Everyone was engrossed deep in conversation with Kent and Elaine and didn’t even seem to notice the two of them were missing.
Colt pulled her down the hall and pushed open a set of French doors. An enormous luxury bedroom unfolded in front of them with an exquisitely carved four-poster king bed with dressers and a wardrobe carved in the same magnificent cherry. It could hardly keep her gaze past the windows that overlooked the cliff and to the lake. It was absolutely amazing. Everything was amazing about this room including that Colt still held her hand and was watching her closely. She didn’t want to let him go.
“This is beautiful,” she said as he pulled her inside and to a private hall along the wall of windows that extended into another room.
Peyton stopped short in the doorway, her hand slipping from Colt’s as he continued into the room. The bright sunny room that stood before her could also be called a nursery. And it was stunning.
A dark cherry circular crib sat in the middle of jungle mural walls on a cream background with framed pictures of cartoon animals. The colors suited either a baby girl or a baby boy.
She was afraid to ask. “What is this?” She pushed past the lump in her throat.
“Do you like it?”
Of course she liked it. She loved it. Who wouldn’t? “It’s beautiful.”
He smiled. “I know it’s a bit presumptuous of me to assume this is the decor you would choose for the baby nursery but honestly if you don’t like it we can strip the whole thing down and start from scratch.” He paused. “I know it’s a girl thing to decorate the nursery and everything, I just wanted you to know how serious I am.”
Oh no.
“Colt is this your house?”
“Our house.”
“Our house?”
“You me and the baby.”
The baby. Her shoulders dropped realizing what was happening here. “Colt, I didn’t tell you about the baby for a free ticket into a mansion.” And that’s exactly what this house was. Visions of a life with Colt in this incredibility huge home flashed like a movie in her head, even as she objected to the very idea.
“I know that. I always knew that.”
Now, he suddenly knew who she was because he wanted the baby.
“And I know we wouldn’t have a loveless marriage.”
Marriage! Marriage? Was he proposing to her?
“We should go downstairs.” She turned.
“Peyton please.” Ever so softly he touched her arm and she turned back to him. “I love you,” he said.
She dropped her head and he lifted it back up with his finger. “I love you,” he repeated softer.
“You love the baby.”
The statement made him frown. “Well, of course I love the baby.”
“It’s your baby Colt.”
“I know it’s my baby.”
“I’m not going to take it away. I’m not going to shut you out of its life just because we aren’t together.”
He was shaking his head. He let her arm go. “Don’t do that. Don’t make this about me. I’m in this and not solely because of the baby. I mean we might be skipping a few steps because you are pregnant but it doesn’t make everything I’m offering you invalid because of the baby. I love you. You.”
“I don’t even know what you’re offering here.”
“I’m offering a life together, a house, marriage, a family. Me and you. Here.”
All those things sounded so wonderful she was getting that feeling of tears again. Tears would ruin her makeup. Tears would ruin their parents evening. She had to get out of this room and everything he was offering her before she folded and ran right into his arms of hurt.
His eyes lit up even more. “I bought Chet’s sports shop. It’s a signed, done deal and I will be re-opening it as my own. I’ve purchased this house for us, you and me, to be together. I want you.”
Everything he was saying was amazing. He was opening a business in town. He was making roots to his home town to live close to his mother and the baby.
“Because of the baby.”
“I professed my love to you before I knew you were pregnant.”
He made logical points, but her mind was made. Why didn’t he understand she was too afraid? Why didn’t he let her be?
She dropped her head in her hands and groaned. “I can’t do this right now. They are all down there waiting for us for to celebrate a happy day for our parents. It’s their day Colt. Not ours.”
“Peyton I am so sorry I hurt you.”
She looked up. “It’s not enough.”
He swung his hands in the air. “This isn’t enough?”
“This is material stuff I don’t care about,” she yelled at him.
“What do you want me to say? How can I make you understand it wasn’t you I was mad at in the city? It was my own fears and I vented them on you. I will spend the rest of our lives together trying to make up for the pain I caused you.”
“You can’t say anything, Colt. Nothing you say can make it go away. I can’t do this with you. I can’t.” She shook her head. “I can’t.” She looked at him. “I’m sorry. I don’t want this.”
“You don’t want me?”
Yes I do!
She didn’t open her mouth afraid she would say I love you. They stared at each other for a long time and she figured he was waiting for her to correct him so they could be together. When she didn’t, he nodded, accepting her decision, his pleading face turning hard.
Reluctantly, he passed her and left her just like she wanted.
All of Peyton wanted to forgive him and pull him to her as he led her back down the beautiful staircase, but her fears wouldn’t allow her to.
Sydney was standing in the foyer asking Johnathan for her jacket and purse.
“Where are you going?”
Sydney smiled at Peyton and sent a look to Colt, a protective warning look. “I’m going to pick Haylee up. Joan was dropping her off but one of her friends is in the hospital and she’s going over there.”
Peyton stepped away from Colt. “I will drive you,” she offered.
Sydney shook her head.
“No, I insist.” Anything to get out of this house.
