”

  Cassie frowned. “Right about what?”

  “He’s family. He wants to help. You should let him.”

  “I pay my own way.” Cassie knew it appeared she was being foolish and stubborn, but she’d taken advantage of friends, family and the system for too long. Being independent was a heady feeling.

  “But—"

  Cassie held up a hand.

  “Not long ago, I couldn’t have said that.” Cassie heard the pride in her voice. “I want my boys to see…heck, I want everyone to see a new Cassie. A woman who is strong and pulls her own weight.”

  “But Owen is a successful mechanic who wants to do something nice for his new sister-in-law.”

  Hadn’t he heard a word she’d said? “I’m going to pay him. I have the money.”

  “There’s probably a lot of other places where that money could go.” Krew’s gaze turned brooding. “I wish I’d done more to help my sister. Looking back, I’ve spent most of my life thinking only about myself.”

  “Your gift to the Giving Tree was very generous.”

  “I like the philosophy of neighbors helping neighbors.” His gaze met hers. “Everyone needs help sometimes. But I also understand the need to stand on your own two feet. You’ll do the right thing. For you. And for your family.”

  Would she ever understand this man? When Cassie had heard he’d been a first-round draft pick the year he got out of college, she’d pegged him as an arrogant jock only out for himself.

  Now Cassie wondered if she’d been wrong.

  About him.

  About a whole lot of other things.

  Krew returned to Good Hope midweek in a pisser of a mood. The team doctor had examined him, said his healing was par for the course after a ruptured spleen, but refused to release him to play the rest of this season.

  It didn’t take a genius to know that returning to the field next year might be too late. Heck, it was probably already too late for him. His replacement, Javin, was playing the best football of his life.

  Lunch with his agent had been equally depressing. When his agent suggested he should seriously consider the offer from the front office to be an assistant coach for the wide receivers, Krew knew his starting position was history.

  He’d texted Dakota, but she was busy helping her grandmother at her shop. His refrigerator was empty. Which did little to improve his mood. It appeared he had two choices—either do some grocery shopping or go grab a bite somewhere.

  The Seat Yourself sign at Muddy Boots had Krew heading to an empty booth by the window. Nearly there, he stifled a groan when he heard his name.

  Izzie sat at a table with high school principal Clay Chapin on one side of her and K.T. on the other. Instead of food, there were papers scattered across the Formica tabletop and Clay had his laptop open.

  Krew covered the short distance to the table in one stride. “Good to see you again, Izzie. Clay. K.T.”

  “My mom said you were out of town,” K.T. said in lieu of a greeting.

  “Just got back.” Krew noticed the new blue streak in K.T.’s hair. “I was in Green Bay on business.”

  “I heard the team doesn’t want you back.”

  The worry in the kid’s eyes didn’t stop the words from drawing blood.

  “I thought you didn’t follow sports.” With great effort, Krew kept his tone even.

  The boy lifted one skinny shoulder and let it drop. “I like to keep up with what’s going on.”

  “Won’t you join us?” Clay gestured to the empty chair between him and K.T.

  “I don’t want to interrupt.” Krew let his gaze settle over the table. “It appears you’re working rather than eating.”

  “We were just getting ready for dessert.” Izzie smiled. “We’d love to have you join us.”

  “That’d be cool.” K.T. started shoving some papers into his messenger bag.

  Clay closed the lid of his laptop and dropped it into his briefcase.

  It spoke to how pathetic his outlook was for the evening that Krew found himself actually considering the offer.

  “I don’t—” That’s when he saw them.

  Gladys.

  Katherine.

  Ruby.

  The three were seated at a table on the other side of the dining room, their piercing gazes focused on him.

  When his gaze met Gladys’s, she lifted one bony hand and wiggled her fingers. The gemstones on her fingers caught the light, sending sparks of multicolored flames.

  Krew knew as well as he knew his own name that if he moved from the spot where he was currently standing, he’d be done for. The three would be on him like flies on sh—

  “Sure. I can sit for a few.”

  He’d barely pulled out a chair when an orange-haired waitress, an older woman he didn’t recognize, took the others’ dessert orders. Instead of the burgers and fries Krew had come for, he ordered the special of the day, a meatloaf dinner.

  “What are the three of you working on?” Krew knew if he didn’t go on the offense, he’d be the one answering questions. And he wasn’t in the mood to talk about the state of his football career.

