He held up a hand. “It’s not your fault. I believed she’d changed. I needed to believe because it’s what Jenna wanted and I have no clue what I’m doing with a five-year-old boy.”
“You’re handling things like a pro,” she said, reaching out a hand to squeeze his arm and trying not to take it personally when he shrugged off her touch.
“Clearly, this night is a great example of that.” He hit a button on his phone. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and she’ll pick up.”
Erin waited, hoping with every fiber of her being Angela answered. A moment later, David took the phone away from his ear and shook his head. “Straight to voice mail. She’s either ignoring me or out of cell range.”
“A text might go through,” Erin suggested quietly.
He punched in a message, hit Send, and they waited again. David’s full mouth pressed into a thin line. “I’ve got to call Cole and see if he has any deputies up on the mountain. It’s going to get dark soon, and I need to know Rhett is okay.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, feeling miserable.
“It’s not your problem,” he answered even as he continued to stare at the phone. “You’re just the teacher.”
Erin swallowed. She knew he hadn’t meant the words as an insult. He was stressed and worried. But just as he’d wanted to believe in his mother, Erin had wanted to believe in him. In the two of them. He’d said he’d wanted her. Wanted “us.”
But once again, she wasn’t enough.
He turned away when Cole picked up, and she could hear him explaining the situation to the sheriff. After a minute, he faced her again. “He’s going to check out some of the more popular driving routes for viewing the changing leaves. I’m going to look around town to see if they’re down here, then head up myself.”
“Will you text me when you find them?”
He studied her as if weighing his answer, then finally nodded.
“How can I help?”
“You can’t,” he whispered, then walked away.
Chapter Ten
The sun had set over the craggy peak of Crimson Mountain, and the sky was aflame in shades of pink and orange as Erin took a curve on the two-lane highway that led up the mountain. Within a half hour, the whole mountainside would be cast in shadow, so there wasn’t much time for an effective search.
Her heart felt like it was breaking when David said he didn’t need her, but she refused to let that stop her from trying to find Rhett and Angela.
It had been almost an hour since he’d walked away from her, so maybe David had tracked them down by now and hadn’t bothered to text her. Erin couldn’t take the chance. She was done sitting on the sidelines letting life pass her by, especially when she’d been the cause of the mess they were in.
There were so many service roads and gravel offshoots of the main highway it was difficult to know where to start. Obviously, Cole Bennett and his team of deputies were experts, and she hadn’t even thought to ask David what kind of car his mother drove. But Erin had some experience on these roads. She’d always loved the changing colors that swathed the mountains. For a few weeks, the brilliant patches of bright yellow aspens and a few orange and red clumps of scrub oak made the whole valley look like it was on fire.
She turned her car onto a dirt road that led to one of the most picturesque vistas overlooking the valley. It wasn’t quite as popular as some of the well-known leaf-viewing drives in the area but remained a favorite with locals.
Angela wasn’t a local, but if she’d stopped at the hardware store or the gas station on the west side of town, this was where they would have sent her.
Erin ignored the gorgeous scenery surrounding her and concentrated on scanning the edges of the road and the myriad pull-offs that led to private cabins or trailhead access for hiking.
It was a little bit like searching for a needle in a haystack. When she darted a quick glance at her phone she realized she was out of service range. So even if David had tracked down Rhett and texted her, she wouldn’t get the message.
The car climbed almost to tree-line level, Erin growing more frustrated by the second. Why had she allowed Angela to take Rhett? The answer was clear—Erin didn’t have enough faith in herself or her authority to stop the other woman. Which was stupid, because of all the things Erin had been too scared of failing at to try, working with kids had never been one of them.
She was a great teacher, and her after-school program was already making a difference. Two of the teachers at school had reported that their students—the ones who’d been identified as troublemakers—were less disruptive and more responsible in class. The kids had cited some of the self-directed exercises for regulating behavior Erin had taught them for the changes.
No matter what her mother thought...or Angela...or David...or her ex...she had value. Maybe if she started believing that about herself, other people would, too.
She was about to turn the car around and head down the hillside when she caught sight of an older-model sedan parked on the side of the road about two hundred yards in front of her.
Adrenaline spiked through her when she noticed the Pennsylvania license plate. As she approached, the driver’s-side door opened and Angela stepped out, her pale blond hair shining in the waning light.
Erin breathed a huge sigh of relief as she pulled her Subaru to a stop behind Angela’s car. She checked her phone—still no service, but as soon as they got back into cell range she could let David know Rhett was safe.
“Stupid car battery gave out,” Angela said sullenly. “And I’ve got no service up here. We’ve got satellite radio that can play music anywhere in the dang world. Don’t you think they could get some decent coverage for phones?”
Rhett jumped out of the car through the open door. “Ms. MacDonald, you found us.”
“Your uncle is worried,” Erin said, crouching down to wrap her arms around the boy’s shoulders as he ran to her.
