CHAPTER ONE
“THE BEST YEARS of my life are yet to come,” Micki sang along with the car radio and hummed the parts of the tune she didn’t know. It was her nightly pastime while she drove home to her Sardis Woods, North Carolina, neighborhood from a class she had on a nearby campus.
Fall had come in a hurry that year, bringing with it the reds, yellows and oranges. The changing leaves dropped idly to the pretty streets, blown along by the cool breeze. It had been a warm enough Halloween that kids could trick or treat in costumes only, but right after that, the chill had descended over Charlotte, making everyone pull out thicker coats for going outside.
It was the time of the year when her family kept a stack of firewood close to the back door. Fireplaces were lit in the inn after dinner, and you could just feel the holidays approaching. It was her favorite moment at the B and B, with pumpkins and bales of hay in the front yard and beyond. Gideon, her brother-in-law, had begun to decorate the large Victorian house in earnest. Her sister Margo always insisted the Christmas decorations be up one week before Thanksgiving. And then on Thanksgiving after dinner, they light everything up. Hunter, the inn’s regular landscaper, had already hung the white lights and the icicles that would look like snow. It was the only simulation they could muster, since Charlotte had a tendency for snowstorms that consisted of five and a half snowflakes. Yet the entire area would shut down for the day while people bought all the meat, milk and bread they could find.
“Time for those meat and bread sandwiches,” she murmured as she approached Ballad Inn.
The bed-and-breakfast slash family home was always a comforting oasis, especially around holidays. Micki stopped her jeep in its usual spot before grabbing her backpack and purse from the passenger seat. Outside the vehicle, she paused and looked at the property that had changed so much in almost three years. There was another path that led to the new houses on the property, where her sisters Mia and Margo lived with their own families. She was the only one in the main house now, apart from their beloved housekeeper and cook, Enid, whose two-bedroom cottage would be ready by spring. Then it really would be just herself and the staff that came in daily or nightly to see to the guests.
Enid and Margo still ran the kitchen and evening meals were always special shared with their guests and/or their family that had grown exponentially. Besides her adopted son, Omar, Mia and Ryan had little Georgina Grace, who was just born on August 5. Micki had immediately nicknamed her Gigi. A month and two weeks later on September 20, Margo and Gideon gave his Claire a baby brother, Andrew, who weighed in at a whopping ten pounds, three ounces. Gigi, Andy and their respective siblings had brought so much joy to the Ballad family that the walls of the inn were bursting with love.
In the midst of all the brand-new additions, Micki wondered where her place was. She didn’t want to push herself on her sisters and their families. Even at dinnertime, she often felt like an eighth wheel, as if she were intruding It made her wonder if it was time to take off, see the world like her parents had been doing for decades. But she still had school—her bachelor’s in criminal justice was almost done, and she was planning on starting law school hopefully next September.
Her dream was to work for a nonprofit that helped people in Charlotte, but did she have to do it from Ballad Inn? More and more she thought she should just get an apartment closer to the university and come by as the cool aunt a few times a week. With a sigh for her muddled thinking, Micki opened the door to the inn and stepped inside. At the reception desk was a new guest, signing the register. Mia was talking to him in her professional but friendly voice. This new guest would make it an even six they would be having for Thanksgiving—a full house, and a flourishing business. Micki tried to sneak past, but Mia saw her and waved her over enthusiastically.
“And here is my other sister, the third owner of our happy bed-and-breakfast,” Mia said warmly.
Micki tried to shake her head at her sister, to let her go in peace. But it was too late. The man had turned to face her and suddenly it felt like time had slowed down. Tall at around six feet, blond hair cut neat with
a shock of curls that fell over his forehead. Hazel green eyes stared at her, his glasses slightly askew, and his angular jaw line was clean-shaven. He wore a dark peacoat over a similarly black turtleneck and casual trousers. He looked studious and interesting, and Micki moved forward to stand closer to the desk.
“Sis, this is Jonas Brand, our newest guest and a full-time transplant to Charlotte,” Mia said brightly. “Jonas, this is Michelle.”
“Micki,” she corrected her sister. “No one calls me Michelle ever, but my sisters do it to antagonize me because that’s their job, or so they tell me.”
“Michelle or Micki, both are lovely.” His voice was a soft baritone with a pleasing English accent. He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Micki.”
“Same here.” She shook his hand. “Well, see you lat—”
“You and Micki have lots in common,” Mia cut her off and Micki glared at her sister. “Micki is in the process of getting her undergrad degree in criminal justice studies at the university, and you’re going to be the new dean of the law school there. What a coincidence.”
“Ah, how much longer do you have left?” Jonas asked.
“Not long. This is my final year,” Micki replied. “Don’t worry, my grades are immaculate, so I won’t bring the whole establishment down around your head.”
