by Judi Lynn
By two on Friday afternoon everything was officially finished and ready for business, and Joel loved the way things had turned out. Bright colors. Great floor plan. And great food and beers. Tyne had come over one afternoon and they’d made every offering on the menu to test them out. Once Tyne gave him the nod of approval, he felt pretty damn good.
“I’d give you five stars,” Tyne said.
A chef’s approval? That was enough for Joel.
Chase and Ian had come to test the beers. The tanks were at full volume now, and Joel would offer five varieties when he opened.
“Mmm, I like the Big M lager.” Chase smirked. “You must have been feeling pretty inspired. And the Sweet Blonde ale is a close second. If you have enough to supply my bar, I’ll put in an order for both.”
Ian drained his sample of Mill Pond IPA and poured himself a mug. “I want this one for the resort. It has great balance.”
They’d already talked numbers—volume and prices—so Joel nodded and said, “Can do. The last two?”
“They’re great,” Chase said, “but too serious for my customers. People who are really in to beer are going to love them, though. They’re going to be sellers here.”
That’s what Joel had thought, too. His food had passed Tyne’s critique and his beers had passed Chase and Ian, so he was feeling pretty good. Everything looked like it was ready to go.
When the last fixture had been hung and the last detail dealt with, Nick stalled a little, almost sad to walk out the brewery’s door for the last time. “I’m going to miss coming here. You’ve been great to work for.”
Joel handed him a stack of envelopes, one for each man on the crew. “Then come back and have a few free meals on me.”
“Really? Thanks, man. Will do.”
“The doors open on Monday. What’s your next job?”
Nick put his last tool in his toolbox. “We’re working with my dad and brother on a big project two towns over. It’ll be back to lunch boxes for sure. And I finished my flip house in Indy. It’s already sold, so I bought a new fixer-upper in town.”
“In Mill Pond?” That surprised Joel. “Does that mean Roxy’s out of the picture?”
“Yup, I’ve moved on. I’m going to stick close to town for a while. Grabbed one of the places Iris Clinger’s been showing for a couple of months. The owner dropped the price enough that I can make a decent profit.”
“Which one?” Joel had looked at every available house in the entire area.
“The trilevel on the far side of the lake.”
Joel gave a low whistle. “I went through that one and decided it would take too much work.” The aluminum siding was faded. The carpets should have died a few years ago. The rooms were small and choppy.
“Exactly.” Nick grinned. “That’s why no one else wanted it either. Those are the perfect ones for me.”
Joel could see that. “Well, the brewery isn’t that far from the lake. We’re open on weekends. You could stop by for lunch sometime.”
Nick rubbed his chin. “You know, Meg helped me look at that house, check the plumbing. It’s in bad shape. I can do all the work, but I needed to know if I could get everything locally. That girl knows her stuff, gave me a few ideas, so I owe her a lunch. Maybe I’ll bring her with me some Saturday.”
“I like Meg. If you bring her, she can eat on the house, too.” Maybe Nick would wake up and look at her as a woman, not a tag-along sister. He decided to give a small push in that direction. “I’m surprised no one’s snatched her up by now. She’s sure a pretty girl.”
Nick blinked, surprised. “She’s just a kid.”
“She doesn’t look like a kid to me. What is she? Early twenties?”
Nick frowned. “She’s five years younger than Maddie, so that must make her . . . twenty-three?”
“Of legal age and a knockout. Somebody has to be sniffing around, trying to catch her attention.”
Nick scowled. He didn’t look happy about that. “Yeah, well, I’d better get going. Good luck with everything and I’ll see you soon.” He grabbed his tools and walked out the door for the last time as Joel’s contractor.
Alone, Joel turned in a slow circle, inspecting the finished product. His brewery. Pride swelled inside him. He wanted to share this moment with someone. Miriam only taught half a day today and was probably home by now. He decided to ask her out for a special supper. They could come here, so he could show her the place before it opened, and then they could celebrate. It would be their last night together.
He made the call. “I thought I’d give you a tour of the brewery, and then we could drive to Bloomington for dinner.”
“Bloomington? You’re going all-out.”
“Tyne told me about this great restaurant with a wood-fire oven.”
“The Malibu Grill. I love it.”
Perfect. “I’m celebrating. The brewery’s ready for business. Do we have a date?”
“You had me at free food.”
He laughed. His girl was pretty predictable. “I’ll see you in an hour.” He decided to dress for the occasion and stopped at the apartment to shower and change into Dockers and a button-down shirt. When he picked her up, she was dressed in Dockers, too, and a clingy black tee. Her boobs were higher than usual: her push-up bra.
He whistled. “You look nice.”
“So do you.” She sniffed him. “You’re even wearing cologne.” She came close to inhale him. “Sharp and spicy. I like it.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. She ground her lips against his, ran her tongue over them, and then pulled away. “Did you make reservations?”
He nodded, out of breath. She did that to him, made him stand at attention before he could control himself.
“What time do we have to be there?”
“Six.”
“Shit, we have to be good. This has to wait.”
He took a deep breath, then released her reluctantly and led her to his truck. “Ready to see the brewery?”
“I can’t wait.”
