by Doreen Alsen
She nodded, her head feeling like it was encased in concrete. “I’m happy you like it so much.”
“I do, Mom!” He now had chocolate smeared on his face. “I love football across all dimensions!”
Beth was afraid of that.
****
“How was your weekend?” Jenna asked Beth on Monday morning.
“Good. Quiet.” Beth walked into Happy Thoughts and started to take off her jacket. “How was yours and, whoa! Bran must have bought every single rose at Flowers in Bloom!” Four huge cut glass vases filled with blush colored roses sat on the check out counter. “They smell heavenly!”
“They’re not from Bran,” Jenna said. “They’re for you.” She paused. “From Jeff.”
“Jeff?” Beth squeaked. “Jeff Myers?”
“The one and only.” Jenna held out the card to Beth. “Seriously, who else? I read it, of course.”
“Of course.” She took the small, stiff rectangle from Jenna. Her hands shook a bit. “‘Can’t believe I found you. Have dinner with me. Please. Even if it’s just for old time’s sake. Love, Jeff’.”
Oh, Lordy. She gaped at the card. “What am I going to do?”
“Have dinner with him, perhaps?” Jenna shrugged. “One dinner doesn’t necessarily rekindle an old flame.”
“It’s just not a good idea.”
“I don’t think he’s going to give up until you share a meal with him. Go ahead, do it.” She grinned. “Take a walk on the wild side.”
“No, I can’t. I just can’t.” Beth couldn’t, however, resist going behind the counter and burying her nose in one of the huge bouquets and lightly tracing one soft petal with her finger. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had sent her flowers.
Actually, if you didn’t count Danny’s construction paper tulips from last Mother’s Day’s Sunday school project, no one had ever given her flowers. Not even her parents when she was in the hospital after giving birth to Danny.
“His cell number is on the back of the card,” Jenna said. “You should at least call him to say thank you.”
True. To not do so would be incredibly rude. “I’ll do it later when he’s not likely to be teaching.”
****
Jeff walked into his boss’s office. Julia Stewart looked up. “Great job last Friday night, Coach! Have a seat.” She gestured to the chairs in front of her desk.
“Thanks! The kids did all the work.” He grinned. “I just yelled at them from the sidelines.”
“I’d say you did a little bit more than that. So, I got the proposed budget for your football clinic. I’m surprised you think you can get Buck and Brock Nelson to donate their time. They’re NFL stars.”
Jeff laughed. Julia loved her sports. “I’ve got connections. My high school coach married their sister.”
“Ah. How handy. If that’s true, I don’t know how I can say no. I’d love to meet them.”
“Absolutely. They’re great guys and really good with kids.”
“I think with them guaranteed to come, we can get food donated from local restaurants.” She laughed and narrowed her eyes. “You know how much I love getting the town involved with the school.” She waved a hand. “It takes a village and all that.”
“It’s a great town to raise a family.” Jeff wished Katie would relent and let Cookie spend a weekend with him. She wouldn’t have to do a thing except help his Cookie pack her suitcase.
He dreaded telling Katie that Beth lived in Lobster Cove. She would have a meltdown that would make Chernobyl look like a Cub Scout campfire. He’d learned early on to never mention Beth’s name. Ever. And even more, not to wonder where his child with Beth lived.
A daughter. Beth had given their daughter up for adoption. Cookie had a sister out there in the world.
Katie was not going to be thrilled.
“Earth to Jeff,” Julia said. “Hello.”
“Sorry. I had a couple of thoughts about asking for donations.”
“Don’t pay it any mind. I’ll talk to the district bookkeeper and we’ll take care of that. Then we need to have a chat regarding presenting this to the parents, but I don’t think we’ll get too much trouble.” She shook her head. “It’s not like we’re trying to start a daycare or something.”
“I heard about that. I don’t know how anyone could oppose a daycare center.” He shrugged. “It takes all kinds, I guess.”
