Knitted Hearts by Amber Kelly

Foster

“Woot. Way to go, baby! Those big muscles are the reason I married you,” Elle calls from across the yard.

Walker flexes his bicep. Then, he grins and yells back his response, “This isn’t the big muscle you married me for, woman.”

We all laugh, except Braxton, who smacks him on the back of the head.

“Hey, dipshit, I’ve got an ax in my hand.”

Walker rubs the back of his head and frowns. “I am who I am, and your baby sister married me. You’re just going to have to get used to it, man.”

“I’ll never get used to that crap,” Braxton grumbles.

Then, he turns to Payne. “Thanks for inviting us. Sophie and I rarely get a night without the baby anymore. It feels good to talk to other adults, drink beer, and sling axes. This place is turning out cool as shit,” Braxton tells him as I grab a log and toss it into the flames.

Payne looks around, and the pride is evident in his expression. “I appreciate you guys coming and for the help with getting those heavy-ass pool tables installed this afternoon,” he says as he throws yet another log on the bonfire.

“You aren’t lying. Those things are ten times heavier than the ones down at Fast Breaks. I helped Butch move those out when he had the floor resurfaced, and they were light as a feather compared to those beasts,” Walker informs.

“Charlotte wanted upscale billiards, like the ones at her father’s club in New York. She also ordered some fancy Tiffany glass light fixtures to go above them.”

“Upscale,” Walker says as he looks around the place. “Yeah, Poplar Falls could use a splash of class.”

“She hopes to rent the place out as a wedding venue in the future. She has plans to be a premier choice for brides all over the country, looking for a rustic wedding experience.”

“She has Dallas excited too. She’s been trying new wedding cake designs, and she’s even had Sophie sketch out some exclusive ones that Dallas and her mother have been practicing. Beau and I have been eating a lot of cake,” Myer says.

“That’s a great idea. Think of the repeat business you’d get every year with those couples coming back to spend their anniversaries and vacations with their kids in Poplar Falls. It could be good for the entire town. They’d come to eat, drink, and shop local, but then they’d go back to their own cities,” Braxton says.

“The potential boosts for the flower shop, Sonia’s mother’s alteration business, and the other spots downtown would be huge,” I add.

“She’s a smart cookie, and so are you for locking that woman down,” Walker says.

“That is a fact. You should see the damn vision board hanging in my spare bedroom,” Payne says.

“What the fuck is a vision board?” Truett asks.

“I have no idea. It looks like a bunch of photos cut from magazines, paint swatches, and scribbling to me, but according to Charlotte, it is how she gives her dreams wings or some bullshit,” Payne answers.

“If she and Sophie used one of those magic vision things when they were in New York, they must work because those two are a dynamic business duo, according to Elle,” Walker adds.

“She’s the brains—that’s for sure. I had a little vision, and that woman came in and turned it into a full-blown dream come true. I’m just here to do her bidding. It’s been a lot of work, and I really do appreciate all the help you guys have given the last few months.”

“You’re a lucky man. All my ex did was blast right through my dreams,” I gripe.

“That’s because you chose the wrong woman.” Walker slaps me on the back.

“Don’t I know it!” I agree.

“Good thing is, there are plenty of other ones out there,” Truett chimes in.

“How would you know?” I tease my brother.

“I’ve heard rumors.” He shrugs.

“I’ve been working with him on his pickup lines,” Walker shares.

“Oh, damn, I’m sorry, Truett,” Payne consoles.

“What? I’ll have you know, my pickup lines are a thing of legend around here. I could melt girls’ panties off with my voice alone. Payne here is just jealous that I scored twice as much as he did in our single days.” Walker tells Truett, “Now, go practice on the females.” He points toward the girls, all sitting and talking under the twinkling lights off to the side of the fire.

Truett grins and heads for them.

“That was mean. Those girls are going to chew him up and spit him out,” Payne says as he watches my brother pull up a stool and sit amid the cackling women.

“He needs to learn how to handle rejection without crying like a little girl. It’s part of his training,” Walker tells us.