Reunited in the Rockies

by Mindy Obenhaus

  “Hmm. Guess I only thought I told you. The whole family is getting together for dinner tonight, and you’re invited, too.”

  “Sounds like fun.” Or not. Now she really wished Jude’s mother was still alive. Despite everything, she would have made Kayla feel welcome and right at home. This time, Kayla had to find her own way.

  * * *

  This was one family dinner Jude did not want to attend.

  Not that he wasn’t used to them. But in the past year and half, they’d added what would soon be three sisters-in-law, three nieces and two nephews to their numbers. And while he mostly enjoyed family gatherings, occasionally he felt left out because he didn’t have someone to share his life with.

  That feeling had amplified since Kayla’s return. And her presence at tonight’s supper would likely make things even more challenging.

  She’s staying in Ouray, buddy, so you’d better get used to it.

  A sweet aroma met him as he emerged from the hallway into the living room of the ranch house. “Something smells good.”

  “That would be pumpkin crunch cake.” Armed with pot holders, Matt’s wife, Lacie, pulled a baking dish from the oven in the adjoining kitchen.

  His other sister-in-law, Carly, cleared a spot on the counter while Dad’s girlfriend, Hillary, closed the oven door.

  “Well, if it tastes as good as it smells...” He continued toward the wooden dining table where his infant nephew, Lucas, sat quietly in his seat, oblivious to all of the activity. Jude nudged a finger under the baby’s fisted hand until he took hold. “How’s it going, buddy? You keeping these ladies in line? Where’s everyone else?” he tossed over his shoulder.

  “Outside.” Hillary moved beside him, smiling at Lucas.

  He glanced at the woman who’d found a place in all of their hearts. “Dad manning the grill?” Hillary had given it to the old man for his birthday, and he’d been like a kid with a new toy ever since.

  “Of course.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what he’s going to do once winter sets in.”

  “Jude,” said Carly, “could I get you to take these baked potatoes outside for me?” She gestured to the large cast-iron pot atop the stove.

  “Sure thing.” He freed himself from Lucas’s grip, grabbed the pot and made his way through the mudroom and outside onto the deck that spanned one side of the house.

  Strings of patio lights illuminated the area as Lily smoothed black-and-white-checkered tablecloths over the two wooden picnic tables. His nieces Kenzie, Matt’s daughter, and Piper followed behind her, setting out mason jars full of sunflowers as centerpieces. Meanwhile, Noah ignited two patio heaters to ward off tonight’s chill.

  In front of the deck, his niece Megan, Andrew’s daughter, and Lily’s son, Colton, took turns adding wood to the metal firepit as orange flames reached toward the night sky.

  “All right, you two.” Andrew eyed the preteens over the railing. “That’s enough wood for now.”

  Jude continued on to the far end of the deck where his father and brothers Andrew, Matt and Daniel stood near the grill, no doubt solving the world’s problems while the steaks cooked.

  “Potatoes are ready.” He set the pot beside the grill as the sound of tires on gravel met his ears. That could only mean one thing. Turning, he saw Kayla’s blue truck ease to a stop near the opposite end of the deck.

  Lily hurried down the wooden steps to greet her with Noah in tow.

  Jude watched as Lily introduced the two. Both smiled and shook hands before Noah wrapped an arm around his intended and pulled her close.

  “Guess we’d best go say hello.” Dad started across the expanse, followed by Matt and Daniel.

  Andrew paused, looking at Jude. “Aren’t you coming?”

  “Why?” After their run-in earlier today, she probably wasn’t that eager to see him either.

  “Okay, but you’re likely to have the old man barking at you if you don’t.”

  Reluctantly, he dragged himself away from the warmth of the grill as the other women spilled from the house, giddy with excitement. He watched as everyone welcomed their guest, recalling the first time he’d brought Kayla home to meet his family. Was she as nervous now as she’d been that day?

  Of course, back then, his mother had quickly put her at ease.

  When she finally made her way onto the deck, Jude found it difficult to breathe. She was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Gone were this morning’s braid and overalls, replaced by an ultrafeminine purple sweater, skinny jeans and riding boots. And her hair. He’d always liked it when she wore it down. Dark as chocolate and smooth as silk. Even now he could remember the exotic fragrance of her shampoo and wondered if she still smelled the same.

  She stopped beside him, her lips tilting upward as her dark gaze captured his. “We meet again.”

  Unable to stop himself, he inhaled deep. But it was the aroma of an open fire and sizzling meat that brought him to his senses. “Guess we should get used to that.”

  “If you ladies want to bring out the rest of the food.” Dad nodded at Hillary, Carly and Lacie. “The steaks are ready, so let’s eat.”

  The meal had barely begun when talk of the wedding started, escalating Jude’s desire to retreat. But for the sake of Noah and Lily, he hung around and enjoyed dessert. At least until Lily decided to walk Kayla through the layout of the event that would take place at the ranch next week.

  After helping clear the tables, he made his escape, certain no one had seen him. Not that the entire family wouldn’t know where to find him.

