He followed her out into the hall and noticed the dining room table had been cleared. “Wait. Don’t you want to take some left-overs?” What a stupid thing to say. What he meant to say was don’t go. I don’t like Sunny the way I like you.
“No thanks. I’ll go get Zoe out in the barn.” She pulled on her coat and opened the door to reveal Sunny on the porch. She jostled around the woman with an embarrassed laugh and marched through the snow toward the red barn.
A weight pressed on his chest as he watched her determined gait. She was a strong, independent woman and a compassionate mother. She was unlike any woman he’d ever been with and he knew she was out of his league. No doubt she already regretted that kiss they’d just shared. She was college-educated and he was a cook/truck driver who’d barely graduated high school. Two different worlds.
Sunny cleared her throat. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Uh-huh.” Unable to focus on her, he watched as Zoe and Melodie walked back to their house. Zoe seemed to be protesting and he hated that Sunny had ruined their visit.
“Can I come in?" Sunny asked. "It’s freezing out here.”
Even though he wasn’t excited about it, he pulled the door wider to let her in. “What are you doing here?”
“That’s not much of a welcome for an old friend.” She pulled off her gloves and rubbed her hands together as if to warm them up. “So, you and that woman got something going on?” Her normally chipper voice had a hint of jealousy weighing it down.
That was none of her business. “She’s just my neighbor. The girls like to play together.”
With a flutter of her eyelashes she stepped closer to him. “That means there’s no one keeping you warm at night?”
“Of course not.” He scowled at her. “I’m not like I was in high school. I’m a father and I have to think of Bella first.”
She put her hand on his chest. “I get that. But you’re still a man. You have needs and so do I.” She pressed her cold lips against his.
It felt so wrong—especially since Melodie had just kissed him. He pulled away. “Hey, I don’t wanna hurt your feelings, but I’m not interested. Besides, you know how Bella feels about us.”
“If this is about Bella, I can be discreet. I have Monday off of work. I could come by when Bella’s at school.” She unzipped her snowmobile suit a little. “Keeping us a secret would be kinda hot.”
He shook his head, trying to maintain his resolve. It had been years since a woman had thrown herself at him. It felt awkward considering he was totally sober and it was the middle of the afternoon. But she was right, he did have needs.
“Conner, I’ve wanted you since high school. Now that you’re back, you’re even sexier than I remember. Don’t make this more complicated than it has to be. I’m not looking for a ring, you know.” She stepped closer and pulled his head toward hers. They kissed again and soon she was slipping her tongue into his mouth.
His body welcomed the idea of a purely physical relationship, but alarm bells kept ringing in his head. He should be past having flings by now. Did Melodie have meaningless sex? No. She was mature and she wouldn’t want someone so shallow. He desperately wished it were Melodie wrapping her arms around him right now. He pushed Sunny away. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” His chest heaved. “I think you’re a nice person, but I don’t want to take this any further.”
Her face turned pink. “I’m nice? I’m trying to be anything but nice here.”
“Sunny, you need to find a guy who cares about you. Jumping into bed is never going to solve anything.”
She crossed her arms and turned away. “I’m not a slut.”
“I didn’t mean that. . . .”
“Don’t you want to know why I came here today?”
He scratched his head because he thought it was obvious. “It’s the holidays. It can get very lonely, I understand that. Believe me, I do.” His grandparents were gone, his parents, too. If he didn’t have Bella, he’d probably be in a bar somewhere getting wasted, looking for a hook-up. But he wasn’t that guy anymore. Thank God.
“I’m not lonely.” She stared at the framed photo of his grandparents on their wedding day that hung in the foyer. “Okay. I admit it. I am lonely. There aren’t any decent men in this town. It’s so small, they’re all married or I’ve already dated them.”
He thought about offering her a sympathetic ear, but he didn’t trust himself. If she poured her heart out to him, he just might give in to his hormones. “Have you thought about moving?”
