Back To Luke

“Six years ago, she offered him a job as manager of her firm—one with a big salary. When he considered taking it, I freaked out. Things got so bad between us that I threatened to leave him, so he turned the offer down and finally promised me he wouldn’t see her anymore.”

“I didn’t know that. I thought they just drifted apart. Or she got too rich and famous to bother with him anymore.”

“Yeah, well, it was tough all around. My father was in rehab, and his women friends made no bones about visiting him there. My brother was mired in his own marital problems and I was a wreck. So Jess agreed not to see Jayne and I agreed to get some counseling. Except…” She bit her lip. “He did talk to her periodically, but even that dwindled. The only caveat was he told her—and me—that if she ever needed him, he’d be there for her. I, um, agreed to that.”

Damn it to hell. Luke was pissed he hadn’t known all this. They’d kept everything from him.

“Things were so good without the shadow of Jayne Logan in our lives. Why did she have to come back now?”

“She’s in trouble.”

“I figured it had to be something like that. What happened?”

“The walkway of a gallery she designed collapsed. There’s an investigation going on that she can’t be part of, so she came here. For emotional support.”

“Damn. I thought maybe she’d have to get back to her glamorous life.” Naomi shook her head, sending the bob of her hair swirling. “Is she guilty?”

“Most likely. People cut corners all the time.”

“You and Jess don’t at Harmony Housing.”

“No, we don’t.” But Luke had done his share of compromising in his other life and learned his lesson.

Naomi rubbed her temples. “Let’s change the subject. This is giving me a headache. How’s work?”

“Good. I like contracting for Harmony Housing.”

Though he used to take on other projects, Luke now worked exclusively for his best friend’s organization because they’d just gotten approval for twenty units.

Naomi shook her head and sipped her glass of wine. “You work too cheaply for Harmony.”

“Nah.” He smiled. “The foundation’s done for the first house. We start framing on Monday.”

“Jess loves working with you, Luke.”

“I feel the same way. As an added bonus, I can find some jobs for Corrine’s husband.”

“Belle said they’re having a hard time making ends meet.”

“I wouldn’t know. When I asked Corky, she told me to mind my own business.” He shook his head. “Something’s going on with her and Cal, I think, but none of the girls know what. Corky can be pretty private. Probably comes with being the oldest.”

“Poor Luke, still getting bossed around by his four big sisters.”

He chuckled.

The crickets chirped in the yard and they listened to them for a while in companionable silence. Then Naomi asked, “How’s Erica?”

“Not seeing her anymore. I’m dating Elise Jenkins.” He was quiet. “Erica wanted a commitment.”

“Luke, you’re thirty-eight years old. You should be thinking about settling down.”

“I tried. Didn’t work out.”

“Because you picked somebody from your other world to get engaged to.”

“I’m doing okay for now, Nay.”

“You want kids.”

“Yeah, I do. But I content myself with yours and my sisters’ to spoil.”

“The Pied Piper of Riverdale.”

“Want me to go over to Eleanor’s and lure Jess home?”

“The very fact that you’d have to do that makes me sick. No, he’ll come when he’s ready.”

Reaching over, Luke took her hand. “It’ll be okay.”

“Sure.”

Too bad neither one of them believed his reassurance.

CHAPTER FOUR

LUKE STOOD OVER the foundation of the new Harmony Housing and felt a sense of anticipation, as he always did at the beginning of a construction project. He savored the smell of newly poured concrete for the basement. When the outer shell took shape—the joists and girders, the frame and the plywood, and finally the roof—he experienced a father’s pride for what he’d lovingly created. He’d never told anybody about his sense of connection with the buildings he helped put up, not even Timmy or, now, Jess.

“Looking good, isn’t it?” His brother-in-law Cal Sorvino had come up to him. Cal appeared tired this morning, and Luke noticed again how much weight the man had gained.

“Yeah.” Luke tipped back his hard hat, feeling the sweat on his scalp. April had turned into no-coat weather. “Was it okay helping out with the foundation?”

Cal ducked his head, embarrassed. “Yeah, sure. We need the money, with Louie going to college next year.”

Luke bit back his opinion. Cal was an electrician and good at what he did, but with the economy not doing well, there weren’t a ton of jobs in his field, especially in the winter. Still, he should be making ends meet, but he wasn’t good at managing his money. Luke’s sister Corky did her best—she worked full-time as a paralegal—but for as long as Luke could remember, they’d had financial problems. And unbeknownst to Corky, Luke gave Cal money periodically. “You’re industrious, Cal, taking on construction.”

“Not all of us have stashes in the bank.”

Stiffening, Luke glanced away. He’d made more money than he’d ever need in those years overseas, then again when he returned to the U.S. and joined Madison Conglomerates. The cash had flowed freely, but so had the booze and cocaine. He’d been able to handle the latter, but Timmy hadn’t.

Cal said, “I see you hired on Mick O’Malley.”

“Yeah.” Luke’s gaze strayed to Timmy’s older brother. Unlike Cal, Mick was thin and his shoulders were perennially hunched. “He’s strapped, too.”

“He hates your guts.”

“He’s got a reason.”

“No, he doesn’t. Timmy’s drug use wasn’t your fault.”