Best Of My Love: (Love in Emerald Creek)

by N. D. Jackson

  “Do you think Mom’s gonna be okay?”

  Dre nodded. “Pretty sure, yup. You’ll see how much better she’s doing today.”

  His little brows clenched into a peak in his forehead. “What about Daddy, will he be alright?”

  I hope not. Hopefully he rots in hell. “I can’t speak to that kiddo. Do you know where he is?” She figured he might but she had to be sure before saying anything.

  He shot her a strange look. “Your dad, the Sheriff took him away.”

  “That’s what police officers do Eli, they take away people who break the law.”

  He nodded. “That’s what Sheriff Al said too,” he told her, resigned to that fact for now.

  Well that didn’t take long. Dre had barely been in Emerald Creek a full week before boredom set in. Even with all the new shopping venues and eateries, the town went to sleep early and was just about dead by eleven. Not that she could go anyplace until Shayna got discharged from the hospital. Not that I have anyone to go out with or that I want to go out with. But still, there was only so much to do to keep busy with or without the kids. Hell, she didn’t even know when she had time to get bored. Between guitar, violin, soccer, basketball, Bizzy Bees and Soarin’ Eagles meetings. Parenthood was exhausting.

  But she did enjoy spending time with the munchkins. They were funny and cool little kids. But she didn’t know how the hell Shayna did it on her own while maintaining a full-time job. If not for the fact that she rarely got more than four hours of sleep, she wouldn’t get any work done. Though she had gotten plenty done, including making sure they ate fruits and vegetables, finished their homework and didn’t watch anything too scary or too naked on the TV. This complete immersion into it terrified her.

  She decided to leave motherhood to women like Shayna who were capable of love, of letting love destroy them and then coming back for more. That was what being a mom was and Dre knew she didn’t have it in her. Not anymore.

  Besides Shayna would be home in another day or so and then she’d be more like a helper. A shopper. Someone to nag at her to take her meds and do her exercises. That she could do. But for now the kids were at school and she needed to pick up some things for the house so she headed to Cal’s World, Emerald Creek’s very own big box store. Owned by the mayor and operated by her children. Good ol’ nepotism.

  Since she was on a tight schedule, Dre grabbed a cart and pulled out the list she’d saved on her phone. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at all the things they needed and all the special requests when it came to food. Picky little fuckers, aren’t they? Not that she wasn’t picky herself, but she made her own food so she could afford to be. The one good thing about these places is everything is pretty easy to find, she thought as she turned down the cereal aisle.

  “Andrea Larson? Is that you?”

  Rolling her eyes again and stifling a groan at the intrusion Dre turned toward the screech and saw a woman she didn’t recognize. “Do I know you?”

  Her smile looked like it was painted on but her squeal was genuine. And loud. “It’s me Rachel Olsen now Madden,” she showed off her ring but Dre ignored it. When it became obvious her name did nothing to jog Dre’s memory she sighed, “You beat me out for National Honor Society? We were partners in AP biology?”

  “Oh. Hey.” It still didn’t ring a bell but Dre knew the silly woman would just keep naming things that happened more than a decade ago as though they happened yesterday. “Did you want something?”

  “Well, no. I just wanted to say ‘hey’.” She tilted her head and Dre fought the urge to scream at the look of sympathy in her eyes. “It’s a shame about you and Erick but I guess payback’s a bitch after all.” Her smile was conspiratorial but Dre’s was not.

  She didn’t want to know. “Anything else?”

  She didn’t miss the flare of disappointment, nor did she give a damn. “What are you doing here? I thought you were off living the high life in California.” The way she said it Dre guessed she didn’t think it was all that high.

  Too bad for Rachel they’d never been friends and she didn’t shoot the shit with people she didn’t know. Or didn’t like. “I wasn’t aware that I had to inform you of my comings and goings.”

  She tried to hide her surprise at Dre’s abrupt words but her smile remained in place. “Well of course not, it’s just I didn’t think you and Shayna kept in touch.”

  This was another reason she’d so rarely come back to town. Emerald Creek was as small town as they came which meant gossip came quick and unapologetic, and with no regard for the truth. Rachel was fishing but she didn’t know one important fact. Dre was no longer the polite Midwesterner she’d been raised to be. “Why would you?” Then before Rachel could respond, she continued down the aisle, looking at all the cereal on display.

  Don’t even think about it, she chided herself. It’s funny how the things she’d hated most about this town were the things she hadn’t thought about in years, but the things she never cared about—like the gossip and nosy neighbors—now irked her fiercely. She had to get used to it. Months could pass before Shayna was strong enough—mentally and physically—to be on her own again. She knew how this went. They would gossip about Dre for as long as she stayed in town or until something juicier came along. As she packed the groceries into her trunk she hoped something juicy came along soon.

  Not that she hadn’t given the good folks of Emerald Creek enough to gossip about over the years. Her relationship, or lack thereof, with her father the upstanding Sheriff kept the tongues wagging. Her imploding relationship with Erick had probably given them fodder for years. And the fact that she’d become a wealthy woman in her own right would always keep them talking. So really, not much had changed.

