Starting Over at Blueberry Creek--Includes a bonus novella Read online

  A knock on her screen door made her jump. She blinked past her tears and saw Luke Marini. Without being invited, he opened the door that Eve had just slammed and stepped inside. “Everything okay?” he asked.

  No. Nothing was okay. “Yes,” she lied instead. “Everything is fine.”

  Chapter Three

  I overheard the commotion while I was walking Max,” Luke said, standing outside Brenna’s open door. He’d intended to come over here anyway to apologize about this morning. He had the perfect excuse because a misplaced piece of her mail had landed in his box this afternoon.

  Brenna’s gaze bounced from Max at his feet and back up to him. “Sorry. Sister wars. They happen frequently over here at the McConnell household.”

  “Anything I can do?” he asked.

  She looked away, hiding her face behind her hair for a moment. “No. Our fights always blow over eventually.”

  “I had two brothers growing up. We had our fair share of fights too.”

  Brenna looked at him now. “The difference is that you referred to your fights in the past. Eve and I haven’t outgrown ours.” She shook her head, looking flustered and beautiful. She was so attractive that it made him uncomfortable. He realized now that was unfair. He was perfectly capable of keeping his head on straight with Brenna without giving her the cold shoulder. And he didn’t know if she’d be interested in him anyway.

  “Would Max like some water?” she asked, gesturing for them to step inside. “I have homemade dog biscuits too, if he’s hungry.”

  “I think Max would love that.” Luke followed her into the kitchen, where she tossed the banana she was holding into the trash can and reached for a bowl in her cabinet. Luke watched as she brought it to the sink and filled it with water.

  “Homemade dog biscuits, huh?” he asked as he sat on a barstool and Max curled at his feet.

  Brenna set the bowl in front of Max and then headed to her refrigerator. “Believe it or not, we have a client who wants us to cater their animal rescue event. So we’re cooking for the humans and the canines. I’m trying out a few dog treat recipes.” She grabbed a large plastic Ziploc bag from her fridge shelf and lifted a medium-size biscuit out. “These are peanut butter flavored,” she said, addressing Max as she crouched in front of him. “Let’s see if you like them.”

  Max’s tail started thumping erratically against the floor. Luke’s heart was doing something similar against his ribs. “What do you mean you’re trying them out? You don’t have a dog.”

  “No, just a sister who pushes me to the edge.” Brenna straightened, the motion bringing her much too close for Luke’s comfort. His mouth went dry. At this distance, he could see the amber-colored flecks in her irises, a perfect match to the dusting of freckles along her cheeks. “Um, the biscuits can be eaten by people too,” Brenna said. “I’m sampling them myself to see if they’re any good.”

  Without thinking, Luke reached a hand toward her and grabbed a biscuit out of the bag she was holding, bringing it to his mouth.

  “They’re not that sweet,” she warned, looking a little worried. “I didn’t add sugar, because it’s not good for dogs. But I personally still think they’re tasty.” She gestured to Max who was already halfway done with his. “See?”

  “If they’re anything like the doughnuts, I’m sure they’re fantastic.” Luke took a bite. The doughnuts were definitely better tasting, but these were edible. “Not bad.”

  “Really?” Brenna zipped the bag back up and stepped away to return it to the fridge. “I’m sorry about disturbing your walk just now.”

  “Teenagers are hard for everyone.”

  “How would you know?” she asked, turning to look at him.

  “Well, my brother Nick started his family early. He has two teenagers of his own. I’ve talked Nick out of tossing bananas on many occasions.”

  Brenna brought her hands to her face, her cheeks turning a deep crimson color. “So you did see our food fight? I’m so sorry. That’s never happened before. It was a momentary lapse of self-control. I usually don’t react to her sarcasm and criticism.”

  “It happens to the best of us. I can’t say it’s ever happened to me, but…” Luke grinned. Then he pulled his gaze away from Brenna while he still could and zeroed in on the Crock-Pot behind her, just looking for a new conversation. “Whatever that is, it smells delicious.”

