Winter in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance)

by Anderson, Cindy Roland

  He waited until she was gone, grateful she’d closed his door again to give him privacy. His hands trembled as he typed Piper’s name into the search engine. Since it wasn’t a common name, he was surprised by the links that popped up. He selected the first link with a similar heading as the one on the paper Jolene had given him. He felt sick inside when he read about the school board firing the teacher for her improper conduct. At the end of the article there was a picture of the accused woman. It was his Piper.

  Not anymore, he thought as he ground his back teeth together and closed his laptop. He couldn’t believe he’d fallen for another cheater. At least he hadn’t married this one.

  Scooting back from his desk, he packed the computer inside his briefcase, put on his coat, and exited his office. Jolene sat at her desk, looking at him with pity. Gabe had seen that look before, and by more people than those in his office. It was the same look he’d endured when MaryEllen’s indiscretions had come to light.

  “Have a good weekend,” he said, not bothering to wait for a reply.

  He exited the building and made his way to the covered parking garage to locate his truck. Fingers of icy air penetrated his coat, but he welcomed the cold. It matched the dead feeling inside his chest.

  The drive home was a blur as Gabe grappled with the realization that the woman caring for his children was just as dishonest as the woman who’d given birth to those children.

  As he turned into his house, he was surprised to see Kellen and Ivy Thomas’s truck parked in the driveway. Maybe the sledding party had been cancelled and they were just letting everyone know. Gabe hoped that was the case. He certainly wasn’t taking Piper sledding with his family, but he also didn’t relish the idea of facing his friends without her. Snow Valley was a close-knit community and word had spread quickly about Gabe and Piper’s budding romance.

  He walked into the house, discounting the tantalizing scent of something sweet baking. His heart nearly stopped when Piper met him at the door. “You’re home early,” she said brightly.

  Unable to look at her, he ignored her greeting. “Is the sledding party canceled?” he asked Ivy.

  “No,” Ivy said, looking both concerned and confused. “We just stopped by to pick out which puppy we want before they’re all gone.”

  “Gabe, are you okay?” Piper asked, touching him on the arm.

  His muscles went rigid as his body reacted to the attraction he felt for her. He hated himself for his weakness and stepped away from her. “Where are the kids?”

  “They’re in by the puppies with Kellen,” Piper answered in a soft voice. “Gabe, what’s going on?”

  He had to tell her, but not with his children in listening range. “Ivy, I need to talk with Piper alone. Can you and Kellen stay with the kids while we go next door?”

  Ivy’s large eyes flitted to Piper and then back to Gabe. “Sure.”

  As soon as she left, Piper stepped in front of him. “I don’t understand why you’re doing this. Please talk to me.”

  Their eyes met and Gabe steeled himself against the pain reflected there. “I will, but not here.”

  Her jaw tightened, and the pain in her eyes morphed into frustration. “Fine.” She marched toward the door. “Then let’s go talk.”

  “You need a coat.”

  She whirled around and pinned him with a hard glare. “I don’t need a coat.” Then she opened the side door and stepped out into the cold.

  Gabe followed behind her, glad when she didn’t demand an explanation on the way to her house. Although still angry by her deception, the pain from the loss of their relationship was trying to wedge its way into his heart.

  The house was warm, but Gabe still felt chilled to the bone. “All right,” Piper said. “What’s going on?”

  “I found out the reason you left your job. Or I guess I should say why you were fired from your job.” He watched the color drain from her face, confirming the truth.

  “I was going to tell you.” She clasped her hands in front of her, almost as if pleading for him to listen to her. “I was just so embarrassed.”

  “Embarrassed?” He snorted a laugh. “You had an affair with a married man and were fired from your job because his wife called you out as a husband-stealer, and you’re only embarrassed?”

  Her eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t have an affair.”

  “So you never dated a married man?”

  “Yes… but I didn’t know he was married.” A few tears slipped down her cheek. “You have to believe me.”

  “Sorry, but it’s a little late for that, Piper. You’ve had plenty of opportunities to tell me about why you were fired.” He couldn’t help remembering all the times he’d questioned MaryEllen about her whereabouts only to believe the lies she’d fed him.

