Real Men Knit(10)

“It would seem your brothers are here,” Kerry said.

Damian growled. “Why didn’t they just come around the back or use the residence entrance? What’s with ringing the bell as if this is some damned chateau? I bet they see me here.”

“How about you let them in?” Kerry replied. “I’ll freshen up the coffee and bring out some of this food. Then I’ll go to the storeroom to take care of some inventory and get out of your way. You know, just to make things a little easier while you all, um, talk things out.”

Damian nodded, and for a moment Kerry thought she might have seen his impenetrable facade drop. “Thank you,” he said, his voice low and steady.

“For what?” Kerry asked.

Damian placed his hand across her forearm, the gentleness of his gesture oddly prickly. “For being here. And for always being here for Mama Joy. I know you meant a lot to her, and that means a lot to me.” He blinked. “Well, to all of us.”

His out-of-the-ordinary tenderness put Kerry off kilter and she waved a hand. “No need to thank me. Mama Joy was good to me, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Damian nodded as, once again, Lucas and Noah rang the bell and now added a knock to the outside door. “Come on, open up,” Noah yelled. “You want us to wait out here all day?”

In a blink, it was as if Damian’s wall came up as his eyes hardened and he groaned.

“You better go and let your brothers in before they cause a scene, and I should get to work,” Kerry said, thankful for the interruption herself.

Damian started off toward the front but stopped and turned back Kerry’s way. “And don’t worry, Kerry, we will definitely pay you for your time this week while we settle up.”

His words—no, the way he brought up money out of the blue hit Kerry in the chest like a physical blow. She took a small step back and narrowed her eyes. “Did I say anything about money?”

He looked at her, his expression slightly shocked. “No, you didn’t, but despite our circumstances and yours, rents still must be paid and lights must stay on. Besides, correct me if I’m wrong, but you don’t live on good deeds alone, now, do you?”

Damn that Damian Strong, always bringing things down to the bottom line. Of course she didn’t live on good deeds alone. And she hated the do-gooder rep she’d acquired with the Strong brothers. But the one thing she’d learned over the years from working in the shop and seeing how Mama Joy ran things was that what she gave out usually came back, and whether Kerry was paid or not, she would make it, she guessed . . . well, somehow.

Kerry gave herself a mental shake. Of course she would make it.

Screw Damian and his stuck-up dollars-and-cents hard-ass logic. Yes, Mama Joy was suddenly gone, but Kerry’s life was still on track. She was going places. Besides the totally tragic and sucky unfortunate death of her mentor and sounding board, Kerry knew she still had ample reasons to celebrate. Or at least that was what Mama Joy would be saying right now.

Kerry sure as hell didn’t feel it. But it was true there were reasons, slim as they were. She’d finally obtained her degree in children’s counseling and art therapy. She was working at the center this summer part-time but hoped for a full-time position as soon as funds opened up, which she’d been assured they would. Well, moderately assured. She and Mama Joy had happily talked about the day when she’d finally stop working in the shop for good. Though those talks for her were always bittersweet. She could admit now that though, yes, she loved working with the kids and, yes, enjoyed her work at the center, she never was in all that much of a hurry to leave the shop. It was as if she was torn between the wonderful warmth of the cocoon of Strong Knits and the reality that was the rest of the world that she knew she had to face but was never quite ready. Ridiculous, but there it was.

She internally snorted. Now here it was. The world was here, right in her face, and she suddenly had no choice but to go out and deal with it, whether ready or not. Though, under the worst of circumstances now, she could see clearly that all those extra years Mama Joy had acquiesced and given her hours that fit easily with whatever school or part-time center schedule she had was not really for business purposes but most likely for both of their comfort. Fact was, they were just used to each other. Kerry would tease Mama Joy, saying she’d never truly get rid of her, that no matter what job she got she’d pay Mama Joy to let her show up and put in a few hours a week in the shop. Little did she know that Mama Joy would beat her out the door first. That wasn’t how it was meant to be. Mama Joy was supposed to always be there. Happy and in her shop, a sanctuary for them all from the outside storms.

Finally, Kerry gave Damian a sharp look. “Like I said, did I say anything to you about money? Go and let your brothers in. We all have a lot of work to get through. There is plenty to get cleaned up and cleared out around here. No use in any of us wasting any more time than necessary.”



* * *





Screw you, Damian, Jesse thought as he angrily tugged on his jeans and then pulled his T-shirt over his head. He was still fuming after a quick shower that had done nothing to cool his mood. Of course his brother would show up at just the wrong time and assume the absolute worst about him. That was always Damian’s way. Hell, that was everyone’s way when it came to him. They always assumed the worst.