THE PARK OF SUNSET DREAMS

by Ava Miles

  “That’s a particularly stupid game of chance with little likelihood of winning.”

  “Now you’re sounding like an expert. Did you know that you glow when you talk about poker? You’re going to have to give me some lessons. I expect you’re incredible at it.”

  He wasn’t going to listen, and because she didn’t want to lose him, she let it go. For now. “I am. I even kick Rhett’s butt most of the time.”

  He drew back, his brow raised. “Ever think of competing yourself?”

  She punched the pillow behind her. “Sometimes. But I owe Rhett and want to support him.”

  “Somehow I think you underestimate Rhett. I bet he’d go bananas over you competing by yourself. When he first warned me about being good to you, I didn’t realize you’d been working for him for so long. But after our talk tonight…well, I think he’d do just about anything for you.”

  Yeah, that was Rhett. And the fact that he’d gone to Matt to tell him the news himself… Her heart was aglow. She’d have to text him later and thank him.

  “You were right about Henry, by the way. We’ve come to a new understanding, and it’s changed everything. It’s only been a day, but he’s actually listening to me. I told him he’s my dog now.”

  And didn’t that make her tear up again. “I’m...really happy to hear that. So what next?” she asked, clutching the bedspread.

  He unpried her fingers and pulled her to him, caging her hips in his hands. “Didn’t I make that clear? We move forward. We take our daily dog-walking trips at our park.”

  Our park. God, she loved those words.

  “We see each other as often as we can.” Then he kissed her so sweetly and softly, she felt her bones dissolve. “And we make love.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  As his hands trailed across her skin, she gave herself up to him.

  Chapter 33

  Matt’s sisters were what Elizabeth would call a trip. Jane had never heard that phrase until Liz used it in their first few weeks at Harvard, but she loved it now.

  This was their second lunch together. Matt’s campaign was moving forward, and with the primaries just over a month and a half away, he was busier than ever. His Easter Brigade, as he called them, had recruited more volunteers, and Jane had met them all at his office.

  Still, the campaign felt like an albatross around her neck. And most days, she felt like a possum waiting to be discovered behind the woodpile.

  “So, what is everyone having today?” Natalie asked, the biggest foodie of the group. “Brian’s recitation of the specials made me hungry.”

  Her red cashmere wrap gave her a powerful look, almost as if she’d been wrapped up by a Spanish bullfighter.

  Jane set aside Brasserie Dare’s elegant menu. “I’m going for the ham and brie quiche. Nothing more traditionally French than that.”

  “I’m having the Provencal salad,” Moira said from across the table. She was decked out in a lovely emerald-green shirt that suited her name and Irish coloring.

  “On a diet again, Mo?” Caroline asked, fingering her wine stem, the most elegant of the group in a white suit jacket with large gray buttons that looked like ancient Roman coins.

  “Pacing myself. All we ever do when we get together is eat.”

  Natalie leaned in to Jane and whispered, “Mom’s been cooking for three days. We had fresh cinnamon rolls this morning. God!”

  “You know how much I love to feed my kids,” April said. The Hale matriarch was sitting at the head of the table, her beauty understated in a simple navy cable-knit sweater. “You could always elect not to eat them.”

  “Like that’s going to happen,” Caroline said. “Good thing Andy suggested we take a long run this afternoon.”

  “Exactly why I’m eating a salad,” Moira said. “Otherwise, I’ll be upchucking later.”

  “Stop,” Caroline pleaded. “That’s so gross.”

  “Whatever,” Moira snapped back.

  “So, Jane, tell us a little more about your week,” their mom interjected.

  “I see how it is. Don’t ask us, Mom. Not that there’s much to share,” Natalie said. “It’s pretty much work, work, work.”

  “Feel free to move to Dare Valley, dear,” her mom said, not missing a beat. “Otherwise stop complaining.”

  Natalie rolled her eyes.

  Editing her week for family consumption sat in her stomach about as well as week-old wine and even less so when their food arrived. She told them about the dogs’ antics, which delighted them, and an evening out with Matt.

