by Judi Lynn
No answer.
She let herself in. The TV was blaring and Miles was in his boxers, passed out, half on, half off the sofa. She grabbed the remote and turned off the noise. He didn’t stir. Two empty whiskey bottles lay on the carpet. She walked into the kitchen and started a pot of strong coffee. When it finished brewing, she went to the couch. “Miles, wake up!”
He grunted and turned his head.
She reached down and shook his shoulder. “Get up! We need to talk.”
He flinched and threw his hands over his head. “No, don’t step there!”
Her heart hurt. He was reliving the day his friends in the military had stepped on the mine. And then she realized the fireworks had probably set off horrible memories for him. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed a friend, asked a few questions, and made a resolve. She went to shake Miles awake. “Get up! You need to get dressed.”
He opened his eyes and blinked at her. “Go away.”
“Not gonna happen. Get your sorry ass off this couch and come with me.”
“I don’t want to.”
She shrugged. “Tyne has Fridays off and if I have to call him, I will, and we’ll drag you out of here in your undershorts.”
“Tyne?”
“Mr. Muscle and Attitude. He likes you. He’ll be happy to help me get you in better shape.”
“Not Tyne.” Miles sat up and propped his head in his hands. “My head hurts.”
“That’s called a hangover. I made coffee.” She went to get him a cup.
He made a face when he drank his first sip. “This tastes like shit.”
“Ask me if I care. Drink up.”
He finished the cup and handed it to her.
“Now water and aspirin.” She brought those next.
He didn’t look good when he finished them, but she didn’t care about that either. “Get dressed. I’m driving you to my friend.”
“What friend? Where are we going?” He headed back to the bedroom to find clothes.
“You’re trying to fight a war alone that you’re not going to win. You need help.”
He stopped and leaned against the wall. “Our family doesn’t ask for help. We fix our own problems.”
“This one’s too big for you. You’re being a dumbass. Smart people know when they need help. It’s a sign of strength to ask for it.”
He shook his head. “Go away.”
She opened her phone to punch more numbers.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling Tyne.”
Miles held up a hand. “Stop. I’ll go with you.”
She closed her cell and put it away. “I haven’t got all day.”
“I’m going.”
She heard him rummaging in the bedroom and he emerged five minutes later in jeans and a rumpled T-shirt. “Good, let’s go.”
He looked a little green around the gills, but he didn’t get sick on the drive to Leticia Grayston’s office. Leticia was the therapist Miriam had invited to speak to her high school students, the therapist who’d worked with the girl who’d tried to commit suicide last year. Miriam led Miles into her office and Leticia invited them both to take seats.
Leticia smiled at Miles. “Miriam says you’re having a rough time of it since you heard the fireworks last night.”
He shook his head and raked his hands through his hair. “They sounded too much like a battle. I had flashbacks. I used to dream about it all the time, but the dreams are going away, unless . . .”
“Something reminds you of those times.” Leticia’s voice was soft, soothing. “You’re suffering PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. You’ve seen things you can’t unsee.”
His expression pinched shut, and Miriam leaned forward so he had to look at her. “It’s like this. I love Joel and Joel loves you. So if you’re not okay, he’s not okay. You either get yourself together, or so help me, I’m going to kick your ass.”
Miles stared at her, then smiled. “You mean it, don’t you?”
“I don’t make empty threats.”
He nodded and turned to Leticia. “So what do I do now?”
Miriam left the office, letting them get to it. Miles was a wonderful person, and he was going to get better whether he wanted to or not. She’d see to that.
Chapter 39
Joel looked out the brewery’s windows and saw Miriam’s car, parked at his brother’s trailer. She’d called work to say she might be a little late today. It pissed him off, but she was a teacher. They couldn’t help but try to fix everybody. He used to be like that, and then he’d married April. Enough said.
By the time she got to the brewery, customers were lined up for food and beer. Word had spread that Tyne had used Joel’s sausage mix to help win the burger contest and they were selling sausage sandwiches as fast as they could make them. Joel kept waiting for a lull in business to talk to Miriam, but it never came. Tourists had flooded Mill Pond and the national forest for the Fourth and were making a long weekend of it. The brewery would probably be this busy again tomorrow. Hopefully, by Sunday, things would slow down.
Joel hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. When he finally turned the sign in the doors to CLOSED, he was dragging. Miriam led Adele out of his office and waved at him. “I’ll drive her home. She’s been on her own most of the day, so we’ll watch some TV while you finish up.”
Usually, he appreciated her thoughtfulness. Tonight, it felt like she was avoiding him. He helped with cleanup, then went back to his office to stash the money and receipts in his safe. He’d run the numbers tomorrow morning. He couldn’t concentrate tonight. On the drive home he wondered how things had gone with Miriam and Miles. She’d seen her load him into her old Mercedes and drive away. Where had she taken him?
