by Jaclyn Hardy
A red BMW caught his attention as he walked toward the steps. That one was definitely from out of town. No one drove something that nice around here. He knocked twice, and the door opened to a beaming Laura.
“Hey, you made it. Food is in the kitchen and football game is on downstairs.”
“Thanks.” Thomas stared at the pink and blue balloons scattered across the house. Strange. He continued down the hall that opened up into the living room where several women sat laughing and handing gift bags with pink tissue in them toward the front of the room.
Apparently the baby shower was happening after all. Thomas wished he would have known so he could bring something. Even though he would have felt rather out of place among all the women in the room.
There was one person he didn’t see that made the room seem empty. After all this time, he’d hoped that at least he could see Mandy for a moment. He trudged to the kitchen, the thought of the party weighing him down. He’d have to find a good reason to leave as soon as possible. Staying here just hurt.
The kitchen counter was covered with crockpots and trays of food that ranged from vegetables and dip to ribs and burgers. Okay, so maybe he could stay for a little longer. He packed his plate full of food and turned to grab a drink from the fridge only to run into someone. His food miraculously stayed on his plate, but the other person wasn’t so lucky.
Thomas set his food down and dropped to the floor to help clean up the chips and dip that had scattered all over. He scooped up chips and dropped them on the tray, his hand colliding with another one. Thomas froze. He knew that hand. His heart pounded as he lifted his gaze to meet Mandy’s eyes.
She was absolutely breathtaking. The fancy New York outfits had been replaced by a simple flannel shirt and jean skirt. Her hair was pinned back into a knot, and her makeup was complete with her red lipstick.
Thomas had to remind himself to swallow. And breathe. “You’re here.”
“I am.” She blushed as they stared into each other’s eyes.
It wasn’t until someone came into the kitchen and gasped that their gaze broke and they went back to cleaning up the mess. Thomas jumped up and grabbed a washcloth for the dip and Mandy threw away the ruined chips. When they were finally done, and the chips had been replaced, Thomas allowed himself to focus on her again.
“When did you get here?” Thomas wanted to ask so much more, but he couldn’t. He still had to keep his distance, or she’d take off again.
“Um, last week sometime.” Mandy wouldn’t meet his eyes.
Those four words were like a slap in the face. She’d been here that long and hadn’t even stopped to say hi. “Oh. And you’re leaving tomorrow? After the baby’s born?”
Mandy finally met his eyes. “I’m not.”
“You’re . . . not.” He forced his brain to comprehend what he’d just heard. “You’re not . . . what?”
“Leaving.” She went to the pantry and grabbed more plastic spoons and repositioned some of the trays.
Thomas realized he hadn’t spoken for a good minute. But what could he say? Nothing. Words weren’t needed.
He took the steps to close the distance between them and cupped her face in his hands, then brushed her lips with his. Sparks flew between them as he bent down to kiss her again. It didn’t matter that they were in the middle of someone else’s kitchen, or that cheers erupted around him. What did matter was that Mandy had just told him she was staying.
Thomas sat on the couch watching the football game with Mandy’s head on his chest. The baby shower had ended an hour ago and rather than clean up, Laura had shooed her downstairs. Thomas still couldn’t believe she was here.
Mandy suddenly sat up straight as the receiver caught the ball and took off down the field. Her fists stayed clenched until he crossed the goal line. “Oh yeah! I told you he’d get the next touchdown.”
Stuart, one of Thomas and Justin’s friends, muttered something under his breath and dropped a twenty on the table. “I don’t know how you do that.”
“She’s magic. I warned you not to bet against her.” Thomas took a drink and set his cup down on the coffee table next to him.
The time ran out on the clock and everyone stood to clean up and leave for home. Thomas picked up the extra cups and threw them in the garbage next to the stairs. When everything was cleaned up, he put his arm around Mandy and they went upstairs.
