by Gina Watson
With tears streaming down her face, she waved goodbye to Logan from her spot at the back of the bus.
Eagle looked worried, so she plopped down in the seat next to him and opened his kennel door. She reached her hand in to stroke between his ears.
“We’re going to be all right, Eagle. It’s just you and me now.” She rubbed her belly. “And soon there will be one more.”
8
As Cory unlocked the red front door of Brook’s home, he knew she wouldn’t be there. He could feel the lack of spark and energy. He opened the door, and Teddy came running up to him. He gathered the little fellow up and found a note attached to his collar. Cory pulled the note free.
Cory,
You need Teddy and he needs you. I can’t explain why, but I had to leave. It was necessary and dictated by events beyond my control. I need you to understand that I didn’t want to leave. Had things been different, I would have stayed by your side forever. I never want you to regret anything that happened between us—I won’t. Not ever. I’ll see you in my dreams. I’ll feel you inside me at night when I lie down to sleep. Having experienced it for the first time with you, I’ll never forget what love feels like. What it’s supposed to feel like. I hope you can find a way to be happy. You deserve so much more than what you are allowing yourself to have. You are the most generous person I’ve ever met. I’ll cherish our time together for the rest of my life.
I love you,
Brook
Cory staggered to the recliner in the living room and dropped awkwardly into the seat. She was gone. Forever gone. The woman he loved had abandoned him. It had happened again.
He re-read the letter. Something beyond her control? What was it? Why hadn’t she confided in him? He felt helpless and out of control. She was gone and she’d left him with no answers, no way to find her. He examined the room. No, she hadn’t left any other message. She didn’t want him to find her. He tried to imagine what could have happened, but nothing came to mind.
He wondered if something had happened at the brewery and briefly thought of checking with Logan, but then it hit him like a bullet to the chest—Parker. Brook’s leaving had something to do with that son of a bitch.
Cory drove to the brewery. He needed answers, and he would kill to get them.
He stalked inside and searched the place. Problem was, he didn’t know what he was searching for. Then his eyes found Parker waiting for his turn at one of the pool tables. He strode up to him, grabbed him by the neck, and yelled, “Where is she?”
Parker let out a stream of expletives, and his hand chopped at Cory’s side until Cory released his neck. Parker threw a punch, but Cory ducked. Cory snagged him around the waist and threw him into the wall, then landed a punch to Parker’s jaw. Parker’s elbow slammed Cory under the chin. Cory saw stars and heard his brother’s voice. He was being pulled, but he couldn’t see. And then he heard Logan yell “shit” before the lights went out completely.
When he came to he was in Logan’s office, lying on the couch with an icepack on his face. The lights were off and only the glow of the computer lit the room. He saw from the clock he’d been out for three hours.
He sat up, and his head pounded. He stood and staggered to the door. The crowd had thinned. His father and Logan and his mother were alone at the bar, so he made his way across the room.
Logan drafted him his favorite brew and placed a pint on the counter. Cory took the seat next to his mother and took a long draw on the beer. He cradled his aching forehead and his jaw in one hand.
Logan pulled out a towel, loaded it with ice, and handed it across the bar.
“Sucker punch. Parker apologized when it was clear that you wouldn’t be waking up for a while.”
Cory grunted, but he pressed the ice against his face.
“You wanna talk about what’s going on with you?” He heard his mother’s voice, smooth like silk, as it filtered through the pain in his head.
Cory shot her a hateful look. She couldn’t be serious—she wanted to parent him now? He was nearly thirty; she’d missed his parenting years. He huffed out a no and went back to nursing his head.
“You ever going to forgive me for what I did?”
He wanted to give her another unequivocal no, but he managed to say, “Don’t flatter yourself. This has nothing to do with you.”
“Oh, I think it might have a little to do with me.”
Logan was watching them. Shit, just what had he told their mother? Logan had always been too smart. He would pick up on stuff nobody realized they were projecting and have it all sorted out before anyone else could even blink.
His mother swiveled her barstool toward him.
“I never apologized to you because I didn’t want to experience your rejection. It is, of course, within your rights to refuse my apology.”
Christ, he didn’t want to hear this now.
“I’m not looking for vindication, I just want you to know that I live with the memory of your tear-stained face and your clinging body every day.”
Damn, he really didn’t want to hear this. And he didn’t want her talking about how he’d clung to her, especially not in front of Logan and his dad. Angry, he swung around. And saw her face.
Tears were coursing down her cheeks. Silent tears one after the other. Suddenly his father put an arm around her and she buried her face to his chest.
He’d never seen his mother cry. Not ever.
“Son, things happened that I regret. I need to apologize to you for not being there for you when I drove your mother away.”
His mother placed her hands on his father’s cheeks, “Cliff, you’re not going to take all the blame, we were both at fault.”
Both of his parents now stared into his eyes. It was a strange event and he couldn’t remember the last time it happened, if ever.
His mother spoke, “My leaving had nothing to do with you, Cory. Still, I would give everything to go back to that day and do it differently. To make you understand so that there was never a doubt in your mind.” Her hand went to his shoulder. “I’d like to be part of your life again, and if you ever want that, I’ll be here.” She stood and made her way to the restroom.
