Best of My Love (Fool's Gold) (15 page)

What he didn’t expect was to see his parents in the hallway outside the room. His mother, maybe, but his father? Ceallach wasn’t really interested in anything but himself.

His mother smiled when she saw him. “We heard the good news and came to see Isabel and the babies. Have you been down to the nursery? They’re so beautiful. Tiny, but beautiful. She must be so happy.” His mother hugged him. When she straightened, her gaze was direct. “I want grandchildren.”

Aidan took a step back and held up both hands. “Don’t look at me. Del is the one who’s engaged. Talk to him and Maya.”

“I want grandchildren from
all
of you. You need to get started on that. Shelby is a perfectly nice girl. What are you waiting for?”

Aidan held in a groan. There was no way he was getting into the we’re-just-friends conversation yet again. He turned to his father.

“Hey, Dad. How’s it going?”

His father looked at him. Ceallach’s gaze sharpened as if he just now realized who was in front of him. “You! This is all your fault.”

“There’s five of us. The grandkid thing is not just on me.”

“You’re the reason Nick’s leaving. You’re the one chasing him away.” His father’s voice rose with each word.

“Is that what you really think?” Aidan asked. “That I have anything to do with this? You’re wrong. This is all about
you
, Dad. This is all
your
doing. There’s a reason every one of your sons have left Fool’s Gold. Do you ever stop to think about that?”

Elaine put a restraining hand on his arm. “Aidan, don’t. You’ll upset your father.”

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want that, would we?”

He turned away and started for the nursery. Anything to get away.

A few minutes later, as he stared unseeingly at the tiny babies behind the glass, he felt more than heard Shelby come up beside him. She stood close.

“I heard the fight,” she told him quietly.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay.”

“Just like that?”

“Sometimes talking isn’t required. You’ve taught me that.” But she did reach for his hand.

They laced their fingers together as they watched the sweet new babies sleep through their first day in Fool’s Gold.

* * *

“Y
OU
DON
’
T
REALLY
need my help,” Shelby teased. “I’ve seen you make much more complicated things.”

Aidan dumped the graham-cracker crumbs in the bowl. “Are you kidding? This is done in three parts. I’ve never made a three-part dessert before.”

She wondered how many desserts he’d
ever
made before they’d met. Maybe cookies. With the help of a girlfriend. Since they’d started hanging out together, he’d learned how to cook all kinds of things. At first Shelby did most of the work, but these days she simply supervised and offered advice.

On the menu for today—key lime pie. Aidan had already squeezed a cup of key lime juice. He’d been shocked when she’d told him it would take over a pound and a half of limes to get that much. Then he’d seen how tiny they were and how little juice came out.

They were at his place. His kitchen was a little bigger than hers. More important, he had to get used to working there. Because she wasn’t always going to be around to help. A thought that made her feel strange, so she didn’t linger on it. Even so, the truth was there. June was getting closer and closer. Their six months would end and they would resume their regular lives. While she was sure she and Aidan would always stay in touch, she knew that everything would be different.

He pulled the melted butter from the microwave and added it to the graham crackers. He put on disposable gloves, then mixed the two ingredients with his hands before pouring the mixture into the pie pan.

“You want to get it even,” she told him from her seat at the island. “I know it’s counterintuitive, but do the sides first. Try to get the thickness the same before worrying about the bottom. If there’s too much crust left, we can scoop it out. If it’s too thin, we can make a little more.”

He worked intently, pressing the graham crackers into the side of the pie pan.

“I’m sorry about my dad.”

The statement was unexpected. Since they’d run into Ceallach and Elaine at the hospital, he hadn’t said anything about the incident. She wasn’t sure he would ever want to talk about it.

“If you’re apologizing for what he said, you don’t have to. I know he’s a jerk.”

Aidan looked at her, his brows raised. “Are you being critical of my father?”

“Yes, and he deserves a lot harsher than what I said. He’s awful. I’m sorry—I know he’s family and I should keep my mouth shut, but I can’t. You never say very much, but I hear things. And now I’ve seen him in action. What’s wrong with him? Why on earth would he blame you for Nick leaving? You had nothing to do with that.”

“I might have suggested it when we had our fight. That night in the bar.”

The night that had changed everything, she thought. The night she’d watched Aidan and his brother argue and not hit each other. When she’d realized that even furious, Aidan was still reachable. Everything she’d read in her self-help books, everything she’d talked about in therapy, had suddenly made sense. What her father had done,
who
he’d been, wasn’t normal. She didn’t have to be afraid all the time.

“Are you saying Nick is so spineless that you tell him to do something and he does it?”

Aidan grinned. “Of course not.”

