A Time to Forgive

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A Time to Forgive Page 12

by Kay Correll


  “You don’t have to buy me out. Just let me come stay here sometimes.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. I’d love nothing more than to still have the cabin in the family. We could have holidays here with the boys. It would be wonderful.” Cece nodded her head emphatically.

  “But that still doesn’t solve the Abby problem. I don’t have enough to give her a third of the value of the cabin.”

  “Maybe we could talk her into... I don’t know, taking payments or something?” Cece’s forehead creased. “Though, I’m not sure why she’s so worried about getting her split. She’s the only one of the three of us that has it made. She jaunts all around the country. Drives her fancy car. Lives in that condo that has to be worth a bazillion bucks.”

  “I guess I could try talking to her.” The idea of staying in Sweet River Falls was beginning to grow on her. She was tired of the hustle and bustle of Austin. Tired of the endless traffic. Maybe she could make a go of a catering business here.

  And since she and Jason had decided to just remain friends, she’d have a good friend... if she really did move here.

  She looked around the cabin and started laughing.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Just look at all the work we’ve done boxing everything up.” She flung her hand wide.

  Cece burst out laughing.”Well, if we can work this out, I’ll help you unpack.”

  Bree walked into the kitchen at the lodge and found Nora busy making loaves of bread.

  “Bree, hi. You looking for Jason? He ran into town.”

  “No, I was looking for you.” She walked over and plopped down on a stool by the counter.

  “You found me. What can I do for you?” Nora pounded on the bread dough, working it and folding it over and over.

  “I want to run something past you.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Well, I was talking to Cece, and we decided we’re going to try and keep the cabin.”

  Nora broke into a wide grin. “Well, that’s good news. I hated to think of you girls giving it up.”

  “Well, I still have to make some things happen first.” Like convince Abby to let her pay her off over time, but she didn’t want to share that with Nora. “Anyway, I’m actually thinking of moving here. Back to Sweet River Falls.”

  “Why that would be wonderful. We’d love having you around.”

  “I was... well, I was thinking of starting up a catering business here in town. I could cater events here and in Mountain Grove and maybe even get into some of the wedding planning business.”

  “I’d sure turn wedding planning for the weddings here over to you. You want the job?”

  Bree laughed. “Well, I do. Let me see if I can make this happen.”

  “Make what happen?” Jason walked into the kitchen and swiped a cookie from the tray of them beside Nora.

  Nora tilted her head toward Jason. “Go ahead, you tell him.”

  “I’m trying to make things work out so we can keep the cabin.”

  “That’s great news.” A wide smile spread across his face.

  “Tell him the other part.” Nora nodded.

  “Oh, that.” She grinned. “And if things work out, I think I’m moving to Sweet River Falls.”

  Jason’s eyebrows rose and he sucked in a quick breath.”Really?”

  “If I can work things out with Abby.”

  “That’s great news, Bree. Great.” His smile was so broad that the faint lines at the sides of his eyes deepened.

  It would be nice to have a good friend here. She’d missed Jason and their easy camaraderie. Well, at least until they’d messed it up with a kiss. They could make their way back to friendship, she was sure they could.

  Pretty sure...

  Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she dug it out. A text from Abby. “Well, that’s strange.”

  “What?” Jason asked.

  “Abby texted and said she’s flying to Denver and is coming to the cabin. She’ll be here tonight. Wonder what that’s about.” She shrugged. “But at least I’ll get a chance to talk to her.”

  Chapter 22

  That evening after finishing up his work at the lodge, Jason stood in front of the mirror in his bathroom. He’d showered, put on a clean shirt, combed his hair. As an afterthought, he slapped on some aftershave. He was going to head over to Bree’s cabin and talk to her.

  No more overthinking.

  No more waiting.

  The universe had given him a second chance, and he wasn’t going to blow it this time. He grabbed his jacket and headed out.

  He drove over to the cabin, reciting different words, different ways to say what he wanted to say to her. When he pulled his truck into the drive at Bree’s cabin, he turned off the engine and sat for a moment, still trying to think of the right words to say to her. He frowned when he saw the rental car in the driveway. That meant Abby was already here.

  He’d just ask Bree if she’d go for a drive with him. Or maybe walk up to the gazebo. They’d have some privacy there. He rubbed his hands on his jeans. It was going to be okay. It was.

  He opened the door, hopped out, and walked to the door of the cabin with determined strides.

  Bree and Cece sat on the couch facing Abby, perched on the chair across from them. “So, I—we—have decided we want to try and keep the cabin in the family,” Bree started, still uncertain why Abby had returned.

  Abby raised an eyebrow. “You have?”

  “We just can’t let it go. So we’ve come up with a plan,” Cece added.

  “What’s that?”

  “Well, if you’ll let me pay off your portion over time, I think we can make it work.”

  “Over how long?”

  “Honestly, I’m not sure. I promise you’ll get your share, but it will take me a while. You see, I’ve decided to move to Sweet River Falls.”

  “What?”

  “I’m going to start up a catering business here in town. And Nora has asked me to coordinate the weddings at the lodge. I’ll have enough money after I sell my house and business in Austin to pay you some and have enough for taxes and upkeep of the cabin. Then, as my business grows, I’ll be able to pay you more.”

