Darek watched the boys set up cones on the ice for a drill. “How’s the Crawford wedding coming along?”
Cole laughed. “You know, I’ll be honest. I volunteered because I’m a big fan and I knew Megan needed it, but—man, the things we’re having to do to pull it together. Unreal.”
“Because of the short turnaround?”
“Because of the crazy ideas they—actually, I think mostly the bride—have about what their wedding must entail.” He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Nice shot, Josh!” He turned back to Darek. “So, they apparently met at a summer street fair. They have a whole carnival theme going for their reception, which isn’t easy with several feet of snow on the ground.”
Darek laughed. “Why didn’t they plan for a summer wedding?”
Cole shrugged. “That’s a question beyond my pay grade.”
“It sounds like Megan will be the big winner when it’s all said and done.”
“And that’s exactly the reason we’re jumping through ridiculous hoops to get everything they want. Except the dunk tank. We told them no one was going to take a polar plunge at their reception. And the ice cream truck has proven to be a tough find.”
“Casper said your repairs are looking good.”
“Yeah, I think so. It’s a good thing my buddy roped me into helping him remodel his parents’ house every time we were stateside, though, or I’d be in real trouble. Your brother’s handy with drywall. He jumped in to help me last night when he stopped by.”
“He’s full of surprises.” Darek let out a good-natured laugh. “I’ll have to put him to work more at Evergreen.”
“Don’t tell him you heard it from me.”
“Never. That reminds me—my mom wanted me to let Megan know she can use the Evergreen truck to move out if she needs it.”
“Move out?” Cole shook his head, frowning. “She’s not moving out.”
Darek’s brow furrowed and he looked away.
Cole swallowed. Took a slow breath in an attempt to unfurl the knot in his gut.
“I’m sorry, man. I assumed you knew.” Darek shoved his hands into his pockets. “She’s moving into the Huestons’ so you can sell the house.”
The twist in Cole’s gut cinched down.
“That’s what you’ve wanted, right? Or were you putting in for the local position?”
“Yeah. Sure. No, that’s true. Need to sell.” But his voice emerged tight. “Don’t worry about it. See you later. Looks like Josh is heading this way.” He gave Darek a nod and walked away, his throat dry and his heart thundering in his chest.
Moving out? Cole had spent his morning making plans, actually considering staying in this town. Had started thinking of ways to share the possibility with Megan, only held himself back because he hadn’t known what to do about his commitment to David.
Why would Megan be moving out now? Why hadn’t she said anything?
People change. Watch your six.
He wanted to confront her, but maybe it would be better to wait. Give her a chance to explain herself. And if she didn’t…then he’d know exactly where he stood.
“I’m ready.” Josh came around the rink carrying his gear bag.
They climbed into Cole’s Jeep, and Darek’s words continued to churn in Cole’s mind. He resisted the urge to ask Josh if he knew what was going on. He didn’t need to drag Josh into the middle of a conversation that was probably about bigger issues. Like his future.
Maybe he’d gotten the wrong read on the relationship. Wouldn’t be the first time.
His phone began ringing and he pressed the speakerphone.
“Hello?”
“Is this Cole Barrett?”
“It is.”
“I’m Jennifer Smith with the Human Resources Department at the U.S. Marshals Service office in Washington, DC. I’m calling to set up your—”
He popped in his earpiece. The phone switched off speaker.
“—interview with Richard Watkins. Interviews for the region will be held in Minneapolis at the Federal Building on Third Avenue South this Saturday. Would a nine-o-clock appointment work for you?”
The same day as Josh’s tournament. Except, Megan hadn’t told him about moving out. Moving on. And he hadn’t a clue why. He glanced at Josh in the rearview mirror. An ache pressed in on his heart. Time for a contingency plan.
“Sure. That would be perfect.”
Megan had almost finished packing a box of her old clothes—no she probably didn’t need that U of MN sweatshirt anymore—when her cell phone buzzed. She pulled it out and groaned. Trevor again. But maybe she should find out what he wanted, just so he’d leave them alone.
“What do you want, Trevor?” She slid down onto the couch.
“Hello to you too, Megan.”
Her skin prickled at the sound of his voice, her pulse pounding in her ears. “Sorry. Hello. Now, what do you want?”
“I’ve been trying to reach you for a while. If you’re going to keep dodging me, maybe it’s time I get a judge involved—”
“Don’t go there.” Please. Let it be a bluff. She dropped the sweatshirt into the box. The last thing she needed was a custody battle with Trevor. Not when her housing future was in limbo. From what she’d heard, the man was lethal in the courtroom.
“They did a write up about the teams going to play in the Peewee Meltdown in Minneapolis. I saw Josh’s name.”
Megan gripped the armrest with her free hand, her throat tight. “And?”
“I want to go. I want to be there for him.”
“He doesn’t need you there.” She didn’t need him there. Didn’t want him there. Not after the years it took to stop pretending he’d ever come back. Ever want her.
“He’s my son.”
“No, he’s not—you made that clear when you left. You wanted no part of our lives.”
“But he is. I was wrong.” He paused, continued with a softer voice. “Please?”
