“Can we, Mom?” Jake tugged on Kenna’s jacket. “Please? Can we take them home?”
“Sure.” She smiled at Everly again, but there was a deep sadness in her lovely hazel eyes. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.” She ruffled her son’s blond hair. “I think we should probably get going now.”
“Aw, Mom. No.” Benny’s lips curled into an automatic pout.
“We haven’t finished helping Miss Brooks yet,” Jake insisted.
Everly glanced at her watch. “Well, I have to be somewhere soon, but I need help with one more thing.” She shot a questioning look to Kenna, who nodded. “We need to round up the chickens and ducks and put them in their pens for the night.”
Jake frowned. “You mean you lock them up?”
“Only to keep them safe. Sometimes predators come around after dark, so they’re much safer in the coop.” Everly waved them over to the chicken yard. “You guys want to try shooing them in there for me?”
“Yeah we do!” The boys went after the chickens, raising their arms and giggling. “Here, chicky chickies! Time to go to bed!”
The chickens, of course, did not listen. They scattered, running circles around the boys. Benny and Jake thought that was hilarious.
Laughing, Everly stood with Kenna and watched the joyful chaos unfold.
“Thank you so much for doing this.” The young mom turned to Everly. “We haven’t gotten out much lately.” Her eyes reddened. “This has been so good for them.”
“It’s been good for me, too.” She could live for this, for helping kids fall in love with the farm the same way she had.
Not far away, Jake and Benny had changed their approach. They got real quiet and were trying to sneak up on the chickens from behind. That seemed to work much better. The slower and quieter the boys were, the more the chickens calmed.
Everly didn’t miss the tears on Kenna’s cheeks. She gave the woman’s shoulder a squeeze. “How are you doing?”
“I think I’m still in shock.” She dug a Kleenex out of her coat pocket and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m trying to be strong for the boys, but I’m not doing a very good job. It kills me to see their world falling apart. They didn’t deserve this.”
“Neither did you,” Everly pointed out. No one had ever told her that after her world fell apart. No one had said much of anything to her, except for the judge who took away her license. He’d harshly told her he didn’t believe she hadn’t been aware that her fiancé was a criminal. It seemed everyone else thought the same thing. How had she not known? The silence from her old community of friends and colleagues had shamed her the same way she suspected Kenna was being shamed by most of the town.
“I should’ve known.” Kenna’s fair skin flushed, and Everly recognized that potent combination of anger and humiliation. “Or at least had some idea. I never asked any questions. I simply trusted that everything was fine.”
The words brought an onslaught of her own buried pain. Those same questions still plagued her. How could I have been so stupid? How did I not know that Andrew was capable of something so disgusting? It had been almost three years and she still went back over her relationship with him, analyzing whether there were hints, things she should’ve picked up on.
Why did she still find it so hard to talk about? Why couldn’t she tell Kenna she’d fallen for lies, too? It was the shame. That ugly shame bearing down on her with all of the negative things she’d told herself. That she was weak and gullible. Even after all this time, she still worried it was true.
“I’m sorry,” Kenna said with a sigh. “I didn’t mean to dump all of that on you.”
“Don’t apologize. I—”
A black Escalade turned onto the driveway and parked next to the fence a good thirty feet away. Everly’s stomach rolled the way it always did when she got on an airplane. The last time she’d seen a car like that drive onto her property, her parents had come for a visit.
“Looks like you have company.” Kenna collected the boys and herded them toward her car, which was still parked at the café. “Thanks for having us here, Everly. This was so good for them.”
“Of course.” She picked up the basket of yams and followed Kenna, keeping a wary eye on the Escalade. “You and the boys are welcome anytime.” She had to make it a point to invite the woman over again. When they had more time to talk. When Everly could find a way to share her own story so Kenna wouldn’t feel so alone.
“Bye, Miss Brooks!” Just before getting into the car, Jake threw his arms around her waist for a hug. “This has been the best day ever.”
