The Widow of Papina

by Katie Hamstead

  My head snapped up. “What?”

  “Mmm. Apparently, she left a note for you at the sheriff station.”

  I sighed. “I don’t I want to read it.”

  She set her mug down. “Clint said you probably should. Even Paul was surprised by it.”

  I stared into her eyes. “What did it say?”

  She shrugged. “He wouldn’t tell me. You’ll have to go find out.”

  I stared at my hands, pondering what she might have said. How much she hated me? No, that wouldn’t have surprised Paul. That she was suicidal? I shot to my feet. “I’ll be back.”

  “Okay . . . ”

  I darted out of the house, grabbing my jacket and sliding into flip flops as I rushed out. The snow had mostly gone, so I ran up the street, wishing I’d put on some actual shoes as my feet pounded the freezing concrete.

  I rushed to the sheriff station, the few people out and about staring at me as I shot by. I burst in, startling Paul and Clint. I bent over myself to catch my breath.

  Paul rushed over. “What are you doing? Did you run all this way in flip flops? Are you crazy?”

  “I need . . . ” I tried to control my breathing. “To see . . . the note.”

  Paul glanced at Clint, who nodded and plucked the note off his desk.

  I straightened as he handed it to me. “Is it bad?”

  They both shook their heads.

  I raised an eyebrow before unfolding the paper.

  Dear Braydon,

  By now you should know I’m gone. Things became really complicated and I needed to get away and start afresh. I’ve gone to Florida to live with my parents and maybe try college. I don’t know yet, but that’s not important right now.

  I said and did some hurtful things that I regret. To be honest, I think you are the only real friend I’ve ever had, and I felt so hurt . . . but, I’m going to backtrack a bit.

  When you and Forrest moved to town, you were both so perfect and so in love. I wanted that so desperately, and wanted it with Paul, even though I knew he didn’t see me that way. But, I tried anyway, because you gave me hope that maybe, if I tried, I could make it work.

  Then Forrest died. I couldn’t believe something so perfect could be torn apart like that. I wanted to help you, and understand how you could have taken in the person who seemed to be the one who killed the love of your life.

  Every day I admired you more and more as you pushed on, despite your pain, and survived, never for one moment compromising your convictions. I wanted to be like you. You were so strong.

  But, I noticed that Paul saw how incredible you are, too. He would watch you walk by, even when you were worn out from fighting, and I’d drive by your house in the evening and he’d be there, helping you.

  At first, when you showed distain for him, I was just glad you had someone to help you, but after a while, I saw him make you smile.

  I was so jealous. How could you be given two such amazing men? Why couldn’t I even catch the attention of one? I would stare at myself, wishing I was blonde, and pretty, and fashionable like you. Why did Paul love you when I’d loved him for so long?

  I tried to keep him away from you, hoping maybe I could head it off. I saw you push him away, your grief too much for you to even consider someone else, but he persisted. When I found you two practically fornicating in the sheriff’s office, I just about lost it. It wasn’t fair! But, for some reason you stuck by me. I’m surprised you did for so long when you were so obviously drawn to him.

  When you first got together, I called the detective and said Paul killed Forrest to have you. I regret it now, knowing it was stupid and petty of me, so I want you to know.

  For now, I need space to start over. I love Papina, but I can’t bear the pain that it holds for me. Maybe one day, when I’ve moved on and married, I’ll come back. I’ll always be a small-town girl with my heart tied to that place. Maybe when I do, you’ll forgive me for what I’ve done and we can be friends again. I hope we can be friends again, but I’ll understand if you don’t want that.

  I love you, Bray. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and I’m so sorry for everything I did.

  Sincerely,

  Sarah

  I looked up from the note, completely stunned.

  Paul slid the paper out of my hands. “Yeah, me too.”

  “I . . . I feel terrible. I have to get hold of her.”

