Not So New in Town (9 page)

Parker returned moments later, holding three black-eyed Susan’s with their perfect black velvet middles. “Nice. See that vase up there?” She pointed to the top shelf. “Pull it down for me, please.”

He reached up without standing on his toes or having to drag a stepladder over. So unfair. “Thanks.” She filled the vase with water and shoved the flowers in. Picking up the tray, she asked, “You coming?”

Parker opened the fridge and peered inside. “In a minute.”

“Oh…okay. Well, I’m off. You know…to feed your mom and—”

“Aunt Lucy, quit stalling. She gets bitch…er, crabby when she doesn’t eat.”

Bitchy. He had it right the first time. “Right. Okay, wish me luck.”

Parker gave her the you’re-so-weird-I-can’t-believe-we’re-related look. Lucy straightened her shoulders and marched down the hall to the ominous tune of
Jaws
playing inside her head.

“Mom…Aunt Lucy. Brogan’s here,” Parker announced forty-five minutes later as he rapped his knuckles on his mom’s bedroom door. Lucy had been taking extensive notes on all that needed to be done that day, while trying to keep from bludgeoning herself with the brass andirons framing the fireplace. Lucy didn’t envy her stepsister. Sitting around all day had to be as boring as watching hair grow. But this to-do list as long as her arm made Lucy’s temp job as the U-Store-Em manager, where she sat in a trailer and babysat empty self-storage units, seem like a day on South Beach.

“Brogan? Really?” Julia perked up at the mention of her old boyfriend. “Parks, tell him to come in.” Parker nodded and turned to go. “Wait! Give me five minutes.” Julia smoothed the front of her light-pink cotton tank top that did nothing to hide the tops of her voluptuous, milk-filled breasts. “Luce, grab my hairbrush, mirror, and makeup bag on the bathroom counter.”

Great. Helping her beautiful sister primp for Brogan made her stomach queasy.

“And don’t forget my eyelash curler,” Julia said as Lucy rummaged through her sister’s designer cosmetics in the master bathroom.

Five minutes and a glamorized Julia later, Brogan strolled through the bedroom door, holding a beautiful bouquet of light-pink peonies and a green shopper filled with food from BetterBites. “Hey there, Julia. How you feeling?” he asked in a soft, concerned voice intended to soothe the crabbiest of hearts.

“Brogan.” His name rolled off her tongue in a sigh. “For me?” Perfectly manicured hands reached for the bouquet. “They’re lovely.” She brought the flowers to her nose, inhaling while slanting him a provocative glance. “Lucy, be a love and put these in some water.” Julia used her saccharine-sweet voice, which grated on Lucy’s last remaining nerve. Thrusting the bouquet at her with one hand, Julia indicated the pink chair with her other. “Brogan, please sit.”

Brogan paused before dropping into the chair. A whiff of clean soap and expensive leather reached Lucy’s nose as he filled the feminine room, giving it a much-needed boost of testosterone. Leaning on his forearms, he fiddled with the straps of the shopper. Brogan wore a green polo shirt with a yellow BetterBites logo over his left breast, and a tight expression on his face. Maybe sitting in a room the color of Pepto-Bismol, with a seven-month pregnant ex-girlfriend, made him uncomfortable. Lucy couldn’t imagine why.

“I’ll put these in water,” she said, watching Julia preen like a pink flamingo, slicking her tongue over rosy-glossed lips. Brogan cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. Awkward.

“Lucy, bring Brogan a drink, please,” Julia ordered.

“No! Thank you. No drink for me.” The frantic sound of his tone made Lucy pause.

“Are you sure? Lucy doesn’t mind. That’s what she’s here for.” Big blue eyes batted in Brogan’s direction.

To fetch and wait on Julia and her entourage. Funny, Lucy thought she was here to help take care of Parker and to keep Julia from going into early labor.

Brogan nodded. “Positive.”

“Oh. Well, Lucy, please brew a pot of fresh coffee. Amanda and Marcia are stopping by for a visit,” she said in a clipped voice.

“Yes, ma’am!” Lucy saluted and bowed out of the room but not before she caught Julia’s bitchy glare-down and Brogan’s attempt to hide a chuckle with a forced cough.

Lucy dropped the bouquet of peonies on the creamy tile countertop and started the pot of coffee. The nosy part of her wished she’d stayed in the room to hear the reuniting couple’s every word. The freaked-out part wanted to run to the nearest bar and get snockered. Staying away all these years had done nothing to her stupid, weak heart. Talk about a dumb muscle. It did nothing but race, causing high blood pressure, and then broke into millions of pieces every time she allowed it to surge, searching for love.

