Forever Series Box Set Books 1-3

by Mona Ingram

  Brett frowned. “What did your friends think of him?”

  “That’s just it. I didn’t have a lot of friends to begin with, but he managed to isolate me from them in record time.” She fell silent for several moments. “I can’t believe I let it happen. Anyway, I went to Nanaimo last week to see my one remaining friend who just had a baby. She and her husband have been going through a rough patch financially. They have three kids and the oldest is five.”

  “Wow.”

  Jenna smiled. “Yeah, wow. Terry’s gone to Alberta to work in the oil patch, and judging by the first cheque he sent back, they’ll be on their feet in a few months. Anyway, when I got back from Nanaimo, everything was gone. Furniture, photography equipment, everything. All he left were my clothes. He even took the suitcases. He’d terminated the contract on the telephone, the bank account was empty, the credit cards were overdue, the rent was three months behind... he’d planned it all.”

  “And the engagement ring was a fake.” It wasn’t a question.

  Jenna gave him a wry smile. “I can still see the expression on the jeweller’s face when I asked her to take a look. Cubic zirconia. He’d proposed to me out on the breakwater, so I walked out there and threw it into the ocean. Felt good, too. I hope some octopus is wearing it right now.”

  Brett chuckled. “Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh, but you came alive just then.” A puzzled look came over his face. “What did the police say?”

  She toyed with her tea cup. “I think at first they figured it for some type of lover’s spat. But when they got around to taking a report, they pointed out that in the eyes of the law, everything we had was joint, so he was within his rights. And of course they couldn’t find anyone by the name of Phil Esterbrook.”

  Brett nodded. “He planned it all out.”

  “Yes. That hurts almost as much as losing everything.” She paused for a moment. “Well, that and the fact that the landlady is out three months’ rent. She’s a retired widow who relies on the rent for her income.”

  Brett hunched over the table. “What do you think triggered him to leave? I mean why now?”

  “I’ve given that a lot of thought,” she said. “About four months ago, when we were setting up the joint account, he was convinced I was holding out on him about how much money I had in the bank. I think for some reason he’d assumed that I’d inherited a lot from my parents. I certainly didn’t infer that.” Her gaze drifted around the kitchen, touching on a few now-familiar items. “He’d always intended to cut and run, but I think he moved his plans up after that. Last weekend was the perfect opportunity.”

  He tilted his head. “It sounds like you don’t intend to pursue it anymore.”

  She shook her head. “Not unless the police come up with something.” She took a deep breath. “After I figured out what happened, I spent a couple of days wondering if I could ever trust anyone again. A natural reaction, I suppose, but a waste of time. I’d rather look to the future than waste my energy regretting my bad decisions.”

  Brett’s smile made it clear he agreed. “What kind of photographs?”

  “What?”

  “What type of photographs do you take?”

  Her tone softened. “I like photographing people, and I absolutely love black and white film.”

  He nodded. “Are you any good?”

  “Not bad,” she said with a cheeky smile. “I was just starting to get a reputation in town. It takes a while to become known, as you can imagine.”

  He stretched his long legs out in front of him. “Well if you decide to stay with us, maybe we can help you get back on track.” His demeanor changed and he sat up straight. “I apologize for what I said earlier. I heard what you said about being a housekeeper, but Danny likes you. I can pay you a monthly salary, plus there’s a private suite over the garage.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “You’d be doing both of us a favour if you stayed at least until the beginning of the school year. This is a big house. I’d get you help with the cleaning if you could manage to put together some informal meals and do the laundry. We have a gardening service. Mainly, I’d like to see you get Danny out of the house. Maybe even meet some kids his own age.”

  Jenna reached for her teacup. The tea was cold now, but she drank it anyway. “It seems too easy,” she said finally.

  “If there’s something you’re not sure about, I’d like to hear it.”

  She met his gaze with equal candor. “I know you’re busy, but will you at least try to be there a bit more for Danny?”

  He extended a hand, his mouth quirked up in a smile. “I promise. Even if that means I have to learn Minecraft.”

  “Then we have a deal,” she said. “Thank you, Brett.”

  Chapter Six

  THE SUITE OVER THE garage was simply laid out, yet welcoming. The open floorplan contained an alcove for the bed, a full bathroom, and a small but functioning kitchen. A balcony just wide enough for a couple of chairs opened off the living area. Sheltered by a tall, leafy tree at the side of the house, it would be an ideal spot to sit and contemplate her future.

  There was a lot to think about. While a good housekeeper was worth her weight in gold, and Brett had been generous to offer her the position, it wasn’t what Jenna wanted. She’d worked hard for the limited success she’d garnered, and she had hopes of continuing her career when her finances were sorted out.

  She dropped into one of the balcony chairs and propped her feet up on the rail. Leaving Danny would be difficult; she was already fond of him. That smile and those bright eyes had captured her heart from the moment she turned and saw him in the back of her car. He had already become attached to her, accepting her as part of the family, but if she could get him involved in activities with children his own age, it might be easier for him when she left. By then he’d be back in school and she would make sure that Brett enrolled him in even more activities. One thing was definite... she would not leave Danny without support systems in place.

