Page 22 of One More Time
I peered down at the kitten tucked into my jacket. “What was I thinking?” I whispered to her.
She purred in response and nestled closer. She was still shivering, but it wasn’t as bad.
“Hey, little!” Wyatt swept me into a bear hug. A moment later, he released me, and I turned, flinging my arms around his twin, Griffin.
Griffin chuckled as he gave me a back-slapping hug. For my entire life, there was a joke with Griffin and Wyatt. Wyatt had always called me “little” as the youngest sibling in the family. Griffin countered that by treating me rough and tumble.
I stepped back, smiling at them a moment later. “I didn’t know you two were coming into town.”
Griffin and Wyatt were hotshot firefighters working on a crew up in Fairbanks. Of the two, Griffin seemed like he wanted to keep doing that for a little while longer. With Wyatt, I sensed he mostly wanted a reason not to be in Fireweed Harbor. On occasion, our messy group of siblings pondered why. I still didn’t know the exact reason, but I knew Wyatt was the only sibling other than me who didn’t revere Jake. Wyatt and I usually exchanged tight smiles whenever Jake came up.
Blake appeared at my shoulder, overhearing my comment. “Wyatt finally deigned to talk with me about taking over at the brewery.” He glanced at Wyatt. “Dude, it’s only another few months before I’ll be desperate for you. I’m hoping you’re not gonna make me beg.”
Wyatt chuckled as Blake tugged him into a back-slapping hug and exchanged another with Griffin immediately after. Another moment later, Rhys and Haven arrived, expanding our circle. More hugs were given after Adam and Kenan appeared. We were stairsteps in age, with Rhys the oldest, followed by Blake, then two sets of twins, Kenan and Adam, Griffin and Wyatt, and then me. Our oldest brother Jake had died from alcohol poisoning in college.
His absence was a strange place in our family. Our mother grieved him terribly. My own feelings were, well, complicated. I didn’t want to dwell on those feelings. I never did.
It was locals’ night at Fireweed Winery. This was our flagship location. The winery and brewery had started it all. It was originally just a winery with my grandmother’s homemade wines made from local berries, a very Alaskan way to start a business. From the land. So much of Alaska still felt close to the earth with the harsh, dark winters and short, bright summers.
It started as a lark because people loved her wines. It expanded into so much more. We still had the winery and restaurant, this one small piece of where it all began. Rhys had taken over as CEO of the international corporation. Our grandfather, abusive asshole that he was, had wisely invested in buying up land, energy projects, and more in Alaska. He folded that money into more and more.
Rhys had brought the company back home. Our cousin Archer was coordinating with Rhys to gradually transition a number of our holdings to renewable energy projects. It felt good to be back in Alaska. It was home for all of us.
Fiona appeared with her daughter, Lia. Fiona nudged me with her elbow before sliding her arm around my shoulders and giving me a squeeze. “Hey.”
“Hey, hey,” I returned. “You’re not in the kitchen tonight?”
Fiona and Blake fell in love and got married after she took over the chef position for the winery. She shook her head. “Nope. I get to be a customer tonight.”
A server passed by with a tray of drinks. He paused, and she greeted him before selecting a bottle of mead. Her daughter tugged to release her hand. “Mom, I want to say hi to Wyatt and Griffin.”
Fiona leaned down, smoothing her daughter’s hair and tucking it behind her ears. “Okay. Stay close by all of us, though. Please.”
Lia scampered off, and I glanced over at Fiona. “I’m glad you married Blake.”
Fiona smiled. “I am too. But why do you say that now?”
I nudged my chin in the direction of Blake. “Because. He’s happier since you’ve been together.”
Although Lia was headed toward Wyatt and Griffin, she stopped beside Blake, and he lifted her in his arms to give her a big hug before setting her down. She chattered about something. His eyes were on her, all of his attention focused and warm.
Fiona’s gaze sobered as she looked at them. “I think we all are. I feel lucky.”
“You’re both lucky.”
Her smile was soft. “I’ll agree. Meanwhile, how are things with you?”
I shrugged. “The same. Busy with work and life.”
“What’s this I hear about Jack?” she teased lightly.
I rolled my eyes, striving for a casual attitude. “Nothing. He’s the latest handsome guy in Fireweed Harbor. And he’s a hotshot firefighter.”
Fiona held my gaze. “Do you even date?” she finally asked.
“Nope. I don’t want kids, and I don’t want marriage. I don’t think I’m cut out for it.”
“Oh?”