by Lacey Wolfe
Claire laughed and said she hoped so, too.
Julie hit the button on the Bluetooth to disconnect the call. Thankfully, it was still afternoon, so she wasn’t too worried about the snow. So far it was just flurries. She couldn’t wait until spring. She liked snow all right, but Wyoming got more snow than she cared for. And yet she was moving back.
As she got closer and closer to Brookfield, she got more and more nervous. She couldn’t wait to see Mark again. She had longed for him so much in the past few months. She’d done her best not to think about him. To think of anything else. But each night, when she climbed into bed, he was her last thought and, in the morning, he was her first. Hopefully, when she’d run away, she hadn’t completely burned the bridge down.
The hour flew by, and Julie was coming right up on Brookfield. Any moment now, she would see the sign. Her stomach did flips. It was almost time.
Welcome to Brookfield, Wyoming. We hope you enjoy your visit.
And she was officially on Main Street. As she drove the twenty-five-mile-an-hour speed limit through town, she wondered if he would be home. It was mid-afternoon on a Friday. He was either still at work or left early. She was hoping for the latter.
For good measure, she parked and decided to get an apology gift. A pie. She snickered. It was silly, but men loved food, and it was also a slight kick to Cara. She entered The Cookie Jar, and the bell jingled loudly. A short lady with black, pixie-cut hair greeted her.
“Welcome to The Cookie Jar. I’m Kayla. What can I get you today?”
“An apology gift.”
“I get a lot of those requests.” Kayla tapped her finger on her chin. “Does he like chocolate?”
How did she know it was a he? “Milk chocolate or white. No dark.”
“Let me see.” Kayla looked over her baked-goods case. “Pecans?”
“It’s his favorite.”
“I have something new. A chocolate-pecan pie. I just made this and tried it out on a few customers who loved it. So I can promise you no one has brought this pie to him yet.”
Julie squinted. Did Kayla know who this pie was for already? “Sounds great. I think something he hasn’t had yet is a great idea.”
“Well, give me a minute, and I’ll get it all wrapped up for you.”
Julie took a seat and felt the baby start to kick her. It had been a while since she’d eaten, and Lila had a sweet tooth already. Julie had never eaten so many chocolate-chip cookies in her life until this baby took over. She was guilty of eating an entire package in one sitting. Her butt was all the proof you needed.
Oh, geesh, what if she was too fat now for Mark? What if he took one look at her and saw a giant cow? This had never crossed her mind. She definitely wasn’t in any shape to seduce the man. Well, unless he was one of those kinky men who got off on the big belly.
“Here you go, Ms. Miller.” Kayla brought the pie around the counter and handed it to her. “Can I get you anything else?”
“A chocolate-chip cookie would be great.”
Kayla went back behind the counter and returned with a brown bag. Julie asked her how much, and Kayla told her not to worry about it. Next time she was by and had her hands free, she could drop off the payment.
As Julie left, Kayla called, “Good luck with Mark.” Julie nodded. Luck was something she needed for sure.
She carefully placed the pie in the front passenger seat and was now set to head to her mom’s house, now known as her home. If Mark didn’t want to be with her, she wouldn’t force him out right away as much as she wanted to. She knew the right thing to do was give him thirty days. She didn’t want to even think about that. When she showed up at the house with the yummy pie, he was going to forgive her and sweep her up inside and make love to her. One can dream.
As she headed back onto Main Street, on top of the baby kicking from the chocolate-chip cookies, a whole colony of butterflies had moved in, too. She could do this.
When she pulled into the driveway, she noticed his truck wasn’t there, but a little red sedan was. She thought it was odd, but you never knew. His vehicle could be in the shop, and this could be a loaner. Besides, who else would be here?
Checking her make-up in the mirror, she took a deep breath. It was now or … now. She reached over and took hold of the pie then walked to the door. A few flurries were still falling, and it left just enough chill that she prayed a fire was going.
She knocked, feeling very strange about knocking on this door. She couldn’t recall ever not just going in. Shaking her head, she supposed there was a first time for everything. There was no answer, so she knocked again louder. Patience was not on her side. This was crazy. She was standing outside her mom’s house, knocking on the door and being ignored.
With her free hand, she rummaged through her purse until she found her keys. She placed the key in the lock and, just as she was about to turn the handle, it finally opened. Julie’s eyes stared into Cara’s. Holding the pie now, feeling like an idiot and in a way like this was a backwards déjà vu, she tried to control herself.
“Hi, Cara. Is Mark here?”
“He will be in a little. He’s still at work,” Cara said real sweetly.
“Well, I’m back in town, and I wanted to stop in and see him.” Wait, why was she explaining herself to Cara? And why was she here?
“I’ll let him know.”
“Do you live here now?”
Cara shook her head. Julie could see how nervous the woman was. Heck, could she blame her? This was a very awkward situation.
“Why are you here then when Mark isn’t?”
“I kinda let myself in to surprise him.”
“Your car gives away that you’re here.”
“Shoot, I didn’t even think of that.”
Well, she wasn’t the brightest crayon. “How did you get in? Do you have your own key?” Please say no, please say no.
