by Linda Style
Swiftly, Serena gathered up everything—a mystery novel, a cell phone, manicure set, breath mints and a set of car keys—chucked them back inside the purse and then set it on the table. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done the same thing,” Serena said, still wondering if the woman really was okay.
“Why don’t you just sit for a bit. I can make you a cup of tea or…something else if you’d like.” She noticed then that the other women weren’t there yet.
“Thank you. That would be nice,” Bella said. “The tea is in the cabinet right above the microwave. Make one for yourself, too.”
As Serena moved about the kitchen, getting the tea and putting two cups of water in the microwave, she felt Isabella watching her. “Where are the others?”
“They couldn’t make it,” Bella said. “I was going to call you and tell you we’re going to do it another time, but I guess I forgot.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Serena said. “What day did you change it to? I only have afternoons after three when I close shop, you know. And even then, I have some other things going on.”
Bella frowned. “I wrote the information down somewhere.” A moment later she said, “On the calendar over there.” She pointed to a calendar by the phone.
The microwave beeped. Serena fixed the tea, placed a cup in front of the woman, and the other at the seat next to her before going over to the calendar.
“Did Cole talk to you?”
Serena stopped and turned. “What about?”
Bella took a sip of her tea, then put the cup down. “About the business. Your brother’s business.”
“No. Why would he? Did something happen?” Serena drew out a chair beside Bella and sat. What had Ryan done now?
“Oh,” the woman said, surprise in her eyes, as if she’d said something she shouldn’t have. “No. Nothing happened. I just wondered how the business was working out for Ryan.”
They quietly sipped their tea, then Serena rose from her chair. “Ryan hasn’t said too much, but I know he was excited about Cole helping out.”
Bella tapped the side of her cup, her gaze on Serena. “And how do you feel about it?”
The last thing Serena wanted was to discuss Cole with his mother. She moistened her lips. “I just wish for Ryan to succeed. Haven’t you talked to Cole about it?”
She shook her head. “No. But I’m hoping it works out so Cole will want to stay in Spirit Creek.”
No way. Cole staying in Spirit Creek was the last thing she wanted. But looking at Bella, seeing the love in her eyes when she spoke of Cole, Serena knew what she must be feeling. The loss of a child, no matter how it happened, was heart-wrenching.
“Do you think he’d like to stay?” As soon as she asked the question, she wished she hadn’t. Cole’s choice to stay or leave didn’t matter.
“Of course not. But I don’t think he really knows what he wants. He feels I should sell this place and move to an apartment.”
“And I gather you have no desire to.”
“Not on your life.”
Serena wondered if Cole, too, had noticed his mother’s forgetfulness. That could be why he wanted her to move. To know was hard. Cole had always been able to let things slide off his back. Nothing had ever seemed to bother him. If something was wrong, he ignored it, pretended everything was fine.
All of a sudden, she couldn’t help thinking of Beau, the name she’d secretly given their baby boy. Cole’s son. Bella’s grandson, she realized. The grandson Bella had never known she’d had. A lump formed in Serena’s throat.
“It would help if you…told him,” Bella said.
Serena shoved back in her chair and rose to her feet. Frowning, she said, “Tell him?”
“Tell him you’re not angry anymore.”
Oh, God. She almost laughed. Not angry. If they’d had a disagreement or a lovers’ spat, she might be angry. But angry couldn’t even begin to describe her feelings…or what she’d gone through that night and the next year and a half. But poor Bella wasn’t aware of any of that.
“Don’t you worry, Bella. Everything will be fine. Cole wants you to be happy, so maybe…” She shrugged, unable to finish. But she’d uttered her words with confidence. Cole loved his mother and wanted only the best for her. He’d talked many times about how he wished to make things better for her.
“He’s a good man. But people just remember…before.”
That was true. At least for her. “Things will work out, Bella. Just give them some time.”
If only she could take her own advice.
