by Norah Wilson
The aprons had been Ember’s contribution. One adult sized and one child sized, with APRIL DAWN’S printed across the front.
April gave her the thumbs up.
“So, back in…?” Sidney let the question hang.
“Take your time.”
April watched the two of them head off, then glanced at the clock. It was 1:30. Two and a half more hours and she’d be done. She could use a nap. She’d sure give it a try when she got home.
Home?
Oh god, where the hell had that come from?
“Hey, sexy.”
She turned to find Scott standing there, smiling. Her heart lifted at the sight of him. “You’re early.”
“I was in the neighborhood.” His smile, the warmth and appreciation in his eyes, told her he was just as glad to see her as she was to see him. “Figured I’d come by and see if I could do anything to help.”
She smiled back. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
That was enough. For today, for this moment, it was more than enough.
Chapter 25
“SO, YOU’RE telling me you guys knew all along?” Scott sat with April on one side of the long bar table, a cold beer in his right hand, April’s hand tucked in his left. Yes, holding hands.
Initially, he’d wanted to keep his relationship with April completely on the down-low. Since it had such a limited life expectancy, he didn’t want to create any false expectations. But they’d been dating now for three weeks, and people were talking. It seemed easier to just concede the obvious, that they were seeing each other.
Telling his siblings had been no big deal, but telling Arden? That had been hard. Knowing his uncle would immediately start envisioning April as his future daughter-in-law, Scott had made it crystal clear that it was a just-for-now thing. Arden had nodded as Scott explained they both still intended to leave by the new year, April to her new job and Scott to his long-awaited project in Northern Alberta. His uncle hadn’t said a single disapproving word, but Scott could feel his disappointment.
He’d been sorely tempted to defend himself. Dammit, he’d been so determined to leave her alone! But she’d worn him down. Of course, Uncle Arden would not have appreciated his passing the buck. And he’d be right.
“Yup,” Titus said.
Everyone at the table looked at Titus.
“Oh, please.” Ocean rolled her eyes. “You were nearly as oblivious about Scott and April as you were about Faye and Arden.”
Faye and Arden. Jesus. Scott had just learned about their alleged romance earlier today. He huffed. “I can’t believe I was the last one to know about Uncle Arden.”
Titus turned amazed eyes on him. “You really thought he and Faye were playing Scrabble until midnight six days a week?”
Ocean laughed. “Um, you’d still be thinking that too, Titus, if we hadn’t walked in on that lip-lock on the couch two nights ago.”
Uncle Arden and Ocean’s mother making out on the couch? Scott shook his head to dislodge the image.
“Hey, if I remember correctly, April was the one who pointed it out to you,” Titus responded.
“True,” Ocean conceded. “She saw instantly what we were too close—or too preoccupied—to notice.”
“Seriously?” Scott looked at April with accusing eyes. “You knew all along and didn’t tell me until today when I asked why we were buying Arden and Faye a joint Christmas gift?”
April grimaced apologetically. “We agreed to let folks figure it out for themselves.”
“Don’t blame April,” Ember said. “It was my idea to see how long it would take you guys to twig to it.”
“Obviously, a damned long while.” Scott shook his head.
Titus grinned. “Don’t worry, bro. I won’t rub it in. Much. Just because I’m the more intuitive of the Standish brothers—”
Ocean snorted. “Don’t let him needle you, Scott. When we walked in on them kissing, Titus was convinced my mother was having a heart attack and Arden was resuscitating her. I had to clamp my hand over his mouth and shove him down the hall to stop him from shouting ‘I got this!’ and going to her rescue.”
They all laughed. Except Titus. “Hey, you weren’t supposed to tell them that part!”
“Sorry. I couldn’t resist,” Ocean said apologetically. Except her eyes twinkled more with mischief than regret.
“You’d better be sorry,” Titus said with mock sternness. “You just cost me bragging rights.”
