The Last Man She Expected

by Michelle Major

  “He’s spent some time away from the office, and it seems to have given him a new perspective.” Paul paused, his eyes narrowing. “You’re living in Starlight now?”

  Mara nodded.

  “That’s where he’s from, too. It’s a small town. Surely your paths have crossed.”

  “Evie’s best friend is Parker’s niece,” she said, going with the simplest explanation.

  Paul seemed to accept it without question so maybe Mara was a better actor than she thought.

  “I imagine you hate him as much as you do me.”

  “I don’t hate you.” Her mind reeled. She’d been so hurt by Parker’s perceived betrayal but now realized she was to blame for destroying what had been growing between them. Mistrust and fear had made her react without thinking, and she could only imagine how her accusations cut him to the quick. Maybe she’d misunderstood what Paul had told her. “But just to be clear...” She cleared her throat. “Your divorce attorney was the one to counsel you not to walk away from your marriage?”

  “I had the same reaction,” Paul said with a chuckle. “Especially given how Parker had handled my other situations.”

  “Situations,” Mara muttered. She was a situation.

  “I guess the best divorce attorneys,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “know when to advocate for successful marriages, as well. My crappy childhood and the fears I have around being a father don’t excuse how I treated you and Evie. I can choose to be better. I see that now. Parker really helped talk me off the ledge.”

  “He did?”

  Paul nodded, warming to the topic. If nothing else, her ex-husband had always enjoyed hearing himself speak. “He had a rough childhood, too. I didn’t realize until he shared some of the details.” He waved a hand. “Not that you care about him, but turns out he had a lot of wisdom to share with me. He didn’t mention meeting Evie, but he talked about his niece. Anna, right?”

  “Yeah.” Parker hadn’t told Paul anything about Evie. Or her. He’d been loyal and she’d been...awful.

  “I appreciate you coming here,” Paul said, his voice gentling. “I’m glad Aimee came to you so you can see how wonderful she is. She’d treat Evie like her own daughter.”

  Mara stared until finally he registered her mounting shock, because he held up his hands. “Not that I’m looking to replace you. You’re Evie’s mom and...” He cursed under his breath. “I’m messing this all up and I wanted to make it right. Please, Mara. Give me a chance to make things right.”

  “Okay.”

  His mouth dropped open as if he couldn’t believe what she’d just said. That made two of them.

  “Do you mean it?”

  “Yes.” She took a deep breath, let it out along with as much fear and resentment as she could manage. “We both made our share of mistakes, but we’re going to do better. For Evie. I’m not saying that it will be perfect—or that I’ll be perfect. But I want to try to get along. Our daughter needs both her parents.”

  “He was right.” Paul huffed out a laugh, leaning back in his chair and scrubbing his hands over his face.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Parker said you’d agree. I told him he was crazy. That after how I’d handled the divorce, you’d never willingly allow me time with Evie. Somehow he knew you’d want the best for her.”

  “He believed in me.”

  “He’s a way better man than I gave him credit for.” Paul laughed again. “Especially for an attorney.”

  Mara’s heart squeezed like someone had it in a vise. She’d messed up everything with Parker, and she had no idea how to fix it. If she could fix it. Part of her wanted to give up. She had enough going on in her life. Surely her heart would eventually mend.

  But the part that Parker had helped heal fought against any thought of raising the white flag on their love story. She’d learned she had more strength than she knew, and now was the time to use it.

  It took another hour to work out an initial visitation schedule for Paul and Evie. As scared as Mara had been to invite her ex-husband back into their lives, now it felt normal and right. Right for her daughter, which was all that counted.

  As soon as the elevator doors swished open on the ground floor of the office building, she pulled out her phone.

  “Josh?” she said when her friend answered. “I’ve messed up badly, and I need your help to make it right.”

  * * *

  “This day marks a new beginning, both for me and for the Dennison Lumber Mill.”

  At the enthusiastic applause that met the end of his brother’s speech, emotions welled in Parker. He hadn’t planned to come back to Starlight for the opening, but Josh and Anna had called and begged him.

  It was fighting dirty to enlist a six-year-old in his plea, Parker had told Josh, but his brother remained unapologetic. “We did this together,” Josh had reminded him. “I need you to help me see it through.”

  So Parker had made the drive early Saturday morning, grateful when the fog that enshrouded Seattle lifted as he came through the mountain pass leading to Starlight.

  He hadn’t seen Mara yet, although Evie and Anna had run up to him when he’d first arrived to tell him all about Evie’s goal at the soccer game the previous weekend. He was so damn proud of Mara’s daughter and his heart ached thinking he wouldn’t be a part of those special moments in her life.

  At this point, he could look back at their argument and think of a dozen ways he could have handled the situation differently. Yes, she’d made assumptions about him but could he really blame her? He’d played a supporting role in the destruction of her life. Her experience hadn’t given her much reason to trust men, and definitely not him. Maybe if he’d been honest about his feelings or fought for her.

  Instead, he’d walked away, allowed his belief that he couldn’t be the man she deserved to turn him into just that.