  “That doesn’t work for me.” Abby shook her head emphatically.

  “Why not? What do you need with more money? You’re already doing better than either Bree or me.” Cece glared at Abby.

  A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Bree got up, annoyed at the disruption. She opened the door to see Jason standing there looking... she’d swear he looked nervous.

  “Bree, I need to talk to you.”

  “Now’s not a good time.”

  Abby called from across the room.”Oh, for sure. Invite Jason in. Then the three of you can gang up on me.”

  Jason stood there uncertainly. She grabbed his hand and pulled him in. “We’re kind of in the middle of a discussion on the cabin.”

  “Yes, Cece and Bree are telling me how we’re going to keep the cabin, but I’m not going to get my share of it.” Abby stood.

  “Don’t be like that.” Cece slapped her hand on her leg.

  “Like what? Like the odd man out? Like the outsider?” Abby’s eyes flashed. “I told you I need that money. I need it. I can’t wait for some supposed payoff in the future.”

  “I have a little bit saved. I could help with giving you your share,” Cece offered.

  “Would it be a third of the value of the cabin? Have you researched market value here? This cabin is a sweet deal now if we sell.”

  “Don’t you have any desire to keep the cabin in the family?” Cece’s eyes blazed in anger.

  “Not really. I just need my share.”

  Bree sank down on the couch. “Well, that’s that then. I can’t come up with that kind of cash. I guess we’ll have to sell.”

  “That’s what we planned anyway.” Abby stood firm.

  “Abby, you can be so self-centered at times.” Cece got up and headed fo
r the bedroom.

  “Of course, this is all my fault. I’m the one being selfish. It’s always my fault.” Abby grabbed her coat. “I’m going into town. I’ll be back later.” She slammed out the door.

  Jason sat down next to Bree. “I’m sorry. I know you really wanted to keep the cabin.”

  “It just wasn’t mean to be.” She slowly swept her view around the cabin. “I thought that maybe Abby would go for me paying her off over time.”

  For once Jason was sorry that he’d invested every penny he’d saved back into the lodge. He’d give anything to be able to help out Bree financially now. Not that she’d take his money.

  He’d picked a fine time to decide to come talk to Bree about their future. If they had one.

  “So, are you still planning on staying if you sell the cabin?”

  Bree frowned. “I don’t know. I do have the business back in Austin.”

  “I thought you wanted to be near Cody.”

  “I did. I do. I just... it’s all getting complicated. I think I’ll just get the cabin ready to sell and head back to Austin and think things over. Maybe this is some sign that I made the wrong decision to move to Sweet River Falls.”

  Disappointment flooded through Jason. Should he talk to her now? Tell her how he felt?

  How did he feel?

  What he wanted was time together to figure it out.

  He could hear the universe laughing at him.

  Chapter 23

  Bree got up the next morning to find Abby gone without a word, and a scribbled note from Cece that she’d gone into town. She went to make coffee and found they didn’t have any. That was not going to work for her this morning.

  She grabbed her keys from the key drawer, once again noticing the keychain with her parents’ keys on it. Her heart crumbled. They were gone. The cabin would soon be gone. She’d tried, she had. It was like the world was conspiring against her.

  She headed for Bookish Cafe. Annie greeted her when she entered. “Good morning. I guess the Stuart girls are all on the same wavelength this morning.”

  “What?”

  “Abby was in early this morning, but left. Then Cece was in just a while ago.”

  Bree gave her a wry smile. “We’re out of coffee at the cabin.”

  Annie handed her a cup of coffee. “Here you go. On the house.”

  “Is Cece still here?” Bree looked around and glanced toward the stairs leading up to the loft area.

  “No, she took hers outside. Said she was going to walk along the river. It’s nice out today, isn’t it?”

  Bree almost laughed at the “nice out” comment. The sun was shining, and the wind had died down, but it was still cold. This sure wasn’t what they’d consider a nice day in Austin. Guess it was all relative.

  “I think I’ll do the same.” She headed out into the sunshine and wandered along the pathway by the river. The gurgle of the stream and the sunlight glinting off the water enchanted her. She did so love this town. She came to the end of the path where it opened to a large brick courtyard and froze.

  There in the middle of the courtyard was Cece.

  And Jason.

  Jason was holding Cece in his arms. He pushed a lock of hair away from her face and swept a finger across her cheek.

  Bree closed her eyes as the familiar feeling of anger and betrayal swept over her. Her breath came in an empty gasp, and her pulse slowed as if the world was revolving in slow motion. She fought the feeling, opened her eyes, and stalked over to them.

  “Well, I guess it all worked out what with not being able to keep the cabin.” Her words were brittle and cold.

  “What?” Jason dropped his arms from around Cece and turned and smiled at her.

  Smiled at her.

  “So I know we said that we’d just be friends. That’s probably a great idea, right?”

  “What do you mean?” Jason frowned.

  “Well, it was bad enough that Cece slept with my boyfriend, but now that you and her are a thing, I’m leaving.” She whirled around.

