Welcome Back to Apple Grove (13 page)

“Well, yes, but—”

“And didn’t you color code and label the files so that a fifth grader could locate whatever documents your dad needed?”

Her gaze narrowed at him. “How do you know that?”

He laughed this time. “Dan was on file duty a few months ago because the fifth high school student they’d hired had just quit—”

Grace yanked a chair out from the table and plopped onto it. “Five replacements?”

He shrugged. “I think they’re up to seven by now.”

“Why didn’t they just hire an adult?”

“Don’t know,” he said, but he had an idea that it came down to not being able to pay one the going rate, given Joe’s propensity for hiring part-time after-school help. “Have you asked them?”

The guilty look on her face had him pulling out the chair next to her and taking her hand in his. “Look. I didn’t say anything to make you feel bad. It was just a question.”

She swallowed and stared down at their hands. “I’ve been too wrapped up in my new job to ask how things were going.”

“Have they said anything to intentionally make you feel guilty or bad?”

Her gaze lifted to meet his. Worry was replacing the guilt in her eyes. “No.”

“Then they don’t blame you, because you did everything you could to make sure they could continue doing business as usual after you left.”

“I can’t believe they didn’t call me.”

Pat sighed. He needed to get her thinking about something else. “That’s what my ma always says whenever I call her.”

Grace’s eyes were the key to her thoughts. They softened with understanding. “You feel guilty that you moved away and guiltier whenever she reminds you it’s been awhile since you phoned. Makes sense why you put off calling home.”

He squeezed her hand. “No one else in my family understands. Why is it that you do?”

She eased her hand free and rose to check the sauce. “I’m betting no one else in your family has moved out of Brooklyn, have they?”

He shrugged. “We’re the black sheep that have moved away from everyone we should be holding near and dear to our hearts.”

“We had different dreams that led us away from home.”

“And needed the freedom to make decisions and a life for ourselves,” he added.

“Exactly.” She set the spoon down and turned off the burner. “It would have been easier to stay—less guilt—but then I would have always wondered what it would have been like, fulfilling my dream of living in the big city.”

“Until it would have become the only thing you wanted.” Patrick stood. “Making everything else seem unimportant—even though it wasn’t.”

“It shouldn’t make us feel so guilty,” Grace whispered.

Pat ran a hand over the softness of her hair, sliding it around her neck. “We do that all by ourselves.”

Her troubled gaze lifted to his. “Why can’t we stop?”

He snorted. “Damned if I know.”

“Maybe we can help one another figure out a way to be everything our families need while still pursuing our dreams,” Grace suggested.

“Sounds like a plan.”

“I’m going to find out if they need help in the office while I’m on vacation.”

He sighed. “Less time for you to spend with me.”

“But you’ll be at the firehouse.”

“True,” he agreed. “I guess I could call my ma.”

“I wish I could.” Grace’s voice had dropped to a whisper again.

Pat eased her head onto his shoulder and let his hand stroke up and down her back until the tension eased. “Close your eyes,” he told her. “Then imagine her smiling face.”

“All right.”

“Tell her what’s on your mind and in your heart; she’s still listening.”

Grace lifted her head and swiped at the tears. “How did you know just what to say?”

He caught one of her tears on the tip of his finger. “I’ve been talking to my dad since the day my uncle Bill showed up at school with soot on his face and tears in his eyes.”

“He was a firefighter too?”

Pat nodded. “I come from a long line of firefighters—both sides of the family.”

“Where was your mom?”

Pat wondered at the ache that still filled him whenever he remembered that day. “She went into premature labor with the youngest—my brother, Johnny, when she heard that the roof caved in on my father’s fire company.”

“Yet you and your brothers all followed in his footsteps?”

“Tommy, Mike, and I were old enough to understand that it was his time. Fate and destiny have more of a say in your life than you realize.” He pressed his lips to the curve of her brow. “You know?”

Grace’s gaze locked on his. “I’ve seen it happen with first Meg and then Cait. Neither one of them were looking for love—but love found them.”

“And your dad?”

She chuckled softly. “Mary’s the best thing to happen to him in years. I just worry that he won’t do anything to make it permanent.”

