by Cindy Kirk
“Thank you.” Dakota smiled. “Everyone says I got them from my grandmother.”
Gladys nearly rolled her own eyes at that piece of rubbish. She’d looked into Anita’s eyes for over half a century. The woman’s eyes were hazel, certainly nothing special. Dakota’s eyes, on the other hand, were gold, a unique and beautiful color.
The only people who had eyes that color were Krew and his mother. Gladys turned her gaze to a nearby booth that Krew had claimed just as Dakota’s shift began. As she studied him, she realized that not only did he share Dakota’s unique eye color, but his hair was also the same distinctive walnut shade.
“I know who we’re going to match next,” Gladys announced to the two women at her table once Dakota stepped away.
Ruby, who was enjoying a cup of her favorite decaffeinated floral tea, turned interested eyes in her direction.
Katherine straightened in her seat. With her suede cloth skirt and cardigan in rust and teal, Eliza’s cousin had embraced the Southwestern look today.
Gladys cast an admiring look at the Navajo tiger’s-eye earrings. They would look quite nice on her own ears.
“Who do you have in mind?” Katherine kept her voice low, as if wanting to not be overheard by the others in the cafe.
Gladys smiled. “Cassie.”
“Cassie Lohmeier.” Ruby sighed the name. “That woman deserves some happiness.”
Katherine’s gaze sharpened. She had a good heart, but was nowhere near as sentimental as Ruby. “With her background and all those children—three of them still at home—Cassie will be tough to match.”
That, Gladys thought, was a huge understatement. “I believe we can rise to the challenge.”
“Who are you thinking of for her?” Ruby took another sip of the tea that had to be lukewarm by now. Bells over the door sounded, and Ruby’s attention shifted to the entrance.
As if simply thinking of her had been enough to conjure her, Cassie strolled into the café. She sidestepped those waiting to be seated and headed straight for the counter.
Her dark pants and white shirt told Gladys that Cassie was working today at the Daily Grind or had just gotten off. The blonde paused behind Pastor Dan Marshall, who appeared to be picking up a to-go order.
Gladys watched Cassie playfully tap the young minister on the shoulder and watched the smile bloom on his lips when he turned and saw who was behind him.
“You’re planning on matching her with Dan?” Even Ruby, who could always be counted on to back Gladys’s schemes, sounded skeptical.
Katherine simply raised a brow.
“Of course not.” Gladys waved a dismissive hand. Did her friends really think she was that crazy? “Dan was once her sister’s fiancé. Even if everything else was equal, that has an ick factor I prefer not to touch.”
Ruby smiled. “Ick factor. I like it.”
A sense of pride washed over Gladys. She liked to think of herself as someone who kept up with the young people’s lingo. “I have someone else in mind for Dan.”
It hadn’t been all that long ago that the three women, bored with dominoes and card-playing, had decided to embrace matchmaking as a post-retirement hobby. Their success with Lindsay and Owen had buoyed their spirits and made them eager to take on another challenge.
“Don’t keep us in suspense.” Clearly impatient, Katherine tapped the table with her nails. “Who is it?”
Gladys loved these moments where she had the audience, er, her friends, hanging on her every word. “Krew Slattery.”
“You’ve got to be joking.” Katherine laughed, a husky sound that still managed to retain the sultriness of her youth. “You can’t fix Krew Slattery up with Pastor Dan.”
Ruby’s rapidly fluttering eyelids reminded Gladys of a startled hummingbird.
“Oh, for goodness sake.” Gladys rolled her eyes. “I was speaking of Cassie and Krew.”
Ruby expelled a breath. “Thank God.”
“Krew is handsome and rich. He could have his pick of any woman.” Katherine spoke pragmatically. “What makes you think he’d be interested in Cassie?”
Gladys lifted one shoulder, the fabric of her purple cashmere sweater caressing her skin. “Cassie is a beautiful woman. She’s smart, funny and—”
“—has three boys at home,” Katherine pointed out. “Two of them are teenagers, and one is a toddler. I don’t know which is worse.”
