Berry on Top (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 6)

by Valerie Comer

  “Sounds good.”

  Christopher angled a sideways look at Kass. “What are you bringing?”

  “Hmm.” She narrowed her eyes at the five-year-old, a grin twitching her lips. “I was thinking of mushroom soup and maybe mushroom sauce over rice. I see you like rice.”

  “But I don’t li—”

  “Miss Kass is just teasing you, Christopher. Right, Miss Kass?”

  Kass giggled as she nudged the boy. “Avery’s right. I’m teasing.”

  Christopher scowled and crossed his arms.

  “What do you like best, Christopher?”

  She was a sly one, this Kass. Mason could do worse. Much worse. Maybe in time he’d find an attraction to her.

  “I like meat and potatoes. And rice. I don’t like vegetables.” The boy glanced at his grandmother. “Broccoli is ’specially yucky.”

  “I see.” Kass nodded thoughtfully. “How about you, Avery?”

  “Hmm. I like macaroni and cheese. And I don’t like broccoli very much, either.”

  She was winning over the twins. Maybe for most guys the old adage was true. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. For a single dad, the way to his heart lay through his kids.

  They both liked Liz, too. He pushed the thought out. Liz wasn’t here. She’d left them all, and he couldn’t hold onto hope she’d return when every day Avery and Christopher were a little bit older. They needed a mom sooner rather than later.

  “How about your dad, kids?” Kass’s voice lowered into a conspiratorial tone. “What is his favorite food?”

  Uh oh. Kass was smarter than he’d given credit for.

  Chapter 22

  “There’s no point, you know.” Vonnie’s dull eyes focused on Liz. “It ain’t gonna stay nice.”

  Liz scrubbed years’ worth of smudges off the conference room window with a wad of paper towel. “Sure it will.”

  “No. Nobody cares.”

  Speak for yourself. Liz bit the words back before they came out. “I can’t work in the midst of dirt and grime.”

  Vonnie shrugged. “It don’t much matter.”

  Liz turned and looked at the girl. Really looked. Vonnie couldn’t be more than twenty, if that. Way too young to be so jaded. “What’s your position around here?” The girl seemed to have nothing better to do than watch Liz clean.

  Vonnie’s eyebrows rose. “You don’t know?”

  “I’m here to teach the employees English. You obviously don’t need my help, but Larry hasn’t given me a lot of details about who my students will be.” It smelled like an entire nest of rats, though. And looking at Vonnie didn’t alleviate Liz’s worry.

  “Yeah, the girls he brings in from the Philippines and Mexico.”

  “The girls...” Liz’s words trailed off as her brain leaped to its obvious conclusion.

  Vonnie smirked. “Yep. But don’t think you’re beyond being put to work. He don’t need a full-time teacher, fer sure. Just enough so’s the girls know what’s expected of them.”

  Put to work? Expected of them?

  Liz dumped the paper towels in the trash and reached for her coat. “Come with me, Vonnie.”

  The girl stayed in the chair. “Where you going?”

  “Away. Not coming back.”

  “Larry ain’t gonna like that.”

  “I don’t care what Larry thinks.” Liz did up the toggles and grabbed her purse. “Are you coming?”

  Vonnie shook her head slowly. “Can’t. Nowhere to go, anyhow.”

  “I’ll help you.” How? No clue. Liz had no idea how she’d help herself, let alone Vonnie.

  “No, thanks. Have a nice life, though.”

  Liz wrenched the door open and bowled straight into a solid body. Larry’s hands reached to grasp her arms. She kneed him then shoved as hard as she could. He staggered backward a step, eyes narrowing. She took the purse by its sturdy strap, prepared to swing it at his head. “Don’t touch me.”

  Still bent over, he held up both hands. “You just surprised me is all. Where you going? You don’t get off until five.”

  “I quit.”

  “Aw, you can’t do that, baby.” He looked past her into the conference room. “What, Vonnie telling tales out of turn?”

  “Don’t blame Vonnie for you being a sleaze bucket.” Liz eyed the path to the door. “Told you, I quit. I’m gone.” The quicker the better. She dashed past him.

