“Yes, a few years ago, Cal got me this computer and I keep all the accounting on that now.” She let out a noise that sounded like some wounded animal. “It was awful to learn. But I have Facebook now too, so it was worth it.”
“Sounds like a fair trade.”
She swiveled her chair, gliding along the clear mat that laid over the brown shag carpet, and rolled to the bookcase.
“I like your home office,” I said, glancing around. It was dated and on the nineteen-seventies side, but still cozy, and all Bea. Two 8x10 photos hung on the wall. One was of Cal, the other of Jack. They had to be around ten years old. They looked so sweet. Cal smiled wide with sunny hair and bright blue eyes. Jack’s black hair was combed to the side, like he tried to do it himself, and he gave a closed-lip grin. A balmy ache stirred in my stomach looking at them. I knew them. Saw the light and the hurt in their eyes. I may not have known the boys they were, but I knew the men they became, and my heart constricted.
“Thank you. I’m not much of decorator,” Bea said, scooting back to the desk while holding a large book. When she opened it, I realized it was, in fact, a ledger. “This is how I used to do all my accounting.”
“Wow.” She flipped a few pages so I could see how she organized every hour and dollar of her business. “This is really incredible.”
“This is just writing stuff down,” she said. “But if shadowing me helps with your project, I’m happy to have you.” She handed me the book and turned to the computer. “I’m happy to have you without the project too.”
“I appreciate that.”
“I mean it, kiddo,” she swiveled again to face me, the little rolling wheels screeching as she did. “You come here anytime you like, understand?”
Oxygen stuck to my throat and my ribs clamped down. I knew why Cal and Jack had the similarities they did. It came from Bea. She was their common denominator. Their protector.
“I understand,” I whispered.
“Good, now let’s see here…oh, how about I show you 2012’s records? It was one of our worst years, but we stayed afloat.”
“That would be wonderful.”
She pulled up a little footstool and I sat next to her as she started showing me through her docu
ments. I was learning so much. Mostly that a single mother/aunt of two boys and a business she ran all her own was an amazing thing. This woman, singlehandedly, did it all and she did it with a smile and blunt honesty. It was so easy to turn away, take the easy route, and Bea seemed to always step up whenever the occasion called for it. Neither of my parents had ever done such a thing for anyone. Including their only daughter.
“Bea?” I said, just as she finished going over a spreadsheet.
“Yes, honey?”
“You are the one that impresses me,” I said.
A joyful, watery expression lit her face up and she threw those plump arms around my neck, smashing me against her.
It was one of the best hugs I’d ever had.
~
“Hey! Good to see you, Lana,” Dave said.
“Thanks, you too.”
“Looking for Cal? He’s just right through here.” He ushered me into the firehouse and pointed at an open door off to the right. I hadn’t been in that room yet, but apparently that’s where Cal was. Most of the house was dark, the only light came from scattered rooms, which I assumed was where the guys were hanging out. I’d been nervous about coming here since last time. I hadn’t seen Rhett, and judging by Dave’s attitude, he didn’t treat me any differently, so my hope was that I was in the clear, at least with my reputation and perception from the crew.
I pushed the door open a bit and leaned against the frame. A pair of large, defined, sexy as sin arms lifted two heavy dumbbells. I would know those arms anywhere. The tattoo along the bicep gave away that it was Cal. But all that tanned skin misted with a light sheen of sweat made me instantly salivate for a taste.
He was sitting, his back toward me, so I took a moment to appreciate the view before interrupting. Watching him do reps of bicep curls was redefining my definition of foreplay, because, holy God, I was getting hot just observing.
“Staring isn’t very polite,” Cal said, and I could hear the smile in his voice.
“You caught me.” I walked in and around the chair to face him. He dropped the weights, stood, and gave me a hard kiss on the lips, like a couple would when greeting each other. But we weren’t exactly a couple.
“How was hanging out with my aunt all day?” he asked.
“Good. She’s amazing. How she kept track and on top of everything is mind blowing.”