One Hundred Goodbyes (An Aspen Cove Romance Book 9)

by Kelly Collins

  Should you need me, please don’t hesitate to call. I’m pulling twelve-hour shifts this week at the fire station but can swing by and pick you up if you need a ride.

  Thomas

  She ran her fingers over the neat handwriting. The man had made her decaf and left his phone number on the bottom of the sheet.

  While a ride sounded marvelous, there was no way she would impose on him. Giving up his house was enough. There had to be a way to pay it forward.

  She reached into the paper bag of cat supplies and took out a can of cat food. Porkchop danced around her ankles like she hadn’t eaten in days when she’d been fed last night. In fact, a bowl of dry food sat untouched in the corner of the kitchen next to a bowl of water—no doubt filled by Thomas.

  “Poor man, he had no idea what helping us would turn into.” With the cat taken care of, she picked up her purse and headed into the sunshine. She’d considered shoehorning herself into the driver’s seat of her car, but a walk sounded wonderful and no doubt would be good for her health as well as her disposition.

  She remembered the route back into town. It was just a couple of blocks. As the sun kissed her cheeks, she glanced around the charming town with intersecting street names like Rose and Hyacinth and Pansy. The mountains were like arms hugging her from two sides and in the distance, the sparkling glass surface of a lake peeked between properties.

  It took her fifteen minutes to get to Main Street. Not because of the distance but because of the distractions. There were too many quaint houses. Some fully restored and some near ruin but all telling a story about the town and how what once was downtrodden would soon be restored. She hoped her own story could have a similar trajectory.

  She gripped the handle of the clinic door and pushed it open. The bell from above jingled and Doc’s Lovey lifted her head from the newspaper.

  “Oh, Eden, so glad to see you. How are you feeling?” She moved toward the nearby staircase as she spoke.

  “I’m okay. I got a good night’s sleep and a nice walk over here.”

  The older woman held up a finger and hollered, “Paul, your patient arrived.”

  Eden thought she heard him answer something like Thank you, Lovey, but she couldn’t be sure.

  “Let me take you back to the office. If you’ve forgotten, I’m Agatha.”

  “Doc calls you Lovey.”

  She blushed. “He does and I love it, but it would be weird if you called me that.”

  “Agatha it is.”

  As soon as Eden took a seat in the chair in the corner, Doc walked inside.

  “How’s the little mama? Was Thomas accommodating?”

  “He’s wonderful.” It was funny how swoony her voice sounded, but the words were true. “He’s been great. I feel bad because he gave me his room.”

  Doc shook his head.

  She wasn’t certain what that meant. Was it because she should have spent the night on the couch or something else?

  “Serves him right. He’s got three bedrooms and one bed. That sounds like piss poor planning to me.”

  Some unrestrainable need to defend Thomas surfaced. “It’s his house. He can do as he likes. His media room is impressive.”

  “How many televisions does one man need?”

  She laughed. “Apparently two. Massively big ones.”

  Doc checked her blood pressure and gave her a frown. “No salt. Get some rest. Eat healthy. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She took that to mean that there was no change. “Do I check out at the front? I’d like to pay you for yesterday and today.” If her pressure hadn’t spiked yet it would now. The unknown of what his fees would be made her insides twist. While she still had the check from her sister, it was supposed to cover the birth of the baby. The amount she gave her might be sufficient, but she doubted it. Given the circumstances, the money felt wrong and dirty and she wouldn’t cash the damn check unless she absolutely had to.

  “No charge.”

  She did a double take. “Excuse me?”

  “I said no charge. If you argue with me, I’ll charge you double.”

  She shook her head. “Isn’t nothing times two still nothing?”

  Doc led her to the front door. “I knew you were a smart one.” He pulled the door open. “You have enough problems. You don’t need to borrow more. I’m happy to help where I can.”

  So overwhelmed with his kindness, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his weathered cheek. “Thanks, Doc.”

