The Hearts We Mend (26 page)

“That car was parked here last night too.” Bert paused to see what had gotten Evie's attention. “Do you think it's someone who's interested in buying the building?”

Bert had heard the rumors too. But in this instance, Evie could put the woman's mind at ease.

“Her name is Maggie McClain. She got permission from the city to put a community garden on the lot.”

“What's that?” Bert took a step closer to the window, watching as Maggie popped the hatch on her car and pulled out a large plastic bin.

“Anyone who's interested in gardening can sign up for a plot. It's up to each person to decide what they want to plant, and then they're responsible for weeding and watering it. The way Maggie explained it to me, any extra produce”—Evie smiled—“like a bumper crop of spinach, for instance, is shared among the gardeners or donated to families in need. Maggie has big plans. She wants to designate an area for a children's garden and grow herbs in one of the plots.”

“You have to be careful with herbs.” Bert's brow furrowed. “Glen and I found out the hard way that mint will spread and take over everything if you don't contain it properly.”

“So . . . would you be willing to tell Maggie that?”

“Me?”

“Maggie is looking for volunteers to help her get things started,
and I think you'd be a great resource. You could introduce her to people who live in the neighborhood, plus you know a lot about growing things.”

Bert didn't answer, but something in the rigid set of her shoulders told Evie she'd overstepped.

“I'm sorry, Bert. I didn't mean to push.”

“You didn't.”

“Then what's wrong?”

“I was.” Bert fished a crumpled tissue from the pocket of her housecoat. “My son and my grandkids don't live close by, and they're busy with their own lives. I was starting to think everyone forgot about me. Even God. Then He sent Jack here and I could sleep better because I knew the building wasn't going to fall down around my ears. And now
this
.” Bert's eyes glowed. “It's more than I can hold, Evie.”

“You're going to get along great with Maggie. When you're ready, let me know and I'll introduce you.”

“Do you think she likes oatmeal cookies?”

“You want to meet her now?”

“When you're seventy years old, you don't want to put things off very long.”

The comment reminded Evie of something Gertrude Fielding would say. She had a feeling the two women would get along really well too.

“Then let's go.”

Evie linked her arm through Bert's as they made their way down the flight of stairs. As they reached the second floor, Evie couldn't help but glance at the door of Jack's apartment.

“Jack must be gone this afternoon.” Bert must have read her mind. “It's pretty quiet around here.”

“He took Lily to the pool.”

“Jack is sure good for that little girl. Good for all of us, I think.”

Evie didn't say it out loud, but she thought so too.

“There's Evie's car!”

Lily's finger arrowed over Jack's shoulder as he turned onto Fairview Street. Sure enough, a silver Jeep was parked in front of his building. Jack pulled up behind it.

“Do you think Evie is waiting for us?”

“Don't forget your beach bag, Lil.” Jack dumped the empty plastic cups from their ice cream sundaes into the cooler. By the time they got to Quigley's it was so close to dinnertime, they'd ordered burgers and fries before dessert. “Evie might be visiting Bert. She knew we were going to be gone today.”

And after he'd released his inner jerk, Jack was probably the last person Evie wanted to see. He still wasn't quite sure what had gotten into him . . .

Or what got
to
you?

Jack pushed the thought away. Nope. Not going there.

“Can I—”

“Change out of your swimsuit? I think that's a great plan.”

“Uncle
Jack
.”

Jack never ceased to be amazed how a little girl could turn three syllables into six. “How about this? The last person upstairs has to clean Bitsy's cage tonight?”

Lily squealed and Jack gave her a three-second lead when her feet hit the sidewalk.

One crisis averted.

Until he reached the bottom of the stairs.

At first glance, Jack thought one of Bert's granddaughters had
stopped by for a visit. But the petite brunette with Bert and Evie looked to be in her midtwenties instead of her teens.

Lily suddenly lost interest in the competition. “Evie!”

“Did you have fun at the pool?” Evie swept his niece into a hug.

“Uncle Jack and I ate at Quigley's too. We had a hamburger and French fries.” Lily patted her stomach. “And hot fudge sundaes.”

“I love Quigley's.” The young woman smiled at Jack, and good manners dictated that he stop for a moment.

“Jack, this is Maggie McClain.” Evie made the introductions. “Maggie, Jack Vale. He's restoring the first floor of the building.”

Now Jack connected the name with the face.

“Garden girl.” Jack held out his hand.

Maggie laughed, her grip surprisingly strong for a person who couldn't weigh more than a hundred pounds. “That works for me.”

“This young woman has big plans, Jack,” Bert announced. “She wants me to teach a class about cooking with herbs.”

Jack glanced at Evie. One look at her face and he knew who was responsible for bringing the two women together.

“Bert is going to teach a lot of classes.” Maggie began to tick them on her fingers. “How to preserve vegetables. Natural ways to get rid of cut worms. One hundred and one things you can do with a zucchini . . .”

“Bread is number one on the list, and I'm going upstairs to make a loaf right now.” Bert smiled down at Lily. “I could use a helper.”

Lily whirled around, a pleading look in her eyes. “Uncle Jack?”

“All right. I've got some work to do downstairs tonight anyway—” Jack paused until the squeal died out. “You have to change your clothes and hang your wet swimsuit . . .” He was talking to the air.
“Up.”

Maggie chuckled. “Your daughter is adorable.”

