The January Cove Series Boxed Set Books 1-8

by Rachel Hanna

  “Okay,” she said as her mother hugged her. It felt so hollow, but she accepted it anyway.

  The flight had been long, but thankfully she slept most of the time. Her dreams were about Austin, and her nightmares were about him too. She was standing at the edge of a ravine, and he just walked by and pushed her over the edge. Very fitting.

  The next few days were spent seeing Olivia, spending time with her mother and resting as much as she could. But nothing was taking the pain away. Blake was just a blip in her memory when compared with Austin. He was the one for her, she’d been so sure of it.

  Maybe she should stop trusting her gut because it was obviously not working.

  She went out to the mailbox after being back in Washington for six days and found a letter addressed to her. She opened it and found a plain white piece of paper with unfamiliar handwriting. But then she saw the signature. Austin.

  It was a simple note that said:

  I found your catfish and they’re right in your backyard. Blake was never a guy. It was a girl, and her name is Megan Towns. I hope you’re well.

  — Austin

  The content of the note didn’t register with her at first. Seeing his name, touching his handwriting - those were the things that wounded her soul. And then she smelled the paper, the familiar fragrance of his cologne lingering on it. She wanted to put it on her pillow and sleep with her cheek against it tonight in the hopes of reliving the memories of their one night together.

  As she drifted back to her senses a few minutes later, it hit her. Megan Towns. That name was familiar. She pulled her high school yearbook from under her bed and found the name.

  Megan had been another “reject” at their high school. She was masculine and definitely an outcast. They hadn’t been friends or enemies, really. In fact, she couldn’t remember ever talking to Megan face to face.

  Why would she do this?

  All of the pent-up frustration of the last year came bubbling up to the surface and suddenly anger appeared. Why would this girl do such a hurtful thing to her, a perfect stranger?

  She had gone all the way across the country looking for someone who didn’t even exist, and now she was heartbroken for a second time over a man who did exist but didn’t want her.

  And there was only one thing to do. She was going to confront Megan Towns before the sun went down.

  For the second time in the last few weeks, she stood in front of a door. This time, she didn’t expect to see the love of her life; she expected to see a liar.

  She didn’t wait around, but instead pounded on the door and shouted.

  “Megan Towns! Come out here right now!” Surely the neighbors in her apartment complex would call the police any second, but Molly didn’t care. She wanted answers and she wanted them now. She banged on the door again and again until she heard someone walking toward it and turning the handle.

  And there she was. Megan Towns. She looked nothing like she had in high school now. Instead, she was a good fifty pounds heavier with jet black hair, a mohawk and what appeared to be a dog collar for a necklace.

  But the look on her face when she saw Molly was one of pure shock, and maybe a little fear. Here stood Molly, five foot nothing, with her petite little frame and squeaky voice. She was no physical match for Megan, but she could more than make up for it in anger.

  She wanted to scream and yell, but stopped herself when she saw the look on Megan’s face. It was soft and stunned, and her eyes were welling with tears.

  “Molly James?” she whispered.

  “You know exactly who I am, Megan.” Megan nodded her head and stared down at her feet.

  “I’m so sorry. It got out of hand.” And there it was. An admission of guilt and immediate repentance. All of the hopes and dreams of “Blake” vanished in the blink of an eye. It was almost like her life was flashing before her as her brain scanned through every text message with “him”. It was all passing away, drifting into the energetic space of things that never really happened.

  “Why did you do this to me? What did I ever do to you?” Molly asked.

  “Would you like to come inside?” Megan asked, holding the door open. The place was dark and dingy, and Molly definitely didn’t feel safe going in alone.

  “No, thank you. I just need an answer. I think you owe me that much. This has turned my entire life upside down.”

  “Let’s sit,” Megan said, pointing to a concrete table and bench set in the garden area next to her apartment. Molly nodded and sat down as Megan sat across from her. She was nervous, that much was plainly obvious from the way she was fidgeting with her hands and looking down.

  Molly waited a few moments, hoping the answer would come, but Megan said nothing. She just kept taking deep breaths like she was trying to ward off a panic attack.

  “Are you going to explain?”

  Megan finally looked up. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to screw your life up. It just went too far.”

  “Why did you do this?”

  “I had a crush on you in high school.”

  Molly was stunned. She barely remembered this person, so the thought that someone - especially another girl - had a crush on her back then wasn’t even a thought in her mind until now.

  “Um… I don’t… I’m not…”

  “I know you’re not a lesbian, Molly,” Megan said with a sad smile. “That’s why I never said anything. But when I saw you on Facebook, I was desperate to talk to you. Look, my high school experience wasn’t good.”

  “And neither was mine,” Molly said, “but that didn’t give you the right to lie to me and make promises you couldn’t keep. You dragged me along for a year, Megan. A year!”

  “I know, and I’m so so sorry. I just didn’t know how to stop.”

  “And why January Cove of all places?”

  “I took a trip there at the end of last summer with my cousin, Hillary. We were there for a week, and that’s when I gave you that address. I regretted it later, but I hoped you’d lose it or forget about it.”

