Did she lie awake at night thinking of him? Or had she forgotten him as soon as she arrived at her cabin? Was the place everything she'd dreamed? Was the shock of the past few months beginning to wear off? He wanted to be there for her. His arms ached to hold her. He wanted to replace all of Antonio's insults with truth.
“For the first time in my life, I want to be completely free. I have no idea what that even feels like.”
Maybe it was best he didn't know where she'd gone. Everything in him wanted to chase her down and bring her home.
The game broke for half time, and Zac nudged him. “Need to go check on the kitchen.”
Beau licked the barbecue sauce from his fingers and let him out. Everyone else emptied from the booth for a quick game of pool, leaving just him and Paige.
He found a wet wipe and rid his fingers of the sticky residue, wondering if things were about to get awkward.
Paige leaned into the table across from him. “I got a letter from Riley yesterday,” she said over the din.
“Oh yeah?”
“I've been writing him every week. To keep his spirits up. He's doing really well. He's sleep deprived and worn out, but he seems mentally strong.”
“He always has been. It'll come in handy in the marines.”
“Sounds like he's made a few good friends.”
A cheer went up from the poolroom, followed by heckling and laughter. Three couples gathered around the table. One of the guys pulled his girl into his arms and laid one on her. Beau looked away.
“You doing okay?” Paige asked, her blue eyes studying him. “That was quite a ruckus on New Year's.”
He gave her his best fake smile. “All in a day's work.”
“Somebody forget to tell you you're not a deputy anymore?”
He shrugged. Someone was in danger, and he wasn't standing around watching. Especially not when it was someone he loved.
Kate.
Man, he missed her. Missed seeing her sleepy eyes first thing in the morning. Missed holding her on the couch while they
watched movies. Missed the eager way she responded when he kissed her. That little mewling sound she made . . .
God, will this ever end?
He took a gulp of his drink, trying to wash away the sudden knot that tightened his throat. He couldn't shake the feeling that he should've done something, said something, to make her stay. He tried to live a life free of regret, but it was hard not to regret a painful ending. Especially when it was permanent.
He shifted in his seat.
Something else, Callahan. Think about something else.
He forced a smile to his lips. “How's your week been? Digging out at work?”
“Oh yeah. I'm way behind. But things are slow overall, so I'll catch up soon enough.”
He glanced across the room and caught Nick Donahue eyeing the two of them with curiosity. It reminded him of the scuttlebutt going around at the diner earlier in the week.
“Heard your social calendar is filling up,” he said lightly.
Paige caught Nick's eye, and her cheeks flushed. “I had a date last night, and I have another next weekend. Two, actually.” She gave him a cheeky smile. “Seems all the single men in town were just waiting for me to become available again.”
He chuckled, feeling happy for her. “I don't doubt it, Paige. You're a good catch.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
She cocked her head, giving him a look.
“She's gone, as I'm sure you know.” He frowned into his empty glass, the heavy feeling in his stomach returning. “I don't want to talk about it.”
She pulled a face, her eyes searching his. “Fine,” she said finally. “Let's talk about Zac then.”
“What about him?”
“Hello. He's still mourning that ex-fiancée of his. We should do something.”
“Since when have you been such a matchmaker?”
Amusement flashed in her eyes. “I've been taking notes from Miss Trudy.”
“Well, you're wasting your time. He'll move on when he's ready.”
“Two brokenhearted Callahans are more than I can take. I'm fixing him up with Bridgett Gillespie.”
He scowled. “Bridgett Gillespie talks a mile a minute. She'll drive him flat crazy.”
Paige lifted a shoulder. “Maybe not. Zac's not very talkative. She'll fill the silence.”
“And then some.”
“Fine. I'll come up with someone else. How about Sara Porter? She's not too talkative, and she's very sweet.”
“Doesn't she have like fifty cats?”
Paige rolled her eyes. “Morgan LeBlanc then.”
