Kurt spit at the ground and turned to Michael. “Just remember to keep your hands off what’s mine.”
Once again, Michael wanted to feel his fist against Kurt’s cheekbone.
“Hey now.” Janet’s father turned back from following Lacy.
The same nasty smirk from earlier moved over Kurt’s face. “It doesn’t matter anyway. It’s all leftovers to me.”
Before he knew what had happened, Michael had Kurt by the shirt. His fist was positioned to knock him out.
“Wait!” Janet’s father moved quickly between them. He pushed Michael back. “We’re not doing this.”
Michael blinked and released Kurt.
A bitter chug laugh came out of Kurt as he backed up and looked very satisfied with himself. “I always knew you were the one between us.”
Chapter 5
Janet sat in the wooden tree house in her backyard. She could see the party. See the crowd gathered to see the lovely couple off. But here she sat…shaking. With anger. With disgust. At Kurt. At herself for marrying him in the first place.
A cheer went up from the group as Kevin’s car tore down the road. The jangle of cans clanked through the air.
Janet sighed and wiped the tears from her face. She hadn’t been able to face everyone after Kurt and Lacy had left. It hadn’t been a huge deal. The people of Snow Valley knew exactly what kind of person Kurt Walker was. Exactly the kind that leaves a small town and never wants to come home because there’s part of him that knows what he is.
Her hand started to shake. He had insisted that he pick Lacy up tonight because the custody agreement stated that Lacy belonged to him from July third until the first day of school. Of course, it didn’t matter to him that Kevin’s wedding was the third and that the reception would last most of the night. He’d simply told her he would let her have Lacy for the wedding and then meet her at her parents’ home at eight pm sharp. Her parents’ home was the agreed upon exchange place, but they’d never actually exchanged before. Kurt had never really cared about Lacy until Janet had recovered from cancer. In fact, it had been in Janet’s will that her parents would take over as guardians. Kurt had agreed to that the whole time she was throwing up from chemo treatments, laid in bed for hours a day feeling her muscles atrophy, and eventually spent Christmas in a coma. It was only when she woke up from her coma that Kurt woke up to the fact that he had a daughter. Somehow Kurt had gotten a judge to agree to every other weekend and half the summer.
Janet thought of Kurt’s fiancé. Tina. She’d met her in court two months ago when she’d tried to get full custody with limited visitation back in place. Kurt had used Tina and their engagement to show the judge that he was stable. He and Tina were supposed to get married at the end of August, right before Lacy came home. The judge had agreed to the new terms. He had even cited that it was good for a child to have a relationship with the father.
The fact that Kurt had cheated on her and given up any of his rights when she’d been sick didn’t make the judge see reason. The judge had stated that he’d seen enough proof that Kurt was trying to change his life. He thought Kurt deserved another chance.
Janet wanted to argue that Kurt’s chance should not risk messing with a child’s life. Her child’s life. Lacy had already been through a divorce, her mother having cancer, her mother almost dying, and in the end, her mother living.
She wiped her face, again, and took a deep breath. These days the only thing that could rattle her was Kurt and his influence on Lacy. Of course, Lacy didn’t realize what a monster her father was. Janet had always shielded her from that. So now all she could do was worry. It was worry that had convinced her to buy Lacy a cell phone. It wasn’t a fancy one. Heck, the girl was only eight, but it was one Lacy could use to text her at any time. Not to mention the fact that Janet could text her too.
Janet stared at her phone, a matching phone to Lacy’s. She wanted to text her, but she knew it might get Lacy in trouble with Kurt. It might tick him off, so she just stared at it.
The sounds of cars starting and people’s voices getting softer began to replace the loud party noise. Janet smiled as she thought of how happy Kevin and Molly were together. No amount of words could express the joy she felt for them. True love had found them. It had brought them back together. Janet turned and looked out of the small tree house window. She thought of Michael Hamilton and a small stirring of happiness surged through her. Ten years hadn’t changed him much. In reality, ten years had made him better looking.
Then, without warning, she heard something she hadn’t heard in a long, long time.
“Psst, Janet, are you up there?”
Chapter 6
There was no way to explain why Michael found himself hiking up some rickety steps into a tree house that looked as though it’d been thrown together. Actually, he could attest to the fact that it had been. There had been a rough sketch when he and Janet built it, but they’d used left over lumber and done the best they could with what they had. He grinned as he popped through the top and pulled himself inside.
“What are you doing?” Janet’s voice was colored with a kind of fascinated horror.
He stood in a halfway hunch before opting to take the empty spot next to Janet. “I remembered you used to come hide here when you wanted to avoid something.”
She let out a puff of air.
Michael sat back, letting his shoulder touch hers. “The truth is I knew you’d be hosting the after party, so I wanted to find you.”
At that, she let out a laugh. “Oh yeah.” She wiped her eyes and held up a tissue. “Big party all right.”
The ocean-colored dress had been replaced with jeans and a t-shirt. In his mind he wondered at the fact that she was so thin, almost fragile looking. Anger burned in him. This is what Kurt had done to her. He didn’t want to upset her more, so he pretended to look around. “I love what you’ve done with the place.”
