“I like the way you think.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.
As he drew back, his gaze stayed on hers a moment, and Myka sensed that he was troubled.
“Something else is on your mind. What is it?”
He shook his head. “I’m not ready to talk about it yet,” he said.
“Then when?”
“I’ll let you know.”
* * *
O
NCE
HE
WAS
back home, Joshua watched through the window as Myka fed the sheep then hurried back into her house. If he took the job in Santa Fe, he’d be leaving a piece of his heart behind.
Joshua expelled his breath in a hiss as he looked around the house. It had been emptied of clutter and rearranged to suit his needs, but it was still far from the kind of home he’d envisioned for himself. Yet he was happy here and there was a lot to be said for that.
Adam Nez had switched dreams and never looked back. Maybe it was time for him to take a good long look at himself and figure out what he really wanted. He was no longer the same man who’d left for college bent on taking the world by storm.
Hearing a knock on the door, he went to answer it and found Daniel waiting there.
“Saw your truck and figured you might like company,” he said, holding up a six-pack.
“Come in. Any friend bearing brews is welcome. Want a glass to go with those?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
Joshua walked over to the fireplace and stacked kindling to build a fire while Dan went to the kitchen for a bottle opener.
“The one thing about Dad’s place is that the heating system’s not that efficient. Without a wood fire, the place gets cold,” Joshua said. “He’d intended to put in a wood pellet insert once he got too old to chop wood.”
Daniel nodded, silently handing Josh an opened bottle.
He didn’t disturb the silence that fell between them as he lit the fire. It was clear that something was troubling Daniel.
“I don’t know how I got roped into this,” he said at long last, taking a swallow of beer.
“What’s up?” Joshua stepped back from the hearth.
“You know Betty and I are friends, right?”
“Yeah,” he said, then grinned. “You here to ask me to be your best man?” He held up the bottle in a mock toast.
Daniel choked but still clinked bottles with him. “Man, we’re nowhere near that, not yet. I came to talk about
you.
”
“And Betty?” Josh stared at him. “You want
me
to ask her out?”
“Will you shut up for a second and just listen, bro? I’m here ’cause I promised Betty I’d talk to you.” He took a breath. “She’s worried about Myka, and maybe she’s onto something. Is it true you interviewed for a job earlier this week?”
Joshua raised his eyebrows. “How did you—” He smiled and nodded once. “I get it. I remember seeing Grandma at the gas station and she commented on my suit and tie. I never told her where I was going, but I guess I didn’t need to.”
“Nothing stays secret around here,” Daniel said. “Here’s the thing. I’ve known you for a long time, and these past few months you’ve been happier than I can ever remember. So why are you still hunting for a job elsewhere? Myka needs you here.”
Joshua shook his head. “She can handle the company without me. It’s her dream,” he said. “Being an architect is part of who I am. Work here, though satisfying, will be far from steady.”
“Is nothing else important to you right now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you in love with Myka?”
“Yeah, and she knows it.”
“So you’ve told her?” Dan asked.
“Once.”
“Maybe she needs to be reminded.”
“Maybe,” Joshua said, unconvinced. “But if I relocate, the most I could give her is a long-distance relationship.” He paused, added a log to the fire, then continued. “Myka knew I’d leave someday and she’s not interested in anything permanent. She’s never asked me to stay.”
“I hear you, but women are really strange about stuff like this. They reason things out differently. Perhaps she’s been hinting and you haven’t been listening close enough. Or maybe she’s waiting for you to say something more.”
“I doubt that. You know Myka—she speaks her mind.”
“In business, yes, but this is personal. You’re walking onto emotional territory, and when that happens, all the rules go out the window,” he said. “You need to think hard about what you’re doing or not doing. You could end up blowing everything.”
Joshua sighed. “I’ll see how things go tomorrow.”
“You don’t really want to leave town—leave Myka—do you?”
“You ask too many questions,” Joshua said, but he grinned to soften his words. “Now get going with the rest of that beer before you get roped into helping me clean this place. Myka’s fixing Thanksgiving dinner, but we’re eating here.”
“Your new TV wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would it?” he asked, pointing.
“Yeah, but sharing dinner was her idea.”
“Likely story,” Dan said, heading to the door.
“Have a good holiday,” Joshua said.
“Grandma Medeiros and I will be joining Betty and her family, so I’ve got what I want. Figure out what
you
want before it passes you by. A guy’s got to grab what he can before it’s out of reach.”
