Lakeshore Legend: The McAdams Series (By The Lake Series Book 2)

by Leah, Shannyn

  Peyton looked at Sydney. “Really?” she pried, knowing all the deep dark secrets she apparently forgot she had told Peyton.

  Sydney nodded, sticking with her innocence.

  “Are we missing something?” Kate was always the observant one.

  “At the arena Friday night Sydney and I had a nice little chat regarding her reservations and I was throwing us into this business too quickly and investing hundreds of thousands of dollars of Marc’s money with the possibility failure and bankruptcy. This has been stressing Sydney out for months.”

  Sydney blushed, looking horrified. “Peyton, I didn’t remember. I’m so sorry.”

  “Do you feel that way?” Kate asked.

  Sydney sucked her lips in. Now that it was out there, accidentally by her drunken self, Peyton saw the truth on her face.

  “Yes,” she said in a quick breath. “I’m worried. It’s a lot of money. You all knew I had uncertainties, but honestly I have complete faith in this business and in all the work we have put in. Especially Peyton.” Sydney turned to Peyton. “I am so sorry. I had too much to drink. I wish I never would have dragged you in.”

  “You shouldn’t keep these things from us Sydney,” Peyton said. “If we are in this together, we should all be honest with each other.”

  Kate touched Sydney’s hand. “Marc would never let our family go bankrupt. If anything he would take our loss as his own because he loves us. You are his family too.” Peyton knew that was true, even if it had never been said. Not that she would ever expect Marc to take their losses as his own but he’d been there when their mother died like their big brother, like family. All the McAdams siblings loved him.

  “I do know that,” Sydney said. “I do,” she confirmed. “It’s just there’s a lot going on with me right now and then the business on top of it and I drank too much and never should have put those fears on your shoulders. It’s no excuse.” Sydney looked up suddenly. “Is that why you made Colt come today? Because of your reputation and a failed business all because of me?”

  Yes and no.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chet’s sports store was smaller than Colt remembered, but it looked exactly the same: long and thin painted black walls with equipment divided into areas of different sports. There was a hockey corner, a snowboarding wall, a surfboard area...you name it he had it. There were even equipment hanging from the ceiling.

  Colt envisioned his store looking a little different. He would tear down walls enlarging the retail area for more product and modern displays. He would want to eliminate the dim seventies style and bring the brightness inside through the large display windows by painting every space a light color. Then add large oak wood beams on the walls and across the ceiling transforming the whole shop to give it an outdoor coastline feel to incorporate with its location alongside the beach. He would sell the same sports equipment but be able to offer more. Plus he would add an active wear line.

  Now that the thought was back in his head, it hadn’t turned off and the transformation debate had been re-running in his mind all afternoon. Maybe he’d even get the McAdams sisters to help with the transformation. They’d done so well on their own shop. That was if Chet Owen’s was looking to sell. He was getting a little ahead of himself.

  At the very back of the store behind the old counter, Chet looked up from a hockey stick he was examining. A warm smile erased the lines across his beach skin tanned face. “Well lo and behold finally Colt Patterson decides to pop in and say hello.”

  I would move the counter to the center and front of the store.

  Chet was starting around the counter to embrace Colt. He was only a foot shorter than Colt but his smaller frame slouched with age.

  “How are you doing old man?” Colt asked patting his back before letting go. Chet had also played pro hockey for a couple years of his prime and Colt had always called him old man for retiring and opening a sports shop. It had stuck. Thinking back, Chet never acted insulted by the title, but Colt wondered if he’d been satisfied with only working at the store or had he felt the misery as Colt did, but didn’t show it.

  He stepped back. “I am in fact getting up there in age now,” Chet said. He touched his protruding stomach where once he had been a wall of muscle. “But I can still whoop you on the ice.”

  “I will take that challenge any day.”

  Chet chuckled. “How have you been doing? I’ve been keeping up on my reading, but your mom pops in with baking now and then to properly and truthfully inform me, so she says. I think she’s trying to fatten me up.”