A sigh slipped out of her. It sounded too much like defeat. “As you can tell, I’ve been busy.”
If he wasn’t supposed to put his hand over hers, it didn’t matter because he couldn’t stop himself. It was kind of funny because the last woman he’d been seeing had told him she felt like he never wanted to touch her. “Are you okay?”
She stiffened, but she didn’t move her hand. “I…I just regret so much.”
The way her eyes looked up at him, saying so much more than the words themselves, he knew exactly what she meant. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I know.”
They stared at each other for what felt like forever and only a second and like it could be so much more.
She grinned, her tears evaporating. “Do you remember when we went out to the springs that summer?”
If it had been daylight, she would have seen him blushing. “Uhh, yeah.” He’d thought about that day, gone over it and over it in his mind so many times.
A little scoff came out of her. “We’re in the process of selling that land.”
This took him back. “What do you mean?”
“The springs. They’re valuable.” She shrugged. “Our family needs the money, so we’re selling them.”
“Oh.” He didn’t know what to say. “Those were good times.”
She let out a long breath. “You know how it is…sometimes life throws curve balls, and you have to be ready to hit the ball or strike out.”
Michael didn’t like the edge to her voice. “I guess you’re not happy about this.”
She shrugged and looked away, gently touching the tree house window.
For a second he wanted to gather her into his arms and tell her it would all be okay, but he resisted the urge. Instead, he said, “I can’t believe this tree house is still standing.”
She blinked and turned back. “I know, right?” She let out a laugh. “Would you believe this is one of Lacy’s favorite places? I have to drag her out of here all the time.” She paused. “I guess that’s why I came up here after she left.” She sighed. “I wanted to build
her a tree house out at the springs.” She sniffed. “I had this silly idea that it would be a pink tree house.” She wiped beneath her eyes. “I guess that dream is gone, huh?” She gave a self-deprecating laugh.
The pit of Michael’s gut tightened. “Why are you selling that land if you love it so much?”
Janet let out a sigh. “Let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk about the fact that Michael Hamilton is back in Snow Valley.”
Hearing her say it made it almost feel like a real possibility. “Well, I don’t know if back would be the entire truth.” He shrugged, changing his plans to leave in the morning just at that moment.
She tugged her hand loose and used it to wipe below her eyes. “How long are you visiting for?”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure, maybe four or five days.” If he had to field some emails and texts from his father’s house, he could. His father would be more than pleased if he stayed. Part of him liked the idea of staying. Liked the idea of spending more time with her.
Janet pulled in a long breath. “That’s good, Michael.”
Seeing her so raw and sad and forlorn, he had to ask. “Why did you marry him, Janet?”
If he thought a quiet, sad response was what she would give him, he had definitely misread the situation. She glared at him and then shook her head. “Are you really asking me that?” She pulled herself to her feet and turned to back down the tree house ladder.
He tried to stand and ended up hitting his head. “Janet…”
Even though she looked fragile, she was fast. Before he was fully recovered, she was already down the tree house stairs.
The stickiness of blood on his fingers ticked him off. He could feel a splinter in his finger. “Dang it.” He turned and clumsily got himself out of the tree house.
She was hightailing it to her house. He followed, looking around and seeing most of the wedding taken down. A big semi truck was backed onto the property, and people were hauling tables and chairs toward it.
“Janet! Wait.” He ran to catch up to her. He gained on her, and then she suddenly whirled back.
“Do you understand what you did to me?”
He reared back, like a horse trying not to trample people. “Whoa!”
She stuck her finger in the air, all the sadness gone and anger making her pale green eyes bright. “Do you know how I felt when you just…just shut me out?” She spit out the last words. “Everything happened, and I came out for that funeral, and then…you forgot about me.”
If he’d expected her to confess the details of what had apparently been a bad marriage, he’d been wrong.
Janet kept her finger in the air, moving into his space and stabbing him in the chest with it. “I know we were kids. I know we were young…but…” A round of tears filled her eyes. “You were everything to me, Michael Hamilton. You were everything, and then you were gone. I trusted you.”
At that moment, something unloosed inside of him. A hunger he hadn’t felt for the last ten years. A yearning to take this woman in his arms and kiss her. To show her exactly how he felt until she realized what she did mean to him. And if Michael had learned anything in his life, it was that waiting to act always turned out poorly.
So he didn’t wait.
He took her in his arms. He held her gaze. Her breath hitched. Her eyes widened with surprise. It made him smile. “If you think you weren’t everything to me, you’re wrong.”
Their lips met. Hers were soft and tender, shocked. Shock melted into acceptance, and before he knew what had happened, their lips were moving in sync.
Pushing his hand against her back he pulled her closer, stroking the side of her face, reveling in the softness of her skin. Inhaling the scent of flowers, maybe roses and something else he couldn’t pinpoint. He touched her hair and absorbed it’s softness, like silk. Every part of him wanted this, wanted her. He had never stopped thinking of the way he felt when he kissed her.
