What Were You Expecting? (2 page)

He pumped his fingers into fists repeatedly, trying to erase the imprint of Maggie’s tummy when her sweater rode up as he caught her. He couldn’t. He could still feel it. It felt like perfect, if perfect could be defined by soft, pliant, warm skin pressed intimately against his palm.

Abruptly he turned left, back toward town, away from the house he shared with Lars, toward Main Street where the office of
Lindstrom & Sons
would be dark and empty. Maybe Nils could find some paperwork to do; the way his body felt, all charged up and hot, meant sleep would be elusive for a few hours at least.

And yes, damn it, from his office he could watch as Paul helped her stumble home in an hour or so. Nils could make sure she got home safely. Maggie’s Prairie Dawn Café and Bookstore, where she lived in an apartment on the second floor, was just a few doors down.

His phone rang in his back pocket as he crossed the bridge over the Yellowstone River, and he looked down at it. Jenny. His little sister.

“Heya, Jen,” he said, still walking at a brisk pace.

“Heya, Nils,” she answered and he smiled at the sunshine in her voice. A couple of years ago, Sam Kelley, a businessman from Chicago had spent a weekend in Gardiner, falling in love with his sister. She and Sam lived in Great Falls now, but he saw them—and their daughter, Erin—often. “Why aren’t you out with Paul and Maggie?”

“For someone who moved outta this town, you sure keep up with what’s going on. Doesn’t Sam keep you busy enough?”

“You’re always such a grouch. Thought maybe you’d treat May Day like New Year’s and move in for a kiss at midnight.”

“Aw, Jen. Paul’s not really my type.”

His sister bellowed with laughter, and Nils—who’d felt annoyed a moment ago—joined her. Of all his siblings, Jenny was the biggest tease, and since she’d married Sam, she’d only gotten worse. Although Nils felt sure that any of the Lindstrom boys could hold their own against Sam Kelley, he’d rather not upset Jenny by finding out. But with full protection and the immunity that accompanied motherhood, she’d blossomed into a right sassy thing.

“Let’s hope he’s not Maggie’s type either,” she said, all smart mouthed.

“I think we all know who Paul’s type is,” returned Nils, reminding Jenny of how she’d had to turn down Paul’s advances once upon a time.

“Whew! Truce!” she exclaimed.

“Yeah, okay.” Nils chuckled softly. She was a pain in the ass, but she was his only sister and he adored her. “Why are you bothering me anyway?”

“Like you have so many more pressing things to do. Bet you’re in the office doing paperwork.”

Nils unlocked the door of the dark office. He hadn’t actually started the paperwork yet. “Nope. You’re wrong. Was just over at the Blue Moon.”

“Looking for a date? Hmmm. Maybe, um, Tessie Branson can fit you in. Didn’t you
visit
with her a time or two?”

Nils sighed. Tess Branson, who used to be Gardiner’s resident good-time girl, hadn’t worked at the Blue Moon for over a year. Though, to his embarrassment, Jenny was right—he and Tess had “gotten together” on occasion to scratch a mutual itch.
Damn Jenny’s memory, that was years ago!
he bristled.

“So someone doesn’t know everything, huh? Tessie got married and moved to Billings year before last. Right after you. Has a little’un now. Looked happy the last time I saw her back visiting her mama.”

“Oh.” Jenny was surprised enough to sound humble. “Oh, well. That’s nice. Someone for everyone, I guess.”

Except me
, thought Nils.
That ship sailed a long, long time ago.

“Still haven’t told me why you’re bothering me,
lillesøster
.”

“It’s Pappa’s sixtieth birthday on June thirtieth. I want to have a big party. Whole family. Lots of friends.
Smorgasbord
. Like Mamma would have done for him.”

“That’s nice, Jen.” Nils hung his coat on the coat rack to the left of the doorway and flicked on the lights of the small office. Being the oldest, he felt a passing sense of guilt, like he should have been more on top of this. Truthfully, he hadn’t even realized such an important milestone birthday was coming up. “We’d all come up there to you?”

“No. Pappa’s home is Gardiner. I think we should have it there. And I already talked to Maggie and she said we could use the Prairie. What do you think?”

The Prairie Dawn was a great location for the party. Just like Maggie, it was a warm, unexpected spot in a western-style town that mostly catered to Yellowstone tourists, fishermen and hunters. With its copper bar, soft lighting, mismatched tables, and comfortable, shabby couches, it was a favorite Lindstrom hangout. The locals loved it and Maggie’s coffee was the best to be found between Livingston and Jackson Hole.

“You mean, like, rent it out for a night?”

“Yeah,” said Jenny. “We can all pitch in to pay for it, of course. I already talked to Erik and he said he and Kat will contribute and come down from Kalispell for a long weekend to celebrate. And since you and Lars live local, you can help Maggie.”

Wait a minute. What?
While Nils often found himself at the Prairie Dawn, drinking a cup of coffee or enjoying a muffin, he studiously avoided alone time with Maggie Campbell. He didn’t trust himself not to make a move on her, so it was easier to leave her be.

“Paul will help, too,” cajoled Jenny.

Great. Paul again. Paul who was practically joined to Maggie at the hip. As much as Nils enjoyed a fishing trip or hunting excursion with the high school principal, he hated how chummy he and Maggie were, and he lived in perpetual fear that their friendship would cross a line one day. Not that Nils was doing anything about it, but if he couldn’t have Maggie, he sure didn’t want anyone else to have her either because he was a…
selfish bastard.

“Lars practically lives in the park, Jen. When he’s not wildcatting.” He turned on the coffee machine in the back of the office that made Gardiner’s weakest and worst cup of coffee.

“Sorta thought he’d be better behaved once he lost his wingman.”