  Brenna glanced over her shoulder. “It’s chicken and vegetables. You’re welcome to have some. I have plenty since it’s just me tonight.”

  “That’s okay. Max and I need to finish our walk. He waits patiently all day to sniff every patch of grass from here to the stop sign and back.” Luke stood.

  Brenna laughed, the sound as sweet as her doughnuts this morning. “How about I make you a container and stick it in the mailbox? You can grab it on your walk back.”

  “You’ve already gone out of your way for me today.”

  “It’s no trouble. In fact, you’d be doing me a favor. I have more than enough and my freezer is already packed with leftovers.”

  “Okay, then. That sounds great.” A warmness spread through his chest, a sure sign that it was time to go. His goal here was to be friendly, not romantic. He turned and headed to the front door.

  “But there’s a catch,” Brenna called behind him.

  Luke stopped walking and turned back to narrow his eyes at her. “What kind of catch?”

  “Just don’t tell the other neighbors that I was having a food fight with Eve. Gossip spreads like wildfire in a small town, you know.”

  He gave a humorless laugh. “Believe me, I know,” he muttered, thinking of when he’d first arrived in Sweetwater Springs. Any detail he shared seemed to immediately become public information. “But it’s only a fair food fight if your opponent has food to throw too. Just saying.”

  Brenna put a hand on her hip, and his gaze and mind unintentionally dropped there. “Next time,” she said.

  “You know where I live. Next time, give me a heads-up, and I’ll come talk you down. You said yourself that you hate to waste food. Seems like a shame to ruin a good bunch of bananas.”

  “Touché. And thank you. I might take you up on that.”

  “That’s what neighbors are for, right?” he asked, repeating her words from this morning.

  He and Max stepped onto her front porch. “I, uh…” He shifted back and forth on his feet, readying the apology he’d been preparing all day, his throat suddenly thick. “I’m sorry if I came off as less than neighborly earlier.”

  She leaned against the door frame. “Apology accepted.”

  Luke let out a huge breath. Then he realized that he was still holding an envelope in his hand. “I almost forgot. Your mail landed in my box today.”

  “Oh.” Brenna took the manila envelope. “Our new mail carrier keeps mixing up the neighbors’ mail. This has happened a few times to me already.”

  Luke gestured at the envelope. “You’re thinking about going to college?” he asked. “I couldn’t help noticing the sender’s address.”

  “Oh no, this isn’t for me. It’s for Eve.” She looked away shyly.

  Luke frowned. “But it’s addressed to you.”

  “Yes, well, I sent off for the information for Eve,” Brenna said, not meeting his gaze. “Just in case she became interested.”

  Luke scrunched his brow. “She just graduated from the fire academy. I thought she was waiting for a position to open up at SSFD.”

  Brenna nodded. “She is, but in the meantime, I’m trying to persuade her to go to school for something more practical for an eighteen-year-old woman. Something safer.”

  Luke decided against arguing. This wasn’t any of his business and he’d just gotten back in Brenna’s good graces. “I see.”

  “Anyway, the chicken and vegetables will be waiting for you on your way back,” she promised, looking up at him with a smile that made him want to stay a little longer. Instead, he resisted the temptation and said good night.


  * * *

  There was a quickening in Brenna’s heart as she watched Luke head down the street with Max jogging alongside him. Ignoring the sensation, she closed the door and headed into the kitchen and grabbed a plastic container from her cabinet to fill with dinner for Luke. Unable to help herself, she prepared a small baggie of dog biscuits for his little dog too. She loved feeding the people around her, even if she didn’t exactly enjoy being a caterer.

  Brenna placed the container and baggie in a larger paper bag that she folded down to be compact. Then she walked it down the driveway and slid it into her mailbox. She glanced down the road in both directions, catching a distant view of Luke, and once more her heart fluttered around like the butterflies that frequented her flower beds lately.

  She believed in first impressions, and they were usually accurate. Being a businesswoman, she knew that they were so vital. A bad first impression could mean losing a potential client, who tells everyone they know not to use your services.

