26. Pepper
“What are these?” I ask Charlie when I visit her at the library the next day.
Chase dropped me off on his way to Levi”s ranch, preparing for Jackson”s birthday party. I’m still not sure what takes three grown men with pretty busy schedules and absolutely zero women involved to plan a kid’s birthday party, but I”m sure I”ll find out on Saturday.
“Oh, those are handout books.”
“What”s that?”
“Children”s books from the library that are overused. Instead of throwing them out, they let me take the old ones and hand them out to kids in town.”
“How cool. How do you do that?”
“I pay a small fee to a storefront owner to let me keep a table outside for a few hours each month and hand out books to neighborhood kids. I post about it in the town Facebook group to let people know where I”ll be.”
“You pay for that? To hand out free books?”
“Supposedly the fee covers the insurance or something, but it’s so small I don”t care.”
“What do you get out of it?”
She shrugs and gives me a cocky smile. “Joy.”
I purse my lips at her. “Cute.”
I watch her place returned books in carts for a while.
My face falls, remembering why she can’t leave town—not even for a better job. I wish things were different for her.
“I’m sorry, Charlie. You really deserve…so much more than this.”
She shakes her head, but there’s no bitterness to it. “Oh, I’m fine. I like it here. I get pretty good benefits,” she says, staying positive. “And I”ve got a great payment plan set up with the hospital on all my mother’s treatments. This job isn’t glamorous, but it’s enough for me to pay rent, groceries and just above the interest for the payment plan.”
My brows raise. “Hard to believe the local hospital would charge so much interest.”
“They don”t. I missed a few payments six months ago and they sold the loan.”
“Oh, I”m sorry. How much do you owe?” I don’t dwell on the fact that I’m asking a personal question. Instead, I think back to how much I have in my savings when I”m able to access it.
“Over a hundred thousand.”
“What?”
She winces. “Pepper, don”t worry about me. I know you want to help, but I”ve got it all figured out. I”m starting to write children”s books now. I still need an illustrator and will figure out how to market them, but I”m kind of excited about it. And who knows, maybe it”ll be the next big story.”
My eyes sting, and I come around the counter and hug her. I’ve done nothing but pour my own drama on her while she’s suffering in silence and still maintains a bubbly personality.
There’s no doubt in my mind that I’d do anything to help her—and her mother. If she could have more time with her and not have to worry about owing a dime.
“Charlie,” I gasp, pulling back sharply. “Turn me in.”
Her eyes widen. “What?”
“Turn me in. You can claim the million,” I whisper. “Pay off your debt. Get your mother more treatment, maybe even a private nurse and have more freedom. Live your dream.”
Charlie jerks in shock, her eyes watering. “Are you crazy. Pepper? I love you for offering, but you’re not—”
“Charlie, it”s only three years. You”ll be here when I come back. Debt free and with all the care your mother needs.”
She laughs bitterly. “She won’t make it that long.” Then she grips my hands. “I”m not letting anyone take you away from us. Not even for a day. So no more of this nonsense.” She steps back to the book cart, and I follow her.
“Charlie,” I whisper. “Someone is going to. It’s only a matter of time. It may as well be you.”
Charlie watches cautiously as library patrons pass us. “I’d never accept the money knowing you’re in someone else’s hands. Someone none of us trust. And I’d never risk you not coming back. I don’t have friends here anymore, Pepper. You’re it. And that’s worth more to me than anything.”
It’s unfortunate that an outdoorsy kid like Jackson has a birthday in November, but Levi is prepared. With a party tent big enough for a small wedding reception in the backyard and heat lamps spread throughout.
Aiden offered to cater the party—probably back when he thought it was going to be a few of Jackson’s friends and their parents. Not half the town. But the spread is extraordinary, with enough variety to keep anyone happy. Well—except for the older lady hovering over the children’s table. She’s swiping soda cans from the kids table and replacing them with juice boxes.
“Who’s that?” I ask Chase.
“Mrs. Doubtfire.”
