Smoky Mountain Sweethearts

by Cheryl Harper

  Her mother still hadn’t confessed to her budding business redecorating and flipping homes, so that left out joining the family company. Which was just as well since the threat of looking at one more paint chip, shoved under her nose by her mother, made her feel vaguely violent.

  No matter where she went, she always returned to law school.

  Was it going to come back to that? After all these years?

  Avery closed her eyes. The only thing that had caught her interest, especially since Sam had dropped off the face of the earth, was researching boilerplate contracts for her mother.

  Which no one really needed her to do. It wasn’t like either Odella or Janet would charge into court to demand recompense if their business relationship stalled. Her mother was operating well enough on her own without a personal corporate attorney, so for fun Avery had been thumbing through the old law-school books she’d shipped home before she’d gotten married.

  And it was fun, reading through her notes, remembering the way counterarguments flowed for her.

  Avery picked up the folder she’d been carrying everywhere, as if contract law might have a sudden new development that would require her immediate attention, and slipped it in the tote bag she’d slung over the back of the chair.

  “Seen Sam lately?” Astrid asked, an innocent blink her only other comment.

  “Not since the weekend.” Even as she said it, Avery still had a hard time believing Sam had kissed her. No matter how many times she turned it over in her head, it made no sense.

  Even more unbelievably, she’d kissed him back.

  And apparently that had been enough to push Sam back a step. The only communication she’d had with him directly had been a text. He’d taken a selfie at the top of Yanu Falls. Under thirty minutes to the top. Not my best, but nothing to be ashamed of. His broad grin had been so typically Sam that Avery had to smile through her irritation.

  She hadn’t had a chance to get back up to the trail, which was fine. She was nowhere near his time. Not yet, anyway.

  From his mother, she’d heard today was his day off. And he hadn’t invited her to go climbing at Obed, even though he’d threatened more than once to take her. Since she’d had to be rescued from an easy hike from Yanu, there was no way she’d be ready for a climb straight up.

  “Why? Did you need to talk to him about his next story time?” Avery asked.

  “You two are thick as thieves,” Astrid said as she pointed at Avery’s eye patch, “another group of people who’ve been forgotten by the justice system, no doubt.”

  Avery smiled. “Have you been talking to my mother? She asks oh so casually about what Sam and I are up to. That’s her sly way of checking to see whether anything is coming of this friendship.”

  “Yeah, mothers are pretty much the same the world over. I sure do miss mine, but not the matchmaking.” Astrid stood. “I was wondering if you might want to go out with this guy I know. He’s awesome. You could set me up with Sam. I’m talking double date.” Her singsong was cute, but the immediate shock that swept over Avery wiped away any amusement.

  “Sam’s...busy this week, some assignment at one of the weather stations the engine crew monitors. He’s also meeting with the hotshot recruiter because he’s planning a move. Remember?” She’d learned all that from eavesdropping on her mother’s conversations with Regina Blackburn, a fact that was starting to move from irritating her to hurting her feelings.

  Their new old friendship would survive a kiss.

  Wouldn’t it?

  Avery wasn’t sure why it was important to make it clear that she knew more about Sam’s life than Astrid ever could, but the urge to snap was strong. They’d planned a climb somewhere, to be determined by Sam, but Avery was afraid Sam would cancel it.

  If he did, she was going to give him a piece of her mind. They were stronger than one kiss.

  She needed him too much to let that end a friendship.

  Astrid sighed. “Sure, sure, his new job. You know, I get that the move is a big, exciting thing, but he’s a great guy.” She waved her hand at the small building they were in. “Leaving all this could be a struggle, but there are libraries in Colorado. And universities that could lead to any number of exciting new careers.”

  Avery tightened her grip on her tote. “Really? You aren’t even dating but you could see moving across the country. Because of Sam?”

  “If he was the right guy, I could. Could you?”

  Avery studied Astrid, confused by the whole conversation. Then the realization that she’d messed up crossed Astrid’s face and she waved her hands. “I went too far. Don’t tell your mother.”

