Redeemed Hearts

by Susan Mason

  She turned her attention to the lessons Nick read from the pulpit.

  Passion blazed in his eyes as he spoke from the heart about God’s love. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. That’s from 1 John 1:9.” Nick looked straight at her.

  The atmosphere in the room seemed overly warm. She plucked at the neckline of her dress to allow her more air. She would not have another anxiety attack. Her last episode had occurred in church as well. Maybe the depth of her guilt was the cause—guilt that she’d managed to repress during the busyness of her week, but which rose to the surface in church. She inhaled deeply and let her breath out in slow, deliberate puffs. If she concentrated, she might be all right.

  At last, the organist began the closing hymn.

  Chloe rose from her seat, still breathing deeply until Nick had left the pulpit. Then she almost sagged in relief. She’d made it through the full service. When certain her legs were steady enough to walk, she made her way down the aisle to the back of the church.

  Maxi broke away from the crowd to approach Chloe. “Hey. I wanted to invite you for lunch. Mama will be there and I know she’d love to see you.”

  Chloe smiled at the thought of Maxi’s gentle mother. Despite losing her husband and suffering a debilitating disease, nothing swayed the good nature of that sweet woman. Nick was headed to the hospital to bring Lily and the baby home, and the thought of her lonely apartment did not appeal to her in the least. “Sure, I’d love to come.”

  “Great. See you over at the house.”

  ****

  Standing at Maxi’s living room window, Aidan could help but notice Chloe getting out of her car. He should’ve known. ‘Maxi the Matchmaker’ was at it again.

  In light of Nick’s warning and Aidan’s seeming inability to avoid temptation, he’d made a vow to keep an emotional distance until Chloe no longer worked at the school. Yet everyone and everything seemed destined to thwart his good intentions. Aidan decided to sit back, an impartial observer, and enjoy her company without getting personal. And make certain they were never alone. He resumed his seat beside his mother’s wheelchair and took her hand.

  She smiled at him, her faded blue eyes alight with love. “You look tired, dear. Are you sure you’re not working too hard?”

  Trust his mom to be concerned about him when she was the one battling MS. “I’m fine, Mom. How have you been? I’m sorry I haven’t been around more often.”

  “You don’t need to worry. Peg takes good care of me. And I love working at the salon.”

  “I’m glad. When things settle down at work, I owe you a lunch date.”

  “I’d like that very much.” Mom smiled.

  The front door opened and footsteps sounded in the hallway.

  Aidan waited for Chloe to appear. When she didn’t, it took every ounce of willpower not to go looking for her.

  Mom continued to regale him with stories about the customers at the hair salon.

  His head jerked up the moment Chloe breezed in.

  She looked stunning in her Sunday outfit, a striped blue and white dress and her usual high heels. Brunette curls cascaded past her shoulders.

  His heart ground to a painful halt at the brilliant smile she gave his mother.

  “Mrs. North. How wonderful to see you again.” Chloe bent to kiss his mother’s cheek and her perfume enveloped him.

  “Chloe, my dear. You look absolutely beautiful. And please call me Bernice. Mrs. North makes me feel so old.”

  Chloe gave a light laugh and turned to him. “Hello, Aidan.”

  His tongue tangled up. This Chloe fever was getting worse every time he saw her.

  “Lunch is ready in the dining room,” Maxi called out.

  Grateful for the distraction, Aidan rose to wheel his mother into the next room. He managed to grab a seat at the far end of the table away from Chloe. The meal progressed without incident. The focus of conversation stayed with Jason and the firehouse, as well as the beauty shop where Maxi, Peg, and his mother worked.

  Chloe seemed to enjoy the conversation, but now and then, he caught her glancing at him and then quickly averting her gaze.

  After lunch, Jason took Ben for a nap while Maxi cleared the plates.

  At the sound of a muffled ringtone, Chloe pulled her phone out. Her eyes widened and the color drained from her face. She stood abruptly. “I’m sorry,” she said to the room in general. “I’ll have to skip dessert.” She flashed a brief smile, but pinched lines formed around her mouth. Something had upset her.

