Happy Ever After in Christmas

by Debbie Mason

  * * *

  The gorgeous blonde wrote her number on a napkin, then leaned over the makeshift bar and slid it into the pocket of Sawyer’s jacket. She took her time doing so and smiled up at him. “Call me anytime or drop by the set.” She was an actress who had a part in the movie with Chloe. They were filming in Aspen.

  He nodded and gave her a smile. He’d already told her he wasn’t interested. But she was the type of woman who wouldn’t take no for answer. There’d been a couple of them tonight.

  Jack approached the bar, turning to watch the woman walk away. He raised an eyebrow at Sawyer. “You wanna tell me why you’re letting women give you their numbers when you’re in love with my sister?”

  His chest tightened at Jack’s mention of Jill. When he’d looked up to see her in the barn, all the anger and frustration he’d been feeling for the past two weeks vanished. He’d wanted to go to her, take her in his arms, and just hold on to her like he’d wanted to since the day they’d lost the baby. Thinking she’d come to apologize for shutting him out. To tell him they were going to be fine, that she loved him. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

  “Don’t know why you care. Your sister sure as hell doesn’t.”

  Jack winced. “You know Jill. She just needs some more time. Grace said she was here earlier. She overheard the girls talking about their pregnancies. It was hard on her. She was upset.”

  His jaw clenched. “I know how she feels. What can I get you to drink?”

  “Hey”—he touched Sawyer’s arm—“you think I don’t know it’s been hard on you, too? Who have you been hanging out with these past couple weeks? I get it, buddy. I do. But she was the one carrying the baby. It makes it more—”

  He didn’t need Jack to remind him it was more difficult for Jill. He knew that. Knew what she was going through both mentally and physically. Matt had been by the bar a couple times to check up on him and explain things. “I didn’t just lose the baby, I lost Jill, too.”

  “Come on, you haven’t lost her. Don’t give up on her. She loves you, and you love her.”

  “You weren’t there. You didn’t see her. If she was ever in love with me, she isn’t now.” Since the night at his apartment, she hadn’t once told him she loved him. And he was beginning to doubt she ever did. “Think about it, Jack. If something like this happened to you and Grace, you’d pull together. It wouldn’t rip you apart.”

  “I hear you, but it’s not the same. You guys got together because of the baby. And now—”

  “There’s no reason to be. Jill said pretty much the same thing. She looks like hell, Jack. Her clothes are hanging off her. She’s looks like she’s lost twenty pounds. Her eyes are swallowing her face, and she’s pale. You and Grace have to make her let you in.” He’d been shocked when she turned to face him. He’d wanted to scoop her up in his arms and take her home and feed her. Kiss away the pain in her eyes.

  “Or maybe you have to, Sawyer. You love her. If I didn’t think you did before, I know you do now.”

  In every e-mail, in every text, he’d told Jill how much he loved her. He’d even bought her the damn house she wanted. He’d been working out there every chance he got in hopes they’d get back together. He’d run around buying stuff that he thought might make her smile, help her deal with the pain, and left them at her door like a lovesick schoolboy. “I gave it my best shot. It wasn’t good enough. I’m done.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Jack sat wedged between a branch and the trunk, hammering a nail to secure the witch to the tree. Harder than Jill thought was necessary, but then again, he was ticked at her. He lifted the witch riding a broomstick and stared down at her. “This is how you’re acting, only substitute the W with a B.”

  “You did not just call me a…” She looked around for her nephew, then remembered Grace had taken him inside to help dip the candy apples in sprinkles “…B. I. T. C. H.” She spelled it out to be on the safe side.

  “That’s exactly what I’m calling you. You broke my best friend’s heart.”

  Her brother had been on her case about Sawyer since Cat and Grayson’s wedding last week. Until today she let him talk. She hadn’t been in the mood to argue or fight back. But she was starting to feel more like herself again. “Give it a flipping rest. He is not in love with me. He loves me like he loves you and Grace and little Jack.”

  “Really? I didn’t talk to him for over a month. He left four messages for me. How many did he leave for you? Don’t remember him showing up at my place for two weeks straight, either.”

