The Bears of Blackrock, Books 1 - 3: The Fenn Clan

by Michaela Wright

  The view had been lovely, both times.

  Despite her best efforts, she was softening to the man. How could she not, seeing how much Rory loved him?

  “So, where’d you go last night?” Joe asked, searching for words to fill the silence.

  “What? Oh, just went out for a walk.”

  “At ten at night?”

  Joe watched him as he drove, his dark hair springing in tufts from beneath his black and gold Bruins hat.

  He glanced at her, then shrugged. “Why not?”

  “Uh, because ‘wild animals.’ How many times have we seen a moose or deer sauntering across the driveway just since I’ve been there? And you know Rory and I have both seen a bear up here.”

  “Yes, I know that.” Kirk paused. “I’m not too worried. Been going for night walks all my life. I find it peaceful.”

  And necessary. His kind needed to shift. If they went too long without letting the bear out, the animal would start to slip out in their day to day lives – starting fights, throwing things. Weekly shifts, late at night had always been the Patrick Fenn way, and his bloodline saw no reason to change tradition now.

  Joe shook her head. “Just don’t get yourself killed, please.”

  “Why? You worried about me?”

  She glared at him. “You’re the one who said moose are dangerous.”

  “You growing fond of me, Josephine?”

  “Theresa!”

  “Like having me around, Joey Joe Joe?”

  She swatted at him, fighting desperately to hide the smile on her face. God damn, he was growing on her. More than she ever wanted him to know.

  They pulled up outside the Blackrock Inn and Tavern, and Joe climbed out of the truck without help for the first time in what felt like ages.

  “Yeah, this is nowhere near the road GPS tried to take me to.”

  “No, I imagine it isn’t,” Kirk said.

  Her leg wobbled under her weight, but she did her best to hide the weakness. Kirk led her into the restaurant, holding the door open for her as she passed.

  He was wearing cologne today. He smelled like Christmas.

  Joe was startled as soon as they entered the restaurant. It wasn’t apparent from the outside of the building, but the restaurant wasn’t quaint in size, by any means. Attached to the Blackrock Inn, the restaurant was styled like a log cabin with open beams overhead and framing the raw wood walls. There were two main rooms to the establishment, one on either side of the front door, and at their center, a massive fireplace with a stone face that reached up to the ceiling. The room to the right was closed off for the afternoon, the bar that lined one side of it not serving for another four hours. Yet, despite the quiet of the early morning crowd, there was a fire roaring away in the fireplace and the young hostess stood before a glass case of pies and cakes, all available to order for there or to take home. Joe swallowed.

  “Hey handsome!” A woman called from the corner of the restaurant. The dark haired waitress touched the nearby, older patron on the shoulder and tucked her notepad into her apron before rushing over to the door, She smiled brightly at Kirk, and Joe watched the woman approach, her short, dark curls bouncing as she rushed him.

  Joe’s stomach tightened. She fought to ignore the sensation.

  “Hey baby sister,” Kirk said, holding his arms out to embrace the woman.

  Joe heard the word sister and exhaled. The woman shot her a sideways look from over Kirk’s shoulder.

  “Is this the famous Josephine?”

  Joe turned an eye to Kirk to unleash her fury, but before she could even open her mouth, Kirk’s sister touched a hand to Joe’s elbow in companionable greeting.

  “Your baby girl is one of my favorite students.”

  Joe raised an eyebrow. “Students?”

  Kirk nodded, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah. Gracie teaches band at the Middle School. I had Rory signed up for private lessons a couple nights a week so I could – you know – just to have a little -”

  Gracie smiled. “Grown up time. We all need it every once in a while.”

  Joe’s fists clenched at her sides without her control. She knew where Rory was now, knew she was safe at school, but the sudden reminder of all those days her daughter lived and breathed without her – without her protection? It turned her stomach to think of it.

  “She was doing really great. You should bring her back in. I know the kids would love to see her.”

  “I don’t know about that -” Kirk started.

  “That sounds like – it sounds like it would be good. I know she’s really enjoying the band.”

