The Doctor's Family Reunion

by Mindy Obenhaus

  “Takes one to know one.” Popping a yellow and green into her mouth, Taryn sat down opposite her. “So, what’s up?”

  May as well start at the beginning. “Ross Chapman offered to buy Adventures in Pink.”

  “What? Why?”

  The harmonious blend of milk chocolate and peanuts danced on Blakely’s tongue, dulled only by the topic of conversation. “Who knows? I’m guessing he sees us as a threat. Probably thought I’d be a pushover. Get this—” she leaned her folded arms on the table “—he tried to tell me it was my duty to take care of my family, not run a business.”

  “Gee, as I recall, your grandfather did both of those things.”

  “Yes, but he was a man.”

  Taryn ripped open the brown bag. “Chauvinist.” Poured a handful. “So what did you tell him?”

  “No, of course. But that hasn’t stopped him. Every time I turn around he’s slinking up on me. At the shop. Even at lunch today.” The more she talked about it, the more agitated she got. She swiped sweaty palms down the jersey cotton of her workout pants. “He even threatened to use my accident against me.”

  “How?”

  She deepened her voice. “‘Word travels fast. Hope it doesn’t hurt your business.’”

  “Chapman is such a sleazeball.” Taryn peeled off her do-rag, her short golden-brown hair falling around her face. “He knows Mountain View Tours can’t compete with Adventures in Pink. You just stand your ground, Blakes, because there’s not a business owner in town who wouldn’t stand with you.”

  Her friend’s encouragement made her smile. “Thanks.”

  “Now, would you like to tell me what else has you so wound up?”

  Letting go a sigh, Blakely grabbed another handful of chocolate for strength. “Austin’s father is back in town.”

  Taryn’s aquamarine eyes grew wide. Her mouth fell open, but she closed it without saying a word.

  “This is a first. I’ve actually rendered you speechless.”

  “Wow. You mean he just showed up?”

  “Pretty much.” Eyeing the dark clouds inching over Twin Peaks, she explained how things had transpired.

  “He said you never told him about Austin?”

  “Yep.”

  “But you did, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.” She dropped a red-coated morsel in her mouth. “His then-girlfriend assured me he received my letter.”

  “Double wow.” Concentrating on nothing in particular, Taryn opened her bottle and took a drink. “What does your grandmother have to say about all of this?”

  “She told me not to cast judgment. That I should give him a chance to prove himself.”

  Pausing, her friend reached for more chocolate. “You’re gonna hate me for this, but she’s got a point.”

  “Pardon me?” A sudden gust of frigid air made Blakely wish she’d brought a jacket.

  “I may be playing devil’s advocate, but what if he didn’t know?”

  “Oh, he knew all right.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Whose side are you on?”

  Taryn grabbed her hand. “Yours. Always. But let’s think about this. He lost his wife and baby.”

  “Is this supposed to make me feel better?”

  Obviously sensing Blakely’s desire to pull away, her grip tightened. “Oh, shush and listen to me. Eleven years is a long time. People change. You know better than anyone that I’m not the same person I was eleven years ago.”

  Blakely recalled the spoiled high-schooler who couldn’t wait to trade her hiking boots for stilettos and big city lights. “No, you’re not.”

  “And you were the first person to befriend me when I came back to Ouray.”

  “Yeah, I’ve always been a sucker for that lost puppy look.” One of the things that had initially drawn her to Trent. Not that he wasn’t strong and independent. He’d just looked so forlorn.

  “Whatever.” Rolling her eyes, Taryn reached for her water bottle. “You know good and well you were the first person willing to give me a second chance.” She uncapped the plastic bottle, a smug grin firmly in place. “And you ended up with the best friend anyone could ask for.”

  “Ha!” Listening to the sound of slowing traffic on asphalt, she satisfied her own thirst. “So what am I supposed to do? Welcome Trent with open arms and say, ‘Here’s your son’?”

