After finishing off the water, Mason said, “Obviously, I didn’t know.”
* * *
EVEN TWO WEEKS after their latest argument, Hattie refused to leave her nieces with her parents, so she had them with her while cleaning out her old apartment. Trevor, a longtime bartender and friend, had stepped up so much when she’d broken her arm and after Mason had left that she’d promoted him to night manager. Along with the title, he’d be moving upstairs. At least he would as soon as all of her old junk was gone.
Hard to believe she’d once been such a pack rat.
Mason ran a tight ship. Living with him had taught her the benefits of streamlining her lifestyle.
She missed him with a gnawing, nagging pain that rarely went away. While she still couldn’t be sure he hadn’t proposed out of nostalgia for her sister or just plain old pity over not wanting her to be a single mom, she constantly second-guessed her decision.
If she’d said yes, would he be here with her now?
But would that have even been fair, considering how much he loved his job?
Vivian grew bored with her play mat and wasn’t afraid to show it with a good old-fashioned tantrum. By the time Vanessa chimed in, Clementine charged up the stairs to check on the commotion.
She lifted a wide-eyed, sniffling Vivian for a hug and said, “Too many more screams like that, and you’ll give Auntie Clem a heart attack.”
“Sorry.” Hattie calmed Vanessa. “I’m almost done. Just need to go through this box of purses.”
“No worries.” To Vivian, she said, “You’re coming downstairs with me. It’s about time you learned to appreciate cherries.”
“Thanks,” Hattie called after her friend.
Reaching far back into a cedar cabinet, she grabbed the last of the purses she was donating to charity. It was the black dress purse she’d carried the day she and Mason saw Benton for the reading of her sister’s will.
She clutched the purse to her chest, willing herself not to cry.
“Van, we should’ve fought for him, huh? Told your nosy grandparents we don’t care what they think.”
* * *
THREE WEEKS LATER, while the girls “ran” wild in their walkers, Hattie was scooping ashes from the fireplace when her cell rang.
Even though Mason had his own assigned ring tone, she couldn’t help wishing it’d somehow be him.
After wiping her hands on a rag, she grabbed her phone, only to swallow her usual disappointment upon seeing the caller wasn’t Mason, but Benton—Melissa’s lawyer.
“Hattie?”
“Yes... Hi. Are you making preparations to head out to your mine for the season?” She sat on the hearth, where she could keep an eye on the rowdy, shrieking twins.
“Not exactly. Do you have any free time today to stop by?”
“I—I suppose. Is everything okay?” Her stomach tightened. Had Alec’s parents decided to contest the will?
“Oh, sure. Just stumbled across something I thought you might like to have.”
* * *
AFTER A QUICK SHOWER, Hattie dropped the girls with her mom, then drove straight toward Benton’s. Judging by the stacks of paperwork and folders lining his reception area, he’d been cleaning his office. Or maybe the better term would be rearranging, as it didn’t appear he’d disposed of much—more like he’d moved it around.
“Benton?” Hattie called into the gloom, stepping gingerly around a few files that’d fallen.
“Back here!” he shouted from his office.
She found him under his desk, picking up paper clips. “Need help?”
“Nope. Just about got them all.” He raised up, only to conk his head on the underside of the desk. He winced, rubbing the offended spot. “Guess I had that coming.”
She sat on one of the folding chairs. “No one deserves that kind of pain. Hitting your head’s the worst.”
“Hold your judgment until after you see this.” He held out a sealed envelope.
“What is it?”
“A letter—from Melissa. I guess the day you were all in here for the reading of her will, it must’ve fallen. I’m deeply sorry. I never even knew she’d stashed it in the packet.”
Hattie held the letter in her trembling hands, and shock didn’t begin to cover her myriad of emotions. Elation for the privilege of one, last message from her sister. Anger for Benton having been so careless as to have lost it. And honestly, a little trepidation as to what her sister had found so important to convey that she’d needed to share from beyond her grave.
“I’ll leave you in private.” He stumbled from the room, closing the door behind him.
For a few minutes, Hattie sat perfectly still.
Then she tore open the envelope, but struggled removing the contents as her hands refused to stop trembling. When she’d finally unfolded two pieces of the embossed stationery Melissa had ordered after her wedding, she read the dear words through tears.
Sweet Hattie—
If you’re reading this, my premonitions have come true and Alec and I have gone to a better place. You may find it strange—me leaving my two angels to you and Mason—but to my way of thinking it was the most natural, honorable act I could’ve done.
I have to admit I was never the kind of woman Mason deserved. I was never good like you. You were always off helping someone while I pursued the perfect tan. In death, I guess I finally found the strength to admit I could be a little shallow—or, okay, maybe a lot!
Laughing along with her sister’s spirit, Hattie brushed tears that refused to stop falling.
Before I seem too down on myself, let me reassure you that while I lacked in some areas, overall, I was the bomb. But, dear sister, so are you, which is why I want my girls raised by the kindest, sweetest, most gentle person I know. You.