Opening upper cabinets, she hunted for a vase. Parker, having mastered “evade and hide,” had bolted downstairs to play his computer games. She hated to call him back up to help her hunt. She spied a crystal vase tucked in the corner on the highest shelf. She went in search of a stepladder but came up empty. She improvised by pushing an old ladder-back kitchen chair with a rush seat next to the counter. Jiggling it to test for sturdiness, she started to climb.

“What are you doing?”

Lucy wobbled at the sound of Brogan’s voice, and the rush seat beneath her feet gave a moaning creak. “Whoa.” She grabbed hold of the cabinet door for stability at the same time Brogan encircled her waist in a tight grip. The seat creaked again under her weight. “I don’t like the sounds of that.”

“Me either.” He lifted her by the waist and placed her feet back on the sturdy tile floor. “Allow me.” He pointed with his finger. “Which one?”

Brain freeze. Brogan’s other hand still rested on her waist as if it belonged there, causing temporary amnesia. “Uh, the crystal one in the right corner,” she said, shaking her head clear.

Lucy stepped away from Brogan’s heat. “Where’s Parker? He could’ve gotten it for you.”

With trembling hands, Lucy placed the vase under the kitchen faucet. “He already played Green Giant earlier, and I hated to ask again.” She arranged the peonies. “There. Perfect.” She extended the flowers to Brogan, maintaining a proper distance.

He picked up the BetterBites shopper and turned his back as he started unloading containers of prepared food in the refrigerator.

“Don’t you want to take the flowers to Julia?”

“Not really,” he said with his head halfway inside the fridge.

“Oh. All done reminiscing? That didn’t take long.” And didn’t that make Lucy happy?

“I’ll be back. We have more catching up to do. Today, we discussed business.” He finished emptying the bag. “Tell Parker to take the flowers to his mother. You ready to go?”

Yes. No. Not with you. Again. Sheesh.

“Okay, give me a sec.” She placed the peonies on the kitchen table and went to the opened basement door. “Parker? Come here, please.” To Brogan, waiting patiently in the kitchen, she said, “Be right back.”

In her bedroom she retrieved her handbag. She caught her reflection in the white oval mirror over her dresser. Biting her bottom lip, she hesitated for less than a second before rushing into the bathroom and pulling a comb through her hair, securing it with a ponytail holder, swiping mascara on her eyelashes and blush on her cheeks. She reached for her favorite bottle of Viva la Juicy and spritzed behind her ears and down her cleavage. Smoothing her hair one last time, she left the room and reentered the kitchen. Parker slouched against the countertop, waiting.

“Parker, please deliver these flowers to your mom. Fresh coffee has been brewed. Amanda and Marcia can serve themselves.” She motioned to the coffeepot and mugs on the counter. “I’m going to pick up my poor car and then run your mom’s errands. Anything you need while I’m out?”

Parker shoved his hands in the back of his bright-blue Nike shorts and gave Lucy his classic bored look. “What’s for lunch? I’m starved.”

“Oh. Lunch. Didn’t you just eat breakfast?”

“I’ve stocked the fridge with some healthy meals you can microwave. There’s fresh fruit too. Keep drinking water to stay hydrated,” Brogan said, digging for his keys in his pocket.

Parker gave a jerky nod. “Sure.”

“Wow, Parker. Looks like you’ve got your own personal trainer,” Lucy said.

“Not officially, but I have trained enough over the years and know from experience.” Brogan pointed a finger at Parker. “Do not follow your aunt’s lead in the food department.” He gestured at the package of Double Stuf Oreos on the countertop.

“Studies have shown that chocolate is good for you.” Lifting her nose, she shoved the cookies in an upper cabinet and closed the door.

“
Dark
chocolate, and only in small quantities.”

“Whatever.” Lucy ruffled Parker’s soft, dark hair. “Call if you need me.” She leaned close to tuck down the tag at his collar and whispered, “I’ll bring you a milk shake from the Dog.” Surprised, Parker’s face brightened, and Lucy winked.

* * *

Lucy’s citrusy scent filled the interior of his car and Brogan’s head as he drove down Main Street back toward the highway.

Being back in the Doolan/Brooks house, where he’d spent a huge portion of his high school days, brought back a rush of memories. Most good, but not all. Since Brogan had grown up an only child, he’d always enjoyed spending time with other kids and their families. Even if it meant witnessing Julia and Lucy bicker or Mr. Doolan fawn over his second wife, Babs. Maybe not the perfect all-American family, but it had come close enough. He’d have given his throwing arm to have a sibling to boss or fight with. Since his mom had worked full time, he’d come home from school to Tulip, the housekeeper. Once in a while, Tulip’s son, Deshawn, would be there, and he’d toss the football with him, but mostly Brogan would be alone.