Laura leaned against a pillow on the couch, baby gifts surrounding her. Justin chuckled and turned to Thomas.
“I’ll get her in bed. Thanks for your help, Mandy. I’ll see you back here in the morning. You two don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Justin grinned and handed Mandy her jacket.
Thomas helped her put it on and then put his on. The air was brisk outside, promising more snow. “So where are you staying?”
“Here. But I need to get the last of my bags from the hotel. I was going to stay there tonight and then come back in the morning.”
“Do you need a ride?”
Mandy pointed to the red BMW. “That’s mine, but to be honest, I would feel better if I didn’t have to drive on the ice. I’m more of a fair-weather type of driver.”
“Surely you’ve had to drive in the storms in New York.” Thomas walked her out to his truck.
“Nope. I took the subway whenever it snowed.” Mandy climbed inside the truck and shivered. “It’s a little early for this weather, isn’t it?”
Thomas turned the ignition. “It depends on the year. We’ve had snow on Halloween a few times. Sometimes sooner.”
“Just my luck to have it show up early.”
Thomas chuckled. “So, you’re just staying with Justin and Laura until you have a place?”
“I actually have a place I’m going to rent, but it’s not ready yet.” Mandy pointed down the road. “It’s just up there if you want to see it.”
Thomas pulled out onto the road and followed Mandy’s directions. When they pulled up in front of Esther’s house, he looked at her in surprise. “You’re renting this?”
“I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. I’m helping Esther move to the local rest home so she can be with friends and she’s letting me rent instead of buy.” Mandy studied his face. “Do you know her?”
“Everyone knows everyone, remember?” Thomas glanced up at the house, remembering all the times he came to help in the yard with his friends. She served them lemonade and cookies when they finished. “Esther is a sweet lady. And you scored big time on this house. I didn’t think she’d ever sell.”
Mandy pulled out her phone and showed him the listing. “My agent had been keeping an eye out for houses and a building while I drove here and then for the first day or two after I got here. Most of them were ones I wouldn’t step foot in, but when I saw this one . . . I just knew I had to have it. She was willing to let me rent so that I could get my feet on the ground.”
“Can you tell me what made you decide to come here?” Thomas took her hand. “Last I saw you, I was told that you had to hurry back to New York to show off this new line of clothes you’d designed. Then nothing.”
Mandy grimaced. “Sorry about that. I didn’t know what to say and I didn’t want to drag things out when I was afraid I’d ruined everything with you.”
Thomas wanted to say that it was okay, but both of them knew that would have been a lie. “So, what changed?”
“Work. Missing you. Missing this valley. When I was sewing all of the clothes, instead of picturing Paris and New York runways, I started picturing Hailey and Hannah helping me. By the time I had to present the line to my boss, I almost wanted her to say no.” She let out an exasperated sigh. “But what happened was actually worse. They said they wanted my line, but then they changed everything about it. And not just tweaks like I would have expected. They pretty much took them apart and did whatever they wanted with it.”
“Wow. That really stinks. Does that happen often?”
Mandy shrugged. “Probably. I mean, smaller tweaks do,
but by the time they were done messing with it, they weren’t even my designs anymore. So, I resigned on the spot, shredded their work, and had my friend go into my boss’s computer and destroy the other copies. And then I left. My stuff from my apartment has been packed up and it’s on its way here. It should arrive around the time Esther is fully moved out.”
Thomas blinked. “Remind me not to tick you off, okay?”
Mandy laughed. “It wasn’t anger so much as an answer for me. I’d already been tempted to come anyway and that was just what I needed to actually do it.”
“Well, I’m pretty thrilled that you did what you did. And that you were able to get this house. Lots of memories in there.”
“You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that. I almost turned around so many times for fear that you wouldn’t be happy I just gave up everything to come.”
Thomas leaned forward and kissed her again. “Don’t ever, ever think I’m not glad to see you.”
