“About your feelings? They’re normal feelings, Bishop.”
“No. The women.”
“Whom you’ve slept with?”
I nodded.
“You were divorced and not with Abby at the time, so why do you feel guilty?”
I sank down onto the sofa and buried my face in my hands. “Fuck! Because I still loved her, but I slept with them anyway—that’s fucking why!”
“Talk to me about why that angers you, Bishop. Sleeping with the other women?”
“They didn’t mean anything. None of them. She told me she hasn’t been with anyone.” I looked over at Callie. “How do I tell her about them?”
Her brows rose. “Why would you tell her? If Abby doesn’t ask, I wouldn’t offer up the information. She probably already knows anyway, or at least suspects.”
I rubbed at the ache in the back of my neck and shoulder. “Probably.”
“What you need to focus on now is talking with her on Thursday. Listen, be patient, and take it all in.”
“I will.”
Callie set her notepad and pen down and leaned forward. “Bishop, I’m taking off my therapist hat and putting on my friend hat to give you a bit of advice.”
“Okay.”
She took in a breath and said, “No matter how things go on Thursday, do not sleep with Abby.”
I jerked my head back and let out a confused laugh. “Sleep with her? What makes you think I’d sleep with her?”
With a soft smile, Callie answered me. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see you’re still madly in love with her. And, from what you’ve told me, Abby is still in love with you. Your emotions will be high. Take things slow, Bishop. If you truly can forgive her, and you decide to move forward with Abby…go slow.”
I clenched my jaw as I tried to desperately push away thoughts of being with Abby. I finally spoke. “Thank you for your advice, Callie, but I highly doubt we’re going to end up in bed together.”
She flashed me a smirk. “If I thought it was ethical, I’d bet you on that.”
I laughed.
“I’m here if you need to talk,” she said.
We both stood. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
As we headed to the door, she smiled up at me. “Good luck on opening day. I’ll be by with Manny and Lynn to pick out our tree.”
“See you then, Callie.”
“Bye, Bishop.”
Callie’s office was on the corner of Poplar Street and Main in a small office building that housed mostly medical doctors and such. After walking out of her office, I came to an abrupt halt when I saw Abby walking up the sidewalk to the front entrance. I turned down another hallway before she saw me, and silently prayed she wasn’t coming this way.
She walked by, and I peeked around the corner to see her walk past Callie’s office, down to the end of the hall. She reached for a door, then pulled back for a second before she finally entered the last door on the left.
After waiting a few moments, I made my way down the hall and stopped, staring at the name on the door.
Christina Nash
LPC-S, LMFT-A
Grief Counselor
“What in the fuck?” I whispered as I took a step back, then made a beeline back to Callie’s office. I knew she wasn’t scheduled with another patient today because she’d mentioned going to Lynn’s Thanksgiving Day party at school. Opening the door, I walked in.
Callie looked up and grinned. “You know I’m going to charge you double if you make me late for my kid’s party.”
“Christina Nash.”
“What about her?”
“Who is she, what does she do? I mean, I know she’s a grief counselor.”
Callie drew her brows in some. “She’s a licensed therapist like me, except her specialty is in grief. She moved to Boggy Creek from Boston about six months ago. Why do you ask?”
I ran my hand through my hair. “I saw Abby walk into her office a few moments ago. Do you think she’s a patient there or something?”
Callie put her laptop into a bag and swung it over her shoulder. “Let’s walk and talk.”
After stepping out into the hall, she locked her office and we headed for the exit. I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder.
“So?” I finally asked when we got outside. The snow had stopped falling and with the sun shining down, the ground looked as if someone has tossed tiny crystals all over it.
“I’m not sure what you want me to say, Bishop. Do I think she might be seeing Christina? Possibly. Some women struggle for months, sometimes years, after a miscarriage.”
I stopped walking. “You think it’s about the baby?”
Callie turned and looked at me. “Unless she’s suffered another loss, I would assume so. Again, I’m only guessing. If you really want to know, ask her.” We got to her Toyota 4Runner and she unlocked it, tossed her bag and purse in, and then turned to face me. “It’s not uncommon for some women to have certain…fears. After a miscarriage, you go through a gamut of emotions. I would know. I’ve had two.”
My eyes widened. “I’m so sorry, Callie. I didn’t…I didn’t know.”
She placed her hand on my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay. I’m just saying, I wouldn’t be surprised if Abby has been seeing a therapist this entire time.”
“Right. Of course, it makes sense.”
“I’ve got to run. Talk to you next week.”
“Enjoy the party with Lynn,” I said, holding her door while she got in.
“I will!”
I shut the door, lifted my hand, and waved. Then I glanced around the parking lot and saw Abby’s car. I guess she hadn’t seen mine, since I’d parked around the side of the building. I wasn’t sure why, but the first time I’d gone to see Callie, a part of me hadn’t wanted people to drive by and see my truck out front. It had become a habit to park on the side now.
Small-town gossip. Not that I was embarrassed about my sessions with Callie—it was just that I had kept that part of my life to myself, outside of a couple friends. My folks didn’t even know I was seeing anyone.
