Perfect Fit

by Carly Phillips

  “So how are you?” the older woman asked.

  “I’m good. Busy, which I like. Between work and volunteering at Havensbridge, I don’t have much downtime.”

  Ella nodded. “I’m thinking of doing some volunteer work myself once Simon’s back to himself. Maybe driving cancer patients to the hospital for treatment or reading to the children who are inpatient there.”

  “That’s sweet,” Cara said. “What do the doctors tell you about Simon?”

  “That he’s progressing nicely. He tolerates the treatments well, and he’s been able to have them consistently. They hope he’ll be in remission soon. And once he’s finished with this part of the treatment, he should start to feel stronger and want to do more.”

  “I’m glad,” Cara said.

  They talked for a few more minutes about small things before Ella cleared her throat, looking suddenly serious. “Cara, honey…”

  “Yes?”

  “When Michael called and told me you were coming for dinner, he mentioned the incident at your parents’ last night.”

  Everything inside Cara ran cold. Since driving away from her parents’ apartment, she’d deliberately not let herself think about them. She didn’t want anyone else thinking about it either. Knowing. Judging.

  Mike obviously was doing one or more of the above. “So he invited me out of pity, then,” she said without thinking.

  Ella’s frown told her she didn’t agree. “You know better than that. You’re comfortable here and we love having you, and I’m sure you can use being around people who think of you as family at a time like this.” The older woman paused, not breaking eye contact. “Although, family’s more Sam’s way of thinking about you than Michael’s.”

  Cara knew she blushed a deep red, and she couldn’t think of a witty reply.

  “I think Michael just wanted you here,” Ella mused.

  Cara shook her head. This conversation was getting awkward on every end. “I don’t know what to say to any of this.”

  Ella patted her hand. “I just wanted you to know that if you need someone to talk to about your parents, I’m here. And if you’re worried I might not approve of you and Michael, well, you’d be wrong.”

  Cara’s eyes opened wide. “Mike and I aren’t…we’re not—”

  “No worries, dear. We’re all grown-ups.” Ella winked at her, and Cara prayed for strength.

  “Right. Well, thank you for the offer to talk about my parents.” Wow. Her family had suddenly become the easier conversation, Cara thought, still reeling from Ella’s frank words.

  “I mean it, honey. It can’t be easy for you,” Ella said, in a purely motherly way that put Cara at ease.

  “Thank you. I appreciate it, but there’s nothing to say. My mother made her choice to stay years ago. And I made mine not to see her unless she leaves him.” She waited for Ella to condemn her for her choices, but instead she nodded in understanding.

  “I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision.” Like Mike, Ella and her compassion and understanding made Cara feel more secure and at ease about her course of action than she’d been before. Maybe it did help to share, to have someone to talk to.

  “It was a hellish choice,” Cara admitted. “But anything short of sticking to it will only enable an ugly situation or make me so angry I get physically ill.” She glanced down, embarrassed.

  “Oh, honey, there’s no shame in taking care of you. That was their job, and for whatever reason they fell short.” Ella leaned in close, reassuring as only a wise, loving parent could.

  “That’s what Mike said.” Cara managed to meet Ella’s gaze.

  “I knew I raised that boy right.”

  Cara nodded at that. Mike was a really decent guy.

  “But you still feel guilty,” Ella said, not dropping the subject.

  Cara sighed. “I alternate between feeling like an awful daughter for taking care of myself and a self-righteous one for not understanding where my mother’s coming from. I volunteer with women just like her, and I understand her world isn’t simple.”

  “And yet you beat yourself up over something you can’t control,” Ella said, covering Cara’s hand with her own.

  The warmth she offered caused a lump to form in Cara’s throat.

  “I, of all people, know what it’s like to doubt myself and my choices,” Ella said softly.

  “You do?” Cara would have thought Ella Marsden was so certain in every decision she made.

  “Oh, Cara. You must know the story of how I ended up married to Simon, right?”

  Cara didn’t know which part of the story Ella was referring to. “I know you were involved with someone before Simon,” she said delicately.

