A Romance Rekindled (Heartsong Presents)

by Kimberly Rose Johnson

  Holly placed her fork aside and looked at Betty. “Wow. How can an artist have such an issue with coordinating clothes?”

  “Amateur artist, and I don’t have an issue.” Did she? Before Blake had taken off she’d started to incorporate different textures into her wardrobe and even owned a few pair of blue jeans and various colored blouses, but it seemed like when he left she’d gone completely back to her black clothes. Hmm, almost like someone in mourning. She hadn’t realized that until now.

  “Issue or not. Here.” Betty pushed the small gift into her hands with an expectant look in her eyes.

  “What is it?”

  “Open it.”

  Susan tore the wrap away and revealed a lavender scarf with white, yellow and rosy-pink splashes of color woven into the cotton fabric. “Oh, it’s so pretty. I can wear this with black?” She looked skeptically at Holly and Betty.

  “It’d make a pretty belt.” Holly reached for the scarf and demonstrated.

  “Oh, I see. I have the perfect outfit to put that with, too.” She hugged Betty then stood. “Thanks! I should go mingle. I’m glad you came. Both of you.”

  The evening passed with more speed than Susan thought possible and a few of her friends had already trickled out when the doorbell pealed. Susan spotted someone from church answering it and didn’t think anything of it until she heard his voice. She followed the deep, melodious bass until she spotted the owner. Why was Blake here?

  Her pulse quickened and she refused to consider why. No way would she allow herself to be attracted to him again. Who was she kidding? The man had matured into perfection in the looks department. Although tempted to retreat to her bedroom and let Keira deal with her guest, she squared her shoulders and wove her way through the room to the man she just couldn’t seem to shake.

  “Hi, Blake.”

  He turned and faced her. A smile lit his eyes. “Happy birthday!” He held out a beautiful summer-mix bouquet of flowers.

  She looked at the gift and hesitated.

  “They’re safe. I promise. I personally made sure there were no bees humming in them when I bought them.” He winked and thrust the flowers closer to her.

  She eyed the bouquet a moment longer and slowly reached for them. “Thanks.”

  “Welcome.”

  “So...why are you here?”

  He shook his head as if she should know the answer. “It’s your birthday, and I wanted to give you something. Even though you try to hide it, I know how much you like a splash of color in your life.” He looked around the room. “But I didn’t know I’d be crashing a party,” he said softly.

  “Keira surprised me.” Was that hurt in his eyes? Did he really think he’d be invited to her birthday? Why? It wasn’t like they were still an item. They were barely on speaking terms. Well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but they were not friendly. Maybe her birthday wish was about to come true. Maybe things could be settled between them here and now... Impossible. She would never be able to forget he cheated on her. Katie was a constant reminder of his broken promise and betrayal. It was a silly wish, and she shouldn’t have wasted it on Blake.

  She pursed her lips. It was time to end this here and now. Time to be free from the past. “Come with me.” She pulled him into the kitchen, then rounded on him. “I appreciate your thoughtful gift, but you can’t just show up at my door unexpected.” She tried to keep her voice kind but firm. No sense in making an enemy, and besides, she liked him even if he had hurt her.

  “Why?”

  “Why?” She heard her voice rise and toned it down. It wouldn’t do to cause a scene. “Because you left.” There. I said it. “You left me. Left us. You gave up the privilege to drop in unexpected the day you tossed us aside. By the way, how’s your daughter adjusting to Leavenworth?”

  “Daughter?” Confusion covered his face.

  “The girl that looks so much like you.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice, and she didn’t care. How dare he? He could at least fess up to cheating on her and apologize. “Don’t even get me started on the fact you cheated on me.”

  His faced blanched. “Cheated?”

  Her eyes narrowed. What was wrong with him? So he had a daughter. He wasn’t the first person to cheat on his girlfriend or have a kid out of wedlock. “If you’re worried I’ll figure out you cheated on me, too late for that. It’s a little hard to hide a child.”

