Louise left, and they closed the door.
“How should I handle this?” Natalie asked. She was completely out of her element. She’d never been a parent and hadn’t had good role models.
“Are you talking about the potential theft or him coming home to us being half-dressed and together?”
“Oh, hell, I hadn’t even thought of that.” She rubbed her face and dropped her hands. “Let’s take the bull by the horns. No use dancing around both subjects.” She turned toward the hallway and called out, “Will, come here, please.”
“I’ll get the coffee,” Jake said.
Will dragged his feet toward the living room. When he was a few feet away, he lunged toward Natalie, and buried his head in her chest and cried.
She took him to the couch and sat, where he spent the next few minutes shedding tears.
Jake came in with one cup of coffee and two cups of cocoa. “Hey, let’s talk.”
Will sat back and swiped the tears with the back of his hand. It broke her heart because for Will to cry, it must have wounded him greatly.
“They accused me of stealing.”
Natalie looked at Jake, hoping he’d step in, but she knew he wouldn’t. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he respected her authority. That was one thing she loved about him. He could have run roughshod over her with his money and influence, and yet, he never did. He understood that she needed to be independent—until it came to mattresses. That was the only time he ignored her wishes, and deep inside, she was glad. It was the first new thing she’d had, and the memory of making love to him for the first time would always remain tucked in the fibers.
“Did you take it?” she asked.
“No,” he wailed. “I’m not a thief anymore.”
“Okay then. Did you help look for it?”
“No, why would I?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do. If you had helped look for it, then you’d appear less guilty. Instead, you grabbed your bag and came home.”
She could see the cogs of his brain turning. If Will was like her, he was emotionally stunted, which came from poor parenting. If no one explained right from wrong and good from bad, there wasn’t a gauge to use when faced with these types of situations. She’d learned from years of mistakes and lots of trials and errors.
“Aren’t you innocent until proven guilty?” he asked.
Jake sat back like a psychologist observing an intervention. He didn’t say a word.
“That’s what it’s supposed to be, but public opinion weighs heavily, and while the premise of innocence is a good one, it’s not accurate. Once accused, it falls on you to prove your innocence.”
“I offered to show them my backpack. Do you want to see it?”
“No.” She laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I believe you.”
His eyes opened wide. “You do?”
“I do.” She looked at Jake and said, “Do you have anything to add?”
He rubbed his scruffy chin, and she shivered at the memory of his facial hair tickling the inside of her thighs.
“Did you feel guilty when Brian blamed you?”
She cocked her head. “If he wasn’t guilty, why would he feel guilty?”
It didn’t take Will a second thought to answer. “I did. I even thought maybe I’d taken it in my sleep.”
Jake chuckled.
It didn’t seem like a laughing matter, but it intrigued her with where this was going. She tugged her robe tighter, grabbed her coffee, and sat back to watch the master at work.
“That’s your subconscious reminding you of the mistakes you got away with. You know that you’ve stolen things before, and the guilt is an automatic response because you’re a good person, Will. As time goes by, you’ll have more confidence, and your good behavior will outshine your bad behavior. When another situation like this comes up, your brain will say, ‘impossible because I’d never do that’ and that will be the truth.”
Will thought for a few seconds. “Is my brain broken?”
“Not at all. It’s working perfectly. Your internal compass is guiding you on a good path.”
“What if they never find it? I liked playing with Brian. He’s the only kid close to my age in town.”
“I’m sure it will be all right.”
Will looked at Jake. “Can I hug you, or is that weird for guys?”
Jake pulled Will in for a big hug. “Not weird at all. We may be men”—he puffed out his chest—“but we’re still human, and all humans need connection.”
Will sat back. “Can I ask you something else?”
Jake shrugged. “Sure.”
“Did you spend the night with my sister?”
Jake swallowed hard and stared at her for the save.
She smiled and gave him a look that said, “I’ll handle it.”
“I don’t want to lie to you, Will. If I told you no, he didn’t, that wouldn’t be honest. Even if I lied, you wouldn’t believe me because you’re too smart and wise for your years. Yes, Jake and I had a date, and he spent the night. Does that bother you? Do you have appropriate questions?” She added appropriate because Will might ask anything, and she didn’t have the energy to explain the mechanics of sex to a twelve-year-old.
Will looked between them, and his lips upturned into a grin. “Yes, it’s okay, and no, I don’t have questions. I know all about the birds and the bees.” He turned to Jake and high-fived him. “We may be men, but men need a connection too.”
All three burst into laughter that stopped when the doorbell rang.
Will bounded off the couch to answer it. Standing on the porch was Brian Williams. His hands were in his pockets, and his head was hung low.
His father, Bobby, stood behind him. “Go on, now. Tell him.”
Brian rocked from side to side. “I’m sorry. I found my action figure in my sisters’ room. They decided Barbie needed a new boyfriend.” He shook his head. “Can we be friends?”
She and Jake walked behind Will and watched for his reaction. He took a deep breath. “Sure. I’m sorry I didn’t help find him.”