She laughed again and Titus kissed her. Nothing to elicit whistles or hoots of get a room from the other patrons. Just a quick, sweet kiss. His brother was in love. Scott still had a bit of a hard time wrapping his mind around it. But it looked good on him. Softened some of his too-straight edges.
A waitress stopped at their table. “Can I get you anything else?”
“One more round?” Scott looked around the table and received ready agreement.
“Thanks, Candy. Another Coke for me.” Titus—the perpetual designated driver—tipped his glass toward her.
Ocean looked at Candy. “I’ll have what he’s having. Except put a belt of rum in mine.”
Titus and Jace guffawed. Beside Scott, April laughed so hard, he could feel her body shaking. Across the table, Ember literally spewed her beer.
Scott’s own face hurt from smiling.
These past weeks had been great. He’d taken April to the town’s little movie theater twice—he picked the movie one night and she picked it the next time. They’d dined at a fancy restaurant in Crandler, and a few nights later, for a real treat, he’d taken her to the Duchess Diner for fish and chips. She’d concurred they were the best on the planet. They’d gone for moonlit drives along old country roads. One night, snow had been falling as they drove and they hadn’t said a word. The comfortable silence had lasted more than an hour.
And they’d made love every chance they got, in Scott’s bed in the loft.
So very often but not nearly enough.
Tonight, they’d opted for the company of Scott’s siblings and their significant others. They’d actually gone for an early dinner, then Christmas shopping for Uncle Arden and Faye.
Jesus. Arden and Faye. He was still coming to grips with the idea of them as a couple.
For their gift, they’d collectively settled on a trip to Montreal to see a hockey game—the Toronto Maple Leafs at home to the Habs, courtesy of the Standish Siblings. Ocean was forking over for two nights’ stay at a hotel near the Bell Centre. Jace had kicked in with Ocean to upgrade the hotel. And April had insisted on buying the tickets to the game. She’d been adamant that they not be in the nosebleed seats, and had wound up paying a fair amount. More than she could afford. But no amount of persuading would sway her. “Arden’s been more than good to me,” she’d said. “And Sidney adores Faye, who busts her butt with the enrichment tutoring. It’ll be from the both of us.”
And now the evening was winding down at the Ruby Slipper Pub.
“Crap.” Ember wiped her mouth with a tissue, then dabbed at her shirt. “See what happens when you make me laugh? I got beer all over myself.”
Titus grunted. “Sounds like someone has had one too many.”
“Hey, don’t bust my chops over a couple of drinks,” Ember protested. “I’m on call so often, I rarely get to indulge anymore.”
April leaned forward. “How does that work?”
“The on call thing?”
“Yeah.”
“We share it. There are just three family docs in the immediate area, so eventually, I’ll be on call one in three nights. But right now, Dr. McCann over in Crandler is in Paris for a week, so I’m on call every other night.”
“That must be exhausting,” April said.
Ember shrugged. “Sometimes. Other times, I don’t get called at all.”
As Ember and April continued to talk about the demands of Ember’s practice, Titus leaned toward Scott.
“Guess my little talk about leaving her alo
ne fell on deaf ears, huh?”
“Oh, I was listening, all right. But April wasn’t.”
Titus raised an eyebrow. “And you were powerless to resist?”
“Dude, you have no idea.”
“You might be surprised.” The sternness in his brother’s face relaxed as his gaze went to Ocean. He turned his attention back to Scott. “I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Me too.”
“What are you two talking about?” April asked.
“Just, you know, stuff,” Titus said with his typical eloquence. “I was about to ask him how your business is doing, but now that Ember’s no longer bending your ear, maybe you can tell us yourself.”
Just then, Candy arrived with a tray of drinks, and Titus nodded to her. “We’ll settle up when you’re ready.”
“Perfect. Be back in a few.” Candy whirled off.
“So, how are things going at the market, April?” Titus prompted.