  “I know, but I… I was embar— humiliated about the whole situation and just wanted it to go away.”

  “You didn’t think I’d eventually find out you’d had an affair?”

  Her eyes narrowed, and she angrily wiped away a tear. “I didn’t have an affair. That implies that I slept with Tucker… and I didn’t.”

  Gabe was relieved by her declaration, but only if she were telling him the truth. How could he trust her when she’d withheld so many details? He could feel himself weakening toward her. He had to remind himself how many times he’d given MaryEllen the benefit of the doubt only to find out she’d been lying to him for almost a year.

  “I don’t know what to believe, Piper. I’m going to need time to work through this.” He ran a hand over his jaw. “I’ll be enrolling the kids in the afterschool daycare on Monday so you won’t need to worry about watching them anymore.”

  A light died in her eyes, and he wanted to recant his words. He hadn’t really planned on saying them so why had he made that edict without thinking it through?

  “All right.” The defiance was gone from her voice, replaced with resignation that made him want to give in and forgive her. “I won’t bother you anymore. Just leave the door unlocked after you leave for the sledding party and I’ll come get Anastasia and the puppies.”

  With those final words, she turned and walked out of the room and out of Gabe’s life. Now that the anger had almost drained away, Gabe was left with a heart full of regret and hurt. He trudged back home, knowing there would be questions about what had just happened. He hated spreading gossip about Piper, but was it gossip if it was true? As he entered the house, he could hear Lindsey laughing. His daughter would be heartbroken about Piper no longer babysitting her, but more so because she wanted Piper as a mother.

  Gabe consoled himself that Shane would probably be relieved he had broken up with Piper. Even though Shane liked Piper, he still struggled with the idea of Gabe dating again, let alone remarrying.

  Ivy was the first to spot him when he stepped into the family room. He could see the disappointment cross her features when she realized Piper wasn’t with him.

  “Did you and Kellen decide which puppy you’re taking?” Gabe asked, slipping off his coat.

  “They want Tank,” Shane said, sounding a little disappointed. The kids had fallen in love with the overzealous puppy and had been secretly hoping Gabe would give in and let them adopt him.

  “Where’s Miss Piper?” Lindsey asked, scrunching up her little nose. “She promised to braid my hair for the sledding party.”

  Gabe’s fractured heart cracked a little more. “I’ll have to do it, sweetie. Miss Piper won’t be able to come to the party with us.”

  Lindsey’s face clouded with confusion. “Why can’t she come?”

  Rubbing a hand along the back of his neck, Gabe considered his words carefully. He didn’t want a complete meltdown to occur in front of Kellen and Ivy. “I’ll talk to you about it while we braid your hair.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it. I want Piper!” Lindsey said with defiance.

  Tears welled in his daughter’s eyes, and her lower lip jutted out. Gabe braced for the impending tantrum and des
perately tried to think of something to ward it off. One of the puppies whimpered, and he came close to blurting out that the kids could keep one of them. But then he realized how stupid that would be. Forever and ever the puppy would remind them all of Piper.

  Gabe watched as Kellen and Ivy shared a look. He envied that the newlyweds were so attuned to one another that they could communicate without words.

  Ivy touched Lindsey on the arm. “Hey, if it’s okay with your dad, how would you and Shane like to come out to the ranch with Kellen and me right now? Mr. George will have the horses harnessed to the sleigh soon and will need someone to go for a ride to test it out.”

  “Can we Dad?” Shane asked, apparently not bothered that Piper was no longer going with their family.

  “I suppose that’s okay.” Gabe crouched down in front of Lindsey. “Do you want to go early too?”

  “What about my hair?”

  “I can braid it,” Ivy said, putting an arm around Lindsey’s shoulders. “I’ve been braiding my own hair since I was ten.”

  Lindsey’s shoulders slumped. “Okay.”

  “Perfect,” Ivy said. “You two go and get your snow pants and coats on while your dad gathers your hats and gloves to take with us.”

