by Tara Randel
“What? Who do you think—” his father sputtered.
“Your son,” Reid cut in, leaning in so close his father jerked away. “Who is done with you and this company.”
He turned on his heel.
“Reid. Wait,” his father called to his back.
He didn’t stop walking. Right now, he wanted Golden in his rearview mirror.
* * *
HEIDI SHIFTED LEFT to right in front of the full-length mirror hanging on her closet door. The angle helped to get a better look at the dress she’d tried on, but she was still uncertain. Yes, it was a perfect fit, full of color. Was it the appropriate outfit to wear when you were planning to tell your longtime friend that you were in love with him?
“What do you think?” she asked the only other presence in the room, receiving silence in return. She swung around to see Mr. Whiskers licking his paw, patently ignoring her.
“A lot of help you are,” she crabbed to the gray-and-white-striped tabby, then turned to study her reflection. Smoothing her hands over her hips, she wondered if she was making too much of her clothing choice. Plus, she was going to the community center to hang out with teenagers. Was a flattering dress overkill?
“This is over-the-top,” she muttered, changing from the dress into a peach sleeveless blouse, a pair of dark indigo jeans and flats. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and went to the mirror.
“Not glamorous, but it’ll do,” she decided as she checked her image with a critical eye. She didn’t need a fancy outfit to speak from the heart. Nor did she want to make things weird—more than they already were—between herself and Reid. She needed to be plain old Heidi, the woman she was coming to embrace since she and Reid had started down this unexpected path.
How her life had changed in such a short span of time. She’d uncovered a range of emotions for a man she’d always considered her friend. Yet now she could see the possibilities of Reid being so much more. He’d listened to her embarrassing story about her fear of the dark, encouraging instead of pitying her. He’d let her not just dream about a house, he’d actively included her in making it happen. Sure, he was surprised with the change in their relationship as much as she was, but he wasn’t afraid to see where this new turn in their relationship took them. How could she love him any more than she already did?
Shaking off her musing, she went to the bed. Mr. Whiskers stared up at her with keen eyes. “I’ll miss you,” she said, reaching out to give his head a scratch. His loud purr reached her ears. “Yeah, I know, you’ll miss me too.”
She stopped in the living room before leaving, looking around the small space she’d called home for years. Her gaze fell on the couch she’d found for a great deal on an internet site. From there she took in the odds and ends of furniture scooped up at garage sales she and Serena frequented, looking for deals.
On the kitchen counter sat the tea caddy she’d constructed under Reid’s supervision. She grinned at the memory.
Her dining table, or office, was filled to the brim with files and an open laptop. Soon she’d have a real office, if she was able to buy the house from Reid.
“Not if, when,” she corrected herself. She’d grown here, into a confident woman. And while this had been a good starting place, she’d dreamed of the next steps. Now it was time to move on. She’d never been more ready to purchase a home of her own.
She refused to consider a different outcome. Not only did that house offer her security, it was because of that house that she’d spent time with Reid, only to realize she loved him. It was time to leave the darkness of the past and truly embrace the light of her future.
She grabbed her purse, heading out for the night, filled with nervous anticipation.
* * *
WHEN SHE ENTERED the community center, she immediately spotted the kids from both her group and Reid’s. They’d all gathered in the main activity room where Josh kept an eye on them. She searched for Reid. The pizza had been delivered, but he was nowhere in sight. Her stomach twisted in knots. Had he forgotten about tonight’s party? The idea smarted. Yes, he’d been preoccupied lately, but he’d promised to be here.
From the other side of the room, she heard Mia’s voice over the din.
“I did it,” she proclaimed to the room. “I got my car keys.” The girl triumphantly held said keys high for all to see.
When her gaze met Mia’s, the teen beelined right for her. Still a bit unsteady because she was thinking about Reid, Heidi pasted on a smile. The girl stopped before her with a sheepish look on her face. “I passed my final test. Brought my final grade up to a C.”
“I told you it was possible.”
“Sorry I didn’t believe you.”
“It’s all about believing in yourself.” She winked at Mia. It had been a journey, but loving Reid had shown Heidi that by believing in herself, she had more than enough love to give Reid. Which she wanted to tell him, if he’d just show up.
Mia slid a slice of pizza from the box and took a big bite. Oh, to have a teenager’s metabolism.
“Aren’t you eating?” she asked around a mouthful.
“In a minute,” Heidi stalled. Her appetite was iffy at best. Not wanting to let the kids down because of her worries, she took a cup and filled it with iced tea from a jug.
“So, my parents want to give you a medal,” Mia said.
A medal? For what, caring about Mia? “Not necessary,” Heidi said. She loved tutoring and didn’t expect anything in return.
Mia shrugged. “Well, they’re happy, so I’m happy.”
“You’re happy because they gave you the car keys,” Heidi said in a dry tone.
“True, so happy all around.” Mia glanced at the roomful of kids. “Where’s Mr. Masterson?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Really? I thought you’d know.”
