The Perpetual Quest for the Perfect Life

by Pace, Michelle

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  The Perpetual Quest for the Perfect Life

  Copyright © 2013 by Tammy Coons and Michelle Pace

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  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above author of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

  TAMMY – The Perpetual Quest for the Perfect Life is dedicated to the greatest fan base I could ever have: my husband Casey, and three children, Skyler, Sawyer and Savana. I love you so much!!!

  MICHELLE – To my beloved family, who understands and tolerates my relationships with the persistent voices in my head.

  And to absent friends - here’s lookin’ at you, Joe.

  Nicole shot straight up in bed, her heart galloping in her chest. Momentarily unsure where she was, her eyes darted around the room and panic set in. Sunlight streamed through the curtains; it was obvious she’d slept the entire night. After a terrifying moment, she realized she was in her new bedroom. She gulped several deep breaths of air and pushed her blonde hair out of her face. Covering her eyes, she tried to block out the images from the reoccurring dream about her late husband.

  Ryan, dressed in green scrubs, stood drinking a cup of coffee at the nurses’ station. Red-eyed from no more than two hours of sleep, he was the resident on-call. He’d picked up a shift for a friend, leaving Nicole home on maternity leave. Though he was granted two weeks off for the birth of their son, after only six days, Ryan joked that he’d get more sleep on a crappy on-call cot than at home with their newborn. Nearing the end of his second-year residency, he lived and breathed medicine. Scoring brownie points with the staff docs was his number one goal. Nicole often wondered how different her life would be if he’d only stayed home another week as originally planned.

  He’d been showing off Ike’s baby pictures when the ER doors slid open and a hooded man stormed in and began shooting. He gunned down two nurses close to the entrance, then an orderly. He took out a patient who attempted to flee in her wheelchair. Always the hero, Ryan sprang into action. He tackled the gunman from the side, taking him down. The shooter managed to fire two shots on his way to the ground.

  Ry hadn’t died instantly; he slowly bled out over the next few minutes as the ER erupted in chaos.

  Nicole rubbed her eyes, trying to erase the vision her subconscious had concocted of her husband’s last moments. She reached into the bedside table and pulled out her bottles of Zoloft and Xanax. Swallowing two tiny pills, she looked over her shoulder. In the center of her bed, her son slept soundly, his thumb firmly in his mouth. Over two and a half years old, Ike was the spitting image of his father, except with Nicole’s fair hair and skin. He would have no memory of his dad, and she wondered if that was going to be a blessing or a curse. Ike usually went to sleep in his own bed, but ended up in hers. Last night had been the first night in a new house and when he’d wanted to sleep with Mommy, she’d obliged.

  Climbing out of bed, she tossed on a robe and carried her sleeping boy down the stairs and into the kitchen, maneuvering around unpacked boxes. After placing Ike on the couch, she backtracked to the kitchen.

  Their new two-bedroom loft house seemed like a palace to Nicole, who’d spent the last few years living in a tiny Chicago apartment. She’d updated with a fresh coat of paint, refinished hardwood floors, and crown molding. She was thrilled with the results. Yawning, she flipped the switch on the coffee maker. Silently she thanked her sister-in-law, Avery, for suggesting they unpack the kitchen first. She’d been too physically and emotionally exhausted to exercise such forethought herself.

  Realizing Ike would wake soon and Avery would be back to unpack, Nicole hurried in the shower. As she washed her hair, she considered a trip to the salon for a trim. Spending the last couple of weeks with Avery (who was always manicured and waxed) had started to make her insecure and nostalgic for doting on herself. One such thought led to another and Nicole realized it had been a long time since she’d shaved her legs. Her world consisted of tippy cups and storybooks. Self-indulgences were low priorities.

  When she returned to the kitchen, she saw the glorious sight of a full pot of coffee. Pouring some into her favorite coffee cup, she added creamer and adjourned to the porch, casting her haunted blue-green eyes out at her view of the river.

  Nearly a decade had passed since she’d graduated from Jefferson Point High, and being back had a surreal quality. The unseasonable warmth was a bonus; Nic was thrilled to be outdoors without a jacket. The October foliage was nearing its peak, leaving the river valley a mosaic of reds, yellows, and oranges. She could see the Mississippi peeking out between two brick buildings directly across Main Street. A selling point of her new home was its prime location in the heart of the historic downtown. As she watched, a barge traveled south on the Mississippi, past The Old Mill and away from her picturesque hometown.

  She’d struggled for months with the decision to move home. After a great deal of soul searching, she’d determined it was best for Ike to be near his extended family, and what was good for Ike was good for her. Since Ryan’s death, she’d fought a valiant battle as an independent single mom. In reality, she was exhausted. While she worked hard to make sure Ike was well provided for, he’d spent far too much time in daycare. The costs of city living offset the higher salary she’d earned, and continuous pleas from Ryan’s family to relocate had finally convinced her to come back to Jefferson Point.

