Something to Talk About, page 9
She went to the door, tightening her robe just before she pulled the door open. To her surprise, she saw Corey Durand standing there, a look of genuine concern on her face.
“That tree come through your roof?” she asked.
Brin nodded, half dazed and half turned on by Corey’s tight white thermal shirt and faded jeans. She was wearing a leather bomber jacket and carrying a toolbox.
Brin had to remind herself to speak. “Um, yes. It did.”
Corey edged her way inside. “I thought you said you’d call me if anything happened.”
Brin opened the door farther and followed her. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You needed help,” Corey said, stopping in the kitchen. “Hey, Laken.”
Laken looked at her briefly and then pointed to the tree branch.
“I see that,” Corey said. “Looks like you guys had a fun night.”
Brin laughed. “Oh, it was barrels of fun. Dealing with Miley and Jimmy in the middle of the night is always at the top of my list of a good time.”
“Miley and Jimmy?” Corey looked perplexed.
“Miley happened to call right after it happened. So she and Jimmy rushed over.”
“Oh, okay.”
It was obvious Corey wasn’t happy, but Brin was unsure what to do about it. After all, she was the one who had to deal with them, not Corey.
“They’re coming back today to help fix it.”
Corey scoffed. “Jimmy Roberts?”
Brin nodded.
“Good luck with that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that man couldn’t hang a picture, much less fix a roof.”
“Oh, no.” Brin sank into a kitchen chair. “Then why did he say he would help?”
“Do I really have to explain that to you?” Corey asked. She came closer and looked straight up into the hole.
“No, I suppose not.”
“Uh-huh. My guess is he’s got only one thing on his mind and it ain’t this roof.”
“You don’t have to be so crass,” Brin said, cringing.
“It’s true, isn’t it? I’ve known that man a long time and know his game well. He’ll say and do whatever he has to to get close to a woman. But it’s usually not long before they figure out he’s full of nothing but hot air.”
“I know that, Corey. Trust me, I know. But honestly, I need all the help I can get. I don’t even know how I’m going to pay for all this.”
Corey watched her closely and her face softened. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You guys all come rushing in here to help and I don’t even know if I can afford the help.”
Corey sank down into the chair next to her. “Hey, it’s okay. It’s really not that bad.”
“Corey, I have a hole in my roof!”
“It can be fixed.”
“And God knows what else.”
“I’ll go up and take a look, okay?”
Another knock came from the front door and Brin slumped, knowing who it was. She crossed to the door and answered it. Miley was all smiles, dressed in denim overalls and a ball cap. Her lipstick was brighter than the morning sun.
“Good morning, sunshine,” she said, opening the screen door. She edged her way inside and Jimmy followed close behind, also dressed in head to toe denim, though he had on a denim shirt and jeans. Even so, he still looked far from a handyman with his slicked back hair and freshly shaved jaw. His flashy gold watch didn’t help matters any.
Brin followed them into the kitchen where they both stared at Corey, who had stood to gather her toolbox.
“Why, Corey Durand. What a surprise to see you here so bright and early,” Miley said.
“Not really, Miley. I am her neighbor you know.”
“Yes, but I was under the assumption that she wasn’t going to call you.”
“She didn’t. I was driving by and saw the damage myself.”
“So, you thought you’d what? Help?” She eyed the toolbox.
Corey grinned and Brin could tell that it was forced. “That was the idea.”
“Well, we’ve got it under control,” Jimmy said.
“Do you now?”
Corey stared him down.
“Corey offered to take a look,” Brin said, feeling the growing tension.
“No need,” Jimmy said. “I got it.”
“Jimmy’s got it,” Miley said.
“Since when?” Corey asked. “Last I heard Jimmy couldn’t tell a hammer from a nail.”
Jimmy returned the forced grin. “Well, you heard wrong.”
Corey grabbed her toolbox. “Brin, what do you want?”
Brin blinked rapidly, more confused than ever.
“We’ve already got the lumber and everything needed to fix you right up,” Miley said.
“Miley, guys, everyone just wait. I need to sit down and think. I don’t know how I’m going to pay for all this.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that, Brin,” Miley said. “Jimmy and I got you covered.”
Brin didn’t like the sound of that. It made her feel like there were definitely going to be strings attached and it made her stomach churn with nerves.
Why did this have to happen now of all times?
Laken shoved her bowl onto the floor and Miley jerked from the noise.
“Oh, my God, that scared me!” She clutched her chest. “No, no Larkin. Don’t do that.”
Brin picked up the bowl and took it to the sink. Then she scooped Laken up into her arms.
“Her name is LAKEN. Not Larkin. And please do not discipline her. I will take care of that.”
Miley rubbed her throat. “Well.”
“And as for this roof thing, I need time to think. So, if you could all just go for now I’d really appreciate it.”
“But—” Jimmy started.
“Please,” Brin said, walking them all toward the door.
“I’ll call you all later.”
