Chapter 6

Eden

Something's in the air, and not just because Aunt May was all smiles when me and Brook were having coffee. He seems a little off, and I've no idea why. I guess I've known him long enough to know when he's being a little tentative and reserved.

Maybe it's to do with Blake. She's almost eleven. It's a tender age and she's growing up so fast. It feels like we blinked and all of a sudden she's not a little kid anymore.

They're only a baby for such a short time, and I'm thankful that I was at home to raise her, even when things were hard for Brook at work with his long hours.

We still make a good team — me and Brooklyn — and as the years have passed we've remained the best of friends.

Which leads me to thinking about what I want going forward through this next phase of my life.

Things are getting serious with Kirk, and though we haven't actually had sex yet, I think it's going to happen this weekend. It's been a while for me — a long while in fact. After the divorce, I threw myself into work; I created a business that was child-friendly so I could work the hours I choose. And I love it. I have a part-time assistant, Jodie. We work from my home office next to my cottage in town and she helps me with all the finer details.

Now Blake is older and can do things for herself, I can be more flexible with work and put in more hours. I'm really starting to turn Bloom Weddings and Events into something very profitable. It's exciting too that I've been offered the role of a lifetime with the Bassetts; showcasing their beautifully renovated venue for new wedding parties. I'll bring in the clients, and I can work from one of their offices as well if I need to. The details need to be ironed out, but I would charge a package fee for my services. It couldn't be more perfect. The Bassetts have all been very kind, and we've always gotten along. We've always been family, even after me and Brook were divorced. Bob and Gayle love Blake to bits, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

None of them have any interest in fully taking over the wedding season; Georgia is too busy overall, and Gayle has retired. I know they will still have input, but they've been talking about giving me free range. It would be impossible for any of the brothers to take this venture on with their current schedules, so I was flattered and overwhelmed when Bob and Gayle spoke to me about it and it was offered to me.

I couldn't be happier.

But there's still a lot to do because the wedding season may be slowing down for winter, but spring isn't too far away.

The barn is magnificent. The finishing touches are being completed, and Callan just has to start landscaping around the perimeter; something I know has taken a lot of consideration being we want flowers that can bloom all year round — save for winter — or as much as possible, which means careful planning. To say I'm excited is an understatement.

I've always thought the grounds to the distillery, and the adjacent property, were the perfect background for weddings; sloping ridges, masses of oak and cedar trees surrounding the creek which runs right through the middle. And the most magical sunsets you'll ever see. I've never quite seen a southern sunset — or any sunset for that matter— like the ones in Stoney Creek. It's truly magical with glittering colors of gold, orange and pink.

I've always been a country girl at heart, with no interest in leaving. Everything I have is right here, and it feels like everything is finally working out.

I pull out my phone to text Kirk.

Me

Hi, stranger. Looking forward to the weekend? ??

A few moments later, a text bounces back and I smile.

Kirk

Hey, little lady. I sure am. Hope you're keeping the couch warm for me. Can't wait to share it with you.

I smile to myself. Keeping the couch warm isn't the only thing he's going to be busy with this weekend. Blake is going to have a sleepover at Brook's so they can feed the animals in the morning, so that will mean Kirk and I will have the whole night together. Finally.

I swallow hard.

Should I be more excited?

I mean, Kirk is a great guy. He can be very sweet and attentive, and he's attractive. He mostly says and does all the right things. He is a busy guy, but he listens and doesn't make everything all about him. He can be serious, and not make everything into a joke like a certain ex-husband I know, and he's reliable.

Why I'm thinking about Brook while getting excited about sleeping with my boyfriend, is anyone's guess. It's not my fault Brook was acting weird all morning.

I know when he's got something on his mind but won't say it. What does the man take me for? I spent almost a decade of my life with him and I've known him since we were kids. I know him better than anyone.

Come to think of it, he has been acting weird ever since I brought the subject of Kirk up. Brook just acts chilly all the time about it. And that's not like him. He never cared in the past, and I know he's been with other women. I didn't hold it against him or judge him for it. Granted, at first I was a little hurt… then I remembered I wasn't married to him anymore and it was his right to do whatever he wanted. It wasn't up to me anymore. So I blocked it out.