“So how is this on you? Besides, you’re not the problem. Ceallach is. He’s not a nice man.”

“No, he’s a genius.”

She snorted. “That’s no excuse for bad behavior. Kipling was a world-class athlete and he manages to be a decent guy. Being gifted isn’t an excuse to be a jerk.”

“You’re so fierce,” he teased.

“You’re my friend. I don’t want anyone hurting you.”

His humor faded. “He can’t hurt me, Shelby. That power ended a long time ago.”

She knew he believed what he was saying, but she was less sure. From all that she’d learned and experienced personally, parents could always hurt their children. It was just one of those things that came with being a kid. Being someone’s child wasn’t a connection you outgrew.

“I think the problem is no one expected anything of him,” she said. “Emotionally, I mean. Because of who he was and what he could do, he wasn’t required to live up to the rest of society’s standards. He got a pass and somewhere along the way, bad behavior became synonymous with brilliance.”

“Speaking of standards.” Aidan showed her the pie pan. “Even enough?”

She inspected the crust. “Perfection. Okay, into the oven and set the timer.”

He pulled off his gloves, did as she requested, then read over the next step of the recipe.

“It wasn’t just society,” he said as he collected eggs from the refrigerator. “Mom always told us we had to work around Dad’s schedule. She enabled him from the start. He doesn’t have a bigger fan than her. She would walk through fire for him.”

Shelby leaned against the island counter. “Is it just women who do that?” she asked. “I hate to generalize, but how often do men act that way? Surrendering to another person because they’re supposedly so gifted. I’m sure it happens, but we seem to hear about women doing it more. Do you think we’re biologically more ready to serve?”

“By
we
you mean all women?”

She smiled. “Yes, Aidan. I wasn’t including you in the
we
statement.”

“Good. Because I’m the only other person here. I accept getting in touch with my feminine side, but I’m not ready to start a gender-changing journey.”

She looked at his broad shoulders and the handsome lines of his face. “Not something you have to worry about. And you didn’t answer my question.”

He grimaced. “I was hoping to distract you.”

“I promise you won’t get in trouble for your answer.”

“I’m taking you at your word.” He pulled a whisk out of a drawer. “Yes, I think women are more willing to worship, for lack of a better word, when it comes to the men in their lives. I don’t know if it’s biological or cultural. But more women than men will live in servitude. My mom is a prime example. She would tell you it was for the greater good. That the world is a better place because of what Ceallach Mitchell has created. If there was a price paid for that, she would say it was worth it.”

“Would you?”

One shoulder rose. “I don’t know. We all survived. We’re all doing fine. Every childhood has a few bumps and bruises.”

She knew what he meant by the phrase, but found herself thinking of her mother. Of how she’d allowed Shelby’s father to beat her. When did a parent cross the line from supportive spouse to monster?

“Shelby? You okay?”

She shook off the thought. “What? I’m fine. Why?”

“You went white.” Aidan circled the island and stood in front of her chair. “What happened?”

“I thought of my mom as a monster. How could I? I loved her so much.”

He cupped her face in his heads. “This is so above my pay grade, but I’ll make a run at it. Yes, you loved her. But she didn’t protect you. I agree that a married couple has to stand together. One day the kids will be grown and they need to be there for each other. But sometimes one of them is just plain wrong. Whether or not you believe in spanking a child, there’s never an excuse to beat one. Your father was wrong to ever touch you, and your mom was wrong to let it happen. Leaving or not leaving was her decision to make for herself. I don’t pretend to understand the psychology of being an abused spouse. But what I do know is that she should have stood between you and your father’s fists. Whether or not she left, she should have protected you. She should have kept you safe. Whether she could have done it or not, I don’t know, but she should have tried.”

Shelby stared at him. “He’s not the reason I can’t trust,” she whispered in shock. “She is. I knew he was broken. I knew there was a darkness inside of him. But she was different. Normal. But she let him do those things. It’s not him, it’s her.”

Tears filled her eyes. She willed them away, but they fell. Aidan pulled her close and wrapped his strong arms around her.

He didn’t say a thing. There were no promises that everything would be okay. She liked that. She liked his strength and that he didn’t seem to mind her getting his shirt wet.

She tried to process what she’d finally figured out. She felt lighter and a little sick to her stomach. Men like her dad were easy to avoid, she thought. Brutes rarely wore a disguise. But her mother was different.

“I still love her,” she whispered. “How sick is that?”

He drew back and cupped her face again. “You’re not sick. You’re incredibly strong. Look at all you’ve been through, yet here you are. Happy, successful. Most people would never have figured out there was a problem, let alone done something about it. You came up with a plan to get better. You roped me into it. You’re one of the most impressive people I’ve ever known, Shelby. I’m honored to be in your life.”