  Both Gracie and Kirk turned to watch her a moment, as though startled to hear her agree.

  Gracie turned her attention to Kirk, gesturing outside at the massive schooner perched on its trailer. “You putting the boat in already?”

  Kirk smiled. “Look at this damn weather and say you blame me.”

  “I don’t blame you, I just think you’ll feel silly if we get another resurgence of snow – as per usual.”

  She shot this last aside at Joe. Joe smiled.

  “I’m willing to take the chance, thank you,” Kirk said, turning toward the door. He offered Joe a quick wave, faltering almost in the doorway, as though he wondered if he should do more. Then he was gone.

  Gracie finally broke the strange spell, gesturing for Joe to follow. “Anyway, your wee one told me your name. Sorry if I wasn’t supposed to know. I can call you whatever -”

  “No, Josephine is fine – Joe.”

  Gracie smiled. “Alright, Joe. Come on back and we’ll get you squared away.”

  Joe stood in the doorway to the kitchen, armed and ready to take on the job of waiting tables, something she’d done more than once in her life. Gracie gave her a tour of the place, introducing her to a young brown haired man clad in a hairnet and white apron. He introduced himself as Billy before returning his attention back to the fryer. There was a hostess who couldn’t have been more than sixteen, a blonde girl named Sarah, but otherwise, the dining room was quiet, save for the comings and goings of locals and regulars. Gracie assured her there were maybe a dozen customers total that weren’t over sixty and would actually notice if their food came out wrong or slow - or both. Still, Joe faltered there as the smell of the fryer cooking away in the kitchen filled her nostrils.

  Apron on? Check.

  Pen and notepad? Check.

  Capacity for human interaction? Debatable.

  “You alright, honey?”

  Joe startled, turning toward the male voice. A man almost as tall as Kirk stood in the kitchen behind her, smiling the same smile she’d come to look forward to over breakfast every morning. It was almost disconcerting.

  He extended his hand to her, and there was something soft about the gesture. “I’m Tiernan. I’m Kirk’s brother?”

  He said it as though asking permission. Her wariness was showing. Joe took his hand, shaking it. Though his handshake was firm, he smiled and gave her a silly expression, sticking his tongue out slightly. It was such a disarming gesture, Joe found herself warm to him, instantly. That wasn’t common. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Joe had an inherent distrust of men. Being on the receiving end of Carson O’Neil would do that to a person.

  This man was lighter haired than Kirk and Gracie, and not a stitch of facial hair to speak of, but his eyes had the same amber color as Kirk’s, and the smile was almost identical. Without Tiernan having to say another word, Joe watched the way he carried himself, the way he offered up open and heartfelt smiles to everyone he encountered, and became quite certain that Kirk’s little brother, Tiernan, was gay. This fact alone made Josephine relax.

  “Did Gracie already give you the tour, and all?”

  Joe nodded.

  “Haven’t been out in the world much the past couple months, I hear. You feeling up to the task? I’ve got a couch in the back room if you need to take a breather, put your feet up, have a cocktail.”

  Joe s
miled at this, Tiernan’s hand gestures becoming dainty with the word ‘cocktail.’ “I don’t think my boss would appreciate it if I spent my first day drinking Mimosas in the back room.”

  Tiernan smiled. “You’re right. Especially if you don’t share.”

  He gave her an eyebrow waggle, and Joe’s mouth dropped open a moment. It just hit her. Kirk said the Blackrock Inn and Tavern was a family business – run by his siblings. Tiernan Fenn was her boss.

  The tension in her belly relaxed with such speed, she almost fell over.

  Tiernan pulled an apron over his head, pulling it behind his waist to tie it. “Kirk’s said you’re still recovering, so do what you can, but don’t overdo it on our account. It’s a Wednesday. There won’t be any mad rushes to contend with.”

  “Are there ever?”

  He put a hand to his chest in feigned offense. “Why, whatever are you implying? I’ll have you know we once had twenty whole people in here once - on a Tuesday – at the same time! Place nearly burned to the ground.”

