Cook Brothers: The Whole Flipping Family

by BJ Harvey

  “So exactly how pissed was April when this all went down?” Jax asks when we stop for a brief lunch at the wives’—and my mom’s—insistence. Jase, Matt, and their wives had to leave due to family commitments, but with the work we’ve all done this morning, there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll be able to get the garden and fence done in time.

  “On a scale from normal level of irritation when I’m around to our sister losing her mind when you rearranged all the detachable limbs on her dolls as a kid? About a twenty,” I reply, earning a gasp from our sister. My lips twitch when I turn to see her shooting a death stare in Jax’s direction. When Cade wraps his arm around her shoulders and laughs—like the rest of the group—she glares at her husband.

  “They had me believing it was a ghost warning me to stop annoying my brothers,” she huffs.

  Cade blows out a breath, shaking his head at the grinning twins.

  “That’s harsh.” He still chuckles, pulling Abi in close and looking down at her. “But if Harry does that to any girls we might have, and if those girls are anything like you, I may just run away with him, purely for the preservation of the family line.”

  “Keep this up, and there won’t be any family line, because Harry will be an only child due to his father never getting laid again,” she warns with a dangerous glint in her eye.

  Cade’s head jerks up. “Well then, Jax and Bry, that wasn’t very nice.”

  That just makes us laugh even more.

  “The house is looking good, Jamie,” Dad says, beaming with pride. “It’s going to be a beauty when she’s finished.”

  “That’s the plan.”

  “And you’re okay with living here while you do it?” he asks.

  “It’s good. I needed to do this. It was time to do what I’ve always wanted and this…” I say, waving my hand in the air, “…was a good project to start with. Relatively straightforward, a good redesign thanks to Ezra’s plan, and with all of us boys chipping in, we’ll be able to keep the labor costs down and turn a tidy profit to buy the next one.”

  “I always liked these bungalows. Our first house in Colorado had a similar layout. Your Uncle Keith and I renovated it ourselves just like you boys are doing. It meant your mother and I were able to sell it and get enough money to move to Chicago with all of you.”

  My throat tightens a little. I didn’t know that, and hearing that this vocation is in my blood spurs me on. I was already pretty damn motivated to make this work—not just for me, but for my brothers—and this has just made me more determined to break my back and bleed myself dry to make it an absolute certainty.

  “The pretty neighbor he’s got his eye on helps too,” Bryant says, earning a half-hearted scowl from me.

  That gets Mom’s attention. “At least you know her name now. You can’t get to know a woman if you don’t even know her name, Jamie. I mean, women do like that sort of thing.”

  “Did he tell you Cohen and Cade work with her?” Abi says with a giggle.

  “She’s definitely nice to look at,” Jax adds, “and her son is hilarious.” He then proceeds to regale the parents and Abi with the tale of Axel sneaking in during our demolition party.

  I leave them to finish eating and take a bottle of water outside with me. Leaning on the porch railing, I survey how much there is left to do before April gets home. I try to imagine her reaction.

  Will she be surprised? No doubt. Will she be happy? That’s what I want more than anything. I may have only known her for a few short weeks, but every time we’ve interacted, I find myself more drawn to her, even when we end up going toe to toe. She’s the kind of woman who works hard to provide for her family—something I’ve always wanted to do myself when the time comes—and despite setbacks that I want to find out about, she seems determined to make sure she, Betty, and Axel live their best life. I know that down to the bottom of my soul because it’s evident in everything she does, the way she is with her son, and even the fact that she has her ex-mother-in-law living with them.

  I just want to know everything there is to know about April Williams.

  “You’re doing the right thing, you know,” Cohen says coming up beside me, mimicking my pose.

  “Yeah. I just wonder at what cost.”

  “We have a contingency budget for any extra expenses. And Matt and Jase aren’t charging us labor for the fence.”

  I turn my head, knowing I’m about to give my brother a lot more of myself than I normally do, but out of the five of us kids, it’s always been the two of us who are the most alike in terms of personality. Whereas the twins and Abi could be—and sometimes still are—little shits, Cohen is more introverted.

  I give a half-smile. “I’m not worried about that so much because I’ll cover whatever extra we need.”

  “Jamie—”

  “No,” I say firmly. “I wanted this, I started it, and until we have a bigger surplus in the bank to back us up, I’ll cover any shortfalls.” He opens his mouth again, but I shut him down. “I’m not gonna change my mind about this.”

  He grins. “Yeah, I know. As long as you know we’re not just in this with you. We’re in this.”

  “And I appreciate that.” I look back out to the garden and the fence that Jase and Matt built, now just needing a coat of paint and a final tidy-up. Then we need to put the last of the plants into the ground.

  “So what did you mean about the cost then?” Cohen asks. Then the penny drops. “You like her.”

  It’s Cohen—there’s no point lying. He has always been able to read me like a book.

  “Yeah. I hardly know her, and there’s already a lot to like,” I confess.

  “She’s not like your ex.”

  “Complete opposite.”

  “Then why are you worried?” he asks. “If I were a chick, I’d love this.” He sweeps his hand out.

