Chapter 13

 

Caleb met with Mason to discuss business at an old dairy farm up on Maple Hill that he was converting into a brewery. From the outside, Caleb wasn’t exactly sure how he planned to open by mid-fall, but when he walked into the old barn, his doubts quickly disappeared.

The floors were laid with refurbished wood, the ceilings high and exposed. To the left a bar extended nearly from one wall to the next with a maple leaf carved in the middle, the words Five Leaf Brewing Company surrounding it. Long tables and benches sat around the large open space, and the walls were decorated with old pictures of the town and vintage beer memorabilia.

An old tub transformed into a sink sat below a line of taps and to the right of that, a row of shelves set into the wall. Caleb imagined that’s where all of Kate’s custom-made growlers would sit.

“What do you think?” Mason asked, coming in from a back door that connected to two walls and that looked out to big silver tanks. He wiped his hands on a rag then stuck it in his back pocket.

“This place is awesome.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Mason said, looking around with him. Caleb could see the pride in the slight smile on Mason’s face and in the brightness of his dark green eyes.

“You really outdid yourself. I’m not going to lie, pulling up I was a little skeptical.”

“The outside needs some work, but I figure the inside is more important. I have some time. I’m thinking of letting my grandma work her magic out there. The little I do know about shrubbery and flowers I learned from her. Anyway, let’s talk business.”

Mason walked over to the bar, and Caleb took a seat on one of the wooden stools. “I only have a stout on tap right now. That work for you?”

“Of course.”

“Thank god. I was afraid you’d be one of those guys who only drink crappy commercialized beer.”

Caleb laughed thinking of all the crappy beer he’d thrown back in his life. How many he and his brother snuck out of the fridge when their dad wasn’t looking. “I used to be, but then I discovered craft beer and never looked back.”

“That’s what I like to hear.”

Mason filled two glasses with the dark liquid and slid Caleb’s across the bar to him. “To new business ventures,” Mason said, clicking his glass against Caleb’s.

“To new business ventures.”

“First things first,” Mason said, taking a sip of his beer then placing it back down on the bar. “You’re dating my sister. I don’t believe the friend bullshit.”

Caleb let out a breath, not expecting the conversation to take this turn, but since it did, they might as well get on with it. “Okay, what if I am?”

“You hurt her; I’ll kill you.” Mason’s eyes didn’t waver, and there wasn’t an ounce of humor in his tone.

“Noted.”

“Second, I don’t like mixing business with my personal life. Almost impossible in my family, but I strongly believe keeping the two separate. It gets too messy when you mix it up. So, when you walk through those doors to discuss business, you are not Kate’s boyfriend. You are the owner of The Chain and Spoke, and if you two ever break up, when we are inside the doors of our businesses, I don’t give a shit. I believe in lasting partnerships, and I don’t want your personal life screwing that up.”

“Fair enough.” Caleb actually respected Mason’s business ethics and was happy to work with someone willing to put their personal relationship behind them and focus on what truly mattered—the business.

“Now that’s out of the way. Let’s talk business.”

Once Mason warmed up to him, he became a little more like Cooper—easy to talk to. He was also an interesting guy who knew his shit. He gave Caleb a tour of the grounds, going through the different processes and how each beer was made. Caleb walked away with more knowledge about beer than he ever thought he would know, but also with a greater appreciation of it.

They spent a couple more hours discussing ideas and ways they could partner up in the future that would benefit both businesses. Caleb was looking forward to all that was to come. As Caleb was about to head out, Mason called out to him. “Do you have a booth for the Annual Fair?”

“No, should I?”

“It draws in a huge crowd from all over the east coast. Definitely should have something planned.”

“I’ll look into it. Thanks,” Caleb said before giving a wave and heading out. When he got in his car, he was shocked to see it was after seven. He glanced down at his phone that he had forgotten on the charger and saw a text message from Kate. He tapped it open.

How’d things go with Mason?

He typed back a response. Great. Want to come over and I’ll tell you all about it?

I wish I could. I’m watching a movie with Hadley.

He liked that she had her own life, and she didn’t sit around waiting for him. Or make him feel guilty about being out later than expected.

I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow. Have fun, but not too much.

Without you? Never. Night.

Night.

