Welcome to Pembrooke: The Complete Pembrooke Series

by Jessica Prince

  A knock sounded on my hospital room door, bringing my laughter to an abrupt halt. “Guys,” I said to my parents. “You know I love you and your own personal brand of crazy, but that’s Derrick and he had his little girl with him, so can you please just be normal for like, ten minutes? I’m begging you.”

  My folks had already left Pembrooke by the time Derrick moved to town so, other than the brief exchange they’d had the night before when they got in, they’d never really met him. Once my mother announced she wasn’t leaving my bedside until I was finally released, I’d insisted Derrick go home. He fought me on it, and I could see the respect shining in my dad’s eyes as he watched the exchange between us, but I eventually won when I told him he needed to get Eliza home so she could unpack and get settled.

  He finally relented, giving me a long, lingering kiss before pulling back and saying, “I love you, sunshine,” loud enough for both parents to hear before finally disappearing out the door.

  I’d spent the thirty minutes after filling Mom and Dad in on everything about Derrick and how our relationship came to be, then another ten minutes in hell — also known as my mother’s delayed discussion about the birds and the bees and how important it was to make sure the condom hadn’t reached its expiration date.

  After that, I wished that the car had hit me hard enough to at least put me in a coma for a few days.

  My father snorted. “Pfft. We’re always nice.”

  “I didn’t say nice. I said normal. I need you to act normal, Dad.”

  He lifted his crossword back to his eyes. “No can do, sugar plum. I am who I am. If your young man can’t handle that then he’s not good enough for you.”

  “He has a point,” my mom decreed.

  The knock sounded again and I cursed under my breath before calling, “Come in.”

  Derrick’s head peeked around the door and he offered me a smile that warmed me from the inside out. “Hey sunshine, got someone who’s been dying to see you.”

  I grinned big and bright. “I’ve been dying to see her too.” I was pretty sure my mom sighed.

  He pushed the door all the way open and led Eliza into the room. The moment her eyes landed on me they went painfully wide and the smile slipped from her face, replaced with a quivering lip.

  “Chloe,” she whispered, voice so full of sorrow, eyes growing red and wet. It killed me not to be able to jump from the bed and go to her.

  “Oh, no. Sweetie, please don’t cry,” I spoke up, wanting nothing more than to make her feel better. “I’m okay, I promise. It’s just some bruises, baby. Come here.” I opened my arms, desperate for a hug, but she shook her head, causing some of the tears to break loose as she took a hesitant step back.

  “Baby girl?” Derrick asked, concern lacing his tone as he looked down at her.

  “Please, sweetheart,” I spoke through the lump forming in my throat.

  “I don’t—” she croaked, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  From the corner of my eye I saw my mother bat away a tear from her cheek. I was just about to speak up when my father suddenly rose from his chair and moved in Derrick and Eliza’s direction, squatting down so he was eye to eye with the frightened little girl.

  “Hey there, honey bunch. I’m Bill, Chloe’s Daddy. It’s nice to meet you.” He stuck his hand out and held it there as Eliza tentatively reached forward and placed her tiny palm in his. “You must be Eliza.”

  She nodded.

  “I’ve heard a lot about you, Eliza,” he continued. “And it’s a pleasure to meet you. Now, I know it’s a little upsetting to see her like this, but I promise you, my girl’s tough as nails. Why, she even walked around with a broken arm for three days without so much as crying!”

  Mom snorted.

  Derrick’s eyes bounced from my father to me in confusion.

  Eliza gasped. “Really?”

  “Yep,” Dad exclaimed proudly, like I’d managed to win the Super Bowl or something. “Little arm was bent in an S and everything. Not one single tear.”

  Eliza’s mouth hung open for a few seconds before she asked, “Why didn’t you take her to the hospital?”

  Mom snorted again.

  “That’s neither here nor there,” Dad answered, standing to his full height and waving the question off. “Point is, she’s strong, and a hug isn’t going to do anything but make her feel better. And I bet your hug will be ten times more powerful.”

