“They’re still in college. Even though Peregrine Bay isn’t far away, they seldom come home, except for holidays and summer break.” Julia walked up to him. “Of all of us, Selena is the one who tends to fold into herself when something bothers her. I’m guessing she needs a little time to think through what happened last night. How did the two of you leave it?”
Rubbing a finger across his brow, he recalled her last words. “She said if I wanted her in my life, I’d know where to find her.” His pained chuckle told Julia a great deal about how he felt. “I won’t push her. When she surfaces, I’d appreciate it if you’d let her know I tried to find her.”
“I will. And don’t worry. I’m sure this will all work out.” Julia knew her words weren’t what Linc wanted to hear. He had the look of a man on the brink of making major life decisions. A man who needed a friend, possibly a lover he could count on, yet didn’t know quite how to go about it. In the span of a week, the successful, carefree bachelor, who could have a date at the snap of his fingers, had become a father and realized how much he cared for one particular woman. Julia would laugh if it weren’t for the desolate look on Linc’s face as he closed the door behind him.
Picking up her phone, Julia sent a brief text to Selena. What happened next was up to her sister.
******
Turning onto her back, Selena stretched her arms above her head, opening her eyes. Bolting up, she looked at one unfamiliar wall after another. The disorientation lasted a few moments as her gaze darted from the bed to the dresser. When she spotted her purse, phone, watch, and car keys, emptiness filled her as she remembered the night before, the long drive, and the brief text to her sisters.
Glancing at the clock next to the bed, she exhaled. Almost noon. Her stomach growled, underscoring the fact she hadn’t eaten in over sixteen hours, yet all she craved was coffee. And Linc.
Selena rolled out of bed, picked up her phone, and scrolled through the messages. Nothing from Linc, which didn’t surprise her, but hurt nevertheless. She read a text from Julia and one from Caly before feeling the phone vibrate, indicating another text had been delivered. Reading the second message from Julia, her lips curved into a tight smile, not sure what to make of Linc trying to find her.
Resisting the urge to call either Linc or Julia, she showered, dressed, and locked the door behind her as she went in search of food. Functioning on an empty stomach had never been productive.
Cedar Springs was comprised of a few square blocks, making it considerably smaller than Peregrine Bay. A major stop for travelers moving between the United States and Canada in the 1800s, it had fallen onto hard times when highways and freeways bypassed it in the twentieth century. The local economy continued to hold its own as either a stopover for those seeking a quaint getaway or a weekend retreat for residents of Spokane.
Finding a cozy restaurant serving breakfast all day, Selena settled into a booth.
“Good afternoon, honey. What can I get you?” A rotund woman with graying brown hair smiled down at her, giving a quick wave to someone walking through the door.
Selena read the name tag. “Coffee with sugar and cream, Agnes. Also, a three egg omelet with ham, onions, mushrooms, and cheese.”
The woman raised her brow. “Our omelets are made with jumbo eggs.”
“Wonderful.” Selena smiled up at her.
“They’re about this big.” She gestured with her hands so Selena could visualize the size. “I get truckers in here who can’t finish one.”
“Sounds perfect. Plus an order of biscuits and gravy, please.”
Jotting it down, the waitress shook her head. “I’ll get your coffee.”
The weather had switched from warm and inviting the day before to cold and windy. The lightweight pants and blouse Selena wore weren’t warm enough to keep away the shivers.
“Here you go. Cream and sugar are right there.” She nodded to a basket holding condiments.
“Your food will be out in a few more minutes.”
“Thank you. Would you be able to guide me to a store where I can buy some warmer clothes?”
“Well now, Bernadette’s is just around the corner. Not fancy, but the prices are good. ‘Course, I have to tell you about it because she’s my cousin.” Agnes winked. “There’s also the western shop another block down. It’s real popular with the weekend crowd from the city.” Bending to look at the flats Selena wore, she laughed. “You may want to buy some warmer shoes, too. You’ll find what you want at either of those stores.”
