by Lee Rose
“Easy for you to say, Lincoln. No one has ever broken your heart before,” Abel muttered. His mind echoing his brother’s words.
“You didn’t love Lydia, Abel, and if you were honest you’d admit it to yourself and let it all go.”
Abel knew his brother hit the nail on the head but Abel wasn’t ready to let it all go. He wanted to remember the lesson Lydia taught him. Women were sneaky and conniving, not honest and true.
“Mia cared about you, Abel,” Lincoln continued with his speech, digging the knife in deeper and deeper. “You might have discovered something special if you were brave enough to receive it.”
“Mia is nothing but a liar. You can’t honestly expect me to ever trust her again,” Abel snapped, folding his arms across his chest. “If I do fall in love one day, it won’t be with a lying bitch like her.”
Abel heard a loud gasp. Both men turned to see a pale Mia standing at his office door. Tears ran down her cheeks and Abel wanted to hug her and swear he didn’t mean it. He almost let his tears fall in regret, but he sat there in shock.
“I left my jacket,” she whispered, keeping her eyes on the floor. She grabbed it off the chair and ran out of the room as if wolves were chasing her.
“Shit,” Abel muttered. Lincoln was right. He had to stop letting the past ruin his future. He had destroyed something wonderful because of Lydia. Lydia was off living her life happily, yet Abel was still stuck in the past of his shattered dreams.
Chapter Ten
“You sure about this, Mia?” Gwen asked for the tenth time. They were at the airport waiting for Gwen’s flight home to be called. Gwen searched Mia’s face. Mia held in a yawn not wanting to worry her friend. She had kept what she overheard to herself. Gwen would have marched in there and called Abel many ugly names. Mia didn’t want any more trouble.
Mia nodded and smiled, trying to look convincing. “Yes. I promised Becky I would help her train two new employees then I will head home. I miss the city. I can’t wait to be back in New York with you.”
Gwen hugged Mia tightly before letting her go. “Okay, but I will come back here and drag you home if you try to back out. I like Brook Hollow, too, but it is too far away.”
Mia had no reason to stay in Brook Hollow now. After Abel’s ugly words she knew there was no hope for them. Being far away from him was her only choice of ever forgetting him. Mitch had reported Frank was still following his same routine of partying every night. Mitch said Frank looked thin and sick so his drug use must be out of control. Surely his family would intervene and put him in rehab. Frank’s parents loved their son and his uncle, too, they wouldn’t let the drugs kill him. Mia no longer felt any love for Frank, but she didn’t wish him death either. Hopefully he got healthy once again and moved forward with his life. She was going to do her best to move forward and forget Abel and Brook Hollow.
Mia waited for Gwen’s plane to take off then headed back to Brook Hollow. It had been good having Gwen around for a visit. She would miss her, but maybe now Mia could catch up on some sleep. She felt so exhausted these days but she knew it was a combination of stress, working and entertaining Gwen. They had gone to Kramer’s and danced the night away just last night.
Mia drove back to town and straight to her house. She was off today and planned on staying in bed for the rest of the day. Tomorrow she would feel rested and ready to move forward. No more men. If she got lonely, she’d get a couple of cats.
* * * *
Abel sat at his desk, trying to concentrate on the massive amount of paperwork but it was no use. All he could think about was Mia and her devastation when she heard his horrible words. He had called the coffee shop later that night, but Becky told him Mia was too busy to talk. She had hung up on him and he felt her hatred through the phone line. Shit, Becky would fill his mother’s ears, too, and she’d be on his case, too. He had been too much of a coward to try calling again. Lincoln and Jessy were mad at him. Lincoln threatened to cut him out of the wedding party and his best man duties. Like he didn’t already feel like a pile of dog shit. They championed Mia and not him. How was that for family? He snorted.
Abel was reading through a report from two days ago. One of his officers had responded to Becky’s Brew. Abel went on alert. If they had been robbed he would have been told. What the hell happened? He went on to read that Mia Wilson had fainted and had been rushed to the local hospital. How had he not known? Did Lincoln and Jessy know?
He was worried and angry that this information had been kept from him. He called his brother’s cellphone number.
