Something Lovely

by Brooke St. James

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Post Epilogue Fun Facts

  Something

  Lovely

  By:

  Brooke St. James

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the author.

  Copyright © 2018

  Brooke St. James

  All rights reserved.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Post Epilogue Fun Facts

  Other titles available from Brooke St. James:

  Another Shot:

  (A Modern-Day Ruth and Boaz Story)

  When Lightning Strikes

  Something of a Storm (All in Good Time #1)

  Someone Someday (All in Good Time #2)

  Finally My Forever (Meant for Me #1)

  Finally My Heart's Desire (Meant for Me #2)

  Finally My Happy Ending (Meant for Me #3)

  Shot by Cupid's Arrow

  Dreams of Us

  Meet Me in Myrtle Beach (Hunt Family #1)

  Kiss Me in Carolina (Hunt Family #2)

  California's Calling (Hunt Family #3)

  Back to the Beach (Hunt Family #4)

  It's About Time (Hunt Family #5)

  Loved Bayou (Martin Family #1)

  Dear California (Martin Family #2)

  My One Regret (Martin Family #3)

  Broken and Beautiful (Martin Family #4)

  Back to the Bayou (Martin Family #5)

  Almost Christmas

  JFK to Dublin (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #1)

  Not Your Average Joe (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #2)

  So Much for Boundaries (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #3)

  Suddenly Starstruck (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #4)

  Love Stung (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #5)

  My American Angel (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #6)

  Summer of '65 (Bishop Family #1)

  Jesse's Girl (Bishop Family #2)

  Maybe Memphis (Bishop Family #3)

  So Happy Together (Bishop Family #4)

  My Little Gypsy (Bishop Family #5)

  Malibu by Moonlight (Bishop Family #6)

  The Harder They Fall (Bishop Family #7)

  Come Friday (Bishop Family #8)

  Chapter 1

  Wes was finally coming home to stay. After spending seven years in London, my big brother was moving back to Memphis. It had been months since I had seen him, and a lot had happened in my life during that time, so I was especially excited for his arrival.

  His last trip home had been an eventful one.

  He brought a woman with him for the first time since he'd been living in London. Her name was Jolene Wright. She was a real sweetheart who, oddly enough, had mastered the skill of throwing knives. (Leave it to Wes to find someone who looked like the girl next door but knew how to accurately hurl sharp objects across the room.)

  As a result of Jolene's influence and her YouTube tutorials, I had taken a liking to knife throwing as well. My dad built a wooden target in the backyard, and I had been using it to practice. I was no Jolene, but I got better and better every time I went out there. It also helped that my dad had bought a nice set of throwing knives. Most of my family had been inspired by Jolene’s skills had tried their hand at throwing at the target at least a time or two.

  We were all really fond of her. It wasn’t just the knife throwing, either. She was a kind, easy-going person who genuinely loved my brother. She fit right in with our family.

  It was a good thing we all loved her, because Wes went and married her without telling any of us. They had a secret ceremony the day before they headed back to London, and then they announced it to all of us after the deed had already been done. They had been planning their move back to Memphis ever since. That was six months ago, and today was finally the day.

  In fact, I had just gotten a text from my mom saying that Wes and Jolene (along with her family) would be arriving at the house momentarily.

  For over two years, I had lived on my own. I had only been back at my parents’ house for a couple of months. I didn't own a house or anything, but I did live by myself all that time. My cousin, Shelby, owned a nice little home here in Memphis, and I had been house sitting long-term while she and her family were in Chicago. They had just moved back in November, and now I was back at home with Mom and Dad. While part of me missed my privacy, I had to admit, I enjoyed the home cooked meals and laundry service.

  I was standing in the kitchen, but the floorplan in my parents' house was open, so I could see straight through to the living room window, and I knew they had arrived. My parents were driving my mom's SUV, and there was another SUV following right behind them. I knew my dad would drive around to the back of the house and park in the garage, so I walked toward the hallway that would take me out there to meet them.

  I wouldn't call it nerves, but I had a sense of anticipation that made me a little jittery, even though it was only my brother. I had already made it out of the house and into the garage by the time my dad parked. The second SUV stopped in the driveway, but I didn't pay much attention to it since I knew my brother was in the one my dad was driving. I could see him.

  "I can't believe you're here for good!" was the first thing I said when Wes opened the back door. He was smiling at me, and I scrunched up my face at him. I was so excited he was home.

  Jolene was sitting right next to him, and we waved at each other as Wes shifted and stepped out of the vehicle. I hugged him tightly, and he hugged me back.

  "Mom said you have big news," he said.

  He was right. I did have big news. I had been keeping it from him for the past few months. At first, I didn't mention it because I thought it was too good to be true, but then, once I realized it was really happening, I decided to wait until I could tell him in person.