  Amused but annoyed at her mother’s never-say-die attitude, Avery rolled her eyes. “No way. She’s roped you in? I thought she was done with the matchmaking. Sam and I are friends. I’m hardly enough to keep him here. For the past two decades, we lived pretty successfully a thousand miles apart.” Avery had no idea if that distance was correct but it sounded right.

  “And yet your mama is certain he’s the one who’s been bringing you back to life.” Astrid tilted her head and peered at her. “She’s not wrong, is she?”

  No, she wasn’t wrong, but why did that have to mean romance?

  And why, when she’d made a new friend for the first time in years after being deserted by her old friends, had her mother been able to turn Astrid to her side?

  “I can’t believe she’s pushing like this. I lost a husband. She should understand how that’s changed me.” Avery slung her tote bag over her shoulder and watched it settle.

  For some reason, dragging that old University of Chicago bag out of the closet had been satisfying.

  She’d never forget the first day she’d picked it up at one of those mixers for new students.

  “Honey, she does understand how it changed you. That’s why she’s worried.” Astrid set Pippi down. “Did I tell you about the dog I’m going to go visit at the shelter in Knoxville? He’s a mutt, but the name Jem suits him perfectly. Want to go with me to meet him?” Astrid relaxed, relieved to have done the job she’d been given, even if it had gone sideways.

  “Have you already got permission to add a library dog?” Avery asked, grateful for the change in subject. She didn’t want to blast Astrid, but this whole lecture about loyalty and what friends do for each other was rumbling around in her head.

  “Naw, but the mayor? He’s an easy touch. One look in Jem’s eyes and that guy’ll be wrapped around his little paw.” Astrid motioned with her head. “Pippi’s approval’s the one that’s got me worried.”

  Astrid had a unique point of view. The guy who signed her paycheck was no threat, but her sleeping orange cat could derail everything. “I’ll think about your offer. For the double date.” Then she shook her head. “Actually, no, I won’t. I’m not ready to be dating.”

  “Then you could set me up with Sam for a single date, I guess.” Astrid watched her closely as she swung a leg back and forth. “Couldn’t you?”

  Uneasy, Avery marched around the desk and stopped. “You and Sam?” Was Astrid pushing buttons again?

  Astrid shrugged. “Why not?”

  She had a good point.

  “He’s out there for who knows how long,” Avery said, “pretty much out of touch when he’s fighting fires. Wait—you know what he wants to do, right? These crews jump into out-of-control fires. It’s a scary, unpredictable job. Why would you sign up to be the woman worrying about whether he was coming home again?” Avery asked. If anyone had been able to convince her to get serious about her and Sam, this was the argument she had ready to trot out. She’d been working on it ever since their shared sunrise at Otter Lake. That kiss? It had been good, the kind of first kiss a woman dreams about before it happens and finds impossible to forget.

  But Sam was her friend, a lifeline to the n
ew Avery. She could continue their friendship long-distance, but falling for him would be too risky.

  She’d given her heart to the most stable guy she’d ever met.

  And it had almost killed her.

  Losing Sam? The kid who’d pushed her and the man who’d helped bring her back to life? There would be no coming back from that.

  “Sounds like you’ve already examined the downside to Sam Blackburn.” Astrid shifted her weight back and forth. Avery had learned that was a sign she was deep in thought. “Only a woman who can see the real potential in a man is going to spend her valuable time doing that. Well, she sees the potential and she’s scared to death of it.”

  Avery propped her hands on her hips. “Scared to death of what? Sam?”

  “Dating Sam. Losing Sam. Loving Sam.” Astrid’s face was solemn and Avery was surprised how the quiet words slammed through her.

  “You aren’t afraid of those things?” Avery snapped. “Because let me tell you, as the voice of experience, you should be terrified. You will never be the same.”

