by Marie Force
“Oh. Okay. That’s doable. What else?”
“We might have to look at the pricing.”
“What about it?”
“At the moment, the diner is operating in the red because the cost of the food is higher than what Nina is charging.”
“So you want to raise the prices.”
“Possibly.”
“Do you know how many people eat here every day because they can’t afford to eat anywhere else?” Before he could reply, she continued. “Do you know how many of them come here because they have no one to talk to at home and can find a family of sorts here while they eat meals they couldn’t otherwise afford? It’s not all about money here. It never has been, and if that’s what you’re about, you might want to save your grandfather’s money and yourself the trouble of buying the place. We’d be better off to let it close down than to try to turn it into something fancy and refined. There’s more to the story here than what you’ll find in the numbers.” He stared at her, and she had no idea what he was thinking. “I need to get back to work. Hannah, Nolan, nice to see you.”
Embarrassed by her outburst, but not at all embarrassed by what she’d said, Megan slipped out of his embrace, got up and walked away.
“I like her,” Hannah said with a dreamy sigh. “I like her so much.”
“So do I.” Still reeling from Megan’s passionate speech, Hunter never would’ve guessed her true feelings about the diner and its clientele until she’d so thoroughly schooled him.
Hannah leaned across the table. “Now tell us everything, and leave nothing out.”
“I’m not doing that, Han.”
“Come on! You’ve gotta give me something. Who was more up in our business when we first started dating than you were?”
“That was different,” Hunter said. “You’d been through so much after losing Caleb. I was just being … protective.”
“Do you think I feel any less protective toward you? Just because you haven’t lost a spouse doesn’t mean I wouldn’t claw the eyes out of any woman who dared to hurt you.”
“She’s not going to hurt me. She’s amazing. It’s everything I always hoped it would be and a few things I never dared to imagine.”
Hannah’s mouth fell open and her eyes bugged. “Oh. My. God. You’re in love with her.”
“I have been for years.” Admitting that to himself at the same time he admitted it to Hannah was amazingly freeing. Of course he was in love with her. How could he not be?
“Dude, I know the feeling,” Nolan said. With a smile for his wife, he added, “Nothing better than finally having everything you’ve ever wanted.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m quite there yet, but I’m closer than I was a week ago.”
Hannah blinked, and Hunter realized she was trying not to cry. “Hannah …”
“Don’t mind her,” Nolan said. “She cries over insurance commercials these days.”
“That commercial was sad!” Hannah wiped away tears that cascaded down her cheeks. “And how is it wrong for me to feel weepy about seeing my favorite person in the whole wide world so happy?”
“Gee, thanks,” Nolan muttered under his breath.
“It’s a twin thing,” Hannah told her husband. “You wouldn’t understand.” When she reached across the table, Hunter gave her his hand. “I’m going to be honest with you for a minute here.”
“And this is new how?”
“Shut up and listen to me, will you please?”
“I’m listening.” Despite her meddling and the current histrionics, she was his favorite person in the whole world, too, and she knew it.
“For a long time, I didn’t like her very much.”
“Hannah—”
“Hear me out. I didn’t like her because she could be edgy and bitchy at times. We’ve all seen that. That said, I also didn’t know her very well. Sure, I see her all the time when I come in here, but I didn’t know her.”
“And now you do?”
“I know her better than I used to. I’ve had a few really fun conversations with her lately, and I’ve decided she uses the bitchy edgy thing as a defense mechanism.”
Hunter had already figured that out for himself, but far be it from him to stop Hannah when she was on a roll. He sat back to listen to what else she had to say.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that she’s actually very sweet and often funny, too.”
“Anything else?”
Her eyes flooded with tears again. “I think … it’s possible … she might be good enough for you.”
Hunter laughed.
“Don’t laugh. I’m being serious!”
“I know you are, and I appreciate your endorsement. I’m sure Megan will, too.”
“I want you to be happy, Hunter. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
“I’m happy, Han, so you can stand down.”
“Call me crazy,” Nolan said, “but Megan seemed sort of pissed just now.”
“I’ll fix it with her.” After what they’d shared over the past few days, Hunter felt fairly confident they could withstand an occasional bump and get past it. “We’re good, and I need to get back to work.”
“So do I,” Nolan said. To Hannah, he said, “Want me to take you home?”
“I do not,” Hannah said indignantly. “I’m perfectly capable of driving myself. Cameron is coming over to go over the final plans for the grand opening of Guthrie House, so I’ve got a full day ahead of me.”
“One that includes a nap, right?”
“I’ll have no choice about that.”
Nolan smiled and kissed her as if Hunter weren’t sitting three feet from them watching the whole thing.
Hunter dropped a ten-dollar bill on the table. “And that’s my cue to get the hell out of here.”
“We’re right behind you.”
Megan was nowhere to be seen as Hunter left the diner, but he knew he’d see her later when they’d have the opportunity to work out their differences about the pricing. It went against everything he believed in as an accountant and a businessman to allow a business to be intentionally unprofitable. Surely there were some concessions they could make that would allow the diner to continue to assist those in need while also making a profit. He refused to believe it wasn’t possible to have it both ways.