  Except I’m back in town and making tacos for kids, she thought sarcastically as she put away all the food except ingredients for tacos.

  Later that night Eli knelt on a stool at the counter ripping apart lettuce while Zoe grated the cheese and warmed the shells in the oven. It was a team effort, cooking dinner for two small humans, but she found the process soothing. Both kids kept up a steady chatter while they prepared dinner, catching her up on their day, what they learned and funny things their friends said. “Okay everything is going on the table while you two go wash up.”

  Zoe groaned. “Come on Eli, I’ll help.”

  She watched them go before she set up the table for make your own tacos night just as the doorbell rang. Dre stiffened, looking for a weapon just in case it was that bastard JT. But a quick look through the peephole proved her wrong. It was another father. Hers. “Hello Dad,” she answered without emotion and leaned against the door. She wasn’t exactly thrilled but nor was surprised to see him. She’d been in town for more than a week without making contact and her father hated for anyone to ignore him. Especially her.

  “Andrea you’re looking good.”

  She tried not to roll her eyes, stopping them halfway through a sigh without a response. He didn’t get to compliment her or act like she mattered to him when he’d proven in the most spectacular way, that she didn’t. The day her mother died their relationship became tense, but the day he brought her home, it imploded completely. “Did you need something? Shayna will be home tomorrow and I don’t know where JT is.”

  Al Larson was not a man to mince his words or be easily intimidated yet there he stood in front of her, wringing his hands nervously. “I was hoping we could have lunch while you’re in town to catch up. Get reacquainted.”

  That was the absolute last thing she wanted to do, sit down for a meal with the Sheriff but she knew he was the reason for her stubborn streak. The man would be relentless if she refused him so she gave a resigned nod. “Sure. Which restaurant would you like me to meet you at and when?”

  He frowned. “I was thinking we could do lunch on Sunday after church. At home.”

  Arms crossed over her chest she stared right through him. “My home is in California.”

  “You know what I me
an, Andrea.”

  She did and that offended her even more. “No. I’m not coming to your house.”

  “It used to be your house too,” he reminded her gruffly.

  “Yeah well that was a very long time ago. We all used to be a lot of things.” Like a happy family, but that too had been a work of fiction.

  “You just can’t let it go, can you? A man is allowed to move forward with his life Andrea. Are you so perfect you can judge me?”

  She laughed but the sound came out bitter even to her ears. “A man is allowed to make mistakes, but only the truly arrogant ones think they shouldn’t have to pay for those mistakes. We’re not talking about me, we’re talking about lunch. When and where?”

  “One o’clock on Friday at Maverick’s. It’s in the new shopping center.”

  She nodded. “Fine I’ll see you then.” She closed the door before he could say anything more and found the munchkins staring up at her with wide grey eyes. “Everything alright?”

  “Are you okay Auntie Dre? Are you going away too?”

  She frowned. “Nah. Me and my dad don’t get along because I’m not a good kid like you guys. Now let’s go stuff ourselves with tacos. Who’s hungry?” A chorus of “Me!” rang out behind her and she felt herself soften. Relax.

  Chapter Three

  “Daddy do you want to get married again?”

  Erick froze, coffee cup halfway to his mouth until his daughter shocked the hell out of him. “I don’t know, String Bean. Why do you ask?” His ex-wife had been gone for seven years without a word to him or their daughter and the only thing that occupied his mind other than his sweet baby girl was his restaurant.

  She looked up at him, smiling as she chewed her eggs. “Because Jenny’s mom has a new husband and her dad has a new wife, plus Bobby O’Shea’s dad got married for the third time. I thought maybe you wanted another wife.”

  The last thing he wanted was another wife. Calista had shown him just how unsuitable he’d been in the role with her constant complaints of neglect, sexual deprivation and a distinct lack of money. She thought she’d hit the jackpot when he’d, stupidly, proposed shortly after finding out his indiscretion had resulted in a baby. But she quickly learned that Erick wasn’t a rich man. Comfortable yes, but Calista wasn’t looking for comfortable. She loved to shop for any and every damn thing she looked at and most of the time never used or wore her purchases. “I think I’m all right for now.”

  Her bony shoulders rose and fell casually. “If you’re sure Daddy.” She sang happily and finished up her breakfast. “Grandma says it’s time you got back on the horse.”

  He groaned. His mother would think that. She’d been devastated by what he’d done to Dre and the only thing that could have soothed it was the tiny bundle with white blonde hair and familiar Hawthorne blue eyes. She had been against his marriage to Calista and hadn’t done much to make her feel welcome in the family. But now she wanted him to move on, find another wife and give her more grandchildren. Nothing major. “That’s because your grandma is a busybody.”

  She giggled and wiped her mouth. “Good eggs but a little spicy. The toast was really good.”

  Erick couldn’t help but smile at his budding chef. “It’s brioche and it’s made with lots and lots of butter. That’s why it’s so delicious.”

  “I approve.” Her grin was contagious and Erick loved the mornings he could spend with her. Though Emerald Creek wasn’t a big metropolis, he did get up early most mornings to hit up the local farms for his daily and weekly shopping trips. On Saturdays he took his daughter with him, loving her curiosity for all things food and cooking related. “And the Tuscan lasagna last night was so good,” she gushed, rubbing her tummy adorably.