Everly squeezed him back. “You have to come again real soon. Maybe next time you can play with the goats.” She winked at Benny, who happened to be a bit shier than his brother.
“You think they’d let us pet them?” Jake immediately looked at his mom with pleading puppy dog eyes. It was a wonder that Kenna could ever say no to anything.
“We can’t stay today, but we’ll come back soon,” Kenna promised. She helped the boys into the car and thanked Everly once more before driving away.
It was tempting to go on in and hide in the café’s back office where she had a mountain of paperwork waiting, but instead Everly soldiered on down the driveway to where the Escalade sat idling.
Sure enough, her father got out of the SUV. He must’ve left her mother at home this time. During the last visit, all Sherri Brooks had done was cry and plead with her to come home. Knowing her dear old dad, he’d decided to change strategies.
“This is a surprise.” She stopped a few feet away. The little girl in her wanted to rush into her daddy’s arms the way she used to when he would come home from work. He’d pick her up and swing her around, and even toss her into the air if her mother wasn’t watching. He’d always been fun and charming and energetic. It stunned her how he looked the same except for a little more silver on the fringes of his dark hair. His deep brown eyes had sharpened, too. Or maybe it only seemed like they got sharper when they looked at her. “You could’ve called.”
“This isn’t really a phone conversation.” Her father walked a few steps closer, his loafers out of step with the muddy, rutted driveway. He was dressed nicely—in gray slacks and a starched button-up shirt. Casual by his standards. His typical travel wear. He also had a manila folder tucked under his arm, which couldn’t be good.
“I have some business in Denver so I thought I would stop by.”
“Sure. Great.” She didn’t mention that this was a few hours out of his way. He had a reason for stopping by, and she had a feeling it wasn’t simply to say hi. “Would you like to come into the café for some coffee?” The last time she’d offered that, her parents had refused. It was as if they couldn’t bear to see how she was wasting her life, but the last thing she needed was for Mateo to walk outside and interrupt. Her dad would lose it if he found out she was suddenly living with some random cowboy.
“I can’t stay long.” Her father’s features were solemn. “I just came to tell you it’s time to stop hiding. You have to face things, Everly. It’s time to come home where you belong.”
And there it was. They still wanted to control her, to make all of her decisions for her. God, she loved her parents, but they didn’t even know her. “I belong here,” she said, the conviction much stronger since Kenna and the boys had visited.
Her father was a master at remaining stoic, but she’d learned to detect the signs of anger in his features, the twitch of his left jaw, the slight narrowing of his eyes. “You don’t have to live like this. I mean, look at you. You’re a mess.”
Well, she couldn’t deny that. Her jeans had gotten muddy in all of the shenanigans with the boys. “Gee, thanks, Dad.”
He ignored the sarcasm. “Come on, Everly. What happened with Andrew was a small setback in your plans. But you can get your license back. I’ve already talked to Harold about representing you.” He held out the folder. “We’ve done all the research. I have the paperwork right here. We’ll fight until they
give in. You can be practicing law again within six months.”
“I don’t want to be a lawyer anymore.” It didn’t matter how many times she said it; he still couldn’t hear it.
“But you worked so hard.” His composure started to melt away. “All those years. All that school. You were at the top of your class. How can you give up on your dream?”
She couldn’t. She could never give up on her dream. Not now that she knew how it felt to live it. “Being a lawyer was never my dream. You pushed me in that direction. You chose for me. Now I’m choosing for myself.” And she refused to be sad about it. She refused to let him guilt her away from what she loved.
“It won’t last,” he barked. “You can’t make ends meet here. What about your future? Your retirement? You think being a farmer is going to provide for all of your needs?”
“I don’t know.” She had to admit there was some freedom in not really caring at the moment. “This makes me happy.” Not that he would understand. Her father wouldn’t be happy without money and prestige. Yes, he loved his career, loved it so much he wanted it to be hers, too, but it wasn’t.
