by Shannyn Leah
After one hell of a long night and into the next day with Memphis making Quinn’s body his personal bed, the newest member of the Barker family decided to make it official. Rhiannon Nicolette Barker entered the world putting much needed smiles on the faces of the members of his family.
Deciding to come into the world early, Rhiannon and Pamela stayed in a different wing of the hospital from Nicolette. They were all being released this afternoon.
Quinn had been assigned Memphis duty for the last three days, driving back and forth from Oakston to Willow Valley, at Dave’s request...or rather order.
But by day three, Quinn couldn’t stay away from Anya any longer and planned on driving over after dropping Memphis off with Dave. If Dave didn’t want him to take Memphis to the resort then Quinn was sorry, but Dave was going to have to watch his son until Quinn got things sorted with Anya.
Anya thought she had said goodbye but Quinn wasn’t going to disappear that easily.
Quinn explained his plan to Dave and got exactly the reaction he’d expected.
“You are not taking my son back there,” Dave hoarsely whispered to him in their mother’s room while she slept.
“Then watch him until I get back.”
“You’re going to go back there? To her? A woman who is responsible for this?” He pointed at their mother.
“I love Anya and I’m tired of you talking shit about her. If you want to cast her out that’s fine, but you’ll be casting me away too.”
Dave stared at him.
“This isn’t about me screwing some random woman or her having a hold of my balls. This is about me falling in love with her two years ago and letting her walk away because I thought she deserved better than me. I’m not making that mistake twice.”
Their mother coughed, interrupting them. Damn, he’d thought she was in a deep sleep. He didn’t want her to have to worry about this too.
The men turned to find she’d wiggled into a sitting position, watching them, listening to every word they’d said.
“I’m sorry,” Quinn said right away. “We didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You’re in love with Anya Caliendo?”
It was incredible that after only three days the bond between mother and sons was so strong. No one had understood why she’d left two boys she adored to death and a husband who spent the rest of his life loving her. But after having a long conversation with her, the motives revealed themselves. She’d left to protect her family.
The truth she’d revealed didn’t take away the seriousness of the reasons behind her departure. Nicolette still had a past with the mayor they had yet to discuss. Right now, being back in Willow Valley wasn’t her safest location. They needed to get her back to Oakston. Mayor Murray couldn’t know she was this close.
Quinn planned to drive to Anya’s, kiss her scared lips senseless until all she could remember was that they were destined for each other and be back in time to pick up Nicolette when she was released.
That was, if he could convince his mother of his love for a woman who had put her into a coma for two years. Quinn had no idea how Nicolette felt about Anya, but he hoped it didn’t resemble Dave’s view.
“Yes,” Quinn answered.
His instinct was to apologize for loving the person who his mother might feel betrayed her. But he wouldn’t make it easy for them to dislike Anya for her father’s actions. It hadn’t been her fault. Quinn stood by Anya and wished she’d known he would.
“She didn’t mean for you to get hurt,” Quinn said.
“Shhh. Come here. Both of you.” Nicolette held her hands out to her boys. They walked to opposite sides of the bed, each enveloping their mother’s tiny hands with theirs.
“I can’t say that I trust the Caliendo family. I don’t know them and the side I have met is scary...”
Quinn felt Dave’s I told you so stare burning from the other side of the bed.
You want another tussle little brother?
“But I took the deal with Robert. I left you both, your father and Nikki. That was me. Anya didn’t do that and she certainly didn’t hurt me on purpose.” Nicolette turned to Dave. “She put her life on hold for two years taking care of me. Someone she didn’t know and could have so easily left on the side of the road. I owe her my life. She brought you boys back to me.”
Nicolette turned to Quinn.
“What are you still doing here?” she asked with a smile. “Don’t let the woman you love go. And don’t let the mistakes of both of your parents decide your future together.”
Quinn kissed her hand and then her cheek. “I love you Mom.”
“I love you too, son.”
“How I have missed you.”
She squeezed his shoulder. “You have no idea.”
“I will be back before you check out,” he said on the way out.
He caught Dave’s confused face and knew it would all work out. He would come around. How could he not? Now Quinn had to go find the woman he loved.
***
ANYA WALKED THROUGH the hospital doors with Eliza at her side. Her mother’s support meant the world to her.
She stopped on the other side and turned to her mom. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” she answered so matter-of-factly that it would convince the biggest skeptic.
Anya wasn’t buying it. Too much had happened. “What if she doesn’t want to see me?”
“What if she does?”
Anya frowned. “I don’t see why she would.”
Eliza touched the file. “Because you saved her.”
“I almost killed her.”
“Nothing can compare to you reuniting her with her sons. As a mother, I promise you, Nicolette will not shun you when you’ve given her the most precious gift: her family.”
Anya still wasn’t convinced. Her mom sent her an encouraging smile before saying, “You have her freedom in your hands Anya.”
Anya sighed and looked down at her white knuckles squeezing the file.
