Chapter Six
MADISON
I was waiting at the counter for a coffee to go before I left. Janet, who’d introduced herself when I came in, was peering through the waist-high door into the kitchen behind her and replying to something an employee said.
I took a moment to glance around. The café was cute and inviting.
The tall, square brick building had an open, airy space for dining in what apparently used to be the town’s fire station.
Beyond the counter, the kitchen was visible with scents of baked goods and coffee pervading the entire café.
The old fire pole was painted with bright pink flowers, adding a touch of whimsy.
The windows let plenty of light in and offered a view of the cute downtown shopping area.
Janet turned back and began getting my coffee ready. “I hope it didn’t freak you out to have Graham check on the place last night.”
Before I could respond, she added, “Graham’s a good guy, if a little, well, prickly.”
“That’s one way to put it,” I replied. “I thought he was going to arrest me.”
Janet chuckled. “Graham would not have arrested you. Rex Masters—he’s the police chief—had left me a message, but I didn’t even notice because I was busy.
By the time I called Rex back to confirm you were Harold’s granddaughter and had inherited the property, he had already asked Graham to stop by because he lives next door.
At least you know we look after each other around here. Are you planning to stay?”
Janet was curious and didn’t even try to hide it. She was also really nice, and I could use a few more nice people in my life. “For the time being, I plan to stay. I can work online, so I’m hoping I can find some opportunities here. Maybe in Anchorage.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m an actuary.”
Janet gave me a long look. “Wow, that sounds terrifically difficult and maybe boring.”
I laughed. “To some people. I love numbers. They relax me. I know it’s weird, but it is what it is.”
Janet chuckled. Her eyes twinkled with her smile. I’d liked her instantly. She was warm and funny and welcoming. She gave off a motherly vibe, and I sensed she was protective of those she cared about.
While I felt instantly comfortable with her, I internally shook my head at myself. I was so filled with doubts about myself. This past year of my life had left me feeling exposed and stripped bare, as if the facade of a house had been torn off to reveal it was nothing more than a stage prop.
“Graham can be grumpy,” Janet offered, “but he’s got a heart of gold.”
She counted out my change and handed it over with my coffee to go. “He’s got his hands full with Allie. She’s a little firecracker, that girl.”
“How old is she?”
Janet drummed her fingertips on the edge of the counter. “Fourteen. Graham’s been a single father since only a month after she was born.”
“Really?”
Janet nodded, brushing her braid off her shoulder.
“Allie’s mother was his high school girlfriend.
She was a looker. There’s no doubt they didn’t plan for her to get pregnant.
She never wanted to be a mom. Lord knows why she even had the baby, but she did.
” I was waaa-yyyy too curious about Graham and almost leaned forward as Janet continued.
“She passes through town once in a blue moon, just enough to make Allie wish she had a mother. Graham’s as solid as they come.
His hands are full between work and being a father. ”
“So, are there a lot of firefighters around here?” I asked.
I was still absorbing that detail about Graham, and my curiosity about him was a flame burning higher and higher. The man who was now my neighbor, and the man who’d laid the best kiss of my life on me when I thought I’d never see him again, of course he was a firefighter. That fit.
“We have a surplus of firefighters around here, hotshots and regular,” Janet replied.
“What’s the difference between a hotshot firefighter and a regular one? They’re the ones who go out in the wilderness, right?”
Janet nodded. “Not much other than wilderness in most of Alaska. The crews around here are smoke jumpers. They fly out and land right in the middle of the fires. It sounds exciting, and I suppose it is, but it’s not an easy job.
” Pausing, she dampened a towel under a faucet and wiped the counter as she continued talking.
“Until this year, he was on the town crew, but he’s the superintendent for a new hotshot crew here. ”
“How many crews are in town?”
“Willow Brook is thick with firefighters and hotshots, all of them too good looking for their own good. The Fire & Rescue station here serves as a hub for three hotshot crews and a town crew. Graham’s a good neighbor to have.
Make sure to get his phone number. If you ever need anything, he’ll be happy to help. ”
I couldn’t even imagine asking for Graham’s phone number, but I bit back the urge to snort a laugh.