  As soon as the children were gone, both Kellen and Ivy approached Gabe. “Dude,” Kellen said, “that’s my wife’s code word for what the heck happened between you and Piper?”

  Gabe didn’t want to talk about it. This whole situation was like a flashback to when MaryEllen’s affair had become public, and he’d been the one left to field all of the questions. “Something came to my attention today that makes me believe the kids and I will be better off without her in our life.”

  Ivy stared at him through narrowed lids. He could tell she wanted to pressure him into talking, but his kids were too quick and were already dressed in their winter gear.

  “We’re ready!” Shane said.

  “Daddy?” Lindsey looked up at Gabe with sorrowful eyes. “Will you please tell Miss Piper I’ll save a cookie for her?”

  “I’ll tell her,” Ivy said. “Kellen, can you help load the kids up while I run over to tell Piper we want Tank?”

  “And that I’ll save her a cookie,” Lindsey added.

  Ivy winked at Lindsey. “And that you’ll save her a cookie.”

  Once Ivy was gone, Gabe instructed his kids to get their hats and gloves while he transferred Lindsey’s booster seat into Kellen’s truck.

  “Just so you know, my wife is interfering in your love life,” Kellen said as they walked into the garage.

  Gabe ignored him. He did not want to talk about this.

  “After marrying me, she’s a firm believer in happily ever after.” Kellen pumped his eyebrows up and down. “I mean, can you blame her?”

  Gabe snorted a laugh as he unbuckled the booster seat. “No comment.” He hauled the seat out and headed back inside the house. “Come on, kids. Let’s get you loaded.”

  Ivy returned as Gabe helped secure Lindsey’s seatbelt. “Thanks for taking the kids early. I’ll be out soon.”

  “Gabe, I know I haven’t known you as long as Kellen has, but please consider talking to Piper again. There are always two sides to every story.”

  His blood turned to ice at her words. There had been a few people in Snow Valley who had thought the same thing when MaryEllen left. That somehow Gabe was responsible for his wife’s indiscretion. He may not have been a perfect husband, but he hadn’t done anything to warrant his wife to have an affair.

  “I appreciate your concern.” He took a step backward. “Be good, kids. I’ll bring the sleds out shortly.”

  Ivy sighed heavily and climbed into the truck. Gabe avoided eye contact with either adult and waved to the kids. He went inside and immediately caught the scent of the brownies cooling in the kitchen that Piper had made. He should’ve sent them with Ivy and Kellen. It didn’t feel right for him to bring them. Maybe Piper would take them when she came over to get her dog and the puppies.

  On the way up the stairs, he paused to pet Anastasia. She was the epitome of the perfect dog and so opposite of Rascal. “I’m going to miss you, girl,” he said, stroking the soft fur. She lifted her head and gazed at him with her soulful brown eyes as if to remind him that the reason she was such a good dog was because of the woman who had trained her.

  Guilt for the harsh way he’d judged Piper sliced through him. He got to his feet and made his way upstairs to change out of his work clothes. Even if he had been harsh, it still didn’t mitigate the fact that she’d withheld vital communication. Trust was everything in a relationship.

  He tugged off his tie and tried not to listen to the voice in his head reminding him that he may not have disclosed everything about his past if his children hadn’t spilled the beans first. He probably would’ve waited until he was a little more secure in their relationship.

  As he pulled a thick sweatshirt on, his cell phone buzzed on top of the dresser. He picked up the phone and saw it was his sister calling. Although he didn’t want to admit it out loud, he had kind of hoped it was Piper.

  “Gabe, Mom just called and said Dad had a heart attack. They’re on the way to the hospital, and Cam and I are heading there right now.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as possible.” His hands shook as he ended the call and dropped to his knees to pray for his dad. His eyes were wet with tears by the time he finished. After that, everything was a blur. He called Kellen and asked him to get the kids ready for him to pick up, but Ivy got on the phone and suggested he let the children stay and they would bring them to the hospital once Gabe had an update.