“I don’t blame you. The last time I walked into the girls’ room, they tried to give me a makeover.” Brian pushed his hand forward for a shake. “Truce?”
Will reached out, but only got halfway. “Next time, remember that people are innocent until proven guilty.”
The boys shook hands.
Bobby patted his son’s back. “Let’s go home. Your mom wants your room cleaned before she gets home from her shift.”
Brian groaned. “Dang it. I thought Will could come over and play.”
“Let’s ask your mom when she gets home.” Bobby turned, but he looked back over his shoulder. “I think you might be raising a lawyer.”
“Anything is possible,” she said and meant it.
Chapter Twenty
Life settled into a routine with Natalie opening the store and Jake bringing her coffee each morning. The town had taken a liking to Will and kept him busy while Natalie got used to the new routine.
Jake folded his paper and sat it on the table. “What about sports?”
Natalie pulled a stack of books from the latest delivery of boxes. “What about them?”
“I’m thinking about Will. He needs an outlet and a place to belong.”
A deep crease formed between her eyes. “I never did sports.”
He patted the table in hopes she’d come over and sit. When she pulled out the chair beside him, he reached for her hand.
“Did you ever want to be on a team?”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “Sure, but sports were expensive and not allowed.”
He nodded. When he was a kid, he’d played hockey and lacrosse. Both were costly and could have put his parents into debt, but they knew how important it was to be a team player.
“That’s true, but playing on a sports team gives him the opportunity to learn life skills like sharing, diplomacy, and patience.”
“Aspen Cove has started a little league of sorts. That could be a good place to begin.”
His thumb slid over the soft skin of her hand. He missed touching her. Missed lying naked with her in bed. Even though Will knew they’d spent the night together, they weren’t blatantly flaunting themselves in front of him.
With Will’s upbringing, he didn’t have a handle on what a relationship looked like. His father had women coming and going at all hours of the day and night. Jake wasn’t sure coming and going was wise. It wouldn’t teach him about restraint or respect.
“What do you say?”
“Who do I talk to about it?”
“Bowie and Cannon are organizing it. They also have an adult version. Care to join?”
Her shoulders shook with her laughter. “You know that kid who gets picked last on a team?” She pointed to herself. “Well, that’s me. I can’t throw a ball, hit a ball, or kick a ball, but I can be a good cheerleader.”
He had a vision of her in a short skirt and pom-poms. “Care to show me your routine in private?”
She snorted. “Privacy? That’s a thing of the past. Somehow, I went from a single thirty-year-old to parenting a twelve-year-old. I skipped all the stuff in between like dating and girls’ nights out.”
“You had opportunities. I know you did, but something tells me you passed on them.”
She nodded. “I’m not all that great with people.”
If only she could see herself the way he, and others, saw her. She wasn’t unlovable or unlikable. She was resistant.
“You are, but you’re not comfortable, so you avoid it. Being around people is like wearing a new pair of shoes or jeans straight from the dryer. It’s not a comfortable fit until you break them in. Give it a chance, and if the fit isn’t right, then you try something else on.”
“Okay, Mr. Wise One. I don’t see you hanging around anyone in town. Where are your friends?”
He pulled his hand back and stretched as if he were getting ready to list a thousand names from memory.
“I have friends. I hung out with Tilden, Cannon, and Bowie. I’ve played pool with Dalton. Doc and I enjoy a beer together occasionally. My best friend, Addis, and I talk twice a week.”
“Addis? What’s an Addis look like?”
He didn’t know how to describe him, so he pulled up his picture. “He’s the one hanging from the harness.” Addis was a favorite with the ladies. He’d seen firsthand how many women threw themselves at him.
“Oh my God, that’s you above him. You’re a rock climber?”
Warmth filled him that she totally bypassed the rock-climbing GQ model and focused on him. “No, but I try new things. I didn’t climb that rock. I took a copter to the top and repelled down it. Addis is the outdoorsman. I’m the wannabe.”
“You jumped off a cliff with only a rope? Do you have a death wish?”
She sounded like his mom the day he posted his pictures to social media.
“No, I have a life wish. This was a year after my surgery. I had a bucket list of things I wanted to do. That picture was taken the same year I wrote Love the Life You Live.”
“That makes you a great life coach. You practice what you preach.”
“Life is about taking risks. If there’s no risk, there’s no reward. Whether or not you believe it, you’re a risk-taker too.” He leaned forward and waited for her to meet him in the middle. “You took a risk on Will, Aspen Cove, and you took the biggest risk on me.” It probably wasn’t good to point things out. “Little by little, you’re opening your heart to new possibilities.”
“Maybe, but it’s more like I’m being pushed into the deep end, and I’ve learned how to tread water.”
He gently touched his lips to hers. “I’m happy to be your lifeline.”
“You’re too risky. That only means I’ll drown when you leave because there’s no one there to help keep me afloat.”
He’d lost that battle, but he still had a chance of winning the war. Natalie was opening herself up to new possibilities.
He scooted his chair back and rose. “I’m going to visit my friend Bowie and find out when Will can start.”
She jumped up and followed him to the door. “What if I can’t afford it?”