“Why, after all these years, do you decide this?” The shake in her voice betrayed her.
“Some things happened in my life this past year. I was…” He took a long pause. She could imagine him, his blue eyes looking at her. The way he rubbed his temple when he was thinking. He blew out a breath. “I was diagnosed with cancer a year ago.”
The news had the unfortunate effect of gripping her heart. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I’ve been through treatment and I’m cancer free now.”
“That’s good.” Because she cared. As much as she didn’t want to, she still cared. Because this was the man she’d once planned to spend the rest of her life with.
“But those days battling it made me reflect on everything. On the choices I made. Our relationship. On Josh. It made me want to be a better man.”
The better man she’d always wanted him to be? The man she thought he was when she fell in love with him?
She closed her eyes. Thought of all the times Josh had waited for Trevor to show up. The few times he actually had.
“I don’t know. I don’t want him to have expectations. The last time—”
“I know. I blew it. That was before—” He paused. “Let me be there for him.”
She swallowed, stayed silent. Because while her heart was screaming all the reasons to tell him no, her mind was telling her all the reasons she had to say yes. Because, legally, he had a right to see his son, no matter how she felt about it.
“Facing death changed me. Please, Megan. No strings. I just want to be there. Watch him play. Show my support.”
“I only have two tickets for the family section and they’re spoken for.”
“By who? Is there someone in your life?”
“Yes.” At least, she hoped so.
“I think I should have a right to know who is taking my place.”
“Your place? You don’t have a place in Josh’s life. You’ve been a no-show for the better part of the last nine years.”
He drew in a breath. “I’d like one.”
The earnest tones of his voice raked the old wounds open. “Please let me be there for him. Let me have a ticket.”
Shoot.
“Fine. I can get a regular ticket for you, but, really—I don’t know about this.”
“Okay. Have them hold it for me at the gate.”
“Trevor?”
“Yeah?”
“Please don’t mess this up.”
“I won’t, Megan. This time, you can count on me.”
She hung up. The last person she wanted to count on was Trevor.
She carried another box to her stack by the doorway. Why did her life suddenly feel like it was spiraling toward disaster?
Josh blasted through the doorway. She held out a hand to steady the precarious box stack.
“Whoa there, look out for the boxes.”
“Sorry—I’m late to meet up with Ethan to do our history project.” He dumped his gear bag on the floor and grabbed his backpack. “I’ll be at his house.”
He clopped back down the stairs and she looked up to find Cole standing in the doorway.
“Hey, thanks for picking him up.”
He closed the door. Stood, trouble worrying his brow, which didn’t bode well for the conversation she needed to have.
“So, how are the plans for our eccentric celebrity couple going?” Megan hoped his dark mood didn’t have anything to do with the list of arrangements being made for Cameron and Mariah’s wedding. Most couples didn’t want a popcorn machine, carnival games, or an ice cream truck for their wedding reception, but who was she to judge?
“Fine.” He stood there in his boots and coat, unmoving.
He was stewing on something and it had successfully tied a large knot of worry in the pit of her stomach. “Do you…uh…want a cup of coffee?”
“No,” he answered.
“A Coke?”
“No.”
Awkward silence hung between them until she couldn’t take it anymore. “Is everything okay?”
“Where are you taking those?” He stared down at the boxes on the floor like target acquisition.
She slid in front of him, into his line of sight. “The boxes?”
“Yeah.” He paused, his face stern. “Are you moving out?”
Oh. “That’s—that’s actually a funny story.”
He wasn’t laughing. In fact, he looked…dismantled. Not his all together, charge-into-the-storm-Ranger self. No. Utterly dismantled.
As if she’d…hurt him? Her explanation rushed out of her, messy and muddled. “A few days ago, I thought you still needed to sell the house.” She nodded, trying to get him to acknowledge it. He stared down at her, his jaw tight. “So, after you left church on Sunday, I found out the Huestons needed a house sitter. I thought I’d be helping you out so I agreed to move into their house.”
“So, you are moving out?”
“Cole, I was trying to help. I wanted to fix it.”
“Then that’s a yes. That’s not how you fix something—not when we’ve—I’ve—”
“Hey—you’re the one who told me I needed to move out.” She held out a hand. “Let me finish.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” He shook his head. “It feels like you were hiding it from me.”
“I was going to tell you, and then—I didn’t because it meant you could leave, and I was trying to work up the courage. Honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to practically pushing you right out of Deep Haven with a golden path of opportunity. But then you told me you might find a way to stay—” She swallowed. “And I thought I shouldn’t move out, but I’d already committed. And you still haven’t solved how to pay for your grandpa’s care. They were going to pay me one thousand dollars to live there. You know that would really help.” She sighed. “It’s taken me two days of calling everyone I could think of, but I finally found someone else who can do it if I can’t. So, no, I’m not moving out. That is, if you’re still thinking of staying. If you want me—us—to stay. The boxes are donations.”
His face grew unreadable. “I had a call from the U.S. Marshals Service for an interview.”
Of course he did. The news shouldn’t rattle her, but now she sunk down on top of one of the boxes stacked by the door.
Leaving. She didn’t know why she’d thought differently. Worse, she’d given up the house to move into and the extra funds it would have come with.
