by M. Mabie
Noel continued, “Go down there. Talk to her.”
My two-way radio went off on the island, and I listened to the tones: a structure fire.
“I’ll talk to her. Thanks for calling, and I don’t mean to be rude, but I have to go.” The tones came through again and the dispatcher sped through the location and details.
“Sure, okay. Good luck.”
I hung up and by the time I had my boots on, Smokie was waiting by the door. As usual, I directed my eyes to her house. Her car was there and the lights were on, so I ran into the station where Randy and Wade were already suiting up and getting ready to go.
“An explosion out in the county. A neighbor heard it, saw flames, and then called it in,” Randy explained.
By the time we got there, it was worse than reported and I called for the neighboring station to assist before I even got out. Sheriff Long’s cruiser was beside the white car I’d reported to him. He was on the ground holding his head, and Randy tended to him.
“Marv, anyone inside?” I shouted as I pulled the line off the engine.
“I saw a couple of guys run out back when I pulled up,” he answered, but I barely heard him over the roar of the fire. “I think they torched it when they saw me pull in.”
Our second engine pulled in, and I headed to the nearest entrance with Wade, not sure what we’d find on the other side. If anyone was alive in there, they wouldn’t be for long.
Chapter Thirty-Four
FAITH
“Are you feeling any better, Madame?” I asked Del and felt her head.
Finally, no fever. The poor thing had run a temperature, on and off, for the past few days. Hopefully, she was on the mend.
She nodded but didn’t talk and drifted off to sleep again.
With her being sick, and all the drama with Abbey leaving Scott and moving back in with her family going on in the group that week, I hadn’t time to really think about things with Aaron.
Honestly, I missed him. The first few days he’d called and left me voicemails, but after that they’d slowed. As I sat there on the sofa, staring at my phone, I finally realized it was time to deal with Aaron and what had happened.
I wasn’t being fair not letting him explain, and I had so many questions. There was only one way to sort it out, and it had nothing to do with me being a coward.
I’d wait until Delaney fell back asleep and then I’d call him.
The sofa was littered with blankets and pillows, and finally, I found the remote and changed it to the news.
“Meth lab explosion sends Wynne’s Sheriff, a fireman, and one other to the hospital. More details at ten,” said the reporter on our local station. I rewound the commercial to hear it again and panic bloomed inside me.
I wasn’t sure who to call or what to do, but I had to know if it was Aaron. I dialed my mom and walked to the kitchen to talk.
I skipped pleasantries when she answered. “Did you hear about that fire?”
“We just did. Darrel saw the trucks heading out of town about an hour or so ago when he was on his way back from the store. I hope everyone is okay.”
“What if it was Aaron?”
“Oh, sweetie. Don’t worry. Aaron knows what he’s doing.” She tried to make me feel better, but I could hear the worry in her voice. Of course he knew what he was doing, but his work was so dangerous.
I paced between the table and the sink and prayed he was safe.
“I think I’m going to call his phone and see if he answers,” I said. “Maybe it’s under control now.”
“Let me know if you hear anything. I’ll call you if we do, too. Del feeling any better?” she asked before I had the chance to hang up.
“No fever, just sleepy.” My pulse was racing and I felt helpless. “I’m gonna let you go.”
“Love you, honey.”
My hands were shaking so much I nearly dropped the phone. “I love you, too. Bye.” I ended the call and went straight to his number. It rang and rang, and then went to voicemail.
“Aaron, it’s me. Call me as soon as you get this. I just heard about the fire.” Everything started to hit me at once, and my voice cracked. “I hope you’re okay. Call me back.”
I placed my cell on the counter and then leaned against it for support. He had to be okay.
Time slowed and I searched my phone for anything I could find on what had happened, but I had nothing. There was a Facebook post on the local news’ page, but it said basically the same thing the commercial had. People were leaving comments and prayers, but other than that, I was in the dark waiting for ten o’clock.
After I carried Del to her bed, I walked circles around the house and looked out my window every few minutes. Finally it was time, and I swear they were just trying to make me crazy as they gave the same vague information at the top of the newscast. Then, annoyingly, I had to wait until after the commercial.
