“And me?” Mark asked.
Thomas laughed. “You’re about the only one who knew what they were getting. But you don’t count because you knew her all her life.”
Thomas turned to Cannon. “You.” He laughed. “You’ve got a woman who could mend you, kill you and comfort you, but I’ll be damned if she can feed you.”
The door opened and Wes Covington walked in. “Am I late?”
“Only for the relationship roasting.” Luke turned to Thomas. “You got anything to say about Lydia?”
He shook his head. “Nope. She has to do my physical soon. Lydia is a saint.” He smiled and plopped onto the other end of the couch.
Dalton opened his tray of wings and the guys moved in like vultures over roadkill. Luke pulled the pizza from the oven and it was half gone before the game began.
“Hey, man.” Wes sat on the corner of the sofa, the only place besides the floor that was left. “Who was she?”
“Who?” Thomas knew exactly who Wes asked about. He wanted to know who had pissed in his Wheaties and turned romance rancid for him.
“Who broke your heart?”
Thomas laughed. “That’s assuming I have a heart.” He tipped back the beer and turned the volume of the television up.
While his friends focused on who would win the pregame, Thomas resigned himself to having lost the long game.
Sarah Blankenship had burned a hole so deep inside his chest that there was no hope of recovering. He didn’t take her misdeeds out on other women. He simply didn’t engage. Sure, there was a roll in the sheets from time to time. He was a fireman and therefore needed to use his hose, but he never stayed. He was too afraid of the backdraft that a hot woman could cause. Once burned twice shy, they said.
The first touchdown split the room in two. They divided like oil and water with Bronco fans on one couch and Steelers fans on the other.
Thomas couldn't care less, so he took a seat on the floor right next to the bag of chips and watched his friends argue.
Just as halftime came so did a knock on the door. He dragged himself to his feet and answered.
Tilden stood on his porch, hands in his pockets, shuffling back and forth.
“I was told I could hang out with the guys.”
His voice was deep, like Darth Vader deep, which was a surprise. While Thomas had never heard him speak, hearing James Earl Jones’ voice come out of the maybe six-foot-tall man was a shock.
“Come on in.” Thomas moved to the side to let him pass. “I’m Thomas.” He pointed to the guys in the room. “You probably know the rest.”
“I’ve seen you all around.”
“There are beers in the kitchen, but I’m afraid the vultures have pretty much picked the bones of the meal clean. I think there’s some leftover chicken in the fridge though.”
He didn’t consider himself a culinary wizard like Dalton, but Thomas could put together a decent meal. It was probably why he was the one that always cooked for the crew at the station.
“Nah, I’m good. I had the blue plate special at Maisey’s.”
“Right on.” Thomas loved Maisey’s specials too, and Thursday night was meatloaf and mashed potato night.
Tilden popped the top off a beer and came into the living room. He took a seat on the floor and seemed to blend into the woodwork.
After the next touchdown, which put the Broncos twenty-eight points up, the guys got restless.
“Do we get a tour?” Bowie asked.
Thomas stood and showed them around.
His master bedroom was a work in progress. It had the same deep tones that blended in with the rest of the house. Was it dark because of his mood or mostly black and gray because a guy couldn’t go wrong staying monochromatic?
“I’ve got a second bathroom here.” He pointed to the door off his bedroom. “I just installed a new tub and shower.”
“Damn,” Wes said. “Maybe you should work for me. That’s good work in there.” Wes was the resident builder. His family went way back in the town’s history. There seemed to be a hierarchy of founding families. To Thomas’ best recollection, there were the Parkers, the Bennett's, and the Bishops. Records he pulled up on his computer about the town’s history also mentioned the Coolidges and the Carvers but there was some kind of land dispute between them and the Coolidges seemed to disappear sometime in the early 1880s.
He led them down the hallway to the first empty room on his right. “This will be my office when I have time to patch the holes and paint it.” The house had been vacant for far too long before he’d bought it. Turned out some of the kids from the next town over were into remodeling as well, and several of the walls were sporting foot-sized holes.
“Who owned this property?” Bowie asked.
Thomas shrugged. “Some investor who came in and bought up all the vacant homes as soon as word got out the Guild Creative Center was going up. His name is Mauri or Melton or something like that.”
“Mason,” Wes said with less enthusiasm than a cow at the slaughterhouse.
“You know him?” He moved through the Jack and Jill bathroom into the next room.
“Yep, he’s the son of my father’s best friend. Raleigh Van der Veen.”
The quiet Tilden added, “Veen is Dutch for swamp.”
Mark laughed. “So now you’re a translator. Aren’t you a surprise?”
Tilden melted back into the wall and took up his place at the end of the line.
“This, my friends, will be the man-cave within the next few days. Furniture is coming this week.” He pointed to the long narrow room that was perfect for a pool table or ping pong. Hell, he could probably put a one-lane bowling alley in there if he wanted.
“What do you need with a man-cave?” Cannon asked. “The whole place is a cavern.”
“You’re just jealous.” He leaned against the wall. “Try to put a he-room in the bed and breakfast and see how that goes.”