“And here I was mad at myself for my spontaneity all over again.” She lit up. “Want to see the location of my soon-to-be clothing shop?”
Thomas glanced out at the dark sky. It had started snowing again while they sat there in the truck. “Can it wait till morning? We should get back before the roads get bad. That way we can have lunch together and I can bring you back to your awesome BMW. I was drooling over that earlier today, by the way.”
Mandy grinned. “Well, maybe if you ask nicely, I’ll let you drive it.”
“Deal.” Thomas laughed and pulled out onto the road. “So, what did your parents say when they found out you were here?”
She shrugged. “They’re pretty concerned about my health and want me to see a therapist. Well, Mom does. Once Dan—our real estate agent—told him what was going and what my plans are, Dad calmed down. He’s even going to help with a down payment on the building.”
“So basically, they feel the same way my parents do.” Thomas chuckled.
“Pretty much.” Mandy stared out at the sky. “How are there so many stars even with the clouds?”
Thomas shook his head. “I’ve lived here for almost eight years and I wonder the same thing every day.”
Mandy’s phone buzzed. “Hello?” There was a pause. “Wait, what? We just left there.” She hit Thomas on the shoulder. “Turn around. We need to get to the hospital. Laura’s on her way.”
Thomas raised an eyebrow. “Turn around? The hospital isn’t in town.”
“It’s not?” Mandy went back to her call. “How far do you have to drive? What kind of place is this?”
Thomas laughed and turned the corner to head to Burley. It was something he’d had to get used to as well. Going into town was great for some things, but for most, they had to head for Burley or Twin Falls.
“Do they need us to grab them?” Thomas asked.
Mandy repeated the question, then shook her head. “They’re already halfway there. And you just thought to call me?”
Thomas stepped on the gas as he hit the highway. Thankfully the road was still clear of snow, but there were a few wet spots he had to be careful on. Mandy hung up and leaned forward, her jaw tight.
“Hey, it’s going to be okay. Plenty of people have had to drive the twenty miles to the hospital. Besides, it’ll take less time for us to get there than it would from your apartment to the hospital in Manhattan.”
Mandy shot a glare at him. “I know that. It’s just . . . I’ve never done this before. None of my friends had kids, half my nieces and nephews are my age, and the others I only ever saw when they were tiny, and my parents dragged me over to help out.”
Thomas took her hand and pulled her over to him. It was a little awkward driving and having his other arm around her, but she relaxed as they drove. If anyone had told him a few hours ago that he would be driving to the hospital with Mandy by his side, he would have thought they were crazy.
“Know what’s weird?” Mandy sat up straighter, but stayed close to him.
“What?” Thomas stopped at the first stoplight as they reached Burley.
Mandy looked up at him. “We both grew up in New York, and it took coming to Idaho to actually meet.”
Thomas laughed. “Well, there are a few less people here than in New York. That makes it a little easier.”
“True, but even then. What is it about this place?”
“I think it’s the potatoes. They’re magical and they mesmerize you until you no longer want to leave.”
Mandy elbowed him. “Sure. That’s got to be it. Where are we anyway?”
“Burley. I forget you wouldn’t have come this way if you flew into Twin Falls. This is where we go shopping if it’s something we can’t find in town. And if this place doesn’t have it, we go to Twin.”
“It’s so cool.”
They pulled into the hospital and Thomas had to search for the right place to park for the maternity ward.
“Are you sure we should be here?” Thomas asked as they climbed out. “Shouldn’t we wait for her to actually have the baby?”
“You can sit out in the lobby if you want. Or you can head home if you need to work. I’ve missed a lot of this, and I want to be here for her.” Mandy stepped onto the sidewalk. “Uh, where do we go?”
Thomas gestured toward the main entrance. “I guess when all else fails, you ask the nice people at the front desk.”
“See? This is why you’re here with me.”
