Love Me Tender (Seven Brides, Seven Brothers)

by Calhoune, Belle

  “W-What are you doing here? What do you want?”

  Her smile faded. She drew her eyebrows together. “All I wanted was to see you. Face to face. Mother to son.”

  “You're not my mother!” he snapped. “You may have given birth to me, but you were never a mother to me.”

  She let out a wild cry that hurt his ears. “Don't say that! I know what I did to you. I know I let you down. That I was a terrible mother. It was splashed across all the newspapers for everyone to see. Mother abandons son for trip to Vegas. Child living in filth.” She advanced towards him, causing him to take a step backward even though a counter separated them. “I've been haunted by that for twenty years.”

  He shook his head in disbelief. “You? You've been haunted?” he shouted. “I was the one who was left. Abandoned. I was seven years old and forced to fend for myself. Do you have any idea of what I went through?”

  Her face crumpled. “Oh, Nico. Don't you know I would give my own life to take that back so it never happened?”

  “You can't erase it,” he said through clenched teeth. “You can't go back in time and take it back.” His hands were tightly fisted at his sides. He was reminding himself to keep a cool head, but the sight of his biological mother was setting him off. He felt a wild desire to lash out the same way he'd done as a child when he'd first moved to Breeze Point to live with his adoptive family. He'd punched and hit and lashed out for weeks until he'd finally settled down. And it was all tied up in her and the things she'd subjected him to as a child.

  No way. His childhood was a trigger she didn't want to push.

  “You're right. I can't erase it. But I can try to make amends,” she said in a low voice. “There's always hope for that.”

  “Where did you hear that from? Some program you attended for neglectful mothers?”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “You're hard. Bitter. It's my fault. I made you this way. I thought being with that family, the Donahues—”

  “Don't talk about my family,” he growled. “You don't have the right.”

  She held up her hand. “You're right. The Donahue family raised you up and gave you the life I never could. They were a blessing for you.”

  “You have no idea what they've done for me,” he seethed. “They gave me the very air I breathe.”

  “I know a little bit. I seen you in the paper after you graduated from high school. I know you went to Stanford way out in California. On a scholarship. I was so proud of you, Nico.”

  “My name is not Nico,” he said through clenched teeth. “Nico was the little boy you left for twelve days in a hovel of a house while you were partying in Las Vegas. That was a lifetime ago.”

  Loretta winced. She looked down and began twiddling her fingers. “I was an addict back then. I'm not proud of anything I did. Leaving you by yourself like that—”

  Her voice trailed off. Her face was streaked with tears. And still he felt nothing. No connection. No empathy. Just a void where his feelings for her should have been. Despite her pleas, he didn't know this woman. She was a stranger, connected to him only by DNA.

  “I've changed. I'm different now. I wish I could have been better for you, but I didn't know how back then.”

  All the wind had been taken out of his sails. He didn't even want to fight with her. It was too easy to knock her down with the truth. All he wanted to do was disentangle himself from her so that he could rid himself of this sick feeling in his stomach.

  “Loretta, I'd like you to leave. I know this may sound cruel, but I'm not interested in reconnecting. That's something you do with old friends from middle school or college.” He stared straight into eyes that looked eerily like his own. “You threw me away once. You don't get to waltz back into my life twenty years later and make nice.”

  She looked away for a moment and began to dig around her purse. After a few seconds she withdrew a business card and placed it down on the counter. Her eyes were moist with tears. “Everything you're saying is one hundred percent true. I probably don't deserve to be in your life. But I'm a big believer in redemption. That's the message I receive when I read the Bible. Even sinners like me deserve a shot at forgiveness. If I never see you again, please know I love you.” She turned on her heel and walked away, her gait a bit uneven. Once he was alone he reached for the card, flipping it over in his hand. Loretta Sabatino. Owner of Maids by Design. Her business phone number, email and cell phone number were printed on the card.

