Chapter seven #2
Like she hasn’t already owned you for the past three years?
“Well, I had the same woman every night and we all know how that ended,” Parker says, reminding us of his bad luck in love.
But the fact that he’s even bringing it up is surprising.
“So a hot night with no strings attached was exactly what I needed, and it delivered.” He pushes his glasses up his nose.
“Then I’m happy for you.” Dallas clinks his beer with Parker’s.
“Boys, it’s time to eat!” Our little sister, Hazel, peeks her head out of the back door.
“Hey, look who decided to show up finally!” Dallas teases her. “You’ll be late to your own funeral, won’t you, Hazelnut?”
She flips him off this time, further solidifying just how bizarre sibling relationships can be.
We settle in around the table, and Willow lets out an audible moan when she gets her first taste of the food. “Oh my god. How have I never had this before?”
“Chicken bog is a Southern staple, Willow,” my mother replies. “And any Paula Deen recipe is bound to be good just based on the amount of butter used in it.”
Willow nods her head with her mouth full and then replies once she’s finished chewing. “I don’t even care.”
“You will when you have to unbutton your pants afterward,” Hazel replies.
“I’ve already had that issue from Astrid’s blueberry muffins.” Willow reaches for her glass of water. “I had to put myself on a limit because the addiction was real.”
“It’s just so amazing that the bakery is now hers,” my mother chimes in.
“I’m so proud of her. And I got her to agree to a huge event next month that will bring her even more business,” Willow says.
Curious, I ask, “What event?”
“It’s for Morgan Hotels. She’s going to cater the desserts for their charity event at their newest location in Raleigh. There will be over five hundred guests. Wesley Morgan is a client of mine, so I couldn’t pass up offering her the opportunity to advertise to that many people.”
“Sounds great. She didn’t mention it this morning, though,” I say, trying to hide the surprise in my voice.
Willow shrugs, but her eyes flit around nervously. “She probably just hasn’t wrapped her head around it yet. I only spoke to her about it Friday night.”
Seems a lot of things went down Friday.
I went to the bakery this morning to install the new display cases, but our conversation was very surface level. We talked about the championship soccer game coming up next week since we won our final season game. She asked me more about the flooring and painting I’m doing this week.
But that was it.
Granted there were people all around us, so it wasn’t the best time. But even I could sense that the tension was high.
“Besides, she kept telling me that once the soccer season is over, she’ll have more time to focus on the bakery. I think she’s secretly looking forward to it even though she loves watching Bentley play.”
Dallas chimes in. “As much as I love the season too, I’m ready for the break.”
“Yeah, same,” I say, moving my newfound knowledge to the back of my mind for the moment. But the extra time will be necessary as I focus on my rental property.
“So that means you’ll have time to build the Christmas backdrop for me then, huh?” Hazel asks, batting her eyelashes at me just like she did when she asked me the other day.
“Yes, Hazelnut. I’ve got you. It’ll get done.” Not sure when, but I’ll make it happen. I always do.
She blows me a kiss. “Best big brother ever.”
“Hey!” Parker and Dallas interject at the same time.
“It’s about time I claim the title,” I mock them, but my mother puts an end to the battle, addressing our plans for Thanksgiving before the bickering gets out of hand.
And as I sit there, listening to the usual conversation that happens at our family dinners, I wonder how much different the next one might be if I actually get the chance to talk to Astrid about so many things.
Here’s hoping I take the opportunity when it arises.
***
“You’re in here early today,” Dallas says as I walk toward the bar he’s standing behind in Catch & Release.
It’s Thursday, which is when Grady, Parker, and I all come in for lunch each week.
Dallas doesn’t open until four in the afternoon on weekdays, so the place is dead and it allows us all to catch up.
I flip my ball cap around and take a seat on my usual stool. “I needed to get out of the hardware store. Mrs. Hansen was driving me nuts.”
“Did she make you sort screws again?” An amused grin spreads across his lips.
“Fuck you. You have no idea what a nightmare that was.”
He taps on the metal bar where the food is placed as it’s cooked, signaling to Jerry in the kitchen that I’m here.
One of the cooks always comes in earlier in the day to prep a few things before the doors open to the restaurant.
“Oh, no I’m sure it was horrible, which is why it baffles me that you’re still working for the woman. ”
“Believe me, I’m questioning that myself.” I take a stack of papers from my pocket and lay them on the bar in front of me. “But I finally filed for my LLC with the town, so the wheels are in motion to get out for good.”