Now, here’s where Mason comes in. One of my greatest regrets was hurting him. I blamed him for being gone on long fishing trips as the cause of our breakup, but in all honesty, I couldn’t stand being alone. That was never a life I wanted. Alec was always hosting parties and had his big, gorgeous house. I always wanted to be a real-life princess and Alec gave me that chance. In the end, I betrayed Mason and hurt him deeply.
You and Mason shared a connection I never had with him, even while we were married. Your friendship at times felt stronger than our supposed love. Looking back, I think I viewed him as a conquest, a trophy to be won. He’s a good man who deserves good love—your love.
Hattie, please don’t do anything stupid like let Mom and Dad dictate how you live your life. They mean well, but what I want for you and my children is to live well. As I’m writing this, I know I’m not long for this world. My dreams of dying scare me, but not as much as the thought of my girls growing up all alone. Who knows, maybe these crazy dreams are the result of too much wine and I’ll live to be a hundred, but if not, with you as Vivian and Vanessa’s mom, I know they’ll be well cared for and loved. And if Mason sticks around, and you two finally realize how great you’d be together, then maybe I’ll go to the spirit world in good favor.
Please raise my girls as much as possible in the old ways of cherishing children. It makes me happy to believe our family’s spirits live on in them.
Finally, even if you don’t find true love with Mason, please don’t ever stop searching. You’ve always been the smarter of us two, but in this case, please don’t overanalyze when it comes to love, but go where your heart guides you. When the time comes, you’ll know what to do.
I adore you, dear sister. Please don’t ever be sad when thinking of me. I pray you and my girls smile when saying my name, as I will do the same for all of you.
—M
Barely able to read the last part through tears, Hattie reached to Benton’s desk for a tissue. How ironic was it that if she’d read this let
ter months ago, absorbing her sister’s advice to follow her heart, she would have recognized what she now realized she’d instinctively known all along—Mason was, had always been, the right man for her.
Figuring it would do little good to beat herself up about letting him go, she instead chose a more proactive route to self-help by jumping headfirst after her dreams.
* * *
“LATELY, IT’S BEEN you asking me this,” Mason said to Heath in between training dives, “but are you all right? You were out of it down there. It’s not like you to space on your decompression time.”
“I’m good.” He bit into a power bar. “Aw, who am I trying to kid? Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Mason leaned in closer. “What’s wrong?”
“You know how Patricia and I have been trying for a baby? Turns out she hasn’t been able to conceive because of a tumor.”
Mason’s stomach sank. Patricia was one of the nicest gals he’d ever known. “It’s benign, though, right? She’s gonna be okay?”
“Hope so. Don’t know what I’d do without her.”
Mason knew the feeling. Most days, being without Hattie and the girls felt akin to breathing with one lung.
Only out here on open water was he able to find some semblance of peace. Otherwise, he couldn’t help wondering what she and the girls were doing. How many new things had the twins learned?
“Didn’t mean to drag you down,” Heath said. “I need to stay positive. I’m taking the rest of the week off to be with her during her tests.”
“I’ll be thinking of you both. Hopefully, she’ll be fine.”
“From your lips to God’s ears...”
The rest of the day they were too busy for chitchat, but during what little downtime Mason did have, he couldn’t help but think what a raw deal Heath and Patricia were getting. Here were two people who loved each other but, by a cruel twist of fate, may not have much more time together.
Conversely, he and Hattie might’ve had all the time in the world, but she’d thrown it away.
* * *
HATTIE GLANCED AT the address she’d typed into her phone’s map feature, double-checking it against the real thing in front of her.
Tipsea’s. This was the place.
“You ready for this, ladies?” Vivian and Vanessa ignored her in favor of grabbing for a butterfly that had made the mistake of entering the twins’ air space. “Some help you two are.”
She forced a deep breath of muggy, brine-laced air.
So far, she liked Virginia. The warmth of not only the temperature, but the people.
Summoning her every ounce of courage, Hattie yanked open the bar’s door, intent on meeting Maggie.
“Let me get that for you,” a naval-uniformed passerby offered when she struggled to fit the girls’ stroller inside.
“Thanks. Guess this place wasn’t designed to be kid friendly, huh?”
He laughed. “Not exactly, but have fun.”
“Thanks.” It took her eyes a while to adjust to the gloom. Whereas her bar had tons of windows overlooking the bay, Tipsea’s provided a dim-lit hideaway for its patrons. Neon beer signs glowed from every wall and six pool tables were half-occupied in a gaming area. This early in the afternoon, the dance floor was empty, as were most of the tables and booths. Four men ringed the bar: two sat nursing their draft beers; the others played video games. The scent of beer and what would no doubt be a great cheeseburger flavored the air.
A slight woman with snow-white hair rounded the bar, holding out her arms for a hug. “You have to be Hattie.”
Hattie laughed. “Did my posse give me away?”
“Just a smidge. Come on. Let’s get y’all to the office. Hank!” she called to the bartender. “I’m headed to the back. Holler if you need me.”
“Will do,” he said with a wave and curious glance in Hattie’s direction.