  His face turned red. “Is that why you’ve been so angry? Do you live in a hole or something? I thought everyone knew Katie is my sister.”

  “Your s-sister? But I thought she was killed in the plane crash.” Susan grabbed the counter and forced strength back into her weakened knees as her thoughts churned faster than a potter’s wheel. Since Blake’s arrival, she’d been furious over his betrayal—but he’d been faithful all along. That thought melted a frozen section of her heart, but he still hadn’t trusted her with the truth. He still broke his promise. She gritted her teeth. In fact, by not telling her, he’d lied to her. Why? Her anger rekindled.

  He shook his head. “No. At first I was told there were no survivors but—” he raked his hand through his hair “—information was a little sketchy. I was in a panic after the call about my parents’ plane crash. When I got back to Maine, Katie was in the ICU and not expected to live. It’s a wonder she’s alive. It took several surgeries and lots of counseling, but she’s as good as new now.”

  The poor girl had been through so much in her young life. “Oh, Blake, I’m so sorry. When she called you Dad that day outside Keira’s shop, I just assumed. I’m glad she’s okay, but why didn’t you call when you knew about your sister?”

  A muscle in his jaw tightened. “I’d already broken things off with you. I thought about calling, but I was named her guardian and didn’t want to saddle you with a kid. We were young and had the rest of our lives ahead of us. I couldn’t do that to you, especially since we both agreed to wait five years before having children. I knew you weren’t ready. Especially to take on someone else’s child with an enormous amount of emotional baggage. I didn’t want that for you. I loved you too much to ask you to raise my sister.

  “She’s doing great now. That’s one of the reasons I felt comfortable bringing her across the country. A year ago, she wouldn’t have been able to handle the stress of coming here.” He scratched the back of his neck.

  “A small part of me was afraid our marriage couldn’t survive my sister’s health issues. I know I called off the wedding before I even realized she was living, but I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. Then once I got there and found out about Katie, I considered telling you, but couldn’t put you through all of that. Not after what you went through with your parents. You deserved so much more than I was able to offer at the time. Things are different now. Katie is better and she’s a pretty normal preteen. I was really hoping—”

  “You should’ve let me decide. That’s not something you determine for another person. And for the record, we’re still young.” She crossed her arms. “At least I am. Twenty-eight isn’t old.” Maybe she would have agreed with his decision, but by not giving her a say in the decision he had made her powerless—a feeling she detested.

  He rubbed the back of his neck and squinted at something beyond her shoulder—probably some invisible mark on the wall. “Yeah, I suppose we aren’t over the hill yet.” A dry chuckle escaped his lips.

  “So, you took on the responsibility of raising your sister by yourself.”

  “I did. And believe me it hasn’t been easy. Katie didn’t even remember me.” He shook his head. “I suppose that was my fault for cutting myself off from my family after I left home.”

  Susan stayed quiet, her heart breaking more than she thought possible for the man she once loved. The pain etched on his face brought tears to her eyes that she blinked away.

  “Eventually, my sis
ter grew to accept me.” He shrugged. “She at least recognized me from pictures our parents had around the house, so that helped a little. But she was traumatized and didn’t understand why Mom and Dad left and didn’t come home.”

  “I’m so sorry you had to go through that alone.” As sorry as she felt, it angered her, too. It didn’t have to be that way. They could’ve been a family. “What brought you back to Leavenworth?”

  “Honestly? The house, but mostly you. I couldn’t live with the guilt over the way I treated you any longer.”

  Mostly you. Those two simple words about knocked her off her feet. She couldn’t go there again. Ever. “Then you wasted a trip.”

  He crossed his arms, and his face hardened. “You’ve changed, Susan. I apologized. Explained why I left. Sure, I messed up, and if I could do it over again I would, but I’m here. Don’t hate me because I loved you enough to let you go. I told you I didn’t want to saddle you with a needy child. I knew you had big dreams and having a five-year-old underfoot would’ve been tough when you were trying to start your business.”