  Low laughter came from behind her. “Don’t think the cops are interested, baby. They’re not.”

  A moment later she blinked in the bright sunlight, the cold wind blasting against her. She ran down the block to her car, thankful she could beep the doors open. No need to fumble with keys.

  The brick building was behind her. The job she’d come halfway across the country to accept. Tears burned Liz’s eyes. She’d been so stupid. So desperate to get away from Galena Landing she hadn’t done due diligence.

  But now what? She was in a city far from anyone she knew with no resources. Just like when she’d deplaned in Bangkok. She’d landed on her feet then, though. Right? She could do it again.

  The fuel light came on in her dashboard. This wasn’t the same as Thailand at all. There she’d had a job. Here she could freeze to death without shelter. She couldn’t keep sleeping in the car indefinitely.

  Liz pulled in at the first gas station and fueled up the car. Then she went inside for a cup of coffee and a cheap meal. If they had wi-fi, she could log into the local job website and see what else was available.

  At the counter, she opened her purse to pay for the coffee. She stared into the open wallet, her gut plummeting. Only one twenty? She’d had a couple of hundred in there. Must’ve been Vonnie. She closed her eyes a second and blinked back tears.

  At least she hadn’t been stupid enough to have all her cash in her purse. At least Vonnie had left her charge card in place. Live and learn... but man, she’d better learn quickly if she expected to live.

  * * *

  “This is yummy chili, Miss Kass.” Avery smiled at Kass.

  Christopher stared into his bowl, his nose curled. “Is it hot? I don’t like spicy food.”

  Mason choked back a chuckle and caught Kass’s grin.

  “It’s not very spicy.” Kass pushed Christopher’s food closer to him. “Have you even tried a bite?”

  Christopher scowled. “This isn’t meat and potatoes.”

  “That’s enough, buddy,” Mason said firmly. “There’s meat and beans and corn and tomatoes. And Miss Kass made cornbread, too.”

  His son picked up his spoon and captured one kidney bean then glared at Mason for a second before putting it in his mouth.

  “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Mason leveled his son a no-nonsense look.

  “It’s okay. I guess.”

  “High praise from a five-year old.” Kass grinned at Mason.

  “We’re almost six,” announced Avery. “In February.”

  “Really? What are you going to do on your birthday?”

  Avery glanced at Mason. “I don’t know. Daddy said he has secret plans.”

  Yeah, Erin. She was either going to be a terrific surprise or a nightmare. He should never have suggested she come for the twins’ birthday. It would have been better on some random day that wouldn’t taint their memories as badly. Too late now. Erin had texted him her arrival time at the Spokane airport a few days before the birthday. At least the twins would be in school, and they could have their first meeting in private.

  Bad idea, Mason. Such a bad idea.

  His gut clenched. He had too many women in his life. His mother, pushing him at Kass. Claire and Allison, holding out for Liz. Nobody rooting for Erin — not that he’d told anyone she was coming. Kass herself, making inroads with his kids.

  And Avery, smiling at Kass between every bite.

  It was almost enough to quit his job, pack up the twins, and move somewhere else where he could start over. Alone. But he had a safety net here. He couldn’t yank the
kids away, no matter how tempting.

  Mason took a bite of the cornbread. A minute ago it had been sweet and warm and melting in his mouth. Now it tasted like cardboard. He forced another spoonful of chili to his mouth.

  “I don’t like surprises,” mumbled Christopher.

  Something snapped inside Mason. “Quit whining and eat your supper.”

  Christopher glanced at him and seemed to see he meant it. The boy straightened slightly and took a bite.

  “I’m sure your daddy only has good surprises for you,” Kass said brightly into the silence.

  Right. She was such an optimist. Obviously believing she could have a future with him and the kids. Tonight he couldn’t imagine it. Not even with the four of them sitting around a home-cooked meal in the farmhouse kitchen. If she was meant for him, shouldn’t this feel right, somehow?