  Colt chuckled, sure his mom kept Chet very well informed. However, Colt shared stories before he’d retired for the old man to re-live and enjoy with him. Chet went back in time too and relayed stories Colt had heard before but enjoyed again and again. When they were all finished reliving the prime time in their lives, Chet sobered.

  “How are you doing now?” His tone was concerned, like a father. Since his dad had left when Colt was young, this man had been the closest thing to a father he’d had all during his younger years.

  “I’m not doing much,” Colt answered honestly. “I’ve just been getting used to not waking up and hitting the ice and it’s hard,” he admitted. It was really hard.

  Chet nodded understanding. “But you had a glorious amount of years on that ice that you should be proud of.”

  “I could have had more if I hadn’t torn my knee.”

  Chet waggled a disapproving finger at him. “If you keep that thought in your head you’re going to be sitting around not doing much for the rest of your life. Sitting around pitying one bad move instead of taking advantage of the life you have created for yourself.” Honesty was Chet’s strong suit. The man was blunt honest whether it made you feel great or tore you down to nothing because in the end it was the truth.

  “Alright.”

  He waved his hand. “Don’t alright me like I don’t know what I’m talking about.” He started back around the counter. “I’m an old man, remember I’ve been through your turmoil and I understand. If I had sulked like a baby because I wasn’t on the team I wouldn’t have opened this store and I wouldn’t have met my wife.” He was married?

  “You’re married? What foolish woman went and married you?” Colt teased.

  He laughed. “We’re still in our honeymoon stage,” he said.

  “Congratulations.” Colt reached across the counter and shook his hand. “She’s a lucky woman.” It was the truth.

  “I’m the lucky man.” Colt saw the love for his wife cross his face before he shook it away and sent Colt a serious look. “I was hoping you were going to stop by this time during your fly through town.”

  “Were you?”

  “I’m old, Colt. I’m newly married and I want to spend my days sitting at home and traveling with my new bride.”

  Was Colt’s intuition about what Chet was referring to the same notion Colt walked through his front doors contemplating, planning...hoping? He hadn’t had hope in years.

  “I’m ready to retire.”

  Colt didn’t realize he was holding his breath.

  “I’m ready to sell you my business.”

  Colt had the sensation that this was exactly what he was supposed to do. It was like destiny had knocked on the door in his brain and there was no way in hell he was going to ignore it.

  ***

  Colt threw the door open with an excitement inside him he never wanted to let go of again. He couldn’t wait to tell his mother everything that had happened in just one afternoon.

  He tossed his jacket over the railing and called out her name. He found her baking in the kitchen. Apparently she had been at it all day because cooling cookies, muffins and squares lined every surface in the kitchen. Did he miss her mention a bake sale coming up?

  Colt went to take a warm chocolate chunk cookie from a plate and his mother slapped his hand with the spatula she was holding. “Those are for tomorrow.” She tossed the spatula in the sink and grabbed
another one to resume mixing another batch.

  “What’s tomorrow?”

  “You’re going to the children’s wing at the hospital remember?” That was quick. “I’ve arranged everything and it will be just like old times.” She was referring to the fundraisers and events he used to attend but had avoided the last couple of years. A fundraiser, he contemplated. I can do a fundraiser. I feel like a fundraiser. A fundraiser sounds perfect.

  “How was your day with Peyton?” He grinned at how she mentioned only Peyton’s name. She wasn’t subtle.

  “Good.” He would fill her in later. Right now he wanted to talk about the store. “I stopped by Chet’s this afternoon.”

  Elaine paused her stirring and smiled up at him. “That’s wonderful.” She went back to stirring. “How is Chet doing?”

  “Good. Married.”

  “Susan, she’s a wonderful lady.” Of course his mother knew.

  “Apparently he wants to travel with her and spend his days with her. Retired.”

  Elaine set a cookie sheet in front of her and started rolling balls and flattening them with a fork on the aluminum. “How exciting.” She wasn’t understanding the underlying plan he had and when she did he was prepared for an excitement explosion. “I would travel after I retired.”