Dallas picks up the paperwork and nods approvingly. “Nice, Penn.”
“Thanks.”
“You should just quit then. I know it’s not about the money for you since you pick up every penny you find on the street.
” My brother is right. I’m about as frugal as they come, and my savings is stacked because if I don’t need something, I don’t buy it.
I also have some money in the stock market, so it’s not like I’m struggling, but I think we both know my reservations go deeper than that.
“Sometimes it’s not always about money, Dallas. It’s about loyalty.”
“Yeah, but sometimes you’ve got to put yourself first.”
I lean back in my chair. “So are you saying you’re ready for me to quit the restaurant?”
He shrugs and then crosses his arms over his chest. “If that’s what you need to do, then yeah.”
I can’t say the next step of quitting my two jobs hasn’t been on my mind, but I wanted to be further along with my new venture before I cut all ties.
And I’m not one to leave anyone high and dry either.
I’d like to make sure that Mrs. Hansen has someone to replace me before I leave the hardware store completely.
But maybe Dallas is right. That needs to be sooner rather than later, especially because the craziest time of the year is about to commence. I could use the extra time.
“I’ll let you know when I’m ready,” I say, just as Jerry slides my burger onto the counter. Dallas grabs the plate, a bottle of ketchup, some extra napkins, and a Coke from the fountain, dropping everything off in front of me.
“Don’t keep pushing it off though, Penn. Time’s a-wasting. Speaking of which, have you talked to Astrid yet?”
I knew that was fucking coming. “Not yet,” I mumble around a bite of my burger.
“Willow’s getting anxious. Every time the phone rings, she thinks it’s going to be Astrid calling to tell her that you’ve confessed your feelings to her. I swear, she’s going to have a damn heart attack.”
“Maybe Willow needs to go back to work since she has too much time on her hands to worry about my and Astrid’s lives.”
Dallas glares at me. “Hey, watch it. That’s my girl you’re talking about.”
The corner of my mouth lifts along with one of my shoulders. “I said I’ll talk to her. I didn’t say when.”
My brother leans over the counter in front of me. “A little birdie also told me that her date with Dick is tonight.”
Fury erupts in my veins. “Is that so?” I grate out.
Dallas smirks at me. “Yup. Still think you want to wait to have that conversation now?”
I glare at my brother before going back to eating my burger, wishing I never would have come in here for lunch now.
***
My phone vibrates in my pocket for the third time. Shutting off the table saw, I set my safety goggles to the side, turn down the music blaring from my speaker, and dig my phone out of my pocket. But when I see the number for Bentley and Lilly’s elementary school, my stomach plummets.
“Hello?”
“Hello. I’m looking for Penn Sheppard?” the female voice on the other end of the line says. And it’s not like I don’t know who it is, but I assume Alaina Bell must act professionally even though everyone knows she’s the principal of Carrington Cove Elementary.
“This is Penn.”
“Yes, well, sorry to bother you today Mr. Sheppard, but I have Bentley here in my office and was wondering if you’d be able to come pick him up?”
I reach for my keys on the side table and immediately lock up the front door before heading out to my truck. “Is something wrong?”
“I’m afraid Bentley was in a fight today. He’ll be suspended for the rest of today and tomorrow, so someone needs to take him home.”
“A fight? Bentley? Are you sure?”
“Yes, Mr. Sheppard.”
“Shit. Does Astrid know?”
Alaina clears her throat. “I wasn’t able to get ahold of her, Mr. Sheppard. Or her mother. Hence why I’m calling you. You’re the next person on the emergency contact list.”
Why the fuck wouldn’t Astrid be answering her phone?
Before I go down the rabbit hole of what could have happened to her, I give my attention back to the phone call. “I’ll be there as soon as I can, Alaina.”
She exhales and relaxes her voice, the professionalism drifting away. “Thanks, Penn. See ya in a bit.”
This afternoon was supposed to be my time to work on my rental house. After having lunch with Dallas and the boys, I was eager to come here and let off some steam. I just started cutting the tiles for the shower when Alaina called.
Bentley in a fight?
I mean, I know I wasn’t an innocent eleven-year-old boy, but the only time I got in a fight was in high school and it was on the football field. The testosterone was running rampant and it was a rivalry game. Other than wrestling with Dallas and Parker, I kept my fists to myself.
Something must have triggered him. Bentley isn’t that kind of kid.