  Everything that she loved, that had some special meaning for her, he’d dropped at her door. Like the iPod loaded with all her favorites songs. Gibson guitar picks and strings for her guitar. A framed photo of them falling out of the canoe. One of her feeding the ducks down by the boardwalk with little Jack. Bottles of Gold Rush and her favorite scones.

  “And you know what, Jill? Sawyer Anderson does not lie. Never has and never will. He told me he was in love with you, and I believe him. Maybe it’s time you start believing him, too. Because honey, there’s a lot of women out there who would be more than happy to take your place.”

  She stared up at him. “He told you he loved me?” Jack gave her a clipped nod. “Before or after I lost the baby?”

  “Before and after, and what does that have to do with anything?” He pointed his hammer at her. “Don’t answer. Don’t overthink it and make excuses. Just put the man out of his misery and tell him you love him. Unless you don’t.”

  “I do…I do love him. I just thought…”

  “Stop thinking and go to him before it’s too late.”

  She didn’t like what he seemed to be implying. “Has he been seeing someone else?”

  “Not that I know of. But he’s been hanging out at Brandi’s quite a bit this past week. The three of them went out for dinner last night to celebrate the win in court. Heard from a reliable source they were looking pretty cozy.” He grinned. “Nice to see your scowl back. Get going and make my best friend a happy man.”

  “I’ll drop by and see him after work. I’m off at four.”

  “Okay, the guy bought you a house and showered you with presents, did everything he could think of to win you back, and you’re going to…drop by after work? Seriously, you don’t have a romantic bone in your body.”

  * * *

  “Your brother’s right. You have no game,” Suze said.

  Jill should have kept her mouth shut instead of sharing her plan to apologize to Sawyer—and Jack’s opinion of it—with her friend. “What’s wrong with my plan? He loves the pizza from the diner, and he loves Grace’s pumpkin spice cupcakes, too.” After Jack’s reaction Jill had added an impromptu dinner before asking Suze what she thought. For the most part Sawyer’s attempts to feed her had annoyed her, but looking back now, Jill found them sweetly romantic. So she’d taken a page from his playbook.

  “As apologies go, it’s not horrible. But Jill, you rejected the guy’s proposal, and he went all out. Like the most epically romantic proposal of all time.”

  “It wasn’t that great. We fell in the lake,” she muttered. Suze’s comparison of Sawyer’s romantic gesture to Jill’s made her realize just how pathetic hers was.

  “He bought you your dream house, girlfriend. And let’s not forget the trouble he went to the past couple of weeks trying to get you to let him back in.”

  Jill rested her elbows on Suze’s desk and buried her face in her hands. A romantic dinner wouldn’t come close to making up for what she’d put him through. Sawyer was one of the kindest men she knew. He was also laid-back and easygoing. But he wasn’t a pushover. He could be as tough and as unbending as the next man. She thought back to the day at the barn. Both the expression on his face and the look in his eyes didn’t bode well for a reconciliation. She was worried she’d pushed him away one too many times.

  Suze pulled Jill’s hands from her face and dipped her head to look into her eyes. “He knows what you were deal
ing with. We all did.”

  Suze had forgiven Jill for not letting her in. Everyone had. But Jill hadn’t been the only one who’d been hurting. She should have been there for Sawyer. “I think I hurt him pretty bad, Suze. I’m not sure he’s willing to give me a second chance. In his place, I don’t know if I would.”

  “And that’s why you’ve gotta pull out all the stops. Leave no doubt in that man’s mind that you love him.”

  She didn’t fail to notice that Suze didn’t argue with her. As hooked into Christmas’s gossip as Suze was, Jill wondered if she knew more about where Sawyer’s head was at than she did. “Jack mentioned that Sawyer, Brandi, and Trent were out for dinner last night. He said…He heard they were looking pretty cozy.”

  Suze avoided looking at her. “I’m sure they were just relieved the judge ruled in Brandi’s favor and wanted to celebrate.”

  “Show me the picture, Suze.”

  “I can’t sign into Facebook when we’re at work. Now let’s get back to the plan.”