He stared at her for a long time, as if running through his plan A, plan B kind of Ranger scenarios. Contingency plans for everyday life.
He reached out, wove his fingers into hers. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Stay.” He plucked a box from the stack, dropped it on the floor, and sat down facing her. He wore a strange look in his blue eyes. “I don’t think I’m going to take the job.” He paused. “If they offer it.”
“No?”
“No.” He smiled down at her.
“And you’re sure about that? Have you talked to David?”
“We’ve talked a bit.”
He leaned forward, let his forehead touch hers. And the simplicity of the movement, the stillness of him so close to her, as if suddenly they were of one mind…it wove a deep, unexpected hope through her.
He was staying.
“I kind of feel like I do need to show up for the interview, though. I owe David that much.” He leaned back, looked her in the eyes. “But maybe I can cancel it.”
Yeah. Her life suddenly felt very complicated. She nodded. “Okay, well…” She let go of his hand and wrung both of hers in her lap. “There’s something else you need to know too.”
“What?”
“Josh’s dad has called me a few times.”
Cole’s expression darkened. “What does that mean, exactly? Why didn’t you mention it before?”
“I haven’t answered his recent calls or texts until today.” She reached for his hand, curled her fingers into his. “Remember, I told you that he’s stayed in contact on and off over the years? But mostly off?” Despite her best attempts in the early years to find a path to reconciliation.
“Yeah, so, why did he call now?”
“He wants to come to Josh’s game. He says he’s had a change of heart.”
Cole’s jaw tightened. “A change of heart?” He pulled away from her.
“It’s not like that. He just wants to watch him play.” She reached out again, touched his hand. “Honestly, I’ll be really surprised if he shows up. We’ve heard it before. I’m not even going to tell Josh. It’s set him up for disappointment too many times.”
He nodded. “But I—I still get to sit with you?”
And, oh, the vulnerability in his blue eyes. The fearless Army Ranger. Courageously holding out his heart to her in his hands. She sucked in a breath. “Of course. I wouldn’t let him back into our lives. He’d never take your place.”
He stood, drew her up against himself. She let herself soak in the heat and comfort of his body.
Finally, he let her go. “I should get going. I need to run some errands.”
He gave her a kiss goodbye that was too quick and left her wishing for more.
She couldn’t stop thinking about Cole, however, and his words. I don’t think I’m going to take the job. It wasn’t exactly a marriage proposal, and he’d said he didn’t think…but there was something in his eyes. And the plea in his own voice. Stay.
Yes, the man was finally coming home.
Chapter 13
Cole glanced in the rearview mirror. He looked like a bona fide hockey dad when they pulled onto Highway 61 for Minneapolis in his Jeep. He’d donned team colors and had even gone so far as to order a jersey with Josh’s name and number on it—a surprise he’d unveil at tomorrow’s game. And no one, especially not Trevor McAllister, would stand in their way.
Excitement vibrated through the steering wheel. The blue in the sky held the promise of a memorable weekend. He’d even been able to drop off a payment he’d scraped together from his grandfather’s accounts. At least it would put things with the care faci
lity on hold. For now. Buy himself more time to figure out exactly what he was doing with his life. Maybe even time to get the position with the sheriff’s department. If he wanted it.
Who was he kidding? He wanted it.
He wanted all of it. The job, the home, the family.
Megan sat in the seat next to him, her jeans and pale blue cashmere sweater hugging her curves. Between her feet, she’d stuffed her enormous mystery mom tote. He’d learned such a bag was nearly as handy as his own rucksack. From the depths of the bright teal and yellow fabric, she held all kinds of survival gear.
Fruit snacks, apple slices, granola bars, water bottles. And at the first rest stop, he’d discovered tweezers, a pocket knife, notepad, and Chapstick.
Maybe she had a little Ranger in her blood. There was something appealing about a girl who knew how to be prepared.
And then she broke out into “Life Is a Highway” and Josh joined in.
Cole swallowed, his heart filled with the memory of his mother belting out songs on family trips, making up lyrics whenever she forgot them. He glanced over at Megan. She was using two Fruit Roll-Ups as drumsticks, jamming on the dashboard and door like she was a rock star.
He loved her. Amazing, wonderful, giving, Mae. He loved her.
And he wasn’t even jolted, rocked, or unraveled by that realization. Maybe because, deep inside, he’d always loved her. And now her son too.
Nope, he wasn’t going anywhere.
She started in on the second verse and he joined her. Let the words speak to his heart. Because he did love her now like he loved her then. And more.
By the time they took the exit off Highway 35 and pulled into the Bear Creek Resort, his cheeks hurt from smiling and his throat had gone dry from singing. Megan’s voice was a little raspy, but the joy hadn’t left her face.
“We’re going straight into the water park,” Josh announced.
“Whoa, Blades, slow down.” Cole held out a hand.
“Are you kidding? Do you know how much I’ve wanted to go to a water park?” Josh hefted his duffel from the Jeep. The kid was on a mission.
Cole could think of fifteen places he’d rather go than a water park and the list even included some foreign deserts he’d spent time in. His grimace must have shown.
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