  “I didn’t say don’t be cautious.”

  Though no one else was around, she lowered her voice. “What would you do if your baby’s father showed up?”

  “I’ve been sitting here asking myself the same question.”

  “And?”

  “Well, if the old Taryn were still around, she might hire a hit man.” They both chuckled. “And while I still might be tempted...” Her expression turned serious. “I honestly don’t know how I’d react. But, then, I didn’t keep my baby.”

  The melancholy that clouded her features had Blakely reaching for her. “And you did the right thing.”

  “I know. I just meant the circumstances would be different. Have you told Austin yet?”

  Blakely shook her head. “But I won’t be able to hold out for long. They look too much alike. Tongues are bound to start wagging.”

  “Sweetie, the best advice I can give you is to commit this to prayer. Assuming you haven’t already.”

  “Well....” Truth was, she’d spent more time trying to figure out how to fix things. “Sort of.”

  “Blakes, asking God to make it go away does not count.”

  Drat!

  “Remember, there are no coincidences. If Trent’s here, God has a reason for it.”

  Taryn emptied the yellow bag into her hand. “Wow. We made quick work of that.”

  “Yeah.” Blakely rubbed her stomach. “And I have a feeling I’m going to be paying for it the rest of the night.”

  Thunder rumbled in the distance.

  “Uh-oh.” Taryn turned to investigate the cloud-filled sky behind her. “Looks like things could get nasty.”

  “Yeah, I need to make sure Austin is home.”

  They stood and tossed their trash on the way to their respective Jeeps.

  “Thanks for letting me vent.” She hugged her friend.

  “Anytime, girlfriend. Anytime. After all, there aren’t many people around here who’d understand what we’ve been through.”

  That common ground of being young, unwed mothers had forged a strong bond between her and Taryn. Not even Taryn’s family knew she’d been pregnant, let alone given her baby up for adoption.

  She squeezed her friend tighter. God had brought them together. Each finding safe haven in the other. One where secrets were shared, never to be repeated. A friendship bound by understanding and a love for their children that was so strong, it gave them the courage to do things they never thought they could.

  Which was a good thing. Because right now, Blakely needed more courage than she ever imagined.

  Chapter Seven

  Three days with no signs of Trent or Ross. Blakely’s luck must be changing. At least in some respects.

  Surrounded by the familiar smells of rubber and gasoline, she hunched over the engine of a tour vehicle while Dan pointed out the faulty water pump. “That thing’s gonna be a bear to get to.”

  “Yeah, it’ll take a while.” He straightened, wiped his hands on a rag. “But then she should be good to go.”

  Taking a step back, she slid her hands into the back pockets of her faded jeans. “Well, better we get it taken care of now. Before the big holiday weekend.”

  Dan’s gaze shifted behind her. “Hey there, Doc.”

  Blakely’s heart dropped somewhere in the vicinity of her knees.

  Doc? That could only mean one thing.

 
She eased around, the turkey sandwich she’d just eaten for lunch churning in her belly.

  Clad in dark-wash jeans and a brown leather jacket, Trent looked like he’d just stepped from the pages of a magazine.

  “Don’t let me interrupt.”

  “Nah, you’re fine.” Dan moseyed across the concrete floor and shook Trent’s hand. “We’re finished anyway.”

  “Finished. Yes.” One-word sentences. Nothing like showing the guy what kind of affect he had on her.

  “Good.” He gave Blakely his full attention now. “I was wondering if you might have some time to talk.”

  Here it comes. The conversation she’d been dreading. The one where Trent told her he wanted her son.

  Squaring her shoulders, she peered up at Dan. “Can you hold down the fort for a bit?”

  “No problem, boss.”

  She whisked past Trent, determined to keep the upper hand. After all, she had nothing to be sorry for. She’d been truthful with him from the beginning. She was the one who’d devoted her life to Austin.

  “There’s a Jeep out back. I’ll meet you there.” She grabbed her jacket and keys from the office before joining Trent behind the building.

