“Forget it.” He handed her one of the wines, then held up a hand, ticking off items. “First, you’re not driving into town in the dark. Second, there’s no good reason this even needs to be done. Third, if you insist, I’ve got plenty of wrapping paper already. Mom keeps toting it in here by the truckload. Every year when Christmas rolls around, she shows up at the door with a semi full of wrapping crap. I’ve got years’ worth of it stored in bins.”
“Good. Then let’s get it out and do this. You can help.”
He grimaced.
“It’ll be fun, Ty.”
“Yeah, I bet. Can I opt for lighted matches under my nails instead?”
“Hah, hah.”
*
Surprisingly, with Sophie’s help, it did turn into fun. And if she was a bit picky and a tad too careful, well, he chalked it up to her artistic bent.
When they finally tied the last bow, he studied the mound of now beautifully wrapped packages.
“They look a whole lot better, don’t they?”
“Don’t get cocky,” he warned.
“Come on. Admit it.”
“Okay, they look better.”
“How much better?”
“A whole lot better.” Reaching out, he snagged her around the waist. “I can think of one package I’d like to unwrap. Right now.”
“Really?” She grinned. “And which one would that be?”
He buried his face in her neck. “The one I’ve got here in my arms. Let’s go to bed, darlin’.”
“The kids—”
“Are asleep.”
*
At the kitchen sink, Sophie stared out the window at the Texas landscape. Not her norm, but not bad, either. Just different. Very different.
She’d caved and stayed with Ty all night…and slept like a log. She stretched her arms above her head, arching her back. She felt good. Better than good.
With both the cat and pup at her heels, Sophie carried her tea and laptop into the living room, facing the stables.
Despite her better judgment, she’d let Ty talk her into staying here one more day. He’d left for the barn after the two of them had managed to hustle the boys out the door and off to their day care. Afterward, she’d finished up the breakfast dishes, then spent a couple hours fussing around with some of yesterday’s designs, tweaking them, and changing font or color.
Now, tired and restless, she yawned and stretched again. Maybe she’d do a little extra Christmas decorating. It would be fun to surprise the kids. Ty’s mother had called earlier to chat and had given her a few ideas. With a plan in mind, she headed upstairs.
She loved attics.
A door opened downstairs, and she looked out the small window, surprised to find the sun much lower in the sky.
“Tink, where are you?” Ty’s voice floated up from the first floor.
“In the attic.”
“In the attic? What are you doing up there?”
She heard him coming up the stairs to the second floor. When he stopped at the landing, she stuck her head out of the attic opening. He looked tired. Probably was. Neither of them had slept much last night.
Who knew bedtime could be so much fun? Warmth flooded her.
“I’m snooping. Your mom said you had lots more ornaments and decorations stored up here. So I thought I’d take a look. See if there was anything you might want to use. Come take a peek at what I found.”
“Don’t need to. I know what you found. Put them away.”
“What?”
“I said put the box away, Sophie.”
“But, Ty.” She held up a hand-blown-glass ornament. “Isn’t this absolutely incredible?”
“We’re not using any of those. Come on downstairs, and I’ll start dinner.”
“You don’t have to worry about dinner tonight. I have a casserole ready to stick in the oven.” She took time to really study his face, but she couldn’t quite make out what she was seeing there. “What’s wrong?”
“Those are Julia’s ornaments, Sophie. Leave them be.”
She felt suddenly light-headed. “I see.”
“No, you don’t.”
Carefully, she replaced the ornament and put the lid back on the box. Only then did she let her eyes meet his.
“Tell me about her, Ty.”
“Sophie, this isn’t the time.”
“It doesn’t ever seem to be, does it?”
“You really want to hear about Julia now. How she left me?”
“She didn’t leave,” Sophie said quietly. “She died. It wasn’t her choice.”
“Like hell it wasn’t.” His jaw muscles tightened. “She lied to me. To everyone. Made a decision that left me devastated. That destroyed her parents.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t. How could you?”
“So tell me.”
Lips white, he shook his head. “Not now.”
“You won’t let me in, will you? You’ll take me to bed, let me move into your home—” She didn’t miss the panicked expression that flickered across his face. “Temporarily, Ty. And if you remember, I didn’t want to come. But that’s all beside the point. The real point is you won’t share what’s going on here.” She tapped a finger on the side of her head. “Or here.” She thumped a fist over her heart.
“Let it be, Sophie. I’m tired. It’s been a long, hard day.”
“You’re angry, Ty. I catch flashes of it every now and then. It’s eating you up. If you don’t confront whatever it is, you won’t ever move on.”
“I have,” he bit out.
She tipped her head, focused on him at the base of the folding attic stairs. “Have you lied to me before this?”
“Excuse me?” His voice had gone glacial.
“Ooh. There’s that anger. At least it’s real.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“So much of your life is spent hiding behind an emotional wall.” Kneeling, she rested her hands on her thighs. “You’re lying—to me and to yourself. None of this is behind you. You won’t let it be.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Fine.” She wiped the dust off her hands onto the legs of her jeans and shoved the box beneath the shelving unit where she’d found it.
