“I won’t go. Julie and I love Colorado. We plan never to leave.”
That pleased Nate in ways he couldn’t take the time to examine right now. “I’ve lived and traveled all over the world. Each time I come home, I realize how fortunate I was to have been born here.”
“That’s how we feel about living in this state. Fortunate.”
They both unfastened their seat belts and got out of the car.
CHAPTER NINE
“THEY’RE BACK! I heard a car door slam.”
Since her return from the restaurant two hours earlier, Laurel had been in an agitated state, and she realized it was because she’d missed seeing Nate when he’d come for Brent.
Julie had turned on the TV in the den so they could watch the game, but it had only served as background noise while they discussed Reba and Wendell’s depressed state.
“Is Brent coming into the house alone?”
“Hold on.” Her sister got to her feet and peered through the shutters. “I see two figures walking toward the porch.”
Laurel was so excited she sat up too fast. A cry of pain escaped her lips.
Julie went into the foyer to greet her husband, who’d entered the house with Nate. Laurel followed at a slower pace. Her muscles still hurt from her abrupt movement off the couch.
“No gloating!” Laurel heard her sister warn Brent.
“Did I say anything?” he asked before both men broke into laughter.
Nate was still smiling as Laurel appeared in the hallway. His gaze found hers. “I thought you were supposed to be in bed,” he said in a quiet voice.
“I’ve been lying down all evening. Now I’m wide awake.”
“Come on into the kitchen, everybody,” Julie urged. “We figured you guys would want dessert, so I made brownies. There’s ice cream to go with them.”
While Julie served them at the kitchen table, Laurel made herself a fresh lemonade. As Nate devoured his third brownie, he darted her a guilty smile.
“My time will come,” she said, reading his mind. “Then I’m going to buy myself a big bag of salty potato chips and some clam dip.”
“It probably won’t be long before I’m taken off salt, too,” Julie murmured. “Men don’t have a clue what it’s like to be pregnant.”
“The best part for us is getting our wives in that condition. Of course I haven’t told the boys that yet.”
“Brent!” Julie cried in protest.
Laurel smothered her laughter. Nate smiled, but something else must have been on his mind because his gaze unexpectedly switched to Julie.
“Dessert was delicious. Your husband’s a lucky man. Now I think I’d better leave so you two pregnant ladies can get to bed.”
That sounded final.
Laurel’s spirits plummeted. Struggling not to react, she got up from the chair. “I’ll see you out.”
Brent rose to his feet and shook Nate’s hand. “I can’t thank you enough for the great evening. If you don’t have other plans, how about getting together for a game of golf tomorrow? I meant to tell you that Scott’s parents are here visiting Laurel. They’ll be flying back east on Sunday. They’re very anxious to meet you. Wendell loves golf, so we could make it a threesome.”
“I’d like that,” Nate said, “but I’m afraid tomorrow’s out. My father’s returning from his honeymoon. He’s planning to discuss the future of the business with us—we have a lot of things to settle. Please tell Scott’s parents how sorry I am.”
Laurel had the strong impression she wouldn’t be seeing Nate again. With a heavy heart she walked through the dining room to the foyer. He caught up to her.
“I’m sorry our outing has kept you up this late. I noticed you’re limping tonight. You need to take care of yourself, Laurel.”
That was it? That was all he had to say? She couldn’t bear it.
“I pulled a muscle getting off the couch. It’s nothing.” Looking up at him, she said, “You made my brother-in-law a happy man tonight.”
“We had a great evening.”
“Any fears that he’d still like to toss you through a plate-glass window?” she teased.
Nate shook his dark-blond head. “Laurel, I’ve got to run now.”
This was goodbye. She could feel it in her bones.
“Don’t let me keep you, then.”
She opened the door for him. He made a swift exit. After she’d locked it, she hurried up to her bedroom, straining all the way. By the time she reached the window, his Blazer had already disappeared.
Nate…
She crept to her bed. As she lay down on her side, the sobs started. They were relentless.
“The last time I saw you in this condition, Nate was responsible for your tears, too.”
It was her brother-in-law. He sat down at the end of the bed.
“He’s gone, Brent. I’m never going to see him again.”
“I’d like to be able to tell you otherwise.”
His words confirmed her worst fears.
“It’s evident that he cares about you,” Brent continued. “You’re the widow of a man who was his best friend in the Air Force. Even if he’d like to, he probably can’t separate you from Scott in his mind. A best friend doesn’t move in on his buddy’s territory. Nate has proven he’s an honorable man.”
She lifted a tear-ravaged face to him. “So you think any feelings he might have for me are platonic?”
“I can’t answer that question.”
“But you’re a man. Have you picked up on anything while you’ve been around him?”
After a slight hesitation, he murmured, “There is one thing.”
Her heart leaped. “What?” she cried. At this point she was desperate for any crumb he could throw her way. Brent was nothing if not honest.
“He never talks about Scott. Never brings him up in conversation unless someone else mentions him first. I find that strange when they were so close.”