  Paul caught my shoulder. “Leave her alone for a few months. She needs to break free and move on, and all any of us would do by contacting her is hurt her all over again. I’ll call my parents and let them know what’s going on. I need to call them anyway I guess.”

  He caught my left hand and swiveled my ring.

  I smiled up at him. “I’m glad she’s trying to start over. Like we are.”

  He softly kissed me. “I’m going to drive you home.”

  I chuckled. “I love you, Sheriff Davis.”

  Epilogue

  Ten Years Later . . .

  The bus pulled up and, like usual, Jackson jumped out first with Donny right behind him. They chatted about some truck they saw on the way back, and barely even glanced at me and Megan.

  “Boys.” She scoffed and nodded at Donny as they paused and stared in the grocery store window. “Just like his dad.”

  I smiled, and thought the same about Jackson. He’d grown to look so similar to Forrest that sometimes it gave me chills when I looked into his eyes.

  “Mom?”

  I looked down at my own miniature, Avery, with her light blonde hair and bright blues eyes gazing up at me. “I’m going to go see Dad, okay?”

  “Okay, sweetheart.”

  She grinned and dashed away to the sheriff’s station.

  Megan’s second son, Rhett, stared after her, the nine-year-old’s crush clear as day.

  Megan pushed his chin up to close his mouth. “Where are your sisters?”

  He pointed to the twins as they jumped off the bus hand-in-hand, with my two youngest boys right behind them.

  Although my seven-year-old, Bradley, didn’t particularly favor Paul or myself with his looks, our five-year-old, Taylor, was the spitting image of Paul.

  His bright blue eyes lifted to me from under his mop of dark hair. “Mom! I caught a lizard today. It was in the classroom, and all the girls screamed, so I got rid of it before the teacher killed it.”

  Bradley elbowed him. “That’s so stupid.”

  I grabbed Bradley and kissed his cheek, making the twins giggle.

  “Aw, Mom!”

  “I’ve told you to be nice to your brother.”

  He rolled his eyes and hurried after Jackson and Donny, who tried to ignore him.

  I took Taylor’s hand. “So, you’re enjoying your class now?”

  We walked down the street, pausing outside the grocery store so Reba could give the kids a treat each.

  We went straight to our house, where Rhett and Bradley scrambled up the tree. Jackson and Donny ran out the back to hide in their tree house.

  The twins sat in the living room, playing with their dolls while Taylor tailed me.

  Megan and I sat in the kitchen to chat, while Taylor flopped onto the floor to play with his cars.

  Megan sighed. “Maybe I should have had another one, for little Taylor.”

  I chuckled. “He’s fine. If he wanted company, he’d go play with Brad and Rhett.”

  Jackson burst into the house. “Mom! Someone’s moving into the Cunningham House.”

  Megan raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize Sarah had sold it. Since her parents died, she’s been unable to let it go.”

  I shrugged. “She could be renting it.”

  “Here?” She scoffed, but then nodded. “Maybe. It migh
t be a new teacher at the school. I know they were looking for a chemistry teacher.”

  “Mom!” Jackson snapped. “They have kids!”

  Megan and I exchanged smiles.

  “Well, go introduce yourselves,” I said.

  He shrugged. “Yeah, maybe they have someone my age.” He bent over Taylor. “I saw a boy your age.”

  Taylor grinned. “Really?”

  “Yeah. Wanna come?”

  “Yeah!” Taylor jumped to his feet and followed Jackson out the back.

  It wasn’t long before the door opened and Avery rushed in. “Mom! Nova’s here!”

  A slender young woman, with long, dark hair, appeared behind her. “You have a big mouth, kid.”

  Paul appeared and rested his hand on her shoulder. “We haven’t seen you in a few weeks.”

  She shrugged and smiled. “I’ve got some rotten little troublemakers. I really don’t know how Forrest did this gig and enjoyed every second of it. I swear, I just wanna whip out that gun and shoot them sometimes. Obnoxious little brats, kinda like you, Megan.” She smirked, and Megan scowled.