  “And the man’s voice on our phone calls?”

  “Me.”

  Molly’s stomach churned. All this time, she’d held out hope that her catfish was at least a man, maybe someone who wanted to talk to her but was too scared. But this wasn’t something she’d even considered.

  “You know, all this time I thought someone hated me enough to string me along, probably laughing at me the whole time.”

  “No, I don’t hate you, Molly!” Megan said, attempting to reach out and touch her hand. Molly pulled her hand back.

  “I have to go…”

  “Can you forgive me?” Megan asked, standing up with tears running down her face.

  “Look, I know what it’s like to not be accepted, to not be loved. But I also know what it’s like to finally find that person who accepts you for who you are and how great that feels, even if just for a short time. It’s worth going for, Megan. It’s worth fighting for. I truly hope you find happiness in your life, and I already forgive you. I know you did this from a place of pain.”

  Megan looked so relieved. Molly was telling the truth. She felt nothing for “Blake” anymore. She didn’t feel upset about the trek across the country or any of it. It was like some distant past memory that didn’t matter anymore. She’d somehow let it go.

  Because of Austin. At least she was thankful for that.

  “Thank you,” Megan said softly.

  “Good luck to you,” Molly said, walking over and shaking her hand. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

  With that, she left her anger and bitterness behind, and she got in her car to drive home.

  When Molly got back home, her mother was sitting at the kitchen table looking over some paperwork.

  “Oh, hi, honey. Where were you?”

  “Confronting my catfish.”

  “Huh?”

  “My catfish. The person who pretended to be Blake.”

  “You found him?”

  “
Her.”

  “What?” Her mother dropped her paperwork and looked at her with her mouth hanging open.

  “Yep. Actually Austin found her and sent me a note.”

  “And how did she respond?”

  “She was very apologetic and sad. I forgave her.”

  “That’s amazing, Molly. I don’t know if I would have been so quick to forgive.” Her mother sounded genuinely impressed.

  “I surprised myself,” she said with a laugh. “I guess I needed to forgive for my own sanity, and it’s hard to be angry about it when I got so much good from it.”

  “Good?” she asked as Molly sat down at the table.

  “Yeah. I was thinking about it as I drove over here. Knowing that Blake loved me this year gave me confidence and peace for the first time since I was a little kid. And then meeting everyone in January Cove. Well, that was the best gift of all. Those people were kind and accepting of me, and I felt good about myself and the person I was becoming there. And Austin… It didn’t end well, and I still don’t know why, but he made me feel things I’ve never felt before.”

  Her mother looked at her, a sad expression on her face. But Molly didn’t have time to question her before the doorbell rang. It was a man wearing a suit and holding a big envelope.

  “Molly James?” he said.

  “Yes…”

  “I have a delivery for you. Can we talk for a minute… alone?” he asked, looking past her into the kitchen. She nodded and walked out onto the landing.

  “What’s going on?”

  “I can’t go into a lot of details, but this paperwork is a trust that was set up in your name… anonymously. It’s for fifty-thousand dollars. The person who set it up doesn’t want to be named or thanked, but wanted me to deliver a message to you.”

  She couldn’t breathe or speak so she just nodded. He began to read.

  “This money is about freedom. It’s here for you to use however you wish so that you can create the life of your dreams. Money gives you choices, and this is your chance to choose exactly what you want, on your own terms.”

  “I don’t understand… Who…” she stammered as she took the envelope. He nodded for her to open it. She wasn’t a lawyer, but all of the papers looked completely legal and legit to her.

  “Good luck, Miss James.”

  The man walked down the stairs and to his black BMW as she stood there shocked. After he drove away, she turned back to the house.

  “Honey, are you okay? Who was that man?” her mother asked as she rushed to her side. Molly sat on the bottom of the steps in the foyer.

  “You’re not going to believe this. Some anonymous person set up a trust fund for me… with fifty-thousand dollars!” she said, grinning from ear to ear as tears ran down her face. But her mother didn’t look excited. She looked shocked. Scared. Pale. “Mom, what’s wrong?”

  “Oh, God, I think I’ve made a terrible mistake. I think I was completely wrong about something…”

  “What?”

  “You’re going to hate me…”

  “What did you do, Mom?” Molly asked, knowing full well this wasn’t going to be good.

  Chapter 14

  It had been two weeks since Molly left Seattle to make her permanent home in January Cove. Whether she ever saw Austin again, she knew this place was her home.

  She was being very careful with her trust fund money, putting most of it in savings but paying the rent on her new little cottage style house for a whole year up front. It was nice to have her own space, although she visited Addison often and had even babysat for Anna Grace a couple of times.

  Leaving Seattle hadn’t been hard at all, but forgiving her mother for what she’d done had been almost impossible. In the end, she did forgive her after her mother apologized and realized her huge mistake. She’d stolen the love of Molly’s life away from her.

  Even though she knew Austin had set up the trust fund, she still couldn’t reach him to at least say thank you. She called his old number, but it was disconnected. She called Ballard, but they claimed to not know where he was and they’d put some other guy in charge of the January Cove property.