“True.” Cannon walked the length of the room. “The space is great, but it won’t warm your bed, microwave your lasagna, or rub your back when it hurts.”
Deep inside, Thomas knew he was trying to compensate for what would no doubt be more of a loss than a gain. He’d wanted all of the things these men had. In fact, he’d once had what they had and somehow his life had gone up in flames.
Thomas pushed the thought away. “You’re right,” he said. “But it won’t bitch when I leave the toilet seat up. Won’t care if I stick my clothes in the hamper, and it won’t tell me what time to come to bed.”
Chapter Three
Eden
The phone roused Eden from a deep sleep. Her voice broke the silence with a croak.
“Hello.” She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and pushed Porkchop from the bed. She’d taken a liking to curling up between the rise of Eden’s stomach and her chin.
“Hey, it’s me.”
Relief washed over her as her sister’s voice filled her ears.
“Oh, thank God. How was the babymoon? I was certain you’d decided to stay in Bora Bora.”
The silence on the end of the line was odd because generally, Suzanne ran her mouth like a broken faucet.
“Can you meet me in Breckenridge? I’ve got a meeting there tomorrow afternoon, but I thought we could talk over breakfast.”
“I’m not really supposed to drive long distances. It’s—”
“You’re pregnant, Eden. To most women that’s not a handicap. It’s a few hours in the car. Besides, the trees are turning colors, and you always loved that.”
She considered her request. Because of how far her stomach stuck out, to remain comfortable, she had to push her seat way back and had a hard time touching the pedals.
“It’s really uncomfortable, Suze, but yes, I can do it.” There it was again, the inevitable yes that would eventually come about. It was better to acquiesce quickly than drag it on. Suzanne always got her way.
She hadn’t become the vice president of the Alpine Hotel Chain becaus
e she was a poor negotiator. Sometimes Eden wondered if she rose in rank because everyone was afraid to say no to her sister. “Perfect. We really need to talk about the best way forward.” She cleared her throat. “I’ve got a check for you.”
That alone was worth the trip.
“Okay. Sounds great. You didn’t answer my question about your time away with Brady.”
“Got to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Eden was left with so many questions but only silence remained. A moment later her phone dinged with a message from Suzanne’s assistant telling her the place and the time to meet.
* * *
At precisely nine in the morning, Eden walked inside the Hungry Bear Café in Breckenridge, Colorado. A quick glance around told her Suzanne hadn’t arrived yet. It was no surprise. Her sister was a busy woman. She basically ran the resort chain, which had properties all over the world.
Eden was excited to hear about the newest acquisition in Bora Bora. She could only dream of staying in a bungalow on the water with a full staff that included a cook, a butler, and a housekeeper.
After sitting in the car for hours with the steering wheel digging into her stomach, she opted for a table.
Her hand rubbed lovingly over her belly. “Hey, little person, it’s almost time to come out and meet your mommy.”
Eden hoped that the birth would change her sister’s life for the better. She stared toward the window thinking about a diner similar to this where her sister had told her she was infertile. Thinking about it now make her throat swell with emotion.
Watching Brady and Suzanne cry over the fact that they’d never have a child was heartbreaking. How could Eden say no when they asked her to be a surrogate?
“You’re going to have a rich, full life, little one, and I’ll be the best aunt ever.”
It took some time to get used to the idea of having her sister’s child. Everyone, including Eden’s mother, told her it was a bad plan. Their arguments were sound. Eden had never had a child of her own and giving up her first child would be impossible, but Eden considered it an honor to give her sister something that no one else could.
At twelve years apart, Suzanne and Eden never had much in common. Suzanne was off to college by the time Eden was six. All she’d ever wanted was to bond with her big sister and this was it. Or so she thought. It certainly had gone differently than the dream she’d put together in her mind.
In the fantasy, Eden and Suzanne would go to all of her doctor’s appointments. Sadly, with her sister’s busy schedule and the geographic difference of their lives with Eden living in Denver and Suzanne living outside of Breckenridge, they were together for the first appointment where the heartbeat was heard and the first ultrasound where the baby actually looked like a baby. She hadn’t wanted to see “it” when it was a blob.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
Eden’s head snapped up to the waitress who’d arrived while she was daydreaming.
“I’d love a glass of apple juice if you have it.”
“Coming right up.” The woman, whose nametag said Vi, looked down at her belly. “Someone else joining you?”
“Yes, my sister. She’s late but should be here soon.”
Vi spun on her sneakers and disappeared.
She glanced around the restaurant, not lacking in carved wooden bears and honey pots.
“You’ll learn to ski and have grand vacations. You’ll be able to go to college wherever you want. Your mom and dad are smart and successful.”
That last comment made her laugh. No one really knew who the mom and dad were. Because at forty, Suzanne’s eggs weren’t viable, and they used a donor egg. Eden had offered up one of hers, but her sister said it would be weird for her husband’s sperm to mix with Eden’s eggs. Her exact words were, “It would feel like a part of him was cheating on me.”
Vi swung by and dropped off the apple juice before she headed for the new couple that had come in.
In the end, it was decided that donor sperm and a donor egg would be used. Her sister didn’t want Brady to have more invested in their child than she did. So there was no DNA connection to any of them. Everything about this baby was a beautiful mystery.