  “Nice to see you, too.”

  Nova looked up at Paul. “Someone’s moving back into the Cunningham house, huh?”

  “Yup. I believe it’s the new chemistry teacher at the boarding school.”

  “Nice.” She looked down at me. “Bray, I’m stealing Avery so we can go say hi.”

  “Go on.” I nodded.

  As they hurried out the front door, the twins rushed after them, and barely seconds later, Bradley and Rhett burst in asking to go, too.

  Megan jumped to her feet. “I guess we’re all going.”

  “I’ll go get changed,” Paul said, rushing up the stairs.

  Megan patted my head. “You wait for him. I’ll go make sure the kids aren’t frightening away our new neighbors.”

  She rushed out the door before I could even respond.

  I hurried up the stairs.

  As I opened the door, I smiled, enjoying the view of Paul’s shirtless back. Almost ten years of marriage and he still looked as good to me as he had back then, even with the whole cowboy thing, which I admittedly had come to find appealing . . . but, only on him.

  He turned and flinched. “Whoa, you startled me.”

  “Who else would come in here?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Well, there are four smaller bodies living in this house, my best friend’s wife, who also practically lives here, and of course that little native girl we so fondly call our own.”

  I laughed and walked across the room to rub his chest. “Have I told you today that I love you?”

  He smiled. “I don’t know, I can’t remember.”

  “Well, Sheriff, I’m in love with you.”

  He grinned. “Hmm, you know I’m married, right?”

  “That old hag? I’m way hotter. We should have an affair.”

  He laughed and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Actually, my wife is quite beautiful.”

  I clasped his face, my depth of my love for him warming my heart. “Maybe you should kiss her then.”

  He bent down and kissed me.

  Twenty minutes later, we walked hand in hand up the street to the Cunningham house. From a distance, I saw a man struggling to open the front gate. Paul tugged my hand and we rushed over.

  “That thing has gotten all rusted up,” Paul said as he bent over to help.

  The two of them finally made it open, and the man straightened. “Thank you,” he said, offering Paul his hand. “Wyatt Blake.”

  “Paul Davis.”

  “Ahh, the sheriff.” He tilted his cowboy hat. “That hoard must be some of your kids. I can tell because at least one looks just like you, and one of the little girls looks like your wife here.”

  I stepped forward and offered my hand. “Braydon Davis.”

  He nodded, and his eyes slowly took me in. “Braydon, huh? Nice to meet you.” He looked back at Paul. “My wife is up at the school. She’s the new chemistry teacher. But, I’ll need some work. I’m a veterinarian, so I was hoping maybe I wouldn’t be stepping on anyone’s toes if I set up a clinic here.”

  Paul smiled. “Not at all. In fact, our vet has wanted to retire for several years. He’d love to hear that.”

  “Excellent. I’ll get his details and give him a visit then.” He gestured for us to enter. “Come in and visit for a while.”

  We followed him through the house to the backyard, where Megan struggled with breaking up Bradley and Taylor.

  “Hey!” Paul rushed forward and tore our sons apart. “You little monsters. What’s this about?”

  They proceeded to yell at once, as Megan stepped beside me.

  Jackson hurried back to me. “Mom, their kids are all too young. Can we go back to the house?”

  I frowned. “No. No one’s there.”

  “Come on! I just turned twelve. When are you going to trust me?”

  “When you’re twenty.”

  He growled and marched off.

  “Donny’s been harping on about that, too,” Megan muttered.

  Wyatt leaned closer. “We have three. But, your oldest . . . I was told he came from another marriage that ended tragically.”

  I folded my arms. I’d come to terms with Forrest’s death years earlier, but there were moments when I missed him, and there were moments when the memories from that time still hurt.