“It’s late, Abel. Go home and sleep,” Lincoln muttered sleepily. Shit. Abel glanced at the clock on the wall. It was past midnight.
“Sorry,” Abel muttered. He had brought Roscoe with him to his office. Roscoe was sleeping soundly on a rug by his desk. “Why didn’t you tell me Mia fainted?”
“You hate her,” Lincoln explained cautiously. Abel grew suspicious. Was she seriously ill? His heart dropped to his feet. Did she get cleared by a doctor? He’d take her for a second opinion if it was serious. He felt panicky. “You would just say she was faking it,” Lincoln added to his already guilty heart.
Abel ignored his brother’s harsh words. His brother knew him well enough to know Abel sprouted nonsense when he was scared. “Is she okay? Is she still in the hospital? What did the doctor say?”
Lincoln chuckled. “Whoa slow down. She is fine. She is overworked and needs some TLC.”
Abel allowed himself to breathe again. He was tempted to wake her up and check on her for himself, but he would probably not have the willpower to leave her.
“Why isn’t Becky making sure she doesn’t work herself to death?” Now he felt angry. Becky claimed to care for Mia just like a real niece. Becky had told Lincoln to tell him he better not darken her doorstep at the coffee shop, or she’d sic his mom on him. Everyone blamed him, not caring that Mia had lied.
“I don’t know, Abel. It’s not police business. Now can I go back to sleep?” Lincoln didn’t wait for an answer and hung up on him. Abel shook his head and set the phone down on its hook. He looked at Roscoe. “It’s a sad day when your own brother disrespects you.”
Roscoe blinked then rolled over as if he didn’t care either. Abel sighed and stared out into the darkness. He got his wish of being left alone, so why wasn’t he feeling joyous?
Chapter Eleven
Mia sat with Jessy at a booth drinking hot chocolate at Becky’s Brew. December’s frigid temperatures were rolling in with gusto. Jessy had helped Mia put up white lights all over the windows. The white glow brought some comfort to Mia. She loved Christmas. She had spent most of her holidays at Gwen’s. Hopefully she’d be back in New York by the holidays.
“Thanks for helping me, Jessy. You must be swamped. Your wedding is two weeks away.” Mia kept her fingers around the warm cup. “Are you nervous or excited?”
“You’re helping me out by letting me hide here. I am nervous as hell, but not because I doubt my love for Lincoln.” Jessy chuckled. “I should be at Delores’s house discussing last minute details. Delores’s sister Angie had her own ideas about the menu. When they started arguing, I ran out of there as if the house was on fire. I don’t care what we eat.”
Mia shook her head with amusement. She felt sympathy for Jessy but envious at the same time. Lincoln’s family adored Jessy and Lily. Frank’s mother had been snooty and although she was cordial to Mia, she had never been friendly. She knew Mia had no blood relatives and she did not approve of her only son bringing her around.
“Lincoln took an extra shift at work, that rat,” Jessy told Mia with a frown. “If you ever get married, elope girlfriend.”
“Marriage is not on my list of things to do.” Mia blinked back some tears. She hated feeling emotional. Damn hormones drove her nuts. She’d never get as lucky as Jessy or Gwen. Love, true love, was rare and eluded Mia.
Jessy gave Mia a sympathetic look. “Abel is stubborn and foolish but deep, deep inside
he is a good man, Mia. A hurt man, but good. He’ll come around. Don’t give up.”
“I am sure he is a good man. He is admired for being dedicated to this town and its people. I am just not in that group. He hates me, Jessy.” Mia wasn’t about to argue with Jessy. Jessy had to stick up for him. “Doesn’t matter. We will never be together as a couple. I may have to share my child with him, but that is all.”
Mia had received the shock of her life from the doctor at the hospital. She had fainted in front of Jessy and her sister Lily here at work, so they knew of her pregnancy. Mia had sworn them to secrecy for now. That first time with Abel had been rushed and hurried. They used a condom but somehow it had failed. She had been so desperate to make love with him, she had not paid much attention to anything but Abel. Now she was getting used to the idea of being a mother. She had to tell Abel but she needed courage first. She was keeping this baby whether he approved or not. She was done with men but she was blessed with a child of her own. She’d love this baby and never give it up.
