Lakeside Reunion (10 page)

“It's not the same. God abandoned me. Just like my dad. Just like…”

“Just like who, Linds?”

“You, Stephen. You rejected me. Abandoned me when I needed you most.” Her words were merely a whisper in the wind, almost as if she were afraid to say them out loud. But he heard. Each word piercing his soul and drawing blood.

“I hated you. You broke my heart. I never wanted to lay eyes on you again. I didn't think I'd ever recover from such pain.”

“Do you still hate me?”

She shook her head.

“For what it's worth, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. But I had to do what was right.”

“Right for whom?”

“For all of us. You. Me. Bethany. Tyler.”

“But why did you have to marry her?”

“It was the honorable thing to do, Lindsey. I was so drunk the night I was with her that I didn't even know her last name. I was UA for duty—”

“UA?”

“Unauthorized absence.

“I overslept. I reported for duty and got reamed by my commanding officer for sleeping with his daughter. He revoked my 96 chit—my four-day-leave pass. I was supposed to come home for Melissa's wedding. I missed my own sister's wedding because I partied too hard. Melissa didn't speak to me for six months.”

“I remember.”

“I disgraced my family. I worked hard to regain their trust. I wanted to become a cop. Your dad, he was the best mentor a rookie could ask for. Thom was a straight shooter. Told me I had to get my head screwed on straight if I was going to be worth anything. So I did. I worked hard. I met you. I thought my life was going in the right direction.”

“Then Bethany showed up with your child.”

“What choice did she have? Her dad kicked her out when he found out she was pregnant. She tried making it on her own for two years, but she was young, alone, scared—and very sick. Ending our engagement was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. You have to believe that. But I had to do the honorable thing.”

“Do you miss her?”

He could pretend he didn't understand, but they'd both know he was lying. He rubbed a hand over his face. “Yeah, Linds. I do. When we exchanged vows, I took them seriously. Crazy, considering we were basically two strangers who had a child together. Over time, I grew to love her. We shared a bond. Probably more like close friends than husband and wife, but it was there. I'm thankful she was part of
my life. She taught me a lot. She was a terrific mother. And, well, because of her, I was a better husband, a better person. I have no regrets about my marriage. I hope you can forgive me someday for hurting you as deeply as I did.”

“I don't think I can do that yet, Stephen.” She rubbed her arms. “I think we should be heading back. I'm getting chilly.” Lindsey turned to walk away, but Stephen caught her arm.

“I can't do more than apologize. I can't go back and erase the past—I'm not so sure I would even if I could. It's a part of who I am today. Pain can be a wonderful teacher. Because it is so costly, God doesn't want us to waste it. Even though you may feel justified in holding on to that pain and anger toward me, your forgiveness needs to come freely. As it stands, it's too expensive—more than I can afford.”

S
he didn't want to go into Cuppa Josie's, but when Melissa called and invited her to lunch, Lindsey couldn't say no. Couldn't she have picked a different place? In Melissa's defense, she didn't know Lindsey hadn't met Max's daughter, Josie. Looked as if that was about to change.

Lindsey's head pounded. Mostly from crying herself to sleep last night. When she had finally made it back to her mother's house, the last thing she had wanted was to argue with her. Nothing had gone right from the moment her borrowed car edged into the city limits. She couldn't wait to shake the dust of this town off her feet and hole up in her inn where life wasn't so challenging.

Expelling a deep breath, Lindsey pulled open the smoke-colored glass door with a steaming cup etched in white and stepped inside Cuppa Josie's. She inhaled the aroma of the different blends lingering in the air. The whirring and swishing sounds of the cappuccino machine competed with the chatter coming from the table where the Tea Grannies talked over their teacups. Men and women in business attire stood in line texting or had their cell phones molded to their ears. How could they hear with all the noise?

Two teenagers slumped on the couch in front of the gas
fireplace, their hands wrapped around stout bistro mugs. Shouldn't they be in school?

Her eyes flicked across the prints of Italian outdoor cafés hanging on the frosted blue walls as she scouted the room for Melissa.

Not seeing her, Lindsey slid onto an upholstered high stool at the marbled window counter and pushed a votive candle nestled in a bed of coffee beans out of the way. The flame dipped and flickered, but stayed lit.

The curvaceous dark-haired barista behind the counter wore an ice-blue apron with chocolate trim. She had her espresso-colored hair pulled back into a ponytail, exposing high cheekbones and a graceful neck. Her full-lipped smile stayed in place, despite the busyness of her hands. From Max's description, the woman had to be his daughter, Josie.

She tried not to stare, but the way the woman pumped, swirled and poured, it looked kind of like creating art in a cup. As she chatted and laughed with customers, her warmth radiated inside the café, making everyone feel at home.

The door opened. Lindsey dragged her attention away from the woman to see Melissa breezing in with a swirl of leaves at her feet. Melissa fluffed her hair and shrugged out of her jacket as she glanced around the room. Jacket now slung over her arm, she rubbed her lower back.

