Upper Hand (Cedar Tree Book 5) (8 page)

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I
know I’ve been a bear. Both in attitude and in the urge to crawl into a cave and hibernate.

It all comes home when Beth turns those expressive brown eyes on me and suggests we go out for lunch. The barely contained eagerness is right there for me to see, even if her words try to veil the fact she is jumping out of her skin to get out for a bit. For someone raised as a ‘southern gentleman,’ I haven’t done the moniker much justice by being less than pleasant to the woman who has put her life on hold to provide family for two lost souls, Max and me. She deserves more.

-

I
’ve got to admit, after the sudden and shocking breakdown of my marriage to Luanne, kids never really beeped on my radar. First time that changed was the birth of Mattias, Katie and Caleb’s son. I’m not sure if it was the fact that I had a front seat to Katie’s pregnancy while renovating their barn, or whether it was the first time she shoved that little scrunched up and squirming ball of humanity in my arms. I never felt the loss of something I’d never had as strongly as when his little hand tried to squeeze the life from my much larger index finger. And the smell—no one ever told me babies smelled so fucking good. Well, at least until they crapped their pants, but that’s what parents were for.

Second time I lost my heart was just now. Sitting in the car on the way to the diner, a smile still lingering on my lips from the heat I seem to have put back in Beth’s eyes, I’m stunned to hear Max’s little singsong voice coming from the back seat.

“Fwunny, big gah?”

When I turn my head, his little eyes are focused on me and unless I’m imagining things, his perpetual smile stretches even wider. Little bugger
is
talking to me. ‘
Big gah
’...Big Guy. Beth calls me that regularly, the last time just seconds before. Damn if the little tyke didn’t pick up on it.

“Yeah, Max, that was funny.”

“Fwunny. Hahaha?”

Beth snorts in the seat beside me at the same time I chuckle at Max’s attempt at mimicking the sound of my deep belly laugh. I turn to her with the smile still on my face.

“He knows my name.” I point out.

“Your name?” Beth teases, “I thought your name was Clint. But I’m happy to call you ‘big gah’ if you like?”

“You’ve been calling me by the only name that counts, and don’t you forget it. Big Guy is made for me and believe it—it fits me perfectly.”

Beth rolls her eyes at my thick innuendo, but not before she drops a quick glance at my crotch.
That’s right, baby; that’s exactly what I’m talking about.

-

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“O
h my gawd! Look what the cat dragged in.”

Arlene is waving her towel in the air when we walk into the door. “Katie called earlier and mentioned you were coming, but I told her I’d have to see it to believe it. I could barely remember what y’all looked like.”

Coming around the counter, Arlene walks up to me first and wraps me in a tight hug. Pretty tall for a woman, and she’s damn strong too.

“Got my head healing, woman, don’t need crushed ribs to set me back some.” I smile down at her.

“Oh, please—like you even feel that.”

Nevertheless, she lets go immediately before turning to Beth to offer her the same treatment.

“I miss your cranky ass around here, girl! It’s dull without you bitching at me all the time.”

Beth snorts loudly but returns the hug one armed with a big smile on her face.

“Yeah, well, I’m not gonna admit I missed your testy self, but I have to say it’s good to be back. Now if you could stop squashing my grandbaby?”

“Oh hush, you know you love me,” Arlene quips, as she releases Beth and elbows her for good measure.

“Only on Sundays,” is Beth’s response.

A familiar chuckle sounds behind me. “Good to see our live entertainment’s back,” Joe smiles as he walks around me. “Good to see you out and about, man. Had us worried there for a spot.”

I can’t help it, I blow out a sigh of relief. Not sure what to expect since the man got shot by someone I brought onto the scene, it definitely wasn’t concern about my wellbeing. No, I figured I’d have a lot of apologizing to do when faced with Joe or Naomi, which is why I’ve avoided contact. Joe is all smiles though and apparently harbors no hard feelings. Still I need to ask.

“How are you? All recovered? Look, I’m sor—“ But I’m immediately cut off by Joe.

“Not even going there, my friend. Max Heffler spent a lifetime manipulating people; his lawyers, cops, the judges. Hell, even his own family thought he could walk on water. Not your apology to make. Don’t wanna hear another word about that.”

He gives me a stern look and claps his hand on my shoulder. Nothing to do but nod back.

“Staying for lunch?” I want to know.

“Now I am.”

“Gimme that little scrumptious nugget.” Arlene holds her arms out for Max, who throws himself in her arms. With Max’s little arms around her neck, she shows us to a large booth by the window, pulling along a highchair for the toddler. “Let me go talk to Uncle Seb and see what he can scrounge up for you,” she says while strapping him in, expertly evading his grabby little hands.

“Everybody, coffee?”

A round of yes from everyone, and she’s off to the kitchen where her other half rules the roost.

“No other wait staff?” Beth looks around worriedly. “Feels funny sitting on my ass when the place is this busy. Maybe I should go and see—“ She’s already halfway out of her seat when my hand on her wrist halts her.

“Sit down, Beth. You’re allowed to have lunch without worrying about work today.”

Beth’s not impressed. Her eyes squint and I can feel the heat coming off her. Whoa.

“Don’t you start telling me what I can and can’t do, Clint Mason. Been deciding that for myself for the last thirty years, give or take. And let me tell you—that ain’t gonna change,” she hisses out. Yowza, I seem to have pushed a button. As quickly as I grabbed it, I release her wrist and sit back. Seems I haven’t lost my knack for pissing her off. Best defense? Shut your mouth. Which is exactly what I’m doing. Damn Joe is chuckling beside me.