“Good to know. I’m always up for a spirited debate, if there’s ever a need.” A soft chuckle escaped him. “I suppose I should head on upstairs. Shall I pick a meal now to be brought up?”
“Brought up to your room?” Micki asked.
He nodded. “Yes, isn’t that standing procedure here?”
“Not usually, we have a family-style dinner each evening with our guests, unless the group is smaller,” Mia explained. “It’s the friendly, get-to-know-each-other type of setting our guests love.”
“I often eat alone,” Jonas said slowly. “I’m not much of a talker, very introverted, eat with a good book and all that.”
Micki tapped the front desk with her fingertips. “But you don’t mind a spirited debate?”
He smiled. “That’s more one-on-one, which I find myself to be good at.”
“Ah. Well, here’s to learning, then.” Micki smiled and fixed her backpack over her shoulder. “Gotta go. I have some work to do. Nice to meet you, Jonas Brand.”
“Nice to meet you,” he replied.
“I know you had a long flight, and the jet lag must be kicking in, so tonight we’ll fix you a tray for dinner,” Mia offered. “But starting tomorrow, meals are downstairs in the dining room.”
“Got it and thank you for the warm welcome.” Jonas took his key and went up the wide staircase.
Micki waited until he was gone before she turned to Mia. “You know the code for I don’t want to be introduced, let me go upstairs is still the same. Circular finger motion, a cut-it sign or my glare.”
“He’s nice and someone you can talk to about all this legal stuff you try to drag us
in on,” Mia pointed out.
“Wow. Sorry if my interests bother you guys,” Micki said sourly. “Do you and Margo and the rest of the family discuss how much I talk about law at the table?”
“Micki, it’s not like that,” Mia soothed. “You’re so passionate about the topic, and sometimes we honestly don’t have a clue, especially when you bring up different cases and rulings. We only have a vague idea of what you’re talking about and you’re so darn smart about all of it. Your mind soaks up knowledge like a sponge.”
“Don’t try to butter me up,” Micki grumbled. “I’ve got to study for an exam.”
“Will you be down for dinner later?” Mia asked. “Claire has a cold, so they’re going to stay at theirs tonight, so it will be just us, Enid, and the guests. Mom and Dad are off playing cards with the neighbors.”
“Is Claire Bear okay?” Micki asked. “Does Auntie need to come deliver a dose of sunshine and laughter to the sweet patient?”
“I’m sure they’d love an extra hand after dinner—you’re the best,” Mia answered.
“Just playing my role as support staff,” Micki quipped.
Mia gave her a look. “You’re much more than that Micki, I hope you know that. You mean the world to us.”
“Sometimes I feel like I’m on the outside looking in,” she admitted. “Everyone’s lives are so full and I’m still trailing along like the tail end of a kite that hasn’t caught the wind. Maybe everyone was right, I should’ve finished college the first time and then I wouldn’t be treading water now.”
“Oh no, you don’t.” Mia came around the reception desk and put her hands on Micki’s shoulders. “Sis, your path was not meant to be one straight linear path. You are a comet, a shooting star in the sky that can change course on a whim. All you’ve ever done is live life to the fullest. More people should be like you, daring to dream and to experience everything. You’re amazing, Micks, and don’t ever forget that.”
Micki pulled her sister into a hug. “You always know the right thing to say.”
“That’s because I’m your big sister and I love you more than words can say,” Mia whispered. “You make our families whole. You are never an extra anything but love.”
“Okay.” Micki kissed her sister’s cheek. “I’m going up, see you in a bit.”
“Maybe you’ll convince our Mr. Jonas Brand to join us for dessert at least?” Mia teased.
“No matchmaking from you,” Micki warned. “You won’t put that hex of falling in love on me!”
“It happens when you least expect it. You can’t dodge it forever,” Mia called after her.
“If I can dodge zombies in our annual charity run, I can escape that,” Micki replied loudly. “I’ve got enough on my plate.”
***
MICKI STUDIED UNTIL DINNERTIME, and then ate with everyone around a table filled with laughter and great conversation. The nightly chill had settled in and now they lit the outside heaters on the porch. Standing with one of her favorite throws wrapped around her shoulders, Micki noticed the couples enjoying the starry sky and their crème brûlée dessert. She didn’t expect to see their new guest standing next to one of the heaters looking out into the darkness.
What is it about this darn porch? Micki wondered to herself. There was Mia’s first conversation with Ryan and then Margo sat out here with little Claire at night. She almost went back inside to escape the inn’s porch juju, but Jonas looked lonely, so she gravitated toward him.
“I thought you were jet-lagged?” she commented lightly, coming up behind him.
Jonas looked back at her with the hint of a small smile on his face. “I needed a breath of fresh air. It’s so different from London. The air, I mean.”
“What do you smell at night when you’re in London?” she asked.
“Mostly the food and drink from my local. The pub where I eat in the evenings,” Jonas answered.