All Eden knew was the father was tall and smart, with brown hair and blue eyes. The mother was blonde and petite like Eden and Suzanne.
The door opened and in blew her sister like a tropical force wind.
“Sorry I’m late.” Suzanne’s blonde tufts of hair reached for the sky. She looked around the diner. “I hate tables.” She nodded toward the booth in front of the window. “Let’s move.”
Eden touched her stomach. “I barely fit in a booth.”
Her sister rolled her eyes. “But you do fit, so let’s move.”
She wanted to say something, but often it was easier not to argue.
Suzanne was already tucked into the booth before Eden could roll to her feet. When she took her seat across from her big sister, she noticed the dark circles under her eyes.
“You okay?”
Her sister’s upper lip quivered until she drew it between her teeth and bit down. It slipped out with a pop.
“Yep, I’m good.” She lifted the menu up to her face. “They have French toast.”
Eden’s heart picked up. Something was wrong. Really wrong. Suzanne never touched carbs. The last time she’d put one in her mouth was when Brady asked her to marry him. While she was ecstatic at what she called the merger, the marriage meant she’d have to move away from Texas. It was how they ended up in Colorado. Brady and Suzanne for their jobs and Eden because she wanted to support her sister.
She reached over and lowered the menu to find streams of tears running down Suzanne’s face. She leaned farther forward to swipe at them, but the table got in the way.
A thump of the baby’s foot sent her back into the booth. “Your baby doesn’t like the booth either.”
Suzanne gave Eden’s stomach a cursory glance before she waved Vi over and ordered French toast and a bagel with cream cheese.
She opened her purse and pulled out a check. “This should cover the hospital bills and this month’s past due rent. I’m sorry about being late.”
“Me too. The only reason I’m not homeless is because I pulled double shifts the last two weekends.” She didn’t want to tell her sister she was jobless, so she held that information back. “You want to talk about what’s going on?”
Suze’s lower lip found its way between her teeth. She chewed and gnawed until Eden was positive there’d be a hole left behind when she finally let it loose.
“The resort is great. Polynesia is perfect. The people are beautiful and accommodating.” She took a deep breath. “So much so that I found Brady in bed with the maid.” She pulled her fingers through her short, spiky hair. “Oh, who am I kidding? Brady has been with lots of maids, and secretaries and cocktail waitresses.”
Eden’s mouth dropped open. “For how long?”
Suze lifted her shoulders. “Since the beginning, I suppose.” She let out a laugh that could make a serial killer cringe. “You don’t think I made it to vice president because of my brains, do you?”
“Yes.” Eden had always thought her sister was capable of anything she put her mind to. Never once had she considered that her quick rise in the corporation was because she’d been sleeping with Brady, who happened to be a leading shareholder in the company.
Suzanne shook her head. “That’s your problem. You’re too naïve. You take things at face value. You assume the best about people. You shouldn’t.”
Eden had so many questions. “If he’s been unfaithful for all these years, why would you want to have a baby with him?”
Her chest expanded as she took in a breath. Her lips pursed when she let go of the air. “We thought it would be the fix to what was wrong in our marriage.”
What could Eden say? She was twenty-eight, but she was far from stupid. Even she knew a baby wouldn’t fix a bad marriage. “Now what?”
It was Eden’s turn to suck in some air. She did it over and over again until she was dizzy. She gripped the edge of the chipped Formica table and tried to calm her runaway heartbeat. She was certain the baby did a flip inside her as her hands moved across to try and soothe.
“Okay.” She let out little puffs of air. “You can do this. Lots of women have become single parents. It happens all the time.”
Suzanne’s eyes grew as round as Petri dishes. “No, you don’t understand. I’m here to tell you that I don’t want the baby.”
Her mouth opened and shut several times, but nothing came out. Every cell in her body was screaming silently. Their mother was right. She said Suzanne would never be able to fully appreciate the gift of a child. She’d warned Eden several times to reconsider, but she’d been caught up in giving her sister the one thing she couldn’t give herself. Even when she seemed less than enthusiastic about updates and not interested in decorating a nursery, Eden accepted it as Suzanne’s way. She’d always had everyone else do everything for her. She delegated and things got done.
Had Eden just been another box to check off? Get a degree—check. Get a high-powered job—check. Seduce the largest shareholder—check. Climb the corporate ladder—check. Have an heir—check.
A rage unlike any Eden had ever felt boiled from deep inside her. The heat of her anger flamed her cheeks.
“You don’t get to return your baby like an unwanted pair of shoes.”
Maybe it was because Eden was usually so obliging and quiet, but her top of the lungs screaming blanched Suzanne’s skin.
She leaned in toward the center of the table. “Keep it down. I don’t want everyone knowing our business.”
That really pushed Eden over the edge. “Oh my God, this is so typical. Your ego has no bounds. All my life I wanted to be like you. You were so pretty, so successful, so confident. You know what? You’re such an asshole.” She tried to move from the booth but in her anger, she managed to get herself wedged in the corner.
One Hundred Goodbyes: An Aspen Cove Romance Page 2
