Welcome to Bluestone 1 - Bluestone homecoming

by Fredrick, MJ

  They sat in their usual movie spot but Leo’s attention wasn’t on the movie.

  He waited until Indiana Jones had escaped the cave and the poison darts and the snake on the plane before he broached the subject. “So I’m thinking about buying a house here and moving out of Grandma and Grandpa’s house. We’d still see them all the time, but we’d have our own house and our own rules and, well, it would be ours.”

  Once Indiana Jones was back in the classroom, Max tore his gaze away and turned to his dad, his brow furrowed. “Just you and me?”

  Leo took a deep breath, knowing how change affected his son. “I’m—I was thinking about Trinity. And maybe seeing if she’d, um, if she’d marry me.”

  Max’s body went still, a rare enough thing that Leo didn’t know what it meant. He hurried on.

  “I haven’t asked her yet. I wanted to get your take first. But I was thinking, if you like the idea, that I’d ask her this weekend.” Leo watched his son’s face, thoughtful, but not giving an indication one way or another. “She wouldn’t be replacing your mom, but she’d be part of our family, in a new way. I think it’d be nice.”

  “Maybe.” The boy dragged out the word, frowning. “She’s nice. Do you love her?”

  From the mouths of babes. Leo realized then they’d never said the words. He knew his feelings, but didn’t know hers. “I do. I miss her when I’m not with her, and I like to make her happy. That’s how I felt when I fell in love with your mom.”

  “And you’d still go away for work and I’d stay with Trinity?”

  “I might go away for a few days now and again.” Now that he’d decided to buy the house by the school, he’d decided against buying Quinn’s place. And with a baby coming, running a bar would be too much work, leaving too much on Trinity, allowing him to miss too much of his child’s life, as he had with Max. “But it wouldn’t be often. Maybe every couple of months.” He’d be home the rest of the time and write his book. He’d already gotten an agent with his platform, and would have a submission package ready by the end of June. Already he had ideas for two more books. It would be a lot of work, but he’d be around for his family.

  “Where would we live?”

  “You know that house I’m always driving by on the way to school?”

  “The reason we always go the long way? The yellow house?”

  Leo nodded, though yellow—it was a nice lemon color, maybe more suitable for Miami than Minnesota, but pretty. “Close to school for both of you.”

  “I’d have my own room? I could decorate it however I wanted?”

  “Within reason,” Leo smiled.

  “And it has a back yard? Could we maybe get a pool?”

  “Maybe. We’ll see what Trinity thinks.”

  Max’s frown deepened, then he nodded. “I guess you can marry her.”

  Leo pulled his son close. “Thanks, buddy. Now, one more favor. Don’t say anything to her about any of this.”

  “It’s a surprise?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  ***

  Saturday night was the concert, and while Leo was concerned about the reception Maddox’s replacement band would be getting, that was nothing compared to his nerves about how he was going to propose tonight. He hadn’t talked to Trinity at the movies, scared Max would spill the beans, and he hadn’t been able to talk to her today, since she was as busy as he was.

  He saw her carrying a stack of chairs and ran across the gravel lot to relieve her. “What are you doing, carrying these?” he demanded.

  She widened her eyes at him in warning. “I’m perfectly fine.”

  He glanced about and saw they’d attracted attention and backed off. “Right, well, don’t want your back going out. You’re dancing with me tonight.”

  She gave him a look, but it was more the look the old Trinity would give, the woman he’d driven three hours to spend the weekend with, not the nervous woman she’d become since they’d returned. He relaxed a little more. This was going to work out.

  The crowd was arriving from the chili cook-off, which Leo was glad he didn’t attend, given the unsettled feeling in his gut. Quinn chased him off after the parking lot was transformed. The other man didn’t know about Leo’s plans tonight, other than that Leo had changed his mind about buying the bar. Quinn had no hard feelings, which made Leo wonder if Trinity was right about his feelings for Bluestone, and more specifically, Lily.

  So Leo went home, showered, shaved and dressed in his favorite shirt. If his mother noticed his extra effort, she didn’t say anything. He and Max exchanged a solemn handshake, and he went off to woo the mother of his baby.

  Chapter Eleven

  Trinity smoothed her hands on her skirt as she scanned the crowd gathered in front of Quinn’s. Everyone seemed mostly happy despite the disappointment of not seeing Maddox Bradley. Only about a quarter of the people who’d made reservations kept them, according to Leo. She couldn’t imagine four times this many people in Bluestone. They needed to be careful what they wished for here, or they’d risk ruining their home. But the craft show and chili cook-off had been a success. The craft show would continue tomorrow, they’d have fireworks on the lake tomorrow night, and the baseball game on Monday. She was tired thinking about it. She’d considered going home for the evening, except that Leo had promised they’d dance tonight, which was why she was wearing her favorite dress, the sleeveless one she’d worn when she’d played catcher for him the first time. But she didn’t see him.

  Lily crossed the lot, looking as tired as Trinity felt. Perhaps they tried to do too much, be too much for too many people. But business was booming, both for Lily and Quinn and the diner and everyone else who catered to tourists. That was what they’d worked for.

