“Charly needs help,” he stated. “She wants more time with the kids. Gabby is busy with her own family. Charly doesn’t want to hire a stranger. You’ve helped in the garage before, so as much as I dislike the idea, it makes sense.”
“I can work in Charly’s house.”
“She offered that, but then it defeats the purpose. If she wants more time with the kids and less worrying about the garage, having you work there won’t solve the issue. You know what she’s like. She’ll be micromanaging everything.”
I had to laugh. “True. Charly can’t help herself.”
He caught on to the levity of the moment and grinned, his adoration of her clear. “One of her best traits. She needs it to handle Maxx.”
“She handles him well.”
Brett groaned. “Too well at times. The things I’ve witnessed…” He trailed off, meeting my eyes. We shared a moment of joint laughter, then I returned to the subject.
“What do you propose?”
“Work in the office beside mine, like Charly did. It’s not full time, and we’re adults.”
I nodded, wondering how it would feel to see him all the time.
“You think that would work?”
“I’m willing to give it a try.” He paused. “Charly says you got some sort of gig with the paper?”
“Oh yes,” I said, feeling excited. “Your dad mentioned they were looking for someone to take pictures for them when I was at the store last week. I went and saw the editor. His son, Rob, has joined him and wants to bring some new life into the paper. They want pictures of festivals and things going on around town and the area. I suggested a couple other things they could do to help readership, and they liked my ideas.”
“My dad did that?”
“Yeah, he did. He remembered I took pictures.”
“Huh,” he muttered.
“You’re very much like him.”
He barked a laugh. “I don’t think so, although it might be better if I were.”
I frowned, unsure what he meant.
“He’s very proud of you.”
Brett’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that a fact?”
“He told me so.”
“He’s never mentioned it to me.”
“Maybe you need to sit down and talk to him.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think you’re the right person to be offering relationship advice, Kelly.”
“Sorry. He just seemed…lonely when I was talking to him.”
“He made his bed,” Brett muttered.
I wasn’t sure what that meant, but before I could ask, he changed the subject.
“What were they?” he asked, curious. “Your ideas, I mean?”
“I suggested featuring local businesses. Pictures of their wares and the people running the place. Like your dad. Maxx. Zeke’s Bar. The lady who sells the homemade jams and syrups people love so much. A buy local sort of thing. It’s so popular now. And include the other towns the paper encompasses. It services more than Littleburn.”
Brett nodded.
“I also suggested they do an article on a different citizen every week. Not just the well-known ones like Maxx or the president of the bank. The local high school coach who spends his time working at the food bank. The retired principal who tutors kids in need. The lifeguard who works overtime so special needs kids can swim after hours in a safe environment. Everyday heroes. I can take their pictures, and he can run the stories.”
“Sounds like you’ll be busy.”
I shrugged. “Not more than a couple days a week. And they only pay for the pictures I sell to them. But it’s a way to keep taking pictures and get my name out there. Maybe help me score more wedding gigs. Those pay well. I can start saving again.”
“What about your other photos? I saw your work. Can’t you sell some of those?”
I felt the color drain from my face as I struggled to answer him without having to give him more information.
“I am keeping my eyes open for places to submit,” I managed to get out between tight lips.
“Okay.” He nodded. “Okay, that’s good.”
He lowered his head, rubbing his chin. He always did that when he was thinking.
“All right. I’ll tell Charly we can try this. But there are rules.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be polite. But there is nothing between us. Our past is exactly that—the past. I’ll work with you because it helps Charly and Maxx.”
“Not even friends?” I asked, pushing the words out through my thick throat. The gentleness from earlier had melted. Brett wasn’t as cold as he had been since I got back, but he wasn’t going to forgive me. Not yet, not easily, and I had to come to terms with the fact that that may be…never.
“You have to have trust to be a friend. You broke that, Kelly. Not me. My mistake was letting you know how much you meant. And you walked away from that. From me. I can’t forget that, and I won’t make the same mistake again.”
“I know.”
“You work in the garage, you live up here until you have the money you need to move on. We both know you hate small towns and being in one for long, so I’m sure it won’t take you much time to get on your feet again.”