Taylor Lynne: The Women of Merryton - Book Two

by Jennifer Peel

  “I’ll save a lot more for you than that,” I said with no hint of teasing.

  He smiled alluringly before he leaned across the table and kissed me once. “Keep talking like that,” he said for my pleasure only, “and I may have to make you my wife again.”

  I playfully pushed him away. “You better get back to work.”

  He groaned. “I suppose, but tonight I want to pick up where we left off.”

  I smiled as I watched him walk away. I think he was ready to make a trip to the courthouse, while I was happy to take things slow.

  I walked back to my office, as happy as I could be.

  That came to a crashing halt as I opened my door to find an unwelcome visitor.

  “Excuse me, who let you in here?”

  Kathryn turned from the food guide chart she was looking at on my wall and faced me.

  For a moment I fell ill. On the outside she was as gorgeous as ever. Still in great shape, with long legs and beautiful blonde hair that was probably dyed, but all the same, she was a knockout. But from her countenance you could tell she had an ugly inside.

  “I still have friends in this town,” she hissed.

  “Then maybe you should be seeing them instead.”

  “Very good,” she said, “It looks like you finally grew a backbone.”

  I opened my door wide. “You can leave now.”

  She took a seat in one of the chairs in front of my desk. “I don’t think so; you’re going to want to hear what I have to say.”

  I highly doubted that, but she was not budging. I took a deep breath and made my way to my office chair. I sat across from her and glared. I wanted to tell her what a horrible person I thought she was for everything she had put Emmy through, but I knew she wouldn’t care.

  She smiled, her teeth too white. “So, you and Easton have reconciled. How precious is that?”

  We were not playing this game. I stared at her without replying.

  “I’ve heard what a happy little family you have now, playing house with my daughter.”

  Don’t rise, I told myself. I held my ground and continued to stare at her as firm as steel. She was not going to manipulate me.

  She leaned forward and smirked. “I have to say I’m surprised, but I guess you’re weaker than I thought.”

  “And what is that supposed to mean?” I asked when she didn’t continue.

  “If it were me, I could never go back to a man that had cheated on me.”

  I thought that was rich coming from a woman who blatantly cheated on her spouse, but I didn’t mention it. “I guess it’s a good thing I’m not then.”

  She laughed maniacally. “Is that what he told you? You are naïve, aren’t you?”

  I stood up. “I think it’s time for you to be going.”

  She stood up too, and for a second I thought she was going to leave, but she had plenty of weapons left in her arsenal. She leaned her hands on my desk. “Do you really think all those late nights at his office were spent alone, or with just me?”

  I clenched my jaw and forced myself not to cry in front of the vile woman.

  “Oh, you did?” she said with fake sympathy. “Believe me, Easton was anything but innocent or in love with you. He was so happy when you finally got the hint and left. And I mean, why wouldn’t he when he had me every night?” She looked down at herself like she was in love with her own self.

  I stood there stunned, but I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of knowing she was killing me. “Go.”

  “One more thing. If you are spineless enough to stay with Easton, just know I’ll make your life a living hell. You will never be a mother to my daughter. I’ll do everything I can to get Emmy if you don’t stay away from her and Easton.” Without another word she turned around and walked out my door, slamming it as she went.

  I fell into my chair and shook. I refused to believe what she had said about Easton. He wasn’t that kind of man, right? I knew him, right? But did it matter? I couldn’t and wouldn’t risk Emmy being taken away from Easton. I didn’t care how much I loved him. I loved Emmy like she was my own and I would never allow Kathryn to have her. Never.

  As I sat there shaking, I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. The doubt started creeping in. Did he really cheat on me? Was I being naïve like my mother?

  I felt anger bubbling up inside of me. I didn’t know what to do as I sat there and bawled at my desk. And then, as if my silent prayer had been answered, Grams’ number popped up on my cell phone. She must have known I needed her. “Grams,” I cried.

  “Oh, sugar.”

  I instantly knew she had not called out of some intuition. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s your grandpa.”

  She never called him my grandpa. I braced for the worst.

  “He’s had a stroke. We’re at the hospital now, but they aren’t telling me anything,” she cried.

  I didn’t even have to think, which was good since I felt like I couldn’t think or breathe at the moment. “Ashley and I will be on the next flight.”

  “Hurry,” she eked out.

  Her plea got me out of my stupor. I grabbed my bag and ran out of my office. I yelled to Devon something about a family emergency and that I would call later. I probably shouldn’t have, but I called Ashley’s school to have her dismissed while driving home and crying my eyes out. In one fell swoop I was losing the two men I loved, though all I could feel for Easton at the moment was confusion.

  Ashley called me on her way home as I was frantically throwing a bag together for her and me. I wasn’t even sure what I was packing.

  “Momma, what’s wrong?”

  “It’s Harry, honey. He’s had a stroke and we need to get to the airport.”

  I figured I would book a flight when we got there, or maybe Ashley could do it from my phone on the drive to Denver. I didn’t know. All I knew was I wanted to be as far away from Merryton as possible. I wanted to go home.

  “Does dad know?” she asked.