CHAPTER 20
Hunter emerged from the diner with Hannah and Nolan to find a crowd outside the store. In the middle of the crowd was Fred the moose.
“What’s he up to now?” Nolan asked.
“I don’t know, but I want to see,” Hannah said.
Nolan took hold of her arm. “None of that moose-whisperer business. You hear me? You’re pregnant, and if he ever knocked you down …”
Hannah waved off his concern. “Oh stop. He’s a pussycat.”
“She’ll be the death of me,” Nolan said to Hunter as Hannah marched ahead of them across Elm Street toward the moose.
“Don’t let her be. She needs you to live for a good long time. We all do.”
“I was joking.”
“I wasn’t.” Hunter tried very hard to never think about the awful days, weeks and months that followed Caleb’s death in Iraq. He had spent many a night holding his sister while she sobbed, sleeping next to her because he was afraid she might harm herself to escape the pain, all the while keeping a tight grip on his own grief so he could be there for her.
It had taken a full year for Hunter to feel confident enough in Hannah’s stability to let her spend a night alone in the big house she’d inherited from Caleb. That first night, alone in his house in the dark of night, he’d finally shed his own tears for the brother-in-law he’d loved.
Now, following Hannah and her new husband across the street to the store, Hunter was deeply, profoundly grateful to see her happy again with Nolan, expecting her first child and glowing with the kind of joy that had been so much a part of who she’d been before Caleb’s death snuffed the light from her eyes.
Nolan’s lo
ve had reignited that light, and no one was happier to see it again than Hunter.
“Oh for crying out loud, Fred.” Hannah marched through the crowd on the sidewalk to the front porch of the store, where Fred had Cameron trapped against the rail. His two front hooves were on the lowest step and his massive body was between her and the sidewalk.
“Hannah!” Nolan said sharply.
His wife proceeded as if he hadn’t said anything.
“Oh jeez,” Hunter muttered. He didn’t often take sides against his twin, but he was firmly on Team Nolan in this case. “Hannah!”
“Fred,” Hannah said. “Come down from there and leave Cameron alone. Right now.”
Fred let out an obnoxiously loud moo that made more than a few of the townspeople startle. Cameron’s usually robust complexion was now stark white as she stared down the moose she’d hit with her car on the way into town the night she arrived from New York City. Since then, Fred had taken an unusual amount of interest in poor Cam, who would always be known in Butler as “the girl who hit Fred.”
“Fred.” Hannah stood off to the side of the giant moose, looking small and vulnerable. Behind her, Nolan was prepared to do battle to protect his wife, even if that meant getting between her and the moose, who responded to the sound of her voice with a gentle moo and a nuzzle for her outstretched hand. “That’s a good boy. Go see Colton up on the mountain. He always has treats for you. And leave Cameron alone. I like her.”
Seeming chastened by Hannah’s scolding, Fred backed away from the porch. The crowd parted to let him through.
Hunter noticed Cameron wavering on the porch and took the stairs two at a time to get to her before she fell over. “It’s okay.” He put his arms around her. “Fred’s moved on.”
“Only thanks to Hannah the moose whisperer.” Cameron leaned into him. “Why is he so interested in me? He’s looking for revenge, right?”
“Nah.” Hunter gave her a quick hug, hoping to calm her. “He’s a passive kind of guy.”
“Right.” Her hands were shaking as she pushed hair back from her face. “Passive.”
Will came pushing through the crowd and rushed up the stairs.
Hunter stepped aside to give his brother room.
“What happened?” Intensely focused on his girlfriend, Will took a visual inventory to make sure she was okay.
“Fred happened. Again. I was coming out the door, and it was like he was waiting for me or something. He sort of pinned me against the rail so I couldn’t leave, and I was too scared to turn my back on him to go inside.”
“He’s getting more audacious all the time,” Will said.
“He wasn’t at all threatening,” Hannah said.
“Easy for you to say!” Cameron replied. “He doesn’t have a bone to pick with you.”
Will put his arms around Cameron. “Come here, baby.”
The crowd around them began to disperse, leaving only Hunter, Hannah and Nolan to witness the tender moment between Will and Cameron.
Will drew back from her, kissing her forehead. “Sorry he scared you.”
“It’s okay. I’m starting to get used to him. Kinda.”
“Were you on your way to my house?” Hannah asked.
Cameron nodded. “Not sure if I can drive though. My hands are shaking like crazy.”
“I’ll drive you,” Hannah said. “Will can pick you up later, right?”
“Sure,” Will said. “Just give me a call when you’re ready.”
“Okay.” Cameron released a shaky deep breath. “I’ll do that. Sorry for the drama, everyone.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Hannah said. “Fred can be an intimidating character when he wants to be, but he would never, ever hurt you. You know that, right?”
“I think so.”
“He doesn’t believe in revenge,” Hunter added.
“How do you know that? He seems rather bent on revenge where I’m concerned.”
“Underneath his intimidating exterior, Fred’s a pacifist,” Hunter said. “He’s a make-love-not-war kind of guy.”
“And you know this how?” Cameron asked with a healthy dose of skepticism.