Corey clenched her jaw but didn’t say a word. Brin was grateful. She didn’t have the strength to argue with her and she knew what she was going to say.
Miley and Jimmy weren’t to be trusted.
Brin knew it and she could feel it.
But she also had feelings to contend with over Corey. And those, at the moment, felt riskier than anything Miley and Jimmy could throw at her.
Chapter Twelve
“Tara, hi. It’s Corey Durand.” Corey pulled into a parking space in front of Flick’s Hardware and put the truck in park. She’d just dropped off Ryan at the drugstore and she’d purposely waited to make this phone call in private.
“Corey Durand? Well, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Corey chuckled softly at her seductive sounding voice.
“I was actually calling in a favor.”
“For you? Anything.”
“No, seriously.”
“I am being serious. Serious as a heart attack.”
Corey chose to ignore her and move right on to the topic at hand. “I hope you don’t mind, but I gave your number to a new friend of mine. She has a four-year-old niece who may benefit from your expertise.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. So, I just wanted to give you a heads up in case she calls. So far she’s been a bit hesitant.”
“What’s her name?”
“Brin. And her niece is Laken.”
“Oh, I actually just spoke to her this morning. Real intense, kind of hyper?”
“Brin? Yes.”
Tara laughed. “She sounded pretty worried. Asked me all kinds of questions. It took me a while before I could convince her to bring Laken in for an evaluation.”
“But she is coming, right?”
“She has an appointment.”
“Great. Thank you. Thanks so much.”
“What’s the deal with her? I mean, why the heavy interest on your part?”
Corey paused and looked at herself in the rearview mirror. “Let’s just say I really think you can help them.”
“Okay, well, you got it. Of course you know once they come in I won’t be able to discuss the treatment or anything with you.”
“I’m aware. I’m just glad they’re coming in.”
“So, what about you, Corey? You seeing anyone?”
Corey grinned, embarrassed. She stared down at her jeans and picked at a loose thread. “No.”
“I didn’t think so. I think I’d hear about something like that.”
“With Miley Roberts around, I’m sure you would have.”
“How is little miss perfect anyway?”
“Same.”
“Ugh. Say no more. But if you ever change your mind and want to go out, you better call me.”
Corey laughed. “I’ll talk to you later, Tara.”
“Alright. And hey, thanks for the rec.”
“You bet. Bye.”
They ended the call and Corey climbed from the truck and headed into Flick’s Hardware.
Flick was behind the counter talking to a customer Corey didn’t recognize. So she made her way down the appropriate aisle for roofing nails and shingles. Though she hadn’t spoken to Brin since the day before about her roof, she wanted to be prepared to help her should she need her. And since it appeared that Jimmy Roberts was going to be on the job, or at least lingering, that help would be needed sooner rather than later.
She still hadn’t gotten over seeing his fancy truck pulled beside Brin’s house earlier that morning when she and Ryan had driven by. She’d thought Brin was going to call before she accepted any help from anyone. It seemed that was no longer the case. She just hoped Brin knew what the hell she was doing in allowing Jimmy to fix her roof.
Corey stopped in front of the area where Flick kept his shingles and nails and roofing tar. Almost all of it was gone.
“Help you, Corey?” Flick said as he ambled down the aisle.
She pointed. “Where’s all your roofing supplies?”
He sank a hand in his vest pocket. “Jimmy Roberts come in here recently and damn near bought the place out.”
“All of it?”
“This is all I’ve got left.”
Corey knelt, examined what little was there and stood, shaking her head.
“Damn it. He has no idea what he’s doing.”
“I heard he was fixing that new gal’s roof. Your new neighbor.”
“He sure thinks he is.”
Flick rubbed his stubbled jaw. “Yeah, I’ve never known that boy to fix much of anything.”
“Me neither.”
“Hope he knows what he’s doing.”
“He doesn’t.”
Corey tugged on the bill of her ball cap and sighed. “I’ll take what you got left here. And some lumber in the back.”
“Just got in a new shipment.”
“Thank God for that.”
“What’s going on?” Ryan asked as he came up behind Flick.
Flick turned and placed a hand on his shoulder in a welcoming gesture. Ryan greeted him with a smile and opened his bottle of Mountain Dew for a hearty swig.
“Jimmy Roberts is what’s up,” Corey said.
“What now?” Ryan asked.
“Well, look.” She pointed at the remaining supplies.
Ryan’s eyebrows shot up.
“Damn,” he said. “He bought all that for that one hole?”
“Guess so.”
“Oh, and not just that. He bought lots of lumber and a ladder too. If I didn’t dislike the son of a bitch so much, I’d been singing his praises. But as it was, I just thought he’d lost his mind in buying so much. Course it helped my pocketbook too.”
“No one’s faulting you, Flick. You’re just doing your job.”
“Well, I feel might bad about it, Corey. You being stuck with what little is left. I’ve got an order put in. Course I got two other people waiting on it too. Jimmy beat everyone in here the morning after the storm.”