  Blakely hurled herself into the driver’s side, fastened her seatbelt and started the engine.

  “Where are we going?”

  She grabbed hold of the gear shift and eased off of the clutch. “Some place no one will overhear us.”

  Heading south on Main Street, she wound the switchbacks leading out of town before turning off near Box Cañon.

  Trent grabbed hold of the dash as she swung onto Campbird Road, a move that had her laughing inside.

  “I assume you want to discuss Austin.” She barreled over the Uncompahgre Gorge, a premiere destination for ice climbers in the winter.

  “Among other things.”

  Other things? What kind of other things?

  Forests of aspen and pine lined the county road, and the air grew cooler as they climbed. Trent zipped his jacket but didn’t say a word.

  Fine by her. She wasn’t in the mood for idle chitchat.

  Soon the trees were replaced by a wall of rock on their right and a wide canyon on the left. Not far from where she had her accident.

  She wasn’t about to repeat that mistake. Despite somewhat drier conditions, she eyed the rocky terrain above, looking for any sign of movement.

  The engine groaned under the steep inclines so she shifted into four-wheel drive and continued on. The contrasting beauty of dense woods and barren rock formations spread around them. Snow clung to crevices. Trees perched precariously on miniscule outcroppings, whereas others had been swept away by avalanches.

  Near the abandoned mining town of Sneffels, she turned onto another trail. Runoff tunneled under a heavy blanket of snow and the creek lay before them. Any other time she’d have used the bridge. But why not throw a little adventure Trent’s way? Catch him off guard.

  Without hesitating, she continued headlong through the steady current. Water splashed over the tires, and ice-cold droplets pelted them both.

  He pointed to the bridge. “You know, they probably put that thing there for a reason.”

  “Yeah. For chickens.”

  He shook his head, apparently not as rattled as she thought he’d be. “And this from the woman who wants her son to wear a helmet horseback riding.”

  On the other side of the stream, she brought the Jeep to a halt and turned off the engine. Her insides felt like one giant pretzel.

  “So are you going to charge me for this tour, or is this a freebie?” Trent laughed at his own joke, but she ignored his lame attempt to break the ice.

  Undoing his seatbelt, he turned to face her. “Look, the main thing I want to know is why you didn’t tell me about Austin. Did you feel like you couldn’t, or were you trying to get back at me?”

  Why did he insist on blaming her for this? “You’re determined to play the victim, aren’t you?”

  “What?”

  “Don’t try to deny it. I know for a fact that you received my letter.”

  His brow puckered. “Letter? What letter?”

  Tossing her seatbelt aside, she hopped out of the vehicle and stormed up the rocky slope.

  Trent followed. “What letter, Blakely?”

  “You remember. The one where I told you I was pregnant and that I didn’t expect anything from you.” She marched around a massive pine. “The one where I promised not to keep your child from you. Which, I assume, is why you’re here now.”

  Trent struggled to keep up. “Blakely, I promise you, I never received any letter.”

  Pausing, she balled her fists in the pockets of her jacket and turned to face him. “Sorry. But she told me you did.”

  “Who told you?”

  “Lauren.” She sighed, the memory of that day seared in her mind’s eye. “When I finally got up the courage to phone you, she answered. Even called me by name. She said you’d gotten my letter and was surprised you hadn’t contacted me yet.”

  The color drained from Trent’s face. He stumbled to a nearby boulder and dropped. “How can that be? I—I never knew about any of this.” His gaze found hers again. “Why didn’t you say something when I told you I was getting married?”

  “Oh, so this is my fault now?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  She scuffed the toe of her hiking boot across a dwindling mound of snow. “I would have sounded like a desperate fool, and that’s not my style.”

  “So all these years you thought I turned my back on you.”

  “Because you did.”

  “No. I didn’t.” He pushed to his feet, his frustration evident as he began to pace. “Blakely, I— Please? Would you at least consider the possibility? What if I didn’t receive your letter?” Those dark brown eyes pleaded with her to believe him.