Sophie climbed down the narrow attic stairs and walked past him. He put out a hand and grabbed her arm. She shook it off.
“I’ll see you downstairs,” she said.
In the kitchen, she turned on the oven and slid in the casserole. Ty hadn’t come down yet, and she found herself relieved. Back on the second floor, she heard his shower running. Sneaking into the guest room, she closed the door behind her, pulled her overnighter from the closet, and stuffed in the few clothes and toiletries she’d brought with her.
A tear dripped off her chin. Wanting nothing more now than to get away before Haley dropped the boys off from preschool, before Ty came down, she hurried downstairs.
Time for her to leave. Past time. She’d stayed too long. Left them all vulnerable, herself included. This was exactly what she’d hoped to avoid.
She crept to the tree in the living room and stacked her presents for the boys under a back branch, glad she’d thought to bring them with her. She’d miss seeing their faces when they opened the gifts she’d chosen for them, but it couldn’t be helped. She added the rag doll she’d bought for Trouble to chew on, then leaned Ty’s gift against the wall.
She’d painted a small watercolor of him and the boys asleep on the couch, all tumbled together and rumpled. Trouble, also on the sofa, had a paw on Josh’s arm. She’d matted and framed it.
Maybe they’d look at it and think of her every once in a while. Would Ty notice the tiny fairy she’d perched on Trouble’s floppy ear? She sniffed and tried to hold back the tears, but they came in a blinding flood. Thank God her car was here. She put an unhappy Lilybelle in her carrier, picked up her bag and purse, and softly closed the door behind her. Hands shak
ing, it took several tries before she finally managed to get the key in the ignition.
On the way to her apartment, the cat howling nonstop, she called the airlines. Since tomorrow was Christmas Eve, things were pretty well booked up. However, a redeye, with one empty seat, left tonight for Chicago.
She and Lilybelle would be on it.
*
Ty dried off and grabbed clean jeans and a tee from the closet. Reluctantly, he climbed the attic stairs. Hunkered down on the dusty floor, he looked across the room. An old mirror leaned against the wall, and he didn’t like what he saw reflected there.
Time for a good heart-to-heart with himself before he went down to Sophie. He’d denied her claims, but too much of what she’d said hit home.
He pulled out the box Sophie had been going through and removed the lid. One at a time, he took out the ornaments—and the memories.
The first was a green, hand-painted glass ball with a red-nosed reindeer sprawled on a rooftop. It had been his gift to Julia when she was thirteen. Every year after that, he’d given her an ornament. And Julia, being Julia, had kept every single one.
He couldn’t bring himself to hang them on the tree without her, but he’d carefully packed them away. The boys might like them when they started their own families.
The instant Sophie had said she was snooping, dread filled him. He’d known what she’d unearthed. She’d opened that one box he’d avoided for over four years now. His very own Pandora’s box.
She’d unwittingly unleashed its powers, and he’d handled it badly. Very badly. This wouldn’t be an easy fix. No simple kiss and make up here. This called for some serious atonement. He’d hurt her, and flowers, even jewelry, wouldn’t compensate for what he’d done. What he’d said…and hadn’t said.
But, damn, when he’d seen her holding that star, he’d about lost it. These past years had been hell. And it was Julia’s fault. Her decision, her deceit, had caused all this hurt and pain.
Yet that hadn’t been the real root of his anger this time. He met his eyes in the mirror. It was way past time to come clean. Anger was easier to deal with than the real emotion bubbling inside him.
Fear rode him hard.
Big bad Ty Rawlins was scared to death. His wife and friend was gone. He’d loved Julia. They’d been together since grade school. And then she’d made a decision that ripped them apart forever.
The fear raging through him now didn’t come from losing her, though. The worst had already happened there, and he’d somehow survived. This overwhelming fear rose from somewhere else. Someone else. Sophie London.
She wasn’t Julia. No. Sophie was unique. She was a promise. She was new secrets to learn.
He loved her.
And it was time he told her so.
But when he went downstairs, the house was empty. The oven was on, and the scent of food cooking caused his stomach to rumble.
“Tink? Where are you?”
She didn’t answer. After a quick search through the downstairs rooms, he headed to the second floor. Not there, either. When he walked into the guest room, his stomach hit the floor. Empty. Her bag was gone.
But the room smelled like her, that light, flowery scent he loved. He dropped down on the edge of the bed and covered his face with his hands.
He’d pissed her off, and she’d gone back to Dottie’s. Well, she was safe, at least. Before he left the barn, he’d checked with Jimmy, and Nathan was still behind bars.
But Ty had been an ass and hurt her, probably nearly as badly as Nathan had. At least emotionally. Sophie’d put herself out there. Had come home with him, shared his bed, and loved his kids.
And when she’d asked him to share? He’d treated her like a pariah.
Pulling his cell from his shirt pocket, he called Haley. “You about home?”
“Fifteen minutes away.”
“I hate to ask, but could you keep an eye on the boys when you get here? Dinner’s in the oven.”
“Trouble with Sophie?”
He swallowed. “Yeah.”
“You know what you have to do.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe? Come on, Ty. You’re the boss man. You’re used to taking the lead and making things happen. What are you waiting for?”