  “You look fancy.” Lily twitched Trinity’s skirt playfully while looking ruefully at her own jeans.

  “Leo and I have a date.” She felt slightly guilty for not telling Lily about the baby, but that information would come out sooner or later. She felt a little thrill about having a date with the father of her child. Her child. She needed to get used to that idea, that this time she’d be there for everything with this child.

  And that Leo wanted to be, too.

  “So he’s come to his senses?” Lily leaned on the rail beside Trinity.

  “No telling. Has Quinn?”

  “He told me the offer on the bar was rescinded. So whether or not he’ll ever come to his senses, I don’t know.”

  The offer was rescinded? Lily didn’t know Leo had been the one to make an offer, so Trinity couldn’t say anything as panic rolled through her. If he’d taken it back, what did that mean? That he was bailing. She couldn’t catch her breath. Of course he would. Why would he stay here in this tiny town with her when he was used to so much more, baby or no?

  “Ladies,” Leo said behind them.

  Both women turned. Trinity’s pulse jumped. He was so handsome in the crisp shirt and new jeans, freshly shaven, hair carefully combed, eyes hopeful.

  “My God, Leo, when did you have time to iron?” Lily fingered the crease in his sleeve.

  “Go away, Lil.”

  “Leo!” Trinity protested his rudeness.

  “Got it. Out of here.” She flashed Trinity a smile and disappeared into the stream of people heading in to Quinn’s.

  He closed his hand around Trinity’s and led her down the stairs to the larger crowd gathering around the bandstand, but all she could think of was that he was leaving. Was he going to look her in the eyes tonight, and then take off tomorrow? She pushed the thoughts aside. If so, tonight would have to be special. Her last time with the father of her child.

  The band was pretty good, definitely going places, a combination of covers and original music, a blend of Coldplay and Keith Urban.

  “How did you find them?” she asked Leo as they stood at the edge of the dance floor, she with a pop and he with a beer.

  “They were scheduled to play Fourth of July. We had to do some shuffling, but we got
them early.”

  “And now we need someone for the Fourth of July.”

  “Better than a month away.” He took her pop and set it on a nearby table with his beer before he led her to the center of the dance floor. Her pulse sped up as he drew her closer, his focus on hers as his hands coursed up and down her sides. “You look incredible.”

  She choked on a laugh. “You have to be joking. I’m pale and have circles under my eyes and this dress won’t fit me much longer.” She shifted the tight fabric over her breasts to prove her point.

  He let his thumbs brush over her hips, close to her belly. “You’re beautiful. I want to hold you in my arms all night.”

  And then what? All she could think of was that he’d withdrawn his offer from Quinn. He’d be going. What would happen when the novelty of their relationship, of her pregnancy wore off? When she weighed a ton, or he had to change diapers in the middle of the night? What then?

  He stroked her hair back from her cheek. “Can we just have tonight? Right now, just us, not our families or Bluestone or anything. Just us.”

  She nodded and rested her head on his strong shoulder, wanting to stay here forever, wanted to put everything else out of her mind.

  But this was Bluestone. They got in two dances before he was pulled in one direction and she was pulled in another. She was still helping Beth gather up empty glasses to be washed when two hands closed over her waist.

  “We’ve done our part. Let’s get out of here before someone else finds something for us to do,” Leo said, his mouth close to her ear.

  And go where? She wanted to ask. His dad’s boat again? She had thought they might end up there tonight, but so soon? She’d hoped for more wooing, but of course he was right. The longer they stayed here, the more likely they’d be put back to work.

  She let Leo take her hand and lead her to the street. The music still floated around them, but the other noises faded enough that she could hear the lapping of the water against the shore, one of her favorite sounds. Some of the tension left her shoulders.

  “Mind if we walk?” he asked. “It’d be just as far to walk to the car and drive.”

  She frowned. The dock was right across the street. What was he talking about? But he turned right instead of heading toward the landing, and they walked along the deserted main street toward the school.

  “You okay in those shoes?” He nodded to her strappy sandals.

  “I’m a woman. I’m accustomed.” Though not at his long-legged speed, so she tugged at his hand to get him to slow down. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “What kind of surprise?”

  He grinned. “What kind of surprise would it be if I told you?” He folded his hand around hers and led her down the street in front of the school.

  “I feel like I should be getting to some of that work piled up on my desk,” she said as they walked past the dark empty building.

  “One more week and then you’re free.”

  “I have another week after the kids are gone. In the past I’ve managed it, but I always panic this time of year. Feels endless.”

  “Add to that this weekend—”

  She heaved a sigh. “My part is done after the craft show.”

  “I thought you’d play softball with us Monday. It should be okay, right, if you don’t go sliding into Quinn or something.”

  She was more thinking depending on how tired she was after this weekend, how emotionally drained after he told her he was leaving, but he was thinking about the baby’s safety. That was nice.

  He stopped in front of a sweet lemon-colored cottage with a lovely green lawn and roses along the front, beneath a picture window. His hand shifted on hers, nervously. She glanced up at him. She’d never seen Leo nervous. Well, maybe a little at the doctor’s office, but that was understandable. Before she could say anything, he guided her up the sidewalk to the wide porch.

