Haven

by J D Worth

  “Your momma liked to vent while using a hammer. I heard plenty of unpleasant Aster family business working alongside her, but she never mentioned a mistress.” He pauses. “I’m not sure she’d be hurt by that revelation. She made clear their relationship was over years ago. She was the one divorcing William, and the proceedings had been going on for over a year.”

  I rock back on my feet. My brain scrambles to that time in my life. My mother didn’t wake up one day and decide that was the end of her marriage. A slow disintegration was unfolding for years before her plans took shape. Through my middle school years, my father took a little more interest in me. I thought his attention was due to my successful equestrian endeavor. Now looking back with a clearer picture, I wonder if he was showing my mother his commitment to our family and their “marriage.”

  “I agree. The marriage was for show. I have no idea why she stayed. Her number one priority in life was love. Loving me, loving her parents, and her brother. Loving her work, her coworkers, and our staff. The truth is William and even Lilith are not capable.” Martin glances down and rubs his neck while I reveal deep family secrets. I gaze over the yard as Cal and Mace play with Aiden. “She was young when she lost her father. His business and legacy was up in the air. I’m convinced she never loved William and married him out of a sense of duty. Is it horrible to admit I’m relieved to learn my mother was divorcing my father?”

  “No, Charlotte was happy to be moving on with her life. She was doing everything in her power to do right by you.”

  “I see the pieces now. She told me she messed up and hoped I’d forgive her someday.”

  “Do you?”

  “The thing is … she didn’t tell me how she messed up. The divorce certainly wasn’t what she meant either. The notion haunts me. I don’t know what to forgive her for. I can feel her here. At the cottage. On the beach. It’s as if she’s pushing me to move on. Is that crazy?” Years of trapped tears form a pitiful stream of sorrow down my cheeks. Crying in public once again, I’m so fucking weak.

  I hold my breath and release just as quickly. No, fuck the Asters! If they treated my mother with the love and respect she deserved, she’s wouldn’t have petitioned for the divorce.

  Martin produces a white handkerchief from his work pocket and hands the delicate cloth over to me. “Your momma would’ve wanted you to be happy and make peace. As a parent, I can tell you that we have to make hard decisions, and we don’t always get them right or like the choices in front of us. We do, however, always try to do our best for our kids.”

  I give him a watery smile. “Thanks. My mother stuffed a closet full of these at the cottage.”

  “Every good Southern women does, and then they teach their sons to always carry ’em as well.” He smiles. Giving me a moment, he searches my eyes and decides to proceed by saying, “Audrey, since this is all coming out there’s something else you should know. Just between us…”

  I swallow the thick lump in my throat. “Of course.”

  “Your momma was planning a permanent move here.” The air flees my lungs, leaving a vacuum of a gasp in its place. Things were horrible if she planned to make a clean exit from our affluent, elitist lifestyle. Nobody does that where we come from. “Are you okay, darlin’?” Martin places his arm across my shoulders, offering his support.

  The tears cease as if I never cried to begin with. Images of a younger me running barefoot on the beach with the sun shining on my face and a smile plastered on my lips, taunt me. I would’ve gone to high school with Trent, Cal, Violet, Jax, Payton, and Mace. I imagine how they would’ve welcomed me to the area and how much I missed by not growing up here.

  The living hell my father spun for my dying mother also plays in my mind. If he initiated the divorce, there wouldn’t be any issues for him. My mother’s bombshell brought up serious implications for my father and threatened a negative spotlight upon the Asters. A divorce is a failure, and their relationship was a public one. The financial implications always ripple downwards. If William is not at the top of his game, all of his clients lose out as well. My mother did an excellent job of shielding me. I still heard nothing, not even after her death.

  “Wow, that’s why I was sent to Europe when she came here. We needed an actual house to live in. She did decorate the master bedroom for herself, and the other bedroom for me.”

  “All of the mess took her a year to figure out. The insurance company refused to cover the damages to the cottages. They declared coastal flooding to be the issue, not the hurricane. She sold the design firm and sank the money into the main cottage and her divorce lawyers. William froze her out of their accounts. He was also drawing out the divorce proceedings to drain the rest of her own money. She had to cover her medical insurance after he froze that as well. William, and her sickness, won out in the end.”

  Deep sadness pools in Martin’s eyes. William’s inhumanity would shake anyone not familiar with his hardline tactics. You don’t walk away from billions of dollars and a marriage to the most powerful man on Wall Street without any repercussions. The price: a pound of flesh. My mother paid with her life. A true Shakespearean tragedy worthy of its own play. Reality is more damning than fiction.

  “My poor mother,” I say under my breath. “She got too sick to make the move happen. She had no choice but to fold and return to our estate.” There she died in the care of a private doctor, surrounded by hospice nurses. If my father wanted to help her, he has the money and influence to get experimental cancer drugs that might’ve saved her life. The unfathomable situation was easier if he let his wife die. He carried on with Georgina, carving out the life he wanted.

  Reality sinks in. My throat threatens to shudder again. I inhale shallow breaths. Wall Street is the center of my existence like a bad addiction I didn’t choose and can’t shake off. I have no choice but to accept my looming future. A life in Haven wouldn’t have panned out for me anyway. William would’ve dragged me back to New York the moment my mother died. Her wishes for my life didn’t matter, not when William has always had the final say.

