by Lacey Wolfe
The Brookfield Series
Volume One
Lacey Wolfe
Books Included
Finding Home
Bare Necessities
Finding Home
Lacey Wolfe
FINDING HOME
Copyright © 2012, Lacey Wolfe
Publisher: Southern Girl Press, Second Edition
Edited by Megan Fisher
Cover by Designs by Viari
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
www.laceywolfe.com
Dedication
To my mother. Thank you for always being there with a shoulder to lean on.
Chapter One
Welcome to Brookfield, Wyoming. We hope you enjoy your visit.
Julie Miller rolled her eyes as she passed the sign that welcomed her back to her hometown. It had been a long time since she’d been back. It was one of those places that never changed, and its people would take you back anytime with their arms wide open.
As she drove down Main Street, she took note the town was almost the same. Just a fresh coat of paint on many of the stores. The street lights that lit the darkened streets had all been replaced and now had a more modern look to them.
It was a ghost town though. Then again, what did she expect? It was eleven at night, and this was the small town of Brookfield. Nothing stayed open late. Everyone was probably home, nestled up warm in their beds. She had debated on going straight to her mother’s house, but she was coming unannounced. It would be best to arrive in the morning.
At the stop sign, Julie took a right onto Steeple Lane and headed toward Honeycreek Bed and Breakfast. She pulled up to the beautiful house. The front porch was lit up. It was as if they knew she was coming. As she shut off the car, she sat a moment to compose herself. Returning here was more difficult than she’d expected. Soon everyone would be asking questions about why she was here and, even if she could avoid answering, they would all be able to see why.
Julie placed her hand on her belly. A tear trickled down her cheek as she remembered.
Pacing back and forth across the bathroom, Julie waited. Deep down she knew what that stick was going to say, but all she could do was pray it wouldn’t. As if she even had that control at this point. What was done was done, and there was no changing it.
The timer on her cell phone went off. Biting her bottom lip, she turned toward the test. It was time to find out if what she feared was true. She had laid the box over the stick, and she now had to remove it to see if it would confirm her fear. As her arms shook, she pushed the box aside and stared down at the results.
“Shit,” she said. “I’m pregnant.”
Well, she had no other choice now. She was over three months late, and she had to tell Jeremy. She was scared to tell him. They’d never discussed children. Things were getting serious between them. She had just recently moved into his apartment since she was here all the time anyway.
She found him in the living room like usual.
“Jeremy,” Julie said softly, feeling a lump in her throat.
“Huh?” he responded.
“We need to talk.”
“Right now?”
“It’s important,” she said, starting to feel frustrated.
“Fine. What?” he snapped and then muted the TV. He turned toward her in his recliner.
She took a deep breath and blurted out, “I’m pregnant.”
“You’re what?” His voice was loud now.
“Please don’t make me say it again.”
“This is just great! I move you in here, and you get yourself knocked up.” He shook his head, now noticing the test in her hand. “You’re going to have to take care of that.”
Julie hoped he wasn’t asking her to do what she thought he was. “You don’t mean…” she said.
“Damn right, I do. I don’t want to be a father.”
“What if I don’t want to do that?”
He pointed toward the door.
“I have to leave?” Julie couldn’t believe what was happening.
Jeremy didn’t say anything to her. He turned the volume back up on the TV and returned to his show. Julie stood there, dumb-founded. Was this really happening? Not only had her life been turned upside-down by an unexpected pregnancy, but her boyfriend had just told her to have an abortion or leave.
Doing her best to hold it together, Julie went back to the bedroom. She had a decision to make.
And here she was. She had chosen the baby. Jeremy hadn’t even given her a second glance as she’d left.
She grabbed her small suitcase from the back of her car and then headed in to check into Honeycreek Bed and Breakfast. As she stepped up the stairs, the front door opened, and Claire Stevens greeted her.
“Julie Miller, is that really you?” Claire said.
“It’s me.” Julie smiled, hugging the woman in front of her. “What are you doing here?”
“You’re looking at the owner.”
“I heard the news, and I’m sorry about your loss.”
“Thanks.” Claire paused a moment, and Julie wondered if the pain was still fresh. “So, tell me, what brings you here?” Claire asked.
“I need a place to crash for the night, so I’m hoping you have a vacancy,” Julie said.
“You’re in luck. Come on in, and let’s get you settled. You must be tired after that long drive from New York.”
Julie followed the petite blonde inside. It was warm and felt like a home away from home, which she was sure was just how Claire wanted her guests to feel.
Claire fiddled around behind the desk then came over, dangling a key in front of Julie. “I’ll show you to your room.”
“Do you need a credit card or something before I check in?” Julie reached into her purse.