  Eliza’s little shoulders lifted as though Dad’s words gave her a new strength, and she released Derrick’s hand and headed for me.

  She leaned in to my embrace, wrapping her arms around my neck as I held on tight with everything I had. I closed my eyes and pulled in a deep breath. Dad was right, just one hug from Eliza and I already felt a million times better.

  “How are you feeling?” she whispered against my hair, her hold squeezing just a little more.

  “So much better now, honey.” I felt her sigh heavily. The tension seemed to melt from her body as she pressed closer to me, the fear of hurting me seemingly disappearing. I opened my eyes and smiled, my gaze landing on Derrick as he shook my father’s hand, mouthing “thank you.” Dad smiled in return and patted Derrick’s shoulder with his free hand. “Any time, son.”

  At the sound of her sniffle, my gaze shifted to my mom to find her wiping away more tears as she stared down at me and Eliza, a knowing smile painted across her lips.

  Eliza finally pulled back enough to look up at me, and I couldn’t help but reach out and tuck a strand of dark hair behind her ear.

  “I was worried,” she told me.

  “I know, honey. But I’m going to be just fine. Bones heal and bruises fade.”

  At that, she smiled genuinely and said something I hadn’t been expecting. “Daddy said you’re moving in with us!”

  “Uh…” I turned my head to look at Derrick. “What?”

  “Brilliant idea!” Dad clapped his hands and my mouth dropped open in shock.

  “Bu-but.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful,” Mom said dreamily, clasping her hands in front of her chest. Damn it.

  “Uh, honey,” I turned back to Derrick and glared. “Don’t you think it’s a little soon? I mean, we’ve only been dating for a few weeks! And things have been a little crazy during that time. It’s not like it was a simple courtship or something.”

  He grinned that panty-melting grin and moved to the other side of the bed, pulling up a chair. “Do you love me?”

  “Of course I do!”

  “Good. And I love you, so it’s settled.”

  “How is that settled?!” I squeaked, sending a twinge of pain through my ribs.

  “Because you love my girl, you love me, and we’re going to get married one day.”

  “Woohoo!” Eliza yelped, throwing a fist in the air. “I get to be a junior bridesmaid!”

  “Oh, sweetheart,” Mom practically swooned. “We’ve got to start planning immediately! With your coloring, I’m thinking ivory.”

  I shook my head, feeling a headache coming on. “Wait… just, hold on a second! I can’t think!”

  “No sense dawdling when you’ve found the one, sugar plum,” Dad said, shrugging his beefy shoulder. “And your young man’s a cop. It’ll help your old man sleep better at night knowing you’ll have someone who can protect you.”

  My eyes practically bulged out of my head at his declaration. My mom and dad were of no help at all. “Don’t you think this is something we should discuss in private?” I hissed at Derrick between clenched teeth.

  “No can do, sunshine.” He stood from his chair and walked to my father, clapping him on my back. “Bill and I have to head over to your place and start packing up. The movers are coming early tomorrow morning.”

  “You already planned this?! When? How?”

  “When your young man’s got his mind settled on something, he doesn’t sit on his ass, baby girl. He’s a man of action. I can relate.”

  “Oh please,” Mom rolled her
eyes. “When’s the last time you took action on anything, Bill?”

  I knew that look in my father’s eyes. It was a look that promised that anything out of his mouth was determined to make my ears bleed.

  “Didn’t hear you complaining when I took action last night in the hotel—”

  “No!” I shouted, clapping my hands over my ears. “Just… no! Fine! I’ll move in with Derrick, okay? Just, please, for the love of God, Stop. Talking.”

  My mom chimed in, “It’s perfectly healthy for two people our age—”

  “Hit me with another car,” I told Derrick. “I’m begging you. Put me out of my misery.”

  He walked back over to the bed and leaned down, planting a kiss right on my lips. “Sorry, baby. Already have plans for this afternoon.”

  “You suck,” I grumbled.

  “Bye, Chloe.” Eliza grinned as she followed Derrick and my father to the door. “Dad said I could help Ms. Harlow pack all your girly stuff.”