Today, sitting in Mr. Doolan’s master bedroom, talking to a flirty, pregnant Julia had felt strange. He should’ve stayed and forced Julia to talk about Parker’s real dad, but he’d chickened out. Harsh memories had washed over him at Julia’s decision to keep Parker in the dark. He’d experienced that same black history. Remembering the embarrassment and shame he’d felt when other kids would ask why he didn’t have a dad and never having an answer…made it worse. At those uncomfortable times, Brogan had resented his mom and her stubborn pride.

Instead, with Julia, he’d provided specifics about his mom’s house and how much he wanted to net. The mention of a potential sale lit Julia’s eyes. Her business mask replaced her flirtatious face. Whenever Julia wanted something, she got that scary, calculated look, and nothing or no one could sway her otherwise.

Brogan harbored no illusions that Julia had pined over him all these years. Parker and the baby on the way proved she hadn’t joined a nunnery. No, Julia had set her course in life and showed little signs of suffering. The real mystery was Lucy. Somewhere beneath the straight hair, suspicious eyes, and feisty mouth was a story. A unique story with a pinch of sadness peppered with humor, piquing his curiosity.

“Looks busy today. You get a lot of traffic in your store?” she remarked at the shoppers crowding the sidewalk on Main.

Not nearly enough. “Some. Still need to get our name out. Keith Morgan’s tennis academy has helped, because the players training want healthy food.”

“Some guys in tennis clothes just went inside,” she said, swiveling her head and peering out the back window.

Good. “How many?” He tried to keep the desperate edge at bay. The business needed picking up fast, or he’d be missing his NYC deadline in September. The fighter inside him wouldn’t abandon Harmony’s BetterBites. Determination and pure stubbornness drove him. Harmony’s location would thrive with the help of the new hometown attraction: Lucy.

He glanced at his ticket to success sitting uncomfortably stiff next to him. Getting her to agree was the rub.

“Ran into Amanda and Marcia this morning. Did they warn you about stopping by?”

“Yeah, they texted me. I’ll run Julia’s errands while the Witches of Harmony hold their broomstick convention. Give them time to plot their revenge without my presence.”

“Revenge? What are you talking about?”

Lucy shot him a wary look. “You know. Since I chopped off her hair, Julia has never really gotten me back. She’s either planning to shave my head and tattoo a scary, fire-breathing dragon across my chest or boss me into an early grave with her incessant demands and endless lists.”

“But you were banished from your home the last two years of high school. Personally, I thought the punishment didn’t fit the crime.”

Lucy straightened in her seat. “Not exactly banished. I chose to leave, since Julia and I never got along. At the time, it felt right.” Brogan’s knuckles tightened around the steering wheel at the crack in her voice. “I was young and foolish, leaving all my friends my junior and senior year to live with my grandparents in Chattanooga. Starting over was tough.”
Twip
went a lock of hair around her finger. “I still came home…for vacations and holidays. Unless they weren’t going to be here. Babs would arrange these silly trips to Dollywood or Graceland and whisk my dad away.”

Lucy crossed her arms and tucked her chin. “As a kid, all I could see was some woman and her daughter taking away my dad. Whacking Julia’s hair and gluing her butt in biology was wrong, but as a threatened fifteen-year-old, it was my only weapon.”

Brogan had stopped on the shoulder of the narrow two-lane highway behind Lucy’s broken-down car. “I remember when you left. I was angry and thought you didn’t get a fair deal. So you pulled a few pranks.” He shrugged. “I knew what Julia used to do to you.”

Lucy blinked in shock. “How did you know?”

“Because Julia had a mean-girl streak and loved to spread baseless rumors. I wasn’t as blinded by love as you think.” Lucy shifted uncomfortably, and Brogan spied light-pink lace hugging the tops of her breasts beneath her pink tank top. He bit hard on the inside of his cheek.

Lucy fluttered her hand. “Water under the bridge. High school is so dumb. Why do we give it such power over our lives?”

“Because it’s a powerful transition from childhood into adulthood. Breaking away from total parental dependency and forging long-term friendships. It becomes a part of you. Even if you don’t want it to.”

* * *

Sheesh, you could say that again. This time Lucy zipped her loose lips. Old hurts and embarrassed feelings rushed to the surface, causing shortness of breath. These were the very reasons she hadn’t wanted to be back in Harmony, reliving her awkward high school days, invoking old memories. They had caused endless nights of soaking her favorite Spice Girls pillow with hot tears.

Outside the car, Brogan reached for the jug of coolant from his trunk. “What did you do after graduating from college?”

“Worked in marketing in Atlanta for the convention center downtown, but when the economy tanked…all the new hires lost their jobs.”

Brogan gave an understanding nod as he popped the hood to Lucy’s car. “So you took up temp work?”