“I’d say things are pretty solid between those two.” He sifted his fingers through the hair curving against her jaw. It felt like corn silk. “Why mess with a good thing?”

“Because they belong together, not going back and forth between two houses, spending stolen moments together.”

“Sounds like one of the romance novels Grania reads.”

“Everybody’s here,” Joe called out.

“Is the food ready?” Jack asked from where he stood on the other side of the door.

Patrick stared at Grace and wondered if she too sensed that their conversation had done more to cement their growing relationship than the heart-shattering kisses they’d shared.

“Yeah, but we’re playing first, remember?”

“I’m hungry,” Jack grumbled.

“Grace made enough to feed an army,” he answered before turning back to hug Grace close, promising, “we’ll talk more later.”

“After the game?”

“How about that ride—down to the river, wasn’t it?”

“I’d like that.”

“It’s a date then.”

Grace’s smile had him reaffirming his decision from yesterday. It still held—she was a keeper.

The grunt that followed the impact of two male bodies vying for the soccer ball had Grace biting her lip. “Was that move legal?”

Her sister Meg shook her head. “You’re not supposed to tackle the player with the ball from behind.”

“Then why did Patrick just do that?”

Meg laughed. “I guess he wanted to take the ball.”

The ball shot past them down the improvised soccer field. “So do you know all of the guys’ names?”

Meg turned to look at Grace and smiled. “Nicknames and last names. Today, they’re only playing six on six. The number keeps changing depending on which guys are off shift at the firehouse.” She pointed to the dark-haired man in the goal. “That’s Finney. The defender next to your Patrick is Sledge.”

Grace sighed; she liked the way that sounded—hers. “Is Sledge his last name?”

“Nickname. They just smile whenever I ask what it’s short for,” Meg said. “Jimmy’s holding down the midfield, while Mike and Bear are forwards.”

“The home team looks a little young—except for my handsome brothers-in-law and Mitch.” Grace paused, then asked, “Where is Honey B. today?”

Meg smiled. “Visiting her mom.”

Grace tilted her head to one side. “The three other guys look familiar. Should I know them?”

“The tallest one with the dark hair is Jimmy Doyle—”

“I thought he was away at school.”

“Graduated in May.”

“Where does the time go? So I guess the guy with the fair hair and football build is his best friend Tommy Hawkins?”

Meg’s smile lit her entire face. “I’m not the only one who’s got a soft spot for those two. They’ve been working with Cait whenever they’re home on break.”

“And who’s that?” Grace pointed to the man holding down midfield.

“Seriously? You don’t recognize him?”

“Broad shoulders, nice build—probably half a dozen years younger than me…I can’t place the face.”

“Tim McCormack.”

“No way!” Grace got up to walk closer to the sidelines. Turning back, she asked, “Kate and Peggy’s cousin? Skinny little Timmy?”

Meg smiled. “One and the same. Time flies and boys grow up when they’re away at college.”

“I’m starting to feel old.”

“It’s happens to the best of us,” Meg said, walking over to stand beside her sister.

When two bodies collided going for the ball, Grace grimaced. “Why do guys feel the need use their bodies like a weapon?”

“I guess it feeds an inner savage need all men have,” Meg answered.

“Hmmm. Mitch isn’t half bad as a goalie,” Grace said and then drew in her breath. “Wow, Dan’s got some moves on him. He just dribbled the ball around Patrick’s teammate like he was standing still.”

Meg’s soft smile as she watched her husband finesse the ball and kick it into the improvised goal—between two folding chairs—and score had Grace grinning ear to ear.

“Hey, aren’t you supposed to be cheering for the visiting team?” Meg asked, walking back to the table.

Grace followed, deep in thought, wondering if she had found someone to fill the missing piece of her life—a partner, a friend, a lover. “Meg, when did you know Dan was the one?”

Her sister looked back at her. “When I fell off the fence and he caught me.”

“Oh, so it was love at first sight then?”

Meg sat down and leaned back against the picnic table. “It might have been lust, but love sounds better.”

Their laughter had Cait wandering over to sit with them. “Something funny?”

“Lust at first sight.”

Cait looked over her shoulder at the men, smiling when Jack waved to her. “Mmmm. It does have its benefits.”