  What had Brett said earlier? Something about Jenna getting back on track. He’d made it clear that he didn’t expect her to stay and that’s what she wanted as well... didn’t she?

  “Enough of this nonsense,” she muttered to herself, getting up and closing the sliding door behind her. “You don’t even know him.”

  “Not yet,” said the voice in her head. “Not yet.”

  BRETT LEANED AGAINST the kitchen counter and looked out over the back yard. It was dark now; had been for some time, but his pose was more contemplative than anything else. He was having a hard time taking in everything that had transpired since Jenna walked into his life. Had that really been earlier this evening? It seemed like forever ago.

  Jenna. The corner of his mouth tugged up when he thought of the way she’d stood up for Danny. Right now she was a bundle of contradictions. Hurt by some idiot who hadn’t been able to see past what he thought was a healthy bank account. In spite of the emotional damage her so-called fiancé had done, Brett was glad he was out of the picture. Jenna deserved better, and once she got back on her feet, she would see that. The thought of her up there in the former caretaker’s suite should terrify him, but in fact it was doing the exact opposite. Danny had already taken her into his heart, and by the time she was ready to go back to her old life, Danny would be back in school. And I will have become the father he deserves.

  It had taken a complete stranger to make him see how his inattentiveness had affected his son. Ashamed of himself, he vowed to regain Danny’s affection by taking a more active role in his life. And when he had to work, Jenna would be a loving, supportive presence. As a single father, it was the best he could do... for now.

  When Arisa died, leaving him with a miniature version of herself in Danny, he’d withdrawn. Those first few weeks after the funeral were nothing but a faint memory. Growing up, Brett had never been much of a drinker, but he’d made up for it in that painful time... losing himself in an alcoholic stupor night after night. He vaguely remembered a small gho
st of a child being shuffled off to his bedroom by his mother while he selfishly drowned his sorrows. And it had been his mother who, in a rare show of anger, had told him to pull himself together.

  Staring at his reflection in the darkened kitchen window, he marveled at how Danny had continued to love him. The child’s capacity for forgiveness was something he was counting on now. He would not disappoint him a second time.

  As for Arisa, her death would haunt him forever. Born in Thailand to a Thai mother and a French father, he had fallen in love with her the first moment he saw her. In the years since her death, he’d accepted the fact that their marriage had been based more on infatuation than on love, but he’d been so besotted by her beauty he couldn’t think straight. He’d met her as he was finishing up his residency, and was a prime candidate for marriage. In spite of his parents’ reservations, they’d been married six months later in the home he occupied now – part of a large inheritance from his maternal grandfather. Danny was born a respectable year after that.

  Intent on establishing his position at the hospital, Brett worked long hours right from the beginning. He knew that when he came home Arisa would be waiting. She never complained about his grueling schedule, and ran his household effortlessly.

  The accident that claimed her life haunted him still. They’d had their first serious argument that evening before going out, and the tension between them was palpable. They’d stepped outside after a small dinner party to find several inches of freezing snow on the ground. Even though Victoria sometimes went an entire winter without snow, Brett had installed his snow tires a few weeks previously, and had no qualms about driving home.

  The tractor-trailer that slammed into the passenger side of his car was found to have worn summer tires. Even with winter tires, the driver probably wouldn’t have been able to stop. A drain had overflowed beside the road, coating the surface with black ice. If Brett closed his eyes, he could still see a slow-motion replay of the jack-knifing truck coming toward them, could still hear the grinding metallic crunch as the truck slammed into them, and could still feel Arisa’s last breath on his cheek as he held her in his arms. Sitting in the middle of an intersection holding his wife’s broken body in his arms, his skill as a surgeon was of no use. To make matters worse, Brett had walked away with only bruised ribs and a small gash on his forehead.

  Pushing away from the counter, he walked into the living room and looked around. The fresh flowers had been something Arisa had insisted on – she’d enjoyed spending his money – and he had maintained the tradition in her memory. There had been many times over the past years that he asked himself if he kept the flowers coming out of guilt. Not that he blamed himself for the accident, but the remorse he felt for arguing with her on the last day of her life would stay with him forever.

  His eyes fell on her photograph. Jenna had been inspecting it earlier in the day. Of course she would see the striking resemblance between Danny and his mother. He’d watched her gaze flicker from the photograph to Danny, and for a brief moment, compassion had flooded her features. Maybe one day he would tell her the whole story. It was something he’d never shared with anyone, but he’d sensed an intuitive understanding in the look on her face, and for the first time he considered unburdening himself.

  Looking at the picture of his wife, he realized that for the first time since her death, he wasn’t angry at her. She’d been gone over two years now, and holding on to all those negative feelings wasn’t helping Danny or himself. He set the picture back on the shelf with one last lingering look. It was time to start healing.

  Chapter Seven

  DANNY WAS IN HIS JAMMIES, eating cereal and solving a puzzle on the cereal box when Brett came downstairs the next morning.

  “What do you like to eat in the morning?” Jenna asked, handing him a cup of coffee.