“Erik getting hitched doesn’t keep Lars from going after the Park Girls. Just gives him more to choose from.”

“How come you never go after the Park Girls, Nils?”

“Who says I don’t?”

“Seems like Erik and Lars always went carousing while you hung back, looking out for all of us. You don’t have to be the big brother anymore, you know. You should be having more fun.”

“I have plenty of fun, Jenny.”

“What, working? Planning tours and going to church on Sunday?”

“Why are you giving me a hard time?”

“I’m worried about you. Maybe I got it wrong. Maybe you don’t want to be with Maggie, but don’t you want to be with someone?”

He winced at her words, cradling the phone between his cheek and shoulder as he carried his coffee cup over to his desk.

Want to be with someone?
Of course. But it wasn’t that simple. It would never be that simple. Once upon a time he’d been with someone and lost her and it had just about killed him. He set the mug on his desk and reached up to rub a spot on his forehead that still sported a mild bump after all these years. He didn’t want to talk about these things with Jenny. He didn’t want to talk about them at all.

“If I say I’ll help Maggie with the party, will you hang up the phone and leave me alone?”

She sighed. “Will you?”

“Yes,
smärta i nacken
. You knew I would.”

“If one of us is a pain in the neck…” she started, but she didn’t finish the thought. Instead she offered softly, her voice warm and loving, “
Elsker deg
, Nils.”

And that was why Nils—or any of his brothers, for that matter—would never be able to say no to Jenny. Because Jenny said
I love you
in their mother’s voice, and Lord only knew how much they all missed her.

“Ja
, Jen.
Elsker deg også
.”

“I’ll call Maggie tomorrow and set everything up with her, and then you go over there and offer to give her a hand, Nils. And be nice. No grouchy-bear Nils grudgingly offering to help. You make her feel like you
want
to help, okay?”

“Anything else, Miss Bossy?”

“I’ll get Paul and Lars to help, too.”

“Like you could keep Paul from helping,” muttered Nils.

“Poor Paul. He doesn’t like Maggie like that. He needs to find someone just as badly as you do. Come to think of it, Lars could use a good woman, too…”

He needed to hang up before she started marrying them all off.

“Hanging up, Jen…kiss Erin for
Onkel
Nils. Say hi to Sam…”

Jenny was still going on about possibly eligible women in Gardiner when Nils softly tapped the red End button on his phone. Might be half an hour before she figured out she wasn’t talking to anyone anymore. He grinned, taking a sip of coffee and cringing at the watery bitterness.

He didn’t mind helping to plan a party for his father, and he was relieved that Jenny actually had a plan on the table. But working with Maggie? He pursed his lips. That was another thing. His heart sort of did a little leap, thinking about the time he’d need to spend with her planning such a large event…but it took a nosedive a moment later as he reminded himself:
You’re not good enough for her, Nils. You’re not good enough for anyone.

***

Maggie was grateful for Paul’s arm around her shoulders as she stumbled through puddles and potholes, the cold rainwater splashing up on her jeans. She looked back at the Blue Moon, sort of surprised to still see it so close. It felt like they’d been walking for a long time.

“Face forward, Mags. If you look back, you’re gonna trip.”

Oh, what did Paul know anyway? He was drunk. She decided to tell him so.

“Whaddaya know? You’re drunk.”

“Not as drunk as you,” he answered under his breath, catching her around the waist as she stumbled and almost fell.

“Don’ lemme fall,” she said. “Wouldna he jus’ love that? Big babysitter.”

“No one wants you to fall, Maggie.”

“I can fall over all the live long day, Paul. He can’t tell me what to do and neither can you.” Her words were so slurry, and so confusing. Live long day. What did that mean anyway? “Live long day. Live long day.”

“Yeah. Live long day. Fine. I just want to get you home safe, Mags.” Paul tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her against him.

“I shoulda fallen ’n love wit’ you,” she mumbled, her boot heels occasionally scraping the pavement as she lurched forward then compensated.

“That wouldn’t have worked. We’re too good of friends.”

“Friends! Ha! Yer not listenin’ to me!” She stopped walking, balancing herself before poking her finger into Paul’s chest. “I’m a lass, Paulie. Even though we’re friends, we need t’be clear on that point, boyo. An’ you know what else, too? He should bed me or wed me, an’make no mistake. I know what I’m about.”

He shook his head, looking supremely annoyed with someone. Maggie lurched around to see who he was looking at, but they must have been one fast walker, because they’d moved on by the time she managed to look. She swiped a limp hand in front of his face as he came back into focus. “I mean it.”

“Yeah, you mean something, but damned if I can follow.” He put his arm back around her waist and suddenly she was walking again. “It’s okay, Mags. Just keep walking. Almost there.”

“An’ y’know wha’else?”

“No. What else?”

She realized they were on the bridge crossing the river. Ooo! The river! “I could jus’ jump in and swim home, Paul.”

“I don’t think so, Mags. Little too cold for swimming.”

“Yer no fun.”

“That may be so.”

“I’m fun.”

“Yeah, you’re usually pretty fun.”

She caught the emphasis on “usually” and furrowed her brow. She stopped walking, pushing his hand away from her waist and poking him in the chest again. “
Always
fun.”

Paul sighed loudly. “Sure, Mags. You’re always fun. Especially right now.”

She started giggling. “Thanks. Yer my bes’ friend. Know that?”

He finally smiled at her, chuckling softly and shaking his head back and forth like she was making him tired. “I know.”

He took her hand and dragged her limp arm over his shoulders, and then they started walking again.

“Hey Paul.”

Maggie looked up to see a blurry version of Nils Lindstrom approaching them from the front door of his office, which was just down the street from her café and apartment. Of all the bad luck. He was the last person she wanted to see.