Natalie's Deception (The Candy Cane Girls Book 5)

by Bonnie Engstrom

  “Was Star once a feral cat?”

  “Don’t know, but doubt it. Emily got him from a cat rescue place I think. Why?”

  “So, tell me about Emily.” Mel had changed the subject abruptly again. Nat wondered why.

  ~

  Jaeda remembered reading in a novel Connie shared with him about a fabulous floral shop in Scottsdale. Could it even hold a candle to Love In Joy in Corona del Mar? He looked it up and turned off Shea Boulevard and pulled in a spot in front of it. When he entered the small shop, he was blown away. He felt as if he was in Paradise.

  “Well, hello, and welcome.” The petite woman with the fluffy brown hair invited him in. “How can I help you?” He was fascinated by her British accent and her welcoming manner, but he supposed that was how she got her customers because there was no huge sign out front. The shop was tucked in between a UPS store and another non-descript one.

  “Beautiful shop!” He stood and looked around at all the elegance. Everything from unusual vases holding unique and rare flowers to sumptuous arrangements for every occasion, all intricately displayed in the small space. On a shelf tucked up high above a wicker chair draped in filmy fabric was a teddy bear. He picked it up.

  “I am Marg,” the shopkeeper said with a grin holding out her small hand, “and you look like a man in love.”

  Jaeda felt color rise in his dark cheeks, but he grinned back. “Not only in love, but just learned I am going to be a father.”

  Marg clapped her hands in delight and laughed, and the apron she wore swished around her small form. “Perfect. We need to set you up on a schedule for the next months. When is this lovely child due to arrive?”

  Jaeda waltzed out of North Scottsdale Floral whistling. He held a huge bouquet of both pink and blue flowers all wrapped beautifully in cellophane and tied with a double bow of both colors. It had set him back a bit on his credit card, but so worth it for Connie. Soon, they would know if they would have a boy or a girl. He didn’t care about the sex, but he would wonder for many months what color the baby’s skin would be.

  CHAPERTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Melanie and Natalie pulled into a rest stop off the Arizona highway and switched driving. Natalie was glad she had brought along strong coffee in a disposable cup. Melanie leaned back on the passenger seat and promptly started to snore. So much for chatting.

  They finally crossed the dividing line into California, and Melanie roused. She shook her head and tried to focus her eyes. “How far now?”

  “Not good at navigating, but guessing another two and a half hours. You okay?” Nat was worried about her friend, the one who was usually so verbal and upbeat. She knew Melanie had been through a lot dealing with the Bruce situation, but it was over now, behind her. Still, there were nasty memories of a nasty man.

  Melanie stirred, but still looked straight ahead. “Yes, okay. Thanks.”

  Natalie kept quiet, pondering her own concerns. Two men who seemed, at least, to be courting her. Such an outdated term, but it popped into her head, and it seemed to fit the bill. She didn’t want to pressure Melanie too much. Oh, yeh? She had a sense Mel was hiding something from her, something to do with her, Natalie.

  ~

  It was good to be home. Natalie shoved the usual mound of papers around on her small desk, then went to the sign-in board. Bryce had a full schedule, a lot of them makeups for when he had been away in Scottsdale. Even though he only paid her ten percent, it would be helpful since she, too, had been away for almost a month. She hobbled to the first exercise room. Her back was still hurting, so she shoved a balled fist in the most hurtful place. That helped.

  She almost ran into Claire, smack into her face. Wow, the woman looked great, younger. “Hi, Claire. So very glad to see you. I really appreciate all you did to take over while I was gone. I sure owe you.”

  Claire made the first move and reached out to hug her with enthusiasm. “You owe me nothing, Nat. It was pure joy for me.”

  “B – but, we made an agreement.” Natalie gripped Claire’s arms lightly and she responded by wrapping her arms around Natalie and squeezing her back hard. Natalie cried, “Ouch!”

  “Oops, sorry,” Claire said. “Feel so strong now, didn’t realize my own strength.”

