Black Creek Burning (The Black Creek Series, Book 1) (37 page)

* * *

They drove with the windows down. "Showing?" Brie asked.

"Ah." He took her hand and rubbed his thumb over her ring. "There is rumor of a showing
of the house when it's finished. I didn't start it."

"Wow. Are you going to do it?"

He took a deep breath. "I left a lot of people hanging when I made the move to Northridge.
People who got me where I am. I feel like I owe them, but I also want our house to
be a home, not a museum."

Her heart sunk at the sound of
our
home. "I see." She looked down at their joined hands and the ring between them. "Have
you thought about what we'll do with my house?"

"Sure. We could build a huge sky walk from one to the other." He lifted her hand and
kissed her ring finger.

"I'm serious. I can't sell it. It's been in my family for three generations."

"I've thought about it, yes. It would make a perfect guesthouse. Your brothers would
have a place to stay when they visit. We could even put in another bathroom... if
you want."

"A guesthouse. Why didn't I think of that?" she responded sarcastically.

She watched his eyes humbly tilt with his head as he shrugged a shoulder.

"I'll never get used to having money." She smiled from ear to ear. "But I'll try."

"The kids fly in tomorrow." He moved his hand to underneath the wisps of hair flying
in the wind.

She bit her bottom lip. "Last night alone?"

"Mmm."

"At least I won't be grounded to the guestroom anymore. I might even sleep on my couch.
I've hardly even sat on it."

"We need to make a stop at Lucy's before we go home. She'll have my head if she hears
about our news from someone else."

They pulled the car into Brie's drive and walked next door.

She found herself uncomfortable at the very platonic scene of Ethel leading them back
to Clifford and Lucy. They were sitting in her four seasons room laughing like children.

"Brianna, dear. Come. And Nathan, what a lovely surprise."

Lucy stood with Clifford to greet them. Kisses were exchanged and small talk passed
before Lucy asked what brought them to visit.

"Brianna, it's about time."

Brie was caught off guard with the first hug she could ever remember from Lucy. "I
may get some grandchildren, yet. Nathan, your mother will share, won't she?"

Lucy led her to the kitchen to fill a plate with an assortment of congratulatory cookies
and helped Ethel with the coffee as she addressed her. "Don't think I didn't see you
running with those dogs the other morning, Miss Brianna."

She put her hands up in surrender and forced back a smile.

"We are two grown, single people and can live with whomever we please."

Oh jeez, they're living together. Brie stifled a choking fit. She wondered if Amanda
knew. If Molly knew. If anyone knew. Oh, dear. "I... I... Yes. That
is
your business."

Ethel stood at the kitchen sink. "Are you kidding? Do you know how
old
they are? My mama, rest her soul, would roll over in her grave if she knew how these
two are carrying on."

* * *

Brie sat with Nathan on the porch, waiting for his folks and the boys. Brie pulled
on her ear and looked at her watch. He doodled a sketch of the beams and railings
for the porch. The rocks from the creek would build up half-posts, and he planned
to finish the tops with custom twelve-by beams. He didn't want anything too showy
at the top, but big and bold enough to blend with the look of the house and Brie's
work there.

When the Bonneville turned the corner, they walked down to meet them, the dogs at
their heels.

Andy bounded out of the car first. "Hey, guys." He rubbed the dogs' heads. "Did you
miss us? Huh?"

Nathan turned to his mother. "Why do the dogs always get first greetings?"

"Because they give the most dramatic welcome." She reached up on her toes and kissed
him on both cheeks, then held his chin in her hand and looked at him.

Duncan stretched and meandered over.

"We climbed Pike's Peak. It's fourteen-thousand feet in the air." Andy spoke even
faster than usual. "And we had on shorts but there was snow. And the plane was loud
and made my tummy sink and do we still have to call you Miss Chapman, 'cause you're
not my teacher anymore?" Andy stopped talking long enough to notice that everyone
was quiet and looking at Brie's hand. "I know what that is. You got married while
we were gone! We don't have to call you Miss Chapman anymore." He jumped up and down
in circles. "We get to call you mom!"

Nathan put an arm around Brie and pulled her next to him. "I guess he approves."

Duncan knocked the side of his little brother's head with one hand while using his
sleeve to wipe away a tear with the other. "They're not married, stupid. They're engaged.
That means they're gonna
be
married."

"Don't mind me." His mother wiped away her own tears. "We're just so happy to have
you in the family. This has been a big week for you."

* * *

The rains eventually came. The herons stood at the spillway and caught their fill
as the fish washed over in the rush of the water into the creek. The floodplains came
alive with the color of the mature wildflowers on one side of the creek and the tender
greens on the side that had been burned.

Teenagers carried the pieces for croquet and badminton across the log over the rush
of the water. Baked potatoes, burgers and brats cooked on the grill. The smell was
mouthwatering and blew throughout the yard.

Brie and Liz wrestled with the badminton net while the rest of the ladies hammered
the croquet wickets into the ground. Inadvertently, Liz held her hand beneath the
lower part of her stomach while reaching up to untangle the net. This didn't go unnoticed.