As Daniel walked off, Joshua considered what his friend had said. There’d been a time in his life when he’d wanted it all—but his definition of “all” had changed.
After straightening out the den, which didn’t take long because he’d already gone through the place twice, he decided to take a break. Trying to sort out his thinking, he lay back in the easy chair and watched the football recap for the current season. He took a long swallow of the cold one in his hand and put his boots up on the hassock.
He’d left town to become an architect and pursue his goals. He’d wanted to create a legacy—something that would continue long after him. He’d imagined becoming a twenty-first-century Native American Frank Lloyd Wright, at least.
Then that chapter of his life had ended and he’d been forced to return home with his tail between his legs. Despite that debacle, he’d turned things around and had ended up achieving what he’d wanted, though admittedly, in a way he’d never expected.
He pictured the facelift he’d given Main Street, and the other buildings being renovated with his stamp on them. He’d left to find a legacy, but maybe it had been here all along.
CHAPTER TWENTY
B
Y
THE
FOLLOWING
AFTERNOON
, the turkey was still frozen solid. Myka stood at Joshua’s sink, staring down at it. She tapped it with her knuckles and it felt as hard as a cinder block. Clearly, things were moving a lot slower than they’d planned.
“Guess we should have thawed it in hot water,” he commented.
“It’s too late for that,” she said and sighed. “The good news is that we now have a Christmas turkey.”
“We could try to microwave it for a while, or heat up some oil in a kettle and fry it on the grill out back,” he suggested.
She laughed. “No, I don’t want to set fire to your house. I’ve had enough smoke and flames to last me a lifetime. Let me browse through your refrigerator for ideas.”
“Good luck. At least we’ve still got dressing, mashed potatoes, salad and pies. How about a vegetarian Thanksgiving?”
“Hold on,” she said, looking inside his fridge. “I just found a packet of turkey hot dogs.”
“Yeah, I picked those up by mistake. I had a craving for a good old-fashioned grilled hot dog. Then I realized I’d bought something for the calorie counters. In my book, turkey dogs are one step above soy burgers.”
“Well, at least we’ll have turkey represented on our plates. Let’s go back to my place to eat, then come here to watch the game and have dessert. What do you say?”
“Sure. But why eat at your place?”
“If we can’t have a turkey bird, I want to use my great-grandmother’s china. What’s actually on the plate won’t matter as much then—the china will make all the difference. Mind you, it’s not expensive or fancy. The bottom says, Made in Hungary so I don’t know how or where she got them. But Grandma valued them. She brought the entire set from Maine as part of her trousseau.”
“I never saw you as the type of person who needs a formal setting.”
“I’m not, but I do like having those plates around. They’ve traveled more than I have. Can you imagine all the places they’ve seen?”
“Is that what you want to do someday—travel?”
“I think I would,” she said. “There was a time when even the thought of leaving home terrified me. I didn’t like change of any kind. Things seemed perfect just the way they were.”
“And now?”
“I’m thinking I might like going off on an adventure every once in a while. I can handle it.”
“You’ve met a lot of challenges over at HMI. That builds confidence.”
“It does,” she said.
“HMI has taught me a lot, too. I’m still waiting to hear about that Santa Fe job, but if I don’t get the position, I’m going to take it as a sign that this is where I belong. I have some great options here in Independence and people I love. Between my new salary at HMI and what I make working for the town, I’d have enough to open my own architectural firm. It’s bound to be rough going, so before I commit to that, there’s something I need to know.”
He took a deep breath, thinking of Daniel’s advice. The first time he’d said he loved her, it had come so naturally, right from the heart. Why was it so hard to say now? “Myka, I—”
At that precise minute Bear put his front paws up on the counter and made a grab at the frozen turkey in the sink.
“No!” Myka yelled. “You thief!” Laughing, she pulled the dog down by his collar. “Go outside,” she ordered, opening the back door.
The dog looked over his shoulder with the equivalent of an apology, then slunk outside.
“Sorry, Josh, I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I think I know what you were trying to say.”
“You do?” he asked, almost relieved.
“You want to follow your own dream, but you need to know if you’ll have support from the people around you,” she said. “The answer is yes, of course you will. We’re on your side no matter what happens.”
She looked at the clock. “Right now, we better get on the move if we’re going to have Thanksgiving dinner before the game starts.”
