Halfway in Between Read online

  Halfway In Between

  Steena Marie

  Elena Aitken

  This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

  Halfway in Between

  All Rights Reserved

  Copyright © 2014 Elena Aitken & Steena Holmes

  Version 3.0

  This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Your support of author rights is appreciated.

  Sista’ Books

  ISBN:978-1-927968222

  ISBN: 978-1-927968-22-2

  Contents

  Dear Reader

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Discover the Halfway Series

  ABOUT ELENA AITKEN

  ABOUT STEENA MARIE

  Dear Reader

  Steena and Elena here!

  We couldn’t stay away from Halfway and we hope you feel the same way too!

  We both love to connect with readers and chat about our love for books which means we’d love for you to sign up for our newsletters so we can stay in touch (plus we’re both giving away copies of one of our own individual series…so you know you want to sign up!)

  For Steena’s newsletter click HERE!

  For Elena’s newsletter click HERE!

  We can’t wait to hear from you!

  Steena & Elena

  1

  Melissa

  Melissa glanced up at the clock again and ground her teeth. They were late, again. She tapped her fingers on the counter and inwardly groaned when she realized she’d forgotten to wipe them down from dinner. Last night had been an evening of working on her computer while Abby sat at the table and worked on homework. They’d both been so focused on other things…as usual.

  As if she could hear the seconds tick away, she focused on the clock again.

  “Abigail Rhodes if you don’t get your butt down those stairs within the next five seconds, I’m going to…”

  It was a good thing she stopped when she did because Abby appeared before she could finish. They both knew her threats were groundless.

  She really shouldn’t have been surprised to see the earbuds attached to her daughter’s ears; they were almost a permanent accessory lately. Since when did thirteen-year-old girls listen to music non-stop? When she was thirteen, she…listened to music too.

  “Is it time to go?” Abby jumped the last three steps and placed a sweet kiss on Melissa’s cheek.

  Melissa tugged at the earbuds until they both popped out and shook her head when the music blared.

  “Yes, it’s time to go. We’re late, again.” She thought about commenting on her daughter’s outfit but decided against it. She knew when to pick her battles with Abby and this wasn’t one of them. She’d raised her daughter to be a free thinker, proud of who she was and to never take gruff from anyone. Who was she to point out that her socks didn’t match or that the sweater she wore was a little on the big side? At least her jeans were clean and unripped.

  There was something about that sweater…

  Abby shrugged. “I only have gym.”

  “And I only have a meeting.” Which she’d be lucky to get to on time, especially when she needed to stop and get a coffee first.

  “Oops.” Her daughter had the decency to grimace before she grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl on the cupboard and reached for her backpack.

  “Oops, my foot. Sometimes I think you plan this,” Melissa muttered as she grabbed a pear and followed after her.

  To be fair, they were both at fault. The power had gone out last night and left their alarm settings off. Melissa, generally not a morning person, did happen to wake up early, but rolled over and decided to sleep for only a few minutes longer. Unfortunately, those few minutes turned into thirty, so they both rushed this morning to get ready in time. She should have gone to bed earlier but she’d started to read a new book last night and it was too good to put down.

  “Gym is my favorite class; you should know that by now.” Abby’s sarcastic nature shone through her words. Gym was the only class she had that she hated. Melissa didn’t blame her; she’d hated that class too. Probably had something to do with the teacher, Mrs. Hannigan, who, oddly enough, was Abby’s teacher.

  Abby stuck the earbuds back in while Melissa drove towards the school. She went through her schedule for the day. First off was a meeting with Nikki Landon, regarding help with creating ads and the town website. Now that Nikki was a permanent fixture in town, Melissa wanted to see whether she could talk her into helping out. After that, she had to sit down and finish the community newsletter she’d started last night. It was due by Friday and she also needed to print off the flyers for Abby to deliver after school.

  “What would you like for supper?” Last night consisted of grilled cheese and tomato soup. From a can. None of that homemade stuff. She really needed to start menu planning. This last-minute stuff was killing her. Maybe she should start a recipe column in the weekly paper.

  “Pizza?”

  “Again?” That seemed like their weekly go-to meal, except they ate it more than they should.

  Abby shrugged. “We can make our own this time?”

  Melissa gave her daughter a look. “Do I look like Becky Jennings to you?” Becky was an old school friend who married her high school sweetheart and they lived the fairy-tale dream every woman wished for. Matt Jennings was a tree farmer while Becky used her passion for cooking and created an online presence, complete with a website and cookbook. To say Melissa was jealous was an understatement.

  Oh…she should ask Becky whether she’d be interested in doing that menu column. Why didn’t she think of that earlier?

  Melissa pulled up to the school grounds and pulled up to the sidewalk. Thankfully there were a few other parents dropping off their kids and the school bus was still parked out front, which meant Abby wouldn’t be too late and Melissa shouldn’t have to write a note.