  While he was grateful he didn’t have to worry about trying to wrangle Shane and Lindsey away from the party, the hour-long drive to Billings was excruciatingly lonely. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, consisting mostly about fears his father might not survive and what that would do to his mother and his siblings. It didn’t matter that he was a grown man— he didn’t want to lose his dad.

  By the time he got to the hospital and found out his dad was in surgery, Gabe allowed himself to think about Piper. Watching his sister and her husband rally together made him long for someone he could lean on. No, not someone— Piper. Gabe missed her. It was then that Gabe acknowledged how quickly life could change. He wanted to give Piper a chance to explain. He just hoped it wasn’t too late.

  Chapter 17

  Piper knelt down next to Anastasia. “Be a good girl, and I’ll be back to get you as soon as I can.”

  “She’ll be fine,” Ivy said. “Kellen and I will take good care of her and her babies. And Rascal is staying with Kellen’s Grandma Ilene, so don’t worry about him having any clandestine rendezvous with Anastasia while you’re gone.”

  That dog was such a pain, and yet she’d grown to love him too. He was just another casualty in the life of Piper Jensen. Stinging tears filled her eyes, and she blinked them back. She’d done enough crying the past few days to fill a bathtub. Crying didn’t solve anything… it just made her eyes puffy and gave her a stuffy nose and a headache.

  “I really appreciate you for volunteering to do this.”

  “That’s what friends are for.” Ivy studied her through her dark lashes. “I wish you’d wait another day for Gabe and the kids to return from Billings. He’s texted me about a twenty times just today to beg me to get you to talk to him.”

  “You didn’t tell him I’m leaving, did you?”

  “No, but I wish you hadn’t made me promise that I wouldn’t.” A frown marred Ivy’s olive colored skin. “I don’t understand why you won’t talk to him.”

  Piper placed her palm over her rolling stomach. She’d already explained several times why she didn’t want to talk to Gabe again. It would open up the wounds he’d inflicted when he’d confronted her about Tucker and condemned her before giving her a chance to explain. Not that those wounds had healed. It was more like she had closed them off with a heavy-duty bandage, and she wasn’t taking it off for fea
r of bleeding out.

  Besides, even if they did talk, he still may not be able to forgive her for not telling him about Tucker and why she was fired. Or worse, he would still believe that she couldn’t be trusted, and their relationship would still end, only this time the wounds would be fatal. Though the ache inside her chest made her believe it was already too late, Gabe Wesson had her heart, and she didn’t think she’d ever get it back.

  “I told you it’s better to make a clean break. This teaching job is a great opportunity for me, and I can’t pass up the chance they’ll hire me fulltime.”

  The door opened and in walked Caytie McAllister, Ivy’s beautiful pseudo sister-in-law. “Knock, knock,” she said in a singsong voice. “Georgia is awake, and we wanted to say goodbye.”

  Piper had met Caytie and her husband, Jace, the night before when she’d been invited to have dinner with Kellen and Ivy. The McAllister’s had been there, along with their six-month-old daughter, Georgia, who they’d named her after Caytie’s uncle George.

  “All ready to go?” Caytie asked as she removed Georgia’s coat. The baby looked so cute in a navy-blue corduroy jumper with a rose and ivory plaid shirt, paired with tights and the teeniest pair of rose-colored cowboy boots Piper had ever seen.

  “Did Jace have another pair of boots made for her?” Ivy asked, inspecting the exquisite stitching.

  “Yes, it’s the most adorable thing the way my husband has become obsessed with our daughter’s fashion.”

  Ivy laughed. “A fact Kellen loves rubbing in Jace’s face every chance he gets.”

  “Speaking of cute boots,” Caytie said, pointing to Piper’s feet. She was finally wearing the pink boots her sister had given her. “Where did you get those? I love them.”

  “My sister, Tomi, sent them to me.” Piper hadn’t wanted to wear them since she’d planned to wear them on her date with Gabe to the sledding party, but Rascal had gotten a hold of one of her snow boots yesterday, and she and Ivy couldn’t find it anywhere. “I can ask her where she got them and send you the info.”

  “I’d love that.” She grinned. “And wouldn’t it be cute if I had a pair made for Georgia?”