His words settled over her like a blessing. She took them in and let them fill the broken bits of her. Healing would take time—it always did. But she’d made a start. A good one.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

He kissed her forehead. “You’re welcome. Better?”

She nodded.

“Good. Because in a couple of hours, we’ll have pie.”

She laughed.

He lowered his hands and took a step away. Without thinking, she grabbed the front of his shirt to hold him in place. His dark gaze settled on her face.

She read the questions there. He wanted to know if she was okay. If she needed more from him. Because he would give it.

He was a good man. Next to her brother, he was the best man she knew. She liked him. She liked being with him.

“Let’s make love.”

Aidan swore and retreated to the far side of the kitchen. “Dammit, Shelby.”

“I mean it. I’m not playing. It will be great.”

He sucked in a breath. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but no. We’re not screwing this up with sex. This is the best relationship I’ve ever had with a woman. I care about you. I’m not going to let some random hookup change that.”

Interesting how she felt disappointment but not rejection. Maybe because she knew he wanted her. And while his determination to do the right thing was annoying, it was also pretty darned wonderful.

“It wouldn’t be a random hookup.”

“You know what I mean.”

He looked frustrated and desperate and on the verge of bolting. The timer dinged.

The relief on his face was nearly comical. He hurried to the stove and pulled out the pie crust.

“Oh, look. It’s done.” He pull it on the cooling rack, then turned to her. “We can’t.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I won’t ask again.”

“Like I believe that.” He swore. “You’re killing me. You know that, right? Because saying no is the right thing and I want to and I won’t.” He groaned. “I really am a woman.”

She laughed. “You’re not. You’re wonderful. This is the best relationship I’ve ever had, too. I really am sorry.”

“That you asked or that we’re not doing it?”

“Both.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

S
HELBY
WALKED
THROUGH
the vacant property next door to the bakery. She knew nothing about construction, but she wasn’t about to let that stop her from dreaming. Assuming it was possible to break through at least part of the wall between the two storefronts, she could have easy access front and back, with the ability to close it off. So a tea shop in front and a bigger kitchen in the back.

Adding a professional kitchen would be expensive and time-consuming. She’d been doing some research online and the prices had nearly made her faint. But if she was going to go for it, now seemed like the time. The space was there. If she didn’t rent it, someone else would.

The advantage for her was that she could help design the new kitchen. She could put in extra ovens to increase her capacity on the bakery side.

She alternated between excited and terrified. Both emotions were probably normal, considering what she was doing. Talk about a huge leap into the unknown. But not doing it wasn’t an option. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life wondering “what if?”

She carefully locked up behind her and put the key in her pocket. Josh Golden had agreed to give her forty-eight hours to make up her mind. She was going to have to let him know by this time tomorrow. Not that she would need that long. She already knew what she was going to do.

She returned to the bakery. Eddie Carberry stood by the counter.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” Eddie announced. “She wouldn’t tell me where you were.”

The clerk behind the counter smiled apologetically. “I offered to take a message.”

“You’re fine,” Shelby assured her. “What can I do for you, Eddie?”

“I want custom cookies for my bowling league. Let’s go in your office and talk about them.”

Shelby generally had those kind of meetings up front, in the small eating area. But Eddie seemed resolved. It was kind of surprising how a woman in a lime-green tracksuit could radiate determination, but Eddie did.

Shelby led the way. When Eddie was seated on the visitor side of her desk, Shelby walked to the bookshelf by the door.

“I have lots of samples of cookie designs here,” she said. “Or if you have a sketch, we can work from that.”

“Shut the door.”

Shelby looked from the old woman to the door, then shrugged. She doubted Eddie was going to rob her, or threaten her. She shut the door and then sat at her desk.

“I didn’t want anyone overhearing us,” the other woman said in a low voice. “This is private.”

Shelby couldn’t imagine what the “this” was. Maybe Eddie had fallen in love and wanted a surprise wedding cake? Or there was going to be a birthday for someone?

“I have money,” Eddie said abruptly. “Not millions, but plenty.”

Shelby tried to stay relaxed. “Okay,” she said slowly. “Congratulations.”

Eddie rolled her eyes. “I’m not looking for praise, you silly girl. I’m offering you a loan. So you can buy the bakery. You could pay me back over time. With interest. And if I die before it all gets returned, then I’ll forgive the loan.”

Eddie’s eyes narrowed. “Let me be clear. That’s not a license to off me. I’ll have a provision in my will that if my death is suspicious, you’re the first one they’re to investigate.” Her expression softened. “But I don’t think you’d do that.”