  A feeling of disgust swept through him as he looked at the card. He crumpled it up and threw it down on the floor, wanting it out of his sight. He felt tainted. His worst nightmare had come creeping back into his life, and he hadn't even seen her coming. A few years back his parents had told him that his biological father had passed away from injuries sustained in a car accident. He'd felt nothing then. And he should feel nothing now, he chided himself.

  Redemption. Forgiveness. He believed in those things with all his heart, but he wasn't about to give her a free pass. Too much water had flowed over that bridge for her to just snap her fingers and receive forgiveness.

  Receiving this unexpected visit felt like someone had dug up a grave. He'd buried his mother a long time ago when he'd been ripped from his home and the only life he'd ever known because of her bad life choices. No! He didn't have enough room in his heart to grant her the redemption she was seeking.

  *

  Layla stood back with a critical eye and surveyed the living room area of the cottage. She'd scrubbed the place from top to bottom and polished the hardwood flooring. She'd dusted, aired out the place and put up new curtains in all the rooms. She'd ordered a few pieces from a local furniture store that had been delivered this morning. She'd packaged up anything she didn't want to hold on to, such as china, a small bookcase, the love seat, a rug and some books. The total effect was breathtaking. She sucked in a breath as she took it all in. The new furniture—a red love seat and a cream colored couch—made the room pop with a burst of color. She'd hung up a few pieces of art and tossed some brightly colored pillows on the coach. A purple throw rug brought it all together and gave the cottage a modern feel.

  She couldn't wait for Nick to get here so he could see the transformation of the cottage. He was already a half an hour late. She'd had such a wonderful afternoon with Nick out on his boat. Spending time with him allowed her to dare to dream of things she'd once believed were out of her reach.

  The buzzing of her cell phone caught her attention. As she reached for her phone, Nick's name popped up on her screen.

  “Hey, Nick,” Layla said as she answered. “Are you running late?”

  “Hi Layla. I'm sorry. I'm going to have to cancel our plans.” His voice sounded clipped.

  “Oh.” The word slipped out before she could mask her disappointment.

  “Sorry I didn't call earlier. Things are crazy around here.”

  “I was worried about you, Nick.”

  “Don't worry about me, Layla. I'm fine.” His voice sounded abrupt. Not like the Nick she knew so well and had spent the afternoon with on Cape Cod Bay.

  Perhaps something was wrong. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “No,” he said curtly. “I just need to get back to work. I'll talk to you later.”

  Next thing she knew, a dial tone was sounding in her ear.

  Work? He'd said nothing about a family emergency or anything of vital importance. Nick was giving her the brush off. She shut her eyes as the humiliation cut straight through her like a razor. What a fool she was! This is what she got for dreaming and wishing and hoping. Once again, she'd allowed her feelings for Nick to override her common sense. Even though she'd warned herself not to get too attached to Nick, she'd already gotten wrapped up in him. And now she was feeling rejected and sad and unworthy of a man like Nick Donahue.

  No! She wasn't going to sink into a funk where she blamed herself. She'd vowed never to do that again. Being married to a man like Grant had instilled in her a low sense of s
elf-worth. He'd told her so many times that she was worthless, she'd grown to believe it. It had taken the last two years to slowly build herself back up again. There was no way she was going to slide back into that netherworld of low self-esteem and doubt.

  She walked over to her fridge and pulled out a pint of ice cream from the local creamery. Opening her cutlery drawer, she pulled forth a big spoon, one that was perfect for eating ice cream. Right now she was going to do what most women did when a man stood them up for a date. She was going to let the ice cream thaw, put her pajamas on and curl up on the couch. And then, if only for tonight, she was going to wallow.

  *

  The moment Nick rounded the corner onto Ocean Street, some of the stress of the morning began to dissipate. The Donahue family home sat mid-way down the block. Nick's chest tightened with emotion at the sight of it. It represented safety and security and an abundance of love. A million different memories resided in this house.