“Haley—”
“You love her.”
“That obvious?”
“Oh, yeah. So tell her.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re right. I’m gonna do just that when I find her.”
“Find her?”
“Long story. I may be a while.”
“That’s okay. Take as long as you need.”
“You’re a doll.” He hung up and sprinted down the stairs.
But when he got to Sophie’s, she didn’t answer the door. He let himself in with the key he’d pocketed night before last.
He knew the instant he stepped inside that she wasn’t there. The place felt empty. Dead. He swore a blue streak as he rushed from room to room.
With a sinking feeling, he realized all her things were gone. She’d packed. She’d left Maverick Junction. Heading outside, he called Cash.
When his friend answered, Ty asked, “Is Sophie there with Annie?”
After a slight hesitation, Cash said, “No. She and Annie are on their way to the airport. I thought you knew.”
“Shit.”
“I take it you screwed up.”
“You don’t know the half of it. She’s leaving out of Austin?”
“Yep.” Cash rattled off Sophie’s flight information. “Don’t think you’ll catch her, but good luck.”
Ty tried both Sophie’s and Annie’s numbers, but both went directly to voice mail. He tossed his phone on the seat, threw the truck into gear, and peeled out of the drive headed for the airport. But with every passing minute, he grew sicker. Cash had been right. He wouldn’t make it.
Heading through the terminal doors, he saw Annie coming toward him. Too late.
*
Ty walked Annie to her car, then strolled through the crowded lot to his own truck. He needed a few minutes to get his head together. Sitting in the airport parking lot, he watched the sliver of moon ride higher and higher in the sky.
Haley would stay till he got home, so the boys were covered. Another call to the sheriff’s office confirmed that the county taxpayers were still footing Nathan’s room and board.
Ty opened his glove box and dug through the mess. Somewhere mixed with all this crap, he had Dee’s phone number. He let out with a small whoop when he struck pay dirt.
Dialing the number, he rubbed his chest. He’d lost Julia. That had totally been out of his control. But this situation with Sophie wasn’t. Time for him to make some decisions. She’d been right. He could live in the past or confront it and move on.
At some point, without even realizing it, he’d made up his mind. He was more than ready to step into the future. With Sophie.
If she’d still have him.
She didn’t know he loved her. How could she? He’d barely admitted it to himself. If she didn’t love him, well, he’d just have to change her mind.
Dee answered the phone, sounding more chipper than a person had a right to be at this time of the night.
Quickly Ty explained who he was.
“Yeah, Sophie’s mentioned you.”
“She has?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Listen, Dee, she’s on her way home.”
“Tonight?”
“Right. And she’s not too happy with me.”
“Uh-oh,” she said.
“Uh-oh is right. Will you keep an eye on her? Make sure she’s okay?”
“Is Nathan going to be a problem?”
“No. He’s here in Maverick Junction, but right now he’s warming a bunk in our jail.”
“He didn’t hurt her, did he?”
“No, not really.” Ty didn’t figure it would serve any purpose to go into details. She’d undoubtedly see Nathan’s handiwork in the
morning.
“Boy, I goofed up, didn’t I?” Dee cleared her throat. “I’m sorry Nathan found out where she was. If she’d told me what was going on, I’d never have given him that package with her address on it.”
“You had no way of knowing,” Ty said. “It’s not your fault. Sophie doesn’t share well.”
The minute the words left his mouth, Ty wished them back. Sharing didn’t seem to be high on either of their skill lists. He certainly hadn’t been open with her. And that’s exactly why he was here and she was on a Chicago-bound plane.
The dashboard clock read twelve thirty-eight. a.m. It was officially December twenty-fourth. Christmas Eve.
He started his truck, and strains of Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” came over the radio.
Ty could have wept.
A second chance at love had been dangled in front of him. Yet when he’d decided to reach out and grab it, it had been yanked away.
Damn her. And damn Annie for bringing her into his life.
But most of all? Damn himself for being too dim-witted to see what was right in front of him. For being too obstinate to let go of what he’d had, to snatch up what he could have.
And wasn’t that a kick in the pants?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Shouts and running feet woke Ty from a long-in-the-coming sleep.
Christmas Eve had been a bust without Sophie, but he’d struggled through it. Even after the boys finally crashed, sleep eluded him. It had been a little after two the last time he’d checked his bedside alarm. His sheets were tangled from hours of restless tossing and turning.
Opening one eye, he groaned when he registered the pale pink, pre-dawn sky. More than anything, he wanted to throw a pillow over his head and go back to the dream he’d been having. But that wouldn’t work.
Santa and his reindeer had landed on their roof last night, and the jolly old guy had, undoubtedly, let himself in by way of the fireplace chimney to deposit gifts under the tree.
The triplets rushed the bed and clambered up.
“Get up, Daddy. Hurry!”
“Yeah, come on.”
“We didn’t peek,” Jonah said. “We came to get you first.”
“Like you said,” Jesse added.
Ty tossed the covers aside and stretched. Then, surprising the boys, he rolled and caught all three in his arms, pinning them to the bed and tickling each in turn.
Nearest Thing to Heaven (Maverick Junction) Page 28