“The lovebug bites us in different places and at different times,” Meg told her. “But one thing’s for sure—once you’ve been bitten, you can’t imagine life without him.”

A shout from the field had Meg whirling around. “Cait.”

Her sister ran to the sideline as Dan helped Jack to his feet. Grace watched Cait breathe a sigh of relief as she walked back. “He won’t admit when his leg is bothering him,” she said quietly, “but a blind woman could tell.”

“He’s fine,” Meg reassured her as curses and the sound of bodies slamming bodies filled the air. “Oh my God! I thought this was a game?”

“Looks like they’re out for blood,” Grace said as one of the players clutched his leg and started shouting at the others.

Cait shook her head. “Men and their pride,” she grumbled. “Do you think Mike’s OK?”

The play had stopped while a heated discussion and a lot of shoving took place. Grace sighed. “You’d think soccer was serious or something.”

Patrick stepped in the middle of the fracas while Grace cringed. “I guess somebody has to be Switzerland.” He helped his friend to his feet but kept his arm around Mike’s back. When they walked toward the women, Grace got up and met them halfway. “Do you want to sit out for a few minutes?”

Mike shook his head. “Nah, Paddy here is helping me walk off the cramp.”

Grace’s eyes widened at the grass stain and raw scrape slashing across Mike’s swelling knee. “Maybe Jack should look at it.”

Mike and Pat laughed, then Mike said, “He’s the one who tried to take me out of the game.”

Grace looked at Cait, who just shook her head. Grace just had to know: “Weren’t you the one with that illegal slide tackle?”

Mike tried to feign a look of innocence, but Grace wasn’t buying it. “You should always play fair,” Grace reminded him.

“Ah.” Mike limped toward her, leaning heavily on Patrick. “So all’s fair in love and war?”

Patrick reached up to smack his friend in the back of the head. “Quit looking at my girl like that.”

Mike went from limping to hopping. “Your girl? Damn.”

She got a funny feeling in her stomach when she looked up and their gazes met. She was toast. The man only had to look at her and smile, and she was ready to follow him anywhere.

When Mike stopped and held up his hand for his friend to stop, Pat stared at him. “Hurts that much?”

“Yeah.” Mike’s face contorted for a moment as he gave in to the pain before shrugging it off. “Guess I might need to sit out for a little while.”

Grace moved to put her arm around Mike, leading him over to the bench, where Meg and Cait were waiting to ease him off his feet. Grace moved a folding chair over so Mike could elevate his knee.

“We can use the ice in the cooler,” Cait said. “Be right back with a baggie and a towel.”

Pat looked from Mike to Grace and back. And nothing surprised Grace more than the clipped tone of Patrick’s voice or the warning for Mike to keep his hands to himself as he rejoined the guys on the field.

Mike’s lightning quick grin would be lethal to a woman’s heart if her heart wasn’t already taken with another.

Grace decided to let Patrick know how she felt. Jogging to catch up to him, she grabbed his arm from behind. He spun around, and just before he could ask what she wanted, she was in arms, locking lips with him, putting everything she felt into the kiss. But he surprised her by kissing the breath out of her. When she was weak as a kitten, he brushed a knuckle across her cheek and winked at her before sprinting back onto the field to rejoin the game.

“So,” Mike said as she walked back over, “I just have to ask: Are you sure you know what you’re getting into?”

Grace considered his question for a moment before answering, “Absolutely. Why?”

The expression on Mike’s face changed from teasing to concerned. “Garahan loves his job as much as I do, maybe more. It’s in his blood.”

“I know. He doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Grace said. “And from what he’s said about his job and the long hours, not much time for one. Are you trying to warn me away?”

Mike waited until she’d sat beside him to answer. “Maybe I’m thinking of warning him to stay away from you.”

Grace couldn’t keep the censure from her voice when she said, “I thought he was your friend.”

Mike grimaced as he shifted his weight. “He’s a brother.”

“Oh.” Mike didn’t have to say the words for her to know he wasn’t ready to approve of her. Maybe when he got to know her better. Changing the subject, she asked, “So, have you two been in the same firehouse long?”