She tried to correct her nervous laugh and only made it more awkward. “Why?”
Mia stared at her. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I have no clue.”
“Obviously.” Mia rolled her eyes. “You have a crush on him.”
How on earth had Mia noticed? Heidi shouldn’t be surprised. Hadn’t Serena come to the same conclusion?
“C’mon. No one could miss the looks you two give each other.”
Heidi placed a hand on her hip and tried to look authoritative. “And why were you noticing in the first place?”
“Because it’s the same way I look at Todd.”
Yep, Heidi had it bad because she hadn’t once missed the longing in Mia’s eyes for Todd.
“And when you weren’t looking,” Mia continued in a knowing tone, “Mr. Masterson was checking you out.”
“No wonder you didn’t get higher than a C as a final grade. You were too busy paying attention to other unrelated things.”
Mia sent her a gotcha grin. “But I’m not wrong.”
No, she wasn’t. Heidi bit her lower lip, unsure how to respond. Somehow this seemed an inappropriate conversation to be having with a teen, but on the other hand, Mia had nailed it. Math might not be Mia’s strong suit, but she definitely had other superpowers.
Soon Mia moved on to her group of friends. Heidi glanced at her watch.
“Wondering where Reid is?” Josh asked as he joined her, holding a slice of pizza in his hand.
Since he’d filled in when Reid couldn’t make some of the classes, Heidi had made sure to include Josh in tonight’s festivities.
“He must be hung up at the office.”
“I saw his truck there when I drove by,” he said before taking a bite.
Was Reid really putting work before the kids? Before her? And what about the conversation after the party?
“He promised he’d be here,” Heidi insisted, infusing confidence in her voice to cover the mounting hurt.
“You know
how he gets when he’s at the office,” Josh gave her a knowing smile and wandered off, leaving Heidi to grapple with her roller coaster of emotions.
Not ready to throw in the towel, she found her phone and called Reid. The call went right to voice mail. Okay, maybe he was driving and couldn’t answer. Made sense. She’d go with that explanation.
After an hour, Heidi glanced at her watch for the fifth time since arriving at the community center. Still no Reid.
“Don’t panic,” she assured herself as she looked at her phone a few minutes later, hoping she’d missed a call. Nothing.
It was at that exact moment she knew for sure that Reid wasn’t coming. It was clear. He hadn’t made an appearance, nor had he answered her call.
He didn’t want her.
With a sinking heart, she kept up sunny conversation while helping Mia and a few other kids clean up, then said goodbye as they hurried off. The end of the school year was a hectic time. As much as Heidi wanted to give in to a pity party, she wouldn’t.
Tonight had been an eye-opener. It confirmed what she’d learned from growing up with her mother. That you could love someone with all your being, but it didn’t mean a thing if that love wasn’t returned. Especially if there were more important things in the other person’s life.
She looked around the empty room. Alone again.
To her dismay, tears simmered just below the surface.
How had she thought she’d be immune to getting hurt by another important person in her life yet again?
Everything in life was short-term, from owning a home to love. Hadn’t she understood that early on? Why had she thought falling for Reid would be different? He’d obviously chosen his path, and it didn’t include her or the beautiful changes in their friendship.
The pain she’d been fighting slowly crept across her heart. With shaking fingers, she flipped the wall switch to turn off the lights. She walked down the lit hallway and made her way out into the quiet spring night. Well, quiet except for the musical call of birds in an overhead tree branch. It made her think of Reid, and she found herself lonelier than ever.
The vast lavender sky held many shades tonight, ranging from a watery pale sheen intensifying to purple, then indigo, as night settled in. Before long, stars would dot the sky. At the thought, she could no longer hold back the tears.
No more sharing kisses with the man she loved. No more laughing and supporting each other. Heidi was grateful that she hadn’t made a fool of herself by admitting her love for Reid. Wouldn’t he have gotten a laugh out of that? His old friend falling for him. Why had she ever thought this was a good idea? Because her worst fears about people not reciprocating her love were realized.
She swiped hot tears from her cheeks as she refocused on the most important thing in her life, putting down roots at the Hanover house. She and Mr. Whiskers would be completely content on their own. She had friends and her accounting business was growing. What more did she need?
Reid.
Yeah, well, that wasn’t going to happen. It might feel like her heart had been ripped from her chest, but better it happen now before she got in any deeper. Love was not in the cards for Heidi Welch. An image of her mother flashed in her mind.
Fishing for the car keys in her purse, the stark ring of her cell phone startled Heidi. Then filled her with hope. Maybe Reid had a good reason for not showing up tonight. It might be him calling to explain.
Stop.
He’d had his chance and blew it.
She finally pulled out the device and read the screen. Frowned.
“Mrs. M.?” she answered.
“It’s Reid,” came the older woman’s tortured voice.
Heidi went still. Had something happened to him? Oh, no, had Reid been in a car accident? All ability to speak failed her.
