Song of the Red Rocks: Present

by Clay, Verna

  A baseball bat to Jason's head wouldn't have been as powerful as those two words. He scowled and said matter-of-factly, attempting to hide his astonishment, "You never wanted children."

  "I still don't." She paused and rephrased, "At least I think I don't."

  He leaned back in his chair, gulped some coffee, and then asked the most logical question. "Who's the father? Do I know him?" He reached for a napkin and handed it to her.

  She blotted her eyes and cheeks. "No. He's…he's…"

  Jason leaned forward again and prompted, "He's...?"

  She blurted, "He's a starving artist who lives in a studio apartment the size of a postage stamp."

  Keeping his expression grave, although part of him wanted to smirk at this sudden turn of events, he asked, "So why is it you want to camp out with me?"

  Suzette's nose sounded stuffy when she replied, "I need time to think."

  "About keeping the baby?" he asked softly.

  "Yes." Her tears started dripping again.

  "Does the father know about the child?"

  "No. But if he found out he'd be ecstatic. He keeps saying we should get married and have a family. He says I'd be a great mother."

  Jason choked on his coffee.

  Suzette said through a fresh wave of tears, "See, even you know I'd be a terrible mother. I tried to tell him that, but he wouldn't listen. He obviously sees something in me that you and everyone else, even me, doesn't. He admits that I'm spoiled, selfish, vain, and hard to live with, but he keeps telling me I'm redeemable. I think he's full of hogwash, don't you?"

  She lifted swollen eyes to Jason's and he wanted to agree with her. Finally, he said, "Suzette, you obviously care for this guy and he cares for you. He sounds like the kind of man who doesn't mince words, so maybe you should believe him." He scratched his neck and puffed a breath; he hadn't actually answered her question and he hoped she wouldn't call him on it. He handed her another napkin.

  She blew her nose and mumbled, "Can I stay here for a few days so I can think about what to do? I promise I won't interfere with you and Sunny Sundance. It's obvious the two of you are crazy about each other." She closed her fist over the napkin and said softly, "I could tell her what a great guy you are." She seemed to reconsider and added, "When you're not being moody."

  Jason almost groaned aloud. The last thing he needed was his ex-wife espousing his questionable qualities.

  26: Cabin Encounter

  Waking to a beautiful summer day, Sunny decided to walk to the cabin. Jason had insisted she have access whenever she wanted, so during reconstruction they had scouted the best pathway from her home. It was quite a distance, almost an hour's walk, but she needed to think under the solitude and beauty of the red rocks.

  Except for a phone call from Jason the day after his ex-wife's arrival, Sunny hadn't spoken to him in four days. Her heart had gone into a nosedive when he'd said Suzette would be staying for awhile, but she'd covered her feelings by saying, "There's no need to explain, Jason. It's none of my business." After that she'd ended an awkward silence with, "Gotta go. My manager sent a box of demo CDs hoping I'd find a song I wanted to record." Her words hadn't exactly been a lie. She did have a box of CDs, but she had no intention of listening to them.

  Now, following the trail, she tried to focus on anything but Jason. However, he was never far from her thoughts. During their time together rebuilding the cabin she had discovered his gruff exterior camouflaged a gentle and kind soul.

  She stepped through the trees toward the backside of the cabin and felt the usual peace it evoked. With a sigh, she rounded the logs and came to an abrupt halt. The front door stood slightly ajar. Was Jason inside? They had talked about padlocking the door in the unlikelihood of a trespasser, but she saw no padlock. Had a trespasser discovered the cabin?

  She paused at the porch steps and called, "Hello. Jason, are you in there?"

  She heard footfalls and then the door was slowly opened by Jason's ex-wife.

  Sunny squelched her surprise and said, "Hello, Suzette."

  The beautiful woman cheerily replied, "Well, hello. It's great to see you again."

  Sunny nodded, but didn't reciprocate Suzette's words because they would have been a lie. Then she chastised herself for allowing jealousy to rule her heart.