  “Is everything all right, dear?” Even his mother had noticed.

  “Just a personal matter I have to deal with.” Chloe bent to kiss her good-bye. “I’ll see you again soon I hope.” She lifted her gaze for a brief second to Aidan. “Tell Maxi thank you, and I’ll call her later.” She rushed from the room, her anxiety almost palpable.

  Was Matt in trouble again? Or was Chloe the one in trouble?

  Good intentions fled, and Aidan followed her out onto the porch. “Chloe. Wait up.”

  Either she didn’t hear him or she ignored him. Before he could reach her, she jumped into her car and roared out of the driveway.

  21

  Richard was here in Rainbow Falls. Waiting for her in Ruby’s diner.

  The shock of his text message reverberated through Chloe as she drove into town. He’d texted that if she didn’t meet him within the hour, he’d go to see Nick and Lily. How had he even remembered her sister’s married name?

  There was no way she’d let Richard talk to Nick. She had to handle this problem and get rid of him as soon as possible. Yet the thought of facing him made her hands tremble.

  She parked a block away from the diner and paused to collect herself. Several deep breaths later, she got out of the car and walked toward Ruby’s. The door jangled as she entered the restaurant. The familiar scent of coffee and apple pie greeted her. For mid-afternoon on a Sunday, the place was unusually quiet. Only a couple of men sat at the counter.

  Richard was seated at the farthest booth in the back.

  Her heart thumped when he walked toward her.

  “Hello, Chloe.” The deep rumble of his voice stirred long dormant memories.

  Other than the lines bracketing his eyes and mouth, he looked as handsome as ever. Thin streaks of silver shone in his dark hair, a testament to the difficulties of recent months. Yet he appeared chic as always, wearing the trendiest of designer suits, accented by a striped silver and black tie.

  “Hello, Richard.”

  He bent to kiss her cheek, and then motioned for her to sit down. Once she settled on the bench, he took a seat across from her. “You look wonderful, sweetheart. Small town life must agree with you.”

  She cringed at the endearment. “What are you doing here?”

  He moved his cup and saucer to the side. “I needed to talk to you, but since you never answer my calls, I had to come to see you in person.”

  A waitress appeared at her elbow. “Can I get you something?”

  “No, thank you.” Heartburn and nausea clamped down on Chloe’s stomach.

  “I’ll have a refill on my coffee, please.” Richard held out his cup. He thanked her and she moved away.

  “I’m sorry about the baby,” Chloe said. “I imagine Denise was devastated.”

  “Yes. She still is.”

  “What about you, Richard?” She couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice.

  “To be honest, I was relieved.”

  She stiffened. How could he be relieved at the loss of his child?

  He reached out and covered one of her cold hands. “It gave me the courage to finally leave Denise.”

  She pulled her hand free. “You left her—right after this kind of tragedy?”

  He looked confused. “I thought that’s what you wanted all along. You’ve been after me for months to leave her. If it hadn’t been for the pregnancy…”

  She drew
in a sharp breath and let it hiss out. “There never should have been a pregnancy, Richard. You swore you were staying married—in name only—for the sake of your children. You lied to me—again.”

  “It only happened once, I swear. A big mistake one night when I’d being drinking. She seduced me, thinking it would get me back.”

  At one time, Chloe would have been moved by his remorse, accepted his pitiful attempt at an explanation, and forgiven him. “I don’t believe you. And even if I did, drinking is no excuse.”

  He hung his head, fingers twirling the cup on its saucer. “You’re right. I’m sorry I gave in to such weakness. Sorry I hurt you. But you have to believe me now. My marriage is over. I’ve filed for divorce and Denise says she won’t contest it.” He paused and raised tortured eyes to hers. “I love you, Chloe, and I want to marry you.”

  ****

  Aidan pulled up in front of Ruby’s Diner and shut off the engine. He’d followed Chloe into town and found her car parked near the restaurant.