The weather had turned warm and sticky once June hit, so he rolled up the windows and flipped on the air conditioner. No use melting on their drive across town. When he led her inside, she clapped her hands together and twirled in a happy circle, trying to take in everything at once. “It’s even better than I pictured it!”
The bar had a modern, funky look, and the family room had plenty of punches of color. He’d decided on white dishes with a bright dot of color in their centers.
“The colors on the plates match your walls.” Miriam looked at the tall, simple beer glasses. “This place is great.”
After she’d looked at every room, he led her back outside. A double-wide trailer sat in front of the trees in the distance.
“I didn’t notice that when we drove up. Is it move-in ready?”
“Yup, I even bought furniture for it.”
She sounded worried when she asked, “Do you plan to move there until you find a house?”
Did that bother her? Why would it? Why would she care where he and Adele lived? He’d thrown out an offer to her and she hadn’t responded, but she was doing her nervous fidget.
She shook her head. “Am I like T. J.?”
“What?” He had no idea what she was talking about.
“He loved being with Maya but didn’t want a commitment until Maya left him.”
Joel glanced at the trailer. He had thought about moving in for a while. There’d be more space and he’d be right by his business. If Miles needed help, he could rent a place for him. “If you’re not ready to commit, you’re not. You told me up-front you only wanted a friend with benefits.”
She bit her bottom lip. “If you leave me, will you come back?”
He didn’t see him ever leaving her. He’d rather have a short time with her than a long time with anyone else, but life didn’t come with guarantees. He’d learned that the hard way. “How can I answer that? There’s no way to know.” She sighed, and he to
ok her arm to lead her outside. He opened the door of his pickup and helped her climb in. “Tonight’s supposed to be fun. It’s to celebrate, remember? Let’s go check out this Malibu Grill.”
The drive took half an hour. The air had cooled a little, so they rolled down their windows, enjoying the warm June air. They didn’t talk much. Miriam seemed lost in her own thoughts. When they reached Bloomington, he parked in the center of town, then looked around, confused. “It’s pretty dead for a Friday night.” Then he slapped his forehead. “The kids have all gone home for the summer, haven’t they? College is out of session.”
Miriam nodded. “Things are always slower here in the summer.”
A good thing. The restaurant was busy enough that Joel was glad he’d reserved a table. A waiter led them to a four-top and asked, “Would you care for something to drink?”
Miriam ordered a beer, so he did, too
He glanced down the menu, but Miriam didn’t open hers. She’d said she loved to come here. She must have a favorite.
When the waiter brought their drinks, they ordered their food.
“A bacon cheeseburger and fries for me,” Miriam said.
The woman was obsessed. Joel got a kick out of that. She had no pretense, never put on airs. He ordered the Hawaiian rib eye and a baked potato.
The food was delicious. Someone played the piano in the other room. They made small talk, nothing serious, and had a wonderful night. Then, before Joel realized it, it was time to drive home.
The temperature was cooler, so they rolled down their windows. Farmers had been working in their fields and the scent of freshly turned earth hung in the air. When they got closer to Mill Pond, Miriam started to squirm. Joel knew the signs. She was getting ready to ask him something and didn’t know how he’d answer. She cleared her throat. “This has been really nice. A special night. Want to come to my place to relax?”
He knew what relax meant and smiled. “I brought a bottle of wine and an extra set of clothes so we can get up tomorrow and leave to get Adele.”
She relaxed again and smiled. Then her fingers started to fidget. “You know, I was thinking, because it’s summer and everything and Adele loves the lake, my place has two bedrooms. Maybe Adele could have her own room, and you guys could spend the weekends with me.”
The weekends. Not exactly what he’d had in mind, but it was a start. Joel stayed noncommittal. No point in moving too fast and spooking her. “She’d like that. What are you thinking about? Fridays and Saturdays?”
“That would be fun, don’t you think?”
“Perfect.” He’d learned patience from dealing with Adele. It was going to come in handy, dealing with Miriam, too. “We won’t start tomorrow night, though. I’ll let Adele settle in before everything gets busy at the brewery. She’s had a week of fun, and she’ll get all excited about spending the night with you. Sometimes, when she has too much stimuli, she has seizures. She takes medicine, but I’m careful about not overdoing it with her.”
“Seizures?” Miriam sounded wary. Why wouldn’t she?
“They’re not as bad as they used to be. We’ve gotten a better handle on them now.”
Her nervous fidgets started again. Maybe he’d frightened her away. He was so used to working with Adele, he took her issues for granted and forgot to mention them.
When they got back to her cottage, they carried a last beer outside to sit and look at the lake. A half-moon sent silver webs over the water. Stars twinkled overhead. The water lapped against the cement seawall. It was magical, soothing Joel’s soul. Miriam relaxed in the chair next to him. Finally, they wandered into the house and headed to the bedroom. Their lovemaking started slow and tender. He grazed her neck, her breasts, and abdomen with his lips, gently brushed them over her inner thighs while his fingers teased her nipples. Miriam moaned, raised her hips off the bed, and dug her fingers into his back, a little needy. He rolled her over and sprinkled kisses up and down her spine, playfully nipped her firm ass, and slid his fingers between her folds, stroking gently at first. When his fingers slid inside her, she came violently and tried to push his hand away. He rolled her onto her back and entered her. She gasped when he increased his rhythm and timed his finish with hers. Then he slathered her with kisses again, doing his best to make her feel loved. Finally, they spooned together and fell asleep.
