by Wendy Smith
“You’ve got to work on those kissing skills, sweet girl,” Brooke says.
My heart aches as I lock gazes with Brooke. “I wish you’d stay.”
She licks her lips. “I know, but I need to not be here.”
The two of them walk out of the door and I throw myself back onto my bed.
We’re back to where we started.
The days are long, and the nights are unbearable. All I can do is think.
Think about how hurt Brooke is right now.
Think about how I can’t reach her.
Think about Kaia’s excitement at seeing her room.
I close my eyes, remembering the feel of Brooke in my arms in the shower, our bodies fitting together in perfect symmetry as if they were meant to be joined. The way she reacted to my touch. Her gasps. Her shudder when she came. Our first weekend in what I hoped would be our home.
I’m wrecked.
And I need to speak to her.
It’s Thursday when I head to the bar. It’s late, but I know she’s there until midnight. I’m not sure if this is a good idea or not, but even if she turns me away, I’ve tried.
She makes eye contact with me as I walk in the door, and I head straight for her.
“I’m working.” She stands to the side of the bar, and I join her away from the noise of the rest of the room.
“I know, but I just need a few minutes.”
She gives me a short, sharp nod.
“I’m not having you followed. But I did hire someone to find out where you were.”
She sucks her top lip in like she’s thinking.
“I didn’t know where you were. You left town and didn’t keep in touch, so I hired a private investigator to find you and Kaia. To make sure you were okay.”
She drops her gaze. “It feels like such an invasion of privacy. And not necessary.”
“I spent three years at college worrying about you, and Dad couldn’t help, so I did something about it myself.”
Brooke’s eyes meet mine. “I always told your father where we were.”
“What?”
“Even if I had no way to reach you, I contacted his office every time we moved. I asked them to let you know so you could find us. You never came. I presumed that was how you found me in the end.”
I’m not sure what to say. “I had no idea. I was worried that you two seemed to have fallen off the face of the Earth.” I run my fingers through my hair. “I’ll destroy the file. Anything. I don’t want to lose you again.” I grasp her arms, and her eyes search mine. Her breathing speeds up, and she gives me a nod, an indication that maybe, just maybe, we’ll be okay.
For a moment, I forget where we are, and I kiss her. Cheering comes from around the room, and we break apart. Her eyes give away her amusement though, and she snuggles in against me.
“Everything alright?” Craig asks.
She nods. “I think so.”
He eyes me up. “Good. We don’t need any drama around here.”
Brooke leans her head against mine.
“Want me to walk you home?”
“I don’t finish for another hour.”
“I can wait.”
“Craig, can you please get Cole a beer?”
He mumbles as he pours it. I’m not sure what she’s told her co-workers, but they seem to know enough. I’m sure she’s been as miserable as I have been. Now I have her back, and I need to make sure there’s nothing else that can scare her away. She has my heart.
I sit at the bar while she works. It’s busier here than it was the last time I was in, and it makes me appreciate just how tired she must be. All I want to do is sweep her off her feet and take her away from this place. Right now, she won’t have a bar of it.
When she’s finished, she appears by my side with her coat and bag. There’s a tired smile on her lips, and she wraps her arms around my waist and buries her face in my chest.
“Let’s go home, babe. My car’s outside.”
“Oh, I have a chauffeur tonight?”
I smile. “Any night you want.”
I lead her out while Craig locks up behind us, then open the car door for her. She yawns when I climb in beside her.
“Can I stay the night?” I ask.
For a moment, she hesitates before nodding. “I’d like that.”
Her head’s leaning to the side before we get to her place. She’s asleep almost as soon as her head hits the pillow. It seems I’m not the only one who’s had trouble sleeping since we’ve been apart.
Me? My head’s still in turmoil.
Fuck Dad. I’ve never understood his issues with Brooke.
It’s time to get to the bottom of them.
17
Brooke
It’s been a long night.
I smile at the thought of Cole at home with our daughter. That he’s become part of our day-to-day lives. Eventually we’ll move into his house, but for now we’re snug in my apartment.
His clothes are in my drawers and wardrobe. Our lives are as entangled as they can be without us living together.
Making it official is the next step.
I’m still clinging to this job for as long as possible. Cole’s made it clear he’s here to support his family, and the trust that was shattered between us has been glued back together piece by piece. The day is approaching when the thought of giving up those extra finances won’t cause me as much anxiety as it first did. I have zero debts and feel so much more secure than I used to.
It’s close to the end of the night, and I clear the last table of dishes. There are still a few patrons finishing off their drinks, and at midnight I’ll be going home to my family as fast as I can.
John’s hand catches me by surprise.
“Any chance of one last drink?” he asks as he slaps his palm on my ass.
I jump, plates and glasses slipping from my hands and crashing to the floor. Without thinking, I turn and slap him hard across the face.
“Get your hands off of me,” I yell.
“Brooke.” Marcus storms out of his office toward me. “Those dishes are coming out of your wages. And you get the bonus job of closing tonight.”