  “I usually just have a piece of toast.” He added two spoons of sugar and stirred absently. “And since you asked, I love marmalade. The chunky Seville kind.”

  “Got it.” Jenna shot an amused glance toward Danny. “Young Mr. Carmichael informed me that he likes pancakes, but we came to an understanding.”

  Brett raised an eyebrow.

  “We’re going to have pancakes twice a week. Scrambled eggs are optional, as is toast and jam. Danny informed me that he prefers cereal, and once and a while toast.”

  “But not marmalade.” Danny made a face. “I don’t know how Daddy can eat that stuff.”

  “To each his own,” said Jenna with a smile.

  “That’s what he says.” Danny rolled his eyes.

  “So. What are you two up to today?” Brett looked from his son to Jenna. “Any plans?”

  “We thought we might try kite flying.” Jenna looked out the kitchen window. There was no sign of a breeze. “There always seem to be people flying kites down by the ocean.”

  “Great idea.” Brett reached into his back pocket and dug out some cash. “Here’s money to buy some kites. Would you choose one for me, Danny?”

  The young boy looked from Jenna to his father, the expression on his face one of immense pride. “Okay.” He hesitated. “Do you know how to fly them?”

  “You might have to give me some lessons, but I think I can learn.” Brett’s heart swelled with love for his son. “Have fun today,” he said to Danny’s retreating back as the boy ran from the room to get dressed.

  Brett took his coffee out to the patio and stood for several minutes, overlooking the yard.

  “Everything okay?” Jenna came up behind him.

  He turned to her. “I was just hoping that you haven’t changed your mind about staying.” He grinned down at her. “We made a lot of decisions in a short time last night, and I wouldn’t blame you if you had second thoughts.”

  Jenna looked around the yard; it was the first time she’d really seen it. “I thought the same thing, but if anything, I’m even more grateful that you’ve given me this chance to get back on my feet. I hope to make it work for both of us.”

  “Good.” He drained his coffee cup. “I should be home by seven. Hopefully before.”

  She could tell his thoughts were already on the day ahead. “See you then.”

  Jenna tidied the kitchen and climbed the stairs, wondering why Danny hadn’t come down.

  “Danny?” she called. “We can leave any time.”

  “I’m in here.” The words were muffled.

  His voice came from a door at the end of the hall. She pushed it open and found herself in what had probably been a small bedroom. It had been converted to an artist’s studio, but judging from the dust, hadn’t been used for some time.

  Danny sat in front of an easel, studying an incomplete watercolour of himself. A photograph was propped on a table off to the side. She advanced until she was standing directly behind him, and laid a hand gently on his shoulder.

  He spoke without turning. “My mother did this. Some days I come in here and I think maybe it will be finished.” He fingered one of the brushes. “But that’s not going to happen, is it?”

  “I’m afraid not, Danny.”

  He looked up at her then. “My Daddy doesn’t like to talk about her.”

  Jenna nodded. “Some adults are like that. When my parents died I had a hard time for a while.”

  “I miss her,” he said, replacing the paint brush in precisely the spot where he’d picked it up. “Sometimes I forget what she looks like.”

  “Would you like to have a picture of her?” The words popped out before she could stop them. “I could ask your father. I don’t think he’d want you to forget what she looks like.”

  “Could you?” His eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

  “Absolutely,” she said, hoping she hadn’t overstepped. “But you know, Danny, you’ll never forget what she looks like.”

  He gave her a puzzled look.

  “You only have to look in the mirror. Your mother gave you the most amazing gift when you were born. You have her beautiful eyes.”


  “Really?”

  “Really.” Jenna tousled his hair. “She must have loved you very much.”

  He nodded, but his actions were uncertain. When he returned his gaze to her face, his expression was resolute. “Daddy says you can’t stay forever.”

  Her heart ached for him. “No, Danny, not forever.” She brightened. “But I promise to stay for the summer, until you’re in school.” Her words triggered a sharp little pang as she thought of leaving him, but that was just foolish. “By then, you’re going to be so busy you’ll forget who I am.”

  He gave her a surprisingly adult look. “I’m not a baby, Jenna. I won’t forget you.”

  “Of course not.” Flustered, she started to back out of the room. “So, are we going to get those kites or not?”

  He allowed a moment’s silence that would have done credit to a Broadway actor. “All right,” he said finally. “Let’s go.”

  THE SELECTION OF KITES available at the store was almost overwhelming. For the first few minutes, Danny ran from kite to kite, each one becoming his favourite as he studied it. Finally he slowed down, and with help from the salesperson, chose a delta-shaped kite with a bold cartoon face. For his father he chose a brightly coloured dragonfly kite, while Jenna settled for a blue swallowtail butterfly.

  “Your son is certainly eager,” the staff member observed as she rang up the purchases. “He should be able to manage that one all right.”

  “I hope so.” Jenna had listened with growing trepidation as the young woman gave them a quick lesson. Clutching the edge of the sales counter, Danny bounced on his toes, eager to get going. He carried the bag proudly, keeping up a constant stream of excited chatter as they drove to Clover Point.