  But she couldn’t talk about watching poker tapes for The Grand Mountain Hotel’s upcoming tournament, and it sucked to lie to them, if only by omission.

  Matt didn’t seem too bothered that his…well, nuclear family didn’t know about her yet except for Andy, whom Matt had told after talking to her. His extended family had mostly reassured her. Arthur Hale’s mouth had tipped up at the corners when they’d bumped into each other last week at one of the weekly Hale get-togethers. Meredith had hugged her longer than usual, communicating her acceptance, while Tanner had pulled her aside to tell her that he thought her job was cool.

  “What do you like most about living in Dare?” April asked when she finished telling them the abbreviated version of her week.

  “Ah…other than your son?” she asked, making them laugh. She almost did a dance in her chair. “Well, it’s a beautiful place to live. I like being so close to the outdoors.”

  Matt had taken her snowboarding last weekend. Crashing into the snow hadn’t been great, but being with him, laughing as the wind off the mountain cooled their cheeks, had been downright perfect.

  “And downtown is lovely. Lots of great new shops keep opening up.”

  “You should open a gourmet grocery store here, Natalie,” April said. “Leave your deputy to manage the catering in Denver.”

  “Mom,” Natalie said, toying with her Croque Monsieur sandwich, which was loaded with juicy ham topped with mouthwatering broiled Gruyère.

  “And Caroline could open an art gallery here,” she continued.

  “Oh heavens,” Caroline moaned. “She’s been planning.”

  “And what about me, mom?” Moira said with a frown.

  “I’m still thinking about you,” she answered and patted her daughter’s hand. “But you don’t like your human resources job.”

  “Nice. You get the pass.” Natalie took another bite of her sandwich.

  “Or she didn’t think about me as much as she did you two. Like usual,” Moira said.

  “Oh, Lord,” Caroline said, holding her hands up to the ceiling. “I hear a pity party coming on.”

  “Enough. You know I think about you all equally and pray for you every night and morning. Sometimes more when you’re pulling something I don’t like.”

  “Hmmm…” Natalie murmured.

  “Not like that’s ever happened,” Caroline said, batting her eyelashes.

  “Right,” April said dryly. “What about your family, Jane? It must be interesting to have a career politician as a father.”

  This at least she could be honest about. “Not really. Actually, it was pretty stifling. We’re not very close.”

  They hadn’t called her back after her weak moment of wanting a Hallmark reunion. Why had she even bothered? How could she have forgotten what they were like?

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Jane,” April said, reaching for her hand.

  The sweetness of her gesture, so unlike her own mother, made Jane’s throat squeeze shut. “Thank you.”

  “But hey, you have us all now,” Natalie said, putting her arm around Jane’s shoulders.

  Their support was so welcome and humbling she almost told them she was Raven on the spot.

  But that was hardly suitable conversation for lunch. And in a public place, no less.

  Maybe it was time to talk to Matt about that. Her trust in the rest of the Hales was growing.

  And then she saw Elizabeth walk
into the restaurant with a lunch date and she remembered Rhett and Elizabeth had only agreed to tell Matt. Of course, they both knew Arthur Hale, and Tanner and Meredith had discovered the truth too. Rhett trusted them, since he knew them through Mac and Peggy, Tanner’s sister. But Elizabeth didn’t, and she’d put up quite a stink. Their relationship was on a bumpy road right now—a fact that was underscored by the look her friend gave her when their eyes finally met. Jane feared they would soon come to a cliff if they didn’t veer off this path.

  “I see a friend of mine,” she said, pressing back from the table. “I’ll be right back.”

  Natalie snagged her arm. “Bring her over. We’d love to meet her.”

  Jane nodded, thinking a hurricane was more likely to hit landlocked Dare than for that to happen. As she crossed the restaurant, moving past stunning pictures of the French countryside and Paris, she fisted her hands at her sides. Elizabeth’s mouth tightened a fraction, but she forced a smile.

  Jane’s quiche turned into scrambled eggs in her stomach.