I just… I don't know. It feels like things are going at a steady pace and I should be feeling a little more excited about the prospect of me and Kirk. Not thinking about Brooklyn and where we went wrong. He's making me crazy! And he kept looking at me weird, too. With those big, adorable puppy eyes I used to love. I thought I understood the inner workings of this man's mind, but clearly I don't. Clearly I'm fooling myself if I thought I ever could. But he has to get used to the fact that Kirk and I are together; if that's what all his nonsense this morning was about. Which, I can't see how. Brook hasn't cared in the past what I do. Maybe that's because I'm a creature of habit and slightly predictable, therefore he hasn't had to think about it. But that's not his job anymore. He may not be enthusiastic about Kirk. If anything, he was annoyed he was coming, but that's his issue that he will have to deal with.

Yeah, something is definitely up with my ex-husband, and I'm going to get to the bottom of what it is.

Brooklyn

"So think about sustainable packaging made from recycled coffee husks printed with planet friendly ink — all environmentally safe and kind to the earth. Then we launch our new innovative flavors like chocolate and coffee; a spiced up mocha with undertones of raisins and currents, or coffee and hazelnut laced with vanilla; essentially we know it as Tiramisu." I point to the whiteboard. "We make the blends a specialty line to see how it goes, and if it takes off, we can only add more to the range or tweak it as we see fit. The surveys Beau sent out all came back with the same tell-tailing information: the younger crowd wants something new. Something different."

Gray sits with his arms folded over his chest, approval written all over his face from his grin. He helped me with the marketing strategy to really sell it to Dad and Gabe. I know how stubborn they both are, and it's a risk to the Bassett Brothers label if this were to go pear shaped. I have, however, got samples of every single blend I've been curating over the last few months for them to taste. It's been stashed down in the vault where only Gray knew about it.

I'll be waiting for Gabe to chastise me about what I'm doing making my own Moonshine while on the job, but I don't care what he says. When they taste it, they'll understand, too.

The silence is also deafening.

"Well, I think it's a great idea," Gray says, clapping his hands. "The Australian and European markets are interested, and I've got some costs right here." He leans forward and slides the folder across the table. "That's a detailed snapshot including packaging, labels and printing, along with ingredients and suppliers."

Gray's always been more articulate than me. He's used to selling and knows the strategies, however, he insisted that I take the lead as it would be more authentic.

Dad clears his throat, propping his glasses on the end of his nose. "That's quite a speech," he says. "Though, I knew you were up to something down there, you're not as discreet as you like to think you are."

"I thought me and Gray did a pretty good job?" I glance at my eldest brother and he raises his hands.

"Don't look at me. I just pitched the idea, you're the brains of the operation."

"I bet it's the first time he's been called that," Beau chuckles.

"Now, now, boys, play nice." Georgia blows on her coffee. "I am a little miffed though that you didn't let me in on the secret."

I know my other siblings are all for the idea, but it isn't their approval I need; it's Gabriel's. And everyone knows he's a task master.

I start to pass around the samples. I'm eager like a little school boy. Gray has, of course, already tried the flavors and he loves them.

Once all the glasses are passed around, everyone waits for Dad to smell and taste his three samples.

I don't think I've ever been so nervous about anything in my life, though it makes me feel better when I glance at Uncle Jack, his eyebrows arched upward and he's making an appreciative sound in his throat. He seems pleasantly surprised by what he's tasting.

We all watch as Dad tastes the Tiramisu. He takes his sweet time, but finally he looks up at me and says, "It's good, son, real good." He looks at his brother. "What do you think, Jack?"

"Spot on." Uncle Jack nods. "I can't fault it. It's bold on the first sip, but smooths out and softens on the aftertaste."

Gabe follows suit and I wait again, wondering what fault he's going to pick with it.

"All in all, not bad," he says, finally putting me out of my misery.

"Really?" I wait for the punchline.