The groups seemed to change places as most of the children went to the back to tie
water balloons and fill squirt guns. Clifford and Sylvester stayed to man the grill.
Adults went inside to start the massive hauling of food out to the tables on the deck
and patio. Chairs were scattered around the yard and nets for the plates were set
out, ready to place over the fruits and salads.

"The kitchen is amazing, Brianna dear." Lucy lined her basket for her homemade croissants
with a red and white checkered towel.

"Thank you. I'm still finding all of the hidden drawers and compartments."

They piled their arms with chips and veggies for another trip out. Brie stepped in
front of Liz before she got out the door, trapping the two of them and Amanda, who
was stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time. "You're pregnant."

Liz folded her hands in front of her and tilted her head up at her.

"Whoa." Amanda's head bobbed between the two of them before she stopped at Liz. "She
does that, Liz. It's creepy. So, are you really?"

"How can you tell? I've barely found out myself." Liz shrugged her shoulders. "Oops."

"Oh, wow. Does Tim know?"

Liz shook her head. "Wait 'til he finds out the little guy needs a sibling close to
his age."

The three of them circled and hugged before regaining their composure and heading
for the picnic. Food was eaten, games were played and s'mores cooked over the wrought
iron and ceramic fire pit. Eventually, Andy and Rose crashed together in the hammock
that lay under the deck.

Chapter 32

Molly was right, Lucy thought, she had been spending most of her time with Clifford
and hadn't been out to see her condo in weeks. She relished the feeling of being in
love again and could have argued that Molly was out of town most of the time, but
didn't.

She felt like a teenager as she watched Clifford walk over to kiss her goodbye. "I
won't be too long. I can't help but worry about her. She's still my daughter." She
looked through her purse for her keys and felt that familiar chill when Clifford placed
his hand on her arm.

"Take all the time you need. I'm going to beat Ethel in cards."

"She doesn't answer her phone, and I did tell her I would stop by." They walked together
to the front door. "Let's have lunch in the four season's room when I get back. We'll
invite Ethel." She smiled. "Unless she beats you in cards. Then, she'll be unbearable."
Clifford kissed her gently, and they parted.

* * *

"Is Rose meeting us at the lake?" Duncan asked as Brie went over her mental list of
supplies. He took the tub of earthworms from the fridge and set it in his tackle box.

"She's too young to walk there by herself. We'll walk over to get her before her mom
leaves for work."

"Do you know how to put worms on a hook? I can show you if you don't know how," Duncan
offered.

"Anytime I can get out of stringing a worm on a hook, I'll take it."

Andy came in from the garage carrying an extra bucket. "This is for crawfish. You
know Rose will want to catch crawfish."

"You know
you
want to catch crawfish," Duncan said under his breath.

The boys wore their swim trunks and worn-out sneakers. They smelled of sunblock and
carried their chairs, buckets and tackle boxes over their shoulders. Brie carried
a cooler with drinks and snacks. She couldn't figure how they packed so much stuff
for an adventure that was just seventy-five yards from the house.

They walked down the shallow hill in back to the creek. The boys chattered while she
analyzed the charred field on the other side. Indeed, nature survives. Lush, bright
green plants sprouted from the fertile ash and soot. Rains washed away much of the
black and refilled the lake and creek.

The day would have been perfect if it weren't the anniversary of the fire. She wondered
if she should have told Nathan but convinced herself there was no need. She would
spend a beautiful day outdoors with three of her favorite kids and her two favorite
dogs. They ran without leashes and took it as a pass to run the fields and through
the water.

Walking around the side of her house, she pulled her keys from her pocket with her
only free hand. "The timer to the lights isn't working again."

"I know where it is." Duncan set his tackle box and chair down.

So mature, she thought.

Tossing the keys to him, she and Andy headed toward the Piper's house. Walking hand-in-hand
she decided to prevent any bloody noses. "Now, listen. Don't tease Rose about her
fair skin... or her freckles... or her red hair. You two could try—"

Brie's feet stopped before the rest of her. The smoke detector screamed. Her heart
ripped into shreds. She whipped around and saw her blinds drawn. She never closed
her blinds. Fear gripped her from the bottom of her feet to the top of her head.

She spun back to Andy. "Go, now. Tell Cliff—tell Mr. Piper to call for help. Go, Andy.
Run."

He nodded quickly and took off down the street.

Fear gripped her lungs, her legs. She could hear the dogs splashing madly across the
creek. Fighting the urge to drop to the ground and curl into a fetal position, Brie
forced her legs to inch along the concrete and through the door.

"Stop," Molly yelled.

Under the piercing sound of the smoke detectors, all Brie could see was the gun digging
into the temple of Duncan's trembling head.

* * *

As Lucy drove, she felt guilty that she hadn't visited more often. Molly really didn't
live that far away. Just a short fifteen-minute drive through town. The drive was
actually very pleasant. She made a silent vow to make this a habit. They wouldn't
be able to set a day each week to chat, of course, with Molly's job taking her off
who knew when.

She pulled in the drive of the tidy condo and locked her car doors. As she climbed
the steps, she noticed the front door was cracked. Ah, she thought, she is home. "MollyAnne?
It's me, dear." Lucy walked in and shut the door behind her. She made her way to the
back thoroughly disgusted with the way her daughter kept house. The door was open
to the basement and the light was on.