Page 123 of Bountiful
As I began the second set, reality kicked in. It didn’t matter if I had room for Zara and Nicole to join me in Brooklyn. Zara didn’t like the city. And even if she did, I’d just bought her a house that was nicer than this space, with the backyard she’d said she wanted her childtohave.
I tried to ignore the voice in my head, the one that said,If she loved you, it wouldn’t matter. She’d be hererightnow.
No, wait. That was just my pasttalking.
Funny how I could never hear the difference before now. But my childhood had always been there—fucking up my expectations. Telling me I was a loner for life, a guy that nobody wouldeverwant.
Zaradidlove me. She was cagey as hell, but I could taste it whenever she kissed me—the same hunger Ifelt,too.
I was just going to have to wait her out. And play some damned fine hockey while Iwaited.
ChapterThirty-Six
October
Zara
Audreyand I were hiding in the kitchen, scarfing down a plate of pumpkin mini-muffins that Audrey claimed were a little overdone. It was just an excuse to eat them ourselves, though. Now that Audrey’s morning sickness was gone, her appetite was in overdrive. I was merely herenabler.
We weren’t hiding because of the mini-muffins, though. We were hiding so that we could have a moment alone together to celebrate the big decisionwe’dmade.
“He starts on Tuesday,” Audrey whispered. “Seemed mean to start him on the weekend. I don’t know why, though. He’s going to be workingweekends.”
“Not every weekend,” I pointed out. “We’re still going to alternate Saturdays andSundays.”
Audrey patted her baby bump. “I know! And I don’t care! I’m just so happy that he was okay with working the early shift four daysaweek.”
Truly, it was an impossible luxury. Our first full-time employee—Roderick—was a single guy. He didn’t even have a girlfriend. And he hadn’t blinked when we’d told him the hours he’d be working. “I’m abaker,” he’d explained. “If I didn’t want to get up early, I’ve made some terrible lifechoices.”
He was going to be great. I could just tell. “How many days of training do you thinkhe’llneed?”
“It’s really hard to say!” Audrey tossed another mini-muffin in her mouth and grinned. “He’s my first full-time employee. I’m soproud.”
“You’re a goof is what you are.” I eyed the muffins. Eating another one would really be overkill. “So… Who’s going to tell Kieran? I’ll flip youforit.”
Audrey’s eyes sparkled “You tell him. I’llwatch.”
“Tell me what?” Kieran’s deep voice asked as he stuck his head into thekitchen.
I swear, we both jumped when we heard him. “Um…” Audreyhedged.
“We hired Roderick,” I said, biting thebullet.
“What?” Kieran’s face darkened. “He couldn’tpossiblybe the bestchoice.”
Audrey and I exchanged a glance. Roderick was an excellent choice. Impeccable resume. Great experience in the bakery at King Arthur in Norwich. And—not that we would say it out loud—hotashell.
“Buddy,” Audrey said slowly. “Whydon’t you likethisguy?”
“He’s a dick,” Kieran saidquickly.
“Based on what, though?” He’d been Mr. Charming as far as we’d seen. “How do youknowhim?”
“High school, right?” I guessed. Kieran was a little younger than I was, but I had a vague memory of teenagedRoderick.
“Yeah,”Kieransaid.
“So…” Audrey offered the plate of muffins to Kieran, who shook his head. “Is he still a dick? I mean, I don’t want to hire a dick. But is he presently a dick or might he haveoutgrownit?”