Gladys pointed a finger bejeweled with rings at Katherine. “A wise woman once told me, ‘The tougher the challenge, the sweeter the victory.’”
Katherine chuckled and lifted her coffee cup in a mock salute. “If we can pull this off, it’ll be one sweet victory indeed.”
Cassie wanted to be busy, but she wasn’t going to get what she wanted at the Daily Grind. Not at five o’clock. Happy hour, when the drinks were half price, had ended at four.
She had one more hour until the evening crew came in. Though Ryder preferred two employees be in the shop at all times, he’d already left for the day. When he’d hesitated, she’d urged him to go, telling him she could handle whatever happened during this last hour of her shift.
Then Krew walked through the door.
Cassie straightened from where she’d been adjusting the pastries in the bake case. Her heart gave a solid thump against her rib cage.
Cassie told herself it was good he’d shown up. There was something she needed to discuss with Mr. Krew Slattery.
“You were with Dakota at the park yesterday. I heard she was crying and upset. Why are you hanging around my daughter?”
If Krew was startled by the question, he didn’t show it. Instead of responding, he slid his gaze around the shop. He peered around the corner as if making sure all the tables were empty, then glanced at the door leading to the back. “Are you alone?”
“Ryder left early. I’m the only one here until six.” She lifted her chin. “Are you going to answer my question?”
He gestured toward a table in sight of the cash register, but not visible by those strolling past the shop. “Let’s sit.”
“Just answer my question.”
As if he’d suddenly gone deaf, Krew crossed to the table.
Fuming, Cassie jerked a chair back and took a seat. “Tell me what’s going on between you and Dakota.”
He studied her with an intensity that had once had her girlish heart going pitter-patter each time he glanced in her direction. “What has she told you?”
The question caught her off guard and brought a fresh wave of pain. Ever since Dakota’s senior year and the situation with Clint, the closeness she and her daughter once shared had disappeared. They were cordial, even friendly at times, but the fact that Dakota was staying with her grandmother while she was back in town said it all.
“Nothing,” Cassie admitted. “She hasn’t told me anything.”
He studied her for a long moment. “Who is Dakota’s father?”
Cassie’s eyes narrowed. “What? Why would you—”
“I believe Dakota might be my daughter. I asked her to take a DNA test.”
It took a second for the words to register. When they did, Cassie reacted with a roar.
“You what?” Slapping her hands on the table, she leaned forward, getting in his space. “You had no right to ask her to take that test. How could you just dump something like that on a child? It’s too much. Did you even think about her feelings? You had no right—”
“I have every right, if I’m her father.” Krew’s calm tone only incited her further.
Her breath came in short puffs. “You should have come to me if you thought—”
“Cassie, I’ve been trying to talk to you since I’ve been in Good Hope. You stay as far away from me as possible.”
“You’re one to talk about staying away.”
For a moment, they only stared at each other.
Cassie’s anger slid away, replaced by sadness. Why, God, why now?
This past year had been about moving forward, about leaving the
past where it belonged. About forging a new life from a position of strength.
Now, this boy, this man, from her past was about to screw all that up. If—when—the DNA test came back negative, as it most surely would, the questions she’d had to deflect all those years ago would return.
Her mother would ask.
Dakota would ask.
And, once again, she would offer no answers.
Cassie wanted to cry, to break down and sob that life wasn’t fair. But, she reminded herself as her heart twisted, she’d learned long ago that life wasn’t fair.
Her father dying wasn’t fair.
Her crush not calling her after they’d made love on the beach wasn’t fair.
Her…
She couldn’t think anymore. Wouldn’t think anymore. Thinking only brought back the pain and the guilt. In her weakness, she’d let her life spiral out of control, seeking comfort in the arms of many men over the years. She wanted to be a good mother, but had failed miserably, especially when it came to Dakota.
