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“Crank her up, and let’s see what she sounds like.” He pulls the keys from a hook by the door and throws them to me before opening the garage door.
She spits and sputters a bit and doesn’t run as smoothly as I remember, but she starts. Dad and I work on the engine for a bit and by the time Mom calls us inside to eat, I’m confident she’ll make the drive to Wilmington and back.
“Couldn’t hurt to invest in a new set of tires,” Dad says, wiping his hands on a shop towel before handing it to me.
“I’ll talk to Greg after we eat and see if he has something in stock. If not, I might have to wait.”
He nods. “Don’t wait too long. Speaking of your brother. With him and Gwen getting married in a few weeks, we’ll be spending some time with the Andersons.”
“I know, Dad. It’s fine.” My brother has been dating Fiona’s twin sister for a couple of years. I’d known this was coming long before Greg called me to tell me he proposed.
“He’s thinking of asking you to be his best man. I hope that won’t be strange for you. You know, after what happened with you and Fiona?”
I almost laugh when I see the worried look on his face. “Dad, the wedding is the last of my worries. If I can survive working twelve-hour days with her on a movie set, I’m pretty sure I can handle Greg and Gwen’s big day.” Even if it will involve wearing a tux and tie.
“She’s part of the movie you came out here for?” My dad’s eyebrows raise so high they almost touch his hairline. Unlike most other guys his age, his isn’t showing any signs of receding. I’m hoping that trait is hereditary.
“She is. Fiona is the junior producer I’m working with. So far so good, but making an entire movie with the woman might just do me in. You should have seen her fight tooth and nail for the script she wanted.” I shake my head.
“Boys, lunch’s getting cold,” my mother calls across the yard.
“We should go.” My father lowers the hood, and I shove my car keys into my front pocket.
“Don’t worry about me, Dad. I can hold my own. And for the record, we’re going with my script for the movie.” I put my hand on his shoulder as we walk to the house.
“Son, as much I as love having you back home for a bit, maybe you should think about heading back to LA.” His eyebrows are knit together, a worry line forming on his forehead.
“I can’t. I have a contract.” One I’m sure I could get out of if I really wanted to. The problem is, I don’t want to. Now that I’ve seen Fiona again, there is no way I’m walking away from this. All I can do is hope it doesn’t end in heartbreak.
7
FIONA
“About time you made it home, sis.” Stephan, my youngest brother, pulls me into a hug the moment I walk in the door.
“Missed you too. Where’s Mom?” I throw the small overnight bag on the floor, close to the stairs, and look around the house I grew up in.
“Where do you think?” my youngest brother asks.
“Kitchen.” We both speak at the same time.
“What’s she making today?” It seems early for her to be cooking dinner, unless it’s one of those slow-cooking roasts or something.
“Huge pot of zucchini and potato soup, I think. I spent half an hour peeling potatoes before she let me have coffee.”
“Lunch?” I ask, holding back a groan.
“Of course. Don’t look so surprised.” He puts an arm around my shoulder.
“Who’s coming?” I let him pull me toward the kitchen and living room.
“Everyone. You haven’t been home in months. They are excited to see you and hear all about that movie of yours.” He shoves me into the lioness’s den—the kitchen.
“How did you know I was coming? And for the record, it’s not my movie. I just work for the production company.”
“Mrs. McAlister called Mom,” he says. “You know what I mean. And don’t sell yourself short. I’ve heard you talk to Mom and Dad on the phone. You’re a producer now, right?”
“Junior producer. Basically, the person doing all the grunt work.” I smile, secretly happy he’s taking so much interest in what I do.