The woman in his arms may have been divorced and thin and fragile looking, but her body responded to him. Fiercely, she pulled him closer. Her hands roamed up his back and tugged at his shirt as she softly moaned.
He didn’t know how long they stood there in a full make out session before they heard the distinct sound of a throat clearing. “Umm, Janet.”
Michael jerked back and both of them pulled their arms to their sides at the same time. Busted. Then she put her hand to her mouth. She touched her lips and looked at her father with the same terrified look she’d had on her face all those years ago after prom when he’d caught them pretty much doing the same thing on the front porch.
The fact that his father stood next to her father, and that both of them wore Cheshire grins on their faces, actually did embarrass Michael a bit.
Janet ran her hands down her t-shirt and threw her shoulders back, as if daring either of their fathers to chastise them. “If you’re done spying on us, you can tell me what you need.”
Even if Michael had seen Janet as fragile before, he sure didn’t see her as anything but capable at this moment. It made him smile.
Both of their fathers instantly looked guilty. “Oh,” her father said, “I just wanted to see what you needed done with the flowers.”
No one spoke for a moment, and Michael moved to leave, quickly reaching for Janet’s hand and giving it a squeeze before he let it go. “I’ll see ya tomorrow.”
His father said goodbye and then fell into step with Michael as they headed toward the parking area. He let out a light chuckle.
They got to the truck and Michael got in on the passenger side, slightly annoyed. “What, old man?”
His dad’s chuckle turned into a full laugh. He started the truck and moved onto the road, heading to the ranch. “Ah, well, I think that’s the first time I’ve ever caught you making out. And that Janet.” He shook his finger at Michael. “That Janet’s tough.”
Michael rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop himself from smiling at the way Janet had put their fathers in their place. “Yeah, she is.”
His dad drove for a few minutes, still chuckling softly. He turned onto the Hamilton ranch property.
“Dad.”
His father parked and shifted to face Michael, a smile on his face. “What’s up, son?”
Michael didn’t know why butterflies fluttered inside of him. “Would it be okay if I stayed for a few days?”
For a second his father didn’t do anything, then he blinked and looked like he was holding on tightly to his emotions. He nodded, tears in his eyes.
Michael grinned. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
His father moved to get out of the truck. “No, you can take that as a hallelujah and praise the Lord.”
Chapter 7
Janet watched the Fourth of July parade from the counter of her store. She smiled as the floats went by and the little gymnastics class in town that Lacy was a part of sashayed down the street and then stopped. Their teacher held a speaker and the dance group performed their one-minute routine and then picked back up and continued on their way. Her heart clutched, and she thought of how disappointed Lacy had been that she wouldn’t be able to perform with them this year.
It would do no good to mope though. Janet turned her attention back to the Fourth of July wreaths she was finishing for the Chamber display at the park festival that started after the parade. Janet usually looked forward to the festival. In fact, one of the sad things about having cancer the last two years was that she had missed the festival. She’d missed seeing the whole town and watching the children go from booth to booth playing games. Listening to the War Vets speak at the program. Seeing Buster hold the cannon. Thinking of it all made her grin.
But she was skipping it this year. Without Lacy to go with, and the emotions caused by her run in with Kurt, she just wasn’t up for it. In truth, she felt tired. Not tired like cancer tired. Just tired from life. Kevin and Molly were gone for ten days. Her parents had taken off on a weeklong cruise. It was their post-wedding gift to themselves the
y’d told everyone. After she finished this wreath and then emptied two boxes of inventory, she would take the rest of the day off. She planned to go home, hunker down, watch some old movies, and maybe play in her garden a little later.
The front door dinged. She didn’t look up, regretting that she’d forgotten to lock it when Adam had left for the parade. “Oh, we’re closed today, sorry.”
“That’s too bad because I heard this was the best place in town to buy flowers.”
Of course it was Michael. She refused to look up but crazy flutters pulsed through her. She’d dreamt about him last night. “You heard that, huh?” How could she suddenly not be tired? Not want to crawl in bed? Not want to hide from the world?
He moved to the counter, standing in front of her. “I actually heard that the owner of the store was the most beautiful thing here, and she might actually be the reason most men come into the shop.”
Janet felt a blush creep up the sides of her neck and quickly spread to her cheeks. She looked up, catching his grin first. Then those chocolate eyes, and they were definitely mischievous at the moment, caught hers. She didn’t know how he could make her feel the same way he’d always made her feel—like the most wanted girl in the world. She couldn’t stop herself from grinning. “Really?”
He reached forward and gently put his hand on top of hers. “Come with me.” His voice was low and husky.
Janet sighed in response.
“What?” He frowned.
She shook her head. “I can’t go with you. I have to get these wreaths over to the park, and then I have two boxes of inventory to unpack in the back.”
The hand on top of hers, that she had been trying to ignore, gave her a gentle squeeze. “I’ll help you. Then you can come.”
She looked at his hand and then back to his eyes. For some reason Lacy’s face flashed into her mind. She had to think like a mother, not some lovesick teenager. Her mouth went dry.
Summer in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance Anthologies Book 2) Page 36
