He took out his key and let himself in the house. The smell of pine needles greeted him like an old friend, bringing to mind all the memories of Christmases past. Images of pecan pies, glass ornaments and festively wrapped presents flitted through his mind. He could almost taste his Mama’s sweet potato pie in his mouth. A sudden burst of memory assaulted him—Kit dressed in a festively ugly Christmas sweater two years ago. He shook off the memory, wishing he could fast forward to two years from now so the pain and the memories wouldn’t be so overwhelming.
As he walked toward the kitchen, Jayden heard someone rummaging around in the fridge. He wasn’t in the least surprised to see his younger brother, Derrick, bent over and looking for food. His brother was always starving, even though his physique didn’t betray his love of food. At six feet inches tall, Derrick was a bean pole. He was one of those lucky people who could eat to his heart’s delight and never put on any weight. His brother didn’t appreciate being so slender since Jayden had always had the body of a football player.
Jayden let out a chuckle. “Are they not feeding you at Colorado State?” he asked in a booming voice.
Startled, his younger brother dropped the food in his hands and whirled around in his direction. He scowled at Jayden, then picked up the items he’d dropped. “You shouldn’t sneak up on a person like that! I could have had a heart attack.”
Jayden shook his head. Derrick always tended to be dramatic. He was convinced it was due to his being the baby of the London family. Derrick had always been a little more coddled than the rest of his siblings. “Sorry to scare you,” Jayden said. “I thought you would have heard my footsteps.”
Derrick placed the food items on the counter. He held up the bag of salad. “I’m making a chef’s salad and some pasta alla vodka. Are you hungry?”
Jayden shrugged. “I’m not feeling too hungry these days. I seem to have lost my appetite.”
Derrick swung his gaze toward him. His eyes were piercing. “Is this about Kit?”
He let out a labored sigh. Everything these days was about his wife. His soon to be ex-wife. She occupied his every thought. She was the subject of all his prayers. He considered himself a man of faith, but he couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that God didn’t seem to be answering his fervent pleas. In the large scheme of things, he often wondered if he even mattered. Did God hear his prayers? Or maybe He was simply working on bigger problems like world peace and hunger.
Jayden shook his head as a feeling of sadness enveloped him. “Divorce papers have been drawn up by Kit’s attorney.”
Derrick sucked in a shocked breath. “Oh, no! Why didn’t you tell me things were this bad?”
Jayden moved toward his brother and watched as he prepared the pasta. “You have one job, Derrick. To keep your eyes on the prize and focus on your studies. We can’t wait to have a doctor in the family as soon as you graduate from college and finish medical school. I didn’t want to distract you with bad news.”
Derrick quirked his mouth. “I knew things were rough since you were staying here, but I figured you would work through it.” He shook his head. “I don’t get it. The two of you love each other to the moon and back.” His brother stared at him with a mixture of confusion and pity, then turned his eyes back toward the stove. “What happened, Jay? I thought you were trying to work things out with Kit?”
“I can’t explain it, D. One minute we were blissfully happy and the next moment everything imploded. She thinks I’ve changed since my career blew up.” He made a face. “It was always my dream to be a pro football player for as long as I can remember. I can’t believe my success has caused so much tension in my marriage.”
“To be fair, it hasn’t been easy for Kit to stay at home while you’re on the road. And all those tabloid pictures didn’t help matters,” Derrick said in a quiet voice.
Jayden frowned at his brother. “Nothing happened. I went out with some guys on the team. The girls who ended up at the hotel were with them and not me. I’ve never been unfaithful a day in my life. It wasn’t as if I was out carousing behind her back.”
Derrick held up his hands. “I believe you. But it’s like Pop always told us. You can’t put yourself in circumstances where things look sketchy. You put yourself in bad situations, Jay. That wasn’t smart as a married man.”