“That’s okay, Flick. I’ll make do.”
“Those other folks will probably go down to the huge orange o’porium. Can’t says I blame ’em. Damn Jimmy Roberts. If he cost me customers—”
Corey patted his shoulder. “I’m sure he didn’t, Flick. Don’t worry about that. Just get your shelves restocked. That’s all you can do.”
Flick continued to bad-mouth Jimmy as Corey and Ryan carried the goods up to the counter. Then Ryan drove the truck around back to load up the lumber. Corey climbed in and secured her seat belt, content with letting Ryan drive.
“Why did you buy all that?” he asked. “Didn’t Grey tell you to let it go?”
He was referring to the conversation she’d had with Grey that morning. One in which Grey made it clear that she should stay away and let Jimmy fix that roof if that’s what Brin wanted.
Corey had argued that she really didn’t believe that that was what Brin wanted, but Grey countered with a good point. Brin had never called her back to tell her what she wanted. And Jimmy’s truck in her drive suggested she’d made up her mind.
But Corey still didn’t feel right about it. So she couldn’t let it go.
“Grey doesn’t always know what’s best for folks,” Corey said.
Ryan chewed his lower lip, obviously choosing not to argue though he probably could have.
Corey narrowed her eyes at him after examining his bag from the drugstore. Save for some gum and the Mountain Dew he was drinking, it looked empty.
“Did you get ’em?” she asked.
Ryan glanced at her and then back to the road. “Uh, no.”
“Why not?”
He squeezed the steering wheel as if he were nervous. “I’m not sure what to get.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “There are so many to choose from. How do I know what to get?”
Corey closed her eyes. “Go back to the drugstore.”
“What?”
“Go back.”
“But, Corey—”
“Just do it.”
Ryan slowed the truck and did a U-turn. Then he pulled into the drugstore parking lot. They sat in the truck for a moment with the engine idling.
Corey spoke. “I’m going to go in there and—”
“Thank you, Corey, thank you!” He clasped his hands together and gave her a pleading look.
She stopped him. “I’m not getting them for you. I’m just going to go in there to look and tell you what to go get.”
Ryan lowered his hands. Corey crawled from the truck and headed inside. She made her way down the aisle and stopped in front of the condoms. Ryan had been right. There were a lot to choose from. But hell if she knew. She examined a few boxes and nodded hello at a few passersby. They looked surprised to see her looking at the prophylactics, but she didn’t care. She had to do this for the kid.
Ryan was like a son to her and she wasn’t about to let him down.
She made her way back outside and climbed in the truck.
“Second row down, the green box on the far right.”
Ryan stared at her.
“What?” she asked.
“What about the cashier? Is it…you know…a woman?”
Corey took her hat off and scratched her head. “Ryan, listen. If you’re not mature enough to buy the damn things, then you’re not mature enough to have sex.”
He lowered his head. “Yeah. I reckon you’re right.”
“Do you like this girl?”
“I—” He looked up at her. “I love her, Corey.”
“Then get your ass in there and buy those condoms.”
She tugged on his cowboy hat playfully and slugged his arm. He exited the truck without another word and walked solemnly up to the drugstore. When he emerged again, his face was bright red, but he had a big grin on his face.
Corey gave his arm a squeeze and let him have his pride as they drove the rest of the way home in silence. They didn’t speak a word until they came upon Brin’s house around the turn where Jimmy’s truck was pulling out.
He about ran them off the road he was driving so fast.
“Whoa, there, mister,” Ryan said, swerving a little. “What’s his hurry?”
“That’s just Jimmy. Thinks he owns the road.”
Corey eyed Brin’s house as they approached. “Slow down a little.”
She scanned the roof and saw where Jimmy had removed the tree limb and patched up the roof with lumber. It looked as though he’d yet to finish the job though.
“Pull up to the side of the house.”
“What for?”
“So I can get a look at the tree.”
Ryan eased onto the gravel drive and put the truck in park. Corey exited the truck with Ryan close behind.
“Aren’t we going to get in trouble?”
Corey walked right up to the tree. “Nah, doesn’t look like she’s home.”
Ryan still looked around as if he were uneasy.
“Relax, kid, we’re looking at a tree, not breaking in the house.”
Corey examined the old oak and saw where the lightning had hit it. Then she noted how close what remained was to the house. It looked as though Jimmy had cut away the offending branch, but he’d done nothing else to prune the tree back and the lightning had nearly split the damn thing in two.
“This tree needs to come down,” Corey said. “The sooner the better.”
“You gonna tell her that?”
“Someone needs to. Might as well be me. If not, the next storm that comes through is gonna cause a whole lot more trouble.”
“You gonna offer to cut it down for her?”
Corey shoved on the trunk, getting a feel for its sturdiness. “I might do. Why? You wanna help?”
“Sure, why not? She seems nice enough.”
“She can be.”