“Have you told my stupid brother-in-law yet?” Jessy rolled her eyes. Lincoln had told Jessy what had happened at the station so Mia had not had to repeat the whole nasty incident. It still hurt as if it happened yesterday and not two weeks ago.
“I don’t know how,” she confessed with a loud sigh of exhaustion. Becky and Gwen knew and had been supportive. Becky was hoping Mia would stay in Brook Hollow and Gwen wanted her home. It was all so unsettling to Mia. “What if he tells me I am a liar? Or wants proof this is his baby. I am an emotional mess right now, Jessy. I am not strong enough to handle all that drama.”
Jessy had told her his ex-girlfriend had been pregnant, only not by Abel, but by her ex. She deliberately lied to Abel. Mia understood his bitterness and distrust, but she did not want to deal with it face to face. It hurt too much. A bang on the glass door made both of them jump and scream. Jessy turned to see who it was. “Speak of the devil,” she grumbled.
Mia’s heart clenched with anxiety. Why was Abel here? Didn’t he see the closed sign and the shade pulled down? Jessy got up and went to the front door. She could see them speaking but she had no idea what was being said. Hopefully Jessy was telling him to get lost.
Mia rolled her eyes when she saw him walking behind Jessy. Jessy gave her an apologetic look. She sat back in the booth. Abel scooted in next to Jessy. Mia picked up her cup and took a sip, hoping to avoid having to speak to him. She had not laid eyes on him since that awful day in his office. The tension was thick and Mia felt nervous and queasy.
“I heard you were under the weather, Mia,” he mentioned casually. He looked tired but still as handsome as ever. Why couldn’t he have gotten ugly or something? Her body heated up with lust. Traitor, she chastised herself.
Mia nodded politely without smiling. “I’m better now.”
“Should you be here still?” he asked, sounding concerned. “You should be resting. Is it the flu? I have had a few of my people out because of that.”
Mia felt a little panicked and avoided giving a clear answer. He already thought she was a liar and a cruel-hearted woman, but she couldn’t blurt the truth out right this minute. “I just needed to rest. Jessy was helping me decorate and we were taking a break.”
Jessy looked around the shop. “It came out nice. I can’t wait to pick out a tree for home and decorate. Lily and I never got into the holidays since we were alone, but I think this year will be different. Lily is like a little kid about it.”
Abel smiled and ruffled Jessy’s brown hair. Mia could see the fondness in his eyes for his sister-in-law. She wished he had a tenth of that affection for her but wishes were useless. So were dreams. “You have to put up with our huge family now, sweetheart.”
Jessy looked at Mia. “This weekend is the Christmas parade. Are you going?”
Mia shook her head no. “I’ll watch from in here where it is warm and cozy.”
“Smart idea,” Jessy replied. “Lily is excited, but I am not a fan of crowds. Lincoln’s boss is a scrooge and is making Lincoln help with the traffic.”
“Hey, if I have to be out there freezing my ass off so does my assistant chief of police,” Abel defended himself.
Jessy rolled her eyes and sipped her hot chocolate. Mia listened to them without adding to their conversation.
“If you get too cold come in here. Becky says it goes right down this street. You can sit by the picture window,” Mia suggested. “That is my plan. I went with Gwen once in New York and got crushed. It was horrible.”
“Okay. I might just do that.” Jessy finished her drink. “You will still be here for the wedding, right? You promised.”
“You’re leaving?” Abel asked sharply. Mia almost shouted what do you care, but held in her words of anger.
“I have to go home sooner or later,” she reminded him gently. She wanted to smooth his hair down from the windblown look. She wanted to put his big arms around her so she could feel like she belonged somewhere. Just once she wanted to belong.
“What about your crazy ex?” Abel asked, looking upset. She would’ve thought he’d be happy to see the last of her. He’d probably throw a party.
“Gwen’s dad checked with Frank’s uncle. The family decided to put him in rehab in Colorado. He leaves soon. That will make it safe for me to return,” Mia answered, looking at him trying to memorize every wrinkle, every line. His lips and his sexy dark eyes. He was so physically appealing, but too bad his heart was made of ice.