“Actually, no. I just took a guess where the spare might be,” Cara said.
“So you’re telling me you don’t even have permission to be here?”
Julie pushed through the doorway. It was ridiculous to be standing out there in the cold for this nonsense. However, once she was inside, she wished she was back outside. Her eyes opened wide as she took in the millions candles lit all around the living room and the light music playing in the background. She then took a closer look at Cara and saw she was wearing a very provocative outfit. Cara was here to seduce Mark, and she had walked right into the middle of it.
Julie laid the pie down on the coffee table next to some scattered rose petals. This was embarrassing and a total nightmare. This was not at all how she’d pictured this going. She had to get the hell out of here and quick.
“I’m moving back, and this is going to be my house.” Julie looked Cara straight in the eye. “I don’t mean to come across rude, but this is a fire hazard, and I just can’t have it. This isn’t happening in my house.”
Cara no longer looked like the sweet girl she did a little while ago. “You’re not coming between Mark and me. I just got him, and I’m keeping him.”
Julie didn’t have time for this. Coming to Brookfield was supposed to make her life simple. This was not simple. This was more complicated than in New York City.
“I’m not here for him,” Julie said.
“You aren’t? Then why did you bring a pie?”
“I really don’t know.” Julie went to the door then turned and looked at Cara. “Have a nice evening somewhere other than my house.”
Julie left in a hurry. In her car, she backed up and headed down the road. Once out of sight of the house, Julie couldn’t hold back any longer. She let the tears fall and the snot flow, and she let all the pain out.
She’d thought she had made the right decision returning here. Things were supposed to be easy but now, in this tiny town of only five hundred people, not only was she going to be a single mom but she now had to see her Mark and Cara together. And what had happened in her living room… T
his was a disaster. At the stop sign, she had two options. To keep going straight and get the hell out of Brookfield or take a left and stay at Honeycreek Bed and Breakfast.
Chapter Fourteen
Julie burst through the door of Honeycreek, and Claire was right there to greet her.
“What’s wrong?” Claire asked, wrapping her arms around her.
“Cara was there.”
“Oh, no.” Claire took Julie’s hand and led her over to a sitting area. “Calm down now, and tell me what happened.”
“Shit, I left my pie!” Julie wiped her eyes. “They are going to enjoy my pie.”
“I’m a little confused here. Can you start from the beginning?”
“I bought him a pie, and we were supposed to eat it together. But when I got to the house, Cara was there. And she had candles lit and music playing. She was dressed trashy. You knew just what was going on.”
“Was Mark there?”
“No, he doesn’t even know. She let herself in with the spare key.”
“Doesn’t mean anything will happen. I don’t think he’s all that into her.”
“But he’s a man, and men will do anything that’s offered up to them on a silver platter.”
Claire let out a sigh. “All right, well, let’s just not get ahead of ourselves, okay?”
Julie nodded. She was way ahead. Her thoughts were now on Mark coming home and seeing Cara. Then Cara would hold up the pie and pretend she’d brought it when she didn’t. Oh, the nerve of that woman.
“Can I stay here?” Julie asked.
“Definitely. Stay as long as you need.”
“I’m coming back. This is my new home.”
“Honeycreek?”
Julie laughed. “Good one. No, Brookfield. It’s the perfect place for me to raise Lila. I know we will be happy here. It’s just going to hurt for a while to see them together.”
“I’m glad you’re staying. I could use another good friend around here.”
Julie hugged Claire. “Thanks. These past few months have been a struggle, but I think I just might come out of this a stronger person.”
“I never asked, what about your job?”
“I’m going to see about starting my own small publishing house. I know everything, and it’s a lot easier to do than I imagined. So I guess we’ll see. If I’m not successful, I don’t have a clue.”
“Good luck. Why don’t we get you settled into your room, and then maybe I’ll run out and get us some pizza from Luigi’s, and we’ll watch girly movies.”
“Sounds great. Let me grab my suitcase.”
“And I’ll get the key.”
Julie was so thankful for her friendship with Claire. When she returned with her luggage, she followed her friend to the same room she had stayed in before. When Claire opened the door, Julie’s eyes lit up. The room looked completely different.
“It looks great,” she said.
“Thanks. It’s a slow process, but I think the renovations are coming together nicely.”
“They certainly are.”
“You look exhausted. Why don’t you rest a bit?” Claire said.
Julie told her she was going to relax in a warm bath and to let her know when she was back.
The first thing Julie did once she was alone was to let the last few tears out. After she dried her eyes, she took a deep breath and decided it was time to take control of her life. She had to. There was no one else but her for the baby, and Lila deserved the best. Things were starting out rocky in Lila’s life not having a dad, so Julie had to step it up.
In the bathroom, she turned the water on and added some vanilla bubble bath. As the tub filled, she undressed and climbed in. The water engulfed her with warmth, and she immediately relaxed. Rubbing her hands along her belly, spreading the bubbles, all her aches and pains left her.
As she breathed in, the scent of vanilla also calmed her mind, and she finally felt one-hundred percent relaxed. As long as the water stayed warm, she wasn’t leaving this little luxury. Closing her eyes, she enjoyed only seeing the blackness from her lids.
