“Amen. Here’s the thing. My brothers are the best. However, my parents—as well meaning as they are—have very traditional gender roles. I love them completely, but I push Jake and Drew all the time to open their eyes to what is actually around them. They aren’t antifeminists as much as they are learning as they go.”
I considered this, considered what I knew about Jake and Drew as well as some of the conversations Jake and I’d had. “Well, you must have been doing this work for quite a while because men steeped into traditional views aren’t going to color with my daughter for hours, much less choose to babysit her for an entire week to help me out, putting their own business to the side during a busy time, much less get their nails painted. You’ve done good work, lady.”
Steph nodded. “Don’t get me wrong. My dad is amazing and a huge supporter of mine. Both my parents are, as are my brothers. It’s just that my parents are a bit older, and I think he believed he contributed to the household because he earned the money to keep it running, you know? As a grandfather, he’s around so much more for my kids. Jake and Drew have seen that, and they’ve seen Theo and the way he is with our girls. It also helps they are two big kids themselves and they love children.”
“That’s obvious,” I said, memories of Jake with Addie from this week popped into my mind. “Well, I’m grateful that you’ve educated them. Keep up the good work.”
Steph laughed. “Now, talk to me. You know who my support network is, tell me about yours.”
I took another bit of tea as I considered where to even begin. “Short version? Heck, there isn’t really a short version.”
Steph snorted.
“I was twenty-four when I had Addie. Her dad was a boyfriend who I already knew wasn’t sticking around. After a trip to Africa during college as part of an engineering internship, Noah had pledged to go back after graduation and help bring water to rural areas. I don’t think he ever had a plan to settle down, at least not for a while. He tried to give me money for Addie’s care, but I refused. I mean, look where he was going. People there needed the money far more than we did. He comes back to the states several times a year and sees Addie when he does. She knows him, knows he’s her dad, but also knows our family doesn’t look like most others.
“My parents should have never been parents, so they aren’t around. We see them once or twice a year, talk to them around once a month. My grandmother, who I called Nana, took me in each summer as a kid. She lived over this place, owned the whole building. She left it and her nest egg to me when she passed, so we eventually made our way here. I’ve only been here six months, but I’ve made some friends that are quickly becoming my family.” I took another drink, feeling a bit emotional. “I’m a big believer in the family you create versus the one you are born into.”
Steph slipped her hand over mine and squeezed. “And my brother is worming his way into that found family of yours?”
That statement filled me with warmth. “Honestly? I guess? I mean, I’ve known Jake since I moved here. We’ve talked, argued, teased, but that was really it. And then he sort of rescued us in a freak storm last week, and he continued rescuing me when I hit a day care snag. It’s like we went from zero to sixty in a matter of hours, and now I have no idea how I would have survived this week without him.” My eyes welled up, realizing how true those words were. After not having a support network for four years, having someone have my back was huge.
Steph nodded, but then proceeded to blow my mind. “Well, you might think it’s been zero to sixty, but considering Drew knew about Bookstore Ivy before that freak storm, I’d say it’s likely you’ve been on Jake’s mind more than you’d think over the past few months.”
My breath caught. “Really?”
She laughed. “Yeah. And I’m sorry as shit that you don’t have Addie’s dad or your parents to lean on. Safe to say, after hearing Jake talk about Miss Addie for the past few days, no matter what happens to the two of you, you will have him.”
Goddess, that was a great notion. I wanted to trust it, but that scared me more than a little. “I hope so, Steph. As confused as I am about what’s going on with your brother, I know Addie loves him. I need to make sure that she comes first.”
“As any good mama bear should.” Steph raised her hand for a high five, which I gladly gave her.
The bell over the door called to both of us, and we turned to face it. I laughed as I saw Drew poke his head in. “Knew it!” he said to us, before turning and calling down the street. “I was right, Jakey boy. Big sis is introducing herself to Bookstore Ivy.” He ended with a bit of a cackle.
Steph grinned at me as Drew, then Jake, entered the bookstore. Oh boy.
14
Bohemian Princess
Jake
“Well, think we’re ready?” Sully asked as we looked over the brewery where appetizers were set out, scattered on tables throughout the place. There were a few beer stations around the dining room, one for each of our signature beers. At the counter near the hostess station we had our normal merch, as well as canned beer to go. Everyone who worked for the brewery was scheduled tonight, not because we expected giant crowds, but because we’d given everyone an hour shift at some point in the night, asking them to stay and celebrate with us for the rest of the evening. This place was what it was because of the loyalty of our staff, and both Sully and I recognized it.
“As ready as we can be,” I said, moving behind the beer. Looking over the beers we had on tap, I grabbed two glasses and poured a Black Hole Sun IPA for Sully, then one for me. It had been our first beer that hit with the public as well as the beer competitions we’d entered. “Toast?” I raised a glass to Sully.
Sully smiled an easy grin, one that I’d seen more and more on his face this year. Since he and Maggie got together, the man was happier than I’d ever seen him. Sully had always been a great guy, loyal friend, bullshitter extraordinaire, and a terrific businessman. But with Maggie, he was all that and more. He seemed settled in a way I couldn’t explain. I was waiting anxiously for the next seven weeks or so to move on by so I could get a glimpse of him as a dad. I was pretty certain that he’d be an overprotective one but also would love their kid beyond belief.
“Hell yeah. And this toast is just for us, man.” Sully raised his glass to mine. “So damn glad you worked two jobs all those years ago, Jake. Glad we met at that bar, that you got drunk enough after work to dream a dream with me. And I’m sure as hell glad that your parents raised you to know your way around a kitchen so you could think up some kick-ass recipes when we opened this place. Wouldn’t have been the same without you. Shit, that doesn’t even touch your construction knowledge when we rehabbed this place.”
We clinked glasses and took a sip.
I glanced around. This place was a far cry from the building we found seven years ago, that was for sure. Looking back at Sully, I grinned. “Yeah, this is not the life in construction that I thought was ahead of me. Not that I’m complaining. It’s better than anything I imagined.”
“Shit yeah,” Sully replied. We sank down onto some bar stools, spinning so that our backs were on the bar, the brewery laid out in front of us. I watched some of the folks who worked for us congregating in small groups, having a beer, a few appetizers. Everyone else would be coming shortly. I couldn’t wait.
My parents had arrived in Highland last night. The five us came to the brewery for dinner and some beer. It’d been amazing, as it always was, to have them see what this place had become. My dad had visited with strangers at the bar, delighting in telling them that he was the father of one of the owners. He’d come back from the bar to our table, regaling myself, then Sully when he stopped by, with the stories of the people he met. He was proud of the fact that some folks had driven an hour or more to come here for dinner. “This place is a destination,” he’d crowed.
The pride in his voice had been a balm to my soul. My parents had always supported me—hell, they’d supported all of us. Steph and Drew had gone more of the traditional college route, though Drew’s job was anything but traditional. I remember telling my mom and dad my senior year in high school that four more years in a classroom might kill me. I worried like hell I’d be letting them down, and I’d do anything I could to avoid disappointing them. But my dad had just nodded and said he could see that, then asked me what I saw myself doing. They wanted the best for us, always, and they wanted us to work like hell. Work ethic was something drummed into us early. But wanting to go the unconventional route in life was fine with them. Find what you love and find a way to get paid for doing it was my dad’s advice to me all those years ago. Looking around now, I can honestly say I’d done just that.
