Jane's Gift (Lone Pine Lake 1)

Gathering his wallet and keys, he went to the front door and opened it to find Mac standing on his doorstep, his hand poised as if ready to knock.

“Going somewhere?” Mac’s brows lifted.

“As a matter of fact, I am.” Chris didn’t quite know how to admit he was going to Mac’s sister’s house. He wasn’t sure if Jane even wanted anyone to know they were seeing each other.

And could he even call it that? Seeing each other? Dating?

“So you don’t have time to talk.” Mac moved past him and strode into the living room. “I was headed home and saw your truck in the driveway. Planned on calling you, but thought now is as good a time as ever.”

Chris slowly shut the door and turned to face his friend. “I don’t think I have a choice. What’s up?”

Mac at least had the dignity to look sheepish. “Sorry to keep you. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions.”

“About what?” Chris tensed.

“Well, Mindy and I got to talking, and she was saying Jane hasn’t been acting right lately. She thinks something’s bothering her, but she doesn’t know what, and Mindy’s worried. Do you know? What’s wrong with Jane?”

How could Chris word this delicately without getting his face bashed in by a protective brother? He needed to be somewhat honest. “I was headed over there right now, actually.”

“Are you seeing my sister?”

“Kind of.” Chris shrugged, saw the suspicious gleam in his friend’s eye, and hurried to explain. “We haven’t officially defined it yet.”

Mac sighed, ran a hand through his hair. “Bro, don’t screw this up.”

“There’s really nothing to screw up.” Liar. You left her alone and might’ve screwed this up big-time already.

And this was why he was running to her. Before it was too late—or was it too late already?

He was such an idiot.

“Mindy said she’s been withdrawn, emotional, and short with the kids. Hell, I don’t know, I haven’t seen her lately and if anyone’s all of those things, it’s Mindy.” Mac’s expression went grim. “Marty left her. They’re going to file for divorce.”

“Ah man, that sucks.” Chris liked Mindy, though he didn’t know Marty very well.

“Yeah, I guess it’s better than staying in a miserable marriage. My mom’s freaking out. Upset it’s going to ruin Christmas.” Mac rolled his eyes. “Family drama. Gotta love it.”

Chris had no idea what it was like, to deal with family drama. Not really. His parents had fought like crazy, but they didn’t involve him. And once he’d figured out how bad their marriage really was, how much they hated each other, his mother had dragged him away from his dad. That was a whole different kind of drama, though. The drama Mac referred to involved a family that loved each other. Picked on each other, yes, but loved each other just the same.

“Yeah, drama,” Chris echoed, only because he thought he should.

“Well, you’ll find yourself right smack-dab in the middle of it if you and Jane start dating.” Mac shook his head, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You sure you’re up to this? Especially since she’s so moody lately?”

No. He wasn’t sure at all. But he knew he was willing to give it a try. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Mac watched him, quiet until he gave a short nod. “I’ll let you go. Sorry to bother you.”

“Hey, no problem. Want to get together and go quad riding next week?” Both Chris and Mac owned all-terrain vehic

les and liked to go riding the many trails just above town.

“Sounds good. I’ll call you.”

They walked together out into the cold darkness, Mac giving Chris a friendly wave as he climbed into his car. Chris got in his truck and started it, his thoughts slowing him down. What if this thing didn’t work between him and Jane? Would it wreck his friendship with Mac? He’d met Mac the first week he’d moved to Lone Pine Lake and they’d become fast friends. He hated the thought of losing him because he broke up with his sister.

A sobering thought. Something he hadn’t considered. There were many things he hadn’t considered, he realized, even though he had always been a think-ahead sort of guy. He liked to plot things through. He didn’t normally make rash, spontaneous decisions.

Like buying Jane a Christmas gift, maybe. Something special, something…momentous. He didn’t usually buy anyone presents. He’d been called a Grinch more than once.