“Business is fantastic.” April reached for her second cooler of the night. Never a big drinker, Scott knew she’d be feeling it. He also knew that it wasn’t an alcohol buzz that put that smile on her face. She was high on her success. On this night. The fun of it. “We sold out of practically everything today,” she said. “Some things were gone by ten o’clock. I couldn’t believe it. Sidney and I ended up closing early.”
“Good job,” Titus said admiringly.
Scott lifted his beer. “Here’s to booming business.”
Glasses clinked around.
Ocean took a sip from her fresh drink. “Entrepreneurship suits you, April. I can see you’re enjoying it.”
“I am absolutely loving it. Harkness is such an awesome town. So many nice folks.”
Her face was practically incandescent with pleasure. Scott found her hand again and gave it a little squeeze. “Told you you’d fit right in at the market.”
“Well, I can’t believe you’ve charmed Mrs. Budaker,” Ocean said.
April frowned. “Why ever not? She’s a sweet old lady.”
“Ocean’s just jealous,” Titus said. “Mrs. B and I have this thing going. Have for quite some time now.”
The way Titus said it, with such straight-faced intensity, Scott could see it gave April pause. Then Ember burst out laughing.
Ocean punched Titus’s arm.
“Titus saved Mrs. Budaker’s Westie a while back,” Scott said for April’s benefit. “She’s still repaying him by delivering fresh-baked cookies every week.”
April’s confusion cleared. “Ah, those ginger snaps he’s always carrying around.”
“Exactly.”
“What a sweet thing to do,” April said.
“Sweet. Right,” Ocean huffed. “She’d kill me in my sleep if she had half a chance.”
Titus laughed.
So did Jace. “That’s a little dramatic, isn’t it?”
“Hey, I’m a writer. Drama is my stock in trade. But come on, have you seen how she glares at me? She’s been downright hostile since I hooked up with this guy.” She snuggled up against Titus.
Titus put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Well, this guy has you now. Mrs. Budaker’ll have a helluva time prying you out of my arms.”
Everyone fell silent for a few second. It was April who broke that silence.
“So, Ocean, tell me about your play.”
“It’s coming along like a house on fire.” Ocean extracted herself from beneath Titus’s arm to launch into an animated description of the scene she’d just finished writing—the moonshine-running Lovecraft sisters first brush with the law, an encounter that resulted in love at first sight for one of the sisters.
Since Scott’s grandmother had been one of the Lovecraft ladies, he knew the story well. Instead of listening attentively, he focused on being in the moment. As he sat there enjoying the company of his siblings and their significant others, with April’s small, strong hand folded in his on his thigh, he felt a sense of fullness in his chest. A strange contentment. Damn, it was almost enough to make a man want to stay.
Stay?
What the hell?
The warm feelings were instantly blasted away as the familiar, icy cold gripped his guts. The claustrophobia rising in his chest bordered on panic. He took a deep breath, held it a few seconds, and released it. Breathe it out. It’ll pass.
“It must be fun, writing about their adventures,” April said.
“Totally,” Ocean agreed.
By the time Ocean finished expounding on the exploits of the Lovecraft women, he’d conquered the claustrophobia. Jesus, he hated how out-of-control the sensation made him feel. A couple of episodes like that were usually enough to have him packing up and hitting the road. Even now, the urge to do just that niggled at him. Unfortunately, it was out of the question. He’d given his word that he’d stay until the new year. And hell, if he talked April into extending her stay to give her business a chance to really take root, he’d be stuck here even longer.
The thought made the ice stir in his gut again, but he clamped down on it. Titus deserved this respite, and April deserved this shot at making something for her and Sid.
“With all this talk of adventure,” Ember said, “I think it’s time for me and Jace to head out. I can think of no better adventure than what awaits me under the covers.”
Titus choked on his beer. “Jesus, Em!”
She batted her eyelashes innocently. “What?”
“I know you guys are engaged, but that’s definitely TMI, at least when your brothers are at the table.”