  Natalie swallowed the lump of pain that had risen in her throat and forced a smile. Maybe Claire didn’t know about her accident. “I’m so glad you recovered. You had me very scared there for a while.”

  “I’m fine. Actually, more than fine.” She paused and smiled warmly. “Thank you so much for the prompt attention that sent me to the hospital and the road to recovery. I am being much more cautious about my health now – only one cup of half coffee, half decaf in the morning; lots of vitamins and fruit and veggies. And,” she continued, “monitored workouts. No going crazy on the treadmill or exhausting myself on the stair stepper.”

  Nat grinned with relief. “So glad. How did it all go? Any snags I need to unravel?”

  Claire pulled her aside, an arm around her shoulder – lightly this time. “Can we talk in your office?” Natalie nodded, led her there and closed the door with a click.

  Claire pulled up the lone chair across from Nat’s desk, then she leaned forward and put her elbows on the desk top. Nat thought she looked uncomfortable, almost conspiratorial. She glanced around as if someone might hear what she was going to say. Natalie noticed for the first time Claire’s eyes were lavender, a stark contrast to her raven-colored hair and porcelain skin. For her age she was a striking woman. Suddenly, her eyes turned deep purple, and

  she reached for Natalie’s hand and whispered.

  What was wrong? Had there been another emergency? Nat was truly worried.

  ~

  Emily was an emotional mess again.

  Claire had been reluctant to share, but she was so worried about Emmy, as she called her, she felt compelled. “She moped around for several days after you left, especially after Bryce left. She took breaks, and because I was worried about her, I sometimes followed her outside.”

  “What was she doing? There is nothing outside except the parking lot and the street.”

  “That’s just it. She seemed to be searching for a car. At first I wasn’t sure, but when she went to the motorcycle spaces and sat on the curb and cried, that’s when I thought I knew.” Claire wrung her hands together. “Both Bill’s cycles were there, so I knew she wasn’t looking for theirs.”

  Natalie raised her brows in question.

  “It must have been Bryce’s she hoped to see,” Claire said. “He’s the only other male who rides a cycle to your gym.”

  “What else? Any other signs or symptoms?” Nat asked.

  “A few. She asked me almost daily when you were coming back, then would casually add something about Bryce on the end. Like ‘Bryce must still be there, too’ or ‘Maybe Nat and Bryce are having fun in Scottsdale.’ Or, she would look at a workout room and say, ‘Wonder what color he would think would encourage his clients?’ I got so worried about her I insisted twice she meet me for coffee.”

  “Did she?”

  “No. The first time she bailed. But, I was okay having some alone time at Starbucks. The second time she rushed in apologetically, but didn’t stay long enough to strike up much of a conversation. No bonding.” Claire hugged her torso. “I think she’s scared of me, scared of confiding and getting close.” Claire sighed and shook her head. “She’s one troubled and unhappy girl.”

  Natalie’s heart ached for Emily, but she was baffled. After Claire left, she called Melanie. “I haven’t a clue how to help her,” she said.

  Melanie said, “I do. Just an idea, but it might work.”

  Together they called Claire. What would she think of their idea? What would Nick think? Would he be willing, interested in befriending Emily? Before they dialed they prayed.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Nick scooted into a booth at Starbucks and waited. He twisted the paper cup several times and wondered what he was doing here. He
had been in the same AA group with Emily for over five years, but never knew her last name. That stuff was private. He remembered she had fallen hard for Rob, then was let down horribly when he married Cindy. He’d always thought Emily was cute, just wore too much makeup. And her laugh was too loud.

  She opened the glass door to the coffee place and stood hesitantly looking around. He waved and stood up. Actually, she was very attractive. Was she wearing less makeup tonight?

  Emily waved back and walked slowly to Nick’s table. She was wearing what his mom called a pencil skirt and a lacey top. Very cute. He stretched out his hand and clasped hers. Her handshake was firm and warm. He recalled Jaeda saying once that you could tell about a person by their handshake. Wet and wimpy was a bad sign. Firm, especially from a woman, displayed poise. Emily had that, and Nick was glad.