She laughed a quick, bitter laugh. “This is all I know. I have a little house, it’s not much, but I can afford it. If I moved to the city, I’d have to live in a one-bedroom apartment. And I’d get some crappy job making minimum wage. At least here, I like my boss.”
He shrugged. “Maybe you’re right.”
After gazing at his grandparents’ photo another minute, she took a deep breath. “Well, since this booty call isn’t gonna happen, I might as well tell you the news before I lose all of my dignity.”
“What news?” Sunny was right. The town was so small, there really wasn’t much that ever happened there. That’s why he’d desperately wanted to leave when he’d turned eighteen and why it was the perfect place to raise Bella.
She pulled a paper out of her pocket and unfolded it. It was a copy of two different photos: Conner shooting pool and a girl playing in a sandbox. “That detective I told you about is showing this around town. Asking if anyone has seen either of you.”
Yanking the paper out of her hand, he stared at it. Both photos were old and hard to make out, but he knew it was definitely time to take action. “When did you see him? Where?”
“At the bowling alley. I heard him ask if he could post this on the bulletin board.”
“What did they say?”
She smiled at him. “They said no. Only locals are allowed to post anything.”
That eased his mind just a little. At least small towns knew how to circle around and protect their own from outsiders. But clearly, he either needed to leave this place or prepare for battle.
Putting her hand on her hip, she regained her composure. “What exactly is going on? Is that Bella? If so, why is someone looking for her?”
“I can’t tell you that. But I owe you one.”
“Well, I’ll take payment now.” She looked as if she wanted to kiss him again and he started to fidget. Then she licked her lips. “Got any leftover pie?”
# # #
After allowing herself one slice of warm apple pie topped with ice cream, Bethany tried not to beat herself up about the indulgence. The restaurant’s dessert couldn’t compare to her mother’s homemade, but that hadn’t been an option this year. As her spoon dropped in the empty bowl, her cell phone started ringing. She recognized the Texas number and looked at her father. “Excuse me.” Trailed by Willow, she rushed through the crowded restaurant and stepped into a quiet alcove near the restrooms. Smiling as she answered, she expected to hear her daughter, but it wasn’t a teenager’s voice on the other end.
“Bethany, it’s Connie.” The adoptive mother. “Hannah’s in the hospital.”
“Oh, no! What’s wrong?”
“She had a miscarriage.” A sob came over the line. “I figured you’d want to know.”
Her legs nearly gave out beneath her and she leaned against the paneled wall for support.
None of them had been happy to hear a seventeen-year-old was pregnant, but after eight months, they’d all embraced the unexpected. Hannah had planned on an open adoption where she would receive pictures and updates about her baby while she attended her freshman year of college. “How’s she doing?”
“They stopped the bleeding, but are keeping her at the hospital for a day or two.”
Willow gave her a confused expression. Beth looked away. “I’ll be on the first flight available.”
“No, don’t feel obligated to come.”
Beth definitely wanted to be there for Hannah. She wanted t
o hug her and comfort her, if there was any way to do that. “Does Hannah not want me there?” They were still negotiating their relationship after reuniting a year ago. Wow. Had it really been that recent? Beth couldn’t imagine not knowing Hannah. She followed her blog and looked at her photography on-line to supplement the phone calls and visits. It was an awfully long distance between Indiana and Texas.
Connie hesitated. “Hannah doesn’t know I called.”
Would her daughter turn her away? “Well, I’d really like to be there. Do you mind? I can stay in a hotel, obviously.”
“You’re always welcome as far as I’m concerned. I’m not sure how Hannah is going to deal with this. She was so close to delivery, she’d been feeling the baby kick. She’d taped the ultrasound picture to her bulletin board. She’d even secretly named him.”
Nodding, Beth understood. At first, she’d hated the fact that she’d gotten pregnant so young, but once she’d felt the baby moving inside of her, she’d felt overwhelming love for the new life. “I’ll have to arrange a babysitter for Willow and then I’ll let you know when my flight is.”
