Page 9 of A Family Affair: The Plan
“Please don’t say anything to Sam about his ex-wife or the strained relationship with his father.” Mimi’s expression filled with empathy. “People don’t realize that life changes in an instant. They think they have so much time to make things right on their terms… When they’re ready…ifthey’re ever ready… And they tell themselves that if they’re never ready, no loss to them. What they don’t realize is that one day the chance may be gone, stripped away in an instant, and there is no going back, no forgiveness, or ‘I’m sorry’. The other person is gone and you’ll spend the rest of your life wishing you’d found a way to make peace and mend the hurt.”
Mimi spoke as though she were talking about herself. “Life is full of joy and sorrow, pain and happiness, and forgiveness. I do hope Sam and his father can find a way back to one another, start over, and maybe one day Sam will be able to open his heart to love again.”
Everyone in Magdalenaknew about Pete Finnegan and his reckless past. Drag racing down Elderberry Road, drinking at Boone’s Peak, sneaking out of Lina’s Café without paying. Pete and his old man were always at each other, until one day, Pete just up and left town. Word had it he headed west. His father never talked about it, but Pete returned a few years ago with a woman, and Sam guessedshewas the reason he settled down. Now, the guy ran a construction business, developed property, and owned quite a bit of land. If you didn’t know his backstory, you’d never guess about the rocky past.
Sam had contacted Pete about renovating the old farmhouse he’d purchased five months ago. He’d still been living in Chicago and hadn’t been ready to tell his parents he was moving backto Magdalena. Too many questions, no good answers other than the need to get away from reminders of his past and the person he’d become. He wasn’t sharingthat, so he kept quiet and hired a real estate agent to find him a place with land.
Jerome Eldridge’s property was located on the outside of town along a winding country road that had been dubbed Devil’s Trail. The place had been vacant almost two years, since the morning Jerome passed away at the kitchen table, a half-finished bowl of oatmeal in front of him. Sam guessed nobody wanted twelve acres and a run-down farmhouse. Nobody except him. He bought the place without ever stepping inside the house, or checking out the garage or the barn. And while he would have liked to walk the piece of property, the logistics didn’t work. Pictures and videos provided sufficient detail and the obvious: the place was falling apart and needed a lot of work. Good because Sam needed a way to fill his time when he wasn’t working, and the state of the place gave him leverage to negotiate a lower price.
He would have paid asking price, but the real estate agent seemed eager to close the deal, even at the reduced offer. Twelve acres of fields and quiet. He’d missed the sunsets, the morning dew, the calm. It was the closest he’d come to peace in a long while. Sam rubbed his jaw, glanced at Pete Finnegan who sat in a folding chair next to a small wooden table with scratches and paint chips. Definitely not like the furniture in Chicago.
“I sketched out a few ideas for the kitchen.” Pete tipped back his ball cap, scratched his forehead. No mistaking the calluses on his hands for anything other than working hands. There’d been rumors about Pete’s life in California, ones that involved private jets, penthouse views, and fancy cars—not calluses or a pickup truck. But damn if the guy didn’t look happy.
“Let’s see what you’ve got.” He’d seen Pete’s work and the guy had a knack for matching the owner with the house, addingin details Sam didn’t even know he wanted until he saw them on the plans. Sam spread the plans on the small table between them, studied the dimensions for the kitchen, read the notes scribbled on the side. He rubbed his jaw, pointed to an area near where the stove would go. “What do you think about a double wall oven next to the stove? Is there enough room? And soffits above the cabinets? Yes, or no?” Celeste had hired a designer to gut the condo and rebuild it one section at a time, mostly based on the “who’s who” and what was popular. Trendy. Chic. Very expensive. He hadn’t liked those choices then and he didn’t want it now. Sam wanted functional. Comfortable. Casual.
“We can go either way, depending on preference.”
A shrug, a sigh. “Heck if I know. I’m not looking for a showpiece or a museum. It’s got to be a comfortable living space that doesn’t seem like it’s come from a designer magazine.”
Pete Finnegan’s lips twitched. “You mean like the last one? The one that made the ‘Home’ section of that fancy magazine?”
How had he heard about that?Sam scowled, didn’t hide his annoyance. “Yeah, like that.”
The lip twitch turned into a full-blown smile, followed by a laugh. “Touchy. Don’t let anyone see how much those comments get to you or they won’t stop. In fact, they’ll keep going until they burrow in like a splinter.” Another laugh, a loud sigh. “Especially stay cool around Cash Casherdon. That guy is relentless. Donotlet him see his words annoy you. If you do, you won’t stand a chance.”
