Over the years her mother had sent Theresa with messages, but after a while Ellie didn’t want to hear them anymore. Her parents were embarrassed and ashamed of her; they didn’t have to be part of her life. She and CJ had made it this far on their own.
But after seeing CJ light up when he was made the center of attention at the Riley house on Thanksgiving, she knew she had to let her parents back into her life. Not for their sake, but for her son’s.
Maybe Ellie should respond to the letters, the phone calls, the texts her parents had sent over the years. With Max studying abroad, she and CJ hadn’t had anyone for…too long. It wasn’t fair to either of them. Her parent’s shame was now water under the bridge. Her son’s physical and mental wellbeing were more important than her hurt feelings. It was time to put on her big girl panties and make the call.
After putting CJ to bed, she wrapped herself in her fuzzy blanket and sat near the fire, tapping nervously on her cell phone. One final deep breath and she hit the call button.
“Hello?” her father answered, sounding more tired than she remembered.
“Hi…Dad.” She waited for him to scold her, reprimand her for her behavior.
“Ellie?” he gasped.
She squeezed her eyes closed, stopping the tears from coming. The last thing she needed was for her father to hear her weep. “Yup. It’s me.” In an attempt to sound casual she came off sounding like she was fifteen.
“I miss you, sweetheart.”
“Oh.” So not what she expected. His voice had a sad, smiling tone, similar to the one he used when he’d told Max there was no Santa Claus.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m well, thank you.” Manners. The Fairfields brought out the manners in everyone.
“And my grandson?”
This time she gasped. Not your son or the boy or CJ, but my grandson. Acceptance was the first step. Max had alluded to their parents being different. Maybe he was right.
“CJ needs a kidney transplant. He—”
Just like Colton, her father cut in. “I’ll get myself tested. So will your mom and Max.”
The unexpected gesture didn’t make her feel grateful, but full of guilt and regret. She’d distanced herself from her parents for so long, angry at them for the way they handled her pregnancy, and now her father was being kind to her. The emotions were too much, so she sat in silence as he rambled on about blood types and hospitals and rallying a campaign for everyone in the state of Pennsylvania to get tested.
When she could speak without choking on her emotions, she said, “He has a donor. The transplant surgery is scheduled for Wednesday.”
“We’ll be there. Which hospital?”
Ellie gave him the details and pretended like she had a call coming in on the other line, rushing him off the phone.
She’d been prepared to be defensive. To tell him he was a bad father and grandfather, and make him feel guilty for not knowing his only grandson. Only he snuck up from behind and did the unexpected.
Needing to unwind before bed, she filled her tub with bubble bath and poured herself a glass of wine. Her thoughts drifted from her parents and what their reaction would be when they met CJ, to their reaction at seeing Colton again. Her father told her never to mention his name again when she’d begged for his address years and years ago.
Ellie wondered and worried about the scene that would eventually play out between Thomas Fairfield and Colton Riley. Too exhausted to care about both men—too similar in their over-protectiveness—she closed her eyes and slipped in to the tub.
An hour later, when the water was cold, her toes pruney, and her glass empty, Ellie bundled up into her flannel pajamas and crawled into bed, falling deep in sleep.
The following morning she drove CJ to school and took a right at the intersection of Hemlock instead of a left. The long, winding road led to Colton’s home. A place she’d never been invited. He didn’t talk about much of anything, especially where he lived, but Rachael was always a great source of information. She danced around the kitchen in excitement this morning when Ellie asked her for his address.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Funny.”
“There’s a spare key under the rock at the front left corner of the house.”
“Why do I need to know that?”
“In case he doesn’t let you in.” Rachael handed her a loaf of pumpkin bread. “Bring this. I doubt he has much food in the house.”
Ellie had a feeling he wasn’t going to be too excited to see her on his own turf. Before this morning, she had no idea where he lived but knew he was alone and isolated. He needed to be closer, physically, to people who could help take care of him after his surgery. Most likely his family had already scheduled shifts to smother him with food and love and care, but he was sacrificing himself, literally a piece of himself, for her son and she needed to be the one to care for him.
She turned left at a small, unmarked dirt road, likely Stone Ridge Road, and followed it until she saw a yellow trailer. As she got closer she could see it wasn’t yellow but white. Or had been white. She parked next to Colton’s truck and made her way slowly to the door.
The roof leaned precariously left and the window casings had stains of rust where the rain dripped down the sides. There were three steps leading to the trailer, each in worse condition than the roof.
A quiet bark from inside greeted her at the door. She knocked, Sadie barking once more, but no Colton. He wouldn’t have gone for a run without Sadie. He had to be home. Maybe he was in the shower.
Naughty memories from their shower last month crept to the forefront of her mind. She’d like a replay, only this time with Colton completely naked.
“What do you want?” he growled from the other side of the door, quickly erasing the tender moment from her thoughts.
“Nice to see you too. Can I come in? It’s cold out here.”
“No.”
“Those the same manners your mother taught you?” Maybe she shouldn’t have thrown his mother into the mix, but he deserved it.