  Once inside his shop, he flipped on the lights and breathed in the scent of wood. He needed to get ahold of himself. So what if Kayla was staying in Ouray? He was an easygoing guy. A cop, for crying out loud. He knew how to keep his cool. Yet twice in the last two days he’d lost it in front of her. She’d never gotten to him like that before. Why now?

  Because Kayla had wounded his ego and broken his heart. One day they were talking and texting, making plans to see one another, and then nothing. She never communicated with him again. And though he called and texted until he was blue in the face, there was nothing until the recording saying her number was no longer in service.

  Yet, like a fool, he’d continued to hold out hope that he’d hear from her again. The least she could have done was give him an explanation instead of leaving him to wonder.

  Needing to redirect his thoughts, he moved to the packaging area of the shop to double-check an order. Then he heard the door open.

  He looked up, surprised to find Kayla moving toward him.

  His gaze narrowed as he rounded the worktable. “Are you lost?”

  “No, I was looking for you.” Stopping in front of him, she said, “I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier today. You were only thinking of the well-being of my baby.”

  Unexpected disappointment wove through him. As if she would have said that she’d made a mistake. That she’d once loved him, too, and wanted to try again. Stupid.

  “No big deal. It’s not like no one’s ever gotten in my face before.”

  She scuffed her boot through a pile of sawdust. “I know. But you didn’t deserve to be chastised, especially when you were only trying to help.”

  Not knowing what else to say, he simply nodded.

  Kayla didn’t say anything either, until... “Are you going to be okay with me staying in Ouray? Working together and stuff?”

  Was she kidding? No, he wasn’t okay. The last time they’d worked together, things had been different. They’d been a couple. Something he still found himself wishing for, no matter how much he didn’t want to.

  But he wasn’t about to tell her that. “It’s not like we haven’t worked together before.”

  Hands clasped in front of her now, she looked almost shy. “I know. But that was before.”

  Yeah,
before you cut me out of your life without even bothering to tell me.

  After studying the space for a moment, Kayla moved toward a shelf stocked with finials and spindles. “You made these?”

  “Yes.”

  She picked up a spindle, turning it this way and that before smoothing a hand over the surface. “They’re beautiful. How’d you get started?”

  Therapy, he wanted to say, having made numerous items immediately after she left and more when he didn’t hear from her. But that would make him sound pathetic.

  “Remember that house we worked on?” he said instead. “How some of the moldings and balusters outside had rotted?”

  She smiled. “I do. You told the boss you could replicate it.”

  “And that’s exactly what I did. The boss told some others, and the next thing I knew...” He motioned to the rest of the shop.

  “That’s amazing.” Returning the spindle to its place, she faced him again. “I’m really proud of you.”

  “Thanks.” Though his response may have been simple, the thoughts and emotions her praise stirred had him taking a step back.

  “Well...” She rocked back on her heels. “I guess I should get back to Lily.” She turned to leave, but he couldn’t let her go. Not when there were things he desperately needed to know.

  “I’m curious.”

  She turned toward him. “About what?”

  “Why wouldn’t you take my calls? Respond to my texts?”

  She puffed out an incredulous laugh. “Um, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. But in case you’ve forgotten, the last time we talked, you said you were done. That you were too tired to do this—” she made air quotes with her fingers “—anymore.”

  “I was referring to the conversation, not us.” He’d been exhausted from working cattle all day. “I told you that in my text the next day.”

  Her expression went blank. “You...texted me?”

  “Tried calling you, too.” At least a dozen times. “But you never picked up.”

  Her shoulders drooped. She blew out a breath. “That would be because at some point between our conversation and the next morning, I lost my phone.”

  “How is that possible? It was almost midnight my time when we talked.”

  “I know. I was still asleep when my parents pulled out the next morning. The only thing I’ve been able to figure is that I must have dropped it somewhere between the firepit where I was talking to you and the door to the RV because when I woke up, I turned that motorhome upside down trying to find it and came up empty-handed.” The pain in her dark eyes said she was telling the truth. “I was devastated. Not only had I lost my phone, I’d lost every contact I had in it.” Her gaze drifted to his. “Including yours.”

  His brain struggled to keep up with what she was saying. “You could have called the house. Landline numbers can usually be found online.”

  Nodding, she bit the corner of her lip. “I thought about it. Then I reminded myself what you’d said...”

  “Wow.” He scuffed a hand over his face, the reality of her words tearing through him like a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball. Everything he’d believed was a lie.

  Hands hanging on his hips, all he could do was stare. “All these years, you thought I dumped you?”

  She simply shrugged. “Things happen for a reason. Within days of arriving in Denver, my dad was diagnosed with kidney cancer and it had already spread. My family needed me.”

  He cringed, knowing all too well the flood of emotions those words set off.

  “So, I grabbed another pay-as-you-go phone, not realizing I could have my old number transferred, and spent the next ten months helping my mom care for him.”

  “Of course, you did. You and your father were very close.”

  She nodded again. “By the time he passed, I was done with traveling. I had a good job, so for the first time in my life, I decided to stay put.”

  “What about your mother?”