One last time, I moved the blinds to look down the street and there he was. Walking up my driveway. I ran to the door and threw it open. He stopped when he saw me.
As I went down the steps, I said, “You’re okay.”
His face was dirty and he looked haggard and tired. “I’m better now. I got your message.”
“I was going to call, and then I saw the news. I thought...”
“I’m fine. One of our volunteers took in too much smoke, but he’s doing okay. Marv needed some stitches.”
My hand covered my heart, thankful.
“I should have called you this week. I was just confused and angry. I should have let you apologize.” I rambled, but with him there the words came easier than I expected.
I went to him and my arms wrapped around his body, taking in the fiery scent on his clothes. He kissed the top of my head and smoothed a hand through my hair.
He spoke calmly. “I’m glad you called, but if you want me to apologize I don’t think I can. I don’t regret it, Fay. I might have been wrong, but a real man doesn’t apologize for what he wants, and I’d never apologize for something I’d do again.”
I lifted my chin and met his gaze. “But...”
He was unwavering. “I don’t care. He’s bad. He’s dangerous. He could have killed someone, and he almost killed himself today.”
My mind reeled. “The meth lab? That was Chad?” I’d only focused on the injured fireman part of the story.
“And the Gunters, who ran off and left him.” His fingers moved back and forth over my cheeks, and even though we were putting it all out there, I leaned into his touch. I’d missed him.
“I’m not sorry for wanting to protect you, for wanting to take care of you. Those aren’t options for me. You’re not an option for me.”
His words touched me. I’d waited all my life to hear—to feel—those words.
“Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“Because I knew it wouldn’t make you happy, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted: you and Delaney, safe and happy. I want it more than the money, and more than winning this argument, which I’m sure I’ll lose.”
There was no doubt he meant what he said, and I understood where he was coming from. Aaron keeping a secret like that from me for so long was hard to swallow, but it wasn’t like I hadn’t done something similar. Later, when Delaney was older, I’d have to explain some choices I’d made on her behalf, and she might not agree with them, but they were made out of love.
Coincidentally, the same day Aaron removed Chad from our lives, I had too in a way. I never added him to Del’s birth certificate, and I never planned on doing it. I’d cut him out of my daughter’s life, and I couldn’t fault Aaron for doing the same thing for me.
“I can’t keep that money, and you can’t keep secrets from me,” I argued while I had a platform.
“You are keeping the money, and I won’t,” he acquiesced. Then he gave me a guilty half grin. “Probably.”
“I don’t like being mad at you,” I confessed. “It sucks when you’re not around, and Delaney missed you.”
His hands made their way around me and he gathered me up in his arms. “I missed her too. So you’re not angry anymore?”
I linked my fingers behind his head and quickly pressed my lips to his. They were right there and it had been so long since they’d touched mine. “I’m still a little angry, but I love you. So I guess if you go get Smokie and come back, you can stay the night and make it up to me.”
He smiled, and inside his eyes I saw his reply. He loved me. He loved my daughter. And when he said, “I love you too, Faith,” I knew it was forever.
Epilogue
AARON
“So my name is Delaney Goodman now?” she asked from the back seat of my new extended cab truck. I didn’t get rid of my old pickup, but it was time for an upgrade. And since everything else over the past year had upgraded, it just felt like the right time.
“Yup,” Faith answered from the passenger seat and squeezed my hand over the huge console. That was something I didn’t like about the new vehicle—she was too damn far away.
“Your name is Faith Goodman,” Delaney confirmed. It was all a bit new for her. Well, all of us.
“That’s me,” my wife sang.
Although we’d gotten engaged over Christmas, I wanted the three of us to become a family on the same day. So we’d waited until the adoption stuff went through. That morning, Faith and I were married by the Justice of the Peace, and that afternoon, we had a hearing to finalize my adoption of Delaney. The contracts and paperwork didn’t matter to us; what counted was that we were finally the family we’d always wanted to be.