  “I got pregnant and he left me,” Ella said bluntly.

  Not expecting such frank talk, Cara blinked in surprise.

  “Simon was my best friend and he stepped up immediately to take care of me—as in he offered to marry me and adopt the baby as his.”

  “And that wasn’t an easy decision to make?” Cara asked.

  “No, it wasn’t.” Ella glanced down. “It didn’t seem fair.”

  Cara’s heart clenched at the other woman’s honesty. “You loved Mike’s real father a lot, didn’t you?”

  Ella nodded. “At one time, but he wasn’t the man I thought.”

  And Simon was, Cara thought.

  “But Simon? It’s true and real. A love born of shared lives and children and appreciation for what a good, solid man he is. I love the life we’ve shared.”

  Cara smiled. The Marsdens had always been an example to look up to, a couple to be envious of and to emulate. “So no regrets?” Cara asked.

  “No regrets,” Ella answered immediately. “But lately I’ve had cause to wonder…” She trailed off with a shake of her head. “Never mind.”

  “No, it’s okay, you can tell me,” Cara assured her. Ella had been so sweet about Cara’s own parents, so understanding, Cara wanted to return the favor by letting the other woman unburden herself.

  Ella turned her wide eyes on Cara. “I’ve been corresponding with Mike’s real father,” she whispered.

  “What?!” Cara knew that as far as Mike was concerned, nobody had heard from his father since he abandoned a pregnant Ella.

  “A few weeks ago, he found me on Facebook. He friended me out of the blue. I accepted before I could think about it, and apparently that’s what he wanted. Once I accepted, he was able to see the family pictures I posted. It let him know how we all were, that Mike had grown up to look just like him.” Her voice was so low, Cara could barely hear.

  “And you haven’t told Simon.” Cara stated the obvious.

  Ella shook her head. “He was midtreatment, and even if he hadn’t been…” Her entire body trembled. “He’d be so angry. To show up after all these years and ask questions about Simon’s family. I don’t even know if I’d have told him if he were healthy, but luckily I didn’t have to make that choice.”

  “Yet.” Again, Cara opted for the obvious.

  An unexpected smile lifted Ella’s lips. “Nothing gets by you.”

  “Occupational hazard.” Cara grinned.

  “Well, I don’t have to decide whether to tell Simon now.”

  “What about Mike?” The words came out of Cara’s mouth before she’d even had the thought in her head. If Mike knew his mother was in contact with his errant father…she shuddered at the notion.

  She shook her head.

  “He needs to know!” Cara said, certain Mike would be furious if kept in the dark.

  “He can’t! Mike struggles so much about his father, and he’d be so angry at me for even answering him.” Ella reached for and grabbed Cara’s hand. “Please, promise me. I know it’s a huge burden to put on you, and I hadn’t thought it through. I just needed someone to confide in and you offered…” Eyes wide, voice trembling, she squeezed Cara’s hand tighter. “Please.”

  “Okay,” Cara said, not wanting her any more upset.

  “Or
Sam. Or Erin.”

  Cara closed her eyes. “No one,” she promised, sensing she’d live to regret it.

  Ella released her grip and relaxed back into her chair. “Thank you.”

  Cara met her gaze and nodded.

  “I’m sorry. It started as me wanting to assure you that you aren’t alone in being conflicted and ended with you as keeper of my secret.”

  “It’s okay.” Cara managed a smile.

  Ella rose and pulled her into a grateful hug before stepping back.

  “Just a word of warning, though?” Cara felt compelled to add. “Secrets tend to come out.”

  Ella nodded. “I know. I just need Simon to be healthy before I bring this out in the open. The subject of Rex is complicated for everyone.”

  Cara studied Mike’s mother, the flush in her cheeks, and wondered just what it was she and Rex Bransom talked about in their private e-mails. And whether those conflicted feelings Ella mentioned extended into the present.

  “Mom!? I’m here, and Mike’s right behind me!” Sam’s voice shook Cara out of her musings.

  A door slammed shut behind him.