“I’ve noticed that, too. I decided it was because he wanted to spare me more grief. What other reason could there be?”
“Perhaps to spare himself grief.”
“You mean because he still misses Scott.”
“No, although I’m sure he feels sadness his friend is gone. He could be trying his damnedest to forget that Scott was once your husband. An impossible task, considering you’re carrying his child.”
“Brent, what can I do? Because I know I have feelings for him that aren’t connected to Scott….”
“I’ve tried putting myself in his shoes. If Nate’s attracted to you, then he has to overcome some pretty deep feelings of betrayal. It would take a very strong man. I feel for the poor guy if that’s his problem.”
“But I want him to be attracted!”
“You sound like Joey. When he knows what he wants, he’s fearless. Everything seems crystal clear.”
“I’m a mess, aren’t I?”
“Not at all. You’ve come back to life. That’s healthy. But because it’s Nate who’s responsible for this rebirth, it’s also complicated.”
She wiped her eyes. “If I don’t hear from him again, do you think he’d be repulsed if I made a small overture to let him know I’m interested? That probably sounds like a ridiculous question to you, but I’ve had almost no experience with men. Scott was my first and only boyfriend.”
“You want my honest opinion?”
“If you have to ask me that, then I already know the answer,” she lamented.
“I think that if he can’t come to terms with the situation on his own, you’re both better off going your separate ways.”
“I’m glad we had this talk,” she said bleakly. “I know you’re right, but….”
“Maybe it’s just as well that Nate couldn’t see the Pierces this weekend.” Brent made a noise in his throat. “If his emotions are involved, then meeting Scott’s parents at this early stage would probably overwhelm him with guilt and kill any chance for the two of you to explore your feelings.”
/> “I can see that now.” But Laurel would give anything to know if Nate had used his father’s homecoming as an excuse, so he wouldn’t have to meet Wendell and Reba.
“As we told the boys in the car when they said they didn’t want a sister, some things have to be left to a higher power. I think this is one of those things. I’m sorry, Laurel. You know I’m on your side.”
“I do. Thanks for your honesty, Brent.”
“Try to get some sleep.”
“I will. Good night.”
When he left the room, she knew it was going to be a long, agonizing night. She needed some task to fill the hours.
Writing thank-you letters for all the beautiful gifts might not be what she wanted to do right now. However it would keep her occupied until she was ready to deal with the real possibility that she’d seen the last of Nate Hawkins.
RICK FINISHED VACUUMING, then glanced around the living room. “I think we’ve got this place looking pretty clean. You’re a better window-washer than anyone I know.”
“Thank the Air Force. A long time ago, our squadron had to keep the barracks windows clean for daily inspection.”
Nate had been up since dawn washing all the windows in the house, inside and out. After a sleepless night in which Laurel’s image haunted him until he couldn’t lie in bed any longer, no job was too big to tackle today.
“We’re done, and it’s only ten after one. I thought it would take us longer. Ready for lunch?”
The thought of food nauseated him, but he didn’t let on as they walked to the kitchen. They’d just put everything away in the utility closet when Nate heard a noise.
He wheeled around at the same time as Rick. Their father stood in the kitchen, looking fit and tanned as only a person could who’d just returned from the Hawaiian islands.
“Dad!” they blurted in stunned surprise.
He broke into the half smile that was his trademark. “Hello, boys. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Meeting them halfway, he enfolded them in his familiar bear hug.
For a moment it was as if they’d been transported to the past. Nate expected to see their mom appear in the doorway any second now.
“We thought you were going to phone us from the inn after you arrived. Where’s Pam?” Rick asked before Nate could.
“It’s a long story. Come on into the den and we’ll talk. I’ve got something for you.”
The den had been the place for hundreds if not thousands of talks with their father. Nate exchanged a private glance with his brother as they followed Clint through the house.
If he and Pam were having marital problems already, he was covering it well. In truth, he seemed to be in better shape than either Nate or Rick.
“Pam wanted to be here to give you these in traditional fashion. She had them specially made for you.” There were two boxes sitting on the coffee table, and he handed them each one. Again, Nate caught that trace of pleading in his eyes.
He concentrated on taking off the lid. In an instant the fragrance from a fresh lavender-blue Hawaiian lei filled the room. The hue of the flowers reminded him of a pair of heavenly eyes.
Rick’s lei was made of creamy white and yellow flowers whose perfume brought the scent of the islands with it.
“They’re beautiful,” Nate murmured. He raised his head. “But why isn’t she here to do the honors?”
“Sit down and I’ll tell you.”
The three of them assembled around the coffee table.
“When I left the message that we’d be coming home today instead of tomorrow, it was because Pam had just learned that her cousin Audra Jarrett’s been injured in a car accident in Austin. At the time, she wasn’t given details, but the two of them are very close, more like sisters.
“We talked it over and decided to cut our trip a day short in case Pam was needed. Later she found out that her cousin might lose her leg, so she flew to Austin from Los Angeles this morning to be there for her. I plan to join her in a few days.”