Peyton called for her jacket and purse, probably sounding rude, but a good fifteen-minute drive away from his sad and angry eyes was exactly what she needed.
“We will be right back,” she told Colt, who was keeping his distance without a hint of a smile across his hard, hurt face. “Apparently there’s no rush. I’m sure the owner won’t kick us out.” He didn’t smile like she’d hoped he would.
She swallowed hard and followed Sydney out of the house.
The rainy, cool wet night slapped against them as they climbed into Peyton’s Escape.
“There’s something on your windshield,” Sydney said buckling up.
As Peyton climbed out of the car quickly snatching the little piece of paper under the windshield wiper she noticed Sydney double check her seat belt.
Skimming the words it was the exact same one that kept appearing on her vehicle for weeks. She tossed it in cup holder and pulled out of the driveway.
“What is it?” Sydney took it out and read it aloud.
“I’m not sure. They keep appearing. They’re probably blanketing everyone. I don’t even know what it means.” Peyton paused. “Hey, did you know that is Colt’s house?”
“No! What?”
“It is. He designed a beautiful nursery attached to the master bedroom, which I was in.” That huge carved king size bed he wanted to sleep in with her forever. “He asked me to move in and marry him.”
“Just now?”
“Yes.”
“Did you say yes?” A pitch of excitement rose in Sydney’s voice.
“No.”
“You said no?” She sounded shocked. Did she not remember everything he had said to her?
“Of course I said no.” She turned out of the long driveway and onto a road, that if it were located anywhere els
e except attached to the multi-million dollar houses would be a gravel road, and started back toward Willow Valley.
“But you love him Peyton.”
Peyton was tempted to pull out all the baby crap she’d been kidding herself about. She was also tempted to pull out the You love Jake card. “Sydney have you ever been so hurt by someone that it was just too scary to let them back in?”
Sydney was quiet.
Peyton hoped it didn’t mean Sydney could relate and if it did she suspected it had to do with Jake. She didn’t wait for her answer.
“That’s how I feel Sydney.”
“I’m sorry.”
A car came up quickly behind them blazing their high beams in the rear view mirror. Peyton flipped the mirror down and could see they were riding her tail. “Pass already,” she murmured.
Sydney glanced in the mirror then turned around. “Maybe you should slow down. They are really tailing us.” Just like double-checking the seat belt when they first got in, Sydney was overly cautious since the accident. She only drove when absolutely necessary. Every beautiful day you would find her walking into town to do her errands or walk up to the Cliff House. And she would never jump on the back of Jake’s Harley.
Peyton slowed but the car stayed close so Peyton sped back up again which lead Sydney with a slew of worry.
“Sydney, we are fine. It’s just a bad driver,” Peyton soothed, sending her a smile, even though it would be hard to distinguish in the dark.
“Just don’t go too fast. It’s wet, and the roads are slippery.”
“Alright.” She wasn’t even at the speed limit yet but she would drive slower for Sydney.
The car stayed back for a bit and she saw Sydney’s body rest against the seat. Sydney’s eyes dropped and Peyton’s thoughts went back to the man who had given her his heart. Colt had her heart, a heart she had spent years protecting and never feeling as sad as when Colt said game over. She was on such an emotional roller coaster right now she couldn’t commit to anything. Everything seemed unsure, except her love for him.
Peyton heard the vehicle rev loudly behind her and spin their tires. Before her eyes could reach the rear view mirror her body slammed against the steering wheel as the impact of that car, slamming into the back of the Escape, hit them.
Sydney’s shrill scream ricocheted in the vehicle and she was lost in a panic flailing her arms and covering her eyes screaming and yelling.
Peyton kept the vehicle directed straight but let off the gas as her eyes tried to focus back on the road, blocking Sydney’s terror.
What happened? Should I pull over? Is it safe to stop? Where was the car?
Questions flew through her head as Sydney’s fright echoed loudly in the background. It all happened too quickly. She was going to pull over when the car flew up beside them as if teasing them. Who is in that car? It was too dark to see.
“Pull over! What are they doing?” Peyton screamed as Sydney’s fear crept into her.
Suddenly the cause of their stress swerved right at the side of the Escape. Peyton swerved too to avoid getting rammed and the turn sent the wheels onto the wet loose gravel. The gravel pulled the tires in every direction and the vehicle followed, cutting them off. Peyton had no choice−they went crashing down into the deep ditch.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Colt was standing with his mother when Johnathan came into the room and cleared his throat. “Excuse me. There’s an officer at the door.”
Elaine sent him an accusing look right away like the only reason an officer would show up was because of him.
He shrugged at her and shook his head.
“He would like to talk to Mr. McAdams.”
A whisper of curiosity flew through the close-knit family members.
Colt was right behind Kent and his mother as they walked toward the hall. He noticed Kate and Abby were on either side of him. Was this how it was always going to be now...these McAdams right in everything?
“I’m Kent McAdams.” He shook the officer’s hand.
“Officer Rowan. There’s been an accident just down the street.”