“Happy?” Her stoic father threw up his hands, waving the folder. “That’s your long-term plan? Being happy? I’ll tell you what you’re being.” He pointed at her, resorting to courtroom theatrics. “Irresponsible. You’re throwing away your money every month renting this dump. You need to get your head on straight, Everly. This venture of yours will fail. You come back now, I can get you a legal team, and, eventually, a job. If you keep waiting, that will be much harder to do.”
Was that a threat? She looked into his eyes, needing to believe that his anger was motivated by love. He’d always called her his princess, but that was back when she’d done everything her parents had asked of her. When she’d let them choose for her. And yes, it made her sad to see his heart breaking, but she couldn’t go back to that life. She wouldn’t.
She walked over to him and squeezed his strong hand. “I love you and Mom. But I’m not coming back. Even if this venture fails.” Which would kill her. She couldn’t picture her future without the farm. But if she lost it… “I’d find something else here.” Surrounded by the mountains and the people who let her be who she was. “I can never go back. So you need to stop asking.”
Her father ripped his hand away from hers. “Don’t come running to me when it doesn’t work out.” He stalked to the SUV and leveled her with a final glare. “I’ve tried to help you, but I’m done.” Without giving her a chance to respond, he got into the car and drove away.
Inside the door of the Chocolate Therapist, Darla had placed a coatrack with a sign that read HANG YOUR COATS, CARES, WORRIES, BURDENS, DOUBTS, AND REGRETS AND LEAVE THEM BY THE DOOR.
Everly was pretty sure she could fill that coatrack with each of those things right about now. Well, everything except for a coat. But worries, burdens, regrets, and doubts? She had plenty of those to offer. Nothing like a pep talk from your father to make you suddenly recognize all of your inadequacies.
The scent of rich dark chocolate seemed to take the edge off her sadness. Walking into her friend’s wine bar/chocolate confectionery always seemed to minimize life’s biggest complications. It wasn’t only the smell. It was also the ambiance and sleek, modern décor—simple but elegant with stained concrete floors, dark accent walls, and wooden pub tables strewn through the large space. A stone-clad bar ran the entire length of one wall, and it never sat vacant unless the place was closed.
The combination of chocolate and wine attracted an assortment of people—tourists and locals alike. Everyone seemed to smile as they chatted and laughed and caught up and celebrated. The world needed more places like this. Happy hubs of community that provided a momentary refuge from the uncertainties and hardships of everyday life. And family. Family provided plenty of hardships.
Everly claimed a stool at the edge of the bar. Amazing how someone else’s lack of faith in you could nibble away at your confidence.
“Everly!” Kate Livingston rushed over and wrapped her up in a hug. “How are you?” She pulled back, her dark eyes sparkling with friendly excitement. “I hardly got to talk to you at the party.”
Ah, yes, the party. She hadn’t had time to talk to many people at the party since she’d left early to get away from Mateo. Funny how a few weeks later she couldn’t seem to get away from him at all. “I was so bummed I had to leave early. It was such a beautiful party.” Everly couldn’t smile as big as Kate if she tried.
“You okay?” Her friend perched on the stool next to her. “You don’t look so good. I mean, you look lovely, of course, but you seem upset.”
“Upset” wasn’t the right word. Tired. Demoralized. “It’s been a long week.” Made longer still by her father’s impromptu visit. Then there was the sexy cowboy living in her house. He’d made himself scarce over the last week, which meant he hadn’t witnessed any of the wonderful things happening at the farm. How would she ever convince him it was worth keeping if he was never paying attention?
“Long weeks always call for a full glass of petit syrah and our dark French roast truffles filled with a velvety ganache.” Kate took the liberty of marking down Everly’s order on the customer card.
“I’ll take two boxes.” Maybe she could use the other one to lure Mateo out of hiding.
“Coming right up.” With a wink, Kate bustled over to the bartender and rushed Everly’s order to the top.
Ahhhh. She inhaled the dark chocolaty scent and rested her forearms on the bar, letting her shoulders sag. Coming here had been the right decision. She’d started to feel more relaxed already.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were hiding from someone.” Darla pulled up a stool next to Everly’s and grilled her with a glare. Despite having recently hired Kate to run the place, Darla still seemed to hang around a lot.
