“She went to talk to the woman I just hired as the wedding planner.”
He walked over to see Reenie’s notes on what she was doing. Not that he didn’t trust her. He did.
Reenie had been on the run from trouble months ago. He and his brother Ford, the county sheriff, rescued her, his brother getting shot.
It brought them all closer together. He didn’t let too many into his life anymore, but family always filled the holes in his soul. Reenie was family now.
“That’s great,” Reenie said. “I’m glad that is taken care of. It will ease some of Brooke’s workload.”
Which was why he did this.
He’d wanted the barn refurbished for events. Mainly events that he wanted to hold for Ridgeway Hard Cider.
But he let his sister, Gale, talk him into opening it up as a wedding venue. She said she’d help and take care of it.
He should have known that wouldn’t happen. His sister was too busy with her career as an attorney, trying to prove she had what it took on her own. Gale wasn’t one to take orders from many and always said she’d be her own boss.
“I know you’ve been doing a lot to help with events in the barn,” he said. “I hope you don’t think I don’t have faith in your ability.”
Reenie worked just as hard and long as his mother.
Five to six days a week in the cafe starting at six in the morning, then filling in for him doing marketing and advertising that he gladly passed off.
“Between us, I’m glad to let someone else take it over. I’m not really into that kind of design. I enjoy doing it on the computer, but I’m a basic girl at heart. I don’t know which color tablecloths and napkins to use for a spring wedding instead of a fall one.”
“Linens,” he corrected, his lips twitching slightly.
“See. I don’t even know what to call them,” Reenie said. “I’ll always help where you or your parents need me, but someone else is welcome to dealing with fussy brides.”
“Not me,” he said. “It’s all Gale’s fault. She pushed for this.”
Reenie laughed. “You’re all about expanding the family business too. Don’t be so sour.”
“Lemon juice fills my blood.”
His brother’s girlfriend laughed. “You just want everyone to think that. You’re more bark than bite. Even if Brooke didn’t say it all the time, I’ve seen the other side of you.”
He winked and sent her a brief smile. She pointed at it. “We’ve shared something,” he said.
“We did,” she said softly. “I’ll never be able to thank you.”
“I’d do it for anyone.”
And silently carry the burden of another life he’d taken.
He’d let no one know that pieces of his soul got eaten away in the Navy.
As if every life lost chipped away at the beating of his heart.
Losing Colin had been the final straw.
He couldn’t take it another day but wouldn’t throw the towel in to be a quitter.
Not that he ever wanted his father to be injured, but it gave him a rational escape no one would blink at.
“No,” Reenie said. “You wouldn’t. Not like you had.”
He followed her into the kitchen. There was no reason to argue. She’d win and he didn’t like losing anything.