  If only he’d met Kass before Liz returned. He might have fallen in love with her. Maybe he still could, but it would take time. He’d have to forget Liz first, setting aside the anguish that scraped his soul. She’d demanded what he could not give while refusing to take the step that would make it all possible. If only she’d turn back to God.

  Mason cast a sidelong glance at Kass as she chatted with Avery. Kass was at least as pretty as Liz, long reddish curls instead of Liz’s shoulder-length blond hair. A longer straighter nose than Liz’s upturned button. Lips curved into a smile, but not lips that cried out to be kissed.

  He closed his eyes for a second. Lord, help me here. I don’t know what to do. Kass? Liz? Erin? Someone he hadn’t met yet? Or maybe he needed to set aside his desire for a wife, a companion, a mother for his kids, and simply learn to be a better parent by himself.

  That was likely his life lesson.

  Until he looked again and saw the adoration in Avery’s eyes as she replied to something Kass had said to her. Even Christopher had joined the conversation while his dad had completely checked out.

  Being a better parent required paying attention. With an effort, Mason tracked the discussion and jumped in when he knew where it was going.

  * * *

  Mason jogged down the stairs and into the kitchen, where Kass stood at the sink, drying the last bowl.

  She turned and smiled at him. “They’re asleep?”

  “Probably not, but they will be soon. Thanks for reading to them.” This was the type of pictures he needed to fill his mind with: Kass with a twin snuggled on either side, reading them a chapter from their Bible storybook.

  “No problem. They’re great kids.” She set the bowl in the cupboard, shut the door, and hung up the tea towel before turning back to him. “Shall we sit down and look over my menu ideas?” She glanced into the living room.

  Another picture took shape in his mind, of him and Kass sitting close together on the sofa. He pointed at the table. “Let’s do it in the kitchen. You’ll have plenty of room to spread everything out here.”

  She glanced at the table then back at him, expression unreadable. “Oh, wait. I brought a special dessert for you and me.” She went over to her bag by the door and retrieved two containers and a folder. “A little bird told me you love strawberry cheesecake, and we happened to have a couple of pieces left at the end of the day.”

  Mason stood in the middle of the floor. “That little bird must have been my mother.”

  Kass smiled as she slid each piece onto a plate then added a dollop of whipped cream to each. After perching half a berry on top of each, she handed one to him. “Yes, it was. Do you mind?”

  Mason snagged two forks from the drawer and held out a chair for Kass before seating himself around the corner. Did they have to have this conversation tonight, when he was so muddled inside?

  “You know my mother is trying to set us up.”

  Kass focused on slicing a sliver of cheesecake off with her fork. “I kind of figured.”

  “She thinks the kids need a mother. That I need a wife. She thinks it is her duty to make sure it all happens.”

  Kass pushed the bit of cheesecake around on the plate. “I see. What do you think?”

  “About what? About you?”

  She nodded slightly and darted him a glance.

  “Kass, I-I don’t know. I’m not sure I’m in a good space to commit to a relationship right now.”

  “Your mom said it was a long time since you’d heard from the twins’ mother. That it wasn’t likely she’d ever return.”

  Mason released a long breath. “There are a lot of things my mother doesn’t know. I heard from Erin over Christmas.”

  “Do you still have feelings for her?”

  “What? No. It’s not that. It’s just… she’s the surprise. She’s coming for the twins’ birthday. I think it’s a really bad idea, but I don’t know how to say no. I mean, she’s their mother.”

  “Oh.” Kass cut another bite of cheesecake.

  Mason noticed she hadn’t eaten the first one yet. “I don’t know if she’ll want a bigger part of their life. I don’t think so, but I can’t know for sure. Legally she has no recourse.”

  “So it’s complicated, but not insurmountable.”

  He stared at her. She was willing to work within those confines? Why again didn’t he love this woman? He should. She was a gem.

  “Mason, I…” Kass took a deep breath and met his gaze. “I like you a lot. I like Avery and Christopher.”

  His brain told him to run with it, but his heart and his body told him to run away, instead.