“Are you related to the owners of the western shop, too?” Selena’s eyes twinkled when Agnes blushed.
“Honey, just about everyone is related to me in this town, some on account of my good-for-nothing ex-husband. But if you mention I sent you, they’ll give you a good deal.” She smiled as she walked away.
Sighing in satisfaction at her first sip of coffee all day, Selena relaxed in the booth, taking a good look around the café. Old pictures of Cedar Springs covered one wall, and beautiful scenery shots decorated a second. The wall next to where she sat showed state and national dignitaries who’d passed through, as well as well-known local personalities who made their home in Idaho.
Narrowing her gaze, she studied several before she stiffened at one in particular. Wearing the familiar gear of local hunters, Linc, Matt, and Shane stood shoulder to shoulder, cocky grins on their faces.
“Those are the owners of Templar Security & Rescue over near Pine Cove. A darn handsome bunch, don’t you think?” Agnes set down a plate overflowing with a huge omelet, then another with two biscuits covered in gravy. “The company donates money to our schools and gun safety program. Real fine people. I’ll get you some more coffee.” Walking behind the counter, she failed to see the color drain from Selena’s face.
She glanced down at the enormous amount of food, stomach roiling. The appetite she’d walked in with had disappeared, replaced by an urgency to grab her purse and leave.
“Something wrong with the food?” Agnes asked as she topped off Selena’s cup.
“Um…no. You sure do dish up huge portions.” Selena picked up her fork, determined to push the image of Linc from her mind and eat every bite of breakfast. “I may be here awhile.”
“You take as long as you want. No one’s in much of a hurry in this town.”
Groaning at the lumberjack-sized helpings, Selena squared her shoulders. She thought of her vow the night before to focus on her own needs and not think about Linc. Glancing at the photo, she acknowledged it might not be as simple as she first thought. Even with the knowledge he’d stopped by the office asking Julia about her, she still believed letting him settle into his life with Caid, without the added pressure of a relationship, was his best choice. If he still wanted her when his life calmed down, she’d make a decision then. Right now, her goals were simple. Finish the two plates of food, then find some warmer clothes.
******
“Where are we going?” Caid sat in the passenger seat of the long bed truck, a ball cap on his head, action figures in both hands. He couldn’t see much more than the tops of the trees out of the front window, which didn’t bother him at all.
Linc glanced at him and back to the road, unable to contain a smile. School had let out early, and even though Nina had been prepared to pick Caid up, he wanted to be there himself.
“A group of friends are meeting at a park. I thought you’d enjoy it.”
Caid’s gaze shot to Linc, the animated figures coming to a stop in his hands. “Will there be other kids?”
“Yeah, buddy. I’m pretty sure there will be.” When he wasn’t trying to find Selena, he’d spent most of the day calling around to locate friends who’d be willing to come by the park. It wasn’t a long list when he didn’t include Matt, Shane, or Selena.
Selena. He still hadn’t heard from her. He hated the way she’d left the house the night before, knowing she felt angry, hurt, and confused. Linc felt the same. Too much had happened between them in too s
hort a time. Then Caid had appeared, creating an entirely new dynamic. Accepting his son had become his first priority, Linc agreed with Selena that the two needed time together to bond, get to know each other. He just hadn’t thought it would come at the exclusion of her from his life. The easy solution would be to let her go, build a life with his son, continue to grow TSR, and find companionship with an occasional woman. One who’d want little from him, other than the occasional date and emotionless sex.
Unfortunately, Linc no longer wanted one-night stands or sex based on some tacit agreement not to become involved. He wanted a warm, soft body nestled next to his each night, glances shared by two people who knew each other so well they didn’t need words, and a partner who’d have his back like he’d have hers.
One image flashed across his mind. Selena. He never should’ve let her leave until they’d talked it out, or at least agreed about how they would continue seeing each other while he got to know Caid. Even if he wasn’t ready to make a permanent commitment, Linc knew he wasn’t ready to lose her from his life either.