  “Hi! I think we met a long time ago at the Lovejoy’s Christmas party. So nice to see you again.”

  “You don’t have to pretend, Nick. We have been in AA together for years. But, I appreciate that you respect that.”

  Nick felt his face break into a wide grin. This might me a fun evening.

  Nick ordered the latte she requested, and the two of them sloshed coffee in their cups for several minutes. Suddenly, he got an idea. Would it work? Would she agree?

  “Say, you remember Jaeda and Connie, another Candy Cane?”

  She nodded. “Friend of Natalie’s?”

  “Yep. There are several of them, maybe six or seven. Very close. Do you know about them?”

  “Nat explained them to me. A special group . . . prayer partners?”

  “Yes, for years. Anyway, I remembered something fun Jaeda and Connie did. Maybe you are up for it?” He looked down at the cute flats she wore. “Do you have any other shoes with you? Like in your car?”

  ~

  Nick held her hand as they stumbled down the sandy slope to Little Corona Beach after parking his car on Poppy, such a narrow street. Because she was re-designing Nat’s Gym and had free use of the equipment, she had a pair of workout shoes in her trunk. Twice she gripped his arm when the sand and pebbles threatened to send her sliding. They reached the bottom of the path and wiggled their feet across the sand.

  “Thank you,” she gasped. “You are strong.”

  “It’s all the surfing I do. That and the occasional workouts.” She smiled brightly. Nick was hooked. He hadn’t had an interest in a girl for years, much less a relationship. Could this be one?

  Suddenly he got the courage. “Have you ever surfed?”

  “You mean like on the water, in the ocean? Not on the internet?” She laughed nervously.

  He loved her laugh. “No, yes. I mean on the water. You swim?”

  “Yes, sort of. I can’t compete with Connie and her friends, but I do swim. Almost made the high school swim team years ago, but was too drugged out. Came in next to last on the freestyle. Why?”

  “Wanna take a try at it? I will protect you as long as you can swim basic strokes.”

  Emily looked at him like he was a crazy man with five heads. “You serious?”

  “Sure am. I go surfing almost every morning, and I’d love to have a companion. A female one, not one of the guys.”

  “I do have the flexibility of my own schedule,” she said. “But I’m scared.”

  “Of?”

  “My swimming ability, and what you will think of me when I blow it.”

  Nick laughed so heartily his stomach almost hurt. “I guess you don’t know the Natalie story when Billy tried to teach her how to surf. She,” he continued, “the best backstroker on the swim team, freaked. Maybe I shouldn’t have shared that, so please don’t tell her you know.”

  ~

  Monday morning was perfect on the Point at the Newport Peninsula. Blue sky, no clouds, high waves. The time they had spent together at Little Corona Beach was special, although not as memorable as Jaeda and Connie had described when they were there. But, those two had already fallen in love, and that beach was their love nest. Emily had chased a few seagulls and been tempted by the shells washed up on the sand. She and Nick both honored that Little Corona was a protected beach, so no taking anything from it. Instead she took some selfies of them together grinning into the camera. They had laughed when the cold waves tickled their bare toes and they finally put their shoes back on to negotiate the climb up the path. Emily had made several curiosity comments about the large beach houses that hung just above the path. “It’s the decorator in me,” she had said as an excuse. “I can’t help but wonder having a home perched here looking out at the expanse of the Pacific why …” Then her voice trailed off. Nick asked, “Why what?” But she just shook her head keeping her thoughts to herself.

  ~

  This morning Nick unhooked two surf boards from the roof of his SUV. He had picked Emily up fifteen minutes ago. He tossed a wetsuit to her, and she made a face. “Do I have to?”

  “Yep, gotta. Remember how cold the water was at Little Corona?” She nodded. “This is even colder, and your whole body will be immersed in it. Hopefully, briefly,” he added as he chuckled and took hold of the board leashes and started dragging them across the sand. He waved for her to follow, and she trudged behind in his footstep imprints.