  Her dad? What was I going to do about her dad? I didn’t know and I didn’t have time to think about it at the moment. “Just hurry home please.”

  “Momma?”

  I felt bad, but I hung up. I couldn’t go into any details with her at the moment.

  Moments later Ashley came crashing through the door and into my arms. “Is Harry going to be okay?”

  I stroked her hair. “I don’t know, honey, but we need to get going. I threw a bag together for you.”

  “Momma, we need to call Dad.”

  I couldn’t help but cry. I had no idea what to say or do. Part of me desperately wanted to fall into his arms and have him make it all better, but what if I could never have him? Or what if I never had him? “We need to go. Grams needs us.”

  She looked more confused than ever. I felt terrible for that, but I couldn’t do anything about it at the moment.

  While Ashley ran upstairs to use the restroom and put together her own small bag, I rolled my suitcase out to my car. While I waited for her I decided to call Easton. I needed to talk to him. I called his cell phone, but it went straight to voice mail. In desperation I called his office. Faye answered.

  “Faye, is Easton available?”

  “No, honey, he just rushed over the hospital. He has a patient with a ruptured spleen.”

  Timing was not on my side today. “Okay,” I cried.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Not really. Could you please tell him my grandfather’s had a stroke and I’m on my way to Birmingham?”

  “Oh, dear, yes.”

  I didn’t even say goodbye.

  Ashley joined me with her bag in hand. I pulled her to me. In her I always found strength.

  We sped toward the airport. I tried my best to keep my eyes on the road while my mind raced. How could I have been so stupid to think it was ever going to work out between us? The cards were always going to be stacked against us.

  I kept Ashley busy looking up flights on my phone. The on
ly tickets available this short of notice right before the holiday were first-class seats. I would worry later about the cost and the bite it would take out of my savings account. I had more pressing matters.

  “Momma, please tell me what happened.”

  I reached over carefully and rested my hand on her cheek for a small moment. “I can’t right now.”

  As if she could read my thoughts, she responded, “I don’t want to leave Merryton.”

  That was going to be a problem, because after today, I wasn’t sure if we could stay.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  We arrived in Birmingham around midnight. As soon as we were able to turn off airplane mode on our phones I was inundated with messages and texts from Easton. I didn’t have the time or wherewithal to listen to them at the moment. I needed a rental car and to get to Grams and Harry as soon as possible.

  I was running high on adrenaline, but poor Ashley was exhausted.

  “Do you want me to drop you off at Grams and Harry’s before I head to the hospital, love?” I asked my somewhat-sleeping beauty as we left the airport.

  “No,” she slurred.

  I let her rest as I sped toward UAB hospital, where it had all begun for Easton and me. It was fitting that I would end up here when perhaps it was all over. I tried my best to keep my emotions in check, but I had so many coursing through me it was hard to know which ones to police. A half day ago, I was content and in love with the love of my life. Now I could be losing both the men I loved most in my life. At eighty-five, Harry was no spring chicken, but he had always been in such great health. Just last week Grams had been complaining about him being on a ladder clearing out the gutters around their house.

  I silently begged God not to take him. Not yet. I selfishly still needed him, especially now that I found myself once again losing Easton. Why I ever thought moving back to Merryton was a good idea, I’ll never know. No. I did know—Ashley got her dad back, and that’s what I wanted to happen.

  I looked at my angel as she slept against the passenger side window. What was I going to do?

  ***

  We found Grams praying in one of the hospital’s interfaith chapels. I didn’t want to startle her, so we approached cautiously. “Grams,” I whispered.

  She opened her blurry eyes and gave a small smile. “My girls.”

  Ashley sat on one side of her and I sat on the other. I took her aging hand in mine. “How’s Harry?”

  She patted my hand. “He’s in surgery. They’re trying to widen his carotid artery.”

  “So it was a TIA stroke?”

  She nodded.

  “If he was going to have one, that’s the best kind,” I tried to reassure her.

  “That’s what the doctor said, but at his age, surgery is high risk.”

  “Harry’s tough,” Ashley said.

  Grams turned toward her. “You look so grownup. We’ve missed you. I’m sorry we’re ruining Thanksgiving.”

  Ashley hugged her tight.

  “I thought Easton would have come with you,” Grams said to me.

  I shook my head no and did my best not to cry.

  “Something wrong?” Grams asked.

  “Yes,” Ashley said to my surprise.

  I looked at her, wide eyed.

  Grams looked between the two of us.

  “We don’t need to talk about it right now. Let’s focus on Harry getting better.”

  “No, Momma. I need to know. I don’t want to go back to the way it was before.”

  “Taylor?” Grams said when I didn’t answer right away.

  I reached across Grams and took my daughter’s hand. “I don’t want to upset you.”

  “I’m already upset.”

  I blew out a large breath. I didn’t want to do this right now. “Darlin’, I don’t know if I can be with your dad.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “That’s all I can say about it right now.” I stood up. “I’m going to get some water. Does anybody want anything?”

  They both shook their heads no.