She bestowed a fast hug on the woman, said goodbye and went to the front door. Eager to be gone, she stepped outside hurriedly—and ran smack into Cole.
“Whoa, there,” he said, grasping Serena’s shoulders to steady her. “Sorry.”
“I’m okay,” she muttered, and started down the stairs. Cole caught her arm.
“Look,” Cole said, his voice thick. “You can’t avoid me forever. Living in the same small town, we can’t avoid running into each other.”
She brought her head up and saw the plea in his eyes…the warmth that so easily sucked her in. To move away took all her willpower. “I’m not avoiding you.”
He drew back, too. “You coulda fooled me.” He smiled quickly, then said, “You made your feelings known the other night, and I can’t blame you for that. I would just like us to be…civil. And maybe someday you’ll allow me to explain.”
“There’s no point, Cole. What happened happened. You didn’t return that night because you had better things to do. You cared more about your friends and partying than you cared about me and our future together. I understand that, and it’s okay. There’s nothing else to say.”
“Except that it’s not true. That night didn’t have anything to do with how I felt about you. Nothing that happened had anything to do with how I felt about you.”
“You might be able to convince yourself of that, Cole, but the facts are the facts.”
He brought himself up, and she could discern anger gathering in his eyes.
“Just like that, huh? That’s all it was to you.” He clenched his hands, as if restraining himself. His lips thinned when he said, “I should’ve known, shouldn’t I have? I should’ve known you have no room in your life for people who make mistakes. Guess I was too stupid to figure that out.” He raked a hand through his hair. “I spent a whole year waiting for you to come back—or at least answer one of my letters.” He scoffed. “Well, don’t worry, I won’t mention the past again.”
She bit the inside of her cheek to keep her emotions in check. Still, tears began to well. In her heart of hearts she knew Cole wasn’t a bad person. But he was who he was. Bringing herself up, she said stiffly, “Good. And you’re right. We’re both adults and should be able to live in the same town and be civil to each other.” Nodding toward the house, she said, “I won’t let it interfere with anything else, either.” Then she rushed down the steps, got into her van and sped off, tires screeching as she did so.
Cole stood there for a moment, watching until she was gone. He’d come home because he’d wanted to make sure his mom was okay. She’d seemed preoccupied this morning, not herself. He had no idea what Serena had been doing here, but he was determined to find out.
He went inside and closed the door. “What’s going on?” Cole called out. His mom was sitting at the round oak table in the kitchen, her head in her hands. “Are you all right?” he asked.
Bella nodded. “I’m fine. We just had tea.”
He blinked. “Tea. Oh.” He had no clue his mom and Serena were even friendly.
He was about to go to the refrigerator, when he saw a broken cup on the floor. “What the—” He strode over and started gathering the pieces. “What happened?”
“I bumped the cup against the counter,” Bella said. “Right before you came in. I didn’t have a chance to clean up.”
“No big deal,” he said. “I’ll get it.”
He retrieved the broom
and swept up the pieces, then wiped up the spilled tea with a paper towel. “So, why was Serena here?”
His mom told him about the church donations, but all Cole could think was that it was one more opportunity to make an inroad with Serena. He had no illusions about anything. All he wanted was to explain, to…Hell, he didn’t even know what he wanted anymore. He was tired of moving around, tired of being a stranger in a strange town, tired of not caring about anyone and knowing no one cared about him.
Yet there was nothing here for him, either. Except his mom.
He grabbed a quick drink and headed back to work. Ryan was out on a tour, and it was a good time for Cole to tackle the accounting system—rather, the lack of an accounting system. He paid some bills and went through insurance paperwork while waiting for his interview with a young man who’d answered the ad Cole had placed in the local paper for a part-time tour guide. After the interview, he’d have to take an older couple from New York on a two-hour tour to the seven-hundred-year-old Sinagua cliff dwellings.
