Summer Reads Box Set, Books 4-6

by Freethy, Barbara

  "Who's he?" she asked suspiciously.

  "He's a friend, and you're not leaving this house with all that makeup."

  "I'm only wearing blush," Roxy protested.

  '"And eyeliner and shadow and lipstick. Go and wash."

  "Aunt Lisa is more cool than you," Roxy said, as she stamped her way up the stairs.

  "Everyone is more cool than me." She looked to see if Jeremy had left yet, but he was still standing in the hall, smiling.

  "Mommy, can I take my dolls to the cemetery?" Mary Bea asked from the upstairs landing, her arms filled with four big dolls.

  "Just one, honey."

  "But they'll be lonely."

  "Why don't you put them down for a nap while we're gone?" Maggie suggested.

  "Okay." Mary Bea toddled off to do as requested.

  "Are you still here?" she asked Jeremy, throwing up her hands with a helpless laugh.

  "I told you I'm not leaving—not unless you tell me that you don't love me."

  She met his gaze in one long, heart-stopping look. "I do love you, Jeremy, but that's a long way from turning you and me into some sort of family."

  "Let me stay. Let me prove to you I'm real and not a fantasy." He put his hands on her shoulders. "I wrote more on the road with you than I have in months. And since I've been home, I haven't written a thing. You're my inspiration, Maggie."

  "I've never been anyone's inspiration."

  "I've never been anyone's fantasy. I'll try it if you will."

  "Jeremy, you have no idea what my life is really like."

  "Show me. Don't shut me out. Give me a chance."

  How could she say no when her heart was screaming yes? "Are you sure? I'm just an average, run-of-the-mill mom with stretch marks and a real weakness for chocolate."

  Jeremy laughed. "As long as you're willing to share that chocolate, I have no problem with it. But you're not just anything, Maggie. I've seen you in action. I know you have a wild imagination, but you're also a fighter, and you're loyal. You don't quit, Maggie. I like that about you—among other things."

  "Really?" She smiled at him for a long moment, just enjoying the connection that had begun that first day. "I guess I should tell you then that I am totally in love with you."

  "Thank God," he breathed.

  She suddenly realized that Jeremy had not been sure of her answer. "Are you that surprised?"

  "I know you loved Keith very much. I saw how much it hurt you to know that he was really gone."

  "It did hurt, and I will miss him, Jeremy. But this isn't about Keith anymore. It's about me and my life and whether or not it could ever mesh with yours. You once said you weren't sure if you wanted children," she reminded him. "I have children."

  "I know what I said, Maggie, and you're right, I'd never really thought much about kids. But that's because those kids didn't have names or faces, and they didn't belong to a woman I love." He paused. "I don't know if I'd be a good father. I'm sure I'd make a lot of mistakes, but I'd like to try to make you happy. I'd like to try to make all of us happy, if you'll let me. I don't want to lose you. Give me a chance?"

  "Yes. Oh, yes, I'll give you a chance." She kissed him on the mouth with a renewed sense of joy and hope and love. "You might as well come with us, then. We have to go to the cemetery."

  Jeremy looked a bit disturbed at that comment. "To visit your husband's grave? Maggie, I don't want to intrude."

  "No, not Keith. My brother lost a child, years ago. His mother-in-law believes in a special celebration for the dead. It's a long story. I'll tell you on the way. Just be prepared for anything."

  "Who else is going to he there?" he asked.

  "Everyone." Her smile faded. "Except Lisa."

  * * *

  From the cemetery Nick could see the blue of the ocean in the distance, glistening in the sunshine. The blue reminded him of Lisa's eyes. A heavy, familiar weight settled around his heart. He tried to shake off the feeling of loneliness, but it covered him like a heavy winter coat. The last few days since she'd returned to L.A. had been agony. He shouldn't have made love to her again. Now his memories were vivid, sharp and painful, not old and faded the way they'd been before.

  A soft chirping drew his gaze to the nearby tree. He smiled at his old friend, the robin. "She's gone, buddy. Flown away. No big surprise."