  Susan’s eyes burned with unshed tears. She blinked them away. “Don’t put this on me, buddy.” She poked his chest. “I didn’t do anything wrong except love you.” She shook her head. “And believe me, I learn from my mistakes.” Her words came out with more venom than she’d intended.

  “Do you? Seems to me you’re scared.”

  She crossed her arms and glared. It killed her to admit it, but he was right. She was terrified to love again. She’d never survive having her heart ripped to shreds a second time. Turning from him, she took a vase off the open shelf and filled it with water, then stuffed in the flowers.

  She felt his hand on her arm, then her shoulder. “Susan. I’m sorry for losing my temper.” He gently turned her around and took the vase, placing it on the counter. “Please give me a chance to prove I’m worthy of your trust. I’m not asking for a lifetime commitment, only that you’ll give me a chance to change your opinion of me.”

  Blake’s eyes pleaded with her to say yes. Susan’s insides melted. She wanted to trust him.

  Hope sparked his gaze, and he lowered his face. Oh, no! Every brain cell demanded she turn her head, but she froze. His soft lips brushed hers and then their lips melted together.

  Susan’s insides exploded. She leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Oh, she could get used to this again. She could forgive and forget. Her eyes flew open. But did she really want to? Kissing Blake had never been an issue, but trusting him was. She stepped back. “I’m sorry. That shouldn’t have happened.”

  Blake reached for her. “Come on, Suze.”

  “No, and don’t call me that.” She blinked back hot tears of frustration.

  He ran his hand through his hair. “Fine. If that’s what you really want.”

  She couldn’t answer. What she wanted and what she needed were two different things. “Thank you for the flowers.” She picked up the vase and moved past him and out to her party. What had she done? She pressed her free hand to her chest and took a deep breath as she reentered the living room. No way could that ever happen again.

  Chapter 8

  Susan handed Josh a golf magazine she’d picked up for him and plopped down on the other end of the green and brown plaid couch facing the forty-seven-inch TV.

  “Thanks. What’s the special occasion?” Josh asked.

  “Do I have to have a reason to give my brother a gift?”

  “I guess not.” Josh set the magazine beside him and muted the baseball game he had on. “How’re you doing? I heard Blake crashed your party last night.”

  Her heart tripped at the mention of Blake. “He did. Where were you?” She kicked off her sandals, tucked one leg under her and faced Josh.

  “Home. I knew you were coming over today to celebrate with us. You’re avoiding my question.”

  She sighed. For a guy, Josh could be nosy. The memory of Blake’s kiss burned fresh in her mind, and when she closed her eyes, she could still feel the tender touch of his lips. “I’ve been better, but I guess I just need to get used to running into him again since he’s in town fixing up his house.”

  Josh frowned. “Why? Is he planning to live here permanently? Pete said he’s fixing up the place to sell. I hope that’s true because I don’t want him weaseling his way back into your life and hurting you again.”

  “Don’t worry so much about me. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a long time.” Even though she put up a good front for her brother, she was worried, too. It seemed impossible to avoid Blake, even with the summer tourists flocking to the quaint village. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. We talked last night, and I found out Katie is actually his sister.”

  “You’re kidding! I thought she died.”

  “I know, but he was misinformed originally.”

  “Wow. That’s a cruel mistake. I can’t imagine what he must have gone through. But that doesn’t excuse what he did.”

  Susan studied the grim look on her brother’s face. “What do you mean?”

  “He left you. No matter what happened, I never would’ve canceled my wedding to Laura. Postponed, yes, but canceled? Not a chance. She is the love of my life and nothing would’ve kept me from marrying her.”