  Martin shares, “After Hurricane Oswald swept through, I did the walk-through with Charlotte for her insurance claim. I’m the local contractor the insurance company uses. That’s when the idea came to her. She went to high school here and wanted to give you a normal family life. Over the months of redoing the cottage, I saw a huge burden lifted from her shoulders. She was at peace once the original cottage was finally finished.”

  “She planned to redo the others as well, and that was before she found out she was sick?”

  “Yeah, she was going to rent ’em for income while she settled here with you so she could open a small design firm. A couple of good clients a month in Charlotte and Northport would’ve been enough to pay for your livelihoods in Haven. She was networking and making the connections while here.”

  “Wow. Things make so much more sense. My goodness, knowing she had to go back and live that life out for me.” She forced herself back to my vindictive and controlling father. The man who denied my mother’s final wish of a divorce, only to turn around and abandon her while she was dying.

  My father only waited this long to marry Georgina because he wanted an insurance policy, and a child was the answer. Georgina’s likely been trying to get pregnant all along, and he wouldn’t marry her until she was. Georgina maintains a low calorie diet, and I’ve known from the start she has issues with anorexia. When she did finally get pregnant, she got her way with the over-the-top wedding. With their child on the way, William didn’t care about the price tag when he has the ultimate control in the relationship. He controlled my mother the same way with me. My stomach coats with acid after the pieces fall into place.

  “Your momma loved you, Audrey,” Martin says with admiration. “It didn’t matter to her where she was as long as she was with you.” I use the back of my hand to cover my mouth as I let out a muffled cry. A few minutes pass as I use his handkerchief to collect mo
re tears. For once, I’m brave for crying, for allowing myself this relief. Years of relief as each tear breaks from my guarded prison cell of a heart.

  “Thank you, Martin, for sharing.” Martin rubs my shoulder, reassuring me. “You helped me remember who my mother was and what she wanted most. I greatly appreciate it.” I smile at the damp handkerchief in my hand. A battle I needed to win, yet didn’t know the empowering consequences until now.

  “I’m here, Audrey, if you wanna talk. I’ve always admired Charlotte’s strength. We spent a long time on the cottage together. She didn’t choose the easy road, but the one that lead to happiness for the two of you. Your momma was a good woman. I’m honoring her wishes by redoing the other cottages. I hope you understand. She didn’t want that burden to fall to you.”

  “And the Wakefields were a perfect fit for this community. Bell Peninsula is where family and friends comes first. The Wakefields knew to keep their family far away from the greedy business world that leeches fundamental core values.”

  Cal places Daisy into my arms. “Here, a kitten always makes everything better!” I laugh as he tugs me into a bear hug. “See, your momma had some balls too. Boy, did she like to rant while refurbing the cottage.” I let out another laugh as Cal tries to lift the melancholy mood. Martin shares a chuckle while attending to the sizzling food on grill. Aiden giggles as Mace plays tag with him. I lean down and place Daisy next to Duke. Aiden and Mace join us.

  “Aiden, do you like the kitties?” I smile at the sweet, joyful child.

  Taking in my frown, he tilts his head at me. “Aubry’s sad?” I try smiling wider.

  “I miss my mommy. These kitties miss their mommy too.”

  “Oh! I blow Momma a kiss.” Aiden motions for me to follow along as he kisses his palm and lets the kiss go, carefree and with a smile.

  “Like this?” I send a wayward kiss towards the blue sky and wink. I think my mother would be smiling at me in this precious moment. He giggles as I grin. “Give the kitties lots of love for me.” He picks up Duke and hugs him to his chest.

  Mace comes up behind me and places his arms around my waist. I melt against his sturdy presence. He nuzzles his lips against my neck and whispers, “You hold up good, Princess.”

  Exhaling a smoothing breath, I turn in his arms. “The truth hurts, but it’s out there.” I’m treading on the edge here, vulnerable from the disclosure of past secrets. Are we one of those fated couples meant to be? Is that why Mace said I belonged with him at the reception?

  Not one to hold back, Mace gives me a deep kiss. I blush when I open my eyes, noticing Martin taking us in as a couple. He seemed surprised that Mace is settling down with a woman. Mace clears his throat and offers a sheepish smile.

  Cal rushes over with two heaping paper plates filled with burgers and lots of side dishes. He hands them off to us. “Goof, I got your big, fat juicy burger right here. Another one of your bucket list items to knock off!”

  I peel back the bun, smiling at the overflowing toppings. “Wow, thank you.”

  Enjoying another casual dinner, I soak in the banter and playful antics the three grown men share while they work as one unit caring for Aiden. When we say our goodbyes, Martin surprises me by giving me a hug after giving one to Mace. Aiden throws his arms around my legs, grinning up to me. I blow him a sweet kiss goodbye. Aiden’s simple answer to fix my sadness was to hand out love. He’s right. Love will find you too.

  On the way back to my cottage, I ask Mace, “You knew all along about my mother’s plan? Is that why you and Cal are at odds, butting heads at Sonny’s?”