The water finally started to get a little too cool, so Julie climbed out and wrapped herself up in a luxurious, white, fluffy towel that was amazingly soft against her skin. In the room, she dropped the towel then rubbed lotion all over her body, especially over her belly. As she rubbed the cream on, she could feel Lila moving slightly. She smiled. She was never alone and, as long as she had Lila, she never would be.
She dressed in her comfiest sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt. Then she pulled her hair up into a bun. It was nice to be comfortable. Back in New York, with the hours she’d worked, she never got to just relax like this. It was all hustle and bustle, go, go, go. But not here.
Sprawled out on the bed, she wondered what was taking Claire so long. Surely she was back by now. How long did it take to get pizza? A knock sounded on the door and startled her out of her thoughts. She hollered she would be out in just a minute.
In her suitcase, she dug out her slippers, and then she was all set for an evening of stuffing her face and watching cheesy movies. She opened the door and ran smack-dab into a pizza box.
“Ow,” she yelped.
She looked at the pizza box then let her gaze leisurely move from the firm chest in a navy blue, button-down shirt to the blue eyes that belonged to Mark.
“Mark,” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”
“I was at work getting ready to leave when Claire rushed in and told me you were back and that I needed to bring you this pizza.”
Mental note, kill Claire. “Do you want to come in?” she asked.
Mark stepped past her, and she shut the door softly behind him. “She said you’re home—for good,” Mark said.
“I am.”
He set the pizza box down. “Why did you leave in the first place?”
“I needed to figure things out.”
“You couldn’t do that here? You didn’t even leave a number for me to contact you. You never called me one time, and you knew how to reach me.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
He was silent, and she wondered what was going through his head. She studied him and let her eyes wander a bit. He was even more attractive than she remembered. So badly did she want to reach out and touch him. Feel him against her skin. His breath warm on her. His lips moist against hers.
“How can I believe you’re staying for good?” he finally asked.
“This is mine and Lila’s home.”
Mark’s expression softened. “It’s a girl.”
She couldn’t help it. She smiled. “Yes.” Rubbing her belly, she said, “It’s a girl.”
His eyes drifted and took in her stomach. He looked as though his mind was going a mile a minute. What she would give to know what he was thinking.
“Congratulations,” he said.
“Thanks.” He sat on the bed. “I know I hurt you, Mark, and if I could, I would spend the rest of my life making it up to you. You told me you loved me, and I ran. And for that, I am so sorry. I should have stayed and talked it over like an adult, but I didn’t. I can’t change that now, but I can make up for it.”
He rubbed his hands through his hair.
“Are things serious with Cara?” she asked.
Mark snickered. “Nowhere near where she wants it to be.” His eyes rose to hers. “She knows she isn’t you.”
Julie’s heart fluttered. Maybe there was hope. “Me?”
“Yes, you. You’re who I want, Julie. I don’t want anyone else. I’m in love with you.”
Closing in the space between them now, she said, “I love you.”
Mark grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap so she straddled him. She stared into his eyes for a moment before letting her lips find his. His kiss was as eager as hers and, as his arms wrapped around her, she was at more ease than she had ever been. Mark loved her, and he was going to forgive her.
He was also putting her into a state of arousal, which s
eemed to be a very common thing at this point in her pregnancy. Her hormones were at full speed, and she was very ready to get this hunk of a man undressed.
“This might be really forward, but I’m seriously horny. Please take me home, and make love to me in our bed,” Julie said.
“I don’t think anything sounds better.” Julie stood and turned to get her things. “Leave them. You don’t need anything in that bag for what I have in store for you tonight.” Taking her hand, he hurried her out the door.
On the way out of Honeycreek, he hollered to Claire he’d be by for Julie’s luggage when they made it out of bed and to enjoy the pizza. Julie laughed the whole way.
Mark sped home, and she knew he was just as ready as she was to get out of these clothes and under some sheets together. As they pulled up to the house, the first thing Julie noticed was the red car was gone. Thank God. As they climbed out, Julie told him to stop. Twisting her fingers around his, she smiled up at him.
“We’re home. Our home.”
Mark kissed her. He then leaned down and picked her up.
“What are you doing?”
“Carrying you over the threshold.”
“I’m too heavy.” She giggled.
“Yeah, a little bit.”
“Hey!” She swatted his across his shoulder. “There are two of us here.”
Lifting her a little more, he kissed her belly. “I’m fully aware.” Once inside, he put her back on her feet and pulled her into an embrace. “Welcome home, Julie.”
Epilogue
Julie’s eyes opened, and the sun was already up. This was new. Lila always had her up at the crack of dawn and, each morning as she took her bottle, they sat in the rocker and watched the sun rise. Yet, this morning, the sun was up, and there was no crying baby. Panic set in then. Julie tossed the sheets off and darted for the baby’s room.
The nursery was empty. Right as she was about to holler for help, she heard a familiar giggle and a few clinking noises. Closing her old bedroom door, which was now Lila’s, she crept toward the kitchen. Lila sat in her highchair, fully strapped in and making all kinds of cooing noises. Mark was at the stove cooking.
