Feisty Red (Three Chicks Brewery #2) - Stacey Kennedy Page 0,5

years with a phone call on holidays and birthdays.

“I’m liking what I see,” Ronnie eventually said. He looked around once more, studying the impressive space. “Give me a couple days to examine your proposal and talk with the team about a plan.”

Clara gave a very polite smile. “We look forward to hearing from you.”

Sullivan nearly snorted. They both knew they had something great here that would benefit them both. He kept the thought to himself as Ronnie said his final goodbyes. When his uncle was heading back to his truck, Sullivan said to Amelia and Maisie, “It’s hard to believe you’re the two little ankle bitters I used to know.” They were women now, but he could still see the mischievous glint in Maisie’s eyes and the warm affection on Amelia’s face.

“Well…” Maisie replied. “That’s what happens when someone leaves and never comes back.”

He deserved the dig. “You’re right, it does.” He sank his hands into his pockets, realizing he had two more people to make amends with. Not that he was surprised, the Carter sisters were close, especially Clara and Amelia. “I hear congratulations are in order.” Maisie had just become engaged to Sullivan’s old buddy Hayes.

An honest smile crossed her face. “Thanks. Hayes and I are very happy.”

“Sullivan,” Ronnie called.

Looking over his shoulder, he found his uncle frowning, waving him forward. Turning back to the sisters, he said, “It’s really good to see you’re all doing so well.”

“How long are you in town?” Amelia asked, and the question didn’t feel friendly.

“A month.”

A month too long, Amelia’s expression screamed at him.

Firmly put in his place, and more determined than ever to fix the hurt and damage he’d done to this family, he gave a firm nod. “I hope this new venture works out for you all. Take care.”

No one said goodbye to him, or even responded with niceties. They all watched him with crossed arms and matching frowns.

He walked away then, feeling their hard stares burning into the back of his head. He’d make this right. And luckily, he had a month to do it.

3

Hours after Sullivan left, Clara still couldn’t shake the tension nearly suffocating her. A month? Sullivan planned to stay a month? She didn’t know how she could possibly keep Mason out of sight for that long. However, she also knew Sullivan, wholly and completely, and she knew he wouldn’t stay that long in River Rock. The moment things got hard and he was forced to face all the reasons that had made him leave before, he’d book it again. All she needed to do was keep Mason close until that happened. She knew all too well what it felt like to be loved by Sullivan. It was an all-consuming thing, and she also knew what it felt like to have all that ripped away because he couldn’t emotionally deal with it. She didn’t know why he was here to ride out his suspension, and she didn’t particularly care. Mason’s well-being was her only concern. She wanted to go to her son and hold him close, but she needed the night to clear her head and to remind her fluttering heart that her love for the Sullivan she once knew died the day he left River Rock.

When she had left her sisters wrapping up their workday, she headed for her bedroom. The space was practical but comfortable. She’d had the double bed for more years than she dared count. The old, worn beige-and-white quilt was made by her grandmother when Clara was twelve, and she had picked up the refurbished antique white furniture at a flea market and repainted it herself. Clara sat on her bed and pulled out the letter left for her in Pops’ will.

“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.” Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

* * *

Their grandfather left letters for both of her sisters too, though Clara had never asked if he’d left a confusing quote for them as well. Two years had passed now since their Pops left this world, and Clara knew as much about the quote as she did the day she opened the envelope at the reading of his will. She exhaled the confusion from her head, wishing he was there to explain it all. Pops was a wise man, full of useless knowledge in addition to the important stuff. Somewhere in this quote, Clara knew she’d find the comfort she needed in life; she just hadn’t got there yet.

“Clara,”