I hate closing. Regardless of how close we all are, everyone shoots out the door at midnight and leaves Marcus or Craig to close up.
“I’m so over this. Why can’t you throw him out? He tries to grope us at every available opportunity.” John’s the last patron in the place and I don’t care if he hears me.
He shrugs. “That’s a risk in this job.” He turns back to his office, and I’m left standing there, fuming.
“I’ll help you clean up,” Craig says.
“Thanks.”
Together, we pick up the pieces of crockery and glass.
“Ouch.” I huff as I pick a piece of glass out of my finger. A prick of blood appears.
“You okay? Let me see.” Craig wipes it with his thumb. “Doesn’t look too bad. Those types of cuts hurt like hell, though.”
“I’m going in to give my notice. I’ve had enough of this.”
He nods. “I can understand that.”
I brush the last of the glass up with a brush, and head out the back to throw it in the bin.
Katie meets me on the way, a rubbish bag in her hand. “You okay? I’ve got a bag for that glass. Good on you for saying something. I’m so proud of you.”
“I’ve just had enough.”
Marcus’s office is beside the kitchen, and I don’t bother knocking before I enter the room.
“Brooke.”
“I quit. But I have to give you two weeks’ notice, so consider this your notice.”
Marcus leans back in his chair. “It’s a shame. You work hard.”
“I’m over being harassed in this place and management being okay with it.”
He swallows. “If I tell John to leave you alone, will you stay?”
I shrug. “I’m not sure if I need this job anymore.”
“I’ll tell him to leave you alone
. But you’re still closing tonight.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine.”
Just as I thought, as soon as it hits midnight everyone’s out the door. Closing up isn’t that big a deal; it’s just putting the takings into the safe, setting the alarm, and locking the doors. It only takes a few minutes, but it’s aggravating when you just want to be home.
With the takings put away, I walk out the back to pick up my coat and bag. There’s just the main door to lock, and I walk through the bar to leave.
It’s dark with most of the lights off. I hate this part. Ironic, really. I’m always telling Kaia not to be afraid of the dark, but I’m not one hundred percent comfortable in it either.
Large hands grab my arms. My bag and coat drop to the floor. I’m spun around in the dark and bent over a table. Weight presses down against me.
“Please, don’t.” Tears stream down my face as the man runs his hand up my torso, cupping my breast.
His other hand reaches around, and he fumbles with the button on my shorts. For the first time ever, I’m grateful for how difficult it is.
“Damn it,” he mutters, and my eyes widen in recognition of that voice.
His hand drops from my breast, and I make the most of his being distracted. I slam my head back, and headbutt him. My head spins, but it throws him and he lets me go.
There’s no holding me back. I stagger to the door, running as fast as I can.
“Bitch.”
He’s not that far behind me, and I head toward home. Cole. I need Cole.
My heart pounds as my feet hit the pavement outside. I’m in flat shoes, and they’re not made for running, but I’m so thankful that I’m not in heels.
I don’t see the car until it’s too late.
It hits me with a force that takes my breath away. I’m thrown into the air.
Kaia.
Cole.
I love you.
Everything turns to black.
18
Cole
Brooke usually takes ten minutes to walk home.
When it gets to 12:20 a.m. I start worrying. Brooke’s not answering her phone, but it could be buried in her bag out in the back room.
At twelve thirty, it’s time to go and find out what’s going on. Kaia’s tucked up in bed, and I hate disturbing her, but she’s got to come with me.
“Kaia. Wake up, baby girl.”
She rolls over and rubs her eyes. “Daddy?”
“We’re going out for a walk.”
“But it’s nighttime.”
I nod. “So we’ll have to dress warmly.”
Crossing the room, I open her top drawer. After pulling out a jacket, I go back to the bed. “Come on, sweet pea. You can wear your pajamas and slippers.”
She nods. “And a hat. Mommy says we have to wear a hat when it’s cold.”
“Okay. And a hat. Why don’t you show me where they are?”
She climbs out of the bed and slips her feet into her slippers. I slide her jacket on over her shoulders, and she walks to her wardrobe and picks up her hat from a shelf.
I grab my jacket on the way through the living room and pick up my phone, slipping it into my pocket.
Taking Kaia’s hand, I lock the door on the way out, and we make our way to the elevator. She yawns.
“It’s okay, sweet girl. We’re just going to find Mommy and walk her home. Then you can go back to bed.”
Before we get to end of the block, my heart sinks. Red and blue flashing lights on the next block give me the biggest sinking feeling ever.
We cross the road, and I scoop Kaia up into my arms so I can run. It’s Brooke. I know it’s Brooke.
There’s a small crowd gathered, and I push through them to get to the front.
Paramedics are checking her over, but Brooke lies on the street, blood pooling near her head.
“Sir, can you step back?” A police officer holds his palm up in front of me.
“That’s my wife.”
“Mommy?” I shield Kaia’s face, but it’s too late. “What’s wrong with her?”
