Berry on Top (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 6)

by Valerie Comer

  "I never really thought about red sins before. What does it mean?"

  "Commentators don't agree completely. The obvious answer seems to be that red dye was the worst color to try to bleach out."

  "And the other?"

  Chelsea looked pensive. "A few believe red represents sexual sin. Like when Rahab the harlot dangled a red thread from her window when the Israelites marched around Jericho."

  Sexual sin? Yes, God could remove its stains, too.

  Chapter 32

  The closed sign had been flipped in the bakery window and the main lights dimmed. Two figures stood looking out the window.

  Panic clawed at Mason’s throat. Nothing would ever be the same after this ugly week, and it was starting right now. He should have known better than to send Erin to the bakery. He should have warned Kass. And said what?

  Kass swung the door open and stretched up to kiss him on the cheek. “Hi, Mason. I’ve got some company here for you.”

  He should respond in some way. Maybe kiss Kass back, but that would send the wrong signal to both of them. He smiled at her. “Thanks for waiting for me to get here.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “It’s rather cold to make someone wait outside.”

  “It is.”

  Erin bumped into Kass as she approached. That could have been more subtle. “Hi, Mason.” She’d poured all the sultry she owned into those words.

  “Hi, Erin. Ready to go?”

  “I sure am.” She turned to Kass. “It’s been nice chatting.”

  Mason breathed a prayer. This was worse than he’d expected. He’d been doing nothing but bumbling from one mess to the next lately. Ever since Liz returned in December. At least she wasn’t here as well. “Let me carry your bag. I’m parked just down the street.”

  “Yes, I’m dying to see our children.” Erin cast a triumphant glance at Kass as she pushed the handle of her gigantic suitcase at Mason. “The little dears need their mama back in their lives.”

  Mason hesitated. Kass didn’t deserve this. He’d tried to tell her nothing could work out between them, but she still didn’t deserve Erin. “Thanks, Kass. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  She crossed her arms and shrugged, her eyebrows raised.

  Yeah, that’d have to be some apology, yet one that ended short of declaring love he didn’t feel. For a guy who once thought he’d been suave with the female gender, he was a dolt. He was in way over his head.

  He followed Erin out of the bakery, listening to the lock turn behind them. Erin tucked her hand behind his elbow. “Such a quaint little town. What do you do for fun around here?”

  Mason shifted the suitcase to the other side, dislodging Erin’s grasp.

  She pouted at him, and he pretended not to notice. “Have a good trip?”

  “I hate buses.”

  Not much he could add to that. He swung her suitcase into the trunk. Sure was heavy, like she’d brought everything she owned. He paused, one hand on the trunk lid. She wouldn’t have done that. Would she?

  “So tell me about your house.”

  He glanced at her as he started the car. “I’m renting an old drafty farmhouse that needs serious renovations.”

  “Oh. But it has lots of space?”

  “Erin.”

  He could just make out the batting of her eyelashes in the glow of the streetlights. “What?”

  “You’re not staying.”

  “Why don’t you want me?”

  Where to start? “You’re here for a week. I get that. But then I’m taking you back to town and putting you back on the bus. I don’t know where you’re going, but you’re not staying here.”

  “But the children...”

  “Don’t start. You haven’t thought about them for five minutes in their entire lives. There’s no court of law that would give you custody. This is a visit. Nothing more.” He glanced at her hand resting on his sleeve. “And don’t touch me.”

  “Are you afraid it will awaken your old feelings for me?”

  “Not really.”

  He must have sounded casual enough she believed him. She stared out the side window for a few minutes at the swirling snow. They’d had so many storms this winter. He was lucky his drive from Des Moines had been relatively uneventful.

  “You live a long way from town.”

  “We’re on our way to my parents’ house.”

  “No way. Mason, you can’t—”

  His patience was about gone, and it hadn’t even been half an hour. “I told you on the phone the kids go there on the bus Monday and Tuesday. Mom invited us for supper.” He waited a beat. “I said no.”

  Erin swore.