  “I’ll figure something out. Maybe there will be some ready-made casserole at the grocery store today.” Greta Wilson had started a Bring Dinner Home campaign a few years ago to help raise funds for the seniors’ home. The idea became a hit, so she kept it up. Each week she would make dozens of casseroles and sell them from the deli counter at their grocery store.

  “Oh, see if she has her perogies this time. Maybe Uncle Parker will come over?” Abby’s eyes lit up at the suggestion before she gave her door a slight shove to open it. “See you after school.” She hip checked the door closed and walked off.

  Melissa sat there for a few moments to watch her daughter. Multiple thoughts went through her mind. She needed to take the vehicle in and get the dent out of the passenger door. During the Tree Festival, a tractor had nudged her door by accident and since then the dang thing didn’t like to open and shut properly. She wasn’t sure whether Parker would be available to come over, and even if he did, she doubted she’d m
ake it to the grocery store in time to see whether there would be any casseroles. If there were some, they didn’t come out until mid-afternoon.

  Unless she asked Parker to pick up dinner? He might do that. Before Nikki Landon had come back to town, Parker was over at their place at least three times a week for dinner. But lately, they’d seen him less and less and although Melissa understood what was going on, Abby didn’t. She probably should talk to him about it. No doubt the man never thought of how his absence would affect them.

  Melissa was so wrapped up in her thoughts, she almost didn’t see Abby stop at the post box and slide an envelope through its opening. The furtive action caught her attention, the way she checked to see whether Melissa was watching. Thankfully, Melissa’s head was down so her daughter couldn’t see that she was looking. What was she mailing and to whom?

  The mysterious envelope puzzled Melissa as she drove away from the school and headed back towards Main Street. She parked behind her shop but headed directly to Grounds, the best and only coffee shop in town. She needed her caffeine fix and she only had a few minutes before Nikki was scheduled to show up. Who knows, maybe if she was lucky, Nikki was late getting her son, Ryan, off to school this morning as well.

  She pushed the door open to Grounds and inhaled the bittersweet smell of freshly ground coffee. She smiled to a few of the people who occupied the tables and purveyed the selection of fresh pastries and muffins as she waited in line. She’d started a new diet last week and had so far managed to not succumb to the temptation. But her stomach growled and that pear she’d grabbed from home wasn’t going to cut it. Maybe if she chose a healthier muffin and ate salad for lunch, it wouldn’t hurt her. She had at least twenty pounds to shed and she was determined to do it—this time.

  Melissa’s life consisted of yo-yo diets, ever since she was a teenager. She’d never been a skinny type. Her bones were big, her calves huge from all the biking she did, and she’d never had a skinny waist, but it never stopped her from trying. She’d always been the fat one in the group at school, the one to stand at the back of the group photos.

  “Your regular?” Muriel Oaks, owner of Grounds, asked.

  Melissa shook her head. “I need a double shot today. Please.” Double shot espresso should just about do it.

  Muriel’s brow rose at that. “Bad night?”

  Melissa shrugged. “Late night, late morning, and a busy day ahead. I’ll probably be back for another round in a few hours.” The banana muffin looked very tempting, as well as the pumpkin spice.

  “You’ll want the pumpkin spice. Trust me.” Muriel caught her looking at the muffin and grinned. At Melissa’s nod, she bagged the muffin for her and handed it over the counter before she wrote some notes on the cup and set it to the side.

  “You’re not helping my diet at all, you know.”

  “What you need to do is stop focusing on the diet and just eat healthier. Fall in love with yourself and stop worrying what the rest of the world has to say about it.”

  Melissa just nodded. She knew better than to argue with Muriel; she’d learned the hard way years ago. Muriel was one of the women in Halfway who didn’t hesitate to speak her mind and would often write letters to the editor to make sure everyone else knew it too.

  “You’re right. As usual.” She moved off to the side to wait for her coffee to be made and happened to glance out the window.

  Shoot. Nikki was early. Melissa glanced at her watch. Make that on time. She’d just pulled up out front of her door. Yesterday, when she’d imagined the conversation she’d have with Nikki about helping out, she’d been the one in control of the situation. Nikki would walk in and see Melissa hard at work and would be impressed with how she ran the paper.

  She was a dreamer. She should have known she’d never make it on time to something she was less than comfortable with. Nikki was someone Melissa used to envy once upon a time. Even being two years older, Melissa had always wanted to be included in that elusive friendship bond Nikki had with Matt, Parker, and Becky. Of course, Nikki and Parker hadn’t been dating back then, but even so, they were all so close. Sure, she’d had Nyah Henderson, but it wasn’t the same.

  “Here you go,” Muriel said. “Come back around lunch hour. I’m making some chicken wraps for lunch.”