Derrick’s words cut him to the quick. His little brother was scolding him for his behavior. He felt deeply ashamed. Even though he hadn’t engaged in any extramarital cheating, he hadn’t acted honorably. He had put his feet too close to the fire on many occasions. Being photographed out in the clubs with other women had been foolish and hurtful to his wife. And it had all come back to bite him. Jayden lowered his head. Suddenly it all felt so overwhelming to him. He was losing Kit. The only woman he had ever loved. His life partner. The woman he had sworn to love for a lifetime. His sweet Kit. With every second passing by, he was getting closer and closer to losing her. And there wasn’t a darn thing he could do about it.
Hot tears trickled down his face. He was so deeply unhappy and he couldn’t even look his little brother in the eye. Derrick had looked up to him for as long as Jayden could remember. As the local football jock who had made a big splash in the NFL, Derrick had always thought his big brother was a hero. It hurt Jayden to realize how deeply he’d disappointed his family.
He felt Derrick’s hand on his shoulder. “Jayden, I’m not trying to make you feel sad or guilty. I just want to give it to you straight. If there’s any chance of putting a halt to things before things are finalized—”
Jayden swung his gaze up. “It’s too late,” he said in a clipped tone. “Kit is signing the papers over Christmas, then they’ll be forwarded to me for my signature.” Just saying it out loud caused a wave of nausea to roll through him. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
“Don’t sign them!” Derrick implored him. “Rip them up.” There was such a wealth of sincerity in Derrick’s voice. It touched Jayden in a place deep in his soul. His brother was so sincere, yet incredibly naïve.
“It’s not that simple. We’re at an impasse. All roads of communication have broken down,” he said, sinking down into a kitchen chair. “If I don’t sign she can still petition the court and the judge to proceed with the divorce.” He frowned. “Can you imagine the headlines?”
“Who cares about the media stories?” Derrick asked. “We’re talking about your marriage here. All those rag media outlets know is Jayden London the professional athlete. They know nothing about Jayden London, the man. They don’t know your heart or your soul or the things that make you tick.”
Derrick was right. Jayden was so used to protecting his image in the media. It was almost a reflex at this point. It had always been one of Kit’s major gripes in their marriage. She’d accused him on numerous occasions of caring more about his professional image than about their marriage. Although Jayden knew that wasn’t the truth, he had to question whether he’d been guilty of making it appear that way. Had he failed Kit by not showing her that she was the single most important thing in his world?
“Tell me you don’t love her anymore and I won’t say another word about it.” Derrick gazed at him solemnly. Suddenly it hit him that his little brother had grown up into a wise and thoughtful man. He wasn’t a kid anymore. It was a bittersweet realization.
Jayden shook his head. Sorrow threatened to swallow him up whole. More than ever, he now had to come to terms with the fact that something wonderful was slipping through his fingers. “I can’t say that I don’t love her. If I did, it would be the biggest lie of all time. I love her, Derrick. I always have, and I know I always will. But I let her slip through my fingers. I blew it,” he said, running his hand across his jaw. “And don’t worry, little brother. I know that I’m going to regret it for the rest of my days.”
Chapter Two
Kit pulled into the driveway of the winter cabin she and Jayden had purchased a few years ago in the quaint town of Dove, Colorado. The drive from
Hope Valley had been serene. It had allowed her the opportunity to simply relax and reflect. She’d placed a jazz CD in the player and hummed along to it the entire time. Normally this time of year Kit was up to her elbows in upbeat holiday music. She couldn’t bring herself to do it this year. Who wanted to listen to songs about people rocking around the Christmas tree or snuggling up under the mistletoe?
As she stepped out of her car, Kit took a moment to drink in the sight of the winter cabin. It was stunningly beautiful. Located on Cascade Road, it was located next to a forest, lending it the look of something from a fairytale. Mountains loomed in the distance. A recent snowfall had dusted the roof of the cabin with snow. Years ago, she and Jayden had painted the door a bright red color. A burst of color amid the snow. It gave the cottage a bold look, despite its cozy appearance.
It was two days before Christmas, Kit thought with a sigh as she pulled her luggage to the front door and juggled her possessions as she searched for her keys. After locating it, she put the key in the door and turned it, pushing her way inside. The moment she crossed the threshold, the scent of pine assaulted her senses. Following the smell, Kit let out a gasp as she laid eyes on a huge Christmas tree sitting in the living room. Although there were no ornaments gracing the branches, Kit truly appreciated the gesture.