“You’re not her father.” Cassie spoke firmly, despite the inner chaos. “I’m begging you to let this drop.”
His intense gaze remained fixed on her. “How can you be sure?”
“Right after you left for college, Mitch and I started…dating.” Their former classmate had been a poor substitute for Krew, not a star athlete or ever one of the smart kids, but he’d paid attention to her, something Krew hadn’t done after that night on the beach.
Dating sounded so much better than having sex with a boy who was only out to use me.
Krew nodded. “My sister told me you and Mitch hooked up. Later, she told me you were pregnant and the baby was his. I had no reason to believe otherwise. Until now.”
“Why? Why now, after all these years? Why start wondering?”
“Because I saw her, Cassie. Are you honestly telling me you don’t see the resemblance?” Krew took a deep breath to calm himself. “Plus, and I’m not saying my behavior was perfect back then, far from it. But it’s not like you were calling me and telling me something different, that you thought there was a chance I was the father. Why shouldn’t I believe the baby was your boyfriend’s? I swear, if I had thought you were suffering because of me, I would have done the right thing. I never wanted to hurt you, Cassie. I still don’t.”
Cassie closed her eyes and dug deep for control.
When Krew reached across the table and took her hand, she didn’t pull away. She needed the comfort offered in that simple touch.
“If you don’t mind my asking, why Mitch? I never thought you liked him.”
His voice was so soft and low that Cassie wondered if she’d imagined the question. But there was curiosity in Krew’s eyes as he waited for her answer.
“Not long after you left, Mitch approached me at school.” Cassie shifted her attention to the clock for a second. “You’re right. I was never attracted to him, but after…after what happened with you, I mean, with you ignoring me after we… Well, I was feeling low.”
Cassie took a steadying breath and decided there was no need to mince words. “You made me feel cheap and used. Mitch was incredibly sweet. At first. He said nice things, like the characters in the books I liked to read. He was kind and attentive.”
“You slept with him.” Though there was no judgment in Krew’s tone, Cassie felt her cheeks warm.
She lifted her chin. She was done apologizing for that time. She’d been fifteen years old. Yes, she’d been foolish, but she’d been fifteen. “At first I said no, but he reminded me I’d already had sex with you, so—”
“You told him about us?”
Cassie blinked. “No. You did.”
“I would never.” A muscle in Krew’s jaw jumped.
Puzzled, Cassie drew her brows together. “How did he know?”
“If I had to say, I’d say he must have guessed.”
Cassie considered, then nodded.
“Well, he told me I’d already had sex with you and you weren’t even my boyfriend.” With great effort, Cassie kept her voice even. “So I did it with him. Six weeks later, he broke up with me. He told me I was worthless and nothing but a slut.”
Even twenty years later, recalling the harsh words and the scorn in his voice had her insides trembling. Adding to the damage done by Krew’s dismissiveness, that conversation had changed her further, leaving her self-confidence in tatters.
“What did Mitch say when you told him you were pregnant?”
Cassie might have chosen not to answer, but Krew’s thumb stroked the top of her hand and his eyes were dark with concern.
“He asked how I knew the baby was his. I’d been with you, so I could have been with any number of guys.” Her voice was matter-of-fact, but each word was a shard of glass pricking her heart. “He vowed that if I tried to name him as the father, he’d get a bunch of guys together to say they’d all fu—that they’d all had sex with me.”
Krew muttered a curse. “I’m glad he isn’t Dakota’s father.”
“He wouldn’t acknowledge her, and I didn’t push.” Cassie swallowed past the lump trying to form in her throat. “After discovering the kind of guy he was, I was glad he didn’t want anything to do with her. I didn’t want such a person in my child’s life.”
“How do you deal with seeing him around town?”
“We mostly ignore each other.”
“I’m sorry for that night at the beach.”
Hearing the pain in his voice, Cassie looked up.
“You were only fifteen.” His golden eyes never left her face. “Beyond the legal issues with the age of consent, I took your innocence. And I took away all those firsts you should have experienced.”
