Chapter Two

      “How is Nick doing with his community service?” Ginna Stone asked when she met Lucy for lunch a week later.

      Ginna had called her that morning and suggested that since she had the day off from the hair salon they get together for lunch. Lucy was always glad to see her best friend and new sister-in-law. Lucy had always thought Ginna would be a perfect match for her brother, Zach. She proved it when she’d secretly paired the two for an island getaway. Now they’d been married for months, and Lucy had never seen them happier. Ginna joked that she was going to return the favor by fixing Lucy up with Mr. Right, but so far her matchmaking efforts had failed.

      “He’s doing very well. He goes over to that clinic and cleans up after animals and cats and exercises the dogs, but he still won’t go near Luther’s litter box,” Lucy told her. “His excuse is that he’s so tired from his work at the clinic he only has enough energy left to do his homework.”

      Ginna chuckled. “But he finally acknowledges Luther has a litter box. I remember when he pretended it didn’t exist. Isn’t that a step in the right direction?”

      “I guess so. I still don’t understand why Nick did this. He’s always had an inventive mind, but he’d outgrown that mischievous streak of his. He was really behaving himself. Until now.”

      “Zach once told me about some of Nick’s more colorful antics.” Ginna sipped her iced tea. “And to think you let Nick live,” she teased.

      “There were times when I wondered which one of us would survive his childhood,” Lucy admitted. “When Nick was eight, the school psychologist told me that Nick was acting out because he didn’t have a father figure. Zach had gone to the appointment with me and told the man that Nick had him as a male figure in his life. He felt the school needed to do its part by offering Nick and kids like him more challenges. That’s why I was so happy when we moved out here and I found Fairfield. They offer just the right programs for a boy with his smarts. Until this happened. Now I’m just grateful they didn’t expel him.” She sighed.

      “Look at it this way. Nick had a lapse of good judgment. He’s becoming a teenager, Luce. Collectively, my brothers don’t have intelligence anywhere close to Nick’s. Trust me, they pulled some pretty wild stunts in their day. Mom claimed it’s because of them that she had to start coloring her hair so young.”

      “No wonder I have highlights done so often.” Lucy laughed. “How are Emma and Trey doing?” She mentioned her niece and nephew, Ginna’s stepchildren.

      “They both love second grade. The principal talked to us about putting them in different classes. They prefer splitting up twins unless the parents object. It gives the kids a chance to be more individual. Zach and I thought it was a good idea since Trey seems to follow in Emma’s shadow too much. Now that he’s in a different class he’s had a chance to come into his own more. He stands up to her in ways he wouldn’t have dreamed of before, and last weekend he even pulled a practical joke on her. It’s great to see him turn into his very own little individual.”

      “For someone who didn’t want kids, you’ve sure turned into Super Mom,” Lucy teased. “And to think you were so mad at me for setting you up with Zach on your trip.”

      “Which you will never let me forget,” Ginna verbally tossed back, but she looked very happy as she uttered the words.

      Lucy grinned back. “You’ve loved every minute of it.”

      “Yes, I have. In fact—” she leaned forward “—it’s nothing definite yet, but Zach and I are looking at property out this way.” She held up her hand. “We haven’t said anything to my parents yet. For Zach, writing his magazine column and now his books means he can work anywhere, and while I enjoy working for CeCe at the Steppin’ Out Salon, the idea of having my own salon has been calling me for the past year or so. If it works out, Nora and I would look for local space. She and Mark are looking around here, too.”

      “Abby said she and Jeff found a house in the area. They don’t want to say anything to Cathy and Lou until the escrow closes,” Lucy said, mentioning Ginna’s oldest brother and sister-in-law. “She said there’s another fire station opening and Jeff has already put in for a position there. Lou said if the rest of the Walker sons would return to Riverside County he could have his very own fire-fighting department and paramedics.” She grinned.

      “They’ll love having everyone around them. Dad used to joke about his Walker Dynasty,” Ginna said. “Which, whether you like it or not, you are a part of.”

      “I learned that the day of Nick’s hearing. I was very grateful for everyone’s support,” she confessed.

      “That’s the way they are. Dad always hoped that at least one of the boys would go into the auto renovation business with him, but he should have known better; Jeff wanted to be a fireman since the day he accidentally set the garage on fire, and Brian and Mark are naturals as paramedics. Now Dad hopes one of the grandkids has grease in his or her veins.” She chuckled. “Don’t you find it odd that Nick is working for the man you’ve avoided all these months?”

      “Not the way my life is going.”

      “I thought for sure Logan was going to be successful at Grandpa’s birthday party.”

      Lucy shook her head. “Luckily, Mark’s proposal to Nora took the spotlight off us.” She remembered that evening very well. It seemed every time she turned around Logan was there. While she was attracted to the blond, good-looking veterinarian, she was also wary. She had an idea the man knew just how cute he was and capitalized on it. Since Lucy’s ex-husband had been blond and good-looking, she tended to stay away from the type.

      Ginna peered at her closely. “Lucy. You’re not—” She suddenly burst out laughing, “You are! You’re blushing. Lucy, you’re blushing!”

      Lucy resisted the urge to feel her cheeks to see if they felt as warm to the touch as she sensed. “I am not.”

      “Yes, you are!” Ginna was delighted with her friend’s loss of composure. “Logan is very good-looking.”

      “If you like the aging-surfer look.”

      “Blond hair and a tan don’t automatically make you a surfer. Besides, I understand he gave that up after he graduated from veterinary school.”

      “That type plays the field as if they’re still in high school,” Lucy pointed out. “Besides, I don’t need a man in my life.”

      “Yeah, right.” Ginna held up her left hand with its sparkling diamond wedding band and engagement ring displayed on the third finger. “That’s what I said and look what happened.”

      LUCY MENTALLY CURSED Ginna for planting ideas in her head. She even felt a little nervous when she arrived at the clinic to pick up Nick. She never suffered from paranoia until all her friends wanted to do some matchmaking for her.

      As she walked into the clinic she steeled herself to come face to face with Logan. She hadn’t seen him the past few days, but she didn’t expect her luck to continue to hold.

      “Mom, I need to come in real early tomorrow,” Nick greeted his mother.

      She wrinkled her nose at the smelly young man standing in front of her.