“Well, it’s certainly been an exciting few years, but I suppose things will settle down now, after all our boys are all going to be married men once Garrett and Sabrina are married.” She’d said, patting her husband's leg affectionately.
“Yes, but that just means more grandchildren.” He’d said, then added. “I love girls but I’m hoping the next one will be a boy.”
They’d all laughed and Allison had felt a moment of peace for the first time since she’d been released from the hospital. Since then she’d found her way to their house several times, finding some reassurance just being around Cinthia. It had been a place of calm when her fears had become overwhelming and panic threatened to take over.
Her entrance seemed to break the spell the baby had over everyone, they all turned to greet her, then went back to what they had been doing. Donovan took the baby from Elizabeth who joined Sabrina and Leslie in the kitchen. The trio of women were the other thing that had kept her sane over the last two weeks, it had been strange to find three African American women in the family, but thanks to them she didn’t stick out like she’d feared she would.
It had also been a huge benefit that they, like herself, were more on the curvy side, she’d never considered herself overweight, but she filled out her clothes quite nicely. Finding clothes to wear had been a bit of a struggle at first, she’d had no idea what style she liked, so her one shopping trip had been a disaster. She’d arrived at the ranch with sweats and tee shirts unable to choose anything else.
They’d quickly taken her under their wing and into their closets, helping her remember that she loved jeans and button down shirts. It had been such a relief to finally remember something about the person she used to be that she’d even let them buy her a new pair of boots.
She washed her hands and joined the women in the kitchen, cooking it seemed was coming back as most other skills had, mostly unconsciously as she worked.
“Everyone all set in the barn?” Sabrina asked since Allison had been working in the therapy barn.
“Yep, all clean, fed, and happy.”
“Thanks for doing that. I’ve got to find someone new to take over that barn. The kid I hired is good with the horses, but not so great at coming to work.” She said, shaking her head.
“Why don’t you hire me? I need something to keep me busy and then I could pay my own way while I’m staying here.” She said, suddenly liking the idea.
“But I thought you liked working with the therapy patients, Leslie and I would miss your help.” Sabrina said, looking to Leslie for affirmation.
“You’re good with the kids and the horses.” Leslie said.
“I could still do that, but this way I could contribute more. Don’t think I don’t appreciate everything you’re doing for me, but I need to feel like I’m earning my own way.” She said, then added. “Plus with the wedding, you won’t have to worry about the horses at all. I’ll handle everything.”
“I for one think that's a fine idea.” Garrett’s booming voice made Allison cringe a little as he came into the kitchen.
“Well, since the master has spoken then I guess we have our new therapy hand.” Sabrina said, laughing as she crossed the room to kiss Garrett.
Garrett seeing Allison’s reaction to his voice, lowered it and asked, “When is dinner going to be ready?” Then added, “We’re all starving, including the baby.” When a high pitched wailing could be heard from the other room.
“I’ll take care of that one ladies, the rest are up to you.” Elizabeth said, leaving the room.
Chapter 2
Nate’s hands griped the wheel so tight his knuckles were turning white, he’d never imagined the Colorado Mountains would be so treacherous in the snow. The pictures he’d seen always showed the sun shining on the crystal white peaks, not a cloud in the sky, people in ski suits having fun. What they hadn’t shown was the process of those peaks getting covered in snow.
He was experiencing it firsthand, and it wasn’t much fun. Thankfully it was only a few more miles to the small resort town where his family lived. It was still strange to think of those people in the pictures as his family, but there was no denying it now. His mother had told him the whole story from the beginning to the end before she died. It had taken three long days for her to tell the story, during which time, he’d barley been able to sleep or eat.
They’d poured over the scrap book, which she’d kept hidden from both his father and himself for all these years. She’d explained that Jonathan Terrell had been her friend in college, they’d met through mutual friends and while not attracted to one another had become great friends.
“I never liked Jonathan that way. He was my friend and that was all. It was a bit unusual in those days, but perfectly harmless.” She said, smiling at the memory.
“But something changed.” Nate prompted her.
“Yes, when I met your father, I knew I’d met the man I wanted to marry. At almost the same time Jonathan met Cinthia and they were head over heels for each other. Strangely enough the four of us became a set, more or less became inseparable.” She said, pointing to a picture of four young people their arms around one another.
“One night we’d all gone to a party together and things went crazy. Jonathan and Cinthia had been fighting because he wanted her to quit college and marry him right away. She wanted to finish and get her degree, but he wouldn’t budge. They had a terrible fight and your father and I found ourselves in the middle. Before I knew it their fight had turned into ours and Jonathan and I were speeding away from the party in a cab.”
Nate could already see where this was heading, but remained silent, waiting for his mother to go on. He could see that she was getting tired, but couldn’t leave the story where she’d stopped. “What happened then?”
“I’m sure you can figure it out. It lasted for two weeks before I realized what I was doing and made up with your father and we were married right away. Jonathan too was shocked by our behavior and married Cinthia not long after that.” She said, barely loud enough for him to hear.