  The bird chirped in response and hopped up to another branch, flapping his wings, sending his mating call out over the hillside, but there was no reply.

  "Maybe you should get used to being alone," he said. "If I can do it, you can."

  He sat down on the grass and pulled out his guitar. The others would be arriving shortly, but he always came early to spend his own time with Robin. He played a few notes, strumming the guitar softly with his fingers. He remembered when he'd first played the melody for Lisa. It had been her song then. Later it had become Robin's song.

  He played it now for both of them, for the two girls he had loved more than anyone else in his life. Flashes of memory passed through his mind, small tender moments of laughter, joy, love. There was pain in there, too, but he didn't concentrate on that. Today was a day for remembering only the good. And there had been a lot of good. He wished Lisa could remember the past that way. He'd thought for a short time that maybe she could.

  Then she'd told him she was leaving. And while he'd wanted to yell at her, to shake her, to fight for her—he couldn't. Nor could he let her walk out on him again. So he'd done it. He'd been the one to leave first, at least in literal terms. A small satisfaction, at best.

  It would be harder this time. Hell, it might be impossible.

  Finishing the song, he set the guitar down and looked for the robin. It had flown away, but he wasn't alone. Lisa was standing a few feet from him. She'd come back! His heart leapt into his chest. He set the guitar down and stumbled to his feet, telling himself not to be a fool. If she'd come back for anyone; it was for their daughter, and not for him.

  * * *

  "Lisa.”

  He said her name with surprise and wariness. He'd put up his own guard walls, she realized. And who could blame him?

  Taking a few steps closer, she said, "Hello, Nick."

  "What are you doing here?"

  A dozen answers came to mind, some of them more self-protective than others. But it was time to speak the truth. "I heard your song." His sharp intake of breath nearly undid her. "So I came.”

  "I'd almost given up."

  "It took me a while to really hear you. I guess I didn't want to."

  "And now you do?"

  She didn't answer, turning her head toward the small headstone where her daughter's name was written—Robin Nicole Maddux, child of our love. Her eyes filled with tears. She hadn't been to the cemetery in a long time, because this vivid reminder of Robin's death was almost too painful to bear. But she was here now, because she could no longer run away from her heart—or from Nick.

  "Why did you come back, Lisa?"

  Facing him, she took a deep breath, knowing she was about to open herself up for the biggest rejection of her life. But she had to do it. "I love you, Nick. And I want to come back. I want us to be together again."

  He didn't say anything for a moment, and her heart almost stopped. What if he'd changed his mind? What if she'd waited too long?

  "Say something," she begged.

  "I..." He shook his head, his eyes still guarded. "What about Raymond?"

  "I broke up with him, or maybe he broke up with me, but we both knew it wasn't going to work. I also quit my job." She stared him uncertainly. "I thought you'd be happy."

  "I feel like I'm dreaming. I'm not even sure you're real."

  She stepped forward, until they were inches away from each other. "I'm real, Nick. And I'm back."

  "For how long?"

  "Forever. So tell me you love me, dammit."

  "I love you—dammit."

  She smiled as a tear slid out the corner of her eye. "It took you long enough."

 
; "But I want it all, Lisa."

  "What does that mean?"

  "Everything. I want you to marry me again." He paused, putting his hands on her shoulders. "I want us to have children. I can't settle for anything less."

  "You're asking for the sun and the moon and the stars," she said, not sure she could commit to everything.

  "And you," he said softly.

  "I would be terrified, Nick."

  "So would I. I can't promise that nothing bad will ever happen to us again, but I can promise that I'll never let you down the way I did before. And I'll never let you go. No more leaving me behind, Lisa. If you've come back to stay, then you're staying forever. If you try to leave me, I'll follow you to the ends of the earth."

  You never take a risk. You always play it safe. Raymond's words echoed through her head. She was about to take the biggest risk of her life.

  "Yes," she said. "I will marry you again, and I will give you another baby, because I want one, too. I want to have the family that we were meant to have. I want to try again, Nick. I'm ready. And I promise not to leave you again."