  The Richards boy was locked away, and wouldn’t be due for bail for another seven years. Once a year, on the anniversary of Forrest’s death, I received a letter from him. At first it only said, “I’m sorry,” but as the years passed, he included more. I knew he regretted what he did, and each year that passed, I saw that regret deepen. Maybe he could be saved by Forrest’s death one day, too.

  But, Nova never forgave him. She even visited him a few times, just to look him in the eyes and make sure he knew how well she was doing. She said she wanted to make him hurt like he hurt her.

  I looked into Wyatt’s eyes. “Yes, my first husband died. He was a good man, but he left me with so much. I know he’d be happy for me now, so I can’t regret anything. Plus, I have this beautiful family.”

  We heard a car pull up, and he looked around. “That would be my wife. I’ll be right back.”

  He dashed into the house.

  I looked around at the children, and my gaze caught on the little boy now playing with Taylor. I stared at him, feeling an odd sense of familiarity. I grabbed Megan’s arm. “Does that little boy look . . . familiar?”

  Megan titled her head. “Ahh, I don’t know.”

  Paul wrapped his arm around my waist. “Jackson went back to the house.”

  I glared at him. “Really? I told him no.”

  Paul cringed. “Oh. Sorry.”

  “Braydon?”

  We all spun at the sound of a woman’s voice. There, standing on the stairs, was Sarah. My jaw fell. “Sarah?”

  She rushed over to me and paused a few feet in front of me. “You, ah, you look good.” She flushed and dropped her gaze.

  “Sarah?” I took a step closer. “Why did you go away for so long?”

  She took a sharp breath as tears filled her eyes. “You don’t hate me?”

  Megan snorted. “Good heavens, she’s still so dramatic.”

  She shot a fierce look at Megan. “And, you’re still obnoxious.”

  I laughed and threw my arms around Sarah. ‘It’s good to have you back.”

  She squeezed me and whispered, “It’s good to be back. I’m so glad you forgave me. I was so afraid . . . ”

  I leaned back. “I never hated you.”

  She smiled and glanced over my shoulder at Paul. I looked back and saw him av
ert his eyes, shoving his hands in his pockets uncomfortably.

  Sarah giggled. “Bray, no offense, but my husband is way hotter than yours.”

  Paul’s gaze flashed up to us and we both laughed.

  “I’m glad you think so,” I said. “Well, it looks like we have some catching up to do.”

  Also from Soul Mate Publishing and Katie Hamstead:

  DANCING IN THE ATHENIAN RAIN

  When Donna is sent back in time to Classical Athens, she's furious at Dr. Stephens for sending her against her wishes. Then a Greek soldier purchases her to be his wife.

  She's forced to learn a new language and culture and faces her fears of never returning to her own time. The society hates her, especially because they think she’s an Amazon, which forces her to confront her issues—being compared to her genius brother, borderline abusive friends, and a cheating boyfriend.

  But her husband, Peleus, is kind and patient. He counters all the negative voices from her past, but those voices drive a wedge between them. She must let go of her fears, her inhibitions, and insecurities, and admit her feelings, or she could lose him and the life they’ve built.

  Available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/zaor4b9

  BRANDED

  Terrorists have invaded Sydney, and Allison King barely escapes her brother's wedding reception alive. She and her siblings flee, but their parents are killed by firing squad.

  Now Ali's on the run and terrified. While searching for other survivors, she is captured by the General who leads the invasion. He's smitten by Ali, and when she refuses to submit to his whims, he brands her for death. In a wild act of defiance, she snatches the branding rod and sears the mark onto his face. Marking not only him but also sealing her fate. Ali manages to escape and flees into the bush once more where she finds a group in hiding. Even with the scars left by the General, Ali learns to love and falls in love with the young man who found her—Damien Rogers.

  But the General is hunting her. When he discovers their location, and finds her with another man—Damien—his wrath is kindled and his obsession is inflamed. Ali must put herself on the line or the General could kill her family, those who help her, and most significantly, the man she loves.