“She only dates rich guys.”
“Well, what about Millie Parker? She's down to earth.” Paige lifted a brow. “And she only has one cat.”
Beau shook his head.
“What's wrong with her?”
“I went out with her last year.”
“So?”
“So on our first date she asked me how many kids I'd want.”
“That's not so bad.”
He gave her a dark look. “She wanted to help me name them.”
Paige's lips twitched. “Men. What is it you guys want?”
A honey-eyed woman with a heart as warm as a summer day.
And there it was again. Why did all roads lead to Kate?
Paige looked across the room, her eyes meeting Nick's. Beau watched as the man gave her a shy smile before looking away.
Paige slurped up the last of her soda. “Well. I think I'll go see who's winning.”
Beau lifted his glass in a mini-salute as she scooted from the booth. Someone might as well be winning. It sure as heck wasn't him.
J
anuary rolled slowly past. Eden had access to her old bank account now that she was able to use her own ID. She had a nice little nest egg to get her business back up and going. She'd made contact with her old clients, explaining that she was back in business. Almost all of them had moved to other companies, but she had three who were eager to come back. It wasn't much, but she'd build it back up in time. She'd already placed some Internet ads and designed new business cards.
She dyed her hair back to her natural chestnut brown. It had grown to her shoulders now, and she splurged on a layered cut. When she looked in the mirror she barely recognized her image. But she was feeling more like her old self. No, not her old self. A new and improved self.
She'd gotten that library card and added a stack of self-help books to the novels. She'd found a warm church with a pastor who spoke to the empty spot inside her. They were kind people who made her and Micah feel welcome. She filled the cabin with praise music and took long evening baths while she reflected on life, and God, and all the events that had led her to this place.
Antonio's words still flashed in her mind at times, but she worked hard to push them away, to replace them with truth.
Sometimes the voice was Beau's. Her soul longed to remember his loving words. But she pushed those away, too, for an entirely different reason.
So much was going right in her life. If the town was farther away than she'd anticipated, so be it. And if her nearest neighbor was a mile down the road, she could live with that. Maybe the cold winter days made her feel a little stir-crazy, but spring would come soon enough.
Eden wiped down the counter, swaying as the gentle strains of “We Believe” crescendoed to its powerful chorus.
“I'm bored,” Micah said from his spot on the sofa.
“Why don't you go draw with your art set? I'll color with you when I'm finished cleaning.” She actually enjoyed scrubbing the little cabin until it sparkled. It was different when it was your own space. Your own home.
She gave the counter an extra swipe, noticing Micah hadn't budged. “What about your tools? You could tighten up a few screws around here.”
He shrugged. Boo Bear was in his lap. Micah hadn't let him get far away since they'd arrived. He'd had a few nightmares, and most nights he climbed into her bed in the middle of the night.
“I miss home.”
Eden set down the dishrag and sank down beside him on the sofa. “Honey, you know that house is gone. The bank had toâ”
“Not that one. The farmhouse. I miss Beau and Miss Trudy and Zac.” His brown eyes looked so sad, her heart gave a tug.
“I miss them too.” Every day. So much her chest ached with it sometimes. “But we're making new friends at church. There's Noah and Evan. You like them, right?”
Micah shrugged. “I guess.”
“And Mr. Wallace at the library is very nice, isn't he?”
The older man was a wonder at story time on Tuesday mornings. He drew a crowd with his animated and boisterous voice. Eden was conscious of Micah's need for male influence in his life. The Callahans had filled that role nicely.
But they're gone, Eden. You can't go back. You have to keep moving forward.
Micah pulled Boo Bear into his chest and fixed his eyes on the mute TV screen, where SpongeBob was learning to drive. Her son was still so quiet and withdrawn, despite her efforts to draw him out. Maybe it was just going to take time.
A knock sounded.
She stiffened automatically, her head jerking toward the door. Her heart pounded in her chest. She blew out a breath.