“He and his father had a terrible fight,” Mrs. M. explained. “We need to find him.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AFTER DRIVING AIMLESSLY through Golden, Reid decided he should leave town, just like he’d been thinking about doing for a while now. Clearly, he and his father were never going to see eye to eye. Perhaps with some distance he could figure out what he wanted to do with his life, because being here in Golden wasn’t cutting it. Leaving would be best for everyone.
Not everyone.
Shame washed over him. How could he face Heidi now? He’d made a mess of things. He’d broken a promise to her, and worse? He’d made her—both of them really—hope for a future that would never happen. Would she forgive him when she discovered he’d gone? Be glad they hadn’t gotten any deeper into their relationship?
Heidi should have been his main focus. He’d ruined their relationship because he was too much like his father instead of being his own man.
The thoughts bombarding his brain were giving him a headache. Before reaching the town limits, he passed Hanover Lane. Remembering Phil’s phone call, he turned the wheel to make a quick visit. The least he could do before leaving once and for all was to make sure Phil had finished the deck job, insuring Heidi’s dream home would pass inspection.
Right now, that was all he could gift her. His father’s dismissal hurt down to his bones. Until he could overcome the pain and disappointment of not measuring up, what did he have to offer Heidi? He couldn’t even carry through on showing up at the community center.
Slowing down as the house came into view, he pulled into the driveway, loose gravel crunching under the tires. After a moment, he turned off the engine and loosened his tie to remove it. Releasing the pent-up frustration simmering inside him, Reid draped his hands over the steering wheel and stared into the shadows of the forest spreading out behind the property line.
The quiet night should have lulled him, but had the opposite effect. He heard shouts and laughter from somewhere down the street. A squirrel raced across the yard and scampered up a tree trunk to hide within the branches.
A slight glimmer of a smile crossed his lips. Heidi would love living here. The wildlife would keep her amused and on her toes. She’d already planted cheerful flowers along the front walk, putting her personal touch on the place.
Too bad you won’t be around to see what else she accomplishes.
That was the catch. Heidi was accomplishing...life. She had a business she loved, volunteered in the community and went after her dreams. If he was truly honest, he’d admit he was jealous. When had Reid last been excited about pursuing his goals? Making his mark on the world? Not in a long time. Instead, he’d been aimless, letting his father’s judgment affect his life, to the exclusion of all else. When had he lost the ability to be his own man?
Cool air, carrying the subtle scent of the nearby woods, filled the cab of his truck. Someone must have lit a fire; there was a hint of smoke in the air. Perhaps a family making s’mores on an open pit in the backyard? Lights had started blinking on in nearby houses as the deep shadow of dusk blanketed the area. It was quiet and expected and... What he wanted?
On top of the slight incline sat the empty house, the essence of family life. A home, with large windows—he now understood why this was number one on Heidi’s wish list—open rooms painted in bright colors and... A sense of joy. A shimmer of light shone through the windows as dusk descended, as if welcoming people to come inside.
Working on the house with Heidi had given him a boost when he’d pretty much fallen into a boring routine. It was more the woman, not this particular job, that had done that. She’d shown him that there was more to life than just going through the motions. Waiting for the day when his father accepted Reid’s place in the business, if that would ever happen. After hearing her childhood story, he’d been horrified and angry at the fear she’d buried deep inside. How could a parent treat a child so shabbily? His father had done something similar to him, only in a different way. Yet Heidi had risen from the ashes of her childhood. Why hadn’t Reid?
He stared at the house, his chest tight.
Heidi’s house.
Could it be their house?
Wasn’t Heidi more important than Masterson Enterprises? A resounding yes chorused in his soul. With Heidi, he could take chances, make a difference in the business world, knowing she was home waiting for him, no matter what he did or didn’t do. And he would do the same for her. He finally understood what a home represented. Why Heidi wanted it so badly. It wasn’t only about the deal or profit, it was about living your best life with those you loved, under one roof. How could he give up a chance of that dream for the meager crumbs he received from his father?
His mind conjured up pictures of Heidi swinging a sledgehammer, a bright smile on her face. Paint on her cheek, giving him an excuse to touch her soft skin as he brushed it away. Kissing her under the stars. Knowing that she returned his kisses with as much enthusiasm as she approached every aspect of her life. The thought of never kissing her, never laughing with her again, caused a stinging pain in his chest.
He sat up, slowly realizing that he wouldn’t let his father drive him away from the most important accomplishment of his life—loving Heidi. He’d been a fool not to have seen it sooner. He should have told her he loved her. Was it too late?
There was no way he was leaving town now.
He had to talk to her. Apologize. Tell her he’d probably mess up again, but he wanted a chance with her, if she’d have him. She meant everything to him and he would prove it to her.
As he reached for the key in the ignition, his gaze moved to the house. He frowned. Wait, had the glowing he thought he saw in the window grown brighter? The sun had nearly sunk behind the trees, effectively enveloping the house in shadows. No one was inside, so there should be no lights on.