  Nick blew out a long breath, and she realized that he was as scared as she was. She flung herself into his arms and kissed him over and over and over again, until they broke apart with a breathless, loving laugh.

  Nick smiled at her. "It took you long enough. I'd almost given up. I've been sitting on my porch, playing that damn song every night, hoping you'd come back to me." He paused. "I love you, Lisa. I never stopped. There's never been anyone else for me, not for a second. You were the one. You were always the one," he said simply.

  "You were the one, too," she said. "The real reason I couldn't send out my wedding invitations. Even before I came back here for Maggie, I had doubts. I knew I was living a life that wasn't really mine. I was too afraid to walk away from it. The pain of losing our child just ripped me apart, Nick."

  "I know," he whispered, brushing the hair away from her face.

  "That's why I couldn't talk about her. It hurt too much to say her name."

  "You haven't said it yet," he reminded her.

  She glanced toward the headstone, then back at Nick. "Robin. Her name was Robin." She smiled as she sniffed back another tear. "And she was a beautiful child, and I will never ever forget her."

  "Neither will I," he said, pressing his lips to her forehead. "And I will talk about her, Lisa."

  "I know. I want you, too. And you can put her picture on the dresser, and I won't turn it over. And I'll even help you think of some good advertising campaigns for your business using her name. But--" She licked her lips. "I can't live in that house again, Nick. I can't go all the way back. I will go forward with you, but somewhere else."

  He nodded. "I understand. I can live anywhere, Lisa. I didn't stay in the house for Robin. I stayed there for you. I wanted you to be able to find me. I wanted you to be able to come home. But if you want me to move to L.A., I'll do it."

  "You will?" she asked in amazement. "But your business..."

  "I can do that anywhere, Lisa. I don't want to hold you back. You should be able to do what you want to do as well. I know we're different now." He grinned. "I think we finally grew up."

  "It took us a hell of a long time," she murmured. She slipped her arms around his waist. "I don't want to live in L.A. I've missed the beach. I've missed our families. And there are advertising agencies in San Diego."

  "Then we'll find a new place, and we'll start over together."

  "Together sounds perfect." She turned her head at the sudden chirping, not at all surprised to see another robin. "Our friend is back."

  "And lonely as hell. Too bad, buddy. I found my mate. You're on your own."

  "Nick, look." Lisa pointed to another bird that seemed to have come out of nowhere. It was on the branch next to the male robin. "She heard his song, and she came. It feels a little magical."

  He smiled. "Don't let your mother hear you say that."

  "Believe me, I don't intend to. I love you, Nick. I just wanted to say it again."

  "Don't ever stop saying it, because I intend to tell you every day how much I love you."

  Their kiss was broken by the sound of cars pulling up. They turned to see kids hopping out of the first car, followed by Maggie and Jeremy.

  "Well, look at that," she murmured.

  "Someone else heard the mating call," Nick said dryly.

  "Maggie deserves to be happy, too."

  "Yeah, I just hope that guy knows what he's getting into."

  Carmela and Silvia got out of the second car, and Bill and Kathy stepped out of the third. Lisa felt a rush of joy and pleasure as their families walked toward them.

  "Lisa," her mother said with joy in her eyes. "I'm so happy you came."

  "I had to. I love Nick. And..." she paused. "I love Robin. Today we're going to celebrate her life and our future together.”

  She heard a bunch of cheers and congratulations as Nick pulled her into his arms and they sealed her promise with one long kiss.

  Epilogue

  Two years later...

  "How long are you going to watch him sleep?" Nick asked as he came up behind Lisa in the shadowy bedroom.

  "Just a few more minutes." Lisa leaned her head against Nick's shoulder and smiled down at the child before her. Samuel Robert Maddux uttered a brief snore and turned over, his little thumb sneaking into his mouth as he once again fell back to sleep. "I can't believe he's a year old today."

  "Maybe you better wake him up so he doesn't miss his party."

  "Let him sleep for a few more minutes. He looks so peaceful." Lisa turned into Nick's arms and smiled up at him. "Thank you."