  Melissa grabbed her coffee from the counter and smiled at Muriel. She took a sip and caught the subtle flavor of chocolate.

  “You really aren’t helping me, you do realize that, right?”

  Muriel shrugged. “What’s life if you don’t enjoy every moment of it? I’ll see you at lunch, with a healthy wrap.” She shooed her away as she turned to the next customer.

  She was ready to chuck the diet out the window anyways. She was tired of being hungry all the time and sick of eating carrots and celery. Maybe she’d look online and see what the latest diet fad was. Who knows, it might be something that included pizza and ice cream.

  Nikki stood outside the door to the Halfway Herald. Melissa raised her coffee cup high as a greeting as she crossed the road.

  “So sorry I’m late. It’s been one of those mornings.”

  She caught the way Nikki eyed her coffee and had a sudden moment of guilt for not even thinking of buying her one. Which she should have. As a friendly gesture and all.

  Shoot.

  2

  Nikki

  Nikki Landon watched her old friend cross the street, coffee and pastry in hand. She should have thought to grab breakfast herself, and another coffee would be more than welcome. The single cup she’d guzzled down before she got Ryan off to school hadn’t cut it. Not since she’d had another late night working on her client’s websites after Parker had finally gone home. She smiled to herself. It’d been worth it.

  In the months since she’d decided to stay in Halfway, Parker had definitely become one of her favorite parts of getting used to small town living again. They were taking their relationship slowly, getting to know each other all over again, and dating had been fun. Especially considering Nikki couldn’t remember the last time she’d done any.

  “Good morning,” she said to Melissa, as the other woman finally made her way over to her.

  “I’m sorry, Nikki.” Melissa juggled her coffee in an attempt to fish her keys from her purse. “I meant to be here early to open up, and—”

  “Here.” Nikki took the coffee from her hand. “Let me help you.”

  Melissa shot her a look, but her smile was warm. “Thank you.”

  Once she got the key in the lock, the two ladies stepped into the offices of the Halfway Herald. Nikki followed Melissa through the room as she flipped on lights and made her way to her small office.

  “I’m glad we had a chance to sit down and talk.” Melissa pulled her chair up and grabbed a notebook. “I feel like you’ve been here for ages now and I’ve been meaning to get you in here so we could brainstorm. I mean, these flyers you did for the Festival were just great.”

  Nikki shrugged. It had been a last-minute job to help Melissa out with the Christmas Tree Festival. At the time, it had been the last thing she wanted to do. In fact, she hadn’t wanted anything to do with her hometown, Halfway, Montana, except to finish up with her mother’s things and get out of there, leaving the past securely behind her. Things had a funny way of working out. “It’s fine,” she said. “It’s been a crazy few months getting moved and settled. Ryan started school after Christmas, and he’s really enjoying it, even making some friends.”

  “So, you’re glad you’re back?”

  “I am.” It was the truth. “But if you’d asked me six months ago if I ever thought I’d be living here again, I would have laughed at you. But now, I can’t imagine it any other way. And having Becky and Matt in Ryan’s life, well…” She drifted off. She didn’t know Melissa well enough to be telling her such personal things and they’d never really been close. With Melissa a few years ahead of them in school, Nikki hadn’t really spent any time with her. And in the few months she’d been back in Ha
lfway, she could hardly say she’d received a warm welcome from the other woman. Or any welcome at all, really. She shook her head at herself. She really must be sleep deprived. That didn’t mean anything. Melissa was a busy woman, just like she was. She couldn’t expect her to drop everything just because she’d decided to move back. “It’s good to be back.” She changed tacks. “So what’s going on with you? How’s Abby? How old is she now?”

  “Thirteen.” Melissa shook her head slightly. “And every bit a teenager. Let me tell you, enjoy Ryan now before he hits this stage.”

  “I get it,” Nikki said. “It’s hard sometimes doing it all on your own, isn’t it?” They had that in common. Single parenting. Maybe Nikki could use that to find some common ground. She leaned across the desk. “There have definitely been times when I questioned my sanity for doing it alone.” The second the words came out of her mouth, Nikki regretted it. She didn’t know much about Melissa’s circumstances, but she did know that unlike herself, Melissa didn’t choose single parenting.

  The other woman’s back stiffened and her lips pressed into a hard line. “It was hardly my choice.” She spoke the words through clenched teeth. “Not all of us made the decisions you did.”

  Nikki flinched, but didn’t say anything. She’d been the one who was insensitive. It was no secret that Melissa’s husband Wade had run off over nine years ago and left her to raise their daughter on her own.

  “And I’ve hardly been alone,” Melissa added. “Parker’s been a huge help. I don’t know where we’d be without him.” Something about the way Melissa looked at her put Nikki on the defensive, which was ridiculous because she hadn’t done anything wrong. “Abby really relies on her Uncle Parker, you know? His presence has been very important to her.”