“Your night’s on me.” Claire smiled. “There’s a story as to why you’re home, and I want to know it.”
If only you knew. “Well, thanks. I appreciate it.”
Claire opened the door to the room Julie would stay in. Julie glanced around, taking in the beautifully decorated room. The furniture was all made of dark wood. The bed had a gorgeous quilt and tons of pillows. Ah, the pillows. She yawned, ready to snuggle in. The last few days had been long and tiring.
“I can see you’re tired. So I won’t get the details tonight, but we will play catch-up soon,” Claire said.
“Definitely.”
“Breakfast in the morning?”
Julie shook her head. “I think I’m going to get up early and head out to Mom’s. Looking forward to her cooking.”
A mischievous smile crossed Claire’s face, and she looked as if she had something to say, but Julie was too tired to figure out what.
“Well, get some rest. Holler if you need anything.” Claire shut the door behind her as she left.
Kicking her shoes off, Julie wasted no time getting out of her clothes and climbing into the fluffy bed. Turning off the lamp, she pulled the covers up and nestled in
. Without even a second thought, she drifted off and had one of the best nights of sleep she’d had in a long time.
* * *
The sun shined brightly through the windows. She wished now she had noticed the blinds were open last night. Pulling the sheets over her face, she closed her eyes for a few more minutes as she tried to wake up.
Finally, after battling with herself, she climbed out of the bed. She put her jeans back on and then pulled her hair up in a ponytail. A sudden urge to use the restroom took over, and she rushed toward the bathroom. This was something new—no bladder control. She didn’t expect to already have to pee so much.
She quickly brushed her teeth then made sure everything was tidy as though she hadn’t been there. Grabbing her suitcase, she left the room. She expected to find Claire up front, but she was nowhere to be seen. So she stopped by the front desk and scribbled a note, thanking Claire for the stay and saying they would talk soon. After all, she was going to need someone during this process. As young girls, she and Claire had always gotten along.
Outside, the sun was bright. There was a chill to the air, however. The few clouds in the sky were thick and fluffy. She bet there would be a light snow shower before the day was over. In fact, she was surprised to not see any snow on the ground yet. It would be anytime now.
The drive to her mother’s house was short. She lived on the older side of town, and it was unchanged except that the trees had gotten taller.
Julie was excited to see her mom. It had been almost a year since she’d seen her. Julie had flown her out last Christmas to visit her in New York City. She’d taken her mother everywhere, showing her every tourist spot there was to see. Her mother had loved it and said it had always been a dream of hers to travel. Julie hoped one day her mother would get to. Her father had died about ten years ago, and her mother had never remarried. She had a few close friends, though, and maybe one day they would all get together and travel.
But for now, Julie needed her mom. She couldn’t wait to have her mother embrace her and hold her tight, telling her it would all work out.
She pulled up to the house. It looked the same. A small ranch-style home painted a light shade of brown. It was time for a fresh coat of paint, that was sure. Perhaps she could get someone out here in the spring to spruce the place up. Her mother’s car wasn’t in its usual spot but instead pulled over near the picket fence. A pick-up truck sat where the car was usually parked. Maybe something was wrong with the vehicle, and she was borrowing the truck.
Climbing out of the car, Julie could smell bacon. A smiled crossed her face. Her mom was cooking breakfast. Shutting the car door quickly, she went up the front steps two at a time. As she turned the doorknob, she found it locked. Groaning, she dug through her purse until she found the key to the house and let herself in.
Loud music blared through the house. It was set to a local country station. This was so unlike her mother. In fact, as Julie looked around the living room and saw how untidy it was, she wondered if she was in the right house.
Following the smell of food, she stepped into the kitchen. Julie froze. A half-naked man stood at the stove, flipping pancakes. It was as if he sensed he was no longer alone. He turned, and Julie thought she was going to faint.
“Hi,” the man said.
“Who the hell are you, and where is my mother?” Julie demanded.
Chapter Two
Mark knew exactly who stood before him looking slightly frightened. It was Julie, the daughter of Margret Miller. She was even more beautiful in person than she was in the pictures all over the house. Her dark blonde hair was pulled up into a high ponytail. She had deep brown eyes that, at this moment, were very wide. He’d have loved to let his eyes wander and check out her body, but that didn’t seem appropriate at the moment.
“I’m Mark Thomas,” he said as he set the spatula down.
“Where is my mother?” she asked again.
“Good question. Perhaps there will be a postcard in the mail today.”
“What do you mean?” She was confused, he could tell.
“Your mother is out traveling the country.”
“She’s what?”
“Her and some friends bought some RV they found for sale. Decided they were taking off. I think they were heading south for the winter,” he explained.