Julia stood and held her hand out to Jeff. “We’ll get this done. It’s a great idea and opportunity for our small town kids.”
He stood as well, and shook her hand. “Thanks for your support.”
“Thank you for your initiative.”
“I really want this.”
“I can tell. You’ve got my support and I know we can make this happen. Next August?”
“Next August for sure.”
“Keep me posted.” She looked at her watch. “Got a meeting. Let me know about any progress.”
“Will do.”
He left Julia’s office wondering if Beth had gotten the roses yet. Maybe he should stop into Happy Thoughts between practices.
Or not. Maybe the next move should be up to Beth.
He had to find out where she’d been all those years and about the family who’d adopted their daughter. He wouldn’t let himself be distracted from that goal.
He’d get the whole story if it killed him.
Chapter Eight
After a week of gourmet chocolates, teddy bears (he still couldn’t wrap his mind around that he went to Build A Bear without Cookie), and more flowers than he knew existed, Jeff still waited with his phone in his back pocket, set on vibrate.
He knew Beth. She’d have to say thank you sooner or later.
For once he prayed for patience. He’d waited forever and now he’d found her, he could afford to wait a little bit more.
Okay, that sounded a whole lot sappy. If he ever said it to another guy, they’d give him all kinds of crap, like ask if he was on his period or some other shit.
He didn’t care. Beth was back in his world. He’d do everything he could to keep her there.
With him.
By hook or by crook.
Beth Pritchard was his first love. Now when he saw her again, he had a sneaking suspicion she was his last love. It was clear to him that giving up their daughter had killed her spirit. He wanted to make her whole again. To bring her back to the girl he’d loved and known so well before their lives were blown apart by her father and he could help her heal. He would help her. They’d help each other.
They could be together again. Happy. Most of all, they could be grownups, making their own choices.
Free.
Well, as far as Katie would let him be free. She had the ultimate bargaining chip. Cookie.
He could not do anything to give Katie grounds to keep his daughter from him. He subscribed to the doctrine of “When in doubt do both.” He’d find a way to have both Cookie and Beth in his life.
Misery—profound and soul deep—settled over him. Beth had had to give away their daughter and deal with it on her own. How could he ask her to accept and love his daughter with Katie?
His brain hurt.
He rubbed his hand across his chest. His heart hurt worse.
****
“Good night, Danny.” Beth leaned down and gave her son a kiss on his forehead. “Sweet dreams.”
Danny yawned so hard his jaw cracked. “G’night Mom.”
The upside of the whole football thing? He was too tired to complain about his bedtime.
Beth went into the kitchen and turned on the kettle to make some tea.
Chamomile. Definitely chamomile.
She put the cellphone on the counter by the stove and stared at it, like it might have some answers for her.
It didn’t.
Why was she surprised?
Tea made, she took a tiny sip then carried the cup and saucer to the kitchen table. Pulling the florist card from her jean’s pocket she tur
ned it over to where Jeff had written his number.
She had to call him. Jenna had really read her the riot act about not doing it yet. Since Beth couldn’t bring Jeff’s gifts home, Happy Thoughts was running out of room to keep them and Jenna wanted them gone.
As of yesterday.
She looked back at the counter, sighed, and picked up her phone. After she thumbed it on, she punched in Jeff’s number before she lost her nerve.
Maybe she’d get lucky and it would go straight to voicemail. The phone rang once, twice, maybe she’d catch a break and
“Myers.”
She closed her eyes and took a breath. “Jeff, it’s me. Beth.”
“Beth.” She could practically hear the smile in his voice. “To what do I owe this phone call?”
“You know very well why I’m calling. I really need to thank you but you’ve got to stop sending all these gifts to the shop.”
“I will on one condition. Have dinner with me.”
She sighed and threw caution to the wind. Maybe she’d finally get some closure about him and Skankarella. “Okay.”
“Yessss!” He sounded like one of his football players who had just spiked a touchdown in the end zone. “When? This weekend? Saturday? Can’t do Friday because of the game. Or, here’s a thought. Come to the game, we’ll go for a drink after.”
