His Unexpected Twins

Chapter Three

Several times during the day on Friday, Liam considered excuses to get out of helping Ellie with her carnival. Last weekend had been the anniversary of his mother’s death from stage 3 breast cancer that had spread. The years had muted the pain, but he wasn’t looking forward to all the reminders because it also reminded him of his friend and mentor, Sean McMahan. During Liam’s year as a probationary firefighter, Sean had taken him under his wing and they’d become close. Cancer had claimed Sean eighteen months after Bridget McBride. And yet he couldn’t—wouldn’t—let Ellie down, so that evening, he accompanied her to the church where they were setting up for the carnival. He’d insisted on giving her a ride when she mentioned meeting him there. Generosity didn’t enter into his offer; ulterior motives did. He wanted to see if she’d planned on coming or going with that EMT Colton, but her eager acceptance of his offer reassured him.

Liam resisted reaching for Ellie’s hand as they descended the stairs to the brightly lit basement. The place buzzed with the sounds of hammering, chatter and laughter. The scent of raw wood and paint permeated the air.

“I promised to paint some of the signs and to help Mary corral some of the younger kids. We’re providing nursery services to our volunteers,” Ellie said with a touch on his arm. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Brody waved Liam over and wasted no time putting him to work constructing a booth for one of the carnival games. Brody gave him a rough sketch of what it was supposed to look like. After helping with Meg and Riley’s renovations, this would be a cinch.

As Liam got busy laying out the precut wood Brody had supplied, a towheaded boy of around ten came to stand next to him. The boy shuffled his feet but didn’t speak.

Liam picked up the first pieces. “Hey, there, I’m Liam. What’s your name?”

“Craig.” The boy glanced at his paint-stained sneakers. “Are you Miss Ellie’s fireman?”

The pencil in Liam’s hand jumped and messed up the line he’d been marking. Calm down. He’s a kid asking a question, not making an observational statement. “I’m a fireman.”

The boy’s gaze rested on Liam. “I always wanted to be one.”

Liam’s heart turned over at the look of wistfulness on the boy’s face. Did this kid have cancer? Or was he one of the survivors? The boy’s choice of words hadn’t gone unnoticed. “Have you changed your mind about it?”

Craig shook his head. “Nah. But my mom gets a worried look on her face when I talk about becoming a fireman...like she wants me to pick something else. She’s been like that ever since my cancer.”

“You still have lots of time to decide what you want to be when you grow up.” What the heck was he supposed to tell the kid? Liam glanced around but everyone was busy building or shooing young ones back into one of the side rooms being used as a nursery.

The boy shrugged. “Yeah, the doctors say I’m in remission, but my mom still worries.”

Liam knew how the kid’s mom felt. He worried about losing more people to cancer, including Ellie, but he couldn’t say that to the boy. “Do you think you could help me get this put together? I could use the extra hands.”

Craig’s face lit up as he vigorously nodded his head. “I sure would.”

“Okay.” Liam handed him a peanut butter jar full of nails. “You can hand me the nails when I ask.”

The kid looked disappointed so Liam rushed to explain. “That way, I don’t have to stop and grab one each time. This will go a lot faster with your help. And I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about firefighting as we work.”

Craig seemed to consider it. “I just wish my mom wouldn’t get that scared look when I talk about being a fireman.”

“Well, you’re still a little young to join. Maybe by the time you’re old enough, your mom will feel better about you becoming a firefighter.”

“I hope so. Does your mom worry?”

Had Bridget McBride worried when he joined the fire department? If she had, she’d kept it hidden. Of course, following in his dad’s footsteps may have made a difference. He honestly didn’t know if she worried because she’d never said so. “She might have.”

“My mom says it’s dangerous.” The boy pulled his mouth in on one side.

Liam put his hand out for a nail. “I won’t lie and say it isn’t, but that’s why you attend the fire academy for rigorous training and learn all you can about the job before getting hired. Even after you get hired, you’re on probation.”