Julie didn’t say anything. One hand moved to her mouth, and she nibbled on a nail. It was cute. Most likely a habit she’d always wanted to kick but never would. He wished he had something more to tell her but there wasn’t.
“Why are you here then?” she asked.
“Your mom didn’t want to leave the place empty. I had just moved into town and was looking for a place. The price was right and, well, here I am.”
She paced the length of the kitchen. “This makes no sense. She didn’t tell me. Why wouldn’t she?”
“I don’t have an answer for that.”
Julie shot him a look, and he knew to just be quiet. In fact, as he took in a deep breath, the smell of something burning caught his attention. Shit, it was the pancakes. Grabbing the spatula, Mark quickly flipped the pancake and wasn’t at all surprised to see it black as night.
“You hungry?” he asked.
“Actually, yes, I’m starving. I rushed over this morning for breakfast with Mom.”
“I can’t promise it’ll be as good, but it’ll at least fill you up.” Taking the opportunity now, he looked her up and down. She was lean and had a few curves to her. She could probably use a few more pounds, not that he was complaining.
She excused herself, and he took the chance to check out her backside. That was a sight he could get used to. But now he had to return his attention back to the breakfast he was preparing.
* * *
Julie headed straight for her mom’s room. Once inside, she shut the door and leaned against it. That man was hot. How she’d been able to even carry on a conversation, with him standing there in only a pair of loose-fitting jeans that hung low on his hips, was questionable.
Finally composing herself, her eyes darted around the room, looking for anything off. Mark had a believable story but, coming from living in New York City, she knew people were not always what they seemed. There was always the possibility that he was robbing her mother—or worse, he had murdered her.
Digging around in her mother’s dresser, she noticed a shoebox. Picking up the box and studying it, Julie could tell it was for a pair of men’s boots. She held the box against her chest. He wasn’t staying in here, was he? There weren’t any other signs that he was. She shook the box. There was something in there. Sitting on the bed, she placed it in her lap. She lifted the lid off and saw an array of postcards. Picking up the first one, she saw it was from Salt Lake City, Utah. On the back, it was simply addressed to the house with a small note about what her mother thought of her visit.
Julie then picked up a few more cards and saw her mother had done the same thing on all of them. It seemed each city she visited she had mailed herself card. Julie couldn’t help but smile that her mother was finally doing what she had always wanted, but she also wished her mom was home. Right now was a scary time for Julie, and she feared she was going to have to get through this without her mother.
She placed all the cards back in the box to look over later. Her bladder was calling again. To the bathroom she went. After doing her business, she knew eating was next on her list. She was almost beginning to feel sick. She assumed getting some food in her belly would be just what she needed.
Returning to the kitchen, she saw Mark had set two places at the kitchen table. A plate of pancakes already sat in the center.
“Hey,” he said. “Would you mind getting the orange juice?”
She nodded and then went to the fridge and pulled out a clear canister that appeared to have fresh-squeezed juice in it. She placed it on the table then found two cups from the cupboard and brought them over.
“Coffee?” he asked.
She’d love one more
than anything but remembered reading somewhere she had to limit her caffeine. “No.”
“Just have a seat then. Finishing up the eggs now. Hope scrambled is okay.”
“It is.”
Julie noticed he now had a shirt on. She was glad. Otherwise, she might have embarrassed herself by drooling on her food.
Mark took his seat after setting two plates of bacon and eggs on the table. Now that he was closer, she saw he had the most beautiful shade of blue eyes she’d seen. They reminded her of the blue forget-me-not flowers that were planted each summer in her mother’s garden. He kept his brown hair short. He was strikingly handsome and, even though his shirt was now on, there was still a slight chance she might salivate.
“What brings you home to Brookfield?” he asked.
Ha, like she was going to tell him the truth. “I was homesick I guess you could say. I wanted to see my mom.”
“She mentioned you lived in New York, and you were some hotshot editor for one of the big publishers.”
“Yes, it’s a lot of fun. I get to read some great stories.”
“That’s good. I like to read in my spare time.”
She froze. Not many men she knew read. Reading was one of her favorite things to do. “What do you read?”
“Murder mysteries usually. But, if you promise not to tell anyone, you can often catch me reading something off the best-sellers list. That’s the benefit to e-readers. No one knows what you’re reading.”
“True, e-readers and e-books are taking over. So many great authors out there, too.”
He nodded.
Julie picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite. It was crunchy, just the way she liked. The one little slice was like Heaven, hitting all the right taste buds. Once she finished the slice, she took another. Food had never tasted so good, though her stomach wasn’t feeling too much better. She figured, in just a few minutes, it would settle.
“You like bacon I take it,” he said.