“I don’t think Friday will work. Saturday might.” Beth hesitated. Jenna had already told her she’d watch Danny. “Let me check my calendar.” She had no social life, hence no calendar. She wouldn’t be surprised if her eyes weren’t turning brown with all the fertilizer she was throwing around. “It looks like I’m free.”
“Awesome. Where do you live so I can pick you up?”
No hope in hell that was going to happen. “I’d rather use my car and meet you at the restaurant.”
“Really? Let me pick you up.”
“It’s not a date, Jeff. It’s dinner. Just dinner between two old friends catching up.” More bull. The lies piled one on top of the other.
“I don’t like it, but I’ll take you any way I can get you. Where do you want to go? Don’t say Maggie’s. I eat there at least once a day. How about Cliffside Restaurant?”
Wow! “That’s pretty pricey.”
“We never went on a real date. It’s about time I fixed that.”
Longing for a real date, out in the open—one that didn’t end up in the backseat of a car—swamped her. She closed her eyes and gave in. “Sure, that sounds great.”
“Awesome! Is seven good?”
“Perfect.” Beth bit her lip. “I’ll see you then.”
“Looking forward to it. You have no idea how much.”
“Good night, Jeff.”
“Sweet dreams. I know mine will be because I’ll be dreaming of you.”
Her cheeks heated. “Good night, Jeff,” she repeated then ended the call.
The thing? She wouldn’t probably dream about Jeff.
She’d definitely dream about Jeff.
Chapter Nine
“Praise the Lord and can I have an Amen! I’m so proud of you!” Jenna thumped Beth on the back with all the finesse of an orangutan. “Where are you going?”
“Cliffside. Though I don’t think I own anything I can wear there.”
“If any occasion calls for a new dress, dinner with an old flame at the Cliffside Restaurant is it.”
“I can’t afford a new dress.”
“If that’s a hint for a raise, sorry. The store’s got to show a profit first.” Jenna smiled. “You need to splurge, Beth. Buy something sexy and slinky.”
“Stating the obvious here. I’m not exactly the sexy, slinky type.”
“What did you wear on your last date?”
“Ummmm. Jeff was my last date. As in ten years ago. “I lied to my father and said I was sleeping over at Skankarella’s, which I eventually did. I wore jeans, an Addington Minutemen sweatshirt and he had his hands under it about five minutes after we struggled over onto the backseat of his mother’s Volvo wagon.”
“You’re totally kidding me, right?”
“‘Fraid not. I’m really not that interesting.”
“Actually, I’m thinking you’re getting more and more interesting by the minute.” Jenna brightened. “Hey! You can sew like a demon. Why don’t you make a new dress for your, uh, non-date.” She flipped her hand. “Your term, not mine.” Jenna rolled her eyes. “Face facts, Cinderella. It’s a date.”
“Jenna! I don’t have time to make a new dress by Saturday!”
“I’ll help! And of course you can use one of the machines here.” Jenna rubbed her hands together. “This is my best idea ever! If it looks good we can show a sample and people will drool over it and ask us to make them one.”
The door to the store opened and in walked Jenna’s handsome fiancé Bran Cudahy. “I take that back. My best idea ever was to hook up with this guy.” Jenna launched herself at her very handsome husband and kissed him thoroughly.
“What’d I do to deserve this?” he asked, his voice very husky.
“Just you being you!” Jenna inclined her head toward Beth. “Guess who has a date Saturday night?” She pointed at Beth with both forefingers. “That girl.”
Beth wanted to drop through the floor. “Oh for the love of God, Jenna, please stop.”
Bran grinned. “He better treat you right or else he answers to me.” His grin got wider. “Don’t forget I’m a computer genius. I can create a nightmare credit report he’ll never be able to fix.”
Beth’s cheeks heated. “Please stop. This is just a dinner between two old friends.”
Jenna snorted.