“Hey, get your mind out of the gutter, big brother.” She balled up a bar napkin and tossed it at him. “The adventures I’m looking forward to are all in my dreams. I’ve been on my feet since before sunup, and I’ve just downed two drinks. I’m ready to pass out for about eight hours.”
Everyone laughed, and Scott laughed along with them.
Jace took Ember’s hand. “Okay, Sleeping Beauty, let’s get your head on a pillow.”
“Amen to that.” Ember stood. Jace helped her into her coat.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving so soon!” Ocean said.
Ember looked at Jace. “You can stay if you want.”
“Not a chance you’re walking back to the apartment alone. Besides, I’ve got to be at the gym by six,” he said. “Coach and I are just about to open the doors for business and we want to go over a few things.”
“That’s a damned good thing you’re doing with the boxing club, man,” Titus said. “The kids in this region really need something like that, and the schools just aren’t resourced to do much anymore.”
Jace shrugged. “Just trying to give them some focus, some discipline.”
“Definitely needed,” Scott agreed. “But it seems like the gym is just the beginning of your plans since you split away from your brother.” He met Jace’s eyes. “If we ever had doubts about you, you sure as hell erased them with your actions. Leaving WRP Holdings took a lot of guts, but you’re not just standing up to Terry. You’re taking the fight to him.”
“Thanks.” Jace smiled wryly. “And fight is the right word.”
“You two still battling it out?” Titus said.
Ember snorted. “This is Terry we’re talking about, so yeah. The battle won’t be over anytime soon. Nor should it be after what he did to us. He’s such a dick.”
“That’s too bad,” April said, her voice wistful. Scott knew she was thinking of her own family.
“It is,” Jace agreed. “But that’s the cold, hard truth of it.” He pulled his coat from the bench and shrugged into it. “Families don’t always get along.”
Ember hauled him close by the lapels of his coat and kissed him quickly. “Well, this family does.” It was the way she said it, the way they locked eyes a few seconds longer than necessary, the almost conspiratorial smile…
Something was going on.
Jace reached in his coat pocket for his gloves. A white business card came out with
them. “Oh, damn. April I meant to give this to you.” He handed the card to her.
Scott felt his whole body tighten without even knowing why. “Who’s it from?”
April read the card. “Someone named Stone Thibault.” She passed it to him so he could inspect it.
The front of the card bore just the name and a phone number. No address, place of business, or anything, just a phone number with a 617 area code. The words Please call me were scrawled on the back. He gave the card back to April.
“Is this guy a friend of yours?” April asked Jace.
He shook his head. “Never meet him before today. He came into the office—I just happened to be there—and asked me to give this card to you.”
“Are you sure he said me?” She turned the card over and over as though she might glean something more from it. “Oh, wait.” She looked up at Jace again. “He probably intended it for Mrs. Budaker. We both sell sweets, we’re both more or less at the south entrance…”
“No, it’s definitely for you,” Jace said. “He asked me to give it to Ms. April Dawn Morgan.”
April’s eyebrows lifted. “I wonder what it’s about.”
So did Scott. He wondered, too, why the hairs on his arm would not freakin’ lie down.
Just then the waitress, wearing a smile that was getting a bit weary around the edges, came over with the bill. “And the winner is…?”
Jace, who was already on his feet, reached for his wallet. So did Scott and Titus.
“Ignore them, Candy,” Ember instructed. “I’ve got this.” She pulled a couple of bills out of her bag and dropped them on Candy’s tray. “No change required.”
Candy’s eyes widened. “Thanks, Doctor Standish!” Tucking the bills into her waiter’s wallet, she was off.
With the echo of Candy’s words hanging in the air, the siblings looked at each other. Doctor Standish.
“Okay, I’ll cop to it,” Ember said. “I’ve been waiting a long time for that to happen. I mean, to hear it from a regular person who’s not a patient.”
Titus cleared his throat. “Better get used to it, Dr. Standish. You earned it.”
Scott had to swallow too. “Proud of you, Kid.”