  “She’s in on it too?!”

  “Uh huh.”

  I let out a defeated sigh, slumping against the bed and closing my eyes, knowing there was no point in arguing, that I didn’t even want to argue. If I were being honest with myself, I really loved the idea of moving in with Derrick and Eliza. Like, a lot.

  “Oh, and Chloe?” I lifted my eyelids and looked at Eliza.

  “Yeah, honey?”

  She fidgeted with her hands in front of her waist as she shifted from foot to foot. “You know those empty places you told me about? The ones that special people in your life come in and fill?”

  “Yeah,” I said softy, feeling the tears begin to well in my eyes.

  “Well, I just wanted to let you know, you fill some of those places for me.”

  Damn being stuck in this stupid freaking hospital bed! I needed another hug!

  “You fill those places for me, too, sweetheart,” I sniffled as a tear broke free.

  Eliza ran back to me and threw her arms around my neck as gently as possible, whispering, “I love you,” into my hair.

  My arms tightened. “I love you, too.”

  She pulled back, graced me with a beautiful smile then took off with my dad and hers.

  And I was left feeling like that last empty space inside me had been filled so full it was overflowing.

  28

  Derrick

  It was done.

  It had taken a lot longer than I’d hoped, a few months where I was sure I’d gotten more gray hair every fucking morning, but it was finally done. And I could breathe easier knowing my little girl would never have to deal with the stresses her mother placed on her shoulders ever again.

  She was mine, free and clear. All parental rights had been stripped from Layla when she was convicted on all the charges brought against her that night she nearly took Chloe from me. The judge didn’t even bat an eye at declaring her unfit, telling her to her face how ashamed she should be, how she was one of the most selfish people he’d ever encountered, and how he hoped she somehow managed to pull her head out of her ass during her two to five years in prison.

  I wasn’t going to hold my breath.

  I never tried to put Chloe in the role as a replacement mother, but there was no denying that she gave my little girl everything she needed. There were times when Eliza still missed Layla, or maybe the thought of what she could have with Layla. But every time she got sad Chloe was there, her sunshine shining down on the both of us, making everything all right.

  Life was good. Chloe’s bakery was still thriving. She’d even had to bring on more help to cater to the crushing demand of customers who’d been craving her pastries and coffee for the weeks she’d been closed for repairs. Gone were the before-dawn wakeups. She’d managed to loosen the reins and let her staff have more control, and as I’d predicted, they all proved that she’d made the right choice, bringing them on at Sinful Sweets. She’d struggled with the decision to step back, but knowing Eliza needed her time made the decision easier for her to make.

  We still fought at times. She was a stubborn, hard-headed woman after all, but it was never over anything major. And the making up was so good there were times we picked fights for no other reason than to make up after.

  She fit in my life so seamlessly, that as the days passed, I questioned how the hell I’d ever managed to live without her.

  Staring down at the notarized documents in my hands, custody documents declaring Eliza could never be taken from me or used as a pawn to hold over my head again, I knew the second-to-last puzzle piece of my life had fallen into place. There was only one thing left to do.

  “Come on!” I shouted, opening a desk drawer and tossing the documents inside. “We’re going to be late!”

  I was officially outnumbered in my own home. It had taken some adjusting, but over the past three months, I somehow managed to come to grips with the fact that my life had become overrun with all things female. Another thing I was learning to deal with? The fact that I’d never be on time for anything for the rest of my life.

  “Coming, coming!” Chloe hurried down the hall and into the living room, her sandals in her hand. Christ, she hadn’t even gotten her shoes on yet?

  “You’re lucky you’re cute,” I told her, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips before she bent to slide her feet through the complicated straps.

  “And you’re lucky I put up with your overbearing, pain-in-the-ass self.”

  “I consider myself lucky every single day.” I grinned at her then looked back at the mouth of the hallway. “Eliza! Take the lead out!”

  “Will you stop bellowing?” Chloe stood, shoes now on her feet where they belonged, and smacked me in the stomach. “She’s almost finished.”

