by Sarah Hegger
“Here you go.” A woman shoved a cup of coffee into his hand. “You did good.”
Somebody else handed him another blanket to wrap around his shoulders.
“You reminded me so much of your father just then.” Tears rode Ma’s voice. “You looked so like him carrying that little boy out. He would have been so proud of you.”
Then Gabe had to hide his face.
After a moment, Ma wriggled clear. “But you don’t smell like your dad. You stink.”
Ben remained in the center of all the activity, answering questions and moving people in the right direction. Ben belonged there, an integral and valued member of the community. Ben fit.
A weird sensation crept over Gabe, and it took him a moment to put a name to it.
Cal Rogers from search and rescue walked past him and slapped his shoulder. “Give me a call. We could use you.”
“Will do.” He didn’t even have to think about his response, and the weird sensation grew stronger.
Ben crossed his arms. “Ma was right. You looked like Dad out there. And the way you handled Colton was exactly like him.”
“Dad would have had me on yard work for the next three months if I’d pulled a stunt like Colton did.”
Ben snickered. “True that, but first he would have made sure you were safe.”
“I didn’t do much.” It wasn’t like his life had ever been in any danger, and Colton hadn’t gone too far. In fact, it could be construed as his fault that Colton had gone out there in the first place.
“No.” Ben jabbed a finger at him. “I know that face. What’s going on in your screwed-up head?”
Brothers! Always there with a kind and encouraging word. “I told Colton to put the deer back.”
“In the middle of the night?”
“No, but—”
“Without his mother?”
“Well, no—”
“Then stop that crap.” Ben slashed the air with his hand. “And this crap is really not what Dad had in mind when he told us a man takes responsibility for his actions.”
“Maybe.”
“What’s with maybe?” Ben rounded on him, frowning. “Do you think he would want this for you?”
“What?”
“You aren’t responsible for Colton being out here. And you aren’t now, and nor were you ever, responsible for Dad’s death.”
Dave Mills passed them and nodded. “Night, boys.”
“Night, Dave.”
Peg shouldered her way through the crowd. “Well done, Gabe.” She squeezed his shoulder. “We’re proud of you.”
Shortly after, the area cleared, and he and Ben got into their cars.
His phone was in his hand to call Kelly before he’d even thought about it, but he stopped. Kelly had called it right. The way they were heading could only lead to heartbreak.
If he left.
If.
As his headlights played over the familiar landmarks of Twin Elks the if grew stronger.
That night, he’d been part of something he hadn’t felt in a long time. Community. And not just the search for Colton, but before that when he’d been working with Cara and then drinking a beer after work with her.
For all his grand talk about not enjoying domestic practice, he’d spent his day happily working with everyone’s family pets. He finally got what Cara had tried to show him, why she loved her job as much as he had loved his sharks. The thing about being a small-town vet that made it special was that it wasn’t only about the animals. It was about the people he touched through their pets.
He liked that sense of connectedness and he wanted more of it. First, though, he had something to do.
*
After a much-needed shower and putting his clothes in the washer, Gabe sat Belinda down in the lounge and asked Ma to give them ten minutes.
“I’ve got two seasons of Love Island to binge watch.” Dot kissed his cheek. “Do the right thing, darling.”
“Trust me.”
She patted his cheek and gave him a misty smile. “Always.”
Belinda looked at him and winced. “That’s not my favorite expression of yours.”
“I’m sure.” Because she sure as shit wasn’t going to like what came next. But it was time to make some decisions. “Belinda, it’s time for you to go home.”
“But I just got here.” She gave him her quirky smile. The same one he used to tell her he liked when they were together.
It didn’t work this time and hadn’t worked for a long time. “First off, what you did to Kelly was immature and bitchy.”
She gaped at him.
“Kelly is…” So many things and none of them he wanted to share with Belinda. “She’s a good friend and a really great girl. You were way out of line to suggest that there was something between you and me.”
With a nonchalant shrug, Belinda managed an almost convincing innocent act. “I’m not responsible for what someone infers.”
“Yeah, you are.” He shut that bullshit right down. “Especially when that’s what you’re trying to get her to do.” Sitting forward, he snagged her gaze. “There is no us, Belinda. Not anymore. And there won’t be in the future.”
“Gabe.” Her eyes filled with tears.
He hardened himself against them. When he’d left Australia, he had been absolutely clear about where they stood. She wanted marriage, he didn’t, and they had ended things. Her decision to come was on her. “It’s time to go home. Your being here won’t change my mind.”
She thrust her chin out. “It did the other day at the waterfall.”
“Belinda, I got wood when a naked body appeared in front of me. It’s biological, and it doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “Go home. I’ll be calling your dad to tell him, but you can give him the message as well. I won’t be returning to Australia.”
She gasped. “Gabe! Don’t be stupid. You love your job. Don’t let what happened between us take that from you.”
“It’s funny you say that.” And not in a hardy har har way. “Because that’s exactly what you and Steve did to me. I’m good at what I do, and I was a big part of that team, but when things between you and me collapsed, Steve made it as uncomfortable for me to stay as he could.”
