Maggie Tierney never knew her father. He died before he even knew she existed. So it comes as a complete surprise to her when she finds out she has inherited a house from her great grandmother. Since she's in the middle of a dry spell artistically, she decides to move up to Alpine for six months to find some inspiration. With a little excitement and a whole lot of feistiness she jumps into a new life with new friends, new neighbors and new enemies.
Luke Petersen could be a great new friend, or even more, except for all of the women constantly showing up on his doorstep. Maggie would love to step in and help mend Luke's broken heart, but for one obstacle. Jennie Benchley. And she's willing to do anything to keep Maggie from gettig too close.
Her new neighbor Gwen keeps her hopping with her ten dogs and her nicotine habit. But Maggie can't help meddling. She's determined to break Gwen's ciagarette habit and find her a boyfriend. Even if it kills her.
Her dad's parents, Frank and Bonnie Tierney are only too willig to start a relationship with Maggie. But Maggie's not sure she can have a relationship with the people who turned their backs on her mom when she desperately needed help.
Lucky for Maggie there's a wonderful little hair salon in the middle of town with the world's best stylist. Sophie hands out tips on hair and makeup along with some much needed information to set Maggie on the right path.
But along with all of her new friends and her grandparents, there's one person she never wants to meet. Letty Palmer. Her maternal grandmother. The woman who closed her eyes to her mother's abuse as a child. Maggie doesn't konw if she can live in the same town with her, let alone meet her, but Letty is determined to know her only grandchild. Too bad Maggie's just as determined to stay as far away from her as she can. But with the help of her new friends, her grandparents and Heavenly Father, she just might find a way to make a place in her heart for everybody.
Excerpt
Luke stared at someone pulling up into the driveway next door and frowned. His frown deepened as he saw the tall skinny woman step out and stand with her hands on her hips as she stared up at the old Tierney house. She was grinning as if she was the queen of the world. Luke sighed. He already couldnt' stand her. She had that careless snobby look that had re-model written all over it. Just what he needed. Construction workers pounding and sawing and waking him up too early. Dust. Dirt. Nails in his tires. Garbage on his lawn, strange liquids in old pop bottles and worst of all, Tuscan Italy right in the middle of the last of the old fashioned homes in Alpine. Luke sighed and rubbed his hands over his five o'clock shadow. Mayor Benson was getting pretty sick of him showing up at every town council meeting complaining about losing the feel of old Alpine, but hey, Mayor Benson was his home teacher. He had to put up with him.
He watched morosely as the woman practically skipped to the back and opened up a teeny trunk and pulled something out. She stacked two boxes, one on top of the other and tried to put a large easel on top of that. This woman was clearly nuts. Just from that alone he could tell she was impatient. She was so skinny she was probably a Vegan member of PETA. He stared at her feet. He wasnt' sure from where he was standing, but they looked like hemp. The typical modern day anorexic, save the Rainforests, hemp wearing pain in the butt. He blinked as she lost her balance and her boxes and her easel went flying into the old brick retaining wall. Her face crumbled and she looked like she was going to cry. Perfect. Luke sighed and ran lightly down the stairs and out his front door. He walked up to the woman still hunched sadly over the pieces of wood.
"Hey there. Did you break something?" he asked with just a slight hint of irritation in his voice.
The woman looked up at him in surprise. "Um yeah, It's my fault. I was being stupid trying to get it all in one load. I just couldnt' wait to get started. And now I'll have to make a trip into Salt Lake to get this fixed. Ugh!" she said and stood up, leaving the easel on the ground and wiping her hands on her pants. She stuck her hand out in a friendly manner and tried to smile.
"I'm Maggie, nice to meet you. You must be my neighbor." she said shaking his hand just as good as any rookie police officer, or college football player for that matter. Luke winced at the unexpected crush of bones. She was kind of strong for being so skinny.
"Yeah, likewise. Listen, I've got some tools in my basement. I can fix your easel for you if you'd like." he offered grudgingly.
Maggie's eyebrows shifted up a notch. "No thanks. I appreciate the offer though." she said and turned around and lifted on of the boxes in her arms.
Luke frowned at her back. "Look at it as a welcome to the neighborehood gesture. This way I won't have to make you any bread." he said without even a hint of a smile.
Maggie snorted and looked him up and down doubtfully. "Um, no offense, but are you really familiar enough with tools to fix an easel?" she said with an apologetic wince.
Luke stared at her in shock and looked down at himself. Okay, maybe he was still in a suit and tie, so what. Like that meant he was an idiot.
"Okay, I see how it is. Prejudicial judgements. No problem. Well, then, see ya around." he said with a slight bow and turned back towards his house with a smile. Bonus. He offered, it wasn't accepted, he was off the hook. Now he could get out of his clothes and relax.
"Hey, wait a sec there. What did you say your name was?" The woman called after him.
Luke hesitated and then turned slowly around. "I didn't. But it's Luke. Luke Petersen." he said staring at her in a less than friendly way.
Maggie smiled at him winningly. ""Listen Luke, sorry if I hurt your feelings there. Didn't mean to. Sometimes whatever I'm thinking just pops out on it's own. But there is something you could do to help me. You know in that welcoming neighbor thing you just mentioned? Could you just grab my keys and open the front door for me. I've got my hands full here and that would be really helpful."
Luke stared at her for a few seconds and then walked over to the BMW. No prob. One door and then he was done. He didn't want to fix that easel anyways. Forget that he'd gotten and "A" in wood shop. Or that his dad and grandpa had taught him everything they knew about craftsmanship. And they knew a lot. Dang her. He grabbed the keys and walked quickly up the old stone pathway to the front porch. He tried a few keys and finally found the one that worked and pushed the door open. And then stood there in surprise. The hallway was filled with three separate vases of flowers. Large bouquets of roses and daisies and gladiolas. Wow. He ignored Maggie standing behind him, waiting for him to move and walked down the hall towards something delicious smelling. Something really good. What was that smell? Pot roast. Luke stood in the doorway of the kitchen and stared at the counter laden with baskets of rolls, a plastic wrapped covered salad and a big note that said the roast was in the oven and to take it out at five sharp. Luke glanced at the clock . It was three minutes after five. He grabbed the oven mitts and took the roast out, laying it on the waiting hot pads. He peeled back the tin foil and stared at one of the most beautiful sights in the world. A perfectly cooked roast surrounded by carrots, potatoes and those cute little onions. Mmmmm.
"Hey, you're Vegan, aren't you?" he asked over his shoulder.
Maggie walked into the kitchen and stopped in shock. "No way! Is that a pot roast?" she asked and sort of skipped hopped over to the counter. She grabbed a fork sitting by the plate and speared a piece of meat, popping it into her mouth in a way no vegan ever would in this life time. Luke's face fell in disapointment.
"Mmmmm. I don't know who made this, but I'm sold." She said and then took the serving spoon and heaped practically half the roast on her plate and at least three fourths of the carrots too.
Luke watched her sit down and whip the napkin onto her lap a little sadly. True, he didn't much like tall skinny, strangely obnoxious women who didn't believe in his skills with tools, but at that moment in life, he would trade his solitary sandwich and chips in a second to have some of that roast.