  The patter of small feet running in her direction pulled her away from her thoughts. Ike appeared at the screen door, thumb still in his mouth, his blue eyes wide. He spotted her and lit up like a sparkler.

  “Mommy, Mommy!” He cheered as if he hadn’t seen her for months. His big blue eyes and adorable little face, so much like Ryan’s, never ceased to squeeze her heart. The moment the door opened, he clutched her legs.

  “Down.”

  “You mean, up?” She held her arms out to him.

  “Yeah. Eggs.” he agreed, as she picked him up. She snuggled him close and he patiently tolerated her kisses. Carrying h
im back into the kitchen, she placed him in his high chair and began rounding up breakfast.

  Avery glared out at the autumn sunrise over the river. She had the best view in town, but today she couldn’t enjoy it. Searing pain had woken her early, and every muscle in her body screamed at her for her activities over the past few days. She’d spent the weekend helping Nicole move and had seriously overestimated her strength and endurance. Then there were her nocturnal activities with Jason …

  He’d appeared at her doorstep at 10:00 P.M., sinfully handsome and a bit disheveled. There was no justification for why she’d let him in. Ordinarily tough as nails, her business associates respectfully referred to her as “the machine.” When it came to Jason Gates, she floundered. She’d broken off their engagement a year before, yet here he was hogging her covers. As he slept, she glumly perused her former fiancé’s bronze body and tousled blonde hair. Her hormones had betrayed her, and Avery loathed herself for her weakness.

  When did I become so pathetic?

  Turning back to the window, she slapped her forehead in disgust. The noise was louder than she’d anticipated and Jason stirred.

  Anxious to avoid waking him, she moved out of her bedroom and crept to the guest bathroom for a shower. Lathering up her thick dark hair, she vainly attempted to wash away the mistake of the night before. After fifteen minutes in the scorching water, Avery still felt filthy, and she reluctantly shut the shower off.

  Jason was eye candy—gooey, delectable gourmet eye candy—and it had taken her too long to realize how little substance he actually possessed. What lurked beneath Jason’s pretty package proved unpalatable. With his constant drinking and thoughtless spending, they’d been wildly mismatched.

  She shook away the unpleasant memories attempting to overwhelm her. Wrapping her slim body in a towel, she rubbed the steam off the mirror and studied her delicate features, her tan skin, and her brown eyes. She wasn’t pleased with the dark circles underneath them.

  Shifting her focus to the perfect tile work in her bathroom, Avery frowned. She had purchased her dream home when she was first engaged to Jason. It was nestled on an overlook of the water, had a gorgeous fireplace, and a kitchen worthy of a Better Homes and Gardens photo shoot.

  So why does it feel like a tomb?

  Avery already missed having Ike at the house. Nicole and Ike had been with her for two weeks during renovations to their new place, and Avery had volunteered to let them stay with her indefinitely. Nic insisted she and Ike needed their own space; prolonged exposure to his behavior would drive Avery to the nuthouse. Avery thought of his little cherubic face and smiled; his resemblance to her brother made her both happy and sad. Ryan would have been so proud of his son.

  The shower had helped her aches, but there was more unpacking to be done and she needed to leave before she lost her motivation. It felt odd skipping work on a Monday morning, but she rarely took time off and Nic’s homecoming was a worthy cause.

  Avery turned on the hairdryer and blurted a swear word before quickly shutting it back off. A conversation with Jason would taint her entire day. After swiftly applying a smidge of makeup, Avery tiptoed into the foyer. She picked up her leather jacket and purse with great care. Trying not to make a sound, she opened the front door and held her breath as she closed it. The clean getaway elated her and her face split in a perfect, bright smile. As she turned toward the river, that smile vanished. Directly in her path was a gorgeous stranger. His appearance was so exotic that the sensation he provoked was akin to seeing an eagle sitting on her front stoop.

  “It’s a little warm for that jacket.” His voice was rich and delicious like caramel, and his symmetrical face appeared expressionless. As Avery admired him, she speculated he might be Native American. Dark-skinned, his long jet-black hair fell past his broad shoulders. He seemed tall, and his medium build was well defined. His casual stance radiated confidence. Dressed in jeans and a gray t-shirt, he couldn’t have looked more divine in a tuxedo.

  “It is warm—kind of hard to believe it’s October. Is there something I can do for you?” Avery impressed herself as she found her voice. Years of hobnobbing paid off and she spewed polite conversation on autopilot.

  “I’m here to collect Jason Gates,” the stranger replied, approaching her slowly. As he neared, she noticed his eyes were hazel. He seemed to regard her knowingly. She flushed with humiliation as realization overtook her like an avalanche. This guy knew Jason had spent the night. Keeping secrets in Jefferson Point was a hard mission to accomplish on a good day, and it clearly wasn’t going to be one of those.