He put his phone back in the cup holder and headed home. He was halfway there when he came up to a tractor slowly making its way down the road. The slurred words of America the Beautiful floated into his open windows.

Caleb pulled his car to the side of the road and jogged after the tractor. The old man was completely oblivious in a pair of white briefs as he continued forward.

He jogged along the side and called up to him. “Mr. Simpson!” The old man ignored him at first, but Caleb kept trying until finally the old man peered down at him. His face was weathered and hardened, not in the way Harold Hayes was… No, this was different. Each deep line that cut into his face was a testament of the hard life he had lived. His hair and beard were long and tinted yellow, and if Caleb had to guess he’d say it was from years of cigarette smoke.

“It’s a beautiful night for a drive, isn’t it?” the old man said.

“It is, but I think maybe you should pull over.”

“No can do. I’m on the prowl for booze and women!”

Caleb wanted to feel sorry for him, but with the big smile plastered on his face, the determination in his eyes, he just couldn’t. He might be alone, but it didn’t seem to bother him much.

“I was on my way to get some booze and women myself,” Caleb said. “Why don’t you pull over and you can come with me?”

“Well, why the hell didn’t you say that from the get go?”

The old man pulled off to the side of the road and killed the engine. Caleb let out a sigh of relief as the old man crawled down from the seat, landing on the ground on unsteady feet.

“Lead the way, young squire!” he said, so Caleb started walking toward his car.

“I’m Caleb by the way.”

“Bert.”

“Nice to meet you, Bert.” Caleb didn’t know what he expected out of this encounter, but there was a driving force inside of him that made it feel like it was absolutely necessary. Maybe because a part of him understood what it was like to be alone in the world.

Kate said the town looked after Bert, and Caleb was grateful to them. He didn’t have a town when he’d hit rock bottom. All he’d had was the open air and his bike. He had thought it would be enough, but at night when he lay alone, looking up at the stars or some shady motel ceiling, the emptiness would consume him.

Normally he wouldn’t give two shits about some random drunkard. But there was something about this town that made him care more than he thought he ever would.

Caleb pulled up to Bert’s house. Old rusty cars and tractor parts covered his front lawn. An old swing set that had rusted god knew how many years ago sat abandoned in the far corner. Caleb got out of the car and opened the passenger door. Bert didn’t as much as flinch. He carried Bert to the couch and grabbed a blanket that was discarded on the floor, draping it over the old man.

Before he headed out, he picked up a few of the beer cans and tossed them in the trash. Caleb hated to see anyone living like this, but there was nothing he could do. Come tomorrow, the old man probably wouldn’t even remember him. All he could do was make sure he was safe for the night.

***

Hadley’s front door opened, but neither Kate nor Hadley moved since they both knew Shay was on her way. “Sorry I’m late,” Shay said, hurrying into the living room in a huff, her brown hair falling free from its ponytail. “I had a custom order come in this morning for tomorrow and of course I couldn’t say no. Then when I was about to leave, Terry cornered me about our apple tartlet cupcake. She wants to bake a few more batches to make sure it’s perfect for the judging next week at the fair.” Shay dropped her pocket book on the counter and joined Kate and Hadley on the couch, resting a box on her lap that displayed the logo of her bakery.

Kate took her feet off of Hadley’s coffee table and pointed at the bag. “We don’t care if you’re late as long as you brought snacks.”

Shay rolled her eyes and laughed. “I see how it is. Use me for my treats.”

“Why else do you think we’ve kept you around for so long?” Kate asked, taking the box out of her hands and lifting the top. Kate let out a happy squeal when she saw her favorite Death by Chocolate cupcake staring back at her. “I love you!”

“Yeah, yeah. Only when I bring you chocolate. Hadley, I brought your favorite too.”

“You’re the best and not just for your cupcakes,” Hadley said. “Though it is a nice added bonus.” Kate handed the strawberry milkshake cupcake over to Hadley who graciously accepted it and instantly took a bite. “Damn this is so good.” She then went on to wash it down with a beer that made Kate cringe.

“Cupcakes and beer—dessert of champions right there,” Kate said as her lip curled in disgust.

“Shut up and drink your wine. Shay, there’s a bottle in the fridge and a glass on the counter waiting for you. You better get to it before this one over here finishes off the bottle.”