“It’s gorgeous,” she said, knowing immediately that their caretaker, Jim Sampson, was responsible for the tree. Sampson, who was in his mid-sixties, was a local resident who supported himself after retirement by caretaking several homes in the area.
Kit carried her luggage toward the bedroom and stopped abruptly in the doorway. She hadn’t been prepared for the sight of the mahogany sleigh bed with the beautifully sewn Queen- sized quilt which had been lovingly made for them by Jayden’s mother, Janice. Suddenly it felt as if giant hands were squeezing her chest. Hot tears burned her eyes.
Lord, give me the strength to make it through this holiday and all the lonely weeks and months to follow.
A vast feeling of loneliness enveloped her. Never in a million years had she ever imagined craving solitude at Christmas. But then again, the word divorce had never seemed like an option. Until Jayden became someone she barely recognized. Kit deposited her luggage next to the bed, then turned on her heel to leave the room. There was no point in wallowing in her situation. She’d come to the cabin for peace and reflection. Her stomach grumbled loudly, serving as a reminder that she hadn’t eaten anything more than a bran muffin this morning. She prayed Jim had remembered to pick up her order from the local market. As soon as she entered the kitchen, she knew without a doubt her food supply had arrived.
A bouquet of red and white roses sat on the counter along with a note from the merchants at the market. Happy Holidays to Mr. and Mrs. London. Wishing you a blessed New Year. The flowers were lovely, but she felt a little sick to her stomach at the note. Mr. and Mrs. London. Would she ever get used to not being Mrs. London? Or Jayden’s wife? To distract herself from depressing thoughts, she opened up the fridge and let out a contented sigh. All of her favorite foods were on display. She rubbed her stomach as she spotted a container of chicken salad and cranberries. Kit busied herself making a sandwich, then placed some Kettle chips and a pickle on her plate. After making herself a cup of steaming hot cocoa, Kit settled down at the kitchen table and ate her lunch while gazing out of the huge bay window as snowflakes gracefully fell from the sky. The weather report had forecast a wintry mix for the next day or so. It was coming down more intensely than she’d expected. It was all right with her, Kit decided, since she wasn’t going anywhere for the next week. She intended to spend time at the cabin by herself in deep reflection. Bring on the snow! It would be a welcome diversion from the divorce papers burning a hole in her luggage.
She couldn’t help but remember the time when she and Jayden had been vacationing at the cabin when a random snowstorm had taken them by surprise. The weather hadn’t bothered them one little bit. Their love had made them oblivious to the fact that there was no easy way out until the storm passed and roads were cleared. She let out a sigh. She’d give anything to go back in time to that period in her life and in her marriage when love had reigned supreme. It felt a bit overwhelming that things had spiraled out of control so quickly.
Relax! She reminded herself. In order to move forward with her life, she had to accept that her marriage was over. Signing the papers and sending them to Jayden would be a difficult but necessary step in moving on with her life. Her thoughts were all jumbled up. Perhaps a hot shower with her favorite vanilla foaming wash would provide relaxation and rejuvenation. She needed all the help she could get.
The shower proved to be completely invigorating. As she exited the shower and dried herself off, Kit felt a thousand times better. She let out a sigh. It was amazing how something so simple as a hot shower could make her feel as if she could now take on the world. And all of her problems. She pulled on a comfy pair of pajamas and threw herself down on the comfy bed.
A sudden sound from outside the bedroom door caused her heart to thump wildly in her chest. It sounded as if someone was out there. She sat up and pressed her hand against her throat. Dove, Colorado had to be one of the most serene places she’d ever been in her life. The cabin was in a remote area. It seemed unlikely that anyone would try and rob the place. Was it Jim the caretaker? Perhaps he had forgotten something and had simply let himself in. She’d parked her car on the side of the cabin, so it was possible he wasn’t aware she was here.
