Letting Go (Vista Falls #3)

by Cheryl Douglas

  “When you say you hooked up…” Shanda wiggled her eyebrows.

  Gabby often had to remind herself that her little sister was still a kid. Sometimes she acted more like one of Gabby’s girlfriends than a girl looking to her for guidance. “I’m not going to go into details.” Gabby broke out her stern voice when Shanda sighed dramatically. “Suffice it to say he decided he wasn’t ready to move back to Vista Falls, so he bailed.”

  “Aren’t you afraid he might do that again?”

  “Sure, I am.” Gabby smiled when Shanda seemed stunned. “But if I don’t take a chance on Colt, I’ll always wonder whether he’s the guy I’m supposed to be with. If it doesn’t work out and I wind up heartbroken again, at least I’ll know for sure, right?”

  “You’re so much braver than I am. I can’t even call a guy without worrying that he’ll blow me off.”

  “I get that. I felt the same way at your age. But eventually you realize that you have to take chances sometimes. If you play it safe all the time, you might miss out on some great opportunities.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “Yeah, I do.” Gabby tried to wipe the silly grin off her face, but she couldn’t when she thought about what she and Colt had shared the previous night.

  “And he feels the same way?”

  “He says he does.”

  “Do you believe him?” When Gabby nodded, Shanda said, “Just be careful. Remember what you said to me when Ty tried to get to second base?”

  Gabby smiled. “I do remember. I said that sometimes boys say things they don’t mean to get what they want.”

  “You don’t think Colt’s doing that to you, do you?”

  The innocent question forced Gabby to answer honestly. “I trust him. I know that sounds crazy since I really don’t know him at all anymore, but I feel like…” She tried to figure out how to describe her experience with Colt, but words fell short. “I’ve known him forever, you know?”

  “I know what you’re saying,” Shanda said. “It’s like when my best friend from back home came to stay with me a couple of weeks ago. We hadn’t seen each other in two years and so much had happened, we were like two totally different people, but somehow it was like no time had passed at all. We just picked up where we left off.”

  Was that what she and Colt were trying to do—pick up where they’d left off? Gabby hoped not. She didn’t want an adolescent relationship where Colt was satisfied being her boyfriend forever and afraid to talk about their future. She wanted a real man who wasn’t afraid of commitment.

  “Sorry, did I say something wrong?”

  “No, honey,” Gabby said, covering Shanda’s hand with hers. “You just gave me something to think about.”

  “Something bad?”

  “No, not at all.” Gabby was tired of talking about her situation. She’d much rather hear about the carefree life of a teen. “So are we still going shopping for back-to-school clothes?”

  “Definitely!” Shanda pulled out her phone and pulled up the calculator. “If we go at the end of the month like we planned, I should have about a thousand dollars saved up from my babysitting money.”

  “Sweet.”

  Gabby’s father was an electrician who provided a nice home for Shanda and was saving every extra dollar he could for her college education, so he’d told her she’d have to get a part-time job to pay for all of the nonessentials.

  “And your dad’s okay with me taking you to the city overnight?”

  “Yeah, he said it was no problem.” She wrinkled her nose. “I think he’s planning to invite that new girl he’s dating to spend the night.” She stuck a finger near her mouth, making a gagging sound.

  “You don’t like her?”

  “She’s okay, I guess. He’s just never really dated much since my mom died. It’s kind of weird seeing him with someone else.”

  “Have you talked to him about it?”

  “No, it would be too awkward.”

  “No, it wouldn’t.” Gabby had gotten to know Shanda’s father quite well over the past two years, and she knew he only wanted the best for his little girl. “He’d want to know how you feel.”

  “I want him to be happy.” Shanda took the lid off her cup and swirled the remaining milkshake with her straw before taking a sip. “It’s just that it’s been us for such a long time, ya know? What if he marries her and she moves in and starts acting like she’s my mother? I’d hate that.”

  “I’m sure she understands how important you are to your dad. She probably just wants to be your friend, for his sake and for yours.”

  “I don’t need another mother figure in my life. I have you.”

  Gabby tried to respond, but a lump got lodged in her throat, making it difficult for her to talk. She was technically old enough to be Shanda’s mom since Wes and Sage’s son was older than Shanda, but she’d always thought of Shanda as a little sister.

  “Sorry, was that weird?”

  “No! I’m flattered that you think of me that way. You’re an important part of my life too, honey. You always will be. No matter what happens, whether you go off to college or move away, I want us to stay in touch.” Gabby rested her elbow on the table, offering Shanda her little finger. “Pinkie swear?”

  Shanda took a quick look over her shoulder, presumably to make sure none of her friends had sneaked in. “Pinky swear,” she said, hooking her pinkie through Gabby’s. “You know something?”

  “What?”

  “You’re going to make a really awesome mom someday, Gabby.”

  “Thanks,” she said, her voice thick with unshed tears.

  “I’m serious. That’s gonna be one lucky kid.”

  ***

  “Thanks for seeing me so late, Tom. I’d hoped to get out of the office a little earlier, but with my partner being away on his honeymoon, I’ve had to pick up the slack.”