  “He’s selling the shop, Mom.”

  She paused mid press and glanced up at him. “I didn’t know he put the store on the market.”

  “He didn’t and he won’t be.”

  The way her eyes sparked and she tapped the fork loudly on the aluminum, he knew she was hoping.

  “I called and got the paperwork started.”

  Elaine gave a cautious look. “Paperwork for what?”

  He smiled. “I’m buying Chet’s building.”

  Elaine screamed. Her fork went flying in the air and hit the floor with a rattle as she ran straight to Colt and pulled him into a motherly bear hug, squeezing and rubbing his back. She was as ecstatic, he knew she would be.

  When she stepped away it was only to grab his face with her sticky flour-caked hands and pull his face down to hers to kiss each cheek.

  “You’re moving back home? Right? That’s what this means, right?”

  “I’m moving back to Willow Valley but I’m going to get my own place.” He needed to give her and Kent some space. The poor guy had been creeping in and out at crazy hours.

  Elaine clapped her hands and hugged him again, long and tight. “Excellent, set the table for four because Kent and Peyton are joining us for supper.”

  “Sure, but you have to keep Chet’s sports store on the lowdown Mom. No telling anyone until it is final.”

  “I promise.” He knew she was good to her word, she knew how to be a private person.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Peyton managed through supper as her stomach spun an unsettled web. When her dad walked them home, she stayed on the back porch while he went inside.

  It was a beautiful warm evening for February with only the lightest gust of wind. She deeply inhaled trying to shake her nerves and the disappointed feeling she was having about Colt. The discovery that his heart belonged to another roped the web around her heart. It shouldn’t, but it did. The realization that it was likely the basis of his game plan, and not their parents relationship, like he’d originally claimed, tightened the web until her heart was aching. Aching! Why was her heart aching for Colt? Maybe she wanted what she couldn’t have, that was the only logical explanation.

  Being angry with him would be less complicated that believing he was a jerk flirting with Miss Jacobs instead of the man whose heart was crushed by his ex-wife. But that was no longer a possibility.

  Sitting across from the handsome smooth talker during dinner she remembered his touch blazing against her skin as she swept her hair behind one ear. He didn’t initiate the flirt, he didn’t flirt back and if she’d left him be she believed he would have put an end to the flirting. The truth should have pleased her, knowing a reputation upgrade was no longer needed...as ridiculous as it was to insist he partake in the first place...but the reason she believed he wasn’t flirting was the very reason she couldn’t shake the disappointment: he still loved Lauren.

  While she was feeling guilty for making inaccurate accusations about him, and sad knowing he had no room in his heart for her, Colt lit up the table for their parents with his version of the torture Peyton had put him through all afternoon. Torture.

  Peyton let out a puff of breath now that swirled a pattern in front of her before vanishing.

  Women paid big dollars at the spa to have the genuine pampering that Peyton had offered to Colt and he called it torture. He was such a guy.

  A noise dragged her stare across the backyards to Elaine’s shed where she hadn’t noticed a light on and could now hear rustling echoing from inside. Who was in there?

  As she began to straighten with curiosity, Colt stepped into the darkness carrying what appeared to be a silhouetted hockey stick. He didn’t look around or notice her leaning against the back railing in the darkness, he was focused solely on walking toward the rink in the backyard. He stopped at the edge.

  The sun had set hours ago and the dim lights form the deck porch cast the backyard into shadows that barely reached around the rink and cast his shadow across the ice.

  “He just stares at it.” Peyton jumped as Elaine’s soft voice wafted through the quiet darkness. She hadn’t heard her come outside, cross their driveways or climb up the back stairs of the porch. Your mind is too engulfed with Colt.

  Peyton didn’t say anything as Elaine walked up beside her. “Every night he walks to that rink and stares at it with his skates in his hand like he’s going to skate a round. He hasn’t stepped foot on it.”

  “Oh.”

  Elaine turned to her. “Are you coming to the hospital tomorrow? Colt wouldn’t have agreed to attend without you.”