  “What makes you think he’s here?” Avery plastered on a confused expression. She felt lame for trying to cover up her tryst. She was a grown woman and she and Jason were both single, but she valued her privacy. At the sound of the door opening behind her, Avery closed her eyes with a defeated sigh.

  “Sneaking off so early? This is your house, remember?” Jason’s carefree tone incited her. Avery glanced over her shoulder at him and was horrified to see him wrapped in one of her bed sheets, which he grasped casually around his waist. His thick blonde hair was wildly mussed from their lust-filled evening. His ripped arms and sculpted abs were a swift reminder of why she’d let him in the night before. Seeing no graceful way to recover from this turn of events, she shrugged and defiantly lifted her chin.

  “Someone’s here for you, Jason.” She turned again at the magnetic stranger and found him eyeing her unabashedly. His eyes on her caused her to shiver involuntarily.

  “Ah, where are my manners? Avery, this is Shilah. He works for my father. He was kind enough to give me a ride here after the poker game last night.” Jason’s tone was casual, as was his approach to life in general. Avery gazed at the handsome newcomer again, musing that Jason had probably lost a ton of cash playing with him. Shilah looked from Avery to Jason, his expression completely unreadable.

  “I wasn’t in any kind of shape to be behind the wheel.” Jason smirked, and Avery’s eyes narrowed. It was bad enough that Shilah knew they’d spent the night together, but now Jason portrayed her as a drunken booty call.

  I guess the truth hurts.

  “Don’t you have to be at work? Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to,” Avery snapped. “I actually have places to be. It’s been a pleasure, Shilah.”

  Avery grasped his hand and firmly shook it. His touch was electric, making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Mentally slamming the door shut on her out-of-control libido, she squared her shoulders.

  “Jason, get dressed and get out.” Tossing her shoulder-length dark hair, she strutted away. Her anger simmering, she willed herself to maintain a cool exterior. As she swung her long legs into the car, she could hear Jason chuckling.

  “You’re a complete bastard.” Shilah kept his voice as neutral as the expression he wore.

  “And you’re here way too early, dude. Come on in, I’ll be ready in a few.” Jason pushed the door wide open and disappeared into the house.

  Shilah considered for a moment and proceeded inside. His curiosity got the better of him. He’d heard about Avery Harper on more than one occasion, but the reports seemed contradictory. He’d been taken by surprise by her fierce brown eyes and “in your face” confidence. Why would a woman so stunning put up with the likes of Jason Gates? He was an amusing enough guy to hang out with, but he wasn’t all that bright, and obviously was no gentleman.

  When he’d dropped Jason off the night before, he’d assumed this chick must have been someone with low self-esteem. Avery was not at all what he’d expected, with her model-like figure, quick wit and firm handshake. As he waited for Jason, he strolled through the rooms and found himself impressed and fascinated. It was a lot of house for one woman and though her taste in men sucked, it appeared she knew how to decorate.

  He ran his fingers down the keys of her impressive piano. Family photos were perched on the baby grand. As he browsed the menagerie of photos she’d scattered on the walls, he realize
d that at least half of the photos were of children. He wondered if any of them were hers. Shilah shook his head, baffled. How had she ever ended up with Jason?

  Avery blasted angry heavy metal that matched her foul mood. It wasn’t long before she realized she was speeding like a cheetah. Taking a deep breath, she let her foot off the gas. As she passed Stone Valley Country Club, she glowed with satisfaction. As Operating Manager of her father’s business, she took great pride in its success and popularity. Stone Valley was considered to be one of the best 18-hole courses in the Midwest. Her clubhouse had one of the best restaurants for fine dining in town, and anyone with taste had their parties in her banquet rooms. Reminding herself that she was off the clock, she made an effort to thrust work from her mind.

  Minutes later when she arrived on Main Street, she zoomed into a parking place and engaged the emergency brake of her silver Charger. Jefferson Point was a very hilly town; she didn’t want to come out with her morning latte to find her “baby” in the river. She trudged up the sidewalk to CoffeeSmith’s, her favorite joint, wondering if the occupants had already heard about her escapades with Jason.

  She entered the whimsical and funky establishment just in time to witness her friend, Lauren, pulling scones out of the ovens. Though it was now October, tourist season continued with the Riverboat rides still in full swing. Jefferson Point was situated on a particularly scenic portion of the Mississippi, and had been a booming port in the days when the river was the primary source of commerce and travel. Nestled amongst the antique shops, wine tasting rooms, and art galleries on Main Street, CoffeeSmith’s did a brisk breakfast and lunch business. Fresh-faced and cute as a button, Lauren appeared ready to greet the day. She and her assistant, Jules, whizzed around behind the coffee bar.