“You’re welcome, baby girl.” His voice cracked with emotion as he gave her a tight squeeze. “You two have fun. Call if you need anything.”
“Okay,” Addie said as she slid into the seat.
Chase climbed in and shut the door just as everyone yelled out their good-byes one more time. He held a small package, wrapped in silvery paper with a big bow on top. Before she could ask who the gift was from, he leaned over and gave her a soft, but very passionate kiss, turning her insides to jelly. She was vaguely aware of the limousine pulling away.
When he drew back, she was too dazed to question him about the gift. Chase raised a hand, skimming his fingers down her cheek. “I think I’m gonna like having you for my wife.”
“You only think?”
“I know I’m gonna like having you for my wife.”
“That’s better.”
He chuckled and leaned in, kissing her again until she could hardly breathe. The car suddenly jerked to a stop and without the restraint of a seatbelt, they separated and held on to the seat to keep upright. “Sorry, folks,” the limo driver said through an intercom. “A truck didn’t see the red light.”
The voice invaded their privacy and Addie wondered if the driver could see them. When Chase pulled her close again, she pointed to the package, trying to divert her husband in another direction until they were truly alone. “Who is that from?”
He gave her a crooked grin. “Are you trying to distract me?”
Addie’s eyes flickered to the dark window that separated them from the driver. “Just temporarily.” She gave him a playful smile. “Plus, I like opening presents.”
* * *
Curious about the gift himself, Chase chuckled and handed the present to his wife. “Your aunt gave this to me just before I got into the limo. She said we should open it now.”
“Maybe it’s a piece of cake,” Addie said, ripping the paper. “I can’t believe I only got that tiny little bite you fed me.”
“I could’ve given you a bigger piece,” Chase said with a laugh. “In fact, Beau encouraged it.”
She peeled back the paper and looked at him sidelong. “I know what Beau and Jackson wanted you to do. And if you had, I seriously would’ve started a food fight. If I got cake shoved in my face. They would too.”
Chase grinned as she lifted the lid off of the white shoe-box sized box. A strong musty odor filled the air, making Addie wrinkle her nose. “Ooh. Definitely not cake.” She handed him the box. “What’s in there?”
He peered inside to see a small weathered wooden chest. “It looks like a treasure chest.”
Leaning over to take a peek, Addie gasped, “It does. Can we open it?”
Chase reached in and fingered the old wood, warped by the elements and time. He lifted the lid, and set it to the side. Inside the box lay a white envelope with their names written on it.
Addie snuggled into his side as he lifted the envelope out. He slid his finger under the flap to open it. Inside were several tattered pieces of old paper currency, an antique sapphire ring and an old picture of the Caldwell house.
“Do you know what these are?” Chase asked, taking a closer look at the money. “It’s old Confederate notes from the Civil War.”
“You’re kidding,” Addie said, slanting forward. “Where do you think it came from?”
“I don’t know.” He pulled a note card out of the envelope and said, “Maybe this explains it.”
With their heads close together, they read the note from Janie, explaining about the contents of the gift. Addie squealed in delight to find out her aunt had finally solved the Caldwell mystery. Having come across another photograph of the house, she’d placed it next to the others and made an exciting discovery.
… Addie, you were right. The clue had been the scripture verses Marianne gave to her sister. This photograph I found shows that where the gazebo now stands there had once been a well. A man I hired found the capped well and opened it. Buried deep inside, he found this small wooden box. Miraculously it survived the elements. The Confederate money isn’t worth much as it is stuck together and badly decomposed. The sapphire ring, however, is still valuable and my gift to you. Sapphires symbolize long-lasting love and the ring itself reminds us of eternity. No beginning and no end…
Chase circled his arm around his wife and pulled her close. “Mmm,” he said, brushing his lips across her ear. “I like the sound of that. Eternity. Infinity. No end.”
She tipped her face up, her gaze filled with absolute love. “Forever,” she whispered. Then she wound her arms around his neck and, regardless of the driver, gave him a long, sweet kiss.