“The truth is, I’m glad you’re coming. Hannah is gonna need all the support she can get. Most of her friends disappeared when she got pregnant.”
The mother bear inside of her wanted to roar at Hannah’s fair-weather friends. Instead she said, “I’ll see you soon.” After ending the call, she knew she’d have to field questions from her family.
Willow limped nearer. “Why do I need a babysitter?”
Before answering, she led her back to their table. She didn’t want to have to say this more than once. Nodding at her father, she took her seat and waited for Willow to settle in. “Hannah lost the baby, so I’m going to be with her for a few days.”
“That’s a shame. Is she all right?”
“They’re keeping her for observation, but I think medically, she’s fine.” She focused on his face. “Would you be able to watch Willow for me?”
“Sure.” He rubbed his age-spotted forehead. “I’d be glad to.”
Willow crossed her arms. “Why can’t I go with you?”
“Because you have to go to school.”
“I’m on vacation, remember?”
She had forgotten. Today was Thursday. Willow still had three more days off. But was that long enough? “I don’t know. . . .” She wasn’t sure if Hannah was going to feel up for too many visitors, either.
Willow clasped her hands together. “Take me with you. Pleeeease? I won’t get in the way. Pinkie promise.” She held her little finger up in the air like a hook. “Don’t leave me.” Her young voice quivered.
Suddenly, she was reminded how fragile Willow was. Was it fair to sacrifice Willow’s sense of security in order to be there for Hannah? Hannah might be her blood, but Willow was younger. Hannah had Connie. Willow didn’t have anyone else.
Beth took another deep breath. “Let me see if I can get two seats together on the plane.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Melodie stood on a gigantic, unfinished bridge built out of bricks. Her husband, Paul, was on the other side, busy fitting one block into another. Piece by piece he assembled, but there was still a giant abyss between them. Seeing a pile of bricks beside her, she grabbed an armful and started to help join them. Together, they were doing it. Closer and closer. So close that she reached her arms out, hoping she could touch him, but not quite.
Then the bridge started to tremble. Rougher and harder it shook until blocks started to fall out. Pieces of the bridge dropped to the water below. She grabbed some more Legos and feverishly added them to the bridge.
The space separating them grew larger instead of smaller. She couldn’t keep up with the destruction caused by the earthquake.
“No!” She tried to scream, but the sound wouldn’t come out. She stretched her arms toward him, but too much distance kept them apart. “I love you.”
He cocked his head at her. “Do you?”
“Of course, I do. I’ll never stop loving you.”
“Then why did you kiss that other man?”
Her body twisted from side to side and she awoke in a sweat. She stared at the shadows in her room. It was only a dream, but she felt so guilty. She could still see Paul looking betrayed.
When her eyes adjusted to the dimness, she knew something was off. It wasn’t the middle of the night. Down the hall, she heard Zoe talking to herself, but couldn’t make out the words. Trying to think back, Melodie remembered coming home from Conner’s Thanksgiving and feeling emotionally drained. Shoveling the driveway had made her arms ache, so she’d decided to lay down and rest a minute. Sleep must’ve overtaken her.
Why had she kissed Conner? What was wrong with her? Zoe was starting to forget what Paul was like and Melodie was being selfish. She needed to focus on Zoe and finding a job and preparing this house to be sold. The last thing she should be doing was kissing another man.
She tiptoed down the hall. After seeing Zoe creating a zoo with her blocks and stuffed animals, Melodie went to her computer and typed in “widow” and “dreams.” A website called “Widow’s Peak” popped up. She read about women even younger than she was, women in their twenties, raising children alone. Trying to balance being the only parent with being the only breadwinner. Women who didn’t have a college degree. Women whose husbands died at war. She realized things could be a lot worse. But she also realized that fooling around with Conner Walker wasn’t good for Zoe. Zoe and Bella were friends. What would happen to their friendship if Melodie and Conner ended things on a bad note?