  Astrid reached over to squeeze her hand. “And what about if you lose out on the love of your life the second time around? I mean, imagine that, never changing, never growing, never becoming who you were meant to be because you were afraid of the changes.” Then she held up both hands. “Honestly, if you don’t make me shut my mouth, I’m going to be spouting off who knows what nonsense, and all I promised to do was suggest a double date and catalog your responses.” She mimed turning the key on the lock of her mouth and tossing it away.

  “How much is my mother paying you for this?” Avery asked, as confused as ever about what she wanted and wishing her mother would tell her the answer.

  “No payment,” Astrid said as she swung her knotted hands back and forth, “but she did move me up on her waiting list of clients, so that’s something. A full year is too long to wait to get my living room spruced up, you know?”

  At the reminder that she still hadn’t confronted her mother about whatever side business she’d been working on without telling Avery one thing about it, Avery changed her mind about her destination. She’d been prepared to head for the fried-pie place and then hand over the contract she’d enjoyed drafting for Odella entirely too much.

  But now, finding her mother and demanding to know the details about her “new” business were at the top of her list.

  “’Bye, Astrid. I’ll make sure my mother knows you’ve done your job.” Avery ignored Astrid’s token protests and stepped out onto the curb. One slow survey of the main street showed Regina’s car parked in front of Smoky Joe’s. Since the women rarely went anywhere separately, it was easy enough to guess where her mother might be.

  Before Avery determinedly jaywalked across the street, her phone vibrated. She dug it out of her pocket to see a message from Sam. Need a rain check on the climb up to Yanu. Call you when I get back.

  Discouraged, Avery stopped and thought about how to answer. The short beep of a small car’s horn got her moving out of the street with a guilty wave. As soon as she was back on the sidewalk, she typed, Afraid I’ll beat your time? Fine. Feed Courage. Her lips were twitching as she imagined his scowl when he read the text.

  She waited there in the shadows of the hardware store’s awning until a cold breeze surprised a shiver out of her. She glanced up at the mountains, where heavy black clouds hung low. Off in the distance, thunder rumbled. As warm as it had been, they needed the rain, even if the thunderstorm brewing made her uneasy. Avery tugged the ugly scarf she’d given her mother as a high school senior out of her coat pocket and wrapped it twice around her neck.

  As she dropped her phone back in her pocket, she realized the scarf would be another weapon in the upcoming showdown with her mother. Bolstered by her powerful indignation over her mother’s secret business and the way she’d found the knit scarf she’d worked on for weeks shoved inside a box in the top of her closet, Avery straightened her shoulders and marched right inside Smoky Joe’s.

  Odella, Janet and Regina were all staring at the design board that had been spread out on her mother’s kitchen table for two weeks. Each one of them was frowning, and Odella was tapping her chin.

  “Nope. This wasn’t what I had in mind.” She waved a hand in the air and snatched up her coffeepot. “Fine dining. In Sweetwater? The place’ll be out of business in two months. We ain’t so much about fine as home and comfort and good.” Then she stomped off, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe she’d wasted her time on such nonsense. “You come back to me when you got a plan for the heart of this place, not whatever you’re dreaming of somewhere else.”

  Stunned at Odella’s response, Avery watched Janet and Regina stare after the older woman, both of their mouths hanging open.

  Some of Avery’s fury drained away as she memorized the sight of her perky mother caught off guard...and surrounded by kitschy, dusty cookie jars.

  “Well, I never.” Her mother folded gracefully into one of the red booths in front of the door and propped her elbow on the table. Her head hit her hand with a thump.

  “Me, either,” Regina said as she turned in a slow circle. “Seriously? I could do it, make this place a go. I know it.” Then she gave Janet a gentle shove and eased down beside her.

  Avery slid across from them, confused now that her plan to attack was shot in the foot.

  “Well, this is disappointing,” Avery said as she pulled the file out of her tote and slipped it under her mother’s elbow. “I had planned to spike the ball, which is really a basic contract that absolutely no one could disagree with. And now, that would be totally overkill.”

