Taking Charge

by Mandy Baggot

  “What’s stopping him?” Cole asked as he joined the group.

  “Can we use it?” Mickey asked, his eyes wide with excitement.

  “Sure. You got trunks, right? Robyn told you to bring trunks.”

  “Henrik isn’t going to care about trunks,” Brad said with a laugh.

  “No, you know what those Danes are like,” Mickey replied, taking another beer from the cooler filled with bottles and ice.

  “Danes? I thought he was Icelandic,” Cole remarked.

  “I thought he was German,” Sarah admitted.

  “He’s Swedish,” Robyn insisted as she joined the group, holding a plate of chips out to everyone.

  “I thought the twins were supposed to be waitressing,” Sarah said, taking a chip from Robyn’s plate.

  “They are. Pam’s getting them into outfits,” Robyn said with a snicker.

  “No way! They’re going to hate that!” Sarah exclaimed.

  “Yeah, I know. There’s no telling her though, is there? Cole, lend the guys some trunks if they haven’t got any. Sarah, come up with me, I’ll show you the house and you can borrow a bikini,” Robyn said, taking one of the glasses of wine from her friend and grabbing her hand.

  “Hey, Robyn! How many pairs of trunks d’you think I have?” Cole called after her.

  “He has at least three pairs, I found them when I was rifling through his drawers checking out his t-shirt collection,” Robyn whispered to Sarah.

  “Has everyone had some pig? Sienna and Sierra, the ones in the French maid outfits, have some plated up if anyone wants any more!” Robyn called from the Jacuzzi. She shared the water with Sarah, Mickey, Henrik, Brad, and Cole.

  “Pig was good,” Henrik said with a nod, drinking from a shot glass and grimacing as the burn hit his throat.

  “Yeah, the pig was great, Robyn,” Brad told her.

  “Thanks, I’m hoping we can have a hog roast at the roadhouse on opening night and fireworks. Oh, and I must organize a band. Are Special Guest still around? They used to rock,” Robyn said, stretching an arm out behind Cole.

  “I’m not sure. I haven’t seen them advertised anywhere lately,” Sarah remarked.

  “Who is Special Guest?” Henrik asked.

  “They’re an awesome band, Henrik. They did all the classics…you know, ZZ Top, The Rolling Stones, a bit of country…” Robyn explained.

  “Robyn sung with them once,” Sarah informed them.

  “I did not!”

  “She did. She was fifteen and drunk, and she grabbed the mic and belted out a Bon Jovi number. It was truly terrible,” Sarah told the group.

  “Don’t even think about denying it, Robyn. Bob and I were there,” Pam announced, coming over to the Jacuzzi and collecting empty bottles.

  “God! Who needs family?” Robyn remarked.

  “You did when I was cleaning up your puke the next day,” Pam added.

  “Oh man, this is so embarrassing!”

  “So…the party’s good and all, but what we need in the town is a proper celebration, like an engagement or something,” Brad blurted out, looking straight at Robyn.

  She bristled immediately and pulled her ponytail forward. Why on Earth had he said that?

  “Can’t see that happening. Too many singletons on the team,” Wade called from the sun lounger he was laying on.

  “How about you and Sarah, Mick? Isn’t it time you made an honest woman out of her? I mean, you’ve been dating like forever,” Robyn continued, hurriedly swigging back some beer.

  “Robyn, don’t,” Sarah begged, her eyes welling up with tears she was trying to blink back.

  “Yeah, sure, one day we’ll do it, won’t we?” Mickey said, patting Sarah affectionately on the leg like she was a pet dog.

  “Will we?” Sarah asked harshly, turning to look at him.

  “Yeah, I mean, you drag me past the jewelers so often, I’m bound to give in one day, aren’t I?” Mickey continued.

  “Give in,” Sarah remarked.

  “I don’t think Mickey meant it like it sounded,” Cole said.

