“When you moved into that asshole’s house, was there any new construction? Anything that was recently finished?”
While she loved that he called Craig asshole, she didn’t understand what he was getting at. “Umm, I’m not sure.” She pressed her memory to the first days after she’d moved in to the big house on Pinecone Road. “A neighbor asked me if I was enjoying the new hot tub, but I’m not sure when it went in. It could have been months or years. Why?”
The creases in Aiden’s brow deepened. “Kellyn’s statement, ‘He kill my mommy again’ has been bothering me. Her words imply he did it before.”
Marina’s hand covered her mouth. “Oh God, she’s buried in the backyard and Kellyn knew it. That poor little thing.”
Before they could discuss it further, the doorbell rang, and Kellyn was home.
Katie stood beside her with a plate of cookies in her hand. “We brought treats.”
“Yep, teats,” Kellyn mimicked.
Aiden picked Kellyn up and swung her in a circle. “You brought me treats?”
She nodded. “Do we have to share them with Mommy?” She nodded again. Aiden looked at Katie. “Thanks for taking her and giving Marina and me some time.”
“You bet,” Katie said. “Looks like she found her voice and is making up for lost time.”
Marina laughed. “Talked your ear off?”
“Not really, but I think she likes hearing her voice. I know I do.” She waved to where Aiden and Kellyn sat eating cookies. “See you later, Coop,” Katie said before she left.
Marina approached her two favorite people in the world.
“Coop?” Kellyn tilted her head in confusion.
Aiden pointed to himself. “Aiden Cooper.”
Kellyn pointed to herself. “Kellyn Cooper.”
Aiden looked at Marina, then back at Kellyn. “Yes, sweetie. That’s the plan.”
She wasn’t sure she could fall more in love with the man, but right then, when he gave her daughter his promise, she knew he was right. He’d be her last. And as odd as it sounded, he was her first. The first man she’d truly loved.
Chapter Twenty-Four
It didn’t take much to get the search warrant. A few calls and probable cause had a forensic crew at the Caswell house within days. They took three more days to find Kari Caswell’s remains buried under the hot tub. Craig Caswell wouldn’t bother anyone else for the rest of his life.
Each day a new news crew showed up until the street was full of reporters. It was a media circus not even the Copper Creek police chief could contain. Mayor Caswell was suspiciously absent, but then again it was only weeks before the election, and he couldn’t be involved in a scandal.
Aiden leaned back in his chair and waited for his new deputy to arrive. When Kellyn came running inside, he pulled over the chair he’d bought for her and sat her down next to him. On her chest she had a name tag that read Kellyn Cooper. On the second line in smaller letters it read deputy sheriff in training. He was determined to erase anything Caswell from her life. As soon as he could change her name, he would.
“You ready to work?”
“Yep.” She opened the drawer he’d given her and took out her crayons and paper.
Mark walked inside. “Hey, Kellyn, are you sketching a suspect?”
She focused on the paper as she drew. “Yep.”
He took his seat and smiled. “Aiden, are you ever going to—”
“Yep. When the timing is perfect.”
Kellyn hopped off her chair and brought her sketch to Mark. He laughed. “That’s awesome.” He brought his hand to his mouth and made a crackling sound like he was talking into a radio. “Attention all officers, be on the lookout for a daisy with a rogue ladybug driving it.” He held up the picture Kellyn had drawn. It was a big yellow daisy with a ladybug in the center.
“You’re silly,” she said. She opened his drawer and got the tape. Behind his chair she found an empty spot on the wall next to her pictures of swing sets and stick families that had a mom, a dad, and a little brown-haired girl.
Aiden rose from his chair. “Hold down the fort. Kellyn and I have plans.”
Marina had a busy day at the shop, she was doing two perms and a color, which meant she couldn’t keep as close an eye on Kellyn as she’d like, but Aiden didn’t mind. He loved spending time with his little deputy.
“Where are you two off to?”
Aiden smiled. “We’re off to create perfection.”