“Huh?”

Liam resisted the urge to ruffle Craig’s hair. Chances are the kid would be insulted. “It means you’re still learning from the older guys.”

Craig carefully laid a nail on Liam’s outstretched palm. “You gotta go to school to be a fireman?”

“You sure do. Lots to learn about fires and staying safe.” He hammered the boards together. At least with firefighting you had training and were in control of the equipment. It wasn’t as if you could train for cancer. And doctors and others were in charge of the equipment to fight it, leaving you helpless. “We do all that training so we know exactly what to do to make it less dangerous. I can talk to the crew here in Loon Lake and see about taking you on a tour of the fire station. Maybe see what it’s like to sit in one of the rigs.”

Craig pulled out another nail. “That would be awesome. Thanks.”

Liam nodded. “Sure thing. I’ll talk to some of the guys.”

“Miss Ellie says you’re in Boston.” Craig scrunched up his face. “How come?”

Liam took the nail. “That where I live, and my dad and his dad before him were on the Boston Fire Department. That’s why I joined up.”

“My dad’s a lawyer. Is your dad still a fireman?”

“No, he’s retired.” Even after several years, it still felt weird to say that. Liam always thought Mac would be one of those guys who stayed until they carried him out the door. Had his dad let Doris talk him into retirement? He liked his dad’s new wife. It had been awkward at first, seeing him with someone other than his mom, but now he was glad they’d found happiness together.

“What about your mom? Can you ask her? Maybe she can talk to mine and tell her it’s okay.”

Liam shook his head and swallowed. “I’m afraid not, buddy. My mom died.”

“Cancer?”

“Yeah.”

The boy nodded, looking much older than he should have. “That’s a—” He broke off and glanced around. “That sucks.”

“It does.” Liam bit back a laugh. What had the kid been about to say? He caught that because he’d had to watch his language around his niece, Fiona.

“But Miss Ellie says you can’t live your life afraid because you had cancer or you wouldn’t have a life.”

* * *

Liam began cleaning up after Craig left. He’d have to track down some of the guys at the Loon Lake station and see if they could arrange something for Craig. Maybe even something for the boy’s mom to set her mind at ease. Ellie had said how she’d had to fight her parents’ need to smother and hover even after she’d been in remission for the golden five-year mark. Her words, as repeated by Craig, kept coming back to him. You can’t live your life afraid because you had cancer or you wouldn’t have a life.

“I wanted to thank you for pitching in.” A deep voice behind him caught Liam’s attention.

He turned to Brody Wilson. “Hey, man, no problem. Glad to help.”

Brody chuckled. “And earning Ellie’s gratitude probably doesn’t hurt, either.”

Liam couldn’t deny he liked putting that light in Ellie’s golden eyes. “Looks like you have your hands full.” Liam tipped his chin toward the curly-haired toddler chasing another boy around under Mary’s watchful eye. Earlier, Brody had been chasing after his active son.

“Yeah, Elliott’s a handful. When he’s not sleeping, he’s full speed ahead. He has no neutral.” Brody’s love and pride were evident in his voice and the expression on his face as he watched his son.

Liam knew from Ellie that Brody had adopted Mary’s young son from her previous relationship with his half brother, Roger, who had wanted nothing to do with the baby. Elliott may have been rejected by his biological father, but Brody’s love for the boy was obvious. “He’s got lots of space to work off that energy. Meg tells me you’ve got a lot going on out at your farm. Some sort of camp for foster kids to come and enjoy fresh air and animals.”

Brody laughed. “Yeah, believe it or not, I had picked that particular place thinking I wanted quiet and isolation.”

Liam didn’t know much about Brody except what he’d heard from Meg or Ellie. But the guy had been through some nasty stuff during his time in the army, so his wanting someplace to nurse wounds, even the unseen kind, was understandable. “Funny how that sometimes works. What happened?”