  “No problem.” Tom Warner, the retired basketball coach and phys ed teacher from their old high school, tipped his chair back as he laced his hands behind his head. “I’ve got to admit I was really surprised when you called to set up this appointment, Colt. What made you decide you wanted to become part of our program?”

  “Gabby.” Colt didn’t want Tom to think he was just doing this to impress her, so he quickly added, “She told me how rewarding this experience has been for her, and I thought I could benefit from it too.”

  Tom smiled. “Gabby’s one of the best. I wish I had a hundred more volunteers just like her.” He held up a list with a bunch of names on it. “If I did, this list wouldn’t be so long.”

  “Those are kids waiting to be assigned to someone?”

  “Yeah.” Tom rubbed the back of his neck. “In a town this size, you wouldn’t think there’d be so many kids without parents, would you?”

  Colt would have given anything for a man to look up to when he was a kid. Thankfully he’d had Wes’s father, but Mr. Davis had his own kids to worry about, so Colt had rarely burdened him with his problems. “I guess it’s a universal problem.”

  “You can say that again.” Tom picked up a stapled document but set it down before passing it to Colt. “This is the preliminary questionnaire we ask all volunteers to fill out before the interview.”

  “Sure, whatever you need.”

  “There’s also a background check, including criminal. And we’ll need a few references.”

  “No problem.” Colt got the distinct impression Tom was trying to talk him out of volunteering. “Anything else?”

  “Here’s the thing, Colt. I know what you and Wes have managed to accomplish. Everyone in town does, and I couldn’t be more impressed. I think you could be a wonderful mentor for a teen or preteen boy who might be having a hard time at home.”

  “But?”

  “This is a big commitment.”

  “And you don’t think I’ll stick around? You think I’d just leave the kid high and dry, is that it?” Given his track record, Colt couldn’t blame his old coach for questioning how re
liable he’d be. He’d skipped more practices and classes than he could count… but only because he’d had bruises he couldn’t hide and didn’t want to explain where they’d come from.

  “Please don’t take this the wrong way,” Tom said, raising his hand. “But these kids have already been abandoned once. I couldn’t stand to see that happen again.”

  “Why do you think I would do that?” Colt wanted to hear Tom say the words instead of dancing around them.

  “Last year when you left town, Gabby was pretty upset about it. She and I are friends. When I asked her what was wrong, she told me. No details, mind you. Just that you’d left town after she had reason to believe you were gonna stick around. I could see that it hurt her. I wouldn’t want to see that happen to anyone else.”

  “Understood.” It angered Colt that everyone seemed so ready to persecute him for past mistakes, but he couldn’t blame them. He had yet to prove himself to these people. “But I can assure you I wouldn’t have come here if I wasn’t serious about this. And as for Gabby, she’s decided to give me another chance.”

  “Then you two are seeing each other again?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He smiled. “I’m glad. I always thought you two were good together.”

  “I thought I’d get a lecture about being good to her.”

  “I think it goes without saying that if you hurt her again, you’ll hear about it from me. But I have a feeling you’ve learned your lesson. A man doesn’t let a woman like Gabby go twice in one lifetime without some serious regrets, does he?”

  “No, he doesn’t.” When Tom handed Colt the questionnaire, he glanced at it before looking up. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “What was Gabby’s husband like?” He knew it was inappropriate to ask about Gabby’s personal life given the nature of his visit, but he trusted Tom to be honest with him.

  “He was a nice enough guy. They sure seemed compatible, so I was surprised when I heard they were getting a divorce. I guess you just never know what’s happening behind closed doors, do you?”

  Colt thought about what had been happening behind the closed doors of his childhood home. “No, I guess not.”

  “But if you’re asking me whether I think Gabby’s ready to move on, I do.”

  Colt knew she wouldn’t have been dating Dave if she hadn’t been ready to move on. His biggest concern was how quickly she’d expect him to put a ring on her finger. Even though that was what he wanted, he feared it may take him a long while to build up to that kind of commitment.

  ***

  Gabby was shocked and a little concerned when a tap on her front door interrupted the late-night news. She was just getting ready to turn in, so she padded across the tiled foyer in her bathrobe and slippers, smiling when she caught a glimpse of Colt through the glass panels in the door.

  “Hey, what are you doing here?”

  He pulled her into his arms, kissing her deeply. “I needed to see you.”

  “What’s wrong?” She tipped her head back and framed his face with her hands when she saw the distress in his eyes.

  “Can I come in?”

  “Of course.” She grabbed his hand while slamming the door. “Get in here. Tell me what’s going on.” She led him into the living room, pulling him toward the sofa. “Can I get you something to drink or—”

  “No.” He sat down and pulled her into his lap. He buried his face in her neck, inhaling deeply. “I just need to hold you, baby.”

  Gabby knew there was a lot more to his mood than he was letting on, and that scared her. She needed to know what was going on with him so she could try to help. “Colt, did something happen?”

  “My mother called a couple of hours ago. The old man isn’t doing well.”