  Porkchop had been fed, but she had not. She’d thrown back a cup of coffee before she dashed out the door and now her appetite was rearing its ugly head. She lifted her nose and followed the smell of bacon to the diner.

  Inside, she wandered over to the same table where she and Thomas had shared dinner last night. Only this time a woman with a sleek blond bob came to the table. Her name tag read Maisey. No doubt the owner of the diner.

  “You must be Eden.”

  “News travels fast.” If she wasn’t so big, she would have crawled under the table.

  “My niece waited on you and Thomas last night. She’s also Luke’s girl so …”

  “Luke?” She had no idea who that was.

  “Luke is the fire chief.”

  “Oh.” She put two and two together fast. “Your niece is lovely.”

  Maisey laughed. “I’ll keep her.” She leaned against the table. “What will it be? I hear Doc wants you on a low salt plan so no breakfast meats but how about pancakes or oatmeal and fresh fruit?”

  The little one gave her an internal beating that said any food would be appreciated. “Oatmeal and fruit would be wonderful.”

  “Coming up.” Several minutes later, Maisey was back with a big glass of milk and a smaller glass of juice. “Need your vitamins D and C. Drink up.”

  “Thank you.” She sipped the milk and looked around the place. Was it always this slow or only because school had started back up? Did they close in the winter and if so where would the locals eat? She had so many unanswered questions about the town. Having grown up in larger cities, she wasn’t used to the nuances of small-town life, but if they were all like Aspen Cove, she couldn’t figure out why anyone would want to live anywhere else. If she were truly going to have a baby, this would be the perfect place to raise a child.

  The thunk of the bowl on the table took her out of her thoughts.

  “Anything else, sweetheart?”

  “Um…” Did she dare ask? Did she dare not? She had limited resources and needed a job. “Yes. Do you have or know of anyone who … needs help? I could really use a job. Since Doc Parker doesn’t want me traveling in my advanced condition, I’m stuck here without resources.”

  Maisey pulled out the chair across from her. “Oh honey, I’d give you a job in a second, but working here won’t be good for your health. You come talk to me once that baby arrives, and I’ll hook you up.”

  An unexpected tear slipped from Eden’s eye. It was silly to cry, but she was moved by the kindness and moved by desperation. “Okay, I’ll figure something out then. I have experience. I know what the work is like.”

  Maisey’s face softened. “Then you know that it’s not the best option right now.”

  She couldn’t argue. The last few weeks had been arduous, and at the end of her shift everything hurt. The aches and pains had barely gone away before the next shift began.

  “Thank you for your consideration. If you know anyone who can use the help of a very pregnant woman, I’d be grateful for the information.”

  Maisey rubbed her chin between her thumb and finger. “You eat, I’ll be right back.” Maisey moved out of her seat like a bullet from a pistol and raced out the front door.

  The first bite of oatmeal made her nose scrunch. “Needs salt,” she said to no one. She tossed in the fresh berries served in a bowl on the side and a splash of milk and things got a lot better.

  The door opened and Maisey came in with a woman pushing a double stroller.

  “This is Charlie Whatl
ey.” Maisey pulled out the seat she’d been sitting in and moved the stroller beside it. “You two need to have a talk. You have a lot in common.” Maisey stared at Eden’s stomach before she walked away.

  The pretty woman sat down across from her. “Hi, Eden. Maisey tells me you’re looking for a job.”

  “I am. I know it seems odd since I’m obviously pregnant and close to my due date, but I’ve found myself in a predicament. While I can’t control many factors, a job would solve a lot of my problems.” She couldn’t help but lean forward to look into the stroller, where two little boys were sleeping. A dusting of brown hair covered their heads and angelic bowed lips puffed out air in slow rhythmic breaths.

  “This must be my lucky week. I could use some help.”

  Eden was certain she’d heard wrong. “Did you say you need help?”

  Charlie pointed to the babies. “They’re a handful but a blessing. I worked until the day I delivered so I know you can do it. All I need is someone to answer phones for a few hours in the morning and schedule appointments for the afternoon.” She smiled as she looked at Eden’s stomach. “When you deliver, you can bring the baby to work with you.”