“Seriously, if you two are done embarrassing me I would be okay with that.” Beth skewered them both with a glare. “Just sayin’.”
Jenna made the my-lips-are-zipped gesture across her mouth.
Bran snorted. It sounded a lot like Jenna’s.
Much like people who start to look like their dogs.
Beth shook her head. Jenna and Bran were good to her. She may have not gone on a lot of dates, well, any dates at all, but she had good friends.
They were named Jenna Sanborn and Bran Cudahy.
Forget Jeff Myers. Jenna and Bran both had her back.
****
Jeff looked at his caller ID and groaned. Katie.
Yay. Only not.
“Myers.”
“So I was at The End Zone the other night and heard that Beth Pritchard is in Lobster Cove.”
“That’s right.” And…what? He shook his head to clear his ears to make sure he heard her right. “Why were you at The End Zone? You hate it there.”
“Are you seeing her?”
“Who?”
She made that noise she always did when he pissed her off.
He smiled, happy with his victory and then went in for the kill. “She lives here and I’m not blind.” At her sharp intake of breath which he knew signaled a harangue, let the devil on his left shoulder to answer the question. “It’s none of your business who I see.”
“It is if you ever want to see Cookie again. Speaking of which. Does Beth still have your kid or did she get rid of it?”
“Jesus, Katie.” He pushed the left shoulder devil off with the back of his hand. “She gave our baby up for adoption. A girl.”
“That’s what she told you?”
“I believe her. Somewhere in the world, Cookie has a sister.”
Silence. “And you believe her?”
“Why would she lie?” He didn’t understand. Katie had been Beth’s best friend. Katie’s jealousy of Beth just truly twisted his mind into knots.
“To get to you.” Was Katie spitting? “How romantic! The two of you bonding over a child you’ll never know. Poor pitiful Beth, poor pitiful Jeff for falling for her act.”
Every muscle in his body tightened and his teeth ground against each other with enough force to turn them into bloody stumps. “You are way out of line. I’ve never heard you be so crue
l.” And he’d heard her be cruel a lot. “Were you ever her friend?”
“Oh yes, I’m totally a cruel bitch for questioning the motives of someone who kept a huge secret from you for years.” She gusted a sigh that crackled in his ear. “Please.”
Jeff felt the hand not holding the phone fist painfully. “Why did you call?”
“To let you know that I won’t ever let Cookie stay with you as long as Beth is in the picture. Your choice.”
“You don’t get any say in whether they meet or not. And, if she’s anything like I remember, she would never try to usurp your place with Cookie.” He didn’t dare tell Katie he didn’t want to hurt Beth, who had given up their daughter, by making her deal with Cookie before either of them were ready.
Cookie was precious.
So was Beth.
Katie? Not so much.
“And I just saw a pig fly.” She gave a very nasty sounding laugh. “Do you think I’m a fool?”
No, I think you’re a paranoid bitch. “The Beth I knew, the Beth you knew, would never make trouble and if we start dating, which I’m hoping we will, she’ll understand that we have to go slowly with Cookie.”
“Jeff.” Katie sighed with great drama. “Face it. I’m not letting you have Cookie in Lobster Cove while Beth is there.”
“I’ll take you to court.”
“Go ahead.” She laughed. “I’ll win. I always do, because my father isn’t a nut job like Beth’s. He’s the lawyer who’s going to win me sole custody of Cookie. You want a relationship with Beth? Go for it. You’ll never see your daughter again.”
****
Beth fumbled as she tried to put the key into the ignition. “What the hell am I doing?” she muttered. This is not my life. Nothing about this is real.
She’d left Danny with a babysitter for the first time in his life. Here she was, hiring a babysitter for her child while she had dinner with his father. She bit back the urge to cackle like a mad woman.
She hadn’t been able to eat all day. The closer her date with Jeff came, the more her nerves jittered like beetles on their backs trying to turn over. She’d almost poked her eye out with a mascara wand.
What would they talk about? He’d want to know all about her life. She should just come clean.