Lindsey slid off the stool and weaved through the maze of tables. She gave Melissa a hug. “Hey, glad you made it.”

“Sorry I'm late. What a crazy morning. After hanging up the phone from talking with you, Nate called and asked me to find some information for him at the church. He's out of town at a district ministerial meeting. And now with all the Center Street construction, I couldn't find a parking spot close to Josie's, so I drove home and walked the three blocks. Such a beautiful day anyway. I should have done that in the
first place. Just not in these new boots.” Melissa popped up her foot to show Lindsey the heels on her boots.

She linked her arm through Lindsey's. “Have you been waiting long? It smells so good in here. I'm sick of my own cooking. Let's order and find a table. Wow, I didn't expect this place to be so packed. Josie must be running a good special or something.”

“Melissa?”

“What?”

“Take a breath.”

Melissa laughed. “I'm talking too much again, aren't I? Stephen said my baby is going to be born with a cell phone in one hand and a megaphone in the other.” Melissa dropped her jacket on a two-seater that had just opened. “Josie serves the best coffee in town, but that's nothing compared to her pastries. Oh, girl, they are to die for. They add pounds to the hips simply by staring.”

They took their place in line, which moved fairly quickly. Lindsey read the daily specials written on the whiteboard and decided on the white chicken chili and a chai latte. Melissa ordered the same and then decided against the chai before settling on a decaf mocha latte. They headed back to their table.

Melissa settled on her chair and rubbed her back, a frown creasing her forehead.

Lindsey touched her hand. “Hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I'm fine. I must have pulled something when I got out of bed this morning. Not an easy task these days.” She laughed as she massaged her bump.

“How many more weeks?”

“Three. Sometimes it feels like infinity.”

Josie brought their lattes to the table. “Hey, Melissa. Sorry I missed the shower. Hannah and I were out of town.”

“We missed you. Josie, you've met Lindsey, right?”

The woman smiled at Lindsey. “No, I'm sorry. We haven't met.”

“Seriously?” Melissa's mouth flopped open.

If the butterflies in Lindsey's stomach hadn't taken that moment to do a rousing Lindy Hop, she may have laughed out loud at Melissa's expression. Instead, she stirred the whipped cream into her latte. She put her spoon on her napkin and wiped her hand on her khakis before holding it out to Josie. “Lindsey Porter.”

Josie took it. “Josie Peretti. Nice to meet— Oh,
Porter
. Lindsey. Oh, stupid me.” She thunked the heel of her hand against her forehead. “I can be such a dork at times. You're Grace's daughter. I've heard so much about you. It's nice to finally meet you.”

“I really wish I could say the same. I mean, it's nice to meet you, but the hearing-much-about-you part. I just learned my mom is dating your dad.”

Josie gave her a sympathetic smile. “Yeah, I heard. I'd so kill my dad if he did that to me. I'm really sorry about that.”

“No worries. Your dad seems like a nice guy.”

“He's the best. You truly have nothing to fear with him. He treats your mom really well, but it's so easy to do. She's a great lady. Well, if you'll excuse me, I have to tend to my other customers. Nice meeting you, Lindsey. Please come in sometime when it's not so crazy busy. I'd love to chat and get to know you better.”

“Thanks, I will.” Lindsey gave her a little wave and then turned her attention to Melissa. “She seems nice.”

“I'm such a doofus, Linds. Why didn't you say something when I suggested eating here?”

“Not a big deal, Mel. I'd have met her sooner or later.”

“I'm really sorry.”

“Forget about it. I'm a big girl. I'm fine. Really.” She clasped her hands under the table.

“Okay, if you're sure. Hey, thanks for the baby outfits you brought to the shower. They were so adorable. I didn't get a chance to thank you after the shower. Why did you sneak out without saying goodbye?”

“Everyone was oohing and aahing over the baby cradle. Don't get me wrong. It's gorgeous. Stephen did a fantastic job—he has such great hands—” Melissa laughed.

Heat crawled across Lindsey's cheekbones. “I meant to say he's very talented. I just, I don't know.”

“Oh, honey. Your time will come.”

“I don't exactly have men knocking on my door these days unless they're married and checking into the inn.” She sipped her chai latte. The creamy sweetness slid down her throat like warm honey.

“You have a little cream on your nose.” Melissa pointed to her own nose.

Lindsey wiped off the cream with her napkin and smiled. “I'm going to miss you when I go back to Maple Valley.”

“I wish you didn't have to go.”

“You know I can't stay here.”

Josie returned to their table with steaming bowls of chili. “Enjoy, ladies. Let me know if you need anything else.”

Melissa grabbed Lindsey's hand. “Mind if I pray?” Without waiting for a response, she closed her eyes and asked God's blessing over the food. She shifted in her seat and rubbed the small of her back. “My back is still killing me. I guess the baby can't get comfortable, either.” She laughed, but then pressed her lips together and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Melissa, your face is as white as my whipped cream. Maybe we should go. I can drive you home and stay with you until Nate comes home.”