At least he hadn’t arrested me the other night.
Even though he wasn’t a cop, I didn’t doubt if he’d truly thought I was breaking and entering, he’d have done his best to make sure I stayed put until the police arrived.
“I’ll make sure to ask him,” I commented as a bell jingled behind me, and I glanced toward the door to see some customers entering. “Thanks for the coffee.” I turned back and cast a quick smile at Janet.
“Always. Hope to see you often. My sandwiches are pretty good too,” she offered with a grin.
“I’ll be back.” I waved as I turned and left the café.
My budget didn’t allow for having coffee out every day, but it was nice to meet Janet and get a feel for the town. Willow Brook was a far cry from Houston, but it was a cute town, and people seemed friendly.
I slipped into my car and quickly checked my notes on my phone.
I needed some things at the grocery store.
I’d stocked up on food yesterday, but I’d forgotten to get a few household items, such as toilet paper.
There was one roll, but I needed more, along with some cleaning supplies.
Although the house appeared to have been cleaned, it was still dusty.
My heart pinched thinking of my grandfather.
I’d never gotten to see him as much as I’d wanted over the years.
It didn’t surprise me he didn’t talk about his family with many people around here.
He and my mother had a bitter relationship.
He’d never liked my father. When my father tried to force my grandfather to invest in his business, he’d refused.
After that, he and my mother hardly spoke.
I wondered if my grandfather had known more than I did about my father’s business instincts. I shook my head to myself as I drove through town and turned into the parking area of the grocery store. I hurried through, scooping up everything I needed, and then headed home.
As soon as I realized I was starting to think of this place as “home” in my own thoughts, even though I’d only been here since yesterday, uncertainty stole through me.
The anxiety hovering inside me over the past year had become familiar. It was this cold unsteadiness inside, as if a door had been left open to a home and cold air was blowing through. I didn’t like the feeling. I also didn’t like that I was getting used to it.
As I drove toward home, I admired the view. I still couldn’t quite believe I was living here. The mountains were tall in the distance, their hulking form both intimidating and comforting. They were so solidly there.
A few minutes later, I walked inside, and Wilbur greeted me enthusiastically with a few sharp barks as he circled my legs, his chunky bottom bumping into my calves.
I kicked my boots off and quickly crossed over to the kitchen to unload the bags from the store onto the counter. I knelt to greet him.
“Hey, sweet boy,” I murmured as I stroked my hands down his sides. He licked under my chin.
There was nothing like a dog’s love, purely unconditional. Humans were much more complicated. If only I could get through life with a dog as my family. It would be so much simpler.
After I put everything away, I sat down on the couch to get up to speed on my email and follow up on a few feelers I’d put out for work.
I tended to do my work at home on the couch because Wilbur preferred it.
He liked to snuggle up beside me, and I found the background noise of the television soothing.
Today, I left it on a cooking show. Between emails, maybe I would learn something. Although this one was a rather cutthroat competitive show.
I squealed aloud as I scrolled through my email.
I actually had a reply. I opened it with more excitement than I wished.
I hated that I’d felt so comfortable in my position in my family’s business, only to literally have all of it yanked out from under me.
Confidence had never been my strong suit.
I was learning I’d created some sort of facade by doing the things I thought I should do.
Learning it was all wrong had dented my fledgling faith in myself.
Although my fingers itched to reply to the email instantly, I forced myself to type up a reply in a document and wait an hour or so before sending it. I didn’t want to appear too eager. It was also a pet peeve of mine that people sometimes waited forever to reply to things.
I scratched Wilbur’s neck, and he let out a satisfied rumble as he rested his chin on my knee.
I idly watched the show. A man with a buzz cut who zoomed about the kitchen confidently appeared crushed when he lost a round in the cooking show.
A matronly woman who had no professional cooking experience had wowed the judges with some kind of soufflé.
“See,” I said to Wilbur. “She’s succeeding on her own merits.”
Wilbur blinked at me before closing his eyes. I leaned my head back against the couch with a sigh. That was the problem. I didn’t even know what my own merits were anymore.