He extracted a bottle of water from the minifridge, but he’d need something much stronger if he wanted to banish Serena from his mind. Though he hadn’t expected to run into her, in a way he was glad he had. He knew where he stood. Yeah, he still had a litany of regrets, and he still wished he could make her understand, but he had to be realistic. She wasn’t interested in his explanation…and he had to make amends, one way or another. Helping Ryan was the only way to do that. Knowing how much Serena wanted to see her brother succeed, he realized that by helping Ryan, he was also doing something for Serena.
The unique sound of a motorcycle, followed by a knock on the front door, interrupted Cole’s thoughts. A young man peered inside. “Hello. I’m here about the job.”
Cole smiled and motioned him in. The kid, who appeared to be in his early twenties, was tall, lean and darkly good-looking. Yesterday when the young man had called, he’d said he was new in town. “I’m guessing you’re Sam Sinclair.”
“You’re guessing right.” The kid flashed a giant white smile.
Cole invited him to sit and then asked some questions pertinent to the job. Aside from two years of college before dropping out, Sam didn’t have any work experience and had lived in a half-a-dozen places since he’d left high school. “So,” Cole said, “being new in town, why would you make a good tour guide?” Cole grinned at him wryly. “Besides meeting girls.”
Sam beamed. “The girl part is cool. And I’d be a good guide because I’m new in town. Someone who’s been here a while probably wouldn’t find the work as exciting as I would,” he said. “I think everything about the area is amazing, and I’ve read everything I could about it. I’ve gone on all the trails and some of the back roads, too. And even though I didn’t finish college, I majored in archeology.” He smiled. “Plus I’ve boned up on the history. Petroglyphs and all that. Were you aware there are two hundred and ninety-five ghost towns in Arizona and twenty-five underground rivers?”
Cole laughed. “Very good.”
After that they talked about the hours, pay and expectations, and Cole ended with some casual conversation, a method he’d used in the past in business. It put people at ease, and they tended to reveal more about themselves without his asking direct questions. So far, Cole liked what he heard.
The kid shrugged when Cole inquired why he’d decided to live in a small town like Spirit Creek. “I didn’t,” he answered thoughtfully. “It picked me.”
The answer surprised Cole. Either the kid was a lot deeper than Cole, or he was snowing him. Didn’t matter, though. Cole figured someone with his engaging personality would go over well with customers. And Cole could practically guarantee that the girls would fall all over him. “Okay, Sam,” Cole said. “You got the job.”
“Really?” The surprised look on Sam’s face shifted into a hopeful smile.
“Yes, really.”
“Awright! When do I start?”
“How about this weekend? I’ve got four different tours booked.”
Sam frowned. “Oh, I forgot to say I don’t know anything about those vortex things, so one of those tours might not be good the first time out. But I’m a quick study.”
Cole didn’t know a whole lot about that particular tour, either, and he doubted he could do one. He simply wasn’t into the energy thing. The only person he knew with any knowledge of them was Serena. “Well, there’s the Internet and the library, and you might want to talk to the owner of the Cosmic Bean. She’s knowledgeable, and the café carries some books on the subject.”
“Cool,” Sam said. “I’ll check it out.”
After agreeing on a schedule, Cole watched Sam as he climbed onto his old Harley, looking as if he was king of the world.
Cole sighed. So many years had passed since he’d had that feeling.
CHAPTER SIX
SERENA HELD THE PHONE an inch from her ear as her mother made one excuse after another. She should have known her mom would find some excuse not to come. So why, after thirty-some years, did she feel the sting of disappointment? “It’s okay, Mom,” Serena finally interrupted. “I’m hugely busy right now anyway.”
“Oh.” Her mother’s voice was low.
Standing at the window in her living room above the café, Serena glanced down the street toward the Purple Jeep Touring Company. “I’m doing some cooking for the church dinner, and there’s another chili cook-off coming up, and—”
“Okay. I get it. Well, I can make it for Thanksgiving. How’s that?”
“Sure. Just let me know.” But Serena wasn’t holding her breath. “How’s Dad?”