  “No, wait...”

  “No, I’m serious. Leave me alone. Just leave me alone.”

  Bree wasn’t giving either of them time to explain.

  She was done with her sister. Done with Jason. Done with Sweet River Falls.

  “I’ve got to go after her.” Jason started to follow Bree.

  Cece put her hand on his arm. “I think she needs a minute. She’s so angry now. She said to leave her alone. Maybe give her time to cool off.”

  “I don’t know...” He eyed Cece. “Are you okay?”

  “No.” Cece shook her head. “Everything is even more messed up now.” She swiped a tear from her cheek. “Thank you for listening to me. I was so upset.”

  “It wasn’t like I was going to just leave you here crying.”

  “Our timing was kind of lousy, though, wasn’t it? Bree thinks that we’re... a thing.”

  “I’ll go talk to her. Sort it out.”

  “She might not believe you.”

  “She either trusts me or not. If she doesn’t, then... well, we don’t have anything to base a relationship on anyway.”

  “You want a relationship with her, don’t you?”

  “More than anything.”

  “I thought that we’d worked things out and Bree would be moving back close again. Then Abby blew that up. And now this. Maybe none of this was meant to be.” Cece let out a long sigh.

  Jason squared his shoulders. “Maybe all of this is meant to be. Maybe we’re just giving up too quickly.”

  Cece looked at him and nodded. “You’re right. Let’s go find her.”

  Chapter 24

  Abby was actually in the cabin packing when Bree returned. Great. Just what she needed. Abby looked up from where she was packing up their mother’s vases.”Mom had a ton of these, didn’t she?” Abby said the words as if it was the most normal thing to say. Like she hadn’t just blown up Bree’s plan to keep the cabin. As if Bree hadn’t just found Cece in Jason’s arms.

  “She did.” That was all Bree could get out. She headed to the bedroom to get away. Away from Abby. Away from Cece. Away from everything. She looked around wildly, wondering how long it would take to finish up the cabin.

  What if she just went back to Austin and left her sisters to finish up? That would serve them right. She’d done more than her share.

  She swung her suitcase from the closet and started throwing her clothes in it. Then she collapsed on the bed. But Cody was still here. She couldn’t bear to leave Cody. She flung herself backward and threw her hands over her head.

  “Bree?” Jason’s voice came from the open doorway.

  Nope, not going to happen. “Go away.”

  “No, we’re going to talk to you and you’re going to listen.” Cece walked into the room, her voice firmer than Bree had ever heard it.

  Cece reached out and pulled on Bree’s hands, making her sit up on the bed. “Now, you need to listen to us.”

  Bree closed her eyes, willing them to disappear.

  “Jason found me crying out on the walkway by the river. I was upset that you were leaving. We were so close to making things work out.”

  “I was just trying to comfort her. I couldn’t just leave her there crying.” She heard Jason step into the room and opened her eyes.

  “I know you don’t have any reason to trust me. I know that. But, please, don’t let this mess things up,” Cece pleaded.

  Jason looked right into her eyes. “Nothing happened except I was trying to comfort a friend. You either believe me or you don’t.” His eyes flashed with defiance.

  She looked deep into his eyes and knew the truth. She did believe him. She did trust him. He’d promised he’d never lie, never keep anything from her ever again.

  She stood and a blush of embarrassment swept through her. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry to both of you. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. I’m... sorry.”

  A look of relief crept over Cece’s face.
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  Jason held out a hand and pulled her into his strong arms, wrapping them securely around her.

  Cece smiled and slipped out of the room.

  They stood there silently for a long time. His heartbeat pounding against her cheek pressed against him. His hand stroking her back. She could almost believe that things were okay.

  Almost.

  “Bree, come sit on the bed. I want to talk to you.” They finally pulled apart.

  They sat side by side on her bed amidst her clothes strewn around them.

  He sucked in a deep breath and took her hands in his. “I want you to stay. I want us to be together. Figure out what we have.” He paused and squeezed her hands. “No, that’s not the truth.”

  She watched him closely.

  “I know what we have, I’ve just been afraid to admit it.” He could barely hear his words through the pounding of his pulse. “I love you, Bree. I think I’ve loved you since we were kids. Since I first met you. I’m not letting this chance get away from us. Not this time.”

  “You what? Can you say that again?”

  He could barely hear her words.

  “I love you, Bree. I want you to stay. Say you’ll stay here with me. Move back here.”

  “But the cabin and... everything.”

  “We’ll find you a place to live. We’ll work it out.”

  She smiled up at him then, tears crowding the corner of her eyes. “I love you, too.”

  “So you’ll stay?”

  “So I’ll stay.”

  He leaned down and kissed her then, a long tender kiss on her welcoming lips.

  He’d finally gotten his timing right.

  Chapter 25

  Bree and Jason walked into the great room, hand in hand. Her heart was soaring. She barely noticed the stacks of boxes. Her anger toward Abby slipped away, smothered out by her happiness.

  The door opened and Pete and Cody entered the cabin, laughing. Cody stopped when he saw her holding Jason’s hand. “Well, it’s about time.” He grinned at her.

 

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