When he walked into the cottage, she and Adele were watching Dancing with the Stars. They’d watched it on Monday night and recorded it, but Adele loved watching things over and over again. It was too freaking happy for him, so he grabbed a beer and went out to look over the lake.
A cloudless sky glittered with stars. The dark water lay smooth as a mirror. A frog croaked from the reeds by the channel. He felt himself relax. His eyes were just starting to close when Miriam called, “Adele’s heading to bed. So am I. Are you tired?”
He roused himself and pushed to his feet. “I’m coming.” He knew from experience that it wasn’t wise to start a serious conversation when he was so tired, but he couldn’t help himself. He closed the bedroom door behind him and said, “Where did you take Miles today?”
“To see my counselor friend. He has PTSD. The fireworks triggered flashbacks. She can help him.” Miriam gave him a stern look. “He needs your help, Joel, not your judgment.”
Ice flowed through his veins. “What do you know about me helping Miles? Do you know how many times I’ve bailed him out, helped pay his rent?”
Her shoulders squared. He’d used the wrong tone with her. He knew it, but she’d irritated him. Time and again he tried to be the good guy who rushed in to rescue people. Maybe he was getting tired of it. Her blue eyes snapped with temper. “I didn’t know you were counting how many times he needed you. In my family when someone needs you, you show up.”
“You don’t have an alcoholic in your family, do you?”
“He wasn’t an alcoholic until he joined the military.”
“That was his choice, not mine.”
Her hands went on her hips. “What? You didn’t want him to join?”
“No, I didn’t. It made us all worry about him. And guess what? It didn’t turn out well.”
“He could have died.”
“Exactly, and we’d have been left grieving him.”
She shook her head. “You’ve made this all about you. People have to do what’s right for them.”
“It was a bad choice.”
“So was yours when you married April.”
He jerked as if she’d slapped him. “So you’re comparing me with Miles?”
“I’m just saying you both trie
d to make good choices, but they didn’t turn out the way you expected.”
“At least we tried. We didn’t stay single and hide behind a desk.”
It was her turn to gasp with surprise. “I wasn’t hiding.”
“If you say so.”
She picked up his pillow and threw it at him. “I don’t want to sleep next to you tonight.” She opened the closet and tossed him a spare blanket. “The couch is comfortable.”
“What’s new?” He’d slept on the couch a lot when he was married to April. He yanked the door open, stalked through it, and slammed it shut.
He punched the pillow a few times before he burrowed into it. Lying there, staring at the ceiling, he came up with one idea after another. Daphne hadn’t rented the apartment to anyone else yet. He could go back there. He could order a new trailer, too, and have it put on the opposite end of his property, by the brewery. He’d given the first trailer to Miles and wouldn’t kick him out. He didn’t want a homeless brother and he wouldn’t send him back to live with their parents. His mind was still spinning when the bedroom door opened and Miriam came to him.
Her curls were mussed and she looked tired. “I can’t go to sleep, mad at you.”
This was new. April had wanted to spend as little time as possible with him. “I can’t sleep either.”
She held out a hand to him. “Come to bed with me?”
“When we’re mad?”
“I still love you. We’re not always going to agree. That’s part of life, isn’t it?”
He stood and pulled her to him. He hugged her so tight, he had to make himself loosen his hold. “Do you really think your friend can help Miles?”
“She’s the best. She thinks she can, so I do, too, but I haven’t fought this as many years as you have.”
He followed her into the bedroom and slumped onto the mattress. “He’s tried over and over again but just can’t quit drinking.”
She wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Because he can’t do it alone. He needs help. If he had diabetes, you’d take him to a doctor, wouldn’t you?”
He rubbed his eyes, confused and tired. He took a deep breath. “I’ve hung in there this long. Why not stick it out a little longer?”
She kissed his cheek. “You’re a wonderful man.”
He didn’t feel wonderful. He didn’t even feel hopeful, but if something might help his brother, why not try it? “I’ll stop in to see him before work tomorrow.”
She lifted the covers and pulled him next to her. “I can sleep now.”
He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to, but with Miriam curled close to him a lot of his anxiety drained away and he drifted into slumber.
Chapter 40
When Miriam walked into the brewery on Saturday, Miles was working. He looked like shit—dark circles under his eyes, pale complexion, and limp hair—but he was keeping busy. Miriam quirked her hands in the air in a question. “You’re not on the schedule today.”
He glanced at her, uncomfortable. “I know, but I needed to get out of the trailer. I need to keep my mind off things.”
Joel walked into the dining room with the cash drawer to start the day. He looked at Miles and said, “Dave needs you for a minute in the kitchen, if you have time.”
With a nod, Miles went to help him. Joel gave Audrie the drawer and then went to help Miriam finish wrapping the silverware. In a quiet voice, he said, “Dave wants to sponsor Miles. He’s an ex-alcoholic.”
“Dave? There’s no such thing as an ex-alcoholic, just a recovering one.”