She let out a gasp as the door knob began to slowly turn. A scream was trapped in her throat. Her terror was palpable. A figure stood in the doorway as the door swung open. Kit let out a shocked noise. The person standing before her was as familiar to her as her own face in the mirror. It felt as if worlds were colliding. Never in a million years had she expected to see her husband standing a few feet away from her at their cabin.
“Jayden! What in the world are you doing here?”
**
Jayden tried not to visibly wince as he laid eyes on Kit. She was dressed in a pair of cozy pajamas. Her hair had been swept up in a high ponytail and she looked as gorgeous as ever. The very sight of his wife rocked him to his core. It was a complete and utter shock to the system.
Was someone playing a huge joke on him? He’d only come to the cabin because he had felt the need for solitude. His impending divorce had been weighing heavily on him. And the very thought of being around family and his football buddies had been inconceivable. Then he had run into Kit’s sister, who had encouraged him to get away for the holidays in order to relieve his mind of all his worries. Not that he’d been under the belief that the cabin would solve all of his problems, but he had jumped at the chance to get away from it all. All the questions and the hand wringing. All the holiday cheer and the decorations.
Coming face-to-face with Kit felt like a stinging slap in the face, especially when he had been under the belief that she was thousands of miles away on an island somewhere soaking up the sun.
“What am I doing here?” he asked in a strangled voice. “Shouldn’t I be asking you the same question? I thought you were going to Cabo for Christmas.”
Kit frowned. “Cabo? For Christmas? Why would I go somewhere sunny for Christmas? You know I love being here in Colorado. Not to mention my passport has expired, so it wouldn’t have been an option.”
Jayden narrowed his gaze as he stared at Kit. “That’s what your sister told me.”
She shook her head. “Robin? Why would she have told you that? And when did you see her?”
“A few days ago. We ran into each other at the car show. I was making an official appearance with the team. She seemed certain of your plans and made a big point of telling me you were going to be out of the country for Christmas.”
“That is so strange,” Kit murmured. “Why would Robin have been at the car show? You know as well as I do that she has no patience for things like that.”
Jayden scratched his jaw. “Matter o
f fact, she was the one who suggested I come here to clear my head.”
Kit’s mouth hung wide open. She made a choking sound.
“A-are you all right? Your face is turning all kinds of red,” Jayden said, wondering if Kit was reacting to his unexpected appearance at the cabin.
She raised her hand to her mouth and coughed. Kit shifted from one foot to the other. “Something fishy is going on. Robin knew I was coming here. So did Tasha. And Georgia. So why would she send you here?” For a moment they simply stared at each other. Jayden saw the exact moment when realization dawned on her.
“She sent me here on purpose,” Jayden said. “So we would be together.”
Kit let out a brittle laugh. “Knowing my sister, that’s exactly what happened. And I get the feeling she had a little help from Tasha.” Her brows knit together. “Maybe even Georgia and Mallory.”
Jayden ran a weary hand over his face. He let out a sigh. He was exhausted after driving all the way to Bear Mountain from Hope Valley. It was frigid outside with a heavy snow already beginning to stick on the ground. It would be a herculean feat to drive all the way back this evening. But, under the circumstances, he couldn’t imagine Kit wanting him to stay over at the cabin. How could Robin, Tasha and the rest of their friend group have done this? And for what purpose? Him being sent on a wild goose chase changed nothing.
He placed his hand on the back of the neck. It was beginning to ache like crazy. It was his tension spot and this time was no different.
“Jayden. Relax. I’m certainly not kicking you out of the cabin we both own.” She darted a glance outside. “Besides, this snow is really coming down now. It really wouldn’t be safe for you to drive all the way back to Hope Valley in this weather. It’s not worth the risk.”
“So you do still care about me?” he asked, grinning at his wife. The thought of Kit still caring about him, tickled him to no end. It gave him a euphoric feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long while. There weren’t many things about this woman he didn’t miss like crazy.
Three Matchmakers And A Christmas Wedding (Hope Valley Book 2) Page 2
