Brooks by Chris Keniston

Author:Chris Keniston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Indie House Publishing
Published: 2022-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Sleep had evaded Brooks most of the night. The only thing likely to get him through today was a great deal of very strong coffee. Pulling his old Suburban into the café parking lot he looked from the still-dark horizon at the edge of town to the lights inside. Abbie scurried about. That woman worked as hard as any ranch hand. At least a rancher’s day ended after dark.

With one of the waitresses still out on maternity leave, Meg would be coming in any minute for the day shift. No sense in sitting in his vehicle contemplating the immortality of the crab.

“You growing roots?” Adam tapped on the closed window.

“Didn’t feel like making my own breakfast this morning.”

“Don’t blame you. I’ve got a heavy load of ranches today. Need to get an early start. Frank’s a better cook than me.”

“He’s a better cook than most people, but if you tell Aunt Eileen I said that, I’ll swear you’re lying.” The two brothers laughed at the old joke. It was one of those things, like contemplating the immortality of the crab, that their mother would say often. Using her expressions from time to time in his everyday life made Brooks feel a little closer to his mom. Since Adam always played along, Brooks figured it was the same way for both of them.

“Well, aren’t you two early birds today.” Abbie stopped setting out silverware on the tables. “Coffee will be ready in a few seconds. The usual?”

Brooks and Adam both nodded. The usual was listed on the menu as the Rancher’s Breakfast: eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, grits, biscuits and gravy, plenty of carbs and protein to fuel a rancher from sun up to lunch. And on long days that kept the rancher and his crew working ’till suppertime like when they shipped cattle, Abbie’s breakfast could prevent them from falling flat on their faces.

Situated in Adam’s favorite back booth, Brooks looked up just as Meg hurried in the door. Her gaze immediately landed on Adam and her face lit up like a kid with a new pony.

For so long Brooks had worked hard to reach his goals. In college he’d kept his grades high, proud to continue the A&M family legacy. Next, he’d aced the MCATs and med school, landing a primo residency spot. Finally making his way back home, he’d fixed up the old tailor’s shop at the other end of Main Street and turned it into the first hometown doctor’s office the town had seen in almost a hundred years. Only in the last few months since Meg’s arrival had it occurred to him that he might want more than a growing practice and self-sufficient clinic. He’d always known some day he’d want a family of his own, but until Adam had fallen hard for Meg, it hadn’t occurred to Brooks that he might want that life sooner than later.

With a pot of hot coffee in one hand and two mugs dangling from a couple of fingers on her other hand, Meg came to a stop in front of their table.

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