Chapter 24
Miriam thought she’d hate being a passenger. She preferred being in charge, but Joel informed her that he’d invited her to his parents’ house, so he was driving. At first she braked instinctively when she thought he should have sooner. She pointed out when a car was coming faster than usual at an intersection. And then she let herself relax. Joel was a good driver. She was better, but he was safe enough. She sat back and enjoyed the scenery.
Occasionally, she’d glance at Joel. She liked his profile. He had a strong chin, a straight nose—not too wide. His mouth was generous and seemed to half-smile perpetually.
They had a long ride and she’d been curious, so she asked, “Would you tell me about your ex-wife? Or would you rather not talk about her?”
He shrugged. “Not much to tell. We met in high school. She was really pretty, with a fragile, sad air about her. She looked like she needed rescuing, and I thought I was the guy who could do it. My brother, Miles, fights demons, but April nurtures them, encourages them. She likes being needy. I didn’t get that for a long time. And then I knew I was doomed. April didn’t want to be saved. She wanted someone to support her, to take care of all her needs, so she wouldn’t have to change. We might still have made it, but April treated Adele like she was competition. She resented it when I spent time with our daughter. It finally got ridiculous and I walked.”
“What does April do now?”
“She lives with a guy on disability. They have enough to keep their heads above water, but when the shit hits the fan, she calls me for help.”
“And you still rush in to rescue her?”
“We have boundaries. She knows what they are and so do I.”
Miriam stared at him. He was such a generous man but not a pushover. He’d found a balance in his life.
When they got close to Fort Wayne, he said, “My parents live on the south side of the city. That makes it easier.” He turned off the interstate and drove to a small addition. They passed a pool, and he smiled. “Miles and I belonged to that when we were kids. Joined the swim team.”
“Were you good?”
“I was okay, won a few ribbons. Never went on to the Olympics.” He sounded fine with that.
“Where did you go to college?”
He gave her a look. “I didn’t. I got married right out of high school and seven months later April had Adele. She’d told me she was on birth control. She wasn’t. When the doctor explained about cerebral palsy, I knew my whole life had changed.”
“I’m so sorry.” Miriam reached out to put her hand on his thigh. “You were so young.”
“I grew up fast. I worked construction and made good money, enough to invest when strip malls went up for sale, and I read a lot, but some people with degrees still look down their noses at me.”
She didn’t know what to say. Finally, she tried, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like a snob.”
“I’ve never thought of you as one. You’ve never talked down to me.”
“But you think I looked down on T. J. because he wasn’t going to college, don’t you?”
He grinned. “Nope. I think your whole focus is Maya. You see potential in that girl and want her to achieve her dreams. You can be pretty ferocious when you’re trying to protect someone.”
That made her feel better. She pulled her hand back and relaxed again.
He turned a corner and more neat houses with well-kept yards lined the street. He reached a modest, ranch-style house with white stonework framing its front door and pulled into the driveway. “We’re here.”
The door flew open and his mother came to greet them. “Miriam, we’re so gla
d you decided to come with Joel. It’s nice to see you again.”
She led them inside and Adele grinned up at them from a big, dark-blue recliner that made her look small. “Dad, I had a wonderful time! Uncle Russell has so many cats, I couldn’t count them all. Some let me pet them and some ran away. I even got to pet a cow!”
“A cow?” Joel ruffled her blond hair. “Do you want to be a farmer now?”
Adele shook her head. “I like Mill Pond.”
Joel’s mom waved them toward the long, matching sofa. “Sit down. Relax. Want something to drink?”
His dad winked at Miriam. “We have beer.”
The wink made her feel at home. “I’m in.”
“Me too.” Joel inhaled the aromas coming from the kitchen. “Whatever you’re cooking, it smells good.”
His mom cocked her head. “You know what that is.”
“Brisket?”
She nodded. “One of your favorites.”
“I love you, Mom.” He blew her a kiss, then turned to Miriam. “We used to tease Mom that she must be Jewish, she made such good briskets.”
Why hadn’t he mentioned that earlier? She’d have had a better chance with a slab of meat than the cabbage rolls she’d tried to make and failed.
His mom went on. “The weather’s so nice, I thought we could eat on the back patio and have sort of a picnic. Does that sound okay? You must be getting hungry after your long drive.”
Joel stretched his legs in front of him. “We can talk for a few minutes to relax first. Do you need any help in the kitchen?”
His dad delivered their beers and sent Miriam a wicked grin. “We heard rumors to keep a certain lady away from a stove.”
Her jaw dropped. “Joel ratted me out?”
“We’re his parents. He tells us everything.”
She shot Joel a look and he shook his head.
“Not all.” And he looked absolutely naughty.
She threw back her head and laughed. They were giving her a rough time. Joel said that meant they liked her. “I’m not much of a cook. I can make microwave popcorn, though.”
