by SJ McCoy
Summer nodded. “I think I’m over it. I did tell Autumn she can bring him.” She smiled. “And honestly, if it works out, I’d love to sing.” Gina had to wonder how much she missed her career, the way her eyes shone when she talked about singing. “Maybe later on, when most of the people have gone home or something. I’d love to sing a song with Clay, and Matt has actually been working on one of the recent ones I’ve written. I hope…maybe…” Her smile faded and she shrugged. “It’s just an idea, we’ll see.”
“You should sing,” said Cassidy.
“Yeah. But what else do we still need to cover.” Summer seemed to want to move on.
“I really think we’ve got everything sorted out,” Gina smiled at them all. “I just couldn’t quite believe that and I wanted us all to get together one last time to make sure. I have a feeling this week is going to get busy with everyone’s guests starting to arrive. We might not get a chance again to all sit down like this so I wanted to make the most of it.”
“Well, I’m good to go with everything,” said Cassidy. “My dad and number four will be staying at Chico. He’s sorted everything out and I’ll see them when I see them.”
“You’re so heartless,” said Summer.
Cassidy shrugged. “I’m simply a realist, sweetie. I love my dad, I have no time for his bimbo. He’s proven—with three wives in the last decade—just how much marriage means to him. I’m not worried. I’d rather spend my time with folk whose values I share…” She smiled, and Gina knew it was genuine. “With you three and the Remingtons—or should I say the rest of the Remingtons.”
“Okay,” said Summer. “Okay. I get it. Do you have anyone else coming in?”
Cassidy grinned at Gina. “We do! Ian’s staying at Chico, too.”
Gina smiled back. “Along with Liam and Kaitlyn.”
“What?! You invited them? Why?”
“I don’t know. When I got in touch with Ian, he asked, if I’d be inviting them, and I don’t know, it just feels right. They were a big part of my life while I was in New York. Liam and I weren’t right for each other as a couple, but he’s been a good friend to me over the years. And Kaitlyn. They’re getting married next spring.”
Summer raised an eyebrow. “This is the man you were engaged to?”
Gina nodded.
“And Mason doesn’t mind?”
She smiled. “I don’t think he’s thrilled, but since he invited April.”
Corinne looked horrified. “Guy’s wife?”
“Almost ex-wife,” said Gina. “And she’s going to be in the valley anyway. Apparently she’s going to be helping Luke with the investigation against Guy.”
“Yeah, and from what I hear,” said Cassidy, “she wants to draw Guy out into the open so they can arrest him. I like the sounds of her, she’s got spunk. I thought she was a timid little thing when I met her, but I must’ve had her wrong.”
“No, that’s how she was back then, but it sounds like getting out from under Guy’s thumb was just what she needed to grow into her own person and take control of her own life.” Gina couldn’t wait to see April herself. She loved to think that the downtrodden, fearful woman she’d known had turned into someone who was no longer afraid to stand up for herself and for what was right.
“It’s going to be quite the reunion then, isn’t it?” asked Summer.
“It is. And who do you have coming?”
“Autumn and Matt.” Summer smiled. “And Clay’s going to give me away.”
“Aww, that’s sweet,” said Cassidy.
Summer smiled at Corinne who looked puzzled. “My parents won’t be here. They’re traveling.”
That made Gina sad. For all Cassidy bitched about her dad and his “bimbo” wife, at least he still took an interest in her life. He called her every week at the gallery and he wouldn’t miss her wedding for the world. From what Gina understood, Summer’s parents had never taken that much interest in her or her sister. They were loaded and the girls had been raised by nannies, sent to boarding school, and pretty much on their own since then. Gina couldn’t imagine a life like that. She knew her own child would never know anything like it.
“What about you?” Summer asked Corinne.
“Carly and James will be here, but they can’t come until Saturday morning.”
Gina found it odd the way Summer smiled at that. She knew Corinne was a little upset about it. “At least they can make it,” she said.