Great.Just what he needed. Cash Casherdon zeroing in on Sam and his past missteps. “Thanks for the warning. Unfortunately, I’m sure my parents––and no doubt my sister––have already shared too much.”
“Not so sure about that.” Pete shook his head. “Our families might get ticked with us, but I’ve found they’re big on protecting us. I used to think my old man stayed quiet about my exploitsout west because he didn’t want the embarrassment landing on him, but that wasn’t it at all. I think he was protectingme. You know, trying to save my reputation.” The belly laugh said that wasn’t possible. “The same might be true for you because since I’ve been back, I only hear bits and pieces from my wife.” His expression softened, his voice shifted two decibels lower. “Elissa loves a good second-chance story and I guess she thinks you’ve got one coming.” Pause then a curious, “She’s even convinced there’s going to be a Mrs. Harrington one day.”
“Uh, I’ve had one of those and not looking for another one.” How had they gotten on this topic and how could he get out of it?
“Sure, we all say we’re not looking for ‘the one’ and then she lands in our path and no matter where we look or how hard we try to get away, she’s still there.” Pete eyed him a full five seconds before his lips twitched and he said, “Just keep your options open because I guarantee you if she’s the right one, you’re done. I’m living proof of that.”
“Hmm. Last I heard, you were living it high in California, heading for some big merger, and never planned to land in this town again.”
Pete Finnegan’s expression turned dark, his voice fierce. “I was a fool who hunted danger. The more daring, the more I wanted it. You know what they say about getting too close to the fire? I got scorched and lost everything. I didn’t think I’d ever recover, most of all, I guess I didn’t think I deserved it. I went from being a hotshot gazillionaire to losing everything: the houses, the cars, the girl. That’s when I learned the only thing that mattered was what stayed.” His blue gaze settled on Sam, the brackets around his mouth deep. “I heard about you and your old man, how you headed to Chicago for the glitz and glamour with your uptown wife instead of taking over your dad’s vet practice. Yeah, our fathers don’t do well when someone welches on a deal, especially if that someone is their kid.”
“It wasn’t exactly like that…”
Pete raised a brow. “No? Huh, close enough though, right?” Sam’s shrug gave the man his answer. “That’s what I thought. Since I’m sharing the word on the street, which I gathered from my over-involved wife, I’ll tell you the rest. I also heard that since you’ve been back, he doesn’t much trust you to do more than hand out flea and heartworm prevention. Big deal.” He rubbed his stubbled jaw, blew out a sigh. “That’s gotta be rough because you’re an educated guy, and after all of that reality crap you were into with your ex, it’s got to be tough not to get back into real doctoring.”
Did everybody know his life history? “I’m glad I’m such an interesting topic of conversation, and everybody’s drawn their opinions about me.”Thiswas what he didn’t like about small towns and family being in your business.
“Nobody knows for sure; it’s all just guesswork but let me tell you from somebody who’s been there. Keep them guessing. Don’t admit to anything, and when Pop Benito stone-cold stares at you and acts like he lives inside your head, don’t blink.Do notlet him get in your head. Of course, he won’t give up… And what about Harry Blacksworth? Lucky for us, he’s the new Godfather of Magdalena, double trouble. Way more touchy-feely than Pop.”
“Harry’s left me alone so far.” Sam pinched the bridge of his nose, dreaded the possibility of Pop and Harry tag-teaming him with personal questions.
That comment made Pete laugh. “The guy’s biding his time but be careful. He’ll make you think about things you don’t want to and if you’re not careful, youwilltell him your life story. Of course, it will be with the help of his finest scotch, but it will spill out, no doubt about it. Once Harry gets a hold of that news, he’ll want to fix it, which means he’ll want to fixyoubecause Harrycan’t stand to see anyone unhappy. If a woman catches your eye, donotlet him know.”
“Pete, I’m not interested in any woman. I’ve had enough grief in that department for a long time.”
“Sure, I know exactly what you’re talking about because I said the same thing and then I got hired to fix this old cabin for Nate and Christine Desantro. I was ornery, miserable, and just wanted to be alone.” He mumbled a curse under his breath. “I never expected to findherthere.”
Despite Sam’s attempts to disengage from the conversation, he’d grown curious. “Her?”
“Elissa Cerdi. The woman who stole my heart, my words, and my common sense, all before I knew her last name.”
“Really?” That sounded almost impossible.