  “Another thing. None of that language around my kids.”

  “They’re mine, too.”

  “Which you’ve conveniently forgotten. Make no mistake, Erin. You’re in my territory. Play by my rules. The bus goes south every day.” He signaled and turned into the driveway. “Want to come up to the house or stay in the car?”

  She huffed. “I’ll wait here, thanks.”

  “Suit yourself.” He turned off the ignition and pocketed the keys.

  “I’ll freeze.”

  Like he was going to leave her with a running car. He wasn’t born yesterday. “Not in five minutes if you don't get out. It’s the wind chill that will kill you.” He strode up the walk and into the house.

  Avery bounced over to the door. “Is my mommy here?”

  “She’s in the car. Hurry up, and get your coat on.” Mason met his mom’s gaze over Avery’s head and shook his head.

  Mom pursed her lips but, for once, said nothing.

  “Come on, Christopher.”

  His son tromped over to the entry and shoved his feet into boots. A minute later Mason herded both kids down the steps. They climbed into the backseat and reached for their seatbelts.

  “Are you my mom?” Avery asked.

  “Yes, I am!” Erin turned slightly as Mason slid into his and started the engine.

  “Can you tell good bedtime stories? And make cookies? And give hugs?”

  Erin cast him a helpless look.

  Good luck pleasing Avery.

  * * *

  It ought to be beneath her, but Liz couldn’t help it. She, Chelsea, and Keanan lingered over cleanup in the straw bale house kitchen.

  “I wonder what she’s like,” Chelsea whispered for the fifteenth time as she scrubbed the butcher-block island.

  Keanan shook his head, but a small smile poked at his cheeks. “She isn’t any of our business, sweetheart.”

  Speak for yourself. Erin was plenty of Liz’s business. One glimpse of how Mason treated her would tell Liz everything she needed to know.

  Nearly everything.

  Boots scuffling across the deck accompanied by low voices caused Liz to freeze. She hadn’t been to the washroom in ten minutes. What if her hair wasn’t in place? What if she’d smudged her mascara somehow? Couldn’t be helped. She wiped clammy hands on a kitchen towel and shot a glance at Chelsea as the outside door opened.

  Chelsea grinned and gave her a thumbs-up.

  Avery and Christopher kicked off their boots and shed their coats on the floor. “Miss Liz!” Avery ran into the kitchen. “Will you read me a story?”

  Take that, Erin.

  “I’d love to in just a minute, if you’re staying long enough.” Liz’s eyes were trained across the peninsula to where a slight woman in a tweed coat stood beside Mason.

  Mason’s gaze snapped to hers and he swallowed hard. “Hi everyone. I’d like you to meet the children’s mother, Erin. Erin, this is Liz and K—”

  “Nice to meet you all.” Erin shrugged out of her coat. “I’m sure I won’t remember everyone’s names.”

  Liz became aware of Claire, who must’ve come in from the back hallway that led to their bedroom. “Hi, Erin. I’m Claire. I live in this house with my husband and our toddler, Ash. You’ll be our guest for the next few days.”

  Erin shot a look at Mason that could only
be disgust. She’d thought she’d climb right back in his bed? He wasn’t that easy a catch. Liz should know.

  “Well, I’ll let you get settled.” Liz took Avery’s hand and guided her out of the kitchen and into the great room. “Want a story, too, Christopher?”

  He already had the train set out in the corner and shook his head. Avery pulled away to pick a book from the nearby case then jumped onto the leather sofa and patted the spot beside her.

  Liz obliged, sliding her arm around the little girl’s shoulder and opening the book with her other hand. She read aloud, her ears trained to other activities as Mason carried a huge suitcase into the bedroom wing and the voices faded.

  “See you tomorrow, Liz!” called Chelsea as she and Keanan bundled up to head across the farm to their cozy house.

  Liz glanced up and waved then refocused on the story and the child snuggled against her. Soft footsteps caught her attention just as Mason’s faded jeans crossed her line of vision beyond the book. The sofa shifted as he lowered himself on the other side of Avery. Liz poured enthusiasm into the closing pages of the story.