  He flexes his grip on the steering wheel. “I thought you should know. Cal didn’t wanna hurt you. Martin was the right person to tell you. Princess, you belong here with us. There’s no denying the truth now.”

  I run my fingers across my brow. My head spins as I work out what my mother’s path was supposed to be for me. “My mother was truly blessed to have Martin and Cal in her life when she was down here. They’re still doing right by her, honoring her wishes with the cottages. Georgina would raze the area if she ever got the chance. My mother accomplished so much here, but the life she wanted for us in Haven, stumps me. Why didn’t she share her plans, at least to prepare me for such a massive transition? It makes me wonder what other deep secrets she kept.” The notion rattles several wayward tears.

  “What kind of secrets are you thinking?”

  “Secrets obviously I’ll never know. Honestly, I’m angry my mother never prepared me for Haven. She coated the place in fairy dust instead. Her own retelling of a fairy tale, but without the happily ever after. She only shared warm memories, not the reality of the situation. Did she think I’d never vacation here or discover her intentions of living here? I slid the cottage stay under the radar when William was distracted.”

  A creeping sensation sends shivers over my body as an epiphany strikes me cold. William is a master, and I’ve fallen into his trap. He didn’t veto my stay here. He allowed me the extra two weeks, pinning me here to study instead of working as a PA or doing volunteer work. I shiver to the point of having to wrap my arms around myself for warmth. William’s the one who sent me the damn welcome home postcard. He knew I’d search for the truth.

  Mace remarks, “Give yourself some time to work out everything Martin shared today.”

  “No, I’m not overwhelmed by what I’ve hear today. I’m finally seeing things as they are. Martin was being kind when he said my mother didn’t want to burden me with the other two cottages. She had to sell to finish the original cottage.”

  “Does it really matter?”

  “The Asters always have an ulterior motive, so every finite detail matters at this point. William’s been slowly erasing the Wakefield name, yet he allowed Martin to maintain the family cottage after my mother passed. Her rants no doubt spilled Aster secrets, so Martin’s retained employment was for my benefit all along. The resort renovation and wedding were all part of William’s plan. He handed me the cottage on a platter and a free pass. My stay here is the ultimate warning. He wanted me to find out what happened when my mother tried to escape the Aster reigns. Lilith normally hires a bodyguard for me when I travel away from New York. I was so sure she had hired you or Cal and was shocked to learn she didn’t.” I frighten myself the more attuned I become to the Aster mindset. “Mace, do you view Martin as an honest man? Does he have any reason to lie?”

  “He’s a good man. A rare one at that. He deserves all the good that comes his way and more.”

  “That’s what William was counting on too. He wanted Martin to tell me the truth.” William has perfected his sly backhanded moves over the years. I’m surprised he’s using the tactics on his own daughter. “Do you think William sent me that Haven Cove welcome home postcard? Because I do now. Is there anything else I should know?”

  “Take it up with William. I’d love to see him weasel outta this one.” I stare at Mace’s profile for a long stretch of country road. He’s also playing a similar game here. He seized the opportunity to bring the kittens to Martin. Mace wanted those hard truths out there as much as William did. Mace wants an all-out war with the Asters. Is he using me and why?

  “Really?” I glare at him. “All because you think I belong here. My life is in New York.”

  “We’ll see, Princess. If you don’t have a good enough father figure, you seek something better. You never settle on anything as important as family.” Taking his meaning to heart, I divert my eyes back to the road.

  You never settle for love either. My mother’s past warning filters through my unhindered mind, seeping into my gaping heart. More secrets and dangerous lies arise from my own family. Where do I go from here?

  20

  Payton, Violet, and I wander into the tattoo shop Inked on the boardwalk after having our fill of Northport. We pass Cal talking with an older guy at the reception counter. Cal’s face lights up in a giddy laugh, eyeing our flip-flops and string bikinis tied
around our necks. I flash him a grin. We look like silly tourists in our matching tank tops after our fun day on the beach.

  The girls slip onto the long black leather couch by the storefront window. I drop my attention on Mace. He’s bare chested and reclining in a studio chair. Jax is wearing gloves while filling in a new tribal armband tattoo around his bicep. Mace’s intense green eyes blaze a path to mine. My body heats from his searing glaze alone. Each time I see him, he kindles a fire deep in my soul, and he knows it too. I grin to myself. Fucking seductive tattooed Neanderthal!

  Mace’s scruff is sexy as hell. He only seems to shave every few days. He looks as though he’s on a modeling shoot and not having a tattoo done. His chest is smooth, and his neck and shoulders have bulk without being too muscular. Mace works out, and his effort shows with his defined six-pack. A fine spraying of light brown hair disappears down his loose dark jeans, showing off his narrowed, defined waist.

  I rake my eyes back up his body while he’s relaxed in the chair. His arm is behind his head, resting back on his tank top. The armband wraps around the thickest part of his muscled bicep, sharing the same side as the sun tattoo. The ink is already making him look more intimidating than he is. The design is a perfect fit for Mace. My eyebrows rise when he glances my way. He likes to push me, yet he’s picking a fight neither of us can win.