“Since when did my son become a worrywart?” Angela retrieved her purse from the front seat of the car and slammed the door shut. “I texted him a message that Rhett and I were getting ice cream and going to look at leaves.”
“He never got a message from you,” Erin said, feeling defensive on David’s behalf. “You promised you’d get in touch with him if I let you take Rhett today.”
“Let me?” Angela scoffed. “I’m his grandma and I’ll take him—”
“No.” Holding tight to Rhett’s hand, Erin stepped forward. “When Rhett is at school or with me in the afternoon, he’s my responsibility. Unless you have permission from David, I won’t allow you to pick him up again.”
Angela studied her through narrowed eyes. “Is that so? You do realize my daughter is the one who called and asked me to drive halfway across the country to look out for her boy?”
Erin felt Rhett stiffen beside her. “Rhett,” she said, gently taking him by the shoulders, “you should get in my car. It’s cold out here. We’ll take the booster seat from your grandma’s—”
“Nana doesn’t have a booster,” he interrupted quietly.
“We’ll make sure she gets one,” she told him. “Your nana and I have a few things to work out and then we’ll go find Uncle David.”
Biting his lip, the boy looked between Angela and Erin, then headed for the car.
“I’m his grandmother,” the older woman repeated as Rhett shut the door.
“I appreciate that.” Erin forced her shoulders back and her hands at her side. “I know Jenna is working through her issues, and I understand you’re here to help. David does, as well. But he’s in charge, Angela. He’s balancing so much and trying to do his best by Rhett.”
“Sounds like you know my son pretty well.” Angela gave her another once-over but before she could continue, Erin held up a hand.
“I hope David a
nd I are friends, but even if we’re not, I care about Rhett. He’s a great kid and I want to see him through this. We all do.” She stepped forward. “I’m not the enemy, Angela. Neither is David.”
She saw the woman’s shoulders deflate slightly. “Do you know what happened to Jenna when they were in high school?”
Erin shook her head. “I don’t, and it’s none of my business if David doesn’t want to tell me.” As much as she wanted to know.
“You should ask him before you get too close.”
At Angela’s words, a sinking feeling rippled through Erin. Whatever had happened to his sister in high school clearly formed the man David was today. Erin might not know any details, but she understood it must have been traumatic.
“My son is not the type of man who’s good for a woman like you.” Angela reached out and, to Erin’s surprise, patted her softly on the arm. “Rhett is lucky to have you in his life.” She took a deep breath, then added, “He’s lucky to have David, too. I’m freezing my fanny off up here now that the sun is gone. Let’s get back to town so I can make this right with my son.”
Erin nodded and they headed to the car. The drive was quiet until they got into cell phone range. Angela’s phone was still dead, but Erin’s gave several insistent chirps. She took the phone from the console and handed it to David’s mother. “You call since I’m driving.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Erin saw Angela smile as she looked at the phone.
“What’s so funny?”
“You have my son in your contacts.”
“Yes.”
“His occupation is listed as ‘hottie brewmaster.’ Is that an official title?”
Erin suppressed a groan. Melody had entered that into her phone, and Erin had forgotten to change it.
“You’re stalling,” she said as an answer. “Call him.”
With a small laugh, Angela hit the button to dial David. After a minute she said, “This is your mother. We’re on our way back to town. I left you...” She was quiet for a moment. Erin could hear the muffled rumble of David’s voice through the phone but couldn’t make out what he was saying. Based on the furrow between Angela’s brows, it wasn’t good.
“She drove up the mountain and found us,” Angela said. Another pause. “It’s not my fault the wreck of a car I drive died. Rhett is fine.”
“I’m hungry,” Rhett called from the back seat.
“He’s hungry,” Angela repeated, then went silent again as David said something else. “What’s that?” She made the sound of static. “Sorry, you’re breaking up. We’ll see you at home in a bit.”
Erin arched a brow as Angela disconnected the call. “Faking a bad connection?”
The older woman shrugged. “He has all night to rip me a new one. I’d like a few minutes of quiet to gather my wits.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “For the record, my plan was to get a treat and see the leaves, not to get stuck up on the mountain in the cold at dusk.”
A rush of emotion flooded Erin when Angela’s voice cracked. Despite the attitude, Erin realized David’s mother had been more scared than she’d let on to be stranded with Rhett. Erin reached across the console and patted the woman’s leg. “It all turned out okay in the end.”
“Thank you,” Angela whispered and squeezed Erin’s fingers.
“Wonder what Uncle David will make for dinner,” Rhett said from the back seat. “I’m so hungry even his cooking will taste good tonight.”
Erin laughed and was once again reminded how resilient kids could be. “We’ll soon find out,” she told Rhett, and concentrated on getting them home safely.
* * *
David’s heart clamored in his chest as he waited on the sidewalk in front of Elevation, and the unfamiliar feeling sent shock waves through him. When was the last time he’d been so worried? The past hour had been the longest of his life. After talking to his mother, he’d gotten in touch with Cole, who had been on the mountain searching for Rhett.