  Through the window, Aidan saw Chloe sitting across from an older, distinguished-looking man. Judging by her frown, she didn’t seem to be enjoying the conversation. Did this guy have something to do with her bakery? A contractor or inspector? If so, Aidan had never seen him before. A sudden thought jolted him. Could this be Chloe’s ex?

  Aidan took the keys out of the ignition and stopped short of storming into the restaurant. He had no right to interfere in her life.

  Chloe seemed engrossed in their dialogue, gesturing with her hands. After a few minutes, she leapt to her feet.

  At the look of devastation on her face, Aidan couldn’t hold back. He bolted from the car and strode into the diner, keeping his gaze trained on Chloe’s back.

  “I can’t believe you would come here now and say that.”

  The tears in her voice sparked an adrenaline surge through his system. His hands clenched into fists, ready to defend her if necessary.

  The man, who had also risen, reached forward to snag Chloe’s hand. “Think about what I said. You can reach me at the Rainbow Falls Inn.” Without warning, the man pulled her toward him and locked his lips on her.

  A stab of pure jealousy knifed through Aidan. He stepped forward, waiting for a sign to intervene. The thought that maybe Chloe welcomed this guy’s kiss caused another jab of pain.

  Chloe pounded her fist on the man’s chest. He released her with a satisfied smile on his face, which Chloe promptly smacked. “Don’t ever touch me again.”

  Relief eased the vise grip on Aidan’s insides, until the guy moved toward her, anger blazing in his eyes. Swift and silent, Aidan moved up beside her. “You heard her, buddy. Back off.” He didn’t dare look to see Chloe’s reaction. Instead he aimed a death stare at the jerk in front of him.

  “Who the devil are you?”

  “A friend. You’re not welcome here.” Chloe had an iron grip on Aidan’s arm, holding him back. He ignored the pressure and reduced the distance to his opponent. Wariness crept into the other man’s eyes. Aidan’s fingers bit into the palm of his hands, itching to land one good punch in the guy’s smug face.

  “Aidan, don’t.” Chloe’s breathless voice barely penetrated his concentration.

  He never took his eyes off the enemy. “Leave. Now. And don’t come back.”

  A sneer spread across the man’s features. “So Chloe’s got herself a defender. Isn’t that sweet? Playing the victim again, I see. Maybe you should ask her how long she begged me to leave my wife before she finally gave up. She’s not as innocent as she looks.” He swung his hard gaze to Chloe. “Are you, sweetheart?”

  Aidan surged forward, but Chloe held him back.

  “Aidan. Don’t. Please.”

  Why was she protecting this creep?

  “I’ll be in touch, Chloe.” Richard calmly side-stepped Aidan, keeping just out of his reach, and walked out of the diner. Rage simmered through Aidan’s system, pulsing like a living being. He dragged in a huge breath, willing the loathing and anger to dissipate.

  She’s not as innocent as she looks.

  The words seared his brain like a brand. This is exactly what he’d feared all along. That she’d been hiding something about her relationship. Was this her secret? That she’d knowingly entered into an affair with a married man?

  Huge amber eyes, flooded with tears, stared at him.

  His heart cinched at the fear he saw reflected in their depths. Just walk away, an inner voice urged. It would be the easiest thing to do. But one way or the other, he had to know. “Is it true?” His voice sounded callous even to him.

  Sorrow haunted her expression. The hand on his sleeve tightened, then fell away. Her chin quivered as she bit her bottom lip. The fact that she couldn’t answer his question spoke volumes. “I can explain,” she said at last.

  Stones of disillusion weighed like lead in his stomach. “There’s nothing you can say to explain adultery. Breaking up a God-sanctioned union. Depriving children of their father…” He stepped away from the intoxicating scent of her, his lungs fighting for air. “How could you do that? To his wife? To those innocent kids? I knew you were hiding something, but I never dreamed it was something this bad.”

  Her anguished sob barely registered.

  “You should go after him, Chloe. You two deserve each other.”

  22

  “Here, honey. I think you could use this.” The waitress set down a glass of iced tea and handed Chloe a napkin. “No man is worth that kind of grief. Believe me.”