Mark’s mouth hung open.
“Close your mouth before you catch flies.”
“Good luck, man.”
He had everything planned. There would be no rose petals leading to the bedroom. No bubble bath and champagne with a ring in the bottom of the flute. Kellyn had chosen the menu for the night, and no surprise: it was hotdobs and kips.
“Hey, Monkey, let’s get ice cream for tonight.”
Nothing excited her more than a trip to Sam’s Scoops. He didn’t care what flavor they had. He was renaming them anyway. When they arrived at Sam’s they stood in front of the window and Sam said, “I’ve got—”
“Hey Sam, we’ll take one of each, extra ants.” Sam didn’t blink an eye at the rude interruption. He didn’t care as long as he got the sale.
With their three containers of ice cream they headed back home. Kellyn put on her prettiest dress and Aiden put on his new jeans and Marina’s favorite shirt. It wasn’t fancy, but it was them, and it was perfect.
At ten minutes after five, she walked inside the door. She’d been staying mostly at her place because of Kellyn, but they ate every night at his house. He had a better kitchen and air-conditioning. They snuck in intimate moments when they could. He owed Louise, Katie, and Sage a lot for taking Kellyn for long lunches and overnights.
Many would think they were rushing things, but he didn’t want to wait another minute to make them a family.
“Hey,” she said. “How are my two favorite people?”
She gave her daughter a kiss and then walked to Aiden, who was putting hotdogs on a plate.
“We’re grilling hotdogs, Kellyn. That’s so exciting.”
“We have ice cweam too,” she added.
“Ooh, ice cream.” She started toward the freezer. “What flavors did he have today?”
Aiden closed the door before she could look inside. “You know the rule, you have to eat dinner before dessert.”
He loved the way Marina’s lip rolled forward into a pout. “But I love Malted Mazel Tov.”
He rubbed his thumb across her lip. “I promise to put a smile on your face later.”
“Last minute sleepover?” she asked with excitement in her voice.
“Sorry, we’ll have to make tonight perfect with what we’ve got, which is hotdogs, chips, Sam’s Scoops and us.”
“Yay,” Kellyn called out as she ran past them into the backyard.
“Help me grill?” Aiden took two beers from the refrigerator, popped the tops and handed one to Marina.
“Anything for you.”
“I’ll remember that.”
He put the dogs on the preheated grill. It didn’t take long for them to cook. He called out to Kellyn that dinner was ready.
“That was quick. Are you sure they’re ready?” She turned a few over to see the grill lines.
“They’re perfect. Trust me. Everything is perfect.” He’d used that word several times since she’d been home, but she was none the wiser.
Dinner was indeed perfect. It was everything he wanted it to be. These were his girls. This was his family. In a few minutes he’d make it official.
“Who wants ice cream?”
He laughed as Marina and Kellyn bounced in their seats. “What flavors did you get?” Marina asked once more.
Aiden went to the freezer and brought out three separate containers. He’d marked them so he could tell them apart. Kellyn’s had a daisy. Marina’s had a capital P for perfect. If it all went down the way he hoped, his pretty damn good life
would get an upgrade.
He sat and shuffled the containers around like he was playing a shell game.
“Who goes first?”
Kellyn shouted, “Me, me, me.”
Since she’d found her voice she never stopped talking, but he never tired of listening to her.
He looked down at the containers and slid hers in front of her. “This one is special. It’s called ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’. It’s chocolate ice cream, with marshmallows and chocolate kisses but this one is extra special because it’s only for you, Kellyn.” He popped the lid off to show a scoop of ice cream but sitting on top was an inexpensive necklace with a ladybug and a daisy hanging from its silver chain. Once he wiped it off, he kneeled in front of Kellyn and said, “You’re as cute as a ladybug and as pretty as a flower. I love you, Kellyn. I’ll always love you.” He placed it on her neck. Her little fingers touched it like he’d given her life.