  She grinned. “She’s still wandering the country in our old RV.”

  “That thing’s still running?”

  “I don’t think it’ll ever die.”

  They shared a laugh then. Just like old times.

  When she peered up at him, there was a sincerity in her dark eyes, along with something else. Regret, maybe. Or was that just wishful thinking?

  She poked a thumb over her shoulder. “I should get back to Lily.”

  “Of course.” He walked her to the door and pulled it open, his heart twisted in knots. “Kayla?”

  Her gaze met his.

  “I’m sorry. For what I said, for the misunderstanding... I wouldn’t have hurt you for anything.”

  “Funny, I know that now. I just wish I believed it back then.”

  Chapter Five

  Kayla never expected this pregnancy thing would be so exhausting. Then again, these last couple of days had been a flurry of activity. Throw in Jude’s revelation last night, that he hadn’t broken up with her, and, well, she’d tossed and turned until at least 3:00 a.m. And while she’d made it to church this morning, she had to pass on Lily’s lunch invitation, opting for a much-needed nap instead.

  Buried under the covers of her bed at Granger House Inn, she rolled over to look at the clock on the antique side table.

  3:30 p.m.?

  She hadn’t intended to sleep that long. Not when she still needed to come up with a wedding gift for Lily.

  Throwing off the comforter, she sat on the edge of the bed with a sudden craving for one of those froufrou coffee drinks. Something with chocolate and lots of whipped cream but without all the caffeine.

  She stretched and yawned, then laid a hand against her belly. “How about we go get some fresh air?” Maybe a little exercise would help clear her brain, and if that coffee shop on Main Street happened to be open, even better.

  Thirty minutes later, she exited Mouse’s Coffee and Chocolates with a steaming cup of white hot chocolate in one hand and a Scraps cookie in the other. According to the sign, the cookie was a family recipe, however the “scraps” in the cookies varied depending on what chocolates they’d made recently. She took a bite, the blend of flavors delighting her taste buds.

  Under a mixture of clouds and sun, she strolled up the sidewalk, the brisk autumn air cutting through her brain fog. She still couldn’t believe she was going to be living in Ouray, surrounded by its untouched beauty and historic charm. It was a dream come true.

  Well, almost.

  Crossing the street, she continued up Fifth Avenue, recalling the night of her last phone call with Jude. It had been a little over a year since she’d left Ouray, yet they’d still talked almost every day, increasing their desire to see each other again. That night, while her parents slept inside their RV, she’d sat beside what was left of their campfire and told Jude they were returning to Colorado. The rest of the conversation was spent with him trying to talk her into coming back to Ouray, while she pushed for him to meet her in Denver. After all, he’d been in Ouray his whole life. She’d thought it would be fun for them to experience something new together.

  Perhaps she’d pushed too hard.

  “Kayla, you know I can’t do that. I have commitments here.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  His sigh had crackled through the line. “I’m too tired to do this anymore, Kayla. I’m done.”

  When the line had gone dead, she’d hugged the blanket tighter. And cried. Something she’d never done before. But then, she’d never been in love before either. And she’d blown it.

  All these years, she’d believed that I’m done meant he’d broken up with her. Now she found out it was only the conversation he’d been ending?

  No wonder Jude had looked at her so strangely that first day in the park. While she’d believed one thing, he’d spent all these years thinking she’d du
mped him.

  She paused at the corner, staring at the cloud-dotted sky. Why did she have to lose her phone? If she hadn’t, things could have turned out so differently. Her life could have been different. She and Jude could be married and raising a family here in Ouray.

  But things were different. She was different. Among a gazillion other things, she had a child to consider. And for his or her sake, she prayed that her decision to stay in Ouray was the right one. That this was where God wanted her. Because she was all too familiar with the consequences of bad choices.

  Taking a sip of her hot chocolate, she continued around the corner. No point dwelling on the past. Like the Bible said, to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. If there was one thing she knew for certain, it was that God was in control. And it was time to start thinking about that wedding gift.

  It needed to be something personal and unique. Lily was a wealthy woman, after all; she could buy anything she wanted. Kayla wanted to give her something from the heart. Something Noah and Lily could cherish for more than just a day. But what?

  Winding onto another of Ouray’s gravel side streets, she polished off her cookie and took in the gray volcanic rock of the amphitheater that hugged the town’s eastern border. When her gaze lowered, she came to an abrupt stop.

  She hadn’t meant to come here. Yet, there it was. The house she’d renovated in her mind at least a thousand times. The one she’d fallen in love with seven years ago.

  The cute little Victorian looked worse than she remembered, though. As if the whole house was frowning, with its drooping front porch and dilapidated shutters. And who had the brilliant idea to paint it that mustard yellow with raspberry trim? Like that would help. Oh, how she’d love to restore this house and make it smile again.

  While she and Jude had spent much of their time together evaluating nearly every home in town, this was the only one they’d actually gone into. She could still remember the beautiful wainscoting and unique moldings hidden beneath layers of paint. And the bedroom with a wall of windows they’d agreed would make a perfect kid’s room.