Her own mother?
The one person Kline trusted completely had betrayed her too.
The e-mail conversation about how Ben knew her mom was faking her illness was the final blow. But to get the whole truth, she forced herself to keep reading.
With each new e-mail she read, Kline felt more nauseated. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she shut down the computer and went to her room to pack.
She was through with Anderson freakin’ Butte and everyone in it. She should have never come back.
Ben stood in the rain as Kline raced away in her mother’s car. Not knowing how much she’d heard, he had to assume the worst. She probably thought he’d chosen his father and the town over her. Again. Why hadn’t he come clean with her sooner?
Soaked to the bone and freezing, Ben slowly walked to the hotel. He needed to talk to Casey. Get a woman’s take on things before he talked to Kline. That is, if Kline would ever talk to him again. He’d never seen her so mad. Not even when they’d broken up the last time.
The thought of losing her again made his chest ache.
He pulled out his cell and dialed Betty’s number. He needed Kline’s mom to be sure Kline didn’t leave town before he got a chance to talk to her, because there was no doubt in his mind that’s what she’d do. He got Betty’s voicemail so he left a message.
As he approached the hotel, the automatic doors slid open. Before he could take two steps inside, his sister called out, “Stop! Don’t drip all over my wood floors.”
Ben glanced at his feet. A puddle had formed on the mat under his ruined shoes. “Sorry.”
“I’ll get you some towels, then you can tell me why you’re wandering around in the rain like a crazy person.”
His sister disappeared behind the front desk for a moment and then joined him again with a stack of white fluffy towels. “What’s wrong, Ben?”
He slipped out of his shoes and left them by the front door. “I really screwed things up with Kline.” He dried himself off as he told her what happened.
When he was deemed suitable to enter, Casey led him down the hallway to her office and closed the door behind them. “You’re sleeping with Kline, right?”
He nodded.
“Then that just made what you did ten times worse. Why didn’t you just tell her that Dad was pressuring you? It wouldn’t have come as any big shock.”
He lifted his hands in frustration. “Because I knew she’d throw the election if she thought it would cost me my clinic. And why would I want to put even more strain on Dad and Kline’s relationship? It’s bad enough as it is.”
Casey rolled her eyes. “And yet now, by not telling her, you’ve put an even bigger strain on your and Kline’s relationship. When are you going to learn?”
He opened his mouth to reply, but snapped it shut. She was right. But he couldn’t lose Kline again. And the way she refused to talk to him made him realize he needed help this time. “Please tell me what to do to win her back.”
Casey huffed out a breath. “Kline is a full-grown woman. She doesn’t need you to shield her from the truth. It’s what you still do to Ryan and Meg, and even me, sometimes. You’re not responsible for anyone’s happiness but your own.”
Hell. Kline had said almost the same thing to him. Why was it so bad to try to make life easier for the people he loved if he could?
He straightened Casey’s nameplate. “Okay. I’ll concede that. But how do I fix things with Kline?”
“You might only have one chance at this, so you need to decide what’s more important to you. Kline, or your new clinic. Because Dad owns the building you’re in, you’ll always have to deal with him. And you’ll never be able to please both of them.”
Lose his new clinic? After coming so close by having Joe McDaniel finance a new one? But Casey was right. Even if Joe put up the money, the building wasn’t Ben’s to alter. Dammit.
“There has to be a way to do both. Kline and Dad need to bury the hatchet. Maybe if I could sit them both down, they could find a way to coexist?”
“Stop trying to fix them.” Casey crossed her arms and shook her head. “It’s you that’s the problem here. By not being completely honest with Kline, you’ve lost her trust. The only way to get her back is to show Kline she’s the number-one priority in your life. Not with words. Actions. And I have an idea that might buy you some time until you figure it all out.”
Actions? Wasn’t it enough that he loved her? That he’d do anything for her? What more could he do? “What should I do in the meantime?”
“Have zero contact with her. She needs to see what it’ll be like without you in her life again. Trust me. It’ll throw her off because it’s not something you’d usually do. Make her dig deep and figure out what she really wants. She’ll eventually come to you for the explanation she needs.”
That was just crazy. “I have to talk to her. She needs to hear the truth.”
Casey laid her hands on her desk and leaned forward until her face was an inch from his. “She needs to come to terms with living here, and what it’ll take to be with you again. You can’t make her stay and you can’t make her love you or Anderson Butte. It has to be her choice. The only thing you can do is figure out what would show her how much you love her. Women need to know they matter. What would you be giving up by asking her to marry you?”
“Nothing. But why—”
“What would Kline be giving up by saying yes to marrying you?”
Ben leaned back in his chair and pondered the question. “I don’t like to think she’d be giving things up if she lived here. More like readjusting to a new situation.”
“More like rearranging her whole life. What can you do to show her you’d be willing to rearrange yours for her? Figure that out, and you might have a chance to get her back.”
He had no idea. Before he could come up with anything, Casey said, “I know this will kill your Mr. Fix-It heart, but what happens after that is out of your control.”