  "I do!" I said. I pulled back, smiling. "Big news," I said with wide eyes.

  "We must hear about it," Jolene said as she, too, got out of the backseat.

  I reached out to hug her. "It might not be as big of a deal to you," I said, squeezing her neck. "You might not even know who he is."

  "I knew it was about a guy," Wes said.

  We all shifted to get out of the way as Dad walked toward the back of the SUV to get their luggage.

  "Who is it?" Wes asked, looking straight at me. I could tell from the look on his face that he was ready to state his objection. My brothers were all really protective of me. I smiled, knowing that he would most assuredly approve this time.

  "Just somebody I've had a crush on my whole life."

  "Who?" he asked.

/>   "Derek Holbrook!" I said.

  I thought Wes would smile, but his face shifted to a mask of confusion.

  "The Derek Holbrook?" he asked. "The guy who went to Madison?"

  I nodded, staring back at him with a similar look of confusion. After all, what other Derek Holbrook was there? "Yessss," I said slowly, since that was obvious.

  "He's Owen's age," Wes said. His tone was laced with disapproval, and I just regarded him with a disbelieving expression.

  "So?" I said. "I thought you'd be excited."

  He shook his head a little. "I mean, it's cool, but he's older, Ivy, and he's…" He hesitated, glancing at his wife who was standing next to him, listening to our exchange. "He plays baseball," Wes explained. "He was a big deal when we were in high school."

  "He still is a big deal," I said. "He plays for the Indians."

  "Is that Cincinnati?" Jolene asked hesitantly, like she was really trying to remember.

  "Cleveland," I said, smiling at her for getting relatively close. I always thought of her as being from London. I kept forgetting that she was raised here in the U.S. and might know a thing or two about baseball.

  "That's so cool," Jolene said, smiling and nodding. "What position does he play?"

  "Shortstop," Wes said.

  But at the same time, I said, "Second base." I glanced at Wes, shaking my head. "He played shortstop in high school, but he switched over to second a long time ago. He's played second for years." I looked at Jolene. "He was drafted right out of high school. He played for the Mets before he got traded to Cleveland."

  "How cooool!" she said.

  Again, we were interrupted by my dad who was now walking by, carrying luggage.

  "You need help?" Wes asked.

  Dad shook his head, letting Wes know he had it under control.

  I turned to find that someone else was in Dad's wake, and I knew our conversation about Derek was over—at least for now. I smiled at the man who was walking behind my dad. I assumed it was Mr. Wright, Jolene's dad. I had seen a picture of him, but in the picture, he wasn't sporting a handlebar mustache like he had now, and I studied him, trying to make sure it was the same guy.

  "Ivy, this is my dad," Jolene said, confirming my suspicion.

  "Ben Wright," the man said, smiling and giving me a nod since his hands were extremely full.

  "Ivy Bishop," I said, returning his nod. "Can I help you with your things?"

  "Thank you, sweetie, but I believe we've got it under control," he said, still following my dad into the house.

  I looked at the second vehicle, the one that was parked in the driveway. My mother was standing near the back of it with two other people who I knew to be Jolene's mom and brother.

  I glanced at my brother. "Do y'all need help with anything?" I asked, motioning to the SUV.

  He shook his head as he moved to stand behind his wife wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "Nope," he said with a sigh. "We already brought our things by the house on Myrtle."

  (My brother, Owen, and his wife, Darcy, owned a ton of rental property, including a house on Myrtle that Wes and Jolene would rent from them for a while until they found a place they liked enough to purchase. It wasn't huge or extravagant, but it was a nice home. We had gotten it somewhat prepared for their arrival with enough furniture to get by and a bed in the master bedroom. They weren't, however, set up to accommodate guests. (It was for this reason that Jolene's family would be staying with my parents this week.)

  "How did you like the house?" I asked.

  "It's really nice," Jolene said. "Darcy had sent us some pictures, so I knew what to expect, but I liked it even better in person. It's bigger than I thought it was. I can't believe how much work you all put into getting it ready for us."

  "The fridge was even full," Wes said.

  I smiled and shook my head. "You know Mom."

  We started to walk inside, but I glanced over my shoulder at the group who was still outside.

  "Do they need help?" I asked.

  Wes shook his head. "They packed pretty light. I think Dad and Mr. Wright got most of it."

  He and Jolene continued to walk toward the door, but I hesitated. Hospitality was something my mother and grandmothers had engrained in me from a very early age, and I just didn't feel right about heading inside without first greeting the rest of Jolene's family. Sure, I would see them within minutes once they made their way into the house, but that didn’t seem good enough. I just couldn’t stop myself from going out there to welcome them.