“Mary and Elliott happened.” Brody’s expression went all soft. “I know it sounds corny, but they made me want to do what I could to make this a better world.”

Brody had that same look Riley got when he talked about Meg. Ha, maybe it was something in the Loon Lake water. “And so you started the camp?”

“Camp Life Launch started as Mary’s idea, but I guess you could say I took it and ran with it. Some of the guys I served with in the army are pitching in and we’ve even talked about doing something for returning veterans who might want to help with the kids or simply be surrounded by nature. You’d be surprised how calming watching the night sky or a pair of alpacas snacking on carrots and enjoying the sunshine can be.”

Liam nodded and an idea struck him. Something Craig had said. “Sounds like something these kids might benefit from, too. Ellie says it can be hard for them to just be children, even after the cancer is under control.”

Brody wiped a hand over his mouth. “You might have something there. The older ones might even enjoy volunteering as counselors to younger ones, show ’em life-after-cancer stuff. Kevin and Danny, those two boys your sister and brother-in-law were helping out, have turned into a valuable resource helping with some of our youth campers. I’ll definitely talk to Mary about it.”

Just then, Brody’s curly-haired boy toddled up to Liam. “Alley-oop,” he said, thrusting his arms up and balancing on his toes.

“Alley-oop?” Liam shook his head and looked to Brody for help.

Brody chuckled and ruffled his son’s hair. “Sorry, big guy, I don’t think Liam understands Elliott Speak.”

The boy bounced on his toes. “Alley-oop, alley-oop.”

Brody glanced at Liam and laughed. “He’s saying ‘Elliott, up.’ He’s asking you to pick him up.”

“Oh, okay, that I can do.” Liam bent down and picked up the smiling toddler. He settled Elliott on his hip. “Have you been trying to keep up with the other kids? I think James is more your speed since he’s still new to this whole walking gig.”

“Won’t be long before James will be running around, too.” Brody laughed as he leaned over and chucked his son’s chin. “Mary and I have started discussing giving this guy a brother or sister. We’ve been immersed in getting Camp Life Launch going this past year but things are settling down.”

“Alley Daddy.” The boy bounced up and down in Liam’s arms.

“Yeah, that’s your dad.” Liam hung on to the agile toddler. Warmth spread across his chest at the feel of the toddler’s sturdy weight in his arms. Holding Elliott had him thinking of what it would be like to have his own family. “You want to go back to him now?”

Elliott gave Liam a grin and pointed. “Alley Daddy.”

Liam handed him over to Brody and the toddler threw his arms around Brody’s neck.

“Alley Daddy.” The toddler rubbed his face on Brody’s shirt.

“I sure am, big guy.” Brody rubbed the boy’s back and turned to Liam. “He hasn’t mastered his name yet.”

Liam laughed. “I just got Fiona to say Liam and now James is calling me Meem.”

“Meg is practically glowing these days. I’m so glad to see her happily settled.”

“Yeah, I guess Riley has been good for her.”

“Well, I know Mary and Elliott are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Brody shook his head as if in wonderment. “And I have a feeling this camp will be, too. If you ever want to stop by, feel free. Although I can’t promise we won’t put you to work.”

“I may just do that,” Liam said. Brody had the same glow of happiness as Meg. Would he ever be so lucky as to find such contentment? An image of Ellie came to mind and even the specter of her cancer returning couldn’t chase it away.

“Thanks again for all the help. You should come back on carnival night and see everyone enjoying all your hard work.”

Brody strolled over to Mary, who waved to Liam. Brody said something to her and leaned down and gave her a kiss.

“Hey, I see you’re fitting right in.” Ellie came to stand next to him.

“Fitting in?”

“Talking to Craig. He’s been wanting to meet you ever since I told him I knew a real live fireman.” Ellie hooked her arm through his. “Of course I was referring to your dad, but I guess you’ll do.”

“Hey.” He drew his brows together and scowled, but his lips twitched with the need to grin.