  When I don’t say anything, he continues. Damn perceptive bastard. ”There’s no way she’ll think you did this to get in her pants. The April I know is not that kind of girl. She sees things for what they are, and that includes people trying to fix what they—or their contractors—may have accidentally broken.”

  My lips quirk up at that. “They kind of decimated it. You should’ve seen her face. Not only did we wake her after a night shift, but there were so many memories attached to her garden. Axel was telling me about every plant and the how, when, and why.”

  “And you felt that deep, didn’t you?” he asks. Damn sage.

  “It was a combination of things,” I say, letting out a big sigh of relief. “She has what I want. She might even be what I want, and now that I’m working on myself to get to that place, I’m—”

  “Scared?”

  “Feeling cautious.”

  “Jamie, I’ve known you my whole life, and not once have I even thought of the word ‘cautious’ to describe you. That tells me she already means something to you.”

  “It’s only been two weeks. We’ve spoken to each other four times.”

  “April is the kind of woman you can talk to for five minutes, and you will always remember it. She has a way about her.”

  “That’s one description.”

  “And you’d call it?”

  “Spunk.”

  That makes him laugh. “Fucking definitely.”

  “Are you two gonna do some work or are you too busy braiding hair and telling each other you’re pretty?” Jax asks. He jumps down the front steps and walks around the lawn until he’s standing directly below us.

  “Aww Jaxon, you want to play with us? Are Bryant and Abi being mean to you?” I tease.

  He flips us the bird as we both chuckle, the rest of the family soon coming outside behind him.

  “You ready to get this done?” Dad asks as Cohen and I join them in the front yard.

  “Yep.” I look at my watch. “We’ve got about two hours before Betty said they’ll be coming home.”

  “Well, let’s get it done so you can impress the girl,” Mom says with a huge gr
in, earning narrowed eyes from me.

  “Mom…” I warn. She puts her hands in the air in surrender. “Okay, okay, I get it. Butt out, Mom.”

  I wrap my arm around her shoulder and press my lips against her temple. “Love you.”

  She snuggles into my side, tightening her hold on me and keeping me there. “Just promise me you won’t ever compromise yourself and what you want for anyone.”

  “Never again,” I murmur.

  “Good,” she says, stepping away and shooting me her best, most menacing mom look, and I laugh because April has mastered that exact same look with Axel. “Let’s get to work.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain,” we say in unison, resulting in all of us—including Mom—bursting out laughing.

  Then we all do what she says: we get to work, and we get it done.

  8

  April

  When Betty suggests we have a day out on Sunday, I welcome the change of scenery. I’m always a bit antsy, and—to be honest—grumpy after a long run of night shifts, and I knew that getting out into the sunlight and fresh air would do me good. It would also stop me from feeling guilty about how I reacted yesterday when Jamie’s contractors accidentally destroyed the fence between our properties and leveled our flower garden.

  I know I overreacted—it’s a garden, for God’s sake—but I was at the end of my tether and having been harshly woken from my much-needed sleep, I was a woman on a rampage, and Jamie bore the brunt of it.

  I’ve made a vow to apologize for my behavior the next time I see him, but first there is my planned family day out with Axel.

  However, after spending a few hours at Lincoln Park Zoo, then jumping on the train to get lunch in the city, I’m not the only one getting tired. But Betty is insistent that we keep going and Axel—although fading—is always easily led astray by his spritely grandmother.

  The best thing to come out of my short-lived and disastrous marriage to Axel’s father is my close relationship with his mother. When the number-one asshole of the century decided life was too hard and he needed an eighteen-year-old distraction, it was Betty who stepped in and told me what he was doing—gambling, drinking, sleeping with an almost-adult—and despite me being at home with our six-month-old baby, she helped me take control of my life again. She took Axel for the day while I changed the locks, packed everything that was Patrick’s, and tracked him down at a seedy by-the-hour motel.

  That was the last I saw of Patrick Williams. I never envisioned a life as a divorced single mom, but together, Betty and I have made a life for Axel to make sure he has a home full of love, stability, and consistency.

  I love Betty as if she’s my own blood and she returns that tenfold. For her to cut her son out of her life for her daughter-in-law and grandson, and never once waver or regret that decision, proving she’s far stronger than I will ever be.

  Grabbing a table at a much-loved Chicago eatery, Axel gives me his best puppy-dog eyes before launching himself at the chips and his Italian beef sandwich, a meal he’s been eating for almost as long as he’s been eating solids.

  “So, Bets, it’s time to spill,” I say, watching with amusement as she takes a huge bite of beef, her eyes darting between Axel, the wall, the front door… to anywhere and anyone but me.

  She knows I’m patient. I’m also like a dog with a bone, so until I get answers, I’m happy to sit here all day. There are salads and desserts, burgers and cakes. I can definitely wait.

  I quirk a brow, watching with amusement as she puts her sandwich on the tray and wipes her mouth with a napkin.

  “I wanted a nice day out. We deserve it,” she says, definitely hedging.

  I eye her suspiciously. “And that’s all it is?”

  “Gran just wanted us to do something nice, Mommy,” Axel says, injecting himself into the conversation. I turn to him and smile, my heart melting.