“Since he came on board,” Mike said. “We were lucky to have a man with his experience. His firehouse was one of the busiest in New York. I wonder if he ever did more than eat, sleep, and fight fires.”

Cait came back outside and walked over to the cooler, preparing the ice bag for Mike. When it was ready, she eased it onto Mike’s knee. He smiled at her through gritted teeth.

She hesitated. “Do you want Jack to look at it?”

Mike shook his head. “It’s an old injury, flares up now and again.”

Grace got him a glass of water and some aspirin. Despite the fact that he didn’t think she was the right woman for his friend, she couldn’t fault him for that. She’d been in his shoes with Kate more than once over the years. “After you take this, you’re sticking to water or switching to soda—no more beer.” She wasn’t about to take no for an answer.

Her father and Mary walked around the front of the house with the twins tagging along behind. Jack walked over as Joe was asking what happened. His son-in-law’s shrug said more than words.

“I can’t believe you kicked him, Doc.”

“Hey,” Jack said, raising his hands in the air. “I was going for the ball—not his knee.”

“From the side,” Mike said. “He missed.”

“Ah,” her father said. “Old sports injury?” Mike nodded. “Gracie, there’s pain reliever—”

“Already gave it to him.”

“No more beer.” Jack frowned, watching the way Mike shifted on the bench. “You might need an X-ray.”

“This from the man responsible,” Mike quipped.

The others walked over and huddled around the injured man. “We taking a break?” Sledge asked.

“Is the game over?” Jimmy wanted to know.

Bear and Finney muscled their way through the crowd to squat next to Mike’s knee. Neither one was smiling.

“Not much fun without Mike trying to take everybody out,” Bear said.

“Hey, I was only trying to take the ball away from Jack, well, and then Doyle—”

“Yeah, yeah,” Pat said. “You know what they say about payback.”

Mike hung his head. “I guess I had it coming.”

“Let me wash up and get my bag.” Jack didn’t wait for a response; he sprinted up the steps, slamming the door behind him.

“One of these days, I’ll get a real door that will stay closed when you shut it,” Joe grumbled.

“I like the screen door,” Mary said. “It suits the house. Besides,” she continued, “new isn’t always better.”

“Hey, Grace!” Timmy McCormack swiped the sweat dripping into his eyes. “Heard from my cousin that you’re back in town. Katie’s really missed you.”

“She’s too busy at the diner to miss me.”

Timmy was shaking his head as Tommy Hawkins tossed him a beer.

Dan stuck his hand out and snagged the beer midair. “Your mom would have my hide—no beer for you until you’re legal.”

“Come on, Coach,” Timmy groaned. “I drank all the time out at school.”

“That was then; this is now. I’m responsible for you three as long as you’re with me.”

“We drove,” Hawkins reminded him.

“You’re twenty-one”—Dan narrowed his gaze at his former students—“and only having one—as long as you’re staying to eat.”

“Damn, Coach,” Doyle grumbled. “His birthday’s next week.”

Dan grinned. “And I’ll buy him his first beer at Slater’s Mill, just like I did for you and Hawkins.”

The boys shrugged and tossed Timmy a soda. “Guess you’ll have to deal,” Doyle told him.

Jack grinned. “My brother-in-law’s a hard-ass, but he’s right.” He set his bag on the ground and squatted down to examine the damage to Mike’s knee. Dan and Pat passed around cold bottles of beer and the bowl of chips while they waited for Jack to finish.

“You cannot be on active duty with your knee like that,” Bear reminded him.

The other firefighters agreed, and Patrick said, “You’d better call Big Jim now, so he can move people around and we can start filling your shifts.”

Mike leaned back and closed his eyes. “My next one is tonight.”

“With me,” Pat added.

Grace wondered what the next two weeks would be like if Pat would be filling in for Mike. “Do you have more than one person to cover open shifts?”

Pat nodded. “And there’s a set number of hours you can work. Big Jim’s careful not to overwork his men. We’re the best of the best.” She noticed Patrick was smiling and could hear the pride in his voice when he said, “Nobody’s beat our record in the firefighter Olympics yet.”

“You have games?”

“Yeah,” Mike answered. “Because different towns host the games every year, they aren’t always held the same weekend or month.”

“When are they this year?”