“Did he ask about the job?”

“Yeah. He said his mom was trying to talk him out of it, but he’s kinda young for her to be worried already.” Liam leaned down and filled his nose with her scent.

“Things change when kids get cancer, and his mom has had a tendency to hover since his diagnosis. Firefighting can be considered a dangerous job.”

Sure, but unlike cancer, he was in charge. “Yeah, I told him about all the training and safety equipment. I’d love to try to set something up locally if he wanted to visit the firehouse.”

“That’s really sweet of you. Thanks.” She squeezed his arm. “What were you and Brody talking about?”

“He was telling me about the summer camp they’ve set up at their farm. When he said they had youths who’d turned their lives around act as counselors, I suggested kids like Craig might be interested in something like that, too. Maybe even act as advisers or counselors to children still going through that.”

Her eyes widened. “You did that?”

“Yeah, why?” He tried to shrug it off, but the fact that she seemed pleased made his stomach swoop like it had on the day he’d shed his probie status with the department.

“I think that’s a great idea. Thanks so much for suggesting it to Brody.” She gave him a strangely amused smile.

Warmth rose in his face. How could he have been so oblivious? “You’ve already suggested it to him?”

She patted his chest. “Doesn’t mean it’s not a great idea, and I appreciate you taking an interest.”

He grunted. “Are you patronizing me?”

She looked genuinely hurt and he regretted his accusation.

“Absolutely not,” she said before he could apologize. “Mary and Brody offered to give me a ride home so you won’t have to go out of your way to take me back. Your sister’s place is in the other direction.”

“I brought you. I take you home,” he said, and scowled.

“Okay.” She checked her watch. “It’s still early. How about if I make some popcorn and we watch a movie? That is, if...if you want to.”

He draped an arm over her shoulder. “I’d love to.”

* * *

Ellie tried to contain her excitement as Liam drove them to her place from the church. How was Liam supposed to see her as an adult if she acted and sounded like her teen self around him? She’d even been sitting on the steps to her place waiting for him when he picked her up. Way to go, she scolded herself. Except he’d said yes to popcorn and a movie. And now she probably had a big goofy grin on her face.

They pulled into her driveway and drove past a rambling log home more suited to Architectural Digest than Loon Lake. Although she hadn’t been inside she knew the floor-to-ceiling windows in the back offered a breathtaking view of the lake. The motion-sensitive lights came on as Liam’s truck approached the three-car garage where she rented the upstairs apartment. Despite living here for six months, she had yet to meet the absent owner of the impressive main house. Her rental was handled through a management company.

Liam pulled his truck next to her car. “Am I blocking anyone if I park here?”

“No. It’s fine. The log home’s owner is still absent.”

He hopped out of his truck. “Who owns it?”

“That’s the big Loon Lake mystery.” She started up the stairs to her apartment. Partway up, she turned to him. “There’s a rumor it belongs to Thayer Jones, that ex-hockey player who grew up here. But no one really knows. Even Tavie Whatley doesn’t know for sure.”

Liam laughed. “Then it really is a mystery.”

Warmth flowed through her at his laugh. “Yeah, I didn’t think it was possible to do anything in this town without Tavie knowing all the details.”

Seventysomething Tavie Whatley ran Loon Lake General Store and much of the town from her perch behind the cash register. She and her husband, Ogle, were not only fixtures in the community but the force behind many of its charitable endeavors. Brody jokingly called Tavie Loon Lake’s benevolent dictator.

She unlocked her door and they entered her small but efficient kitchen. She loved the light gray bottom cabinets, porcelain farmhouse-style sink and open shelving above a wooden countertop. A breakfast bar divided the kitchen from the living area. Off the living room was a short hall leading to her bedroom and the bathroom.

“I’d give you a tour, but this is really it—other than the bedroom...” She cleared her throat. Why did showing Liam her bedroom feel so awkward? Her bed was made and there wasn’t a stuffed animal in sight: an adult bedroom. Huh, did she want to avoid reminders she was an adult and old enough to be sexually active? “How about some popcorn?”