  “Oh, don’t you? Well, how did you mean it, Mickey? Because ‘giving in’ sounds like relenting to pressure. Is that how you see our relationship? A pressure? Something you put up with to keep me quiet?” Sarah questioned, standing up and looking down at her boyfriend.

  “Shit, this is my fault. Forget I said anything,” Brad said rapidly.

  “Sorry, Robyn, I’m going to go. I don’t want to spend another minute with him right now,” Sarah said, hoisting herself over the side of the Jacuzzi.

  “Sarah, don’t go. Mickey, come on, don’t let her go,” Brad encouraged him.

  “I don’t know what I’ve done wrong. Is it that time of the month?” Mickey asked, reaching across for another beer.

  “Man, you are an idiot,” Brad remarked, and he leapt out of the tub and hurried after Sarah.

  “I’m with Brad, you’re a tool,” Robyn said, scowling at him.

  “Cole, the doorbell rang and there are more guests. I invited them in,” Pam announced, smiling at him.

  Cole looked up to greet the guests and immediately his expression darkened. A woman with long, dark hair stared over at him, tears in her eyes, one hand held protectively on her stomach. Robyn knew instinctively who this woman was and her chest tightened. The woman was perfectly presented, her hair coiled neatly onto her shoulders, and she was wearing make-up and a pink blouse. She looked so girly, so not like Robyn.

  “Cole,” the woman said weakly.

  “What are you doing here?” he questioned, standing up and getting out of the tub.

  “You won’t return my calls or my messages.”

  “I told you and I told Bryn I never wanted to see either of you again. How much clearer do you need me to be?”

  “Is this Veronica?” Robyn checked, getting out of the Jacuzzi to join him.

  “Yeah, Robyn. This is Veronica.” He flung his hand in Veronica’s direction.

  It was at that moment that a middle-aged man, wearing an expensive-looking business suit, stepped out of the veranda doors and onto the decking.

  Robyn’s heart rose up into her mouth and she bit down on her tongue as their eyes met.

  “Hello, Robyn,” he greeted with a warm smile.

  “Hi, Clive,” she replied.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  “You didn’t call, I was worried,” Clive said.

  With Cole’s robe wrapped over her bikini, Robyn busied herself making a pot of coffee. She’d had five or more beers and she couldn’t be speaking to him drunk. She wanted to say the right things and she wanted to remember saying them.

  “I’ve been busy,” she answered stiffly.

  “Too busy for a phone conversation? Come on, Robyn, I was worried. I was imagining all sorts of things.”

  “Like what? No planes have come down, no skinny British girls have been murdered that I know of. I can look after myself. What are you doing here?” she asked, turning to face him.

  “I wanted to see you. How’s your father?”

  “I wish you hadn’t said that.”

  “What?”

  “He’s doing okay. He’s having the bypass soon, as long as he steers clear of Dunkin’ Donuts,” Robyn informed him.

  “Good, I’m glad,” he replied.

  “So what are you doing here and how did you find me?”

  “I went to the roadhouse. A woman there told me where you were staying. This isn’t your aunt’s house, is it? I mean, this isn’t a ranch house, this must be worth…” Clive began.

  “A million at least, probably more. What are you doing here?” Robyn repeated as the coffee pot began to sputter to life.

  Clive took a deep breath and held it in until his chest had expanded to full capacity. He looked older and more tired than she remembered. There seemed to be more lines around his eyes, but perhaps they had been there before and she just hadn’t noticed. He looked jaded and weary, but maybe that was just the jetlag.
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  “Carolyn’s pregnant,” he announced, the breath leaving his chest in one quick rush, the words following.

  “Wow,” Robyn replied.

  She didn’t know what else to say. What was protocol for finding out your married lover’s wife was pregnant?

  “Obviously, it was completely unplanned. I mean, you know what it’s like. I have to keep up appearances in that department but…” Clive started, shifting on the kitchen bar stool Robyn had sat him on.

  “You want to end things,” Robyn guessed.