  Jill would have laughed if not for her growing worry that the picture revealed that Sawyer and Brandi were looking more than cozy. “Be serious, you spend half your shift on social media. Just show—”

  “What are you girls up to?” Ray asked as he and Brad walked into the station. Gage had finally given in to Ray’s demands that he be allowed out on patrol. But only if another deputy was with him.

  Jill didn’t miss that Suze looked more than a little relieved by the interruption. “Get over here. We need a guy’s opinion.” They came over to Suze’s desk, and she proceeded to tell them about Jill’s plan to win back Sawyer.

  Jill wondered how her plan to apologize—now she was thinking more on the lines of groveling—had become a plan to win him back. Obviously Jill knew it was a win-him-back plan, but when had it become one in Suze’s mind? Jill already knew the answer—right after she brought up Sawyer and Brandi’s night out.

  “That’s easy. Show up in a trench coat with nothing underneath and wear a pair of hooker heels. Works every time,” Brad said.

  Ray, who was blushing to the roots of his hair, nodded. “Maybe a fur coat and boots. It’s getting a little chilly out.”

  Jill bowed her head and groaned.

  They all looked over when Gage came out of his office and straightened, pretending they were working. But their boss didn’t pay any attention to them. He was on the phone. “Okay, take it easy, honey. I’m sure Annie is fine.”

  The four of them looked at each other. That didn’t sound good. As soon as Gage disconnected, Jill asked, “Everything okay?”

  Her boss rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at them. “It’s parent-teacher interviews at the school today. Annie was supposed to be helping Aunt Nell decorate at Mountainview for the Halloween party. Trent was going with her. They headed out on their bikes about an hour ago. Aunt Nell said they haven’t shown up, and Madison can’t reach Annie on her cell phone.”

  Jill did her best to hide her reaction to the news. She wouldn’t be surprised if the teens had stopped along the way for a little make-out session. Not something she’d share with Annie’s father. “I’m sure they’re fine. They probably just got sidetracked. I’ll head over to Mountainview,” Jill offered, happy for the opportunity to get out of the station. At least she wouldn’t have to listen to any more win-back-Sawyer plans. “Why don’t you give Brandi a call and see if the kids stopped by her place?”

  Gage nodded. “I will. Let me know as soon as you find them.”

  “For sure,” she said and headed out of the station.

  As she walked to her patrol car, Brandi was opening the door to the Penalty Box. The curvy blonde had on leopard print leggings, an over-the-butt black sweater, and a pair of short black boots with killer heels. Her long hair was as wild as the leggings she had on. She had the look of a woman on the prowl.

  And Jill had a fairly good idea who she was hunting down. It appeared she’d also brought food to entice her prey. Jill had no doubt the bakery box in Brandi’s hands contained Sawyer’s favorite cupcakes. So much for her win-back-Sawyer plan, and looking at Brandi, Jill wondered if she should even bother coming up with a new one.

  But she wouldn’t let her jealousy stop her from doing her job. “Brandi, did Trent and Annie stop by your place?”

  “No, they’re helping out at Mountainview.” Her brow furrowed. “Why, is something wrong?”

  “Nell says they haven’t arrived yet. I’m sure everything’s fine. You know what kids are like, they’re probably goofing around. I’m heading over there now. I’ll have Trent call you when I catch up with them.”

  “Hang on, I’ll call him. Save you a trip.” Brandi fumbled the bakery box as she went to retrieve her phone from her bag.

  “Careful, you don’t want to drop your pumpkin spice cupcakes,” Jill said, regretting the words as soon as Brandi confirmed that they were.

  “How did you know that’s what’s in the box?” she asked as she put her phone to her ear.

  “I could smell them,” Jill lied. It was better than telling the woman she’d guessed it was part of her plan to seduce her boss. Jill couldn’t help but wonder if it would work. It’s not like she’d given Sawyer any reason to hold out hope for them. She’d made a lot of mistakes in her life, but Jill was beginning to think this was the worst. She thought about calling him while she waited for Brandi to reach Trent. She’d already checked out his usual parking spot and knew his truck wasn’t there. She decided against it. Making up over the phone or via texts was as bad as breaking up that way.