He’d intended to tell her how he felt and take his chances, but the moment had passed. Besides, she could have preempted him on purpose, not wanting to ruin the day. She loved him, but maybe it was more like the deep affection one felt for a close friend. “Okay, let’s work on that awesome Thanksgiving experience.”
“One of a kind,” she said.
* * *
T
HEY
GRILLED
THE
hot dogs outside on Myka’s back patio, ate using the china, then returned to Joshua’s house to watch the football game.
“This wasn’t exactly a traditional Thanksgiving, but I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun,” Myka said, sitting next to Josh on his couch and eating a slice of pecan pie practically smothered in whipped cream.
“Me, neither,” he said.
As the team captains met on the fifty-yard line for the coin toss, Myka walked over to her tote bag, resting on the floor in the corner. She put on her favorite NFL team’s ball cap, then looked up. “Now I’m ready. Get this game underway!”
She was the perfect woman for him. He couldn’t just let her go. Without a second thought, Joshua wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him. “I love you, Myka,” he said, then lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply.
As he drew back to take a breath, she nuzzled against him.
“I love you, too, Joshua, just as you are—no demands, no expectations,” she whispered.
He looked into her eyes. Was this her way of being careful with her heart?
“We all make demands—even if they’re unspoken,” he said.
“There are certain commitments that can’t be asked for or rushed. They’re freely given—or not.” She met his gaze and smiled. “It’s a perfect day and we’re together. Let’s be grateful for that.”
The television crowd roared in preparation for the kickoff.
“Okay, I take it back—one demand.” She grinned impishly. “No more sweet talk until halftime.”
* * *
T
HE
NEXT
EIGHT
DAYS
went by quickly. Josh had finished the remaining restoration plans for all the buildings he’d been assigned to evaluate, including both structures on the Brooks estate.
He sat in the reception area outside of Mayor Allen’s office, waiting. It had been two months since he’d first interviewed for the Santa Fe position, but he’d broken through the pack. It was now between him and one other architect.
That possibility had brought him to the mayor’s office today. He needed to know if he still had viable options here in Independence, job opportunities that would allow him to turn down the Santa Fe position, assuming it was offered to him. If he was going to start a relationship with Myka, he wanted to be able to “provide for her,” in the words of his father’s generation.
After a few minutes, Phil invited Joshua into his office, and Joshua laid it on the line. He needed to know what his chances were of finding permanent work here in town—as an architect.
“The town needs you and your skills, Joshua,” he said. “Remember the documentary the local high school students made? They posted it on the internet this past weekend and titled it
The Little Town That Could.
It went viral, and the largest paper in New Mexico is coming by tonight to cover our rebirth and the lighting of our tree. So are two of the local TV network affiliates. We’re on the map again!” he said proudly. “Robyn’s passing the news along to Myka as we speak.”
“That’s wonderful,” Josh said, although he couldn’t see how that would create jobs for him.
“The buzz has started. I’ve been getting phone calls all morning. With our low tax rate, available properties, trained work force and low cost of living, several companies have approached my office about relocating here. The fact that rail service will be reinstated soon is icing on the cake,” he said.
Joshua smiled. “That’s great news for the town....”
“And for you, too. The bottom line is that more of the buildings here will have to be renovated to fit in with the historical theme of the town. New housing will also be needed to accommodate additional families. I expect most, if not all, of the former IVA buildings will be converted to suit new employers. You could be a part of all that.”
Yet the mayor had still not made him a firm offer. “I’ll keep it in mind before I consider any out-of-town positions,” Josh said, a little disappointed.
“Call me before you actually accept any jobs outside of Independence. Maybe I can come up with something on my own. Right now, I’ve got to get going. Old Bobby Miller’s bringing in a fifteen-foot blue spruce for the tree lighting.”
“He still has the tree farm?”
“Yes. Personally, I don’t know how he makes ends meet, but I was told his business is growing, too, pardon the pun. A lot of the merchants in town and over in Painted Canyon have ordered trees.” Mayor Allen stood. “I’ll see you again this evening, right? And bring Myka.”
“I will,” Joshua said and shook his hand.
Joshua walked outside, and squaring his shoulders, looked down the street toward HMI. What he wanted most was right here. It was time to step up.
* * *
M
YKA
STARED
AT
R
OBYN
.
“Really?
Viral?
”
“The first day they put it up, it got a huge number of hits, and by the end of the week, it had skyrocketed. Let me show you,” she said, moving the computer mouse.