  Stay strong. Don’t cave.

  She studied the gathering clouds, then shrugged. “You made your choice. What difference would it have made anyway?”

  “The difference was I loved you.”

  How long had she waited to hear those words? Now she doubted they were even true.

  She turned for the Jeep, pausing at the door. “We can play what-ifs all day long, Trent, but the facts are still the same. You got two women pregnant that summer. That’s not the kind of father I envisioned for my son.”

  * * *

  Trent hadn’t felt so befuddled since he was four years old and the social workers told him his mother had died.

  Both he and Blakely maintained their silence on the drive back to town. What else was there to say? He certainly couldn’t refute what she’d said. Though hearing her say the words was like a knife through the heart.

  Still numb, he excused himself once they reached Adventures in Pink and began the trek back to his motel. He knew when to retreat.

  He’d barely made it to the corner, though, when the weight of his actions made his legs feel like he was plodding through knee-deep mud. Dropping onto the metal bench outside of one of the gift shops, he rested his forearms on his thighs and stared up at the ominous gray sky.

  Lord, what have I done?

  The truth of Blakely’s words ate at him like a stage-four cancer. His sin had affected so many lives. How could he ever begin to make up for the pain he’d caused?

  “Whatever you’re contemplating can’t be good.” Without waiting for an invitation, Dan settled beside him. Concern furrowed his brow. “You okay?”

  “Not really.” Trent continued to study the gathering gloominess overhead, feeling more than a little sorry for himself.

  “My wife says I’m a pretty good listener.” Dan stretched his long denim-clad legs in front of him, crossing them at the ankles. “Comes with the job des
cription, I guess. Preacher, that is, not mechanic.”

  Trent had been more than a little surprised on Sunday to discover Dan was the pastor at Restoration Fellowship. And that Lisa, the receptionist at Adventures in Pink, was his wife.

  Now he regarded the kindhearted man beside him. Back in Albuquerque, Trent’s pastor had been his closest confidant. If Dan weren’t so close to Blakely, he might consider the offer.

  “Thanks, but I’m just being melodramatic.”

  “I’d say you’re a pretty good actor, then.” Dan folded his arms over his chest and leaned closer. “How long have you known he’s your son?”

  Trent’s gaze flicked to Dan, his eyes widening in disbelief. “She told you?”

  “Didn’t have to. Between the physical resemblance and the way Blakely flinches whenever you’re around, I drew my own conclusions.”

  Trent blew out a slow breath, the descending clouds obscuring the gray volcanic peaks of the Amphitheater. How many other people had the same suspicions? “I could be truthful and tell you I didn’t know until that day up on the mountain, but you probably wouldn’t believe me.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Blakely swears I knew all along.”

  “But, you didn’t?”

  “No. If I had, wild horses couldn’t have kept me away.” Trent looked up and down the row of colorful historic storefronts, cautious of anyone who might care to listen in on their conversation. “Unfortunately, things are more complicated than simply finding out I have a son.”

  “I gathered as much. Blakely’s not one to get her feathers ruffled. But lately...” Dan hesitated. Drawing in his legs, he rested his palms against the seat and leaned forward. “Trent, for what it’s worth, you don’t strike me as the kind of guy who’d turn his back on a child. Or his mother, for that matter.”

  An eighteen-wheeler rumbled past, giving Trent time to consider Dan’s comments.

  When the diesel cleared, Dan continued, “I take it Austin doesn’t know?”

  Trent shook his head. “And if Blakely has her way, he never will.”

  “I have a hard time imagining that. She’s expressed Austin’s need for a male role model many times.”

  “Well, she definitely doesn’t want me to be that role model. You know, Dan, I came to Ouray to take a break from my life in Albuquerque. God seemed to open doors every step of the way. Then I found out about Austin, and I felt like God had given me a second chance.”