He’d known what he was going to hear, but hearing it had still been difficult. No one wanted to think of their mother that way, especially with another man besides his father. But, at least now he knew the truth.
“I didn’t know I was pregnant with you until after I married your father. For a while I hoped that you were really his, it could have been possible. But when you were born, supposedly a few weeks early, I knew that Jonathan was your father.” His mother said, using her last bit of strength.
As much as he’d wanted to hear more, he’d know that it would have to wait for another day. He spent that night pacing around his house wondering if Jonathan Terrell or his father had known the truth. He was fairly sure that his father had never known, because if he had, he was sure they would have talked about it. The photo album gave him no clue whether or not Jonathan Terrell knew about him or not.
The next day, his mother had regained some of her strength and continued the story. “I never told anyone about your real parentage, it seemed like it would only cause pain. Your father was so happy to have you, and Jonathan was happily married and expecting his own baby, so I choose to keep it a secret.” She said, watching for Nate’s reaction.
“So Jonathan Terrell doesn’t know I’m his son?” He asked, not sure how he felt about that.
“I think he always suspected, but I never told him outright. I think you’re father knew as well, but he loved you as if you were his own. We never had any other children, so I think he was grateful to have you.” She said, patting his hand.
“I never doubted that Dad loved me. But I can’t see myself showing up on this man’s doorstep out of the blue and announcing that I’m really his son, even if he might have some suspicion that I am.” He said, his head spinning with all the implications.
“I’ll leave that choice up to you. Jonathan knows you’re my son, we’ve stayed in touch all these years, so
a visit from you wouldn’t be that surprising. What you tell him beyond that is up to you. I just wanted you to know the truth before I’m gone.” She said, tears streaming down her face.
“Don’t cry. I’m not upset. I’ve had two of the best parents a man could have asked for, you did what you did out of love.” He said, drying his mother’s tears.
It was only days after that when he lost her, the cancer finally winning the battle. After the funeral, he’d closed up both of their houses, taken a leave of absence from his job and set out for Colorado. Now thousands of miles later, and a hair raising trip up the mountain, he was finally in Pleasant Valley.
It was a charming town, clearly what they called a ski town, the resort could be seen from anywhere in the town. He’d booked himself a room at a local bed and breakfast, but only for one night. He wanted to get the lay of the land before he showed up at the Terrell ranch and announce his presence, still not sure what he was going to tell them when he did.
After he’d checked into his room and been fed a huge dinner, he collapsed into bed, too exhausted to worry about what might happen the next day. He awoke refreshed and after another huge meal, went out to explore the town. His first stop would have to be a store where he could purchase some cold weather gear. Living in Kentucky, he’d never had the need for anything more than a light jacket, but that certainly wouldn’t cut it here.
Pleasant was a quaint little town, while it had the feel of a tourist town, it had managed to maintain some of its history. As an amateur architect he could see which of the buildings had been here the longest, and some of them had been here a long time. He’d parked his car in the center of town, thinking that he’d explore from the center out. When he found Main Street, his eyes greedily took in the old stone buildings, knowing that they had been standing for a hundred years or more.
He wandered up the street, shivering in his thin jacket, until he found a store with windows full of warm coats. He pushed his way through the doors, admiring the architecture of the old building when he got inside. At first he hardly noticed the group of women back in the corner laughing as they tried on hats. But, one of the women caught his eye, she was African America like her friends, but there was something different about her.
If his cop’s instincts were right, she was in some kind of trouble. He recognized the way she carried her body, the way she kept scanning the store as if someone might be following her. He also recognized that she was very attractive, all curves and valleys, his idea of a real woman. Unlike most of his friends, he wanted nothing to do with the skinny women they all seemed to be constantly pursuing.
He wanted a woman he could wrap his arms around, a woman who wasn’t so fragile he felt like he might break her. At a little over six feet tall and 200 pounds, those kind of women made him feel big and awkward. His thoughts were interrupted by the saleswoman, who’d seen him standing in the door way and had come bustling over.
“Hi, how can I help you today?” She said, stepping into his line of sight.
Forcing his thoughts from the woman across the room, he looked at the woman and said, “Well, first I need a much warmer coat. I’ve just come from Kentucky and I’m unprepared for this weather.”
“I can help you with that. I’m Carrie Anderson. Have we met before?” She said, studying him.
“No, I’ve never been here. This is my first time in Pleasant Valley.” He said, suddenly nervous under her scrutiny.
She shrugged her shoulders, “I’d swear we’d met before, but let’s get you a new coat.”
As she was showing him her selection of outerwear, the women made their way to the front carrying a pile of coats with them. They were laughing and chatting clearly having fun, his eyes were drawn once again to Allison, a fierce need to protect her washing over him. It was an irrational urge, considering he didn’t know her, but he always trusted his instincts. He was about to go over to her, but the sales lady distracted him and when he looked back the women were gone.