After a moment of nothing, he jerked the door open and scowled down at her. “You shouldn’t be here.” Colton’s eyes looked everywhere but at her.
And then she realized why. He was ashamed. In his mind she was still the rich girl and he the poor pool boy. Only the irony was that she didn’t have a penny to her name. The Inn was hers for as long as she wanted it, but she didn’t own it, couldn’t sell it or use it for equity. Ellie had nothing to her name except a pile of medical bills.
At least Colton had land. From what Rachael said, over a hundred acres. Who cared what his temporary home looked like? He had a gorgeous view of the hills, while rock walls lined his property, and endless acres of field and woods as far as the eye could see. He was isolated out here. Just the way he liked it.
“Thank you for inviting me in, Colton.” Ellie nudged her shoulder into his chest, forcing herself in his home, stopping to pat Sadie. The inside was old and weathered, but neat. It smelled faintly of dog and had no signs of personality. No throw blankets, pictures, or knick-knacks. A dog bed took up most of the cramped living room while a couch that had seen better days took up the other half.
The kitchen was small, even for her liking, yet convenient. You didn’t have to move to open the fridge, oven, microwave, or three cabinets, to turn on the faucet, or to make coffee. Everything was within reach.
Colton still hadn’t made eye contact and the last thing he’d appreciate would be a sympathetic word. Instead, she went with sarcasm.
“Love what you’ve done with the place.” That earned her a death glare. “Kidding. It’s gross. I see why you hang out at the Inn so much.”
“It’s not gross. It’s my home.”
“No. It’s where you hide.”
“Is there a reason you came here or was it to make fun of my home?”
“This isn’t your home.” Ellie held up a hand when he started to interrupt her. “It’s w
here you crash at night. If you cared about this place you would have fixed your steps ages ago. Or the roof. Colton, you can’t live here during the winter. One big snowstorm and your roof is going to cave in.”
“We’re not all made of money, Princess.”
“You know what? Forget it. This was a bad idea.” If he wanted to mope around in his godforsaken dump, so be it.
“I don’t want your pity.”
“You’re such an idiot.” Shoving past him and out of the trailer faster than she’d shoved her way into it, she nearly got behind the wheel of her car before Colton put a hand on her door, stopping her from getting in.
“What did you come here for? To see where the other half lives?”
“You want to know why I came here?” Ellie stepped closer, the car door the only thing separating their bodies. “I had no idea what kind of place you lived in. A condo, a log cabin, a farmhouse, a tent.”
“I live in a freakin’ trailer.”
“Yeah. Got that. Doesn’t matter. I came here because tomorrow morning you’re giving my son one of your kidneys and I have no way of repaying you for that.” She swiped angrily at her tears. “I was going to offer you one of the rooms at the Inn, not only so I could take care of you, but so that you and CJ could be close while you both recovered. But forget it. You’re too stubborn and pigheaded to realize when someone is trying to be kind. Go back to your hiding place. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Ellie threw herself in the car and yanked the door closed, not caring if she smashed his fingers in the process. The doctors could fix them tomorrow while they took out his kidney. Maybe they could work on his heart as well.
***
Colton didn’t come by later that day and CJ asked about him at dinner.
“I’m sure he has a lot to do before tomorrow’s surgery.” Yeah. Like obsess over her heritage and his lack thereof.
“Is he having his favorite no-salt meal tonight too?”
“I’m sure he is.” Probably drinking a case of beer and destroying his liver. The doctors would have a hay day digging inside him.
“Do you think he’s having apple sauce and pork chops and carrots?”
Ellie tried not to show her frustration. “Honey, do you want to call him?”
“Yeah!” CJ hopped off his chair and grabbed her cell phone from the counter. “What’s his number?”
“Type in Colton.”
She watched CJ find his contact and call. His bright green eyes lit up when Colton answered. “What are you having for dinner? I’m having my favorite no-salt meal before our big day. Did you pack your bag? Will they let you come visit me or can I visit you?” CJ rattled off the same questions he’d been asking all week.
Ellie was ready to pull her hair out, but she heard Colton’s deep laugh on the other end of the phone. His voice was muffled so she couldn’t hear his exact words, but CJ’s head bobbed up and down and he wiggled excitedly in his seat.
After a few minutes of chatter, CJ hung up. “Colton is having chicken noodle soup. Gramma Riley made it and said it was good for him. He said it tasted like water with floating chicken pieces in it. Colton said when both our kidneys are better he’d take me out for pizza. I can’t wait.”
“You know it’s going to be a while before you can have pizza, right?”
“Colton said his mom can make one that’s not too salty.”
Ugh. If she heard one more Colton said she was going to puke. Of course whatever he said and did was perfect. The until now nonexistent father got to do that. Swing in and be the fun guy while the mom had to do all the heavy lifting. The homework and chores and reality.
Ellie was so frustrated with Colton and that made her even more angry. The man volunteered to give up an organ for her son.
Their son. She’d have done the same if she was compatible.
The night lagged on, CJ trying to put off the inevitable, knowing once he went to bed, his surgery would be on the other side of sleep.