“Well, he hasn’t had a drink in a long time. That’s why he left Miami—too much partying—drinking and drugs. That’s why he likes small kitchens these days instead of prestigious ones. He’s been sober seven years. Said he wouldn’t have made it without his sponsor. Recognized Miles’s drinking problem the same day he met him.”
Miriam nodded. “There are probably signs.”
“That’s what Dave said. Anyway, if Dave helps Miles with his drinking and your friend helps him with his PTSD, Miles might make it this time. Dave said not to expect too much too soon, that he might slip a couple of times before he gets it right, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
“That’s wonderful.” She added the last roll of silverware to the pile, then turned to press both of her hands to Joel’s face. “I’m so proud of you. You try so hard to do the right thing.”
“You gave me a not-so-gentle nudge in the right direction.”
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him hard. “You don’t realize how special you are.”
Audrie cleared her throat. “Better break it up, lovebirds. It’s time to open the doors for business.”
Miriam looked up. She’d lost track of time, and a long line had already formed outside. People were peering in at them, and Grams and Miguel were near the front. Grams had a huge smile on her face. Oh boy; their kiss would spread all over town.
Joel opened the doors and people moved to the counters. Miguel went to order their food and Grams hurried to Miriam. “Are you two going to make it official? You sure seem to like each other.”
Miriam gave a naughty smile. “When are you and Miguel going to walk down the aisle?”
But it was impossible to fluster Grams. “We were both married and widowed. For now”—she winked—“we’d rather live in sin.”
“I want more than that for Miriam,” Joel said, coming to join them. “I’m nuts about the woman. I want to make her my wife.”
Miriam turned to him, her eyes wide. “You want to marry me?”
“I’d put a ring on your finger right now if you’d let me. I want to make you mine.”
“But I’m tall and geeky and gawky and . . .”
He shut her up with a kiss. “And wonderful. Marry me, woman.”
“Yes!”
Grams looked like she’d won the lottery. “When will you have a date?”
“The sooner the better,” Joel said.
“Will there be a barbecue?”
“What?” Joel blinked, caught off guard. “A barbecue? That’s a new one.”
Miriam gave him an indulgent grin. “In Mill Pond when a foodie couple marries, there’s a barbecue on the beach and the whole town celebrates.”
Joel chuckled. “Is there anything you don’t celebrate on the beach?”
Grams shrugged. “Nothing that matters.”
“In winter?”
“Well, that’s different. Then we do a carry-in.” Grams smiled.
She meant it, Lord help them. Oh, well, when in Rome . . . Joel threw up his hands in surrender. “Then why not?”
People cheered, and then business got back to usual. But it was official. Miriam had promised to marry him. Joel had come to Mill Pond and hit the jackpot.
Chapter 41
The wedding took place two weeks later, and that was still too long for Joel. Miriam had said yes. He wanted to make it official. Everyone came. Miriam had warned him, but people rolled into wedding mode so fast, Mill Pond had to have a lot of practice at it.
Tyne and Chase made a lot of smoked briskets and chickens. Joel and Miles made tons of hot dogs and sausages. They had the reception at the brewery, and there was so much property, they put up volleyball nets, croquet games, and basketball hoops. People came and spent the day. Joel’s parents came and took Adele home with them for a week. Miles and Dave made sides, like macaroni and cheese, broccoli salad, and German potato salad. Ian’s wife, Tessa, made the wedding cake, and Mill Pond women carried in more desserts. Harley donated two crates of wine and Joel provided plenty of beer.
In the early evening a DJ spun music in the parking lot and people stayed to dance. Joel had a great time, but Miriam enjoyed it even more. By the time the music stopped and people cleared out to go home, they looked at each other. They had the cottage to themselves. Joel took two days off from the brewery for their honeymoon. Miles and Dave waved them off. “There’s not much left for cleanup. Get out of here.”
Miriam locked the doors and started dropping her clothes on her way to the bedroom. “I’ll arm wrestle you for who makes breakfast tomorrow morning.”
“Breakfast?” Joel shook his head. “Maybe brunch.”
She grinned. “I’m strong for a woman.”
Joel let her win and she grimaced at him. “You lost on purpose.”
“That’s better than eating whatever you come up with for eggs.”
She laughed. “Let’s build up an appetite.” And the woman meant it. The minute he dropped his drawers, she was on top of him.
“Hey, I’m not a bronco! Take it a little easy.”
She shook her head. “I’ve always wanted to be a cowgirl. I’m going to ride you until you’re done in.”
He grinned. He had more stamina than she thought. Miriam was in for one hell of a ride.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Judi Lynn received a master’s degree from Indiana University in elementary education after attending the IPFW campus. She taught for six years before having her two daughters. She loves gardening, cooking, and trying new recipes. Readers can visit her website at www.judithpostswritingmusings.com and herblogwritingmusings.com.