  Although it ate him up inside to have canceled his movie date with Layla, he'd been in no mood to take her out and enjoy an evening with her. All day he'd been stewing about his run in with Loretta. Where had she come from? And what did she want from him? It had sent shivers up his spine when she'd rattled off the information about Stanford and the scholarships he'd achieved. Had she been following him all these years? Why had she decided to walk back into his life now?

  Not knowing where else to go to unload his feelings, Nick pulled up to his parents' house and let himself in the front door. He'd called a little while ago to let them know he was on his way over. As soon as he stepped over the threshold, the smell of marinara sauce drifted toward him from the kitchen. Nick closed his eyes and let out a groan. This house and the amazing smells he'd grown up with were majorly responsible for his decision to open a restaurant. A lover of all things related to food, Nick had grown up cooking with his parents and learning the ins and outs of entertaining and presenting food that was pleasing to the palate.

  “Is that you, Nicky?” His mother's voice called out from the kitchen.

  He peeked his head around the entryway, hoping to catch his mother in a candid moment. Ever since he was a kid he'd liked to watch his mother in the kitchen performing her culinary magic. At the moment she was standing at the stove with her back to him. There was a simple grace in her bearing. The way she held the wooden spoon spoke of a woman well versed in all the fineries of a kitchen. Nick's heart clenched. How long would it be before she forgot her recipes? Would there be a time when she left the stove on and started a kitchen fire? These were very strong possibilities depending on the progression of her vascular dementia. At the moment they were all holding their breath and trying not to panic. He'd done his research, and he knew that a medical diagnosis such as this caused friction and strain within a family. With so many personalities, it would be a miracle if something didn't combust. That's what happened when everyone bottled up their feelings and allowed them to fester.

  “Looking good there,” he said, letting out a low whistle.

  She whirled around, her wooden spoon spewing marinara sauce all over the stove. “You scared me. I thought you were here, but you didn't answer.” There was a look of confusion etched on her face.

  He felt badly for a moment. She looked more vulnerable than usual. Or was it his imagination? Had he really frightened her?

  In a few quick strides he was standing beside her, taking her in his arms and cradling her. She was shaking. He pulled away from her, taking a moment to look deeply in her eyes. His mother's eyes always revealed everything. The worry. The fear. The joy. Now, all he saw was doubt.

  “I'm sorry, Ma. I wanted to see you in your element. What's going on?”

  She ran her hand along his cheek, a soft smile hovering on her lips. “Nothing. My nerves are on edge. Not sure why.”

  The doctors had warned that there would be changes in his mother's behavior, moods and patterns as the disease progressed. For the Donahue family, this was the new normal. No more sneaking up on his mother in the kitchen.

  “Whass going on here?” His father's voice cut in the conversation as he walked into the kitchen. “I heard you cry out, Maggie.”

  She patted Nick's chest. “Nothing. Our baby here startled me.”

  Nick groaned. “At what point in my adult life do I stop being the baby?”

  “Not any t-time soon,” his father joked, eyes twinkling with merriment.

  “What brings you here on a work night?” his mother asked. “We were surprised when you called to say you'd be coming over.”

  Nick scrunched his nose. “There's actually someone I've been seeing. We were supposed to go out tonight but something came up.”

  Maggie raised her hands to her mouth and squealed. Her eyes went wide. “You're dating someone? Oh, Nicky. That's wonderful.”

  “That's nice, son,” Alec chimed in. “We're happy for you.”

  He looked back and forth between his parents. “Wow. Am I that pathetic about dating? You guys sound like I just won the Nobel Peace Prize.”

  Maggie and Alec chuckled and sent each other a look loaded with meaning.

  “You're the furthest thing from pathetic,” Maggie said in a voice that brooked no argument. “It's just been a long time since you dated anyone. And let's face it, half the single women in Breeze Point are interested. I have friends calling me every week to set you up with their daughters or nieces or church members.”

