A Promise to Keep

by Susan Gable

  The conversation she’d had with Amelia came back to Ronni. About obligation to herself. She wasn’t defective. She wasn’t unworthy.

  Was she really responsible for Scott’s accident? For his condition?

  No. He’d brought the Dear John call on himself. And he’d been the one behind the wheel that day.

  She’d proven to herself and everyone else that she didn’t run away when life got tough, as she had when Ian had been sick.

  In fact, divorcing Scott was going to be a whole lot tougher than just sticking around.

  But it was the right thing for her to do.

  Because she deserved more.

  “I have to go see Vera. And call my lawyer. This is going to be complicated.”

  “All the good stuff usually is,” Tam said.

  ###

  Hayden stood in the classroom’s doorway, returning cell phones he’d confiscated during his last period health class, when his own buzzed in his back pocket. “It’s only the first day of school, so I’m being generous,” he reminded the kids as they passed by. “No phones in class. Keep them put away or lose them.”

  “Sorry, Coach.” One of his senior track stars—the boy had a good shot at a full scholarship—ducked his head, plucking his cell from Hayden’s hand. “Won’t happen again.”

  “Better not.”

  When the classroom was finally empty, Hayden retrieved his cell, heading to the desk at the front of the room.

  A text from Ronni? He quickly accessed it.

  Hope your first day back went well. Can you stop by? It’s important. We need to talk.

  He sank down on the edge of the desk, sitting on a stack of course outlines. Important? Need to talk?

  His chest tightened.

  It had taken every ounce of strength he had to keep his distance from her for the past thirty days. To drop Nick off after they’d spent time together, and just drive away, without going in.

  But the risks were too great. Odds were, he’d want to hold her. Touch her.

  Beg her like a man possessed to divorce her cheating, soul-crushing husband.

  Or spill his guts about the condom and flat out ask her if she was pregnant.

  Maybe that’s what she wanted to talk about? He scrambled off the desk. Instead of texting, he punched “1” on his speed dial, then shoved the extra course outlines into a filing cabinet. She answered as he flipped off the lights and locked the classroom door.

  “I’m leaving school now. On my way. What’s up?”

  “I’d rather discuss it face-to-face. Especially if you’re already on your way.”

  “Be there as soon as I can. Upstairs or down?”

  “Up. No appointments this afternoon. Not at the salon, anyway.”

  That sounded interesting. “Okay. See you soon.”

  He broke his record—and numerous speed limits—getting there. Didn’t bother knocking, either, just bolted in through the laundry room. “Ronni?”

  He found her pacing the kitchen.

  “Ronni?”

  She froze. Stared at him with a deer-in-the-headlights look. “Hayden. Wow. That was fast. I didn’t expect you quite yet.”

  “Sports car. Big engine. Poor example for impressionable young minds.”

  “Right.” She glanced down at the table, where some papers lay next to the wooden salt and pepper containers.

  He headed toward her. She edged away, bolted for the sliding glass doors. Stood with her fingers wrapped around the handle. “Why don’t we talk outside?”

  “It’s hot out. Besides, I don’t feel like getting bird crap in my hair today.” He inched closer. Spoke softly. “What’s got you tied in knots, babe?” His own stomach did a series of flips. He clenched his jaw against the urge to tell her about the condom.

  She turned to face him, her back against the glass panel. She blew out a long breath. “I wanted to be the one to tell you this. Didn’t want you to find out through the grapevine or anything.” She worried her lower lip between her teeth.

  Hope flared. His heart started to pound. “Are you—are you pregnant, Ronni? Because it’s okay if you are,” he hastened to assure her. “More than okay.”

  “W-what?” Her eyebrows drew together. “How did you...?” She shook her head. “No. I’m not. You suspected...?”

  His chest constricted. He’d once gotten into a barroom brawl with some fellow Marines against a bunch of Navy SEALs. Had had a SEAL stomp on his chest so hard he’d cracked two ribs.

  That hadn’t hurt at all compared to this.

  “I...hoped.” Damn.