Shelby opened her mouth, then closed it. “I honestly don’t know what to say. Thank you. I’m stunned, but thank you.”

Eddie clutched her large purse in both hands. “You’re welcome. I’ve been watching you ever since you moved here. You were such a frightened mouse in the beginning. You’ve grown since then. Blossomed. You have backbone and that can’t be taught. You’re smart and honest. You’d be a good bet.”

The words were as lovely as they were unexpected. “Thank you,” she said. “You’re being so nice.”

“Humph. Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation in town. Anyway, you think about it.” Her expression turned stern. “You are going to buy the bakery, aren’t you? Because if you don’t, you’re an idiot.”

Shelby laughed. “Yes, I am. I’m going to tell Amber right now.”

“Good. I’d hate to be offering my money to an idiot.” She rose. “Let me know what you want to do.”

“I will.”

Shelby stood and circled the desk. Before she opened the door, she hugged the old woman. Eddie was smaller than she seemed. Like a little bird. But when she hugged back, her hold was fierce and powerful.

Shelby walked her out, then went into Amber’s office.

“Do you have a second?” she asked.

Her business partner looked up. “I do. Have you made a decision?”

“I’d like to buy the business.”

Amber laughed. “I’m so glad. I was hoping you’d say yes. This is fantastic. We have a lot to do. I’ll get my lawyer going on the paperwork and we’ll need to get the business valued. Oh, Shelby, you’re going to do great. I know you are. You have so many ideas and so much energy.”

“I’m excited.”

“Me, too! Let’s celebrate with a cookie.”

Shelby laughed. Because champagne was out of the question. But there would be plenty of bubbles later. With Aidan and the rest of her friends.

* * *

T
HE
WEARY
CAMPERS
stepped out of the van as Aidan unloaded their backpacks and set them on the ground. Charlie, who’d already spent five minutes greeting Aidan, sniffed everything.

“Best time ever,” a teenage boy told his dad. “We have to do this again next year.”

“Maybe we’ll bring Mom along,” his father said.

The teen laughed. “Like that’ll ever happen.”

The rest of the group seemed equally pleased with their long weekend. The weather had been perfect—warm during the day and cool at night. The signs of spring had been everywhere in the mountains, from the wildflowers to the newborn fawn they’d seen.

Aidan ushered everyone into the office, where they signed the forms that confirmed they were back where they’d started, then checked the van one more time for forgotten gear or cell phones.

He hadn’t slept much while on the trip. He never did. Now all he wanted was a hot shower and about ten hours in his bed.

The latter thought had him picturing Shelby, but he carefully pushed that image away. Sleep. He needed sleep.

“How about a walk before we head home?” he asked the dog.

Charlie wagged his tail and followed Aidan into the office. Fay was finishing up with the last of the customers. She pointed to where Charlie’s leash lay on the counter.

“Kalinda played with him most of the morning,” his office manager told him. “I knew you’d want to crash and that wouldn’t work if your boy was restless. So he should be tired, too.”

“Thanks for that, and for taking care of him.”

Fay petted the dog. “Are you kidding? We all love having him. You should go on more trips where you can’t bring him. I won’t complain.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He yawned. “I’ll be back to check messages, then I’m heading home.”

“See you in a few.”

He clipped on Charlie’s leash. They opened the front door just as Aidan’s mother was reaching for the handle.

“Mom. What are you doing here?”

Elaine looked at him. “I just wanted to stop by. I haven’t seen you in a while.” She frowned. “You look like you haven’t shaved.”

“I was on a backpacking trip for three days. I’m going to take Charlie for a walk, then go home and crash.”

“Oh. Well, can I walk with you?”

He wanted to say no. There was nothing his mother could say that he wanted to hear. Only that wasn’t how he’d been raised. So he nodded and pointed to the trail he and Charlie liked to use.

They walked in silence for a few minutes. When they were clear of the office, Aidan let Charlie go off-leash. The bichon gave a quick bark of appreciation before trotting off to investigate the trail.

“Will he be all right?” Elaine asked.

“He doesn’t go far and he always checks back with me,” he told her.

“He’s sweet, like Sophie.”

Aidan thought that Sophie was a bit more of a mischief maker than Charlie, but didn’t say anything.

“Your father is sorry about what happened at the hospital.”

“No, he’s not.”

His mother sighed. “Aidan, you’re too hard on him.”

“Am I? I’m happy to see you, Mom, but you don’t have to apologize for him. He’s no different now than he’s ever been.”

He remembered what Shelby had realized. That her fear, her anger, was as much toward her mother as her father. Was it the same for him? Ceallach had been difficult for years, but his mother was the one who didn’t demand better for herself and her children.

