Jane's Gift (Lone Pine Lake 1)

“This thing is going to be perfect. Ha!” Mindy shot Jane a triumphant grin. “Watch Mom eat her words.”

“Yeah, she’ll eat her words, along with a mouthful of scrumptious turkey.”

“Cook it all night at a low temperature my butt,” Mindy muttered as she shoved the turkey back into the oven. “This is the way to do it. Sunset magazine said so.”

Jane laughed and started for the door that led out to the garage. “I’ll go get your pies.” She went out into the garage, dodging the tipped-over bikes and scooters scattered across the cement floor. The garage door was open, letting in the

brisk air and a view of dark, foreboding clouds hanging low in the sky.

She shivered, tucked her sweater closer to her, and swung open the refrigerator door. The interior was packed with food, every kind of soda, and a couple of extra gallons of milk. Her sister knew how to stock up.

Grabbing the two pumpkin pies that sat on the top shelf, Jane shut the door with a push of her elbow and glanced up to see her brother Mac pull into the drive.

And he wasn’t alone.

Her feet froze in place and she watched, her mouth gaping open, as Mac climbed out of the driver’s side of the car and Chris withdrew from the passenger side. Of course, he caught sight of her standing there, mouth hanging open, a stack of pies clutched in her hands. She felt like a fool.

“Hey, Janey! How’s it going?” Mac slammed his car door and approached her, a big grin on his face.

“Hi, Mac.” Her voice was weak, her knees even more so as she watched Chris walk toward her, his gaze intense, locked on her face.

As if he dared her to say something, anything.

“You remember Chris, right?” Mac flicked his head toward his friend.

Jane had to remind herself to close her mouth as a second wave of surprise coursed through her. So Chris hadn’t mentioned the time they spent together to her brother. Maybe she’d been right and he really hadn’t been that interested in her.

She should be relieved. So why was she offended?

“Of course. Hi, Chris.” She nodded at him, a polite smile on her face, and he flashed her one of those bone-melting grins right back.

As if he knew how much he affected her. Which he probably did.

“Hey, Jane. Want some help with those pies?”

“I’ve got them, thanks.” She winced, hadn’t meant to sound so haughty. To make up for it, she decided to tease. “I’m worried if either of you got your hands on Mindy’s homemade pumpkin pie you might eat it all before we even got a chance to get it to the table.”

Mac laughed and rubbed his hands together. “She’s right. Wait till you try them, Chris. My sister makes a better pie than my mom.” His expression turned somber. “But don’t ever tell my mom I said that.”

They all laughed. As they entered the house, Chris seemed to lag back, following behind her. Too close behind, she thought as she set the pies on the counter. She glared at her sister, tried to silently communicate with her.

Why didn’t you tell me he was coming?

Mindy shrugged her shoulders helplessly. I didn’t know, she seemed to say.

Jane fled the kitchen, went into the dining room to straighten up the table. Various appetizers were set out on plates and in bowls. Jane grabbed a couple of chips, a slice of cheese, trying to ease her growling, and now nervous, stomach.

She could go into the living room, but all the men were in there watching football, and she’d never been a big fan. Or she could go check on the kids, but they’d all gathered in the playroom with her mother, who’d been banished from the kitchen. Mindy had wanted to take over the Thanksgiving holiday this year, demanding that their mom get a break. Though Jane secretly thought Mindy needed the distraction so she didn’t have to face the disaster her marriage had become. Marty had been sullen and antisocial since Jane and the kids had arrived this morning, so she’d simply avoided him.

It was obvious he was unhappy. And so was Mindy. But Jane couldn’t do a thing about it.

She grabbed another chip, sinking it into the creamy French onion dip before popping it in her mouth. Should she go check on the kids? She knew the family touch football game would start soon and her little ones would definitely play. Besides, they were happy hanging out with Grandma.

Hopefully Mac and Chris would head into the living room, where they could drink beer and grunt at the big screen TV like the rest of the guys. That way she could avoid him until dinner was ready—and then she would just need to make sure she didn’t sit near him.

Jane hadn’t seen Chris in almost two weeks. He’d been out of town for work and had called her that following Saturday, but she’d been busy watching Mindy’s kids. The conversation had been brief, polite, and with no indication of what happened between them the last time they’d seen each other.

Yep, she’d avoided talking about it. A classic male move she’d learned from her dear late husband, as well as her brothers and father. And that was just the way she liked it.