Bed of Lies

by Pam Champagne

  The buzz around town had settled into a low drone. Soon the bloodhounds would pick up the scent of a new trail of gossip. The Gar house stood empty. She’d heard it would be auctioned soon. Relatives had come forward and taken John’s and Grace’s two kids. Ethel remained incarcerated in a mental hospital, waiting the judge’s ruling on whether she was capable of standing trial. Brenna doubted the woman would ever see the light of day. John Gar’s hit man had never been found. Probably never would be. Anson remained steadfast by his grandmother’s side. He’d never again contacted Brenna. Thank God for small miracles.

  Sheba barked sharply. A wave of sickness rolled in Brenna’s stomach at the crunch of tires on the frozen snow outside. Had she ever in her life been this nervous? No. Not when she’d had to recite a poem in fourth grade and vomited on the floor in front of the entire class. Not even the first time she’d slept with Ace. And she’d been plenty panicked at both events.

  She hurried to the window overlooking the driveway and pulled back the red-checked café curtain in time to see Ace slide out of the Cherokee. He stretched, the movement giving her a great glimpse of his body. Her lower belly clenched, remembering the feel of his hands on her skin. Would she ever forget the magic in his fingers?

  Had they driven straight through from Maryland? The passenger door opened and Brenna held her breath and waited for her first look at Kayden. Instead, Naomi climbed out. Ace’s mother looked older, but as slim and proud as she’d been twenty years ago. Naomi opened the back door and scowled.

  Ace leaned into the SUV. Almost immediately, a tall, slim girl with raven hair emerged from the backseat. Brenna caught her breath. Her daughter was beautiful. Naomi hooked an arm in the crook of Kayden’s elbow, and they all walked toward the porch.

  The sullen look on Kayden’s face hit Brenna like a punch to the stomach. Even without the sour look, the girl’s stiff posture screamed that she didn’t want to be here. Brenna straightened her spine and walked to the door.

  Ace’s stomach took a dive when Brenna waved them inside. Since he’d left Spruce Harbor, he’d dreamed about her, remembered her scent, her touch, her soft mouth teasing his bare skin. During the past month, he’d find himself hanging around the house, waiting for her to call Kayden. Answering the phone when she did, just to hear her voice. He stood behind Kayden, his hands curled around her shoulders. During the twelve-hour drive he’d not been able to shake his foreboding about this visit.

  Brenna’s gaze locked with his for several moments. He tried to read her face. Before he could, she focused on her daughter.

  She raised a tentative hand to touch Kayden’s hair. Kayden flinched, backing into him. Brenna’s smile vanished. Her gaze flew back to him, a question in her eyes. Damn! He hadn’t expected Kayden to ooze enthusiasm at meeting her mother for the first time, in spite of the long talks they’d had about the circumstances. Yet, he was shocked by her outright rejection.

  Ace squeezed Kayden’s shoulders in warning and gave her a slight nudge. Dragging her feet, she moved into the kitchen.

  Brenna’s eyes held a “fight or flee” look. He half expected her to bolt out the door.

  After an awkward silence, Naomi opened her arms and walked across the floor. She enclosed Brenna in a heartfelt embrace. Ace couldn’t hear what his mother said, but tears formed in the corners of Brenna’s eyes.

  His mother and Brenna had been close at one time. Naomi had taken Brenna’s supposed betrayal as hard as he had. When he’d told her the truth, she’d given him a piece of her mind for keeping the truth from Brenna.

  Brenna pulled out of Naomi’s arms. “Would anyone like a cup of coffee?” She smiled at Kayden. “There’s soda or orange juice if you’re thirsty.”

  Kayden’s lips tightened.

  Even though the mere thought of coffee made Ace sick, he forced a smile. “I’d love one.”

  “Me, too,” Naomi replied.

  As if grateful to have a mission, Brenna hurried to the coffeemaker. He noticed her hand shook while pouring the hot liquid into the mugs.

  “You never told me her farm was so rundown,” Kayden blurted. “I’m surprised it hasn’t been condemned.”

  One of the full mugs slipped from Brenna’s hand. She yelped when the hot liquid splashed on her jeans. The mug hit the floor and shattered.