  Ella glanced at Cara and mouthed Thank you before pivoting toward the door. “In here!” she called to her son.

  Cara braced herself for dealing with Mike, pushing aside the explosive secret she now had to keep from him.

  Five

  A few seconds and the heavy sound of footsteps later, Mike stood in the entryway of his mother’s kitchen. He hadn’t shaved today, and the stubble gave him a rugged, sexy look. Sexier look, Cara amended. The man oozed a confidence and sensuality that made her knees weak.

  “Hi, Mom,” he said, striding into the kitchen. “Cara.” His dark gaze settled on hers.

  “Hi, honey,” Ella said.

  “Hi,” Cara said softly, attempting to hide the pure rush of pleasure she took in seeing him.

  But it was the spark of satisfaction in his expression at finding her here that lit her up inside. He obviously hadn’t been sure she’d come and was pleased that she had.

  He stopped by his mother and kissed her cheek.

  “Where’s your brother?” Ella asked.

  “Dad’s awake, so Sam settled in the family room.” Mike caught sight of the bread basket, lifted the foil covering, and snagged a piece of bread, popping it into his mouth.

  “Enough of that or we won’t have any left for dinner,” Ella chided him, but the indulgent smile on her face told another story.

  “So what have you two women been talking about?” Mike asked, his perceptive stare flickering back and forth between them.

  “Not you.” Erin joined them, taking Cara by surprise. She’d been so absorbed in staring at Mike that she hadn’t heard Erin come in.

  “Hey, all!” Erin greeted everyone with a smile before bumping her hip against her brother’s, a bit too hard.

  Mike flicked his fingers against her cheek in retaliation.

  “Don’t start,” Ella warned, and both siblings tucked their hands into their jacket pockets like naughty children.

  Cara grinned. She hadn’t seen Mike and his family together in a nonstressful situation in years, and she found herself mesmerized by the easygoing side of Mike Marsden that she never saw at work. Even when they were alone together, he was always intense and focused, yet she liked this playful part of his nature and vowed to bring it out in him more often.

  The entire family gathered in the den before dinner and everyone’s focus was on Simon, making certain he was comfortable and feeling well. It was just as obvious that he didn’t want to be the center of everyone’s attention and concern. Despite the fact that he looked frailer than he had before his treatment, his will to live and zest for life were as evident as his love for his family.

  He grilled each child about what was going on in their lives, despite the fact that both Sam and Mike visited their father often. Sam had spent a lot of his recuperation time here the past week watching television and playing chess and just keeping Simon company. And Cara had no doubt that Erin had done the same, making Simon’s interrogation, as they all called it, unnecessary, just an expected part of their family day. No wonder Ella had fallen in love with him.

  Cara wondered what it would have been like to grow up with such a warm, interested father and immediately pushed the thought aside. She couldn’t change the past, and dwelling on it only made her unhappy, a mood that had no place in this house with this family.

  Dinner consisted of Ella Marsden’s apricot chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans, and Cara couldn’t believe how delicious the meal was. “This is amazing,” Cara said, after finishing everything on her plate. “I’d love to have the recipe.” She might live alone, but Cara loved to cook.

  Mike glanced at her, surprised.

  “What? You think I live on takeout?” she asked with a grin.

  “I do,” he muttered.

  “That’s because you didn’t live in Serendipity,” Erin said. “Mom cooks extra for Sam and me. I freeze it and always have a home-cooked meal.”

  “It wouldn’t hurt you to learn yourself,” Ella said, probably not for the first time, judging by her daughter’s roll of her eyes.

  “No time,” Erin said. “But you have a willing cohort in Cara.” She waved her hand, clearly happy not to learn her mother’s cooking skills.

  Ella refocused her attention, a happy smile on her face. “So I do. And I’d love to share. I’ve actually transferred all my recipes into the computer, so if you give me your e-mail I can send it to you,” Ella offered.

  “Look at my mom, becoming all computer savvy,” Sam said. “I’m impressed.”

  Erin leaned over and hugged Ella. “I’ve taught her everything I know.”

  “Says the self-professed computer geek,” Mike teased his sister.