“My twin is a moose whisperer,” Hunter said. “I’m on the same frequency.”
That made them all laugh, as he’d hoped it would, and Cameron seemed noticeably less rattled after a good laugh. “I’m fine,” she assured Will. “Go on back to work, and I’ll call you when I’m done at Hannah’s.”
Will kissed her, lingering as he whispered something that made her eyes light up with pleasure.
Hunter looked away, giving his brother some privacy and tuning into the talking-to Hannah was getting from her husband, who was not at all pleased with her for confronting Fred.
“One wrong move, and you’re on your ass with a two-ton moose stepping on you—and the baby.”
“He’d never hurt me.” The dismissive wave of her hand further infuriated Nolan. “He’s my friend.”
“He is not your friend. I am your friend. Cameron is your friend. Fred is a wild animal.”
“You’re not going to be my friend much longer if you keep yelling at me.”
“I’m not yelling!”
“Hunter, is he yelling?”
“He’s speaking loudly.”
“See?” Hannah said. “Hunter agrees with me.”
“You’re impossible,” Nolan said. “I’m going back to work. Go home and stay away from that moose, do you hear me?”
Hannah gave him a warm, loving smile. “Yes, dear.”
“She’s pacifying me, isn’t she?” Nolan asked Hunter.
“I would say that’s an accurate assessment.”
“You’re no help to me whatsoever, by the way. Some best man you turned out to be.”
“Hey! I gave an awesome toast. Everyone said so.”
“For all the good that does me now. You’re always going to take her side, aren’t you?”
“I’m afraid so. That’s just how we roll.”
Hannah giggled and gave Hunter a kiss on the cheek. “Love you best of all,” she said loud enough for Nolan to hear.
“Anyone know a good lawyer?” Nolan asked as he walked away, shaking his head as he crossed the street to the garage.
“That wasn’t nice, Han.”
“Oh please. He’s always blustering at me about being careful and staying away from anything remotely dangerous. If he had his way, I’d be swaddled in bubble wrap until the baby comes.”
“I might be on his side on that one.”
“No way. You can’t change sides. Doesn’t work like that.” She curled her hand around his arm. “You’re mine.” Hannah cleared her throat loudly. “Hey, public-display-of-affection-that’s-driving-away-the-customers, are you ready to go?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Cameron patted Will on the chest as she left him with one last kiss. “See you later.”
“Yes, you will.”
After the two women walked away, arm in arm, chatting like old friends, Will came down the stairs to join Hunter. “I think I’m going to have a talk with Dude about Fred.” Gertrude “Dude” Danforth, known in town as Snow White, was widely believed to be responsible for the relative taming of Fred the moose. “He really scared her this time. I don’t like that.”
“What do you suppose Dude can do about it?”
“How the hell do I know? But someone’s got to do something. He can’t keep confronting Cameron the way he has been since the night she got here.”
“He does have good reason to keep an eye on her,” Hunter reminded Will.
“What good reason does he have? He was standing in the middle of the road where he didn’t belong when she hit him in the dark. How is that her fault?”
“Have you tried telling him that?”
“Now you’re just mocking me.”
“Do ya think?”
“If you want to play that way, tell me how your first date with Megan turned into an all-nighter.”
“That’s all right. I’m
good. In fact, I need to get to work. Talk to you later?”
“Yeah, yeah. You’ll talk to me later all right.”
Hunter went up the stairs and into the store before Will could dig in on his quest for information about Megan. Let him wonder.
CHAPTER 21
For a long time after Hunter walked—or ran—away, Will stood on the front porch of the store, thinking about Fred and Cameron and the phone call he needed to make. Now was a good time to get that taken care of. Cam was out of the office for the next few hours and wouldn’t be back until she called him to come get her.
So why were his feet all but cemented to the front porch when he should’ve been upstairs in his office with the door closed taking care of something he’d been putting off for days now?
Because he was a yellow-bellied coward. That’s why. Patrick Murphy had already given Will his blessing. Months ago, in fact, back when Will first met him and professed his intentions to marry Cameron, eventually. That was before she moved to Vermont to live with him. It was before he knew the complete and utter bliss of everyday life with her. It was before he knew what it was like to wake up with her each morning and go to bed with her every night. After a few months of the kind of happiness he’d never dared to dream about, he was ready to make a lifetime commitment to her.
Because she was Patrick’s only child and beloved daughter, he owed him the courtesy of a heads-up that a proposal was imminent. Didn’t he? Yes, of course he did. So why did the idea of calling Cameron’s father intimidate the living hell out of Will? And we’re right back to that yellow-bellied-coward thing again, he thought, as he took a seat in one of the rockers on the porch.
The gorgeous fall day had people out and about in town, tourists venturing into the store and Elm Street jammed with cars. Autumn in Vermont was second only to ski season in terms of activity. People came from all over to see the foliage that would peak later in the month and into early October. They were far enough north that the color exploded earlier here, and from now until mid-October, the store and the town would be busy.
Thinking about leaves and seasons and tourists was just another way of putting off the dreaded phone call. He was still sitting there ten minutes later when George and Ringo came up the stairs ahead of his dad, who stopped at the sight of Will in one of the rockers.
