said, lifting her chin, “and I took a world-class collection of wine with me when I left my asshole of an ex. I’m dying to share it.”
For a second, Betty didn’t say anything. “Then welcome to the recipe exchange, I guess,” she offered flatly, looking away.
“Here, here,” Audrey said, raising her spiked coffee in a toast.
It was a start, Willa thought, and she’d take it. Somehow her heart was already lighter as the thick mugs clinked together.
C HAPTER NINE
Friday, September 21, 7:17 p.m.
A nna set the apple pie in front of Burk unceremoniously.
“I don’t think I—” he started but her sharp glance stopped him from saying any more. He picked up a fork. Tonight it looked like he was having dessert, whether he wanted it or not.
Out in the family room, Anna’s husband, Sam, played with their two-year-old daughter, Juniper. It was a bad sign that Sam hadn’t stayed in the kitchen after dinner. The man loved pie almost as much as his family, and he was a much-needed buffer when Anna had that glint in her eye that meant trouble. She was sporting it right now, in fact.
Burk speared the still-warm dessert wondering what Anna wanted to speak with him about.
As if on cue, Anna sat next to him at the worn oak table. “Willa Masterson came into Knots and Bolts yesterday.”
Well , Burk thought, there it is.
He set down his fork. “You don’t say.”
It was all he could do to keep his emotions locked underneath his skin. Jesus, just the mention of her name and he was getting riled up. What had gotten into him? He had to be careful. His sister could read him better than anyone. Better than himself, some days.
Anna pulled her steaming cup of tea closer. Soft light reflected on the tile backsplash in the adjoining kitchen—Burk had installed it—and everything looked so warm and comfortable. It was a shame they were squandering all the coziness by talking about Willa. Burk glanced at the living room, wishing he were out there now, playing airplane or horsey with Juniper, watching her golden hair bounce and her big eyes shine.
“She joined the recipe exchange,” Anna said, pulling Burk’s attention back to the kitchen, “and she mentioned you’re the one fixing up the house.” She spoke the words calmly, but Burk could see the twin spots of color on her cheeks glowing like bonfires. She had some thoughts about all this.
“Of course I’m fixing it up,” Burk said. “I’ve been taking care of it this long, haven’t I?”
“You should have refused the project because that’s the house you want. How are you over there fixing it up for her, when it’s your dream?”
Burk thought about how to answer. In the other room, Sam was playing “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who for Juniper. Sam always said every kid should grow up with a classic rock education. Juniper squealed with delight as Sam played air guitar. Good man , Burk thought.
“Someone is going to work on that house,” he said finally. “It might as well be me. And my crew. I don’t see what the problem is.”
Anna arched a dark brow. “The problem is, this is going to eat at you, day in and day out, if she takes over a house that’s supposed to be yours. Why don’t you just cut the nonsense and try to buy it from her?”
“I did. Yesterday. She wanted a half million for it. I can’t afford that, and she’s bent on turning it into a high-end bed-and-breakfast.”
“So tell her that’s ridiculous. Tell her that’s the last thing White Pine needs.”
Burk shook his head, thinking about yesterday in the car. “I’m trying. It’s just—I’m not—it’s not that easy.”
“Like hell it isn’t.”
Burk almost smiled. No one talked to him like that. Crew members said “yes sir” and “no sir.” Clients were nice because he vetted them and threw out the ones who weren’t. Only Anna could get in his face like this, and talk to him like they were still kids.
“Burk, are you even listening?”
Anna’s
For a second, Betty didn’t say anything. “Then welcome to the recipe exchange, I guess,” she offered flatly, looking away.
“Here, here,” Audrey said, raising her spiked coffee in a toast.
It was a start, Willa thought, and she’d take it. Somehow her heart was already lighter as the thick mugs clinked together.
C HAPTER NINE
Friday, September 21, 7:17 p.m.
A nna set the apple pie in front of Burk unceremoniously.
“I don’t think I—” he started but her sharp glance stopped him from saying any more. He picked up a fork. Tonight it looked like he was having dessert, whether he wanted it or not.
Out in the family room, Anna’s husband, Sam, played with their two-year-old daughter, Juniper. It was a bad sign that Sam hadn’t stayed in the kitchen after dinner. The man loved pie almost as much as his family, and he was a much-needed buffer when Anna had that glint in her eye that meant trouble. She was sporting it right now, in fact.
Burk speared the still-warm dessert wondering what Anna wanted to speak with him about.
As if on cue, Anna sat next to him at the worn oak table. “Willa Masterson came into Knots and Bolts yesterday.”
Well , Burk thought, there it is.
He set down his fork. “You don’t say.”
It was all he could do to keep his emotions locked underneath his skin. Jesus, just the mention of her name and he was getting riled up. What had gotten into him? He had to be careful. His sister could read him better than anyone. Better than himself, some days.
Anna pulled her steaming cup of tea closer. Soft light reflected on the tile backsplash in the adjoining kitchen—Burk had installed it—and everything looked so warm and comfortable. It was a shame they were squandering all the coziness by talking about Willa. Burk glanced at the living room, wishing he were out there now, playing airplane or horsey with Juniper, watching her golden hair bounce and her big eyes shine.
“She joined the recipe exchange,” Anna said, pulling Burk’s attention back to the kitchen, “and she mentioned you’re the one fixing up the house.” She spoke the words calmly, but Burk could see the twin spots of color on her cheeks glowing like bonfires. She had some thoughts about all this.
“Of course I’m fixing it up,” Burk said. “I’ve been taking care of it this long, haven’t I?”
“You should have refused the project because that’s the house you want. How are you over there fixing it up for her, when it’s your dream?”
Burk thought about how to answer. In the other room, Sam was playing “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who for Juniper. Sam always said every kid should grow up with a classic rock education. Juniper squealed with delight as Sam played air guitar. Good man , Burk thought.
“Someone is going to work on that house,” he said finally. “It might as well be me. And my crew. I don’t see what the problem is.”
Anna arched a dark brow. “The problem is, this is going to eat at you, day in and day out, if she takes over a house that’s supposed to be yours. Why don’t you just cut the nonsense and try to buy it from her?”
“I did. Yesterday. She wanted a half million for it. I can’t afford that, and she’s bent on turning it into a high-end bed-and-breakfast.”
“So tell her that’s ridiculous. Tell her that’s the last thing White Pine needs.”
Burk shook his head, thinking about yesterday in the car. “I’m trying. It’s just—I’m not—it’s not that easy.”
“Like hell it isn’t.”
Burk almost smiled. No one talked to him like that. Crew members said “yes sir” and “no sir.” Clients were nice because he vetted them and threw out the ones who weren’t. Only Anna could get in his face like this, and talk to him like they were still kids.
“Burk, are you even listening?”
Anna’s
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