“He didn’t mean to.” Belinda couldn’t meet his gaze
Yeah, she’d always been Daddy’s girl, and if Daddy’s girl got mad at someone, then Daddy acted as her henchman. “Yes, he did. He pushed me out and didn’t do it subtly either. I’m worth more than that.” He held her gaze. “My loyalty to that project was worth more. I won’t be going back because you and your father showed me exactly how much I meant to the project, and I can’t forget that. I would be stupid to forget that.”
She blinked at him. “You’re making the wrong decision.”
“No, I’m not.” He stood. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
As she stood, a bitter expression twisted her face. “I suppose this means you’re going to South Africa?”
“It doesn’t matter.” And he wasn’t obligated to tell her anything, but he was done with lies and half truths. “I haven’t made that decision yet. For now, I’m making the best of being here.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Kelly dragged herself out of bed and got dressed. Only Poppy could and did get her out of bed that Sunday morning. The alternative was to stay in, eat ice cream and binge watch Netflix, and it was putting up quite a fight.
Today was a big day for Poppy, and Kelly needed to stop being a selfish ass. Poppy and Ben were finally moving into their new house, and it was a day for celebration.
Gabe would be there. And she really needed to put that in perspective because in Twin Elks, she’d lay money on most of the town being there as well.
When she arrived at Winters House, her prediction wa
s proven true by the sheer number of vehicles clogging the road.
“Kelly.” Peg waved to her and brandished her megaphone. “We need to get this lot organized.”
“You’re the best person for that, Peg.” She ducked past Robin and Donna with a smile and a wave. “I’ll go and find Poppy.”
“Tell her we’re all out here.” Peg blew the whistle around her neck. “I’ll get this parking snarl sorted.”
Kelly quickened her pace, and Peg let fly on her whistle.
“Kelly.” Hank Styles leaned against his pickup, an old ball cap shading his eyes. “You tell Poppy not to let anyone else take her wood items.”
“Will do, Hank.” She made it to the front porch.
The door opened, and Claire beckoned her inside. “Get in here.”
“Hi.”
Claire shut the door behind her and leaned on it. “They’re out there. Waiting.”
“They’re here to help.” Kelly couldn’t quite stop her laughter.
“They’re circling.” Claire peered through the window. “I’m not sure what to do with them.”
“Ignore them?” She herded Claire to the kitchen. Claire always looked fantastic, but it was supercharged today. She had that glow thing pregnant women were supposed to get. Maybe Poppy had called it right after all.
“Brinn, please sit down and eat,” Poppy said as she opened the kitchen door.
“I can’t.” Brinn popped up on her chair. “My stomach wants to get moving.”
Poppy caught sight of her and rolled her eyes. “Not even Uncle Finn can get them to eat.”
“I’ll make some snack boxes.” Kelly moved to the fridge. She refused to ask if Gabe was there yet. “Maybe Dot can help.”
Poppy and Claire gave her a look loaded with skepticism. “Dot and Gabe are upstairs packing a few last things.”
Ben walked into the kitchen and gave her a big smile. “Thanks for coming to help.”
“It doesn’t look like you’ll need me. You have the whole town out there.”
Poppy teared up. “Everyone is so sweet.”
“Babe.” Ben kissed her forehead. “Don’t go all weepy on me now. I need you.”
With a laugh, Poppy dried her eyes and pushed him away. “Okay, you get out there and get them all organized. Kelly and Claire are in charge of supervising the children, and Dot can run with the prayer chain.”
Finn walked into the kitchen and winked at Kelly. “Hey, gorgeous.”
“Hey, hot stuff. Ready to leave Claire for me yet?”
He put his arms around Claire’s waist. “I’m not man enough.”
And the man who was man enough but couldn’t be, walked into the room.
Kelly got a stronger than usual jolt from seeing him. He didn’t look any less delicious than ever with a form fitting long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans. She felt differently about him now. Or had finally admitted to some kind of feelings.
Whatever.
“Don’t get tired.” Finn kissed Claire’s forehead. “And you shouldn’t lift anything too heavy.”
Poppy looked at Ben, Ben looked at Gabe, Gabe looked at her and they all looked at Finn and Claire.
“What?” Claire bristled.
Finn gave his slow, sexy smile. “So, not quite a secret?”
“I’ve had four babies.” Poppy grinned at him. “I recognize all the signs.”
“And I’ve had five.” Dot strolled in. “And you didn’t fool me for a minute.”
Claire pulled a face. “Maybe a minute?”
“Half a minute.” Dot winked at her and pulled her into a hug. “Congratulations, sweetheart. Does Horace know?”
“Know what?” Horace strolled into the kitchen. Finally having had his hip done made him look years younger and a couple of inches taller.
Dot smirked at him, but she would never tell Claire’s news. “Mind your own business.”
“I’m pregnant,” Claire blurted out and then paled. “God, I never thought those words would come out of my mind.”
Horace froze and gaped at her, and then he grinned. “Well, hot damn!”
