Rough Terrain (Vista Falls #1)

by Cheryl Douglas

  “So Wes tells me you’re a football player, Nick,” Sharon said, winking at her grandson. “Wes would never admit this—he’s much too modest—but he still holds all kinds of records at his old high school. Everyone says he was the best quarterback that school has ever had.”

  “God, Mom,” Wes said, turning a ruddy shade as he swiped a hand over his face. “Do we really have to do this?”

  Sage laughed as she gripped his knee under the table. “Your mom’s not lying, honey. Let her tell Nick your story.” Sage could tell that Nick was learning to worship Wes, but instead of making her jealous or uncomfortable, it made her happy. How could it not? The man she loved was getting a second chance with his son. Their son.

  “If he doesn’t want you to hear about how great he was, I’d be more than happy to tell you how great I was,” Rush said, grinning at Wes.

  “You played football too?” Nick asked.

  “Must be something about those Davis genes, huh?” Rush obviously realized he’d made Nick uncomfortable because he said, “Sorry, kid. I was just—”

  “It’s okay.” Nick looked around the table, his gaze finally settling on Wes. “I like being here with you guys. I know I’m not really a part of the family, but—”

  “Nonsense,” Sharon said, putting her arm around Nick. “You’re blood. It doesn’t get any closer than that.”

  Sage was grateful to Sharon for making Nick feel as though he belonged. He needed to hear that from the matriarch of the family, a woman he obviously liked and respected.

  “Thanks for saying that.” Nick smiled at her. “Does that mean you’ll bake me another one of those apple pies you gave Da—uh, Wes?”

  Sharon promised Nick another pie as they all pretended they didn’t notice the slip, but Sage could tell how much it meant to Wes.

  “Why don’t we head outside?” Rush suggested. “You ladies can bring your coffee while we wet a line?”

  “You boys go on ahead,” Sharon said, standing so she could take the chair Wes had vacated. “I want a few minutes alone with Sage first.”

  Sage knew she shouldn’t be nervous. She and Sharon had had plenty of heart-to-heart chats over the years, but now that she and Wes were officially a couple again, it felt different. Sage didn’t want to get ahead of herself, but this woman could be her future mother-in-law, and she wanted to convince Sharon that she was as invested in this relationship as Wes was.

  “He’s quite a young man, isn’t he?” Sharon said, watching the three of them head outside. Their laughter rang out while Rush shoved Nick into Wes.

  “That he is,” Sage agreed.

  “I can tell how happy it’s made Wes, getting to know him after all these years. And you too, honey. You must be so excited about the future.”

  Sage had learned a long time ago to temper her enthusiasm. Years ago, when she’d been excited about going off to college, she found out she was pregnant. When she’d been excited about a future with Wes, their relationship fell apart. When she finally got a publishing deal and her first book was a success, her father had a stroke and she had to take over for him. So no matter how much she loved Wes and Nick and wanted both of them to be a part of her life moving forward, she was afraid to hope for too much. “We’re just trying to take it one day at a time, Sharon. But I’m happy. Hopeful.”

  Sharon frowned, reaching for Sage’s hand. “You do know it’s okay to be happy, right? That you deserve to be happy?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I think you’ve been punishing yourself for a really long time, feeling guilty because you didn’t fight harder to keep Nick, maybe even because you let Wes go without a fight.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” There was no point in denying it. Sharon had raised three kids. She knew how to sniff out the truth. “You know what they say—old habits die hard.”

  “But die they must,” Sharon said. “At least this one. It’s holding you back, honey. Preventing you from having the life you want with a man who loves you more than anything.”

  “He told you that?” Sage whispered, wondering what else Wes had told his mother about her.

  “He didn’t have to. I know him. I know what’s in his heart. And it’s you. It’s always been you.”

  Sage felt tears sting her eyes, but she knew she didn’t have to hold back with Sharon. She’d often been more of a mother to her than her own. “I love him too. So much. I hope you know I’d never do anything to hurt him again.”

  “I don’t think you hurt him back then. I think you both had to make an incredibly difficult decision. Did it hurt both of you? Yes. But I never once blamed you… or him.”

  “You are so amazing,” Sage said, giving her a hug. “Most parents would go crazy if they found out their teenage son got his girlfriend pregnant, but you and John were so good to both of us. Even when we decided to go ahead with the adoption, you never tried to convince us otherwise. You said it was our decision, and you let us make it. I don’t think I ever told you how grateful I was for that.”

  “Maybe not, but you did write about it in your book, which John got to read before he passed. So thank you for that.”

  “John read the book?”

  “He certainly did. And let me just say there were a lot of tears shed. We had a lot of good conversations about what you and Wes did.”

  “Really?” Sage was almost afraid to ask. “How did John really feel about it? Did he resent me for pressuring Wes into giving his grandson up?”

  She shook her head slowly. “He often said how brave he thought you both were, that you’d faced the challenge with more dignity and grace than he would have had in the same situation.”

  Sage smiled, thinking how sad she was that she’d never have John as a father-in-law. He truly had been a wonderful example of what a father should be. “I miss him, so I can’t imagine how much you all do.”