  The edges of her mouth turned up slightly, but her eyes didn’t smile. “Me, too.”

  “You wanted my baby?”

  She nodded. “I did. So much that I had myself experiencing all the symptoms of pregnancy.”

  “You’re sure you’re not?”

  “Two home tests and a trip to my doctor. I felt so sure I was, even after the first negative test. And the second. But I’m not.”

  “Too bad.” He’d had a family of his own that close, and it had slipped through his fingers. He cleared his throat. “There’s something I have to tell you related to that. It’s been making me crazy. I’ve been keeping a secret from you.”

  Her eyebrows scrunched together. “You have?”

  “Yeah. That night, the night we...”

  “Could have made a baby?”

  “Uh, yeah. Well...we really could have made a baby. The condom broke. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I’ve never done anything like that in my life, it’s just...I just...I...hell.”

  “Wow.”

  “That’s it? Wow?” He couldn’t read her face. The nerves that had lit her since he’d walked in were still there.

  “I...I’m glad I didn’t know that. I would have hoped even more.”

  “Then I’m forgiven for not telling you?” His stomach knot eased slightly, though the tightness in his chest still lingered.

  She nodded. Then slugged him in the shoulder. “As long as you never keep a secret from me again. I thought I could count on you, of all people, not to do that.”

  He crisscrossed his chest with his finger. “You can. No secrets. You know how I hate them.”

  “I do.”

  Now there were two words he wanted to hear her say almost as much as he’d wanted to hear her say she was pregnant. “So what’s this all about? Something with Nick?”

  She shook her head, brushed past him to start a new circuit around the table. She gestured at the papers. “Like I said, I didn’t want you hearing this through the courthouse grapevine.”

  “C-courthouse?”

  “Yes.” She shoved the pile in his direction. “My lawyer will be filing these tomorrow. Once recorded at the courthouse, it’s public information. I wanted to be the one to tell you.”

  Hayden picked the stack off the table but couldn’t bring himself to look at them. He knew what he hoped they were, but didn’t think he could stand more disappointment if they were something else.

  “I’m divorcing Scott. His guardianship has been transferred to Vera, so she can represent his interests in the divorce action.”

  The papers fell from Hayden’s fingers, scattering across the tabletop. He jerked his gaze to hers. “Say again?”

  “I’m divorcing Scott. I’ve finally found the courage to go after what I want.”

  “And that’s...”

  “You. I want you, Hayden Hawkins.”

  Joy like he’d never experienced—except maybe the night they’d made love—coursed through him.

  “This not-pregnant-but-wanted-to-be situation made me stop and think. Life’s short, Hayden. I regret so much the time I missed out on with Ian. Two weeks I could have spent with him. Told him I loved him a few dozen more times. Kissed him. Touched him.

  “I don’t want to live with more regrets like that. I don’t know how much longer Scott has left. But...I don’t know how long I have, either. Or you. If Scott has two years left, but we only have
one, I’d regret like hell that I didn’t spend that time doing what I really want to do.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Loving you. Being with you.”

  “Having mad, passionate sex with me on a daily basis?”

  Rich laughter bubbled out of her. The last bit of tension in his chest vanished.

  “Yes, that, too.”

  He rushed around the end of the table. She extended her arm, palm up—the universal sign for stop. He reined himself in. “What? Why aren’t we dancing? Kissing? Why aren’t we celebrating?”

  “It’s not that simple, Hayden. There are things I need you to know.”

  “Nick’s okay with this? I mean, I assume you’ve talked to him about it....”

  “Yes, Nick’s okay with it. He’s grown up a lot in the last few months. When I told him, he said he’d realized nothing is all black-and-white.” She pressed her lips together. “That we could still love Scott, and be mad at him at the same time. That he understood why I wouldn’t want to be married to him anymore. Out of the mouths of babes.”

  “Fourteen. One minute a man, the next...” He shrugged. “So what’s the problem? What do I need to know?”

  “If Vera dies before Scott does, I’ve agreed to resume his legal guardianship. I won’t be his wife,” she quickly added, “just his guardian.”