Mandy took his hand as they walked, and Thomas loved the way her hand felt in his. It was just so . . . right. While she asked where Laura and Justin were, Thomas looked around. The lobby was pretty much empty with it being so late.
“Do they know you’re coming?” The nurse’s question broke through Thomas’s thoughts.
Mandy was almost in tears as she tried to get them to let her back there. Thomas leaned forward against the counter.
“Hey, Cindy. This is Laura’s sister. She hasn’t seen her for months. Could you just let her in, please? It’s going to be one of those sweet reunions and all that.”
The receptionist melted. “Of course. Just make sure you get it on camera. You don’t want to miss things like that.”
Thomas held up his phone. “Got it covered.”
They were around the corner and through the maternity ward doors before Mandy turned to him. “How’d you know that would work?”
“I know her from the ranch. She buys jams and pies from Rachel’s mom and brings her kids out to ride horses all the time. I just happen to know she’s a sucker for those videos.” Thomas found the right room number and knocked.
Laura was in bed hooked up to all kinds of monitors, and Justin stood in the corner talking to someone on the phone. From what Thomas could tell, the call wasn’t going well.
“Yes, I know you wanted her near you for the birth . . . yes, I know it’s too late for you to get here now. But maybe you should—Yes, I know.”
Mandy took the phone from him. “Hey, Mrs. Owens, it’s Mandy. Yes, I’m still alive. I’m here with Laura. Everything is fine. Yes, my parents know where I am. Why don’t you just hop on the plane like you’d planned, and you’ll see that everything is fine for yourself? Then you can tell my parents I’m not insane. Okay, see ya. Love ya.” She handed the phone back to Justin and went to sit next to Laura’s bed. “You just have to know how to talk to her.”
“It helps that she adores you.” Laura held her stomach. “She’s on her way?”
“Yep.” Mandy pulled off her coat, then looked up at Justin. “I guess you’re probably going to want to sit here, huh?”
Justin laughed. “Yes, that would be good. I’m going to go flag down a nurse to get Laura some ice chips, though so you could stay there until I get back.”
Thomas followed Justin out of the room and stopped abruptly when Justin turned to face him. “Yeah?”
“I’m thrilled to death for the two of you. It’s about time that it happened. But I have to warn you that Mandy’s parents and Laura’s pare
nts are planning all kinds of ways to get her back there. Something about a crazy cult and she doesn’t know what she’s doing.” Justin ran his fingers through his hair. “We’d finally gotten past all this with Laura and her parents and now it’s starting up again.”
“I’m sorry, man. I didn’t realize it’s been so rough.”
Justin sighed. “For the most part, it’s been fine. But I tend to avoid phone calls with her parents for a reason. I would have tonight except that Laura was in the middle of a contraction when her mom answered the phone.”
“Dude, that’s rough.” Thomas waited for Justin to talk to the nurse about the ice and then they turned back toward the room. “Would they really come and grab Mandy?”
Justin shot him a frustrated look. “If they’re anything like Laura’s parents, I wouldn’t be too surprised.”
That sounded . . . ominous. “Thanks for the heads up. I’ll warn Mandy as well.”
“I wouldn’t. Not yet at least. Let things play out, but make sure she’s really willing to give up everything before she makes her home here.”
“She already has a house and there’s a building being built for her shop.”
Justin raised his eyebrows. “Seriously? How is that even possible?”
“She’s Mandy.” Thomas laughed as they walked back into Laura’s room.
Mandy looked up at Thomas. “What’s Mandy?”
He leaned down and kissed. “You are. I think Justin wants his seat back.”
Laura squeezed Mandy’s hand. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course. Do you want me in here, or out in the hall? Because I think I’m going to be a better help out in the hall.”
Laura laughed and then grimaced in pain. “Out in the hall is fine. I’ll send Justin to get you if that changes.”
Mandy had her hand on the door before Laura finished her sentence. “Sounds good. I’m going to go grab something from the cafeteria. Want anything, Justin?”