Well, shit. He didn’t know what to do with that. Best to push it back for the present.
He stared Logan down with narrowed eyes. Logan wore a poker face, and his lips were tighter than a lug nut.
“You know where she is.”
Logan didn’t deny or confirm, just remained stoic.
His father looked at Logan. “Do you know where she is?”
Still his face was stone.
Cory was beyond frustrated and not in the mood to play games. If Logan knew where Brook was, he was going to get that information. “Logan, I need you to tell me.”
Logan filled a glass with ice, topped it off with water. And then he drank. Only then did he say, “For the record, she swore me to secrecy. But I think I can see how this needs to play out and, lucky for you, that will require that I tell you.”
Cory’s lips tightened, and he was about to fly across the bar and slug his brother when Logan threw out his hand.
“You’ve behaved like an idiot. She didn’t want to leave, but she couldn’t stay and risk losing you forever. If I’m about to betray her trust, I need to know what’s at stake.”
“What’s at stake is your pretty face. Tell me where she is!”
“See, that’s not going to do it for me, brother. I told you that I liked Brook. And I’m committed to her welfare. What I need to know is are you committed to her at all costs?”
Cory fisted his hands in his hair. What the hell was wrong with everybody?
“Will you do right by her?”
Fear seared his gut as he met his brother’s unrelenting gaze. “I would give my life for that woman. Please,” he begged. “Please help me get her back.” Unshed tears stung his eyes.
His father put one arm around him. He was falling apart.
Logan said, “She took
a job at the greyhound park near Galveston.”
“Galveston? Why?”
Logan looked at their father, but Cory just waved him on. “Logan…”
“Because she’s pregnant with your child and didn’t want to tell you for fear that it would force you to do something that would make you unhappy.”
“What?” Brook was pregnant? Heat washed over him, then ice pounded into him, the twin assault leaving him sweating and shaking.
His mind flashed to her with her animals and how committed and attuned to their needs she always was. Not just to their needs but his as well. She was loyal, he knew that. Deep in his heart he knew she’d never willingly leave him. She’d handle their child with that same fierce loyalty and dedication. Then his mind flashed an image of her with a large round belly. He yearned to be next to that woman, to hold that woman, to love that woman, and the child growing in her womb, their child.
Had he actually told her he’d never have children, that he didn’t want them? The truth of it was he’d give his left nut to watch her grow large and round with his child. He’d have an entire litter with her.
Logan looked to their father and back to Cory, slapped the bar, and said, “So… road trip to Texas?”
“Great idea, son. Let’s all three go, shall we?”
“All four of us,” his mother said from behind him.
Their father turned to place his arm around her. “That’s right, after all this is supposed to be a date.” He kissed her chastely on the mouth.
He didn’t have time to stop and process what was going on with his parents. “I want to leave tonight,” Cory said, his voice nearly as shaky as his hand.
Logan replied, “Let me get Cal in here to run the bar.”
≈
Cal and Chloe both showed up to oversee the bar. They approached Cory, Logan, and their parents, hand in hand.
Cory’s dad placed his large hand on Chloe’s stomach and asked, “How’s my grandbaby doing?”
Chloe said, “He is very naughty, causing his mother to be up all night with indigestion.”
Cal smiled. “And momma’s indigestion keeps daddy up.”
Cory was riveted on the scene playing out in front of him. He so badly wanted what Cal had that his body began to hum like an engine at the thought of having all he never knew he wanted. But he wanted it, all of it, and he wanted it bad.
This was what had been missing his entire life, what he’d feared would always be missing. Unconditional love and devotion. And now it was right in front of him, his if he didn’t blow it.
As Chloe was giving out hugs all around, Cal asked, “So what’s goin’ on?”
Logan said, “Our Cory here has fucked up royally.”
Cal’s brow rose. Cory said, “Before you say anything, I’ve got a plan to make it right.”
Cal raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m not saying a word. So what’s the plan?”
They informed Cal and Chloe of Operation Retrieve Brook and Eagle.
Chloe said, “Be prepared, Cory. You can’t force her to come back with you. She might be upset. I don’t know, if it were me, if I’d be ready to follow you back to Whisky Cove.”
Cory shook his head. “She has to come back.”
Chloe squeezed his shoulder. “I’m not saying she won’t come back, just be prepared. It may take some time for her to come around.”
9
Once they were on the interstate, Cory asked, “How long does it say it’ll take?”
Their father was driving and Logan was navigating from the passenger seat. “The GPS says four and a half hours with traffic.”
“It’ll be almost one in the morning when we arrive. And you’re sure you know exactly where she lives?”
“She’s renting a place from a friend of mine I hooked her up with.”
Cory’s body immediately tensed. “You hooked her up with someone?”
Logan looked over his shoulder. “Will you relax? She’s an ex-girlfriend of mine.”
Cory nodded, relieved. He thought about what Chloe had said. It was true, Brook probably wouldn’t be ready to drop everything yet again and follow him home. Unless he had a grand plan. He had just over four hours to come up with a fail proof reason for her to take him back.