  Anger at Kayden’s rudeness battled with pity. He well understood her anxiety at being thrust into a strange environment. “That’s enough, Kayden,” he said in a calm, but firm voice.

  He rushed to Brenna. “Are you all right?” He took the second mug from her fingers and set it on the counter. Ignoring her protests, he tugged and yanked at the waistband of her jeans.

  Brenna backed away, tripped and fell on her bottom. “What are you doing? I refuse to strip in front of everyone.”

  Ace crouched at her side and turned to look at Kayden. He ignored the guilt written all over her face. “The bathroom’s down the hall on the right. Get some cold washcloths. Move!”

  Naomi crouched on the floor wiping the spilled liquid with a roll of paper towels.

  Brenna pushed his hands away and tried to rise. “I’m okay. Really.” She choked back a sob. Her flushed face and tears screamed her humiliation. “This will never work, Ace. She hates me.”

  Ace curved his hand around the back of her neck and drew her close. Could she feel his heart pounding? He’d known this wouldn’t be easy, but had counted on Kayden to behave. He’d obviously underestimated the extent of her fear.

  His lips brushed Brenna’s forehead. A thrill shot through him when she didn’t stiffen or pull away. “Stop it,” he whispered into her hair. “Kayden doesn’t hate you. She’s just a child. She’s uncertain and afraid of the unknown.”

  Brenna clutched at his shirt. “What am I going to do?” She tilted her head to look at him. “Can you and Naomi stay? Please,” she pleaded when he opened his mouth to refuse.

  “Yes, please stay, Daddy.”

  Ace took the two washcloths Kayden held. “You owe your mother an apology.”

  Kayden fidgeted with the iPod hanging around her neck. Ace held his breath. Please don’t defy me, Kayden. Not now.

  Kayden’s gaze remained glued to the floor. “I’m sorry, Brenna. I shouldn’t have said what I did.”

  Brenna attempted a smile that fell way short of reaching her eyes.

  He handed the cold washcloths to Brenna. “Go take care of your legs.” He hoped the heavy denim material had kept the burn damage to a minimum.

  Ace rose “I’ll take Kayden upstairs and get another pair of jeans. “Which room is Kayden’s?”

  “Colin’s old room, but she doesn’t have to—”

  “Oh, she’ll be staying.” He grasped his daughter’s arm in a firm grip. “Let’s go. You can get your duffle bag later.”

  On the upstairs landing, Kayden jerked away from his hold. “That hurts.”

  “I’d like to take you over my knee and paddle your butt.”

  Kayden’s eyes widened and she backed away. He’d never been so angry with his daughter. He’d be damned if she got away with such behavior. “Do you realize how rude you were to your mother? That you hurt her feelings? After all our talks, I thought you’d show better manners.”

  Kayden scuffed the toe of her clog on the floor and refused to meet his eyes. “I apologized.”

  “That’s not the point. Look at me when I’m talking to you.”

  Her chin quivered in an effort to hold back tears. “Can you and Nuuhkum stay here with me?”

  Ace clamped his mouth tight before he said something he’d regret. As much as he hated the idea, he had no choice but to be the intermediary between his daughter and the woman he loved.

  Kayden followed him into her room. His eyes widened at the effort Brenna had expended to make the room special. He sighed, accepting the next two weeks would be two of the longest in his life. Sharing a house with Brenna, day after day and not being able to touch her. He tried one last thing. “How about if Nuuhku
m stays with you?”

  Kayden shook her head, her black hair whipping back and forth. “I need you. What if Brenna doesn’t like me?”

  “After the way you behaved, I wouldn’t blame her.”

  Her chin jutted forward, the gesture so like her mother.

  He sank onto the bed and patted the space beside him. She snuggled next to him. “I’m scared, Daddy.”

  “I know you are,” he whispered into her hair. “So is Brenna. This can’t be easy for her either.”

  He heard a muffled “I know.”

  “All of us have to put our best foot forward here. The three of us need to talk and work out the details of the time you’ll spend with Brenna.”

  Kayden straightened. “But—”

  He kissed her forehead. “No buts, Kayden. Stay up here and think about how you can help make this work. I’ll talk to Nuuhkum and let you know my decision about whether or not I’ll stay.”