  Her heart picked up its pace. Was it because she had a job or because Charlie assumed that she’d keep the baby? Could she? It was the first time she’d considered that a possibility.

  “What kind of job is this?”

  Charlie laughed. “I’m the town veterinarian. Doc Parker is my father, and I run the animal clinic next to his place.”

  “Oh, your father is amazing and so nice.”

  “He is, but he’s also a meddler, so watch out for him.”

  “I’m already the recipient of his kindness, but in truth he’s been more of a help than a hindrance.”

  “He’s a father to many.” There was a look of sadness in her eyes. “As his daughter it took me a long time to realize how good he really is.” She laid her hands on the table. “You want to start tomorrow at nine?”

  “Really?” She knew she should have asked about the pay and hours, but whatever she would make was certainly more than the nothing she was bringing in now.

  Having a job meant she’d be out of Thomas’s house and out of his hair. It also meant she could contribute as a way to thank him for his generosity.

  “Yep. Let’s do four hours a day and fifteen dollars an hour.”

  “Wow, that’s a lot for answering phones.”

  “It’s a lot of calls. A lot of scheduling and some of our clients”—she swirled her finger near her ear—“they like to talk about everything for a long time. I’d pay you twice as much to talk to Mrs. Brown if I could, but that’s the most I can afford right now.”

  “It’s too much, but I’ll take it.”

  She rose and gave Charlie a hug. She’d been giving a lot of hugs lately. If she wasn’t certain she was awake, she’d bet her life she was dreaming. Somehow, she’d found herself in a storybook instead of a town.

  Chapter Twelve

  Thomas

  Thomas rubbed the chrome with a soft towel, bringing the trim on the rig to a diamond-like sparkle. It wasn’t their normal Saturday shining session. That had been yesterday, but he needed to get his mind off Eden, and how he’d listened to her cry for hours last night.

  “You planning on rubbing a hole through that today or do you think it will take you until next week?” Luke asked.

  “Just keeping busy.” He tossed the towel to the concrete floor and climbed down from the truck. “You need me for something?”

  “Why don’t you and I head over to Copper Creek and get supplies? James and Jacob have cleared out the cupboards and they’re telling Maisey I’m starving them to death.”

  Thomas chuckled. “They both have hollow legs. I don’t think they’re ever full. Maybe you should take one of them so they can’t blame you for not buying enough.”

  Luke bent over and swiped up the cloth and tossed it into a nearby trash can. “Neither of them looked like they need a break. You’ve got something on your mind, and it’s written all over your face.”

  He shook his head at his boss. “If it’s written all over my face then there’s no reason to talk about it. I’m a walking billboard.”

  Luke tossed him the keys to the company truck. “You drive, and I’ll listen. Something tells me it all started with a pregnant woman.”

  His heart took a dive straight to his steel-toe boots. Luke couldn’t have known how close to the mark he was. While he was referring to Eden, Thomas knew it all started with Sarah.

  They hopped inside the truck and headed to Copper Creek.

  “You sure those two won’t burn down the station?”

  Luke laughed. “They might, but at least they’re trained to put the fire out.”

  Thomas glanced in the rearview mirror to catch Jacob shooting a basketball into the newly installed hoop. They all thought it would be a great idea. It was good exercise and it created a place where the locals interacted in friendly games with the crew.

  One of the things he loved most about Aspen Cove was the sense of community. His thoughts went back to Eden. She’d been there a day and yet everyone knew her, or about her and people were stepping up to the plate to do what they could to help. He’d walked out the door this morning and found a box of baby clothes on the porch. He had no idea who they were from, but he set them in the garage and would give them to Eden when he got home.

  How many casseroles had been delivered when he bought the house? For the first week, he’d walked out to find flower bulbs and paint for his fence. He wasn’t sure if it was a gift of kindness or a hint to get things done.

