In essence, the mission was a success, if Gavin didn’t count his broken heart. They protected the innocents, at least for a time. S.A.T.O. would have to find a new batch of diamonds before they could enact any of their devious plots that included them.
If only they could have captured Paul out at that farm, the danger would be over. From what Nick said, Stephen wouldn’t turn against his boss, but the FBI—who were officially handling the case—were open to negotiations if he changed his mind. Not that he’d avoid prison time even if he talked, Nick was making sure of that for the crimes Stephen committed against Carlie. As far as Gavin was concerned, he could rot in there, hopefully getting sent to the worst prison.
By the time Gavin and Jenessa had returned to New York City to turn Dan in, Shelley was no longer in the state. Nick explained that she went back to Sayle with Carlie. His boss sent him out on a new assignment immediately, and a new one after that. Before each job, Nick impressed on him the importance that Gavin not tell anyone where he was. It was getting ridiculous. Almost like Nick was purposefully keeping him from Shelley.
Several times he’d picked up the phone to call her in spite of Nick’s instructions, but he wasn’t sure she’d want to hear from him. Stealing had become his way of life again. Sure, it was government sanctioned now, but what kind of woman wanted that?
Gavin checked the messages on his voice mail in the apartment he rented in Queens. The first two were from Nick and Jenessa, respectively, but the last one surprised him.
“Mr. Hart, this is Nurse Bradshaw from down at Elmherst. I called the number you left before, and the gentleman, Nick I think, gave me this number. I sure hope it’s you. We admitted Iris Thornock again today. We know where she belongs now, but the nursing home doesn’t want to take her back. She causes too much trouble. They asked us to contact a family member. You’re the only person we have. Please call back as soon as you can.” She left a number and hung up.
The message informed him in its mechanical voice that the message was left yesterday.
Without hesitation, Gavin grabbed his car keys and walked out the door. He owed it to Iris to help if he could.
***
Iris sat in bed with the head propped up, watching Wheel of Fortune and yelling at the contestants when they guessed incorrect answers.
The nurse stopped Gavin before he could go inside.
“Thanks for coming. Now that Iris’ chest pain is under control and we ran all the tests, we need to discharge her soon, but there’s a problem. The nursing home said she ran away three more times in the past six weeks. They don’t want to be responsible anymore and won’t let her return.”
“But where’s her family?” Gavin looked up and down the hall, halfway hoping someone would materialize.
The nurse shrugged. “She’s been on state aid for six years, according to the staff at her home. They met her grandson when he first dumped her there, but he never came back. His contact number is wrong.”
That must be the elusive Tommy. “So there’s no one to help her?”
The nurse shook her head. “Sadly, a lot of people in Iris’ situation end up on the streets. I’m afraid that’s where she’s headed.” With a sad shake of her head, the nurse walked off.
“Way to load on the guilt,” Gavin muttered, and then stepped into the room.
Iris yelled, “The lone ranger!” The contest on TV said the same thing, solving the puzzle. “Told you,” she gloated.
Gavin cleared his throat self-consciously, wondering if she would remember him.
She turned to the doorway, and her wrinkled face lit up. “Tommy! I knew you’d come.”
Gavin wondered if she really had chest pain or if she faked it to get sent to the hospital in hopes of finding him. “Of course I came, Grandma. Don’t worry anymore. I’m going to take you home with me.”
***
Nick answered his cell phone on the second ring. “This had better be good.”
Heat rose to Gavin’s cheeks. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Well, my fiancée does finally feel better. What do you need, Gavin?”
“I have a business proposition for you, and I’m hoping you’ll hear me out. Life as a secret agent just isn’t going to work for me. I have too many other responsibilities. I’m sorry, Nick, but I have to quit.”
“Okay.” Nick didn’t sound very surprised. “A business proposition, huh? What did you have in mind?”
Gavin took a deep breath and launched into his carefully prepared speech. If Nick wasn’t agreeable to the plan, Gavin would figure something else out. Life spent in misery wasn’t worth living, and Gavin was ready for happiness.
Chapter Forty-Three
Emma jumped up. “I’ll get it, Mommy!” She raced for the front door of Shelley’s small house.
“Stop,” Shelley commanded, rising from the couch. It was still hard to get around but at least the leg itself was more stable, considering her knee was in a cast. Her back had healed completely, but it would be a long pregnancy. The doctors all agreed knee surgery should wait until after delivery.
She grabbed the crutches and trailed behind her daughter. “What have I told you about answering the door?”
Emma back up, looking appropriately contrite. “That bad men could be on the other side and I shouldn’t race you to answer it.” Though Emma said it with a heavy dose of exasperation, at least she listened and knew the rules. In a way, Shelley was glad to hear her daughter’s annoyance. The weekly therapy sessions seemed to be helping Emma get over her fear from their time in the cellar.
“Good.” Shelley pulled the curtain back from the window at the side of the door and her heart did a flip flop. She’d never expected to see Gavin again, let alone have him show up on her doorstep.
He knocked again. “Come on, Shell. I hear you in there talking. Open up.”
