Harlequin Heartwarming April 2018 Box Set

by Amy Vastine

  “You’re never going to believe who’s here,” Faith said, acting like it was some gift that their mother had dared to show her face.

  “Did you know she’s the one who disrupted the signing at Thornberry’s today?” he asked his sister before Harriet could answer. “She waited in line to see Piper and then proceeded to verbally attack her. I want nothing to do with her.”

  “Who are we talking about?”

  As if on cue, Gretchen pulled open the door and stuck her head out. “Harriet Windsor, as I live and breathe.”

  It took a moment for Harriet to recognize her. “Gretchen? Oh my goodness, is that you?”

  “I keep telling all these bodyguards it’s me, but none of them want to listen.” She stepped into the hall and Harriet wrapped her in an embrace like she really was a long-lost friend. But real friends didn’t disappear off the face of the earth for twenty years. “My boy has gotten so popular they won’t let anyone near him without a background check and a blood test.”

  He didn’t appreciate the way she treated this whole thing like some sort of joke.

  “I can’t do this,” Sawyer said. He took off in the direction of Piper’s dressing room. He had to make sure she was okay.

  Mitch and another bodyguard stood outside her room. He knocked on the door before pushing it open. Heath was right there, blocking him from entering.

  “Can I come in please?”

  “Is that woman really your mother?”

  “Apparently,” Sawyer said with a huff. “Can I please see Piper?”

  “Is your apparent mother still here?”

  “She’s in my dressing room with my family.”

  “Then, no. You can’t come in. You need to get rid of her or Piper will not be performing. Understand that if that maniac isn’t out of this building by seven o’clock, you will have to explain to those thousands of people out there why you’re the only one performing tonight.” Heath shut the door.

  Dean came down the hall with two more of the bodyguards from the meet and greet. “What do you want to do about this?” he asked Sawyer. “I should have had Faith talk to you before she let Gretchen backstage. That’s on me.”

  “I want to send her back to wherever she came from, but Faith will have a fit.”

  Dean grimaced, knowing Sawyer was right. “Let’s go talk to your sister.”

  “But you’re going to support me on this, right? She can’t stay if Heath is canceling Piper’s performance.”

  “That’s what I have these two guys for,” Dean said, gesturing to the two dudes who looked like football linemen.

  Sawyer braced himself as he walked into his dressing room. The lights around the makeup mirrors were on. Harriet and Gretchen sat on the couch to the right while Faith sat in a chair across from them.

  “Faith, can we have a moment?” Dean asked.

  Sawyer couldn’t tear his eyes off his mother. She looked almost exactly the same as she did in his memories. Same long, dark hair. Same eccentric taste in clothes, like Harriet.

  “I didn’t mean to cause a ruckus, Sawyer. I really didn’t,” Gretchen said, getting to her feet.

  Faith stood in between them. “Let me talk to him first, Mom.”

  “I don’t need you to run interference, Faith. I want her to leave. She can choose to go on her own or I can have her escorted out. It’s up to her.”

  “Sawyer…” Faith tried.

  “He looks so much like his father,” Gretchen said. “But he’s definitely got my stubbornness. If he wants me to go, I’ll go. I came because I felt like I had to reach out to you. I know that might seem selfish, but I couldn’t sit back and watch you do this to yourself.”

  “Do what to myself?”

  “Get married out of obligation,” she answered plainly.

  “How would you know anything about why I’m getting married?”

  “Well, I’m not stupid. I also know from experience.”

  Faith’s eyebrows shot up. It was news to them that their mother had gotten pregnant before marriage.

  “You don’t even know me or Piper. Are you concerned that Faith is getting married? Did you even know that Faith was getting married? Probably not, because you aren’t part of our lives. Something you chose.”

  “And maybe I’m choosing to come back into your life so I can help stop you from making a terrible mistake.”