  Normally Gabby would have said she was sorry, but in this case, she wasn’t sure she should. She loved Colt and hated the things that man had done to him. Still, she’d never wish another person harm even if his father’s demise meant Colt may finally be able to close that chapter on his life.

  “My brother and sister are flying in tomorrow morning. We expect a funeral in the next few days.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say, so she simply held him, waiting for him to continue.

  “He has pneumonia,” he explained. “He’s not responding to the meds. And given his other health problems, he’s too weak to fight it.”

  “I see.”

  “My mother wants me to see him one last time.”

  “And you’re not sure you should?” When he didn’t respond, Gabby said, “I could go with you if you want?”

  “What about your work?”

  “I have a couple of part-time people and an assistant. I’m sure between the three of them, they could pick up the slack as long as you need me.”

  “I don’t deserve you.”

  Gabby reared back when she heard the anguish in his voice. “Hey, don’t say that.”

  “You’re too good for me.” His voice was raw, filled with unshed tears. “The old man used to tell me that all the time. He’d see you around town, called you a hot piece of ass. I decked him for that, for all the good it did.”

  Gabby couldn’t believe they’d fought over her or that Colt had never told her his father had planted insecurities in his mind where she was concerned. “If anyone should be insecure in this relationship, it’s me,” she teased, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re gorgeous, rich, sexy—”

  “But you’re everything I’m not. Smart, reliable, honest, trustworthy…”

  It sounded like another warning about all the reasons she should stay away from him, but she was already in too deep to heed his warnings now. “You’re smart. As for honest, reliable, and trustworthy? You promised you won’t let me down again, and I believe you.”

  Gabby wasn’t naïve. She knew this setback with his father could send him running again, but she intended to do everything in her power to make sure that didn’t happen. Even if it meant standing up to Colt and challenging him to face his fears.

  “What if believing in me is a mistake?” He tipped his head back, closing his eyes. “God, I’d hate myself if I hurt you again.”

  “Where is all this coming from?”

  “Honestly? When I got that call from my mom, my first impulse was to book out of here. Sage and Wes will be back tomorrow, so I know he’ll be able to handle things on the work front.”

  Gabby stiffened, pulling away from him. “Did you come here to tell me you’re leaving?”

  “I don’t know.” He raked a shaky hand through his hair. “I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do. I just know I don’t want to watch him die, and I don’t want to stick around to celebrate a man who made it his mission to make my life miserable.”

  “So don’t stick around,” Gabby said, curling her hands around his shoulders. “Go away for a few days, a week, however long it takes. Just know you’re taking me with you if you go.” She knew inviting herself was presumptuous, but she didn’t care. He’d said he loved her, and that meant he had to let her help him when he was hurting. The sooner he realized that, the better for both of them. “You still have your house in Houston?” she asked, almost afraid of his answer.

  “Yeah.” He looked guilty as he muttered, “I just wanted to see how things would work out here before I sold it.”

  She tried to get off his lap, but he closed his arms around her, refusing to let her go.

  “So even after everything you’ve said to me, you still had one foot out the door, huh?”

  “It wasn’t like that.”

  “It only takes three minutes to make a call to your realtor and tell them to put your house on the market. Or am I missing something?”

  “That house was home to me. The only one I’ve ever had.”

  “And you’re not willing to let it go. I understand.” The bite in her voice made it clear she didn’t understand, but she knew he had more pressing issues to deal with than the sale
of a house.

  “Gabby, I love you.”

  “I love you too.” And that was why it hurt so much to realize he still wasn’t fully committed to her. She couldn’t help but wonder if he ever would be. Or was she just deluding herself?

  “Please don’t look at me like that,” he said, dropping his head.

  “Like what?”

  “Like you’re questioning everything.”

  “This isn’t the time to talk about us.”

  He let out an anguished cry that startled her. “Please, Gabby. You can’t break up with me. Please.” He hugged her so hard she could barely breathe, but she didn’t object.

  “I’m not breaking up with you.” She would never do that to him at a time like this, but she knew there would come a time when they’d have to face the problems in their new relationship and decide whether they were insurmountable.

  “Will you come to the hospital with me?”

  “I thought you said you didn’t want to be there?”

  “You’re right—I can’t keep running… any more than I can leave the door to my past open. I’ll sell the house just as soon as I get through this week. I promise.”

  She kissed him tenderly, her heart breaking for the tears she saw in his eyes, the ones he refused to shed. “I’m really proud of you. I know this won’t be easy, but I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

  “Promise?”

  “You have my word.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Colt wasn’t at the hospital for his old man. He was there for Gabby because this was his opportunity to prove to her that this time she’d fallen in love with a man who could stand his ground instead of turning tail and running at the first sign of trouble.

  He spotted his brother and sister at the end of the hall. Kaley ran toward him, launching herself at him as Gabby stepped aside.

  “Hey, kid,” he said, stroking her hair.

  It had been a few years since she’d paid him a visit in Houston, and seeing her again brought back a flood of memories. The scared little girl who’d cowered in the corner when their father lost it, the pest who tagged along everywhere he went because she idolized him. He should have been there for her, but like so many people in his life, he’d let her down.