*****
Allison hadn’t missed the way Nate had been looking at her, she’d seen him the minute he walked through the door, his size alone capturing her attention. Knowing there might be someone out there trying to hurt her had made super conscious of her surroundings. But, strangely she’d found herself drawn to the huge man standing in the doorway. When the sales woman had pulled him to the back of the store, she’d watched him, wondering if she knew him, which could explain why she was drawn to him. But that couldn’t be the case, if he knew her he would have said something.
As she walked out of the store with the other women, her new coat in bag, she shrugged off the encounter as simple physical attraction. Obviously that part of her brain was still working, but then it occurred to her that she might have a boyfriend or even a husband. She wasn’t sure how old she was, but she was old enough for both. Thinking again of how much she didn’t know about her own life started to depress her, so she pushed those thoughts aside and tried to have fun.
She’d been forced into the shopping trip, but had discovered that she’d enjoyed it, another new fact about herself she now knew. Each day she discovered something new about herself, and so far, she liked what she’d discovered. Now if she could only remember who she was, just her full name would be enough, maybe she could get all of her life back.
A few days later, they were all sitting down to dinner, Allison was still uncomfortable around the Terrell brothers, but they’d learned how to tone down their explosive personalities when she was around. She was still experiencing flashes of memory, but they were so brief that she still couldn’t make sense of them. Everyone had been helping her try to piece them together when there was a knock at the door.
Daphne jumped up to answer it, a puzzled look on her face. She returned a few minutes later, still looking perplexed. “Jonathan there’s a man at the front door looking for you. His name is Nate McAlister, he said he’s the son of an old college friend of yours and that you’d know who he was.” She said.
Allison could have sworn that Jonathan paled a little bit at the name, but he quickly covered his reaction with a cough and got to his feet. “I’d better see what this is all about.” He said, pushing Daphne back into the dining room. “I’ll be okay on my own.”
Daphne sat back down at the table and looked at everyone as Jonathan left the room. They were all curious, but no one dared to say a word. Finally, Cinthia broke the silence. “Pass me some more of those potatoes they’re really good.”
*****
Nate stood in the entry way, looking at the fine construction of the house. He’d spent the last few days learning everything he could about the Terrell’s and discovered that they had billions of dollars, but basically lived and worked like everyday people. The people of the town, had nothing but good things to say about them, singing their praises everywhere he turned.
He’d finally gotten up enough courage to drive up to the ranch and meet what he was finally beginning to believe was his other family. Knocking on the door had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done, now he was standing in the entry way feeling like he should just turn and flee. He’d almost made up his mind to do just that when an older man he recognized from the pictures came around the corner.
He stopped in his tracks and looked at Nate, then took a deep breath and let it out. “Son, I didn’t know if you’d come, but I’m glad you have.” He said, gesturing for Nate to follow him.
“My mother said I should, but now that I’m here I think this might be a mistake.” He said, following Jonathan into what must be a library.
“Nonsense, your mother wrote to me and told me you’d be coming and I’m glad you have. It’s time we got to know one another.” Jonathan said, pouring them both a drink.
“But, you know....” Nate couldn’t put it into words.
“That I’m your father? Yes, I’ve known for a long time. You look so much like my other boys it was obvious.” Jonathan said, gesturing for Nate t
o sit in one of the chairs by the fire, which was burning pleasantly, warming the room against the cold outside.
Nate took a sip of his drink which was fixed just like he liked it. He had no idea what to say to this man who was his father. “I don’t want to cause any trouble in your family.” He finally said, knowing it to be true.
“My wife and I came to terms with the possibility that you were mine a long time ago, I couldn’t hide my feelings from her. The rest of the family will understand eventually.”
Nate had thought about this a lot, he hadn’t planned to let Jonathan know who he was, but he certainly didn’t want the rest of the family to know yet. “Would it be okay if you just introduced me as a friend of the family, I’d just be more comfortable with that for now.”
“We can try, but eventually they’re going to figure it out. Don’t you think we should be open from the very beginning?” Jonathan said.
Nate considered his words, thinking about how it would look, him suddenly showing up and claiming a part of what they’d worked so hard to build. “No, I think it would be best if we all got to know each other first, I want them to understand that I’m not after anything but getting to know my family.”
“You think they’ll think you’re after a cut of the family fortune. I can promise you that will be the last thing they’ll think. But I’ll honor you’re wishes in this. This can’t have been easy for you.”
“It hasn’t been. I feel like the life I thought I’d lived was all a lie, I just can’t help it.” Nate said, his emotions getting the better of him.
“I know son. Your mother wrote to me right before she passed and said that you were taking it hard since your father’s gone as well. But I promise you it will get better, regardless of what you decide about telling the family, a stay at the ranch will make you feel better, it has that effect on people.”
“Oh, I don’t want to impose.” Nate said, never imagining that they’d ask him to stay at the ranch.
You're My Rock (Brothers From Money #4) Page 2