  Erin shrugged. “I can’t help it. Someone in this family had to learn their way around computers and routers. You two had no interest, so it defaulted to me if we wanted to get online.”

  “Things change,” Mike said. “I’ve been looking into ways to upgrade our system at work without it costing too much. We’re too antiquated even for a small town.”

  Cara liked the way Mike referred to the station in such a personal way, the word we indicating he considered himself a part of the force.

  “I don’t understand why we can’t leave things as is,” Simon muttered. “Paper, pencil, and an old-fashioned filing system worked fine for years.”

  Sam gave Mike a knowing look. “The system’s so good that we have discrepancies and issues dating back years,” Mike said.

  “Can you pass the green beans, Cara?” Simon asked her, obviously changing the subject.

  Beside her she felt Mike stiffen, obviously annoyed at his father’s stubborn, old-fashioned ways.

  “Sure,” Cara said, lifting the serving dish and handing it to Simon.

  They ate in silence for a few minutes, until Erin chimed in. “Did you know Mom’s on Twitter?” she asked, obviously still thinking about their technology conversation. “And Facebook.”

  Cara gripped her fork tighter.

  Mike chuckled.

  Sam burst out laughing. “Really? Mom, come on.”

  “What? I think it’s good for her to learn computers and keep up with technology.” Erin defended her mother.

  Cara didn’t dare sneak a glance at Ella, afraid Mike would catch her concern.

  Forging on as if nothing was wrong seemed like the best bet, Cara decided. “I have a Facebook page. It’s fun.”

  “I agree,” Erin said. “When you live in a small town, so many people stick around, you think you see them all the time. But sometimes you’ll hear from someone from your past and end up taking a trip down memory lane.” Her voice grew soft, making Cara wonder just whom Erin had heard from on the social network.

  This time Cara did glance at Ella, who’d gone pale.

  “I know what you mean,” Cara said, determined to keep conversation away from Ella. “I lik
e catching up with old friends and finding out what’s going on in their lives.”

  “Did you find any old boyfriends?” Sam asked her. “Like Adam Stone or Kevin Manning?”

  Cara wrinkled her nose and shot him an annoyed look. Why did he need to go there? “Maybe they found me.”

  “Did they?” Mike asked, his voice suddenly dark and dangerous.

  A shiver raced through her at the sound.

  “Well?” he bit out when she didn’t answer right away.

  She tried to figure out the emotion behind his tone. Jealousy? Was it possible? If so, she no longer minded Sam’s bringing up her past, if it meant Mike showed some interesting emotion.

  “Let’s see. Kevin dropped me a private note, and Adam posted on my wall,” Cara said.

  A low rumble sounded from Mike’s throat.

  “Did either of them ever marry? Or are they still pining over you?” Sam asked, chuckling as if the idea were absurd.

  “Hey! I’m pineworthy.”

  Sam grinned. “Didn’t say you weren’t. So anyone else hear from an old flame?” he continued, clearly in a mood to cause trouble.

  “Do we really need all this talk about old flames?” Ella asked, her voice rising in distress.

  Oh damn, Cara thought as all of Ella’s children shot her a worried look.

  Simon seemed out of it, lost in his own thoughts, or exhausted and not paying attention.

  “Mom?” Sam asked, clearly concerned.

  “Are you okay?” Mike leaned forward, as if he could reach his mother across the table.

  Ella rose from her seat. “I’m fine. If everyone’s finished I’ll start cleaning up. Give me a few minutes and I’ll get dessert on the table.” She gathered a few plates and rushed out of the room.

  “Now that was odd,” Erin said.

  “I’ll say,” Mike muttered.

  Sam nodded.

  “Umm, I’ll help clean up,” Cara said, wanting to check on Ella.

  “That’s okay. I’ve got it.” Erin rose to her feet. “You’re our guest. I’ll try and talk to Mom, see if she’s okay.”

  There was no way Cara could object to Erin’s being alone with her mother without causing more curiosity. “Yell if you need me?”

  “Thanks,” Erin said.