  “No! No, Robyn—not that. I just…well…things will be difficult for a while. She’ll expect me to be there more, at the start at least, so…”

  “I’m not coming back to England,” Robyn announced.

  She didn’t know where the statement had come from but it was out and passed her lips before she knew it.

  “What do you mean?” Clive asked, a puzzled look on his face.

  “Dad needs me here. Even after the operation, he’s not going to be able to run the roadhouse or manage the ice hockey team,” she continued.

  She picked up the coffee pot and rapidly filled two mugs.

  “But what about your aunt? Surely she can help. I mean, how long are you planning on staying? We said a month maybe. How long do you need?” Clive wanted to know.

  “I need forever,” Robyn responded, passing him a mug and watching his expression.

  “Cole, look at me,” Veronica urged him.

  They sat in the living room while the party carried on outside. Cole was still in his trunks and water was dripping onto the cream carpet. He didn’t care. That was the very least of his worries.

  “I can’t,” he responded, not raising his head.

  “We need to talk about this. Bryn and I are worried about your mom,” Veronica continued.

  “Did he send you here? He made you fly in that condition?” Cole asked, lifting his head and gesturing to her pregnant swell.

  “It was my idea to come. I know you, Cole. I know how hurt you are and I know what we did was unforgiveable, but we need to do something to straighten it out for your mom’s sake,” Veronica told him.

  “You don’t know me,” Cole stated brutally.

  “I know you care about your mom. And so does Bryn, and she’s not doing so good right now.”

  “I only left a few days ago. She’s fine.”

  “She wouldn’t want you to worry. She knows you need to focus on your new job,” Veronica said.

  “What do you want me to say, Veronica? What do you expect me to do?” Cole asked her.

  “She wants the family together for Thanksgiving.”

  “I hope you’re kidding me,” he said, standing up.

  “She would never tell you herself, but that’s what she wants. She wants you, Bryn, me, and your Uncle Derek around the table together as a family,” Veronica continued.

  “Yeah? Well, that’s not happening.”

  “Bryn said you would be like this but I didn’t believe him. I know you have a soft soul, Cole. The way you used to talk about your father, how you cried for him…he wouldn’t want this division in the family. You know that,” Veronica said

  “That’s enough,” Cole warned.

  “Don’t shut Bryn out Cole. You’re brothers.”

  “We were.”

  “You can’t help who you fall in love with.”

  “Believe me, I know that.”

  “Then find it in your heart to forgive him, even if you can’t forgive me. After all, he saved you once,” Veronica said, tears pricking her eyes.

  “What?”

  “He told me what you did after your dad died. He loves you Cole, and he wants you to be part of this baby’s life. We both want that,” Veronica insisted.

  “You need to leave,” Cole told her.

  “You’re doing what? Getting married! You’ve been here less than a week!” Clive exclaimed, sloshing some of his coffee onto his trousers.

  “Shh! Keep your voice down,” Robyn begged, waving her arms to try and quiet him.

  “What do you think you’re doing, Robyn? This is madness! You’ve been gone a few days and suddenly you want to leave everything behind, start living in America, and marry some country bumpkin you’ve no doubt picked up at some ice hockey match. It’s ludicrous,” Clive announced.

  “I don’t expect you to understand, I’d just like you to accept it,” Robyn answered calmly.

  “Well, I don’t! I don’t accept it!” His voice boomed as he slammed his cup down on the counter.

  “Clive, I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me. You helped me out when I was in a really dark place, and I’ll always be grateful, but things have changed,” Robyn attempted to explain.

  “In a few days?”

  “Yes. I know how that sounds, but yes.”

  “You’re making it sound like you’re cancelling an unwanted car warranty,” Clive told her.

  “This is your chance to try again with Carolyn. A new baby, a new start for the both of you,” Robyn said.

  “I’m not so sure about that.”

  “I can’t be what you want me to be,” Robyn stated, meeting his gaze.

  “And exactly what do you think I want you to be, Robyn?”