  “Another one, Miss Liz?” Avery looked up at her with pleading eyes.

  “Not tonight, princess. Put the book away and play with your brother for a minute. We’re going home soon.”

  “And my mommy is staying here?”

  Mason nodded.

  “Okay.” Avery slid off the sofa, clutching the book to her chest. “My mommy doesn’t read stories,” she said to Liz, lower lip full and pouty.

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” And she was. No matter how complicated Mason was, the twins were innocent. The thought of Erin breaking Avery’s heart? Shattering. She caught Avery’s hand. “I love reading. I love pretending to be someone else and having fun adventures while staying warm and safe.” Hopefully that wasn’t a statement on her whole life. Pretending to be someone else. Someone who hadn’t made stupid decisions and gotten deeply hurt.

  “Me, too!” Avery looked at her dad then back. “But Daddy said no more stories tonight.”

  “That’s okay. We’ll read another time. Maybe we can start on a chapter book, and we can read a bit every day. Would you like a long-ago story about a little girl, or an adventure in a make-believe land?”

  Avery screwed up her face as she thought. “Long ago.”

  “Okay. We’ll start Wednesday when you come after school.”

  “Yay!” The child bounced over to put the book away. “Did you hear that, Christopher? I get a grown-up book.”

  Mason chuckled. “You’ve made a friend for life.”

  What a loaded comment. Liz glanced at him, aware of the child-sized space between them. “How is it going?”

  He leaned onto his knees, hands buried in his hair. “It’s going to be a really long week is all I can say.”

  Liz could barely hear him, but that was okay. He couldn’t want the kids to hear, and it gave her an excuse to shift a little closer and turn on the sofa so she could. “Do you—”

  “Liz, I’ve made such a mess of my life.” He groaned. “Well, you know.”

  “You told me once that God had forgiven you. You can’t keep beating yourself up for it.”

  He angled his face to look up at her. “You really did have a come-to-Jesus moment in Des Moines.”

  She nodded.

  “Erin is like another child. There’s a negative one thousand percent chance we’ll ever get back together.”

  Liz wasn’t sure if her heart should thrill at that, but it did.

  “Can you be patient with me a little bit longer?” He stretched his hand between them. “Give me a chance?”

  Her fingers tangled with his. Her heart had been tangled for a long time, and her eyes wouldn’t let go, either. “I think so.”

  Those clear blue eyes probed right through her, seeing into the depths of her being. His, too, hid nothing. This was Mason. The man he’d become through all the twists and turns of his life. The man redeemed by Jesus. The bad boy she’d been infatuated with as a teenager had become a man of God, and now she loved him.

  “There’s a lot of water under the bridge,” she murmured. “But it’s gone. Swept away.”

  Voices from the bedroom wing grew louder. Maybe just as well.

  Mason squeezed her hand then pulled away, regret shining in his eyes. “Thanks. For everything.”

  Claire entered the room. “Our guest says to tell you goodnight. She’s retiring now.”

  “Alrighty then.” Mason stood. “Clean up the train, kids.”

  “Aw, Dad...” whined Christopher.

  “You have school tomorrow, and it’s already past your bedtime.”

  “I should go, too.” Liz rose.

  “Feel free to spend the day here if you like, Liz.” Claire glanced between her and Mason. “It might do some good.”

  To get to know Erin a bit? It might not hurt, at that. The jealousy had dissipated after seeing Erin and Mason together. “Thanks.” She crossed to the door as the twins raced past her.

  The four of them left the straw bale house together. The children ran down the well-packed trail between the farms, lit with a few solar lights hanging from posts and trees.

  Liz had never been more aware of Mason beside her as they strolled toward the division in the path, her hand clasped firmly in his. They stopped, and he turned her toward him.

  “Thanks, Liz.” His lips brushed across hers just once as his arms tightened around her. He released her with a grin and a shake of the head. “Soon.” Then he turned and followed the twins down the path.