  Sawyer felt as if he’d just stepped off a spinning ride at an amusement park. There was nothing amusing about his mother, however. “It’s not up to you anymore.”

  In Sawyer’s mind she was no different from a bank robber who had decided she wanted to go back and open up an account at the bank she’d robbed. It was not happening. She was not welcome.

  “I am going to visit your sister in Grass Lake for a couple weeks. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

  Sawyer threw his hands up. “Faith, what are you thinking? I’m coming home in two days. You can’t let her stay with you, in Dad’s house.”

  “It’s my house,” Faith said. “And maybe I want her to come.”

  “Gretchen can stay with me,” Harriet offered. “I think that would be best anyway, especially if Sawyer is coming home.”

  Gretchen in Grass Lake. It was obviously the end of the world as they knew it.

  * * *

  “I CAN’T FOCUS.” Piper sat in front of her mirror and stared at her reflection as her stylist put her extensions in. She held her hands in her lap to keep them from shaking.

  “Lana, go make sure that woman is gone,” Heath demanded. “I wasn’t kidding when I said Piper won’t perform tonight if she’s anywhere in this building.”

  Piper wasn’t sure that would help. It didn’t matter if Sawyer’s mom was in the building. It mattered that she wanted back into Sawyer’s life and clearly did not want him to be with Piper. All the support she’d felt from Sawyer’s side of the family seemed threatened by Mrs. Stratton’s arrival.

  Sawyer returned with Lana. Heath tried to keep him out, but Piper needed to see him. “Let him in, Daddy.”

  Sawyer sat in the makeup chair next to hers. He looked like she felt—mentally and physically exhausted. He slouched in his seat and pulled on the front of his hair.

  “I can’t believe she had the nerve to show up here,” he said. “Or at Thornberry’s. I am so sorry for what she put you through today.”

  “What did she want?” Piper asked, though she already knew his mom didn’t want him to get married. She’d made that clear.

  “I don’t really care what she wanted. She comes here acting like she gets to have an opinion on how I live. Who does that? She abandoned us when we were kids, when we needed her opinions and guidance. Does she really think I need anything from her?”

  Piper felt horrible for him. She’d been so busy worrying about what that woman’s appearance meant to her that she had failed to realize what it meant to Sawyer.

  “I’m sorry she’s causing you so much pain.” Piper reached over and touched his hand.

  “Dean warned me that when you become famous, people crawl out of the woodwork. You suddenly have something they want, which is usually money. I don’t know if that’s her ultimate goal, but I wouldn’t put it past her. Right now, she’s claiming she’s only here to stop me from ruining my life.”

  Piper twisted her stud earring. His mother thought Piper was going to ruin his life.

  “Because of me and the baby?”

  Sawyer turned his head toward her. “You and the baby are not going to ruin my life.”

  “I’m glad you think so.”

  “I know so,” he said firmly.

  Piper’s shoulders relaxed. “I’m sorry I pressured you today. I wish I could go back in time and not call in to Kelly’s show. That was stupid.”

  “Hey.” He stopped her. “Let’s no
t look back. Let’s move forward. I need to focus on the show we’re about to put on tonight, and you need to do the same.”

  She nodded. One thing at a time. The past was the past and there was no predicting the future.

  He placed his hand on her belly. “How’s my boy doing?”

  As soon as he asked, the baby kicked. Sawyer’s and Piper’s eyes widened. “Did you feel that?” she asked.

  “It’s like he knew I was talking about him.” The smile on Sawyer’s face was as big as the one he’d worn this morning during the ultrasound.

  The baby kicked again. He was definitely letting them know he was there. He was the one who mattered. Piper needed to take care of herself so the baby wouldn’t feel her stress. She wanted her child to have two parents who loved one another, and nothing would stop her from getting her goal. Not unsupportive best friends. Not well-intentioned fathers. Not long-lost mothers, either.