  Mara needed someone who wouldn’t give up on her and Evie.

  This week without them had been awful, but it had also afforded Parker the space he needed to realize he wanted a second chance if she’d give him one.

  He had every intention of making his case and he understood his future depended on him not messing it up. He’d get through the Founder’s Day celebration first. Mara had worked too hard for him to come in and hijack this day and make it about him. He wanted to honor her, and a big piece of that was respecting her efforts.

  It still killed him to make small talk with people as he snuck surreptitious glances around the mill to try to find her. As he did, he couldn’t help but be impressed by the turnout and the success of their undertaking. Pride washed through him knowing he’d helped make his brother’s dream a reality.

  His mom had even agreed to drive over later and check out the craft fair and the changes to the mill. He hoped it would be as cathartic for her as it felt to him. The interior of the main lumber-company building was lined with booths of varying crafters and artisans. From paintings to pottery to hand-knitted sweaters, the kaleidoscope of color amazed him. Although most of the construction had been finished before he left, the design details Mara had coordinated at the last minute added to the festive mood. There were origami cranes fluttering overhead and strands of twinkling lights strung along the perimeter of the space.

  A line of patrons waited to order at Dennison Perk, which was the name they’d given to the new coffee-shop location. Disappointment lanced through him at not finding Mara behind the counter. Of course, she was on-site somewhere, and he craved just the simple pleasure of being able to see her. He’d missed her so damn much.

  Finn approached from the coffee shop’s counter, munching on what looked like a chocolate-chip scone. “The brothers Johnson pulled it off,” he said, wiping a hand across his mouth. “This place is better than I’d even imagined.”

  “Me, too.” Parker blew out a breath. “I still can�
�t believe we got so much accomplished. Thanks for your help with the financials. It would have been difficult to finish without the loan extension.”

  Finn grinned. “I told you small-town life is exciting. How would I have the chance to make this kind of difference for people pushing paper at a big bank?”

  “The chamber of commerce should put you on retainer. You’re relentless.”

  “Starlight is your home,” Finn said.

  “I know,” Parker agreed quietly. “I’ve got a few details to work out but—”

  “Do those details have anything to do with a certain hazel-eyed single mom who bakes awesome pastries?”

  “Yeah.” Parker glanced around again but there was still no sign of Mara.

  “Walk outside with me,” Finn suggested, popping the last bite into his mouth. “I want to check out some of the food trucks.”

  “You just inhaled a scone.”

  “Why do lawyers have to argue about everything?” Finn nudged Parker’s shoulders. “Just come with me.”

  Parker wanted to refuse so he could continue to search for Mara. Then he reminded himself he didn’t need to rush. He had the rest of their lives to spend proving his worth to her. If she’d let him, anyway.

  * * *

  “You’re not going to raise any money if you refuse to kiss the customers.” Sam Sheehan’s voice was loud enough that several people turned to stare at Mara.

  She gripped her stomach as another wave of panic surged through her. “I can’t do this.”

  “Go away, Sam,” Brynn said, giving the older man a not-so-gentle nudge. “We’ve already explained this is a private kissing booth.”

  “Then what is it doing in the middle of the Founder’s Day Craft Fair?” Sam demanded.

  Hysterical laughter threatened to escape from Mara. “He has a point,” she muttered.

  She still wasn’t sure how she’d let Kaitlin and Brynn convince her a kissing booth was a good idea. All she’d known was that she wanted to do something huge to show Parker how sorry she was for doubting him. Now she realized she had a decent chance of being humiliated in front of most of the town. What if she’d hurt him so badly he wasn’t willing to give her another chance?

  Kaitlin and Brynn had put together a makeshift booth for her next to the pop-up chocolate shop in the mill’s open courtyard. The plan had been to keep the kissing-booth sign covered until they spotted Parker, but a breeze had whipped up about ten minutes earlier, blowing away the strip of paper concealing it.

  They’d quickly taped up another cover but not before a line of potential kissers had formed in front of her. Her friends had shooed away all but the most determined of the men—namely Sam the insurance man. Still, several clusters of locals hovered nearby, curiosity clearly swelling as to what kind of craziness was in store for the day. A small-town community loved a good weekend festival, but they loved the potential for juicy gossip even more.

  “I should talk to him in private,” Mara said to her friends, biting down on the inside of her cheek.

  “You wanted a grand gesture,” Brynn reminded her.

  “I’m an idiot.”

  Kaitlin patted her shoulder. “A fool for love sounds more romantic.”

  “What if he’s left already?” Mara asked, hating the catch in her voice. “Josh said he had to put Anna on the phone to finally convince him to come today.”

  “Then we’ll think of something—” Brynn broke off with a squeak. “He’s here. He’s coming this way. He’s—”

  “Let’s go.” Kaitlin pushed Brynn toward the back of the booth. She grabbed the paper covering the sign and followed the other woman. “You’ve got this, sweetie,” she called over her shoulder.

  Mara recognized the exact moment Parker spotted her. His eyes widened a fraction as Finn clapped him on the back.