  “Trent, call me when you get this. I better hear from you within the next fifteen minutes, buddy, or you’re in big trouble.” She looked at Jill, a hint of worry shadowing her eyes. “I tried a couple of times, and it went straight to voice mail.”

  “Cell service can be spotty on the road up to Mountainview. Don’t waste your energy worrying. I’ll find them, and I’ll call you as soon as I do.”

  “Okay, I’m sure you’re right. Thanks. Jill,” Brandi called out as Jill reached the cruiser. “I’m sorry about the baby. I know how excited you both were. Sawyer…” She trailed off and forced a smile. “I’m glad you’re back to work. Let me know as soon as you find the kids.”

  “Yep, will do,” Jill said, forcing a lightness to her voice that she didn’t feel. Over the last couple of days, she’d gotten better at accepting the offers of sympathy and condolences. It wasn’t as painful as it had been. Every day got a little easier. But she felt a sharp stab in the vicinity of her heart at the realization that, while she hadn’t been there to comfort Sawyer, Brandi had. And that was on Jill.

  She got in the cruiser and radioed into the station instead of wasting time running back in. “Let Gage know that the kids aren’t at Brandi’s place. She tried to call Trent, and he’s not answering his cell, either,” Jill informed Suze.

  “Umhm, I bet he’s not. You might want to check out the abandoned farm on Ridge Road. Lots of kids go there to make out and party.” As the mother of two teenage boys, Suze would know.

  “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. Gage and Madison might want to start giving Annie’s friends a call, though.”

  “I think they’ve already started. He’s getting a bit antsy.”

  Jill could sympathize. “Won’t take me more than ten minutes to reach Mountainview. Hopefully we can put his worries to rest by then.”

  Five minutes later Jill knew that wouldn’t be the case. In the field bordering the road to the nursing home, sunlight glinted off chrome. Jill pulled onto the loose gravel and got out of the cruiser to cross the field. There was a black bike and a purple one lying half on, half off each other. They looked like they’d been tossed there.

  “Annie, Trent,” she called out. There was a stand of trees about three hundred yards in front of her that would have afforded the teens some measure of privacy. But her cop’s instincts were telling her there was more going on than a couple of kids making out in the woods. She jogged ba
ck through the field and then walked along the side of the road searching for clues. Twenty yards in front of her cruiser, she spotted what she was looking for. Tire tracks and signs of a struggle. She ran back to the patrol car and jumped inside. As she gunned the engine and pulled a U-turn, she radioed it in.

  For a brief moment, she second-guessed what she was about to say. Her confidence in her abilities had taken a hard hit when little Jack went missing. But if she was right they didn’t have any time to waste. And if she was wrong, she’d look like a complete fool, but she was willing to take that risk. “Suze, put an APB out on Steve Dawson’s pickup.” She quickly explained what she’d discovered and what she thought had happened.

  “Oh God, no, Jill. How am I going to tell Gage? He’s going to freaking lose it. I’m losing it, and they’re not even my kids. Crap, Brandi just walked in.”

  “Keep the line open and tell Ray and Brad what’s going on. Get Ray to question Brandi about Steve. She may have an idea where he is. Then get Brad on the phone to Steve’s probation officer.”

  “And Gage?”

  “Give me two minutes to check on something and then patch me through to him,” she said, then tried to call Sawyer. Her call went straight to voice mail, and her heart started to race. She ordered herself to keep it together and called her brother. “Jack,” she said as soon as he answered. “Where’s Sawyer?”

  “About time you got your—”

  “Jack, I don’t have time for this. Do you know where Sawyer is?”

  “He and Calder were going to take inventory at the plant.” She turned on the siren, pulled another U-turn, and floored it. “Jill, what’s going on?”

  “If I’m right, Steve abducted Annie and Trent, and he’s going after Sawyer next. He blamed Sawyer for keeping him away from his wife and son, and now with the judge ruling against him, my bet is he’s out for revenge.” She didn’t know how she could so calmly recite her theory, and what that meant for the man she loved, when her insides were frozen with fear. And then, because she knew her brother so well, she added, “Do not go anywhere near the plant, Jack. I mean it. I’ll update you when I have a chance.”