As if sensing her confusion, Krew elaborated. “Your first date. Your first dance. The first time you had a real boyfriend. You lost all that because of me.”
She shook her head, stubbornly refusing to take the out he offered. “You didn’t force me. I wanted you in a way I’ve never wanted any other man.”
Too late, Cassie realized what she’d revealed. She spoke quickly to cover the gaffe. “I was the one who made one bad choice after another. Some of them could have been disastrous.”
Cassie thought of Dakota and Clint. She would never forgive herself for not tossing him out of the house the instant Dakota told her of her fears about him.
Tears slipped down her cheeks, and her heart swelled with unbearable pain. What kind of mother didn’t put her child first?
“Hey, hey.” In one fluid movement, Krew rounded the table. Crouching beside her chair, he pulled her to him.
Even after all these years, the feel of him seemed familiar.
Cassie told herself to pull back. But his arms were so strong and comforting, and her head fit perfectly against his chest.
For a moment, Cassie let herself lean. Let herself forget all the stupid things she’d done and accept the solace his touch offered.
As Krew began stroking her hair, Cassie felt herself steady. Still, she kept her eyes shut for a few seconds more, reluctant to end the closeness.
When she sat back, she swiped at her cheeks. “I need to get back to work.”
With obvious reluctance, Krew stood. “We’ll talk more later.”
“Mitch still might be Dakota’s father.” Though Cassie had accepted that fact long ago, saying the words aloud made her feel sick inside.
“I don’t think so.” Krew surprised her by taking her hand for the second time that afternoon. “I’m sorry for going to Dakota. I should have waited until I’d spoken with you.”
“I didn’t make that easy.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “I promise that you and Dakota will never be alone again. I’m going to do my best to make up for the past.” His eyes were firmly fixed on hers. Something about those eyes—the shape, or maybe it was the color—struck her.
All these years, she’d been convinced Mitch was Dakota’s father. Mitch had dark hair and hazel eyes.
Krew�
��s hair was dark. His eyes weren’t hazel. No, they weren’t that boring. They were a striking shade of gold.
Just like Dakota’s.
“I’ll be in touch.” Krew’s fingers were on the door handle when he turned back. “I never meant to hurt you.”
Then he was gone.
Cassie buried her face in her hands.
Her life hadn’t been this out of control since the pregnancy test strip showed positive. On that day, her life as she’d known it had ended. She had a feeling she was at a similar turning point now, and this time she had four children counting on her not to lose her way again.
Chapter Six
Friday afternoon, the DNA results still hadn’t popped up in Krew’s in-box. The walls were closing in, so Krew decided to grab a beer and do some thinking away from the Sweet Dreams motel. As it was barely four o’clock, Krew assumed the Flying Crane would be deserted.
He assumed wrong.
Sounds of laughter and conversation wrapped around him the instant he stepped inside the waterfront bar. He’d forgotten about happy hour.
While the bar’s high, tin ceilings were aesthetically pleasing, poor acoustics turned the piped-in rock music shrill and tinny.
Krew was headed for a stool at the bar when he spotted Mitch sitting alone at a table against the far wall.
The thought of how Mitch had used Cassie, of the nasty things he’d said to a frightened young girl, had Krew clenching his hands into fists.
Even back in high school, he hadn’t liked Mitch. A second-string ball player at best, the guy was desperate to be a part of what he considered the popular crowd.
He’d also had a thing for Cassie. Krew remembered how he used to leer at the shy freshman.
At that moment, Mitch spotted him and smiled broadly, waving him over.
Krew considered turning on his heel and walking out, but he had a few things to say to this man. He crossed the room in long, purposeful strides. When he reached the table, Mitch jumped up. For one horrifying second, Krew thought Mitch was going to hug him.
At the last second, he clapped Krew on the back. “It’s good to see you, man. Sit. Have a beer. Catch me up on what’s new with you.”