  Did he know someone who lived here? She wracked her brain trying to remember whose house this was. “What’s going on?”

  He pulled a key out of his front pocket and opened the door.

  Her heart raced. No, she had to be wrong. But why would he have a key. “Leo?”

  He didn’t answer, only flicked on the light, which shone on the empty room, the gleaming wood floors, the soft sage-colored walls. Her heels echoed on the floor as he led her into the kitchen, not too big, not too small, but updated with granite counters and glass-fronted cabinets, stainless appliances. He didn’t say anything as he guided her through the living area to the bedrooms—three of them, one with French doors onto a back deck, an attached bathroom, with a glassed in shower. The other bathroom had a lovely deep tub and molded ceiling tiles, and ceramic tiles on the floor. The neatest little house, and her heart swelled with hope as he took her through the French doors onto the deck overlooking a backyard with a lovely playscape.

  The only piece of furniture was a patio table, and on the table was a small box that Leo plucked up. The music from Quinn’s floated over the lawn when he turned to her.

  “Do you like it?”

  “The house? It’s lovely.” Her voice shook as her gaze flicked from the box to his face. No nerves now, only the steady demeanor she was used to. Joy spread through every part of her, and tears burned the backs of her eyes.

  “Plenty of room for Max and the baby. Maybe not a lot of space, but we can convert the basement and maybe add on a bit as time passes.”

  “Leo.”

  He went down on one knee and took her left hand in his. Her legs started shaking as she looked into his beautiful blue eyes. “Do you like the house, Trinity?”

  “Leo,” she said again, unsure of what else to say.

  “When I went to Washington, I went crazy missing you. I realized then I’m in love with you. I wanted to hear you, feel you, wake up with you. And when I came back, and you told me you’re pregnant, it was like a sign.”

  “You didn’t call.”

  “We left things—badly. My fault. I didn’t know how to fix it over the phone.”

  She nodded, though the effort would have been nice, would have made things easier, but it was in the past. Right now her future knelt in front of her.

  “Will you live here with me? Have this baby with me?” He slid his other hand over her belly, rested there, and her skin jumped beneath his touch. “Will you marry me, Trinity?”

  She couldn’t speak, her throat swollen with emotion. Panic flashed in his eyes, and he covered it quickly with options.

  “We can move if you want, if Bluestone is too much, if being by your parents is too much. We can go anywhere you want. But I can see us here, the four of us, taking the kids to the lake, playing baseball, hanging out at Quinn’s, avoiding your parents, if you like.”

  She laughed then, choking on her tears. She squeezed his hand.

  “So?” His voice was tight now. “Do you need time to think?”

  She knelt before him and took his other hand. “I don’t need time to think. But I want you to know the reality.”

  “I do, Trin. And what I don’t know I’ll learn with you. What do you say?”

  “I say I love you, too, Leo, and want everything you said, especially you waking up with me.”

  He grinned and opened the box. She couldn’t see the ring, other than it was a round diamond, through the shimmer of her tears. Even when he slipped the delicate band on her finger, she could do no more than wrap her arms around him and kiss him, squeezing his hand tight.

  Holding on to her future.

  THE END

  About the Author

  MJ Fredrick knows about chasing dreams. Twelve years after she completed her first novel, she signed her first publishing contract. Now she divides her days between teaching elementary music and diving into her own writing, traveling everywhere in her mind, from Belize to Honduras to Africa to the past.

  Other titles

  Romantic suspense

  Guarded Hearts

/>   Midnight Sun

  Don’t Look Back (2012 Epic finalist)

  Breaking Daylight (2011 Epic winner)

  Beneath the Surface

  Hot Shot (2009 Epic winner)

  Contemporary romance

  Three Days, Two Nights

  Something to Talk About

  Road Signs

  Star Power

  Bull by the Horns

  Where There’s Smoke

  Historical romance

  Sunrise Over Texas

  Paranormal romance

  A Ghostly Charm

  An excerpt from

  Bluestone Song,

  Book 2 in the Bluestone trilogy

  Chapter One

  Beth Lapointe was working the lunch shift when Maddox Bradley walked into Quinn’s Bar and Grill in Bluestone, Minnesota. She’d just turned away from Dale Simmons, smiling and warm from the flirtation with the handsome doctor and stopped short when her past appeared in front of her.

  Maddox looked better than ever, lines fanning from those whiskey brown eyes, a healing scar beside his right eyebrow, straight brown hair combed neatly, his widow’s peak more pronounced, shoulders broad beneath a crisp white shirt, stomach flat into his Levi’s. She didn’t let her gaze slide any lower. He removed the cream-colored Stetson that had become his signature in a slow gesture, like he might have done if he came face to face with a panther and didn’t want to make any sudden moves.

  Smart man.

  The titter of conversation told her Quinn’s customers recognized the country singer. She doubted they understood his connection to her. She doubted he’d even known she was here. He’d probably just come in to talk to Quinn. Ballsy, since he’d bailed on the concert he was supposed to have given Memorial Day and cost the town a ton of money.