  The crowd in front of her seemed to instinctually part when he moved toward her. One side of his mouth curved as he glanced up to the sign above her.

  “It’s a fund-raiser for the gym roof,” she blurted then felt hot color flood her cheeks. She sounded like an idiot.

  “You’re taking this business of becoming part of the community pretty seriously, huh?”

  She almost laughed. “It’s nice that you came back for the opening,” she said quietly, suddenly embarrassed by her plan for a grand gesture. What did she care about what anyone else thought of her attempt to make things right with Parker? He was all that mattered. “It means a lot to Josh.”

  “Sure,” he agreed readily, studying her face. She couldn’t read his expression but at least he didn’t seem angry with her at the moment.

  A small victory but it gave her a glimmer of hope.

  He eyed the empty donation jar sitting on the red-and-white-checked tablecloth draped over the booth’s narrow front counter. “Business is slow?”

  “She won’t let anyone kiss her,” Sam shouted from behind Parker. Mara was vaguely aware of Brynn shouting for the man to shut his trap but her focus remained on Parker.

  “I was waiting for you,” she told him.

  “Because I’m the rich, big-city attorney so you can charge extra?”

  She laughed then blurted, “Because I love you.”

  His thick brows drew together as if her words didn’t quite compute. “Love kissing me or love—”

  “You.” She reached up and pulled down the cardboard sign. “I do love kissing you,” she said, “but this was mainly to get your attention.”

  “Sweetheart,” he said with a soft chuckle, “You always have my full attention.”

  That glimmer of hope blossomed into a sparkling shower of light. “I’m sorry,” she said before he had a chance to speak. “I know now you didn’t betray me and I’m so sorry I didn’t trust you more. I came close to broken and I’m still working to put the pieces back together again. Sometimes it feels like they don’t all fit in the right way.”

  “You fit with me,” he told her.

  “I do?”

  “Always,” he promised then reached out and dashed away the tears that fell down her cheeks. “Don’t cry. I never want to make you cry, Mara.”

  “Happy tears,” she explained. “Not happy-ish. Bone-deep, love you with all of my heart happy.”

  He leaned in to brush a gentle kiss across her mouth. “I love you. I love you broken or totally together, happy or sad. I love you through it all, Mara. There’s nothing I don’t want to experience with you. I should never have walked away because my whole heart belongs to you.”

  She twined her arms around his neck and he deepened the kiss, her senses swirling and her heart filled with love.

  They finally broke apart at the resounding cheers from the crowd. It felt as though half the town was a part of this moment, and Mara wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Evie ran forward and Parker swung her into his arms. “Kissing is gross,” her daughter informed them, pointing to the discarded sign.

  “Not when you love someone the way I love your mommy,” Parker told the girl.

  Evie considered that for a moment. “You can love her,” she relented finally, “but it’s still kinda gross.”

  Mara ducked under the booth’s counter to wrap her arms around her daughter and Parker, knowing whatever came next, she’d found the future she always wanted with this man.

  He was her forever future.

  Epilogue

  Two weeks later, Parker stood in the center of his brother’s backyard, smiling as he glanced toward the giant unicorn bounce house situated in the corner. Maybe it wasn’t traditional entertainment for a wedding reception, but Evie maintained that Parker and Mara’s love story had started at Anna’s birthday party so it was only right that they have a bounce house as part of their wedding day.

  His wedding day.

  He glanced behind him at the arbor he and Josh ha
d built, which Mara and her friends had decorated with wildflowers earlier this morning. They’d only invited their closest friends and family to the celebration. It meant more than he could say to have his brother at his side with Finn and Nick smiling at him from the front row.

  In addition to the bounce house, Evie had asked for a sundae bar along with a strawberry-flavored wedding cake. Mara’s only request had been a honeymoon in Hawaii, and he’d happily booked the three of them on a first-class flight leaving tomorrow morning. Parker would have said yes to a horse-drawn carriage, a mariachi band or even a postceremony round of beer pong. He was simply so damn happy to be marrying the woman of his dreams.

  There had been no question in his mind that he didn’t want to wait to make Mara and Evie his official family. He’d even called Paul to explain the situation. His client—former client at this point—hadn’t been thrilled with the news but he’d finally wished Parker well and given him a strangely paternal-sounding warning about taking care of Mara.

  It was an easy vow for Parker to make.

  He’d put in motion plans to sell his practice in Seattle and was already working with Rudy Marshall to transition the older attorney’s clients to Parker. Several of his colleagues in the city had expressed disbelief that Parker had so quickly changed his tune on marriage, but Parker knew he was making the right choice.

  Mara meant everything to him. Who better to be a good husband than a man who appreciated the value of love and family because he understood the depth of pain on the other side?

  He’d never purposely cause Mara an instant of pain and felt a soul-deep commitment to loving and supporting her no matter what came their way.

  The string quartet they’d hired from the local high school went silent for several seconds and then began a hushed version of “Pachelbel’s Canon in D.”

  Evie and Anna appeared first, arms linked as they skipped down the makeshift aisle, grinning and giggling along the way.