“Here we are.” He parked the truck near a group of men and women, kids of various ages playing around them.
Within minutes, Caid became absorbed into the crowd of rowdy children. Watching him take off after a ball, Linc joined the adults.
“So that’s your son.”
Linc glanced to his side to see a woman he’d dated a few times standing next to him. A divorcée with a young daughter, he’d decided to back off, not wanting Heather to assume too much by his attention. He’d been focused on TSR, having no interest in anything serious. She’d taken it well, although he knew the decision disappointed her.
Today, she’d pulled her auburn hair into a loose ponytail and wore little makeup, making Heather appear closer to twenty than the twenty-eight he knew to be her age.
“It is. His name is Caiden, but he prefers Caid.”
“And you didn’t know he existed until last week?” Heather walked closer to where the children played, getting a better look at Linc’s son.
“Not a clue. He lived with his mother’s family after she died. And before you ask, yes, I was married before. It was brief and I hadn’t had any contact with her since.”
“Well, she left you a beautiful son, Linc. You should be very happy about it. I don’t know what I’d do without Sadie.”
They continued with casual conversation, joining the other parents as the kids played. When the sun set, they gathered by their cars, Heather coming up to him with Sadie by her side.
“If you ever want to talk about parenting, or drop Caid off to play with Sadie, let me know.” She saw the wary look on Linc’s face and laughed. “No strings. I’m dating a man from Peregrine Bay, a firefighter. This is just an offer from one parent to another.”
Linc’s face softened. “I’d appreciate any tips you can offer, as long as your boyfriend doesn’t object.”
“Not an issue. He trusts me completely.” Heather watched as Caid held out an action figure to Sadie. She took it, twirling it like a miniature baton.
“How about tomorrow? It’s an early school day. We’ll drive someplace and let the kids play while you school me on the specifics of parenthood.”
“Perfect.” Heather slipped her hand into Sadie’s, walking toward her car. “We can meet at the school and go from there. I’ll bring the lunches.”
“We’ll see you tomorrow.”
******
A loud horn woke Selena from a deep, dreamless sleep. Realizing it wasn’t an alarm, she sat up, thankful for the warmth of the flannel drawstring pants and long-sleeved cotton t-shirt she’d found at Bernadette’s. The clock flashed nine o’clock. If she weren’t in Cedar Springs, she’d already be in her office, fielding emails and phone calls.
Pulling on the running clothes she’d purchased, Selena stretched her arms above her head, bending toward her toes, then rising, ready to head outside. Slipping into a hoodie, she closed the door behind her, noticing the low cloud cover and slight drizzle. Taking off along the highway, she thought of Linc, wondering if he were at his office or still taking time at home with Caid. As the pain began to rise, she picked up the pace, pounding the hurt away with each stride.
An hour later, breathing heavily but feeling a bit better, she returned to her room. Several minutes under the hot shower also helped. Pulling on new jeans and a light blue turtleneck sweater, she checked her phone for emails and texts. She didn’t feel quite as disappointed as yesterday when she saw nothing from Linc. Perhaps the time apart had been a good decision after all.
Snatching her purse off the dresser, she left for the café.
“Good morning, Agnes.”
“Ah, you returned. Coffee and omelet?” Agnes walked over to the booth Selena chose, setting down a cup and filling it.
“Not this morning. I have to concede you were right about the omelets,” she laughed. “I think oatmeal with fruit would be perfect.”
Agnes stopped by a few more times, filling her cup, making sure everything was fine, then set down the check.
“What are your plans today?” Agnes asked as she took Selena’s credit card.
“I ran past a beautiful park about two miles north of here during my run this morning. I think I’ll drive back, take pictures, and explore the area.”
“Wear sturdy shoes. There are some winding trails to the top. Take any one of them for about half an hour. You won’t be disappointed.”
******
“Are we almost there, Dad?”