“He loves you,” she insisted. “He’ll never say it, but I know he feels it.”

“If you say so.”

Which was more polite than what he was thinking. As far as he was concerned, his father barely knew who he was. Without having the ability to create art, Aidan couldn’t possibly matter. The statement had no moral value. It simply was. His father would never change. Neither would his mother.

Aidan had never thought about that before. That his parents simply
were
. He struggled to understand what Elaine saw in her husband, but maybe that wasn’t his job. Instead of trying to make sense of it, he could accept the facts as they were.

Charlie trotted back to check on them. Aidan gave him a quick pat, then picked up a small stick and threw it. The little dog raced after it.

“I wish you and your brothers could see things from his perspective,” she said with a sigh.

“There’s a scary thought.”

“Why?”

“I’m not ready to peek into the mind of an artist.”

“It’s so interesting that three of you have his gift and you and Del don’t.”

Interesting
wasn’t exactly the word he would have used.

“Are you ever sorry?” she asked.

“I can’t miss what I’ve never had. I don’t know what it’s like to create in the way Nick and the twins do.” He paused as he realized what he’d said. “Sorry, Mom. I still think of them as the twins.”

“I do, too,” she admitted. “They’ll always be that to me.”

“And Ronan will always be your favorite?”

She stopped. “He was never that.”

Aidan waited.

Elaine made a tsking sound. “It wasn’t like that.” She linked arms with him and they started walking again.

“When your father told me what he’d done, I was devastated. I had to forgive him, of course. Because if I didn’t, I couldn’t stay.”

“You wanted to be with him always.” Not a question. How could it be when he knew the answer?

“Of course. He told me about the baby and that she wanted to give it up. I knew what he was asking. What he expected. I couldn’t agree, but I did say I would go see the baby. That’s how I thought of him then. As the baby.”

Her expression turned wistful. “I knew I’d hate him on sight. That I’d have to refuse. Then I held him and in that moment my heart told me the truth. That I could love him as if he’d been one of my own. We took him home that day.”

“What happened to his birth mother?”

“She died a few years later. We were notified through a lawyer. I’d already adopted Ronan legally, so that wasn’t an issue. He’s your brother, Aidan. As much as if I’d given birth to him.”

He couldn’t imagine that level of love. To take in your partner’s bastard child and raise it as your own. Joyfully. He would bet his mother never once regretted what she’d done. Never had a moment’s doubt. He might not agree with her feelings about his father, but he couldn’t question the size of her heart.

He put his arm around her and drew her close. “You’re an extraordinary woman, Elaine Mitchell.”

“Don’t be silly. I’m just like everyone else.”

He knew that wasn’t true on so many levels. He supposed the character that kept her stuck with his father had been the reason she could love Ronan so deeply. The good with the bad.

Maybe there weren’t answers, he thought as they continued walking along the trail. Maybe there was only acceptance and the knowledge that most people did the best they could with what they had.

* * *

O
NE
OF
THE
things Shelby liked best about living in Fool’s Gold was the rhythm of the seasons. Festivals, banners, decorative flags and window art marked the passage of time in a charming and engaging way. There was a sense of community. Of belonging. Which meant when the call went out that help was needed to plant flower baskets, everyone volunteered.

So she wasn’t surprised when she showed up at the Plants for the Planet parking lot and found over a dozen people already there. She waved at several friends, then smiled when she saw Aidan had taken charge of things. He’d divided them into groups of three. Baskets and soil were being distributed, as were flowers. Shelby walked over to join him.

“Look at you, all in charge.”

He shrugged. “Felicia was here about fifteen minutes ago and passed the baton to me. It’s planting flowers. How hard could it be?”

“You should take more credit.”

“I will later. When I’m talking to my friends, I will have single-handedly done all this myself.”

She laughed and went to join a woman working by herself. She was in her midforties and Shelby thought maybe she’d seen her at one of the single’s group functions.

“Shelby, right?” the woman asked as Shelby approached. “I’m Fran. Nice to see you again.”

“Hi. This should be fun. Very spring-like.”

Fran handed Shelby a pair of gardening gloves. “I like to get my annual volunteer project done early. Then I don’t have to feel guilty for the rest of the year.”

“I hadn’t thought about it that way, but you’re right. Good for us.”

Shelby collected a half-dozen baskets while Fran opened a bag of soil. Together they maneuvered it into place so they could fill the baskets to the designated mark.

“He’s good-looking,” Fran said, nodding toward Aidan. “When I first met you two, you said you were just friends. Is that true?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’m sorry to be nosy, but why? If you’re both available, why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of that?”