  “So you’d be in charge of his legal stuff? His medical stuff?”

  “Exactly. Can you deal with that?”

  “I think I can live with it. Hell, I think I can live with you going to the nursing home to shave the guy every day. As long as every night you’re in my arms.”

  “I think I can live with that.” She lowered her hand, slipped into his embrace, snuggling into his chest.

  He wrapped his arms around her.

  “I love you,” she said softly.

  Music to his ears. Words he thought he’d have to wait a lot longer to hear. “You what?”

  She gently slapped his shoulder in the same spot she’d punched it earlier. “Love you.”

  He’d never grow tired of hearing that. “I love you, too.” He slipped his fingers beneath her chin, tilting her head up. “Paperwork hasn’t been filed yet, but...I need to kiss you now.”

  This time the smile she gave him lit up her eyes. No more was she a ghost of the woman he’d had a crush on when they were young. No more a stricken woman whose cheating husband made her feel defective.

  At her nod, he leaned down. Lost himself in her lips, her mouth, the warmth of her body melded against his.

  Finally, they disengaged. As the fog of desire cleared from her eyes, somberness settled there. Then a fleeting bit of panic chased through them.

  “What now?” he asked.

  Her eyes grew even larger and her mouth opened for a moment before she spoke. “Who’s going to tell your mother?”

  He burst into laughter, rocking her in his arms. “I gave you my word, I’ve got your back, Ronni. We’ll send her a postcard after we elope.”

  EPILOGUE

  YEARS AGO, HE’D promised his brother he would take care of Nick and Ronni. Today, he’d promise the same thing to them.

  Make it official. Really make good on his word.

  But he was going to be late to the courthouse.

  Again.

  The Camaro’s tires squealed as Hayden took a corner a tad too quickly. His brother Greg braced his arm against the dashboard. “Take it easy. It would be great if you actually married Ronni before making her a widow, you know? She’s already lost one Hawkins man before she officially became part of the family. Let’s not make it two. Plus, I’ve got a new baby who really needs a father.”

  “We’re going to be late.” The jeweler had wanted Hayden and Greg to ooh and aah over his creations a lot longer than Hayden had patience for.

  “She’ll wait, I promise. After all the other hoops she’s jumped through to marry you, including dealing with Mom to plan this low-key wedding instead of eloping with you, I don’t think she’s going to let a few minutes chase her away.”

  “It’s not her I’m worried about. It’s the judge.”

  “So we’ll find another judge. The courthouse is full of them.”

  “No, it has to be Judge Madison. Ronni insists. He’s the one who wrote out Nick’s probation terms. She feels since he brought us together, it’s only fitting that he marry us.”

  Hayden checked the dashboard clock one more time, as if that would get them there faster. One other potential problem loomed, as well. “Hope nobody’s leaked it to the media. I’d like today to go without Ronni having to face them.” Getting busted on his wedding day for beating a reporter didn’t sound like a good idea.

  Besides, he had plans for his wedding night. They didn’t include being locked in a cell.

  “Speaking of the media...” Greg flipped down the visor, checking his tie while they drove. “Just who was it, do you think, who leaked that video of Scott cheating on Ronni in Iraq?”

  The media had been all over her when she’d filed the divorce papers, which were a matter of public record. But tones had changed after they’d discovered Scott’s philandering ways. Ronni had gone from evil, coldhearted woman to Erie’s wronged sweetheart in the space of one short video clip.

  “I’m not sure,” he said. “But whoever it was, I’d like to shake his hand.”

  “Any suspects?”

  “Yeah. There’s a guy, Dan Abbott, from Scott’s unit. I met him when Scott was in the hospital. The way he looked at Ronni sometimes... I think he did it. Despite what Ronni believes, I think he might be the one who sent her the video in the first place.”

  All the on-street parking spaces in front of the courthouse were full, but because they were holding a small reception afterward at the Erie Club, next door to the courthouse, it didn’t matter. Hayden eased the car into the lot at the club and jumped out, tossing the keys to the valet. “Thanks, man.”