  She’d first met Luke last winter, and he’d been brief with her, just like he had every other time she’d met him. Her first, second, and tenth impression of him was that, while gorgeous, he wasn’t overly social. But this evening he’d walked over to check on her and had even offered to talk her down next time Eve made her lose her head. That was nice and unexpected.

  Brenna turned and headed back up her driveway, her mind going to that envelope that Luke had carried over. She hadn’t exactly told him the truth. Yes, she was encouraging Eve to go to college. But the letter was for Brenna. She’d always told herself that she’d finish her college degree one day. Eve was an adult, and Aunt Thelma had offered to handle the business if and when Brenna decided to complete her degree. It would only be a year, and Nate would help.

  Brenna stepped inside the house and closed the front door behind her, staring at the envelope on her table. Thick was good and thin was bad, right? This one had a medium thickness, leaving her unsure of the answer inside.

  She took a few deep breaths, gathering her courage. “If they say no, I’ll apply somewhere else.” Even though Western University was her first choice. That’s where she’d gotten her first three years of credits. “And if they say yes—” Her cell phone rang in the middle of her pep talk to herself. Brenna pulled it out of her pocket, checking the caller ID before tapping the screen and holding it to her ear. “Aunt Thelma?”

  “Hi, Brenna. I just wanted to let you know that Eve is here.”

  Brenna sighed. “Of course she is.”

  “She said you lost your mind and threw bananas at her?”

  Brenna closed her eyes and leaned against the back of her front door. “Not exactly. I threw pieces of banana at her. Just one banana. But don’t worry, Aunt Thelma. I haven’t lost my mind, just my patience with Eve’s ungratefulness and complaining…Everything is fine.”

  “I’m sure it is. Eve asked to stay here tonight, and I told her she could. I hope that’s okay.”

  Brenna blew out a breath. “Yes, thank you, Aunt Thelma. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

  “Don’t be silly. Family is never an inconvenience. I just wanted to let you know where she was so you wouldn’t worry about her. I know you do. You’re just like a mom in that way.”

  Aunt Thelma didn’t mean anything by that remark, of course, but the words stuck under Brenna’s skin. She was just like a mom and yet not at all the same. And she didn’t want to be Eve’s mom. She wanted to return to being just sisters but it was so hard going back. Maybe there was no going back.

  “I also wanted to make sure you were okay,” Aunt Thelma added.

  “I’m fine. Thank you for asking. And for the call.”

  “Of course. I love you girls so much. Always have.”

  “I love you too,” Brenna said, meaning it. She didn’t know what she’d do without her mom’s sister. Aunt Thelma hadn’t stepped in to run A Taste of Heaven, and she hadn’t taken guardianship of Eve after the accident, but Brenna couldn’t fault her for that. She was getting older and taking over a business and the care of a teenager was a lot to ask. Even so, Thelma had always been there if Brenna needed something. She was only ever one phone call away. “I’ll see you at A Taste of Heaven in the morning?”

  “Yes, you will,” her aunt said.

  Brenna said good night and disconnected the call. Then she walked over to the kitchen table and plopped into the seat in front of the manila envelope, staring at it for an exaggerated moment. She’d never know until she opened it. “Just do it, Brenna.”

  Her fingers shook slightly as she lifted it and tore off the top. She pulled out the letter inside and sent up a silent prayer before reading.

  Dear Ms. McConnell,

  Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Western University.

  * * *

  The sun wasn’t even over the mountains yet, and Luke had already trimmed back the roses and taken care of the weeds that were popping up every time he turned around. A light came on next door, catching his eye. Brenna was awake. He imagined she was turning on her coffee maker and rubbing her eyes sleepily. Was she preparing breakfast right now or was she the kind that skipped the first meal of the day?

  Luke rubbed a hand over his face. Where were these questions coming from? He didn’t wonder about the details of the neighbor on the opposite side of him or the ones down the street. And he didn’t need to wonder about Brenna McConnell either.