“Sounds good. Need help?”

“Thanks. I got it covered.” She handed him the remote. “You pick something while I get it.” She pulled out her glass microwave popcorn maker, glancing at him sprawled on her sofa. Don’t get any ideas, she cautioned herself. They were hanging out, sitting together and watching a movie. She set the microwave timer and looked over at him again. She swallowed. When had her couch gotten so small?

Liam was flipping through the movies on her paid streaming subscription. “What do you feel like watching?”

“How about that new action movie with what’s-his-name?”

He turned his head to give her one of his sexy half grins. “Are you psychic? That’s the one I’ve been wanting to see.”

She laughed. “Just another example of my superpowers.”

The timer on the microwave dinged and she removed the glass popper. She poured the popcorn in the bowl and salted it. Handing Liam the bowl, she plopped down next to him.

“How about this one?” He clicked on a movie selection. “It’s got what’s-his-name in it.”

She tossed a popped kernel at him, but he caught it in his mouth and grinned as he chewed. He set the bowl on the coffee table and leaned closer.

She couldn’t be sure who moved first, but their lips found each other in a sweet kiss that held the promise of more. All thoughts of movies and actors flew out of her head. He angled his face closer and she—

The music for the movie startled her and she abruptly pulled away. “Sorry.”

“I’m not,” he said, brushing her hair off her cheek and tucking it behind her ear.

He leaned back on the couch and pulled her into his side. She cuddled next to him and tried to concentrate on the movie, but it wasn’t easy with his body warm against hers and his luscious scent surrounding her.

As the credits rolled he set the empty popcorn bowl on the end table next to the couch and picked up a book that had been on the table.

“This looks like a textbook.”

“Yeah, working on my advanced nursing degree.”

He nodded. “So you can finally move away from Loon Lake?”

“What? Absolutely not.” She wasn’t about to abandon the people who’d been there for her and her family when they’d needed it. “I like living in Loon Lake.”

He flipped through some of the pages. “Will you be able to use the new degree at the hospital?”

“I suppose I could, but they’ll be breaking ground soon on a skilled nursing facility and I’m hoping to work as a nurse practitioner there. If I time it right, I will have my gerontology degree when they finish construction.”

“Skilled nursing facility?”

Ellie grinned. “A nursing home.”

“Is that nurse speak?” he asked and wiggled his eyebrows.

She rolled her eyes. “C’mon, you’re not turned on by nurse speak, are you?”

“Only if you’re the one speaking it.” He put the book back and settled against the cushions. “Sounds like you have it planned out.”

“I want to help the people I’ve grown up with. Give back to a community that gave so much to me. I haven’t forgotten how everyone rallied around when I was sick.” Damn. She hadn’t meant to bring up the past like that. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

When he didn’t comment but put an arm around her shoulder, she relaxed against him. “What about you? I heard you’re determined to follow in your dad’s footsteps at the fire department.”

He nodded. “That’s the plan. I should hear if I made captain soon. My dad was one of the youngest captains and I’m hoping to follow suit.”

“So we haven’t convinced you yet that Loon Lake is a great place to live?” She tried to keep her tone light, but she needed to hear him say it so maybe her stupid heart would get the message.

“Are you kidding?” He shook his head as he toyed with her hair. “The Loon Lake firehouse is part time. If not for guys who are willing to work in the department on their days off from full-time jobs, Loon Lake FD would be an all-volunteer one.”

“And that’s bad why?” Her body tensed on behalf of the guys she knew who worked for the town.

“It’s not bad. It’s how most small towns are able to afford full-time protection,” he said. “But it’s not what I want.”

She swallowed. Yeah, that’s what she thought. Riley Cooper and Brody Wilson might have embraced small-town life, but Liam evidently didn’t feel like he could do the same.