  Regina yanked the folder out from below Janet’s arm and slipped her glasses on. She perused the document quickly. “I’m impressed anyway, hon.” Then she closed the folder and plopped her hands on top. “I guess if Odella won’t hire us to renovate the place, we’ll just have to buy it as is.” Regina paused and she and Janet studied each other carefully. “I’ve crunched these numbers, and they don’t lie. We can’t let a good plan go to waste.”

  Sam’s mother raised an eyebrow.

  Avery’s mother sighed. “Well, now, I guess we can’t.” Then she offered Regina her hand.

  After their giggling handshake, Regina said, “Your next contract can be an offer to purchase Smoky Joe’s. Then we’ll need you to review the agreement we have with our contractor. It’s time we flipped some real estate for long-term investment.”

  Janet slowly turned her head and her eyes were bugged out at Regina.

  “Mama,” Avery said softly. “Come on.”

  “Ain’t no way she hasn’t figured all this out,” Regina said, “and that’s assuming there was any figuring to do. She and Sam are thick as thieves. He’s the one who introduced us to Ethan.”

  Avery waited for her mother to meet her stare. “Why couldn’t you tell me that you and Miss Regina were in business together?”

  Her mother sighed. “Listen, baby...” She fussed with her bangs. “The first time Reggie and I bought a house? It was the day Robert was rushed to the hospital because he couldn’t breathe. Remember that day?”

  Of course she did. Avery would never forget the way he’d clawed at her arm, desperate for help, or how long it had taken the ambulance to arrive.

  “I called that evening, completely clueless about everything you were going through, ready to celebrate.” Janet closed her eyes. “I couldn’t believe you hadn’t called me.”

  Avery shifted in her seat, uneasy at the tone of her mother’s voice. Was she angry that Avery had done her best to handle every crisis?

  “I don’t remember that.” And she felt vaguely guilty because of it. “I had a lot on my mind. They put that tube in and I just... I couldn’t leave him because every time he woke up, he was in a panic. If his eyes even fluttered, I was there.”

&nb
sp; Her mother reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Of course. You were doing what you had to do, and no one can fault you for that.”

  She said it, but did she mean it? It would be easy to say the words to smooth things over now.

  “Okay, but Robert’s been gone for more than two years.” Avery wanted to understand, but it made no sense.

  “And you, you’ve been juggling insurance companies and settlements and selling the house and getting rid of all his things and...” Her mother gulped. “I’ve been there. You remember that, don’t you?”

  Avery could see the suffering in her mother’s eyes. They had that in common. If Robert’s slow exit had made it simpler by giving her plenty of time to plan, her mother had been thrust into the deep end without any life preserver and with an angry little girl clinging to the edge of the world by her fingernails. And she’d managed so well that Avery had never once had to wonder if she was on the verge of an eternal, terrible solution to all her problems.

  She was so much stronger than Avery had ever been.

  “I do remember, Mama.” Avery rubbed her throbbing temple. “I did this all wrong. I got it so wrong. If there’s anyone in the world who could talk to me about how I felt, it was you.”

  Her mother’s grim expression was enough of a confirmation of her hurt feelings, her frustration and worry, that Avery wanted to bang her head on the table. “I wanted to get control.”

  Regina tapped the table. “Uh-huh. I have heard that one before.”

  The three of them were quiet as the bustle of the late-afternoon crowd flowed around them.

  “Listen, now I know and I’m so happy to know.” Avery slid the folder back and forth. “And we have options here. If Odella won’t sell and you want to do the restaurant, we’ll find a new place. There are other spots here on the square with real historical charm. We can renovate and go from there.”

  Neither of the women across from her brightened at the suggestion.

  “Or...” Avery shook her head. “Seriously, the two of you are already so busy. Astrid sold herself out by pretending to be interested in setting me up on a double date in order to interrogate me on my feelings for Sam so she could report back to you in the hopes of moving up on your list of clients.”