As if him Horace’s reaction had given them all permission to celebrate, the next few minutes blurred into a confusion of hugs and tears, and more hugs.
Kelly did her share of hugging. She ended up in Gabe’s arms. The familiar tingles swept through her and she averted her gaze and wriggled out of his hold. There couldn’t be any more of that, not for all the wanting and needing in the world.
Finn whistled and brought them all to a stop. “We’ll celebrate later. For now, let’s get all these people out of our house, so Claire and I can fill it up again.”
They all followed Ben to the porch.
He stood there and silence spread over the assembled folk. Even Peg dropped her bullhorn and looked at him.
“Right.” Ben pulled a notebook out of his back pocket. “This is how we’re gonna do it.”
Next time she moved, Kelly was so getting Ben involved. He got people all moving in clear and defined directions, accomplishing the tasks he set them.
Claire had opened the attics of Winters House and given Poppy and Ben a number of beautiful pieces. The rest of the town had chipped in as well with all manner of stuff. They loved their police chief, and they loved his new family, and they wanted to help.
The kids kept Kelly busy and away from Gabe. Not that she caught more than the occasional glimpse of him anyway. He was busy hauling stuff and driving trucks and offloading other stuff.
By seven that evening, the last of the trucks drove away from Poppy and Ben’s new house. She, Claire, Finn, Dot and Horace were the last to leave.
Kelly fed the exhausted children burgers and bathed them and put them to bed. Little Sean was well past it by that point, and it took Dot and Finn to get him settled.
In the kitchen, Finn had opened a couple of bottles of wine, and Claire and Poppy were opening pizza boxes.
The house looked beautiful. High ceilings with large exposed beams crisscrossed the space above their heads. Hardwood floors gleamed beneath their feet, and huge sheets of glass let light in when it was daylight. Now they revealed a quiet, star-studded night and reflected a room lit with a warm, mellow light, and filled with people who cared for each other.
Ben lit a fire in the huge hearth and then held up his glass. “To new beginnings.”
“To new beginnings,” Horace said and raised his glass to Claire. “Of every sort.”
Everyone was tired but happy as they ate pizza and finished off the wine.
Dot yawned first. “I’m sorry to break the party up, but I’m beat.” She hugged Poppy first and then Ben. “I’m very happy for you.”
“Thanks, Ma.” Ben gave his mother the sweetest smile.
Kelly’s eyes pricked. The love between mother and son was palpable.
“I need to get Claire home.” Finn tugged Claire to her feet.
Horace stood. “And that’s my ride.”
Dot took Kelly by the arm. “Gabe and I will drive you home.”
A few more hugs and they were all on their way into the cold and calm night. Kelly sat behind Gabe as he drove Dot’s SUV home. They dropped her off first, and Kelly let herself into her condo.
Today had been such a happy day. Poppy had been through so much to get her happily ever after. And Claire with a new baby on the way, more happy news.
Kelly was thrilled for them, core deep thrilled, but it did highlight where she was in her life. Or wasn’t. She’d spent so many years waiting for Vince, convinced that her happiness lay in that direction. In a few weeks, all that had been turned on its ass.
Having Gabe around had kept all those thoughts at bay. And then the disaster around India and Piers had deferred thinking about it again. But tonight, seeing her close friends so happy had made her take a long
look at where she was.
It wasn’t like she felt she had accomplished nothing. She loved her coffee shop, and she’d built it into a successful business. With Peg onboard, she could grow it further.
She poured herself a glass of wine and flipped on her gas fire. Sitting on the rug in front of it, she had to admit that a small part of her was jealous of her friends. They had found their fairytale and were living it. The same part wanted to whine about her lack of a fairytale ending.
A knock at the door startled her. It was late for visitors.
Gabe stood on her doorstep. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Looking at him affirmed her decision around Vince. Even if she and Gabe had no future, Vince had never made her heart pound like Gabe did.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Can I come in?”
“Sure.” She stepped out of the way and opened the door wider. “I’m having a glass of wine. Want one?”
“Sure.” In the kitchen, he helped himself, looking so natural and right in her space it made her chest hurt. He shouldn’t have been there. This wasn’t helping her to stick to her decision. She didn’t want him to go either.
Gabe brought his wine over to the sofa and sat.
She joined him there. “Quite a day.”
“Yup.” He put his glass on the coffee table. “I never thought I’d see Ben get married again after that crapshoot of a marriage to Tara. Today he’s got an amazing wife, four great kids and they moved into a house he built.”
“Yeah.” It was a happy story. “And Claire is having a baby.”
Gabe laughed. “Finn says she’s struggling with it. She’s scared as hell she won’t be a good mother.”
“She’ll be great.” Kelly had no doubts. “Have you seen her with Poppy’s kids?”
“Yeah.” Gabe turned and took her glass from her. “Which brings me to us.”
“Bad segue.”
He cupped her face. “What do you say we add our own happy ending to today?”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Kelly feigned sleep as Gabe left her early the next morning. Last night shouldn’t have happened. It was a direct result of getting swept up in the happily ever after surrounding her friends.