  “Hi Elizabeth,” she said. “It’s good to see you. I’m Jane Wilcox. I work with Elizabeth,” she said as she turned to her friend’s ruggedly handsome companion.

  “Paul Franklin,” the man said. “I’m her new ski instructor.”

  “Oh, how lovely,” she replied.

  She and Elizabeth had taken a few ski lessons together, but their practice had fallen by the wayside since she’d started dating Matt.

  The hostess was heading toward them, so Jane stepped out of the way. “Well, it was good to meet you. Elizabeth, if you have time, come over and meet Matt’s family. They…said they’d like that.” God, even to her ears it sounded awkward.

  “Sure. We’ll see.”

  They were seated on the other side of the restaurant, and Elizabeth didn’t come over.

  Not that Jane had expected any different.

  The only time they’d come close to being normal with each other was when Elizabeth had come over to tell her about her impromptu meeting with Terrance in Don’t Soy with Me. Her friend’s freak-out had turned to calm over a glass of wine. Other than that, Elizabeth had her head up her butt and was letting all her fears get in the way of their long friendship. Her heart hurt from it.

  When she left, she and Elizabeth shared a final glance as she pulled on her coat, and then her friend turned back to her date.

  The cut was sharp and deep.

  Chapter 34

  Elizabeth gunned her SUV up Jane’s driveway. Her date had sucked because she couldn’t stop thinking about the look Jane had given her before leaving the restaurant. Like one of those sad rescue dogs at the pound.

  When she parked, she firmed her shoulders and walked up the stairs. She and her friend had their crazy moments with each other, sure, arguing over anything from poker tells to the best shade of eyeliner to match a sequined gown.

  But never this.

  After knocking, she stood there in the cold, already shaking with nerves. How was she going to explain how she felt, and what was Jane going to say?

  Her friend opened the door, dogs panting and wagging their tails by her side, and just stared at her.

  No smile.

  Nothing.

  Zip.

  “Can we talk?” she asked.

  Jane stepped out of the way, still unresponsive. Well, Elizabeth couldn’t blame her. She’d been a bitch earlier. Now it was time for her to explain why.

  “I’m sorry for how I acted earlier. I…” Crap, this was the hard part. “I saw you with all those other women, laughing and smiling when I walked in, and…well, I know it’s stupid, but I got scared, okay?”

  Her friend crossed her arms. “Of what? Them finding out about Raven and Vixen?”

  To do something with her hands, she leaned down and picked up Annie. “I won’t lie, I’m still upset that Matt’s journalist family found out the truth, but that’s not it… I’m worried that they’re going to replace…well, me.”

  “Replace you?”

  “Yes.” Elizabeth stroked Annie’s fur, and the little dog tunneled against her coat. “We’ve always been a unit, but that’s slipping away. Rhett isn’t who he used to be, and now…”

  “Me,” Jane finished. “Dammit, Elizabeth. If we’re slipping away from each other, it’s because you haven’t been trusting me.”

  She set Annie down. “I do trust you. I just don’t trust them, and the more people who know…”

  “What?” Jane cried. “What happens if it comes out? Vince isn’t going to come back here for you. It was seven years ago. It’s time to let it go.”

  God, how she wanted to. “I haven’t been able to sleep in my wonderful big house, which I used to love. Now I prop a chair under the door while I spend the night listening to the branches scrape the windows.”

  Jane’s brow knitted together. “Liz, I don’t know how to help you feel safe. But Rhett and I are here for you. We’ll always love you. Adding new people into our lives isn’t going to change that.”

  They were quiet for a long moment. “Jane,” Elizabeth finally said. “I don’t want to lose you over this. We’ve been friends for too long.”

  Her friend’s face fell. “It’s hurt me the way you’ve treated Matt.”

  Rare tears burned in her eyes, and her feet dashed across the short distance separating them. She wrapped her arms around Jane, crying softly.

  “I know, and I’m so sorry.”

  “Oh, Elizabeth,” Jane said, crying now too.

  “How about I cook dinner for you and Matt?” she said, hiccupping between tears.