  Emily surprised Nick. She had remarkable balance, her toes almost glued to the board. Either she was super determined, or she was terrified. But, she listened carefully to all his instructions, did everything he told her to. The only time she fell off was when a huge wave smacked her on the back and pulled her under. Nick chastised himself. He should have seen it coming and warned her. She had spluttered to the surface and laughed with arms outstretched. The girl was amazing. She was having fun.

  ~

  Emily felt different. She had just done something daring and loved it. How could she explain it to herself? Where had her courage come from? Maybe it had been bottled up inside her all along. She had never had a desire to surf, especially in scary water. Had Nick given her the courage? He was a good instructor and seemed to like her. Hopefully, a lot. He was not the corporate type she was used to in her decorating business, but he was cute and had a great personality. She couldn’t imagine Nick in a three piece suit like one of her former clients. No, Nick would be in board shorts and a wet tee shirt that clung to his muscles, his longish blond hair making ringlets against his neck. It was an enticing picture, but was it real, and would it last? That was a brave question.

  ~

  After showering and changing into conservative sweats, Emily grabbed her clipboard and made the rounds of all the exercise rooms in Nat’s Gym. She was concentrating on her notes when she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder. “Agh! Bryce, please don’t scare me like that ever again.” She turned to scowl at him expecting to find a confrontational face. Instead, his thick eyelashes fluttered and he looked down at his toes. She didn’t know why, but her heart went out to him. He looked so sad, and confused. “What is wrong? What is going on?” she said putting a hand on his arm.

  He shrugged, but didn’t look up. Finally, he said, “I am a jerk.” But, it was almost a whisper, so Emily said, “What?”

  When he didn’t explain she offered the go-to for all problems. Starbucks was certainly getting a lot of business from the clients and employees of Nat’s Gym. They settled at a round table outside. The weather was mild for October, and at this time of morning during the week there were only a few customers. Best yet, Bryce bought the lattes. Emily grinned and thanked him, then began to question him.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Natalie was pushing the security code on the door to the gym when she heard her name called. Claire. What was she doing here so early?

  “Hi, Nat. Wanted to get a jump on things,” she explained. “You okay with that?”

  “Sure, always. But you don’t have to.” Was Claire feeling the need to be more involved now? She had been a great support while Nat was away in Scottsdale, but Nat was home now and ready to take over.

  “I don’t wa
nt to impose,” Claire said, “but I love being here.” She cocked her head and looked oddly at Natalie. “I’m willing to do whatever to help,” she added.

  Natalie tried to think of something. She had a mental picture of Claire mopping the floor and cleaning toilets, and she had to suppress a laugh that turned into a grin. “How very nice of you,” she finally said. “I can’t think of anything, though. Unless you can.”

  “Well . . .” she hesitated. “I have an idea.”

  Nat raised her brows and waited.

  “Actually, a couple of ideas. Can we go into your office?”

  It was too early to switch on all the lights, so she opened her office door and turned on the desk light to illuminate the small space. She indicated the lone guest chair to Claire who pulled it up close to Nat’s desk across from her. Claire set her handbag next to her feet and pulled out a printed page. “My list,” she said with a smile.

  “Wow, you must have a lot of ideas. Shoot them at me.” Nat squirmed in her chair. What on earth could the woman be thinking?

  “Here’s a copy for you. The starred ones are my favorite.” Her hand shook a little as she passed the paper across the desk to Natalie.

  “Wow, again!” Nat glanced at the list. “Lots of ideas. Some might not work here, but still great ones.” She hoped she was sounding supportive. After all, Claire really cared for the gym, and for her.

  “Tell me about your favorite one, one you think would be a big draw for the gym. Both for our current clients and to bring in new ones.” She scrutinized Claire’s face, and the other woman’s lavender eyes sparkled.

  “Hard to decide. I love the idea of offering healthy snack food, maybe in a kiosk type of place. Not a restaurant. That would require all kinds of licensing. Lots of people after they’ve worked out want a healthy type drink, or a balance bar. Maybe a yogurt.” She paused and squinted as if remembering something. “For instance, Pam who does the Friday senior fitness class always suggests at the end of her session for everyone to go eat protein. Or, at least something healthful.”