  “Thank you.” Embarrassed, Chloe wiped her cheeks and then crumpled the paper into a ball.

  The woman looked to be in her fifties with graying brown hair and bags of weariness beneath her eyes, yet kindness shone from their faded depths. “Can I call someone for you?”

  Chloe’s first thought was of Aidan. But she couldn’t count on him anymore. She shook her head. “I’ll be fine in a few minutes.”

  The woman patted her arm. “Take your time, honey. Take your time.”

  Chloe forced back fresh tears at the irony of the situation. If Richard had proposed three months ago, she would’ve been the happiest woman in New York City. Now, she wanted him to leave town and never come back. The bitter aftertaste of his kiss lingered. His touch used to heat her blood. Today, it brought nothing but revulsion and shame.

  Aidan had come to her defense like an avenging angel, only to fall victim to Richard’s cruel accusations. Accusations she couldn’t deny. The icy glass against her cheek did little to soothe her grief at the look of disgust on Aidan’s face. She muffled a sob as the stark truth slammed through her.

  She was in love with Aidan.

  And he hated her.

  Her cellphone chimed. Hoping it might be Aidan, she checked the display, but it was Maxi. Chloe slumped on the bench seat. How would she ever explain this mess to her friend? “Hi, Maxi.”

  “Chloe, is everything all right? Mama said you took off in a hurry—and that Aidan followed you.”

  “I’m sorry.” Everything sharp and raw rose in her throat.

  “Where are you?”

  “At Ruby’s.”

  “Stay there. I’m coming over.”

  Chloe owed her friend the truth—about Richard, and about her growing feelings for Aidan. She only hoped Maxi wouldn’t despise her after hearing the whole story.

  Ten minutes later, Maxi sat down across from her. From the alarmed look on her friend’s face, Chloe must’ve looked a sight. Maxi gripped her hand across the table. “Whatever it is, I’m here for you.”

  “I got a text from Richard. He’s here in Rainbow Falls.”

  Maxi’s brows plunged down. “What did he want?”

  “It’s a long, ugly story. Are you sure you want to know?”

  Maxi leaned on the table, her hazel eyes intense. “It’s about time. Tell me everything.”

  Other than a few eye rolls and frowns, Maxi let Chloe talk uninterrupted until she finally ran out of words—and tears.

  Ma
xi squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all that. What a colossal jerk the man is. Thinking he could sail into town after everything and you’d just swoon at his feet.”

  “I was so stupid. How did I not see what he was really like?”

  “You’re not the first girl to be taken in by a smooth-talking married man. And you won’t be the last.” She pinned her with a sharp look. “You’re not still in love with him, are you?”

  Chloe shook her head. “The moment I saw his wife’s pregnant belly, I was done. For good.”

  “I get it, believe me.” Maxi’s anger thawed some of the ice that seemed to have encased her.

  “But where does Aidan fit in? Did he follow you here?”

  Chloe nodded, her lips pressed together.

  “And…?”

  “And…he despises me.” Chloe clenched her fingers until the nails bit into her palms.

  Maxi’s keen eyes searched Chloe’s face. “Do you have feelings for my brother?”

  “It doesn’t matter now.”

  Maxi’s lips twisted up. “I’ll take that as a yes. Which is a good thing since I’m pretty sure he’s crazy about you too.”

  “Not anymore.”

  “Listen…I know my brother. Give him some time to cool off, and he’ll come around. He’ll get over this, I know it.”

  Maxi’s firm assertion didn’t spark any hope in Chloe’s shriveled heart.

  It would hurt too much if she was wrong.

  ****

  Aidan sat in the youth center’s empty gym. Sweat poured off his body, soaking his shirt. Three days after the confrontation in the diner, raw anger still burned like a hot coal. An hour of whaling a basketball at an imaginary enemy had done little to ease his rage and disillusionment. Nothing could change the stark reality of his situation.

  He’d fallen in love with an adulteress. How dare she cloak herself in a veil of innocence? Lure him in with her vulnerability, her enthusiasm, and her caring heart. He never would have had anything to do with her if he’d known.