  After an hour more of work, including washing his truck, Luke showered and dressed for his shift.

  “Luke!” Chief Brewer said, meeting him in the station’s kitchen once he’d arrived.

  “You’re here again?”

  “Can’t help myself,” the chief said. “Looks like there were no calls yesterday.”

  “It was a quiet day,” Luke agreed. “I stayed on Ryan’s back to get the lawn maintenance done.”

  “I noticed when I drove up. Looks good.”

  “Yeah, well, I had Wally go back behind him and touch it up.”

  Chief Brewer shook his head in response.

  “Tim is behind on his training. Again,” Luke pointed out. “I checked and everyone else is all caught up.”

  “Sounds about right,” Chief Brewer said. “I’ve been meaning to have a talk with him about that. I’ll plan to handle that tomorrow when I’m on shift.”

  Someone knocked on the office door, interrupting the conversation.

  Both men turned toward a tall, thin young woman with bright-red hair and pale freckled skin. She was Brenna’s sister, who Luke had heard fighting with Brenna last night. He’d seen her at a few scenes working as a volunteer firefighter before too.

  “Eve, what are you doing here?” Chief Brewer asked. He stepped over and gave the young woman a hug, obviously happy to see her. “We haven’t had any calls this morning.”

  “I’m not here as a volunteer. I’m here because I want to be a real firefighter. I want a job,” Eve clarified. “I’ve finished the academy. I’m trained and well qualified.”

  Chief Brewer held out his open palms. “As I’ve told you before, we don’t have any openings just yet. Our workload justifies one, and I’ve sent a request to Mayor Everson, but he’s the one who decides how many crew we’re allotted.” The chief scratched the tip of his chin. “But honestly, your sister doesn’t even like you volunteering with us, Eve. She’s given me an earful on that subject before.”

  Eve huffed. “Brenna needs to mind her own business and stop treating me like a child.”

  Chief Brewer slid his gaze over to meet Luke’s as if looking for help. Luke intended to stay out of this conversation though.

  Chief Brewer returned his attention to Eve. “You haven’t come out to the last few calls with us. I thought maybe you saw too much. It’s not an easy job, and I wouldn’t blame anyone for having a change of heart.”

  “I didn’t have a change of heart,” Eve said with all the feistiness of young adults that Luke had ever known, h
imself included at that age. “I’ve been busy helping out at A Taste of Heaven but I’m done with that now. My sister is a control freak in the kitchen.”

  Chief Brewer frowned. “I’m sorry but I just don’t have any openings right now.”

  “So when you do, the job is mine?” Eve pressed.

  Chief Brewer shared another look with Luke. They both knew that openings at the fire station were rare unless Mayor Everson approved another spot. Right now, there were only six guys on crew, including Chief Brewer and Luke’s assistant chief position. They split the day shifts, and the other crew took turns rotating longer, overnight shifts.

  “There are plenty of other fire stations outside of Sweetwater Springs,” Luke pointed out. “Might mean moving but you’d be able to find firefighting work if you were willing to do that.”

  Eve shook her head. “I don’t want a job anywhere else. This is where my dad worked. This is where I learned the ropes as a volunteer firefighter. I want to be at SSFD.”

  She was headstrong, and her passion shone through. Luke saw more than a little of himself in her. All his life, he’d wanted to be a firefighter, and once he had the training, he’d pretty much camped out at the door of the station in Whispering Pines. His chief there eventually had to give him a job because Luke wasn’t giving up.

  “I’ll call you if a position opens,” Chief Brewer reiterated. “That’s all I can promise. But you could be waiting a long time, and there’s a list of other firefighters who want to work here. Best to find another paying job in the meantime.”

  Eve sighed, her shoulders rounding forward in temporary defeat. “Well, I’m not working with Brenna, so don’t even try to suggest that. It’s bad enough that I have to live under the same roof with her.”

  “You don’t,” Luke pointed out.

  Eve narrowed her eyes at him. “What?”

  “You’re an adult, right? You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Right, Chief Brewer?”