It went against his nature to sit back and let things play out. But if it meant keeping Kline in his life, he’d get over it.
Kline threw her suitcases on top of the bed and started emptying all her dresser drawers into them. She was so angry that she didn’t want to speak to her mother. Did her mom think pretending to be sick was some kind of game? That manipulation and lying were okay?
She’d just leave before her mom got back. That way she wouldn’t say the things she wanted to. Things she’d never be able to take back.
Kline turned to get her toiletries from the bathroom and nearly ran into her mom. “Sorry.” She moved around her to leave but her mother grabbed her arm.
“Why are you packing?”
Kline was so mad she couldn’t even look at her mom. Instead, her gaze settled on the basketball trophies lined up on the opposite wall. “Cut the act, Mom. I just read your e-mails. It was bad enough the whole town was in on your scheme, but how could you have lied to me like that? I was so worried about you.”
Her mother cringed. “For the unnecessary worry, I’m sorry, Kline. But not the rest.”
Kline’s hands balled into fists. It took all of her control to keep her voice at a reasonable level. “So rallying the whole town into luring me into some false sense of welcome and security is acceptable behavior?”
“That’s not what happened, Kline. True, I faked being ill. It was the only thing that I could think of to draw you home again. Don’t you think I could hear how lonely you were at times when we’d speak on the phone? I hated that you moved from place to place, leaving before relationships got too complicated.”
“I was helping people.”
Her mom sighed and then sat on the bed. She patted the bedspread beside her.
Kline shook her head. She was too upset to sit and have a calm conversation.
“Nate told me how it really was, Kline. That when your relationship started to get serious, you bolted.”
Kline closed her eyes and counted to ten. “You sa
id you knew he wasn’t right for me.”
“That’s only because I know Ben is right for you. I love you more than anything in the world. I only want what’s best for you, sweetheart. You know that, right?”
She knew it in her heart, though she had some choice words dying to escape her mouth. But she didn’t operate that way, so she just nodded.
“Then you need to understand that I know you better than you think. You don’t get close to people because you’re so afraid they’ll hurt you. Doing the job you had was the perfect way to keep your heart intact, but it didn’t make you happy. That’s why I wanted you to come home. To see how things have changed around here. And how many people care for you, Kline. Especially Ben. His family told me he never married because he never got over you. We wanted you to have the chance to see that before it was too late.”
Kline’s wounded heart wasn’t soothed in the least. “You could have just told me that.”
“Really?” Her mom laughed as she stood to leave. “Think about that for a minute. And while you’re thinking, remember you’ve made a commitment to your cousin. She needs to rest and can only do that if you keep your word and show up for school tomorrow.”
Dammit! She’d forgotten about that. “Of course I’ll keep my word. But then I’m going to leave as soon as classes are over.”
“Not with my car, you’re not. But before you run away again, please have the decency to talk to Ben.” Her mother shook her head. “I was so looking forward to finally having a Grant run this town. You’ve disappointed me, Kline.” Her mom softly closed the door behind her.
Disappointed her? How had this suddenly become all her fault! Kline grabbed her coat and walked toward the front door. She needed to see about getting her car charged so she could get the hell out of town.
She called out, “I’m going to see Uncle Zeke. If Ben is here when I get back, I’m going to the hotel. Stay out of this, Mom!”
She slammed the front door closed behind her and headed out into the dark, wet evening. How was doing what a person set out to do “running”? She’d put her life at risk a time or two for those needy kids. It was for them that she’d taken the job.
And damn Nate for his big mouth. She’d broken up with him because he wanted a commitment from her she couldn’t give.
It didn’t matter. They were better off as friends. It wasn’t because she was afraid he’d hurt her like Ben had. It was because she hadn’t been in love with him.
She pulled her hood farther down as she leaned into the wind and icy rain that pricked her cheeks. Her skin was so numb she barely felt her warm tears tracking down her cheeks.
Ben was the only man she’d ever loved and now he’d gone and lied to her again. He’d broken her heart for a second time. How could it hurt even worse than the first time?
Lights were still on in Zeke’s workshop, so she wiped away her tears and slid the heavy door open. Warm air greeted her along with screaming country music. She had to tap on her uncle’s shoulder to get his attention.
He jumped a foot in the air.
“Holy mother of . . . Kline, you about scared me to death.”
She forced a smile. “Sorry. The music was so loud it was the only way to get your attention.”
“I have to have it loud if I want to hear it. Getting old stinks, I tell you.”
“You’re not old.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his wrinkled cheek. “You’re just vintage. How is my charging station coming?”
He got a sheepish look on his face. “Seems I forgot to order those parts until just yesterday. See, proves I’m getting old.”
Kline crossed her arms. “Or you’re in cahoots with my mom and are trying to keep me here?”
Zeke chuckled. “You always were a smart one, Kline.”
“How long before they arrive?” Kline had to restrain the frustrated scream that wanted to escape.
“Could be a week or so. I figured you’d be staying for Thanksgiving, so why pay the rush fee, you know?”