He turned to Marina, who was already crying. “Not yet, sweetheart. It’s almost your turn.”
“Aiden Cooper, if you have a necklace in my ice cream, I will bawl like a baby.”
He held her ice cream in his hand. “This one is really special. It’s love mixed with a side of happiness and a sprinkle of passion. Not enough passion because we have a four-year-old, but it’s got an extra serving of love.”
She reached for the covered cup with shaking hands. “All that in one ice cream?”
“And more,” he said before he took a knee in front of her. Kellyn hopped down from her chair and stood by her mom. “You gonna help me with this part?”
She nodded.
“What are you doing, Aiden?” Marina’s voice shook with each word.
“I told you I had a question to ask when the time was perfect. It’s time.” He lifted the lid to her ice cream to show her the solitaire sitting on top of the scoop. “Yours is called ‘Marry Me Marina’.”
Kellyn looked at the ring. “Pretty.”
“Oh my God.” She looked at him with love, hope, and tears in her eyes.
He took the ring from the ice cream and cleaned it with his mouth. “Marina, will you marry me? I’m a simple man with a simple job. I’ll never be rich in money, but marry me and make me rich in love. The ring isn’t as big as you deserve, but my love is huge.” He held it at the tip of her ring finger.
“Aiden, it’s everything.” She pushed her finger forward until the ring was exactly where it should be. “You’re everything.”
“Yay!” Kellyn said as she threw her hands around their necks and kissed them both.
“Yes,” Marina said. “Yes to your question Aiden, and yes to our perfect family.”
Marina picked up her phone and dialed Katie. “Hey, I need a favor.”
In minutes Kellyn was at Katie’s watching a movie with Sahara.
Aiden was making love to his fiancée. They only had an hour, but it was perfect.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Aiden wanted to go to a justice of the peace the day after he put that ring on her finger but she wanted more. She wanted to be free of everything so she could give herself to him fully.
Not that she belonged to anyone else, but Craig still owned pieces of her brain, and he would until she knew he’d be locked away forever.
It had been three months since Kellyn spoke more than one word. The Guild Creative Center opened and Samantha’s band came to town. Doc got his straight edge shave and didn’t need emergency medical intervention. Summer had turned to fall and the only heat Marina felt happened between the sheets of Aiden’s bed when they managed to get alone time.
A lot had happened in those months. Mayor Caswell lost the election and moved to another state. Police Chief Caswell resigned after it was leaked that he’d ignored a multitude of complaints about his brother. The only Caswell left in a position of power was Conrad, but no one heard a thing from him.
Marina sat in the back of the courthouse in Silver Springs and waited for the verdict. She could have provided the video of him abusing her to add to the case, but she was a woman of her word. She’d traded her story and her right to tell it for a beautiful little girl. She’d make the same decision all over again.
Kellyn would turn five in a week. Weekly speech therapy sessions had proven successful. She was growing and thriving. The first time she called Aiden Daddy, they smiled and didn’t make a big deal of it, but Marina knew how much it meant to him.
The door to the courthouse opened. Aiden walked inside and took the seat beside her. He wore his uniform. She’d never met a man who looked sexier in brown and khaki. Hell, he looked good in anything and better in nothing.
“Any news yet?”
Marina twisted her hands in her lap. “No.” She worried that the time it was taking to come to a verdict wasn’t a good sign. “I’m worried that he’ll go free.” If he did, she’d never be safe.
Aiden turned her to face him. “Sweetheart, they have to decide whether to give him life or death. He’ll never get to you or Kellyn again.”
She gripped his hands like they were lifelines.
A side door opened, and a guard led Craig into the courtroom. He looked haggard and worn. His eyes lifted to hers but he immediately looked away. His power was gone. Craig Caswell could no longer hurt her.
Minutes later the jury arrived.
This was it. She held her breath as they read the verdict. Craig Caswell was guilty of first-degree murder. The jury recommended life.