“She’s been missing this part of her life for almost twenty years, always watching over her shoulder for Robert and Murray. Scared they wouldn’t trust her, or would track her down. Fearing for her life. Fearing for her family’s life and unable to protect them more than hiding. Give her this. We owe her this.”
This was exactly what she didn’t want to do, have her family involved with the Barkers, but her mother was right. Anya was left with no alternative. If she walked away right now, like her trembling legs were pleading, she would force Nicolette back into hiding, possibly uprooting Dave, Pamela, Memphis, and the baby. Not to mention Quinn.
Quinn.
Every time her thoughts turned to him, she forgot everything else. The phones ringing at the hospital’s reception desk were drowned out by the memories of the phone calls and texts from Quinn for the last three days. Three long, agonizing days of wanting to pick up the phone and listen to what he was insistent on saying. He wasn’t mad at her. He wouldn’t come right out and say it on her voicemail or write in a text, but his gentle words told her he didn’t blame her. That eased some of her guilt. But Quinn was one person in his family of a lot of Caliendo haters. Dave was angry and it was clear he was unforgiving. Anya couldn’t stand in the middle of his family and tear them apart, or make Quinn choose her over them...not when they were finally together again.
The days had passed, seizing the strength to disregard her phone, only to curl up at night unable to resist finally reading the messages from him pleading her to phone him and crying herself to sleep. She wouldn’t contact him, knowing that she was his poison. So she had to free his mother, for his whole family.
“You’re right,” Anya said. Her numb body sent her a wave of hotness, curdling nausea.
Breathe, just breathe.
When they stopped at the receptionist’s desk Anya found herself speechless and Eliza had to do all the talking. What would she do without her mother? She knew now that instead of running and hiding
her secret, Anya should have told her mother about Rebecca years ago.
Soon Anya was walking away from the support of her mother and down the long corridor, alone.
With each step, the click of her shoes against the linoleum floors sounded like the musical drum to her doom.
Give her the file, her freedom and walk away.
Anya stopped at Nicolette’s room. The door was closed. Taking a deep breath, she knocked fighting a battle of answer and don’t answer in her head.
“Yes?”
You can do this.
Her legs trembled and her heart hammered so fiercely that it was difficult to focus on her surroundings.
Inside the private room, Nicolette was sitting on one of the two bucket chairs by the window. Against Anya’s wishes three days ago, Eliza had made a few calls, pulling favors and showing her appreciation by making donations, all for Nicolette to stay in a private room.
Nicolette looked at Anya and smiled. She looked good, as good as one could after waking from a coma, being flown across the country, reuniting with your sons only to watch them fight in the resort where the owner had taken them away. Ironic...sad.
“Hi,” Anya said. “Do you mind if I talk to you?”
Nicolette nodded toward the empty chair. Anya’s legs couldn’t wait to collapse into it.
“How are you?”
“I’m being released this afternoon.”
Anya smiled. “That’s wonderful.”
“I’m not sure what I’m going to do. Or where I will go. My boys say that I can stay with them, but we all know the danger in that. Dave has a family. A new daughter. Her name is Rhiannon Nicolette Barker.” Tears welled in her eyes and she sniffled, reaching for a Kleenex. “I’m sorry. I’m emotional.” She had every right to be.
Anya would have loved to listen to more about Nicolette, but she hadn’t come to make her cry.
“That’s why I’m here.”
Anya held the folder toward her. Nicolette’s eyes flared and she stared at the folder with fear. She made no attempt to reach for it.
“This is the partial file of what my father had about you.”
Nicolette’s shaking hand took it.
“I didn’t want to get any more involved with you or your family,” Anya admitted. “I planned on leaving you and your sons alone so you could move on with the life that was stolen from you without worrying about me or my family.”
“But you love my son.”
Anya snapped her mouth shut. “Yes. No. Well, yes, but no. That’s not why I am bringing you this.” She paused and took a deep breath. “You can’t move on without putting your family’s lives in danger. My uncle has talked to the mayor...”
Nicolette’s eyes darted out the window and around the room like she was a target.
“It’s okay. After hearing Carl out, Mayor Murray is convinced that Robert had been playing him...misleading him.” Nicolette remained confused and on edge. “You know nothing about what is missing from that file. It is clear now to the mayor that he’s been chasing the wrong person. My uncle placed him accountable and set you free. You are no longer wanted by the mayor and Carl made it clear that nothing is to happen to you, Quinn, Dave or any of your family.”
“And the mayor doesn’t go to jail? He just walks away free?”
“For now.”
Nicolette frowned and looked away unhappy.
“I know it’s not a great solution but is the justice against him worth losing the family you just got back? You can leave Willow Valley and not have to worry anymore. You can leave with your sons.”
“What about Quinn?”
“Please don’t tell him I was here. Give him the file. It will ease his worry and you can all move on. You all deserve to move on, together.”
“He’s at your house right now, trying to talk to you.”
Anya nodded. “I know. He texted me. That’s why I’m here now. I won’t hurt him again.”
“You’re only hurting him if you walk away.”
“You don’t know me. I’m a Caliendo. I’m poison. You don’t want your son with me.”