“Yeah. I don’t suppose I could talk you into flying me to Denver tomorrow evening, could I?” She could rent a car, find a house to buy, and then ask Nate to drive her back for her car after she’d cooled down a bit.
“Nope. Not gonna lie to you, Kline. Your momma called just now and said she’d kick my butt if I flew you to Denver. But the truth is, I wouldn’t have anyway. I think you have an honest chance to beat the mayor. We need you around here.”
“Is telling me that part of the ‘welcome Kline home’ plan?”
Zeke pulled a red rag from his back pocket and slowly wiped his hands. He took so long she wasn’t sure he’d answer the question. Finally he said, “Have you enjoyed your time back here? Until today, I mean?”
“Yes. But everyone was told to be nice to me.”
“Since when do you think people are going to do anything they don’t want to do? Especially those damned Andersons.”
“I think everyone did it for Ben. Who doesn’t like Ben, the town savior? If something is wrong, Ben’ll fix it.”
Zeke frowned. “They did it for you, Kline. Some maybe because they realized they owed you from before and others because they’re glad to see you back. But speaking of Ben. The whole town knows I’ve always had a thing for his grandmother. I spent over forty years wishing for something I was too damned proud to ask for after we’d had a misunderstanding in high school. If you love Ben, you can work anything out. Because anything is better than being without the one you love.”
She’d never heard the part about a misunderstanding in high school. “But don’t I deserve to be told the truth? And to have an uninterrupted meal with the man? To be the most important person in his life, not third or fourth behind whichever family member Ben needs to please or rescue first?”
“A lifeguard rescues the drowning person in the most danger, then goes back for the others. Because Ben has obligations, it doesn’t mean he loves them more than you. Ben’s a good man. And I recognize that same hurt in his eyes when he looks at you that I used to see every morning in my bathroom mirror. Afraid he’ll never have the love of his life again.”
“Why, just once, can’t someone in this town be on my side?”
“We’re all on your side, Kline. You just need to put the past away and see what’s right in front of you.” He turned back to his engine, giving it his full attention rather than her. “Think about it.”
Zeke giving her his back hurt. “Please just get the parts as soon as possible.”
“I’ll call first thing tomorrow and see if I can expedite the shipping.”
“Thank you. See you later.” Why would shipping the parts sooner make her feel like such a jerk? Had she disappointed Zeke now too?
Kline slowly walked home, grateful she’d forgotten her cell in her rush. Ben had probably called ten times looking for her by now. Maybe she’d just let that battery die too. He was the last person she wanted to talk to.
She walked into her mom’s house and softly closed the door behind her, regretting her show of temper by slamming it the last time.
Her mom was sitting on the living room couch reading. She looked up from her book. “Want some dinner?”
What she wanted was a hug, but she was too upset with her mom to ask for one. As it was, she could barely resist the urge to cry. “No, thanks. I’m going to bed.”
“At seven thirty?” Her mom stood and wrapped Kline up in a hug.
Maybe her mom did know her better than she’d thought. Kline let her tears fall as she hugged her mom back. “I’m so mad and hurt by what you did, Mom.”
Her mother just nodded against Kline’s shoulder. She was right. There was nothing more to say. Her mom had told her what her intentions were. Now the ball was in Kline’s court.
She leaned away and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Did Ben come over?”
“No. And he hasn’t called either.”
Huh. That was odd. “Okay. Good night.”
“Good ni
ght, honey.”
Kline walked into her bedroom and checked her cell. No calls? She checked the battery to be sure the phone had juice. The green bar glowed at the halfway point. Was he giving her time to cool down? Yeah, that was it. He’d probably show up at her window later with something yummy to eat and be all full of remorse.
Well, she’d just let him stand outside and freeze his lying butt off.
Ben finished up his lunch and then picked up his cell to text Kline. Just like the ten other times earlier, he laid the phone back down on his desk before his fingers betrayed him. He needed to listen to Casey’s advice. He’d wait and let Kline come to him. Betty had texted that Kline had left for school earlier, so she was still in town. Kline’s mom promised to let him know if it looked like Kline was leaving, so he needed to let things play out as they should.
Being patient was killing him.
Would asking her to marry him again be enough to show Kline how much he loved her?
He reached inside his white lab coat and pulled out the box that held her former engagement ring. Maybe he should upgrade it now that he could afford to do so. He’d happily buy her any ring she wanted.
No, that wasn’t the answer. Kline couldn’t care less about material things. She wore simple jewelry. It had to be something more meaningful.
Casey had asked if he’d be willing to rearrange his whole life for Kline. She wanted to live in Denver. Could he do that? He loved his patients here. He loved his family. His family and his patients needed him. Or was it the other way around? Did he need to be needed by them as others had suggested? God, it hurt to think of moving away. But not having Kline in his life just wasn’t acceptable anymore.
So if it meant the difference between losing Kline again and having his life in Anderson Butte and the clinic, then yes. He’d rearrange his whole life to be with Kline. As much as he’d hated the idea, he would do anything to be with Kline again.
It Had to Be Them (An It Had to Be Novel Book 4) Page 21