Oh, yeah. Eternity was going to be so good.
Fair Catch
a novel
by
Cindy Roland Anderson
Chapter One
Ellie Garrett’s feet pounded rhythmically against the pavement, her anger growing with each step as her mind replayed the frustrating phone call she had received thirty minutes ago. Sweat trickled down her back as she made another loop around the jogging trail. She wiped her hand across her forehead and slowed her tempo. She needed to cool down—in more ways than one.
Thomas Garrett, her ex-husband, had done it again. He’d managed to make her angry, disappoint their son Cade, and place the blame on Ellie’s shoulders. She already had too much weight on her shoulders. Raising her four-year-old son by herself was more than enough.
Decreasing her pace down to a brisk walk, Ellie slowly blew out her breath and looked around the affluent area where she now resided. She was definitely the little fish in the big pond. Six months ago her dad, a professor of ancient history at the University of Colorado, fulfilled a life-long dream by taking a position in England for the next two years, teaching at Cambridge.
When her parents left, Ellie and Cade moved from their tiny condo in Boulder, Colorado to her parents’ house in Pleasant Wood, a suburb of Denver, allowing her to quit her part-time job.
So now, according to Thomas, she was rolling in the money and could take Cade to Disneyland herself. She added delusional to his list of defective qualities.
Glancing at her watch, she noted it was almost time to pick up Cade from preschool. Inevitably, he would ask about going to Disneyland with his dad. How was she supposed to explain to her little boy that his father had another pressing obligation and wouldn’t be coming?
“Father. Right,” Ellie muttered. She wished for once in his life Thomas would try to be a father. Currently, he lived in Australia, enjoying the life he’d always dreamed about. Translation: Single with zero responsibilities.
A derisive puff of air escaped between her lips when she thought about his lame excuses. Ellie couldn’t relate. Cade—their son—was her only obligation. More than likely, Thomas’s urgent business involved a woman.
Pulling the band from her ponytail, she finger combed a few blonde strands of her long curly hair away from her face. The mild breeze sifted through her curls and cooled her off. A young couple, pushing a toddler in a stroller, walked in front of her. When Cade had been that size, Ellie had been all alone.
Twisting the band back around her hair, she set off at a slow jog toward home. She needed a shower. And chocolate.
Coming up behind her neighbor’s house, tiny branches and pebbles crunched beneath her shoes as she veered off the paved trail. As she entered the secluded cul-de-sac, Ellie saw a large moving truck parked at the enormous two-story house across the street from her parents’ home. She stopped running and stared at the gorgeous French Country manor. Made of gray stone, it resembled a small castle, complete with a stone turret bordering the left side. On the market for nearly two years, everyone was anxious to meet the new owner, especially since the sale was confidential.
Ellie squinted against the bright May sun, looking for any kind of evidence the new owners had children. She couldn’t tell, but maybe her friend would know something.
Betsy Stewart stood on the sidewalk, no doubt trying
to be the first one to welcome the mystery home-owners before anyone else. Her husband, Owen, was the pastor of Pleasant Wood Community Church, and knew the identity of the anonymous buyer. He wasn’t allowed to say anything to anyone—including his wife. The suspense was killing Betsy.
Cutting across the road, Ellie headed toward her neighbor. Betsy’s short, auburn hair swayed as she whirled around, a wide smile stretched across her tanned face. “Ellie, can you believe we’ll finally get to meet the new owners?”
Ellie wasn’t as intrigued as Betsy. She just hoped the new neighbor wouldn’t mind a precocious four-year-old who, on occasion, wandered into houses without his mother’s knowledge.
“It’ll be nice to meet them. If I’m lucky, Cade will get a playmate.”
While she watched the movers carry in an entertainment center, Ellie pulled at the front of her sweat-dampened T-shirt, allowing cool air to pass through. Sure, having the empty house occupied would be a good thing, but as far as Ellie was concerned, the cul-de-sac she lived in was perfect just the way it was. The Stewarts lived on one side. The Colemans, a nice jet-setting retired couple, lived on the other.