  Eliza came waltzing down the hall, and something sparkly caught my attention.

  “What the hell is that?” I barked, pointing at my daughter’s face.

  “What?” she asked innocently.

  “That!” I moved closer and squinted. “Are you wearing makeup? Oh hell no!”

  “Relax,” Chloe rolled her eyes at me. “It’s just a little lip gloss.”

  “She’s nine years old!”

  “I turned ten last week!” Eliza argued, propping her hands on her hips as she glared.

  “Whatever, you’re still too young for makeup. Go wipe it off,” I demanded, only to have Chloe grab my arm and pull me toward the kitchen.

  “Eliza, will you go wait in the car? We’ll be out in just a sec.”

  My daughter all but skipped out of the house as I snapped, “But she hasn’t wiped it off!”

  Chloe’s eyes got fierce as she jabbed her finger into my chest. “And she’s not going to. It’s lip gloss, Derrick, it’s not like she’s ready for a drag show or something. A little lip gloss isn’t a big deal.”

  I threw my hands in the air in frustration. “Why the hell does she even need it?”

  “Because. Ethan’s going to be there today with Harlow, Noah, and the baby, and you already know she’s got an insane crush on him. She wants to look pretty. She asked me to teach her how to put on makeup and I managed to haggle her down to just the gloss. You’re welcome.”

  “You know,” my eye narrowed into dangerous slits, “this is all his fault. My baby girl never worried about shit like makeup until him.”

  “Oh, for the love of God,” Chloe groaned to the ceiling, not that there was anyone up there that would help her with an irrational, overprotective father. “You love Ethan!”

  “Loved. Past tense. The moment I saw Eliza making googly eyes at him that went right down the drain.”

  “You’re being ridiculous.”

  “Don’t care.” I crossed my arms over my chest and there was a slight possibility my bottom lip actually poked out.

  She sighed heavily. “Look, Ethan’s a great kid. He knows it’s just a harmless crush and he doesn’t do anything to egg her on. You need to relax, okay? Let’s just go to the carnival, eat our weight in funnel cake, ride some rides, a
nd come home.” She came closer, placing her hands on my chest and standing on her tiptoes, speaking in a low, seductive voice, “If you behave all day today, I’ll let you do that thing with the handcuffs tonight.”

  Yes, I was man enough to admit that I had to stop and weigh the pros and cons. “Really?”

  “I promise.”

  And she had me. “Fine,” I sighed. My woman played me like a sucker. Damned thing was, I didn’t care. I loved it. “You’re lucky I love you.”

  “So lucky.” She kissed me with a smile on her lips. “And I love you too.”

  Chloe

  I was finally doing it.

  I was finally on the Ferris wheel with the man of my dreams. The love of my life.

  I smiled to myself as I looked out at the sun glistening off the lake before me as I sat, snuggled close to Derrick. The Ferris wheel made a slow, lazy loop around, and each time, the view from the top took my breath away.

  “It’s so beautiful,” I breathed as the ride came to a stop with our bucket at the top to let more people on.

  “Most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he answered, and when I turned to look at him, his gaze was directly on me. He leaned in and kissed me, and I got lost in how amazing it felt. Not just the kiss, but my life in general. I had my dream job, I lived in my dream town, and now I had my dream family. Derrick and Eliza were the last pieces of my puzzle. My life was complete.

  Once the kiss ended, I rested my head on Derrick’s shoulder with a contented sigh. The minutes ticked by and I finally sat up straight in order to look over the edge of our bucket. “I wonder what’s taking so long.”

  “Oh, I paid the guy to wait for my signal before he let us down.”

  My head shot in his direction. “What? Why’d you do that?”

  He smiled and kissed my lips again. “Because I have something I need to ask you, and having you trapped at the top of the Ferris wheel is kind of the perfect way to guarantee I get the answer I want, don’t you think?”

  Giddy anticipation built in my belly like a million butterflies taking flight, and I couldn’t stop the crazy smile from spreading across my face. “Oh yeah, and what do you have to ask me?”