Hattie was pleasantly surprised to find Maggie’s office to be a bright, homey retreat from what she’d seen so far.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me,” she said once Maggie sat on a comfortable floral sofa.
Hattie had taken the matching armchair.
“My pleasure. I have to say, your offer took me off guard, but after thinking on it a bit, partial retirement does hold a certain appeal.”
“I’m glad. If everything works out, this will hopefully launch an exciting new chapter for us both.”
* * *
“I REALLY DON’T feel up to this,” Mason complained to Cooper on their way to Tipsea’s. It might be St. Patrick’s Day, but all the green beer in the world wouldn’t bring back his smile.
“Knock it off. You haven’t left the apartment for anything other than work in weeks. A night out with the guys will do you good.”
Wishing he’d driven himself so he’d have an escape vehicle, Mason shook his head, mumbling, “This is B.S. I’m too old to be kidnapped.”
“Whatever. Just shut up and quit complaining. I promise, you’ll have a great time.”
The second Mason hit Tipsea’s rowdy crowd, he attempted turning right back around to hail a cab, but Cooper grabbed hold of his arm. “Seriously, man. You need to head for the bar.”
“Not thirsty.”
“Hells bells...” Cooper tugged him past a dancing leprechaun and a blonde in a green bikini.
What did it say about Mason that he wasn’t interested? He should’ve been over Hattie by now, but more than ever, he feared that day may never come. Cooper said, “Loosen up and at least try having a good time. Look—” he pointed toward the bar, where a smoking-hot brunette wore blinking, green antennae “—the bartender’s giving away green shots.”
Mason took another long look at the woman, a serious look, and then she met his stare and the shock of finding Hattie standing behind his favorite bar damn near had him swallowing his tongue.
“Is it really her?” he asked Cooper, even though his friend and Hattie had never even met.
“If you mean your girl, Hattie, according to Maggie it is. She threatened me bodily harm if I didn’t bring you down here tonight.” He waved to a few guys on another SEAL team. “Now that I’m done babysitting, have fun.”
She said something to one of the other three bartenders on duty, then approached him. Her brown eyes shone with emotion. He wanted to say something smartassed that would show he didn’t care she’d come to him, but how could he do that when he did care—more than anything.
In the middle of the crowded bar, he wrapped his arms around her, breathing her in. “I didn’t know I was capable of missing a person like I’ve missed you.”
“I feel the same,” she said. “I’m sorry. I wanted to accept your proposal, but the whole time we were together, it felt like such a dream, I guess I never believed it could actually be true.”
He kissed her and his world once again made sense. She tasted of strawberries and mint and that special something that always reminded him of her. “I never would’ve asked if I hadn’t planned on spending the rest of my life with you and the girls. Speaking of which, where are they?”
“With friends of yours. Calder and Pandora. Maggie introduced me to them. She says Pandora works for the best child-care agency in town.”
After a light shake of his head, he asked, “How is it you know all of my friends? How long have you been in town?”
“Only a week, but it felt like a lifetime without seeing you. Maggie and I are now partners. Clem and her mom are looking into buying my bar, and I rented out Melissa and Alec’s house. I wanted to get settled here first—just in case you took wooing.”
“What’s that mean?”
She pressed her lips to his, teasing him with her wicked tongue. “You know, if you’d still been mad at me, I would’ve needed a job and house to retreat t
o. In your terms—a base of operations, because no matter what your response was to seeing me, from now until forever, you’re mine.”
“I like the sound of that.” After more kissing and being jostled by the crowd, frustration got the better of him and Mason found himself wanting Hattie all for himself. “Mind getting out of here?”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
With Hattie’s fingers interwoven with his, Mason led her out of the bar and into their new life, speechless and choked up over the realization that for once in his life, a woman he loved ran to him instead of away.
He never thought he’d believe it, but maybe Melissa’s Inuit dreams had some substance to them after all.
Resting her head on his shoulder, Hattie softly sighed. “I love you. Pretty sure I’ve always loved you.”
“I love you, Hat Trick—only I was too dumb to realize it until it was almost too late.” From the front pocket of his jeans, he withdrew the ring he’d carried with him every day since leaving. “Before we go a step further—marry me?”
She feigned taking a moment to think about it.
“Not funny,” he said with a growl and kiss. “Answer, or I may rescind the offer.”
“Yes. Of course.” Arms around him, fingers raking his hair, her lips confirmed her words.
“That’s better.” He slipped on her ring, kissed her finger, then asked, “Where are we going?”
“I thought you knew? My rental car’s back at the bar.”
Tilting his head back, he groaned. “I wish you’d have said something a block earlier. We could’ve already been back at my apartment doing naughty things.” He paused to whisper some of the specifics he’d been dreaming of for weeks.
Even the shadowy streetlights couldn’t hide her blush. “That’s awfully presumptuous, sailor. You really gonna talk to your future wife like that?”
He winked. “Every night—mornings, too, if the girls aren’t up too early.”
“Oh—well, in that case, we should probably get moving. We have a lot of lost time to make up for.”
The SEAL's Christmas Twins Page 19