Corinne nodded. Her father had died when she and Carly were small and her mom had raised them by herself. She’d died from breast cancer a few years ago.
Cassidy looked around. “So we all have our important people coming, and our most important people will be riding in over the hill to meet us at the altar.”
Gina grinned. She loved that idea. “They will, and we, according to my dad, will be arriving in a much more ladylike fashion in a horse-drawn carriage.”
“It’s perfect,” said Summer. “Just perfect.”
Chapter Nineteen
Carter locked up the nursery gates and got into his truck. He was going to stop at the grocery store before he headed back down the valley. Summer had been a real sweetie about staying at the guest ranch all this time, but he knew she was missing their home. He was too. He missed so many things about the life they’d started together. He missed sitting out on the deck over the river with her in the evenings, talking about the day. He missed the way she fell asleep on the sofa with her head in his lap after they ate dinner. He missed coming home to find her surrounded by screwed up sheets of paper, glasses on the end of her nose and hair tied up in a messy bun as she wrote her songs. He missed the way Hero and her kittens curled up in their baskets in the evenings and watched TV with them. He shook his head. Hopefully, they’d feel safe enough to go home again soon—hopefully Guy would be behind bars where he belonged. For tonight, he was hoping to at least create a little taste of home, by getting Summer’s favorite dinner—frozen pizza and ice cream. He grinned. Who would ever have thought that the country superstar he used to fantasize about would have turned out to be such a sweet girl with such simple tastes?
He pulled out onto the highway and pointed the truck toward town, smiling to himself as he went—and who would ever have thought that she would marry him? Most of the time he couldn’t believe it himself. This time next week they’d be husband and wife. And he planned to spend the rest of his life making her the happiest little wife on earth.
He pulled up in the parking lot at the grocery store and sat in the truck a moment writing himself a list. He only needed a couple of items, but he was bound to forget something if he didn’t write them down. He pulled his phone out; he should check if she wanted anything while he was here.
“Hey,” she answered brightly. “Are you nearly back?”
“Not yet. I needed to stop at the store. Do you want anything?”
“Umm, I don’t think so, thanks. I just want my fiancé home.”
“I’ll be there as quick as I can. Do you want to pick us out a movie for later?”
“Okay. Does that mean you’re getting what I think you’re getting for dinner?”
He smiled. She knew him too well. “If that’s what you want?”
“I’d love it. Thanks, Carter.”
“Sure thing, darlin’. I’ll be home soon.”
“Drive safely.”
He hung up and got out of the truck then did a double take. It couldn’t be. It was!
“April!”
She turned around scanning the parking lot for whoever had called her name. The man with her stepped closer to her and put a protective arm around her shoulders. Carter liked him already. He waved at them and smiled, wanting the man to know he posed no threat. Carter was well aware of the impression he gave other guys with his size and build.
April spotted him. She smiled and waved back, saying something to the man with her as Carter made his way to them.
“Carter! It’s so good to see you.”
�
��And you!” He held his hand out to the man who smiled a little warily. “Carter Remington, an old friend of April’s.”
The man shook his hand firmly and smiled. Apparently his name had identified him as one of the good guys. “I’m Eddie. It’s good to meet you. I understand I have a lot to thank your family for.”
Carter hesitated. What did he mean?
Eddie tightened his arm around April’s shoulders. “Your brother and Chance helped April to get out of here. If Chance hadn’t brought her to Summer Lake, I would never have met her.”
Carter nodded with a smile. He liked this Eddie. He wasn’t afraid to let his feelings for April be known.
April smiled. “How is everyone? It sounds like you’ve all been busy since I left. Every one of you was single then and now you’re all getting married.”
“Yeah, it’s kind of amazing, isn’t it?”
Eddie smiled at him. “You just never know when it’s going to strike, do you?”
“I sure didn’t.”
“You and Summer Breese! Congratulations.” April shook her head. “How on earth did that happen?”