  I reach out and cover his hand with mine. “I know, baby.”

  We fall into a comfortable silence as we go back to eating.

  Once we’ve finished and I’m reveling in my food coma, Betty speaks again. “That Jamie is a nice boy, isn’t he?”

  My eyes snap to hers.

  “He’s a big boy, Gran,” Axel replies.

  Betty’s warm gaze goes to him. “He definitely is that,” she says, looking over to me, a clear sparkle—and a suspicious glint—in her eyes.

  “Betty…” I say, slowly

  “What?” Her eyes widen. “I’m just saying he seems like a good man. He’s great with Axel, and I may be out of his age bracket, but he’s not hard on the eyes either.” Then she waggles her eyebrows. Matchmaker Betty is in the house.

  “He’s okay, I suppose,” I lie, and her answering grin is all knowing. She has always seen straight through me.

  “And good with his hands…”

  My mouth drops open, and she lets out a little giggle.

  “He can build stuff and fix houses,” Axel adds. “My friend Jamie is awesome.”

  Dammit, he’s already won my son over. “He is, baby.”

  “And he has cool brothers,” he continues

  “I haven’t met them yet,” Betty says with a gentle smile.

  “They let me have their pizza and soda.” Is he the Cook brother’s head of promotion or something?

  “And we talked about that, didn’t we…?”

  “Yep. Next time I’ll knock on the door so Jamie can let me in, then I’ll ask him before having pizza and soda.” Axel’s chest puffs out, and I can tell he’s proud of himself. A giggle escapes me. This boy of mine is definitely one of a kind.

  “What about you, April? What do you think of our handsome new neighbor?” Betty asks.

  I shrug. “He seems like a nice guy.”

  “And…?”

  I grin, knowing what she’s trying to do but not yet willing to give her the satisfaction of acknowledging my growing interest in the guy. “And nothing. He seems to like destroying fences and corrupting my son.” I try to keep a straight face when Betty gasps, but fail, earning me a scowl.

  “I think you should get to know him,” she adds. “What do you think, Axel?”

  Ooh, now she’s playing dirty.

  “I’ll take that under advisement,” I mutter before turning my attention to Axel, hoping to change the subject. ”Now eat your fries so we can head home.”

  “Oh no, not yet,” Betty rushes out, looking at her watch. “I thought we could walk around for a bit. Let our lunch settle.”

  I tilt my head and narrow my eyes at her. “What’s going on, Bets? And maybe you can start with the truth this time.”

  She sighs and looks to Axel who hilariously mimics her expression but adds a raised brow. “You tell her, Gran.”

  I jerk back, switching my gaze between the two of them.

  “We wanted to surprise you,” Axel explains.

  “With ice cream,” Betty says quickly. “We know how hard you work, and we thought ice cream might help.”

  “Help with what?”

  “To make you happy, Mommy,” Axel says, reaching out and tangling his little fingers with mine. Little heartbreaker.

  I swear these two are up to something. Since I’ll do anything to keep that smile on Axel’s face, I decide to play along.

  “I am happy, but I definitely think ice cream will make me happier. Let’s go.”

  “Yay,” he says, jumping up and knocking his chair back, making us laugh.

  I decide to pause my interrogation of Betty until later. Something is definitely going on.

  But first, it’s time for ice cream with my now beaming son and his grandmother. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

  By the time I pull the car into my driveway, my residual tiredness from my long week at work starts to kick in. After parking in the garage, we all get out, with Betty and Axel walking ahead.

  I must’ve been in a daze when I drove in because as soon as I round the corner at the front of my house, I stop dead in my tracks at what
I see. My white picket fence that just this morning lay destroyed against the broken flowers and flattened plants has been replaced, as has the garden, almost perfectly. I stare open-mouthed at my closed front door then back to the fence, and then beyond that to the smiling—my God, he’s handsome—man leaning his elbows on his porch railing, eyes pointed my way. He looks cautious as if waiting for my reaction to what he’s done.

  No man has ever done something this thoughtful or meaningful for me before. Never in my life have I been speechless. It’s like I’ve forgotten how to talk. My mind is so full of things I want to do and say, yet none of them seem big enough to convey just what I’m feeling.

  The longer I stand there, the deeper his brows furrow, and it’s his growing look of uncertainty that spurs me into action. I will my legs to move. The closer I get to the fence, the more I see just how much attention has been paid to replacing everything to look how it once did. God, I was such a bitch to him yesterday.

  He straightens and walks down his steps and over toward me, stopping when he reaches the fence now separating us.

  I swallow hard against the growing lump in my throat. “I don’t know what to say except thank you. This is so much more than you had to do.”

  “No, it’s everything that needed to be done.”

  I turn my head, taking my time to look along the entire length of the garden. “You got everything back where it should be.”

  “I pay attention when it’s important.”

  My eyes lock with his, and I feel his words like a warm caress. What is it about this man that ignites a fire in my belly? And how do I explore this feeling without completely putting myself out there?

  “If there’s anything I’ve missed, just let me know, and I’ll get it fixed tomorrow.”

  Tears prick my eyes. “It’s perfect.”