Needing the mundane, Ellie scrubbed her face, slathered on her night cream, and went out to the kitchen for a snack. She didn’t want to eat foods CJ couldn’t have in front of him and had taken to midnight snacking. Pulling one of Rachael’s pumpkin pies out of the fridge, she screamed in fright when a figure appeared on the other side of the kitchen.
“It’s just me and Sadie.”
“Seriously? Could you call? Maybe knock?” The dog’s nails clicked on the kitchen tile as she hurried her short legs to keep up with Colton.
“I didn’t want to disturb CJ.”
“But you don’t mind disturbing me?” Not caring what she looked like, Ellie took a fork out of the drawer and dug in to the pie dish.
“You’re not serving that to your guests, are you?”
“Whatdoyoucare?” she asked around a forkful of pie.
Colton pressed a button on his cell phone, lighting up the dark room. “It’s not quite midnight. I can still eat.”
Ellie hugged the dish close to her chest, shielding it with her body. Colton stepped past her and opened the fridge, taking out a bottle of whipped cream.
“It’s a sin to eat pumpkin pie without whipped cream.” He squirted a healthy dollop on the pie, stole the fork from her grasp and shoved a mound of the whipped confection in his mouth. “Mmm.”
Ellie nearly moaned with him. He had a dot of cream at the corner of his mouth and her tongue begged to lick it off, her mouth watering at the thought of kissing him. Her gaze shifted to his eyes, which were locked on hers and twinkling with mischief.
How they moved from nearly tearing each other’s heads off earlier this morning to wanting to tear each other’s clothes off, she hadn’t a clue. Colton did that to her.
Confused her. Teased her. Turned her on.
Hot and cold. On and off. The man had more moods than a teenage girl going through PMS.
“What’s going on, Colton? Why did you come over tonight? It’s almost midnight.”
Ellie moved past him, putting the center island between them, and set the pie on the counter.
Colton shrugged out of his coat, hung it over the back of a chair, and returned to the other side of the island.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Are you nervous about tomorrow?”
“Hell yeah.” Colton scrubbed his hands across his face, a sign she’d learned to read some time ago. He was frustrated. With himself or with her, she didn’t know.
“The doctors said you’re in good physical health. Your lungs and kidneys are—”
“I’m not worried about my surgery, Ellie. You really think that low of me, don’t you?” He reached his coat in two quick strides and yanked his arms through his sleeves. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Sadie stayed glued to his side, rubbing her head against his leg.
“Colton. Wait.” Ellie chased after him, throwing herself between him and the door. “I never implied that you were…”
“A selfish bastard?” The dog whined and Colton bent down to rub her ears.
“No. Those are your words, not mine. I worry about both of you. You’ve already gone through so much already.” Her gaze lowered to his leg, an important part of him that he refused to talk about or show her. “Going back to the hospital can’t be easy for you.”
“This has nothing to do with me. CJ needs a kidney. I have an extra one.” If the hurt and insecurity in his eyes wasn’t strong enough, Sadie gave him away by butting her head into his hand, licking his palm and lightly pawing at his right leg. She could read his signs better than anyone and whether he would admit it or not, he was hurting inside.
Sadie could tell and so could Ellie. She’d forgotten why she was angry with him, as she always did when he was near.
“This morning. I didn’t mean…we both seem to take things the wrong way. I want to thank you for what you’re doing and the only way I know how is to take care of you when you come out of the hospital. My offer has nothing to do with your social status.”
“Let m
e ask you something. If you were a match for CJ, would you feel the need for me or his family members to thank you for giving up your kidney for him?”
“Of course not. I’m his mother. I’d do anything for him. Oh.” Realization set in and the lump in her throat stopped her breath. She’d offended him, questioned his loyalty and love for CJ. He may have only been in his son’s life for a few short weeks, but during that time he’d dedicated every minute of his day to CJ, to her, to helping around the Inn.
Colton wasn’t acting out of chivalry, but out of his duty as a father and his love for his son. Deep, deep down, in a place where he didn’t like her to visit, she saw the beautiful human being he was. A protector. A selfless guardian. He didn’t make excuses and didn’t let anything hold him back.
“Colton. I’m so, so sorry.” She didn’t wait for him to accept or deny her apology and leaned in to him, wrapping her arms tightly around his body, pulling him in tight and resting her head against his hard and steady chest. It didn’t take long for his arms to cloak her as well.
They stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms by the doorway, Sadie curled at their feet.
When she could speak without croaking around the lump in her throat, she rubbed her cheek into his chest and sighed. “You’ve been a wonderful father to CJ. He loves you. Knowing that you’re going to be there in the hospital with him has really helped his anxiety. He was even joking about it earlier today.” Keeping her arms around him, Ellie tipped her head back to look into his eyes. “He wanted to know if you’d have Batman on your hospital gown too or if you had to wear one of those fugly old lady ones.”
“Fugly?”
“A word he picked up at school.”
“Fugly is right. I won’t wear one of those things.”
“Tough guy, huh?” she teased. They stayed locked in their embrace, staring at each other’s eyes. The kitchen was dark without the dim light over the sink.
Wounded Love (A Rocky Harbor Novel Book 3) Page 19