  "I'll catch up with y'all inside," I said, speaking to my brother and Jolene from over my shoulder as I turned to head toward the driveway. It was chilly out and a gust of cold wind hit me as soon as I stepped out of the garage. I hunkered down, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

  "Hey, nice sweatshirt," I yelled as I drew near and saw what Jolene's brother was wearing.

  My mom and Jolene's mom were standing there as well, but they had their backs turned to me. Luke was standing where I could see him, and the first thing I noticed was that he was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the old-school Bishop Motorcycles logo across the front.

  "Thank you," he said, smiling and looking down at his own shirt as I came to stand next to them.

  "Burrr!" I said as I reached out to hug Jolene's mom. "What are y'all doing out here?"

  "I was just telling Ginger and Luke about the property," Mom said. "Dad and I were talking about your lot when we went by Wes's place earlier."

  'My lot' was actually something my parents had bought. It wasn't right next door, but it was close enough to be seen through the woods—especially now since it was the dead of winter. I had no plans to build a house on it quite yet, but my parents had bought it when it came up for sale a couple of years ago, and since I was the only one of their children who was interested in it at the time, they had sort of promised it to me. I knew the statement didn't require a response, so I just nodded and smiled at Jolene's mom before reaching out to hug her.

  "You must be Ms. Ginger," I said. "I'm sure you guessed, but I'm Ivy."

  I turned and gave Luke a quick squeeze the same way I had done for his mom. He was not at all what I expected. I had seen a picture of him before, but I did not anticipate his stature. The men in my family were tall—all at least six feet—but Luke was even bigger than them. Derek was six-one, and Luke was definitely taller than him.

  "I did guess that," Ginger said sweetly as I hugged her son. "We've heard a lot about you, Miss Ivy."

  I grinned at her. I assumed that she would have red hair (with her name being Ginger and all) and I smiled inwardly at the fact that her hair wasn't even close to red. It was light brown and naturally curly, with some grey streaks. She had a kind smile and resembled Jolene in so many ways.

  I pulled back, glancing up at Luke and trying to see who he favored. I just couldn’t get over how large he was. He was at least a foot taller than Jolene's mom, and from what I saw of Jolene's dad, he was quite a bit taller than him as well. Jolene was also a petite person. Luke seemed to tower over the whole family. I instinctually scanned his face. I found myself staring at his mouth. I couldn't stop looking at it. He had one of those mouths where his top lip was larger than his bottom. He had a different skin tone than the rest of them with dark hair, eyes, and facial hair. He looked nothing like his parents or sister. I didn't expect him to be so tall or so handsome, and I was thrown off. That mouth, my goodness. It was so different. Striking, really.

  In addition to all this, it was weird seeing him in a Bishop sweatshirt. I knew he worked for the company, but for some reason, it still surprised me to see him wearing that. I had never even seen that exact design on a hoodie, and I caught myself wanting one of my own. All of those thoughts ran through my mind in a matter of seconds.

  "Who do you look like?" I asked, staring up at him. Sometimes, I just said what was on my mind. Sometimes, I spoke out of nerves or surprise without fully considering the repercussions of what I was saying.
It wasn't something I was proud of, necessarily, and more often than I liked, it got me in trouble. That moment on my driveway was one of those times—it was not one of my proudest moments.

  "What do you mean?" Luke asked, touching his own jaw as he considered my question.

  "I mean who do you look like? You know, like in your family. I can't tell who you look like. I can see lots of Jolene in your mom, but it doesn't seem like you resemble either of your parents."

  "Oh, that's because I'm adopted," Luke said.

  He wore a serious expression.

  Dread washed over me.

  Maybe it wasn't as bad as asking a girl if she was pregnant when she wasn't, but it was still pretty bad.

  Could it possibly be true that Luke was adopted? Jolene had never said anything about her brother being adopted.

  I smiled in spite of my own embarrassment. "Are you serious?" I asked, hoping and praying that Luke was like my brothers and was teasing me.

  He just smiled and gave me an easy-going nod as if he was completely serious.

  Chapter 2

  "I had to have an emergency hysterectomy after Jolene's birth," Ginger said.

  Mortified.

  I was absolutely mortified.

  I stared blankly at her.

  "We knew we wouldn't be able to have any more children, so we started applying for an adoption when she was still a baby. She was fourteen months old when we got Luke."

  My heart was beating like a trapped rabbit. I was an outgoing person who often spoke my mind, but it had been a long time since I had put my foot in my mouth to this extent. Had I really asked him 'who he looked like'? Uhhhh, for Pete's sake.

  "I'm really sorry," I said, since there was nothing for me to do but apologize. "Jolene hadn't mentioned that you were, uh…"

  "That's because I'm really sensitive about it," Luke said.

  I snapped up to look at him with wide eyes, only to find that he was wearing a solemn, reflective expression. He sighed, staring off into space. "I don’t like talking about it. I just want to pretend it never happened… I want to feel like they're my real family, you know?"