  He seemed to have vanished into thin air. She hoped he was okay, but she had decided to move forward in her life. After all, her life had been in limbo for over a year before she even came to January Cove in the first place.

  Megan had actually texted her one more time, telling her she was sorry. Molly accepted the apology again and then changed her phone number. That chapter was done.

  She had a fresh start, although seeing places that she went to with Austin still bothered her. She loved him, although she’d never said it before. She missed him.

  Today was Thanksgiving, and it was a time to be grateful for the people who were in her life. The Parker family had invited her to a big gathering at the B&B, and she was excited to go and meet the rest of the family.

  She’d made a big salad for the event, so she left a bit early to walk over. Thankfully, it was only two blocks from her new home.

  “Molly! Come in!” Addison said, giving her a quick hug. “I’m so glad you could join us today.”

  “Thank you for inviting me. Otherwise, I’d be alone,” Molly said. “And eating a frozen turkey dinner in your yoga pants is not a great Thanksgiving.” Addison giggled.

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t think so. Here, let me take that.” She took the salad and carried it into the kitchen. “Everyone should start arriving in about half an hour.”

  “Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “Actually, yes. I left my good tablecloth in the hope chest in your old room. Would you mind digging it out for me?”

  It was a strange request, but she nodded her head and went up the stairs. One of the last times she’d been in that room, Austin had held her close. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to open the door, but she couldn’t tell Addison no.

  She opened the door and went straight to the hope chest, trying not to even look at the bed. But she couldn’t help herself. She stood there, staring at it, allowing one stray tear to fall from her cheek.

  A hand touched her shoulder, and she jumped, dropping the tablecloth in the floor. She turned, ready to punch somebody’s lights out, and found Austin standing there. He’d been hiding in the closet.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you…”

  “Really? By hiding and then touching me from behind?” she said, still trying to catch her breath and holding her chest. Then the realization that Austin was standing there in front of her, in the flesh. She couldn’t reach out and hug him. The last time he’d seen her, he had been so mean and vicious. “How are you?”

  “Awful.”

  “Really? Why?” she asked, crossing her arms.

  “Because being without you is hell on Earth.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. “But, you said…”

  “Molly, you’re a smart girl. Don’t you understand that I had to be the world’s biggest jackass to make our breakup believable so your mom would give me that money?”

  “I could’ve asked my parents for money, Austin!”

  “Not without strings, you couldn’t.”

  He was right about that much. “Then why didn’t you tell me what she was doing?”

  “Because you’re too good a person to defraud your own mother. Look, I had to get that money for you, and I had to show your mother that I love you all at the same time.”

  She couldn’t breathe. He loved her. He loved her. She just kept hearing a voice say it in her head over and over.

  “You… love me?”

  He walked closer and ran his hands up her arms. “Of course I do. I think you know that,” he said softly.

  “I… wasn’t sure…”

  “I gave you fifty-thousand dollars, Molly.”

  “And then you disappeared.”

  “I needed time.”

  “For what?”

  “To make peace with my own past. To figure out if I’m truly good enough fo
r you.”

  “And you did that?” she asked, looking up at him.

  “Not really. I don’t think I’ll ever be good enough for you, but I trust your judgment. I can’t keep running from my own past. The only thing I can do is focus on a future, and I want that future to be with you. That is absolutely the only thing I’m sure of in my life.”

  She had never heard more beautiful words. “So you’re staying in January Cove?”

  “I’m staying wherever you’re staying, Molly James.”

  There was that cute dimple again, the one she wanted to lick right about now.

  “I love you,” she said with a big grin as she threw her arms around his neck.

  “I love you too.”

  “And if you ever act like that to me again, pretend or not, I’ll hurt you!” she said as she smacked him on the back.

  “Noted.”

  The Parker family gathered around the large table in the dining room, Clay sitting at the head of the table about to carve the turkey. It was the perfect picture of family and fun.

  “I’d like to propose a toast,” Addison said as she stood beside Clay. “To my brothers and their beautiful ladies, may God continue to bless you with years of special moments ahead. I’m so thankful for you and the closeness we all share.”

  “Hear, hear!” Brad yelled as his girlfriend, Ronni, lightly slapped him on the arm.

  “Mind if I make a toast?” Austin asked, which was completely out of character for him. Addison smiled and nodded. He stood up, glass of sweet tea in hand and raised it up. “Over the course of my life, I haven’t had a lot to be grateful for, or at least that’s what I thought. A few weeks ago, that all changed when one beautiful woman smiled at me for the first time. Well, actually, she knocked me over the first time she met me. And then she was rude for awhile…”

  “Dude, I think you’re messing this toast thing up…” Clay said under his breath. Everyone laughed.

  “Anyway, today I just want to say how thankful I am for Molly because she has shown me what love really is and I can’t wait to share the rest of my Thanksgivings with her.”

  A collective “awwww” filled the room as Molly grinned from ear to ear. She wanted to say her own toast, but everyone was ready to eat and Anna Grace was already wiggling in her highchair. When the room was loud again, she leaned over to Austin and said, “Today, I’m thankful for Fake Blake.”