“That’s great news.” Jessy looked at her phone and texted something back. She put it in her purse and looked at Abel. “We should get going, Abel. It’s late and Mia needs to get some rest.”
Mia stood up and stretched her back. She took the two mugs to the sink and washed them out. Hopefully Abel would leave and she wouldn’t have to linger in his presence. She knew she was being a coward, but she was terrified to give him the news. He hated her and thought of her as nothing but a liar and deceiver. Would he hate the baby, too? She hoped not, but she would love her baby for the both of them.
* * * *
“Why can’t I make sure she locks up safely? It’s getting dark outside,” Abel grumbled. He didn’t want to admit to Jessy he missed Mia more than he ever thought he would. She was on his mind every single day. Jessy would give him a superior attitude of ‘I told you so.’
“Fine.” Jessy glared at him and poked him in the chest. “But you’d better be nice mister. She is just now feeling better. Stress was involved in her illness and we both know who was the cause of that stress.”
Abel felt ashamed. He rubbed his chest. “Does my brother know of your temper? Poor sap. Every word to Mia will be covered with sugar, I promise.”
He crossed his heart, making Jessy rolled her eyes. She shook her head and walked out of the coffee shop. Her car was parked right in front so Abel watched her get in safely and drive away.
“Oh, where is Jessy?” Abel turned toward Mia. She was wearing a red t-shirt and black leggings. She looked like she lost weight and he felt remorseful. She had dark circles under her eyes.
“She was meeting up with Lincoln. I wanted to make sure you locked up safely.” He hated feeling so awkward with Mia. He wanted to kiss her and hold her, but he no longer had the right. He wanted to fix things but he was at a loss as to how. She’d probably brush off any attempt of his to apologize. He was an ass and he knew it.
Mia looked uncomfortable with the idea and he couldn’t blame her. He had done a lot of soul-searching over the last two weeks and he didn’t like what he saw in himself. Lincoln had been right. He had not loved Lydia and he didn’t know the baby. It was the idea of fatherhood he liked. He owed Mia a huge apology even though he hated apologizing. Every time he opened his mouth the words got stuck in his throat. He couldn’t think of any fancy, suave lines to make this all better.
Mia put on her coat and he watched her lock the front door and check the knob twice. He had the same habit and it made him smile. Her car was across
the street so he walked her to it. Soon it would be snowing and he would be busy with blizzards and traffic accidents. He would gladly spend the winter locked with her in some mountain cabin until she forgave him.
“Thank you, Sheriff Ramirez.” She sounded so polite and he hated it. He still remembered how she sounded in the throes of passion and when she screamed his name out. He wanted her back but he didn’t know how to tell her. Would she even be open to giving him a second chance? The ugly words he said was still between them.
“Will you let me apologize for the awful things I said in my office, Mia?” he asked, looking into her pretty blue eyes and watching the wind pick up her curls, and bouncing them off of her shoulder. A pink scarf was wrapped around her neck. The evening was making the sky turn a dark gloomy gray, but just looking into her pretty eyes made him feel warm and mushy inside. Why had he let his fears rule him? Mia was not intentionally trying to deceive him. She had been afraid for her life, how could he blame her for fibbing when her life depended on it? She must have been scared to death with her crazy ex wanting to hurt her constantly.
“Not if you are doing it out of obligation. You meant what you said. Anyways, all we had was a meaningless fling.” She unlocked her car door and threw her purse in the passenger seat. She had a stern, unforgiving look on her face that was so unlike the sweet docile Mia he had come to know and love. He knew her hurt went deep. Her pain made him ache even more.
“I didn’t mean it. I was angry, shocked and confused,” he admitted. “I don’t think. I blurt utter nonsense out then I regret it. That’s the real me, Mia. I’m an ass. I’ll probably mess up a lot if you stick around.”
She got in the driver’s seat but didn’t close the car door on him. That had to be a good sign. She looked up at him, the sorrow clear in her eyes. Because of his issues with his past, he had hurt her deeply and made her sad. She was so sweet and loving.