  “The fact that I got so many wonderful years with him was a blessing I’m thankful for every day. If you find someone like that, who’s your best friend, you never let anything tear you apart.” She brushed Sage’s hair over her shoulder. “You and Wes were too young to understand that back then. You let what happened tear you apart, understandably so. But your past doesn’t have to define you. It seems you two are getting a second chance. I so hope you’ll make the most of it.”

  “We will,” Sage said, smiling. “If I have my way.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Brunch with Wes’s family inspired Sage to visit her parents while Wes took Nick to meet his old football coach. She wanted them to know that Nick was in town before they heard it from one of their well-meaning friends.

  “Well, this is a surprise,” her mother said when she answered the door. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about us.”

  “Can I come in?” Sage asked, refusing to take the bait.

  “Of course.” She stepped back. “Your father is lying down, but he should be up soon.”

  “Is he feeling okay?” Sage asked, feeling a pang of guilt for the way she’d left things with her sick father.

  “Do you really care?”

  “I didn’t come here to fight, Mom. I came here to fill you in on what’s been happening in my life. Not because I need your blessing. I don’t. I just wanted you to know.”

  “Hmm. Would you like some tea?”

  “Sure, why not?” Sage followed her mother, wondering why she always wore heels inside. It was one of the many questions Sage had never felt comfortable asking her.

  “I hear you’re seeing that Davis boy again.” Her mother set two delicate cups and saucers on the table before a teapot Sage recognized as her grandmother’s.

  Sage’s mother had a way of making her feel like a petulant teenager every time she opened her mouth. “First of all, he’s not a boy. He’s a man. And yes, I am. Do you and Dad have a problem with that?”

  She pinched her lips together. “I know he’s done very well for himself, but having money isn’t everything.”
/>
  Sage covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. “That’s funny coming from you. I thought money was the only thing that prevented Wes from being good enough for me back in high school as far as you were concerned.”

  “Well, we certainly didn’t have a crystal ball,” she said, sitting. “No one could have predicted that he would become so wealthy. You know, I Googled him the other day. You’ll never guess what his net worth is.”

  Sage hadn’t seen her mother’s eyes light up like that in a long time. But dollar signs always did make her salivate. She was probably already imagining how Wes’s good fortune could benefit their family.

  “I don’t care how much money he has. I love him.” Sage let those words settle in before she said, “And he loves me.”

  “Well, at least we won’t have to worry about whether he can provide for you.”

  “I don’t need anyone to provide for me.” Sage shook her head. “In case you haven’t noticed, I have a car and home of my own.”

  “I know, but think about the kind of house and car you could have if you married someone like Wes.”

  Sage couldn’t believe that all of a sudden, her mother viewed Wes as a catch. “Mom, I busted my ass in college so I wouldn’t lose my scholarship. Even after I gave my baby up—”

  “Language.” She frowned. “And really, do we have to rehash all this? It’s ancient history.”

  “For you, maybe.” Sage had promised herself she wouldn’t lose her temper, but her mother didn’t make it easy to keep her word. “But you and Dad seem to forget all that I’ve sacrificed to try to make a decent life for myself. I worked hard, lived beneath my means, paid off all my debt, including my house—”

  “You don’t have a mortgage on that house?” Her eyes widened. “Why didn’t you ever tell me that?”

  “You never asked.” Sage didn’t like to discuss her finances with her parents, mainly because they would probably have cut her salary at the dealership if they’d known she didn’t have any debt. “I’ve bankrolled every single improvement on that old house and been saving for retirement. Do you want to know why?”

  “I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

  “Because I want to write. That’s my passion. It’s what I was born to do, and since it’s not the most stable career choice—”

  “You can say that again.”

  Sage clenched her teeth, spitting out the words. “I have saved my money, made do with less, and created a nice little nest egg for myself so someday I can live life on my terms. So you see, I don’t need Wes. But I do want him in my life. Because I love him. Not because he has money.”

  Sage’s mother narrowed her eyes, tapping her manicured nail on the table. “Why do I get the feeling there was a dig in there somewhere? Are you judging me because I chose to stay home with my children instead of getting a job that was beneath me?”

  Sage’s mother had never gone to college because, according to her, it wasn’t necessary since she’d landed a man from a well-to-do family. But for years, Sage had sensed that her mother needed something more in her life. Now that her children were grown and gone, she seemed lonely and bored.

  “No, I’m not judging you. But would it have killed you to help me out at the dealership? Dad was in the hospital, then you hired a caregiver for him. What prevented you from being at the dealership?” Sage had always wanted to know why her mother had never stepped up when her family needed her.

  “What do I know about that kind of thing?” she asked, smoothing her layered hair. “You’re the one with the fancy business degree. Your poor father would have been worried sick if he thought I was there, making a mess of things.”

  “So you didn’t feel capable of making a valuable contribution? That’s why you did nothing?”

  She shrugged. “I’ve never had a head for business. You know that.”

  “No, I don’t. And neither do you. You’ve never even tried.”

  “Are you saying you think I should?”