  Susan pressed her lips firmly together. It sounded like Josh didn’t think Blake had loved her. She couldn’t believe that was true, but based on what her brother had just said, there was no way Blake loved her the way a husband should love his wife. She might as well accept that she and Blake were never meant to be. Josh had said it himself—if Blake had truly loved her, he never would’ve called off their wedding—no matter what.

  “Earth to Susan. Come in, Susan.”

  “Sorry. Did you say something?”

  “Just that I’m glad you didn’t marry Blake. There is someone better out there for you.”

  She winced at his words. “When you find him let me know, because from where I sit things look pretty bleak.”

  * * *

  Blake propped a ladder against the side of his house, still unable to get Susan’s birthday party out of his mind. He’d kissed her. What had he been thinking? That was the problem, he hadn’t thought. But she’d kissed him, too, and if the way she kissed him back was any indication, then things weren’t as bad between them as he’d thought. Then again, maybe they were worse. That kiss complicated everything!

  But he couldn’t think about Susan right now or the kiss. He had work to do on this house and it wouldn’t get done if he stood around daydreaming. But first things first. Katie had tossed the flying disk just out of reach. He climbed the rungs of the rickety old ladder carefully and reached his hand up to grasp the Frisbee. “Got it!” He stepped down slowly and heard a crack. “Uh-oh.”

  His hands tightened but the rung gave way, the ladder pulled away from the house and the earth flew up to meet his backside. This was going to hurt. His feet slammed into the hard ground and he tripped backward, bouncing, then coming to a stop on his back. The ladder careened down after him. He raised his arms to stop the impact, but too late. The frame of the ladder slammed into his forehead, and slicing pain echoed through his cranium. He lay there unmoving, trying to catch his breath.

  Blake!” Katie knelt beside him. “Are you okay?”

  “I’ll live. Luckily, I was already halfway down.”

  “Your head’s bleeding!” Katie’s face blanched. “I’ll call 9-1-1.” She jumped up.

  “No, wait. I’m okay.” He pushed the ladder off and rolled over, then slowly stood.

  “But there’s so much blood.”

  He lumbered toward the house. “Come on. I’m sure once I wash up it won’t look so bad. Head wounds bleed a lot. Remember when that girl from your gymnastics class cut her head?”

  “Yes, but it was only a litt
le cut and didn’t even need stitches.”

  “Exactly. I’m sure that’s all this is. I feel fine.” Except for a pounding headache and sore back. He opened the door and went straight to the bathroom. One look in the mirror had him reconsidering his claim. He grabbed a washcloth from the cupboard, wet it, then wiped at the blood. Soon all that remained was a one-inch gash that he’d probably got when the ladder clobbered his skull. “See. It’s just a little scratch.”

  “Doesn’t look like a scratch to me.” She stared wide-eyed. “It’s still bleeding.”

  He held the cloth to his head. “I’ll be fine. Shouldn’t Emily be here soon?”

  Katie’s face brightened, and she nodded. “Her mom will know what to do.”

  He ground his teeth. “I said I’m fine.”

  Katie blinked rapidly. The doorbell pealed and his sister ran to it.

  He followed slowly and made it to the end of the hall as Katie dragged Julia by the hand into their house.

  “It’s still bleeding.”

  Julia frowned. “I hear you lost a battle with your ladder.” She tsked. “Want me to take a look?”

  “Yes, please.” Katie shot him a smug grin. “He thinks he’s fine.”

  “I’m not a nurse, but I’ve seen my fair share of injuries.” Julia walked over to him. “May I?”

  He resisted rolling his eyes and removed the cloth.

  Alarm flickered in her eyes then quickly shuttered. “Do you have any butterfly bandages?”

  “I doubt it.”

  “Tell you what. I’ll run home and bring some back over.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that. I’ll go buy them myself.”

  “No. It will take too long. It’s no trouble at all.” She nearly flew to the door. “Be right back.”

  Blake glared at his sister. This was all her fault. He didn’t like people fussing over him.