  Before she could reply, Suzette said, "I hope you don't mind my being here. I came across some blueprints at Jason's house and asked about them. He said you and he had worked together on a restoration project, but other than admit the cabin was on his property, he clammed up. Of course that piqued my curiosity, so I decided to see if I could find it."

  Sunny nodded again but couldn't think what to say.

  Suzette said, "Will you please tell me about this lovely home? Better yet, take me on a guided tour?"

  There was such wistfulness in her request that Sunny's heart unexpectedly softened. She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and replied, "My family once owned Jason's property and built the cabin in the early 1800s. I only recently discovered it and came here to persuade him to sell me his land." She gave a sheepish grin. "I tried to strong arm him into it and that only made him mad. After a time, though, we became friends and he offered to restore the old homestead." She made an encompassing motion. "All the walls except the one with the sink had fallen down, and restoration of something so dilapidated seemed impossible. But Jason, being an architect and builder, saw it as a challenge. In fact, he thought it wouldn't be difficult at all, just time consuming. Most of the original logs were still intact and scattered on the ground and he assured me they could be used again." She paused for breath. "Anyway, he drew up the plans and we rebuilt this historic home."

  Suzette said, "And it's even furnished to the time era. Are the furnishings original to the cabin?"

  Sunny ascended the porch steps and stopped in front of Suzette. "No. I found them at various antique and secondhand stores in Sedona and nearby towns." Before she could reconsider, she said, "Can I make you some tea? The place is well stocked."

  Suzette hesitated. "I don't want to trouble you."

  "No trouble at all. In fact, I love spending time here and pretending I'm a pioneer from days gone by."

  Suzette stepped aside and said, "I'd like to pretend, too."

  Inside the cabin Sunny inhaled its woodsy scent and walked to the open shelving beside the sink. She lifted two china cups and saucers and set them on the wooden countertop, explaining, "Jason installed a water holding tank with a filtration system. It was one of two modern concessions in the restoration. The other was the cook stove. It's a replica."

  She lifted the pump handle and began pumping up and down. After a few tries, water spurted. She glanced at Suzette and grinned. "Now if I can get the wood stove lit, we'll heat some water."

  Suzette returned her grin. "I feel like I'm a little girl playing house."

  Sunny admitted, "I do, too, and it's great." After she'd placed logs in the stove and successfully lit them, she set a kettle of water to boil and said, "Come on. I'll show you around." While the water heated, she happily told the story of Dr. Thomas Matthews and Tana Raven Sees. She didn't reveal everything, but she did tell Suzette about the elixir when asked why there was a lone jar in the cabinet. Of course, Suzette had been astounded by the story and exclaimed, "That's incredible!"

  The kettle started to whistle and Sunny said, "Why don't we drink our tea on the porch?"

  "I'd like that."

  Something in Suzette's voice caused Sunny to glance surreptitiously at her and she was surprised to see the woman blinking back tears. From Jason's description of his ex-wife, Sunny had expected a wicked witch, but this woman was anything but that. Had something happened to change her? Or had Jason's assessment been clouded by resentment; the same thing that had happened with Sunny's ex. It was a mystery. A sudden thought splashed Sunny like a bucket of cold water. Had Suzette become a woman Jason could love again?

  After they settled in rockers on the porch, Sunny did
n't know what to say. She had plenty of questions, but none of them seemed appropriate to ask.

  Suzette pointed and asked, "Who lived in that smaller cabin?"

  "We don't know."

  Unexpectedly, Suzette said, "You're probably wondering why I'm here?"

  Sunny didn't deny her curiosity. She stopped rocking, lifted her cup to her mouth, and replied before sipping, "Yes, but it's none of my business."

  Suzette laughed softly. "I like you, Sunny. When I first met you, I'll admit I was in awe of meeting such a famous woman, and I was elated that you and Jason might be having a fling." She leaned closer and said in a confiding tone, "He doesn't realize it, but his dark looks and brooding personality attract women like flies." She leaned back and continued, "And I think that's one of the reasons we got divorced." She met Sunny's gaze and hastily added, "Oh, I don't mean another woman broke us up. Jason was always faithful to me. But his personality is much like mine. Both of us need cheerful people in our lives to counteract our tendency toward melancholy." She sipped her tea and finished with, "And I think he's found what he needs in you."

