Chapter 17
JUNIPER
Sorry for running out. I panicked.
Suburban Daddy
No need to apologize. You made Addie’s day. Enjoy the rest of yours, Doc.
I love when he calls me that. Maybe too much, I fear.
And lord have mercy, do I ever fear. I couldn’t get out of that house fast enough.
The house that, upon arrival, felt much too big for just the two of them.
But after clearly overstaying my welcome, I learned it feels just right.
The love between Crew and Addie bounces off the walls, forcing you to acknowledge what only they can feel but is still so easily seen.
Since I have no plans for the rest of the day, I absentmindedly found myself driving to see Wynonna and Jed.
Surprising even me, House of Bread is rather busy today.
It’s nearing lunchtime already, and two steps through the rusted double doors shows me just how lively my new home away from home can be during the daytime.
I guess that makes sense. Doors can’t stay open without customers, reminding me how I only ever visit while most of the world is still sleeping. I can blame my sleep apnea for that.
“Junie, darlin’.” I stop my scoping, only to find Jed’s head hanging out the kitchen window, calling my name.
I wave. “Hi, Jed. Place is busy this morning.”
“That’s the way we like it. Better tell those friends of yours to stop being strangers and stop by for some pie. Nonna might call in the reinforcements if she has to bake for another group of rowdy truck drivers.”
“Reinforcements?” I laugh.
“AKA frozen grocery.” He winks.
“Ah,” I quip. “Wouldn’t want that when fresh-baked is the best. I’ll see what I can do.”
I search the diner for my usual booth, finding it occupied by a group of older women with their Bibles laid out across the table.
Jeez. I underestimated how busy a diner smack-dab in the middle of nowhere could be.
The food here is delish, so I don’t know why I doubted it.
Pride fills me knowing all of these people here are helping support a dream for Wynonna and Jed.
From the many conversations Wynonna and I have had over the past couple months, I learned they have a son together, whom they lost tragically in a car accident years back.
Pictures of their son cover a designated corner of the diner in his honor.
It’s evident he’s the foundation of why they work so hard.
From my understanding, they have family in town, but I suppose nothing could ever be the same after losing a child.
There’s an unfamiliar tinge of joy that sparks inside of me, knowing Wynonna and Jed chose to take their grief and turn it into something their son would be proud of. It’d be dishonest of me to say I also didn’t feel jealousy toward a person I never met.
What would it be like to have parents who chose me and made something productive of themselves through their grief?
It’s up to us how we handle losing something or someone we love.
I just don’t think mine realized they lost me in the process.
Or at least the part of me that held onto hope they’d come around.
“There’s my favorite town doctor,” Wynonna greets me just as I find myself an empty table. “I think we’ve still got some batter made up in the kitchen. I can have Jed throw a few cakes on the griddle for ya if you’d like?”
I smile, loving how she knows my usual order without having to ask. “That’s okay, Mrs. Nonna. I actually just ate.”
“Well, alright. How about a hot chocolate then? We can pretend these scorching temperatures outside don’t exist. I’ll even throw in some marshmallows for you. What do you say about that?”
It’s been years since I’ve had hot chocolate, and I’m not sure anything sounds better at the moment. “I think that sounds like just what I need.”
Wynonna nods, winking to Jed at the window, who seems to have been listening in all this time. “One hot chocolate with marshmallows, coming right up.”
“Make that two, please.”
I pause. The deep voice I’ve come to recognize amidst a crowded room filters my ears.
Wynonna turns at the sound of Crew’s voice behind her, a wide smile cresting her aged face.
“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Crew Landon Briggs.
We’ve been missing you around here, superstar.
Get over here and hug me now, would ya?”
“Hi, Grams.”
Grams? Wait, seriously?
I sit in shock, watching as Crew barrels into his grandmother, hugging her like it’s second nature. “You look better than I last saw you. Gramps finally feeding you?”
Wynonna smacks his chest with the notepad in her hands while Jed shouts from the kitchen, not caring at all about other customers overhearing. “Damn woman refused to get antibiotics. Did nothin’ but drink that throat coat tea shit for days on end. Stubborn woman.”
Crew chuckles before kissing her cheek. “Sounds about right. Glad you’re feeling better.” They make quiet small talk amongst themselves, and I use the free moment to take him in. And I mean…really take him in.
Holy fucking forklift. He’s sweaty. I’ve barely been gone an hour, and the man looks like he hiked the Sahara Desert naked.