  “We’d love that. And I want you to try and stop being so afraid. It hurts me to hear that you’re scared to be in your beautiful house all alone now.”

  “Me too,” she said, her stomach knotting at the very thought of it. “I’m working on it. Talking to someone.”

  Jane finally pushed back, her cheeks wet like Elizabeth’s. “I’m glad. I’m here for you, and Rhett is too. You can come and stay with me until it gets better.”

  She shook her head. “No, we did that last time. I need to get through this on my own. If I can’t beat it now, I’m afraid I never will.”

  Jane walked over to the side table on the couch and shook the box of Kleenex. “We’re a mess.”

  Elizabeth took a couple of Kleenexes and dabbed her damp skin. “Is my mascara running?”

  “Yes. Mine isn’t since I’m not wearing any. Never liked that stuff to begin with.”

  “Are we okay?”

  “Yes. Now when are you planning on cooking for Matt and me?”

  Her nerves spiked. She’d make something over-the-top as an apology. Beef Wellington. But that might not be enough to convince Matt she wasn’t a bitch. He had to be upset with her. “Will Matt like me, Jane? I mean, I haven’t been the nicest…”

  “Of course, he will. You’re my oldest and best friend. You’re my sister, and he gets that. He has three.”

  More tears burned behind her eyes, but she blinked them back. God, she hated being a girl sometimes.

  “I called my parents, Liz,” Jane blurted out. “I didn’t tell you.”

  “You what?”

  Jane headed toward the kitchen. “Come on. I need some water.”

  She followed, passing the doggie bowls tucked in the corner. The kitchen was neat as always, like the rest of the house, and an empty bottle of French wine sat on the counter.

  “You called them because of what I said. Jane, I was a total bitch that day.”

  She poured them both water in crystal glasses and extended one to Liz. “No, you were right. They were still controlling me. I decided to see if things could be different. They didn’t call me back.”

  Well, that didn’t surprise her. Their Harvard preppie daughter was long gone, and she was the only facet of Jane that had interested them.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s for the best, probably. I can’t be who they want, and they aren’t interested in seeing
who I really am.”

  “Who you are is perfect. Don’t let them hurt you again.”

  She sipped her water and tilted back her head as though she were studying the ceiling. “This time it was only a pinch, really.”

  “I’m glad.” God, she wished her fear of Vince was just a pinch. “I’m proud of you, Jane. Maybe I should call Vince and tell him off.”

  The joke fell flat. They both knew what a horrible idea that was. She took a sip of her water and almost coughed on it as the sound of his hateful voice echoed in her head again.

  Jane grabbed her hand. “Hey! Don’t go there. You’re here, and you’re safe.”

  “Right,” she said, her voice shaky.

  “I know it’s freezing outside, but how about we have a bowl of salted caramel gelato?”

  “That sounds really nice. Do you have any caramel sauce to smother it with?”

  Ice cream always helped.

  “Of course. It’s your favorite.”

  And that’s what friends did. They kept their best friends' favorite things around for tough moments like this one.

  “I love you, Jane. I’ve missed you, and I’m really sorry.”

  Jane shut the freezer door and dropped the pint of ice cream onto her granite countertop. “I love you and missed you, and you’re forgiven. Now, when are you cooking for Matt and me?”

  She grinned. “Any time it suits the mayoral candidate’s schedule.”

  Then they snuggled next to each other, their ice cream bowls in their laps, the dogs at their feet, and watched a Bond movie.

  Girlfriends rocked.

  Chapter 35

  The rented room at the Chamber of Commerce had a picture of Dare Valley’s small business leader award recipients. Matt’s cousin, Jill, was the youngest of the group by far. Jane studied it while she waited for Matt to ascend the small stage they’d set up on a wooden platform with a microphone.

  Tonight was his first town hall meeting, and just being here for him was one of the hardest things she’d ever done. So far, he’d done all of his events by himself. Realizing how she felt about politics, he hadn’t asked her to come out tonight. He didn’t even know she was here.