Circle on Home (Lost in a Boom Town Book 5)

by MJ Fredrick

  And what was going to happen in this house? It was his house now, but it was his father’s, too. Which one of them would go?

  Chapter Two

  Miranda stood on her mother’s front porch and forced her shoulders to relax. She should have told her mother she was returning to Evansville. She hadn't told her mother that she’d left Damian. Hadn't told her mother she had left her job. Hadn't told her mother that she wanted to come back to Texas, where life was simple, where there were no expectations. So maybe coming back to her mother’s house wasn't the best idea. She’d thought about taking a room at the hotel on the highway, but she knew her mother would be hurt more by that than by the news that she’d left her jet-setting life behind.

  She lifted her hand and knocked on the door.

  Her sister Allison answered, her bouncy ponytail swinging, dressed in jeans and a fitted t-shirt, looking like she was on her way out. Her eyes widened to see Miranda on the porch.

  “Hey! What…did we forget to pick you up?” Allison looked over Miranda's shoulder, then over her own.

  “No, I, ah, I picked up a car in San Antonio.”

  “You picked up a car?” She stretched on her toes to look out on the street. “How long are you staying?”

  She really didn't want to have this conversation more than once, and she didn't want to have it on the porch. “Is Mom here?”

  “Sure, she’s in the back, but we’re having our Christmas festival meeting. What’s wrong?”

  She wished she was close enough to her sister to confide in her, but the truth was, they’d always been more competitive than confidential. She’d never really minded until now. She could sure use someone who wasn't looking for her downfall to talk to.

  She took a step forward and wondered for a moment if Allison would let her in. “Should I come back?” Miranda asked, only half-sarcastically.

  “No, come in,” Allison replied, only half-enthusiastically. “She’ll be thrilled to see you.”

  She followed her sister into the house that smelled like cinnamon although the temperature outside was still in the 80s. Her mother loved to decorate for fall—or what passed for fall in Texas. The walls were adorned with leafy garlands and wooden pumpkins, more pumpkins and sheafs of wheat stood on the banquet and the end tables. Miranda had just left a true fall in New York—her mother would have loved it, except for the temperature. She was a Texan through and through—temperatures in the 40s were not for her.

  She rounded the corner into the sunroom her father had built for her mother, where the ladies of the committee gathered. A squeal echoed off the glass windows that lined the room, and her mother launched herself off the couch and flung her arms around Miranda, sending her back a few steps.

  “What a surprise! What are you doing here? Oh, my goodness, I wish you’d let me know you were coming. I would have made a good dinner instead of leftovers from last night. Oh, I’m so happy to see you!” She turned away, presenting Miranda to the women in the committee, all of whom knew her. She gave a small wave to Sage McKenna—no, Tscheulin now, Victoria Kenilworth—she couldn't remember her married name, Evelyn Dawson and her daughter Maggie.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt.”

  “No! No, not at all. We’re just going over some last minute details, but we’re about done.”

  The other women took her not-so-subtle hint and started gathering their belongings. Miranda got a few cheek kisses as the women filed out, and a hand-squeeze from Maggie as she asked if they could have lunch. She liked Maggie, who was a couple of years younger, Allison’s age, but Maggie and she had become close when their mothers were on so many committees together. She wasn't ready to make social plans just yet, so she only smiled at the younger woman.

  “So what’s going on? To what do we owe this visit?” her mother asked, sitting on the edge of the carpet, once the committee was gone and just the three of them remained in the room that suddenly felt empty.

  “Ah. Well. Damian and I ended things.”

  Her mother reared back, her mouth a perfect O. “No. That’s not possible. You are perfect for each other. He treats you so well, takes you so many places.”

  God, she didn't want to go into this. She knew her mother would take up for Damian, because she thought he walked on water. Miranda supposed to the outside world, he did, but when they were alone, well, she wasn't very happy. He was jealous and controlling and she didn't want to be in a relationship like that. She needed her independence. And she needed a man who would trust her.

  “We decided it was best for both of us to end it.”

  She’d decided. She had. And it had taken every ounce of nerve she possessed to confront him, to tell him she wasn't happy, hadn't been since she’d returned home from Evansville last summer. It hadn't gone as well as she had hoped, and he had accused her of being unappreciative of all the experiences he'd given her. She’d dealt with his condescension when they were together, his jealousy after parties and after business meetings, but she’d never seen the full-fledged anger he’d demonstrated when she ended their relationship. She’d wanted to cower from his temper, but didn't allow herself. She was a strong woman. She’d gone to college away from home, and had traveled the world, lived in the most exciting city in the world. Damian had swept a small-town girl off her feet, so cosmopolitan and suave and handsome. And at the end of it, she’d wanted nothing more than to get back home to her small-town roots.

  But she couldn't say that to her family.

  “Oh, surely the two of you can work things out.” Her mother patted her leg and rose. “But in the meantime, let me make up a nice dinner, and we’ll enjoy your visit.”

  Miranda met her sister’s eyes before Allison turned away, and she saw that her sister was reading between the lines just fine.

  Great. The last person she wanted to figure it out was her baby sister.