“Jeez,” Rick muttered.
Nate groaned. “That’s rough. Why didn’t you go with her?”
Their father looked at them for a long moment. “Because I’m needed here.”
“What do you mean?” Rick asked, frowning. “We’re taking care of things. Jim and Nina are dealing with the business just fine.”
“But you two aren’t fine.”
“Sure we are, Dad,” Nate protested.
Their father shook his head. “I had no idea you were both so worried about my state of mind that you’d actually walk away from your careers to come to my aid. No greater love could be shown a father than that….”
His eyes glistened with tears, and Nate’s throat swelled at Clint’s openly emotional words.
“You boys have always been the light of my life and your mom’s. You always will be. I’ve always known how remarkable you are.
“But when you accepted Pam without question because you were trying to honor me, you proved what outstanding men you’ve become. I’m proud to be your father,” he whispered. “I love both of you more than you could know.”
“We feel the same way.” Rick’s voice quavered as he spoke.
Nate wiped the moisture from his eyes. “Your happiness means everything to us, Dad.”
Their father cleared his throat. “I’m happy, but I know my boys aren’t. Let me finish,” he said when they started to protest again.
“Years ago, it became clear to your mother and me that neither of you would be interested in running our family ski business one day. Because Anja and I were lucky enough to make our dreams a reality, we decided early on that you two should be allowed the same privilege. We wanted you to follow your heart’s desire, whatever it might be, wherever it took you.
“When I told you I was leaving the ski shop to you, I only said it so you wouldn’t feel like you’d been hurled from a pinnacle with no safety net.”
That was exactly how it had felt. Nate exchanged another private glance with his brother.
“You two arrived without advance warning at a very precarious moment for Pam and me. She was terrified of you long before you came home.”
Somehow that wasn’t news to Nate.
“I had to act quickly or lose her.” His admission wasn’t something Nate had expected to hear. The frown on Rick’s face revealed his surprise, too.
“I hoped against hope that you’d hang around the shop until I returned from Hawaii. When I walked in here a little while ago and saw that the spring housecleaning had been done, I realized that once again my boys had pulled through for me.”
“Did you go upstairs?”
“Yes.” He stared hard at Rick, then Nate. “Thank you. I could never bring myself to deal with your mother’s things. Trust my wonderful sons to know what to do.”
Nate was relieved their father felt all right about it. “We put her belongings in the storage room. Pam’s your wife now.”
“This is your home, Dad. Not the Copper Mountain Inn!” Rick declared with emotion.
“This will always be our family home,” their father amended. “As for the business, I’m planning to sell it to Jim.” He rested his hands on his thighs. “The only question of real importance is: where are my sons’ homes at this point in time? We have to talk, boys!”
All of a sudden he was sounding much more like his old self.
“Isn’t that what we’re doing?”
“So far everything’s been about me, Nate. Because of me, you two have put your futures at great risk. I’m not budging from Colorado until I can feel assured that your lives are back on track.”
Back on track?
How the hell was that supposed to happen when Nate couldn’t see one step in front of the other right now?
“Tell me about Natalie.”
Rick got up from his chair. “We’re not seeing each other anymore.”
“Am I the reason?” Clint’s voice was pained.
“Of course not. To be blunt, I
couldn’t imagine being married to her for the rest of my life. It was best to break things off before she got hurt.”
“I see. What about you, Nate? I know you were involved with someone before you left Holland.”
“It wasn’t anything serious.”
Their dad sat back against the couch. “When I used to tell you boys how careful you needed to be in choosing the right woman, I must’ve done too good a job. You’re both starting to scare me. Haven’t you two ever met someone who shook the very foundations out from under you?”
Visions of Laurel overwhelmed Nate. He closed his eyes tightly.
“I’ve felt tremors here and there,” Rick teased their dad. “But I’m still waiting to be knocked flat.”
“That’s somewhat encouraging,” came the dry retort. “What about you, Nate?”
Taking a deep breath, he turned to his father. “Sometimes the wrong woman rocks your foundation.”
“That sounds cryptic. Who is she?”
“Spade’s widow.”
His father studied him in that direct way of his. “Do you rock her world, too?”
“I have no idea. She’s expecting Spade’s baby in the next three weeks.”
“How long have you been feeling this way?”
Might as well get it all said now and be done with it. “Since your wedding dinner. We…bumped into each other on the dance floor.”
“I thought your friend was from the East Coast.”
“He was. Pennsylvania. She’s living in Denver with her sister and brother-in-law at the moment.”
“They had us over for a fabulous dinner the other night,” Rick added. “Laurel comes from a very nice family. Their two boys reminded me of Nate and me when we were their age.”
Nate could have done without his brother’s embellishments.
“I hope you’re going to return the favor, son. How many times did we talk about getting Spade and his wife to come and visit our family? Somehow it never happened.”
There were reasons….
“He’s gone now, Dad.”
“So? Invite her to the house.”
“I don’t think so.”
His dad stood up. “Have you made arrangements to get recommissioned?”
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