Usually Shay didn’t hesitate to pour herself a glass, already having one in her hand before sitting down.

“About that,” she said, and Kate looked at Hadley over her half-eaten cupcake before turning her attention to Shay. “I won’t be drinking anymore. At least for the next nine months.”

Kate dropped her cupcake back into the box, eyes wide as she jumped closer to her best friend. “You’re pregnant?”

Happy tears filled Shay’s hazel eyes as she nodded. Kate squealed louder than she had for the cupcake and tossed her arms around Shay. She was going to be an aunt. This was better than any dessert.

“Holy shit! We’re going to be aunts!” Hadley announced then came over and hugged Shay. Hadley pulled back after a second, her hands holding Shay’s arms. “Does Matt know?”

Shay lifted a dark eyebrow. “What do you think?”

“I think he was in the bathroom with you while you peed on the stick,” Kate said. “He wouldn’t want you to know before him.”

Shay laughed and swiped at the stray tear that fell down her cheek. “That’s why I didn’t tell him about my suspicions until after I took the test. I also might’ve left the empty box in the garbage for him to find.”

Kate and Hadley smiled, knowing how that must’ve driven their brother crazy.

“Did he freak out?” Hadley asked.

“Yes, but when I finally told him we were pregnant he was ecstatic.”

“Well, if you think he’s overprotective now…” Kate said with a laugh. “He’s going to drive you insane.”

“Oh god,” Hadley said. “Good luck with that.”

“Oh trust me he’s already started. Insisting I hire more help at the bakery, telling me I shouldn’t be on my feet as long as I am, calling me every two seconds to make sure I’m feeling okay. I told him, if he doesn’t knock it off, I’m going to throw my phone in the blender.”

“He’d just show up at the bakery,” Kate said. “You married him. There’s no escaping him now.”

“Well, as much of a pain in my butt that he’s been, he’s also been incredibly sweet. He bought a onesie the other day that says There’s a new Sheriff in town.”

Kate laughed. “I hope he bought it online or the whole town will know by sun up.”

“Of course. I’m only seven weeks along; I don’t want to tell anyone yet, so you have to promise me you won’t say anything.”

Hadley made a motion of zippering her lips and tossing the key. “My lips are sealed.”

“You can trust us,” Kate said, pulling Shay in for another hug.

“I know and I also know how incredibly lucky this little nugget is going to be.” Shay rested her hand on her still flat stomach. “This is going to be one spoiled baby.”

“Does Grandma know yet?” Hadley asked with a little too much enthusiasm.

“Not yet.”

“Oh my god can you please tell her,” Kate pleaded. “Maybe she’ll get off the rest of our cases if she knows she’s finally getting a great-grandbaby.”

“Yes!” Hadley agreed. “Do you know she asked Chris, the guy who helps out at the farm, to knock me up?”

“He’s cute,” Kate said.

“He’s eighteen!”

Kate shrugged. “Last I checked that’s legal.”

“Don’t worry,” Shay said. “We’re going to tell the rest of the family at Sunday night dinner.”

Kate wasn’t overly emotional, but thinking of having a new baby in the family made her so unbelievably happy that tears filled her eyes. She looked at Shay with a big grin.

“What?” Shay asked.

“You’re going to be a mom.”

“I am. I just hope I’m going to be a good one.”

“You’re not your mother,” Kate said.

“What if I am?” Shay asked, her voice cracking.

Hadley shook her head. “Impossible.”

“Hadley’s right. Your mother showed you all the don’ts of raising a kid, so if you ask me, she did you a favor. Now you know for your kid’s sake all the things not to do.”

“And even though it pains me to admit,” Hadley said. “You have our brother and as much of a pain in the ass as he is, he was the oldest and had a hand in raising us all. He’s kind of an expert.”

“What if our kid likes him more?”

Kate laughed. “This kid is going to love you both equally. Some days they might like you more and other days they might like Matt more, but at the end of the day they will love you equally.”

Shay started to cry and fanned her face with her hand. “Dammit, I can’t stop crying.”

“You’re going to be a load of fun for the next nine months,” Kate said. “But it’s okay, we’ll still love you.”

“Gee thanks.”

“That’s what sisters are for,” Kate said with a smile.