Before Today

by Leeanna Morgan

  “How are your mom and dad?”

  “They have their good and bad days.” Levi wasn’t the only person who was having trouble finding a new kind of normal after Peter died.

  Even now, his mom and dad worried about the smallest of things. They wanted to know where he was and how he was feeling. It didn’t matter how many times he told them he was okay, they were terrified he’d follow in his brother’s footsteps.

  Karl popped open the can of paint. “I often thought about your mom and dad after you left Phoenix. It must be terrible to lose a child.”

  Levi found a paint stirrer and gave it to Karl. “Peter was their world. He was the spitting image of Dad, but had Mom’s drive and determination. When he died, it left a hole in their lives that’s never healed.”

  “How are you?”

  Levi knew better than to stretch the truth with Karl. They’d spent a lot of time together, especially after Brooke left. “I’m better than I was. Staying in Sapphire Bay has helped me feel more centered, if that makes sense.”

  “It does. Sometimes you need to leave what you know to find what you’re looking for. Have you had any more nightmares about the refugee camp?”

  “Not for a while.” Even thinking about what he’d seen made Levi’s heart pound. Bodies piled on top of each other, hidden in mass graves that wouldn’t have been found if it weren’t for a missing shipment of rice. “I haven’t spoken to the rest of my team in a while, either.”

  Karl nodded. “Maybe that’s for the better.”

  “I used to wonder what our lives would have been like if we hadn’t discovered the missing food.”

  “It wasn’t the food that was the problem. It was the corruption and greed that made the military personnel do things they shouldn’t have. I was proud of what you did. Someone needed to stop them.”

  Knowing Karl was proud of him meant a lot to Levi.

  “I’m not going to ask about your relationship with Brooke. It’s easy to see that you’re enjoying each other’s company.”

  Levi was glad the conversation had moved away from his past and into his future. “Brooke and I are dating. Sort of.” When Karl’s eyebrows rose, Levi continued. “It’s complicated.”

  “The best types of relationships usually are.”

  That didn’t help. “I thought you were going to say something wise and life-changing.”

  Karl laughed. “I ran out of wise things to say when Virginia and I celebrated our last wedding anniversary. We might have our disagreements and annoy each other, but she still takes my breath away.”

  “You’re lucky.”

  This time, Karl snorted. “Luck has nothing to do with it. It takes hard work and lots of patience to live with someone. There were times when I could have thrown my hands in the air and left. But I love my wife, and Brooke is our pride and joy. My life wouldn’t be the same without them.”

  With a tray of paint in his hand, Karl made his way across to the nearest corner. “I’ll paint the edges, then start on this wall. Would you like some advice?”

  Levi nodded.

  “Don’t be afraid to lay your heart on the line.”

  “What if everything that’s happening is a repeat of two years ago?”

  Karl opened the ladder. “Then Brooke hasn’t learned anything.”

  And that was what Levi was afraid of the most.

  Brooke smiled at something her mom said. For the last three hours, they’d been restocking the store with candy, making another batch of fudge, and catching up with the online orders.

  As they’d laughed about what had been happening in their lives, Brooke began to relax. She still couldn’t believe her mom had never told her she wanted to be a baker.

  Brooke had felt terrible when she’d decided not to go back to the hospital in Phoenix. The thought of disappointing her parents was something that made her feel sick. But after listening to her mom, she knew Virginia was the one person who would have understood why Brooke wanted to be a confectioner.

  The worst thing was that Brooke had not only run away from Levi, but she’d also underestimated her parents. They loved her, regardless of what she did with her life.

  “What do you think?” Virginia held a wrapped bar of huckleberry marshmallow in her hand. She’d tied a pink bow around the top of the bag, leaving the rest of the ribbon to curl around the edges.

  “It’s lovely. Two down, twenty-five to go.” Brooke handed her mom another packet of ribbon. “I always thought having online sales would be a good idea, but I never thought it would be this popular. Each day I’m getting more and more orders.”

  Virginia slid another bar of marshmallow into a bag. “It’s because people associate your brand with quality. The reviews on your website and Facebook page are fantastic.”

  Brooke realized early on that people would pay a little extra for quality. But that didn’t mean she raised the prices on her candy to make more profit. It made her even more aware of what she was charging.

  “Are you sure there isn’t something else you would sooner be doing?” she asked her mom. “It’s a beautiful day outside. You and Dad could go for a walk or rent a couple of bicycles and go on one of the trails around town.”

  Virginia laughed. “Your father and I haven’t been on bicycles in years. We’d probably fall off and end up in the hospital.”

  “You don’t have to spend your vacation helping me.” Brooke felt bad about how she’d treated her mom and dad. They’d come a long way and she didn’t want them to miss out on seeing Sapphire Bay. “You’re only here for a few days.”

  “We came to see you, not the scenery. But I’ve got to say, this part of Montana is one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen.” Virginia placed another bag of marshmallow on the counter. “You couldn’t have chosen a nicer place to live.”

  “Sometimes I think Sapphire Bay chose me, especially now that Levi’s here.”