He grinned. “I’m still trying to figure that out. You have to meet her. She’s the sweetest little lady.”
“I’d love to.”
“You’re both coming to the wedding, right?”
April nodded. “I hope so. I have a few things to take care of.”
Carter’s smile faded. Guy’s shadow was back, casting his gloom over everything. “You be careful, April.”
Eddie nodded at him gratefully.
“I will, I’m not stupid, but this is something I have to do. For myself and for Marcus.”
“How is he?”
“He’s okay. I didn’t want him to come, but he felt like he had to.”
Carter hadn’t noticed the kid standing by the car. “Oh, hey little buddy. How you doing?”
“Hello, Mr. Remington.”
Carter felt for the kid. None of this could have been easy on him.
“Where are you all staying?”
Eddie gave him an odd look.
“Oh.” Carter guessed they might not want anyone to know where. He nodded. “Well, if you need us for anything, anything at all, we’re all staying at the ranch. At least until the wedding.”
“Thanks. Mason did invite us to stay there, said we could have one of the cabins, but it didn’t seem right.”
“There’s plenty of room if you change your mind.” He dug his wallet out of his back pocket. “Here you go.” He handed Eddie his card. “In case you want me for anything.”
Eddie smiled gratefully. “Thanks, man.”
Carter looked at April. “Do you have everyone’s number?”
“Thanks, I do. Chance gave me a list.”
“He knows you’re here?”
“No.” She frowned. “I told him we were coming, but not when.”
“He seems to have gotten himself in enough trouble over all of this already,” said Eddie. “We don’t want to cause him anymore.”
Carter nodded. So Eddie did have some clue of how things stood. “Yeah. If Luke can find Guy and take him in before Chance figures out where he is, then I for one would be a lot happier.” He saw Marcus’s eyes widen. Shit. He hadn’t thought. No matter what Guy was, he was still the boy’s father. He gave the kid an apologetic look.
Marcus shrugged. “I hope they find him and lock him up soon.”
Carter looked at April who sighed. “Marcus lived with him, too,” was all she said.
“Yeah. I’m glad I ran into you. And holler if you need anything. If I can help at all.” He gave Eddie a meaningful look.
Eddie nodded. “Thanks.”
“And if I don’t see you before, I’ll see you Saturday, right?”
“Right.” April reached up and gave him a hug. “It’s so good to see you, Carter. Congratulations again.”
“Thanks.”
~ ~ ~
April watched Carter walk away and disappear inside the store.
“He’s a big fella,” said Eddie. “I’m glad he’s on our side.”
“Me, too. He’s a good man. They all are.”
“Are you still sure you even want to be here?”
“No, I’m not sure at all that I want to be. I just know I have to be. With everything that’s happened, everything that Guy’s done, I know I have to be the one to stop him.” She looked up into Eddie’s eyes. “I couldn’t do it without you, though.”
He closed his arms around her. “We’re in it together, April. This and everything else life throws our way.” He held his arm out to Marcus who came closer and leaned against them. “It’s the three of us now.”
Marcus looked up at him. “What do you think is going to happen?”
“I don’t know, but we’re going to be okay.”
April smiled. She loved Eddie so much. He’d been so good to her and to Marcus. He was a good man, and strong. He was her rock. In the beginning of their relationship, he’d been her strength. But over the months they’d known each other, he’d become even more than that. He was the man who’d helped her find her own strength.
“I’ll tell you what’s going to happen for now,” she told Marcus. “We’re going to take our groceries and we’re going to go back to the resort. I’m going to make us some dinner and you two can play on the Play Station. How does that sound?”
“Awesome.”
“Good, let’s get going then.”
She got into the rental car and waited for the two of them to get settled.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive?” asked Eddie.
“It’s fine. It makes more sense for me to. I lived here my whole life. You don’t know your way around.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure I’d find my way back to the resort by myself.” He caught her gaze. “Do you think we should have told Carter where we’re staying?”