  Ace wasted no extra time in Brenna’s room. The very essence of her surrounded him. He grabbed a pair of jeans hanging on the Boston rocker and got the hell out.

  He walked in to see Naomi sitting at the kitchen table alone. “Where’s Brenna?”

  “In the bathroom. She said to leave her jeans outside the door.”

  “Is she okay?”

  Naomi’s brows rose. “Now what do you think?”

  “I imagine she wishes the ground would open and swallow her whole.”

  “Exactly. What are you going to do about it?”

  He attempted a smile. “Do I have a choice? I stay.”

  At a soft knock, Brenna opened the bathroom door a crack and held out her hand. Humiliation rolled off her in waves. “Thanks, I’ll be out in a minute.” She finished rubbing the burn ointment on her thighs. If Ace had made the decision to leave, then Kayden should leave also. What would it accomplish to force the girl to spend time here?

  She splashed water on her face, patted it dry and ran a brush through her hair. Feeling better at her decision, she opened the door and walked straight into Ace.

  “Oh. I didn’t realize you were still out here.” She glanced around the hall and breathed easier that he was alone. “Where’s Kayden?”

  “In her room.”

  “You shouldn’t punish her, Ace. She can’t help how she feels.”

  “No, she can’t. But she doesn’t have to be rude. She knows better.”

  “I’ve been think—”

  “Can we go somewhere—”

  A nervous giggle popped out of her mouth when they both spoke at once.

  Ace rested a hand on the wall close to her ear. “You go first.”

  Brenna sidled away from his heat. “I think it’s a bad idea to force this visit on Kayden.”

  A shiver ran through her at his intense look.

  “A short while ago, you asked me to stay. Kayden’s happy with the idea.”

  She licked her lips. “I’m going to be up front, Ace. The emotional ups and downs of the last few months have left me spinning. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to handle Kayden right now.”

  Ace dropped his hand. “I understand. If you’d rather we leave, just say so. I’ll do whatever you want. I’m willing to spend the two weeks here so you and Kayden can get acquainted, or we can give it another try when she’s older.”

  “No, don’t go just yet. I’m grateful you’re willing to stay. If she doesn’t warm up during the next two weeks, I’ll stop pushing to be part of her life.”

  “Hurry, Brenna. We’re going to start the tape,” Kayden hollered from the living room.

  Brenna’s mouth watered at the smell of melting butter and fresh popped corn. “Be right there.” She poured the hot butter over the bowl of popcorn and helped herself to a few pieces.

  The visit had been a success. By the end of the second day, everyone had relaxed. A horseback ride into the barrens had broken the ice. They’d stopped at the cabin for lunch and didn’t return to the farm until almost dark. A love for horses had given everyone a common ground.

  Brenna pushed aside the twinge in her heart at the thought of Ace and Kayden leaving. Tomorrow they’d pick up Naomi, who was visiting friends on the Passamaquoddy Reservation, and drive home to Maryland.

  She shook off the sadness. Grabbing a roll of paper towels, she returned to the living room. “What movie did you two decide on?”

  Brenna smiled at the twinkle in her daughter’s blue eyes. Kayden had inherited Brenna’s blue eyes. The twinkle came from her father. “Not a movie. We found an old tape of you and Dad when you were in high school.”

  Brenna tripped on the rug and pitched forward. Ace caught the bowl of popcorn. Why hadn’t that tape been thrown away? Would she be able to watch her and Ace together back when nothing existed in the world except their love for each other? What would Kayden think?

  Ace’s eyes held a challenge. She remembered that look well. Double dog dare you, Brenna.

  Since Kayden sat in the middle, Brenna plunked the bowl of popcorn in her lap and sank onto the cushions. “Let it roll.”

  Ace pushed a button on the remote and after a few tracking problems, the tape played. The smell of buttery popcorn that had been so enticing in the kitchen now turned her stomach.

  Unable to tear her eyes away from the TV, she dug her fingers into the sides of the cushion as the tape ran.

  “Is that you, Daddy?” Kayden asked, her mouth full of popcorn.

  “‘Fraid so.” The hoarseness in Ace’s voice told Brenna that he, too, shared her turmoil of being thrust into the past.