“I want for my son what he wants. He’s a grown man. If his heart tells him that he wants you, then I stand by him.”
Anya felt a tear slip down her cheek. “There will be women in his life that you will like and women that Dave can look at without being angry. That’s who Quinn needs.”
Nicolette reached over and took Anya’s hand. “Anya I like you. You saved my life.”
“I almost killed you.”
“Don’t blame yourself child. I almost killed myself long before you came to rescue me.” Nicolette leaned back. “I’m on the wrong side of this hospital. I watch the sun rise but never get to see the beautiful colors as it sets over the lake. Will you do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“I’m leaving this afternoon and won’t likely ever see another Willow Valley sunset.” Nicolette looked at her. “Watch the sun set tonight. From the beach. Dip your toes in the sand and be thankful that even if your family isn’t everything you think it should be that they are yours.”
That wasn’t a favor Anya was expecting. “Okay.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
What was one more sunset at the Caliendo resort? Then Anya was leaving and this time it was to get away from Quinn and give him the opportunity to have a real life.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
LATER THAT NIGHT after Anya packed her car, she made her way through the woods behind her house. She would say her goodbyes when she returned from watching the sun set over the lake.
The tension had been thick between her and her family for the last few days. They were afraid to talk to her and she didn't blame them after her episode. But she wasn’t leaving the resort forever. After her house along the shoreline was emptied out and her employees paid, Anya would return home. In the deepest part of her heart, she knew this was where she belonged.
Her mother had loosely thrown around the idea of Anya considering working part-time at The Locket when she returned. Anya couldn’t wait. She’d freed Nicolette and now Anya had her own life back. And a future to do whatever she wanted.
She wanted to do it all with Quinn. Maybe one day she would...she could hope. Hoping, dreaming and wishing for him was selfish, but maybe one day the rift between the Barkers and the Caliendos would resolve...maybe. She wasn’t holding her breath.
Right now, Quinn needed to focus on his family and skip the drama around here. Upon Anya’s return, she intended on working with her family and helping them with Robert’s files, rather than running away like she’d planned. All-in-all, she had to face that. Although Nicolette’s file hadn’t worked out to Anya’s advantage−she’d lost the man she loved−it had benefited Nicolette’s future. That was something to be proud of. The closure Nicolette took away with her was worth the work and pain it took to get here.
Possibly every file would start with pain, but as long as the big picture helped the names they found, that was all that mattered.
Anya walked the familiar trail with the sense that someone was watching her...following her.
Quinn?
She shook the thoughts and hope away, along with the exhilaration that he may have stayed behind brought her. It was selfish to wish for him all to herself. Quinn was miles away now, reunited with his mother and celebrating Rhiannon’s birth. There was nothing left for him in Willow Valley.
The sun was just setting over the lake, casting extraordinary array of pinks, purples and oranges across the horizon.
Anya stepped out of the brush, stopping right before the sand and doing what Rebecca had asked, watching the sun set.
A flicker caught her attention and she turned her head to find a blazing beach fire in the distance.
Her heart jumped. Was it Quinn?
Walk away Anya.
She slipped out of her shoes and walked the twenty feet across the cool sand. Once, every so often, a touris
t traveled this way and started a fire in the sand, but the nearer she closed in the distance, she found no one. Anya checked the lake for a couple maybe taking a dip...maybe skinny-dipping, but the water was calm and empty.
When Anya stopped in front of the fire, it was a typical romantic atmosphere. One of the blankets from the resort lay beside the roaring fire. A resort blanket. It’s a tourist.
Her anxious heart sank. She turned to leave and decided that was the last time she would envision Quinn here. The sight of something dug into the sand beside the blanket pulled her in that direction instead.
Was it? Could it be?
Anxiety flowed through her body and Anya looked over the beach again only to find herself alone.
Slowly, while trying to calm her wayward nerves, she walked around the blanket and lifted the pop bottle out of the sand.
Pop.
Tears clouded the vision of the bottle. It was Quinn.
“Going somewhere?” His voice came up from behind her. Her body wanted him immediately, but her brain fought her. He needs his family.
Quinn’s shadow unhurriedly emerged from the brush as if he had all the time in the world. The closer he got, the less her brain’s argument seemed relevant.
He was supposed to be in Oakston starting a new life and leaving behind the crazy that was her and her family.
His head angled his hungry eyes on hers making her toes squirm in the sand. He was so damn sexy. As he walked, his bare feet peeked beneath the hem of the denim pants that she knew hung low under his t-shirt and made every woman who saw the way the denim grabbed his rear end drool.
“I saw you packing your car.” He stopped on the other side of the fire. The flames flickered a sinister craving in his eyes, stealing the sadness she placed on herself, making her want him even more. How was that possible?
Anya wiped the single tear that fell from her cheek. He came back for her, through her past and his, disregarding everything that pulled them apart.
“That’s called stalking,” she managed. “Creepy, lurking, stalking.”
He grinned.
Her stomach plummeted.
“It’s my job.”