“Probably. I got so hung up on not letting anyone know where we are, but I know full well Carter wouldn’t breathe a word.”
April had decided they should book a room at Chico. Guy was hardly likely to come and hunt her down there. It was a public place and the police were on the lookout for him. Still she hadn’t wanted anyone knowing that was where they were. Their room had a full kitchen, so they didn’t need to venture out to the restaurant for every meal.
She looked over at Eddie as she pointed the car south, down the valley. “Am I crazy to even come here?”
He shook his head. “I wish you didn’t want to, but I understand why you feel you must.”
She checked the rearview mirror; Marcus was listening intently. She wished he’d wanted to stay in Summer Lake. Megan and Michael had said he could stay with them and Ethan, but he didn’t want to. She’d never gone away and left him before, but it was more even than that. He knew most of what was going on with his father, and he needed some closure, too.
“Do you think they’re going to catch him soon?”
“I hope so.” She more than hoped. She intended to do everything in her power while she was here to make sure they did. She’d been married to the man for almost ten years. She knew exactly what provoked him, what made him lose his temper, forget his usual caution, and lash out. She wanted to do whatever she could to make him forget caution, to draw him out of hiding—and to get out of his way before he lashed out.
Her phone rang and she pulled it out and checked the screen. Seeing Luke Wallis’s name, she swiped to answer. “Hey Luke. I’m driving. I’m going to put you on speaker and hand you to Eddie.”
Eddie held the phone up and shot a glance toward Marcus in the back.
“Where are you?” asked Luke.
“We’re on the way back to Chico. All three of us, Marcus is in the car too,” she warned him.
“Ah, okay. Do you know what you’re going to do tomorrow?”
“Yes. I’m going to stop by the house, at about ten, like I said.”
“Okay. Give me a call before you head out. We’
ll be watching.”
“Thanks, Luke. See you tomorrow.”
“We’re going to the ranch?” asked Marcus. “I don’t want to.”
“You don’t have to.” She planned to drop him off with her parents in town before she went anywhere near the Preston ranch. “You can go visit with Grammy and Grandpa.”
“I don’t want you to go either, Mom. He might be there.”
“I don’t think he will. I just want to leave something for him. And even if he is around, the police will be there keeping an eye on me. If he shows up, they’ll come and arrest him.”
Marcus didn’t say anything for a long moment. Then he asked, “Can I come with you?”
“No.”
“So you don’t really think it’s safe?”
Sometimes she wished he wasn’t quite so smart. “It’s not that. I just don’t want to take any risks.”
“But I don’t want you to take any risks, Mom. If it’s safe for you, why won’t it be safe for me? And if it isn’t, I don’t want you to go.”
Eddie glanced at her. She knew he agreed with Marcus, and she couldn’t fault the logic, but she just had to do this. “Don’t you want to see Grammy and Grandpa?”
“No.”
She sighed. They weren’t the most tempting distraction for him, she knew that. “Maybe they could take you to the bank and you can withdraw your savings.”
“I don’t want to. I want to go with you.”
“We’ll talk about it in the morning.” April didn’t like to fob him off, but she knew she wasn’t going to be able to convince him and she was too tired to keep trying right now.
Eddie turned around in his seat. “It’ll be okay.”
Marcus nodded. “And the ranch is really ours now?”
“It will be,” Eddie told him.
April wasn’t too sure herself how all of that would work. Eddie’s dad owned a bank, and his bank had bought the loan Guy had on the ranch, which meant if he didn’t pay up, the bank would foreclose and own the ranch. Guy had stopped paying when he started his spree of fires. She shook her head; she couldn’t think about all that right now. All she knew—all she needed to know—was that Eddie was taking care of it all for her, and someday the ranch would belong to Marcus. Just as it would have if he’d had a loving father who had passed it on to him. Marcus might have gotten screwed over by her first choice of husband, but the man she hoped would be her second was doing everything he could to put things right for the boy.