  Memories of that Fourth of July night flashed through her mind. They’d been seventeen. A friend of Ace’s had been in charge of the camcorder. She squirmed, seeing on the TV screen how in love they’d been. That night she’d wanted to shout her happiness to the world.

  Kayden poked Ace in the side. “Gee, Daddy. Having a hard time keeping your hands to yourself?”

  A piece of popcorn stuck in Brenna’s throat. The temperature in the room was cool, yet her face burned. She blurted, “Let’s play Monopoly.”

  Ace seconded Brenna’s suggestion. “Great idea.” He shut off the video.

  “Gee, just when we were getting to the good part,” Kayden grumbled.

  Brenna ruffled her daughter’s hair. “The game’s in your room.”

  Kayden rolled her eyes. “Okay. I can take a hint. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Ace touched Brenna’s hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t remember what was on the tape until it started.”

  She shrugged. “No harm done. Kayden got a kick out of it.”

  “Yeah. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  Brenna’s stomach leap-frogged. She was all a-twitter, the way she’d been around Ace as a teenager. Back then she didn’t have a clue what the restlessness meant. Now she did and wasn’t sure what to do about it

  “What does the future hold for us?” Ace asked.

  “I wish I knew. In my fantasy, I saw the three of us getting along, being an instant family.” She tucked an errant lock of hair behind her ear. “Now I see that’s not going to happen.”

  “What do you mean? I think things are progressing well.”

  Brenna turned her body and leaned against the couch arm. “I agree with you about Kayden spending too much time in Spruce Harbor. I won’t tolerate this town treating her as if she’s nothing more than a half-breed.”

  Ace smiled. “Thank you for that. You could move to Maryland.”

  The suggestion teased her. “I’m not sure that’d be a good thing right now.”

  Ace’s expression turned stoic. “I thought we’d moved beyond the past lies and hurts. Was I wrong?”

  “No. Not at all. It’s nothing to do with the past. It’s me. I’m carrying enough baggage to fill two airliners. Until I can get rid of it, I’m useless to anyone else.”

  He cupped her chin and leaned closer. “Let me help you.”

  She squeezed his hand. “You can’t. No one can. I have to do it mys
elf.

  Kayden skipped into the room. “Here it is. I’ll be the banker.”

  Ace threw off the blankets and swung his feet off the bed to the floor. He’d tossed and turned for two hours. Enough was enough. He put on his pants, pulled a sweater over his head and grabbed his cross-country ski boots.

  Without a sound, he slipped out of his room and crept downstairs. The full moon gave enough light enough in his room to read. Since he couldn’t sleep, he’d go for a long ski. Maybe when he got back he’d be tired enough to catch a few z’s before they headed home.

  He stepped outside at the same time that a massive black cloud shaped like a cruise missile slipped across the sky.

  Brenna’s voice came from his right. “Remember how we used to sit for hours watching clouds sail by?”

  He’d already sensed her presence. “I remember.”

  “I came out to check the horses. A ski sounds wonderful. Want company?”

  “Up to you. Company’s always nice on a night like this. Let’s stay close to the farm in case Kayden wakes.”

  Ace listened to the sounds of the night as they put on their skis. Wind whispered through the nearby hemlocks. The sound of water turning to ice on the farm pond echoed in the air like the crack of a rifle.

  “Ready?” Ace nodded and Brenna pushed off, easily gliding on the powdered snow.

  Ace kept his gaze pinned to Brenna’s slim body as he skied behind her. This was it. The end. He questioned his decision to spend these two weeks here. Granted, Kayden had relaxed and seemed to genuinely accept and like her mother. Emotionally, he was a wreck.

  The video had been the icing on the cake. Watching Brenna’s hands caress his arm, his thigh. Seeing her lean over and feather kisses across his neck. His arm had curved around her ribcage, hand resting directly under her breast. His pants grew tight, remembering how his thumb used to stray over her breast, trying to find her nipple.

  Brenna’s revelation tonight that she wasn’t ready to be a family had hurt, even though he knew where she was coming from. Was it time for him to move on, as his younger co-workers would say? No. He couldn’t fathom his life without Brenna.