  Joe laughed, covering her mouth with one hand as she did.

  Tiernan swatted at her. “Take a table when you’re ready. Feel free to just bus until then, alright? I’ll let Gracie and Sarah know not to seat you -”

  “No, no. I’m ready. I’ll be ready. Just – I don’t know, give me nice people? Women preferably?”

  Tiernan smiled, but he stopped to watch her a moment. “Honey, everybody’s nice up here. As long as you like guns and lobster fishing. I’ll let Gracie know, though.”

  Joe chuckled again, turning into the dining room. She scanned the beautiful space, catching Gracie’s eye as the woman bobbed from table to table. Gracie shot her a quick smile and pointed to the tables closest to the door at the front of the restaurant. Sarah was there offering menus to a couple of middle aged women who looked as though they’d knitted every piece of clothing they wore. Joe took a deep breath, checking the messy bun she’d tied just above the nape of her neck, and lifted her head up high. Then she pulled the notepad from her pocket and walked across the restaurant.

  “Morning, ladies. Would you two like some coffee?”

  It all came back with the sense memory of riding a bike. Gracie Fenn was at Joe’s back at a moment’s notice, grabbing refills and sneaking in to carry plates. She seemed to be everywhere at once, bussing Joe’s tables so Joe could focus on her orders. Joe managed to make only one or two mistakes – a diet cola instead of a regular cola, or forgetting to ask for blueberry pancakes instead of plain. Still, Gracie and Tiernan both cut her slack, brushing off the mistakes with a smile. By halfway through lunchtime, Joe had found a familiar rhythm, taking on five tables at once, much to Gracie’s proud delight. And none of the men made lewd remarks or spoke abrasively. Maybe Tiernan was right. Maybe the people of Downeast Maine were a kind sort.

  Joe heard the words, “Well hello there, dear. You new around here?” at least a dozen times that afternoon, and each time she introduced herself with a smile and an offer of coffee or breadsticks, depending on the time of day. As she recalled from her previous time as a waitress, the older patrons didn’t leave much in the way of tips, but the middle aged crowd more than made up for it, leaving Joe with a wad of cash by the time the evening staff was rolling in. Joe was startled when the tall figure walked through the front door, dusty from work, a tiny redhead at his hip.

  “Hey baby! How was school today?” Joe asked, rushing toward the door to greet her daughter. She hadn’t glanced at the clock in over an hour.

  “It was really good. I won an award, and they’re gonna hang my drawing in the front hall of the school for the month.”

  Joe smiled so wide, her face almost hurt. “That’s awesome, honey! What is it a picture of?”

  Rory smiled. “A bear.”

  Gracie appeared at Joe’s shoulder. “Hey sucker. Where you been?”

  Rory looked at Gracie, a sheepish air to her expression. The little girl shrugged. “I dunno. I’ve been home.”

  “Yeah well, I expect you in class tomorrow evening. Is that understood?”

  Rory glanced to her mother, then up to Kirk, smiling as it dawned on her that her mother approved.

  Gracie grabbed Rory’s hand and pulled her into the restaurant. “Come on over. Let’s get Uncle Kirk some supper before he gets ‘Hangry.’”

  “I’ve gotta eat quick. Gotta sail the boat back to the dock before it gets too late.”

  Gracie waved him away, walking Rory to a booth.

  Joe stood by the front door, watching Rory march through the restaurant to take her spot by the kitchen door, tossing her backpack up on the bench to pull out her homework. Kirk stood at Joe’s shoulder, as though waiting for her signal to follow.

  “How was your first day?” He asked.

  Joe exhaled, thoughtlessly touching her hand to her hair, imagining the mess she’d find when she finally looked in a mirror after her shift. “It’s going really well, actually.”

  Kirk smiled wide, so wide she could see it out of the corner of her eye. “Oh, I’m glad. See, told you we didn’t bite.”

  Joe felt her eyebrow shoot up. “Well, that’s in shame – in one case.”