  Virginia cut a length of ribbon. “Is there anything you want to tell me about him?”

  The heat of a blush filled Brooke’s cheeks. “You might not want to hear this, but I don’t think I ever stopped loving Levi. He’s everything I remembered and more.”

  Her mom looked into Brooke’s eyes. “That type of person doesn’t come along often.”

  “I know.”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  Brooke held one end of a ribbon and concentrated on curling it around a bag. “I don’t know. Levi has other commitments. He hasn’t stopped traveling for the last six months and I don’t know if he ever will. I can’t leave Sapphire Bay and it’s too small for Levi.”

  “Have you talked to him about staying? He seems happy here.”

  “For now. But what will happen in a year or two? I don’t even know if he wants to keep working in construction. For all I know, he might want to open a garage and repair motorcycles for the rest of his life.”

  Brooke’s mom abandoned the bag she was decorating. “It sounds as though you need to have a good talk with him.”

  It wasn’t easy talking about a future that Brooke had tried to ignore. She couldn’t leave Sapphire Bay and, in the long term, she doubted Levi would stay.

  “Brooke Johnson. Are you playing with Levi’s feelings?”

  She shook her head. “That’s the last thing I ever want to do. He’s a good man, Mom.”

  Virginia squeezed Brooke’s hand. “I know he is. But sometimes being a good man isn’t enough. If Levi is truly the man for you, then you have to do something about it.” With a grin she added, “You’re not getting any younger, you know.”

  Brooke sighed. She knew exactly what her mom was talking about. She was thirty-two years old and sometimes, when she was around Levi, she felt like a giddy teenager. She’d found love for the second time with a man who could change her world—if she was willing to let him.

  “I’ll talk to him, but don’t get too excited. He might have other plans.”

  Virginia smiled. “We’ll see.”

 
Before Brooke could ask her mom what she meant, the kitchen door swung open and Levi and her dad walked into the room.

  “Pack a backpack, Brooke,” her dad said in a booming voice. “We’re all going to Polson to board the steamboat. Captain’s orders.”

  Levi smiled. “I’ll help you finish your orders when we get back.”

  Karl took a pair of scissors out of his wife’s hand. “We’ll all help. Let’s go.”

  Brooke looked helplessly at her mom. There was still at least an hour’s worth of work ahead of them.

  “You heard what your dad said. It was the captain’s orders.”

  She looked through the kitchen window at the blue sky. What the heck. Everyone deserved a break every now and again.

  She sent her dad a quick smile and took off her apron. “Aye, aye, captain. I’m all yours.” Even if it was only for the next few hours.

  It had been a long time since Levi had seen Brooke so relaxed. Spending the afternoon on Flathead Lake was a great idea. It gave her a chance to reconnect with her mom and dad without worrying about normal, everyday life.

  He leaned against the rail of the steamboat and watched the large wheel rotate through the cold, blue water. Last night, he’d called his mom and dad. After living in the same house for their entire married life, they’d decided to sell and move into a retirement village. It was a big decision, but they wanted to move while they were still able to enjoy the activities the village offered.

  It wasn’t until after his brother died that he’d thought about his parents getting older. To Levi, they never seemed to age. But this last winter, two of his parents’ closest friends had died. It made them consider their own mortality and what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives.

  Levi sighed. He wanted to be able to look after them if anything happened, but he couldn’t do that from here. When he suggested his mom and dad look at moving to Sapphire Bay, they weren’t interested. Their friends and family lived in Spokane. Washington was their home and they were determined to live there for as long as they could.

  “You look sad.” Brooke leaned against the rail.

  “I was thinking about Mom and Dad. They’re moving into a retirement village.”

  “That’s a big change.”

  Levi nodded. “Dad’s health deteriorated after Peter died. He’s still able to maintain their home and enjoy living there, but they’re worried about what will happen in the next five or ten years.”

  “I guess everyone has to think about their retirement at some stage. How do you feel about them moving out of their home?”

  “It’s what they want to do.”

  Brooke studied his face. “What’s really worrying you?”

  His hands gripped the rail. “Mom and Dad are getting older. They were always there for Peter and me when we were younger, and I want to do the same for them. They want to stay in Spokane. It’s a long way from Sapphire Bay.” As soon as he said the words, Levi regretted them.

  The concern on Brooke’s face became guarded. She thought he was going to return to Washington, but that was the last thing he wanted to do. If there were a way of being close to Brooke and helping his parents, he would find it. “I’m not leaving Sapphire Bay.”

  “Your family is important to you.”

  “So are you.” He stood behind Brooke and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Mom and Dad will let me know if they need my help.”

  “What if something unexpected happens to them?”

  “We’ll look at our options and make a plan. For now, they’re happy to stay where they are. And I’m not going anywhere without you.”

  Brooke tensed in his arms. “Levi, there’s something I need to tell you.”

  His heart pounded. If Brooke had changed her mind about their relationship, he didn’t know what he would do. He dropped his arms from around her waist and braced himself against the rail. His cell phone erupted in an old-fashioned ring tone. He ignored it, needing to hear what Brooke had to say.

  “You should answer your phone.”

