The Christmas Caboose: One Margarita Bonus Epilogue by Evelyn Kerry

Author:Evelyn, Kerry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Swan Press
Published: 2023-12-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 2

Beck

The day after Thanksgiving, I walked in the Brewer family barn feeling more like the old Becky than Beck. I needed to remind myself I wasn’t that girl anymore.

I took a deep pull of the crisp November air into my lungs and wished my dad was with me. We’d started this business together, but even with my years of experience, I was nervous.

Why was I nervous?

Oh yeah. ’Cause I’d be working with Willy Brewer’s cousin Brenna on her dream barn. It shouldn’t be a big deal. Willy lived in Rhode Island, and it’d been almost a decade since we were together. He’d never come back west for Thanksgiving that I knew about, and I was pretty sure Black Friday was a work day for architects. There was no way he’d be here today.

So why was I sweating?

The barn door cracked open to reveal my childhood friend. Her long blond hair cascaded in waves over her shoulder and bounced when she squealed. “Becky! I mean Beck!”

“Hey, Brenna.” I smiled shyly. This is awkward. She opened her arms for a hug, and we embraced.

“I’m so glad you’re back. It was such a nice surprise running into you at the Bevvie Bar.”

I forced a tight-lipped smile. Surprise had been an understatement. I’d tried to hide behind my dad so she wouldn’t notice me, but then Dad pointed out the likeliness of running into her and other Brewers was inevitable, so I’d squared my shoulders and decided to face her head-on.

It’s not that I didn’t like her. I’d loved her as kid. She’d been the closest thing to a sister I’d had when Willy and his family lived here. Then he moved, she joined the high school cheerleading team, and we only saw each other in our shared classes. Which was fine, because it wasn’t like I could have had any friends over to my house.

I shuddered at the thought.

“It’s great to be back, mostly. I like being able to see Mom every day.” I forced a smile. If this job went well and brought in steady work by word of mouth, I’d be able to afford the new surgery that might help Mom walk again.

Brenna frowned and squeezed me into another hug. “You must have missed her so much, living overseas for so long.”

I thought about the long years living on the army base in Germany, and tears stung at the back of my eyes. I stepped out of her embrace before they could fall. “More than I can put to words.” My reply came out husky, and I quickly turned my head and gestured to the expansive indoor space. I needed to focus on why I was here, in the barn, not my reasons for returning to Palmer City. “So, tell me your vision for this space.”

Brenna’s phone trilled, and she held up a finger. “Hold that thought for just a sec.” She lifted the phone to her ear and walked back toward the open barn door. “Yes, I’m here. Just come right in.

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