“Oh, no, I don't want to do that. It's just a minor backache. At this stage of my pregnancy, I can't get comfortable, no matter what I do.”

Lindsey glanced at her friend's belly bump. Should she ask? Who else could she trust with such a question? “What's it like being pregnant?”

Melissa's brown eyes held a tender understanding. She smiled. “Scary. Exciting. It's the most incredible feeling knowing there is a life growing inside you. At times, I wonder how I'm going to handle everything.”

“What does Nate think about all of this?”

“Oh, he's over the moon. Constantly telling me to rest. Helping around the house. Fixing dinner. Don't you dare tell him I told you—” she looked around, then lowered her head to whisper behind her hand as if giving away government secrets “—but when we learned I was pregnant, he cried. He prays over the baby every night before bed. He's going to be such a great dad.”

Lindsey blew on a spoonful of chili and then shoved it in her mouth. Still too hot. At least she could pretend the sudden tears were from physical pain and not the twist of her heart. She couldn't be happier for Melissa, but she wanted her turn. Her turn to find that special guy. Her turn to feel a baby kicking inside her. Her turn to have happiness.

Bells above the door jingled. Lindsey looked up as Stephen entered the café. She straightened in her seat and forced herself to pay attention to Melissa's chatter. Anything to keep her eyes from watching him walk to the counter. Or admiring the way he filled out the jacket of his charcoal-colored suit.

After their talk yesterday, she wasn't ready to talk with him. She needed some time to sort out the jumbled emotions tossing like waves inside her heart. Why couldn't he be a jerk? It would make staying away from him so much easier.

Stephen strolled over to their table, one hand in the pocket of his trousers. He leaned over, kissed Melissa's cheek and smiled at Lindsey. He grabbed an empty chair from another table, turned it around and straddled it. “Josie's white chicken chili must be the reason why the place is so crowded today.”

Melissa cast a quick glance between Lindsey and Stephen, raising an eyebrow as if to ask Lindsey “You okay with this?”

Lindsey gave her a subtle nod.

Melissa brushed invisible lint from Stephen's lapel. “You clean up nice. What's the deal with the suit?”

Stephen rolled his eyes. “Another exciting day in court. I came in for a coffee to go before heading back to the station. Enjoy your lunch, ladies.” Standing, he returned the chair to the other table and sauntered to the counter.

Lindsey had to restrain herself from not swiveling in her seat to watch his every step. She pushed her napkin onto the floor. As she leaned down to pick it up, she watched as Stephen filled his foam cup with coffee. His jacket stretched across his shoulders. He turned to pour milk into his cup, caught Lindsey's eye and winked.

Busted.

She snatched her napkin and straightened in her chair. She took a big bite of chili as Stephen passed by their table. Heading toward the door, he was stopped by one of the Tea Grannies. They turned to look at Lindsey and then back at Stephen. One of them patted him on the arm. He laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls and slamming into Lindsey's heart.

“Interesting.”

“What is?” Lindsey asked, still watching Stephen.

“You.”

That got Lindsey's attention. “What about me?”

Melissa grinned. “You can't keep your eyes off my brother. And don't you dare try to deny it. What's going on with you two?”

“Nothing. There's nothing going on between us. Absolutely nothing.”

“Are you sure there's nothing?”

“Don't mock me.”

“Kind of funny how you had to say it three times. Convincing me or yourself?”

“Melissa, you're imagining things. We've talked a few times and that's it.”

“If you say so.”

“I do.”

“I heard about what happened yesterday. I'm sorry.”

Lindsey covered her face and shook her head. “I'm such a baby at times. I just need to get over it. But walking into that church—”

“Oh, honey, no one thinks you're a baby. Everyone deals with grief in their own way. You were double whammied. Stephen told me about your talk yesterday.”

“Another thing to add to the list of humiliating things Lindsey Porter says or does.”

“You shouldn't feel that way. But I
am
wondering how you feel about my big brother.”

“What I feel doesn't matter. That was in the past. We lead different lives now.”

Melissa gasped, grabbed the table with one hand and hugged her abdomen with the other.

Lindsey took one look at her friend's suddenly pale face, jumped out of her chair and circled the table. “That's it. I'm taking you home. No arguments.”

Melissa clutched her arm. “Get Stephen.”

“Honey, I can drive you home. I'll stay until Nate gets back.”

Melissa shook her head and laughed. “I need to go to the hospital, Linds. My water just broke.”

 

“Don't worry, bro. I'll handle it.” Stephen snapped his phone shut and clenched it. A ticking time bomb in his hands. He leaned against the wall outside Melissa's birthing suite, loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his dress shirt. He scrubbed a hand over his face.

Handle it. Right.

He was the fortunate one who had to break the news to his baby sister that neither her husband nor her parents were going to make it in time for the baby's birth if the kid was coming as fast as the nurse predicted. He was her only option. Yeah, that was going to go over well.

With his parents at an estate auction in Ohio and Nate at least two hours away at the district ministerial conference, that left Stephen as the birthing coach.