As much as it killed him, David had kept close to town, wanting to remain reachable by his mother if she called. He’d never expected Erin to be conducting her own search, let alone to find his mother and Rhett—especially not after how he’d treated her.
He massaged the back of his neck with one hand. He had the uncanny ability to continuously push away the one person who was quickly coming to mean the most to him.
A small Subaru hatchback pulled to the curb in front of the bar. His mother opened the passenger door at the same time Rhett bounded out from the back seat. David opened his arms, catching the boy and spinning him around.
“Nana’s car broke,” Rhett said into his neck. “And I’m hungry. Did you make dinner?”
“Even better.” David kissed the top of the boy’s head and dropped him back down to the ground. “The cook at Elevation made you mac and cheese.”
“Mac and cheese,” Rhett shouted happily. “Nana, did you hear? Uncle David didn’t cook!”
His mother smiled at Rhett. “It’s your lucky night.” She held out her hand. “Come on. Let’s go upstairs.”
“I got to get my backpack,” Rhett said and turned for the car again.
It was then David realized Erin had also gotten out of the car and now stood at the edge of the sidewalk. His knees almost gave way from the feeling of longing that charged through him. He wanted to rush forward and enfold her in his arms, somehow knowing that if he held her, his world would fall into place.
Her dark hair was uncharacteristically down, curling over her shoulders and the light jacket she wore. The coat wasn’t enough to stave off the cold, and he saw her shiver as a gust of wind whipped down the street. She held out the small Ninja Turtles backpack to Rhett. “Here you go, sweetie.”
“Thanks for rescuing us, Ms. MacDonald,” Rhett said as he grabbed the pack.
“I’m glad you’re safe. See you tomorrow at school.”
“Thank you,” his mother added, and Erin gave her a little wave. Then Angela and Rhett disappeared through the door that led up to the apartment.
“Erin.” David stepped forward, but she held up a hand. “Go take care of Rhett.”
“You found them.”
“I know you didn’t want me involved, but I couldn’t just walk away. Don’t be too hard on your mother. She’s more shaken up by this than she lets on.”
He blinked. “Are you defending my mother?”
“I guess I am. She’s trying, David. We’re all trying. Tonight was my fault for letting her take him without your permission.” She laughed softly, then added, “But you know that already.”
“No.” He reached for her wrist and spun her to him when she turned away. “I’m sorry about the things I said.” He brushed his fingers across her cheek. Darkness had officially fallen and her skin glowed under the light of the streetlamps. “I’m sorry my go-to emotion is anger. It’s been that way for a long time, Erin. I don’t know how to change it.”
She looked up at him through her lashes. “Do you want it to change?”
“For Rhett, yes.” He pressed his forehead to hers and whispered. “For you, yes.” There was no way to put into words all the things he’d change for this woman if he could. “Why couldn’t we have met when my life was simple?”
He felt rather than saw her smile. “Exactly when was your life simple?”
“Third grade,” he answered without hesitation. “I had a crush on Brandi Doerger. I chased her around the playground until she agreed to be my girlfriend. Then I kissed her under the flagpole.”
She pulled back enough to look at him. “Where is Brandi now?”
“Ours was a short-lived romance.”
“And why is that?”
He shrugged. “She wanted me to meet at the candy store across from school and buy her favorite candy bar to prove I wa
s her boyfriend.”
“You didn’t have the money for a gift?”
“I had a baseball game to get to with my friends.”
“So you stood the poor girl up?”
“I was the pitcher,” he said, hoping that explained everything. When he was nine, it seemed like a good enough excuse, but as something like disappointment flashed in Erin’s gaze, he realized that nothing in his life had ever been simple.
“You don’t have anything to prove to me.” She untangled herself from his embrace and walked to her car.
He glanced up to his apartment windows and knew he had to see to Rhett and talk to his mother. But he couldn’t let Erin leave like this. Not again.
“Give me another chance,” he called.
She stilled in the midst of opening her door and turned to face him. “Why do you even want one?”
A group of twentysomethings was walking toward Elevation and a couple of them hooted with laughter at her question. “She’s gonna roast you, dude,” one of the taller guys said, slapping David on the arm as he walked by and into the restaurant.
Had he ever been that young and carefree? No, he’d been young and disastrously stupid.
“Because,” he said, ignoring everything except Erin’s brown eyes, “nothing in my life makes sense right now except you.”
He stepped closer but still respected the space she’d put between them. As much as he wanted to push her to let him in despite what a jerk he’d been. It had to be her choice. Never in his life had he wanted a woman to choose him as much as he did now. “Even though I keep finding ways to screw it up, I want you.”
Her fingers tightened on her purse strap, as if there was a debate raging inside her brain. It would be the smart thing to walk away from him right now. He sure as hell hoped she wasn’t going to do the smart thing.
“Can you define another chance?”
He wanted to pump his fist in the air. She was watching out for herself, but she hadn’t said a straight-up no. He had a chance, but he had to work for it. David might have made a lot of mistakes in his life, but he could work for something he wanted.
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