“Same as ever. He forgets a lot these days.”
No surprise there. Years of recreational drugs had a tendency to do that to a person. “He’s not sick, is he?”
“No. Just cranky.”
“Have you talked to Ryan lately?” Serena asked.
“He never calls.”
“Have you called him? He’ll be disappointed that you’re not visiting.”
“Tell him to phone me.”
“Sure.” Ryan would phone their mother about as fast as she did him. They were so alike and yet, neither could see it. “You know how fast that’s going to happen,” Serena said. Serena hadn’t spoken to Ryan for a couple of days, and made a mental note to call him when she finished talking to her mother.
Serena’s mom, Charity Matlock, barely acknowledged what Serena had said and then went on and on about other things. She loved her mother, but sometimes the woman made it nearly impossible to have a real conversation.
“Why are you at home on a Friday night?”
Serena gritted her teeth. The woman flitted from one topic to another in a nanosecond. “I’m here because I want to be,” Serena said, annoyed at the question.
“Well, you should be out having fun. Meeting people. Maybe then I might have a chance of becoming a grandma one of these days.”
Serena’s chest constricted. Her mother had never offered help or provided any moral support when Serena had been trying to figure out what to do when she was pregnant. Never offered to be with her when she’d had the baby, or had any empathy on the adoption. “You know what, I like my life the way it is, so you might as well put that idea to rest.”
“What about that Romano boy you were dating?”
“That was a long time ago, so can you please drop the subject?”
“Okay,” her mother said blithely. “Maybe Ryan will make me a grandmother.”
“Maybe he will,” Serena said, not buying into her mother’s guilt trip. Ryan couldn’t even take care of himself, much less a family.
Serena had barely gotten out the words, when her mother was onto another subject. Less than thirty seconds later, the woman said goodbye and hung up.
Standing there, Serena took a deep calming breath. In the distance, just over the mountains, the sky faded from red to pink to violet as it bled into twilight. Sky-blue pink. Nothing was quite as breathtaking as an Arizona sunset, a
nd just watching the shifting patterns of light had a soothing effect on her. And right now, she needed soothing.
Then she saw one of the purple Jeeps rumble down the street and pull into a spot in front of the touring company, and Sam, the young man they’d hired, got out.
Sam had come into the café a couple of times in the past week, asking questions about the vortex-energy fields. He’d said he needed to know everything about them so he could conduct a tour, and he seemed to be an eager learner. She’d told him some things, but doubted he knew enough to do a tour. He’d also asked a lot of questions about the Gentry family. He didn’t say why, but Serena figured it had something to do with one of the Gentry girls. He seemed like a nice kid, had a great smile and an engaging personality. If he’d been a few years older, she might’ve been interested herself.
Sam’s engaging personality reminded her a lot of Cole’s when Cole was in high school—he’d been easy to talk to, charming and a little mysterious, as if he was hiding something. That mysterious quality had intrigued her, made her want to know more about him, beyond his bad-boy reputation.
She remembered the exact day, hour and minute when Cole had asked her if she could help him after school with his math. She’d snapped at him, thinking he was putting her on. He’d stopped her after school again to plead with her. His sincerity had caught her off guard, and she’d ended up agreeing to “try” it once. She remembered her embarrassment the first time he’d come to see her at the trailer park. When she’d made an excuse about where she lived, he’d changed the subject, teased her about something else and made her laugh. Made her forget everything miserable in her life. And from that moment on, she’d been in love with Cole St. Germaine.
She smiled at the memory. She’d envied Cole his home and a mother who was always there for him, and he’d envied her having two parents. A real family, he’d said. Then he’d found out that it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
Here she was, thinking about the past again. She glanced around for the TV remote, clicked it on and plopped onto the well-worn leather couch she’d bought from a consignment store—like most everything else in her house. To her, used furniture had charm and personality and made her home feel lived-in and comfortable. And dammit, despite what her mother thought, she liked being here…in her own home—even on a Friday night.