# # #
As the sun sank lower in the sky, Conner went outside and cleared his driveway of the two feet of snow that had accumulated. He looked at the road that was still a mound of white fluff. There was no way he could drive his pick-up loaded with their suitcases through that. When were the road crews going to get there?
And how was he ever going to tell Bella they were leaving? For the first time since he’d taken her in, she had a best friend. She seemed to love it there. Deep down, he loved it there, too. He liked feeling at home and he liked thinking about his neighbor, Melodie.
But the consequences of staying there were enormous. As soon as Sunny had left, he’d called the prison and found out Gola had been released. Soon she would come and try to steal Bella away. There was no way he could ever let that happen. Was he cheating Bella out of a happy childhood by always uprooting her? He was denying her the chance to ever feel the way he did about this town. She would never have a place that she could call home. Better that she was with him, though, than with her mother. And that’s what it came down to.
He sighed and pulled his gloves tighter. Once he finished shoveling, he stopped by the barn to see Bella. He found her sitting in the straw in the corner petting the kittens. “Hey, I’m going over to Melodie and Zoe’s for a minute. Wanna come?”
She shook her head. “I need to keep the kittens company. Mittens is lost.”
“She’s probably out hunting mice or something. I’m sure she’ll come back.” He considered telling her this might be the last time she saw her friend. “Are you sure you don’t wanna come?” He just couldn’t take her crying again, so he didn’t tell her his plan. No sense in dragging the pain out. There wasn’t anything he could do. Someday she’d understand he was simply protecting her.
“I don’t wanna leave until the kittens’ momma comes back.”
“Okay.” He went in the house and threw in a load of laundry. They might as well start their trip with clean clothes. Then he pulled out the Ziploc bag filled with turkey, grabbed his grandfather’s pipe that Melodie had left on the bed and headed over through the deep snow. The cold wind froze the skin not protected by his facial hair, but he barely noticed. When he reached her porch, he admired her red front door. It was definitely the right choice. He rang the bell.
Melodie opened the door, but did not invite him in. “Hi.” Her voice sounded cool.
“Hi. I brought you some
left-overs, plus. . .” He held up the pipe. “You forgot this.”
Looking a little groggy, she rubbed her eye. “You keep it.”
He shuffled his feet. “I’d like you to have it. So you remember me.”
“What do you mean? Are you going somewhere?”
“Yep.” He wasn’t sure what to say. “I. . . I got a job offer in another town.”
Her arched eyebrows pulled downward, making her look sad. “Zoe is going to be heart broken.”
Damn it. Part of him was hoping she’d say she would miss him. “Bella, too. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and I wish you luck in the job hunt.” He handed her the food.
“Thanks. If I could just sell this place, then I wouldn’t be so stressed.”
“Well, good luck with that, too.” He walked to the snowman in the front yard and stuck the pipe in his mouth. “Take care.”
“What’s your girlfriend think of you leaving?”
He shook his head. “Don’t have a girlfriend.” He couldn’t afford to and for the first time, he truly regretted it. Melodie made his pulse race. She was smart and sexy—a combination he’d never dated before. As he walked away, he raised his hand to wave. He was feeling a little heartbroken himself and he didn’t want her to see.
Just then he saw a snow plow scraping the road and flinging snow high into the sky. Yes! They were no longer trapped, waiting for Gola or her goon to corner them.
He trudged back through the snow and as he neared his property, he heard a faint cry. “Help! Daddy!” He ran to the barn and saw Bella lying on her side near the wooden ladder that led to the loft.
Rushing to her, he placed his hand on her damp cheek. “What’s wrong?”
“I fell. I thought maybe Mittens was up on the second floor.” She sobbed and struggled to catch her breath. “I hurt so bad.”
“Where does it hurt?”
“My arm. I think I broke it.”
Oh no. The last thing they needed was a trip to the ER. They were just hours away from loading everything up and escaping. “Are you sure? Try to straighten it.” He worked his elbow to demonstrate.
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