As we pulled up to our house that Friday afternoon, many of our guests were out front waiting on us. We may have skipped on the big ceremony but couldn’t pass up the chance to celebrate our big day. We climbed out to cheers and a huge sign that read, “Welcome home, Goodmans.”
We let our mothers sort out most of the party details, but I had one surprise for my bride. Even as we walked up the sidewalk, she still hadn’t noticed that her three best friends were standing there on the porch. Emma, Noel, and Abbey were there to celebrate with her—in person.
It wasn’t until we got to the top of the steps, after she’d hugged and kissed our family and most of our friends on the way up, that she finally saw them.
“Oh my God, you’re here. You’re really here.” Carrying our girl, I watched pure joy beam from Faith’s sea green eyes when she spun around pointing at me. “You did this?”
I loved seeing her that happy. “I did.”
“I thought I told you no more secrets,” she contended. However, her argument quickly dissolved when she jumped up and down, hugging each one.
“I told you probably.” Delaney and I made our way up to where they were. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Aaron.”
“And Delaney Goodman,” my daughter declared.
It was a lot to take in for one day. Not only had I given my last name to the woman I loved, but I also shared it with her child. Del still called me Aaron, and I was comfortable with that for as long as she was. It didn’t matter what she called me, I was her dad now and I’d be there for every important moment of her life.
I’d never been that wealthy or that proud.
That evening, with everyone we loved, we drank and danced and ate. Faith didn’t feel like she had to bide her time with her girlfriends after I told her they were staying in Wynne for a few more days, and so I was gifted her attention nearly the whole night.
By the last song of the night, Faith was a little tipsy, but no worse for the wear. She’d worn a beautiful white dress and had pulled her hair up, but over time a handful of stubborn curls had broken free. As we swayed, she looked up at me, all smiles.
“Thank you,” she said. “For everything.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Goodman,” I replied. Calling her that wasn’t going to get old anytime soon.
Our path to that moment hadn’t been easy. Or common. Or even fun at times. But it led me to that moment, and for that, I was thankful. I had it all and I’d never let it go.
Other Books by M. Mabie
Fade In
The Wake Series
Bait
Sail
Anchor
The Wake Family
Knot
The City Limits Series
Roots and Wings
Sunshine and Rain
All the Way
Acknowledgements
I ALWAYS FIND THESE hard to write. I’m thankful to every reader who has ever picked up or one-clicked my work. I’ll never adequately give you the thanks you deserve, but thank you.
It is with the support from my husband, friends, family, and community that I’m able to live this dream. Danny sees the work and struggle and frustration, and lovingly cheers me on. My sister pushes me and keeps me motivated and (mostly) sane. There are countless people in my life that I couldn’t do this without, and I’ll never take that for granted.
My romance community, bloggers, avid readers, fellow writers, and everyone else who lives in our bubble, make every day an adventure. It’s so fun to share my days with you.
To my FTN women, you rock and inspire me.
To Take the Bait, I can’t name you, but please know how much each of you are worth to me, my books, and the quality of my life. You’re my safe place and my home.
To Aly, Meghan, and Erin, I hope I made you feel as loved and supported as you three do for me. It’s such a comfort knowing you’re always there and that it’ll never change.
To Megan, Talon, and Rachel, thank you for helping shape this book. And thank you, Lori for making it shine.
Basically, it takes a village and I’m so grateful for everyone in it. Thank you all.
About the Author
M. Mabie is writer who made thousands of readers hate to love (and love to hate) the angst-filled contemporary romance, Bait.
She lives in Illinois with her husband. She writes unconventional love stories and tries to embody "real-life romance." She cares about politics, but will not discuss them in public. She uses the same fork at every meal, watches Wayne's World while cleaning, and lets her dog sleep on her head.
She has always been a writer. In fact, she was born with a pen in her hand, which almost never happens. Almost. M. Mabie usually doesn't speak in third-person. She promises.
www.MMabie.com
The M. Mabie Newsletter
BookBub's M. Mabie Page for Sales
M. Mabie on Facebook
Take the Bait Reader's Group
Instagram @m_mabie
Twitter @AuthorMMabie
Amazon's M. Mabie Page