  “Izzie and K.T. are helping me revamp a local program for at-risk teens.” Clay smiled up at the waitress when she brought pie for him and the other two. “Thank you, Helen.”

  The high school principal was as blond as his brother, David, was dark. Both Chapin boys possessed a quiet confidence that came from knowing their place in the world. Krew found it interesting that David and Clay had forged their own career paths. Their sister, Greer, was the one poised to take over the family’s banking empire.

  “The program isn’t technically part of the school system, but it’s one I fully support,” Clay continued.

  “It’s being relocated from the YMCA building. Because of the explosive growth of the Y’s fitness and youth programs, they don’t have the room we need,” Izzie added. “We looked at the churches. While they could help, they’re pinched for space as well.”

  Helen returned and set a heaping plate of food in front of Krew.

  All he could do was stare. Instead of coupling meatloaf with traditional mashed potatoes and gravy, the cook had taken a baked potato out of its skin, mashed it up, added butter and covered the potato with cream corn. The bacon, onions and peppers that had topped the meatloaf while it cooked were added to the corn.

  It looked strange, but the first bite Krew took was mouthwateringly good. The toasted homemade sourdough bread on the side would add a nice crunch.

  “That’s my favorite of the daily specials,” Izzie confided.

  Clay grinned. “It’s a heart attack on a plate, but you can’t beat the taste.”

  “It’s good,” K.T. agreed.

  Krew chewed, swallowed, nodded. “What alternate locations are you considering?”

  “We really have only one option.” Izzie ignored the pie in front of her, her expression intense. “The—"

  “I’m telling you,” K.T. didn’t even wait for Izzie to finish, “no kid will want to hang out at a nursing home.”

  “It’s a senior living center.” Gladys appeared tableside just in time to correct the boy in a tone that dared K.T. to disagree. “The Good Hope Senior Living Center is primarily independent living, though there is a wing devoted to assisted and full care.”

  “It’s a lovely facility. It even has a community day care. Teen mothers receive free childcare so they can continue their education,” Clay added.

  Krew couldn’t help wondering what would have happened if those services had been available when Cassie was pregnant with Dakota. She’d have been able to continue her education. Instead, her only option had been to drop out of school and get her GED
later.

  “Look,” K.T. said, “Brax and I aren’t really part of the kids you’re labeling at risk, but I’m telling you, no matter how nice it is, if it isn’t cool to go there, the place will sit empty.”

  Krew admired the boy’s tenacity and willingness to state his opinion. Especially since it was obvious the adults at the table didn’t agree.

  While the debate continued, Krew ate and let his thoughts drift back to his own high school years. There were plenty of times that he’d have loved to have had an alternative to being at home, especially in the summer and between sports seasons.

  For some reason, the face of Earl D’Angelo, popped into his head. “There was a program in Green Bay that one of my teammates started. I don’t remember the name, but it recruited at-risk youth and taught them building trades. They were paid through some sort of grant while doing repairs for those in the community who needed help.”

  Krew wished he’d paid more attention when Earl had extolled the program’s virtues. “The organization was very hands-on and gave the kids marketable skills.”

  “I bet Kyle Kendrick would be interested in helping with something like that.” Clay tapped the table with one finger.

  Krew went back to eating while the others at the table, as well as Gladys, who pulled up a chair and sat down, discussed the possibilities.

  “Would you be willing?”

  Krew’s last bite of meatloaf was poised only inches from his mouth. He slowly lowered the fork. “To do what?”

  “Reach out to your friend.” Gladys waved a hand in the air. “Ask him to send information to Izzie or Clay regarding the program he launched.”

  Krew started to say he didn’t have time. For years, that had been his go-to response when anyone asked him to do anything that didn’t involve football.

  But he had the time now.

  Krew set down his fork. “When do you need the information?”

  The next morning, after getting the information from Earl and relaying Clay’s contact information, Krew drove out to Cassie’s neighborhood. She was right. Her house was in need of repair.

  The screen in the combination storm door was half in and half out, and a shutter on one of the windows looked as if a gentle breeze would send it crashing to the ground. The yard…well, it was impossible to tell what kind of shape it was in because of the snow, but it was apparent that no one had shoveled the walk or the sidewalk.