  * * *

  “GOOD NIGHT, NASHVILLE!” Piper shouted over the screaming crowd. She stood on the trapdoor of the stage and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

  Under the stage, her people were waiting to take her back to the dressing room. The show had gone off without a hitch. That was a huge relief given the events of the day.

  Sawyer was noticeably missing from the backstage area. He usually waited for her when she got offstage, but wasn’t anywhere to be seen. That awful feeling of dread resurfaced. What if his mom had reappeared?

  She didn’t bother with a shower at the arena, opting to go straight to the hotel instead. She made it out to the bus in record time and knew something was up immediately.

  The inside of her bus had been transformed into a flower garden. Bouquets of her favorites covered every flat surface. Fuchsia roses, pink gerbera daisies and cream calla lilies exploded from vases. Garlands of fresh, pale pink peonies, white hydrangeas and branches of boxwood ran from the front to the back of the bus. Strands of twinkling lights were twirled around the garlands.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day,” Sawyer said, coming out of the back room.

  Piper almost burst into tears. No one had ever made this kind of grand gesture for her before. “You did this for me?”

  “I certainly didn’t do it for your dad,” he said with a wink.

  Piper turned around and noticed her dad and Lana had not followed her onto the bus. After everything that had happened today, this was the perfect way to end the night. She ran into his arms.

  “Was my dad in on this?”

  “Just Lana. She sure knows a lot about you. She’s my go-to person if I need to find out what your favorite color, food, animal, flower or television show is.”

  “I’m not going to want to sleep in the hotel tonight!”

  “We can hang out here all night if you want.”

  She hugged him tightly around the neck until she got a whiff of herself. She pulled back. “On second thought, I think we better go to the hotel so I can shower.”

  “There’s one thing I need to do before we let your dad back on the bus.” Sawyer stepped back. “I know I said a lot of things today about not being sure and not wanting to rush things. I know I hurt you by being so indecisive. I need to prove to you that I’m not going to run out on you and the baby. Ever.”

  He bent down on one knee. Piper was positively choked by emotion. He took her hand.

  “Marry me.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “YOU DID WHAT?” Faith stood in the farmhouse kitchen with an apron tied around her waist.

  Sawyer grabbed a peanut butter–bourbon cookie off the cooling rack. He’d gotten home too late last night to tell her the news. Scout looked up at him as if to say, “Feel free to drop one of those on the ground. I’ll pick it up.”

  “I asked her to marry me, and we want to do it while we’re on break. We went to the county clerk’s office in Nashville before our second show yesterday and got a marriage license.”

  He had done it. He had jumped all in and Piper had said yes. Heath wasn’t ecstatic, but Sawyer didn’t care. Their parents could call them reckless. They could say they were making a huge mistake. Sawyer didn’t care one bit. Piper had said yes even though her dad didn’t want her to go through with it. That had to count for something.

  “You were the one who said there was no reason to rush into this. What could have possibly changed your mind?” She didn’t let him answer before answering herself. “Mom.”

  “I couldn’t care less what Gretchen thinks. I am marrying Piper because it’s the right thing to do.”

  Faith threw her hands up. “It’s the right thing to do? That’s a terrible answer! You’re supposed to marry someone because you’re in love with her.”

  “And…that,” Sawyer said, fumbling his words. “That’s a given.”

  “Love is a given? You’ve told her you love her? You feel it in your heart that you love her?” Faith pressed.

  He wasn’t going to answer that. “I need to know if you’re all right with us getting married here on the farm. I’ll call Pastor Kline and see if he’ll officiate. I want to do it outside with family only.”

  “Sawyer…” Faith moved toward him.

  “Faith, yes or no? Can we get married here this week?”

  “I would never tell you no. This is your home, but I’m not going to lie, I think this is too much, too fast.”

  Maybe it was, but Sawyer couldn’t stop now. Piper had already told her mother and was happier than he’d ever seen her. It would all work out in the end.