  Sunny said flatly, "We're just friends."

  Suzette lifted her eyebrows. "But you're on the verge of something more. Since I arrived, Jason's been moping around like a lovesick schoolboy." Unexpectedly, she burst out laughing, "And I love it!"

  Sunny turned her head to gaze at the barn and slowly inhaled. She had no intention of talking to Jason's ex-wife about her feelings for him.

  Neither of them spoke as Sunny watched a flock of birds navigate the sky, two squirrels dart up a tree, and a rabbit scurry from beneath a juniper shrub near the barn.

  Unexpectedly, Suzette said, "I'm pregnant."

  27: Gust

  At Suzette's words, Sunny jerked her head around. Suzette was nodding to reinforce her sudden proclamation, and from her expression, Sunny didn't know if congratulations or condolences were in order. Then a thought struck with lightening speed. Is Jason the father? Is that why Suzette suddenly arrived on his doorstep?

  Suzette sighed and stared into her china cup. Finally, she said, "If you're wondering if Jason is the father, he isn't. The father is…" her voice hitched, "a starving artist."

  "Oh." Sunny had no idea how she should respond.

  Suzette continued, "I came here because Jason is the only person I can talk to about this. As a married couple we made each other miserable, but we get along okay as friends." As an afterthought she added, "At least I think we do. I came to seek his advice."

  Sunny drew circles on the porch with the toe of her shoe. She wanted to ask what his advice was, but considered that would be prying.

  Suzette answered her unspoken question. "He hasn't given me any advice. He just listens to my whining." Suddenly she turned and asked bluntly, "If you were in my shoes, would you choose love or financial security? If I stay with my starving artist and have his child, I'll have to budget the money I received in my divorce and I won't be able to live the lifestyle I'm accustomed to. If I have an abortion, I can find a rich husband and become his trophy wife."

  Sunny reared back.

  Suzette patted her hand. "I know that sounds horrible but I'm being perfectly honest."

  Sunny said, "I'm the last person to ask advice from. I just went through my own divorce."

  Suzette waved Sunny's words away. "Then you're the perfect person. What would you do if you suddenly found yourself in love with a wonderful man and pregnant, but you knew he had no ambition to become wealthy or successful in anything other than his art work?" She added petulantly, "Which rarely sells. Would you have an abortion and use your looks to secure a future with a rich husband?" Unexpectedly, she smiled and said, "Come on, Sunny. What would you do?"

  Something in Suzette's eyes gave Sunny pause. With sudden clarity, she said, "You already know what you're going to do."

  The hint of a smile tilted Suzette's mouth. "I want to hear what you would do?"

  Sunny smiled. "I would choose love and pregnancy."

  A big grin lit both their faces and Suzette admitted, "The moment I entered this cabin something happened to me. And when you related the history of your family, I could feel the intensity of their love. Beyond a doubt I knew that if I messed up this opportunity to be with the man I love and bear his child, I would forever regret it. And when you told me about Dr. Thomas Matthews, I knew in my heart that he had almost missed his opportunity, too." Her eyes misted when she said, "You may think I'm crazy, but before you came, the cabin spoke to my heart. It said, "Great love requires great sacrifice. But in the end, the sacrifice is nothing."

  Sunny's eyes widened. "Dr. Matthews said that! It's in his journal!"

  Suzette and Sunny both gasped and stared at each other. A sudden gust of wind blew across the porch and the door flew open. Suzette said, "I know I closed that door."

  28: The Talk

  Sunny's heart pounded as she parked in front of Jason's house. He'd called and asked her to breakfast, saying that Suzette had left two days previous. She wondered if his ex had shared their encounter at the cabin. Obviously, she was about to find out.

  Grabbing her purse she paused and gulped a lung full of pine scented air and then headed for the porch. She paused again when her cell phone rang. It was her attorney. He'd tried calling earlier, but she'd been in no mood to talk with him then, or now. She shut her phone off without answering.

