Page 8 of Carly's Heart

“You figured that out so fast? I’m impressed.” Her grateful smile made him feel ten feet tall. “What do I do?”

“Why don’t you hang out here overnight,” he suggested. “I’ll pop into town and pick up the parts first thing in the morning. It won’t take me long to redo the brakes for you. I checked them all. The back are fine, but both front brakes are shot.”

“I can take it in and get it done.”

“Never mind that,” Helen said, “You can stay the night and us girls can watch chick flicks and eat popcorn. I could use a good girls’ night.”

“Oh, I couldn’t impose.” Despite her protest, Birch heard the longing in her voice and was grateful when his mother put her foot done.

“Consider it settled. Girls’ night here. Birch will be off doing whatever he does all evening and Buck’s got a Lions meeting in town.”

So much for Birch hanging around getting to know her better. He knew so much about her, but wanted to know everything. Like how she preferred her eggs and did she think the Blue Jays would win this year. What were her plans for the future? Still, her staying was better for his heart than Carly on the road with bad brakes.

♥♥♥

CARLY GLANCED AT BIRCH at the end of the Brighton’s kitchen table. He’d changed over the last couple years. He used to pop into the diner every second day, now she rarely saw him. Oh, he was as helpful and smiling as always, like with her brakes, but he seemed distant.

Maybe she was imagining it. After her broken marriage, she didn’t feel like she was qualified to judge any man’s behavior. Still, she was extremely grateful that he was willing to fix her car. She’d be taking a short leave when the baby came and would need every penny she could save up.

“Thank you, Birch. I really appreciate you taking the time to fix it for me. I’ll go with you to pay for the parts, and I can pay you for your time.”

He looked shocked. “It’s nothing.”

He flashed the grin she remembered from a couple years ago. It had been months since she’d seen it. Maybe longer.

“No need to pay me. But if you wanted to bake a pie for me, I probably wouldn’t complain.”

His mother swatted his arm. “Oh, you and your pie!” She looked at Carly. “Never in my life have I met a man so hooked on pie as this one. When he was six, he stole a raisin pie off the counter and ate the whole thing. Let me tell you, he regretted it for days.”

“Mo-om. Don’t air my dirty laundry in public.”

Carly adored the embarrassed smile he couldn’t hide.

She stood to help clear the last of the brunch mess before dessert. Little Bean kicked her right in the left side just below her ribs. “Oh!”

Everyone jumped to their feet. “Are you okay?” Birch was the first to reach her. He grasped her arm as if she needed support. She sucked in a breath. Oh, he smelled like fresh cut grass and sunshine.

“Yes! I’m fine. Little Bean just kicked me. It hurt!” She laughed. “Sorry if I scared you. I was startled myself. It was the biggest kick yet. I swear Little Bean wants out, now.”

“You better sit down,” Birch said, guiding her back to her seat.

She laughed and patted his shoulder. “I’m fine. Nothing to worry about.” He didn’t look convinced but let her have her way. “I’ll serve dessert.”

“I’ll get more coffee,” Tanya said.

“I’ll get the last of the dishes,” Birch offered, following her and Tanya to the kitchen. “What’s for dessert?”

“That’s for me to know and for you to find out,” Carly teased.

“Is it pie?” He looked like a schoolboy begging for a treat.

Tanya laughed. “What else does she bring? I swear she doesn’t even know what the rest of us eat. It’s pie, pie, all the time.”

“That’s not true,” Carly exclaimed. “I brought chocolate lava cake last time.”

“Besides,” Birch said, “I’m her favorite. It’s a good thing Sage and Asher aren’t home. More pie for me.” He rubbed his hands together in glee.

Carly laughed and pulled out the key lime pie and a bowl of sliced strawberries and another of whipped cream.