Linc looked at the two children in his rearview mirror. They’d been on the road twenty minutes.
“Not long, Caid.”
Linc and Heather shared a look, trying to hide their amusement. Sadie had asked the same question not ten minutes before, getting the same answer.
“How long does this go on?” Linc asked.
“How long before you stopped asking the same thing when you went on car trips with your parents? I know I must’ve been at least thirteen.” Heather laughed at the look of horror on Linc’s face.
“You mean I have another seven years of this?”
“At least.” She glanced out the window. “Look. There’s a park next to the creek.” The clouds had blown away, replaced by a clear blue sky.
Turning off the road, Linc found a parking spot. “All right, kids. We’re here.”
A chorus of squeals signaled their excitement as they jumped out of the truck and ran toward the water.
“You grab the blanket and follow them. I’ll bring the food and drinks.” Linc picked up the wicker basket, then walked to where Heather had spread a blanket next to a table under a large spruce tree.
“I think this spot will work out great. We can see the kids and talk without them hearing.” Heather pulled a soda out of the cooler and took a seat at the table, popping the top and taking a long swallow. “I allow myself one soda a day around noon. It seems to fortify me for the rest of the day.”
“Guess that leaves a lunchtime whiskey out.” Linc picked up his own soda, sitting next to Heather. “Okay, I’m ready for your sage advice. I’ve got a lot to learn in a short period of time.”
“You know, this is a lifelong educational experience. No parent ever learns all there is in one sitting. In fact, I don’t believe it’s ever possible to learn enough.” She placed a hand on his arm. “Relax, Linc. You’ll make a great parent.”
He watched Caid and Sadie splash each other with water, then run in circles chasing a butterfly. “Thanks, Heather. It’s a little more overwhelming than I first thought, but Caid means everything to me. I’m determined to make it work.”
She leaned over, placing a congenial arm around his shoulders, kissing his cheek. “You’re going to be wonderful.”
******
Taking the trail back toward the creek, Selena took her time, snapping pictures at will. She’d always loved photography, the challenge of getting the right angle, the right light. A few of her pictures were framed, buried
in a box in her garage. Someday, when she got the nerve, Selena had every intention of taking them out and filling a wall with them. Until then, she’d keep snapping away, hoping to get the perfect shot.
The sound of children’s laughter had her taking a right instead of a left at the fork. She followed the path, stopping when she saw a girl and boy giggling, chasing each other in a game of tag.
Bringing her phone up, she took several shots, then moved closer until she stood on the other side of the creek. Snapping a couple more, she stepped on a series of rocks traversing the water, creating a crossing.
Selena watched a few more minutes before turning toward an open area with picnic tables.
Walking around a stand of large trees, she came to an abrupt stop a few feet away from a couple at a nearby table, the woman’s arm around the man’s shoulders.
Her breath hitched when the man turned to her, his eyes widening.
“Selena.” Linc stood. “Can you watch Caid for me?”
“Of course. Go. The kids will be fine,” Heather answered, watching as he took long, determined strides toward the woman.
Selena hadn’t expected to run into him already spending time with someone else a few days after their argument. And it wasn’t the nanny this time.
Turning, she started walking away, trying to pretend what she’d seen hadn’t been real.
“What are you doing here?” Linc grabbed her arm, spinning her around. “I went by your house, your office, but no one knew where you were.”
Shrugging out of his hold, Selena glanced over his shoulder. “I’m taking some time away. It appears you’re doing the same.”
Looking behind him, Linc sighed. Twice now she’d thought he’d been with someone else. This had to stop.
“This is not what you think. Heather and I are friends. She has a girl the same age as Caid. She offered to give me tips on parenting, which I sorely need.”
“Right. Tips.” She cringed at the way her voice dripped with sarcasm. Shaking her head, she caught her lower lip between her teeth and sighed. “That was uncalled for. You can see anyone you want.”
Our Kind of Love Page 13