  “Glad to hear it kiddo. Now let’s get a move on before your busybody grandma gets here.” He winked and she giggled before darting upstairs to finish getting ready for school. She had grown up so fast and he felt like he missed so much by working all the time. But he knew he couldn’t go back to working for someone else, either. He would be miserable and that wouldn’t make either of them happy.

  But he could hire a manager and let her spend more time with him at the restaurant. He had to do something before his little girl ended up with two parents who’d abandoned her.

  “Good morning,” his mother’s voice sang out as she pushed her way into the small cottage he shared with his daughter.

  “Morning Ma,” he called loud enough for her to follow his voice. “Or should I say Ms. Busybody?” Erick laughed at the blush staining her cheeks as she entered the kitchen.

  “That little girl gossips more than I do, I swear!”

  That much was true but she never did it maliciously. “Where do you think she learned it?”

  “Probably your father’s side of the family. You know how your aunts love to gossip.” She could have sold it too, if Sarah Hawthorne hadn’t been known as the worst liar on the planet. “Have you seen her yet?”

  He shook his head because there was no use pretending he didn’t know who she meant. She’d heard about Dre’s return to town and had urged him to speak with her. To apologize. “You can wipe that look off your face Ma because even if she talks to me she will never forgive me.”

  “Not that you deserve it, but she’s home so that has to mean something doesn’t it?”

  He shook his head, refusing to let it become full with hope and desire. “All it means is that she and Shayna are still good friends and she rushed home from Hawaii to take care of her children.” It had shocked him too but he supposed it shouldn’t have. Dre and Shayna had always been as thick as thieves despite how different they were. Dre had always been kind of the oddball, the loner, the hacker who’d also been valedictorian and Shayna was the homecoming queen. “That’s what Al said, at least.”

  “Have you tried calling her?”

  That pulled a harsh brittle laugh from him. “I tried calling her every day for two years after Calista left and she never answered or returned my calls. I’d say she has nothing to say.” He couldn’t blame her but damn it hurt to be cut out so decisively.

  “That was years ago. Things change, especially women, as they grow older.”

  Erick shook his head again, raking a hand through wavy caramel brown hair. “Ma don’t get your hopes up, or mine. She has a successful business on the west coast and she hasn’t been to town in a decade. Nothing I say or do will get her to stay.” Especially knowing doing so would mean facing the product of his infidelity every damn day.

  “You never know,” she said and turned just as his little girl flew down the steps like she was being chased. “Good morning Princess. How are you?”

  “Mornin’ Grandma!” As she pulled on a jacket and grabbed her backpack she told her grandmother all about her delicious breakfast and upcoming soccer game. “Bye Dad.”

  “Later kid,” he watched them go before grabbing a box of aprons and making his way to Maverick’s. Maybe today would be the day he set eyes on Dre again.

  “Let’s get this over with.” Dre blew out a breath and looked up at the sign in gold gothic English lettering. “A gastropub. How hip.” Truth was she had high hopes for some decent beer since lunch with her father always made her want to drink. Her therapist would say she could just let it go instead of numbing her pain and dulling her anger with alcohol. Dre would rather drink.

  Stepping from the rental she pushed her curls back and shut the door with her hip. The building looked like an old British pub with faux hunter green shutters and red brick façade. But inside the cherry wood tables and long bar that took up more than half of the back wall and brushed copper arm and footrest bars gave it a modern feel. It had that olde English feel but young and fresh. Impressive. She wondered who would open such a great place in Emerald Creek, didn’t they know they could do a good business at any of the bigger towns?

  A quick glance at her watch told her she was just fifteen minutes late. It was enough that she knew Al would comment on it but she’d had t
o deal with a bug in one of her programs and she wouldn’t apologize. He’d been late, or rather absent, when it had mattered most. “Hey,” she greeted the Sheriff as she dropped down on the other side of the high backed booth.

  “You’re late,” he scowled because he couldn’t help it. Sheriff Al had taken the whole town protector thing a little too far.

  “Work,” she shrugged and picked up a menu. “This place is nice. How long has it been here?”

  “A few years. You should try the beer sampler.”

  Dre nodded, her decision already made. It did sound delicious and she refused to revert to a rebellious teenager just because she sat across from her father who brought it out of her. “It looks good,” she told him as she looked over the menu. So did the lobster bisque.

  When she looked up from the menu Al studied her closely. Carefully. She half wondered what he saw, the bitter daughter she was today or the carefree little girl she’d been when her mother was alive. “How’s work?” Always a safe topic between them.

  “Great, just added a few hotel chains to my client list.” She never gushed to him about how proud she was of her work and until this moment she hadn’t thought it had anything to do with punishing him. Mostly she kept it to herself because he couldn’t help but complain about her enhanced net worth.

  “Still charging ungodly sums for your work?”

  “I am still making money, yes. I find it essential to do the things one loves.”

  He nodded, stroking where his beard would be if he didn’t keep his face military clean. “And what about the people one loves?”

  “I don’t think the company I bought my loft from would accept love as a form of payment.”