Hearing a knock on the door, Myka glanced past Robyn and saw Mayor Allen standing there.
“Myka, I need a few minutes of your time,” he said.
“I’ll get back to my desk and show you that video later,” Robyn said, standing. “I’m trying to set up web seminars on wool processing. I listed some possibilities on the website to gauge the level of interest and got a terrific response.”
As Robyn left, Myka waved at Mayor Allen. “Please, sit down. Can I offer you some coffee or maybe tea?”
“Coffee,” he said with a nod. “I’m here because I need to do a little brainstorming with you. It’s about Joshua Nez.”
“I’m listening,” she said, going to the pot in the corner and pouring two cups.
* * *
J
OSHUA
STOPPED
BY
the Medeiros Market and found Daniel carrying three cases of canned soda from the storeroom.
“You need a hand?” he asked.
“Yeah, as a matter of fact,” Daniel said. “Wanna grab the top case?”
After they’d restocked the shelves, Daniel looked up at Josh. “Come on, bro, you’ve earned a cream soda. It’s on the house.” He led the way to the break area in the back.
Moments later, Daniel handed Joshua a can from the small fridge and joined him at the table. “So how are things going?”
Joshua told Daniel the latest about the job in Santa Fe, then added, “I’ve decided to pull my application. I don’t want to walk away and risk losing Myka.”
“If that’s the only reason you’re going to pass on that big job, don’t,” Grandma said, coming into the room with a platter of cookies covered in powdered sugar. She held out the plate, and each man took a cookie instantly. “Stay because you love her, not because you’re afraid to lose her. That might seem like the right answer now, but ten or twenty years down the pike, you may feel differently.”
“I’ve thought long and hard about this, Grandma. The truth is that nothing means as much to me as Myka,” Joshua said. “I’ve made my decision and that’s why I’m off to Painted Canyon, but I needed to ask you two something first. Who’s going to set out the luminarias tonight?” Josh had always loved this particular Southwestern tradition. Paper sacks were weighed down by sand and turned into Christmas lanterns with a votive candle. Each year, they were placed in a circle around the tree for the town’s tree-lighting ceremony.
“That’s Walt Driscoll’s job,” Daniel said and pointed to an elderly man placing bundles of paper sacks into his shopping cart. “There he is now.”
“I’ve got to run. Catch you later,” Joshua said.
* * *
I
T
WAS
PAST
SUNDOWN
on the first weekend in December. Tonight their town would officially welcome the Christmas season. Joshua finished getting dressed and glanced at his image in the mirror. He was wearing his lucky bolo tie—the one his dad had given him before he’d left for college. On the slide, crafted out of inlaid turquoise, was a bear, the best of allies when facing uncertain times.
He took a deep breath. No matter how things turned out, the course of his life would change forever.
He took the white box from the dresser and placed it in his pocket. It was cold out tonight, in the high thirties, so he wore his black leather jacket. No chill ever penetrated that, and tonight he wanted no distractions.
He was on his way to the door when he heard a loud knock, the sound of several voices, then one above the others telling everyone to shush.
Back in his teens, he would have suspected a group of ticked off parents at the door, but those days were long gone. Maybe carolers? Nah, not tonight, they’d be at the town square.
He opened the door and found a small crowd. Along with Myka, Mayor Allen, Will, Robyn, Betty and Daniel were faces he quickly recognized as town council members.
“What’s going on? Is the party at my house tonight?” he joked.
Myka smiled, shook her head, but didn’t answer.
“We’ve come to the unanimous decision that the town of Independence needs you,” the mayor said. “Please hear us out.”
“Well, then, come inside,” he said, inviting them into his living room. “I don’t have enough chairs, but I can brew some coffee. Anyone?” he asked, looking at the faces around him.
“No, let’s get right down to business. If you’ll take the position of town architect, we’ll give you the salary and benefits equal to that of our highest paid town employee,” he said, looking back at Will, who rolled his eyes.
Joshua bit back a smile and nodded, considering it.
“I know that’s still not much—sorry, Will—so we’re ready to lease you the Brooks Mansion for a dollar a year for the next five years. You can set up your own business office there, too, if you’d like. At the end of the lease, you’ll be free to buy the place from the town at market value or continue leasing. We’ll also structure your work contract with us so you can be free to accept private architectural or consulting jobs, too, as long as they don’t interfere with your projects for us.”