“Who?”
“That’s what we call her. She’s Jackson’s nanny. I forget her actual name, Miller or Muffet?”
“Oh.” I watch as she scowls at the kids. Jackson who was happy as a clown just moments ago is now sitting quietly at the head of the kids’ table, like a robot, waiting for a command. “She seems…”
Chase laughs. “Yeah, she’s a little bit of a buzz kill on the kids, but she gets the job done. And she’s got no drama. My oldest brother hates drama.”
“What kind of drama can you get with a nanny?”
“You’d be surprised.” He winks. “I’m going to grab us a few drinks. Be right back.”
For obvious reasons, Charlie isn’t here today, so I look for a friendly face. I see a female about my age I don’t recognize. She’s behind the bar serving up made-to-order cocktails. Cocky smile. Long, dark hair that’s spirally in some places and wavy in others. Totally uneven. Wild. And yet, perfect for her face.
Her eyes are a beautiful gray. A cold color, but so much warmth. She has a ‘stay back’ look about her that challenges me to walk up to her.
“Hi.” I smile brightly, shutting down her ‘please just order and go away’ attitude.
She glances up at me and lifts her shaker, pouring a glass of something she concocted. “Try that for me?”
“Uhh…okay.” I hold up the rocks glass with a little more than a shot’s worth of some mystery red, shaken cocktail. I toss it back quickly and nearly vomit. “Ugh. That’s awful. What is that? Cough medicine and tequila?”
She purses her lips. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” She dumps the rest of the shaker in the bushes.
“Wh—aren’t there animals here?”
She shrugs. “It’ll dry. Either that or they’ll sleep real well tonight,” she mutters. “Glass of wine?” she offers cheerily.
“Just some cider, actually if you have any. Or water…with lemon?”
She perks a brow. “You’re with Chase, right?”
“Yes. I’m Pepper. I grew up in this town.”
She looks up at me again and squints. “Pepper, you say?”
My eyes widen, and I lick my lips self-consciously. “Um…yes.”
She stretches a hand. “Tessa. You can call me Tess. I don’t have cider…but I make an awesome virgin pina colada.”
“I’d love one.”
“Comin’ right up.”
“Truthfully, I just wanted to say hi. You seem… approachable.”
She chuckles, handing me my drink. “Well, that’s certainly a first.” She rinses her shaker. “So where’d you go and what brings you back?”
My lips part as I struggle between the truth and the lie.
She narrows her eyes when she realizes she must have caught me off guard. “You know what, it doesn’t mat—”
“Tessa!”
Tess jerks. “Jesus, Cowboy. What is it now?”
Levi’s jaw works as he approaches her. He holds up a red plastic cup. “What did you put in this?”
She covers what looks like a smirk, but I caught it. “I handed out a bunch of those today, Grumpy, be more specific.”
“It was Mrs. Miller’s drink. She went off the rails and is now passed out on my couch.”
Tessa croaks a laugh but presses her lips together. “That nanny of yours sure is trouble.”
“Tessa, I’m serious. What did you give her?”
“She’ll sleep it off,” Tess whines.
“Yeah, or she might die. Are you even a licensed bartender?”
She scoffs. “I’m not a licensed anything.”
Levi runs his fingers through his hair. And I can sort of see the appeal now. Chiseled jaw, broad chest, blue eyes that don’t quite have the same intensity Chase’s do, but would do just fine for literally any woman in Hideaway.
“Of course you’re not. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t have my dad fire your ass right now.”
“She was yelling at one of the kids,” she finally snaps. “And I didn’t like it, so I gave her something I thought might chill her out, not knock her out.”
“Which. Kid?”
She hesitates then cocks her head to a group of kids. “That one.”
“Which one?” he grits, glaring at her.
She shifts her gaze. “The one with your eyes.”
“Jackson?” he breathes, his tension easing.
She spares him a glance, muttering as she storms off. “I’ll go check her breathing.”
I follow Tessa because I want to help. And because I think I like her a little more now.