I made my way through the parking lot and to the side of the building where I got into my truck. I drove across Main and pulled into O’Hara Construction. Putting my truck in park, I sat there and waited to see how long it would be before Abby walked out.
After twenty minutes of watching the building across the street like a stalker, my passenger door opened and Aiden got in.
He laughed. “I was starting to wonder if you were trying to decide to come in or not, until I noticed you staring at the medical building across the street. Who in the hell are you stalking?”
“Abby.”
He turned and looked at the building. “Who’s she seeing?”
“Someone by the name of Christina Nash.”
“Oh, Christina is amazing. She works part time at the clinic.”
I turned and looked him. “She does?”
He nodded. “Great therapist. She’s actually one of the state’s best PTSD and grief therapists. It took a lot of convincing on my part to get her to come to Boggy Creek. In the end, she really liked what we were about at the clinic, and she decided she needed a change from Boston. She moved here about six months ago.”
Right then, Abby walked out and headed to her car.
“They’re having a girls’ sleepover at Greer’s tonight,” Aiden said. “I think we need a guys’ night out too. How about poker night at my place? I’m sure Greer will kick Hudson out of the house, and he’ll need a place to crash.”
Abby pulled out and headed down Main Street. My chest ached as I watched her drive by. Looking over at Aiden, I replied, “Poker night sounds like a good plan.”
Abby
I pulled up to Greer and Hudson’s house twenty minutes early. I’d always loved the Steck residence. It was a Victorian-style historical home, and I knew Greer had also always loved it as well. It had been built by one of the first doctors to settle in Bo
ggy Creek Valley, and it looked like it had been recently painted white. I hadn’t been in the house in years and was curious to see all the changes that had been made.
Greer’s boyfriend, Hudson Higgins, was a bestselling author who had fallen in love with Boggy Creek and Greer. He’d bought the house outside of town after deciding to stay in Boggy Creek, and he had asked Greer to move in with him. I was so happy for my friend. She truly deserved the happiness she’d found with Hudson.
I parked and grabbed my overnight bag and made my way up the steps to the large front porch. Rocking chairs sat on both sides of the front door, and, on the left, a porch swing swayed softly in the wind. It was so charming, and I couldn’t wait to see what flowers Greer put on this porch next spring. My head was already swimming with ideas for her.
The front door of the house opened and Greer came rushing out onto the front porch. “Eeeepp! I’m so excited!”
I barely made it up the steps before she wrapped me in her arms and hugged me tightly. When she finally let me take a step back, she gave me a once-over.
“How are you doing? I heard you and Bishop had breakfast together this morning.”
My mouth fell open. “Who told you that?”
“Tess told Maggie, who then told Renee, Willa’s mom, who told Maddie Brooks, who announced it to everyone when she was in Annie James buying a new dress for her anniversary.”
I blinked a few times. Before I could say anything, Greer went on.
“Arabella happened to be in Annie James looking for PJs, because she said the only ones she owns are from high school.” Greer laughed. “By the way, she knows Brighton will be here.” My head swam as Greer hooked her arm with mine and led me to the door. “Of course, Arabella called me as soon as she left the boutique. So?”
I stopped and looked at her. “Soooo…what?”
“Breakfast! You and Bishop—how did that happen?”
“Oh, right. Um, I went in, and he showed up. He sat down and ordered breakfast and…yeah…” My voice trailed off.
Her eyes narrowed as she tilted her head and repeated my words. “Yeah? Yeah, what, Abby? Did you guys talk?”
“Not really. I mean, we talked about talking, and I told him I would meet him Thursday.” I wasn’t about to tell her that I’d chased after him when he left and had made an absolute fool of myself.
Greer scrunched up her nose. “Thanksgiving? Like, when we’re all cutting down trees? Doesn’t he want it to be a bit more private?”
I looked down and forced a smile before I spoke. “Not then. I don’t think I’m invited to that. He was talking about that afternoon, after I eat with my folks.”
“Not invited? Did that jackass say that? If he said you’re not invited, I’m going to kick his ass and take down some of his precious trees in the process!”
A male throat cleared, and we both turned to see whom I was guessing was Hudson, standing in the open doorframe.
“Crap, we’ll talk about that jackass Bishop later. I want to introduce you to Hudson, and it’s freezing out here.”
We stepped into the large foyer, where I took off my jacket and hung it up on one of the coat hooks on the wall.
Greer turned and beamed as she said, “Abby, I’d like you to meet Hudson Higgins.”
I reached for his outstretched hand. Hudson was a very handsome man. He had short brown hair and eyes so dark, they almost looked black. He wasn’t as tall as Bishop, but he wasn’t that much shorter. He had a similar build, and I could tell he was a fitness buff simply from the outline of his muscles. It was hard not to gawk at the man. He and Greer made an adorable couple.
“Hudson, this is one of my dearest friends, Abby Harris— Er…Boyer. Abby Boyer.”
Hudson squeezed my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Abby. Greer has told me a lot about you.”
Smiling, I replied, “It’s a pleasure meeting you, Hudson. Any man who makes this girl glow like that is a friend of mine.”
With a grin, he glanced at Greer, and a heaviness built in my chest and limbs. What I wouldn’t give to have Bishop look at me with such love.