Everly knew enough to avoid her friend’s gaze when Darla was on the hunt for information. She did not need any questions about Mateo living in her house. All week, she’d done her best to downplay it, so no one would read too much into her offer to let him stay. Too many questions would only fluster her, and that was exactly why she’d avoided Darla all week. No one needed to know that, while Mateo irritated her, she also thought he was sexy and tempting. And an incredibly good kisser.
“Why would you think I’m hiding?” she asked innocently.
“You’re two hours early for book club.”
“I needed chocolate.” Mateo had left the house right after her father, so she’d gone in to change and then decided she didn’t want to sit alone and wallow in her heartache. “It’s been a hell of a week.”
“I’ll bet it has.” Her friend grinned. “Have you seen your new roommate naked yet?”
Uh-oh. A swallow stuck in Everly’s throat. “No.” She dragged the word out too long to be believable.
“You have too!”
Thankfully the bartender came over and set down Everly’s wineglass with two small boxes of perfect, delectable truffles.
“Those are on the house, Miguel,” Darla said with a wink.
The young bartender nodded and bowed in Everly’s direction. “Enjoy, la chica bella.”
He probably thought she was blushing on account of his charm, but it had more to do with the way Darla looked at her. “I trade truffles for secrets,” her friend said. “So spill yours, sister.”
“I don’t have secrets.” Lies. So many lies.
Darla knew it, too. She always knew. “Tell me or I’m going to start asking more detailed questions in a much louder voice.”
“Fine.” Everly sighed. Darla never made empty threats. “There was a little incident where Mateo’s dog got into my coop early one morning. I thought it was a mountain lion so I fired a warning shot and he came running out in his towel.” There she went again, recalling every detail of his body. The image had been seared into her brain.
“I knew it.” Darla stole one of the truffles from the box and popped it
into her mouth. “So? What’d you think? Does his body look as good without clothes as it does with those sexy jeans he wears?”
Better. So much better. “I didn’t stand there and evaluate him.” God, if Mateo could hear her right now, he’d probably laugh. When he’d dropped that towel, time had stopped. She had no idea how long she’d stared at him.
“I wonder if he’d be willing to do a reenactment,” Darla said with a wicked grin. “Why don’t you ask him—?”
“Hey, Everly.” Charity Stone waved from across the room.
Thank God. The perfect person to distract Darla from all her questions about Mateo’s goods. Everly had seen Charity put Mateo in his place more than once. She wouldn’t want to talk about him getting naked.
“Hey.” She waved Charity over and pulled up another stool.
The woman happened to be the kind of gorgeous that made other women roll their eyes when she walked past. Long blondish hair, high cheekbones, and dark intense blue eyes. She looked so sweet, but that mouth of hers could put even the gruffest cowboy to shame.
“Is it true that you let Mateo move in with you?” Charity blurted before she’d made it to the bar.
Heads turned.
Well, damn. It would be in the newspaper tomorrow.
“Oh, it’s true,” Darla answered for her.
Charity slid onto the stool next to them. “When Levi told me that, I told him he had to be shitting me. Everly’s not that stupid. She wouldn’t let Mateo move into her house.”
“It is rather interesting,” Darla mused. “Why would Everly invite a sexy cowboy to live with her? Hmmm.”
Both women—along with a few strangers—stared as though demanding an explanation.
“His trailer flooded. What was I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know.” Charity’s eyes seemed to search the ceiling for an answer. “Make him move in with Levi maybe?”
“You could’ve sent him to my place,” Darla offered. “I wouldn’t mind having a hot, bronc-riding roomie for a few weeks.”
Right. That’s exactly what she should’ve done. Except then she wouldn’t be able to make her case for the farm. “I figured it would be a good chance for him to get familiar with the land since it’s his now.” And yes, she also felt bad about being the reason his trailer had flooded.
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