  “I've been focusing on my restaurant,” Nick answered. “I don't have a lot of time to date.” He knew he sounded defensive, but it had always been a sensitive subject for him. Between his six brothers, Sarah, Tess, Gabrielle, his parents and a host of friends, he'd been the target of their matchmaking efforts. A few times he'd conceded and gone on blind dates, but they'd never ended up going anywhere. Because of that, he knew his parents worried about him. They probably feared he'd end up alone.

  His father slapped him on the back and said, “Nickeee, you're a g-good looking g-guy. A catch. We want you to find y-your other half.”

  His other half. Layla's face immediately came into focus. Was she the one? He couldn't help but feel that Layla was the reason no other woman had ever captivated him enough to settle down into a serious relationship.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” He stroked his jaw as his thoughts shifted to the matter at hand. “I need to talk to you two. Something's happened you need to know about.”

  His parents exchanged worried glances. “Tell us,” his father said.

  “I had a visitor at the Cove this morning.” He looked back and forth between them. “Her name was Loretta Sabatino. She said I'm her son.”

  His mother let out a loud gasp. She raised her hand to her throat. “No! W-What does she want?”

  His father sat down at the table, his expression one of shock. His body seemed to sag. “After all these years she just shows up at your place of business?”

  Nick sat down across from his father. All of sudden his legs didn't feel so steady. “Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. She kept calling me Nico and saying how much she regretted the past.”

  “What does she want? A second chance?” Maggie's voice rang out shrilly.

  “Maggie,” Alec said calmly. “Don't get so upset about it. L-let Nick talk.”

  “She said she's seeking some type of redemption,” Nick explained. “Sounded like she's turned her life around, or at least she's trying to do so.” Nick's thoughts strayed to the crumpled business card he'd rescued from the floor and placed in his jacket pocket.

  “Well she certainly had a far way to go after all she did,” Maggie said, her features tight and unforgiving.

  Alec glanced over at her. “Redemption is possible, Maggie. And we ought to g-grant forgiveness as often as possible.”

  Maggie walked towards Alec and slapped her hand down on the kitchen table. “Alec Donahue. I'm a forgiving person, but I confess I struggle with forgiving the people who hurt my boys. That's a flaw in me that I've pr
ayed that the Lord would fix. Twenty years later and He hasn't seen fit to change me.” She closed her eyes and let out a ragged breath. “When I think of all you endured at such a young age, Nick....I want to find Loretta Sabatino and run her out of town on a rail.” Her shoulders sagged, and she began to weep.

  Nick jumped up from his seat and pulled her against his chest. “Hey. Don't cry. I would have never come over here with this news if I thought it would upset you like this.”

  She pulled away from him and swept at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I don't like being an unforgiving person. It doesn't sit right with my soul. When you came to us you were such a broken little boy. I blame her for that.”

  He reached out and wiped away a tear. “You're a very forgiving, loving person. You're just protective of your sons.” He winked at her. “We don't call you Mama Grizzly Bear for nothing.”

  That earned him a laugh. Maggie began to giggle, which quickly turned into a roar. Alec joined in until they were all three in hysterics at the long-standing Donahue brothers' joke.

  A comfortable silence filled the kitchen as the laughter died down.

  “Do you have any idea of what you'll do?” Maggie asked him, her brows furrowed. “I'm not trying to pressure you, my love. I want to support you.”

  He shrugged. “I don't know. I want to be a forgiving person, but that's an awful lot to forgive. And I don't feel even the slightest connection to her.”

  “Pray on it,” Alec said. “Y-You're smart. Always have been. Y-You'll know what to do.”

  Maggie shook her head fiercely. “Do what's right for you. Not for me. Or your father. Or even Loretta. Do what your heart and soul commands you to do.”

  Nick let out a sigh. “I'm kicking myself for bailing on my date tonight. When I called to cancel there was this tinge of disappointment in her voice. She probably thinks I'm a jerk.”

  “S-so, this girl who thinks you're a jerk. W-who is s-s-she?” Alec asked, a look of interest twinkling in his eyes.