  Sage hadn’t intended to discuss the family business today, but since they were knee-deep in it, there was no reason for her to backpedal. “I think you’re a lot smarter and more resourceful than you give yourself credit for. You know everyone in the community. You’ve invested a lot of hours in raising money for various causes, so you’re obviously a good salesperson. I think you could be a great asset to the business.”

  “What would your father say?”

  “I don’t know. We could ask him.” Sage decided it was time to lay her cards on the table, whether her parents liked it or not. “Here’s the deal, Mom. I put my life on hold when Dad had the stroke because you needed me, and I was happy to do it. But I can’t and won’t do it forever. Either you guys need to get serious about finding a buyer, or you need to share the workload once Dad’s well enough because I can’t go on doing this forever.”

  “Did your boyfriend put you up to this? Did he—”

  “Wes doesn’t even know I’m here. Does he want me to do what makes me happy? Of course he does. And honestly, the dealership doesn’t make me happy. It never has.”

  She sighed. “I don’t think it makes your father happy anymore either.”

  “Then why is he still doing it?”

  “Why do you think?” She gestured around her. “This lifestyle comes at a hefty price.”

  “Then maybe you need to think about changing your lifestyle.” Sage had thought that for years but had never been brave enough to suggest it. “Why do you need this big old house and those fancy cars? Not to mention the condo in Florida you hardly ever use anymore and the timeshare in Arizona.”

  She hung her head. “It is a burden, especially with your father’s health problems. He wanted to downsize years ago, but I talked him out of it—what would people say? So he continued busting his tail to keep me in everything I thought I needed, and I have no idea if that stress caused his stroke.” She fought back tears as she twisted a large sapphire-and-diamond ring on her finger. “I’m so ashamed of myself. I made money and other people’s opinions more important than my husband’s happiness and well-being. What kind of person does that?”

  “Someone who’s confused,” Sage said, reaching for her mother’s hand. “Someone who’s always lived her life a certain way and is afraid of change. That doesn’t make you a bad person, Mom. And it’s not too late to make different decisions. God spared Dad for a reason. Maybe it’s time for you two to sit down and figure out what you really want, what’s important to you. Both of you.”

  “You’ve given me a lot to think about,” her mother said with the first genuine smile Sage had seen from her in a long time. “I promise to talk to your father about it. We’ll come up with a plan to help you out at the dealership, one way or the other. You need time to write, after all.”

  “Thank you.” Sage leaned in to give her mother a kiss. They’d had such a good talk she didn’t want risk ruining the ground they’d made, but she couldn’t leave without telling her about Nick. “I have something else to talk to you about. My son is here. He’s spending the afternoon with Wes, and we’re all going out for dinner together tonight.”

  “I see. Your son? That’s how you think of him?” Her eyes softened when she said, “I’m not judging you, Sage. I’m really not. I just don’t want to see you get your heart broken. That boy has parents who love him, parents who have raised him when you couldn’t.”

  “I know that, and I would never try to take his mother’s place. That’s not what this is about. I just want to have a relationship with him, even if that means we’re just friends. Can you understand that?”

  “I suppose I can.” She stretched her arms out in front of her, pressing her back into the chair. “I’ve often wondered about him myself, you know.”

  “You have?” Since Sage had always been discouraged from talking about the adoption, she assumed her parents had put it out of their minds.

  “Of course.” Her smile was sad when she said, “We’re not monsters, dear. But I’m a
fraid we may have been misguided parents who thought we knew it all.”

  Sage had never heard either of her parents admit to being wrong or apologize for anything, so she was a little stunned by her mother’s admission.

  “The last time you were here…” Her mother sighed softly. “I cried myself to sleep that night because I was terrified we’d lost you for good this time.”

  “Mom,” Sage said, her voice gentle, “it’s not that I don’t want a relationship with you guys. I do. I just want you to respect my right to make my own decisions.”

  “I know.” She nodded. “And you’ve earned that right. It’s not that you have a pattern of making stupid mistakes. You’ve been very responsible as an adult, always doing what was right. We’re very proud of you, you know.”

  Sage had given up hope of hearing that years ago. She’d even convinced herself she didn’t need her parents’ approval. Still, it was nice to hear she had it. “Thank you.”

  “And if you want to build a life with Wes, we’re not going to try to stand in your way.”

  There was no way they could have, but Sage appreciated the sentiment nonetheless. “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “And of course we understand why you want to get to know your son. Anyone in your position would.”

  “Would you like to get to know him, Mom?” Sage knew Nick may not be ready for that given what he’d read about them in her book, but she hoped he would eventually be open to the possibility.

  “I think that would be lovely,” she said, smiling.

  Sage leaned over, and they shared a warm embrace as she whispered, “I love you.”

  “I love you too, sweetheart. So very much.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Wes was making a snack for himself and Nick that would hopefully tide them over until their dinner date with Sage in a couple of hours when Nick said, “Uh, Wes, can I ask you something?”

  “Yeah, sure.” Wes popped a cheese square into his mouth, followed by a couple of crackers, before passing the plate and a bowl of pretzels to Nick.