The gorgeous house across the street was flanked by a huge yard. The entire property actually consisted of the other three lots that had been available when her parents had built their home. The asking price was astronomical, and she felt a little intimidated by the kind of people who could afford such a home.
Images of Thomas flitted through her mind. He loved money and expensive things. He also hated parting with that money to pay alimony and child support. At twenty-seven, the last thing Ellie had ever dreamed about was being a divorced, single mother. She’d married Thomas right after her twenty-first birthday. Eighteen months later, she gave birth to Cade. When Cade was only three weeks old, Thomas told her he had a girlfriend and wanted a divorce.
Betsy nudged her with her arm, cutting into the dark memories. “I’m baking bread right now, and then I’m planning on taking over a welcome basket. Do you want to come with me?”
Ellie’s mouth watered just thinking about the fresh-baked bread. “I can’t. After I pick Cade up from preschool, I’m taking him into Denver to the children’s museum.” She gave a deep sigh when she remembered what she had to do. The forty-five minute drive to the city would probably be a good time to tell Cade about the canceled trip to Disneyland. “We won’t be home until this evening.”
“Hey, you sound like you’re a little upset. Is everything okay?” Betsy asked. Although Betsy was twice her age, she was Ellie’s best friend.
Shaking her head, Ellie heaved another defeated sigh. “No. Thomas called this morning—he’s not coming to take Cade to California.”
“What?” Betsy’s naturally happy face clouded with anger. “You know, if I ever meet that man face to face …well, maybe the next time he’s here, I’ll sic all four of my boys on him.”
Ellie grinned. The Stewart boys were as mild mannered as the pastor. “Don’t worry, my brothers told me to call them the next time he pulled something like this. They’d like a little time alone with him, and I don’t think it’s just to talk.” Really, her big brothers wanted a chance to knock some sense into him. Too bad both boys lived out of state and were never around when Thomas did make a visit.
Betsy chuckled. “Your brothers are just looking out for their little sister.” She patted Ellie on the back. “Honey, we just need to find you a man.”
Ellie grimaced. “Please don’t! The last thing I need is a man.” Having been thrown back into the dating world, Ellie hated being back on the market, so to speak. She hated how everyone seemed to think she needed help dating and finding another husband. She didn’t want anyone else—not after what Thomas had done to her. It would be a struggle to trust a man ever again. The wounds he’d inflicted still hadn’t completely healed.
Betsy smiled at her knowingly. “Ellie Garrett, you are a beautiful woman, and I know the Lord is preparing someone special for you.”
Why did everyone think that? She’d already had a husband, thank you very much. As for her beauty…it wasn’t enough to keep him from leaving.
“Hey, I’d better go inside to shower.” She avoided Betsy’s eyes by looking at her watch. “Cade’s class is out in thirty minutes.”
Betsy laughed and nudged her in the shoulder again. “I get it. You don’t want to talk about it right now.”
Ellie took a couple of steps backward. “That’s why I like you so much.”
“Yeah,” Betsy said with another laugh. “I said right now. You and I need to have another talk, young lady.”
“Did I just say I liked you?”
Betsy grinned and waggled her finger. “You love me. By the way, I made an extra loaf of bread for you and Cade.”
“You’re right. I do love you.”
Ellie decided to leave while she had the chance. She turned toward her house and waved goodbye. “Have fun today.”
Fifteen minutes later, Ellie left to get Cade. As she drove out of the cul-de-sac, she passed a white Denali. At the stop sign, she glanced in her rearview mirror. The SUV turned into the driveway next to the moving truck. It was probably the new owners.
Ellie paused as she debated about whether or not to wait and see who the new neighbors were. When they didn’t immediately get out of the vehicle, she pressed on the gas and made a left turn.
Her curiosity could wait. Cade couldn’t.