  Finn barreled down the steps of the club, turning his jacket collar up against the chilly March breeze. “’Bout time you guys got here. Thought maybe you got cold feet.”

  “Hell, no. Everything ready for later?”

  “I checked with the chef myself. Tasted everything. It’s all good.” Finn had worked as a chef at the club before leaving to open his restaurant, Fresh. He’d insisted on handling the arrangements for the menu. Probably to the current chef’s chagrin.

  At the security checkpoint, they stripped off their coats, sent them through the X-ray machine. Passed through the metal detector and grabbed everything back on the other side. Hayden was partway down the hall when a voice called to him.

  “What? You don’t even say hi, let alone anything else?”

  He turned to find Jeannie standing at the metal detector. “Jeannie. I didn’t see you there.”

  “I’m crushed.”

  He grinned, spread his arms. “I told you one day you’d be sorry. Missed your chance. I’m a one-woman man now. And in twenty minutes, I’ll be a married man.”

  She placed her hand over her chest. “The women of Erie mourn their loss. Tell her she’s a lucky girl.”

  “I’ll do that!” He turned with a wave and bolted down the hallway, heading for the elevators.

  “You’re sure about this?” Greg asked him once the doors slid shut. “We’ve still got time to get you out of here.” His brother smirked. Hayden had told him the same thing the day of his wedding.

  Hayden slapped him in the shoulder. “Thanks. But I’m going through with it. I’m not taking any chances on losing her now.”

  And as soon as he got her home, they’d start working on another tie. A baby of their own.

  He wouldn’t mind if it took a few tries to make it work.

  When the brothers entered the courtroom, the gathering of people—their immediate family, plus Tamara and Vera, who’d been extremely supportive of Ronni’s choice—breathed a collective sigh of relief. Their mother wagged a finger at Hayden, pointing to her watch.

  H
e shrugged.

  Ronni, wearing an eggshell skirt with a long-sleeved jacket, both overlaid with lace, waited for him at the front of the courtroom. When she saw him, she smiled. Her eyes lit up.

  Her skin glowed. Everything about her screamed happiness. Life.

  A far cry from the first time he’d seen her in the probation office downstairs. Or the day he’d taken her home from the hospital after Scott’s bout with pneumonia, when she’d been a mere shadow.

  He squared his shoulders.

  “Stop preening,” Greg muttered. “Now get your ass up there and marry the girl. Before she comes to her senses and changes her mind.”

  Hayden paused before the railing where Nick stood, looking uncomfortable in his suit and tie. They’d had to buy him a new outfit. The kid had grown two inches since the start of the school year.

  Hayden stuck out his hand. “You’re still good with this, right?”

  “We’re good.” The boy gave him a firm handshake. “So long as you don’t expect me to call you Dad. You’ve been Unk for so long, I don’t think I could change if I wanted to.”

  “I don’t want to replace your father, Nick. Ever. I’m good with being Unk.”

  The judge cleared his throat.

  Hayden hustled to his place at the front of the courtroom, alongside Ronni. He laced his fingers with hers.

  Judge Madison began the wedding ceremony, but Hayden hardly heard a word. He was too busy drinking in the sight of Ronni, knowing that from this day forward they were a team. Until the judge said, “Hayden and Ronni have chosen to write their own vows. Ronni? You begin, please.”

  She turned to face Hayden. Unlacing their fingers, she placed one palm on his chest. The twinkle in her eyes told him what she wanted. He covered it with his own hand, and placed his other over her heart. She grasped his fingers. “Hayden. I love you. Every beat of my heart belongs to you. You’ve restored me to life. And I pledge the rest of that life to walk beside you. To be your partner. Your helpmate. Your lover. Forsaking all others. Forever.”

  “Lovely,” the judge said. “Hayden?”

  “I love you, Ronni. Semper Fi.”

  Her smile widened.

  “Uh, is that it, son?” the judge asked.

  “I think that says it all,” Ronni responded.