  “They can leave a message. What did you want to tell me?”

  Karl rushed toward them. “You left your phone on the table, Brooke. It hasn’t stopped ringing, so I answered it. You need to talk to a lady called Mabel Allen. She’s been trying to call you and Levi.”

  She took her phone from her dad. “Why would Mabel need to speak to me?”

  “I don’t know, but it sounded urgent.”

  While she called Mabel, Levi kept a careful eye on Brooke.

  Her soft gasp made everyone look at her. “Is the fire under control?”

  Levi’s eyebrows rose. What was going on?

  With a trembling hand, Brooke checked her watch. “The steamboat will be stopping in Polson soon. We’ll come straight back.” There was a slight pause, then she nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you there.”

  As soon as she ended the call, her eyes filled with tears. “There was a fire in my building. It’s out, but there’s a lot of smoke and water damage.”

  Levi opened his arms and Brooke clung to his chest.

  Karl and Virginia looked as shocked as their daughter.

  “We’ll cancel our flight,” Karl said quickly. “You’ll need help to sort everything out.”

  Brooke wiped her eyes. “You don’t need to do that. I can manage.”

  Virginia hugged her daughter. “We love you. Let us help.”

  With a heartfelt sigh, Brooke nodded. “Thank you.”

  Levi handed her a tissue. “Does anyone know how the fire started?”

  Brooke shook her head. “Mabel said the fire marshal will arrive tomorrow. In the meantime, I need to find somewhere to stay.”

  “You can stay with us,” Virginia said. “We should be able to extend our booking at the bed and breakfast.”

  Levi didn’t have to think too hard about a better solution. “Why doesn’t everyone come home with me? Zac has a seven-bedroom house. There’s plenty of room.”

  Virginia frowned. “That’s very generous of you, Levi. But will Zac mind if you have three extra guests?”

  “He would be annoyed if I didn’t offer. It will be better if we’re together.”

  Karl looked at his daughter. “What do you think? Do you want to stay with Levi?”

  Brooke nodded. “That would be great. I’ll see if I can get some clothes from my apartment.”

  Clothes weren’t the only thing Brooke would need to organize. The fire department would want to make sure no one could enter the building after they left. Depending on how bad the damage was, Levi might be able to salvage some of the building materials and secure the store.

  He rubbed Brooke’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. While you get your things together, your dad and I will talk to the fire department. If there’s anything else we need to do, we’ll make a list and work through it.”

  “What about our kitchen equipment? Megan will be devastated if her cake decorating tools are damaged.” More tears filled Brooke’s eyes. “Everything I own is in the building.”

  Virginia held her daughter’s hand. “Wait until we see what’s happened. Was anyone hurt?”

  Brooke shook her head. “No. Someone saw the smoke coming from my building. They ran to the general store and called the fire department. Mabel’s husband told the other businesses in the area. Everyone was outside with their hoses, trying to put out the fire.”

  Levi hoped there wasn’t too much damage. Brooke had a business to run, and nothing would be happening if they couldn’t enter her building.

  Chapter 15

  Brooke stared at the chaos all around her. The police had blocked the sidewalk outside her candy store with bright yellow crime scene tape. There was still a fire truck sitting in the middle of the road, dampening down any hot spots. And people were everywhere, taking photos, maneuvering around the vehicles, or simply standing in the late afternoon sunshine, watching what was happening.

  “Are you okay?” Levi asked.

  Brooke didn�
�t know if she’d ever be okay again. “I need to know how badly my building is damaged.”

  Levi pointed to a man wearing a red helmet. “That must be one of the senior firefighters. We’ll ask him.”

  Brooke and her parents followed Levi toward the fire truck. Hoses curled away from the hydrant like giant snakes slithering across the ground. Water covered the sidewalk, running into the drains and washing away her dreams.

  She knew the risk of fire was higher in an old building, but she’d done everything she could to make the property safe. When she’d moved into her apartment, she’d bought every smoke alarm in the general store. An electrician had checked the wiring and made sure all her emergency exits were safe. She’d even considered adding a sprinkler system, but it was too expensive.

  As she stared at the once beautiful arched windows overlooking the lake, she was devastated. She just hoped her insurance covered the cost of the repairs. If it didn’t, she had no home, no business, and no future income.

  Levi’s hand tightened around hers. “It probably looks worse than it is.”

  “I hope so.” By the time they introduced themselves to the firefighter, Brooke was beside herself with worry.

  Deputy Fire Chief Martin Sutherland shook her hand. “I’m sorry you had to come home to a fire. You were lucky you weren’t in the building.”

  “That’s what my dad said, too.” Brooke looked at the broken windows in her apartment. “Do you know what happened?”

  “Not yet, but the fire seems to have started in the kitchen on the first floor.”

  “Can I go inside and get some clothes and my laptop?”

  “Before you can do that, I’ll need to speak with the firefighters who have been inside. I’ll be back soon.”

  “Thank you.” Brooke leaned against Levi. She looked at her mom and dad’s somber expressions and nearly burst into tears. “All the work we’ve done inside was a waste of time.”