"How the hell did you come up with this idea?" he asks.

"I just started thinking about flavors and how we could do something different and I ran with it. The market is strong for new and innovative products, and this fits the bill. Plus, you know how I like to experiment."

"Like Dad said, I knew you were cooking something up, but I had no idea that this is what you were thinking." He rubs his chin, clearly contemplating. I wait for him to tell me it's absurd and he hates it. But it never comes. "I like the idea. It'll need a little fine tuning and we need to see projections and the marketing plan, but I think Bassett Brothers is ready to move into a new era. Like you've been saying; a younger market, without it being too cliche."

Pride and happiness fills my chest at my brother's words. He's always been a tough nut to crack, but it makes me feel like I've achieved something to get Gabe's approval.

"So you're sayin' you like the idea?"

"Is that so hard to believe? I always knew you had it in you to think of something new and innovative. If we market it right and pitch to the audience we want, then I think this could be really good for the brand."

I frown. "But you and Dad hate change."

"I'm used to the old ways of doing things," Dad pipes up. "But that doesn't mean I have a giant stick up my ass and can't see the forest for the trees, son. I know that to keep moving forward in this ever changing world, we have to adapt. Your mom has made me realize that. And I agree with Gabe, I like the idea. As long as we keep the authenticity there, it has the ability to change our clientele and grow even further."

I glance at my mom across the table and she gives me a wink. Aunt Patti gives us a cheers, as she downs the rest of hers, clearly onboard, and everyone laughs. I suspect Callan has helped get them both on side, so I owe him too.

"I've got some projections already," Beau says. "Been working on them with Brook and Gray." He passes around a printout for everyone to take a look. I smile over at him, feeling so fucking good how much support I'm getting.

Gabe has always been the numbers guy, followed closely by Beau because he's a genius, he just likes to pretend all he knows how to do is play World of Warcraft. "Kept that a secret," Gabe gripes. "So all of you were in on this?"

"I wasn't." Georgia folds her arms over her chest with a huff. "Which is so rude. I'm always the last to know anything important around here."

"That isn't true." I try to ruffle her hair like I always do and she elbows me. "But we do know that you're the one with the biggest mouth. We can't have half of Stoney Creek knowin' our business before we get to vote on it."

"See? Rude," she reiterates with her signature eye roll.

"So, I think provided everyone is in agreement on the figures and the projections, we'll take a vote now," Dad says.

I smile, my heart thrumming at the prospect of it all being decided now. "Really? You're not gonna make me jump through hoops?"

"No point," Uncle Jack says. "You've done your research. It may be a risk, but I like the idea the more I think about it. The samples speak for themselves."

"I agree." Aunt Patti smiles. Her cheeks appear rosy and I suspect it's from the mid-morning bourbon samples.

"You know my vote." Mom's wide smile blooms at me.

And it goes around the table, just like that.

"You're gonna nail this," Gray adds proudly, sincerity shining in his eyes. "You always had my vote."

"And you have mine, too, brother," Gabe says. "Congratulations."

Dad walks over and pulls me into a one-armed hug. "I'm proud of you, son. You're always thinking of ways to enhance the business and push our legacy forward. I'm excited to see the packaging and what you have in mind."

I can barely contain my excitement, or get over the fact it was unanimous, and Dad and Gabe approve. Gray gives me a knowing look as our eyes meet across the table. He's already contacted some suppliers and trendy bars across Nashville to stock the new label as soon as it's ready.

There was once a time where I never thought I'd do anything else except produce the bourbon we all know and love, and while I love doing it, I'm ready for a new challenge. I'm ready to take this to new heights. It's kinda like my baby. Having my family back me makes me want to prove myself even more.

"It's really smooth," Beau says, tasting the chocolate. "I like what you've done with it, bro. We'll make a distiller out of you yet."

I can't help but grin.

We've got a long road ahead for the new collection, but now the cat's out of the bag, I don't have to hide what I'm doing anymore.

For the first time in a long time, things feel good.

Change is good.

Or so they say.

And I couldn't be happier right now.