Fear gripped Colt’s body remembering Peyton and Sydney climbing into her black Escape as the light rain pelted against the reflecting windows.
How long had they been gone? He’d been waiting and staring at the clock until his mother pulled him into a conversation about the children’s hospital and he found himself lost back in that wonderful day. The wonderful day he’d finally spoke about his deep feelings about Lily, to Peyton. She was the only person he wanted to talk with about anything and all she thought that was he wanted her because of the baby. He loved the baby, but he loved her first.
“A black Escape.” The officer read off Peyton’s license plate number. “It’s registered to Peyton McAdams and she was driving. Her sister Sydney McAdams was the passenger and their vehicle went off the road and into the ditch.” Gasps of horror filled the huge foyer. “They are being transported to Willow Emergency.”
Panic like Colt had never seen swallowed all the family members. Colt already had his keys out of his pocket and was heading out the door not caring that he had no jacket to protect him from the increasingly wild storm. Everyone else was freaking out in search for keys and coats and asking the officer questions he couldn’t answer.
Colt jumped in his truck as terror filled his body, but he had to get to that hospital. Ditched the Escape? Were they alright? Flashes of his accident were consuming his mind. Only now Peyton was in the vehicle and he didn’t know if she was even alive! She had to be alive, the cop would have told them if she wasn’t...wouldn’t he?
While Colt’s shaky hands turned over the engine, he couldn’t control all the doors in the truck opened and Elaine, Kent, Abby and Kate were all climbing in with him.
“Hurry up!” Abby said slamming the last door. “But not so fast we crash.”
“Abby!” Everyone in the vehicle hollered at her.
When they arrived at the hospital, Elaine went ahead to get the details.
Colt was in a panic alongside the McAdams and, for a second, he felt out of place. The women who had earlier sent him warning looks for the way he mistreated Peyton in the city, each touched his arm now to show they cared.
Elaine returned to the distraught family with an update on both women. She started with Sydney.
“The car went off the road and into the ditch. Both of the girls were buckled up and they didn’t roll the car or hit anything.”
They had seen Peyton’s Escape surrounded by police after they left his house, but it had been too hard to make out the damage or condition and he’d been focused on the road. Focused on getting to Peyton.
“Sydney went into shock and they had to calm her down. She is now stable but they are monitoring her.” Sighs of relief entered their circle. “Peyton is being checked now. From what I understand she is fine.”
She’s fine. She’s fine. Thank God she’s fine. His chest could have exploded with relief.
Elaine turned to Colt. “They have to do tests to make sure the baby is alright.” Elaine continued to explain about ultrasounds and other tests, but Colt couldn’t focus, he needed to see Peyton.
When she was finished, she promised she would update them as she could.
Colt followed her when she walked away. “Mom?” He caught up to her side and kept at the steady pace with her down the long hall. “I want to see Peyton.”
She stopped abruptly and gave him her nurse face, not her mother face. “Colt, I don’t know that Peyton wants to see you. You two are not in a very good place right now and I do not want to add more stress to her.”
Colt gave his mother his very best son face. “Mom let me see her,” he pleaded. “If she asks me to leave I will walk away. I promise.”
Elaine stared at him hard but he was her son and he could see her battling the nurse and mother in her. She was also the grandmother of the baby and she would do anything to keep that baby safe, and he suspected that in
cluded leaving him in the hallway.
“Fine. But if she doesn’t want to see you...”
“I will walk away.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Peyton stared down at her tiny belly. She couldn’t see the little bulge in the robe the nurse had instructed her to slip into. Thankfully, it tied in the front. She had never wanted anything more in her entire life than for the little baby inside her to be all right. To still have a pulse, to be able to have the opportunity to be born in seven months and to be a healthy boy or girl.
She would try her hardest to be the best mother she could be, but she didn’t want to do it alone. She’d thought after the pain Colt had caused she was certain she didn’t want to let him back into her heart in fear of a relapse. When the Escape went off the road all she could think about was the baby and Colt. Now the baby might be hurt and Colt wasn’t here.
Tears stung her eyes as she sat alone in the room waiting to be escorted for an ultrasound to make sure that was no placenta abruption that could have possibly occurred in the accident. If the placenta had pulled away from the uterus it could affect the baby’s blood supply as well as a list of other things the nurse had explained.
Her heart ached listening to every word. A few weeks ago she’d been scared because she was pregnant and now she was scared that she no longer was.
Everything seemed to be going by in a blur: the accident, the police, the ambulance, the hospital and even the nurse when she came in to take her to the ultrasound room.
When Elaine’s voice called her name she still seemed dazed, but her heart lifted. She felt Elaine’s embrace. This woman had become such a big part of her life. Elaine petted her hair and whispered calming words. This was her grandchild too and she was putting her own feelings aside to soothe Peyton. Elaine was amazing.
“Sweetheart,” she said rubbing the middle between her shoulders. “Colt insisted on seeing you, but he will leave if you want him to.”
Lakeshore Legend: The McAdams Series (By The Lake Series Book 2) Page 24