  “Clive, we eat expensive Thai takeout in the flat and talk about places we’re never going to go together,” Robyn said with a sigh.

  “I’m always suggesting restaurants and weekends away, you always say no.”

  “I know I do. Because I don’t want to go,” Robyn admitted.

  “We’ve been together over eight years,” Clive reminded her.

  “And I’ve never really been there,” Robyn said sadly.

  “I’m getting married,” Cole told her.

  “What?”

  “Yeah.”

  “But…”

  “What, did you think I’d never get over you?”

  “No, of course not, but…so soon? I mean you can’t have…”

  “I’ve known her five days,” Cole admitted.

  “Five days.”

  “Yeah, and I feel like I’ve loved her a lifetime already,” he said.

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “I’m saying I don’t need the family any more. Moving here was the best thing I’ve ever done. I met Robyn and I have a great team behind me at Gen-All. I know what’s important now and it isn’t the past,” Cole said as he ran his hand through his wet hair.

  “Then forget the past and forgive Bryn,” Veronica suggested.

  “It doesn’t quite work like that.”

  “Does your mom know you’re planning on getting married?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Have you really thought this through?”

  “No, I haven’t, and ya know what? That’s why it’s right.”

  “I’ll pay you back everything. All the gifts, all the money you gave me. I spent some of it on the roadhouse but when we make a profit I can…” Robyn began.

  “I don’t want anything back, Robyn,” Clive replied soberly.

  “I didn’t expect this to happen. I didn’t come here thinking I wouldn’t go back,” she assured him.

  “Are you sure? Really sure staying here is what you want? Are you certain it isn’t just being back here evoking fond memories?” Clive asked.

  “I’m sure,” Robyn answered with a nod.

  Clive nodded in reply and ran his finger around the rim of his coffee cup.

  “I care about you, Robyn.”

  The words were loaded with emotion, more than she’d probably given him credit for.

  “I know you do and that used to be enough…but it isn’t any more.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  “Hey,” Robyn greeted, entering the den.

  Clive had left and Henrik and the rest of the team had taken the party into town. Only Bob, Pam, and the twins remained, clearing up the garden.

  “Hey,” Cole replied.

  “The pregnant ex gone?”

&
nbsp; “Yeah. How about the married guy?”

  “Driving back to the airport as we speak,” Robyn replied, sitting down next to him.

  “Some party, huh?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Listen Robyn…”

  “You don’t have to say anything. It’s okay if you still feel something for Veronica. I mean…”

  “I don’t. I don’t feel anything for her.”

  Robyn nodded and chewed on her thumbnail, looking at him and waiting for whatever was coming next. There was something, she could tell. He looked anxious and agitated.

  “There’s something I need to tell you,” he began.

  “You want to call off the wedding,” Robyn stated.

  “No, nothing like that,” he said, holding her hands in his.

  “Then tell me, whatever it is, just tell me,” she begged.

  He took a long breath and then let it drift out slowly as if he was composing himself for an important speech.

  “When my dad died, I didn’t decide to choose medicine and try to make a difference, not right away. I lost it, Robyn, I lost it big time. My dad was my rock and we were close, I mean, real close. We did everything together. Bryn, he was older, he spent more time with his friends. But me, I liked spending time with Dad. We went to hockey together, we went to football together, we fished, we played golf. We did everything together, and when I lost him, I didn’t know what to do. My whole world had been taken away and I couldn’t focus. My center had gone, my familiarity, my balance…nothing was there any more,” Cole began.

  She could see the pain of losing his father etched on his face and those dark eyes were moist with tears.

  “Robyn, I was stupid, so freaking stupid. I didn’t know what I was doing and I didn’t care about anything,” he said, looking up at her.

  “What is it? You can tell me.”

  “I was in a bad, dark place and I just wanted him back,” he said, the tears finally escaping.

  “What did you do?”

  “I completely lost my mind. From the moment he passed away, I went on some grief-fuelled rollercoaster ride,” Cole admitted.