His mesmerizingly thin white tee is drenched in sweat, clinging to his tan skin like it never wants to let go. I feel that one. He’s got on dark gray moisture-wicking shorts that show off the evident strength in his thighs and a pair of running shoes.
I search outside for Bonnie the Burb, coming up empty, which must mean he ran here.
Doesn’t he exercise enough playing baseball?
I’m not sure his muscles could get any bigger, or they might burst. Everything about Crew is giant, and I’d bet my entire salary that if I spent an extra amount of time looking at his shorts, another large—and highly favored—muscle would make its presence known.
I’m in enemy territory.
Turning in my direction, Crew lifts his ball cap off his head, pushing his hair back, and turns the hat backward before placing it down again.
Motherfucker. Dipshit. Asshole. I’m a screwed-up woman.
This man knows what he’s doing.
“Love you too. Now, if you’d excuse me, Grams.” He slides past her, walking himself up to the edge of my table. “Got room for one more?”
My body is not my own. I smile, detecting right away just how flustered my face looks. I can’t help it. Something about this single dad makes me happy. “As long as this doesn’t become an everyday thing. I’m not sure I can share my favorite place.”
“And how do you two know each other?” Wynonna asks, a look of overzealous curiosity on her face.
“Adeline is actually one of my patients,” I note as Crew expresses his version of our relationship. “We’re very good friends.”
I roll my eyes. “Becoming good friends,” I emphasize.
That seems to please him because his smirk wastes no time shocking my insides. “One step in the right direction.”
“And here I thought you planned to find a new doctor after word about Dr. Wolk retiring went around,” Wynonna mutters to Crew, causing me to instantly react.
“Oh, is that right?” I tease, turning to Wynonna. “Makes sense. Did he tell you how he gave me a hard time on our first visit? I wasn’t sure I’d ever have him on my team.”
“He sure didn’t, but I’m happy to see that’s not the case any longer.” Wynonna winks before walking off. I already know that intuitive woman is going to have a grocery list of questions for me next time.
“I’m on team Wilde.”
I look at Crew. “Are you now?”
He grins, the dimples at his cheeks protruding, making him look all the more handsome. “I was actually just appointed captain this morning.”
“Oh? How did that happen?”
He nods comically. “You see…” he draws out, my eyes following the way he spins a napkin between his thumb and middle finger. It takes very little effort. His hands are rough and calloused. God, I bet he can do a lot more than just throw a baseball with them. Grip so wide and firm…
“She came over this morning. Big step, if you ask me. And when has a doctor ever visited a patient’s home?”
“Technically, you’re not my patient. Your cute daughter is.”
“Touché. Which only proves my point on the captain thing. My daughter loves you, and I love my daughter, which only makes sense for me to be your team captain.”
“Why? You have plans to love me, too, Suburban Daddy?”
He doesn’t waver. “I don’t think loving someone is ever a part of the plan. Those things just happen.”
What does he mean by that? I’m starting to question whether these feelings I’ve tried to bury aren’t just one-sided.
“Okay,” I mutter softly. “I had no idea Wynonna was your grandmother. This place has been my saving grace during this move.”
Crew lifts his right arm in what looks like a stretch, and I instantly clock the movement.
I notice the way his face fights back a painful grunt once his elbow almost completely straightens.
Is he still going through rehab for that injury?
Seems like it’s still bothering him. “Oh, you mean Ho of read?” he jokes. “Great name, right?”
“Hey, it made me stop in. I think it’s unintentionally drawing in customers. I’ve come almost every day since I moved here.”
His palms meet the table as he leans forward. “Please tell me you’ve tried the cinnamon rolls.”
“Only every single time. Can’t you tell?” I rub my stomach for added effect, and his eyes make a perusal of me from the top of my head to as far as he can see from the booth.
“Not even a little.”
I swallow slowly. “So, Wynonna and Jed, are they from your mom’s or dad’s side?”
“My dad’s,” Crew tells me just as a server delivers our hot chocolates. “Thanks, Kylie.”
“No problem, Crew,” Kylie tells him, smiling in return.
Everyone knows him in this town. Even the part off the beaten path.
Out here, it doesn’t feel like we’re in Atlanta.
There’s one established neighborhood—ours—and nothing but trees and dirt roads.
Also, what looks like an abandoned compound on one end.
I guess Crew had the same idea I did when purchasing a home—getting away from the city.