  *****

  After dinner, her mother wasn’t happy to sit home and let Miranda relax. Oh, no. She wanted to go out and show everyone that her baby was home. Miranda’s mind was nowhere near wanting to socialize with people. But she also didn't have the wherewithal to stand up to her mother, so she went along to the Sagebrush Saloon. The three of them stopped short when they didn't see any cars parked in front of the former movie theater, and when Allison stepped up to check, the doors were locked.

  “I wonder what’s going on?” her mother mused. “I didn’t think they had a day off.”

  Miranda glanced around the town. She hadn't been home since summer, and a lot had changed. Next to the little boutique on the corner, someone was putting in what looked like a restaurant, and the bakery on the opposite corner, though closed, had their windows decorated for fall. In fact, the whole town was decorated—hay bales and piles of pumpkins and stacks of dried corn stalks on the courtyard lawn, at each corner of the square. From the streetlights hung flags depicting various fall scenes. Miranda had a small pang in her chest. She wished she’d been back in time for Halloween, and the festivities then.

  When she’d been younger, she’d hated all the corny activities in her small town, especially the ones her mother had a part in. Now, she wanted to be a part of all of them.

  But not starting tonight.

  “Hm,” her mother said, considering their options. “We could go over to the inn and have a drink at their bar, or we could go to the Coyote Moon.”

  “Let’s go to the Coyote Moon,” Miranda said, knowing if she didn't speak up, she’d be dragged all over town. “At least we know it’s open.” She motioned to the couple exiting through the glass doors.

  “Maybe they know what’s going on with the Sagebrush,” her mother said, heading across the street and trusting her daughters to follow.

  Allison made a sound that might have been dismay but followed, and Miranda followed her.

  Now, the Coyote hadn't changed, a rustic restaurant on one side, a rustic bar on the other, with two pool tables that were currently unoccupied. Miranda used to come in with her friends
to play until the owner chased them out for being underage. Mostly they’d liked coming in to look at the cowboys from the surrounding ranches who congregated to have a drink and shoot some pool.

  No cowboys today, but plenty of business on the restaurant side. The three of them headed for the bar side, and took a spot on the stools in front of Jason, the bartender. Miranda wasn't sure if she imagined the look that passed between him and her sister. She must have, because Allison had loftier taste than a guy who’d been a bartender for years.

  Of course, why her sister stayed in Evansville, well, Miranda wasn't sure about that.

  “Do you know what’s going on with the Sagebrush?” her mother asked Jason. “Why it’s closed tonight?”

  “Someone said something about a family emergency,” Jason said. “That’s all I know.”

  “Oh, dear, I hope nothing too serious.” Her mother looked around, probably looking for one of her friends to verify Jason’s statement, or maybe expand on it.

  “What can I get you ladies? My margaritas are better than theirs, anyway.”

  Her mother and sister ordered margaritas, but Miranda wanted something more down-to-business. she thought her mother would probably freak out if she ordered whiskey straight, so she ordered a whiskey sour. Jason and Allison exchanged a glance and lingered just long enough to affirm Miranda’s suspicion that something was going on between them, and Jason turned away to get the drinks.

  Miranda let her gaze cruise the room. She was back in town often enough that she recognized people, and most people didn't change, anyway. She landed on a small woman with a round face, her dark hair tied back, who was clearing a table diligently, stacking the dishes in a gray tub that she’d set on the chair, and wiping the tabletop with a rag, not just once, but twice.

  When she looked up and smiled at the waitress, Miranda knew.

  Noah’s sister Selena.

  Her first instinct was to go say hello, but didn't know if Selena would remember her from their encounter last summer, or if Noah would appreciate her approaching his sister.

  She was glad, though, that he’d let go of his sister enough to let her work in town. Of course, in Evansville, people would look out for her.

  She would not say it out loud, but seeing Noah the last time she’d been in town had given her the courage to look at her life and think about what she wanted. She knew she was looking back through the lens of time, but Noah had been a good, steady guy in high school, despite his crazy home life, which he’d hidden from her most of the time they were together. He was a good, steady guy now, from all accounts, and he’d made a success of his life, of his business.

  She wondered what her life would be like now if she’d stayed in town, stayed with him.

  But she knew herself well enough to know that she wouldn't have been happy. She would always have wondered what life was like outside of Evansville. She’d needed the experiences she had with Damian, her trips around the world and her job in New York City. She squared her shoulders as Jason set the drink in front of her. She was going to need this in order to tell her mother that she was moving back to Evansville for good, but she wouldn't be staying at home. She’d already done some research and found a couple of possibilities for places to stay. Her mother wouldn't like it, but Miranda knew she wouldn't be able to live at home with her mother and sister.

  She wondered who she could ask about Noah, if he was still single. Certainly not her mother, who hadn't been a fan of Noah even when they were in high school. No, she’d been over the moon when Miranda landed Damian, who ticked all the right boxes in her mother’s mind. From a wealthy family—check. Ambitious—check. Romantic—check. Well-traveled—check.

  But those boxes didn't make for the most equal of relationships.

  And what would she do if Noah wasn't single? Would she go back to New York and start up with Damian again? No. She was going to make a life here. Evansville was bound to need a lawyer, right?