  He stared at her a moment, stunned. Then he snorted, as though she’d dropped a great one liner and touched a hand to her back, gesturing for her to join him and Rory at their table.

  Jesus Joe. Why’d you say that?

  Her shift done, Joe crossed the restaurant to join her daughter, feeling lighter than she had in a decade. Still, she’d almost been hurt when Kirk didn’t flirt back.

  Kirk sat down and ordered a steak, medium rare, demanding it be the biggest cut they could give him.

  Gracie rolled her eyes.

  “And hey. You said someone wanted to talk to me?” Kirk asked, hemming and hawing over whether or not he would have a beer with his dinner.

  Gracie smiled. “That’s right! Oh my god, let me see if he’s still here!”

  With that, Gracie disappeared into the kitchen, their order flapping in her hand as she rushed off. Kirk slumped back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest as he scanned the restaurant. It was growing busier in the later hours, but still had many empty tables across the room. He took a long swig of his water. “Not a bad crowd for a Wednesday.”

  Joe smiled at him. This was small talk, something Kirk often fell back on when in her company. She didn’t blame him. She wasn’t exactly offering up much about herself, even when he asked. Still, he did tell her about his day from time to time – the business, his family, what a massive pain in the ass his grandfather, Patrick Fenn, was. She watched him lean over the table to inspect Rory’s homework and point out a flaw in her decimal point placement.

  “So this is Tiernan’s restaurant? Or his and Gracie’s?”

  Kirk exhaled out his nose in a half snort. “Naw, everything as far as the eye can see is my grandfather’s. My dad technically owns this place, but it’s not official until the old man dies, and I don’t see that happening anytime soon.”

  “No? He must be getting old, no?”

  Kirk smirked at her. “He’s a healthy bastard for seventy six.”

  “Seventy si -?”

  “What up, jerk?”

  They all turned to look up just as Billy appeared beside the table. Kirk’s face brightened instantly, and he was up from the booth, wrapping his massive arms around the thin young man, giving him a good squeeze. Billy jostled in the massive man’s embrace, but seemed to be enjoying it. Kirk held him around the shoulders, shaking him, gently.

  Billy leaned into the tussling, despite being fixated on a piece of paper in his hands. Gracie appeared at the corner of the table, setting Rory’s mac and cheese in front of her. Billy held the paper out in front of Kirk, his eyes still down.

  “What’s this, then?” Kirk asked, taking the paper. He unfolded it, moving it back and forth in front of him, betraying the need for his reading glasses. Kirk’s eyes moved across the paper as they all remained there, silent
. Finally, Kirk made a strange grunting sound; something between a gasp and cheer. He turned on the teenage boy, grabbing him up and lifting him off the ground as he hugged him. Billy’s young face cracked open in a smile, but he still kept his eyes down.

  “You gotta be shittin me, Bilbo! Are you fucking shitting me?”

  “Watch your mouth, jackass,” Gracie scolded, but Kirk was too busy shaking Billy to hear her. He patted the boy’s back, squeezed him, set him down, picked him back up, and did it all over again before finally releasing his hold on the boy. Billy’s face was flushed, his smile betraying a set of shiny metallic braces.

  Billy shrugged, taking the paper back from him. “Yeah, I just – I just wanted to show you -”

  Kirk grabbed him again, squeezing him to his chest. This time Billy returned the hug, pressing his face into Kirk’s shoulder as his young face contorted with emotion. Joe startled to see her fry cook suddenly break down in near tears in the middle of the dining room. Not a word was spoken as Kirk turned the young man toward the front door of the restaurant and led him outside.

  Gracie leaned against the booth, watching her brother and her fry cook disappear out the door, both clearly emotional as they went. She shot Joe a knowing look and smiled. Gracie sat down across from Joe, leaning in to speak. “Billy was in the system a couple years ago. Almost ended up dropping out of school and running away from the home he was in. Was right around the time Kirk started taking in kids. Billy was his first. Stayed with him for something like six months.”

  Joe turned back toward the door of the restaurant, as though she might be able to see through the wall – hear the conversation that must be taking place between the two men.