“Abby? Are you okay?” Greer asked.
I worked to swallow away the soreness in my throat and lungs as I forced a smile. “Of course. I’m fine.”
She gave me a look that said she didn’t believe a single word that came out of my mouth, but she let it go.
Greer walked through a set of open French doors that led into a long hallway. Through the doors, to my immediate left, was a large library. I gasped when I saw it. “Greer! Oh. My. Goodness. This library!”
A big, goofy smile appeared on her face. “Isn’t it amazing? Come look.”
We walked into the huge space, and all I saw were bookcases from floor to ceiling on every wall, including flanking all the windows.
“I’m speechless.”
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? We just finished it a few days ago. It was the first project Hudson and I started when we moved in. This whole area used to be the family room. We didn’t need one this big, so we converted it into the library, and that side is also Hudson’s office. He loves having his desk by the fireplace.”
On the library side, there was a settee in the middle of the space with an antique coffee table in front of it. Two large chairs sat across from the settee. The window at the front of the house had a built-in seat. I could already see Greer bundled up there reading a book as the snow fell outside.
Over on the opposite side of the room was the fireplace. A large wooden desk filled the space, along with another chair and another window with a matching seat.
We walked farther into the house, and I was stunned by the amount of beautiful woodwork, as well as the wood floors that I could tell were original.
“My goodness. Look at all the stained glass in this house! I don’t remember that.”
Greer smiled. “I know. It’s always been here, though—it’s original to the house. There’s really more room than we both know what to do with. Three floors, eight bedrooms, three full baths, three quarter baths and three half baths.”
“Better to have more room than not enough,” I said as Hudson walked up to us.
“I’d better get going,” Hudson said. “Aiden is having poker night at his house.” He picked up a bag and slung it over his shoulder. “I just got off the phone with Bishop. I’m staying at his house tonight, so I can pick his brain about Christmas trees.”
As soon as Hudson mentioned Bishop, he had my attention.
“Hudson’s writing a new book, and the protagonist owns a Christmas tree farm,” Greer explained.
“Oh,” I said with a lighthearted laugh. “You’re going to the right guy for that information.”
Hudson nodded. “You ladies enjoy your evening. Don’t have too much fun.” He kissed Greer on the lips, told her he loved her, and then headed out.
“Come on, let me show you to your room,” Greer said.
“I have my own room?” I asked with a chuckle.
“The party is for you! The guest of honor should have her own room. Plus, we have so many damn bedrooms!” We headed toward the steps. “There are two sets of stairs. The other is off the kitchen.”
“I love old houses,” I mused as we made our way up the solid wood staircase.
“The second floor has five rooms. Two of the bedrooms have a connecting bath. Then there’s one with a half and another with a full. I thought I’d put you in the full, so you can have your own bathroom. I’ll put Candace in the room with the attached half bath, then Willa and Brighton can have the two that are connected. That leaves the last room for Arabella.”
“Goodness, you could really fill up this house with kids if you wanted to!”
A sweet blush moved over Greer’s cheeks. “I do want to have kids, but not enough to fill this whole house. Two, maybe three.”
We both laughed as she opened the door to the bedroom I’d be using.
I glanced around. “Greer, this is beautiful.” A large, king-si
ze bed sat before me with a beautiful cream and light blue comforter on it. Plush pillows adorned the top of the bed and sat against a large, dark wood headboard, most likely walnut. Cream-colored wallpaper were on the upper portion of the walls, while a white board and batten covered the lower. A round rug sat in the middle of the room and held the same white, cream, and blue colors that Greer had decorated the room with. Soft white linen drapes hung down from the large windows, adding the airy feel of the room. A large fireplace sat opposite the bed, and I couldn’t help but dream of sitting next to it, snuggled up with a book.
“It needs updating. I hate the wallpaper in all the bedrooms, but we’ll get to it. The bed is very comfortable and brand new, and if you want a fire in here, you know how to build one. Hudson made sure to bring up enough firewood just in case.”
“I doubt I’ll want to build one, but thank you.”
A car horn sounded outside, and we both walked over to the window. “Looks like Brighton and Willa are here,” Greer said.
I glanced at her. “Did you talk to Willa?”
Facing me, she said, “I went a step further and called Arabella first, to see how she felt about Brighton being here. She was fine with it, like I said. Then I called Brighton and told her Arabella would be here. I got the feeling Brighton might want to talk to her.”
“They probably should,” I said, watching both women get out of Brighton’s BMW. Brighton had to pull Willa’s arms to help her out of the car. Then she motioned for Willa to go up the steps, while she went to the trunk and took out two bags, then two smaller bags, and, finally, something I couldn’t see.
“Jesus tap dancing Christ. What in the hell did Brighton bring? Is that…a giant speaker?” Greer asked.
I laughed and leaned toward the window to see if I could get a better look. “I think we need to go help her.”
Greer sighed and started to make her way back down the steps. By the time we got to the front door, Willa had made her way to the porch. Greer opened the door and hugged her, then leaned down and kissed her very pregnant belly.
She's the One (Boggy Creek Valley Book 3) Page 13