Trying to control her jittering hands, Shelley fumbled with the deadbolt and opened the door. “Hey. What’s up?” Yeah, I’m in control. No nerves here.
Gavin looked good. Great, in fact. A secret part of her—that she mostly hated—had hoped he’d look worse. Sad and lonely without her. Instead, he beamed from ear to ear with a wide smile, and their time apart hadn’t forced him to lose or gain weight. Even if she had put on a few extra pounds, he appeared completely unaffected.
Then again, it was his choice to split up and he wasn’t pregnant.
Even as she looked him over, his eyes traveled along her body. “You look gorgeous.” He pursed his lips. “I’m surprised you’re still in a cast. I thought you’d be recovering by now.”
She shrugged. “I had some complications and need to wait for surgery.”
“Complications?” He took a step nearer, seeming genuinely concerned. “What complications? No one told me about them.”
Maybe because she’d threatened her friends, warning against her retaliation if anyone told Gavin about the baby. She had feared for a few seconds someone spilled the beans and that was why he came, but obviously not. “I don’t have time for chit chat, Gavin. What are you doing here?”
Gavin nodded, as though expecting her rudeness. “Would it do any good to tell you I love you?”
She snorted. “You men all have the most peculiar way of showing that.”
His pale green eyes stared deep into hers. “I’m not just any man.”
“No,” she whispered, “you’re right. You’re the only one who truly broke my heart. My gentleman, who turned out to be nothing of the sort.”
“I deserve all of that, and more, but I’m here to apologize.”
“Mommy?” Emma pushed her way around Shelley’s legs to stare at Gavin. “Hey, I remember you. You shot the bad man and saved Mommy.”
Gavin’s mouth dropped open for a moment before he recovered. “Emma. How you doing, squirt?”
“I’m learning to read big kid books so that when school starts next year, I’ll be the smartest one there,” she said with evident pride. “I’m going to first
grade after summer.”
Emma had finished the last month of kindergarten in Sayle and made lots of friends. The teacher expressed some concern that her reading was behind the other children, but Emma had been working hard and Shelley already noted an improvement. She was so proud of her.
“I’ll go get my book,” Emma decided. “You can stay for story time.”
“I’d love that,” Gavin replied.
Shelley was stuck for it now. She couldn’t turn Gavin away without upsetting Emma. She clung very firmly to the thought that she only allowed him inside for Emma’s sake. However, it was hard to lie to herself.
Gavin shut the door and followed her to the living room, choosing to sit on the couch. “I’ve missed you.”
Lowering herself into the recliner, Shelley automatically rubbed her hand across her belly. “Again, you have a funny way of showing it. There’s this great invention, it’s called the telephone. Maybe you’ve heard of it.”
He looked away from her, not seeming to have an answer.
The lack of communication these past weeks had hurt the most. Even though she knew Gavin didn’t want her, she kept hoping he would change his mind and call. There were a couple single fathers raising kids from Emma’s school. Though they flirted like crazy with Shelley when the children had play dates, she never accepted any of the invites to a more private, adult dinner.
The truth was, she was still in love with Gavin. She couldn’t just shut that off. Especially not since she carried his child. With an internal sigh, Shelley knew she’d have to tell him about that. Eventually he’d find out anyway, and he could do the math to figure out when she got pregnant.
Luckily, before she could start that conversation, Emma entered with her book. She went straight to Gavin and climbed into his lap without an invitation. Emma might have been through a lot in her young life, but it hadn’t shaken her faith that people were basically good.
As though he should be completely interested, Emma opened the book about the talking mouse to the first page and painfully worked at sounding the words out. Gavin only had to help occasionally.
Shelley tried to keep a pleasant smile on her face, so Emma wouldn’t glance up and realize anything was wrong.
Once Emma read as much as she wanted, she closed the book with a snap. “That’s all for now.” She kissed Gavin’s cheek and jumped off the couch. “Come back tomorrow for more.” She raced from the room.
Great. Now her daughter decided who came to their house? Shelley probably should get used to Emma running her life. It would be even worse when the baby came along. They’d probably gang up on their mom.
That thought actually brought a real smile to her face. Shelley finally had the family she’d always dreamed of. It would have been better with a father to share the fun, but it could be great on her own.
She cleared her throat, deciding not to tell him about the baby. “As you can see, we’re doing fine. Thanks for stopping in Gavin. You don’t need to feel guilty about leaving me. Have a good life.”
He crossed his arms together and didn’t rise. “No. I won’t let you dismiss me like you did in New York. I have something to say.”
She wanted to beg him not to break her heart all over again, but held her tongue.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I thought I knew what was best for you, and I made a horrible mistake.”
“What was best for me?” She narrowed her eyes. “You think being by myself without the man I love is what’s best for me?”
He grinned. “So you admit you love me?”
Mentally cursing herself for the slip up, Shelley shrugged. “Don’t be too self-congratulatory. I don’t have to like you, just because I love you.”
Gavin rushed to her side, dropping down to the floor next to her chair and taking her hand. “I screwed up.”