  “So tell us what you’ve been up to in New York,” her mother urged, taking a drink of her frosty margarita. “Have you been to any of the new shows? Did you see Hugh Jackman when he was on Broadway?”

  She shook her head, hating to disappoint her mother. “We don't really have a lot of time to go out lately. Damian is always working.”

  She turned away from Selena and all the thoughts that seeing the young woman brought back. She smiled brightly at her sister.

  "What's new with you?"

  Allison regarded her suspiciously. They had never been close, and Miranda regretted it. There had always been too much competition between them, and Miranda had always won. She was certain Allison was dancing with glee, knowing that Miranda's charmed life had fallen apart. Of course, she didn't know the full extent.

  "Just keeping busy with the festival plans."

  Allison had gone to UT like Miranda, had been in the same sorority, graduated with a degree in business, but had come home to Evansville. She was content to live at home and wait for someone to marry her. She was very good at the planning of the different activities in the town, but Miranda wondered if she didn't get bored. Miranda would lose her mind without a career.

  "There's got to be something you do in your free time." Miranda resisted the urge to look at Jason, who made a noise.

  "I like to hear the music at the Sagebrush," Allison said. "Sage has been getting some good acts in, thanks to Flynn and his connections. A group of us are going on Friday, if you want to come along.”

  Miranda wondered who the group included. She didn't think her sister and Jason had a public relationship, not the way they were acting right now, anyway.

  Her mother was frowning at Miranda. "How long are you planning to stay?"

  She glanced toward Jason but he wasn't paying attention. She really didn't want to talk about this here. “A while," she said, aware her mother wouldn't be satisfied with the vagueness of her response.

  And then all the air was sucked out of the room when Noah walked through the front door. He didn't see her, looking for Selena, who greeted him with a loud cry of delight and hurried over to hug him.

  The look on Noah's face, the adoration and protectiveness as he bent his dark head to his sister's made everything in her melt. She had always loved the way he loved his sister, would have done anything for her. She was little when Miranda left town, eight or nine, but Noah had always looked out for her. Most teenaged boys would be annoyed or embarrassed to have a little sister with disabilities, but he had always been her champion. He'd had to be, she'd come to understand.

  What she found amusing was that Selena greeted him as if she hadn’t seen him in days instead of what was probably just hours. She released him and was already chattering away when he looked across the room and saw Miranda.

  He must have felt the warmth of her gaze on him, but the reaction on his face was anything but warm. He merely inclined his head in her direction, but his demeanor held no friendliness when he turned to his sister to usher her from the restaurant.

  If she thought her mother and sister had missed that, she sorely underestimated them both.

  Her mother shook her head sadly. "Don't, Miranda. His life is a mess right now and the last thing he needs is you to pin your hopes on him."

  "His life is a mess?" she echoed. When she'd seen him in July, he'd been doing so well.

  "His father just got out of prison last week, I think, or the week before. He's living back at the house with them, and Ben's lost his job, so the whole family is in that house that's about to fall down around their ears." Her mother shook her head. "I can't imagine what he was thinking, letting his father come back into that house after he killed their mother.”

  Miranda couldn't understand that, either. She and Noah had been together that horrible night, had raced to the hospital, and then to his house to young Ben and Selena. She’d watched Noah tell his brother and sister their mother was dead, had stayed with him while he crumbled after he put his heartbroken siblings to bed.

&n
bsp; And she’d wanted nothing but to run away, to distance herself from the pain the family was going through.

  Now she hated herself for protecting herself and leaving him to deal with all of it on his own.

  She wondered how her mother knew so much about Noah. She knew her mother liked gossip, and of course she would know about Rey coming home, but to know about Ben and the house falling down….did her mother keep track of Noah because he’d been important to Miranda?

  “He’s the last thing you need, Miranda,” Allison said. “You’ll be so much happier with Damian.”

  Away from here, Miranda heard. But she wasn't going back.

  *****

  Noah gripped the wheel of his truck tighter than normal and focused his gaze on the road. Damn, he had to get his act together. The last thing he’d thought he’d see when he walked into the Coyote was Miranda, having a drink with her mother and her sister.

  Why was his past jumping out at him every chance it got?

  And she’d looked amazing, her ash blonde curls tumbling around her shoulders, looking as if she’d just stepped out of the office in a crisp white blouse, a short skirt, heels.

  Yes, he’d looked long enough to take in every detail. But damn, worrying about bumping into her around town was just another stress he didn't need. Of course, if he was working, running into her was unlikely. Her family didn't have animals. Yeah, avoiding her would be pretty easy.

  Selena sat beside him chattering about her day, oblivious to the thoughts running through his head, the resentment of all of this coming to a head at once. Maybe, maybe if his father hadn't come back, he might have approached her, seen how she was doing.

  But right now he was just overwhelmed with his past flooding back. The last time he’d been with Miranda, his father had been on trial. He’d known it would be too much for her to stand by his side, but when she hadn't been able to handle the stress, well, that had hurt more than he expected, on top of a pain he never wanted to experience again. He hadn't thought he could hurt any more.