Chapter 2
HOLES IN HIS SOUL
“Hey, Mom,” Clay said when he walked into the back door of the cafe on the property.
His mother had been baking and serving lunches here since he was a baby.
Took it over from his grandmother and made it into so much more.
“You’re done faster than I thought. Didn’t you have an interview?”
“Yeah,” he said.
The place was closed, and his mother was prepping for tomorrow. She was normally out of here before four and he wasn’t sure why she was still working. Or that his brother’s girlfriend, Reenie, was too. Though she must be up front, since he didn’t see her in the kitchen.
“It didn’t go well?” his mother asked.
“I hired her. She’s walking around and checking things out.”
Hopefully she didn’t break her neck or anything else doing it.
Good lord, how did someone survive in the world if she couldn’t walk without twisting her ankles?
And skittish of flies? What the fuck? Who is terrified of a fly?
“I’ll go over now and talk to her. What’s her name?”
“Meredith,” he said. “Did you stay late waiting for me to be done?”
“I’ve got a big order tomorrow. Reenie and I have been getting all the batters made so I can come in and bake them first thing. The rest is now regular prep.”
“Want me to lock up?” he asked.
“Reenie can take care of it. I’ll just let her know I’m leaving. She’s looking around up front. I’m thinking of moving the tables some and getting more decorations out. I want to hear her ideas.”
Ugh. More design.
He was all for it if it was for efficiency, but the making something pretty he couldn't care less about.
“Hey, Clay,” Reenie said when he walked into the front of the cafe. Reenie just closed the tape measure she had against the wall.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to measure the space. Did Brooke leave?”
“She went to talk to the woman I just hired as the wedding planner.”
He walked over to see Reenie’s notes on what she was doing. Not that he didn’t trust her. He did.
Reenie had been on the run from trouble months ago. He and his brother Ford, the county sheriff, rescued her, his brother getting shot.
It brought them all closer together. He didn’t let too many into his life anymore, but family always filled the holes in his soul. Reenie was family now.
“That’s great,” Reenie said. “I’m glad that is taken care of. It will ease some of Brooke’s workload.”
Which was why he did this.
He’d wanted the barn refurbished for events. Mainly events that he wanted to hold for Ridgeway Hard Cider.
But he let his sister, Gale, talk him into opening it up as a wedding venue. She said she’d help and take care of it.
He should have known that wouldn’t happen. His sister was too busy with her career as an attorney, trying to prove she had what it took on her own. Gale wasn’t one to take orders from many and always said she’d be her own boss.
“I know you’ve been doing a lot to help with events in the barn,” he said. “I hope you don’t think I don’t have faith in your ability.”
Reenie worked just as hard and long as his mother.
Five to six days a week in the cafe starting at six in the morning, then filling in for him doing marketing and advertising that he gladly passed off.
“Between us, I’m glad to let someone else take it over. I’m not really into that kind of design. I enjoy doing it on the computer, but I’m a basic girl at heart. I don’t know which color tablecloths and napkins to use for a spring wedding instead of a fall one.”
“Linens,” he corrected, his lips twitching slightly.
“See. I don’t even know what to call them,” Reenie said. “I’ll always help where you or your parents need me, but someone else is welcome to dealing with fussy brides.”
“Not me,” he said. “It’s all Gale’s fault. She pushed for this.”
Reenie laughed. “You’re all about expanding the family business too. Don’t be so sour.”
“Lemon juice fills my blood.”
His brother’s girlfriend laughed. “You just want everyone to think that. You’re more bark than bite. Even if Brooke didn’t say it all the time, I’ve seen the other side of you.”
He winked and sent her a brief smile. She pointed at it. “We’ve shared something,” he said.
“We did,” she said softly. “I’ll never be able to thank you.”
“I’d do it for anyone.”
And silently carry the burden of another life he’d taken.
He’d let no one know that pieces of his soul got eaten away in the Navy.
As if every life lost chipped away at the beating of his heart.
Losing Colin had been the final straw.
He couldn’t take it another day but wouldn’t throw the towel in to be a quitter.
Not that he ever wanted his father to be injured, but it gave him a rational escape no one would blink at.
“No,” Reenie said. “You wouldn’t. Not like you had.”
He followed her into the kitchen. There was no reason to argue. She’d win and he didn’t like losing anything.
“Got anything for me to steal?”
Reenie went to the fridge and opened the industrial door, then stepped back.
Sealed bins of baked goods from today were in there. Nothing lasted over two days at the cafe. If they weren’t sold, they ended up in the mill for his staff or one of his siblings stopped in.
He looked around for anything chocolate, Reenie pointing to the lower level at the fudge frosted chocolate cookies.
Jackpot.
He lifted the top and snagged one out and took a bite.
“What do you think of them?”
“Are there peanut butter chips in these?”
He took another bite and closed his eyes. Very few knew of his chocolate sweet tooth.
He never thought it was that great of one until he couldn’t have his mother’s sweets anytime he wanted for years.
Coming home almost two years ago and having her food when he wanted still hadn’t quenched that thirst. He only craved it more.
“It’s my recipe,” she said. “I tried them out on Ford last week and he loved them. Your mother tried them and we saw how they sold.”
“These would be awesome with peanut butter frosting instead of the fudge,” he said taking the last bite, then licking the gooey mess off his fingertips.
“That’s what I’m doing next. Ford likes chocolate more than peanut butter.”
“Lucky bastard,” he said. “Getting to be your test subject. You know, I live next door still and on your way to work.”
Reenie giggled. She hadn’t been that lighthearted until recently.
Clay thought for sure she’d move in with his brother, but should have realized that she needed to feel her independence some more and remained in the tiny cabin down the road from the ranch he lived in on the property.
Not that she was there every night, or even alone. Half the time Ford stayed or Reenie went to his brother’s, but he also could appreciate knowing you had your own landing pad to reflect and peace out.
“I can leave you a care package, but I don’t want to wake you on my way.”
“I’m probably up before you,” he said. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a good night’s sleep or didn’t get up early ready to fight.
He might not be battling for his life anymore, but he’d always be battling to prove himself.
It was one of those things the oldest son did and he couldn’t escape it no matter how far or fast he ran.
“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Reenie said. “But you’ll get the next recipe I try. I promise. Do you want anything else before I lock up?”
“Nah,” he said. “Don’t need to get soft. I’ll walk out with you.”
She laughed. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but is it possible for you to get soft?”
He laughed. “I’m going to tell Ford you said that.”
Her jaw dropped. “Don’t you dare.”
She was pointing her finger at him again, and he smirked. “Fine. I’ll store it away.”
“I don’t need Ford to come home with any more bruises.”
“That’s just in good fun,” he said. He and Ford got together to work out in his basement a few times a month. Wrestling, fighting, lifting. Combat moves.
His brother didn’t like to admit he had a lot to learn and Clay was more than willing to make sure Ford stayed safe. As well as everyone else in his inner circle.
Even the cute wedding planner he’d just hired.
She was an employee now, so that meant she fell into the tiny group he socialized with.
He just hoped to hell he didn’t have to touch her every time they crossed paths. There was only so much he could take.