  Snow drifted from the night sky, angling across the glow from the solar lights. The tingling warmth from her lips spread through her body, keeping the cold at bay.

  If it took a bit more patience to get kisses that would curl her toes — and more — she could wait. But not too long.

  Chapter 33

  “You wanted to talk?” Mason slid into the chair across from Kass at the bakery on his lunch break the next day. “Aren’t you working?”

  “Rylee agreed to cover my shift. She’s been wanting more hours.”

  Man, Kass looked a mess, her green eyes rimmed with red. Was this his doing, too? He couldn’t seem to come near a woman without causing problems.

  Rylee set his sandwich and coffee in front of him. He took a sip. “So... what’s up?”

  “I’m leaving Galena Landing.”

  He stared at Kass in shock even as relief flowed through him. “You’re what?”

  “Going to Spokane. I told you about my grandparents’ bakery downtown, I think. Well, they left it to my cousin and I. Hailey found a few people to invest money, and we’re reopening it.”

  “Th-that’s a terrific opportunity for you.”

  A shadow crossed her face, and she took a deep breath. “Yes, it is. There’s more revitalization going on downtown. I think the bakery will go over well.”

  “I’m happy for you.”

  She flicked a glance at him then refocused on turning her coffee cup round and round on the table. “I’m going to miss you and the twins.”

  “We’ll miss you, too.”

  Kass shook her head. “But not enough.”

  Her meaning came through clearly. “I’m sorry.” He could say he wished it could have been different, but he didn’t. It wasn’t Kass’s fault he hadn’t fallen in love with her. “You’re terrific. You’ll find someone else. Someone with less baggage. Someone who’s just right for you.”

  “I don’t know.” She lifted her gaze to his. Regret shone from her green eyes.

  “You will. You’ll be glad you’re not saddled with my kids’ mother, at the very least.”

  She couldn’t hide a slight grin. “Erin’s a piece of work, isn’t she?”

  “She is that.”

  “But you don’t love her.” It was almost a question.

  Mason shook his head and had a sip of coffee. “I don’t. I don’t think I ever did. We were two kids playing a game and ended up with ch
ildren. She wanted the games to continue, and I didn’t. She’s still playing them.” He lifted a shoulder. “Beats me what, though. All I can tell you is that I’m not playing. I’ve pledged to live my life for Jesus and raise those kids the best I can.”

  “I will miss Avery and Christopher. All the kids from their Sunday school class.”

  “They’ll miss you, too. Do you know who’s taking the class?”

  “No. I’ll call Ed Graysen this afternoon. I feel really badly about suddenly leaving him with no teacher.”

  Mason tilted his head. “Exactly when are you leaving?”

  “That’s the thing. Tomorrow.”

  “Whoa.” How had he never guessed she had one foot out the door? “Good thing my freezer’s full.”

  She gave him a lopsided grin. “You’ll be fine. You have that whole Green Acres gang. Allison’s all over the monthly meal prep thing. You don’t need me for anything.”

  What could he say? She’d been a good friend, and he’d miss her. But need was a big word. Kass was right. He didn’t need her.

  “The twins need a woman, Mason. So do you.”

  Now she was on to giving him advice about his love life? He took a bite of his sandwich to mask the grin.

  “Not Erin, though.”

  His mouth full, he nodded.

  “Let me think.”

  “Don’t worry about it. My mother’s been doing a good enough job, as you well know. Besides...” He hesitated. “I’m not looking.”

  “The kids aren’t getting any younger.” Kass eyed him. “Neither are you.”

  “True.”

  “I think—”

  “Kass?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I meant it. I’m not looking.” He raised his eyebrows. Could he trust her with his secret?

  “Ohhh.” Her eyes widened as she leaned forward. “Liz.”

  “Everything has changed. She’s rededicated her life to Jesus.” He held up a cautionary hand. “First we have to get through Erin’s visit, and then we’ll see how it goes. I’m trying not to rush into things. We need to make sure.”

  Kass closed her eyes for a few seconds. “I’m happy for you, Mason.”