He deserved the same as what he gave, terror and death, but she had spared him, Aiden had spared him, and the state had spared him. She only hoped the prison system wouldn’t be so kind.
She let out a sigh and buried her face in Aiden’s chest. It was over. Now her life could begin. When she came to Aspen Cove she had been certain of three things. Absolute power corrupted absolutely. All the good men were married or dead. And she’d do absolutely anything to protect her daughter.
She was wrong about only one thing. There were still good men out there, and she’d found the best of the bunch when she moved next door to Aiden.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Two weeks later
Aiden stood under the covered pavilion at Hope Park waiting for his bride. It was the perfect place to start a new life. It was here where he’d realized she was his everything.
In the distance he saw Kellyn get out of the car at the curb. She was so pretty in her soft pink dress. She skipped along, tossing daisies at will from the basket she carried. Behind her were his friends. Bowie led Katie. Cannon led Sage. Wes led Lydia.
“You picked yourself a fine one, Sheriff,” Doc Parker said. He was the official everything in town, and the only one licensed to marry them. He stood in front of Aiden, craning his neck to see who would appear next. When the old man’s mustache lifted into a broad smile, Aiden knew Marina was here.
“She’s a beauty,” Doc remarked.
“She sure as hell is. She’s everything.”
Kellyn made it to the front and tugged on Aiden’s hand. “Do I look pretty, Daddy?”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You are the prettiest five-year-old I know.” He turned her around to look toward her mom, who was dressed in a simple white gown. “Here comes Mommy.”
Marina didn’t want the big wedding and the white dress until he reminded her that she’d never technically been married. Since this was the only time she’d get married, it should be special.
She made her way across the lawn. Her eyes never left his as Mark walked her to Aiden. Tired of waiting, he met her halfway.
“Are you ready?” He covered her hand with his and led her to where Doc waited.
“I’m ready. Today is the first day of the rest of our life together.”
Aiden cradled her neck and kissed her.
Doc cleared his throat to get their attention. “I didn’t give you permission to kiss her.”
They both looked at Doc. “We’re long past permission,” Aiden added.
Doc leaned in and w
hispered. “Let me at least get the words out. You want to hear the words, right?”
They held hands and listened as Doc had them repeat their vows. They were quick. They were simple. They were perfect.
As with any small town, the people provided everything. Under the canopy of the picnic area, dozens of casseroles were uncovered. Samantha’s band set up in the corner and provided the music.
Aiden danced with his wife until her feet ached. “Are you ready to go home?”
“I was ready after I said ‘I do’.”
Aiden laughed. “What the hell have I been waiting for?”
“I have no idea, Mr. Cooper. Let’s say goodnight to our daughter and climb into bed.”
“Mrs. Cooper, I hope you ate enough because you’re going to need energy for the night.”
She giggled. “Is that a promise?”
“Nope, it’s a guarantee.”
Aiden’s mom had come up for the wedding, as had Marina’s. They were staying at the bed and breakfast and were taking Kellyn for a sleepover. As soon as Aiden and Marina kissed everyone goodbye, he carried his wife to the waiting Mustang.
Lloyd Dawson stopped him before he could drive away.
“Sorry to bother you, Sheriff, but have you seen Poppy?”
“Last time I saw her, she was listening to the band.” Aiden pointed to the pergola.
As they drove down Main Street, he noticed the lights in the sheriff’s station were on, and a shadow had moved behind the blinds. His deputy was working again. That young man was all work and no play.
Although his bride was in the car, Aiden knew he had to stop and tell Mark to go home or least go back to the reception.
“Be right back, sweetie.”
Marina smiled. “Do your thing. I’m not going anywhere.”
Aiden walked through the door expecting to find Mark at his desk but what greeted him was a surprise. In the corner by the coat rack was Poppy. She had Mark pinned to the wall with a kiss.
Aiden cleared his throat.
The two separated quickly. Red bloomed on Mark’s cheeks.
One Hundred Excuses (An Aspen Cove Romance Book 5) Page 16