  Jason opened the door before she got to the porch. His expression was welcoming and gave away nothing of what he was feeling, but Sunny got a bad vibe.

  He hugged her lightly and said his breakfast quiche was just out of the oven. Her foreboding increased at his aloofness. In her heart she knew something was wrong. She kept their conversation light while they ate on the deck, asking how his latest design project was coming along. Politely, he answered her questions.

  Afterward they cleared the dishes and Sunny could no longer stand the suspense. While setting dishes in the sink she casually asked, "Did Suzette tell you we unexpectedly came across each other at the cabin?"

  Jason stopped in the midst of making another pot of coffee and jerked around. He looked shocked. "No. Was she terrible to you?"

  "Actually, she was very pleasant and we enjoyed a cup of tea on the porch." Sunny wasn't sure how much she should divulge about their visit, but then she shrugged and said, "She told me she's pregnant. She said she came to seek your advice."

  Jason busied himself again making coffee. "I told her I wasn't the best person to give advice but that she should think long and hard about terminating a pregnancy." He cast a speculative glance at Sunny. "Up until two days ago, she was moody and despondent. And then she suddenly became cheerful. I didn't understand the change but I was happy to see she had worked through her issues. She said she was returning to her lover and having their baby. I must say I was stunned, but now I understand. Whatever you said helped her to make up her mind."

  Sunny shook her head. "It wasn't my advice, it was Dr. Matthews'."

  Jason looked confused. "Say again?"

  Sunny briefly smiled. "Did she read the journals I left with you?"

  "Not that I'm aware of. She didn't even have access to them."

  "Well, she said when she entered the cabin she heard a voice speak to her heart, and when she told me what she'd heard, I figured she'd read the words in the final journal. It was a direct quote. Now it appears the cabin has again worked its magic."

  Jason frowned. "That's pretty farfetched." He reconsidered his words. "But everything having to do with that cabin is farfetched."

  They stared at each other and then Sunny said, "Are we going to have our talk?"

  Jason wanted to groan. He knew he could no longer forestall a heart-to-heart reckoning with Sunny. He nodded and replied, "The coffee's almost done. Let's refill our cups and go back to the deck."

  Sunny nodded and again busied herself by rinsing dishes while they waited. A few minutes later he touched her shoulder. She turned and accepted the cup he
offered and followed him outdoors.

  When Jason considered what he was about to say, sadness overwhelmed him. He couldn't remember ever feeling such sorrow, not even during the breakup of his marriage.

  After they were seated he heaved a sigh and spoke bluntly. "Sunny, I want you to know that you are a beautiful and compassionate woman that I admire very much. When we first met, I formulated an opinion about your character that was the polar opposite of the truth. I, well, I acted like a jerk and I apologize."

  She responded, "No. It was terrible of me to threaten you, and–"

  Jason lifted his finger to her lips to still her words. "We were both speaking through emotional turmoil." He blew a breath.

  She countered with, "But?"

  He met her gaze. "But even though my heart is crazy about you, I can't allow our relationship to become anything other than friendship."

  Sunny's eyes glistened. "I'm crazy about you, too."

  Jason glanced past her toward the trees and made a decision. "Wait here a minute, I want to show you something I picked up at the store last night." He rose and entered the house. At his desk he lifted a tabloid and returned to the deck. Setting the newspaper in Sunny's lap he stepped back and waited for her reaction.

  She unfolded the paper and gasped.

  JASON GRANT HOT FOR NEIGHBOR SUNNY SUNDANCE!

  Below the words was a picture of Sunny and Jason in an embrace that had obviously been photo-shopped.

  Sunny shifted her gaze to Jason's and whispered, "Who would do this?" Before he could answer, she exclaimed, "I'm so sorry!"

  He leaned forward and took her hands in his. "I don't know who did it. It could be anyone wanting to make a buck. At one time I wouldn't have put it past Suzette, but now I don't think it was her. He watched a tear slip down Sunny's cheek and almost pulled her onto his lap. Before he could do something so reckless, he said, "Sunny, I really care about you, but being in the public eye isn't something I can do. I just got my life back after my divorce and–"