“Still at it, you two?”

“Fuck off,” I mumble between closed lips for the sake of the little one, but it doesn’t stop Joe from rearing back and howling.

I’m thankful for the distraction when Katie walks in with Mattias in the stroller, and just like that the booth is bustling with activity as the two boys sitting side by side in matching highchairs do their best to
out-cute
the other with their babbling and antics.

After we’ve all finished our lunch and wipe the remainders from the two kids, who
wear
more of theirs than they’ve ingested, Joe gets up to leave, clamping a hand on my shoulder.

“Hope we’ll see you this weekend for the opening of the clinic. Can’t wait to hear what you think of the finished product. Jed did a good job executing your designs.”

At the mention of my brother’s name, habit has my hackles rise and my jaw clench. If Joe notices it, he chooses to ignore it and with a wave to Arlene behind the counter, heads out the door. I can feel Beth’s eyes on me. She’s about to say something when Arlene walks up to the table with the coffee pot looking glum.

“More coffee?”

“I’m good, thanks,” I hold my hand over my cup, my buzzing insides not needing more caffeine.

Both Beth and Katie have refills and Beth’s keen attention has slipped from me onto Arlene.

“What’s up, buttercup?” she asks Arlene, who shifts uneasily on her feet.

“Ahh, just the daily frustrations of running this diner.”

“Like what?”

“Hard keeping anyone long term. Just got a call from the girl we hired just two months ago, Vicki? She quit. Says she found something a little closer to home in Cortez. Not coming back. Drives me effing insane when they do that—leave me hanging right before the weekend.”

I can see the struggle on Beth’s face and before I can stop myself I blurt out, “Beth? Since you miss this place so much, why don’t you jump back in?”

A brief smile lights her face before it turns solemn.

“I can’t. I mean...there’s you and then Max. It just wouldn’t work.”

Katie catches my eye and I know what she’s going to say before she opens her mouth.

“Why not? Seriously? I think it’s a great idea. I can easily take Max for the afternoons and Clint is only a short drive away, he can call if he needs you for whatever reason. Everything doesn’t have to hang on you. We all have a stake in keeping the diner running smoothly. Frankly, I don’t think I can take Arlene any crankier than she naturally is,” she says with a wicked gleam in her eyes. Arlene’s mouth falls open and Beth tries hard to stifle a snicker. I don’t—I throw my head back and laugh. God it feels good to be back here. Hiding out in my house is boring as shit, but with these people? Never a dull moment. I make up my mind to work hard on joining the land of the living again. With an amused expression, Beth looks at me intently.

“You haven’t done enough of that lately; it’s good to hear you laugh.”

“Well, never mind that it’s all on my account,” Arlene sputters, “Glad I’m the subject of your collective hilarity. Besides, I’ll have you know, I’m never cranky.”

This causes a new wave of snorts and chuckles to her consternation, but before she has a chance to take off with her knickers in a twist, Beth stops her.

“You’re wound to tight, Arlene, I keep telling you. I’m taking Clint into Cortez to see Kendra this afternoon, but what time do you want me in tomorrow?”

“Twelve to five or six okay? I’ll get Julie to come in later, she prefers dinner shifts anyway.” She tilts her head and looks between Beth and me. “You sure you want to? This gonna work for ya?”

Receiving nods from both Katie and I, Beth turns to Arlene. “I’ll be here.”

Leaving the girls to hammer out details, I grab my cane and follow Arlene to the counter.

“Hold up, I wanna settle the bill.”

“Nah. Lunch is on me today,” she says, as she turns around to face me with tears pooling in her eyes. I’m shocked at the sight, trying to remember the last time I’ve seen Arlene visibly emotional.

“Hey,” I try, “we were just kidding.”

She waves her hands, grabbing a napkin to blow her nose. “It’s not that, you thick-headed redneck. It just feels good to have things settle again. Missed Beth around. Fuck, it’s not natural not having her here, she’s been part of this diner for donkey’s years. Way before I even came on the scene. And you...as big of a pain in my ass you can be, I was really scared for a bit there.”

The single tear that escapes her furious blinking has me walking around the counter, setting my cane aside and pulling her in for a hug. Arlene being Arlene, she struggles a bit in my arms until I tell her to
‘settle,’
and then she wraps her arms around my waist.

“Have you made your move on Beth, yet?” she mumbles against my shirt.

“Say what?” I feign ignorance, but Arlene is too sharp and pushes back, fixing her eyes on me.

“Don’t play coy. You’re like fucking spring in Canada, hot one minute and the next you’re freezing her out. She cares, she’s just stubborn.”

“I know,” I say simply, thinking to myself that this lunch has been cathartic in more than one way. I’m ready. Ready to get back in the saddle. With a glance at Beth, who seems to be sneaking peeks at our interaction, I give Arlene a kiss on the head and thank her for lunch, before heading back to the table, my eyes not leaving Beth’s the entire time.

-

“T
hat was a good lunch,” Beth says as she starts up the car.

We just helped Katie secure Max’s seat in her car and hauled his bag over to her trunk. My mouth got the better of me when I accidentally called her ‘
little lady,
’ something that seems to slip out naturally for me but earned me an elbow in the ribs from the ‘
lady
’ in question. Beth secured Max in the backseat next to his buddy, and we watched them drive off with plans to pick him up when we get back to town.

“Great lunch,” I say, really meaning it. I’ve been a fucking pussy, hiding away, but today’s shown me that the friends I’ve made here are the real deal.