“Wait. You eat dinner at a pub every night?” Micki asked, amazed.
“I can’t cook, unless you’re talking about beans on toast or a can of tomato soup,” he admitted. “Those you can’t mess up too badly.”
“Did you enjoy your dinner?” Micki asked.
“I really did. It was marvelous, full of flavor,” Jonas said with a smile. “I’m waiting a bit before I have dessert.”
“Get it soon because Mia’s husband and Margo’s have a sweet tooth and tend to come by and raid the kitchen at night.” Micki wrapped the Afghan around her tighter. “That also includes Mia’s teen son Omar, just in case you head for the kitchen later.”
“Is that allowed?” Jonas asked. “Do all the guests raid the fridge?”
“Not really.” Micki nudged him with her shoulder. “But I’ll make an exception for you. Now, if it’s dark when you get there, you turn on the light and they’ll freeze like criminals caught in the act. But don’t meet their gazes, just grab your dessert and join them.”
Jonas chuckled softly. “It all sounds like fun.”
“Only child?” she asked.
“No, I have a sister. She’s a midwife,” he replied. “Her and my parents are back in London.”
“Any reason you chose to be a dean at a college in the States?” Micki hoped her tone was more conversational than curious.
His face became a sudden mask of seriousness, but it lasted for only a moment before he spoke again. “The offer was too good to pass up. I guess I’ll be seeing you on campus.”
“Hey, don’t go being all chummy with me when I’m with my friends,” Micki said in fake outrage.
Jonas looked
alarmed. “I’m so sorry if I offended you—”
“No, you didn’t. It was a joke,” Micki replied. “You’ll have to get accustomed to my type of humor.”
“I guess so.” His shoulders relaxed.
“Anyway, have a good night, Professor.” Micki turned but then hesitated. “I know being dean is going to be a really tough job but be sure to stop and enjoy Charlotte sometimes.”
“I’ll try to do that, thanks, Michelle,” he said, grinning.
Usually. she would have gritted her teeth at the full use of her name, but from his lips it sounded nice. Micki quickly put that out of her mind. There was no way she was falling into the Ballad Inn trap where love seemed to come calling. She wanted to focus on being the best lawyer she could be, to help people and to live a great life. Yet she wondered if love would maybe enhance her goals instead of hampering them.
In her bedroom, Micki changed and slipped under the covers, feeling left out again—had she ever truly been in love even once in her life?
JONAS WASN’T ONE to lounge around. The Monday after his arrival into Charlotte, he was on the university campus, making his way to the Edgar Richards School of Law building. Looking up at the stately, redbrick building, with Lady Justice blindfolded and her scales etched into the stone, Jonas felt a sense of pride. He had gotten this job on his own, no pull from his family or using his name as leverage to get in the door. This was all him, from the application to credentials, interviews and vetting. Jonas entered and walked across the white marble floor. There were students studying in the large common area, sitting at tables and in various comfortable chairs, with laptops and what he guessed was coffee. He shook his head at how familiar the scene was while he went up to the front desk.
“How can I help you?” The receptionist didn’t even look up as she spoke.
“The dean’s office, please,” Jonas asked politely.
Her shoulders lifted with a huge, frustrated sigh. “The new dean isn’t here yet and I doubt he’s going to want to deal with grade petitions on his first day.”
“I might, since I’m the new dean,” he replied casually.
Her head lifted quickly, and she stared at him with wide eyes. “Oh goodness, I’m so sorry, Mr. Brand. I didn’t expect...”
“It’s absolutely fine. I understand Mondays can be a bit frustrating.” Jonas’s smile was friendly. “If you can direct me to my office, I’ll get settled in and begin learning about those grade petitions.”
“I can show him, Debbie, no need to get up.” A man walked up to him with his hand outstretched. “Professor Aaron Willoughby. Nice to meet you.”
“Dr. Jonas Brand, new dean,” Jonas shook the cold, clammy hand.
“Professor Linton asked me to show the new dean to his office and help him out until she returns,” the receptionist, who Jonas now knew as Debbie,
said with a frown. It was quite clear she didn’t like Professor Willoughby. “You’re supposed to be teaching your civil law class. It started ten minutes ago.”
Professor Willoughby tutted. “Trust me. Those students can wait a few minutes, it isn’t like they can understand the complexities of the syllabus without me.”
“Debbie can take me,” Jonas replied mildly. “The students in your class shouldn’t be kept waiting. I look forward to reviewing your class curriculum myself.”
“Linton never felt the need to review my work,” Professor Willoughby said, lifting his chin.
“As the new dean, I’d like to say that I work a different way.” Jonas tried to keep his tone neutral.
From this short interaction between himself, Debbie and Professor Willoughby, he could see the professor was not going to be an easily likable colleague. It didn’t matter to Jonas one way or the other—he was accustomed to dealing with difficult people. ...
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