His warm hand against hers was like kryptonite. She fought it anyway. She had to think of Emma now, not just herself. She was a parent. “I can’t have someone in Emma’s life who isn’t constant, Gavin. Please don’t dredge up feelings that you can’t deliver on. You have a job to do, and I have a life to live here. Emma needs more than a sometimes father. I just can’t do this with you.”
“But that’s what I came to tell you. I don’t want to be a sometimes father.” He paused, looking off the direction Emma ran. “Actually, I didn’t know I wanted to be any sort of father, but the idea started growing on me the minute I realized you had her.”
Shelley pulled her hand from his. Sure enough, her heart clenched with pain, feeling broken all over again. “Stop. Don’t say another word. Please. If you love me, just leave.”
Gavin did indeed stop talking. When Shelley glanced at his face, her heart clenched harder. He looked dejected, and she did that to him. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she couldn’t handle the trauma that came with relationships.
“I’m sorry, Gavin, but you have to go.”
Nodding, he stood. “Fine. I can see you don’t want to hear me out, just one last thing before I go.”
He leaned swiftly down, framing her face in his hands. His mouth came to hers, meeting with the perfection she remembered so well. He held the kiss, brushing his thumb softly against her chin. A shiver went through her body, but all too soon, Gavin pulled away.
Without another word, he turned and walked from the house.
Blinking back tears, Shelley told herself over and over that she made the right decision. She always knew true love wasn’t for a woman like her.
Emma came skipping back into the room and looked at the empty couch. “Did the nice man leave?”
Shelley smiled. “Yeah, sweetling. It’s just you and me.”
Emma laughed. “And the baby in your belly, Mommy. Don’t forget about that.”
Shelley joined into the laughter. Good thing Emma hadn’t thought about that when Gavin was in the house. “And the baby,” she agreed. “Our perfect little family.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Three months later
“Come on,” Carlie urged, pulling Shelley’s hand. “We’re going to be late, and you know how Nick feels about that.”
“I’m going as fast as I can.” Shelley scooted her ponderous weight to the edge of the seat in Carlie’s Camry and then allowed her friend to help her stand. “Now that I’m sporting this baby bump and a cast, I don’t get around too easily.”
“This hotel is Nick’s baby, and he can’t wait to have the grand reopening. We have to be there for the restaurant.”
Shelley knew her friend was right, but she wished she wasn’t duty bound to attend. Nick was always opening new restaurants and investing in them. This time, he bought an entire hotel in Sayle, renovating it and adding a five-star restaurant before reopening. Though it had been running for a week, tonight was the official party.
Besides play dates for Emma, Shelley hadn’t been out of the house much in the past few weeks. Summer had flown by too quickly, and it was easier to mope around in the house, wishing she’d made a different choice and asked Gavin to stay. It seemed he couldn’t run away fast enough, however. She’d never heard from him again.
Emma skipped along beside them, looking adorable in her pink dress. Aunt Carlie had taken Emma school shopping earlier in the week and picked out the dress for the opening festivities tonight. Emma had told Shelley while getting ready that she felt like a princess. She certainly didn’t mind coming to the party.
They entered the lobby and Shelley was struck by the changes. She’d been inside the hotel a few times before when Nick first moved to Sayle and lived in it, but the changes were remarkable. Gold and crystal chandeliers hung at intervals through the vaulted ceilings and the walls were done in cream and gold colors.
“Do you like the chandeliers?” Carlie asked, excitement clear in her voice. “Nick picked them out for me.”
Shelley whistled her appreciation. “Fancy stuff.”
“We’ll check out the rooms later,” Carlie promised, “but let’s get to the di
ning room.”
Shelley let Carlie lead the way, happy for her friends’ newest business venture. Once Carlie’s Creations reopened next month, they would be too busy for Nick to hunt S.A.T.O. members unless he got some help. She hoped he’d found a good manager for this building.
That made her think of Gavin all over again. If only he’d stayed in town. Maybe Nick could have hired him to be the manager and they could have had a future together.
She shook her head. No. I won’t think of him tonight. This is a party.
She entered the dining room behind Carlie with her head held high.
***
The food was exquisite, the service exceptional, and Nick and Carlie both beamed with happiness. “It’s a success,” Nick said, kissing Carlie’s cheek.
Shelley sat at the main table with Nick, Carlie, and Emma. In addition, Carlie’s parents had come in from Africa to attend the opening. They seemed like lovely people, even if Shelley didn’t have much to say to them. Muhammad Khan sat in the seat nearest to Shelley, obviously dreaming of what sort of food he might convince Nick to donate to his soup kitchen. Even Sensei Hideaki attended, sipping tea with his wife.
Shelley was surprised Nick’s best friend wasn’t there, given the big turnout, but she knew they were coming in December for Nick and Carlie’s wedding. The only person who would have made things better was Gavin.
Chiding herself fiercely, Shelley tried not to feel sorry for herself. Everyone seemed so happy around her, and she really should be happy too. It was just being out in public alone and watching happy couples that got to her.
“Time for dessert,” Nick announced to the room in general.
Servers in matching black uniforms descended from the kitchen, bringing a cupcake for each guest.
“Did you make those?” Shelley asked Carlie.
Love & Redemption Page 31