  Her eyes fell as she caught his reaction, that slight pulling back he’d tried to curtail. “But I see it’s not mutual.”

  “Kass.” He waited until she looked up again then he pushed out what he could only hope was a warm smile. “I do like you, and I’m thankful to have you in my life. But I’ve made snap decisions before about women. Li—“ He bit off Liz’s name. “Like Erin. And others. I once had a reputation, but Jesus has saved me from my past. And with the twins — regardless of my mother’s opinion — I can’t afford to act quickly. There’s too much at stake, and I need to know for sure I’m moving forward with God’s blessing.”

  She nodded. “I want God’s best, too.”

  Words he’d give anything to hear from Liz’s lips. Almost anything. He pushed her back out of his mind. “Then can we just be friends for now? Maybe it will grow into more, given time.” He doubted it. There wasn’t any spark, but maybe a lasting love could grow without that initial attraction. How could he know for sure?

  Kass slipped her hand over his. “Thanks. I’d like that.”

  Mason turned his palm to meet hers and gave it a squeeze before pulling away. He poked his chin toward the closed folder on the table as he picked up his fork. “Now, tell me about this menu plan.”

  Chapter 23

  “No, I’m sorry, but we’re not hiring right now.”

  “Do you have experience in this field? We need someone who can hit the ground running.”

  “Try again in spring.”

  “Didn’t the ad clearly say applicants needed the requisite degree?”

  Back on the street for the umpteenth time in a week, Liz huffed a breath. It turned to fog in front of her before dissipating. Just like everything else.

  Surely someone in a city the size of Des Moines was hiring. Surely there was a position she was suited to. She stepped around a woman slumped in a doorway.

  Liz wasn’t too many weeks from being that woman unless she found a job. The wad of cash in the trunk of her car was shrinking steadily. She needed fuel for the car so she could run it a bit at night to keep from freezing. She needed warm food here and there, to say nothing of coffee.

  A sign on the snowy sidewalk offered a free meal. She angled a glance at the closed door. No windows afforded the opportunity to see the setup. What would she be expected to give in exchange? There’d be a catch somewhere. She thought of Larry, and her gut soured. There was always a catch.

  Two hours later and chilled to the bone, she retraced her steps. The sign st
ill stood on the sidewalk, which had been recently shoveled. Liz’s stomach growled.

  She’d take a chance. She pulled the door open and stepped inside, all senses on alert.

  A few people sat at one of several long tables. At the back of the space, a middle-aged man glanced up and smiled at her from behind a restaurant-style warming table. “Here for a meal? There’s a bit left. Help yourself.”

  Savory aromas wafted toward her and tugged her forward. “What’s the catch?”

  The man chuckled. “No catch. I’m Warren, and I’m glad to meet you. There’s bowls over on the end. Help yourself to some stew and a roll.”

  Liz eyed him, and he backed away from the table. She filled a bowl, grabbed a roll, and found a spot with her back to the wall where she could keep an eye on him and the others. Not that anyone looked like a threat, but she didn’t want to find out the hard way. Not after Larry.

  A woman about her mom’s age came from a door at the back, carrying two cups. She scooted one across to Liz. “Want a coffee?”

  Did she ever. “Thanks.”

  The woman settled into a chair across from Liz. “I don’t believe we’ve met. My name’s Linda Thompson. Warren’s my husband.”

  “I’m Liz.” She took a big bite of the stew, laden with savory root vegetables. It was hot, filling, and reasonably tasty.

  “We’re open every day for those who need a warm meal and a place out of that nasty winter wind.”

  Liz eyed the woman. “Why?”

  Linda’s face wrinkled when she smiled. “Why not? The good Lord has given us so much, we want to give in return.”

  The food soured. The good Lord. Liz should’ve known. “So is this the Salvation Army, or what?”

  “Something similar, but not run by them.” Linda sipped her coffee. “How are you doing, Liz? Is there anything you need help with?”

  She probably looked the homeless part pretty well. No matter how hard she tried to keep clean at the truck stop showers, she couldn’t pamper herself the way she’d always done.