Jack didn't bother to correct her. “It was nice meeting you, Maggie.”

“Same here. I'm sure we'll see each other again.” Maggie smiled at Bert. “You inspired me! I'm going to go home, fire up my computer, and figure out where a potting shed will fit.”

Jack wasn't sure how it happened, but suddenly he and Evie were standing on the sidewalk alone.

“Thanks, Evie.”

“I didn't do anything but introduce them.”

“This is going to be good for Bert. I knew she had a few plants growing on her balcony, but I had no idea we had a master gardener living upstairs.”

“Bert mentioned that gardening was something she and her husband used to do together. She misses it.”

And Evie missed Max.

“I better get to work.” Jack took a step toward the door. “If Bert is going to keep Lily busy for a few hours this evening, I'll have time to put another coat of stain on the baseboards.”

Evie didn't move.

“So . . . I'll see you tomorrow.” Jack tossed the words casually over his shoulder as he walked away.

He could feel Evie watching him as he fumbled with the key and unlocked the door.

Forget the paintbrush. Where was his crowbar?

The door snapped shut and Jack expelled a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.

“Jack?”

He closed his eyes.

Evie had followed him inside.

C
HAPTER
30

E
vie should have taken the hint and left. Especially after Jack's second not-so-subtle attempt to get rid of her.

He slowly turned to face her, his expression so wary that Evie blurted out the question that had been rolling around in her head the past few days.

“Did I do something to offend you?”

“No.” Too quick. Almost as if Jack had anticipated the question. “I've just got a lot on my mind.”

“The other night, when Ryan stopped by to talk to you, did it have something to do with Travis? Is that why you seemed uncomfortable at the party today? Because Ryan was there?”

A shadow passed through Jack's eyes and he pivoted away from her, leaving her standing there as he strode to the back of the room.

It was so unlike Jack that fear propelled Evie forward.

“Why won't you tell me what's wrong? Did he bring up your record?”

Evie wished she could take back the question when Jack spun around. “My
record?
”

“Dan . . . told me that you were arrested a few years ago.”

“Wow.”
Jack stared at her. “It wasn't a few years ago. It was
ten.
And the charges filed against me were dismissed the next day. Trav
got into a fight after his band played in a club one night, and it turned into a free-for-all. I got there when the chairs and tables started flying around—which happened to be five minutes before the police showed up and hauled everyone to jail. Once they sorted out the lies from the truth, the charges against me were dismissed. But I suppose Dan didn't mention that, did he?”

“It doesn't matter.” Evie wished she hadn't brought it up. “I told Dan the past is in the past.”

“Is it, Evie?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” Jack muttered. “And no—Ryan didn't bring up my brief but apparently memorable relationship with the Milwaukee PD the other night. He knew that all he had to do was tell Moretti and it would get back to you.”

“Don't be upset with Dan. He's always been protective of me. He and Max—”

“I get it.” Jack cut her off. “And I'm not upset with Dan either.”

“Then . . . it's me you're angry with.” Evie swallowed hard. “I did something. That's why you didn't want me to go with you and Lily to Sandy Point today.”

Jack shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away. The tight set of his jaw a signal the conversation was over.

“All right.” It was so not all right, but Evie gave up anyway. “I-I'll let you get back to work.”

She turned to leave but suddenly Jack was there, in front of her, blocking her path.

“Do you really want to know why I didn't want to go to the river with you today?”

The turbulence in his eyes should have sent her running for the door, but Evie took a step toward him instead.

“Yes.”

“You were born and raised in Banister Falls, Evie. There isn't
one place in this town—in this whole
county
—you haven't been. Not one place that doesn't remind you of—” Jack's ragged exhale replaced whatever he'd been about to say.

Evie stood rooted in place as she silently filled in the blank.

“You're wrong.” She managed to push the words out even though her mouth had gone dry. “There is one place I haven't been.”

“And where is that?”

“Here.”

“Here,” Jack repeated. “In a run-down apartment building with stained carpeting and paper-thin walls and balconies that overlook the Dumpsters in the alley.” He choked on a laugh. “Great. That's just . . . thanks for that, Evie.”

Jack had talked about his past, about Travis's struggles with addiction, but this was the first time she'd ever heard bitterness taint his voice.

“I
like
it here,” she whispered.

“Right.”

“I don't care about the stains on the carpeting or the walls. I like making spaghetti and talking about things that mean something and laughing.”

And twirling.

Jack frowned. “Max—”

“Worked a lot.” The weight of that truth still felt heavy. “Do you know what the other firefighters called him?
Max Will.
He was the first one to sign up for overtime. The first one to volunteer for additional training. I'd promised Max that I would support his career, so I didn't want to complain.

“
On the weekends he played basketball with the guys or worked out at the gym. Max had a stressful job, and I knew it was important that he stay in shape. He was always in motion. He lived for that rush of adrenaline, and you don't get that when you're pacing the floor with a newborn baby.”

“You had Cody right away, didn't you?”

Jack's expression changed, softened, and Evie nodded.

“I found out I was pregnant two months after we got married. We hadn't planned on having a family so soon. It was a lot of pressure on Max. He was anxious to prove himself, and he wanted to be the youngest member of the crew to get a promotion. I knew why he put in extra hours at work. But sometimes . . .”

Max had been restless at home. He'd talked to Danny and the guys at the station more than he talked to her.