Relax, Eden. You're not in danger anymore
.
There was no one looking for them. No feds accusing her of murder. No crooked cop out for blood.
“I wonder who's come to see us.” She forced the light note into her voice as she stood and turned for the door.
She peeked out the curtain first, blinking at the sight on her front porch. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Who
she was seeing.
Her heart gave a cry of joy. Her fingers couldn't unlock the door fast enough. She swung it open and cupped her mouth as tears gathered in her eyes.
His hairline had receded more in the three years since she'd last seen him, and he wore a day's worth of growth on his jaw. But he was such a welcome sight.
His light brown eyes glossed over. “Baby girl.”
She was in his arms an instant later, enveloped by his bearlike hug. “Daddy. You're here.”
“I had to see for myself you were okay,” he said in that familiar, warbly voice. He pulled away, looking her over, his eyes taking her in. “I've been so worried.”
“I'm sorry.”
He palmed her cheek. “Not your fault.”
“How did you . . .?”
“Let's catch up inside, can we? The heat in my rental didn't work. I'm cold as an ice cube.”
Inside he shucked his coat, his eyes landing on her son. “Micah.”
“Kiddo,” Eden said, hanging on to her dad's arm. “It's been a long time since you've seen him, but this is my dad, your grandpa.”
Micah stared at him. “The one who taught you about football?”
“That's right. And the one we went to visit when you were three.”
Micah studied her dad, his brown eyes quietly assessing. “You took me fishing.”
Her dad's dark brows popped up. “You remember?”
“No, Mom told me. You helped me catch bluegill. I have a picture.”
Her dad sent Eden a grateful smile.
She turned down the music and stoked the fire. When she realized her dad had only had pretzels on the plane, she fixed him a sandwich. They caught up while he ate, Micah asking questions about his home. Eden had a lot of questions of her own. But she waited until Micah scooted off to his room to play with his Legos, her dad's belated Christmas gift.
“Are you warmed up?” she asked as they settled on the couch.
“Yeah, the fire's nice.”
“How long can you stay?”
“My ticket's open-ended.” He stared at her as if he couldn't believe he was seeing her, his eyes welling up again. “I was afraid I'd never see you again.”
Her eyes burned. “Me, too, Daddy. I've never been so scared.” She didn't want to think about that now. “How is it that you're here? Your phobia . . . How did you get on the plane?”
“I started seeing someone, a therapist, after you went into protective custody. I knew I had to get better if I was going to be any help to you and Micah. I started on some medication, and it's helped. I've slowly been forcing myself out more and more. Getting involved at church. Leaning on God. Learning to trust Him again. The plane was hardâlots of mile-high praying going onâbut I had to see you for myself. I had to see that you were really okay.”
“Oh, Daddy. I can't believe you're here.” She fell into his arms, drawing in the familiar smell of Old Spice and home. “I'm so glad you're better. I've been worried about you too.”
“I've been worried about you ever since you took off with that schmuck.”
“I should've listened to you.”
“You were in love and determined. I didn't have anything concrete, just a gut feeling.”
“I thought you just didn't want me to leave you. I thought you were afraid to be alone.”
Dad pulled back. “Why would I be afraid of that?”
She stared at him, confused. “Dad, you never let me go anywhere. You didn't want to be left alone because of your phobia.”
His brows crunched together. “I never minded being alone. I was just afraid something was going to happen to you like happened to your mom. I couldn't lose you too. Only I did.”
Eden couldn't believe what she was hearing. She shook her
head, trying to make sense of it. “You mean all that time you kept me home it was because of what happened to Mom?”
“I know it doesn't make sense. But your mom just left for work one day and didn't come home. I was afraid the same thing would happen to you. I let fear rule my life for so many years, and it chased you away. I'm done with that. I won't let fear keep me from living.”
Eden smiled. “I'm glad you're doing better. You look good.”