≈
Cory heard the voice of his mother come to him in a dream. “We’re here.”
He opened his eyes—no dream. He sat up and looked out of the side window. “Where?”
Logan pointed to a house across the street. “There.”
“It’s one thirty in the morning,” his dad told him from the front seat. “What’s your plan?”
His plan was to storm the house and get Brook. But the holes in that plan hit him like the slap of her hand to his face. “I need a ring!”
The four of them stared at one another so long, Cory was afraid his words had cast some kind of spell. Then Logan started laughing.
“Well, that’s step one.”
Luckily, Cory’s father had connections all along the Gulf Coast and plenty of friends willing to do him favors—even after midnight. He made a few calls and within the hour, they were at a jewelry store looking at rings. Unfortunately, Cory wasn’t satisfied with any of them.
“They’re beautiful, Mr. Winters, truly, but I can’t go to her with any of these.” Cory slowly blew out a long breath of air.
His father ran a finger across a few of the rings and asked, “What’s the problem?”
“These are too big, too showy, too… gaudy. I need something original, something vintage.” Cory looked into the eyes of the shop owner. “My Brook has freckles and thick chestnut hair with copper highlights. Her skin is bronze, her eyes are a luminous green—unless she’s overcome with desire, and then they darken to a color between gold and bronze. She never wears make-up or perfume,” Cory shook his head. “Doesn’t have to. She dresses simply and there is nothing fake about her.”
All eyes were on Cory. Logan was actually recording him with his phone’s camera. Cory blushed and said, “I think with her bronze skin we can rule out anything that isn’t yellow gold.”
Mr. Winters tapped his chin, his eyes seeing something other than what was laid out on the counter. “I think I have something in the back. It belonged to my grandmother.”
When Cory saw the ring, he knew it was the one. It was classically beautiful with an antique emerald, and diamonds in the shape of a flower. The center stone matched the color of Brook’s eyes, and the sides were a delicate swirl pattern. Cory smiled brightly, excited and relieved. “This is perfect. Just perfect.” He held it out for his mother to see. “Don’t you think it’s perfect?”
“It’s beautiful.”
He turned back to Mr. Winters. When he saw the specialty box the man had pulled the ring from, his gut clenched. “You said it belonged to your grandmother. Is it for sale?”
“It isn’t.”
Cory’s breath caught.
“Isn’t for sale that is.” Mr. Winters placed the ring in a new velvet box. He looked to the St. Martin clan and then grasped Cory’s father’s hand. “Without your father’s assistance, I wouldn’t be standing before you today. Your father is a good man. I want you to have the ring.”
He nodded. “Good to see you again, Cliff.”
Cory’s dad nodded back and simply replied, “Knox.”
Cory and Logan both looked from one man to the other. They had a connection that ran deep, that much was clear. Cory would ask his father about it another time, but for now he was simply grateful the relationship existed.
He looked to the shop owner who’d given up his night and passed on a family heirloom, all for him. All for love. His eyes swam with tears. “Thank you, sir. You should know, your ring is going to a great lady, one who loves as generously as you do.”
≈
They killed some time at a twenty-four hour diner, then drove back and waited a little longer in the SUV outside Brook’s temporary home. Finally, when Cory couldn’t wait an
y longer, he said, “I’m ready, let’s go.”
The plan was simple. His dad would carry a bouquet of blue hydrangeas. Cory had seen Brook worry over the hydrangea bushes in front of her home in Whisky Cove and occasionally cut some and bring them inside. Cory’s father would offer her the flowers. Logan would film the proposal, and of course Cory would be on bended knee. They all barreled out of the SUV and turned toward the house. His mother stayed seated.
Cory leaned in and said, “Mom?”
“I’ll just wait here.”
“No, Mom. I need you with me.”
Her face went instantly from stormy weather to a warm, lazy summer day, and her smile caressed him, easing some of his worry. “Come on, Mom. We can kiss and ooh and aah later. Right now I need to see Brook.”
It was straight up seven when Cory rang the bell. From his vantage point on bended knee, he first heard the clacking of Eagle’s nails on the tile, then the unmistakable sound of the door latch cracking open. In cutoff jeans and a tank top, the love of his life stood staring out at him, wiping the sleep out of her eyes.
Her eyes remained wide as they passed from Cory to his father and mother and then to Logan.
Eagle whimpered, but he didn’t leave Brook’s side. He too looked from Cory to the others and then back to Cory.
Cory took a deep breath, “Brook, I can’t make a move without thinking of you. The thought of never seeing you again makes me crazy with regret. There were things you needed to hear from me, things you deserved to hear. I’m in love and I don’t know how to do it. It’s painful and it hurts and I’m terrified. I’m out of control, and I hate that. I’m paralyzed without you. The only cure is you so if you run, I will always come after you. I’d walk through a wildfire to get to you.”
Brook gasped, one hand at her lips and one at her breast. God, he was botching this, but he was speaking from the heart.
“I see your freckles whenever I close my eyes. In my dreams I feel your hair cascading down my chest, and I seek the heat of your body.”