  He turned onto the highway that connected the towns.

  “What’s got you frowning like a kid who dropped their ice cream cone?” Luke asked.

  “I’m not frowning.”

  “Bullshit, you’ve got a crater the size of a canyon creasing your forehead. Are you unhappy that Doc bullied you into taking in a stray?”

  That was exactly how Eden had described herself yesterday. He made an attempt to relax his brows. The strain in his muscles gave him a headache.

  “The timing is inconvenient. I’m trying to get the house finished by the first snowfall. All I want to do during my days off is watch football and Netflix.”

  “And she’s stopping you?”

  He shook his head. “No, but I can’t paint because she’s pregnant, the fumes are dangerous. I don’t want to make a lot of dust or noise. I’m single for a reason.”

  There was a moment of silence. “What is that reason?”

  He turned on the radio. “Another time maybe.”

  Luke turned it off. “No diversions. There’s no time like the present. Besides, you’re my friend, and it’s time we got to know each other better.”

  “You want to have a sleepover and roast weenies?”

  “We have sleepovers a few times a month at the station and we never roast weenies. Now tell me, is it Eden?”

  “I just don’t get her. She’s eight months pregnant and alone. What man leaves his woman alone?”

  Luke heaved a sigh. “Not all women need a man to have a baby.”

  Thomas chanced a look at his friend. “Every woman needs a man to have a baby or at least his sperm. There’s a man out there who’s going to be a father, and if he knows and isn’t taking care of her then he’s an asshole. If he doesn’t know because she’s been dishonest, then she’s the asshole.”

  “Does she seem like a dishonest person?”

  “No, but who does? Women lie all the time.” Each time he thought about Sarah he was gutted.

  Luke fidgeted with the air vents as if the conversation was making him uncomfortably warm.

  That would be fine for Thomas since he didn’t want to talk about any of it anyway.

  “Tell me about her.”

  He shrugged. “She’s pretty and easy to talk to but she’s hiding something.” He thought about telling him how she’d cried all night, but somehow that s
eemed wrong. If Eden wanted everyone to know her misery, she’d cry in public, not hide in his room with her face buried in his pillow. “I asked her if she wanted to talk about her situation and she clammed up.”

  “She doesn’t know you. Obviously, if she’s heading somewhere in the late stages of her pregnancy, things aren’t going her way. Let her warm up to you. Give her a reason to trust you.”

  “Why can’t she just tell me the truth? I’m opening my house to her.”

  “Opening your house is far different from opening your heart. Don’t expect something from her that you wouldn’t give yourself.”

  “What? I’m open.”

  “No, you’re not. I know you’ve been hurt, but hell, man, haven’t we all? It’s how we grow and define what we want and what we’re willing to put up with. Who the hell shredded your heart?”

  The only people who knew about Sarah and the baby were his parents and his team in Silver Springs. Did he dare tell Luke? Moving to Aspen Cove was his way of leaving it all behind, but had he? It was still a fresh memory even though years had passed. He felt the betrayal like a dull rusty knife nicking at his heart. All he had to see was a pregnant woman or a baby and he bled a little bit more. It was death by a thousand cuts. Lately, with all the marriages and babies, he’d been hemorrhaging.

  “You want to know?” He lifted a brow and glanced at Luke. “I had a fiancée named Sarah. I loved her more than I loved anything. She was pregnant with our first child—a girl we were going to name Heather after the pink flowers that Sarah loved so much.”

  Luke rubbed his jaw. “What happened? Did something bad happen?”

  “Oh yeah, something really bad happened. I watched as my daughter was born. Cut her umbilical cord and kissed my soon-to-be wife.” He remembered looking at her with such awe and love. Sarah refused to get married while she was pregnant. She wanted the dress and the flowers and the crowd of people buying her too many toasters. When he looked at her in that moment, he knew soon he’d make her his forever. “God, man, it was the most beautiful moment. My life was perfect. Then it all turned to shit when I found out Heather wasn’t mine.”