“I’m not sure, sweetheart.” I look at the cop. “Do you know what happened?”
Closer to the ambulance, the woman who must have been the driver is crying. “I didn’t mean to. She came running out of nowhere. Someone was chasing her.”
I pull Kaia closer to me.
I hate this.
I hate that Brooke wasn’t safe just walking home.
If I find the person responsible for this, I’ll kill them.
I’ve just got her back. I can’t lose her again.
“Daddy? Why won’t Mommy wake up?” She trembles in my arms, and I turn her away, holding her in place.
I lick my lips. “I don’t know. We’ll get her to a doctor.”
More than anything I wish I could shield her from this, and for the first time I think I have an inkling of what Brooke must have felt these past few years. Alone. I’m all my daughter has while we get Brooke medical help and try to work out what happened.
“Sir, can I get your name?” the officer asks.
“Cole. Cole Masters. That’s my wife, Brooke.”
“So, Brooke Masters?”
I nod.
“So she works around here?”
“The corner bar up the street.”
“I know the one.” He writes it down. “Thank you. I’ll make sure the paramedics know you’re here, Cole. I’m sure they won’t be much longer.” He gives me a small smile.
He heads back to Brooke, speaking to one of the paramedics. I swallow as the paramedic walks toward me.
“You’re the husband?”
“That’s right.”
He nods. “We’re just going to secure her, and then we’ll get her to Central Hospital. You can ride with us.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
Kaia sniffles in my ear. I wish to God she hadn’t seen this, but it’s too late. At least she knows her mother’s on the way to getting help.
I just hope we’re not too late.
19
Cole
When we get to the hospital, I sign some papers to let them do whatever they have to do to save her life. I don’t care about the cost. I don’t care about anything but the woman I love. The woman I just got back together with, and yet who it feels like I’m with for the first time.
I can’t live without her.
Kaia lies on the padded bench in the hallway with her head on my lap. Despite our strange surroundings, she falls asleep. I stroke her hair.
We can’t lose Brooke. We just can’t.
I pull my phone out of my jacket pocket. There’s only one person I can think of who I need right now, and he’s going to have to get over whatever feelings he has about Brooke. I need both Dad and Mom.
The phone rings about half a dozen times.
“Hello?” Dad’s voice is thick with sleep, but I’m just so relieved to have him on the end of the phone. “Cole?”
“Dad, Brooke’s had an accident. She’s in surgery, and I needed to hear your voice.”
“Where are you?”
“Waiting with Kaia for the doctors to tell me something.”
I hear my mother in the background, asking who it is.
“We’re on our way. Text me the details of exactly where you are, and we’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“Dad, I can’t ask you to—”
“Even if you don’t need me, you need your mother. I’ll bring her to you.”
I hang up the phone, and hold it to my chest.
All I can do is wait.
Two hours later, my legs ache, and I want to walk and stretch them, but that means waking Kaia. I don’t want to disturb her.
“Cole?”
I look up to the sound of Mom’s voice. Just seeing her gives me a sense of relief.
“Mom. You got here fast.”
“Your father pulled in a favor and got us a private plane.” She leans down and kisses me on the cheek. When she pulls away her eye
s widen at the sight of Kaia.
“Dad.” I give him a small smile as he walks up behind my mother.
“Is there any news?”
I shake my head. “Not yet.”
“What happened?” Dad asks.
“I’m not exactly sure. Brooke was hit by a car. The people in the car said they saw someone running away. The police think she was chased.”
Mom blinks rapidly. “I didn’t know you two were in contact again. Was she out late?”
“She works nights in a bar just down the road from her apartment. I’m waiting for the police to tell me more.” I run my fingers through my hair. “So much waiting.”
Mom wraps her arms around me and Kaia. “I’m so sorry, Cole. We’re here for you now.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
Kaia stirs, and I look down at my lap to find her staring up at me. “Daddy?”
“Sit up, baby. I’ve got some people for you to meet.”
She climbs down from the seat, and I lift her up onto my lap.
“Dad, Mom. This is Kaia.”
Enchantment is written all over my mother’s face. This is exactly what my father kept her from—the magic that is my daughter.
“Kaia. You look so much like your mother, but there is so much of your father in you,” Mom says.
“In me?” Kaia stares at me.
“You have your father’s eyes.”
Kaia cups my face and pushes her nose into mine until her eyes turn into one.
“Now you’ve got one eye.”
“Daddy.” She giggles.
I tense as Dad grips me on the shoulder, and I break away from Kaia’s grip. “Kaia, this is Grandpa.”
My dad exhales loudly, as if he’s letting go of a breath he’s been holding for a very long time.
“Grandpa?” Kaia asks.
“He’s my dad, which makes him your grandpa.” I turn to Mom. “And this lady here; she’s your grandma.”
Kaia’s mouth forms a perfect O. “Grandma and Grandpa?”
“That’s right, beautiful girl,” Mom says.
“Cole.” My father finally speaks, and I turn my head to see tears in his eyes.