  Ashley’s distressed look pained me. I was doing my best not to hurt her, but my best wasn’t good enough. I found my way to the lobby vending machines. I was tempted to buy a package of Oreos, but I reminded myself what happened when you gave in to temptation. I leaned against the machine instead and slowly drank my water. I tried to will the ache to go away, but it wasn’t going anywhere. Not even my worry for Harry could overcome it. I kept thinking about my sweet Emmy. I missed her, but I would always have to. And Easton. I didn’t want to be without him, either.

  After the two-hour surgery was complete and they confirmed that the artery was open, we all breathed a sigh of relief. The doctor allowed Grams to go back and see him briefly, but encouraged us to go home and get some rest. He was worried about Grams’ age and her health.

  Grams didn’t take too kindly to that advice. She was tougher than nails and didn’t appreciate being mollycoddled by anyone. I think she stayed by Harry’s side longer than she should have to prove her point. By the time we left the hospital it was seven in the morning. The traffic was light, which was probably a good thing since I had gotten used to the non-existent traffic in Merryton, the forsaken place.

  When we pulled up into the drive I noticed a shiny new Acura.

  “Did you get a new car?” I asked Grams.

  She looked as surprised as I did about the unfamiliar car. I pulled up behind it. As soon as I did, we saw the front seat pop up. We all looked at each other with interest. At least we did until the figure exited the car.

  “Dad,” Ashley said, relieved like she had been saved. She jumped out of the car and ran to him.

  The scene had my eyes watering.

  “What happened, Taylor Lynne?” Grams asked.

  “His ex-wife came to visit me. She told me if I didn’t stop seeing Easton, she would take Emmy. She’s a monster. I can’t let that happen. And … she said Easton had multiple affairs while we were married.”

  Grams eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you sure about that?”

  I looked out the window at him holding onto our daughter like he was never going to let go. Every fiber of my being didn’t want to believe it. Then Emmy crawled out of the passenger seat of the car Easton had exited. My heart constricted. I couldn’t let Kathryn take her away from Easton.

  I got out of the car in a hurry and Emmy ran to me. I held her to me like I never wanted to let go. Easton looked my way with passion and determination written in his eyes.

  “Why don’t you girls come inside for some pancakes,” Grams said to our daughters.

  “Grams, you need to get some rest.”

  “I’ll rest when I’m dead.” She gathered Emmy and Ashley.

  Easton and I were left staring at each other on the front lawn that was now brown and dormant.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  He edged closer. “I didn’t go after you once and it was the biggest mistake of my life. One I wasn’t going to repeat.”

  “Easton, we can’t be together.” I started toward the house. I didn’t want to fall apart on the lawn.

  Easton caught my arm and pulled me to him. “I know Kathryn visited you, and I’m not letting you go until you hear me out.”

  I tried to resist, but I looked up into his tired eyes and lost it.

  He wrapped me up and held me tight. “How could you believe her?” he whispered in my ear.

  “I don’t want to, but I can’t risk Emmy and I don’t want to be my mother.”

  He let go of me only to hold my face so he could see me better. “Taylor, please listen to me. I’ve told you the truth. Kathryn,” he said through clenched teeth, “only wants to cause problems. Her worst nightmare is for me to be happy without her. I need you to trust me.” He took my hand and placed it on his heart. “Listen to your heart; you know me.”

  I nodded once and then shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “We can’t. I won’t let Kathryn h
ave Emmy.”

  That statement set his eyes on fire. “Kathryn will never have Emmy. She’s constantly threatened me with that. Not only will no judge ever rule in her favor, but she doesn’t want Emmy and never has. Please don’t let your fear get in the way of us this time—you aren’t your mother and I’m not Frank,” he pleaded.

  I sank into him, daring to hope.

  He wrapped his arms around me without delay. “I love you, Tay.”

  I pulled back and looked into his deep brown eyes and thought about all the ways he had showed his love. How he put me first and visited me at work and loved the girls like I always knew he could. He had come after me. He wasn’t Frank, and I wasn’t my mother.

  “I took a red-eye flight to Atlanta and drove from there chasing after you,” he added, mistaking my silence for hesitance.

  “I love you, too. Thanks for coming after me this time.” I smiled. I felt the knot in my chest fade away.

  “I want you in my life.”

  “Even though I’m anything but perfect?”

  “I never expected you to be perfect, but if it makes you feel better, together we are perfectly imperfect.”

  I laughed against his chest. “I guess we are perfect at that.”

  He unexpectedly picked me up off the ground and held me to him. “Perfect. Now that that’s settled, we need to find a bed.”

  I raised my eyebrow at him.

  “Just to sleep in, of course.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  He grinned devilishly. “Trust me.”

  Epilogue

  Six Months Later

  “No, no. This can’t be happening. I’m too old.” I looked at the box again. Over ninety-nine percent accurate it said. I looked down at the third pregnancy test with a plus sign. I splashed some cold water on my face. When we married in a small ceremony with a few close friends and family members including Harry and Grams on our old anniversary date back in February, I told Easton we could try for a few months, but I never thought I would actually get pregnant. I thought for sure my body would laugh at the thought. I was forty-three and Easton had just turned forty-six, which meant we would practically be senior citizens when this poor child graduated from high school.