  Peyton didn’t believe that. She knew Colt was a momma’s boy and would do anything for this lady. His heart was limitless where his mother was concerned. Thinking of his heart she also imagined how he’d given Lauren all his heart and that’s why it was shattered now.

  Elaine continued. “I’m working tomorrow and Colt would gladly drive you. I would love it if you would join us for the afternoon. I know you are busy with the store, but it would mean a lot to me and Colt.”

  The idea to redesign Colt’s image had been instigated by Peyton, which would leave her feeling guilty if she told Elaine she couldn’t be present.

  “I would enjoy that too.” Peyton snuck a glance at Colt who was still standing on the edge of the rink.

  Elaine touched her arm. “Wonderful.” She turned.

  “Elaine?” Peyton called after her.

  “Yes?”

  Yes, Peyton spit it out. Ask her what you should really be asking Colt. “Why did Colt let everyone think he cheated on his wife? Why didn’t he set them straight and save his reputation? It would have been easy, he was the star...no one would have doubted him.”

  Elaine looked surprised. “He told you?”

  Peyton nodded and Elaine seemed to enjoy that tidbit of information before her smile fell.

  “Pride.” Pride? “Embarrassment.” What did Colt have to be embarrassed about? “It’s not as black and white as that. He discovered Lauren’s affair at a bad time in his life. It was the darkest, hardest time in his life. Truthfully he couldn’t talk about it...he still can’t. But I’m glad he was able to share some of those times with you.” Another smile found her lips, but a frown quickly stole it back.

  Peyton didn’t mention that she’d practically accused him all weekend of being a sleazebag cheater and he was only defending his title to shut her up.

  “I’m pleased beyond words can express at how much he has let you into his life. I can see the spirit back in his eyes. He smiles more when you are around and I can see the weight of his guilt lifting from his shoulders.”

  Weight of his guilt? What did that mean? What did he
have to be guilty of when Lauren was the one who cheated on him? There had to be more that neither of these two Patterson’s were ready to share.

  “He’s taking it one step at a time. For a man that has plowed through all obstacles in his life, this has been hard for him. You are the most magnificent step that we didn’t know he needed.”

  Magnificent step? Needed?

  Peyton wanted to tell Elaine that it wasn’t her changing Colt. All she had done was punch him in the stomach, accuse him of sleeping with his attorney’s secretary, got him punched in the face, accuse him of flirting with Miss Jacobs, and torture him for almost an hour...she was amazed Colt could even muster up a smile for her.

  Elaine’s eyes went back to Colt and Peyton followed. He still hadn’t moved. “One step at a time, like putting his skates on and getting on that rink.”

  Peyton stared at the rink after Elaine had gone into her dad’s house. She was giving Peyton way too much credit. If only Elaine knew, she would retract her invitation to the hospital and keep her son far away from Peyton and her destruction.

  ***

  Holding his old hockey stick in one hand and ice skates in the other, Colt stared down at the ice rink Kent and Peyton had created. It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t as good as the ones his dad used to make, but his skates would be able to slide across that slick platform effortlessly.

  Then why was he standing there lingering and staring at the ice and to the nets on each end, then from his skates to the hockey stick, like they were all foreign and he didn’t know what to do with them?

  Because his feet hadn’t touched the ice since the game that finished with him scoring big and finding he had no one to share the glory with. Besides his team mates and they hadn’t been thrilled to celebrate with a man whose greed for the puck and play of a solo hero game caused more losses than wins.

  That was the lonely, stormy, winter night when he’d jumped in his car and flew down the road at speeds he wouldn’t have driven on a clear day before his mind had been destroyed by betrayal. The tires had hit an ice patch sending the vehicle out of his control. Colt could still hear the skidding rubber as he tried to stop, the shattering glass and the metal grinding together. The fear that gripped him when it flipped over before he blacked out that still woke him up in the night. The next thing he knew the doctors were telling him he tore his knee and no surgery was going to fix the damage. He wouldn’t play pro hockey ever again.