Home to Whiskey Creek (Whiskey Creek #4)(50)
Author: Brenda Novak

“Addy, is that you?”

She glanced up to see one of the waitresses who worked at her grandmother’s restaurant, probably the only one who’d been at Just Like Mom’s since before she left.

“Hi, Luanne.”

“It’s been a long time.”

They’d talked on the phone now and then when Addy had called Darlene or Gran at the restaurant, but Addy hadn’t seen her since returning to Whiskey Creek. “It has. It’s great to see you. Are you off today?”

“I usually spend Sundays with my kids, but…my mom took them to Disneyland for a few days.”

“That’s nice of her.”

She winced as she indicated Addy’s eye. “Whoever attacked you did a fine job of it, didn’t they?”

She smiled. “They could’ve done worse.”

“I guess so. You must be healing well to have such a good attitude.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Will you be coming into the restaurant soon?”

She closed her laptop. “Tomorrow, as a matter of fact.”

“Oh.” She hesitated as if she had more to say, but seemed to reconsider. “I work tomorrow, too. I guess I’ll see you then.”

“Luanne?”

She turned back. “Yes?”

Addy studied her. “Was there something else you wanted to say to me?”

Her gaze slid to the floor before rebounding. “I just…I felt like maybe I should warn you that Darlene might not be happy to have you…get involved.”

“In running the restaurant?”

“She’s been doing it pretty much on her own lately.”

“I’m not planning to take her job, not if I can help it.” Even if Gran agreed to sell the restaurant, the new owners might need Darlene to remain as manager. “I tried to make that clear when I called to tell her I’ll be returning.”

“I know. But…” She smiled. “Never mind. I’m sure everything will be fine. See you then.”

Adelaide watched her go. Was Darlene going to give her trouble?

Maybe she had more problems than she’d realized.

* * *

Was it just yesterday that he’d thought he’d been enjoying himself a little too much? That he needed to get serious and grow up?

What had happened with Baxter showed Noah how quickly life could change. Gone was the feeling that he had things too good. As darkness fell on Sunday evening he felt slightly bereft, unsettled, even torn. He wanted Baxter to stay in Whiskey Creek, but he could see that wouldn’t improve the situation. Baxter would still crave something he couldn’t find here, and he deserved the right to pursue what would fulfill him, like everyone else.

It didn’t make Noah feel any better that Addy hadn’t called. He’d never dreamed that, after last night, she wouldn’t be eager to get back in touch with him. They’d had such a great time. He’d never had to worry about being blown off like that.

“What are you doing here?”

He blinked as his mother confronted him. He’d been reaching for the door when she opened it. “Don’t my parents live here?”

“The parents you rarely visit?”

“What are you talking about? I see you all the time.”

“You wouldn’t even talk to us at the game the other night.”

“I wasn’t in a particularly good mood.”

“You don’t seem to be in a great mood now. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” He scowled as he moved past her. “What’s for dinner?”

“You came to eat?”

“Sure. Where’s Dad?”

“It’s Sunday.”

“I know.”

“So he’s playing golf, like always. You went with him a couple of weeks ago, remember? But he should be home any minute.”

Noah lingered as he passed several pictures of him and Cody that were hanging on the wall. Baxter was in some of those photos, almost as if he’d been raised a member of the Rackham family.

“Is this about Friday night, honey?” she asked, her voice softening as she came up behind him.

“I don’t want to talk about Friday night.”

“It’s okay to mourn your brother, Noah. If you’d let yourself grieve, maybe the pain would go away.”

He put his arm around her. “Use your psychology degree on someone else, Mom,” he said. “It’s been years. I’m fine.”

“Losing a twin is harder than losing a regular sibling. They’ve done studies.”

“I’ve been through it, remember?”

“So that’s all I’m going to get out of you?”

He wanted to say more, but he couldn’t tell her or anyone else about Baxter. He’d come here for the distraction. Sitting at home, obsessing over the Big Revelation wasn’t helping. It was only making him feel worse. And then there was Addy. He wasn’t any more comfortable with rejection than he was with grief. He’d been tempted to stop by her place instead. She’d been a hell of a distraction last night. One he could go for again. But he hadn’t gotten her number, although he’d given her his. He’d never imagined he wouldn’t hear from her. He’d given Addy her first orgasm, for heaven’s sake.

“Food sounds good.” Maybe afterward he could have a word with his father about the investigation into Addy’s abduction. No matter what happened, he wanted to know who’d kidnapped her and see the bastard punished.

Once he sat down, his mother massaged his shoulders for a few seconds before kissing his cheek and moving over to the stove. “So what’s been going on with you?”

He toyed with the salt and pepper shakers she’d put on the table. “I’ve just been working at the store.”

“When you’re not rescuing damsels in distress.” She turned to grin at him.

“Finding Addy in the mine was definitely…out of the ordinary.”

“Word has it Aaron Amos kidnapped her. Have you heard?”

“It wasn’t Aaron.”

She dropped her spoon in what he thought was gravy and had to fish it out. “Who was it, then?”

“I don’t know. And she’s not saying.”

“She knows?”

He wanted to admit that he suspected she did, but bit his tongue. “The guy was wearing a mask. I guess that makes it pretty difficult.”

“I would think so,” she said. “But it is a little weird that he’d take her to the mine.”