  "For what—last night or this morning?"

  Lisa laughed. "For giving me another baby to love. And another," she added, patting her rounded stomach.

  "You're not scared anymore, are you?"

  "Oh, yes, I am. Every day and every night, but the joy Sam brings into our lives is worth every worry line on my face. I love being a mother, and I love being your wife."

  "As much as you love advertising?"

  "More, but it is nice that I can work at home three days a week. You fixed everything, Nick. I'm so glad we took another chance. Sometimes, I wonder what would have happened to us if I'd never come back. I'd be married to Raymond, and you'd be married to Suzanne."

  "I don't think so. It probably just would have taken a little longer for us to find each other again."

  Lisa walked to the doorway, then sent him a teasing smile. "Can I go change my clothes—or do you still need to leave the room first?"

  "You have a very smart mouth, Mrs. Maddux," Nick said, as he walked over and kissed her on the lips. "I've begun to enjoy watching you leave. You have a great--"

  "Nick!"

  "Well, you do. But it doesn't bother me to see you leave anymore, because I know you're coming back."

  "Always. You're stuck with me forever."

  "I'm not sure that will be long enough."

  The doorbell rang, and Lisa groaned. "Ever since Maggie married Jeremy, she's become incredibly punctual. Although, how she does it with four kids, I can't imagine."

  "Maggie has changed," Nick said as they walked toward the front door.

  "For the better," Lisa agreed. "She's still funny and scattered and can never find her car keys, but she's so happy."

  "Maggie said she had an announcement to make. I wonder if she's pregnant again."

  "Kristin is only four months old."

  "So?" Nick said with a grin. "In case you haven't noticed, my sister seems to have turned into a sex maniac."

  "It must run in the family," Lisa replied, as she opened the door to greet Maggie and Jeremy. "Hello. Hello."

  "Hello, yourself," Maggie said, as she gave Lisa a hug. "Where's the birthday boy?"

  "Still asleep."

  Maggie raised an eyebrow. "And you're not sitting in his room watching over him?"

  Lisa gave her a sheepish smile. "I was. But I've gotten
better. Come on in. How are you, Jeremy?"

  "Just great," he replied, as Lisa kissed him on the cheek.

  Then she kissed her niece, who was asleep in Jeremy's arms.

  "Where are the other kids?" Lisa asked.

  "They took Sally around the back," Maggie replied, as they walked into the house and put their things in the living room.

  "So, what's the news?" Nick demanded.

  "Goodness, Nick, give Maggie a chance to catch her breath," Lisa said.

  "I don't think that will happen even if you give me the next year to catch my breath," Maggie replied.

  "Why? What is it?" Lisa searched Maggie's face for some hint of trouble, but all she saw was glowing happiness.

  Maggie looked over at Jeremy. "Can I tell her?"

  "Can I stop you?" Jeremy asked with a laugh.

  "We sold our story to Paramount Pictures," Maggie said in a rush.

  "What do you mean—your story?"

  "The story of how we met, my search for Keith, my brother's reunion with his first love—everything," Maggie said with delight. "Jeremy and I wrote it together, and my name is going to be in the credits. Can you believe it? I'm a screenwriter."

  "Wow. That's incredible. I had no idea you were writing something together," Lisa said, glancing over at Nick. He hadn't said a word, and she wondered how he felt about the idea of their personal love story making it to the big screen.

  "Maggie wrote this on her own," Jeremy said. "I was just the backup."

  "No, you were my partner, my equal partner," Maggie said. "So, what do you think? Nick?"

  "Who's going to play me?" he asked.

  Lisa laughed. "More importantly, who's going to play me?"

  "I have no idea," Maggie said. "But the story is fictionalized, so it's not really you two, exactly."

  "It sounds great," Nick said. "Your going crazy two years ago was the best thing that happened to all of us.”

  "Well, thanks, I think."

  Before Maggie could say anything more, the back door opened and the kids ran into the room.

  "Come see, come see," Dylan cried.

  "See what?" Lisa asked.