Rise (Rise & Fall Duet #1) - Grahame Claire Page 0,34

our brochure.

“Duke was our guinea pig. But eventually, we found the right formula.”

“We want to grow a garden with our own ingredients.”

I tensed. I was protective of our goals and plans. Our secrets. We had talked about a garden to grow things like carrots, spinach, and kale lots of times, though it wasn’t feasible in the near future. That took money and land we didn’t have. Maybe if we moved out of the city, but that wasn’t ever happening.

“We cooperate with a rescue upstate,” Pepper said. “They also specialize in heirloom seeds and plants. We’ll connect you. If you can’t start your own garden, maybe they’d be willing to send you some of what they grow.”

I buzzed with the possibility. Straight from the farm ingredients was the ultimate goal. I wanted to have the best dog food both in taste and nutrition. We purchased organic foods when possible, and I felt good about the effort we made. But we could do better.

For a long time, I’d believed Eric and I didn’t need anyone else. The people we were supposed to be able to count on most had let us down. As we’d slowly had more interaction with others through our growing business, I felt myself opening up to the idea of letting other people into our lives.

But trust wasn’t an easy thing.

Maybe I could take a lesson from my brother.

“I’d like that,” I said quietly.

“I’ll speak to them in the morning.” Pepper offered me a kind smile. “Want to take some leftovers? Teague thinks when he’s at home he’s cooking for the whole station of hungry firemen.”

“We should start going there for dinner,” Miss Adeline said. “For a change of scenery.” Mischief was all over her face.

“What’s wrong with the scenery here?” Teague asked as if offended.

“Oh, nothing at all. I just like to mix things up.”

“I’ll box some up.” Pepper pushed back her chair. “You can help if you want to avoid any more of this conversation.” She grinned at me.

“The kitchen isn’t that far away,” Miss Adeline pointed out.

“Am I too late for dinner?” Beau breezed into the apartment as if it were her own. She cast a nasty glare in Lincoln’s direction.

“Never.” Miss Adeline patted Pepper’s vacated chair.

“I thought you had too much work to do,” Teague said.

“I do, but I got hungry.” She hooked her purse on the back of a barstool and plopped down at the table. “Did you invite me to patch things up with him?” She sent another dirty look at Lincoln.

“Nope.” Teague folded his arms and leaned back. “But since you’re both here and I can referee, let’s get this worked out.”

“I’m sorry,” Lincoln blurted quietly.

The entire room stopped. Beau and Teague stared at him as if he were a stranger.

“You are?” Beau finally asked.

“Yes.”

“What about me being an annoying little sister?” she challenged.

“Is that all he said?” Teague asked incredulously. “You are an annoying little sister.”

“Oh, now it’s two against one,” she retorted.

“And it’s still an uneven playing field.” Lincoln’s expression remained unchanged. Unreadable. “You’re better than both of us put together.”

My lips parted at the unexpected words.

Teague frowned. “I should be offended, but you’re right.”

“Damn it,” Beau said. “You’re both forgiven.”

Was that how most families resolved arguments? It seemed easy.

And Lincoln.

He hadn’t said much, but his words had been effective. I figured he’d sit there all buttoned-up without trying to work things out.

There wasn’t emotion in his voice. He was as even and calm as ever. But after he’d hugged Eric and so easily apologized to Beau, I was beginning to think there might be some sort of feelings underneath the surface after all.

That was frightening.

“Thank you for dinner,” I said as I snapped the lid closed on a glass container. “But Eric and I need to go.”

“You’re leaving? I just got here.” Beau pouted as she stood.

She moved to the kitchen and pulled me in for a hug.

“Sorry. Maybe we can catch up this weekend?” I hoped we could find the time to hang out. She’d be leaving soon and we’d barely seen each other.

“Definitely. It’s been too long.” She held me at arm’s length and studied me for a second.

In some ways, she had those same scrutinizing eyes her brother did. Like she could see inside me.

She was the person I trusted most besides Eric, but it was easy when she lived so far away and I didn’t have to confess the day-to-day goings on. Now that she was here, I wanted to confide in someone who knew