* * *
Nick Coulter grinned as he made the last turn toward his new home, and the GPS declared he made it to his destination. His phone buzzed just as he pulled in beside the moving truck. Grabbing the phone from its cradle, he saw the name on the screen and thought about declining the call. His manager, Alec Lawson, would put a damper on his good mood.
Nick’s thumb hovered over the decline button. He probably should answer it, especially since he had promised to return the call a couple of hours ago. He pressed to accept. “Hey, Alec. Sorry I didn’t call you back.”
Alec snorted. “Yeah, right.”
Nick leaned back in his seat and stretched out his legs. “No really. I’ve been busy driving. And thank you for asking, but yes, I made it safely.”
“Wonderful. How is Pleasure Garden?”
Nick rolled his eyes. “Pleasant Wood.”
“Whatever.”
He glanced out the window at the tall maple shading the driveway. “It’s beautiful. Retirement is going to be awesome.”
Alec let out another sarcastic laugh. “Don’t get too relaxed. You’ve got a packed schedule and a few proposals to look over. Incidentally, I still think we should do a press release right away about your move to Colorado. The news would get your name out there and boost your revenue.”
Nick thought about having a few days without the media knowing about his new location. That would be better than the Colorado Smashburger he hoped to have for dinner. “Nah, let’s keep it until next week like we planned.”
Alec let out a deep breath. “I still can’t believe you opted for Podunkville instead of L.A. Do you know what you’re missing?”
Yeah. Life in the fast lane. At thirty-four, Nick, a recently retired pro-football player was ready to settle down. The rural community outside of Denver had been home to his best friend and college roommate, Jared Huntsman. Whenever Nick had needed a break from his crazy life in California, Jared’s house had been like a refuge.
Then, six years ago, Jared and his wife had been killed by a drunk driver. Their deaths had changed Nick. Suddenly, he hadn’t felt as invincible. He had taken a good, hard look at his life, and didn’t like what he had found. All the money and fame he’d gained over the years had filled every part of him, leaving no room for his Christian faith.
Days after the funeral, Nick had gone home to stay with his parents for a few weeks. There he’d found the solace he was seeking, and had come away with a renewed commitment to his faith.
Although Nick loved his parents, when it had come time for him to retire,
Pleasant Wood, Colorado had sounded more appealing to him than staying in California. Plus, it was where he was supposed to be. A decision confirmed by prayer.
“I won’t be missing anything, Alec.”
“I really don’t get you.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Nick, ABC sent over another request. Are you sure—”
“I’m not doing it. I can find a wife on my own.” ABC wanted Nick to be their next bachelor. Having seen previous episodes of The Bachelor, Nick had declined the offer. Despite what everyone thought, sitting in a hot tub with more than a dozen scantily clad women vying for a rose was not his idea of having a good time. No amount of whining on Alec’s part was going to change Nick’s mind.
“You’re kidding?” Alec said sharply. “Do you have any idea how much money this could get you?”
“We’ve already talked about this. I’m not doing it.”
“Fine. Make sure you read the email with your schedule for the next month. Call me if anything comes up.”
The phone went silent. It wasn’t the first time Alec had hung up on him, so it didn’t offend Nick. His relationship with his manager wasn’t exactly symbiotic, but Alec did play a valuable part in Nick’s life. He had saved Nick’s reputation a few years ago, making him forever in his manager’s debt.
Nick slanted forward and propped his hands and chin atop the steering wheel, his eyes sliding over the beautiful home. He purchased the house sight unseen because it fit the needs he’d requested. In all honesty, it was too large a house for a single man. However, he needed the square footage to host the mandatory parties required to maintain his charity foundation which helped underprivileged kids throughout the United States.
Anxious to be out of the car, he climbed out of the Denali and made his way to the front door. He stepped into the large entryway and looked around. It was a beautiful home—sparsely decorated, though. Why hadn’t he listened to his mother and hired a decorator before moving in? He made a mental note to call his mom later. She’d said something about having a friend who could help him.
Under a Georgia Moon: Georgia Moon Romance Book 1 Page 28