He gave her ponytail a swift yank. “You can. I know how much you make, but if you couldn’t, I’d take care of it. You know … why not offer an Aspen Cove Athletic Scholarship?”
“You’re impossible.”
“Yes,” he said as he walked out the door. “But something tells me you love it.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “You and your love.”
* * *
Jake played right field with Will. He couldn’t believe the kid had never picked up a baseball.
Cannon hit the pitch, sending it straight toward them.
“You got it?”
“Yes,” Will said excitedly.
He held up his mitt and moved around, trying to figure out the exact place it would come down. He’d missed two before, so he needed this win to boost his confidence.
“You’ve got this.”
“I got it.”
It hit the mitt with a slap that sent Will back a few feet, and he opened it to find he really did have it.
“I have it. I really have it.” He raised it into the air like a trophy. The joy on his face lit up the field. “Nat, I caught it,” he yelled.
She was on her feet, whooping it up from the stands. “That’s my brother right there,” she yelled for his benefit.
Since the kids’ team was comprised of mostly little ones, the adults let Will and Brian play with them. The teams divided between food service and everything else. Since Will was now associated with the bookstore, he was on the everything else team, whereas Dalton, Cannon, and Katie were part of the foodies. There weren’t any dues to pay. The only expense was a pair of cleats and a mitt, and Jake bought those because that’s what men did.
Will tossed the ball back to Bowie, who pitched for their team. “I can’t believe I caught that.”
Jake ruffled Will’s hair. “You can do anything you put your mind to. You’ve already shown us that. Anytime someone tells you that you can’t do something, if it’s something you want badly, then prove them wrong.”
Will dropped his glove and wrapped his arms around Jake, hugging him like both their lives depended on it.
“In case I forget to tell you, this is the second-best day of my life.”
Jake leaned back to look at him. “What’s the first?”
Will looked to the bleachers and waved to Natalie. “The day she came and got me, but I didn’t know it then. I was certain I was heading straight to H E double hockey sticks, but this”—he looked around—“is as close to heaven as I’ve ever been.”
Weeks ago, Will would have said hell and a bunch of other colorful words, but he was learning. “I’m glad it’s working out for you.”
“Finally, I have a family. Natalie is like the mom I never had, and you’re …” Will lowered his head. “You’re the dad I wish I had.”
Could his heart feel any fuller and not burst? “You’d be the perfect son, Will.”
He laughed. “Don’t forget, we’re not supposed to lie. I’ll never be perfect, but I’ll try to be better.”
“That’s all we can ask.”
An hour later, they sat in the diner, eating burgers and fries. Since the foodies lost, it was their treat. He wondered what the cost of a loss would be for the everything else team. Would Bowie have to hand out fishing poles and tackle? Would he have to give away books? He chuckled when he thought of what Aiden Cooper the sheriff would offer. Handcuffs for everyone? A get out of jail free card?
“What are you smiling about?” Natalie asked.
He wouldn’t tell her cuffs and tackle, so he looked straight into her eyes and said, “Our next date.” Will ran off to play with Brian, leaving them alone in the booth. “Since Louise invited Wi
ll to spend the night tomorrow, how about a sleepover at my place?”
She lifted a brow. “Your place?”
“Seems only fair since we had our first night at yours. I’ll take care of everything. All you have to do is show up with an appetite.”
She slicked her tongue across her lips. “What are you serving?”
“Anything you want.”
He knew exactly what she wanted—a repeat of their first night together. They’d kissed and touched and teased, but they were never together long enough to get more than a taste. By the glint of fire in her eyes, he knew she was hungry.
“Bring a big appetite.” He leaned in and whispered, “Clothes are optional.”
Chapter Twenty-One
How did a person prepare for a sleepover? In all of her thirty years, she’d never been to one. She wasn’t allowed to as a kid, and she never had a desire as an adult. Sleepovers implied intimacy. The kind two people shared when they were best friends or more than lovers.
“Will, don’t forget your toothbrush.” She grabbed hers and put it in her backpack before moving to stand in front of her dresser. She opened the drawer and groaned. There wasn’t anything sexy or remotely attractive. White cotton hipsters were all she owned. They were sturdy and washed well.
“Jake didn’t seem to care the last time,” she said as she plucked a fresh pair from the drawer and dropped them into the bag.
“Will, clean underwear, too.”
From across the hall, he groaned. The soles of his shoes thunked as he stomped across the wooden floor.
Inside she laughed. It was the simple things these days that thrilled her. The tiny upgrades in her life made a huge difference. Things like having spare change in the bottom of her purse and not knowing exactly how much was there because she didn’t need to pinch pennies. The simple act of being able to use a full measure of laundry detergent or buying a loaf of bread from the grocery store instead of the day-old bakery.
Those were the things that tickled her. While the town provided the house and so much more, it was Jake who provided her job and endless kisses that filled her full to bursting with happiness. He made her feel wanted. Somehow, despite her meager existence, her cotton panties, and her general lack of everything, in his presence, she felt rich.
One Hundred Decisions: An Aspen Cove Romance Page 16