  “Thank you for your concern. I am going to check with Pastor Kline and visit Harriet to see what she can do on short notice for flowers.” He grabbed one more cookie. “Oh, and Gretchen is not invited. Don’t even ask.”

  He took off and ran outside. Piper’s bus was parked in the lot. Instead of going home, she’d come with him to make arrangements.

  “We’re all clear to have the wedding here,” he said when he got on the bus.

  “My dad has sent me thirty-seven texts and called me fifteen times.” Her phone beeped. “Thirty-eight texts.”

  Heath, who had demanded in the beginning that they marry, was suddenly unhappy about this turn of events. He refused to give his blessing until his lawyer had a chance to put together a prenuptial agreement.

  “How long does it take to draft a prenup?” Sawyer asked, taking a seat next to his bride-to-be.

  Piper flinched at the word. “I don’t want to make you sign a prenup. That’s like saying we know we’re going to get a divorce so we’d better figure out who gets what ahead of time.”

  “If it makes your dad feel better, I’ll sign anything. I don’t want your money.” He kissed her cheek, making her blush. “All I want are those smiles.”

  “Are you sure about all this? I don’t want you to do this just because it’s what I want. I want you to be as sure as I am.”

  Sawyer felt a twinge of doubt but pushed it down. “I’m sure.”

  “I want both my parents to be here. I need my dad to walk me down the aisle or I’ll regret it.”

  “Then call him and tell him to bring his prenup and a pen. Your husband isn’t afraid to sign it.” He cupped her cheek and planted a kiss on her forehead. “I have to call the pastor and our florist.”

  “Why don’t you ask her if we could take all the flowers in here and reuse them?”

  Sawyer gave her another kiss. “Good thinking, honey. I like that idea, because these are already paid for.”

  He left her to deal with her father while he went back in the house to call Pastor Kline. He was halfway up the stairs when he heard Faith’s voice. She was talking to someone in her room with the door closed.

  Sawyer crept up the remaining steps and stood outside her door. She must have been on the phone, because she was the only one he could hear.

  “I have a bad feeling about
this. I feel like this is more about Mom than it is about Piper.” She paused. “I know. But how do I tell him that? How do I convince him of that?”

  Sawyer pushed open the door. There was nothing she could say to convince him not to go through with this. He was marrying Piper because he wanted to. This had nothing to do with Gretchen. Why would he care what Gretchen had to say?

  “Who are you talking to?”

  Faith spun around and her face flamed. “I have to go,” she said into the phone before hanging up. “Sawyer…”

  “Who was on the phone?”

  “It was Dean.” She fidgeted with her phone before setting it down on the dresser. “I’m worried about you and he’s my person.”

  “What are you so worried about?”

  “You’re so angry. Look…when Mom left, you blamed yourself. Dad tried his best to reassure you, but I know you took it personally.”

  “What?” Maybe he’d felt that way when he was four, but he wasn’t a kid anymore. “That was a long time ago, Faith. I think I’ve gotten over it.”

  “You say that, but I think until you sit down and talk to her about why she left, you’re never going to heal.”

  Sit down with Gretchen? No, thanks. Sawyer didn’t blame himself for her leaving. She left because she was a terrible mom. She left because she was selfish, and she’d returned for the same reason. It wouldn’t take long for her to show her true colors. She’d be asking for money in no time.

  He didn’t want to waste another minute listening to his sister act like an armchair psychologist. There was nothing wrong with him. He wasn’t suffering from any ridiculous childhood trauma. His life was better because Gretchen wasn’t in it. His dad had made sure he had everything he needed. And what his father couldn’t do, Harriet and Faith had taken care of for him. They still did.

  “Think what you want. I don’t need to have a sit-down with someone who isn’t relevant in my life.” Sawyer ducked into his room and grabbed his phone off the bed. Instead of calling Pastor Kline, he called Harriet first. He’d show them all that this had nothing to do with Gretchen by going over to Harriet’s without a care in the world.